The Crown and the Sword (Rise of Solamnia) by Doug Niles

Author:Doug Niles [Niles, Doug]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
ISBN: 9780786962709
Publisher: Wizards of the Coast Publishing
Published: 2012-03-06T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

CROSSING THE VINGAARD

General Dayr stood on the west bank of the great river. The land on the opposite side was concealed by a dewy mist that hung low across the placid water, but over that cloudy vapor, the first rays of the sun already poked from beyond the eastern horizon. For now, the fog provided valuable cover for his gathering army, but it wouldn’t last long in the face of warming sunlight. To take advantage of the obscuring mist, he needed to launch his attack now, get his army most of the way across the river before they could be discovered by Ankhar’s troops—troops that were firmly dug in, and poised to meet an attack.

Unfortunately, the Crown Army was not yet ready. Dayr could only watch and wait in frustration as the boatmen labored to finish assembling their flimsy craft, and as the columns of infantry—divested of much of their armor in order to reduce weight—gathered impatiently on the riverbank. One by one the boats were slid into position on the bank, but by first light there were still only a few dozen of them.

The general knew that ranting and railing at his men would only undermine their spirits. The men could see the mist as well as he could, and they understood the dangers they faced in this risky assault. So Dayr bit his tongue and simply paced back and forth.

By the time the mist burned off, after an hour or so, there were fifty boats in position, but that was only enough to launch a small fraction of Dayr’s force. Now the far bank was revealed to all, and he could only curse and pace in agitation, knowing the attack would be far bloodier than it needed to be.

And, indeed, the enemy looked prepared to fight. On the opposite bank stood rank after rank of goblin archers. Between the blocks of bowmen, lines of brutish cavalry—more goblins on their savage wolf mounts—waited. Their lines extended up and down the bank, as far as Dayr could see, and his scouts reported there were more enemy troops beyond his sight in both directions.

General Dayr had no choice but to proceed with the attack. Two other wings of the Solamnic Army would be driving forward at the same time, and the coordinated triple prongs of the offensive would be mutually supporting. Even if his army didn’t get across, the theory went, the enemy would be forced to commit vital reserves in the defense.

It was nearly noon before Dayr had the four hundred boats he deemed necessary. There were other craft still gathering, but they would help form the second wave.

“Commence the attack!” he shouted. The Crown pennant fluttered in the breeze over his head, and all along the line, signalmen hoisted similar flags, so flags communicated the command along nearly seven miles of river frontage. Immediately the boatmen slid their canvas-skinned craft into the water, where they splashed and bobbed lightly beside the bank. While the launchers held them against the current, the lightly armored infantry and archers climbed in.

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