The Annex

Chapter 32

"Commander," someone called from ahead. I saw the struggle in his expression as turned away. He faced me once more before running the backs of his fingers down my cheek.

"Promise me you'll stay safe, Catarina," he begged.

"I promise," I nodded. He gave me one last fleeting look before jogging to the man who had called out to him. I turned around as I surveyed the men and women who had chosen to stand and fight. There was a resilience and determination in them, thumping with every heartbeat.

"Archers," I called out as I gave Finnegan one last look. I waited until all of the archers had gathered around me before I started to speak. "While we're stationed the farthest away, we're going to be the first line of defense. Our job with the first few volleys is to just take out as many soldiers as possible. From then on, when their charge reaches our men and women, we will require precision. We need to have the backs of our swordsmen. If they're in trouble, help them. A well placed arrow can go far. Make sure to aim for points of vulnerability. The neck, gaps between armor, that's where you want to aim. And unfortunately, our arrow supply is limited. Once we run out, we will take up our swords and join the other swordsmen on the battlefield."

"We made perches in the trees," one of the men said. "We have fresh arrows stocked in each perch as well."

"And try to stay hidden, they're going to have archers as well. We should try to take out their archers and be on the lookout for when they try to take us out," another man chimed in.

"Goddess be with you all," I said to which I received an echo.

"Goddess be with you all."

-

With my bow slung across my shoulders, I climbed one of the closest perches to the entrance. Finnegan a little ways down and I kept my gaze trained on him. I would have his back, I swore to myself as I prepared. We had all taken a second meal as the sun was rising and taking us past noon. We had sent a scout on horseback and he had just returned. The Windfallians were almost here. I looked out to the archers as the first soldiers appeared in the distance. As they neared, I saw a few archers nock their arrows. I held my hand up as a signal to hold. The soldiers were still too far away and we would lose the element of surprise for our swordsmen. I could feel the unsettlement in the fighters. I kept my eye on Finnegan for the signal that I would transmit to the archers.

Finnegan finally gave the signal and I relayed it to the archers. Our first volley of arrows took the Windfallians by surprise. They scrambled to raise their shields as they searched for where the arrows had come from. I heard orders being yelled back and forth and in the confusion, Finnegan led his charge as I loosened arrow after arrow. Finnegan's lessons in archery had made its impact. Time after time, my arrow found its target.

I made eye contact with one of the Windfallian archers and had to duck quickly. I sucked in a breath as an arrow whistled past my ear. I froze against the tree as I realized the gravity of the situation. This was a real battle. This wasn't practice sparring with blunted swords. The arrows that I had just shot, had wounded or even killed men. I found myself gasping for breath before the woman I had fitted with a bow found me.

"Snap out of it girl. It never gets any easier but you have to keep going. Think about what you're fighting for, who you're fighting for." She grabbed my shoulders as she forced me to look at her. "Who are you fighting for?" She yelled at me as she shook me.

"Okay, okay," I shouted as I tucked my hair behind my ear. I focused my gaze back to the battleground. I had to ignore the fallen men. I didn't want to face it. So instead I followed the fighting Rivellians. When they needed a helping hand, I lent it. My arrows were a reprieve from the battle for the swordsmen. I turned to draw another arrow but found both my quiver and the back up arrows depleted. I leapt down from my perch in the tree, dragging my arm across my forehead, I drew my sword and leapt into battle.