The first volley of arrows and javelins rained down mercilessly upon Ormund's army. The soldiers barely had time to react before the sky above them darkened with deadly projectiles.
With a sharp hiss, arrows and javelins plunged into the unprepared ranks. The men shouted in agony as the missiles found their marks, sinking into exposed flesh, armor, and the flanks of terrified horses, whom had no armor . Some of the infantry attempted to raise their shields, but their movements were sluggish, panicked. These were levied men, hastily recruited and not even given basic training. Their shields, while offering protection on one side, left the other side vulnerable to the deadly rain of arrows from both flanks.
