Kalvan drew in a deep ragged breath. He was at the eye of the storm; all around him battle raged, but for the moment he was shielded by his Tymannian Guard and had his first opportunity in an hour to catch his breath. Halberds, poleaxes, glaives, bills and polearms of every description were tilling the human soil, spilling a river of blood and gore upon the ground. His arms were so numb from hacking at enemy foot soldiers that he couldn't trust them to re-load his pistols. Pistol, he should say. Somewhere in the heat of battle, he had thrown away or lost four pistols.
If that were all he lost today, it would be a miracle!
His left wing was in retreat, his right wing was lost, and meanwhile the center was getting the stuffing kicked out of it. He had heard that Rylla had re-joined the battle, but hadn't seen any sign of her. Their only hope was that Hestophes would return and save the day. Had he been a praying man, he would have fallen down upon his knees to Dralm for that miracle.
Suddenly there was a commotion and he saw a helmet-less Colonel Porthos trying to work his way through the tightly packed horses to his side. Kalvan helped by turning his own horse and pressing toward his aide.
When Porthos was within hailing distance, he began to shout. "Part of the enemy is breaking off the attack."
"Is it Captain-General Hestophes?"
"I don't know."
"Let's pray to Dralm that it is. Men, it's time to give our friends some help. Down Styphon! Down Styphon!"
A thousand voices quickly took up the chant. He took a moment to reload. Kalvan didn't know where he was, only that he was somewhere inside the Unholy Host. It reminded him of Fyk, the Dralm-damned Battle, where everyone was lost in the fog. Kalvan guessed it didn't matter where they struck so he pointed his pistol at the nearest concentration of Hos-Ktemnoi and shouted, "Charge!"
The troopers around him moved, sluggishly at first, but slowly picking up momentum. It's like fighting through quicksand! Kalvan thought. He just hoped Hestophes was somewhere on the other side of this mass of Ktemnoi billmen.
The Hostigi hit the Ktemnoi line like a bulldozer running into a stone wall. Suddenly, as the battle surged around him, Kalvan found himself at the front. He used his pistol at point-blank range to kill a Ktemnoi petty-captain, then drew his nicked and bloodied saber. One of the Ktemnoi recognized him, starting a counter-chant of "Kill Kalvan! Kill Kalvan!"
He looked all around for his Guardsmen. Within an instant, Kalvan found himself fighting half-a-dozen billmen and musketeers for his life. He slashed one in the face, opening the cheek to the bone beneath, and chopped off a falling billhead. Then a bill sliced through his guard and he felt it slash through his steel tasses and cotton breeches into the muscle underneath. A groan slipped through his teeth. He could feel sharp, hot pain, wetness on his right thigh. His head grew light.
Kalvan grabbed on to the pommel with all his strength; if he fell right here he would be finished. Then what would happen to Rylla, his daughter, Ptosphes, and so many friends? As if the enemy sensed his weakness, the attack against him grew in fury. It was all he could do to beat off the falling billheads and swords. Then he was propped up from behind by a hand so strong it could only belong to Vanar Halgoth.
The rest of his Tymannian Guard raced to his side, many diving off their horses to fight their enemy on foot with their axes. The billmen scattered before their concentrated fury. The enemy pulled back and Kalvan found he could breathe again, but his head was growing lighter…
Suddenly, he began to fall. It was only Vanar's grip that kept him from falling to the ground.
"The Great King's hurt! We must get him to safety."
Kalvan tried to straighten up. "It's just a flesh wound!" His breeches were soaked with blood, but the bleeding appeared to have been staunched-for the moment. He still felt lightheaded, but he could ride.
"Vanar, I need to get back to the top of the ridge so I can see the course of the battle. Can you get me there?"
"Of course, Your Majesty. And kill more of Styphon's servants on the way."