In group strategy, it is important to know how to irritate your adversaries. Launching a violent assault at a place your adversaries have not thought of, before their minds have a chance to stabilize, take the initiative of attack, making the best of this advantage.
- Miyamoto Musashi, extract from Book of Five Rings
Something leapt out the river.
Harnack turned and saw a big thing clutch the man who drank water. The big thing resembled a man but had white scales over the entire body, pitch-black cat-like eyes, pointy nose, and a cranial appendage resembling a dolphin's tail. Large fins protruded from the elbows, split down the middle halfway. Smaller fins hung from above their hips.
What was this but a Zora? It grappled with his foe. Hands clutched over the man, the Zora wrestled in an awkward position while partly underwater.
Harnack rushed over... Another Zora jumped out the river, landing atop Harnack who only managed to partly unsheathe his sword. They toppled, the Zora's fins elongating as he sawed them to and fro, slicing open Harnack's face. The Norseman lowered his chin to prevent his throat being cut, withdrawing his seax and frantically stabbing. The blade did not pierce the Zora's scales but still hurt him.
Harnack kicked the Zora off, knelt up, unsheathed his sword, and started swinging—the fishy fellow backflipped into the river. Harnack ran to the man wrestling the other Zora, yet another Zora popping her head above the water and holding harpoons. She threw one into Harnack's temple, which stuck in. He groaned and fell to his knee. Grabbing the harpoon, he wrenched it out his scalp. Blood leaked with every heartbeat, his red beard redder...
Some Norsemen noticed the fight downriver "Litast! Vestan at ánni...grávara!" The barbarians withdrew their shields and swords.
The wagoner rubbed his eyes. "Hrmm? Oh!" He pointed his sword at the amphibious beings. "Vega þú gakk, ef þú vreiðr séir!"
"Ahh hah hah hah! At ýtersto!" Some Norsemen rushed towards the riverside, others going upriver, banging their swords against their shields.
The female Zora saw them incoming. She threw her other harpoon at Harnack's face. It entered his cheekbone, knocking out a few teeth and stunning him.
The Zora who first appeared placed his opponent in a headlock and rolled backwards, pulling the man underwater before the others arrived. Several Norsemen ran into the river to aid their friend but several more Zora—already underwater—swam by, tripping the advancing Norsemen and dragging the submerged one deeper.
The current flowed against the sinking Norseman's shield and pushed him farther, the amphibious Zora keeping him underwater. As he thrashed and snorted water, he managed to unsheathe his sword. He waved it against his foes though its length made it ineffective. The Zora immobilized him and one sawed his fin against the man's throat—murky redness came, the Zoras lettng the current drag him away.
Guomundur grunted. "Illa sóttisk þeim Sleipnir..." He ran waist-deep into the river, slashing the waters. "Etja vandræðum við mik!"
Meanwhile, Harnack jogged away, pulling the harpoon out his face. "Guomundur! Get out of the river before they drown you, too!"
A Zora leapt out the water, going towards her target—he smashed his shield into her head. She flopped into the water as blood gushed out her skull. She wriggled away before Guomundur had a chance to slice her open, the sword only hitting water.
Various Zoras took turns attacking Guomundur, his sword splashing the waters ineffectively. One Zora leapt, fin elongating to slice Guomundur's face. He raised his shield and swung his sword from below; shield blocked the fin and his blade cleft the Zora's brow open! Blood and bits of scales dashed out, the Zora swimming off...
Upriver, a large, muscular Zora leapt several feet into the air, landing heavily. He looked different from the other Zora. He had a broad skull in the shape of a shark's head, and was larger than most men. He grinned, sharp teeth revealed, then charged the Norsemen by the wagon with speed none of them expected! The men raised their shields... The big Zora veered off, striking a horse's rump with his clawed hand, triggering the horses into a mindless gallop.
The driver leapt off his wagon and drew his sword, irritated that his horses ran off. He and his brethren charged the big fishy fellow, the Zora darting off and soon back in the river.
Luna was caught in the middle of the skirmish and had no idea of what to do. The barbarians obliviously ran over her; one of Norsemen inadvertently kneed her in the head, knocking her down.
Seven more Zora popped out the waterline, throwing javelins and harpoons. The charging men held their shields out in front of themselves. Some projectiles stuck into shields, a few bounced off, but one harpoon drove into a shinbone; the man cried out and knelt. Morirex stayed behind and tried to help him remove the harpoon but it didn't budge.
"The barbs are lugged into my shinbone! Ahhck!" He placed the bottom of his shield down to serve as a rudimentary covering from projectiles. He tried to dislodge the harpoon but yelped from pain.
"Shut up and I'll try to get it out!" Morirex slung his shield over and tried to pull the harpoon out. He kept his hand and wrist loose and shaky to wriggle the barbs out, but they remained lodged, much to the barbarian's discomfort.
The other Norsemen continued pursuit against the mermen, though there was not much they could do unless they dove into the river. Contrary to their amphibious nature, the Zora were fast runners.
The Zora who recently appeared turned around and dove back into the river. The other Zora downriver harassed their foes with clamshells sharpened along the edge, thrown overhand. The clamshells made high-pitched whizzes as they spun through the air. Although not heavy, they were so sharp they cut into the boots and trousers of the humans though were useless against shields.
Several barbarians knelt over to take the shells out of their legs while the Zora hurled many more shells, harpoons and flint-tipped javelins. Some men ran into the river, eager for revenge, but the Zora just swam away! Some Norsemen retrieved thrown projectiles and hurled them back though the Zoras always dove.
Farther downriver, six more Zora appeared, throwing javelins and harpoons at the wagoner as he jogged towards his brethren. The flint-tipped projectiles just bounced off his hauberk, the mesh of rings just jingling. One javelin ricocheted off his nasal helm with a spark. Frustrated by the attacks, the driver spun around and ran towards the six Zora, but they simply retreated back into the river and swam off.
The wagoner ran to the riverside, footfall heavy and clumsy. He bashed his sword and shield together as their heads surfaced, raising their javelins. "Lætr snót saka!" Several javelins thudded into his shield.
The Zora down the other end of the river harassed the foreigners with projectiles, though none of the men were foolish enough to actually run into the river anymore. When conventional projectiles ran out, the Zora resorted to hurling river rocks or waiting for other Zora to bring more javelins.
The Norsemen had to outlast the skirmish somehow. The refused retreat to avoid shame so strong was their need to show bravery.
One Zora threw a javelin at a Norseman who accidentally dropped his sword, though he caught the incoming javelin. "Taka spjót á lopti!" He threw it back.
Both sides exchanged projectiles to little effect...
Meanwhile, the six Zora who provoked the driver leapt out the river. They brandished flint spears and attacked the driver, though they could not pierce his mail shirt, and his thick body absorbed impact as well. The wagoner blocked most spears with his shield, countering with his sword though the Zoras skipped about while continuously spearing.
Two Zora hooked their spearheads around the rim of the wagoner's shield and pulled it aside, allowed others to thrust into his body, but the flint heads just fractured against his mail. After a short struggle, the Zora managed to pull the driver's shield down then they encircled him, repeatedly lunging.
The driver chopped aside a few shafts, but being heavily armored, large, and old, his six Zora opponents easily danced around him. They kept their fins and legs spread out to maintain equilibrium, sometimes extending their cranial tails to balance themselves.
The Zora spearmen jabbed repeatedly at the face, forearms and legs of the driver, poking holes where armor did not cover. The old man roared, rushing forth to get up-close, however the Zoras danced around, keeping their distance from him.
The driver grabbed a shaft, pulling it out a Zora's hands; others speared him repeatedly though had no effect against his armor. He realigned the spear in his hand and threw it. The Zora he aimed at parried the thrown spear with his fin. An opening created, the driver withstood endless spears and charged the Zora, who backhanded a fin but it just slid across the nasal of the driver's helm, who then chopped at the Zora who in turn dodged.
Another Zora lunged his spear from the side, the shaft going over the right shin but behind the left leg, tripping the driver.
As the driver fell, he slashed downwards, but did not reach his target; blade struck the earth. Neary Zora speared him, the old man writhing about, slashing his sword and swatting his free arm.
Meanwhile, Morirex failed to remove the harpoon from his friend's shin. They noticed the wagoner's trouble. "Eckh! Haavelmo, I have to help the old man!" Morirex ran off, brandishing his sword and shield.
Haavelmo sat up, raising his shield to block projectiles; the skirmish wouldn't end anytime soon.
Morirex approached the six Zora preoccupied with the wagoner. Morirex vigorously shook his head to and fro, braided beard and bearskin swaying as he growled. The Zora blankly stared. The driver swung his sword sideways, attempted to chop off a few legs, but the Zora, without looking, evaded.
A Zora thrust his spear into the side of the wagoner's neck. Pain withstood, the driver swung his sword at the Zora's legs, who jumped to avoid the sword while applying bodyweight against the spear. The growling old man writhed in pain, chopping haphazardly.
The six Zora stepped back to face the charging Morirex, who gnawed on his shield. The Zora split up and flanked the barbarian to spear him in either direction. He pulled his shield away from his teeth, blocking attacks. Three Zora behind him thrust their spears repeatedly into his back, though the bearskin resisted spearheads.
No matter how many times the Zora thrust, Morirex seemed dauntless. He beat his chest with the flat of his sword. "At maðr er moldu samr!" He swung his sword wildly.
The Zora skipped about, spearing repeatedly. The barbarian was unfazed and frenzied.
The Zora continued their evasion but in one instance, the Norseman leapt just as Zora lunged their spears. They hopped back but their fins were in the way of each other—Morirex chopped into a Zora's forehead. The Zora grabbed his head and fell over, his brow bleeding.
"Haruto!" a Zora shouted with a whir-vibrato voice. He scowled as he and his buddies speared Morirex's back, legs and arms, anywhere his shield did not cover. The flint-headed spears cut through his boots and sleeves, but not the bearskin. Amidst the flurry of spears, Morirex titled his shield to and fro and blocked many blows.
"Gamla vis Hruga uskit'r!" The barbarian backhanded his shield, disarraying several spears, then swung his sword about. The Zora dodged then jabbed at the man's face, busting him open though he was unrelenting.
Meanwhile, the wagoner tried to attack the legs of the Zora while stuck on the ground, but as always they easily evaded his attacks. Every time he tried to pick himself up, a Zora rammed a spear at him and pushed him down.
The wagoner snarled, "Nú er á orðit mikit fyrir mér!"
Morirex fought the Zora keeping him busy...
Over at the riverside, Norsemen there continued their face-off with the swimming Zora, though neither side did much besides exchange projectiles or feint attacks.
Haavelmo tried to get up to join the fight, but his injured shin was too much. The Zora left him alone; Morirex was the bigger threat. Haavelmo tried a second time to stand but failed. His third attempt greatly hurt; he fell onto his bottom. He resorted to using his shield as a crutch. Before he could do anything significant, while the five Zora fought Morirex and the wagoner, one of the mermen charged Haavelmo. The Norseman leaned over his shield, pointing his sword.
Armed with a much longer weapon, the Zora thrust his spear, screaming with all his might. The Norseman weakly raised his shield; the spear slid between two loose boards, piercing the man's forehead. He fell over, skull leaking blood.
The wagoner's eyes widened. "Atgeirinn rendi í gegnum skjǫldinn!?"
The Zora who speared Haavelmo pulled his spear out the shield, and then ran back to fight Morirex, his clothes perforated but he was unyielding. The barbarian shouted so loudly he made a few Zora flinch. He sprinted forth and bashed his shield into a Zora's front, feeling spears jab into his sides, but nevertheless tackled the Zora he stunned over and stabbed his sternum.
"Help Benjo!" one of the Zora yelled as he speared Morirex.
The barbarian leaned over his pommel, applying bodyweight upon the hilt, pushing his sword through the Zora who groaned with a mouthful of blood.
"You'll pay for what you did to him!" the Zora who previously spoke shouted, rushing over to save his comrade, but it was too late.
Morirex slid his sword out sideways, slitting the fallen Zora open. The barbarian slammed the flat of his sword against his chest. "AHH HA HA! Rammr at afli—"
The incoming Zora thrust his spear through Morirex's forearm, spearhead going in-between the two bones. Another Zora yanked Morirex's sword out his hand. The man pulled his right arm out the spearhead, then the mermen stepped up-close and thrust their spears with all their strength. He raised his shield but the Zora hooked their spearheads over the rim and pulled it down, then repeatedly stabbed him everywhere—blood loss increased and Morirex struggled to stand...
Meanwhile, the Norsemen at the riverbank ran into the water but, predictably, the Zora swam towards the other side! Furious that they could not fight their amphibious enemy, the barbarians shouted insults, bashed their swords and shields together, gnawed on the rim of their shields, shook their heads madly, and kicked at the water. Some sheathed their swords to hurl stones.
The shark-like Zora emerged once in a while and engaged with many opponents every time. He often hooked his spearhead around the rim of a shield then thrust, though always retreated back into the water to avoid being swarmed.
A few Zora who swam downriver tackled into the legs of the Norsemen, momentum augmented by the current. A few Norsemen lost balance and fell, though their comrades grabbed their shoulders and pulled them out. The harassing continued...
Haavelmo regained his senses though his forehead bled still. "Hey! Help Morirex and Eric!"
Guomundur, Harnack and six other Norsemen remained at the riverside while the rest went towards the wagon.
Morirex fought the four Zora by himself with just his shield and feet, though did little as he was always out of reach and weakened from blood loss.
The Zora noticed the incoming barbarians. "Clear out! Move!" The Zora spread out and fled. They outran their pursuers and dove into the river.
Morirex retrieved his sword and sheathed it, he and his men keeping their shields up to block projectiles.
Two men sheathed their swords and helped the wagoner up, getting him into the wagon. Harnack and Haavelmo were also helped back to the wagon, the barbarians shielding their injured.
Perhaps thirty Zora popped out of the water and a volley of harpoons arched through the air, thudding against shields.
A few barbarians sheathed their swords, grabbed nearby harpoons, and threw them back. The targets were only heads above the waterline, which vanished before the harpoons came. Guomundur and a score of Norseme got armfuls of harpoons then headed for the bridge.
Two groups of twenty Zora leapt out either side of the river like graceful flocks. The Zora landed, rolling over their shoulders and getting up, all of them armed spears, clearly outnumbering the Norsemen who headed for the bridge.
"Get out of there! They will flank you!" the wagoner shouted.
The barbarians ahead threw the harpoons and javelins they collected, withdrew their swords, and charged like mad dogs...
The twenty Zora spread out, dodging the incoming projectiles. They then arranged themselves in a zigzag formation, shoulder-to-shoulder, spears formed in a tight wall, and advanced. The leading Norsemen charged, those behind them a bit late and distance created between them.
"Sœkja at!" a Norsemen shouted; they raised their shields and counter-charged the twenty Zoras.
The shark-faced Zora made his appearance, pushing and shoving his way through his brethren. He threw his spear with great force, splintering the target's shield!
The shark-faced Zora leapt recklessly, bodyweight crushing a few barbarians down. As swords slashed, the shark-faced Zora whirled about violently, sliding his hard, edged elbow fins across faces and forearms as he stomped and headbutted shields out the way. His continuously whirling fins parried all incoming blades!
Swords bounced off the shark-faced Zora's scales, though broke them enough for blood loss. He pulled a shield with both hands down, burrowing his teeth upon the Norseman's face, who yawped. The Zora ripped his teeth out, pushing his victim into the others before darting off, his body chipped and bloodied.
Despite their wounds, the Norsemen pursued the big guy and his comrades counter-charged—a wave of spears struck shields. The barbarians withstood, sliding their blades along the edges of their shields, cutting around the safety of their shields, but the tightly-packed array of spears remained strong. The Zoras at the flanks broke formation and ran around their foes, attacking them from behind.
"Swina bqllr!" a barbarian howled as a Zora attacked his rear.
Blades clattered against shafts. Spearheads thudded against shields. Both Zora and Norsemen held their ground and fought defensively, neither side capable of overcoming the other's advantages, shouting defiance as scales chipped and men bled amid violence.
The many spears soon hooked shields, allowing other Zora to thrust into openings. The flint spearheads made wet crunching sounds as they stabbed into ribs and brows. The Norsemen grunted, but they nevertheless kept their shields and swords up to intercept the continuous perforation.
Two Norseman managed to chop into the chests of two Zora who leaned back to avoid strikes on the head, their spears extended but missed.
"I'm cut open!" an injured Zora exclaimed as frothy blood leaked out his chest.
"Ha! Not so tough face-to-face, hunh!?" one of the Norsemen mocked, then the Zora he injured threw his spear at the Norseman's forehead, staggering him as blood spurted.
The Zora appeared too weak to deliver mortal blows against larger adversaries. Tired from overexertion, they wavered.
A barbarian got a spearhead jammed in-between his ribs; he dropped his shield and was stabbed everywhere. He grabbed one spear stuck in him and cut a Zora's head. Vulnerable without his shield, he got stabbed through the trachea by a spear, then piercing the spinal cord; he limply fell.
"Cry back to your fake mothers and failure fathers!" a Norseman shouted, then the remaining barbarians here were overwhelmed by rekindled fury. They were surrounded and attacked from every angle into the head, body, legs and arms: cheekbones, lips and teeth split. Adrenaline pumped so much that the barbarians felt little pain, though were nevertheless outnumbered.
One Zora aligned his elbow fin over the top of a shield, hooking it down and thrusting his spear into the Norseman's face, others followed suite. The Zora outmatched the initial barbarians, though the fresher Norsemen protected their injured and leapt into the fray.
Meanwhile, the twenty other Zora at the bridge readied themselves, their comrades in melee spreading out to flee.
Farther upriver, the shark-faced Zora crawled upon the riverbank, harpoons in either hand. Water and blood dripped down his shimmering and cracked scales. Luna sat nearby, hurt and pathetic.
The Zora cocked his head at Luna. "Hm? Who are you?"
"There's Sharkface!"
He threw his harpoons at their shields. He ran around them, playing with them. No matter how hard they tried, he always danced around them, avoiding their swords. He performed such annoyances for perhaps a minute before tiring, so he retreated into the river. His brethren at the bridge aimed their projectiles...
"That's right, you run!"
"Verðið vel við!" another encouraged, this group charging the Zora up ahead at the bridge as javelins and harpoons arched...
Back at the wagon, five unwounded men stood guard, plucking harpoons out their shields.
"At the bridge they're not moving, let's go!" They sheathed their swords and took javelins from the wagon.
A Norseman strung the bow, nocked an arrow but missed the shot. The skirmishers ran towards the bridge to regroup with Guomundur and his seven men, some throwing javelins at close-range with the archer's support, some Zora fleeing after dodging the projectiles.
Morirex and Harnack joined the charge despite their wounds, faces bloody, but the driver and Haavelmo stayed at the wagon due to their injuries.
Without shields or armour, the Zora at the bridge spread out along the riverside, dodging the archer's shots even as he closed in. Guomundur and his group charged them, harpoons throw, some sticking into shields.
One spear flew forth and bounced across the upper rim of Morirex's shield and hit the ground. Morirex dropped his sword, grabbed the spear, and threw it back at the Zora who knocked it aside with his fin; it landed near Luna, making her gasp.
While Morirex retrieved his sword, another javelin flew into his other shin. He fumbled, pulling the javelin out. "Saar owan ā saar..."
The archer released another arrow to retaliate against the dwindling projectiles, the targeted Zora leaning out its trajectory.
Seventeen Zora from the other group reemerged and drifted along the river, threw harpoons, javelins and sharpened shells into the flank of Guomundur. Some Norsemen dropped their swords then threw the projectiles back, the Zora sinking underwater to avoid them.
The four barbarians with javelins, Morirex, and Harnack ran as fast as they could. Norsemen with javelins threw them, though the Zora nimbly fled. The bowman shot another arrow and hit a Zora in the back as he jumped into the river. The archer shot another arrow—missed. He nocked another arrow and it found its mark into the female Zora's shoulder blade just as she was about to plunge.
"OWWFF!" She basically flopped into the water like a dying fish, but avoided swords nonetheless.
"Make sure they don't double back!" Harnack cautioned so he, Morriex, and a few others ran back to the wagon while the others pursued the Zora.
The Zora disappeared in the water while the barbarians went upriver. The Zora occasionally resurfaced and threw projectiles but to little effect. Some Norsemen kept their swords sheathed so that they could wrench javelins and harpoons out their shields to throw back. All combatants were winded, the Zora losing their willingness to fight.
A dozen Zora surfaced and threw harpoons and javelins at the barbarians. They ran into the river, hoping to reach the mermen, but failed.
"Forget this, let's regroup at the wagon! If they want to fight us, let them face us like men!" Guomundur shouted angrily. They walked backwards with their shields pointed at the river.
Several other barbarians refused to give up the fight and continued the skirmish. They walked along the river and banged their swords and shields together. The barbarians called them out to fight, though the challenge was unanswered.
Coincidentally, the barbarians walked near the hapless albino. She wanted to escape but was too hurt from the barbarians' feet earlier. She just sat there with a bleeding nose and split eyebrow, afraid and clueless.
Luna tried hard not to but...pissed herself. She just couldn't hold it in anymore, fear relieving her bladder. Luna's face turned into a scrunched-up cherry. She covered her mouth and held her breath, her eyes hot and wet. The barbarians chuckled but looked away.
"The mermen even attack children?"
"Pff, look how they fight! No wonder they would harm a child! They are only brave when they outnumber someone, or see little ones."
"Disgusting creatures, they gave us a beating, but at least we killed two of them."
"Don't just stand there, help the stupid kid!" Guomundur shouted.
The barbarians arranged themselves around the girl, protecting her with their shields. Luna covered herself with an arm from fright and rolled onto her back, letting off a little squeak. One of the barbarians who wore a Wolfos pelt sheathed his sword and slung his shield over, grabbing Luna under the arms.
"Uhh!" Luna cried. The man carried her like a baby.
"Shh, little lady, we're going to get you safe," the barbarian whispered. The Norsemen went away and, sure enough, a few Zora resurfaced and threw harpoons which bounced off shields.
"Come on, hurry up! Get the child in the wagon and give her food and water, she looks like she'll die of fright!" Morirex instructed. The barbarian who carried Luna got her into the wagon, rummaging sacks.
The skirmish finally ended—no clear winner.
