“What is his rank?” asked Arik.
“He is a sergeant with the Rangers,” the general replied.
“Give him a promotion then,” grinned Arik as he remembered that Zack was the man who saved his father’s life. “I do not want any regular officer trying to overrule him.”
“Done,” agreed the general. “I will make him a colonel in charge of special operations. It is an office that Alex held before the Collapse. Zackary will be a good man for it.”
Arik looked around the courtyard and shook his head. “I have never ridden with so many men,” he sighed. “I am used to small operations where I know who everyone is and what they are doing. I hope that I can adjust to this.”
“You are doing just fine,” smiled the general. “I have to tell you that the spirits of the men are extremely high. It has been many a year since a king in Tagaret has led his men into battle. These lads are ready to die for you.”
“That is not really what I wanted to hear,” frowned Arik. “I do not wish them to die for me. I want them to kill the enemy and come back home safely.”
“They want the same thing,” chuckled the general. “Let me find somebody to get that unicorn of yours so we can get this army moving.”
Arik nodded and turned to talk to Prince Oscar and Konic Clava. Sheri inched forward until she was close to Tanya.
“Are you going too?” Sheri asked softly.
“Of course,” nodded Tanya. “I go wherever Arik goes.”
“Will you keep him safe?” Sheri asked haltingly. “Don’t let him die.”
“That is why I am going,” frowned Tanya. “I know you care greatly for him, Sheri. Do not worry about him. He is a fine warrior.”
“It is not just me that would miss him,” responded Sheri. “Tagaret needs him alive and well. The people will be lined up along the streets to see if he returns from the battle. If they do not see him, they will all lose hope. Tagaret cannot afford that now.”
Tanya stared at Sheri and then gazed out at the city streets. She saw the people milling about expectantly and realized that Sheri was right.
“I have a secret to share with you,” whispered Tanya. “It is important that you do not reveal it until later. Can you promise me that you will do that?”
“I promise,” Sheri nodded.
“Arik and I are not coming back after the battle,” confided Tanya. “We have another task to perform that will keep us away for days. When the time is right, you must reveal this to the people so they do not get upset.”
“Not coming back,” frowned Sheri. “But the people will think that he has fallen in battle.”
“I just realized that from what you said,” nodded Tanya. “It is something that none of us thought about.”
“Where are you going with him?” questioned Sheri. “How will we know if he is all right?”
“We have to do something for the Sword of Heavens,” explained Tanya. “It is required to restore the sun and the moon over Tagaret. You can start spreading the news tomorrow. That way people will understand if he does not come back with the army. This is important.”
“You can count on me,” nodded Sheri. “I will spread the rumor for you. You just make sure that he stays safe.”
“I promise,” Tanya smiled warmly. “I will fight by his side and make sure that no harm comes to him.”
Arik finished talking with his fathers and turned to see Tanya talking to Sheri. He smiled at Sheri and nudged Tanya to mount up as Chaco and Frea were brought over by a couple of soldiers. As Arik settled on Chaco a tremendous roar emanated from the Red Swords. The sound startled Sheri, but she soon realized that they were cheering for their king.
Arik led the way out of the courtyard with Tanya right behind him. General Gregor followed at the head of three thousand Red Swords. One thousand Rangers had left the city before first light. They waited in the forest outside the city.
Citizens lined the streets of Tagaret as word spread that the king was leading the army into battle. Women waved scarves in the air as Arik approached. When he drew near, the citizens bowed until he passed. Then the women ran into the street and handed their scarves to the Red Swords. By the time the procession reached the gates in the old wall, every Red Sword was wearing a scarf given by a female citizen.
The new sector of the city was also lined with people. They shouted and cheered as the army passed by. Outside the new wall, the construction workers halted work as the army rode past. When they finally exited the defensive wall, Arik was able to stop waving, put his arm down, and release the smile he had held since leaving the Royal Palace.
“I think they like you,” giggled Tanya.
“Waving can be more tiring than fighting a sword battle,” chuckled Arik. “Tagaret is a fine city with wonderful people. I am finally beginning to feel good about my destiny. I can think of nothing more important to do with my life than to better the lives of these people.”
“Now that is the making of a fine king,” General Gregor declared.
Chapter 18
Field of Blood
“I can hear the sounds from Watling Flats,” Tedi whispered to Reese.
Reese held up his hand to halt the Army of the West. He cocked his head in the still night air and strained to listen.
“I know we are close,” Reese said softly, “but I don’t hear anything at all.”
“The important thing,” shrugged Tedi, “is for Azmet’s people not to hear anything. I think the archers should move on foot now.”
“Check it out, Twerp,” Reese ordered the fairy. “Let us know what you can see of Azmet’s campsite. I also want to know if the Red Swords have arrived and where they are located.”
Twerp nodded silently and leaped off of Reese’s shoulder into the gloom of night. The fairy disappeared from sight almost immediately. Reese and Baron Timor used hand signals to communicate with the troops. Long tether lines were spread between trees. The archers dismounted and tied their horses to the lines. King Altaro rode to the front and halted next to Baron Timor.
“Are we there then?” he asked softly. “Is this where the battle will take place?”
“I think we have arrived,” replied the baron. “Twerp has gone to verify it. He should return shortly.”
“You will take two thousand cavalry to the north as we discussed,” Reese said to King Altaro. “The baron will take two thousand to the south. I will hold the center with a thousand archers and a thousand cavalry.”
“What will be the signal to attack?” questioned King Altaro.
“I leave that decision up to King Arik,” shrugged Reese. “The fairies will let us know.”
As if on cue, Twerp glided out of the night and landed on Baron Timor’s shoulder. Several dozen fairies followed him and picked random hosts to land on. Some of the men flinched with the unexpected arrivals, and several horses were spooked by the antics of their riders, but things calmed down quickly.
“Tedi is correct,” reported Twerp. “Watling Flats is just around the bend in the trail ahead. Azmet’s army covers the entire area, but most of them are asleep. Their campfires burn low.”
“Most of them?” questioned Reese. “Do they have sentries out?”
“No sentries,” Twerp shook his little head, “but there are men working to clear the trail on the other side of the field. It seems that quite a few large trees were felled by some type of storm.”
“I think I know that storm,” grinned Tedi. “I wondered how they could guarantee that Azmet would camp in this field tonight.”
“Why all the fairies?” questioned King Altaro.
“Prince Midge brought them to put the sentries asleep,” answered Twerp, “but there are no sentries. We will be used to aid communications instead.”
“Are the Red Swords ready for battle?” asked Reese.
“King Arik’s men are in position,” nodded the fairy. “Three thousand Red Swords await news that we are in position. A thousand Ranger archers will attack from the o
ther side of the field.”
“This will not be a battle,” observed Baron Timor. “This will be a massacre. I cannot, however, feel any pity for a people who would intentionally spread the Black Death. It will take many generations to restore Southland to the city it once was.”
“Any men we lose will be too many,” frowned Reese. “We need every man to repel what Sarac is sending our way. I am going to move my archers into position. I suggest you two lead your men to their positions as well.”
“I will send a fairy when we are ready,” nodded King Altaro as he wheeled to ready his cavalry.
Baron Timor nodded silently and left. Reese used hand signals to move his archers forward.
“I want you to stay with the archers,” Tedi said to Natia. “You are not a swordsman.”
“I know my place,” retorted Natia as she tied her horse to the tether line and followed the archers through the trees towards Watling Flats.
Tedi watched Natia leave and turned to Reese. “I am going to ride forward a bit,” he said. “I want to see if there are any surprises waiting for us.”
“Be careful,” warned Reese, “and silent. We do not want to alert Azmet’s people before the attack.”
Tedi nodded and rode slowly forward. Wylan and Bin-lu followed close behind. When he got close enough to see the campfires in the field, Tedi dismounted. He led his horse forward another hundred paces and tied it to a tree. Wylan and Bin-lu followed his every move. Tedi saw Natia grouped with the other archers at the edge of the field. He quietly moved to her side.
“A little larger than the average Lanoirian patrol,” Tedi mused quietly.
“A little?” countered Natia. “They will be calling this the Field of Blood after tonight. I can see the statue you told me about. It is huge. How did you ever get it off that island?”
“The fairies know how to levitate things,” explained Wylan. “See the wagon right behind it? That is the hut that contains the disease. I sure hope they don’t try to escape with that during the battle. It could wipe out all of the armies here. They haven’t even bothered to unhitch the horses.”
“Are you serious?” gasped Natia. “Could that really happen?”
“One man infected in that hut led to the death of most of Southland,” nodded Wylan. “I can’t imagine what would happen if that wagon turned over.”
“I hear Reese’s cavalry coming,” frowned Tedi. “They are making too much noise. I am going to warn them.”
Wylan nodded absently as his eyes roved over the campsite. He tried to locate specific people in the dimness, but the best he could do was to guess by the largeness of the tents.
“I bet the largest tent belongs to Azmet,” he muttered under his breath as he charted a course towards it.
“Is that where you are going?” Bin-lu asked as he followed Wylan’s gaze.
“It is,” affirmed Wylan with a scowl upon his face. “He killed all of the friends I grew up with. I look forward to repaying him.”
“Where is Natia?” Tedi asked as he returned.
Wylan and Bin-lu turned to look for the gypsy girl, but could not find her. “She was here a minute ago,” replied Wylan. “Maybe she is answering the call of nature.”
“The gypsy girl?” questioned one of the archers. “She said she had a secret mission to do. She is crossing the field now. Look,” he pointed.
Tedi held his breath as his eyes followed the archer’s pointing finger. He watched as Natia stole between two campfires. Swiftly, he turned and dashed back to Reese.
“Twerp,” exhaled Tedi, “I need your help. Natia has gone into the field. I want you to watch over her.”
“Why would she do a fool thing like that?” scowled Reese.
“I am not sure,” frowned Tedi, “but I think she intends to disable the disease wagon. Wylan was fretting over how it might destroy everyone if it crashed during the battle.”
“Go Twerp,” ordered Reese. “Blessed sword, but Wylan might be right.”
“I am going after her,” decided Tedi.
“You are not,” Reese stated sternly. “She has a better chance being alone. Two of you offer twice the opportunity for discovery.”
Twerp launched himself off of Reese’s shoulder and darted through the trees. He soared through the darkness, avoiding the light from the campfires. He scanned the moving people looking for Natia. He had expected to find her crawling along the ground, but he finally spotted her walking calmly. She avoided the campfires in a serpentine path that almost appeared natural. Nobody appeared to pay much attention to her. Twerp hovered high enough to be unseen as his eyes continually swept the people near Natia.
As the gypsy girl approached the center of the camp, people were more numerous. One fanatic took notice of Natia and moved to intercept her. Twerp cast his sleeping spell on the unsuspecting follower. The man took three more strides and tumbled to the ground. Several followers shouted and rushed to the man’s aid. Natia glanced once and then ignored the commotion.
Twerp smiled and darted ahead of Natia as he saw the wagon with the hut on it. Several men stood talking, and Twerp knew that they would notice Natia approaching the wagon. He looked around for a diversion and found a second small group discussing something. With a glance back at Natia to adjust his timing, Twerp cast his sleep spell on one of the men in the second group. The man tumbled to the ground in mid-sentence. Members of his group immediately knelt over him, and the men in the first group turned to see what the commotion was. Natia slipped under the wagon.
Twerp was on his way to speak to Natia when shouting erupted at the north end of the field. The fairy altered course and soared high into the sky. The followers of Abuud were shouting and pointing towards the forest. Men in the area scrambled for weapons, while others shouted, demanding to know what was happening. Twerp determined that King Altaro’s men must have been heard or spotted. The fanatics started charging towards the forest. Sensing a plan gone awry, Reese’s archers let their arrows fly.
Abuud’s followers started dying and screaming in pain from the deadly hail of arrows. The men who had been charging King Altaro’s position wheeled to attack the archers. Suddenly arrows began flying into Watling Flats from the other direction, and chaos ran rampant through Azmet’s campsite.
Twerp glanced down and saw Natia crawl forward and begin slicing through the harnesses. He scanned the immediate area for anyone who might discover the gypsy princess. Everyone was looking outward towards the sounds of battle.
Some of Azmet’s men raced for their horses. Nassar began shouting instructions and trying to mount a counteroffensive. His loud, calm voice brought a semblance of order to the chaotic battleground. As he gathered the men required to take the battle into the forest, the men on the periphery of the campsite began to inch backwards towards the wagons. Soon, there was a wide ring of fallen bodies encircling the central campsite. The arrows stopped flying as the archers were out of range.
Twerp looked down again just at Natia finished cutting through the harnesses. She slid back under the wagon and hid. Something spooked the horses and they ran from the wagon. Azmet turned towards the new commotion and snarled.
Ranger archers stepped from the woods, ran forward a hundred paces, and formed a new firing line. The archers in the line were widely separated, leaving large amounts of room between any two archers. Reese’s archers duplicated the maneuver along the western side of Watling Flats. Nassar ordered his cavalry to charge the Ranger archers, even as the first hail of arrows was claiming new victims.
As Nassar’s men thundered across the field, Red Swords poured out of the woods. They charged through the gaps in the line of archers and clashed with Nassar’s cavalry. Halmud tried to duplicate Nassar’s charge at the western end of Watling Flats. He also formed a cavalry and sent them towards the line of archers. The Army of the West responded the same as the Red Swords.
As the cavalries clashed, the archers inched forward, tightening the circle around Azmet’s men Shouts below
caused Twerp to look down at the wagon again. Azmet was shouting and pointing towards the hut. He ordered several fanatics onto the wagon. Fireballs screamed over the heads of the cavalries and impacted the hut and wagon. Even as the wagon began to burn, Lotfi hastily erected a shield over it. The next set of fireballs impacted the shields, producing a brilliant flare when they struck.
Several of the fanatics fell off of the wagon. Others leaped off to get away from the flames, but two managed to slip inside the hut. Men ran with buckets to extinguish the flames, while Lotfi shouted for other mages to reinforce his shields. As the wagon continued to burn, Twerp tried to find Natia, but he could not. He turned his attention back to the battle.
The Red Swords routed Nassar’s cavalry charge. The fanatics turned and fled back towards the center of the camp. The Red Swords halted and regrouped while the Ranger archers moved forward.
The two fanatics emerged from the hut. Lotfi and the mages moved backwards to avoid contact with them. One of the fanatics leaped off the burning wagon and started running towards the Red Swords. Suddenly, the man fell down with a knife protruding from his back. A fireball slammed into his body, and it burst into flames.
Shouts erupted anew as Azmet pointed towards the wagon. Natia rolled from under the wagon and threw a knife into the other martyr. She started running towards Reese’s men. A fireball instantly engulfed the fallen martyr, but Twerps eyes were glued on Natia. He sped after her while he watched for anyone who might intercept her.
The cavalry battle at the western end of the field finished as Halmud’s men turned and galloped back toward the center of the field. Tedi saw Natia running for her life. While the other cavalrymen regrouped to let the archers move forward, Tedi charged into the campsite. Wylan and Bin-lu followed closely. As Halmud’s returning riders galloped through the camp, Natia threw herself into an empty tent. The men that had been chasing her turned away from the coming stampede. The horses avoided the scattered tents as they ran towards Azmet. Twerp diverted his attention to the central part of the campsite. He watched as the hut burst into flames. Lotfi and his mages scattered.
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