The Crown of the Conqueror

III

Glittering in the dawn light, the river meandered down from the forested hills and curved gently to dawnwards. It foamed over rocks, the banks lined with bushes and reeds. It was at least half a mile across at the ford, which stretched over a quarter of a mile, the vegetation trampled flat from the passing of the Salphors.

The lead companies edged cautiously into the swirl, using their spear butts to test the depth and footing. Reining in Blackfang, Ullsaard dismounted and walked her down to the bank as the first companies waded through the water. He stopped at the river's edge, water lapping at his boots, and peered through the gloom to the far bank.

Dozens of glimmers from the Salphorian fires danced in the darkness, perhaps no more than a mile from the crossing. Under the urging of their captains, the Thirteenth legion forged across as quickly as possible, the first companies now forming up on dry land to guard those still in the water.

As Ullsaard took his first steps into the water, Blackfang skittish beside him, warning trumpets sounded from behind. The clatter of spears and shields sounded deafening in the early morning calm as thousands of legionnaires responded; those on the far bank halted their advance, those in the water pushing on as fast as possible to reach safer ground.

The signal blasts could mean only one thing: attack.

Ullsaard dragged his ailur back and threw himself into the saddle. With a flick of the reins and a shout, he urged Blackfang into a run, heading back up the column. Company by company, the legions were falling into position, the phalanxes arranging themselves back-to-back, unsure in which direction danger lay.

Riding hard, Ullsaard came upon Donar and his staff half a mile along the column. The king pulled Blackfang to a halt beside the First Captain of the Fifth.

"Report," snapped Ullsaard.

"Scouts report Salphors coming down from the forests," said Donar, pointing to the wooded hills silhouetted against the rising sun.

"You think the ones we are chasing have double-backed, perhaps across another part of the river?" asked the king.

"I don't know," admitted Donar. "Where's Anasind?"

"On the far bank, at the head of the army," said Ullsaard. "Don't worry about him, he can handle himself. Get your line in order, and send out more scouts, we need to know how many there are."

Donar nodded and turned to his subordinates, rattling off orders. One-by-one the captains rode off on kolubrids, taking their orders to the companies spread along the line of advance.

"Hold here," Ullsaard said, turning back towards the river. Blackfang broke into a run at his command, rushing across the ground with head low.

Back at the river, the Thirteenth were divided. Those in the water had finished crossing, leaving two thirds of the companies on the far side and a third on the closest. As he rode passed, Ullsaard called to the captains to form a perimeter around the ford and to hold their ground until they received fresh orders.

Running down to the river, Blackfang slowed as she reached the water.

"Get in there!" shouted Ullsaard, slapping the reins against her shoulder.

The ailur tensed and then sprang forwards, splashing up to her belly. Ears flat, tail twitching, she pushed further across the river, until the water was up to Ullsaard's knees. She baulked as she met a swirl around a cluster of rocks, but moved on at Ullsaard's command. He guided her around the worst obstacles, and set the reins to her again as the river ahead cleared. Feeling the water growing shallower, Blackfang broke into a run, erupting from the water in spume. Anasind was waiting a few dozen paces from the river as Ullsaard rode up the gentle slope. The king jumped to the ground, one hand keeping a firm grip of Blackfang's reins as she shook water from her fur.

"What's the situation here?" asked the king.

"Our friends are getting brave," said the general. "Seems they were waiting for us to cross. The camp was a decoy; they were waiting downstream in the vegetation. No more than half a mile away and coming straight for us. At least four thousand."

Ullsaard made a quick assessment of the land. There was not enough time to get the companies back across the river before the Salphors arrived. He pointed to a rise in the ground about a quarter of a mile from the water.

"Set up your line on those hills," he said, speaking quickly but calmly. "Keep five companies here to guard the ford, you'll have their flank protected, and send for the other companies to cross over and reinforce."

"What's happening back there?" asked Anasind, looking across the river.

"Not really sure yet," said Ullsaard, following the general's gaze. "More Salphors. No idea how many. I think two legions should be enough to hold them off."

"You think this was their intent all along?" said Anasind. "Is this some trick of Aegenuis?"

"Looks like it," said Ullsaard, tugging at Blackfang's reins to pull her closer. "No point worrying about that for now. You sort out things here; I'll lead the rest of the legion up to the hills."

The king mounted again as Anasind signalled for his captains to gather. Ullsaard shouted out to the companies that were to follow and turned Blackfang duskwards. In the growing light, he could see the Salphors in the distance, approaching quickly. He reined in his ailur.

"Anasind!" The general looked back at his king. "Forget that plan, we don't have time. Form up here and get those other companies across!"

Anasind raised a fist in acknowledgement. Within moments, the spear companies were gathering in line, eight men deep, widening their frontage to counter the enemy's greater number. Ullsaard sought out the legion icon with the first company and rode up beside them.

"I hope these lying dog-fuckers have had breakfast," he called out to the legionnaires. "They're not going to survive to have lunch!"

Laughs and cheers came back in reply. Ullsaard bellowed for an orderly and dismounted.

"Think I'll fight with you lot today," he told the men of the first company. He pulled his spear and shield from the ailur's back. "I think you need the help."

This statement was met with good-natured jeers as a youth took the reins from the king and led Blackfang away. Ullsaard took up his place in the front rank, next to the icon. He glanced at the captain holding the standard.

"What's your name, captain?" said Ullsaard. "What happened to Venuid?"

"I'm Kassil, king," said the man. "Promoted from seventh company. Venuid got shot in the eye by a Salphor."

"That's a shame," said the king.

"Yes, bad luck for him," said Kassil.

"Good luck for you," said Ullsaard.

"Dead man's sandals, isn't it? It's the legion way."

"Works for kings too," said Ullsaard, bringing up his shield.

In the glow of the rising sun, the Salphors were only a couple of hundred paces away. Several hundred moved ahead of the mass, bows in hand. The warning was shouted along the line and the phalanx shifted, raising their shields for the coming volleys. Ullsaard peered through a gap and saw the first cloud of arrows lifting into the air. The king ducked back his head. A few tense heartbeats passed and then the arrows fell, bronze heads rattling against shields like heavy hail. Here and there came a cry of pain, but the line held firm.