"Ronald Green - Great Kings War" - читать интересную книгу автора (Green Ronald)

Riverdale, NY 10471
www.baen.com

ISBN No.: 0-937912-03-4

Cover art by Alan Gutierrez

Revised Edition
Ace Books / March 1985
Baen Free Library / September 2004

For information address: Pequod Press
P.O. Box 3474, Northridge, CA 91328
[email protected]

To contact the authors or for more information on Kalvan and H. Beam Piper works see:
www.Hostigos.com
or [email protected]

Electronic version by WebWrights
http://www.webwrights.com

To the memory of H. Beam Piper,
and his Paratime/Aryan-Transpacific hideaway.
"FIRE!"
The first Hostigi volley tore into the Ktemnoi front rank as if they were a battery of artillery guns firing
case shot. A great cheer rose up from the Hostigi ranks. The second volley and third were almost as
devastating; the fourth less so. Still the Ktemnoi squares held. Now the musketeers were supposed to
sling their weapons and fall back; instead many picked up the pikes of the wounded or dead, while
others drew their swords and held their places.

"Pikes advance. CHARGE!"

As Xykos began to run toward the Sacred Square straight ahead, he was amazed at how quickly the
Ktemnoi rear ranks moved forward to replace their fallen comrades. It was an admirable display of
courage. He would make a toast to Galzar after he buried their bones. The remaining Ktemnoi
musketeers fired a last ragged volley at almost point-blank range, then fell back, leaving the billmen to
take the Hostigi charge.

There was a cry from ten thousand throatsтАФ
"KILL THE DEMON SPAWN!"

The billmen began their charge.

The Hostigi reply cameтАФ

"DOWN STYPHON!"

The two armies collided with such a shock that the first two Hostigi ranks disappeared before Xykos'
eyes. He was eight ranks deep into what had once been the Ktemnoi line before he came to a stop with