However, it's not all bad news.
Since Winters took away the cavalry fully equipped for light operations, the riders Andre brought were all heavily armed. Even the least equipped among them wore captured Hurd armor.
The rebel cavalry that had been retreating from Shovel Port noticed the Iron Peak County riders who had just arrived on the battlefield and were still regrouping—or perhaps they were simply drawn to the overly extravagant and conspicuous armor of Lieutenant Andre—and immediately turned their direction and galloped toward Andre's unit.
"Draw swords!" Andre ordered. "Shoulder swords!"
The Iron Peak County riders who followed Andre to the battlefield unsheathed their weapons one after another.
"The fact that you were left behind in Iron Peak County means you're all third-rate scum," Andre walked among his subordinates with his sword over his shoulder, giving them a provocative look. "If you want to prove you're not, then now's your chance."
