CHAPTER 11
A LOSS AT NEKROSIS
As King Christian and his army moved toward the place where they would battle Diabolos, the king pondered how best to organize the army for the defense of the country. Soon, however, they reached Nekrosis, the border to the barren plains, where they hoped to stop Diabolos and his army.
As the king looked over the land he noted the entrance to the Province of the King and his lands were guarded by rolling hills. There were two hills in particular that would be useful for hiding armies. Perhaps, he thought, he could surprise Diabolos. As he looked at the hills he decided how the battle would be set and called for his sons and commanders.
“Those hills,” the king said, “form a natural entrance to this land. We shall divide the army into three parts. I will command a small force of 1,500 men and 200 knights. The rest we will equally divide between John and Lionel. My force will meet him at the entrance. John and Lionel will be on each flank behind the hills with larger forces ready to attack as soon as we join battle. Hopefully, Diabolos will be foolish in his attack thinking we have even fewer soldiers than we do and attack head on. When he does, John and Lionel can cause great confusion among his troops. Now, what do you say?”
John, Lionel, and each of the commanders readily accepted the king’s proposal and set about making preparations for their defense of the land. However, before they departed from their meeting John asked, “Who shall lead the right flank?”
“The right flank will be the most dangerous,” the king said, nodding his head in deep thought. “The enemy will be better prepared for attack on that side since we’ll be attacking into their shields.”
“The men will also be aware of that once we are in place, and the plan is known.” John added.
“Let me command the right flank,” Lionel requested as he stepped forward with a confident smile. “I believe I can encourage the men, and I’ve had experience in such battlefield moves.
The thought of putting any of his sons on such a dangerous flank disturbed the king greatly. As he quickly thought of how best to defeat Diabolos without placing his son in such danger, Lionel added, “I know what you are thinking, Father. You don’t want to place anyone in a dangerous position. You’re afraid of the risk. You know that nothing is worthwhile that is without risk. You also know the King of Heaven is directing the battle, and it will go as he wishes. So don’t fear placing me where I’ll best serve the king.”
King Christian listened to Lionel and realized that he was the best choice to inspire his men as they moved into battle. Though John was a proven warrior and leader, Lionel was known for his calm courage and piety, which would calm his men. In this regard, Lionel had a quality about him the king had never seen in a battlefield commander.
“Lionel, my son.”
“Yes, my lord.”
“You will command the right flank. Prepare your men and may the King of Heaven guide you.”
As Prince Lionel gallantly gathered his force and moved into his position, King Christian was so moved he wanted to weep. But the king held back his tears for the sake of those about him, who might lose courage if they thought the king lost confidence.
So it was arranged that the king and his force would hold the pass while Lionel attacked from the right, and John attacked from the left. Once everyone was in place, the waiting began.
It seemed like they waited for an eternity, yet it was actually a short while. The king and his forces soon saw a cloud of dust on the horizon. As they watched the dust cloud move, they knew it was Diabolos.
As Diabolos drew near, the wicked lord saw the king and his small force blocking his way, so he halted his army so he could speak with the King of El.
While the two forces stood facing each other separated by no more than a few feet of ground Diabolos defiantly shouted to King Christian, “Save yourself and your scrawny group of old men! I will be king over El and you will be my slaves. Why do you subject yourself to certain death and failure? Accept what must be and it will not be so difficult.”
“The kingdom is not mine to give, Diabolos,” King Christian said with certainty. “Every person of El belongs to no one but themselves, and they have not granted me the authority to hand them over to you or any other man. These people serve the King of Heaven, and as he has selected me as their servant, I will never hand the kingdom over willingly! Know this, Diabolos. You face more than mortal men, for there is a force with us even greater than the dragon which my son shall slay!”
At the king’s words Diabolos was filled with such rage he could hardly control himself. “You will soon join your son, Christian. For as I slew him, so I shall slay you and your people,” he hissed.
Though the thought of Michael’s death at Diabolos’ hand pierced Christian’s heart for a moment, he had little time to reflect on it. For as soon as the words left Diabolos’ mouth, he directed his hordes to attack, while he sat on the side observing and directing his army in the attack.
It was like a wave of the sea rushing over them when the hordes of Diabolos fell upon them. The king and his men had their spears, swords, and shields at the ready and ably defended themselves against their enemies as they rushed on.
The intensity of the fight was the greatest any person had ever known. King Christian and his men cut down the enemy one by one as they converged on the small group without pause. Though the king and his men were on horses they formed small mounted cells in a circular shape to avoid exposing their backs to the enemy.
At the given moment, when the entire army of Diabolos was attempting to engulf the king’s contingent, Lionel and John swept down upon their flanks catching them completely off guard.
For a moment, it seemed Diabolos’ entire army was thrown into confusion and on the verge of a total rout. However, Diabolos held up his scepter with the dragon’s image on it, and his army soon regrouped and was able to bear down upon the defenders.
As was feared, the right flank was the most deadly. For though the finest fighters were placed on the right flank and cut down more than their number of the enemy, they fell one by one at the hands of their merciless adversaries.
On the left flank, Prince John and his forces also cut deep into the enemy’s flank causing grievous damage to their forces. However, as with the right flank, when Diabolos raised his evil scepter, John’s forces were pushed back.
As the king and the smallest force defended the entrance to the King’s Province, they did not give even an inch of ground, but held back the enemy, even as the king’s force lost half its number.
Though the battle raged and Diabolos’ forces made no headway, it was the hardest on King Christian’s army. For Prince Lionel on the right flank would not retreat though he lost more than half his force and had himself been wounded more than once.
As the battle raged, Princess Mary sat on her horse on an overlooking hillside watching the battle. Because she knew Lionel was in the position of greatest danger, she watched as he bravely fought off two, three, four, and five men at one time. As she watched her brother’s gallantry she was filled with both fear and pride. Then she noticed that his men were being killed all about him, and he was quickly being cut off from the remainder of his force.
Suddenly, as he was in the heaviest part of the fighting and calling to his few men to follow, Mary saw two of the enemy, one on each side, pierce him with their swords. Lionel then slumped in his saddle and fell to the ground.
“No!” Mary yelled as she charged, without thinking, onto the field of battle at full gallop. While nearing the scene where Lionel fell, she leaned over and grabbed a sword from the hand of a fallen soldier.
It seemed as if Mary was filled with a strength no person had ever known, for she quickly cut down ten adversaries one after the other as she rode to her fallen brother.
When Diabolos saw that his army was not making progress, he withdrew and ordered his forces to withdraw, so they might regroup and attack again,
which gave the army of El a needed rest.
It was at this time that Mary reached Lionel lying on the field of battle. Quickly the king and John were by her side.
As Mary and the king, held Lionel’s lifeless body they wept, and the king said over and over how he would rather have died than Lionel.
Mary then exclaimed, “If only I had my amulet, I could save him, but I gave it to Michael and we don’t even know if Michael lives!”
“Take courage, Mary,” the king said as he wiped away her tears. “Lionel knew what he was facing and he told us it was the King of Heaven directing the battle. We must not lose hope or faith.”
There was great weeping among them. Not only did they weep for Prince Lionel, but also for the more than four thousand men of El who died in that battle.
Quickly and quietly, the king and his forces regrouped. For they realized there would be little time before Diabolos attacked again, and they would have to wait before they could mourn the fallen.
Prince Michael and The Dragon Page 12