Warrior Priest of Dmon-Li - Brian Pratt [139]
A moment later, Fifer exclaims, “No! They’re the Empire’s men!”
“Damn!” swears Jiron as they turn to the west and ride hard to keep ahead of them.
Riding fast, they maintain their lead but aren’t successful in widening it. “A road!” Miko cries as he sees it appear ahead of them.
“Which way to Colton?” James asks Fifer.
Pointing east he replies, “That way, I think.”
If they moved down the road to the east, the riders behind them would easily move and close with them. Giving up on that idea, they take the road to the west.
As they race westward, a river begins to come into view. A rather large army stands on this side of the river, facing to the west. Easily a thousand men strong, they stand before a bridge spanning the river.
On the other side of the bridge is another army, one from the Empire.
Horns begin sounding from both sides as the Empire’s troops move forward to claim the bridge, a hail of arrows flies from the defenders, mowing down the first line.
They slow their horses, James glances back at the riders behind them. When the riders see the army ahead of them, they come to a stop and then quickly turn around. No longer threatened from behind, they pause and take in the situation ahead of them at the bridge.
Bolts and arrows fly from one side to the other, bringing men down. The crossbowmen of the Empire outnumber their counterparts on the other side to devastating effect. Half of them appear to be targeting Madoc’s bowmen while the others are being more selective, helping to clear the bridge so their footmen can advance further across.
“I don’t think they’re going to keep them on the other side of the river for long,” Jiron says.
“They should’ve destroyed the bridge,” James adds.
“Probably didn’t have the equipment nor time before they showed up,” reasons Fifer. He glances to James and asks, “Can you do it?”
“Probably, but that would kill everyone from both sides who’re on it,” he replies.
From the rear section of the defending army, they see men begin pointing to where they’re sitting, watching the battle. A squad detaches itself and makes its way toward them.
“Recognize any of them?” James asks Fifer.
Shaking his head, he replies, “No, I don’t think so.”
Sighing, James says, “Let’s go meet them and hope they won’t immediately attack us.” He takes the lead, Fifer next to him as they move forward.
The leader of the approaching group comes close then raises a hand, indicating they should stop. “What’s your business here?” he asks.
“Busy?” asks James as the sound of the fighting by the river intensifies. The amount of arrows striking the attackers is beginning to decrease as the Empire’s crossbowmen continue taking out Madoc’s archers.
“Sort of,” the man replies. “Now, what’re you doing here?”
“We’re here to help,” Fifer explains, causing the man to gaze in his direction.
“Help?” the man laughs at them. “How can you possibly help?”
“If that bridge was gone,” Fifer asks as he points over to it, “would they be able to cross?”
Shaking his head, the man replies, “They’d not be able to ford the river for several more miles down stream.” He gives them a closer inspection and continues, “But I don’t see how that can happen.”
Fifer glances to James who resignedly nods his head and says, “You get us close and we’ll take it out.”
He points back to the bridge and says, “Look! They’re almost on this side. We would’ve pulled out long ago but we got word they’re evacuating Colton and need time to get everyone out.”
“Nevertheless,” James tells him. “You get me close and that bridge is history.”
“Do you even need to be close?” asks Jiron.
Looking surprised like the thought had never even occurred to him, he gives him a weary grin and replies, “I guess not, but the closer I am the easier it will be.”
“Then let’s move closer,” Jiron says as he starts to move forward past the squad of men.
James follows him and the squad joins them as they move toward the river. When they reach the rear guard of the defenders, a place where the bolts of the Empire can’t reach, he stops.
“Now