The General added his shield to the formidable screen created by the Minotauri around him, the fighting was focused to the front but caution and experience with the Druaidíi had made him vigilant and wary from any position. He struggled to peer down the line, the Druaidíi seemed to produce an endless stream of surprises, each one as unexpected as the last. He called out for his officers, one of them must know what was happening.

It had all begun so well, from the break of dawn Maximo had his and the Partholóns best scouts comb through the clearing and beyond for any signs of the Druaidíi’s roadways. There had, truthfully, been many disruptions and struggles in the process. Several Elk tracks led to winding far ranging trails which ultimately led them back to their beginning, and worse still most of those trails had been snared and traps laid. Two score of men had fallen prey to sinkholes that had collapsed inwards crushing bone and body alike, each one filled with a tar like substance which burned those unfortunate enough to survive, it burned them, but slowly, painfully so. Two men had been retrieved and brought back but each had begged for death before their end, their skin peeled and broken to crisp. Many more had seemingly vanished, their appearances unexplained, it was not probable they would be seen again.

It had not been all in vain however, when it seemed as if they had been completely waylaid without discovery one of those roaming parties had finally came across one of the secret roadways used by the Druaidíi. That it had taken them this long to find a single path was as much of a puzzle as it was frustrating yet finally they had their destination now laid before them. Knowing the significance of this find and what it meant for their campaign there had been a far more optimistic and energetic mood to the camp as they set out at midday. The men were greatly pleased and encouraged to have some respite, however small and narrow, anything was a welcome relief from the dreary, dark depths of the forest. The road was old, very old but made of a stone unfamiliar to the General but nonetheless it left a solid and well paved course for them to follow.

That joy and enthusiasm had been short lived however, Maximo strained his eyes to the front line where ferocious fighting was now taking place, the screams, flashes, and smoke was enough to realise that, and it was proving difficult to gain a clear eyesight through the chaos. Officer Geara crouched underneath the Minotauri’s wall and bundled close to the General.

“General...it’s a full on attack, they charged us, Hundreds of em, they haven’t stayed inside the wall, they’ve come to us.” He paused as a bolt of lighting flung itself past his face, he crouched a little deeper, “they are pushing forward fast, too fast, the line may not hold.”

The voice of Fathach barking out commands alerted the General to Brandubh, he forced a way over to him.

Brandubh appeared calmer than he had any right to be, looking out over the shields as if searching for one of his drinking companions in a crowded bar. When he spoke his voice reflected his lack of worry, “They are trying to break us down the middle, the space is against us and all for them, any incursions into the forest to try and flank them only serve to offer our men to those Druaidíi waiting in the shadows. We’ve got to get them where we are on the road.”

Maximo hesitated, the Druaidíi had the initiative and the drive to push through, perhaps then they should let them. Their early success would be their own undoing.

He grabbed Brandubh, “Follow the lead of my men, what they do, you do, get that down to them. And forget about any attacking, tell the men to focus on covering and defending nothing else. Enforce the flanks, push out, have as many there as can be risked and dared. Bring your axemen up and be ready.”

Brandubh nodded unquestioning, the man might be no warrior, but he knows what is needed and when.

Maximo turned and grabbed Geara by the neck, “Pass it down, Freefall, Freefall, the men will know what to do.”

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

Freefall, the maneuver had been first used and utilised by the all conquering General Alexandri in response to the nomadic hordes of the Dothar. Maximo had studied him and his victories since his youth. The prowess and skill of the Dothar on horse had repeatedly allowed them to break through and decimate countless Milesian armies until Alexandri devised a move that would prove instrumental in the conquering of their people.

Maximo rushed backwards to stand atop one of tree trunks that had been cut down in their progress, from here he could spy way down the line and into the chaos bubbling away at the frontline. Even as he gazed another icy breach erupted in the Men’s line and was quickly smashed in by the Druaidíi with the defenders behind struggling to close and restore the line.

Bringing the horn to his lips Maximo blew hard and shrill three times,

AAArrreeeeeeEEEEEEEE,...-AAArrreeeeeeEEEEEEEE,....-AAArrreeeeeeEEEEEEEE.

For a moment nothing happened. Then from his position Maximo saw it unfold, the very centre of the line broke and into it poured vicious, eager Druaidíi forging an arrowhead deep into the men’s centre. It was by now a well oiled and oft used ploy by Milesian forces all over the Empire and no matter who or where it was executed it worked. Here in Belvoir Forest it proved its worth once more. As always the enemy emboldened by the supposed collapse of the center and invigorated by their own strength and force push headfirst recklessly into the breach, without pausing for second thought or consideration. Far better if they did, for then they would have realised the altogether ease of which the center was broken and the fact of them becoming surrounded on all sides even as they were pushed and shoved ever deeper by those from behind, straight into the bulk of the men’s forces.

To the flanks as much space as possible was being made ready, allowing space enough for two more ranks to join in its formation. The fierce fighting was continuing at the front but into the hole they had left there had been a rush of Druaidíi, Maximo counted 50 at a glance. He brought the horn once more to his lips, this time he gave one long lung bursting cry, AAArrreeeeeeEEEEEEEEeeeeeeee.

The pyro bombs were launched, specially sent in from Milesia the new creation of the Maegists was not something ever seen on Aileann before. Maximo had thought to use them once at the walls but now seemed as apt a time as any.

The bomb slingers had positioned themselves behind where the Men’s line now held with the arrowhead of Druaidíi lying just head of them. As they fired the bombs drifted up and over those most advanced Druaidíi and landed back into the core of their attack. At once a great explosion erupted all around, a green fire scorched brightly and intensely, Maximo felt its heat even from his position and marvelled at its strength. In its wake the explosions left plumes of dense, thick dark smoke but before any could recover they were soon followed by another volley from the slingers, Maximo covered his face, the heat was unnatural and aberrant, another ungodly creation of the Academy it may be but it had the desired effect.

The sudden unexpected attack had shocked the Druaidíi, and they were stunned back from their onslaught, caught unawares and defenceless to its lucid flames. Now.

The bombs had created a separation from those Druaidíi which had pushed forward into the collapsing center and they now found themselves penned in on all sides as the flanks closed in, tightening their formation as densely as possible. Almost simultaneously the center, seeing their opportunity took advantage of the confusion and impact of the explosions and began to pile forward. Those on the flanks had merely to enclose the space and wait for the center to advance. The Druaidíi now caught in the middle were soon engulfed, desperately battling on all sides as the flanks swarmed in and a new line was formed to prevent them rejoining to their main body.

Those Druaidíi assailed by the explosives tried in vain to reach their numbers left isolated within, each moment passing taking them further away. The bombs helped keep those outside Druaidíi at bay, though some amongst them were now trying to carefully attempt to shoot them down mid-air, futile.

General smiled pleasingly, in the centre Brandubh’s axemen had made their way to the stranded Druaidíi still battling bravely all around them. Their long range and skill was beginning to take its toll on the severely under pressure Druaidíi. Soon they would be cut down, the tide was firmly in their sway now.