War at the Gates - Part 9

They formed their lines, hard, and aggressive, with the fullest intention of meeting the enemy where they stood. But the cavalry came no closer. They stopped, just out of arrow range, lying threateningly on their left and right flanks, sitting waiting, sandwiching them in place.

Now Oliver could feel the dragon's breath right on his face. It had hardly shown its teeth yet, and already, it did seem that his men were placed in their position of checkmate. It was a wonder just how well a competent General could make use of twenty thousand men. They'd only operated a small portion of their grand army, and already, just on threats alone, they were able to put the Patrick men in their place.