The Rawn Chronicles Book One: The Orrinn and the Blacksword: Unabridged (The Rawn Chronicles Series 1) by P.D. Ceanneir Page A
Authors: P.D. Ceanneir
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at heads and shins, trying to prise open the gap again. One saw Hagan not far from him and threw his axe with a mighty grunt; it turned end over end towards the king, but Hagan saw it just in time and leant to his side as the axe sailed past him. A knight behind the king caught it in his chest, and blood gushed from his mouth and stained his armour. Hagan roared and charged into the enemy with his knights at his side to try to relieve the pressure. He was in danger of becoming surrounded in the press of battle as the enemy moved closer.
Lord Ness looked with concern at the battle lines; the Roguns had stalled the shove from the rebel attack, even though there were more rebels attacking in that area than there were against the Sonoran side. The positioning had changed too, now they had moved almost parallel to the Vallkyte ridgeline.
He looked up at that ridge now and saw the Vallkyte force watching on the very edge; they arrayed in their thousands with Royal Standard raised and heraldic banners flapping in the wind. He also noted that they were far more in number than led to believe.
“Why does he not attack? Hagan could use the help,” he said to Saltyn Ri who did not answer. His next concern was Mad-daimen standing within his bodyguards with what was left of his second line. He could not fail to see Kasan now, if he was worried about the Vallkyte host he did not show it.
The Rogun Regiment of Horsed Archers were changing the tide of the battle with their curved composite bows and shorter ranged arrows. They moved up and down their beleaguered right wing firing shafts at will into the rebel’s flanks with every pass. It slackened off the stalemate and the Roguns were able to push back.
King Kasan took that moment to attack.
Ness Ri was shocked. The Vallkytes were attacking in one long line straight into the Rogun and Sonoran rear.
“What?” he cried.
The effect was devastating. Carras Knights either dispersed or pulled down as the running tide swarmed over their positions, the rear lines of the allied force crumbled and the Vallkytes now surrounded the Sonorans. Mad-daimen, now suddenly animated into action, charged with all of his reserves into the fray.
Then the Ri felt it, the use of a Rawn Arts, and it was coming from behind him.
Saltyn Ri had summoned a large blazing fireball and was holding it with both hands. He starred at Lord Ness with narrow hate filled eyes and a crooked sneer.
“Saltyn, what are you…?” said Lord Ness as he turned.
Saltyn used the wind element to throw the fireball at him with incredible speed. Ness Ri barely had time to protect himself as the fire stuck him and lifted him off his feet with the sheer force of the impact. Flame surrounded his entire body as he plummeted into the dark abyss below.
King Vanduke did not see his consul’s flaming body fall from the high cliff. He was looking in the opposite direction at the attack from the rear.
“Kasan you traitorous bastard, you’ve deceived us!” he growled to himself through gritted teeth.
He noticed that Nithi warriors augmented the Vallkyte host’s numbers. Many thousands were running into the fight. In the distance, he could just see the enemy surrounding the Sonoran King.
“By the gods...Hagan!” He spurred his mount to go to his brother’s aid, but was stopped by Lord Rett who appeared by his side.
“No, Sire!” he said in a sharp tone, and pointed to the north behind the king.
Vanduke turned and saw a mass of Vallkyte infantry running towards them, trying to block off any retreat.
Over on the Sonoran left, Hagan’s men died in droves all around him. He could see small islands of his men fighting for their lives. The smell of newly spilt blood and horse sweat clawed at his nostrils. The screams of the dying pierced his ears. He shouted out commands, but the control of battle was slipping from his grasp.
An arrow fired from close range hit him in the leg through his
Lord Ness looked with concern at the battle lines; the Roguns had stalled the shove from the rebel attack, even though there were more rebels attacking in that area than there were against the Sonoran side. The positioning had changed too, now they had moved almost parallel to the Vallkyte ridgeline.
He looked up at that ridge now and saw the Vallkyte force watching on the very edge; they arrayed in their thousands with Royal Standard raised and heraldic banners flapping in the wind. He also noted that they were far more in number than led to believe.
“Why does he not attack? Hagan could use the help,” he said to Saltyn Ri who did not answer. His next concern was Mad-daimen standing within his bodyguards with what was left of his second line. He could not fail to see Kasan now, if he was worried about the Vallkyte host he did not show it.
The Rogun Regiment of Horsed Archers were changing the tide of the battle with their curved composite bows and shorter ranged arrows. They moved up and down their beleaguered right wing firing shafts at will into the rebel’s flanks with every pass. It slackened off the stalemate and the Roguns were able to push back.
King Kasan took that moment to attack.
Ness Ri was shocked. The Vallkytes were attacking in one long line straight into the Rogun and Sonoran rear.
“What?” he cried.
The effect was devastating. Carras Knights either dispersed or pulled down as the running tide swarmed over their positions, the rear lines of the allied force crumbled and the Vallkytes now surrounded the Sonorans. Mad-daimen, now suddenly animated into action, charged with all of his reserves into the fray.
Then the Ri felt it, the use of a Rawn Arts, and it was coming from behind him.
Saltyn Ri had summoned a large blazing fireball and was holding it with both hands. He starred at Lord Ness with narrow hate filled eyes and a crooked sneer.
“Saltyn, what are you…?” said Lord Ness as he turned.
Saltyn used the wind element to throw the fireball at him with incredible speed. Ness Ri barely had time to protect himself as the fire stuck him and lifted him off his feet with the sheer force of the impact. Flame surrounded his entire body as he plummeted into the dark abyss below.
King Vanduke did not see his consul’s flaming body fall from the high cliff. He was looking in the opposite direction at the attack from the rear.
“Kasan you traitorous bastard, you’ve deceived us!” he growled to himself through gritted teeth.
He noticed that Nithi warriors augmented the Vallkyte host’s numbers. Many thousands were running into the fight. In the distance, he could just see the enemy surrounding the Sonoran King.
“By the gods...Hagan!” He spurred his mount to go to his brother’s aid, but was stopped by Lord Rett who appeared by his side.
“No, Sire!” he said in a sharp tone, and pointed to the north behind the king.
Vanduke turned and saw a mass of Vallkyte infantry running towards them, trying to block off any retreat.
Over on the Sonoran left, Hagan’s men died in droves all around him. He could see small islands of his men fighting for their lives. The smell of newly spilt blood and horse sweat clawed at his nostrils. The screams of the dying pierced his ears. He shouted out commands, but the control of battle was slipping from his grasp.
An arrow fired from close range hit him in the leg through his
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