The Free Company - Book VI: For Whom the Bells Toll

[stnylan]

Gerd slipped on a stair, falling down. He hit the stair in frustration and struggled to his feet to continue his descent, picking up speed.

Outside the broken Turks had fled. Then, from their places of hiding in the side streets two dozen Turkish archers efficiently filed out, crossbows loaded. The gates were open, and the Free Company men in the gateway were silhouetted against the morning light.

"Sir!" one of the men shouted, and Amric turned just as the he could hear the Turkish order. "Fire."

**

They were screams, and as Gerd opened banged open the tower door he saw a scene of chaos. Men screamed, and the smell of blood filled the air. He dived for cover as another bolt slammed into the wall just behind we he had stood. His eyes creased, and tears started to trickle down.

 

[unmerged(10397)]

May 31st - Afternoon - Near the Moravia River

O'Floinn was growing worried. His messenger should have returned by now. He wandered along the river, wondering about what delayed his messenger. The other sargeants had come as arranged, but after learning O'Floinn had no word from Captain, they promptly departed again, to hunt their enemies. The men knew nothing of the messenger, happily ignorant to everything outside their immediate task. The light cavalry had taken more losses than expected in the recent battles, and O'Floinn was hesitant about sending new messengers to the Company. Every time he spotted one of his men coming from the river, he preyed it would be his messenger, yet every time he knew it wasn't. The Company surely would have arrived at Nissa by now, but if his worst fears were actualized, and large numbers of Spahis had crossed the river, they may have been caught unaware, perhaps even while in the act of attacking Nissa. The Spahis were hurt, but still wielded enough power to cause O'Floinn fear. Maybe things are well after all, if things were growing dire, Captain would have sent me a messenger, thought O'Floinn. He hoped a messenger would come, whether his or Captain's he didn't care. A call from a sentry awoke him from his thoughts, and he rode swiftly toward the sounds of battle.

 

[Amric]

May 31, Gates of Nissa--Just after Dawn

"Fire!"

Amric turned to see crossbowmen neatly arranged against them across the sally bailey. Bolts thudded into the wood of the doors and a few bodies, including his own. The bolt sheared through the metal links of his right leg and punched through the meat of the thigh before continuing on its way out of the city.

"Jesus wept!" Amric shouted," Take cover!"

Johan and Amric dived for the ground. They were too exposed to do anything else. The crossbowmen began to wind up for another shot as more Turkish soldiers stormed around them and ran toward the open gates.

"Gerd!" Amric shouted," Take cover, damn it!"

Gerd slipped back into the gate turret and narrowed his eyes. He had not been able to warn his mates soon enough. The blood seeping from the nasty spill on the stairs went unnoticed as a tear slid down from his left eye. His mouth set in a firm line of anger, yet tinged with impatience as well, he dove back through the door and into the fight.

The Turks charging the gates began to impede themselves as they nearly came to blows as to which would be the first to cut down the infidels. Amric lurched back up at the same time Johan bounced back on his feet. Both men stood in front of the gates, feet planted firmly. The last four men standing formed up with the sergeants.

The crossbows were aimed again. Amric dropped his arm. All of the Free Company men hit the dirt. Some with more grace than others. The bolts hissed like an evil rain over the prone men. They stood up again to meet the charge of the onrushing Turks.

It didn't look good. They were outnumbered ten to one. But they HAD to hold. The cavalry had better get the lead out of their saddles and get here to firmly secure the gate or all would be lost.

Amric ducked a wildly swung blade and cut the fool down while attempting to kick the next man over. Nearly overbalanced due to his wounded leg, he windmilled his arms, which by happy coincidence nearly decapitated one Turk while causing another to backpedal in horror. Amric regained his footing and continued fighting desperately. The man next to him fell to a blade to the eye. Amric pierced the Turk in the side under the armpit and slide his blade out before he could wrench the blade from the Free Company man's eye.

Amric bellowed at top volume," OSKAR! CYRIL! GEOFFREY! Get your asses into this FIGHT, or ALL IS LOST!"

 

[Storey]

Geoffrey hurriedly followed Gerd down the steps trying not to trip. Gerd wasn’t so lucky as he fell more than once in the rush to get down. They reached the ground floor and Gerd banged open the tower door only to run into a wall of noise that stunned them with its intensity. The screams of the wounded were almost drowned out by the shouts of the men still fighting. Suddenly Gerd dived to the side and Geoffrey relying on instincts dived after him. He didn’t have time to wonder why before a bolt slammed into the wall just behind where the two men had been standing a second before. Geoffrey scrambled to his feet with Gerd following. Then they heard the shout of Amric.

"OSKAR! CYRIL! GEOFFREY1 Get your asses into this FIGHT, or ALL IS LOST!"

The two glanced at each other and charged out into the fight. A dozen Turks were thrusting their way forward against half a dozen still standing Free Company men. Gerd and Geoffrey slammed into the Turks flank and in the blink of an eye organized turmoil descended into pandemonium. Where once a line existed between attacker and defender it was replaced by a storm of men tossed about by the force of Gerd and Geoffrey’s attack.

Half a dozen Turks suddenly parted as Sergeant Amric hit them from behind and the Turks broke before the combined assualt. The sense of victory the three felt was spoiled by the sound of crossbows being wound up. They looked across the sally bailey just as the Turks once again took aim. Geoffrey just had time to think of two things. He thought of King Leonidas and the 300 Spartans who finally died under a hail of arrows. Which was quickly followed by "Oh shit."

 

[redwolf]

May 31, outside Nissa

"Sir! The gate is open!" Shouted Zhang. Lim Hui looked over to the gate. He could not be sure if it's open or not but usually when Zhang says is open, it's open.

Looking beside him, Kent looked a little doubtful. Lim spoke to him," Sir, Zhang has the eyes of an eagle. When he says the gate is open, it's open." Kent again did not reply but continued staring hard at the gate.

Lim started to lose his patience," Sir, we have to move now. Men are dying to hold the gate for us!"

Lim waited for Kent to give the go ahead, but inside he has already decided. His jaghun will advance on the gate in a minute's time, regardless of whether the Heavies go with them. Lim looked over to Kent again. It was going to be a long minute...

 

[redwolf]

May 31, inside Nissa

Chen and his men turned the last corner as they approached the gate. In front of them, 20 Turks crossbowmen stood aiming their crossbows at a group of around 10 men defending the open gate. All around them, Turks stood ready to charge once the crossbows are fired.

Chen did not wait. Raising his sword high, he charged the crossbowmen, the rest following close behind. The turks commander was about to give the order to fire when he was suddenly cut down from behind as Chen and his men cut down every man in their way.

As the last of the crossbowmen went down, the other Turks were starting to realise that another enemy force has hit them in the back and they started to shift to meet this new threat. Chen glanced around, uh oh, no good.

"To the gate!" Chen bellowed as the 10 of them raced past the Turks before they could react towards the rest of their comrades. As he neared the gate, he could make out Amric,Johan, Gerd, Oskar, Geffreoy and stuffy old Cyril among others. "Amric!" he shouted. Amric apparently did not recognise at first but at the sound of the voice, Amric grinned," Chen! Good to see you around! The Free Company's just behind us. We must hold the gate open for them!"

Chen and his group reached Amric's men and as one turned to face the Turks who were again starting to advance. Chen turned over to Amric," Mind if we give the Turks a little of their own medicine?" Amric saw the bow in Chen's hands and replied," Not at all. Be my guest."

Chen and his men drew bows. "Alright take aim, Fire!" Even as the first volley of arrows streaked towards the onrushing Turks, Chen already had a second arrow ready and had fired it. All in all, they managed to fire off 4 volleys. Over 30 turks lay dead on the ground but still more advanced on them and there were no more time for another volley.

Reluctantly, Chen and his men stepped back into line and drew their melee weapons. It has been a long time since Chen played infantryman. Raising his sword, he shouted," Death rides with Us!" and swung his sword at the first onrushing Turk. All around him, Free Company men engaged Turks in fierce combat.

The Battle for the Gate of Nissa is on....

 

[redwolf]

May 31, Afternoon, Near the Moravia River

Jan Polak was trying to take an afternoon nap. The past couple of days had been frantic what with trying to co ordinate things with the rest of the Calvalry as well as engaging in running battles with the Turks. Now it seemed that things were quiet for a moment and he hoped to get an hour's rest at least.

No such luck. Barely had he closed his eyes for five minutes when a shout of a sentry followed by the sounds of fighting woke him up. Cursing he dashed out wondering if the Turks had somehow found them. All he saw O'Floinn moving fast towards towards the source of the commotion.

Jan Polak moved over to join him. "Sir, what's going on?"

O'Floinn did not bother to turn as he replied," Not sure but I think we are about to find out soon." The 2 of them continued to move at a fast pace...

 

[unmerged(10397)]

May 31st - Afternoon - Near the Moravia

O'Floinn and Polak arrivd at the scene of the disturbance. It turned out to be a group of crazed horses crashing around, with the light cavalrymen desperately trying to restrain them. They were so preoccupied with the horses, that they did not notice when the first round of arrows fell amongst them. A second volley followed, and as the horses were felled, the cavalrymen sprang into action, diving for cover and drawing thier bows. O'Floinn ran and slid behind a large log, Polak and several others close behind him. Arrows were flew back and forth for several minutes, but gradually the arrows from the attackers lessened, they had been on campaign without renewed supplies for some time, and their quivers were emptying quickly. They were encircled by a group of O'Floinn's men, who rode in amongst the attackers, shooting and slashing until all their enemies had fallen. O'Floinn ran to his own horse and rode over to the spot where most of their assailants had been.

 

[Amric]

May 31 1442, Gates of Nissa- Ongoing gate battle

"Nice shooting, Chen," Amric shouted over the clashing of blades.

"Thank you," Chen replied," You guys seemed to need a little help."

"Glad you could join the party," Amric chuckled," Now you can see what we grunts on the ground do all the time."

"You crunchies get all the fun," Chen smiled.

"Crunchies?" Amric looked puzzled.

"The sound a footsoldier in armor makes when a lance impales him," Chen explained," At least that is what some of the heavy cavalry call foot soldiers."

Amric winced," Ouch. Simplistic, yet oh so painfully real."

Chen ducked a whistling blade over his head, quickly gutting his over stretched opponent. Amric parried a blade and decapitated the wrist holding it with his other sword. The Turk lurched back screaming, his wrist spouting scarlet red blood in a high arc as he held it up and tried to staunch the fountaining crimson flood with his other hand.

Chen slipped on the fresh blood on the cobbles and nearly went down. Amric staggered in front of the Chin and fought off three Turks as Chen regained his footing and slid under Amric's spinning blades to slice deeply into the calf of one of the Turks, who hopped back, cursing.

Chen came alongside Amric," Thank you."

"Not a problem," Amric shrugged," I just didn't want to explain to Captain or the rest of your men how I let you get killed."

Chen grinned," I can see how that might disturb you."

"You have no idea," Amric's lips quirked," You've been presumed dead, and then alive. I don't want to have to explain that yes, you WERE alive, but I let you get killed."

Chen suddenly pulled Amric to the side as a crossbow bolt slammed into the space the senior sergeant had been standing in to continue on to impale a Turk facing them square in the chest. His look of horrified surprise made both men chuckle briefly.

"Thanks, Chen," Amric smiled.

"I didn't want to have to explain to Captain or Baer that I let you die either," Chen laughed.

"I wouldn't want you to have to do that either," Amric agreed," Could be...unpleasant....once Baer is back on his feet."

Chen slipped past another Turk's guard and slashed deeply into his chest, sending the Turk reeling back clutching his wound. Amric deflected a dagger thrown at Chen from a Turk in the second rank opposing them and glared at the man, who blanched briefly before falling with a cross bow bolt in the eye.

"Baer is sick?" Chen inquired.

"Been pushing himself to hard since Cremona," Amric speculated," I don't think he ever really healed properly. You know how the big ox just keeps on going where sane men fear to tread."

"The same could be said of you," Chen opined as he dodged another Turk attack.

"Well," Amric temporized," I AM a bit younger than him."

"Not the point," Chen disagreed," You've been wounded, in ways that would drop most normal men."

Amric shrugged, gutting another Turk," I've gotten used to pain. I'll die later, when I have time...which should be in bed decades from now, if I can manage it. What I mean is that I am so used to pain that I just kind of block it out. I'm sure I will have to see the leech after this...unless you are willing to heat a blade and just sear my wounds for me?"

Chen looked at Amric in some surprise," You're have a joke with me, yes?"

"No," Amric snapped his left blade into the eye of one Turk, while blocking another's attack," I don't know if I trust Jan. He's....shaky...in my opinion. He drinks too much."

"Amric," Chen kicked out at a Turkish knee, which audibly popped," You think EVERYONE drinks too much."

Amric shrugged," You may have a point. Regardless, will you do it?"

"If that is what you wish," Chen frowned," Then yes, I will do it."

"Thanks," Amric ducked a wildly swung sword and sent it's wielder on to his reward.

The two men continued to fight side by side. Geoffrey, Cyril, Oskar, Gerd, and Johan were also holding their own. Johan had cleared a rather impressive space around himself with Turk bodies piled up in front of him.

Oskar fought like the warrior he was, while Gerd, silent as always seemed to be like a man possessed. Fighting with a raging skill beyond that he had ever shown before. So fiercely did he fight, that Turks actually began to edge away from him toward Oskar.

Cyril and Geoffrey fought on either side of Johan, slaying any who tried to get a side angle on the axe wielding cavalryman. All those left standing from the Free Company were covered in blood. Most of it, as befitting their training, from the Turks trying to kill them.

"Death Rides With Us!" Amric bellowed," Hold the LINE! We SHALL NOT LET THEM PASS! Hold the GATE and the CITY is OURS!"

 

[The_Hawk]

May 31, morning, the hilltop

Captain had picked an unfortunate moment to review his troops. By the time he turned back to the walls, there was movement all around Nissa's gate, yet the always obedient Kent stood, his horse pawing at the ground. Captain stood in the stirrups as he urged his steed toward the center of the Company line.

"Lieutenant," he shouted, "do my eyes deceive me, or is that gate there open?"

"I believe so, sir," Kent responded.

Captain was about to give the almost unnecessary order to charge when both men's heads whipped around at the sound of rushing hooves. From the far side of the heavy cavalry wedge came Lim's light cavalry, swarming down toward the battle below.

"Damn his inability to follow orders," Captain muttered, slowing his steed, "but bless his initiative." He raised his voice. "Well, don't just stand there, Lieutenant! After them!"

Kent nodded once, grimly, and slapped his visor down with a metallic clank. In the close confines of his helmet, he muttered, "Let's hope they have the sense to get out of the way." Then he raised his hand, leveled his lance at the walls of Nissa, and waved his men into a charge.

Behind him, Captain rode into the gap vacated by the heavy horse. He motioned the infantry forward, and letting out a single battle cry, the Free Company swarmed toward the city below.

 

[The_Hawk]

Sulyman Pasha had started back down from the walls the second the sounds of fighting erupted from below. By the time he hit the ground behind the wall, the devilish Free Company had -- somehow -- managed to open the city's gate.

How, by all that is right and holy, did they get in here? And are my men so incompetent they didn't see them coming? He silently cursed the fates that left him with an ill-trained garrison force, instead of the cream of the Turkish army.

Screaming, Sulyman waved the reinforcements who rushed toward the gate into the fray. They went haphazardly, in no particular order. It hardly mattered how many lives were spent, so long as the gate was closed. They would overwhelm the enemy by weight of numbers.

I'll block the gate with bodies, if I have to.

It was while mulling that grim thought that Sulyman became dimly aware, above the din, of a dull roar just on the edge of consciousness. Angling sideways suspiciously, he got a good view through the gate -- a good view of the bulk of the Free Company rushing toward his position.

"Stop!" he cried, his voice so commanding that the men rushing towards the battle at the gate froze in their tracks. Sulyman drew his sword and pointed to the ground before him. "Form ranks, here, now! Brace for a charge!"

 

[redwolf]

May 31, Gate of Nissa

Chen took down another Turk. Glancing around he could see Kumar and Mosby, bloodied with minor wounds all over their body continue to dish out haevy punishment on the Turks. Out of his 10, 5 have fallen and all of them are injured. This is not good, thought Chen.

Suddenly he realised that the Turks were no longer engaging them but many were running, the fear in their eyes very obvious to see. Chen and Amric stared at each other, wondering what was that all about.

It was then he heard the ground rumble. Chen and Amric turned at the same time to see the Lim and his jaghun bearing down on the gate. The Free Company men jumped to the side as the the Light Cavalry raced through.

Seeing the Turks still trying to form up, Lim's jaghun unleashed a volley of arrows into their midst before drawing their melee weapons. As the Turks infantry braced for impact, Lim shouted," Charge through them. Don't stop to engage. Leave them to the heavies." even they charged right through the disorganised turkish lines.

They charged right through and continued on into the city. Even as the battered turkish lines tried to reorganise themselves, they heard another rumbling sound coming through the gate. The Heavy Cavalry has arrived....

 

[Valdemar]

At the gates of Nissa

Johan heard more than saw the crossbows being fired and raised his shield just in time, before going down on one knee.

The shield build to survive a lance with a full-grown battle horse behind it held, but the man next to him was less fortunate. Johan stood back up and noticed that the bolt had almost penetrated, the shield would not last long, and a few hard hits and it might crack. He shrugged it had lasted him long.

Amric shouted again and he ducked a second time. He looked up just in time to sweep away the legs of the first Turk and hoping to see the corporals rush from the towers with their men, reinforcements, but not enough, not nearly enough.

He stepped forward one step in order to get a good field, hoping the rest of the men would be behind him for now.

The first onrushing Turk never saw what hit him, underestimating the length of the cavalry axe Footmen Johan grinned mirthlessly.

The Turk swarmed the thin line, and soon every man was fighting for survival, any cohesive formation broken. Johan swung the axe on the first Turk, quickly clearing the room before him, always stepping forward in small circles into the empty space to avoid being attacked from behind, just like he would have done on horseback.

Just as he was about to be encircled the corporals broke from their hiding place, scattering the Turk, giving the Company men room to recreate the line.

He dodged a wild swing and let the axe fall on the outstretched arm, no need for finesse, the Turks are light armoured and the man stepped back screaming at the crushed bones and sinews.

Another one tried to rush the empty space where his friend had been, but Johan merely swung the axe up from below and the man almost impaled himself on the point of the blade. Johan wrested the axe free, but not in time and had to take a blow on his shield, which shattered and broke in two.

The knight swore and backhanded the offender, sending him unconscious to the ground, then discarded the broken straps of the shield and grabbed his axe in two hands, swinging from side to side, breaking bones and muscles, clearing enough room to appraise the situation.

The Turk thinned a bit and moved out of reach and readied for another volley from the crossbows, when suddenly a group of men broke from the alleys charging the crossbows from behind. Johan caught Amric’s eyes, but the sergeant merely shrugged.

Moments later the unknown men rushed at the thin company line and Johan braced him self, only to gladly surprised to find some of those ridiculous Chin light cavalrymen.

He smiled, “This is the first time I’ve been glad to see you, but boy am I glad.” The cavalryman next to him grinned and cocked an arrow ready for the next charge.

The third wave rushed forward, and even decimated by the archery they still overwhelmed the Company men, soon they were pressed together in a small knot in centre of the gate, looking down the slight slope at the onrushing Turk and another company forming up at the end of the far off street.

Johan readied himself for a final battle when suddenly he recognized a low rumble and the light cavalryman next to him shouted, “get out of the way.” Johan ducked sideways and just avoided being trampled by the squad of light cavalry rushing by, engaging the troops on the causeway and small square in front of the gate.

 

[Valdemar]

Outside Nissa

Kent looked for a long moment at Captain, off course he hadn’t rushed in, just because the gate might be open, without the support of the infantry his men would have been trapped inside the city.

Clapping down his visor he spurred his horse and the four hundred purebred warhorses slugged into motion, following the wake of the small light cavalry formation up ahead.

The men fell into a narrow wedge just enough to go through the gate. I hope the Chin have sense enough to get out of the way, we are to heavy to manoeuvre very well inside a city. Up ahead the light formation staggered slightly as the entered the range of the archers on the city wall, but carried on nevertheless.

Moments later the small group disappeared from view and Kent ordered the advance from trot to full speed, all along the line lances fell into place and Kent allowed somebody else to take his place in front.

Then they thundered up the causeway into the deep shadow and out into the city square, Kent had two seconds to orient himself then he ordered the charge directed straight at a large formation on the opposite side, awaiting their arrival. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Lim’s men charge down a side street in pursuit of a group of Turks They will cause havoc if they are not controlled and contained soon He smiled grimly, he remembered the Moors and Mongols inside the City, how efficient they worked even inside the confines of the narrow streets.

He had no more time for planning his men were almost upon the Turk, they fanned out slightly widening the wedge and with a resounding crash the hit the centre. The force carried them almost through before they grinded to a halt, the crashing sound replaced by the screams of dying men and horse.

The men-at-arms turned to their mêlée weapons, and soon the Turkish formation began to bend and yield in the centre, trying desperately to get out of the way and out flank the knight at the same time.

Kent knew that another Turkish formation to his back and his men would be lost with out the room to manoeuvre.

 

[Valdemar]

Inside the gate of Nissa

Johan watched tiredly as the light cavalry burst through the gate and into the sunlit plaza beyond, scattering the men rushing to crush the last defence of the gate. Wearily he leaned again the cold stone when the thunder he had thought belonged to the light cavalry grew until the stone beneath his feet vibrated.

He looked up in time to see the magnificent view of four hundred heavy steel clad men and horses fill the gatehouse and rush unto the open spaces inside the gate. Like an unstoppable avalanche they turned slightly and widened when the space allowed it into a deadly wave that fell irresistibly unto the large Turkish formation.

Johan felt an urge to join them, raising his head he whistled shrilly in the vain hope that Bernhard would be true to his word and was rewarded by a high whinny as Hannibal trotted through the gate.

Johan grabbed the veins and unslung the second shield attached to the saddle, when he felt a hand on his shoulder.

Turning he saw Amric standing there almost on one leg, leaning on one of his swords. The senior sergeant didn’t speak at first, but Johan could read something in his eyes. The German nodded gruffly and swung into the saddle, then he reached down and grabbed Amric’s outstretched hand,

“A good fight, senior sergeant. A good fight.”

 

[Valdemar]

31st dawn, south of Nissa

Ishak Pasha stood on the low escarpment looking out across the river and his army below. The sun had just begun to rise and his scouts had returned only moments ago, recounting their findings from the enemy camp.

Ishak sighed, it looked like Hunyadi outnumbered him, at least a fifth, perhaps as much as a third more men, all veterans from the previous wars.

and heavy cavalry

Looking without seeing, his eyes scanned the entrenched men below, knowing that even with the prepared defence it would be a call, too many conscripts, not enough Janissaries. And my cavalry, most of my cavalry are with Sulyman. He smiled slightly, hopefully the cavalry had been put to good use, a lesson for Hunyadi in the weeks to come.

He shook his head slowly, he had done what he could with whatever he had at his disposal, most of his veterans where back at the City, released to do their duty as farmers and minor nobles, the rest were scattered across the conquered territory as garrison forces, usually the low quality troops.

He had ordered the camp razed and the supplies send south on different paths, under orders not let anything fall into the Hungarians’ hands should the battle be lost. He would teach Hunyadi a lesson of warfare, if only Sulyman could hold Nissa and disrupt the supplies from the north.

The sun rose above the mountaintops bathing the river in a glittering light when finally the Christian army appeared on the road along the river.

Ishak stood on his knoll with his staff, waiting for the inevitable charge. If he could repel the first, he might stand a chance.

Slowly the enemy formed up on the bank, cavalry and infantry in ordered formations moving slowly forward until they filled the space from riverbank to escarpment.

Slowly they came, still out of reach for the meagre contingent of archers at his disposal, then a brazen sound rose above the din of men and beasts, and the human mass lurged forward, slowly at first, but then picking up speed. Soon the cavalry had out paced the infantry but still on they all came.

With a crash that didn’t reach him right away the armies collided. At first it looked like his line would hold, the crude pikes he had painstakingly ordered his men to use after the fall of the city stalled the cavalry briefly, but then the infantry caught up and tried to flank the bulk of the stalled mass of horse, scale the escarpment, anything to get around his force.

The centre was yielding, the flanks being pressed back. Ishak nodded to his officers and a messenger sped away. A few long moments passed nothing happened and Ishak prepared to order retreat. Then finally the hills seemed to shimmer and his hidden troops rushed down the escarpment to attack the flank of the Christians.

At first it seemed to work, the centre was holding and the nearby Christians giving way, but then something moved inside the turmoil of man to man combat and suddenly out of the cloud of dust the cavalry rallied.

Sallying forth from the melee came the dreaded Christian knights. As an armoured fist of god the rolled up his exposed infantry, crushing them against the escarpment from which they came.

It was all over in moments, Ishak knew that without those men he would not be able to hold the line, sooner or later the Hungarians would scale the low rise and out flank him.

As if they read his mind his defences below began to yield, his men pulling back, soon it would be a rout. He signalled for a retreat, hoping to save at least the Janissaries, then he turned away and left the army below to its faith, somebody had to inform the Sultan.

 

[unmerged(18239)]

May 31 the gate.

The grounds in front of the gates where filled with death and wounded.
The cloths of the six, still standing men of the Free Company where soaked with blood.
The battle raged on all around them.
The sound of metal on metal when a sword hit a piece of armour,
The screams of a young Turk when his lung was pierced a second later by a well aimed thrust.
The scream of rage from Mosby echoed trough the gates portal as another minor wound was inflicted on his back when a fat little Turk struck him with his scimitar. Luckily the blade glanced off so only a few seconds later the Turk was impaled on Chen’s blade.

Mosby’s senses where clear again, the pain had made him almost faint but he stood and swung his arm again, miss. He was getting tired.
For more then ten minutes the fight was going on now and still the Turks came on, endless lines of Turks.
They where not invincible, far from that, they must be raw recruits. But where you slew one two new ones erupted out of nothing to fill the gap created.

One after another his Singletons comrades where slashed down until only five stood almost back to back in a little circle.
Mosby saw the pain and problems that bothered his commander, Chen new things where not going well and they where losing their little fight. Mosby and the others where also not unaware of the simple mathematical fact.

And again one of his comrades went down when two Turkish blades pierced his belly simultaneously.
His scream was not even heard among the din of battle,
“We must sell our lives dearly.” Mosby heard Chen scream, but it was only faint that he heard it, at the same time ducking when a Scimitar struck the stones besides his head.

Mosby new his last hour or better his last minutes had arrived when the sounds of the charging cavalry broke trough. But Mosby did not know it, he did not hear it. A long slender and curved blade suddenly emerged out of nothing, pointed at Singletons jugular. He jumped aside but still felt the tremendous pain as the already bloodied and elaborate engraved Turkish sword pierced his shoulder.

Mosby fell on his knees, his vision became red and disappeared. For the last time he swung his long crude sword at the man in front of him. Second later he was hit and fell to his side, the Turkish blade still erupting from his shoulder, its owner dying on his chest.

Mosby heard nothing, Mosby saw nothing. He only felt pain. And then he fainted.

While the light cavalry, Lim’s Jaghun thundered past.
Chen, Mosby and the three others where saved, only just in time.

 

[redwolf]

May 31, Gate of Nissa

As the cavalry thundered past, Chen turned to see Mosby on the ground as well."Mosby!" as he ran over him. Mosby was still alive but unconscious, probably lost too much blood, thought Chen.

Quickly, Chen pulled Mosby and the other wounded away even as the Heavy Cavalry continued their attack on the Turks formation.

Suddenly, a group of about 20 Turks broke away from the main pack and started running to the gate. Chen looked out. The main formation of the Free Company was still at least 2 minutes away and the heavy cavalry was too engaged to help. Chen drew his sword again. They must hold the gate for 2 more minutes.

Beside him, Kumar and the other 2 survivng Light Cavalrymen took up ranks around him. A moment later, Oskar, Gerd, Geffroey and Cyril and the survivng members moved to join them followed closely by Amric.

It was 10 against 20 Turks. They must hold for 2 minutes. From the corner of his eye, he saw Johan moving to join his Heavy Cavalry companions. "Johan!" shouted Chen though he was not sure if Johan could hear his shout in the din of the battle. Chen hoped Johan did. If Johan could charge the flanks of the Turks, maybe the 10 of them will still have a chance.

The 10 of them closed ranks and prepared for the onslaught...

 

[Valdemar]

Inside Nissa

Johan grabbed Amric’s hand and was about to speak up, when suddenly a small group of Turks broke of the main host. Amric broke eye contact and turned towards the new foe.

Johan looked at the approaching men, then spurred Hannibal towards the plaza.

He could hear Chen’s frantic call behind, making a wide sweep in the open filed he finally had gained enough momentum and just as the first Turk reached the desolate knot of Company men, Hannibal crashed into the side and rear of the small group of Turk, tearing through them, killing, maiming and knocking them over on their way through.

As he emerged on the other side he turned back again, ready to use hooves and axe on any remainig foe....

 

[redwolf]

May 31

Johan and his horse charged through the Turks ranks, taking out nearly half of them.

Chen raised his fist in triumph. Now they were on even terms. "Charge them! Kill them all! Death rides with us!" he screamed and charge into the fray, followed closely by the other Free Company soldiers...