face cleared. “Greetings, Erekosë,” he said.
“How do you know my name?”
He smiled a smile full of melancholy irony.
“Our scientists are skilful men,” he said. “But why do you come, thus, with your herald?”
“Curiosity,” I said. “I have spoke much with your sister, Ermizhad.”
“How is she?” he asked quickly.
“Well,” I said, “she was placed under my protection.”
“I am relieved,” he said. “We come, of course, to rescue her.”
“That is what I supposed. Now, shall we discuss the terms of the battle?”
“It has been a million years since the Eldren and Humanity agreed on terms—extermination of every warrior is the usual rule, now.”
“Well that rule has been changed,” I said impatiently. “Come, are you prepared?”
“Deliverance of the wounded to their own side,” he said.
“Agreed.”
“No slaying of prisoners taken in battle—the winner releasing his captives.”
“Agreed.”
“Deliverance of Ermizhad from captivity if we shall win.”
“To that I cannot agree. The king holds her. If you win, you must go on to Necranal and lay siege to the city.”
He sighed. “Very well, Sir Champion. We shall be ready at dawn tomorrow.”
I said hurriedly: “We outnumber you, Prince Arjavh—you could go back now, in peace.”
He shook his head. “Let the battle be fought,” he said.
“Until dawn, then, Prince Arjavh.”
He moved his hand tiredly in assent and nodded. “Farewell, Lord Erekosë.”
“Farewell.” I wheeled my horse and rode back to our camp in a sorrowful mood.
As the watery dawn broke, our forces advanced towards each other. Very slowly, it seemed, but implacably.
A flight of swallows flew high above us and glided away towards the far-off hills.
I smelled the stink of sweating men and horses, heard the creak of harness and the clash of metal. Because of the necessity for speed, we had brought no cannon and neither, it appeared, had the Eldren. Perhaps, I thought, their siege machines were following behind at a slower pace.
I had planned to depend upon my cavalry spreading out on two sides to surround the Eldren while another arrow-head of cavalry pierced the centre of their ranks and pushed through to the rear so that we would surround them on all sides.
As we came close I gave the order for the archers to shoot. We had no crossbows, only longbows, which had a greater range and penetrating power. The first flight of arrows screamed overhead and thudded down into the Eldren ranks.
Our shafts were answered by the slim arrows of the Eldren. Horses and men shrieked as arrows found their marks and for a moment there was consternation in our ranks as they became ragged and then, with discipline, re-formed. I drew my sword.
“Cavalry—
charge
!”
The knights spurred their war-steeds forward and began, line upon line of them, to fan out on two sides while another division rode straight towards the centre of the Eldren host. They were bent over the necks of their fast-moving horses, lances leaning at an angle across their saddles, aimed at the Eldren.
Their multicoloured plumes streamed behind them and the dim sunlight gleamed on their armour. I was almost deafened by the thunder of hoofs as I kicked my charger into a gallop and with a band of fifty picked knights behind me, surrounding the twin standards of Humanity, rode forward, straining my eyes for Arjavh whom, at that moment, I hated with a hate akin to jealousy.
With a fearful din of shouts and clashing metal we smashed into the Eldren army and soon I was oblivious of all but the need to kill and defend my life.
I hewed about me with savage intensity, seeking sight of Arjavh. At last I saw him, a huge mace swinging from his gauntleted hand, battering at the infantrymen who sought to pull him from his saddle.
“Arjavh!”
He heard but paid no attention, intent as he was on defending himself. “Arjavh!”
“A moment, Erekosë, I have work here.”
He
“How do you know my name?”
He smiled a smile full of melancholy irony.
“Our scientists are skilful men,” he said. “But why do you come, thus, with your herald?”
“Curiosity,” I said. “I have spoke much with your sister, Ermizhad.”
“How is she?” he asked quickly.
“Well,” I said, “she was placed under my protection.”
“I am relieved,” he said. “We come, of course, to rescue her.”
“That is what I supposed. Now, shall we discuss the terms of the battle?”
“It has been a million years since the Eldren and Humanity agreed on terms—extermination of every warrior is the usual rule, now.”
“Well that rule has been changed,” I said impatiently. “Come, are you prepared?”
“Deliverance of the wounded to their own side,” he said.
“Agreed.”
“No slaying of prisoners taken in battle—the winner releasing his captives.”
“Agreed.”
“Deliverance of Ermizhad from captivity if we shall win.”
“To that I cannot agree. The king holds her. If you win, you must go on to Necranal and lay siege to the city.”
He sighed. “Very well, Sir Champion. We shall be ready at dawn tomorrow.”
I said hurriedly: “We outnumber you, Prince Arjavh—you could go back now, in peace.”
He shook his head. “Let the battle be fought,” he said.
“Until dawn, then, Prince Arjavh.”
He moved his hand tiredly in assent and nodded. “Farewell, Lord Erekosë.”
“Farewell.” I wheeled my horse and rode back to our camp in a sorrowful mood.
As the watery dawn broke, our forces advanced towards each other. Very slowly, it seemed, but implacably.
A flight of swallows flew high above us and glided away towards the far-off hills.
I smelled the stink of sweating men and horses, heard the creak of harness and the clash of metal. Because of the necessity for speed, we had brought no cannon and neither, it appeared, had the Eldren. Perhaps, I thought, their siege machines were following behind at a slower pace.
I had planned to depend upon my cavalry spreading out on two sides to surround the Eldren while another arrow-head of cavalry pierced the centre of their ranks and pushed through to the rear so that we would surround them on all sides.
As we came close I gave the order for the archers to shoot. We had no crossbows, only longbows, which had a greater range and penetrating power. The first flight of arrows screamed overhead and thudded down into the Eldren ranks.
Our shafts were answered by the slim arrows of the Eldren. Horses and men shrieked as arrows found their marks and for a moment there was consternation in our ranks as they became ragged and then, with discipline, re-formed. I drew my sword.
“Cavalry—
charge
!”
The knights spurred their war-steeds forward and began, line upon line of them, to fan out on two sides while another division rode straight towards the centre of the Eldren host. They were bent over the necks of their fast-moving horses, lances leaning at an angle across their saddles, aimed at the Eldren.
Their multicoloured plumes streamed behind them and the dim sunlight gleamed on their armour. I was almost deafened by the thunder of hoofs as I kicked my charger into a gallop and with a band of fifty picked knights behind me, surrounding the twin standards of Humanity, rode forward, straining my eyes for Arjavh whom, at that moment, I hated with a hate akin to jealousy.
With a fearful din of shouts and clashing metal we smashed into the Eldren army and soon I was oblivious of all but the need to kill and defend my life.
I hewed about me with savage intensity, seeking sight of Arjavh. At last I saw him, a huge mace swinging from his gauntleted hand, battering at the infantrymen who sought to pull him from his saddle.
“Arjavh!”
He heard but paid no attention, intent as he was on defending himself. “Arjavh!”
“A moment, Erekosë, I have work here.”
He
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