Chapter 2

Young Man’s Game

Hoarse yell, metal-to-metal clash, and beastly noise were competing for the loudest noise in a span of two seconds. In the end, a rider fell backward and crashed to the ground. Splatters of blood flowed freely from the disfigured helmet and along the polished steel surface.

In contrast to the fallen rider, the horse galloped out of control. But, the victor proceeded without care. Anci had just bested another knight. Decked in white brigandine and bascinet helmet, he pressed his mount to pick up the pace.

The fight between cavalry was a quick affair. Both sides traded blows as they passed and then circled again for another round.

Led by Audrey, the cavalry had punched through the opponent's right-wing. From the start, they had been aiming to harass the opponent's leader at the rear. The fighting turned chaotic once the opponent realized what their aim was.

Anci’s horse galloped to catch up with Audrey. The opponent's second wave was coming. “FORM UP ON THE COMMANDER!” he shouted through the visor.

Their lances were spent, putting them at disadvantage. Against expectations, Audrey skilfully feinted and dodged her opponent.

Anci grinned devilishly at her success and then marked his new prey. The very rider whom Audrey had just dodged.

The marked man, a knight by his appearance, noticed and reacted accordingly. There was little distance between him and Anci. Fate dictated that they were going to pass on their left side.

Not many cavalrymen were confident to trade blows on their left side. Sword's range was limited while on the horse and rather hard to use on the left side.

In a situation like this, many relied on their shields. The knight did so and braced his heater shield, but Anci had other plans. When there was but a lance's distance between them, he leaped into action.

Anci put all his weight on the left stirrup and positioned his body extending to the left. He brought his two hands overhead, let his helmet pass closely to the knight's shield, and slashed diagonally at the knight's back. The broadsword clashed with a dull clang.

The targetted knight continued to ride further as if unharmed, but eventually dropped his sword and crouched weakly on his horse.

Meanwhile, a new dent was seen on the tip of Anci’s sword.

His horse was making noises as if complementing his master’s latest win. Anci grinned and patted his horse while suppressing tremendous pain from his torso.

Bah! I shouldn't twist that much.

Groaning, he looked around and counted the cavalry on his side. Twenty-seven including the men around Audrey and himself. The rest were either injured, dismounted, or straight-up dead.

Even Anci, a good rider himself, had been dismounted today. But any seasoned cavalrymen knew that being dismounted was far from the end. He simply had chased down his steed and rode it back again.

Including the last one, Anci had bested eight riders, but not without paying the price.

Part of his brigandine had been torn by a lance. His left shoulder was swollen from the fall and his right arm was lacerated.

The coat of steel plates inside his brigandine couldn’t protect him from lance's attack. Even without penetration, a rib or two was broken, making breathing painful.

From the start, their group had been fighting against a hundred heavy cavalry and then another fifty. Surviving alone was already an achievement.

As he continued to ride, his commander was slowing down.

Anci caught up with her. “Change of plan?” he asked Audrey while opening his visor and slowing down his horse to a trot.

“Anci, we’ve done it!” Audrey exclaimed.

“Huh, isn’t the goal to capture the Viscount?”

“Not necessarily, Lans told me if we force the Viscount out then it’s already a win for us.”

“Ah, fkin good! I’m still in shape but my horse needs rest. Then shall we?”

“Yes, let’s pull back and regroup.” Audrey agreed with his plan.

Anci let out another groan as he unconsciously twisted his injured torso to reach the saddlebag. With his foot, he gently coerced his horse to turn around. After a few tries, he finally found what he was looking for. A brass circular object which he lifted and blew the mouthpiece.

The mini buccina made a unique sound and he repeated the signal twice. Now, a few more cavalrymen headed in his direction.

The opponent cavalry was in pursuit, but they were wearing plate armor which weighed them down. Draining their mounts' stamina as they went. Compared to them, Audrey’s forces were lighter with only ringmails or brigandines. Even with less expensive warhorses, they were able to outrun the enemy.

Meanwhile, the main battle between Michael's center column and Lansius’ ragtag army in the trenches raged on.

***

Viscount side

“What the hell is going on?” Michael asked his staff who were just as puzzled.

A senior staff rode his horse further to get a better look. Still, he couldn't find an answer. Right now, they could only watch as the enemy formation slowly disappeared into a ditch. This greatly confused Michael and his command staff.

A ditch or moat was generally used as a barrier to impede or block movement. Not a place to hide troops. There was a tunneling technique, but that was for sieges.

This turn of events attracted a lot of attention from the rank and file who began to speculate.

Unsure, but pressed for action, Michael ultimately sent his crossbowmen to test the enemy. A brief but brutal shooting exchange followed and their side was driven out. The opponent had a better cover inside their ditch and could fire with impunity.

The sight of their retreating crossbowmen disturbed the entire column. Before it was just a four-to-one advantage. Everybody expected an easy battle. Now fear began to seep in.

“Marshall, perhaps it’s time to commit our fighting men,” the staff advised.

“Very well, signal the men.” Michael quickly agreed. They knew that wasting more time would compromise the troops' morale further.

As ordered, the vanguard in plate armors and heater shields led the attack. Marching in loose formation, they endured hails of crossbow attacks.

Bravery was present that day. The vanguard only broke formation to charge when the distance was a stone's throw away.

Michael lost sight after the vanguard descended into the ditch. Behind them, hundreds of men-at-arms rushed closely. They were less equipped and relied on the vanguard's breakthrough.

Despite the courageous assault, the men behind were withered by the constant crossbow attack.

“Why are they not getting distracted?" Michael vented his frustration.

To appease the young Marshall, a senior staff pointed his hand to where a few brave men were making a defensive line with shields. However, the attempt had only lasted for a few minutes before collapsing under relentless crossbow attacks.

"Marshall, there's more than one ditch! There's at least two behind the first one," a scout from the front reported hastily.

Michael winced while his staff was in disbelief. Only now did they understand why the attack didn't lessen at all.

In no time, their side was mowed down and the assault began to falter. Many broke formation and fled.

It was a devastating blow to them. Everybody had comrades or relatives on the frontlines. Michael too had retinues whom he genuinely called friends. Their lives were at stake, but there was nothing he could do. The assault must succeed at all costs.

"Marshal, some are fleeing, we should-"

"I know, round them up." Michael sighed as he gave the order.

The staff sent tens of horsemen to chase the fleeing men. They would be coerced to regroup or face the sword.

A rider galloped from the rear. He came to an abrupt stop after finding Michael. "Marshal, the enemy cavalry broke our ring wing! They're going after Lord Robert."

Michael instinctively pulled the reins of his horse. However, a knight grabbed his arms and stopped the young man. “Marshal, you are needed here,” the knight said sternly.

“But the Viscount is under threat!”

“You can’t leave this spot or else our entire formation will collapse!”

Michael listened and groaned at the words. It took a while, but Michael eventually cooled down his head.

“Marshall, the Viscount should be fine, he was a gallant knight in his younger days. Many of our best knights were with him." The knights tried to allay Michael's fear.

“Then, tell me, what’s our next move?”

“I believe we just need to focus on winning what’s in front of us.”

“Alright," Michael stated after getting his courage back. "Send the rest of the troops forward!”

“Marshal, I believe we’re the only group left intact.”

“Then we shall commit ourselves." Michael made his decision.

Words that the Viscount was retreating had spread like wildfire. Before it could cause a major problem, Michael had ordered a general attack.

The knights marched in front of their Marshal. Behind them, the last group of men-at-arms and the levied troops followed. The latter were trained peasants with little armor and weaponry. Their inadequacy was only remedied by their sheer size.

***

Lansius

The sound of fighting was deafening in the trenches. It took the messengers a few tries before getting my attention.

“Commander, a message from Master Calub.”

“What did he say?” I yelled back.

“Traps are working. We’re holding.”

I heard it while putting my weight on the right foot to hold the crossbow’s stirrup-like metal parts. "You hear that?” I asked Hugo while drawing the string with two hands, effectively priming the mechanism.

“Latter, Boss, I’m busy,” Hugo answered while fending off a knight.

Much swearing was heard along with the frequent metal-to-metal clash.

“Left-left!” I warned the guys in front after I had loaded a bolt.

Hugo ducked to the left and I squeezed the lever trigger. The shock from the released string reverberated violently in my hands. The wooden shaft flew and exploded upon impact, sending shrapnel to its vicinity.

The knight on the receiving end limped backward. The steep tip of the bolt protruded from his breastplate. This caused slight panic as the opponent tried to evacuate the fallen knight. Simultaneously, another knight was trying to take his spot.

However, the trenches were just two men wide and it wasn’t easy to move around, especially in plate armor. Not to mention, the red clay-like ground was quite slippery.

“Nice shot,” Hugo praised as he stood up. He had been covering his face from being peppered by wooden shrapnels. Together with another squire, they squared off against the unprepared opponent.

Unlike the attacker, we came prepared by tying ropes into our footwear. The coarse ropes provided good traction for working or fighting. Meanwhile, the knights in their sabatons were pressed hard just to move without slipping.

This situation had been ongoing for a while. Both sides were trying to push the other into submission.

Since the assault came, we in the first trench couldn’t use crossbows as freely anymore. It became mainly a melee affair. But the crossbow already had done a fine job in blunting the assault.

Moreover, the bulk of our crossbowmen was actually placed in the second trench behind. From there they could fire freely at any incoming enemy above ground. Their ranged attacks were our best protection, otherwise, we would be swarmed by the enemy.

A loud clang pulled me back from my thoughts. I watched Hugo trade several blows before turning it into a sword grapple. With a thrust, his sword tip dug deep into the knight’s unprotected inner right elbow.

Hugo wasn't the greatest fighter, but in a close confined space like this, he was more agile, also sure-footed from using the rope trick.

The wounded opponent retreated and this time another knight took his spot flawlessly. This unnerved me, the opponent was getting better at this.

Hugo swapped out, another pair was being brought to the front.

The lull presented an attack window. Seizing our chance, we fired our crossbows, but this time, the opponents were ready with shields.

I instinctively reloaded my crossbow and noticed the sounds of heavy breathing.

Below the ground, the air was hotter and humid. Men in full-face helmets were having difficulties breathing through their small vents. Because of that many of our opponents let their visors open despite the risk.

While rarely if ever a shot landed on the face but the wooden shaft may burst on impact against a metal surface. In turn, spraying deadly wooden shrapnel to any unprotected faces. The crossbow was such a deadly weapon.

The opponent had tried to use it against us but not in good numbers. They were certainly not prepared for this kind of fighting.

“Keep it up! After we stop the vanguard, the rest will fall,” I rallied my men.

They were exhausted and didn't respond verbally, but their eyes were brimming with determination.

Before long, the new pair struggled and Hugo called for another swap. Fighting against a well-armored opponent was no easy task.

This time, a bearded man moved forward. He wore a metal helmet along with a circular shield and a sword. From his looks, he was eager to fight.

“Careful, don’t get cocky,” I warned the bearded guy.

He nodded and I remembered him, an ex-local thug turned merchant. He and his pair fought admirably, however, the opponents were no slouch either.

"Get down," the crossbowman beside me yelled as he found his chance.

Already anticipating the attack, our guys ducked. The bolt flew straight but narrowly missed the knight's helmet. I fired too but the bolt glanced at the other knight's pauldron and flew harmlessly into the earthen wall with a dull sound.

After we had spent our ranged attack, the opponent suddenly charged at us.

“Fallback,” Hugo ordered.

We withdrew more panicked than orderly. Suddenly, one of the guys screamed. I stopped and saw his shoulder pierced by a spear. Blood was gushing through his gambeson.

I tossed my crossbow to my assistant and dashed forward. "Lend me a hand," I cried as I dragged the wounded guy as fast as I could.

Hugo and the bearded man in front were close to their limit as they answered multiple attacks at once. The opponents rushed like raging bulls.

A spear slipped and nearly impaled me. Then, a female in ringmail moved past me and used her shield to cover us from attack.

“Carla, don’t get reckless,” her friend warned her from behind.

“Mind your business! If they fall then we’re also going to die,” Carla said defiantly.

“That’s more like it," I commended while redoubling the effort to the wounded man. We picked up the pace and suddenly the width along the trenches doubled.

We had reached what we called the gateway. The spot was wider and had a functional wooden fence to block enemy advances.

Hugo and Thomson were the last who passed the gate. The men in charge of the gate readily brandished their spears and fired their crossbows against the incoming knights.

The attacker's momentum was blunted after we fell several of them. Wounded and out of stamina, they retreated, unable to charge past this point.

I breathed a sigh of relief.

My gamble had paid off. These bunch of misfits actually fight and didn't run away. Even without reputation and nobility status, I had made them fight to survive. But this was an expected outcome because I deceived them.

I had led my ragtag army to a place where they couldn’t run but fight for their lives. These trenches' strategies were essentially that. From the beginning, my problem wasn’t only the enemy, but also my own men’s willingness to fight.

However, I gambled that even without beliefs or ideologies, men always fight for survival. And it seemed that I was right on the money.

I looked at the men and saw they were bruised and batter, but still motivated. Generally, nobody was trying to die by not doing their part.

Hugo with his back on the earthen wall reorganized our troops. In little time, a fresh group of thirty men sallied out.

I heard rallying cries as they exited the gateway and clashed with the opponents.

"Tough lad," Huggo commented.

I nodded. "What's the words from the other sectors?"

"Messengers," Hugo shouted.

Two men perked up and headed toward us. To sum it up, the fighting was still raging.

Eh, anything other than not getting wiped up is good.

I sat on the ground to rest my legs.

Hugo was getting treatment for his small wounds. I saw the bearded guy got a cut on his cheek and lost a lump of hair from a narrow slash. Part of his beard was reddened with blood.

I took a deep breath. The realization that these men bleed for me was overwhelming.

The wooden gate came alive again. The second group was being pushed back but the enemy was unable to take this place.

We rotated the men and sent the third group.

A good amount of time had elapsed, but our men hadn't been pushed back.

"Hugo,” I called.

“Yeah, Boss. I feel it too. Come on lads, for the finale!”

Even without telling him, he already knew what was going on.

Hugo personally led a contingent of his best men and sortied out. The rest of us followed closely behind.

We found our team and the enemy was locked in intense fighting. But the knights were finished. Their breath was ragged and their movement sluggish.

The heat and humidity had robbed them of their stamina. Trapped inside the trench with our crossbowmen from the second line threatening their escape route, they could only surrender.

Someone who was the deputy commander was kneeling. His helmet which was adorned with a great plume was cast aside. Then he handed over his sword to me as a token of surrender.

The real commander, a much younger person, was being treated. They said he lost an eye from shrapnel.

“I accept your surrender and guarantee the safety of your men who lay down their arms.” I reiterated the words whispered by Hugo. I was not adept at this kind of speech.

My men clamored as I said the words. In loud emotional voices and with their fists in the air, they shouted victory. Many of them looked at me intensely and that made me quite uncomfortable.

“VICTORY!” The words echoed and circulated throughout the trenches. Soon the fighting ceased.

As Hugo reorganized the troops, out of nowhere, a large shadow loomed from above. I found the source and recognized the female cavalryman on ground level. She must've trotted along the trenches until she found me.

“So you survive?” Audrey said after opening her visor.

“You seem to be displeased?” I retorted.

That made Audrey laugh so hard that her visor came down in a comedic way. Then it was our turn to laugh.

Before the laughter subsided, I ordered the men to bring back the ladder. We flew our banner first to avoid being shot by the second trench by mistake. Audrey was already present so it wasn't a big deal.

I climbed up and witnessed the battlefield which was littered with casualties. Across the grassy plains, many were groaning in pain. Some writhed while a few calmly waited for the slow coming of death.

The aftermath was always a sad scene.

In the distance, the enemy’s retreat turned into a rout.

Audrey’s cavalry return was the deciding factor. Her cavalry had formed a wide line and made a great show of force just by appearing.

In truth, there were only a mere twenty-seven riders. However, to the remaining enemy, it was evidently too much to bear.

This was to be expected as we had isolated their commanders and the vanguard. What was left were mostly levied men, the armed villagers with little motivation. The few remaining knights and men-at-arms retreated. No longer did they fly their banners.

“Hugo," I called.

“Yes, Boss.”

“Look at all those beautiful horses and knights for ransom. What do you think we should do?”

Hugo laughed. “Time for treasure hunting.”

Hugo's words were greeted with even louder laughter from the men. They quickly went to the third trench where we hid our horses.

I saw Anci approaching. He looked mauled, but still alive and kicking as per usual. “Anci, you go nuts in there,” I said to encourage him.

“Haha, eazy," Anci replied. "Come, Hugo, don’t be a slowpoke," he taunted as he rode forward. Hugo hadn't even saddled up.

“Fook you Anci! Fook you and your blasted horse,” Hugo cursed.

That drew laughter from the troops. Anci and Hugo actually grew up together as squires to the same knight.

Then something came up in my head. “Audrey, if they wanted to surrender, give them leniency. Arrange for talks if you could.”

Her visor returned to its place, Audrey threw a hard glance at me before nodding once and spurring her horse forward.

***