Ben's NaNoWriMo Log

Chapter 27 added Sep 23, 2005
The total casualties suffered by the Wolf Pack were four dead -- three greatswords and one pike -- and twenty-eight wounded. Three of the Siendan cavalry were killed when they rushed the Disanne archers, and a further three suffered lesser wounds. none of the infantry or archers got close enough to the battle to be wounded. The estimated losses on the other side were over a hundred infantry, thirty cavalry -- two of those heavy -- and twenty archers. the wounded were guessed at perhaps twice those numbers, at least outside the infantry. The Wolf Pack had been merciless in its decimation of the shield wall; few who found themselves before the massive swords at the front of the formation were able to walk away from the experience. The celebration in Sienda that night was somewhat muted. While the battle had been an unqualified success, the surprise tactics they had used would likely not work a second time. They were still outnumbered, and their tactics were no longer a complete mystery to their enemy. Until an end to the conflict was negotiated, no one in Sienda would be able to relax completely. It was, therefore, with some trepidation that they received word of the returning Disanne army two days later. It was only half the size of the first , but still a formidable force. Jack expressed some surprise that they would come back. "They have a good chance of beating us this time around," he admitted, "but it won't be an easy fight. It seems an expensive tactic." Still, there was nothing to do but prepare to face them again. Sarah felt both relieved and cheated by the first battle; she had hardly crossed swords with anyone, providing little more than a feint near the beginning of the fight. The scouts reported that the returning army had stopped on the road outside the valley. They had apparently learned from their first assault the value of choosing the most advantageous terrain. The Siendan force marched out to meet them. When they sighted the Disanners, it looked like a miniature version of the army they had seen; identical save for the numbers. There was a much larger distance to cover this time before engaging the shield wall, and Sarah trotted along behind the formation as she had before. The Siendan militia had no safe place to hide this time, and they arrayed themselves on each side of the mercenaries, shields held up in a similar fashion. the archers hid between the shieldmen, returning fire as best they could while the column advanced up the road. The Disanne army waited for them to close the distance, sending volley after volley of arrows flying across the space between. The arrows struck truer this time than last, inflicting most of their casualties among the militiamen on the edges of the formation. The Disanne infantry and casualty made no move until the gap had been reduced to no more than a hundred yards. What they did then was unexpected: rather than charging, they fell to their knees. Even more unexpected was the flurry of red fireballs that streaked out to blast apart the precise ranks of the advancing block. The thundering explosions and billowing smoke sent even the disciplined Wolf Pack into a panic. Sarah was thrown to the ground by an explosion nearby, but got to her feet almost immediately. She could hear orders being shouted; some to reform, others to scatter. She looked around for Jack, only to catch sight of him lying unmoving on the road. Molly ran up to her through the smoke, shock evident on her face. Most of the skirmishers seemed intact from what she could see, but they were the worst affected by the confusion of the attack. Sarah knew that if they didn't get their bearings quickly they would be easy pickings for the Disanners. She glanced up the road. Through the edges of the smoke she could see the shield wall still kneeling. Even as she realized it was coming, a second barrage of fire came flying into the smoke. Sarah resolved that she would not go down so easily. "Yellow Squad, to me!" she shouted. The familiar faces of her regiment turned her way. She repeated her rallying cry as she began to jog forward through the smoke. She caught sight of Cate and Ethan trying to rally the greatswords; the units at the front of the formation had been hit hardest by the magical attack, and many of them were lying scattered like toys on the ground. "Cate! Bring your unit and come with me. We need to take out that wizard." Ethan shot a glare at her, but she refused to flinch. "Captain, I know what I'm doing. Get everyone else ready to move." Ethan paused only a heartbeat before nodding to Cate. The small group fell into a wedge formation as they advanced toward the still kneeling shield wall. The leading edge of the wedge was a wall of massive blades, while the center was filled with rapiers and broadswords thirsting for blood. As soon as they started moving, Sarah shouted, "Get ready to hit the ground on my command." She could see the red robed wizard standing behind the shield wall. he was close enough that she could see the look of disdain on his face as her tiny band rushed toward him. A volley of arrows flew toward them from the Disanne archers, taking down a few of the charging mercenaries but not stopping them. Sarah ignored everything else except the wizard, focusing all her attention on him. He was standing still, but Sarah could see the air around him beginning to warp and shimmer. They were only twenty feet from the shield wall when she cried, "Down!" The charging wedge hit the ground as one, even as the wizard's hands shot up and released another deadly volley of fire. This time, however, the burning missiles sailed harmlessly over the mercenaries' heads. They leaped to their feet and covered the remaining distance to the Disanne shieldmen, who were scrambling to their feet as the crushing greatswords slammed into them. The skirmish unit at the heart of the wedge never broke stride, racing through the gap in the line to run down the wizard. His mouth was still hanging open in shock as a dozen blades cut him to ribbons. The rest of the battle was a blur, as Sarah's makeshift unit fell into a defensive circle. All of them suffered terrible wounds, and many of them died before the rest of the company made contact with the mass of the Disanne wall. The Disanners lost heart quickly, though; they had clearly not expected to have to actually face the mercenaries a second time. As they withdrew once more, Sarah collapsed on the blood-soaked road.
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