Black wizards - Douglas Niles [146]
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The troops of Doncastle made a valiant stand at the King's Gate. One brigade of human mercenaries shattered against the pikes and swords of O'Roarke's men. The Sword of Cymrych Hugh claimed a dozen or more mercenaries. O'Roarke rode like a maniac, directing his charger into the thick of the fighting, flailing about with a great two-handed sword. The man looked like he had been born to battle.
But then the ogres marched into the rear of the defenders. As the rest of the Scarlet Guard charged the broken position, Hugh O'Roarke led a futile counterattack. Dozens of his men fell around him, pushing their leader to safety. At the last, the bandit leader was swept along with his men routing from the fight – those few that had survived the bloody onslaught of the ogres.
The disaster developed swiftly. Within minutes of the first appearance of the monstrous troops, word spread through the ranks that the battle was lost. With no hope of victory, the men of Doncastle were reluctant to face their doom.
They fled through the abandoned streets of the city, away from the enveloping wings of the royal army. In chaos and confusion, the panic-stricken mass poured through the Druid's Gate, into the wilds of Dernall Forest.
Tristan and his companions stood until the line collapsed around them. It was easy to foresee the inevitable result of the attack, so Tristan again decided to keep his friends together and alive rather than staying to make an heroic but fruitless stand.
"Stay together!" he cried, holding Robyn's hand. Daryth and Pawldo flanked the druid, while Canthus raced behind.
Hundreds of men, eyes wide with panic, pressed around them. Robyn was torn from his grasp by the force of the retreat. As he saw her black hair borne away by the mob, he panicked and reached for the Sword of Cyrmrych Hugh, ready to battle his way to her side, if need be.
But somehow the druid managed to stop moving, standing serenely with her eyes closed, and miraculously the fleeing soldiers avoided her, leaving her as an island in the raging river of retreat.
They started moving again, swept along by the crowd, and suddenly the prince recognized a tousled head of red hair. He pushed through a pair of bedraggled swordsmen and took Fiona's arm.
"Let go!" she cried, and then recognized him. "What happened? I didn't expect to see you running away."
"Come on," he said, forcing her back to his companions.
"I can take care of myself." She waved her shortsword. "I'm staying here to stick this into the king's heart as soon as he gets here!"
"Join us – you'll have another chance!" Tristan said, maintaining his hold on her as they were swept along.
They passed through the Druid's Gate as smoke was beginning to fill the air. Once outside of the city, Robyn led the way. The troops followed the pathways through the woods, but she took her companions through the thick of the forest. It seemed that she opened a path with a wave of her hand before her.
"They've put the city to the torch," muttered Daryth, looking behind him. The Calishite plainly regretted their flight.
"What now?" asked Robyn. "The rebels can't run forever. Will the king and his wizards try to slay them all?"
Tristan couldn't meet her gaze. "I'm sure that the sorcerer will not rest until every shred of resistance is crushed from the people of Alaron!"
"And then Gwynneth, perhaps – or Moray? Tristan, we can't let this happen!"
"What do you want me to do?" he demanded.
Robyn gestured into the forest. "You can gather that army and fight again! We'll stand with you!"
"She's right!" Daryth's eyes lit. "The men of Doncastle were not slaughtered – they fled. Rally them, and you'll have an army that can stand again!"
"You must!" cried Fiona, her eyes flashing. "My father died to bring word of that army – Doncastle died trying to stop it! You can't let those sacrifices go in vain!"
"There's too many in the king's legions – this force will never be able to stop them!"
"That's not what you said at Freeman's Down," said Robyn, a little sharply.
"And why do you suppose