Summer, 1428

There was no mistaking the situation: the cyno defenses were crumbling. Turin was dead. A fourth of Fuivirc’s troops had fallen, while Qgerecn’s command had lost almost as many and was bending back upon itself like a door hinge. However it was Holtasn’s command that was on the verge of collapse, their commander badly -if not mortally- wounded, the division hit from three sides and crumbling under pressure, its troops retreating with heavy losses and prevented from routing completely only by intervention from Oevcn’s reserve. Seeing themselves on the cusp of victory, members of the Calaveras Legion were already stopping to loot, collect trophies and round up prisoners to enslave.

With the fleet-footed cynos retreating, the condottiero’s cavalry soon outpaced his infantry, leaving only the raiders and pillagers to continue the attack. Still, these hardened riders were more than capable of driving back the defenders, harrying the retreating forces, mercilessly cutting down anyone who got within range of their sabers, javelins and arrows and capturing scores with their nets and ropes.

Under such heavy pressure the Tar Hollow defenders fell back again and again, each time with some disorder, crumpling in upon itself until finally their backs were to the town. Oevcn and Beimcu had been falling with Myrewecs’s troops along with some of Holtasn’s, temporarily making a short stand to fight off fresh assaults, then retreating again before being overwhelmed. This repeated until Beimcu saw the entry gate to Tar Hollow. At that the female cyno stopped and turned back to face the enemy, drawing her gladius and planting her feet firmly against the approaching enemy, then cursing as she barely deflected some arrows fired at her with her shield.

%Our backs are facing the town!% Beimcu yelled as Oevcn stopped questioningly. %We retreat through, our troops will break and scatter to save their families, and we lose. We all die or get enslaved. The line is in the sand here. We hold here or die trying!% Her companion looked at his companion, stopped as well, and nodded, readying his falcata. A few other individuals around them soon rallied and joined them, as did Myrewecs and the bulk of Oevcn’s Raiders nearby, forming a ragged, improvised new defensive line. Enemy horsemen quickly appeared and attacked immediately, but the rallied defenders held their ground and after a brief but violent clash of arms managed to drive them off.

Surprised by the renewed resistance, the vanguard of the enemy fell back to their main force, giving the defenders a brief respite.

Bloodied, breathing heavily, Beimcu kicked at the body of one of the fallen enemy before looking back toward the regrouping horsemen, reinforced by the main body of the enemy forces in the distance. To the cheers of his subordinates, Condottiero Borja had arrived at this part of the field with a raised aruval, followed by his standard-bearer, proudly carrying the force’s banner aloft. The head of the Calaveras Legion had arrived and was prepared to personally lead his forces for the final assault to crush the cynocephali of Tar Hollow.

As both forces prepared for the final onslaught, one of the Legion’s captains rode over, dragging a captured cyno bound by his hands. Borja smiled, and with an order had the captain position the bruised and bloody captive so as to have him face the defenders watching from a distance.

%Oevcn, it’s Agrrec.% Beimcu exclaimed quietly.

Oevcn’s jaws set.

%What will they do to him?% His companion continued, without seeking an answer.

Agrrec looked small and scared.

Myrewecs was shaking his head, quietly he began singing a death song.

As the horsemen raiders rallied and fixed their ranks and the legionary infantry slowly began to approach, Condottiero Borja casually rode over and ran his weapon through the trembling cyno’s chest, then suddenly twirled his blade and hacked off Agrrec’s head.

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Levi Coult- Steel For Humans (Cover Witcher 3 Soundtrack)

From  Kiaun!

Original: https://www.furaffinity.net/view/53166774/