The gnomes and goblins were milling about, obviously not responding to orders, and desperately looking for ways to escape.
The riders did not approach at a full gallop. Rather, they rode at an unhurried pace, arrows ready. As soon as the enemy was in bow range, they fired. As had been pre-arranged, the wall of foot-soldiers responded almost simultaneously, firing several times in rapid succession.
Abruptly, the wall of soldiers drew their weapons and charged, as did those on horse. The grisly business, another massacre, was soon finished.
The defenders suffered very few casualties, but Akaru doubted the enemy would make the same mistake twice. He knew that the enemy's resources were vast, and that this was but a feint to test their resourcefulness and their mettle. Or . . . and this possibility caused him to chew angry pity like gristle . . . or those slain were merely a number selected to be culled. This possibility was very real, for the amount of provender they bore would not have fed them for more than a week.
Only days later, they returned to the eastern mouth of the Valley of Baruk.
The scouts reported little activity. This in itself did not bode well. He tried to imagine what the intended effect of the advance force was to be, had it succeeded, and concluded that at best they were intended to engage his force at an anticipated narrow pass, and hold them to a standstill. No doubt the Enemy would attack again very soon, repeatedly, giving them no quarter, exhausting their soldiers and their supplies!