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Each boat had its complement of slingers and archers. According to plan, fire was directed first at every ship that did not belong to Richard's fleet. So devastating was the cloud of missiles they sent up, that Comnenus' archers, accustomed as they were to attacking the ill-armed peasants, scarcely returned the volleys. By threes and fours, they leapt from their perches either to hide on the decks or, completely panicked, into the sea. With that defense gone, it was easy enough for small groups to seize the ships themselves. |
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Free of hindrance, it was possible for the archers to turn their attention to the richly clad armed force Comnenus had led to the shore. Here lay the greatest danger. Comnenus' troops were mounted and Richard's men would have to fight afoot. Their horses could not be brought ashore safely and, even if it had been possible, the animals would have been of little use because they were stiff and feeble from long confinement aboard ship. |
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Again the clouds of arrows flew, but Comnenus had archers too, and an answering salvo came. The barges inched further in, the archers loosed more shafts. The troops ashore retreated somewhat to take better cover. Richard laughed, drew his sword, and went over the side, belly deep, holding his shield over his head both to ward off flying bolts and to keep it from hindering his struggles with the waves. With an oath induced by a vivid memory of his near drowning on Alinor's estate, Simon went over too. The entire troop on the barge followed, ashamed to hold back, and soon the water was filled with struggling, splashing men fighting the surf and blessing the archers who were keeping the horsemen from wading in and dispatching them wholesale. |
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Richard was first over the barricadeby courtesy as due a King. Otherwise one would have had to admit that he and his shield bearer went over shoulder to shoulder. Beyond in the open space they paused to |
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