The thunder rolled across Kuna Nakra’s skin.
The sound was coming from the far opposite side, from somewhere near the right wing where the Fang Riders were. It was an ominous sound that came just moments after the signal arrows had announced the appearance of the dragoons.
“This is no good, Kuna.”
Largan Kar said calmly, showing no sign of panic. Around them, the mounted soldiers galloped in a wide circle.
The enemy outnumbered them two to one. They had likely been given orders to face each lizardman with two riders. Largan Kar had told his own soldiers to stand back-to-back with each other and prepare to fight. However, the enemy stayed out of range and waited for an opening.
From beyond the wall of the cavalry, he could hear the sounds of weapons clashing.
“I didn’t expect much from those boars, but they couldn’t even hold the enemy for a few hours?”
“Largan, it is not only the Fang Riders out there. Archers were deployed as well, and will not be defeated so easily.”
As if timing their move to the break in the conversation, two cavalry riders charged again from the encircling formation.
Riding in a single line, they lowered their long, curved blades and slashed as they swept past.
But at the last possible moment, Kuna snapped his sword upward.
Steel rang out and sparks scattered like beads. The rider struck by the parry lost his balance, and the second rider swerved desperately to avoid the staggering horse and man.
“I see. Their sword swings are slow, and their skills are nothing special. It seems even the gods can’t create a truly skilled cavalryman on such short notice.”
They may have shown a decent amount of coordination, keeping their formation intact and working with the riders ahead of them. However, there was none of the power that comes when a horse and rider are truly of one mind.
“It is borrowed strength. They may look impressive at a glance, but they move like children’s puppets.”
Even as he spoke, Largan’s finest warrior swung his blade. The charging cavalryman nearly crashed once again and fled desperately to escape his reach.
“Kuna. This is no good.”
“Indeed, Largan.”
They raised the tips of their tails and tapped them together lightly.
“Perhaps we should display our own skills now?”
“Very well. Let us show them..”
They were bored of playing children’s games.
This hopeless situation would end here and now.
For the third time, riders charged straight at them. Their faces were strangely vacant. Neither fired up by battle nor truly focused on the enemy before them.
The swords at their sides and the reins in their hands did not suit them as well as they seemed to think.
The blue-scaled warrior’s mouth twisted into a mocking smile at this odd disconnect.
The mounts accelerated, the sounds of hooves rose sharply.
Every trajectory was visible.
Yes, there. You will quicken your mount at that point, raise your sword at that position, and try to cut me down.
Precise. Without hesitation. As if guided by something that told them, ‘This will surely kill your enemy. Swing your blade.’
If this was what they called divine authority…
“Gods…how shallow.”
He said, and then Kuna leapt.
At the instant the enemy raised his sword, the blue lizardman’s body soared lightly into the air. He was exposing himself to what would have been a killing blow, but now the rider’s face showed panic.
Kuna’s movements were just a fraction faster than anticipated. Even if he was placed along the blade’s path, closing in on the weapon before its full force could build would render that attack meaningless.
And yet, the enemy’s blade did not stop.
After all, it was an attack that could never truly land. It was only swung because someone else had commanded it.
As he leapt, Kuna’s sword slashed through the air.
The single strike severed the horse’s thick neck, muscle and bone together, and then split the stunned rider’s flank from top to bottom, his ribs and one lung were cleaved apart.
A moment later, the enemy’s sword struck Kuna’s shoulder, only to be knocked aside by the force of the charge and sent spinning away in a useless arc.
“Well done.”
Largan’s red form slipped past Kuna’s side as he shook the blood from his blade.