Steel and Sorrow: Rise of the Mercenary king

Chapter 340: Storming the trenches(3)

Chapter 340: Storming the trenches(3)

At the base of the hill, the remaining 350 footmen stood in disciplined ranks, their shields locked and spears resting at the ready. They watched the battle above with tense anticipation, their eyes darting between their comrades locked in combat and their prince's heir, Arnold, who sat atop his warhorse, surveying the scene with all the calm detachment he could muster.

Arnold's armor gleamed in the sun,as his sharp gaze moved across the hilltop, taking in the stakes and trenches where his men fought fiercely against the entrenched rebels. The clash of arms and cries of battle drifted down the slopes, but after an hour, the lines on the hilltop remained largely static. No decisive ground had been gained or lost, though the mass of bodies showed proof that it certainly was for no lack of trying, as the man fighting within it were having the worst time of their life

The young lord brows furrowed beneath his helm as doubt crept into his thoughts. Perhaps the men at the front had grown too fatigued. Or perhaps the defenders had simply fortified too well. Either way, the assault showed no signs of breaking through, but instead stagnated at the top, which meant that they were having the worse of the fight . He tightened his grip on the reins, the leather creaking in his gauntleted hands.

"We may need to swap the lines," he muttered to himself before glancing over his shoulder. He spotted one of his knights. With a flick of his hand, Arnold summoned him.

"Ride to the lords commanding the front," Arnold said, his voice calm but firm. "Order them to begin an orderly retreat. Have their men pull back in good form. We'll reform and reassess as the second line take their palce in the attack."

The knight nodded sharply, his expression unreadable beneath his visor, and turned his horse toward the steep incline. Arnold watched as the knight spurred his mount up the hill, and sighed. Time and patience were as much weapons as swords and spears in battle, he reminded himself as thinking that they could just easily break through the fortification was a foolish idea. Something must be done to break the status quo.

----------

At the top of the hill, the battle raged fiercely, swords clanging against shields and cries of pain and fury filling the air.