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When Rorick led his Warriors to the Notch, it was in full expectation that few of them would return. It was a gamble, a gamble which could let the King win the war, for it would take only a few men from the Asbalnian host, and yet would delay Sharakh in the Notch long enough that his arrival could make no difference in the battle.
-The Hygerian War
Randell of Avantir
The Warriors gathered spears quickly, looking a little nervously toward the hill over which the attack would come. They were not left alone for long. Fortunately, the Warriors were allowed time to take up their positions again. Rorick set twenty men aside, formed into a wedge, and told them, “When I need you, I will need you immediately, and without delay. See that you watch me all times.”
The Hygerians came shouting over the brow of the hill, a dark wave intent on swamping the Asbalnians. Suddenly, they checked and cast their javelins. The Warriors answered them, and several of the Dark ones went down.
Then came Rorick’s shout, and the front rank crouched as javelins whipped overhead. This move caught the Hygerians by surprise, and several of them fell. Then Dolon’s men were up and into them. In the first clashing minutes, Rorick saw an opportunity. He called to the men in the wedge, “Follow me!”
Waiting only so long as it took them to form nearly at his back, he rushed forward. They pushed through the Asbalnian ranks, directly into the Hygerians beyond. Rorick pushed forward, not attempting to engage anyone yet, merely forcing his way in. Now, amid the Hygerian force, there was a wedge of Asbalnians, pushing them all out of formation, discouraging them after the last volley of javelins and Dolon’s charge had halted them.
It was not over in an instant by any means, for these were the new Hygerian infantry, determined to prove their abilities. But though they fought fiercely, the wedge of men within their formation fought as fiercely as the Mountain Dwarfs. At last, leaving their dead piled behind them, they withdrew.
But they were not broken.
Rorick looked down to the valley where the Hygerians were attacking again, infantry in the center, cavalry advancing on the wings. They intended to destroy the Asbalnian flanks by cavalry attacks, and exploit it with their infantry.
Then the warriors were under attack again. All Rorick’s men, now half-strength or less, were wounded to some degree or another, while there were in the Hygerian force men who had not yet fought at all. Again the javelins flew. Lywan, the standard-bearer, though he warded off two, still fell with one in his throat.
Yet before the standard had leaned an arm’s length, Dolon had caught it and bore it forward suddenly into the face of the Hygerian’s charge. As they gathered in a swirling knot around him, he planted the pole firmly in the earth and fought.
Rorick, caught by surprise, suddenly realized what it was that Dolon was attempting. He shouted, “Form around your standard!”
It was enough to bring the warriors forward in another determined rush, and they flung themselves into the fray behind Rorick, who wielded the Sword with a skill and ferocity, which made him the first to reach Dolon. Beran was only just behind him, and the rest of the Warriors were nearly with him.
Even as they fought, Beran stumbled backward, then fell, with his sword still buried in the man who had wounded him. Already the Hygerians were leaving the fight, and shortly the Asbalnians held the field alone.
Rorick counted his men; fifty-three remained on their feet.