Taking It

Unfortunately, some of Rastaban’s men knew little valour and much foolhardy bravery. The outer ranks charged the women. Rastaban yelled for them to halt, withdraw, and his lieutenants plunged into the ranks to haul some men backward, but it was too late. Shanka’s women reacted immediately and surged in on the men like a crushing wave, cutting them down as easily as men cut fields of barley.

Of the men who would listen to Rastaban, most were trying to run. In any other men it would have seemed cowardice, but now it was the only choice, and Rastaban took it.