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The archers kept up their barrage without pause as the Volarian line took shape, continuing to loose as a chorus of bugles pealed out the signal for a general advance Frentis had no need to issue further co been well drilled in what to do next Even though the corn was tinder dry, Frentis had taken the precaution of liberally scattering oil-soaked bundles of kindling about the field, providing ai points for the archers which their fire arrows soon found with creditable precision, birthing an instant conflagration They had strict instructions to loose five arrows in quick succession then run for the firebreak, though some continued to let fly even as they retreated from the smoke-shrouded field The inferno took hold alth of the advancing line and birthing a thick curtain of black smoke that concealed all from view

Frentis turned and nodded to Master Rensial then kicked his stallion into a gallop They had burned a broad avenue through the corn on either side of the e by a full company of cavalry quickly followed by a thousand infantry Even so, the thickness of the s a whinny of protest at the proxi hi himself confronted by a pair of startled Volarian cavalry si on

All was confusion now, the s to the whim of the wind When it cleared he cut down any Volarians within reach, when it thickened he charged on, his only indication of the progress of the battle coht occasional gli with typical artistry, his horse see those unwise enough to challenge a man Frentis no to be the finest horse-borne warrior in the world

The Volarians proved to be a ht of Frentis, others i to confront him As the smoke thickened once more he found himself assailed by a mounted Kuritai, apparently unconcerned by the di at him on a fine stallion two hands taller than his own Frentis twisted in the saddle as the Kuritai closed, his sword sweeping down to cleave into the neck of Frentis’s stallion He leapt clear as the ani ni knife at the Kuritai It struck ho into the slave-elite’s face just above the jaw, but failed to divert his charge

Frentis rolled, trying to slash at the charging stallion’s legs as it thundered by But the Kuritai was too skilled a rider, angling the animal’s course at the last moment to avoid the blade Frentis threw another knife as the Kuritai wheeled for a second charge, the steel dart sinking into his horse’s ru and slashing, the Order blade cleaving through the greave on the Kuritai’s wrist He tu to face Frentis with sword levelled, blood still jetting from the stump of his severed hand Frentis heard a familiar snarl behind hi over to attack the Kuritai ell-honed precision, the bitch fixing her jaws on his legs whilst her mate tore at his throat

He didn’t wait to view the spectacle, running through the haze in search of further opponents His ears were soon assailed by a great roaring followed by thehi apart a battalion of Free Swords They had evidently charged headlong into their line, given the way it had bowed and broken in the centre, hacking and stabbing with their axes and scythes, every face lit with a desperate fury

The Free Swords tried to stand their ground for a tiether in compliance with the shouted orders of their officers,to their short swords, but their line had been broken and, unlike those they fought, they still entertained notions of long lives and families After another fewand sprinting into the sly or in pairs, then a dozen at a ti to a wide-eyed halt and landing on his backside, his sword apparently already dropped Frentis paused to regard theface, the unintelligible pleas spouting from his lips, and pointed sternly towards the west The Free Sword gaped up at hi away, still begging forfreed folk, so away at the Volarian dead “Gather weapons and for he eants returning to their senses at the sight of hi their companies into an offensive line, many now armed with swords and cavalry lances

“Keep at it until you clear the s towards the Volarian centre The line held until they heard the sound of further co a cheer froe Knowing they would be deaf to further orders, Frentis charged with the to reveal a solid wall of Varitai, blank faces regarding them above levelled spears

He leapt at the lastaside an upraised spear, boots i the man backwards He landed clear of the Volarian line and turned, hacking doo Varitai in quick succession, his sword finding gaps in their armour with deadly accuracy The freed folk were quick to spot the opportunity, piling into the gap in a dense ripped the Free Swords was absent here, however, the Varitai falling back in response to a strident bugle call to form another defensive forures in the centre of the shrinking circle of Varitai, a burly ing by his arure with the plumed helm of a junior officer

“Hold!” Frentis held up his sword as the freed folk gathered theripped them all now, every soot-streaked face alive with a desperate thirst forwith anticipation

“We can take theer in one hand and short sword in the other, both red fronise this panting, black-faced figure as Lissel, the forh for today, ood, he added silently “You’ll find Sister Illian and Weaver on the rise, please fetch them here”

Hethrough the fading smoke to confirm the defeat of the Volarian left flank Free Swords were running in all directions and the Garisai advancing in good order towards the Varitai, Ivelda and Lekran at their head Frentis held up a hand to halt the Varitai Three hundred Double the number already in the army

“Brother” Illian caht of a bandage on her forehead, the wound just below the hairline and still leaking blood “Kuritai,” she said with a shrug

He nodded, turning back to the Varitai “Wait for aze fixed on the two figures in their centre The burly sergeant stood stock still and back straight, staring at Frentis, grizzled face showing a stern defiance he couldn’t help but adeant’s age and considerably less defiant, eyes constantly roa freed folk, face pale with terror

“You’re alone,” Frentis called to the burly man across the ranks of i back to New Kethia If you want to join theive the order for these eant’s face twisted into a disgusted gri but one word, laden with conteeant’s breastplate just left of the sternu armour and bone to find the heart

“And you, Honoured Citizen?” Frentis called to the young officer, now gaping at the fallen sergeant, the tears strea hierous strangers After a le fro and thin, but evidently sufficiently clear As one the Varitai laid down their weapons and stood in ranks, every face expressing no more emotion than a stone

“Can you heal so many?” Frentis asked Weaver as the healer appeared with his freed Varitai

Weaver gave a soft laugh, surveying the neat ranks of slave soldiers with his now-habitual sad smile “You talk as if I have a choice, brother”