Battle of the hills(11)

Ioannes scanned the battlefield, frustration evident on his face as he cursed under his breath. The Sicilian line, against the odds, was holding strong even as their front forces faced annihilation. Puzzled, he looked up and caught sight of the flag bearing the insignia of the royal Sicilian family.

A realization dawned on him, and he wondered if the steady defence was a result of King Conrad's presence, inspiring the men to stand resolute in the face of adversity. Which was not good for him as more time passed the more was the chance of support arriving and disrupting their plan . He knew they had to act quickly if they were to have any chance of victory. The enemy's resilience was becoming a formidable obstacle, and they needed to find a way to break through the Sicilian line before it was too late.

Ioannes, determined to turn the tide, issued a fervent command to his infantry.