บท 249: Chapter 250: Annihilation
As the horns blared and Samwell's command banner advanced, the Reach cavalry, lined up in disciplined formations, began their slow surge forward. The earth trembled under the relentless drum of countless hooves, filling the air with a single, all-encompassing sound.
For a cavalry assault of this scale, complicated maneuvers were unnecessary; in fact, for an experienced commander, elaborate tactics would only risk confusion among the ranks, disrupting the order and unity of the charge.
Samwell led his main force in a frontal assault, while the flanks closed in on the Stormlanders' sides. The tactical plan was simple, but in the execution, the difference between skilled riders and ordinary troops would become clear.
The Reach cavalry were some of the best in the Seven Kingdoms. Equipped with the finest armor and weapons and riding high on the momentum of recent victories, they were in their peak morale—giving Samwell all the confidence he needed to commit fully to this engagement.
Across the field, the Stormland troops braced themselves. They'd raised two lines of shields, and from the gaps in these walls bristled spears, as sharp and ready as the quills of a porcupine.
Despite the fierce sight before them, the Reach cavalry did not slow down.
The relentless thunder of hooves grew even louder, and the ground seemed to shake with the impending charge, the sound hitting like a battering ram against the nerves of any who dared listen.
Seeing this from high above on Cleopatra, Samwell watched his cavalry advance like a breaking wave ready to crash into the rocky outcrop of the Stormland phalanx below.
But before the cavalry met the shield wall, a fierce skirmish erupted on the flanks where the opposing cavalry clashed. Outnumbered, the Stormland cavalry's charge became a tragic, almost suicidal gesture of defiance.
Their sacrifice was not without effect; they managed to disrupt the flanking units of the Reach, who had to pull back and re-form.
In the center, the Reach forces continued forward, and the battle began in earnest.
"Shoot! Shoot!" came the shouts from the Stormland officers as arrows flew from their ranks, darkening the sky. The shafts rained down on the advancing cavalry with a menacing hiss.
Arrows clanged and skidded off the heavy armor of the vanguard, who took only limited losses. Samwell had chosen not to charge at the head this time, letting his cavalry, charged with victory and confidence, lead the assault. Instead, he planned to dive into the fray atop Cleopatra, hoping to add even greater chaos to the enemy ranks.
Cleopatra, however, was still a juvenile dragon, her scales not yet strong enough to withstand volleys of arrows. Samwell would wait until his troops had broken through the archers before launching his assault.
After three volleys, the Reach cavalry reached the enemy lines. There was no room for hesitation or fear. With all the force of their charging momentum, the knights crashed into the shield wall.
A thunderous clamor erupted, drowning out even the hoofbeats, as waves of human bodies collided. Bodies flew, blood splattered, and in that instant, countless lives were extinguished.
Some Reach knights were pierced by spears but continued forward on sheer momentum, snapping the spears and driving their steeds into the shield wall, smashing the soldiers behind.
The power of the armored cavalry was on full display. The shield wall, so carefully constructed, shattered upon impact, breaking into gaping holes.
The Reach cavalry, without missing a beat, filled the gaps their comrades had forced open, surging forward toward the second shield wall.
The horrific clash repeated, and this time, the shield wall did not last as long. Though they inflicted considerable losses on the cavalry, the defenders ultimately could not withstand the ferocity of the assault.
Once the shield wall broke, the fate of the Stormland army was sealed.
The relentless flood of Reach cavalry swept over the battlefield, their blades rising and falling as they cut through the scattered defenders, leaving behind a swath of blood and corpses.
In an open field, a heavy cavalry charge was nearly unstoppable in the age of steel and muscle. Without terrain or walls, infantry had no way to withstand the might of the armored horsemen.
With the Stormland archers overrun, Samwell spurred Cleopatra into a steep dive. His dragon, thrilled by the blood-soaked air, seemed eager for battle. Her wings cut through the air, casting a dark shadow over the soldiers below as she prepared to unleash her flames.
Samwell raised his greatsword Dawn, feeling a strange sensation—as if the sword was almost alive, growing more vibrant in the light of the dragon's fire, as if reunited with an old friend.
He swung Dawn, sending a flash of light intertwining with Cleopatra's fire as they struck the enemy ranks. The fiery blast left a charred path through the soldiers, incinerating both flesh and steel.
Men became living torches, their ranks an inferno. The stench of burning flesh filled the air, mixing with the smoke and the dying cries, creating a ghastly symphony of death.
The archers, their formation shattered, could only fire scattered arrows, none of which posed any threat to Cleopatra above.
"Forget the dragon!" screamed Ser Cortnay Penrose, his voice hoarse from shouting.
A wave of fire swept by him, but he did not flinch, letting the hot wind billow his cloak and slap against his armor.
"Hold the line! Do not retreat! Do not break!"
Ser Cortnay knew the dragon's attack looked terrifying, but it was limited in scope. The true danger lay in the enemy cavalry, slicing through his forces.
But while Ser Cortnay fought to steady his soldiers, fear had already taken root. Not all men possessed the iron will of this seasoned knight, and many were terrified at the sight of the dragon.
Ser Cortnay resorted to killing deserters to try and stop the panic, but it only served to draw Samwell's attention. From his vantage point, he noted the commander's position and made another pass on Cleopatra, raining down fire and striking him with Dawn.
In a blaze of flames, Ser Cortnay was engulfed. The yellow banner of House Penrose caught fire and disintegrated into the wind.
With the death of their commander, the Stormland army's morale finally broke. The soldiers abandoned their weapons, fleeing in all directions.
The Reach cavalry, moving like a relentless tide, cut down the retreating Stormlanders, their swords flashing as they left a trail of carnage in their wake.
On the vast plain, the mounted forces created a massacre.
Some Stormland knights made desperate last stands, but no mortal effort could stem the tide of the collapse.
The Reach cavalry broke through the enemy flanks, scattering them across the fields in a mad scramble for survival. But there was no escape.
The riders quickly split into smaller groups, hunting down the scattered soldiers, determined to wipe out the Stormland force before it could reach Storm's End.
Samwell sheathed his sword and allowed Cleopatra to soar across the blood-drenched field, her triumphant screeches echoing over the vast landscape.
As he gazed southward, Samwell thought he could almost see the distant, towering walls of that legendary castle—Storm's End.
(End of Chapter)
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