The High Road (On Hold)

Chapter Sixteen

          Only moments after the first, several more screams echoed throughout the forest coming up through the column. Stéaphan scanned his troops atop his horse to discover the cause of the commotion.

One of his men crumbled to his knees, an arrowshaft sticking out from his torso.
They were being ambushed.

An instant after the arrows met their marks, screaming men brandishing claymores and Galloglaich axes charged the formation, hacking their weapons at the soldier nearest them. Stéaphan called to his men "Form center! Defend the carriage!" One of the charging attackers screamed "Kill the wench!" to the men behind him, pushing closer to the carriage.

At that, an arrow then struck the carriage only inches from the window on the side door. Stéaphan looked at Meriadoc and nodded. Both the captain and the flag sergeant spurred their mounts to the advance. Stéaphan readied his arm and hurled his spear into the mass of assailants. Despite it being a defensive spear and not a lighter, shorter javelin, it struck a man dead in the chest and he toppled over, clutching the shaft now impaling him.

Stéaphan drew his sword and galloped straight into the fray. He swung his sidearm downward and felt it strike an assailant. He looked down and saw the man's helmeted face now sliced open, blood smearing his nose and chin. The horse reared and sent its hooves into a man's chest who then toppled over from the impact. A small space now opened all around the captain as none would approach the wild Scottish stallion whose buck could crush bone.

Meanwhile, Meriadoc happily carved his way through the onslaught, hacking and slashing on either side of Fearghus, his mount.

Suddenly, Stéaphan's horse reared sharply and the captain was thrown to the ground. His back hit the dirt with an impact that knocked the air from his lungs.  His head pounded and a throbbing pain shot through his torso.  He lifted his head and saw the battle line.  Meriadoc laughed and dodged, swung and leapt his horse amongst the soldiers.  Stéaphan scrambled to his feet and ran to the assault, almost forgetting his kite shield that fell to the ground with him.
Stéaphan's soldiers were greater in numbers, but these attackers were well armed and armored.  As he ran to the defense, the captain almost tripped over the still, lifeless body of one of his soldiers.  He pulled his left arm close to his body and threw his weight on it to break through the line.  He charged and battered against a man holding shield and axe, trying to cut off the head of the Scot at his front.

The Scottish soldiers from the front and rear of the column split off and began to flank the enemy.  The rout began there.  Seeing they were almost surrounded, the attackers began to flee.  Stéaphan pulled back as the other Scots charged into the woods to hunt the runners down. The English knights joined the Scots in their pursuit.

Stéaphan breathed a sigh and turned around to see the carriage door swung wide open.  His face turned white. 

He stormed into the carriage.  It was empty.  His eyes flew over the scene to find the Princess.  As he turned his back to the carriage door, a force from behind slammed into his back sending him shooting forward.  Stéaphan landed on his elbows and quickly rolled over on his back to find his chest shadowed by a figure towering above him.  Above his head he held a Galloglaich axe, the blade of which was coated in fresh blood. The towering man slammed his foot onto Stéaphan's chest. The captain gasped for breath, his lips sputtering sweat and saliva. The figure above him bore his browning teeth, inhaled, and readied to drop the axe into the pinned Scot. Stéaphan closed his eyes and held his breath.

For a few moments, Stéaphan only heard the distant yelling of his troops, but felt nothing, save the throbbing pain in his head from when he was dismounted. He opened his eyes.