With their individual strength now being focused more effectively, it was clear that this downsized portion of the retinue was increasingly on the back foot--although, admirably, they were still stubborn about not allowing being physically and [i]magically[/i] knocked to the ground to disrupt their co-ordination, still covering enough that they could [i]just about[/i] start rising again.

But, if things continued this way, it was inevitable that they would lose. And this lead to some sort of discrete signal being passed amongst the group.

The next time one of them was going to fail to block a blow, nobody stepped in to protect. Oh, no; instead the wounded, likely dying, soldier [i]clung on[/i] to the weapon impaling them, using their own life as a trade to let one of their companions attack instead. Why focus on avoiding the rain of spellfire if you could lure someone else into its path?

After all, as the Iron Roses had surmised: they had greater individual strength, and could win just by slowly picking off the Talderians. But that went the other way; the retinue would still be victorious even if they suffered more losses, as long as there was someone left standing at the end.

Probably two someones, if they were considering both the maid mages to be a threat.