The Crushing of Pace - Part 5

"Very well," Verdant said. "I need you to aid in the holding of the centre, Nila Felder. The foe is strong – you seem to be one of the only few that we have capable of wounding them."

"I'll hold it," Nila said, clenching her fist. "We won't fall, not yet. You three – you had better be prepared to fight your hearts out." That was what she had to offer for Jorah, Karesh and Kaya, boys older than her. Somehow, they found themselves dipping their heads in acknowledgement of their task, as though they were being ordered by a superior.

That was all the planning they had time for. Verdant glanced over his shoulder again. Blackthorn and Judas had made it to the spear wall, and now true hell was being unleashed. In the prelude before the slaughter of the Patrick men, they were allowed to indulge in a one-sided slaughter of the Macalisters. Even as Verdant watched, that little battle was all but over.