Chapter 287 - 222: A Blacksmith Uses a Hammer (Part 3)

Whether it was launching a surprise second charge or coming to your rescue, neither would have left you in such a sorry state."

"Alright, alright, I took a heavy blow to the stomach for it. I’ve learned my lesson, so just spare me, will you?" Two Attendants took off Belem’s Chain Armor and began bandaging his wound. He plugged his ears and yelled, "I can’t hear you, I can’t hear you! My hearing’s gone, the pain is affecting it! Ah, it hurts so much!"

"Of course, before that, you did very well," Eric said.

"Now that’s what I like to hear." Belem smiled, pointing a finger at Eric.

Due to their Lance Soldiers’ earlier successful charge against the Knights, which unhorsed many, including their apparent leader Belem, the enemy’s morale had soared. In their elation, many from the Civilian Militia charged down the gentle slope, attempting to kill the downed Norman Knights.

Their original phalanx was now shattered and in disarray.

Eric ordered the mounted Welsh Archers to intercept them, loosing Arrows to pick off the members of the Civilian Militia who had come down the slope one by one. He used more Arrows to further disrupt the enemy phalanx still on the slope.

At the same time, he had the Knights charge the fragmented phalanx on the slope. The Spearmen, few in number and now without the close protection of the Shield Soldiers, had no time to turn their Long Spears and were completely overrun.

Soon, the Civilian Militia, who had previously held the upper hand, suddenly found themselves at a disadvantage.

These members of the Civilian Militia were not professional soldiers. Seeing the tide of battle turn completely against them, they began to rout. However, with no cavalry force of their own to provide cover, the more they fled, the more irreversible their collapse became.

The battle gradually devolved into a slaughter.

Because the enemy were not Knights or Nobility, the Norman Knights felt no obligation to take prisoners. Moreover, the earlier deception had filled the Knights with rage.

After shouting a few futile orders, the Priest Commander saw the situation was hopeless. He mounted a light horse and tried to flee. His Riding Skill was so superb, however, that Eric’s Knights couldn’t catch him at first. It took three Knights working together to corner him by the river, and even then, he leaped into the water in a final attempt to escape.

The Knights brought him before Eric.

Although he wore the black robes of a Priest, Eric knew at first glance that he was no such thing.

He was a tall man, powerfully built and muscular like an athlete. Years of hardship and constant training seemed to have burned away any softness, leaving a body composed almost entirely of muscle, bone, and sinew.

This was a physique that required long-term training to maintain, and Eric doubted any member of the Clergy had that much idle time.

Eric had the Knights forcibly pry open his hands and strip off his Chain Armor, revealing palms covered in calluses and skin crisscrossed with scars.

"If he isn’t one of the Mercenaries, he must be a Free Knight," Eric said, looking at Belem.

(Free Knights were Knights without a fixed master. They typically offered military service to different Lords or Monarchs in exchange for payment or land. In eleventh-century Europe, issues with land inheritance created a large number of Free Knights who made a living by their martial prowess. The most famous of these Free Knights were the Normans. The Crusades brought the phenomenon of these Free Knights to its zenith.)

"Come to think of it, I was chasing a scout team when I came here. A squad of light cavalry. But it looks like they’ve already gotten away," Belem said.