“Hold your fire!” Ruarnon yelled.
Between the shield wall, Tarlahn spears lowered. The Zaldeaans formed their own shield wall, but they didn’t have archers.
“Lower your bows!”
The archers obeyed hesitantly. Ruarnon’s soldiers stood tensely, defying their instinct to attack. The Zaldeaans stood poised to charge. A Zaldeaan rider rounded the bend, and Ruarnon gaped. It couldn’t be Governor Iomar. The man had blue eyes, Iomar’s long slender face, dark hair cut in the same style, and wore the same iron armour. But there was no bandage on his neck, his mouth was open in surprise, and he looked willing to attack on instinct.
Ruarnon felt a moment of panic, knowing Iagl might do anything. So Ruarnon saluted with both arms to signal their intentions. Their soldiers reluctantly mirrored their s
