Book 6. Chapter 22: In which the neighbors learn a lesson
And that was it for negotiations. Lionheart thought we were savages that were being scammed and had to be dealt with. His second in command just wanted all Chosen dead and he didn’t care who was in the way or why.
Father sent me a quick comms link, telling me he’d take on the senior Deathless while I would go after the second in command. The rest of the knights behind me would go and tackle the rest of their knights. Wrath would stay a little in the back and try not to get too involved, if she’s discovered it might make Lionheart go extra crazy.
Sounds of occult blades lighting up rang around the valley as both our sides all took positions. It was clear the Undersiders were used to fighting as a unit, since they grouped up and all took the exact same stance, left arm out to act as a shield, while the right hand held onto the blade at the ready to swing.
On the other side, our group was loosely scattered around, with no real organized tactic. But there was still a plan in the works.
I raised one hand and slashed the air with it. And with that command, all hell broke loose.
Father and I charged forward at the old Deathless and his second in command.
The Winterscar knights instantly bolted off to both sides, splitting into two groups and sprinting to squeeze down on the Undersider formation like pliers. It was the tactic Captain Sagrius had learned while he roamed the underground alone, and eventually found himself in a city. Undersiders worked really well as a unified group during combat, but their formation needed to cover each other and there was always going to be at least one that didn't get that cover where the formation ended. The surface knights were hounding after that chink in the armor, the edges of the formation.
The Deathless in turn reacted by keeping their line facing the two different enemy groups, converting the long line into a bent semi-circle, taking further steps away from the four man brawl I was in. Clearly trusting their leaders to survive the fight against Father and I.
A call came out on their side, and they split the formation into two separate lines, both keeping the split group of Winterscars in target. Wasn’t sure why they were so desperate to make sure the surface knights were always perpendicular to their lines, but it was clear we couldn’t outrun the speed they kept their formation in check, even with the Winterblossom technique.