Just before they could reach their next destination, the situation rapidly spiraled out of control.
It wasn't only the knights who began to fall ill but the horses reacted as well.
One by one, the animals grew agitated while stamping the ground and tossing their heads wildly with their pain and distress making them impossible to rein in.
Commands were shouted, reins pulled tight, but it was useless.
The horses eventually broke the formation, bolting forward or rearing violently.
The chaos erupted.
Some knights were thrown from their mounts while others were trampled beneath panicked hooves.
Cries of pain also rang out as bones snapped such as their arms broken, ribs cracked and legs crushed under the weight of armored bodies and frenzied horses.
Dizziness from the poison only made it worse while leaving many unable to defend themselves or even crawl away in time.
Amid the disorder, the healers moved.
