Wolves and War
Page 73
The Commanders of the field army watched the battle unfolding at the settlement.
“Looks bad down there,” observed Jim, “the fires seem to be taking hold. I can’t even see the far away buildings for the smoke. Scaling ladders will be up soon.”
“Help we cannot,” said Larya. “Larg will again attack.” She looked over and down at the mass of Larg milling around at the base of the hill.
“Taking their time.”
“They regroup,” said Larya. She pricked up her ears. “Robert comes,” she added.
Jim walked to and looked over the edge of the promon tory that was his and Larya’s command post.
The commander of the infantry was to be seen climbing with difficulty up through the jagged rocks that surrounded the foot of the command post. He wanted to speak to Jim face to face.
“Jim,” he called up. “I’ll not come any further. These creatures are too strong by half. Lost a good few last time round trying to keep the shield wall intact. Have to tighten the lines up, move the wings closer to the centre. Would be suicide to leave any gaps. It can’t be helped if we have to have any chance of withstanding them again.”
“You have to hold!”
“We will hold. I’ve never led a more determined bunch of people in my entire life.”
“Deepen your ranks. I’ll get an experienced Lindar to fill in the space.”
Robert nodded once and sped away, calling with urgent voice to his remaining warrant officers.
Larya informed Kolyei and as Jim turned round, he saw a Lindar moving rapidly forward to plug the gap on the infantry’s left wing. The infantry now stood in four ranks instead of three. If the Larg fought through the first two ranks, the third and fourth could take them on. It was indeed a defence ‘in depth’. Jim grinned at her. He hadn’t even needed to ask. Larya grinned back, tongue lolling out.
He watched as the purple and brown Ratvei Lindar settled into their station on the right flank of the infantry. Another, less experienced, Lindar took over the guard of the arrow contraps. They were just in time; the kohorts were advancing.
To the rear, Kolyei and his communications team were busy. He himself dealt with the command unit directives and was finding it tough going but the group of Elda were backing him up assiduously. Experienced in the ways of war with the Larg, they filtered out much of the information that was passing between the Lindars and also kept a weather ear out, two ears if they could manage it, for what was happening at the far edges of the lines, both north and south. No more than Jim did they wish to be outflanked. The next Larg attack would again be at the centre. The Larg intended to punch a hole through in the traditional manner and so split the allied lines. If successful the Larg would swarm through the gap and wreak havoc from behind. If this were allowed to happen, the allies would lose the battle.
The Vada were put on immediate alert.
Again the infantry waited for the onslaught. One of them was a woman called Geraldine Fitzpatrick. When I signed up for the colony I know I was looking for excitement and adventure. She peeked over the shoulder of the man in front of her. I certainly wasn’t expecting anything like this.
She could hear the warrant officer’s voice behind her.
“Remember second rank; get under the shields any chance you get.”
This was good advice. During the first assault the men and women with shields tended to raise them up slightly, a reflex action caused by the sheer size and bulk of the Larg to protect themselves from the slavering mouths looming above and over them. Whilst the Larg front rank forced itself against the shields, intent on devouring the infantry soldiers’ heads, it left their lower torsos vulnerable. If a soldier in the second rank was quick enough he or she could strike at the Larg from below. Then, as the Larg bent down to combat this attack on their nether regions, the front ranker could hit them from above. The strategy seemed to work.
A tall woman of medium build, Geraldine was the last but one second rank soldier on the right of the infantry lines. She looked over to her right at the Lind warrior waiting quietly beside her and the stocky man who held pole position. It was a good-looking animal, its purple stripe pattern very distinct. The Lind turned its head and looked towards her. To Geraldine’s total surprise, it winked and for some reason she became less jittery about the looming assault. She gave it a fleeting smile and turned to face the front once more.
Again the snarling, vicious Larg hurled themselves at the infantry. The man in front of Geraldine staggered backwards as a gigantic tawny monster shoved hard against his shield. She smelled the foul stench of its breath as it used its weight and bulk to force its way through and watched as it took an enormous bite out of the man’s side. Geraldine lunged forward as the head loomed within reach of her spear. With all her might she thrust her weapon straight at the creature’s face. It penetrated quite a way and she struggled as she tried to pull it free. The Larg body dropped like a stone. The legs twitched once then stilled.
There was no time for self-congratulation, another shield man came forward and took his place and Geraldine pressed herself into his back to help him brace himself and to take advantage of any killing opportunities. She noticed only then the gash on her arm. She hadn’t felt the Larg’s claw rake down her skin.
She was in a half-crouched position, trying to manoeuvre her spear through the shield wall when she realised that the man was no longer there. She was now the anchorman of the infantry right wing. She picked up his discarded shield and drew her sword.
The Larg were pressing hard. Aoalvaldr was desperate to finish the battle and had ordered his Kohort Commanders to push as hard as they could at both points between the humans and the Lind. It seemed that the entire Larg army were trying to force their bodies through. There seemed to be no end to the numbers that bounded up the hill. Much honour would accrue to the leaders who managed to break the lines and the kohorts were desperate to put an end to whatever it was that was sending the sharp pointed wood slivers overhead and into their midst with devastating effect.
If this attack did not succeed, Aoalvaldr would have to think again. A flanking movement had worked before, he had been a junior member of a kohort during that successful hot season so as a precaution he ordered his reserves to take position so that they could deploy southwards at a heartbeat’s notice.
In the midst of the bloody fight, Geraldine became aware of a large warm body pressing into her right side, filling the gap left open when the anchorman had fallen. It was peculiarly reassuring to have a Lind so close. They met the next Larg together. Jsei met his foe in the traditional manner and went straight for the throat. It seemed so easy. The Larg was going for Geraldine. Jsei’s attack distracted him and their enemy hesitated for an infinitesimal yet fatal instant. Geraldine took immediate advantage and performed her next move, just like the drills practised over the preceding months. Her warrant officer’s voice was ingrained in her memory.
“Shield on left. Hold it up! Sword ready. Swing back right arm. Left foot forward. Push shield toward opponent. Strike as hard as you can, chest, face, body, and legs. Maximum damage is what we are after.”
Her sword swung forward in a low arc and with a grunt Geraldine struck at the creature’s thick neck. Bright ochre blood fountained up from the wound like a volcano.
“Well done,” said a strange voice to her right.
She nearly dropped her sword in surprise. Jsei winked again. Geraldine smiled and Jsei thrust his body up against hers once more and she settled her shield on her left arm.
Together, they looked round for another foe to fight but there were no Larg to be seen.
“Have they gone?” gasped Geraldine of the Lind. It seemed quite natural to ask.
“They have gone back down hill,” agreed Jsei. “Rest now.”
He sat down and looked at the woman, a quizzical expression on his face. It was obvious to Geraldine that he wanted her to sit down beside him. As she did so she felt his body wince.
“You hurt?” she asked.
“Me Jsei,” he replied, deliberately misunderstanding her.
Geraldine laughed then saw the blood oozing from his flank.
“You are hurt,” she said briskly. “Let me tend it.”
She proceeded to do so, his wound being, thankfully, a minor one. Jsei sighed with relief as the numbing root took hold. “Your forepaws are clever. I will not need Holad now.”
Geraldine looked at him through lowered eyelashes as she finished tying up the gash on her arm and then put away the contents of her first aid kit. This was the first time she had actually spoken to a Lind. It was, she was finding, an uplifting experience. In her mind a beautiful image emerged of her and this Lind peacefully walking through the forests together. In the picture, it was late summer, perhaps early winter. There was utter contentment portrayed in the image. No Larg were to be seen. Young Lind played beside them as they walked.
: What your name? :
: Geraldine : she ‘sent’ back without thinking. The Lind’s eyes crinkled.
: Geraldine? : There was a wealth of meaning behind the questioned name.
Geraldine looked at Jsei, surprised that she could ‘hear’ him and he her; there was only one answer she wanted to make, could make. It needed no words from Geraldine to accept what Jsei was offering.
His gaze when he looked at her was one of quiet pleasure.
“We rest. When battle over talk and think much… yes?”
She agreed with a smile.
* * * * *