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The BloodVaine EpicChapter 57: The Black Knights Bite Back
Randolph watched in horror as he saw a large body of heavily armored, unmounted knights charge towards the broken lines of the Black Falcons. The effect was terrible to watch. Already, he estimated that some 80,000 had been killed and twice that number was in no position to fight. Even though they had been trained not to, the entire first section began to turn and run, disheartened by their lack of success in the first three charges.
The second part of the army, which made up of elite soldiers began to march forward in perfect order though, seemingly oblivious to the men fleeing past them, and they were ready to take their place. These men made up the backbone of the Black Falcon army, and all had seen combat before.
The two forces clashed, but the losses on both sides were relatively low, mainly due to the fighting skills both divisions had. It was clear that the shear weight of numbers would eventually play against the Black Knight troops though. As the broken and disheartened men of the first section reached the back, mounted officers rode in amongst them, striving to rally the terrified troops.
At that moment, Randolph saw his sergeant running breathless up the hill towards him.
“My lord”, he gasped, “You are given orders to charge with all your men immediately!”
Randolph nodded in assent.
So here is my hour he thought. I hope I will survive it.
The lieutenant then quickly wheeled his horse around to face his men.
“FORM RANKS!” he yelled, “COME, LET US COME TO THE AID OF OUR COMRADES!”
The few last horses of the 10,000 that had been wandering about quickly fell into line. Looking at his soldiers one last time, he unsheathed his long, sharp blade.
“CHARGE!”
The horses broke out in a slow trot and quickly gained speed. However, it would be another five minutes before they reached the Black Knights.
“M'LORD!” a knight yelled at Sirion.
“What is it!” Sirion yelled back as he watched the elite Black Knights and elite Black Falcons clash.
“We must retreat to the walls of the city milord, or we will be surrounded!”
Sirion sighed.
“Retreat...” Sirion whispered.
“What milord?”
“RETREAT!”
“Yes milord!”
“Megablocks.” Sirion whispered under his breath.
“Shall we call back our elite guard?” a Black Knight asked Sirion.
“No. They would rather die than be given the order to retreat. Besides, you know they will disobey the order.”
The Black Knight didn’t say anymore, he just returned to his post.
“RETREAT!”
The Black Knights started to retreat in order to the gates of the city.
“Milord! There trying to cut us off with horses!”
Sirion was about to reply to the man when Beleriand flew over Sirion.
“He’s headed for the back of the lines?!?!”
“He’s flying towards the Falcon horses!”
“Let him do his job, now retreat to the city, you fools!”
“We will not survive without the aid of our allies.” Sirion said to himself as he mounted his horse.
The din of the battle was terrible. The two elite forces, both of which were made up of men who had years of training, fought with grim determination, but for different reasons. Those in the Black Falcon ranks knew that this was all that stood between them and almost certain success, while the Black Knights knew they were to fight to the death, protecting the greater part of their army from destruction.
Meanwhile, thecasa movil precio usada heavy Black Falcon cavalry continued to charge towards the retreating left flank of the Black Knight force. Before they were halfway to their goal though, Beleriand swooped down, ejecting from his mouth a plume of hot, flaming gas that killed several dozen of the knights.
The dragon then quickly swooped up, and turning in the air, he dove back down to the still galloping horsemen. Randolph could not help but feel somewhat terrified at the massive winged reptile as it started its quick decent. Riding just a few feet off the ground, Beleriand held his legs out starched and slightly forward, the sharp, gleaming talons sticking out like sharp knives. Thinking fast, Randolph quickly pulled on his reins guiding his horse of the right. At that moment, a young man passed him, sword outstretched as he charged towards the oncoming creature. An instant later, he along with several others were plowed down by the dragon.
At that moment though, the beast let out a terrible shriek, breathing fire furiously as his wings propelled him straight up. Randolph realized that the combined force of both the rider and Beleriand had somehow driven the unfortunate soldier’s sword through some chink in the scales on one of the creature’s feet. Sending one last fireball among the cavalry, it flew high in the air, going to some location to nurse its wound.
A great portion of the Black Knights had seen this spectacle and then saw the dragon draw off.
“He’s abandoned us!” one cried out.
“No he hasn’t you fool!” another replied, “there must have been some logical reason he left.”
“Logical or not, the Black Falcons are regrouping! There’re charging!” said another.
A commanding officer quickly rode over with his horse.
“Come” he said, “let us give them a taste of how true Black Knights fight. Form ranks! Lower spears!”
Instantly, a few hundred men around him who had been retreating started forming lines while those farther off continued their march. Digging their feet into the ground, the soldiers braced themselves for the impact as the mounted officer went around to the rear. A few dozen had bows with them, and formed a line behind those with polearms. Altogether, nearly a thousand men prepared themselves for the oncoming Flack Falcons.
Randolph saw the Black Knights scurrying around, taking their positions as his men regained their speed. Already, some arrows began to fall around him, and a few met their mark to men around him. All of a sudden, a volley of arrows whistled through the air. The close distance between the attackers and defenders combined with the tight grouping of the horsemen resulted in nearly all of the projectiles finding a mark somewhere. Before a second volley could be fired, the two forces had clashed.
The sheer momentum of the horses broke through the first few ranks, but the several lines of spears quickly slowed them down. Randolph, along with a few others managed to escape any injury, but many others were not so lucky. A fierce mêlée broke out, and more than once the lieutenant was forced to use his shield against the heavy blows of axes, swords and maces. Despite the odds, the Black Knights fought bravely, but again, the sheer weight of numbers the Black Falcons carried the day as the horsemen in the back spread left and right, enveloping the opposing force.
However, this act of courage by those who choose to stay behind delayed the Falcons enough to allow the greater portion of the Black Knights to retreat to safety. The same story was told barely a mile away as the last of the 800 men sent in were killed.
The first day of the battle had ended. The loss in life was enormous for both sides. All told, nearly 200,000 men would never return to their homes and families.
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