Chapter 46

As Darras had predicted, there were numerous skirmishes between the Rachtelin forces and the Thenarronians holding the area near the edge of the woods. These included an attempt to penetrate on the far bank of the river despite the narrowness of the front caused by steep bluffs that were impassable to the two armies. In all cases the forces of Rachtelin would pull back as all they were doing was ranging the archers of Thenarron. Nor did the Thenarronians venture from the woods to directly counter the fast moving knights.

All this was observed by Linota and her command staff and marked on various maps they’d drawn up as they attempted to pin down concentrations of archers, particularly the dark kin. In this, Firios’s group were helping as their sharp eyes saw and judged which concentrations had the greater range.

“Well, I see no problem reaching the woods, but a lot of potential problems when we do,” Jertin finally gave his considered opinion to the group.

“Yes, our formations will be broken up and we’ll be exposed to the dark kin firing from hidden positions, despite the skill of our own archers,” Rigilo agreed.

“They are but archers and Elves to boot,” Gravely sneered. “They are not a patch on our knights.”

“In open battle, perhaps,” Jertin countered. “In deep woods, I can assure you it’s not so easy.”

“You have fought in woodlands, Sir Flask? Have you not?” Linota enquired.

“I have and lost good men as well to archers concealed within who would retreat before us, flank us and oft times ambush us from our rear,” Jertin replied. “Elves are supreme woodsmen, if we charge in we will have major casualties.”

“This is why I requested aid from the Forest Kingdom and Iversirion in particular,” Linota explained. “We will gain the woods for them, then they will lead the way in clearing them.”

“Pah! You waste time when it’s obvious one good hard push will clear the way,” Gravely spat out. “You clearly underestimate the skills of the Rachtelin knights.”

“You believe your knights can lead the way?” Rigilo asked, seemingly mildly.

“If supported by the rest of the forces, yes.”

“Then they shall lead the way in the first assault upon the morrow and will be given a chance to prove your boast,” Rigilo replied with steely tones. “Indeed, I think you should lead them and demonstrate your martial prowess.”

“I ... I’m not so sure of my ability to keep up with them these days,” a white faced Gravely countered.

“Nonsense, my Lord Count, you have regaled us with tales of your skills and cunning in past campaigns and now we get to see you in action,” Rigilo replied. “I insist.”

“Sire,” Gravely replied through gritted teeth.

The forces of Iversirion arrived that evening and were dispersed to the tents prepared for them whilst their commander spoke with Linota and went over the maps drawn showing the enemy concentrations as well as their presumed range. Other than obtaining a confirmation that his forces would not be left exposed to a Thenarronian counter attack the Elven Commander, Keltranas, agreed the plans and assured the command group that his forces were capable of doing what was being asked of them. He was also assured that he was not under any obligation to obey orders other than those coming from the command group.

Darras’s team slipped out of the encampment under orders to seize and hold their original lookout position. Other teams of Elves from the forces of Iversirion were also out and about to deal with any spoiling forces from Thenarron who might try to launch arrows into the encampment. The team found the lookout occupied, though not heavily so and Firios and the Elves were easily able to seize the site silently and prepare it against any attempts to retake it.

At first light, elements of the Rachtelin knights took to the field, moving along the base of the hill towards where the river passed by and into the woods. Also across the river were another company of knights approaching a position where they threatened the flank of the Thenarronians, though Darras suspected they would not immediately be involved and were merely there to keep Thenarronian forces drawn to block them and keep them away from the centre.

Darras soon spotted the knights under Count Gravely whose gilded armour shone brightly in the morning light forming a big ‘shoot me’ target for the dark kin. Of the other leaders of the Rachtelin forces there was no sign other than bannermen probably being near them. The Elves of Iversirion were next to arrive at a steady jog, their light leather armour designed for swift movement. They were directed to the base of the hill where they would be despatched to assist the attack on an as needed basis.

Last to arrive were the Dwarven infantry who were there to take advantage of any breakthroughs by seizing ground. Because of the nature of the ground, the front was narrower to the Allies than they’d normally prefer, however the Thenarronians were permitting them to set up their lines without dispute, which was naturally making the Allies very cautious as to what they had planned.

Finally the bugles of the Rachtelin knights sounded and the first battle, led by Count Gravely, advanced towards the woods as held by the Thenarronians. They were in turn supported by the Count’s liegemen, a light mounted force whose task was to support any breakthrough and fight on foot if necessary. It soon became obvious that the lack of archer support in the Count’s forces was going to take a heavy toll on his knights as the dark kin within the woods sent waves of arrows into them as they picked up speed to attempt to close in on the edge of the woods.

Linota used this attempt however to order an assault on the woods’ edge near the cliff face by the forces under Jertin and supported by the forces of Iversirion. Again the knights of Rachtelin were peppered with an arrow-storm. However, this time the mounted archers also returned fire and, once they were in range, the Elves of Iversirion were able to add their own fire into the presumed positions of the Thenarronians and dark kin in that area that soon had the number of arrows falling on the knights much reduced and enabled the first battle to reach the woods’ edge and fall upon the defenders there. Jertin also ordered the knights to dismount and form a shield-wall for the archers as they advanced swiftly to join his lodgement.

In the centre, the Count’s knights fought a bitter battle supported by his liegemen as they struggled with dark kin archers and thick woodlands that did not permit easy access to them, particularly as the woods were literally strewn with thick ropes to trip horses or unseat the knights themselves. Their position became ever more desperate as the Count himself was presumed to have fallen within a minute of the charge and no one appeared to be in command. Their position was relieved by the arrival of Prince Rigilo and a small detachment of horse archers who immediately dismounted and gave the knights support as Rigilo got the knights to dismount and join the liegemen and form a shield-wall even as the Dwarven forces, supported and flanked by the Rachtelin knights and Iversirion archers, began their advance to join them.

“Going well,” Darras noted to Firios as they watched the battle unfold.

“Yes, the extra archers gave the knights and Dwarves far more cover than the Thenarronians expected,” Firios agreed. “The issue now will be the dark kin fighting in a terrain suited to them.”

“Yes, it could well turn into a meat grinder for the Allies, though I expect the forces from Iversirion will be of a big help here.”

“Even then they’ll have to be careful. The dark kin will be in ambush mode,” Firios warned.

“True, it might be where we earn our pay again,” Darras nodded.

“More than likely.”

Linota was at this time reinforcing her lodgement at the side of the woods that Jertin had seized, though was keeping pressure on the centre where the initial attack had gone in. It was noticeable that there was a steady stream of casualties being brought out of the woods to where the priests and healers were.

“Lot of wounded,” Tinara noted.

“Yes, the knights’ armour is quite good against arrows with various charms upon them,” Darras explained. “Most of the dead came from their horses being cut down with the knights on them.”

“Will the knights be able to return to battle?”

“Unlikely this day. The priests and healers are getting overwhelmed and are triaging the victims.”

“Are there not enough potions either?” Tinara enquired.

“They are most likely back in the main camp, though supplies may be limited.”

‘They have enough for now, but a healing potion will not remove the barbed arrows the dark kin are using, ’ Erren explained to Darras, who passed the information on.

“Nasty,” Balat murmured.

“War is,” Darras shrugged.

“My people will be of no use in the woods,” Amina added.

“If the Count is dead, I suspect Rigilo will want all his correspondence,” Darras replied.

“Now there’s a thought,” Amina replied with a cold smile. “This is assuming that was the Count in his armour.”

“I suspect Rigilo will want to know that as well.”

“We’ll find out. It beats doing nothing.”

The Thieves Guild members slipped away. One of them, Chillik, heading towards the aid station where the Rachtelin centre were being treated, to check if the man in the Count’s armour actually was the Count. The others went back to the main encampment to have a nose around the Count’s area to see if anything could be gleaned. Darras, along with Balat and Sondrast, followed the other Elves down to where Linota was commanding, to see if their aid might be needed.

“Ah, Elf Firios, I was about to request your presence,” Linota greeted the party as they approached.

“How may we assist?” Firios replied.

“Could you and your party assist the advance into the woods on the left flank whilst our centre continues to hold in place?”

“Of course,” Firios replied with a nod as he indicated for the group to follow him.

Avoiding various companies of knights, Firios led the group swiftly to the steep cliff face and, drawing their bows, they slipped into the woods and advanced forward to where a line of knights and archers were crouched behind cover. The archers intermittently loosed an arrow into the further scrub where the occasional dark kin arrows came from.

“Darras, Firios, welcome,” Jertin greeted the party. “As you can tell they are determined to hold us here.”

“We’ll try and take out their spotters and the Iversirion archers will aid an advance,” Firios replied.

“That will be a big help. The cliff face prevents our flank from being exploited but their skill with archery prevents us in turn from exploiting that flank.”

“Can you help, my love?” Darras murmured.

‘Yes. Thought you’d never ask, ’ Erren replied with a bubbling giggle. ‘They are mostly in the tree tops and using the whistles that are pitched above Human hearing to communicate.’

“Can you hear the whistles?” Darras asked Firios.

“Aye, though we cannot decipher their meaning,” Firios replied.

“That’s their spotters in the tree tops,” Darras explained. “Well concealed and able to give the dark kin advance notice of any movement on our side.”

“Ah ... difficult,” Firios nodded.

“I might be able to help,” Sondrast offered. “A spell called glow should reveal them to Elven sight ... though it will affect you as well.”

“It won’t affect Balat or myself though?” Darras queried.