Omnixius
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DKP 5-11 Tested in blood
🕑 Added 2020-04-24 20:39:43 +0000 UTC
“We didn't learn anything,” Thayle said as they walked into their private area to dress. Outside, the tent was coming down, and the camp rapidly being packed on wagons. Soon the march would begin and with it war with the raven guard.
“We learned that weapon was made by the divines, just like the Dragon Knight sword,” Gersius replied. “He also suggested it was put there intentionally, and somebody else tried to claim it.”
“He knows a little history but nothing practical,” Thayle added. “Besides, who would try to claim the sword? Who even knew it was there?”
“I do not know, but it might be important.”
“Maybe Sarah knows something,” Lilly suggested. “She was alive back then.”
Gersius and Thayle paused to look at Lilly, and both of them sighed.
“Were making mistakes again,” Thayle said.
“We're overworked and under a lot of stress,” Gersius replied. “Our minds are needed on a great many tasks; we can't think of everything.”
“Thankfully, we have Lilly to point out the obvious,” Thayle lamented.
“It is too bad they are already flying ahead,” Gersius said. “We will have to ask them later.” He paused a moment to turn to Lilly as she tightened the belt on her waist. She wore her green traveling dress and had her hair braided in two ropes over each shoulder. She looked the very picture of beauty and sweetness, and he wanted to sweep her up.
“Lilly, what was so special about this twisting Shadros was feeling?” he asked.
Lilly smiled and blushed a little as she walked over and took his hands.
“That my dear husband is how I felt whenever you were sweet to me. It was the first tinglings of my awakened emotions.”
“Then it is working?” he asked. “Mingfe is getting through to him.”
“She must be,” Lilly replied. “I bet if we get her and him close together, his light is traveling to her.”
“I know hers is going to him,” Thayle said. “She likes a challenge in a man, and he is a mountain of a challenge. She is determined to grind him into a hill of sand and place her throne on top.”
Gersius considered the analogy and the thought of Shadros being conquered. He looked to Thayle as the thought of having done the same to her crossed his mind.
“I can see that,” Thayle remarked. “And yes, you and Lilly tricked me, surrounded me, and assaulted my walls until I surrendered.”
“It was all for love,” Gersius remarked as he buckled his armor.
Thayle took up her shield and sword and walked right up to him and put a finger to his lips.
“It was indeed for love, but I have to admit, I like the idea that you two hunted me. I like knowing you both wanted me so badly you were willing to play such a game.”
Gersius smiled and kissed the tip of her finger.
“Lilly and I would have chased you to the corners of the world. We love you and would never have given up.”
“You were ready to give up on that hill,” Thayle said.
“I thought we had hurt you,” he replied. “I wasn’t prepared to hurt anyone for what we wanted.”
She smiled and turned away, suddenly feeling ashamed over the bind. “Truth be told, I thought I hurt you. I slept with your wife, and I was sure you would be furious.”
“I told you to return her affections.”
Thayle laughed. “But what does that mean? There’s a big difference between returning her flirtations and taking her to bed.”
“I told you he wanted you as well,” Lilly interjected. “I would never have done that if I thought he would be upset.”
Thayle nodded, and the tent flap opened to reveal the workers ready to pack up their private space. They exited the room and saw to the final preparations before taking their place at the lead of the column. Just before they were ready to move, Sarah and Numidel flew over and laded to the far side of a field. They changed forms behind cover and approached neatly dressed.
“Where do they keep their clothes?” Thayle asked as they came closer. “They never take anything with them.”
“They must be calling them,” Lilly said. “Why didn’t I ever think of that?”
“Oh, right, you can summon things you have marked to yourself,” Thayle nodded. “That is a handy skill.”
Lengwin took his place riding near the head of the cavalry that always led the formation as the two arrived.
“Did you find anything?” Gersius asked as Sarah smiled.
“We found the raven camp,” She replied.
“You did?” Thayle gasped. “Where is it?”
“About a mile beyond a large bridge in our path.”
Gersius considered the maps and nodded. He knew the bridge was a choke point and would be the ideal place to meet his army. He had hoped to cut them off before they reached it, but that couldn't be helped now.
“So, they are running?” Lilly asked.
“They are defending the bridge,” Gersius said. “It is the best way to maximize your numbers and prevent and enemy from meeting you in force.”
“Indeed,” Sarah said. “We saw them on the bridge. They have created fortifications on the far side to protect it.”
“They mean to pelt us with hammers and arrows as we try to cross,” Gersius surmised.
“They mean more than that,” Sarah added sourly. “They have more siege engines with them.”
Gersius ran his fingers through his wild hair in frustration. The last battle with ballista nearly killed Lilly and forced the dragons to the ground.
“What kind?” he asked to be sure. Sarah confirmed there were a dozen more of the ballista and a few catapults.
“We will never get across the bridge if it's that heavily defended,” Thayle said. “We would suffer terrible losses trying.”
“What is the river like?” Gersius asked as his mind began to work on a solution.
“Why do you plan to swim across?” Sarah asked.
“I need to know what it looks like. Is it wide? Is it deep? Are the banks shallow, or are they cliffs?”
Numidel stepped in and answered for her when Sarah hesitated.
“It is a wide rive, shallow on the banks, but probably no deeper than twice the height of a man in the middle.”
“What about the bank?” Gersius pressed.
Numidel looked as if he was trying to remember before he spoke.
“It's wooded on both sides, but the bank wasn't very steep, in places, it's more a slow, muddy ramp, why do you ask?”
“I have a plan to take that army by surprise.”
They all looked incredulous for a minute before Gersius continued.
“We will not cross at the bridge. We will cross someplace well north or south of it.”
“But that’s the only bridge for miles,” Thayle said.
“Not if we make our own,” Gersius replied with a smile.
“It will take you weeks to make your own bridge,” Sarah scolded.
“Not with Numidels' help,” Gersius said. “He can freeze the water, and we will cross on the ice.”
“Oh, you mean like we did in the forest,” Lilly said as the memory came back.
“Exactly,” Gersius said. “We will send a force to the bridge with the wagons to make them think we intend to cross there.”
“Wouldn’t it go faster if Shadros and I helped?” she asked.
“I want you both to be visible at the bridge. If your missing, they will be looking all around for your attack and might spot the army crossing. If they see you at the bridge, they will focus all of their attention there. While they do, Numidel can take the bulk of our forces across the river where they can hit them from behind.”
“Won’t they notice our army at the bridge is rather small?” Lilly asked.
“Not if we put the acolytes and noncombatants in colors and have them stand in formations to make it appear they are the rest of the army in reserve,” he said.
“What if they attack us and kill the acolytes?” Lilly asked.
“They are already dug in on the other side. They would not dare to cross the bridge to meet us and give up their advantage. If they did, they would be handing the advantage to us.”
“You're devious,” Thayle said, shaking her head.
“I am a commander. I win my battles before I fight them,” he replied.
“You are an impressive thinker,” Sarah said. “A rare man to be sure.”
“We will have to cross quickly,” Numidel said. “The ice will damn the river, and the water will rise over it.”
“We will have to freeze a wide area and have them run across in a massed group,” Gersius said before turning to Thayle and putting his hands to her shoulders.
“You need to lead the force that crosses the river,” he said.
“What?” Thayle stammered. “Where will you be?”
“I have to be at the bridge. If they do not see me, it will raise suspicion.”
“But most of those forces are yours,” Thayle insisted.
“The bulk of this army is the women of Ulustrah. They will have to lead the charge. I will send the pikemen and as many of the priests of Astikar and Militia as I dare.”
Thayle nodded as she felt faint with the burden being put on her shoulders.
“I will see it done,” Thayle said with a nod.
Gersius nodded back and looked to Lengwin, who sat silently by shaking his head.
“Are we ready to go?” Gersius asked.
“We are,” Lengwin replied. “Astikar help the fool that gets in your way. I see now why you wanted to know about the scouts so badly. If given time, you plan battles masterfully.”
Gersius took the lead with the others at his side as the army lurched forward. He set another brisk pace but wasn't as concerned with haste. The enemy was dug in and waiting for him; he could take a little more time. With luck, by the time the sunset, the raven guards army would be no more.
Numidel and Sarah were sent back out to look for an idea crossing that would not be noticed. They were to fly high and remain hidden so as not to alert the enemy that they were being scouted. Meanwhile, Gersius formed units to fill out the river crossing force. He gave them special instructions and informed them that Thayle would be leading the attack. When the two dragons returned, he chose a crossing downstream and calculated the time they would need to get into position. He wanted to arrive at the bridge and get the enemy's attention before Numidel and Thayle made their move.
The armies separated, and Lilly grew unsettled as Thayle's presence in the bind became more distant.
“I don’t like this,” Lilly said as they marched down the road.
“She is a commander and must do what needs to be done,” Gersius said. “She will be fine; she can take care of herself.”
“We nearly lost her before,” Lilly groaned. “I don’t like her being where I can’t protect her.”
“Lilly, You must focus on the task at hand. If we do our part correctly, they will not even notice Thayle until it is too late.”
Lilly nodded, but her eyes and her aura betrayed her fear. He took her hand and gave her a squeeze reminding her of those early days.
“It always made me feel better when you squeezed my hand,” she said. “This was when I felt the twisting.”
“You do not feel it now?”
She smiled and played with a braid of her hair.
“It feels different now. I know what it is, and I can feel you more strongly over the bind all the time, but I like it just the same.”
He smiled back and pressed on, holding her hand as they went. A moment later, Sarah arrived in a black dress and took note of the gesture.
“What are you doing?” she asked.
“Holding my wife’s hand,” Gersius replied.
“You're at the head of your army marching to a major battle, and you're holding hands?”
Gersius looked over his shoulder at her with a raised brow.
“Is there something wrong with it?”
Sarah looked confused and looked to the hands again.
“It seems improper,” she said. “You should be a symbol of strength. For that matter, why are you walking? Shouldn't you be on a horse?”
“When I ride, I ride with Lilly,” he replied. “And this army is made up of men who understand mercy and compassion, and women who understand love. None of them will judge me for holding the hand of the woman I love.”
“I never understood you humans and this love,” Sarah said. “It makes you irrational and do things that are questionable.”
“Nothing about this is irrational. We feel each other over the bind, and Thayle moving away is an uncomfortable sensation. I am simply giving Lilly some encouragement to help her with the feeling.”
Sarah looked stressed as she fell in line beside them. Her aura flashed with colors and rays as she worked on a thought.
“What is bothering you?” he asked.
“This sharing of your feelings,” she replied. “Lilly mentioned it before, but I don't understand it.”
Gersius could see how it was confusing her. She may be free from the curse, but she still didn’t feel the missing emotions. How could he explain the link and how it allowed Lilly to feel them and thus learn them.
“You are aware of the old magic, and the nature of the bind,” he said. “Surely, you know something of what comes with it?”
Sarah shook her head in annoyance. “The ancient magic did much more than bind one to another. It was used to work great things and establish many a kingdom. The binding magic was but a small part of it, and its use was rare. In all my years, I have never heard of a dragon being bound to a human. I had no idea such a binding would grant the dragon access to the human's emotions.”
“You never heard of this before?” Lilly asked. “Then what was the binding magic for?”
Sarah glanced at Lilly but remained silent for a long moment.
“I honestly don't know. I saw it sometimes used between dragons to form a lasting agreement. I heard Solesta used it on captured dragons of Balisha to force them to switch sides. You humans rarely used it because your names are secret even to yourselves. Of course, the divines meddled in that, and some instances did happen.”
“I wonder what they used it for?” Gersius said.
“I am sure it was abused,” Sarah said. “There were great temples erected in remote places where the magic of the bind could be disrupted. Many a dragon who had another bound would take their thrall there to test the legitimacy of that bind.”
“Who would stand in judgment over them?” Gersius asked.
“The oldest dragon present,” Sarah said. “Usually a great drake of fifteen thousand or more.”
“You can live for fifteen thousand years?” Lengwin gasped from behind.
Sarah glanced back to the column behind them and nodded. “Some great old drakes have gone over twenty thousand.”
“I have always wanted to know what happens to old dragons?” Lilly said. “My mother never told me.”
Sarah looked annoyed for a moment, and her aura reflected that annoyance. Then she answered very slowly and deliberately.
“I would rather discuss this in private. There are things of the dragon best kept with the dragons.”
Gersius noted the confused look on Lilly's face, but she kept quiet and let the topic drop.
“So, where do I fit into this plan of yours?” Sarah asked.
“You are going to get us across the bridge when the time comes,” Gersius said.
“And how am I going to do that?”
“I believe our foe has no idea you are with us, and I want to make good use of the secret. Once Thayle has the siege engines engaged, she will let us know. Then you will dive on the forward position and cover it in flames to force them away from the bridge. When you do, Lilly and I will charge across leading the cavalry. She will use her ice to clear a path in the fire, and we will smash them from two sides.”
Sarah stared at him with narrow eyes for a full minute before nodding her head. “You are cunning,” she replied. “Have you fought many battles?”
“Far too many,” Gersius said.
“Gersius was one of the orders most experienced Generals,” Lengwin said from behind. “His campaigns and victories are legendary. He has defeated foes that make many a man grow faint.”
Sarah studied him again, and her aura twisted in rings of white. He wished Thayle was here to explain what that meant and made a note to ask her later.
“Numidel did not tell me you were so accomplished,” she said.
“I do not believe he knows. I did not tell him when we met,” he replied.
Sarah looked ahead and went silent, her gaze occasionally glancing at Lilly, who seemed to shrink away from the older dragon. Gersius knew Lilly regarded Sarah as her superior, but the reaction seemed silly. In their human forms, Lilly looked a woman in her early twenties, while Sarah looked no older than twenty-eight. She wore a strong and noble face that looked like one who bore authority, but still well within the beauty of youth. If she were to soften that face and smile, he was sure her beauty would rival Lilly's.
He was grateful for the break in the conversation, so his mind could wander to Thayle. He Felt her over the bind, moving further away with every step. Lilly felt anxious, and he could tell she was reaching for Thayle as well.
It was hard to understand the bind Lilly shared with Thayle. To him, Lilly was love and playfulness, but with Thayle, she was something different. She treated Thayle like she treated gold, far too valuable to part with and necessary to live. When the ward in Shadros's cave wounded her, she lost the ability to feel Thayle for a short while. During that time, Lilly was an inconsolable wreck, crying like a mother who had just lost a child. He gave her hand another squeeze and glanced to meet her gaze as she smiled. Lilly was a prize greater than any reward Astikar had planned to give him, and he treasured her. The hours passed as he wandered in his thoughts until, finally, the advance scouts rode back to meet him.
“The bridge is but two miles ahead,” the scout reported. “We have seen their cavalry, they are well to the rear but waiting in full formation. The whole of the camp seems to be on full alert.”
“They know we are coming,” Sarah said.
“They have scouts too,” Gersius said. “Likely, they have been watching us for the past couple of hours.”
“What if they have spotted the advance of your wife?” Sarah asked.
“Thayle broke off early in our advance and has been moving across the country. The enemy's scouts will almost certainly have been focused on the road, and we have given them no cause to think otherwise.” He turned back to look at Lengwin and nodded his head. “Send word down the line, and get the acolytes and noncombatants in uniform.”
Lengwin nodded and gave instructions to two riders who went down the lines shouting orders to get the formation ready. A few minutes later, Mingfe arrived with thirty women in full armor and armed with spears.
“I am told you needed thirty women, what role did you want us to play?” she asked.
“You're going to protect us from the catapults. I need your women to intercept the flying stones before they reach our lines.”
“That is not so easily done. A woman must accurately gauge the distance and speed to put a shield in its path,” she said.
“I have seen Thayle do it; now I ask you and yours to do your best. When the time comes to cross the bridge, the cavalry will charge first, followed by the priests of Vellis. You will lead these women and all the others with them to secure and expand our break in their lines. You will carry the bulk of the fighting in the earthworks.” She nodded and took her women aside, dividing them into groups of five, and giving them instructions.
As they crossed the next mile, Gersius ordered a halt to the wagons and looked to Lilly, giving her the go-ahead to change. She went behind the nearby trees and took her dragon form, her blue scales shining in the sunlight. Shadros was brought forward with much prodding from Mingfe, and he joined Lilly at the front. Sarah took her form as well but would wait well back, hunkered down in tall trees to avoid being seen.
The wagons were nearly abandoned as Gersius wanted to present as many bodies to the enemy as possible. The women riding in the wagons were given armor and shields to appear to any sappers to be reserves. None of them could walk, but they were carefully sat upright to appear to be soldiers. Only as mall contingent of militia and eight priests of Astikar would actually be there to fight, Gersius sincerely hoped they wouldn't be needed.
Lilly put on her saddle, and Gersius climbed up, sitting tall on her back as the soldiers behind him cheered.
“Good,” Gersius said, addressing the crowd. “Cheer, and let them know the dragon knight is upon them.” He pointed forward with his sword, and Lilly walked ahead, leading the column down the last mile to the bridge. He crested a rise and looked down a straight lane to see the distant bridge and took one last calming breath. “There will be no more camps like the last one,” he said. “This raven guard army dies here.”
Lilly pressed forward as the groups of women began to fan out to their sides. Mingfe split them so that half their number were on each side, and they walked in tight formations with shields high. As the bridge came closer, horns sounded from the far side as the enemy rushed into position. With any luck, they were all looking at him oblivious to the danger that was coming for them.
“It is time, Lilly,” Gersius said.
Lilly nodded and let out a shattering roar that echoed down the river. There was no turning back now.
Thayle and her army were hidden in the brush and trees just twenty meters from the water's edge. Numidel was particularly hard to hide and grumbled at how flat he had to press himself to stay hidden in the trees.
As the minutes ticked by and the uncertainty grew, it was almost a relief when the roar of a distant dragon was finally heard.
“Now!” Thayle shouted. “Everyone up, follow Numidel; we have less than a minute to cross the river!”
Over a thousand men and women sprung to their feet and raced after the dragon. Numide ignored the trees, knocking them aside to get to the water. He wasted no time in blasting a jet of frost that caused the water to freeze quickly in a broad sheet. Even before he was done, Thayle was out on the sheet, urging people across. The suddenly dammed water of the river began to rise, washing over in a slick gush of liquid. Numidel blasted the edge, adding to the damn, but the water only rose again as an army raced across the surface. Dozens slipped and fell on the treacherous crossing, but in less than a minute, they were reforming their ranks on the other side.
The trees here were scattered with wide spaces between making movement easy. She took her forces deeper in, leaving the river far behind to ensure they were behind the lines. Numidel had to wait here; his size would be too easily detected as they advanced, and the closer they got before being seen, the better.
It had been a long time since she led an armed force in battle, and then it was only a tiny fraction of this size. She had sub-commanders of different forces, with hundreds more under them. They looked to her for direction and tactics as she doubted herself and her readiness for this battle. With any luck, it would go just as Gersius said, with her ambushing the lines from behind. The only danger in her path would be the cavalry, but she had the strength of numbers on her side. She also had the pikemen to deter a direct charge; their long spears would do far too much damage to the small force.
Silently she counted five minutes of quick travel in her head, and then turned east, heading directly for the road and the battle. Another three minutes and she slowed her pace, putting the heavy infantry of the priests of Astikar at the head under Captain Vandas. The Pikemen lined up behind them in three rows, and the women of Ulustrah took the flanks in five companies. Two on her right and Three on her left where she expected the fighting to be heaviest. The militia was her reserve, and Gersius made sure to give light fast soldiers who also had bows. Three hundred archers would rain arrows or charge into melee if needed. She kept these slightly to the left as well as this was the side where the enemy would have fortifications. She had five of the warriors of Vellis and twenty of the noncombat priests to aid with the wounded. She prayed that would be all she needed.
They broke through a wall of trees into an open field right where Numidel said it would be. The road was just before the next tree line, a hundred meters ahead. Thayle looked forward and felt her heart freeze to see ten rows of heavy cavalry standing in neat lines directly ahead.
“By Ulustrah, they have been reinforced again!” she gasped as a cry of alarm issued out across the lines of horsemen, and the lines began to shift.
“They are turning to meet us!” Captain Vandas shouted out. “What do you want us to do?”
Thayle froze as the uncertainly filled her, the cavalry was supposed to be closer to the bridge and only a third of the number. As lines of horses began to form, lances dropped, and horns blared snapping her from her daze.
“Pikes to the front!” Thayle yelled. “Priests of Astikar form a single rank shield wall. Forces of Ulustrah pull in, form five ranks behind them, hurry! Archers behind me, fire at will when they are in range!”
People exploded into motion as the priests of Astikar thinned out into one long wall. The pikemen fell in behind them, thinning out along the wall presenting their weapons in defiance. Even as they did, a roar of voices was heard, and the horses suddenly broke into a charge with lances leading the way. The women of Ulustrah pilled in, forming tight lines right behind the pikemen as the gap between the two armies rapidly narrowed.
“You do not have the strength of arms to meet a cavalry charge of that size,” Captain Vandas said. “We would need five ranks of pikemen even to blunt it.”
“We're not going to meet them. Hold your ground until I give the word,” Thayle said, watching the wall of death race in on them. She held her breath as time seemed to slow, and the sound of horse hoofs drowned out her racing heart. She waited until she heard the first twang of arrow fire and then called her orders.
“The two front ranks of Ulustrah present a shield wall ten meters ahead!”
Voices went up in song as hooves thundered, green light raced over the shoulders of the pikemen and gathered in the field before them. Green walls of light formed in a sloppy but effective line as the horses unable to stop or veer off slammed into the barriers. Riders flew from saddles and crashed to the field before them as the whole mass packed up in a tight ball.
“Three rear ranks, tangle them up!” Thayle called, and more voices went out as the ground under the tangled mass exploded in growth as vines and plants grew around them, twining around the legs of horses and man alike.
“Now, Captain Vandas, Advance!”
The knights of Astikar surged forward like a tidal wave of doom on the struggling cavalry. They quickly swept over the toppled riders and crashed into the tangled mass.
“Pikemen form up and move in! First and second companies flank right, third, and forth flank left. Fifth company screen the left for reinforcements!”
It all happened like clockwork, her formations reformed and advanced in groups sweeping around the masses of soldiers in the middle. Orange lights began to flash as Priests of Astikar met rivals in a clash of divine power. Men called on strength and tore free of the vines, forming an organized defense as frightened horses ran through her lines in a desperate bid to escape. She was taking more casualties from the horses than the enemies, but the priests of Vellis moved in to lend their aid.
Her heart nearly stopped when she realized she lost track of time. She was supposed to be sweeping around to the siege engines, and Gersius was anxiously waiting. If she didn't get to the weapons, the dragons couldn't be employed in the air where they would dominate. To that, she had to get to the road, but she was still many meters away.
A quick look around showed no sign of reinforcements coming, and she made a bold decision.
“Militia on me,” she called and waved ahead. They fell in behind her and dashed around the blood bath waging on her right. If she could reach the siege engines with the militia, surely she could handle the crews.
Gersius stood on Lilly's back as his army gathered on his side of the bridge. The bridge was made of stone and spanned a mighty river. It had five support arches to carry its massive weight across the dark waters. On the far side was a wall of wooden spikes, and on the banks of the river were rows of earthworks bristling with spikes and full of men. A hill about twenty meters back had two watchtowers and rows of siege engines. As soon as he arrived, a stone whistled through the air, and a group of women began to channeling green shields in its path. Gersius got to see what Mingfe's plan was first hand when five shields went up at once, scattered about the path of the stone so that one of them scored a lucky hit.
Horns blared, and men yelled distant curses as more stones took flight. More green shields went up, and for a moment, his luck was strong as every stone met a protective shield.
“This is taking too long,” he said.
“I see flashes of light,” Lilly added as she strained her long neck. “It’s coming from behind the hill.”
Gersius put a hand to her neck to see through Lilly’s eyes and saw orange pulses of light from somewhere behind the hill. Thayle was obviously in battle and had committed her heavy forces.
“Is Thayle fighting?” Lilly asked as she read his thoughts.
“We expected her to be fighting,” he said calmly.
“She was supposed to be fighting on the hill so we could see it,” Lilly said. “We can’t see what she is against behind it, what if she needs our help?”
“The cavalry is behind the hill,” he reminded her. “Our scouts told us that earlier. She will clear them in a moment and take to the hill.”
Lilly twitched nervously as a rock added to her tension when it crashed into the ground just to her left.
“I don’t like this plan anymore!” Lilly bellowed.
“Lilly, please calm yourself. We need to trust Thayle and give her a little more time.”
“There are men running away,” Shadros said. “They are retreating you have won.”
Gersius put his hand back to Lilly’s neck and looked through her eyes. A good three hundred men were indeed running up the hill, not to retreat, but to reinforce the battle on the other side. Whatever happened to Thayle was about to get worse.
“We need to signal Sarah,” Lilly said.
“We cannot send Sarah in while those siege engines are still in play,” Gersius reminded her. “We have to wait for Thayle.” He looked across the long bridge as the uncertain fate of his wife and her army crawled through his heart. He would never forgive himself if he lost her.
Thayle and the militia ran at a full run for the road veering left as it came in sight. Her screening force fell behind, leaving her flank exposed, so she ordered to join the fight. Despite her maneuver, in the field, her forces were still hard-pressed, and they would need the extra women. The enemy had significantly more heavy armor and would hold long enough to be reinforced even if her screens were in the way. If she didn't' get Gersius over that bridge, she might very well have to retreat or risk losing her army.
As they set foot on the road, they could see the back of the hill and the siege engines. They could also see hundreds of infantry rushing to meet them.
“Form lines!” Thayle shouted as she drew her sword. “We have to get to those siege engines at any cost!”
The forces hastily formed three ranks that she quickly pushed forward. The closer she could get before the battle was engaged, the better, and with any luck, she could cut through them. The forces bearing down on her were also light infantry with small shields and swords. As the first men closed on each other, she hurled blessings to entangle some and create breaks in their lines.
Screams quickly filled the air, and men and women began to die as Thayle worked furiously to cut through the enemy soldiers. By the grace of Ulustrah, they were simple infantry and not false priests like those boys, but they knew how to fight. She was still fifty meters from the weapons, and the artillery crews began sending small numbers of their own to help in the battle.
She pressed her sword into battle, matching larger men for skill and tenacity, borrowing on Gersius's training. When a giant of a man came at her with a two-handed sword, she reached out, pulling on Lilly for strength to block him. The two weapons collided in a ring of metal that echoed across the battlefield. The shock of being blocked was all the opening Thayle needed. She sliced for the gap at his belt, slipping between the plates of his armor.
He fell in a howl, and she met the next man with a sturdy short sword and shield. She battered the shield aside with her own and went straight for his throat, her dragon strength throwing his guard wide and leaving him open. He fell at her feet as another took his place, and then another. Her steps were washed in blood as she fought her way up the hill, her Militia emboldened by her savagery pushing with her, then it started to rain arrows.
“I can feel her pulling on me!” Lilly said in alarm. “She’s in trouble!”
“Hold steady,” Gersius said as his worry grew. The men were over the hill, and now archers were following, forming lines at the top and firing down. Thayle was close enough now that he could feel glimpses of her tension and anger. On the one hand, the defenses at the bridge were thinned, but on the other, the siege engines were still in place. If they tried to cross, they would still suffer heavily until they were over. Worse if he ordered Sarah to burn the other side, she would likely be skewered a dozen times in her pass. She was expecting the siege engines to be out of commission and would make a perfect target.
Horns were blaring, and men with plumage in their helms were barking orders. Gersius couldn't make out any of the words from this distance, but it was clear something had gone very wrong.
“Gersius, what do we do?” Lilly barked in anguish of standing still.
“We have to give her a few more moments,” he said tensely as his own fear began to rise.
His forces listened to the conversation, and a dire tension grew magnified by the hail of stones coming from the other bank. Another made it through, and this time blasted through a line of women, scattering them like leaves on the wind. Howls of pain and cries for healers echoed behind him as Lilly began to twist and shake.
Never had he experienced such apprehension in his life. He had led many campaigns and trusted important maneuvers to a lieutenant or captain, but never had that person been his wife. Knowing she had to draw on Lilly for power meant she was hard fighting, and worse knowing she was late to the hill meant something had gone very wrong.
“Line up the cavalry!” Gersius shouted. “Prepare to cross!”
“Should I call Sarah?” Lilly asked.
Gersius couldn't decide if he should risk her or risk an open charge. Either way, somebody was going to pay a high price, and if he waited much longer, Thayle might be the one to pay it.
Thayle stumbled as the arrows fell from the sky. She raised her shield and felt several impacts as she got to her feet. Around her, men from both sides wailed as the enemy killed friend and foe alike. She looked to the hill and saw archers gathering and forming ranks. The arrow fire was light and scattered now, but it would soon be withering. Her light forces had small shields for blocking blows and would be unsuited for arrows. Fortunately, the opening fire caused the enemy infantry to fall back, pulling away in droves to get out of the way.
“Forward!” she shouted with a sword pointed to the hill, “Close the distance!”
What was left of her militia moved forward, pursuing the enemy infantry and weathering the arrows. Cries for help echoed around her as people fell, but there would be no victory unless she reached the siege engines.
A fool got in her way, but she cut him down before he raised his weapon. Several arrows bounced off her armor, and she had to hide behind her shield but pressed on. She was only twenty meters away when an orange light flashed, and she felt a jarring impact in her shield. She came to a stop and looked over it to see a man in full armor with a black shoulder plate with a ravens head.
He raised a long poled weapon with a sharp spike at the tip and hooked blade underneath. The deadly weapon pointed right at her as the man charged. She was face to face with a priest of the raven guard, men who were trained to kill efficiently, and without mercy.
He used the reach of his weapon to jab at her long before her sword could strike back. She used her shield to push the pole skyward as Gersius had shown her, and dashed inside his reach. What she wasn't prepared for was the man to jerk the weapon back suddenly. The hook caught her in the shoulder, pulling her forward and off her feet. She crashed to her stomach, not five paces from him, and he quickly tried to spear her with the point.
Heart pounding in her chest, she rolled away and climbed to her feet. Her shield was up just in time to catch another hammer that hit with enough force to shake her arm and send tingling pain across her shoulder. The spear came in again, but she darted to the side, avoiding the hook. He used the reach to keep her off balance and push her back.
She growled in frustration as she lost ground. The only mercy of this battle was the arrows had stopped while the priest of Astikar was in the way. The infantry turned around, however, and was once again battling her militia.
A high swing of the hooked weapon nearly took her head off. He turned into his momentum as she tried to rush in, stepping back and presenting the point in another quick thrust. He was a master of the weapon and nearly hooked her shield a second time. Her heart pounding drowned out the cries of the dying as she tried desperately to reach the vile man. A sudden thrust made her duck out of the way, but as she rose, the hooked tip traced across her cheek, drawing a bloody line.
She made a fatal mistake and raised a hand to cover her cheek, exposing herself. The thrust came in glancing off her breastplate, the impact throwing her back. She hit the ground as the man rushed forward to attempt to skewer her for the second time.
The world seemed to move in slow motion as the weapon was raised high. Her gaze fixated on this helmeted face, narrow eyes glaring back with anger. She felt a rage crawling through her, and something deep inside shifted. A flow of bestial energy crawled up her chest and throat. Her eyes flared with blue light as the spike of the weapon came down, and her mouth opened to scream her dying words.
The priest stumbled back as a blast of white cold coated his chest and face. He cried out in alarm, dropping the weapon and clutching at his helm as his eyes were frozen.
Thayle lay there, panting in alarm as the frost died from her lips. She wasn't sure what had just happened as her hand groped for the handle of her sword. She stumbled to her feet and stabbed the man through the gap around his neck. Her hands trembled, and her legs felt weak as she looked around to see her forces were faltering. The archers were now formed into thick ranks and with the priest no more prepared to fire again.
She lurched forward heedless of the fact that nobody was coming with her. The remaining infantry avoided her and her blazing eyes, with only a few brave souls getting in her way.
Arrows rained down again, and with them came crossbow bolts. She was only ten meters away, and the crews of the siege engines used heavy crossbows to fire at her directly. She was being pelted from all sides, and her frustration and panic grew. She had failed; there was no way to go forward; her militia was well behind her and falling fast. She used her shield to hide as much of herself as she could as the bolts streaked by. She was close enough that a blessing would reach the closest catapult. Maybe, if Gersius saw that he would charge, maybe he could still save the day. She went into her song, opening her heart to her goddess when a bolt found the gap in her right leg plate. She fell to one knee singing through pain and buried the point of her sword in the ground for support, then the ground shook.
There was an audible snapping sound as the ground around the point of the sword writhed with green vines. She continued to sing, focusing on the closest siege engine, and the vines suddenly lurched. It was like a living beast, jumping in elongated loops across the ground. Where it touched, the ground shoots grew out racing around it and anchoring as it leaped again. It grew thicker with every bound as it leaped into the catapult, twisting around it like a snake and snapping the tick beams. Men scrambled to get out of its way as smaller shoots radiated out.
Thayle focused on the next engine, and the vine suddenly leaped again, diving into the next one, growing through it, and disabling it. The sword in her hand began to vibrate, giving off a hum as a golden light shone from its blade. Thayle channeled her focus to the sword and turned her gaze on the next engine. The vines followed her eyes, leaping from engine to engine as men fled in panic from the sudden onslaught.
As the last engine was engulfed in green, Thayle collapsed behind her shield panting.
“Hurry, Gersius.”
“What is that?” Gersius said as men began fleeing from the siege engines. He put his hand to Lilly's neck to use her eyes, and she focused her sight. A giant green snake was attacking a catapult, curling about it and squeezing. As Lilly's sight focused in, he could see leaves and flowers growing on the surface as it coiled.
“It’s a plant,” he said in shock. “It has to be Thayle!”
“What do we do?” Lilly asked.
“Single Sarah, we are going now!”
Lilly lifted her head high and let out a gout of frost straight into the air. It’s snow drifted down on the army as a dark form flew overhead.
Gersius didn't wait to see Sarah strike; he was already crossing the bridge when she flew over the lines covering them in fire. Hammers of Astikar rose to meet her, but the damage was already done. Lilly and Shadros hesitated only to tear the wooden barricades apart and then split up heading into the earthwork fortifications. The cavalry charged straight on spilling into the back rows as the infantry followed and divided to follow the dragons. Numidel arrived from the other side, lending aid to a battle in the distance. Gersius saw the dragon diving into a field beyond the trees and letting his ice fly.
Lilly was savagely tearing through dazed men, some of whom were still on fire. She helped some of them by coating them in ice and ending their torment. The women of Ulustrah were like wild animals, showing next to no mercy to the scattered raven guards.
Thanks to the surprise of Sarah, the battle was exceptionally one-sided. Once it was clear his army was going to win, he turned Lilly about, and together they went after the feeling of Thayle.
She was close enough now where they could feel pain, weakness, and fear. She was someplace over the hill, and the closer they got, the more confused they became. The siege engines were a shambled of vines and twisted lumber. Even now, they still twisted and writhed as if determined to grind the wood to dust. They formed a wall of green that extended well into the trees on either side, barring anyone from passing.
The raven guard infantry was trying to retreat over the hill, but his cavalry trapped them against the wall of vines and cut them apart. Lilly took to the air to get over and dived on a round silver shield on the far side. From here, Gersius could see the slaughter. The hill was covered with the dead and dying, but most of it looked like Militia. There were perhaps twenty people still standing, and every one of them wounded.
“Thayle!” Lilly cried, bringing him back to his senses as Lilly hit the ground and reached for the shield. She pulled the shield over and Thayle with it, still clutching the sword. The side of Thayle's face was a bloody mess, and a crossbow bolt stuck out of the back of her leg.
Gersius jumped down as Lilly started to cry and put a hand over Thayle to begin healing.
“Wait,” Gersius said and reached for her leg, yanking the bolt free.
Lilly fell into a soft chant, and golden light began to swim across Thayle's body. A line of light crawled over her cheek, knitting the wound, and in a moment, spread to her leg. Thayle opened her eyes and smiled at Lilly, reaching up with her shield hand to stroke Lilly's chin.
“Thayle, what happened here?” Gersius said with his hands wide. “Where is your army?”
He saw Thayle snap to a sitting position in alarm and suddenly look to the field behind the hill.
“The Cavalry!” she cried. “They have been reinforced. They have three times what we thought!”
Gersius followed her pointing finger to the trees and the field beyond that he couldn’t yet see.
“Lilly, freeze that vine and tear a hole in that wall, our cavalry must get through!” Gersius yelled.
Lilly turned and ran for the wall, coating it in ice before ramming it with her body and tearing at the frozen vines. Gersius pulled Thayle to her feet and into a brief hug before turning her loose.
“We have to save your army and get healing to your wounded both here and there,” he said.
She nodded in a daze, and he trusted she was strong enough to stand. He quickly turned to see the first horses coming through the gap and ran to meet the riders.
“Head for that field and join the battle!” Gersius shouted. “Thayle has tied down the raven's cavalry there.”
The lead rides saluted and charged down the hill, their hooves shaking the ground as they passed. Lilly came back and looked over Thayle as if to make sure she was alright.
“Lilly, fly over the wall and find the warriors of Vellis, tell them we have massive casualties here and we need them.”
She nodded and took to the air flying back over the wall of vines.
“There was a priest,” Thayle said as she pointed to the dead priest of Astikar before her.
Gersius turned to look, and his brows dipped to see the layer of ice.
“How?” he asked and looked at Thayle.
Thayle shook her head as if unable to believe it herself.
“Thayle, how did he get coated in ice? And how did you make such a vine?”
“The sword made the vine,” she said as she held the blood-stained blade up.
Gersius looked to the weapon and put that question aside. They knew it was magical and could grow lush plants in the dark of a cave. That Thayle had somehow used it to grow a vine was perhaps not so unbelievable, but that still left the other mystery.
“And the ice?”
Thayle shook her head.
“It just came out,” she whispered.
He took her into his arms as help poured through the gap in the wall. He was satisfied the wounded would be quickly tended to and turned back to Thayle.
“Thayle, look at me. Out of where?”
“My mouth,” she said. “Like Lilly does.”
Gersius nodded his head and put that mystery aside as well.
“We need to get to that battle,” he said as Lilly once again landed beside them.
Thayle nodded, and he practically shoved her into Lilly's saddle. As Lilly went to the air, Sarah flew over them to join the fight. She landed in the field, and he saw horses and men fly into the air. From above, he looked down to see the carnage of war and that Thayle had been terribly mauled again.
Horses were fleeing in every direction, some with riders, but many without. A vast area of an open field was covered with bodies, and hundreds of men still clashed. Hammers of Astikar flew in every direction, and Numidel was on the ground taking the brunt of many. Sarah joined him, and the sight of two massive dragons finally broke the morale of the enemy. They started to flee in large numbers, but Sarah was determined to make as many of them pay as she could.
“Traitors! False priests!” she bellowed as she ran men down. “I will be your doom!”
Gersius was hardly needed by the time Lilly touched down, and the battle quickly came to a close.
His cavalry had turned the tide already, Sarah only made it obvious. In her rage, she ordered the wounded raven guards left to die.
“No mercy for the merciless!” she bellowed and crushed a man underfoot.
Gersius, Lilly, and Thayle aided in the healing until they began to feel spent. They drew extra strength from Lilly until she complained about feeling drained and then left it to the others. They stood to the side of the field as more and more arrived from the bridge to help.
“I'm so sorry, Gersius,” Thayle cried as she looked over the losses. “We came out of the forest, and they were lined up in the field.”
Gersius turned to her and took her firmly by the shoulders.
“You were given light fast troops with only a small contingent of heavy infantry,” he said. “You were never meant to face hundreds of heavy battle priests on horses. That you adapted and accomplished your goals at all proves your skill in battle.”
“But the losses?”
“Can be replaced,” he stated. “Many are only wounded, and we have plenty of healers. We have won the day, that is all we can hope for.”
“Some of these ravens have gotten away!” Sarah shouted as she walked over to leer down at them. “We should fly and pursue them!”
“We have massive wounded,” Gersius called back. “We are in no position to pursue.”
“You have broken their backs at a heavy cost. You would be wise to finish them,” she suggested.
He didn't feel like arguing with her and waved her off irritably.
“If you and Numidel wish to pursue them, then go, Lilly, Thayle and I, have spent our strength on healing; we will remain here and reorganize.”
Sarah nodded and took Numidel to hunt for the ravens that got away.
Just as Thayle was about to apologize again, Captain Vandas arrived. He looked like a man who had been dragged by a horse for a mile over rough country. His armor was damaged, there was blood on his leg plates, and his eyes showed the strain of battle.
“My Lord and Ladies,” he said with a bow.
“Do you have something to report?” Gersius asked.
“I only wished to compliment Commander Thayle on her brilliant tactics and how she broke the charge.”
Gersius looked over to Thayle as she looked up in alarm.
“If she hadn't acted so quickly and made use of those shields of her order, we would have had to endure a full charge. She packed them up and tied them down with vines. She robbed them of their mobility and gave us the advantage.”
Gersius nodded and took Thayle’s hand.
“Thank you, Captain Vandas. I appreciate your bravery here today. I am grateful you were able to stand against such a heavy formation.”
“Thanks to her,” Captain Vandas said before snapping into a salute and walking off.
“You didn’t tell me they charged you,” Gersius said as he turned to Thayle.
“What else would cavalry do?” she said irritably.
“You made it sound like you came out of the trees, and they were right here. If they had time to form up and charge, then you were in an even worse position.”
“And I paid for it.”
“Thayle, you did well,” Gersius insisted. “I have lost more men than this a dozen times. You can't plan for every eventuality no matter how hard you try, and the more time you spend planning, the more likely the situation is to change. That's why you needed to be here; I needed somebody who could think fast and adapt. You took on a superior formation by using what you had to your advantage. You adapted, fought through it, and accomplished your goals. That is what a commander does, we always try to minimize losses, but we pay the prices we have to.”
Thayle let out a sigh and nodded her head.
Gersius pulled her into a hug and rested his chin on her head.
“And I have never been more worried about you. I had no idea I was going to feel such anguish about sending you into battle. You mean so much to me. I can not walk this path without you.”
His tears wet her hair as she wrapped her arms around his waist to hug him back.
“Oh, I want a hug too!” Lilly said sadly from behind.
They parted with a smile, and Lilly lowered her head between them. They wrapped around her, hugging her tightly as the sun began to set. The battle was won, the road was clear, and ravens were slaughtered. Word would reach Calathen that he had smashed another army, and the fear would grow. He hoped the Father Abbot would find it harder to sleep knowing he was still coming, and he was never going to stop.
Comments
WhiteRabbit
Seems like a pretty normal sized chapter to me, but that might be because your chapters tend to be pretty long. Either way, thanks for writing it :)
WhiteRabbit
orders most -> order's Numide ignored -> Numidel Single Sarah-> Signal
sorry for the tiny chapter, ha.
