‘It was in this way that the Hasz’een usually broke their enemy. The mere sight of these formidable armoured beasts was enough to make an army turn and flee. But the Volken are no ordinary people. They held firm, hacking at the creatures’ thick legs with long axes or unseating the riders with spears until they were ankle deep in a sea of blood.’

Lann saw the front line of men and women wield these fearsome weapons. Many of them fell unmoving on the ground, only to have their place taken up immediately by those behind them.

‘Hasz’een archers came next, and they turned the sky black with waves of arrows that rained down on to the Volken force. But the Volken people are strong and steadfast as the mountains they live among, and the shield wall held. Despite their losses, a great shout went up from the defenders when the archers were called to halt. Now it was the Volken defenders’ turn to drum. They beat their axes and swords against shields, and taunted the archers for failing to penetrate their defences. They pointed at the horned beasts lying dead at their feet and roared in defiance. The insults were deliberate and well chosen. Enraged, the Hasz’een commanders ordered their main force down into the valley. This was the moment the Volken king had been waiting for. The fighting in those first few moments was horrifying. Sharp iron cleaved flesh and sinew, and the earth quickly turned red.’

Lann winced as he watched countless figures fall to invisible blows.

‘Fight as hard as they might, the Volken knew there was no way they could hold off the Hasz’een …’

‘But,’ Lann said, shaking his head at the carnage. ‘There is a “but” to this story, isn’t there?’

‘Yes, there is a “but”. King Mjor had held back a large part of his army and stationed them in those woods on either side of the valley.’ Fleya gestured towards the trees. ‘Once the Hasz’een were fully engaged with the Volken warriors in the belly of the valley, these new forces came down from either side, trapping the enemy.’

As she said the words a new mist poured in from the attackers’ flanks, covering everything with its whiteness.

‘We won.’