Feature: The Bronze and the Brimstone

Haven’t heard about it? Read my review here: The Lens and The Looker

When Hansum saw the arrow plunge through Lincoln’s helmet, then saw him fall to the ground, panic and terror consumed him.“LINCOLN!” he cried, starting to run toward him. The lieutenant grabbed Hansum’s arm.“No Signor, flee to the house. We will keep them busy while you escape.”Hansum looked up and saw the 20 mounted horses dashing out from the forest. Half went toward the cannon and the others came at a dead run toward his group. The horses were covered with armour and the men’s bascinet helmets had their visors down. Some soldiers had swords, the others, poleaxes. The noise of the hooves on the ground, the men shouting, and the armour and weapon clanging filled the air with a terrifying din.“But my friend!” Hansum screamed.“He’s fallen, Signor. Save yourself!” the lieutenant shouted. He shoved Hansum in the direction of the house and pulled down his visor. “Form around me!” he called to the five men with him. “You, go with the Signor,” he said to one. “Protect him with your life.” Hansum began running as fast as he could toward the woods that separated him from the manor house. Beside him ran the tall, lanky infantryman who had lit the fuse under Gina. He was running again, a look in his dark eyes that Hansum had never seen before. The long scar on his face, which spoke to the fact that he had been in these terrifying battles before, had turned deep red. Looking back as he ran, Hansum saw his protectors forming a line between him and the advancing horses. Three of the 10 horses swung off to the right to go around them and were coming straight at him. The seven remaining horses barrelled towards the five standing soldiers.“Shoulders together! On one knee! Brace!” the lieutenant shouted, pulling out his sword and stepping behind his line. “Shields!” All the men prepared themselves to take the charge. Their poleaxes were extended as far out as they could in an effort to spear their opponents. “Take the horses!” the lieutenant shouted, and they lowered their weapons slightly. The cavalry fell upon them. By standing so close together, only two of the seven mounted attackers were in killing proximity of the infantry men. The horses ran into the poleaxe’s pointed tips and luck was with the Scalligers. Two spears found their way through the horses’ armour. One horse reared up backwards. The other tumbled forward over the defenders. The helmet came off its heavily armoured knight, causing him to become an easy target for the lieutenant’s sword. Luckily, all five of the defenders survived the initial assault. They stood up and two attacked the second downed cavalry man. His helmet was still on. As he stumbled to his feet, they began to pummel his covered head with the hammer side of their poleaxes. The pointed top of the helmet initially did its job and deflected most of the blows. But soon it caved, as did its inhabitant. Two of the defenders kept at killing him while the other three formed again in front of the lieutenant.The remaining five attackers had swung their horses back around and, without hesitation, were charging again. It became a slashing, banging, cutting and spearing battle of attrition.The fight for the cannon was not so grand. Only two men with poleaxes against eight men on horses and a bowman, not 50 paces away. Within a minute all the cannoneers lay bleeding, dying or dead. When the attackers rode toward the cannon’s horses, the animals bolted, breaking their leads. The mounted cavalry caught one horse quickly and had to chase the other.More easily caught was Hansum. He was the most vulnerable. Feltrino rode ahead of Hansum and blocked his way. The infantryman jumped in front of Hansum and slashed at the air to make Feltrino back his horse up. The brave defender then jumped back to confront the two other attackers. He swung his poleaxe at the closest one and it hit his shield. He pulled it back again over his head to make another blow, but never delivered it. The other horseman had gotten behind him and slashed him on the back with his sword. Though the chainmail held, it threw him off balance and then the haunch of the attacker’s horse ran into the poor man as he passed. He stumbled and the other rider’s heavy sword came down and caught him right on the top of his head. His helmet split and the man fell to his knees right in front of Hansum.“Perche?” was all the man could say before blood and brains spurted out of his skull. He fell to the ground dead.Hansum screamed at the grisly sight. Feltrino got off his horse, sword in hand. Hansum looked to the infantryman’s fallen poleaxe and leaned toward it. One of the prancing hooves of the horses came down on it, holding it fast. Feltrino looked at Hansum through his closed helmet. Then he sheathed his sword, lifted his visor and looked at Hansum.“Feltrino!” Hansum gasped. Feltrino removed one of his gloves and held up the hand. It was short a thumb. But Feltrino didn’t look angry or revengeful. He bowed slightly to Hansum.“Master Monticelli,” he said, respectfully. “You are my prisoner, Signor.”