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The Bow of Haladan Part XI
Bodies lay fallen all along the bridge. Goblin archers atop the
wall had found their marks and brought down the rushing troops as they
sought to scale the rough stone blocks.
The giants had slain more with spears that were mere darts in
their gigantic hands and boulders, which they had in plenty. These rocks
had left crushed and mangled bodies all along the road. The surviving
troops had been pulled well back, disheartened at their losses and
demoralized by their defeat.
Kyle was near the end of the column, busy keeping his men up to
pace and in line. They passed two fresh companies of troops who sat on
either side of the road, spit and polish regulars, well armed and
rested. These soldiers would follow up the eigth auxiliaries if the eigth
could take the wall, but by then the real fighting would be done.
The column halted and spread out, the range of the giants throwing
arms had been worked out with the lives of the soldiers in the first
assault. Kyle's broken century moved to the right, while Waddard took his
to the left, well out of the giants range. The captain jogged aside and
joined a small group within a large tent. Several lights shone brightly
and the glint of polished armor could be seen.
Jagiello, the first monitor of Kyle's command, came up and stood
beside him as they waited.
"I've found you a signalman." the old Rhennee said. The mans voice
still held a soft accent, he'd spoken only a few words of common decades
before when he'd joined the Gran March guards.
"Who?" Kyle asked.
"Dediulin." Jagiello replied. "He is a beast with the horn, I
would not have it tortured so, but he knows the signals, he'll learn to
sound the notes true with some practice."
"I'm glad for that." Kyle said. "We'll need that horn tonight, I
know I always feel less scared when the charge is being blown."
"You and everyone else." the Rhennee nudged Kyle and pointed to
the tent. "That was quick."
"At least their not going to keep us standing around here all
night." Kyle blustered.
Captain Fintan walked over to Waddard's command, he spoke to the
sergeant then barked out orders to the gathered troops. One man in five
ran off but soon returned with climbing poles and crude ladders.
The first century formed up in groups of five, one man standing
behind the other, four such rows took their place along the road, and
behind them four more, till the entire century was strung out in line.
They faced the bridge, the old stone arch was broad, big enough for two
wagons to roll along and never touch.
The wall which the giants had built was nothing more than huge
blocks of unmortared stone, but so large and heavy that it would take a
siege engine to knock them from their place. Atop the broad blocks goblin
archers swarmed. They had made wooden barricades waist high to their small
forms, and used these as cover to fire down onto any who tried to storm
the wall. Above them the giants could be seen, their head and shoulders
visible, they used huge wooden clubs or staves made from the boles of
trees. One flourished a two-hand sword of giant make, its blade was at
least a dozen feet long and broader than a mans waist. The giant had used
it to clean the wall of troopers during the first assault, cutting down
goblins and men with one pass, like a farmer scything down stalks of grain
during a harvest day.
Kyle could hear Waddard's voice as he called the men to order. The
captain came up while the monitors checked each fiveman hand of troops.
"We will be using the fist." Captain Fintan said.
Five men make a hand, five hands make a squad, four squads make a
century, thought Kyle. A Century sent out in fiveman hands is the fist,
used to batter down a gate or take a wall.
"You will follow with your broken fist." said Fintan. "Keep close,
and have your slingers at the front."
"Yes Sir!" Kyle replied. "Are we to take ladders as well?"
"No, you either follow us up or take them from the ground
where they have fallen." Fintan looked Kyle in the eye. " Your orders are
to take that wall, regardless of the cost."
"Yes Sir, standard orders then." said Kyle.
"Hah." Fintan barked out a laugh. "I've heard that is how you
auxiliaries think. Well good then, standard orders."
"Sir I have found someone to sound the calls." Kyle said before
the captain could turn away.
"Did you. Good, good. Have him stand with you," the captain
smiled, "That is how you lead the charge before, with the horn
sounding at your side."
"I would prefer to be leading this charge as well." Kyle said.
"Sir." he almost forgot to add.
"That is my honor this time around." The captain said. "Now form
up your men sergeant. Have your signalman sound the horn on my command."
* * *
(To Be Continued...)