Книга только для ознакомления
. The
rugged terrain confined each force to a single deep valley,
and though each marched but a score of leagues from the
other, neither was in a position to support its counterpart in
the event of difficulty.
The dwarves capitalized on this disadvantage quickly,
meeting the two southern legions with some eight thousand
doughty warriors. Meanwhile, the northern wing of the
Istarian army advanced over rougher ground, pushing
toward the lofty divide at a snail's pace.
Making his attack in the south from ambush, at the
fording of a rapid stream, the dwarven commander timed
the onslaught perfectly. (Incidentally, reports indicate, but
do not confirm, that the dwarven field army was led by
High Thane Rankil himself.) Waiting until half of the
Istarians had crossed, the Khalkist army annihilated an
entire legion and harried the second all the way back to the
lowlands. There the remnant of the human legion
remained, its fighting spirit shattered on the granite
foothills. The heights loomed like jagged daggers to the
west, casting shadows of an early sunset over Istar. (I beg
Your Excellency's forgiveness of my metaphorical excess!)
By this time, the northern legions had penetrated to
Stone Pillar Pass, without seeing a single dwarf
|
