Epic Unearthed

by Thomas Turner

  Chapter XXXIV

  Small Window of Opportunity

  In Daygun’s mind, the Atlanteans’ main objective is to somehow sue for peace. Although the Atlanteans cannot win this campaign, they are hoping to deplete their enemy enough so that the Continental Alliance has no choice but to stop their aggressions.

  Daygun has lost a brother and father in this clash, and wants revenge. Despite his hatred of the enemy, he has to find some way to stop the conflict before his civilization is completely wiped out.

  The enemy first has to take Halotropolis in order to seize the Atlantean capital, but those who stay in God’s city will fight for their beliefs. Anyone inside the walls, over the age of fifteen, is contributing to the war effort. Women have picked up swords and bows to protect their homes. Cavalry from the Atlantean capital and half of Halotropolis’ are nearby for a counteroffensive.

  Early morning, Daygun arrives at the gates of Halotropolis. Warriors cheer as he enters. The new Atlantean Emperor jumps off his giant elk and tells a servant to ask Kaydence to meet him in the Military Hall alone. The servant rushes off to deliver the message. On the way to meet his wife, Daygun answers questions about the counteroffensive to his generals.

  Waiting for her husband in the Military Hall, Kaydence is fully dressed in armor, ready to lead and fight. When Daygun sees her at a distance, tears almost come to his eyes. He is so proud of his wife. She can fight like a man, but comforts him like the best of all Atlantean women.

  Kaydence embraces Daygun and says, “I am ready to die with my husband right here in the City of God.”

  Daygun shakes his head and replies, “Atlantis cannot take the chance of losing us both. I must lead this fight. If I die protecting my empire, you will be in charge of what’s left of our government.”

  Kaydence says, “If I flee, I will be betraying my oath as a warrior.”

  Daygun replies, “No… One of us has to leave to preserve our way of life. Halotropolis needs their emperor to lead this fight. The city will be destroyed, but we must cripple the enemy and try to end this war peacefully.”

  Kaydence looks down and says, “I understand. You are the Atlantean Emperor, and I will do what you say. Who will take my place?”

  Daygun says, “Quentoris is riding from the Great West Wall. He will defend the city to the death. Even though he is a friend, I have to put him in harm’s way.”

  Quentoris enters the city later in the afternoon, and starts preparing the Halotropolian Army for battle. As Daygun and Kaydence depart, the enemy begins marching toward the Holy City.

  Daygun hears the bells, and tells Kaydence to leave the city. She refuses, saying fearlessly, “I will not leave our people here. I cannot go against my oath as a warrior.”

  Daygun responds cajolingly, “My brother told me you were the most stubborn woman in the world. He was right, and this is the reason I married you.”

  They smile at one another and prepare for what is to come. Kaydence would rather die here than retreat. She takes her position on the wall; Daygun reluctantly rushes to the Halotropolian gate, mounting his giant elk to join his cavalry hidden in the mountains. On his way out of the City of God, thousands of people cheer as their new emperor leaves to lead the counteroffensive.

  Quentoris, Kaydence, and King Haylos are each in charge of different areas the city; they will give orders when the time is right to put their artillery in full-attack mode. Halotropolis will use their artillery to kill as many men as possible before the enemy can gain control. Over six-hundred-thousand Atlantean warriors and civilians will fight for their beliefs.

  Ten miles before the enemy reaches the City of God, the Continental Alliance splits up. The Mantineian and Kyrenian Empires march toward Masaba; the Sabathean and Ladoneans will stay and attack Halotropolis. This will leave six-million warriors to attack the City of God. Ryeland is dividing his armies so Atlantis will have two fronts. Because Masaba will be bogged down, Atlanteans will be unable to counter with the Masabaian Army.

  The Continental Alliance arrives at the City of God. Halotropolis is surrounded in hours. There will be no escape. Ryeland discusses his objective with Tito and Acteon. He says, “I have to destroy my own people for them to survive. The world will be completely different in future generations. I have to wonder, what are we doing for mankind, for this present generation?”

  Tito replies, “Man will regress without Atlantis and advance in the future. Mankind will continuously destroy itself to the end of time.”

  Ryeland is here to conduct the campaign. He does not like what is going on, but has to do the unthinkable. Because of his father, Ryeland cannot take Masaba. The Continental Alliance understands, and says nothing. Nextear takes charge to keep Masaba from countering. The new Ladonean Supreme Commander does not respect his father, but does not want his father dead either. Ryeland will not use his sword to slay his own family, and he asks Nextear to take them captive if possible.

  Internally, Ryeland is conflicted. He did not fully understand the ramifications of his actions and oaths while he was in Ladonea, and is starting to regret those decisions. He has good intentions for the survival of his people, trying to save what might remain of his homeland after the invasion. What he is trying to accomplish is a gamble, but Ryeland wants to be considered a hero of Atlantis, not as a destroyer.

  If the Atlanteans win this war, Ryeland’s legacy will be that of a traitor. He does not know the final outcome of this war, but feels that the odds are against Atlantis.

  The battle begins, and the enemy rushes the City of God. This is the most important city of the Atlantean religion. Halotropolian artillery and arrows fly over their walls. The Atlantean infantry is outside their gates, defending their kingdom, and the cavalry that stayed behind charges the infiltrators outside the city’s walls. The Continental Alliance’s beasts confront the Halotropolian cavalry, outnumbering the Atlanteans twelve to one. Quentoris’ artillery discharges a barrage of suppressing fire to help protect their mobile forces outside the city, but it is not enough. The City of God’s cavalry is severely beaten, but draws the Ladoneans closer to the walls. The Atlanteans fire artillery at the enemy beasts, putting a large dent in the mammoth formations. The Halotropolian cavalry retreats back through their gates, having suffered heavy losses. Within an hour, one-third of the Halotropolian cavalry is destroyed, while only a fraction of the enemy’s cavalry is lost.

  After regrouping, the Ladoneans bring out their weapons which took out the Great East Wall. The tightuses are rolling toward the Holy City in great numbers. The Atlanteans concentrate all their artillery toward the enormous war machines. Over one-hundred-forty tightuses were produced for this campaign, and assembled inside the Atlantean Empire.

  Ryeland decides to use all tightuses and attack only one side of Halotropolis. Tito is in charge of the frontal assault against the City of God. Over seventy siege towers are lined up in formation with seventy more waiting to fill the voids.

  Ryeland gives the order, and the tightuses move full speed toward the Halotropolian wall. The majority of the Atlantean infantry rushes to the side of the main assault. Ryeland counters and charges with his cavalry on the opposite side of the city, catching the Atlanteans off-guard. Ryeland’s military strategies are working; he knows the weaknesses and strengths of the Atlanteans and understands how to counter the moves of his former generals. At nightfall, both sides stand down to regroup for the next day. The Ladoneans have won this battle, and the Atlanteans are licking their wounds.

  In the meantime, Daygun will wait until the enemy thinks they can take the city completely; then he will attack. The Atlantean Emperor will bide his time until the enemy’s ego is at its highest.

  Two hours past nightfall, Daygun’s cavalry captures two Ladonean scouts who betray Ryeland’s location. They know the exact whereabouts of the traitor, and see the possibility of removing him from battle. Daygun gathers his generals inside his tent and says, “Ryeland is twelve miles from here. We will circ
le around and take him out. The terrain will hide our massive cavalry. He knows the strengths and weaknesses of our empire. Send me a messenger.”

  A general responds, “The generals of Halotropolis are waiting for our counteroffensive.”

  A messenger enters and Daygun says, “Go through the underground waterway into Halotropolis. It will take you all night to reach the City of God. Tell them we will attack Ryeland’s army and they must create a diversion throughout the day.”

  At sunrise, Daygun has no choice but to kill Ryeland, ordering the Atlantean cavalry to prepare to find the traitor. The bells sound from Halotropolis, telling that the Atlantean messenger made it through the waterway

  A Halotropolian division is ordered to begin a major infantry offensive outside the wall to create a distraction for Daygun. As the new Emperor anticipates, the enemy attacks the Atlantean diversionary force. However, the tightuses reach the Atlantean wall as the Holy City is starting to crumble. The Atlantean infantry is holding the enemy back at the moment, but it is only a matter of time before the city is taken. Kaydence fights among her men outside the city.

  Daygun is not certain of Ryeland’s exact location, but rides forward hoping to find him. The new Atlantean Emperor surprises the enemy on the outer edges of the massive Ladonean Army. The Atlanteans know their lands and how to hide behind hills and mountains without being detected.

  Daygun attacks with full force. In the middle of the battle, the Atlanteans take prisoners and interrogate them until they learn where Ryeland is camped. The Atlanteans secure some information and go forward.

  The Ladonean elite infantry rushes toward Ryeland. The enemy knows Daygun is hastening after the Ladonean Supreme Commander. The Atlantean horse cavalry protects their infantrymen who jumped from the heavy cavalry, and their giant-rhino cavalry plows through Ladonean formations. Thousands of Atlantean horsemen rush and pull back, allowing the infantry do their job. The Atlanteans kill at a rate of twenty to one, riding deeper into the Ladonean Army.

  In the middle of the fight, the Atlanteans locate Ryeland’s flag. The traitor is atop a hill overlooking the battlefield, and the Atlanteans rush toward his camp. Ryeland does not retreat; he feels he is right and Daygun must die for his idea to save Atlantis. The new Atlantean Emperor believes Ryeland helped kill his father by attacking the Great East Wall. If the Ladonean Supreme Commander does not stand his ground against Daygun, he will be known as a coward within his new army.

  Ryeland sprints to the battlefront without fear; he believes in his cause and stands by his decision. Three divisions of the Ladonean elite come to Ryeland’s aid. The enemy takes some ground and punches a hole into Daygun’s offensive. The Atlanteans have no choice but to fall back.

  Daygun orders his men to regroup. Atlantean mammoths and giant rhinos charge forward, plowing through the enemy lines. The Atlantean light cavalry is right behind Daygun’s main thrust and breaks through. Ryeland tries to reorganizes his infantry, but the Atlantean cavalry is too strong. Daygun catches Ryeland’s men off-guard. The Atlantean Emperor can see where the enemy lines are trying to be reinforced and charges to again break those formations.

  In the middle of the battle, Daygun and Ryeland see each other. Daygun is furious. In the heat of battle, he blames the Ladonean Supreme Commander for his father’s and brother’s deaths. Daygun desires nothing more than to kill his former best friend. At this point, Ryeland is surrounded by Atlanteans, and cannot retreat to the safety of his army.

  Daygun dismounts his mammoth and approaches Ryeland. The Atlantean Emperor feels betrayed; he cannot believe that his best friend would do something of this magnitude. All Ladoneans inside the Atlantean perimeter are losing their lives. More Ladoneans rush to fight the Atlanteans, but Daygun’s offensive has the advantage of terrain, and the enemy is repelled. The Continental Alliance cavalry is on the front lines, attacking Halotropolis.

  Daygun approaches Ryeland, as the Ladonean Supreme Commander also nears. In the background, Ryeland’s men are starting to gain ground. The Atlantean Emperor understands he has a small window of opportunity to fight without interruption.

  The bells ring from Halotropolis, informing the new Atlantean Emperor that a wall is being compromised. Daygun is six miles from the city and seven miles from the breach. His window of opportunity is shrinking. He must return to Halotropolis, but Ryeland must first be destroyed. Everyone around the new Atlantean Emperor gives him room to fight the traitor. The Atlantean mammoths are holding the Ladonean infantry at a standstill at Ryeland’s camp; no one would dare intercede in this fight.

  Daygun and Ryeland meet with their swords drawn. Ryeland strikes first. They parry blows. With no time to waste, the Atlantean Emperor is very aggressive. During the attack, the Ladonean Supreme Commander counters every move. One minute into the fight, Daygun opens himself up to Ryeland, giving the opportunity of a fast victory, but the maneuver catches the traitor off-guard. Daygun capitalizes on Ryeland’s mistake and slices him in the upper back. It is not a fatal wound, but disables the Atlantean traitor. The Ladonean Supreme Commander falls to his knees, covered in blood. The Atlantean Emperor stabs Ryeland in the back, just as the Atlantean traitor did to his own people.

  Ryeland falls and says, “I’m sorry it came to this, Daygun. I am not what you think. In the afterlife, you will see me as a brother again, and God will let you see my true heart toward our civilization.”

  Daygun replies, “I have lost a father and a brother. Now, I have had to kill my best friend. I still love you as a brother. I will see you in the afterlife and we will talk. I need to understand. Be ready for me, and I will hug you as a brother in the afterlife.”

  Ryeland grabs Daygun’s arm, then dies at his feet. Every Atlantean warrior cheers for their emperor. The whole Ladonean Army is stunned by Ryeland’s downfall. Acteon, distracted by witnessing his Commander’s death, loses focus and is killed by an Atlantean arrow. The Ladoneans back off from trying to rescue their dead Supreme Commander. The enemy knows they are defeated. The Atlanteans have cavalry, archers, terrain, and surprise on their side, but Daygun cannot go forward without high casualties.

  Daygun orders a full retreat and regroup to hopefully assist Halotropolis. The Atlantean cavalry has lost very little in this battle and conquered their main objective; their infantry lost seven-thousand out of sixteen-thousand men. Now, the Atlantean cavalry is worrying about the City of God. Daygun is thinking of Kaydence, wanting to take her out of the city.