Spring, 1436

The dark cyno turned to see hundreds of black armored infantry surge across the field to his right to the East Corioli Road, cutting off his task force from the rest of his forces.

&Run!& He yelled. Immediately the taskforce took off, scampering back through fields and grassland towards the main line.

King Sfelewi’s unicorns charged the Imperials from the rear, impaling and trampling enemy troops by the score and throwing the attacking force into chaos and confusion. Still, while the thirty-one remaining unicorns were devastating to the enemy, they couldn’t take on two thousand humans on their own, and soon enough the Imperials responded, pikes taking down the great beasts and halberds decapitating others. If they continued every single individual would be killed, so King Sfelewi neighed and the survivors broke off and retreated.

The dark cyno had taken the brief respite from his comrade’s attack to send messengers for reinforcements while attempting to pass through the closing human vice. Even so, he failed as hundreds of footmen clad in heavy plate armor charged into view and cut off his line of retreat.

Oevcn immediately raised his hands to halt, then a split second later brought it down again.

&Fire!&

A ragged volley from hundreds of scattered gonners ripped into the Imperial line, which reeled from the blow. The dark cyno wasn't about to give the humans the opportunity to regain their footing.

&Charge!&

The dog-headed warriors went on the attack, falling upon the Imperials, some leaping into the air as the force punched into half-formed human lines.

In a moment all was a chaotic scrum. Lightly armored cynos were fighting armored humans, relying on speed and surprise to get through the enemy. Oevcn leapt into the fray, loading and blasting at point blank range, then using the butt of his arquebus as a club, smashing faces and concussing opponents in his way. Other cynos picked up the weapons of fallen enemies to use against the humans or tried to strike at weak points, clawing off gorgets to bite at throats.

The humans had almost been pushed aside by the impact, but now they began to recover with reinforcements dripping in, pushing the cynos back in turn. Losses quickly accumulated.

A warhammer glanced upon Oevcn’s cervelliere, knocking it clear off, and the dark cyno fell to the ground stunned. The hammer came down with its spiked end to pierce the Young Warlord’s brain, but at the last moment a swing of a poleaxe deflected the blow. As the man-at-arms was thrown back by the momentum, Rewrkerw took advantage of the opening to cave in her opponent’s skull.

&Don't die on me now, Oevcn.& The fawn furred cyno stated as she helped her friend to his feet. &You've got to dig us out of this mess.&

&Thanks,Rewrkerw& Oevcn shook his head to clear his mind. &How did you get here so quickly?&

The fawn colored cyno frowned.

&We’re basically behind your main line, Oevcn. The Revenants and Antians have caught us between them.&

The Young Warlord looked around. His forces were indeed surrounded on all sides, the Antians pressing hard from the North, the Revenants regrouping for a massed attack from the South. Tar Hollow troops were fighting in a circle; some cynos were firing from one side of the wall, then when the enemies in front of them were thrown back, leaping over to fire back at the enemies behind them.

Fuck.

King Sfelewi was tearing through enemy ranks, his horn dripping with blood.

Another force is arriving from the West!

Oevcn almost screamed.

The Calaveras Legion was now here as well?

Would his luck ever change?

Were they all going to be enslaved or skinned?

Through the chaos of battle the dark cyno saw the new forces approach, kicking up dust.

Then he laughed.

Pewcenw the Warrior must be enjoying challenging him. Well, Oevcn feared no enemy, he was Oevcn Burntfeet.

He was Oevcn the Brave.

He would face whatever challenges would come up.

Oevcn laughed as he turned his head towards the new challenge, hands mechanically loading his arquebus, blood trickling from his nostrils and out from the corner of his mouth. Everything hurt, but the dark cyno managed to find the humor in things.

“Come at me!” He yelled.

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From Hiryu!

Howard Shore - The Black Gate Opens (The Return of the King Soundtrack)