Second attack.

The dust grew closer and then split into two distinct columns heading for the heights. Cassandra knew this meant that they would attack each wall at the same time. This was clever as it would prevent either height from helping the other, but she missed another dust plume further back skirting to the right. Soon Cassandra and Helinda could see the warriors approaching and they readied themselves and it was not long before the enemy was climbing the slopes which were not as steep as the ravine walls. Cassandra ordered that her troops should engage with spears and swords this would be a gamble as they would have to let the enemy get closer. She did note that this wave had no archers which was a relief but soon the enemy had reached the summit and her troops engaged. Cassandra guessed that there were three hundred warriors in the attack but her troops were holding their own pushing the first rank tumbling back wounded or dead. This had the advantage of taking out the other ranks as they tumbled back down.

Helinda's troops were facing just as well sending the first rank crashing back she had lost some warriors either dead or wounded but they held the heights. The enemy retreated down the slopes heading back to their camp which gave Cassandra and Helinda to take stock of their own troops. Cassandra had lost half of her troops either dead or wounded and Helinda had lost about a third of her forces wounded or dead. Cassandra knew that they could not take losses like this. The enemy had lost around one thousand between this attack and the first attack, which only left another eight thousand. She also knew that these heights would be important now that the ravine was blocked with the dead elephants. Then there was the question of the reinforcements it was mid-morning and they would not be here until mid-afternoon. Cassandra and Helinda looked crossed the ravine and they smiled at each other.

Arerto was restless as they rode eat toward the ravine their pace was slow as they had to go at the pace of the foot warriors. The cavalry was on either flank of her army protecting them. She weighed up the threats that could come and could see that at the moment there was none to worry about with Thaden guarding her rear and the uneasy treaty with Pragar. She sent an aide to the cavalry commanders and soon they joined her at the front of the column and she addressed both. "You will gallop to the ravine take all your troops just leave one hundred on each flank. You will have to fight on foot as I am sure by now the ravine will be blocked." with that the cavalry commanders returned to their columns and were soon galloping ahead of the army following Arertos orders. Arerto looked at Freya and Jasmine_" I would have sent you two but you are experts in defensive battles so I need you here by my side." _Both generals thanked Arerto for the compliment as they rode forward towards the east.