Before the Sauron army, having paid a grievous price to seize the earthen-wall defenses, could even lick its wounds and steady its footing again, Carnford's response descended with the force of thunder! Rest? A chance to catch their breath? Karl would not give Harald such an opportunity.
At dawn, deep crimson battle flags signaling a full-scale counterattack rose simultaneously over the walls facing Carnford's main city! Then the muffled, majestic beat of war drums began to roll like the heartbeat of the earth, piercing the morning mist and spreading across the fields!
"Lower the drawbridges! Artillery, ready—fire!"
The heavy iron-clad drawbridges at Carnford's main gate and several side gates came crashing down amid the groan of winches, slamming heavily onto the far bank.
Almost the instant the drawbridges fell, the cannon deployed along the main city walls, the bastions, and the high ground within the city erupted in deafening fury!
This time, the firing was no longer precise point-blank killing, but rapid saturation fire! Shells rained down like hail upon the outer earthen-wall defenses the Sauron had only just occupied and had not yet had time to fully clear or reinforce, as well as the faintly visible Sauron camp beyond!
"Infantry! Advance!"
Before the smoke from the bombardment had even cleared, Carnford's Infantry Formations, long assembled behind the gates, surged out beneath their officers' ringing commands and the guidance of their banners, crossing the drawbridges in swift, orderly strides!
Organized by battalions and companies, they split into left, center, and right columns, each choosing a weak point or junction in the Sauron defenses. Like three unsheathed blades, they stabbed forward viciously!
On the left, personally commanded by Brendan, the main force of the First Regiment and a number of elite mercenaries concentrated their assault against the junction between Sauron's left