[Nogrod]

That man must be their leader! Now you can show them, who the Rohanians are! Sythric thought to himself. It seemed, that he hadn't particularly noticed Sythric yet. That's just the better... Surprise, speed, brutal strength, and then some range to add... Sythric smiled thinly, lowering his spear, staring at the easterling leader approaching him, armed only with a sword.

As he was readying himself to encounter the easterling, the voice of hooves passing somewhere near behind him got him instinctively to check his back. Brand was standing on the ground, some twenty yards behind him, just a short sword in his hand. He was facing an easterling, that was coming on him, at full gallop, a full-sized blade ready to swing. The brutal strenght and range on the one side there too... He’s already dead! “Brand!!!”

Before he even realized it himself, he had turned his body somewhat sideways – Thydrë accompanied his move by taking two steps back, and turning a bit – and thrown the heavy spear with all his strenght. He missed the easterling. A heavy rider spear was no javelin, and there had been no time to aim. But the spear had hit. It had hit the easterling’s horse, penetrating deep into its side. The horse whinnyed in pain and tumbled down to its knees from full gallop, sending its rider off the saddle, flying straight towards Brand.

At the same time, as Sythric saw the easterling tumble on Brand, he sensed the presence of the enemy, just too near now. He had neither time, nor space, to draw his sword, as the oncoming Calimehtar was already about to swing his – and within range, with the strength on his side now. Sythric could see the movement from the corner of his eye. Desperately he grasped his shield, and swung it towards the oncoming blow, trying to parry the hit that was already falling.