by C. E. Swain
"You will see, my friend, you will see." Donderan replied. "But I hope he saves some for us, it would be a shame to have come all this way, and not get to kill any of the solders of the mage king."
"Do not fear, master dwarf." Alazen said. "You may yet get your wish."
Chapter Thirty-Three
Chidren was furious when he reached the stream and learned of the ambush. He had ordered the cavalry to wait for the army before crossing, believing that the warriors of the empire had fled to hide in their castle, and it cost him close to one hundred of his men. He crossed the stream and ordered the men to assemble into battle formation, and called for his messenger.
"Bring Mareston and Gaston to me." Chidren said to the messenger when he arrived. "And have the lead mage report as well."
"Yes Sir." The man replied, and turned to carry out his orders as fast as he could.
The mage he sought was still at the stream, and the messenger relayed Chidren's orders to him as he passed. Mareston and Gaston were both with the siege weapons when the messenger found them and informed them of the ambush, and the news stunned them. They reached Chidren soon after the mage, and the army in battle formation was the first thing that they noticed.
"I want a spell of stamina cast on the men." Chidren was saying to the mage as the two commanders arrived.
"But that would weaken my men, and limit their ability to cast battle spells for the next several days." The mage replied.
"Why." Chidren asked, becoming impatient with the man. "It does not seem to be a hard spell to cast."
"Because there are so few of us, and more than five thousand men to cast the spell on." The mage replied. "It will not take us long to cast the spell, but it will take all of the strength we have to affect all of the men at the same time."
"They will be able to cast defensive spells." Chidren said, "And what spells they can cast, should be all we will need."
"As you command." The mage replied, and turned to carry out his orders.
"We will not be camping tonight." Chidren said, as he turned his attention to the two commanders that had just arrived. "I want to reach the castle by first light tomorrow, and begin the battle before the defenders are awake."
"We are to advance in battle formation?" Mareston asked. "Through the trees, at night?"
"Yes, I will have the mages cast a spell that will give the men limited night vision." Chidren informed them. "But it will limit our ability to use magic in the battle."
"You believe the enemy to be that weak?" Gaston asked. "That magic will not be needed to defeat the castle?"
"I do not believe the defenders of the castle, to have more than one mage to use magic against us." Chidren said. "And our mage's will keep him busy so he cannot use his skills against the solders."
"And they do not have enough defenders to defeat an army as large as the one we now lead?" Mareston asked, unsure that Chidren knew the true answer to his question.
"How could they, when they have no more than two thousand trained, solders, in all of the empire?" Chidren asked, "They would have to recruit Thousands of men and train them before they could ever hope to stand against us."
"I guess we will find out soon enough." Mareston replied. "But we should get the men moving if we hope to reach the castle by dawn."
"Use outriders to flank the army." Chidren said to Gaston. "But assemble your cavalry to lead the army."
"As you command." He replied, and rode in the direction of his men.
"I will wait for the siege weapons to cross the stream." Mareston said. "To be sure they can keep up with the army."
"Get the men moving first." Chidren said. "The cavalry will be able to take their positions, once Gaston gets them assembled."
"Yes Sir." Mareston replied. "I will see to it right away."
The first formation began to move forward, as the last of the solders crossed the stream, and formed in the rear. Once the siege weapons were across, the cavalry rode on ahead to take their place and lead the army, and the pace began to quicken. By the end of the day, they had made up the lost time from the ambush, and were on pace to reach the castle by the time Chidren demanded.
Once the sun had set, and Chidren believed the enemy could no longer see them, he ordered the mage's to cast the stamina spell. The army was halted briefly to allow the spell to encompass all of them, and they continued on with more energy. The affects of the spell would only last them through the night, but the mage assured Chidren that the men would not be affected adversely when it wore off.
The light of the fires of the camps around the castle grew brighter as they drew nearer, and just before dawn, the fires themselves could be seen. Chidren rode to the front of his advancing army, as the first rays of the predawn began to illuminate the land around them, and allowed them to see where the battle would be fought. Along with Mareston and Gaston, he looked for the best place to assemble the men for the attack, and was surprised to find the landscape around the castle barren of foliage.
He chose the north side of the castle because his men could reach the gates easier, and because it offered him the best route in which to bring the siege weapons into the battle. It allowed his cavalry to reach the great road faster, and secure it against the possible escape of the castles defenders to the east.
The army poured from the trees, and reformed their ranks for the attack, just as the sun began to peek over the horizon in the east. The siege weapons reached the open ground between the castle and the trees, and the men who were assigned to use them began to prepare them for the attack. That was when they found out that the ropes had been cut to the assault weapons, and they would not be useable until more ropes could be made.
The battering rams and the towers were assembled as fast as the men could accomplish the task, but Chidren was not informed of the disabled assault weapons. No one would go to report it to him for fear of being killed when they did, and for once Mareston agreed with the men.
As the first ranks began the advance on the castle, and Gaston's Cavalry reformed behind the first formation and ahead of the second, a horn sounded from within the castle. Gaston and those men that had ridden with him long before they had come to the empire, left the ranks of the cavalry, and rode back to where Mareston waited with the reserves. He had given command of the cavalry to his second, and he watched as the army moved forward.
The horn was sounded in the castle a second time, and the gates of the garrison began to open as it did.
"Have your cavalry cut off the escape of the defenders if they try to flee." Chidren said to Gaston. "I do not want anyone to reach the east, and warn them."
"Yes sir." Gaston replied, and sent a messenger to relay the orders.
"Stay with the siege weapons, and the reserves." Chidren said to Mareston. "I will be leading the second formation, so be prepared to send in whatever we need."
"As you command." Mareston replied. "We will be ready when you give the order."
The defenders rode from the castle in the colors of the empire, and formed up in front of the advancing army with their spears held high. Mareston was impressed with the line of warriors who stood against them, and the purple and gold shields they carried formed a wall of golden dragons that shined brightly in the morning sunlight.
They were less than one third the size of the army they faced, but all were mounted and well armed. Mareston expected them to attack the front ranks before they could get within two bowshots of the castle, but to his surprise, they just sat there waiting. When they did finely began to move forward, they only advanced at the same rate as the foot solders they faced.
Mareston was confused by the way the warriors of the empire seemed to care very little about the size of the forces arrayed against them, and slowly advanced on the foot solders of the mage king's army.
"What have we gotten ourselves into now?" He said under his breath, as he watched the warriors of the empire, in amazement.
*****
Menimeth stood o
n the battlements of the castle, as the gray of the early morning began to appear in the sky to the east, and watched as the enemy drew closer to Argnon. So far they had not investigated the trees to the west, having all their attention directed at the castle instead, and Menimeth began to believe they would not. He made his way back down to the garrison, where the men were preparing for the coming battle, and found Litlorn and Darik waiting for him to return.
"All of the men are in the garrison and the castle courtyard." Litlorn said. "They will be ready to ride out as soon as you give the order."
"Do we have a horn in which to sound the alarm?" Menimeth asked Captain Brannor, who stood in the doorway of the garrison just feet away. "I wish to announce our departure from the garrison."
"As a matter of fact we do." The captain replied. "We used it to announce the beginning of the fair, several years ago. I will get it right away"
He turned and walked back into the headquarters, and several minutes later, returned with the horn he had spoken of.
"This should do the job." Captain Brannor said, as he handed the horn to the dragon rider. "It was used by the old regents when they went into battle as well."
"Thank you Captain, I will return it before we ride from the garrison." Menimeth said.
"The men are as ready as they will ever be." Kiler said, as he reached the dragon rider. "And they are awaiting your orders."
"Spread the word to the men, to mount up, when they hear the horn sound." Menimeth told him. "And the gates will open on the second blast."
"Are there any more instructions for the men?" Kyler asked. "Before we ride from the garrison."
"When we ride from the garrison we will form our lines facing the enemy and began the attack slowly. Once we make the first charge and breach the enemy lines, all of the men are to ride back into the garrison as fast as they can, and retrieve new spears before reforming in front of the castle again."
"I will see to it right away." Kyler said, and began to pass the orders on, to the men.
"I would like you to blow the horn for me." Menimeth said to Litlorn. "If you will."
"I would be honored." The elf said with a smile. "Just let me know when you wish me to sound the alarm."
"Blow the first blast of the horn when the enemy begins to advance across the open ground." Menimeth replied. "And the second when all of the men are mounted and ready. Once we return from the first attack, you and Darik will join me for the second and final attack."
"Do you wish me to use magic against the front ranks of the enemy?" Darik asked.
"Yes, but wait until we lower our spears, and charge them." Menimeth replied. "Something to slow them down, while we retrieve new spears from the garrison and reform again in front of them."
"I know just the spell." Darik said, and turned to follow Litlorn to the battlements.
As the first rays of the sun began to appear down the great road, the first of the enemy solders entered the open space north of the castle. Soon they were all in the open, and they slowly began to advance. When they did, Litlorn sounded the horn, and the warriors of the empire began to mount their horses. It was less than three minutes before the second blast sounded, and the gates began to open.
Menimeth was the first to ride from the garrison, followed closely by the solders of the realms, and they were soon in formation facing the enemy. They sat in formation, far longer than the enemy expected, just watching them as they advanced, but when they did begin to move forward, it was at a walk.
"Prepare your bows." Menimeth shouted as he faded backwards into the line of warriors behind him. "Take three shots, before you lower your spears for the charge against their front ranks." He added. "But aim for the solders in the back of the formation first."
When they were within bowshot of the enemy, Menimeth gave the order to fire, and the first wave of arrows began their flight. Before they could reach their marks, a second wave was ready to be launched, and the screams of the stricken continued as the arrows struck home. The third wave of arrows was sent directly into the front ranks of the enemy lines, and men began to drop all across their formation.
"Lower spears." Menimeth shouted, and as one, all of the warriors of the third army lowered their spears.
The mounted warriors picked up speed as they began their charge, and were soon flying across the open ground at full speed. Crashing into the enemy, spears were splintered and men were crushed, as they swept through the enemy solders in front of them. Just as the enemy began to form for a counter attack, the warriors of the empire turned and raced back to the castle.
The cavalry of the enemy began to give chase, when the shape of the dragon appeared over the castle, and flew directly at them. Halting their advance, the solders of the mage king prepared to defend against the great beast as it approached, but it disappeared into thin air just as it reached them.
"The leader of the enemy solders, shouted orders to the men around him, and the army began to reform their ranks soon after. It was not long before the advance on the castle was resumed, but it had given the warriors of the third army, the time they needed to reach the garrison and retrieve a new spear. As the men rode from the garrison, and began to reassemble in front of the enemy for another charge, Litlorn and Darik were with them. Menimeth sat on his war-horse Donner, and faced the advancing enemy once again, with the warriors of the third army in formation behind him. Litlorn sat to Menimeth's right, and Kyler sat to his left, while Darik sat just beyond the commander. When the lines had been reformed, and the men were ready for another assault on the enemy who threatened their lands, Menimeth gave the signal for the first and second armies to emerge from the trees.
Feran and the army he commanded were the first to appear from the trees in which they had been concealed, and with several lines of mounted warriors behind him, they more than doubled the number of warriors that prepared to attack the enemy. They did not continue their advance, but halted as soon as all of the men had cleared the trees, and waited for the signal to attack. The solders of the enemy forces slowed their advance on the castle, as this new threat appeared from the trees on their left flank, and the reserves in the rear began to move forward after a command from their leader. That was when Javen and the fifteen hundred men he commanded rode from the trees to the west, and formed on the enemy's right flank. As Feran had done, they halted as soon as all of the men had cleared the trees, and waited for the signal that the attack was to begin.
With the appearance of the warriors on their right flank, the enemy advance halted altogether, and their captains began shouting orders from one end to the other. Menimeth could see Chidren in the middle of the mage kings forces, and watched as he directed his men to different parts of his army in an effort to bolster his lines.
"Chidren is the one who holds this army together." He said to Litlorn. "And he is the one we must kill if we are to have any success in forcing the enemy to surrender."
"He will not be easy to get to." Litlorn replied. "I am afraid it will be a long time, before any of our forces can penetrate that far into their lines."
"I am the one who must fight him." Menimeth said. "If his death is to have the desired effect."
"Even with your skills, you cannot fight your way to him, without the risk of being overwhelmed." Litlorn pointed out. "We will just have to hope that the men remember what we have taught them, and keep their ranks together as the battle progresses."
"Javen and Feran will not allow their men to break ranks." Kyler said. "They know we need to drive the enemy in on itself, which will cause them to be hindered by their own numbers."
"But if we do not begin to drive them back on the first charge, then the battle could take longer than we can afford." Menimeth said. "Even with our men mounted, both armies are evenly matched."
"Then we had better make sure that the attack has the desired affect." Litlorn said. "To save the lives of men on both sides."
When the enemy reserves reached the main army, Menimeth coul
d see that the siege weapons had been left behind, and Chidren was furious about it. Though he could not hear what was being said, he knew the man was angry, but as far as Menimeth could tell, the siege weapons would have been useless against the formations arrayed against them. Even if they had worked, which Menimeth knew they did not, the siege weapons would have killed more of their own forces than those of the empire.
"It's time." Menimeth said, as he gave the signal for the men to ready their bows.
Darik walked his horse forward for several paces, and began to chant in a language those around him had never heard before, and he raised his staff as he did. A bright light began to form above the staff he held, and the wind began to blow, picking up speed as the seconds passed. The enemy mages began shooting fireballs at Darik, but to their surprise, they disappeared long before they could reach their target. Several times, the mage's of the enemy sent fireballs and lightning bolts at Darik, but they had no affect on him. Not one of the lightning bolts or fireballs, ever reached the dragon mage as he cast his spell, because they disappeared before they could do so.