first opponent came at me anew, ready to finish me off. I kicked my horse and shot out straight forward to meet him. The memory has never faded from me: I was young, strong and filled with Holy fire as I hacked at that trooper. He was a fair bit older, I believe, for he tired quickly in the flurry of blows. He parried two, and I one of his, but he missed my next one, which I sent crashing into his face above his gorget. I saw a quick flash of blood and flying teeth as I brushed past his horse. Turning my mount, I watched him tumble from the saddle and fall, his armour sounding an abrupt jangle as he hit the grassy riverbank. He cried out briefly and rolled over.
No sooner had I looked up than two more of the enemy were bearing down on me. I yelled out an oath and charged at them. And then, God knows how, my grip faltered and the sword swung out of my gloved hand. It fell dangling next to my thigh from its cord that I had wrapped about my wrist. I veered away from the troopers and leaned forward frantically in order to draw my pistol, my sword still bobbing up and down at my side. I could hear the snorting of the enemy’s horse drawing close behind me and I turned tightly and swung my pistol around to take aim. He was closer than I had thought and fairly ran into me. I had an instant to point the piece at his head. I fired. The report sent my hand rising up as flame leapt out to greet him. He fell back, half out of the saddle and carried on past. Another Habsburger came on behind him though, and I shoved the pistol back into the holster on the saddle bow and clawed at my sword hilt to get a grip again before he could cut me down.
To my wonderment Balthazar appeared close behind the Habsburger, and even as I raised up my blade anew, Balthazar had cut him down and tumbled him from the saddle with three ferocious blows.
I rode up to him my arm shaking badly and my mount’s head tossing and shaking from the noise and terror.
“Thank Christ you were there, good Balthazar!” I wheezed out.
Balthazar laughed. “Fie! You would have had the better of him, as you did his friend. Now have a care!”
And we cast about looking for others to engage, but all were dead or else had flown. I saw one of our squadrons still riding hard down the riverbank, pursuing the last remnants of the Imperials. Our squadron now milled about, near to where I had anointed my first Habsburger. By then the Captain was with us and laughing at the sport. I can still remember his words as he rode over to me as I sat trying to catch my wind, sweat pouring down my face.
“I saw you take that one,” he said gesturing at the Imperial’s corpse with his sword. “Twas fairly struck, young lad. He's now smiling from ear to ear!”
And then I smiled too, like a dog, newly blooded and praised by master.
“Well now, get on down and take your reward,” urged Captain Tischler. “All of these bastards are as rich as Croesus.”
So I dismounted and on unsteady legs approached the corpse. Others of the company were already doing the same along the riverbank, rolling over the dead and searching for what was worth taking. I turned over my Habsburger, trying not to look at his staring eyes amidst the gore of his face. The grass was slippery with his blood and I nearly fell trying to cut the belt that held his breastplate. I threw the breastplate up over his shattered head and there on his belly was fastened a leather pouch. I wrenched this from the corpse and heard the jangle of coins.
Balthazar rode close by me as we made our way back. “That were a quick and clean fray.” he said, “And a good first lesson for you,” he added. Christoph came pounding up to us and reined in.
“We all made it through, our lot. I’ve just seen Jacob and the others. He took a musket ball in the breastplate. He’s bruised but fares well.”
“And what do we now?” I asked Balthazar, for around us was most heavy confusion as the various companies returned to the field
No sooner had I looked up than two more of the enemy were bearing down on me. I yelled out an oath and charged at them. And then, God knows how, my grip faltered and the sword swung out of my gloved hand. It fell dangling next to my thigh from its cord that I had wrapped about my wrist. I veered away from the troopers and leaned forward frantically in order to draw my pistol, my sword still bobbing up and down at my side. I could hear the snorting of the enemy’s horse drawing close behind me and I turned tightly and swung my pistol around to take aim. He was closer than I had thought and fairly ran into me. I had an instant to point the piece at his head. I fired. The report sent my hand rising up as flame leapt out to greet him. He fell back, half out of the saddle and carried on past. Another Habsburger came on behind him though, and I shoved the pistol back into the holster on the saddle bow and clawed at my sword hilt to get a grip again before he could cut me down.
To my wonderment Balthazar appeared close behind the Habsburger, and even as I raised up my blade anew, Balthazar had cut him down and tumbled him from the saddle with three ferocious blows.
I rode up to him my arm shaking badly and my mount’s head tossing and shaking from the noise and terror.
“Thank Christ you were there, good Balthazar!” I wheezed out.
Balthazar laughed. “Fie! You would have had the better of him, as you did his friend. Now have a care!”
And we cast about looking for others to engage, but all were dead or else had flown. I saw one of our squadrons still riding hard down the riverbank, pursuing the last remnants of the Imperials. Our squadron now milled about, near to where I had anointed my first Habsburger. By then the Captain was with us and laughing at the sport. I can still remember his words as he rode over to me as I sat trying to catch my wind, sweat pouring down my face.
“I saw you take that one,” he said gesturing at the Imperial’s corpse with his sword. “Twas fairly struck, young lad. He's now smiling from ear to ear!”
And then I smiled too, like a dog, newly blooded and praised by master.
“Well now, get on down and take your reward,” urged Captain Tischler. “All of these bastards are as rich as Croesus.”
So I dismounted and on unsteady legs approached the corpse. Others of the company were already doing the same along the riverbank, rolling over the dead and searching for what was worth taking. I turned over my Habsburger, trying not to look at his staring eyes amidst the gore of his face. The grass was slippery with his blood and I nearly fell trying to cut the belt that held his breastplate. I threw the breastplate up over his shattered head and there on his belly was fastened a leather pouch. I wrenched this from the corpse and heard the jangle of coins.
Balthazar rode close by me as we made our way back. “That were a quick and clean fray.” he said, “And a good first lesson for you,” he added. Christoph came pounding up to us and reined in.
“We all made it through, our lot. I’ve just seen Jacob and the others. He took a musket ball in the breastplate. He’s bruised but fares well.”
“And what do we now?” I asked Balthazar, for around us was most heavy confusion as the various companies returned to the field
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