A Time of Tigers - From Peasant to Emperor-Chapter 819: Looking For Weakness - Part 4

"Mm, it is only now that I am noticing the odour," Verdant said. "You've had the wood treated, my Lord? To dampen any flame that might be spread to it?"

"Indeed," Oliver said, "though, I have been warned if oil is splashed on it, there'll likely be no saving it, no matter how much it's treated."

He hefted one of the shields up off the pile. It was the size of a man, a large man at that, which made it about a head bigger than Oliver. Despite its weight, with Oliver's strength, it was comfortable enough in his grasp. He had his sword sheathed at his hip, and his bow slung over his shoulder, so his hands were free enough.

With shield in hand, he glanced up towards the wall. The sun wasn't as low as it had been yesterday, and he could see the Macalister archers looking down suspiciously.

"I wonder what they feel, seeing their own cavalry so many times a day?" Oliver said, a malicious smile on his lips. He could practically feel their anger from here.

"I expect they feel eager, my Lord," Verdant said, understanding his sentiment better than any man could. "If they're as excitable as their cavalry unit made them seem, a little bit of poking should be enough to upset this beehive."

"Let us hope so," Oliver said. With a shield extended out in front of him, he boldly took a step into the archer's range. There was an audible gasp from the men, seeing their Captain do something so reckless, even when he had a shield to protect him.

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His Academy retainers had been standing about looking unsure, but now seeing Oliver put himself so readily in harm's way, they hurried to do the same. Kaya grabbed a shield, his strong arms making light work of it. Karesh did the same, without an ounce of struggle. Jorah grimaced at its weight, but he kept speed with the rest.

They hurried out after Oliver, instinctually making a wall of shields on either side of his, adding to it.

"Hm," Oliver said, reviewing the gaps in the wood. There were more than he would like. Each shield wasn't perfectly uniform, for it was as though Tjorn could make them all himself. But or a group of soldiers making them in the middle of the woods, they were about as good as he could hope for.

They didn't seem likely to let any arrows through, at least, and the small gaps between the wood in places at least afforded a way to keep an eye on the enemy whilst also keeping himself protected.

Another shield tapped into place next to them, as Verdant extended their four-man shield wall to five men.

They were a good twenty paces into enemy arrow range by now.

"That's probably good enough!" Nila shouted after him. "That's the edge of our range, if we wanted to return first. A further ten paces would make sure of it."

With Nila's approval, Oliver paused in place, just in time for the first volley of arrows to cast themselves into the air.

At that point, as entrenched as they were, there was no choice but to commit themselves entirely to the strength of the shields. They stood rooted where they were, grasping the shields by the long wooden handle across the middle, praying to all the Gods that the arrows wouldn't make it through.

A thudding patter began, like especially heavy rain. It was enough to stop the heart, as they all imagined an arrow sliding on through, and showing them not a shred of mercy.

That didn't happen, though. The wood showed no signs of giving. No arrow tip made it all the way through. The worst that Oliver saw was a slight bulge where a single arrow had made it to the edge of the wood, but had been unable to pierce it. That was a good enough test to confirm it – these shields would be able to withstand, well enough, what he hoped to put them through.

He shared looks with his men. The young retainers looked as relieved as one could get. Karesh and Kaya were wearing sheepish smiles, whilst Jorah was doing his best to keep his face straight.

"All according to plan, my Lord?" Verdant asked.

"Indeed," Oliver replied. "Let us stake these in place."

He thrust his own stake into the ground, and leaned his shield against it to demonstrate what he meant. Even without him holding it now, the shield was able to stand up by itself, protecting him from arrows and the like, freeing his hands up for whatever he wished to do.

He didn't exactly fasten the shield in place either. There was a small circular little depression cut into each shield, designed to catch the stake to hold it sturdy, but otherwise, the shield was entirely free to move, and could easily be picked up and shifted whenever he needed it to be. It was a dynamic, and simple defensive tactic.

His retainers hurried to copy him, and only now that the shield wall had be been set up did they seem to understand his intentions. Nila jogged up behind the wall, her bow at the ready, aiming an arrow at the wall. She loosed it before the men at the top could think to duck, once more taking a man through the eye.

Of course, that incited a wave of arrows to be fired back their way in recompense, but it was a futile effort. Nila joined the rest of them in ducking down behind the wall, weathering the attack easily enough.

"This certainly makes life easier," she said. Oliver was inclined to agree. It was a setup that would allow even he and the lesser archers to try a shot of their own. As the archers atop the wall reached for another arrow, he turned his heavier bow on them, lining up a shot.

With the twang of a bowstring, he sent the arrow hurtling across the battlefield. From a bow like Oliver's, even with his wooden shields in the way, the arrow would likely be able to burst a solid distance through. Not enough to wound the man behind the wood, but enough to warn them with its vicious tipped point.