There's still much that can be done now. Even as the noise and chaos of battle ensues, you stand strong and unflinching.
You look over your archers and rangers. With the melee ensuing directly in front of them, they're too close to effectively use their bows. Currently, all they can do is stand anxiously as the melee rages in front of them.
The rebel archers are continuing to pelt your forces. Dealing with them early would no doubt spare hundreds of your own men. Alternatively, focusing on the enemy cavalry may allow your own to punch through their lines and strike the enemy in the side.
Or perhaps focusing on the enemy infantry straight away might be best. It would leave the enemy archers alive, but you'd grow closer to breaking the enemy line.
With the archers taken care of, you shift your attention back to the battle at large.
There are still several orders you know you could issue to try and sway the tide. The question that permeates in your mind is when. You also know that, as the battle progresses, more opportunities will arise.
Looking over the melee, you consider your next move.
Darin gives the signal, and your riders prepare themselves. You turn your focus back to the battle.
You sigh deeply and look over your soldiers.
Truly, it is in their hands now.
Next
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Rade stands behind his archers as they continue to rain arrows on the enemy. As the two great lines of footmen chaotically tear into each other, arrows continue to pour in from above. Rade knows that, in such conditions, some of these arrows will strike his own men.
He winces at the thought. Death by one's own side is not a death any man should have to suffer.
But such is the cost of war.
With the men in position, there's little more Rade can do from behind his lines. He orders the commander of his archers to maintain the attack, then turns to his bodyguards. "Ready yourselves."
The duke draws his sword. Weapon at the ready, he urges his bodyguards forward.
Rade is tired of hiding.
Next