“This could be suicide,” Jonden interposed. “They do have trolls, warlocks, and wights at their rear, and if and when they are forced to, they will exert their might against us.”
Éhal shrugged. “They cannot fly, nor would their power affect us from across the river. They are too far away. As long as we can keep them on the far bank, they will do naught but hinder those who must attempt the crossing.”
“She is right,” said Hamron quietly. “And I believe our longbows will just reach across the river as well.”
“That they will,” interjected Piter. “I have already done so, reaching the far side by some twenty feet. We should be making more arrows, instead of wasting time talking.”
“Making more arrows?” said Baldric.
“Fire arrows,” said Éhal. “And much longer and heavier than our hunting arrows. These trees, if I smell them aright, bear much pitch that burns well.”
“It would behoove us to conserve what we have, surely,” said Jonden. “There is flint here for arrowheads, and the activity would keep the soldiers busy while the enemy constructs its bridges.”
“I suggest dividing our forces temporarily into three shifts,” said Éhal. “One to attack and burn the enemies’ bridges, one to labour at making arrows, and one to rest. I suggest as well making the arrows thicker and longer, stretching our bows to the limit for greater force and distance. The arrows do not have to be particularly accurate, and I would certainly hope that we could manage to land them more than twenty feet onto the far side of the river.”