Chapter 16

Standing on top the hill that housed Sir Adams command center he over looked the plains where hundreds of troops were making their way. Behind him was the town that must not be lost and in front a base hidden in the tree line, men streamed from the trees, a number that more than doubled what he was able to bring. Since this was well known due to the Phantom squad Lord Jake had formed what they brought was known. Six hundred and fifty infantry, two hundred archers, and one hundred and fifty riders. All of these men were luckily different then the small core of troops that had been training for months for both personal skills and group teamwork Sir Adam had brought from the Keep. Even with only being a group of fifty they clearly stood out with their complete armor set and new weapons.

My Lord Jake I truly hope your other new troops will overcome such a difference that I now face before me

Sir Adam believed in Jake but the dozen War chariots as they were named were untested until now. He had been given orders about how they should come to the battlefield and that information was just relayed to the rest of the army. If each group did not do what they were supposed to Sir Adams would be killing off his own army. His second in command Michael was commanding the entire Calvary force of one hundred, there position was only to the left flank of their forces. Two hundred infantry made up the defenders with one hundred archers behind.  The elites were positioned on the exposed right side with long spears in addition to their usual weapons.

Hills surrounded the two armies leaving this valley the largest space before any the town or villages. When the horns sounded from across the open land from the camp of Kings it made its way easily to Sir Adam ears. There forces were nearly ready with lines being formed and yet two armies could be seen with a gap between them. Not sure yet if this information would be useful later he got on his horse and led the final people besides for some scouts to the battlefield.

“Do you remember what you are supposed to do Dominic?”

“Yes King Francisco”

“And what is that”

“Nothing”

“That is right, I will be the supreme commander of this army and you will do nothing. You are only here because your father died and your even less of a man then he was. Remember your place, it’s the only one you’re allowed to be in”

Dominic followed behind Francisco as they exited the tree line to see the army lead by Sir Adam already in place. Francisco laughed as soon as he say the army then right after the rest of the men he brought along. Dominic and his men on the other hand shifted uneasily as they were unsure about what was so funny.

“Don’t tell me you can’t tell what that man is trying to do?”

“I do not”

Now those who were laughing shifted their focus to Dominic which caused all of his men to yell back.

“Enough everyone I will explain for those who are a bit slower. Adams plan since he knows only something drastic will save him is to throwing all the horses he has onto one spot in the hope to killing me but I will go to him with all of my horses. Stand here and do nothing, that way you can’t screw anything up. You blow the horn its past time we wrap this up”

The man next to Francisco’s horse went to the edge of the hill they were on top of just in front of the line of tress and blew the horn he had in his hand. A deep, long sound came from it and at once a thousand men began their march. All The men were separated into blocks of fifty and each one was commanded by a captain loyal to Francisco. Those with some connection to his home could be clearly seen with extra armor and similar brown outfits.

Pulling out his sword Francisco charged away from Dominic position leaving only a single man whose job he was told earlier was to “keep watch” over him.

Don’t even want to be here but I feel worse for the men I brought

The event that brought him to this point was his father death, the oldest of the three Kings it had come as no surprise when it happened. Fearing that once he had become head of the family the other two southern kings would attack him he had made all the blacksmiths prepare new weapons along with other good needed. That time of conflict never came due to the fact that the new Lord by the name of Jake had defeated the King who had attacked him along with allying himself with another. With this new powerful Lord both of the other Kings came to him with the idea of taking Jakes lands instead of his own and now here they all were.

Sir Adam Drew his sword and motioned for the men next to him to raise their flags, this was how it was decided how he would command the army instead of runners since every rider was needed with Michael. In response to his commands a flag was raised with the riders and in front of the army swiftly moving forward in an arrowhead formation with their spears level and the archers starting to fire.

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Before the first volleys landed Michael and Francisco with their riders crashed into each other, instantly people died with other breaking bones falling to the ground. Even with being less in number due to previous battles and training more of Francisco’s men died. Distant screams could be heard even from where Sir Adam was and the gap between the two armies was closing rapidly. With time running out Sir Adam had the rider’s flag raised telling them it was time ot break off the attack.

Michael was not able to see the flag until his men surround him allow for an eye to form inside the battle.

“I see the flag it seems we have ran out of time sooner than expected. Follow me and let us bring an end to those who wish to see our loved ones dead!”

Grabbing the signal flag from the man next to him Michael held it in his left hand and his sword in his right, raising them into the sky once he got out and rode across the ever shrinking area between the two armies. He did not look behind to see but knew his men were following with Francisco’s intertwining between them. It became a race to see if they could get to the other side before the open area completely disappeared. On each side there was already combined dozens of bodies with arrows sticking out of them making the green grass around them red.

Only just clearing the armies Michael quickly turned around to see the fruits of his men labors: He could see nothing of what was happening due to a dust cloud that had formed. Each of his riders had bags on either side that once cut would create a cloud if enough was released at once with enough speed and it had been. He waved the flag in his hand in the direction of Sir Adam who in turned had a flag raised to his man on the hill of the command center to his left. Now they had to simply hold on long enough hopefully.

A loud crash of screams and bodies was heard that also meant the closing of the passage where he had just come from. His men went behind him and Francesco was directly just like before with just less than before but instead a half circle of infantry supported them. Michael looked behind to see that core trained group supporting him and stabbed the signal flag into the ground.

“Clever trick I will admit but we still out number you so I, as a truly kind King offer you this: die knowing this was always going to happen”

“Your right King Francisco it was”

 Both sides yelled and charged and this time both knew there would be no running until a victor was decided.

Watching ahead of him proved to be useless with the cloud of dust that had formed but there was no way the advantage yet was with Sir Adams army. Looking to his right he saw Michael raise the signal and quickly his flag holders do the same for the man on top of the hill so that his final forces would come out. Riding to the hill to get a better view it did not take long for the Dozen War Chariots to make their appearance, each had two horses and on each wheel spikes the would carve into anything. With the front lines starting to buckle at the center Sir Adam had all the archers switch to point blank fire when a crack in the front lines appeared.

All the dust made it impossible to see when the War Chariots made contact but it could be heard, suddenly scream could be heard coming from beyond the front lines. The sound making its way left to right. While that sound traveled what was left moans and an overall quieter area, the dust cloud soon gave way but at that point it did not matter. The ranks of Francisco’s army were breaking apart. With his own army quite damaged he gave the signal to stay where they were and made his way over to where Michael and the remaining riders were.

“Michael you have done good work”

“It came at quite the cost, half of my riders are dead and every one of us had been cut in some way”

“But we held that is what’s important. Have those who are still in good condition help carry the wounded to a safer place”

Sir Adam moved his horse close to Michael and put his hand on his shoulder. Michael pulled his helmet off and nodded. All around them were bodies of both sides, the day had been a costly one but it was now over. Tomorrow Francisco would be ready for an attack from War Chariots or at least have some defense. They now had only slightly more infantry then archers which meant they only had one more day of battle left in them.

If I don’t find another point It won’t matter if Lord Jake hold the Keep, the people will be lost