"Margeret Weis & Don Perrin - Dragonlance - The Chaos War 01 - The Doom Brigade" - читать интересную книгу автора (Weis Margaret)

"First Troop, follow me!" Slith yelled over the din.
The draconians had pushed off the remaining two ladders, but the dwarves pnihe
outside were keeping up a steady assault, hurling rocks and mud. The draconian next
to Kang slumped to his knees, then pitched face first into the dirt. Kang rolled the
draconian over to find him still breathing but with a large bump rising on his
forehead. A clay brick, cracked in half, lay next to him. Kang left the unconscious
soldier and descended the battlements. He went to find the Support Troop.
The draconians had maintained their military ranks and organization over the
years, though there had really been no need for mem to do so. They had long ago left
the army. But the discipline of the military unit worked well in times of emergency,
such as mis. Everyone knew what to do and who to follow.
The Support Troop supplied the rest of the brigade (now only two hundred
draconians strong), providing food, clothing, armor, weapons, and tools. During the
raids, the Support Troop served as the reserve army. Rog, the commander in charge of
Support, saluted as Kang approached.
"We're ready when you are, sir!" Rog announced.
"Good! Lef s go!" Kang responded and set the example by sheathing his sword.
With a yell, the forty draconians, each armed with a club and a shield, broke into a
jog, heading for the gate.
The draconians manning the gate saw the Support Troop coming, flung wide the
wooden doors.
On the other side of the gate, the dwarves, seeing their chance, made a rush on the
opened portal. Kang and his Support Troop charged through the gate. Swinging clubs
and fists, they surged headlong into the attacking dwarves.
The battle was brief. Several dwarves fell, their heads cracked by club or fist.
Lightning crackled, a few Bozaks were using their magic. Mindful of their
commander's order, they made certain that all it did was singe a few beards and set
one dwarf's pants ablaze. After five of their number had either fallen or were
smoldering, the hill dwarves withdrew, pulling back their forces into the sparse woods
surrounding the village. The occasional projectile weapon whistled through the air or,
in some instances, plopped.
Kang was just turning to assess the situation when he was struck on the snout by a
rotten egg. The eggshell broke, the stinking yolk dribbled into his mouth and down his
jaws. His stomach heaved at the foul smell and worse taste. He gagged and retched.
He would have almost preferred an arrow in the gut.
Wiping the putrid missile from his face, Kang called for his forces to retreat. He
heard his command, given in draconian, repeated in dwarven, shouted by the
commander of the hill dwarves. The dwarves ran off, leaving their wounded on the
field. Their wives would be around to collect them in the morning.
The draconians on the wall let out a victory yell. Once again they had pushed back
the dwarves. Kang shook his head glumly. Six dwarves had made it through, however.
He could only imagine what mischief they'd managed to do before being cornered.
Kang ordered his men inside, and the gates closed.
Slith was waiting for him.
"Well?" Kang asked. "Did you catch them?"
Slith saluted. "Sir, we clobbered two of them, but at least four got away, and four
of the sheep are missing."
Kang kicked the dirt with a clawed foot, sending up a cloud of dust in his
frustration. "Damn! And nobody saw a thing? What did the sheep do, sprout wings
and fly off with the dwarves on their backs?"