The Gate To Paradise by Constance Brewer
When cavalry captain Nikolai Samarin prays to the gods for help battling mercenaries invading his kingdom, he never expects his request to be answered personally.
THE GATE TO PARADISE EXCERPT:
Hekatonarchy One rapidly closed the gap; their horses were better fed for these long runs. The mercenaries rode mountain ponies, small and sturdy although not as durable as warhorses. Nikolai thought his scout was right, the mercs rode at a fast pace but they did not flee the cavalry unit behind them.
Nikolai was close enough to see the clothing the mercenaries wore, and hear the neighs of their ponies when the group split in two, half turning back to confront the pursuit while the rest continued to ride away. "Bakri! Sound 'Attack'!" Nikolai didn't wait for acknowledgement from his cornicen; he unsheathed a sword, gave Griego his head, and charged forward intent on teaching these murderers a lesson. His unit followed behind as the two Ruvhounds bound forward and tore one merc rider from his pony before the two groups closed. Their snarls were lost in the rising din.
Arrows flashed from merc bows. One skittered off Nikolai’s right vambrace at an angle. A badly thrown javelin dug into the ground before him, Griego dodged left. A few more strides carried Nikolai in amongst the mercenaries, he swung his sword in vicious arcs, glance darting from enemy to enemy as he assessed the situation. Nikolai shifted his weight in the saddle to dodge a sword thrust, sliced downward, opened the attacker from shoulder to wrist, and whirled Griego with his knees to parry another blade. Griego shifted, quick as a mountain tiger. An enemy lancer slid by, spear missing by several hands. Nikolai reached across and gave a backhand slash to the mercenary's exposed neck. The man tumbled from his pony with a scream. The blow was not fatal, Griego moved again, twisting in an unhorselike maneuver to bring Nikolai around to face a full squad of charging enemy armed with lance and sword. To their left several archers reined in and drew bowstrings. Nikolai was trapped between them.
Nikolai kneed Griego to the right in a desperate attempt to dodge the spears and put the mercs between him and their archers. With a great heave the warhorse wheeled on his haunches, and leapt sideways. It took both the enemy and Nikolai by surprise. The arrows sped past, one thunked into Nikolai's cuirass. It hung in the tabard a moment, point broken by the skidding impact with the metal before it dropped off. Nikolai gripped the horse's sides with his knees and tried to bring his sword arm up. He was off balance, wasted a precious second getting himself square in the saddle, and looked up to see two lancers a few horse lengths away. They drew their arms back.
Griego charged. A lance drove by Nikolai's head. The heavy wood made a whistling sound as it passed. Before the other lancer could throw Griego crashed into his pony and knocked it sideways. Nikolai took the opportunity to grab the lancer's spear with his left hand and jerk. Off balance, the man tipped forward. Nikolai thrust with his right arm and sank the blade into the other man's exposed armpit. As Griego turned, Nikolai twisted his sword and yanked it free, struck the man with the blunt edge of his shield. The merc slide from his pony in a limp heap. If he was alive it wasn't for long as the Ruvhounds tore out his throat.Mercenary archers reappeared, bows at the ready. They had Nikolai cut off. Again.
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