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“They’re not going to get all of them,” says Ceadric.

“No, they aren’t,” agrees Jiron.

“Be ready,” Illan says as he draws forth his sword.

Behind them, the catapults fall silent as the approaching soldiers close the distance and move out of the target range. Catapults are for long range attacks, not much good for in close fighting.

The last volley of crystals soars over head, some of the slingers aiming for the remaining crossbowmen at the rear of the charging men. “There’s their cavalry!” hollers one of Ceadric’s men.

From his position on the walls of Lythylla, Lord Pytherian sees the hundreds of cavalrymen emerging from around both sides of the palisade. “Send forth our men,” he tells Henri beside him.

Henri turns to the men waiting in the courtyard below and gives the signal. First through the gates rides the cavalry, five hundred strong. They split up on the far side of the bridge, half moving to meet the oncoming riders on the right and the other half those on the left.

Illan takes note of the riders spewing forth from Lythylla, coming to their aid. “About time,” he mumbles. The lightning from the orbs is creating merry havoc with the men charging his position. Though their momentum is faltering, it isn’t stopping. “Jiron! Ceadric!” he hollers as he sits his horse with sword in hand. “Hold your position! Let them come to us.”

The first line of soldiers runs into the barrier between the staffs, their faces showing the startlement of hitting the unexpected barrier. Then they become squashed against it as other soldiers hit them from behind. Around the far sides of the barrier the soldiers encounter Jiron on the right and Ceadric on the left and the battle is joined.

Delia and her slingers are protected from the onslaught by the barrier and the fighters on either side. “Fire at will!” she calls out as she sets a slug to sling and begins twirling. Letting loose, she watches the slug fly through the air and strike a soldier square upon the forehead. The man stands stunned for a moment then disappears from sight as he falls to the ground and is trampled by the men coming up behind him.

At first she was worried that the barrier would prevent the slugs from going through, but James had allowed for that. You can’t imagine the relief she felt when her first slug went through the barrier. Now, they rain a constant hail upon those wedged on the far side. Most of the slugs simply bounce off the soldier’s armor, but a few find their mark and take them down.

Given the chance she would lead her slingers off the field of battle, this is no place for them. If the barrier were to fail, they would be cut down in no time. Out of the corner of her eye she keeps track of the fighting going on around her. Jiron and his men are devastating the line of enemy soldiers, Shorty stays closer to Delia and her bunch as his knives wouldn’t be as effective in such a melee.

A group of Parvatis moves against Ceadric’s position and wades into them with both swords felling men fast. “To the left!” she cries to her slingers. “Take out the Parvatis!” Turning slightly left, she winds her sling up and lets loose another slug. It flies through the air striking a Parvati in the side of the head. As he falls, more slugs and arrows from Hedry’s group begin to take their toll.

The memory of the Parvati Qyrll whom she had met once while he was staying with James flashes across her mind. A good man and honorable, she dislikes having to kill his countrymen, possibly his kin. But what else can she do?

From the edges of the battlefield, the sound of horses neighing can be heard as the two cavalry forces meet. The riders from Lythylla are outnumbered but are holding them at bay while their foot soldiers rush to their aid. Still streaming from the gates of Lythylla, they race as fast as possible to join in the fray. Already, the number of allies on the field is approaching that of the Empire.

The light from the Star moves throughout the battlefield as Miko tends the wounded as only he