Revelyn: 1st Chronicles - When the last arrow falls (76 page)

‘I hear your grief my love,’ he said with such gentleness that she smiled, for she had expected his anger at her foolhardiness. ‘Your
Equin
have done great deeds this day,’ he continued, ‘They will not die in vain.’

And then Sylvion looked upon the enemy and saw that indeed her wonderful horses had inflicted a mighty blow. She wondered then just what might happen next, but as she did the Elder Anderlorn rode up.

‘They are about to attack from the southern flank with their horses. This will be a hard and mighty blow which we must turn back.’ And with that he rode vigorously along the front line of his mighty warriors and spoke to them encouragingly in their native tongue. His commanding voice carried far over the plains to where the wounded enemy crouched in wait. He drew his mighty sword and all under his command did likewise.

Suddenly with a noise which matched the
Equin’s
mighty charge, a huge force of a thousand mounted soldiers broke free from the southern lines of the enemy and galloped down the slope upon them. Rema looked about. They were but twelve score, outnumbered four to one, but the
Edenwhood
were warriors without peer. He saw no fear in their faces and this sent a shiver run through his spine as he realised that he was surrounded by bravery that day.

He reached to his quiver and bent an arrow to his bow. With careful aim he sent the shaft hurtling into the charging throng. He carried three quivers full of arrows. Two he had collected from those which had rained down upon the
Equin
earlier in the day, and he carried a quiver of his own featherless arrows which he would not use unless the situation became most dire.

Anderlorn raised a horn to his lips and gave two sharp blasts which echoed powerfully across the plains. High above ten eagles suddenly plummeted toward the earth as if they too would engage the enemy in some manner. Then Anderlorn gave a fearful cry and led his Scythercats full speed at the charging horses. The remaining
Edenwhood
followed on foot but so swiftly that they did not fall far behind those mounted.

Rema fired arrows in quick succession over the heads of the
Edenwhood
and each shaft found a deadly mark amongst the charging enemy. He felled ten men before the two forces slammed into each other with a mighty crunch as flesh and bone were broken. The cry of anguish which rose above the battle was chilling to all who heard.

Rema instructed Sylvion to wait with Reigin who wisely understood this command, for he knew that her safety was more important than his opportunity to do battle.

‘Come my lady, ride back a ways with me and do not fret. Your commander Rema Bowman knows what he is about. You will get the chance to use your weapon soon enough. Now is not the time. Let the
Edenwhood
do what they can do, and then we will see what is left for us.’ Sylvion nodded in agreement and together they rode back toward
Fellonshead
as the battle raged behind them.

Though they were like the sands of the sea all round about, these mounted men of the king were no match for the
Edenwhood.
The mighty scythercats were deadly predators which could leap and bound and change direction in an instant, whilst the horses which came against them had no such instinct. In great numbers the mighty cats cut down the steeds whilst the
Edenwhood
warriors on foot moved like a swarm of killer wasps who fall upon an invader in their nest.  The slaughter was great and at its centre stood Anderlorn wielding Anderwyn and none could come against him. Twenty men lay dead and dying round about him as he plied his deadly blade. Rema rode expertly about some distance from the mad mass of entangled men and horses and fired his arrows with such deadly effect that he rivalled Anderlorn in those he felled.

The eagles which had answered Anderlorn’s call swooped low along the front line of the enemy which now surged and jeered angrily as they saw the slaughter visited upon their fellow soldiers not far beyond them on the plain.  Each eagle carried an archer and each arrow fired found a deadly mark such that none was brave enough to rush out and join the fray beyond their lines. These great eagles were strong beyond any other bird which flew, but they could not carry much weight beyond their rider and a few arrows, so every now and then when they had exhausted their supply, they would peel off and land behind the battle nearby
Fellonshead
where a great pile of arrows had been collected from those which the enemy had fired earlier in the day. Once more rearmed they would join the battle overhead and great was the death they rained down from there that day. They flew until they could hardly turn a wing, but their bravery in that battle held back the army which wavered in its intent, and so their mounted men were left alone to do battle with the
Edenwhood.
 

The battle raged well into the mid noon and beyond, when it slowed, for all were exhausted by their mad action. The swords were now wielded with more defence than attack, and arrows  no longer  hit home with such deadliness than at the outset. Even Rema had slowed for he had run through all his feathered arrows and had taken to using a few selected of his own to give protection to any
Edenwhood
who were hard pressed by several attackers at once.

Suddenly in the midst of this increasing lethargy a horn was heard across the plain and in a flash all those of the king’s men still mounted turned and raced for home. This took the
Edenwhood
by surprise and they let a gap open up between themselves and their retreating enemy. But Anderlorn mustered his men quickly and they raced off in pursuit, knowing full well that now was the time to press on for victory. He did not know however that Commander Leander had judged his enemy well for as they gave chase the king’s archers let fly four volleys more of deadly arrows. The retreating horsemen then knew that they were safe, for the deadly shafts came down behind them and caught the racing
Edenwhood
in a hail of sharpened death. It would have been a disaster except that a single arrow on its flight toward the heavens had by chance found its mark in one of the exhausted eagles which still flew in battle. Anderlorn glimpsed the falling bird and heard its shriek. He saw then the silent wall of death turning to fall upon them. He had only moments to call off the pursuit, but even then a score of men were killed outright and ten scythercats were mortally wounded.

And so the battle of the
Edenwhood
was done and each side retreated to lick their wounds and count the cost which was great for all.

Sylvion had sat upon her horse and watched the battle unfold. Reigin did not move from her side, and all the while not a single word passed between them. She had experienced a growing horror at what had unfolded before her, such that in the end she could not speak at all. As the enemies finally separated and the final shower of arrows was stilled, there came a moment when she could not contain herself any longer and she spurred her mount and galloped back to where so many dead and dying lay. The ground in places ran red with blood and the smell of death was unlike anything she had ever experienced. Reigin rode at her side and watched his charge with deep concern. He had always believed that the battlefield was no place for a woman, such was the way a
Wolver
viewed the world. He was not sure how the sights and sounds might work upon her mind.

Rema rode up exhausted. Sylvion stared at him in deep concern.

‘Are you alright?’ He nodded, too tired to speak. She smiled weakly at him.

‘But not these.’ She indicated the many fallen. Rema looked around at where she was indicating and for the first time saw the overwhelming horror of it all.

‘No,’ he whispered hoarsely, ‘not these.’

Sylvion leapt from her horse and went wandering amongst the carnage.

Both Rema and Reigin went with her.

‘I want the wounded gathered here,’ she ordered, and like an angel of hope at the darkest hour she began to offer life to those left with some chance of it.

In the end she gathered some several dozen of the enemy who still lived and could walk in some manner. She had the
Edenwhood
bandage their wounds as best they could manage and then without a backwards glance led them to their lines where she sent them on their way with a most moving speech. These men had given themselves up for dead and were amazed that such caring could be shown in battle. They took back the story of her mercy, and it spread rapidly throughout the encampment.

Back where the dead lay, she made Anderlorn promise that no further harm would come to any, for she feared that the mighty scythercats would feed upon the fallen.

‘Only horses,’ she demanded. ‘No human will be taken. There is enough horse flesh here to feed a thousand beasts.’ And even this seemed repugnant to her.

Anderlorn had agreed and she then collapsed into Rema’s arms and he took her back to Fellonshead where she lay distraught upon the ground, and then she cried like she had never cried before, and he held her and thought she might never cease. Reigin stood close by and felt a great sadness come upon him, for he had learnt not to feel, and now all about him were things which needed to be felt for. Once more this woman had opened his eyes to new things. In the twilight of that first terrible day of battle he shed a tear which was a private thing and partly it alarmed him, but once done was something that he savoured greatly.

Rema left Sylvion after a time with Reigin standing watch once more. He had all the highlanders who were able go forth into the forest and out onto the plains and build as many small fires as they could manage. These were lit and from a distance he hoped it seemed that those who camped by
Fellonshead
were vastly greater than they were.

  When all was done he called the leaders together and they spoke of what had come to pass that day. They ate a little and drank from the cool water of the well which seemed to have a power to renew, but all were weary beyond measure. 

They were a sombre group, for the losses had been greater than each had hoped might be the case, despite the success which had been achieved. Rema spoke quietly in summary when all had been given the chance to report.

‘We have lost nearly four score
Edenwhood
and two dozen scythercats. There are almost a hundred wounded, of these most say they can fight on, but Elder Anderlorn suspects but half these will hold a sword in anger by the morning.’

 They were all alarmed at such a loss of these great fighters, but the numbers had been overwhelming and the enemy far braver than first thought. Even ones such as the
Edenwhood
could not dodge arrows which they do not see.

‘Sadly the
Equin
are no more save two,’ Rema continued, ‘and these may well be dead by the morning. We all witnessed their feats this day and stood in awe that such beasts could do what they did with no assistance from men, and it must be said that they had no cause to be here save some deep mystery which none can fathom. We are in their debt and their story will be told.’ Rema paused and let his words linger long upon the still night air.

All about nodded in agreement for they were all deeply moved by what the
Equin
had done that day.

‘These
Equin
have caused great harm to our enemy but still we are faced with a mighty foe, for we have lost many. Goodman’s daring raid achieved all I hoped for, but with the loss of ten dead and a score wounded from four score who set out, the highlanders are greatly diminished in number if not in bravery.’ He paused and then went on in a whisper. ‘I am a highlander and so I grieve for all who fell.’

He looked around at those who were before him. Sylvion sat quietly grieving. Reigin stood proudly aloof but seemingly softer in some manner. Ofeigr and Scion sat together uninjured despite the noble part they had played with Goodman Cantor that morning. Anderlorn and his leaders, Rhynos and Cordia were present, although Rhynos had taken a savage blow to the head which had bruised severely; but he stood proudly as if to show that he was unbowed.

Clarynda the graceful one stood alone in grief for her good friend Remur had fallen. Goodman Cantor seemed lost in thought, but he too had survived without injury; his mastery of the sword too much for any except a
Wolver.

And then he realised with a sudden deep pain to his heart. Serenna was missing.

He fought for control as a mighty fear overcame him, and he spoke as though from a far off place.

‘Where is Serenna?’ His words fell like death amongst them and no one spoke. He repeated his question more forcefully as he looked around the group.

‘Where is Serenna, has no one seen her?’

Sylvion looked up and saw his distress and her heart ached for Rema then, and she realised that she had been greatly distant to him in recent days; but she had no knowledge of Serenna.

‘She was with me.’ Clarynda spoke quietly and her words seemed to cut the air like a knife. She continued in whisper.

‘She fought by my side and saved me twice.’ All eyes were now on this tall and willowy woman who was brave beyond all expectation.

‘She fought like one possessed and slew three men before I had slain my first. It was she who fought so that I could mount my horse at Goodman’s call to retreat. I pleaded with her to come...’ And now her voice broke for the emotion that it carried was too great a burden. Rema stared hard and unbelieving and tears filled his eyes.

‘Tell me woman, what came to pass?’ His voice was but a choking murmur.

Clarynda took a breath. ‘She would not respond and I could do nothing. She told me to go and then she turned and faced them. There were too many for her. I did not see her fall, but she did not return. I am sorry Rema for her last words were...’ And once more she could not continue and all who listened felt her distress.

Rema walked to her and held her hands. He spoke gently then although he could see little now. They stood together like that as Clarynda finished her sad tale.