Lexson of Aerolite

Chapter 3 Combat II

"Shields to the front!." he watched as a few men waddled up. "Bucklers count as shields!" He shouted at an estranged looking conscript one who looked much younger than him. "The rest of you stay low, and you might not end the day skewered with a thick Cabal bolt." He watched the terrified boy weave his way through the crouched formation. He grabbed him for a moment. He whispered into his ear amidst the murmuring of the formation.

"Pick a spearman that doesn't have a shield and focus on him not dying. That's it." The boy nodded, but Sion could see the sweat pour from his face and his eyes darting randomly. His ragged breathing made it all too apparent. He sighed beneath his breath hoping to not let anyone know of the fate beholden.

Suddenly a second volley crashed into them—accompanied by the twang of string. He ignored the fresh wave of casualties, their moans, agony broadcast through the air. He pawed at his face feeling a sly tingle. His hand came away stained by blood, a grazing bolt he couldn't see...

The enemy was close enough to accurately fire their crossbows. They were targeting him, and it would no longer be a question of luck. How long would everyone endure? Sion thought, and looked around distraught.

He watched their black painted spear tips pointed toward his men, slowly inch forward. One step at a time, he felt a new rush of excitement. He wanted to avoid looking at their numbers or examining their equipment too closely. But the mixed in crossbowmen at the centre of their rectangle began to feel like the least of his concerns. He could hear loud moaning, howling even, behind him. That last volley must have been sent over the front line's heads. Attempting to bypass the tenuous line of shields. He hated to have men felled by such a cowardly means. The torn voices of wounded men, moaning and grunting behind him put him on a sharper edge. They had more spears! Sion's eyes flashed in desperation.

"Breakers! Ready up!" He hoped the desperation of his mind would not echo across his worn vocal cords. He wished not to imbue the same fear he felt into the men. Fueling their submission beneath the foe. The spear points crept closer. No breakers have been deployed. His teeth locked and ground a little before the pressure set them in place. "BRACE!" His mouth pried itself op open to its peak, and he emptied his lungs driving the air across his larynx.

The men stood firmly beside him. He could hear the enemy's commander, distant and incomprehensible. Each fellow soldier seemed to occasionally place an arm upon him. He wondered whether it was reassurance—comfort... trust. The spears began to thrust out, their lengths about the same. Each formation poking at the other. Probing in a way. He saw men felled on both sides. Only to be dragged back, into a sea of arms and legs, intertwisted men. Oh, how he wished for breakers.

"Deploy the breakers!!" He shouted his command. Desperation was breaking through. It was their only chance. Their force must have been nearer to 500 men. In a match of equal length spear conflict, (combat of attrition) the side with more men just wins. That's without mentioning the devious crossbows firing devils shooting at will. Slicing into men around him with no reprieve. As long as both groups kept each other locked at bay with spears. The crossbows would not relent their fire. He looked around. Seconds had passed since his command was not fulfilled. In three places he identified them. He wanted to jump for joy, to leap for freedom. He uttered a low guttural scream of pleasure.

Suddenly each pair of men thrust forth the breakers and begun to spin them. Breaking the enemy spears shafts before many caught on and attempted to pull them back. Several spearmen where plucked by the tight grip of the breakers on their spears. They were quickly skewered many times over. Left to bleed out. The spears retracted, and the breakers too were cast aside. Their ball like appendages wrapped around the wood and eventually broke it off or pulled it away from the enemy. Layered with an unusual texture that guaranteed their ability to wrap around the enemy weapons.