The Fireseed Wars

Hestophes quickly passed word to his runners that the sniper who bagged the Harphaxi Captain-General would receive fifty golden rakmars. After a ragged volley of gunfire from the Hostigi, the Harphaxi line moved into the stream, riding over the fallen Temple Guard and arquebusiers, who were still trying to overrun the deserted wagon. The Styphoni cavalry rode up to the wagon, tearing the canvas covering to shreds with pistol shots. Then they turned their pistols on the Hostigi line. One cavalryman shot a Pioneer in the head. She was so battle-crazed that she'd refused to leave with the others. She had stayed behind in the pond and had grabbed his boot, trying to pull the trooper off his horse.

That poor woman!, Hestophes thought. They've done their duty, now it is our turn!

A Hostigi artillery volley boomed out, emptying saddles and knocking horses left and right like leaves tossed about in a stiff breeze.

The Harphaxi Captain-General, with his gilded armor, was on his horse in mid-stream when a rifle shot from above went clear through his helmet and out through the neck in a splatter of blood. He slumped over, and fell into the creek, joining hundreds of his fellow troopers. Before his body had time to settle, he was ridden into the bottom muck by another wave of cavalry. These were heavy lancers and they bulled their way across the dammed-up stream before the Hostigi could prepare another volley.

Hestophes raised his right hand and made a circle. In answer, his trumpeter blew the signal for the pikemen to pick up their pikes and retreat. Most hadn't waited and had formed a crenulated porcupine against the Styphoni horse. The idea was for them to retreat to the pasture, where Duke Mnestros and his Agrysi cavalry waited to come to a clash of arms against the Styphoni horse.

The Hostigi retreat was steady and unbroken. High in the trees the snipers were still taking out solitary targets, while the pikemen kept the Harphaxi cavalry contained and saving the retreating Hostigi from an otherwise certain rout. A few of the dragoons who had dropped or lost their pikes were fighting with swords and pistols. Many of the hand-gunners had helped the artillerymen move the guns back and get them behind the pike wall before they were overrun.

They were hard pressed by the Styphoni cavalry who were all over the brook and onto the rear bank, like ants on a fallen honeycomb. When the pikemen reached the pasture, they moved quickly to the sides, between the trees and out of the way as quickly as possible. Still, a few laggards were ridden down when the Harphaxi sloshed into the clearing like water over a dam. Duke Mnestros waited until about half the enemy force had filled the pasture before he sounded the attack.

The Styphoni were met by a wave of Agrysi steel with a sound like that of a hundred anvils tumbling down a cliff. Both sides hammered each other, neither side giving up a pace without immediately trying to take it back. The forces were too intermingled for the musketeers and arquebusiers on either side to risk firing for fear of friendly casualties.

When both sides were thoroughly engaged, Hestophes ordered his reserve cavalry to charge. They burst out of the trees and hit the Styphoni on both flanks. The dragoons followed with their pikes, helping to drive the enemy back into the woods and back across the little steam. Hit from above by rifle fire, in front by the Agrysi horse and on the flanks by cavalry, pikemen and halberdiers, the Styphoni broke and went into a disordered retreat, scrambling over the creek to save themselves from an enemy that appeared to be anywhere and everywhere all at once.

When the last of the Styphoni had fled the clearing across the bank and were over the brow, Hestophes gave the signal to recall his troops. Most returned except the Agrysi cavalry who were too busy riding down and killing the routing Styphoni, who were now in full retreat. Good, maybe some of the troopers will chase them all the way back to Hostigos Town and be captured, living proof of our allies from Hos-Agrys. That will give Soton something to gnaw on besides his pipe stem.

II

General Tythos had watched his superior, Captain-General Anaphon, get shot out of his saddle and tumble into the river with a sense of relief. He was only sorry it hadn't happened half a candle before, when there was still time to change command before Anaphon's attack turned into a complete disaster. The Styphon's Own Fool had led them into an ambush and instead of retreating and taking stock of the situation, Anaphon had ridden right into the thick of it.

Well, we're better off that he's gone to Hadrons realm; there's no room in Galzar's Hall for even well-intentioned idiots! Unfortunately, Tythos was not in a position to take command himself, as he was caught up in the movement of horses across the stream.