It was already afternoon when the column came into view of the border tower. The eerie quiet put the old soldiers on their guard.
Suddenly the Queen's curse broken the silence, followed by a screaming charge of painted warriors and beasts from all sides.
Before the spearmen could react, a horde of men and beasts was upon them upon both sides. Around the edges, arrows flew in both directions, when an open target presented itself.
Losses were heavy on both sides and the woods folk fell back then regrouped, ready to throw themselves onto the pikes again when the call came. But with dusk drawing in, the Queen saw no reason to sacrifice more of her subjects when the enemy had been scarred and was obviously just wanting to go home. She ordered the horns to call the warriors back. Even the body of crossbowmen cowering in the edge of the great wood where the road runs through it, would be allowed to go. They had not chosen to come and fight.
Night falls. Many were dead or wounded but the army was nowhere near broken, just eager to get home alive. |
The Great Revenge Raid was over and the survivors would soon be home while the spirits of the rest would wander the woods and hills for all time.