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Show "By the Saints!" breathed Dr'Anya, gaping. "By the Saints around us!" The thundering group, almost obscured by the cloud of dust they were generating, set to with murderous yells against the line of horsemen facing them which-in a lightning move-spread out for room to maneuver, lowered their lances, and charged with equal fervor. The result was a deafening clanging and screaming of horses and humans and a dust cloud that rose halfway up the surrounding cliffs. When the dust cleared, the line of Commendium knights was standing imperturbably on the other side of the field, lances up, the horses shaking the dust out of their manes, while the Four Kingdom knights battled each other in confusion among a wreckage of horses, armor, broken lances and battle axes, and not a few wights lying in various conditions of stupor on the ground. "Isaac and Ida bless them!" said Dr'Anya, whilst Janni groaned. The Four Kingdom knights, meanwhile, discovering their adversaries on the other side of the field, roared in fury, remounted, and set off raggedly in a headlong charge. With the same result. This time, only half the enemy knights were able to remount for the third charge. Of the half that remained on the ground some were able to stagger to their feet but soon fell down again. A few others lifted their heads only and close to a dozen hadn't moved at all. Meanwhile, a corps of folk acting as MedTechs had materialized quickly from out of nowhere and rushed to the wounded Four Kingdom people as soon as the dust settled after each charge, carrying them off the field and into a makeshift hospital in the cottages. As a precaution, the enemy knights' feet were manacled together. 261 |
