Showdown(2)

The Sequoia Kingdom’s warhorses were fitted with special helmets meant to dampen the sound of nearby explosions or any magic. These beasts were also trained to overcome their natural fear of fire. However, the thundering sound and thick smoke from hundreds of muskets going off at once far surpassed any ordinary spell. Many of the horses reared up and threw off their riders, while even more slowed down and started turning in place.

The hundreds who fell were fated to be crippled, if not killed in the midst of the stampede. However, that wasn’t even the worst part: the effect of the casualties was dwarfed by the loss of speed. With less than a hundred metres left, these heavy cavalrymen wouldn’t be able to regain the momentum for an effective charge.

Several hundred axes flew out from behind Richard’s infantry, finding their marks on the heads of those knights who were too occupied with calming their steeds. Another few hundred fell, and...