As Harvick the old strategist had recommended prior to their departure, each horse carried a burden of arrows in several bags that seemed excessive at first, but speed was hardly a consideration: even weighed down so, the horses could easily outdistance someone on foot.

Each rider carried a relatively new innovation: a longbow. The hordes below had neither horses, nor bows with the longbows' range. At close range, a longbow could pierce armour.

Baldric's chief captains approached him. They were Hamron the dwarf, Jonden, a man of Woodfalen, and Éhal, an elven swordmain from Angorain, cousin to Prince Valen.

Éhal spoke first. She was a high-born elf, and carried herself with what she thought was an iron dignity. Her black hair was cut short, intended to be severe, and her dark eyes suggested some distant kinship to Rhia, as did her smaller stature. And she was disconcertingly attractive, a fact which infuriated her.

"Lord," she said, "I will lead a company of elves down a path which lies not far below us. We will attract the enemy to us and retreat to your position."

Baldric nodded, and looked to Hamron, who said, "Jonden and I will take up position on either side of the elves' retreat at the edge of the crater's perimeter. We will give them covering fire, and continue to do so until you order us to mount and retreat."




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