Chapter Three

"We're goin’ to die..." My words, thankfully don't reach the ears of the several other hastily conscripted villagers all stuffed into one of many wagons blocking the road ahead.

"Did you say something?" Fhin mutters, stretching the string of his bow with his readied arrow.

A least he has the good fortune to be out in front with the first wave, where he doesn't have to deal with people bumping and squeezing into you. Looking back at it now, I wish we switched spots. But alas, one of the downsides of being a commander is second guessing is bad for one's overall health, so I just have to be stuck in this wagon, festering with odor and powder, and just hope everything works out.

"Just stick to the plan." I call out to him. "Any word from the scouts?"

He shakes his head. "Nothing has changed. Though, Meilo I believe-"

"I'm with ya." I assure him. "Have a small party keep an eye over there. And something happens, well, y'know what to do."

"Without question!" Fhin decisively responds.

I nod, trying to assure myself that it'll work out. Even still...

Shaking my head and snapping myself out of potential outcomes, I gaze back at the fading mist ahead of me to see the towering column of the Red Blades staring us down. Almost like it's a staring contest, and I can sense that we're about to blink first.

"Take it easy." I call out to them. "We've made our move. They're just wonderin' what to do now."

The tension in the wagon thaws, much to my amazement and delight. But still... what are they waiting for? Unless...

The low ominous blare of a horn bugling across the marshlands snaps my attention back to the front to see the enemy's slow gallop quickly accelerate into a full-blown charge. Encroaching on us, the column quickly carves into a narrow line of four across and, what must be a legion behind the vanguard.

"Okay... we might do this." I mutter.

"Meilo?!" Fhin calls out to me.

My head frantically nods remembering the next step. "Ready firearms!"

The two hand gunners, if they can be called that, clumsily lift their hulking weapons over their shoulders while the eight or so archers and crossbowmen fluidly aim theirs at our foe.

"Ready firearms!" Fhin's relay of my order echoes louder and prouder reaching every other wagon carrying our secret weapon.

Our secret experimental weapon that has never been used before.

Until now.

And all we can do now is hope.

A hope I feel suffocating as the ground thunders beneath us.

As the Red Blades close in.

*

"Don't spare the horses!" Brujmur barks, raising his lance while leading the charge. "Ram them if you must! Climb aboard their wagons if demanded! CHARGE!"

A couple of firm kicks to his mare demonically enhances its pace. The commander can feel himself bouncing atop his saddle, at the risk of his own tongue and falling off and into the muck infested water. But he knows this is it. This is the only course now. Especially after Tamona has deviated from the plan.

*

"What?!" Burjmur's face is white with rage at his runner's words. "I gave no such order!"

"She led her company through the marshes, my lord!" The young man atop his horse pragmatically continues, though a slight tremble in his voice lingers. "They plan to flank the enemy through a gap in their defenses!"

Brujmur's lips pierced gazing back at the rebel's defenses. "Gultrios... DAMN YOU!" In his fury, his helmet is hurled across the marshes before sinking into the depths.

"Sir?"

"Sending us here, of all places, he either wants the rebels snuffed out, or us snuffed from the ranks..." His breath carries his fading words. "Should we even fail, to be nailed high for all to see... that is a fate worse than death..."

"My lord!"

Brujmur whips his head back to his inner circle. "It matters not! We move forward with our charge! No turning back and no hesitation! Any of you hesitate for even a moment and you will die. Do I make myself clear?"

"Yes, my lord!"

"Mount up and prepare to charge! We finish this, once and for-"

*

His ears horrifically screech from bleeding pops hurling him back to the present, but it's far too late for him to calm his screeching steed, arching high on its two legs ejecting Brujmur from his saddle.

His eviction so sudden and so violent leaves him twirling into the marshy waters. The weight of his armor leaves him staggering to his feet until he is left with a horrific sight: The charge has faltered as his Red Blades struggle to calm their horses from the scattered pops slamming their ear drums. That's before the proud beasts, fine sturdy stock they are, begin plopping to the forsaken earth like puppets clipped from their strings.

The few knights who soothed their steeds soon found themselves crushed by the weight of them, after a bolt, or an arrow cripples, or even kills them.

Those who fell struggle to arise before they slump ahead towards the rebel's fortifications, many projectiles simply bounced off their plated armor, but one knight simply slumps to the ground, prostrated and motionless. Then another falls, and Brujmur can see the arrow perfectly pierce the exposed cheek before staggering and wailing, his hands desperately covering his cheek.

It's only when he sees another knight fall is when Brujmur sees him. An elf laying waste to his ranks with precision of a demon.

Gritting his teeth, Brujmur grips his lance and raises it towards the elf. "Die.... foul scum!"

*

"They're pinned!" My voice gleefully announces, feeling encouraged to turn up the heat. "Ready the second round! New handguns to the wagons! Load the old ones, keep that powder dry!"

Everything is like clockwork. Spent handguns dropped to the villagers while they exchange them for freshly loaded ones, the second wave safe behind our wagons readies their bows as they wait for my word, the enemy trapped dazed by our volley and horses running amok or toppled over, I can't help but laugh in amazement.

"Second round ready!"

"ARGH!" A cry rings out not far from our first line to see a few shaky men quickly catching a down Fhin with a long spear near his armpit.

"Shit..." I look back at the Red Blades as the second wave rushes ahead at full speed before ranks of the third wave begin to mush in there.

"Fire the volley!" My whooshes downward at my command and the sound of clicks, buzzes and eruptions concocted into one beautiful combination leaving me cackling in laughter for some stupid reason.

The smoke from the guns burns my eyes and I can feel the tears running down my cheeks but through the black mist I can vaguely make out the damage we done.

Again, the horses freak out, some get shot, a lot of knights fall off, some trapped underneath their rides and the remnants shuffle onward.

But there are a lot more stragglers coming at us than I'm comfortable with.

"Dammit..." I cough through the smoke choking my lungs before I force out. "Pikes at the ready, people! Hurry!"

Through the coughs and frantic cries, the remaining eight with pikes, flails or anything long and sharp stand ready to shred the slow lumbering Red Blades waddling towards us.

Seeing Fhin being dragged underneath our wagon, I scram through the crowd and leaping off meeting Fhin before yanking him to safety. All while the spear is still trapped within him.

"Just rip it out, Meilo!" He barks at the men carrying it. "So, I can return to the fight!"

“Yeah, tell that to the healer, pal!” I retort.

Yeah, he'll be fine!

"Get him to safety! Go!" I instruct before grabbing his bow and arrows. "If there's anyone who can shoot a bow, I'd appreciate you stepping up!"

I can now feel someone tugging at the bow before turning towards a familiar face: the girl from the crowd.

Whether through strong faith or sheer desperation, I nod surrendering it to her.

"Don't do anything stupid."

She nods frantically rushing towards my wagon.

After helping the girl aboard, I squirm past the swathes of people until I see that the Red Blades are sending in a new fresh wave of cavalry.

"Just dunno when'da quit, do ya?"

But any volleys unleashed upon them are scattered and uncoordinated, leaving the new vanguard to rush ahead virtually unopposed.

Which means it all comes down to us.

"Get ready!" My cry is shakier than I like it to be and I quickly reinforce it with more words, hoping sounding more confident than before. "The moment they slam against us, give'em everything you got!"

Pikes sticking out, flails at the ready, grips tightening, the enemy closing, my teeth clench as we brace for impact.