“I had thought of leading short columns of riders between their companies, firing arrows at either side as they went. In this way, and in the dark, the enemy should inflict much damage on themselves. But this will only work once. Another such attempt would be disastrous.”
Baldric laughed at the audacity of her plan. “We will suffer some losses, of course,” he said. “But we could travel right through their midst. The sound of horses would be everywhere. Did I not tell you she is daring?”
“The losses need not be great,” said Hamron, “if we muffle the horse’s hooves. They would have little warning, and would judge us to be further away than we will be.”
“Some others could create diversion,” said Piter.
“Aye,” said Jonden. “With hooves unmuffled, and shouting as well. This plan should work well.”
“Make it so,” said Baldric. “And when this manoeuvre is accomplished, continue to strafe them from out of their range until just before dawn. But continuously... not sporadically a we have been doing. And tell your soldiers to fire at the centers of the large companies. Let us make their leaders feel unsafe for a change.”
When morning came, the losses were tallied as they rode to a safe distance ahead of the enemy. One-hundred eighty riders were lost, as were fifty-seven horse. As the scouts caught up with them, they were given a rough estimate of the enemies’ losses. The results were appalling! Morlock’s army had lost some four-thousands. More important however was the fact that the army, disheartened and harassed thoroughly, had halted in their tracks.