“I... don’t want to...” The guard dies slowly on the cold, icy ground of Phyr.
Chapter Twelve
Betrayed
“Sir, Sergeant Major Tenil reporting! Knights in Red achieved a decisive victory at Utock. The enemy was defeated in a battle of annihilation. The empire was given no quarter, but 2,000 soldiers of the federation were taken as prisoners of war. Approximately 3,000 managed to withdraw in time. The prisoners will be used for peace negotiations,” Tenil reports to the marshal himself in his quarters.
“Splendid accomplishment, Sergeant Major Tenil.”
“Sir, may I propose something?”
“Go ahead.”
“During the battle at Utock, we used a certain strategy to lower the morale of the enemy, an act that was worthy of treason. However, Sir, we did it to increase our chances. The order was to use any means necessary, and I judged it was necessary. Sir, what I want to propose is that Knights in Red are to be changed into Knights of the Red Flag.”
“So you’re implying you raised a red flag? Don’t tell me, the bloody flag you left behind at Renyil has something to do with this?”
“Affirmative.”
“And it worked?”
“Affirmative.”
The marshal holds his jaw. “Let me guess, you also need a permission to use a red flag to identify your unit?”
“If possible, Sir.”
“Understood. Permission granted, and the unit name will be changed today. Also, submit a parchment with promotion proposals by the evening. Since you performed exceptionally with a regiment at your disposal, I have no reason not to promote you and your men further. Knights of the Red Flag will be a unit of three battalions, the regiment of the Red Demon.”
“Yes, Sir!” Tenil salutes.
***
Spring of the following year, Tenil commands a regiment of 3,000 as a second lieutenant. The tide of war has changed, the kingdom is now on the offensive. With all the cavalry force of Phyr, the marshal attempts to trample the defense line at the border close to Ymingor. In less than a day, the large-scale offense ends in success. With the winter gone, offense is that much easier.
With the empire driven back on two fronts, the kingdom marches West from Teckton to engage the empire’s main body in a pitched battle between Renyil and Teckton. Knights of the Red Flag are participating in the large-scale offense, fighting at the forefront. The kingdom pushes the Imperial Army all the way to a fortress far off the border. Renyil is thus conquered, and the general of Tror leads the offense from Ymingor, advancing in North.
In a month’s time, Renyil is fortified with trenches, barricades, and other defensive structures. The town itself is too small for an army, hence the need for the expanded defense. Tror’s brigade takes over a fortress in North, one that didn’t hold strategic purpose until now.
By the time it’s winter again, Tenil is promoted to a lieutenant, and the kingdom halts the advance. The King wishes to negotiate for peace with the empire. A ceasefire is issued for the duration of negotiations, and it lasts for two whole months, until the empire makes its decision.
The war doesn’t end. The empire uses guerilla warfare in the winter to weaken the kingdom, and actually succeeds at it. Now seventeen years of age, Tenil and her regiment are fighting hard to defend Renyil and the supply lines. It’s a bloody winter, only a thousand of Tenil’s regiment lives to see the following spring.
Also, more female knights are volunteering. Most of them are appointed to defensive regiments, such as ones at Teckton, Utock, and so forth.
During the third summer of the war, the kingdom resumes its offense after having defeated most of the guerilla forces. Tenil leads the advance, Knights of the Red Flag terrorizing the enemy. It’s not because Tenil is a powerful weapon. Rather, it’s all thanks to her knights. Their performance is exceptional. They are the elites, after all, inspired by the Red Demon herself.
After her eighteenth birthday, Tenil is promoted to a captain, and another winter comes. By then the kingdom has conquered roughly thirty percent of the empire, yet the emperor isn’t surrendering conditionally. He believes he can take back the lost land and eventually conquer the kingdom.
***
Fourth year of the war, soon-to-be twenty year old Colonel Tenil leads Knights of the Red Flag to siege the capital of the empire after a streak of crushing victories on multiple fronts. The war can be ended before her birthday, and it is likely to end so. Valoria has only 8,000 soldiers defending the capital. The kingdom’s numbers have diminished as well, but remains superior. The Division of the Red Demon numbers 12,000.
Although things are going well for the kingdom, Tenil’s health has been declining. It’s unknown whether the dragon’s influence affects her body or if it’s some other factor. She’s been feeling horrible for the past four months. Loud noises sometimes cause headache, and any lack of sleep feels twice as punishing as it should.
“Knights of the Red Flag, what do we spill!?” Tenil yells in front the whole army, wearing the black armor of an officer.
The whole division thunders.
“““““““Guts!”””””””
“Knights of the Red Flag, what do we drink!!!?”
“““““““““Blood!!!””””””””
Then, Tenil yells the final question, “Knights of the Red Flag, where do we get them!!!!!!!?”
““““““““““““““““““FROM THE ENEMY!!!”””””””””””””””””
And thus, the siege of Loraan, the capital of Valoria, begins. The siege engines of the kingdom start hammering the walls of the city at once. Although the siege begins only now, Loraan has been surrounded for two weeks. Tenil has been waiting for the rations to run low in the city before the siege attempt. There is no real threat out there other than the neighboring countries, and the kingdom has built supply lines all over the conquered land.
The Division of the Red Demon charges the city. Arrows rain down upon the knights with little to no effect. Knights of the Red Flag are armed with shields that can block arrows with ease. However, many die despite the heavy equipment.
Tenil leads the charge herself, using the massive weapon as a shield. She aims for the gate. Her massive chunk of hulking iron can easily tear down a gate, regardless of the material. It’s a weapon from Cerphet. Physical matter doesn’t have the proper structure to withstand its destructive power.
In no time, Tenil reaches the gate. She swings the dragon’s fang to break the heavily reinforced gate. With a few strikes, Knights of the Red Flag breach the gate and flood the city. The starving soldiers are of no threat to anyone and are thus killed swiftly. Most of them surrender, however. The kingdom’s catapults cease fire as soon as their comrades enter the city.
In half an hour, the city has been taken, and Tenil enters the throne room to capture the emperor of the conquered Valoria, only to find him dead in his quarters. Right before the siege, he committed suicide, apparently.
“Sir, the city is in our control!” Ireine reports enthusiastically.
“Noted. Gather the surrendered soldiers in the courtyard. Civilians are to be ignored and treated properly, unless they behave rashly.”
“Yes, Sir!” Staff Sergeant Ireine salutes.
“Sir!” Lieutenant Lerrot rushes towards Colonel Tenil.
“What is it?”
“Hostiles, a division! Advancing from the North! From the looks of it, it’s the kingdom of Aera! Our messengers were shot right in front of us!”
“Tch, they don’t know who they challenge,” Tenil is pissed off. Just a moment ago, she thought the war was over, but what now? Will she have to fight another war?
Tenil hurries to the outer wall. Almost every building in the city is made of gray stone with the exception of the palace, which is white for the most part.
Tenil can see an army marching towards the city from the North. Furthermore, there is another army coming from the East.
Tenil reasons they’re reinforcements.
No...
She takes it back. There was no mention of reinforcements before the siege began. She doesn’t believe it’s coincidence that a hostile army happens to approach at the same time with supposed reinforcements from the kingdom.
“Look, our brethren are coming to our aid!” A soldier points at the advancing army in the East.
Tenil yells, “Close the gate! Prepare to defend!”
“Sir, should we not help the reinforcements?” Staff Sergeant Ireine suggests.
“Those are not reinforcements,” Tenil says with a grim tone of voice. “We have been betrayed.”
“Eh? Sir?”
Tenil ignores the stupid look Ireine is displaying. There is no time to explain. “Hurry with the gate! Man the walls! Do not let anyone get near!”
Cornered and betrayed, Tenil is trying to think of a strategy. Although no one else believes her yet, she is certain the army in the East is hostile.
“A messenger is approaching!” An archer shouts.
“Let it come!” Tenil yells.
A rider on a white horse is approaching from the East. He doesn’t seem to have any weapons with him. Once he is in front of the gate, he shouts, “I have a message to the commanding officer of the Knights of the Red Flag!”
“What is it!?” Tenil yells.
“To pay for your crimes, Knights of the Red Flag are to be punished. Surrender and accept the judgement, or resist and die! The Kingdom of Aera is on our side!”
The soldiers pale on the spot. Tenil knew it’d come down to this. Ireine, who was baffled only a moment ago, displays a grim face. She couldn’t tell they weren’t reinforcements, not even when Tenil told her.
“What have we done to earn such!?” Tenil demands.
“Knights of the Red Flag have killed their own, raped women, and murdered children! Furthermore, you have disobeyed the Marshal!”
Of course, they haven’t done anything like that. They haven’t killed their own even once, euthanasia excluded. They haven’t raped anyone even once, and not even a single child has been murdered, stray arrows aside. And most importantly, they haven’t disobeyed the Marshal. In short, they’re falsely accused.
It doesn’t matter what they say at this point. The orders are seemingly coming from the King himself, which means the King wants them dead, whether they’d committed those crimes or not.
But what’s the reason? Why’d the King go as far as that? Tenil is guessing there’s some political agenda behind it. Whatever it is, it’s more important than the lives of the Knights of the Red Flag.
“What do we do, Sir?” Staff Sergeant Ireine asks.
“We put up a fight, or we die.”
“Sir, they are from the kingdom. They are our brethren.”
“I know. That is why I give you all an option.” Tenil turns to look at her men. “Knights of the Red Flag!”
The soldiers gather around her, both below and on the wall.
“We are falsely accused. We are treated as war criminals. We are likely to be hanged if we surrender here.”
The veterans are listening, shaken by the sudden news. They thought they could finally return to their homes, to their families, but no, they’re war criminals now. They are to be executed from the sounds of it.
“However, I have no desire to die. Therefore, Knights of the Red Flag, would you follow me if I decided to stand up to our nation for the sake of our survival!? Or do you wish to be hanged instead!? SURVIVAL OR DEATH!?”
“““““SURVIVAL!””””””
“Good! If there are any who wish to submit here, you may surrender now. I will not stop you if you do that!” Tenil turns to a group of soldiers that’s in charge of the gate. “Open the gate for those who wish to surrender!”
The gate has been broken during the siege, but some quick emergency repairs have been done just in case. It isn’t perfect, but it’s more than enough to keep enemy soldiers from flooding in freely.
About 400 soldiers decide to surrender on the spot, mainly men who are incapable of going any further due to wounds or age. The ones lost during the siege included, the Division of the Red Demon has lost roughly 1,000 men today. They still have about 11,000 left.
Tenil shouts to the messenger below, “The rest of us will not submit! We are falsely accused, and thus we shall defend our just freedom!”
The messenger below looks at the 400 men before shouting back. “Then you shall perish as all criminals do!”
“Archers, if he does not retreat within ten seconds, you may shoot him!” Tenil threatens.
“You will die today, demon!” The messenger yells as he urges his mount to gallop.
Tenil smiles wryly. A secret desire is boiling within her. One army against the whole world, eh? She can’t help but feel excited.
Arc Two
The Truth Exposed
Chapter Thirteen
Against All Odds
Unless Tenil borrows Aoveon’s power, they won’t win the battle. From the looks of it, the enemy armies are preparing for a long siege. The two forces are cooperating in tandem. Tenil’s surmised the King promised to share the empire’s land with Aera.
They don’t have enough supplies to last a siege, especially now that their allies have betrayed them. The knights under the Red Flag must abandon the city as soon as possible, or crush the enemy armies.
Considering Tenil’s knights are superior, the odds are in their favor, but the problem is that there is a cavalry force of 1,500 riders in the Eastern outskirt, and 2,000 more in the Northern. If they charged the enemy armies now, they’d suffer heavy losses. The Knights of the Red Flag have only 300 horses available.
They can’t just flee.
They can’t just attack.
They can’t just stay put.
What can they do? Tenil can’t help but smile. She has a load of ideas. Her goal is to get out of the current situation with as minimal losses as possible, for the upcoming campaign will drain all the resources they have.
“Sir, what shall we do?” Lieutenant Lerrot asks.
“We will flee while taking out their cavalry,” Tenil declares.
“Understood. Orders?”
“Take the majority of our forces to the Western gate. Prepare the cavalry too. Also, tell the men to fill their backpacks with supplies. Anything unnecessary is to be discarded. If necessary, stealing food from the locals is permitted. We will head out before the enemy can siege us.”
“Understood!” Lieutenant Lerrot salutes before leaving.
“Sir!” An archer reports, “Someone is approaching!”
Tenil looks in the direction the archer is pointing. Indeed, there is a lonely person walking towards the city from the East. For some reason, Tenil is alarmed.
He looks intriguing, the dragon says.
Can you tell me who he is? Tenil asks, unable to see that far.
Oh, you can’t tell? That’s Oreon.
What?
He has some dark aura around him. I wonder, has he found some old relic of Cerphet?
Are you telling me he’s dangerous?
Dunno.
After a short moment of consideration, Tenil shouts orders. “Unless the approaching person attacks, do not shoot him!”
Once the person gets close enough, Tenil confirms it’s Oreon. He doesn’t have a helmet, but he is wearing a plate armor. Instead of a shortsword and a shield, he has a longsword. Tenil hasn’t seen him wield such before. What is he thinking? Even the Red Demon can’t tell.
Just like the dragon has said, Oreon has a dark aura around him. It isn’t natural, but paranormal. Also, if Tenil had the eyes of a hawk, she could see that Oreon smiles like a madman, and that his eyes are bloodshot.
“TENIL!” He yells.
The Red Demon answers, “What!?”
“I’ve come to kill you!”
“Good luck!”
“Come here, and let us fight!”
Tenil is incli
ned to accept the challenge, but she can tell that isn’t a smart idea. Why should she take the risk? Oreon clearly has a stratagem he hasn’t revealed.
“Why should I!?” She demands.
“What? Are you afraid!?”
“Does it matter what I think!? As long as there is no reason for me to come down there, I’ll rather stay up here!”
Her point is sound. She doesn’t fight according to her pride. She fights according to her instincts, and right now, she is sensing danger with her mind’s eye.
“Archers, shoot him!” Tenil orders.
Arrows are nocked and shot, aimed at Oreon. Tenil suspects he is prepared for it, seeing he doesn’t seem to mind the hail of arrows.
Her guess is spot-on. Oreon plunges the longsword into the ground, and a black flame surrounds him, repelling the arrows with ease.
“Hold your fire!” Tenil commands.
With no arrows coming at him, Oreon pulls the blade out of the earth, pointing it at Tenil. “Either you come down, or I come up! Which is it!?”
Whatever that power is, it’s fancy, the dragon interjects.
Tenil ignores Aoveon. “Fine!” She decides to go down, as there is no reason for her to risk the lives of her men for the sake of a one-on-one fight. Oreon does seem capable of making his way to the wall, after all.
The gate is opened for Tenil. Oreon is waiting just outside, the longsword on his shoulder. He looks confident enough, which makes Tenil wonder if the demonstration was just a fraction of his newfound power.
Tenil takes a stance. The world has gone gray in her eyes.
“Finally!” Oreon exclaims. “I’ve been waiting so long for the day when I get to kill you!”
“Why?”
“Because you trampled my pride!”
“Pride, eh? Pathetic.”
“Shut up! Shut up shut up shut up!!! Die!”
Oreon charges, his eyes set on Tenil. The dragon’s fang held ready, Tenil is ready to cleave him the moment he comes too close. However...
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