Radford listened to Lord Kayne spew orders for the three companies of infantry, the mounted archers, dismounted archers, crossbowmen and for the horsemen, he, the Young Hawk would be given command of. Adrenaline pumped through his veins. He was excited realizing this was the moment he had been training for all his life. He was thoroughly excited.
“Mr. Coventry, ride out toward the river. Bring Lord Smallwood back into the fold” Radford explained to the Man-at-Arms who accompanied him on the reconnaissance. He issued similar instructions to the other men in his party, telling each of the vedettes to assemble to the west of the ridge running south from Knob’s Hill. It was this high ground that would be the focal point of Lashton’s defense; or hasty ambush.
The archers spread out across Knob’s Hill facing East, with an arrow nocked and a half dozen more stuck in the ground in front of each archer. The crossbowmen took up a position along the river to the south prepared to contain the Ryger Host. The center infantry company remained in a column formation at its eastern end along the trade road, with the rear half in line formation hidden behind trees. This formation gave the impression of a unit in column for road march. The Horse Archers spread out in picket formation covering the front of the Lashton Host. The left and right companies remained displaced rearward in echelon left and right providing a wedge formation. The infantry was set to attack, rather than defend. An audacious defense, to say the least.
Lord Radford Lashton assembled his group of Lancers on the reverse slope of the hill. He and a few of the other young lords rode to the top of the hill to watch the battle unfold below. “Ok, little Pecker,” Radford mumbled to his bird. “It is time.” He gave the Hawk some seed and forced him to take flight. Radford’s eyes rolled back into his head, going white as he worged into seeing what his bird, Pecker could see. He would watch the engagement from the Hawk’s perspective.
As the Ryger scouts emerged, they met a hail of arrows from the rapidly advancing mounted Archers, also known as
The Wake. The Wake could not move too quickly, as their mounts were constantly adjusting to locations of the dispersed trees. The scouts could do nothing but fall back on their Vanguard in disorder. A few of their number remained wounded amongst the trees. The remainder would indeed communicate the encounter and their perceptions to their commander. For them, they saw the mounted archers only, no infantry.
Fifteen minutes later, a group of fifty lancers surged forward at a hearty canter. The trees presented too many obstacles to spur into a gallop or headlong charge. The mounted archers of the Wake made good use of the trees, hiding behind them while aiming and focusing on the advancing cavalry formation. The Ryger cavalry did not falter, they held their course and charged forward. The members of the
The Wake moved off to the north west, drawing the pursuing cavalry with them. The horsemen used their knees and feet to guide their trained horses to run in the direction they wanted them to run in. Their drilled movements honed so that rider and mount moved as one. The Ryger horse chased the fleeing archers through the trees. As they ran, the archers would swivel in their saddle loosing well aimed arrows, reaching their mark more often than not. Their movement was slowed by rough terrain and the presence of the trees, This gave
The Wake time to delay the enemy cavalry, take aim while shooting at them. They pulled the cavalry under the watchful eyes of Knob’s Hill and the Lashton Long Bowmen who unleashed a flurry of arrows impacting skillfully amongst the enemy Cavalry. Most of the rushing lancers were caught up in the deadly swarm of arrows, unable to continue…breathing. A handful of survivors retreated back into the woods to report on their encounter.
Roughly two hundred Ryger swordsmen formed up in line formation, four deep by fifty across the front. They faced the center company and in range of the crossbowmen near the river. Lord Ryger’s veteran infantry knew not to advance; holding their ground. The center infantry drew up into line formation across the road with a seventy-man frontage, also four men deep. The crossbowmen began a systematic volley fire upon the Ryger Vanguard, forcing them to drop back roughly four hundred meters beyond the range of the Lashton crossbowmen.
Both sides adjusted their lines now that contact had been established. Lord Ryger did not have an accurate view of the battleground in front of him. His enemy had chosen the battlefield, leaving the man insecure about his dispositions. He wasted precious time trying to decide what to do. The Lashton flank companies moved up to within eighty yards of the center company of infantry. They arrayed themselves in a similar formation as the lead company with seventy and eighty-man frontages, swords at the ready and shields prepared for what came next.
The Wake repositioned themselves on the left flank of the infantry prepared to provide assistance should the Ryger host attack. The Archers on Knob’s Hill tightened their formation, choosing sightlines that gave theme the best advantage of striking enemy formations.
Ninety minutes after the initial encounter, over nine hundred Ryger infantrymen carrying swords, shields and battleaxes, rushed towards the Lashton Line screaming. It was a wild and intense scream as though each of them were mad. The Ryger formation was slightly larger than the Lashton formation, but the crossbowmen to the south and the mounted archers to the north prevented the Ryger infantry from overlapping the Lashton force. Infantrymen on both sides hacked away at one another. Loud screams for help and mother were heard from both sides of the fight.
Just as the melee was beginning to rise in tempo, a force of heavy cavalry, lead by Lord Ryger himself surged to the left of the Ryger line, slashing into the fleeing crossbowmen. Most of the dismounted and lightly armored archers dropped their pieces in panic as they ran. Radford could see the threat to the Lashton right. It was time to deploy his cavalry. He was closest to the decisive point on the battlefield. He relieved himself from his worg, turned to his messenger. “Mr. Coventry, please inform my lord father of the development on the right. Tell him, I am advancing with the Light Cavalry.”
“Aye, m’lord,” Mr. Coventry gave spurs to his destrier riding off to find Lords Rennault and Kayne.
Radford wheeled his horse around trotted to the remainder of his light cavalry, numbering roughly sixty horse. “Heavy cavalry and lancers are threatening our right. They could roll up our infantry’s flank at any moment. Our crossbowmen have broken and are fleeing in this direction. We ride to secure the flank! Ride NOW!!” He wheeled about, pulled the lance from its stirrup and headed down the hill knowing his lancers were behind him in a spread-out wedge formation. He guided on the right most edge of the Lashton infantry. The fleeing crossbowmen continued to run past the advancing cavalry. He could see the Ryger cavalry turn into the swordsmen; their flank hanging out in the wind.
Radford lowered his lance, leaning into the advance. He yelled a screeching hawk-like sound as the force of horsemen struck into the left flank of the Ryger cavalry. Men and horse on both sides dropped to the ground or flew into the air with the on-rushing collision. Most survived long enough to turn about and continue with the fight. An enraged melee erupted all along the front from the river bank to Knob’s Hill.
The Wake continued to harass the Ryger left flank as the Steel Hawks prepared their assault. The Ryger bowmen moved up behind their infantry and began unleashing a torrent of arrows into Lashton infantry and horse alike. The Lashton bowmen, from their position of dominance upon the hill commenced a fusillade of fire down upon the enemy below, targeting bowmen and isolated infantry when available. The outcome of the battle hung in the balance.
Lord Smallwood followed Lord Radford down the hill. He felt the pounding of his horse’s hooves as they raced forward. He held his shield up close, peering over the top, his couched lance held firmly, leaning forward. His lance struck the side of a mail armored horseman, sending the man flying from his mount. The man looked to his left with eyes wide, in realization he was about to die and there was nothing he could do about it. This was the first man, Lord Smallwood ever killed. He had no time to think about it. He knew he had to continue forward, drop his broken lance and unsheathe his sword.
Cedric turned about, charged into the Ryger men with other Lashton horse, cutting them down as they rode. He lashed back and forth high on adrenaline, pumping his arm left and right, slashing and hacking at anyone wearing the wrong colors this fine day. He did not count how many men fell before him, just that he was frightened out of his mind and allowed his training to take over. He was certain he would die at any moment. When things appeared to be lightening up for the Lashton Lancers, Cedric found himself out of enemy to attack. He called for a group of eight lancers to follow him into the enemy rear.
Upon reaching the backside of the fighting infantry, he spied the Ryger bowmen sniping away at Lashton men. He quickly spurred his horse forward leading a small group into the Ryger bowmen in hopes of preventing them from killing too many of his friends. The outcome of this fight hung in the balance.
