Red Sky at Dawn by D. A. Adams Page A

pikes, and the cacophony resounded up to Molgheon with ominous familiarity, as soldiers in the Great Empire did a similar thing with the pommels of their swords. She wanted to unleash a volley on them, but the rear lines were still moving into the kill zone, so she had to wait.
    It wasn’t hard to find the main leadership, for while the common soldiers marched, the officers rode on exquisite horses that were adorned with ornate blankets. Within a couple of minutes, Molgheon roughly mapped their command structure and prepared a firing order for when she did attack. First, she would strike down the dozen that she deduced were the highest ranking because they were closest to the middle and had the most lavish adornments. Then, she would fire on the orcs near Vishghu to help the ogre hold the bluff flank. Finally, with any remaining arrows, she would aim for the river-flank and take down those officers. When she was out, she would join whichever front needed her worse.
    ***
    Orcs stood mere feet from Vishghu, thumping their chests and chanting at the freed slaves. With her height, the ogre could see over their heads and down the incline at the rows and rows of orcs, and for the first time, she was truly scared. Even when the sand lion had attacked them on the Crimson Road, she hadn’t been deeply afraid. Now, however, seeing the enormity of her foes, she wanted to flee the battle and run for the pass, and the thought crossed her mind that this must’ve been how the orcs trapped inside the barracks had felt before Roskin killed them. Despite the fear, she held her ground and focused on her training.
    Without warning, the orcs lowered their pikes and charged. She set her feet and found her balance. When their pikes were almost to her body, she swung horizontally to block the ones before her, and shattered four poles. A fifth had its weapon knocked from its grasp. She brought the club back with a backhand and caught one squarely on the shoulder. It sprawled backwards, toppling those beside and behind. Vishghu crushed several before they could regain their feet. Seeing the carnage, the second wave hesitated and gave her time to recover. When they finally attacked, the result was much the same.
    Behind her, the freed slaves cheered and shouted, but she had no time to celebrate as the third wave rushed in more courageously than the second. Six orcs climbed over the bodies of the first two waves and drove at her with their pikes. Vishghu drew back and swung a sweeping blow that killed three on contact and scattered the others. They crawled back towards their lines, searching for cover, but she pounced on them and finished them off before they could escape.
    The fourth wave stopped its attack and dragged bodies away from the line. Vishghu took the opportunity to help the elves to her left. Together, they pushed back the orcs and gained several feet down the field. Once the orcs had regrouped, a new cluster rushed forward, this time stopping just short of her reach and stabbing at her legs. With her left hand, she grabbed a pike and snapped off the blade. Then, she hurled it towards the crowd. The ones in the front ducked the spinning blade, but two behind them were not so lucky. The orc that had lost its weapon retreated from the pack, but the others continued thrusting at her legs. She parried their attempts with her club and snapped another pole with her left hand. This time, she kept the blade and rushed the unarmed orc. It squealed in fear, but the noise was cut short as she drove the pike’s blade into its chest. She then backhanded two others with the club. They collapsed against the bluff wall, and the remaining ones backed into their lines.
    ***
    Roskin lay motionless in the mud, waiting for Leinjar’s signal. His legs were in the rushing water up to mid-calf, and occasionally fish would brush against him. Several crawdads had moved across his chest, and one had even burrowed into his beard. To his right and left, the other