Ralph and the Pixie

Capturing and using the enemies’ battle-horns had been an ingenious idea. As the Thane had hoped, the Goblins, duped into believing the attack had been sounded, moved away from their supplies and advanced almost a furlong up the road towards Mirrindale. Seizing the advantage, the Thane and his soldiers fell on the enemies’ rear with appalling results. There were few soldiers here to slow their onslaught, and the enemy’s stores and caches of weapons were soon piled in heaps and set ablaze, or thrown into the river. All the while the Goblin attack sounded, like a wail of madness in the night, while the sky above became filled with falling fires and stones, effectively blinding the Goblins to their tormenters and sending them into panic.

By the time the Goblins realised what was happening, they were hemmed in too tightly to fight effectively. And volleys of arrows began raining down on them from both the wall of Mirrindale and from the surrounding hillsides overlooking the river, sending them into further disarray. In their midst, the Thane spotted Cir on his horse, shouting orders that went unheeded. Halwin also saw the Prince as the defenders of Mirrindale stormed into the mêlée. Both leaders, however, had the good sense to leave the prince where he was, rather than make the fatal error of charging in after him.