But the Two Rivers Legion's soldiers showed no mercy to the Barbarian warriors who came to surrender. They had received clear orders from James before the battle began.
This expedition had taken them deep into enemy territory, where they could expect no substantial support from allied forces. With the situation so urgent, a swift victory was their only option.
They had no time to deal with large numbers of prisoners. They could only select a few of the more prominent captives and take them back to camp.
So although many Barbarian soldiers laid down their weapons and raised their hands, they still could not escape their fate. They were cut down without mercy, like stalks of wheat at harvest!
The Barbarian commander also realized the battle was lost. Just as he tried to lead his men away, the Ranger Cavalry emerged from the rocky cliffs and counterattacked, pinning them down.
Soon, James's troops had wiped out the Barbarian forces on the perimeter and surrounded the rest. Their last hope of escape was gone.
After seeing the carnage on the outer battlefield, the Barbarians knew the enemy might not accept their surrender. They fought desperately to take a piece out of James's forces, putting them under considerable pressure. But James held every advantage now, and their last stand could do little more than trouble him.
Battle cries rang across the field as the two sides closed in and fought for their lives. After a fierce struggle, the battle finally came to an end, and the noisy forest clearing fell quiet once more.
The ambush had begun quickly and ended just as fast. The Two Rivers Legion's soldiers set about clearing the battlefield.
The captured prisoners had their hands and feet bound. Soldiers carried them off on wooden poles like helpless chicks.