Wolves and War

by Candy Rae

Up on the hill, the Larg advance slowed appreciably as the front kohorts tried to negotiate a way through the initial line of stakes without impaling themselves in the process. Their pace had at once been reduced to a walk as their bodies were forced to weave through them, only to come up against the second row of larger and sharper stakes. The arrows continued to fall and many were hurt.

  It was at this point that the Larg command suffered its first major setback of the day. The second string of kohorts had not been ordered to slow down when the first hit the stakes. They increased their pace and pressed ever on, forcing the front troops further up the hill and into the stake lines. They were unable to brace themselves against this and howls of pain and anguish could be heard as the stakes penetrated flesh and bone.

  Under the misapprehension that this meant that the front kohorts had already met the enemy, those behind pressed harder, anxious to reach the battle lines without further ado. There were more anguished howls of pain and frustration. Belatedly, the Larg command ordered the second group of kohorts to cease their advance, then to retreat some paces so that those in front could have room to manoeuvre.

  Jim watched the scene unfolding below him with a great deal of satisfaction. A great many of the Larg shock troops had been impaled on the stakes. The lead kohorts paused indecisively for a moment and then, first lesson painfully learnt, approached the stakes again. From above, the allies watched as their huge jaws gripped the stakes and began to work them to and fro, loosening them from the ground. Then they eased them out and dropped them. They heard the snarls of satisfaction as the kohorts moved uphill to demolish the second line of stakes. Many died beneath the arrows that continued to fall, but there were others ready, willing and able to take the place of their fallen comrades.

  Jim wished he had some individual arrows and crossbows with which to consolidate this advantage whilst the Larg were still downhill. The arrow contraps sent large volumes of arrows down on their enemies but could not take out individuals. He needed snipers, but did not have any.

  He had positioned a reserve force at each end of his lines, not wishing to be outflanked. To his immense relief the reports relayed to him by communications said that, true to form, the Larg did not appear to be attempting any such manoeuvre. Traditionally they attacked the Lind from the front, which was why Jim had placed the most experienced and battle-hardened Lindars in his army’s centre. Aoalvaldr was not going to break with tradition, at least not for now.

  At last the kohorts managed to remove enough stakes. They paused for a moment, and then in response to a silent order, how Jim wished that the Larg did not have telepathic abilities similar to the Lind, they spilled through and bounded up towards the allied lines. Like a swarm of rabid dogs they leapt into the attack and hit them. The top of the hill became in that instant full of snarling writhing bodies as Lind and Larg met in time-honoured fashion.

  Jim didn’t think he would ever forget what met his eyes and ears as the combatants tried to get at their opponents’ vulnerable throats and bellies. There were ear-splitting yowls of pain as tooth, chela and claw found purchase. To his right he saw Tarmsei at grips with a large tawny Larg. How have they managed to get past Robert’s infantry? There were streaks of ochre blood on the ryz leader’s flanks but he was holding his own. He watched as some of the ryz, wounded, tried to disentangle themselves from the melee and drag themselves to the rear. Lind members of the Holad bravely aided their pack-mates. Jim saw bodies lying still and quiet in the churned up soil. Their battle was over. Their mates and ltsctas would wait in vain for their return to domta and daga.

  Then two Larg kohorts attacked the infantry stationed directly in front of the command post. The men and women braced themselves. He watched mesmerised as the front rank hurled their huge bodies at the shield wall. The wall held, but only just. The second infantry rank held on grimly and he was pleased to see, was able to jab at the attackers pressing against the front shields with their spears.

  Stab and withdraw, stab and withdraw. To the infantry it felt that the horror would never end. The air was filled with shouts of command as the warrant officers encouraged their men and women, ordering replacements forward if they saw the lines weaken. Behind the infantry, Zanatei’s ryz waited, ready to bounce into the attack if the Larg broke through again.

  The arrow contraps continued to fire waves of arrows over the heads of those directly in combat and down on to the next wave of kohorts advancing up the hill.

  The Larg pressed harder. Men and women fell to the ground, dead and wounded. The shield wall wavered, that critical amount that indicated to Jim that it was beginning to disintegrate. He tensed. But just as the infantry felt that they could not hold on any longer there was a deep howl from further down the hill.

  The kohorts in front of the infantry growled in frustration. Why were they being ordered to withdraw? Why? They were about to break through the two-legged creatures’ ranks. They obeyed with reluctance and ran back down the hill. The infantry emitted a huge sigh of relief.

  “Form up,” ordered the warrant officers. “Medics, get the wounded to the rear.”

  Robert Lutterell watched as his depleted force got ready to face the next attack. Water bottles were passed forward and the thirsty men and women drank greedily.

  “Why did they stop?” asked one.

  “They were almost through,” agreed another.

  Robert knew why. The Lind lines had held. The Larg had not managed to force them back enough to gain a pawhold on the more level land atop the hill. The kohorts would have to reform and try again. The allies had won the first round.

  The Larg were confused. Unlike in previous battles, the Lind had not followed them down the hill to harry at their hind paws thus enabling the Larg to turn on them at the base of the hill. The heavier Larg had the advantage on the flatlands. This time, the Lind stood silent and still on top of the hill, impassive and watched as their foes retreated.

  Aoalvaldr, although equally surprised, did not show it. He had hoped that the Lindars would be lured downhill where he could counterattack but no matter, he had other tricks up his forepaw. There were other ways to skin a rudtka. Instead of ordering the kohorts to attack again he decided to try and lure the Lind downhill. He ordered a further retreat to the streambed and there he waited for the attack he was sure would come, positive that the Lind would not be able to resist.

  Aoalvaldr waited and waited some more. He grew ever more impatient and growled to himself loudly and often. It took him some time to realise that the Lindars were not going to take him up on his kind offer of a suicidal attack downhill. He was disappointed, the first of many disappointments he would experience that day.

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