It seemed to Ashton as they rode north to Central that Gatal’s previous words of imminent death and annihilation if they delayed was actually a clever ruse to commit Drake into following him. Surely, Gatal had kept his promise and they had secured the horses easily and were now speeding towards Central, but looking around, Ashton did not feel the wraiths of the enemy closing in around them as Gatal had foretold. The road they traveled on at the moment led straight north to Central, and it was quiet and deserted. Not even allied soldiers traversed the land, much less the feet of the enemy. But then, Ashton had to remind himself, not meeting the enemy was a good thing.
The squad members, filled with energy from Gatal and Horace and also the spirit of Kami, rode quickly as if their presence alone would save the kingdom of Kami from destruction. None of them spoke, bent on reaching the battle as if that served as the only purpose for their existence. Drake was behind with Gatal and Horace and he spoke aloud what Ashton was feeling.
“Where are these armies of the enemy, Gatal?” Drake asked hotly. He was clearly exhausted but his anger gave him strength, “Where they not supposed to be sweeping in from behind us already?”
Gatal grunted back, uncomfortable on the horse and similarly tired, “My fear wasn’t that the enemy was coming directly for our position, it was that they would cut off the gate to the city from us. What could we do but die when our only entrance to the city is closed?” Drake didn’t respond and Gatal continued, “Take this time to curse your fate if you want to. I’m not letting you out of my sight again.” Drake looked at Gatal as if to murder him with his eyes, but Gatal rolled his eyes back at him. “Come now! It will not be as bad as you think it might be. For all intents and purposes, it will be an improvement on your current life in every way imaginable. I don’t understand your vehement reaction to it, no doubt a grudge of some kind. Doesn’t matter now, though…”
Ashton wondered what it might look like for them if they survived this. What position would Drake have? How long does the deal last? Where would it leave Ashton and the others? All these questions orbited the big one Ashton was feeling, would Ashton ever make it make back to his home? The questions seemed important, but considering the dire situation they were in now, Ashton could not bring up much concern for then. What mattered if they were all going to die today? He prayed to whatever god would listen to him that they would make it out okay.
From Fort Newhouse, the group had been following a main road that connected Central and many of the outlying forts. I was called Soul Road, named after the man who had created it twenty years ago in order to better transport his troops around the frontline. It diverted off to many different paths that led to other places, but Drake and his group kept steady, continuing north and believing that they would make it to Central in time.
They had stopped twice very briefly to give the horses some water and brief rest, but Gatal had little patience for that. His agitation only increased the closer they got Central too, so much so that Ashton thought he might burst if they ever made it there.
The rolling hills they passed reminded Ashton strangely of the wilderness travels, just endless hills and grass with sparse trees around. Where were Kami’s armies? Was the Frontline so large and the troops so concentrated that they hardly ever met? The road they were on was cut straight and true and they passed through the lands and hills quickly. Within hours, they had come up to the last checkpoint along the Soul road. It was still manned and seemingly undisturbed.
The group slowed to stop and Ashton looked up and saw a new soldier come out of the guard station and stand before them. He was clad proudly in regalia and armor with a bright red cloak. He kept his hand on his sword by his side, and his face was hard, but when he spoke, it was with gentleness. He said to them, “I am Marshal Hiriar, guardian of the last checkpoint. Have you come from the southern lands?”
Gatal answered for them. “I am Lord Magician Gatal, do not impede our journey, for we are headed towards the battlefield.”
The man bowed low and stepped aside to let the group pass. He said to them as they continued by, “The battle needs all the help it can get…”
After they passed the guard station, Ashton looked back at the man, his face filled with longing and sorrow. Ashton asked Gatal, “Will that man stay there, even when the enemy is so close by?”
Gatal answered back, “The soldiers of the checkpoint have sworn oaths to guard the way. Only an order from their commander can relieve them. And since the network is down, no order will be given to him. He probably wishes he could join the battle, but his pride won’t let him leave.”
Ashton looked forward again and when they passed the last hill he gasped slightly at the sight as all of central laid out before them. Gatal chuckled cynically and said, “What, don’t you remember what Central looks like? Did you not pass through it on your way to your station along the edge?”
“It was night then,” Ashton replied. “And I had other things on my mind.”
“Then look closely now, I doubt there will be another chance after today!”
From on top of the small hill the just ascended, all of Central was stretched out before them. In the center of the land stood the giant hill that harbored the executive captain Soul and the rest of the Frontline’s administration. It still looked strong and formidable with its walls and fortifications that offered additional protection to the headquarters. Way off in the distance, setting the backdrop to the play and taller and more impressive than ever before, stood the walls of The Endless City and the Southern Gate that gave Kami’s soldier’s access to the Frontline. So great and vast was the wall in its sheer force of intimidation that Ashton could not help but feel that the events happening at its lowly feet were meaninglessly insignificant, like a single tiny anthill at the roots of an ancient oak tree.
From the city flowed Holding River, it ran in across the western side of Central before turning again into the forest beyond it. It was from the river that the sounds and sights of battle where emanating from, for on the river stood three forts, each fighting fiercely to hold their own against the opposing enemy on the other side of the river. The large armies on both sides of the river clashed against each other in a seemingly slow revolution of men and weapons of war. Despite Gatal’s premonition of disaster, it looks like the three forts were holding their own, for now. Off to their left, Central Fortress stood proudly, defying the invading armies with its high standards.
“Praise be to Kami!” Vanyor said, raising his spear and shaking it above his head. “At least we have made it in time! It looks like we will yet be able to participate in the fight!”
“Let’s keep moving!” Michael cried out. She had withdrawn he spear too as if she would join in the fight right there. He charged her horse forward again, but the river was still miles away.
Ashton did not have the heart that Vanyor and Michael had. He felt that what they were seeing was rather the last feeble struggle of a field mouse as it got crushed by the coils of a constrictor snake. The sounds of battle could be heard from the river whenever the wind blasted them. It chilled Ashton.
Shouting battle cries loudly, the rest of men chased off after Michael, already tasting the blood of their lips. Staying behind slightly, Ashton asked Gatal, “What now, Priest? We do not want to enter the fight; it seems the straightest way is to head off road directly to central, rather than following the road to the three forts along the river.”
Gatal answered back, “Looks are deceiving, it will actually be faster to travel the roads than going across the fields.” Gatal pulled the reins on his horse and looked out again. “I need to get to Executive-Captain Soul, and figure out what is going on. My first objective is to get the network back up for now. Drake!” he called out behind him. Drake raised his head wearily. “you will come with me as promised! I do not have any time for my plans for you right now, but I am not letting you out of my reach anytime soon, got it?”
Drake nodded, regretting his promise already but too exhausted to argue. “What about my men?” Drake asked, moving forward with Gatal.
Gatal waved it off, “I couldn’t care less, but if you want to keep them alive, don’t let them stay in the forts. This battle could turn against us very fast! I still believe that at this point we should retreat to the city. The overwhelming power of the enemy may be gone at the moment, but I am sure it is still there. I will counsel Soul to prepare to retreat! Just have them wait for the signal and evacuate with everybody else as well.”
Drake shook his head at Gatal’s words, and Ashton thought to himself, “So there is no real promise of a retreat after all.” The Great Lantern was hot behind him and was making him sweat in his cloak. Horace was with him still, and the four moved without hurry down into Central.
“Still,” Gatal said moving his horse forward again. “If you don’t stop your men now, they will rush into battle before you can tear them away!” He laughed cruelly and rode away as well, Horace close behind him.
Drake cursed loudly, and he and Ashton galloped forward as well. The men were already hundreds of yards away and not looking to slow down anytime soon.
“Those fools!” Drake shouted. “They’ll make it to the fort before we can get to them!” Ashton agreed silently.
Suddenly, a loud sound rolled over Central, freezing everybody and halting even the proud warriors of Kami in their places. It was a thunderous loud braying of horns, overcoming the din of battle, the feet of soldiers, and the hearts of the people. It repeated itself over and the soldiers of Kami felt a dread come over them as the sound was coming from the enemy, but they knew not what it meant. Ashton’s skin crawled and his anxieties screamed. Surely, it was a death note of the enemy! After the blasts ended, Drake felt a heavy silence fall over the land as everybody, from Central to the three forts on the river held their breath for what could come next. Hope wavered.
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Fighting a strong sense of panic, Ashton spurred his horse forward down the road to catch up with the men who stood still, looking over towards the enemy. In his mind, he heard an alarm screaming at him to run away, to hide from the terrible foe the horns sure had summoned. He needed to get the men and retreat towards the mammoth walls. He yelled at them, but they didn’t appear to hear him, and they were still far away. Ashton looked over at the enemy and saw strong movement.
But the movement was away from them, not towards! Ashton looked on in disbelief as the enemy started to withdraw from the river. Slowly, the long columns of the enemy turned and moved away, away from the battle line. It was a signal for retreat! Without so much of a cry of protest, anger, or taunts, the enemy silently packed away their towers, rams, and other gears of war and then, turning their backs towards the stunned defenders, they marched away from the river and the forts.
The defending soldiers were in shock at the sudden turn of events. There was a long pause and hush along the river and three defending forts. Nobody thought to chase after the enemy, no pursuit was given. After a few heart beats of disbelief, another noise could be heard traveling across the plains, clearer and far different from the noise of the enemy. It was a cheer, a long and loud cheer. All along the river and on the hill, all those who had witnessed the events were yelling and screaming and praising Kami for the success of the defense on the river. The sound was deep that even Ashton could not help but be moved by the noise of pure celebration and joy of victory.
The group had stopped as well at the sound of the first trumpets, and now they were laughing and celebrating among themselves. They looked upon each other in wonder and excitement, as if the salvation of Kami had already come upon them. Ashton could not help but laugh with them, so relieved at his false premonition.
Catching up to them, Ashton heard Gatal speaking to himself. Clearly, he was not impressed by the unexpected retreat. “Why are they retreating? What new horrors are coming our way now?”
Other than Gatal’s chilling words, the only dismay around was from the Drake’s men who regretted their chance to play a part in the victory that day.
As Drake pulled up, Ashton turned to him and asked, “What are the plans now?”
Drake paused, listening to the celebration from the forts. He said slowly, “Sounds like there is rest and food down at the forts. I feel like I could use some. Let the plans come later.”
Ashton agreed. He felt alive again, somehow, like the joy than emanated from the valley had given him energy like Gatal had given him early this morning.
Drake looked over at Gatal and called out, “Cheer up priest! Despite your words of doom, it doesn’t look like Central will fall today.” Gatal glared up at him and didn’t respond.
The road they were on ran through two of the forts before it turned back towards Central, but they were no longer in a hurry to reach there. When they arrived at the first fort, the soldiers were still celebrating and laughing and congratulating each other on their successful defense of the fort. The soldiers praised Kami for his faithfulness, and said again that the day of Kami’s salvation was near.
The extra stores of rations had been dug out per the fort Captain’s orders and the men ate and drank in celebration. Drake and his group were not questioned when they arrived, but upon notice of their greyhood uniforms, they were quickly invited to join in the celebration. They did so gladly and cared no longer about reaching Central so soon.
The celebration lasted an hour and after eating, Drake rested gratefully outside the forts walls upon the cool grass. He tried not to think, but rather let the blissful atmosphere wash over him. Ashton had soon joined him and brought some more causal refreshments. They passed the time together wondering that such a happy ending could come to them. As another hour went by, Gatal approached Ashton. He had celebrated with them too, but his happiness faded much quicker than theirs. He said to stubbornly, “We need to get going again.”
“What is the rush this time, oh, Worried One?” Drake asked sarcastically, not opening his eyes. Not even the festive mood could dissipate the resentment he felt for the old magician. Ashton was playing a merry tune on his flute and the random men around them were performing an impromptu dance to it. “We should stay here a while. We have been moving nonstop for two days, the men deserve some rest. I deserve some rest. The enemy is not so pressing as you would have had us believe, aye?”
Gatal snarled back, breaking the happy atmosphere that had surrounded them, “Have you forgotten already your predicament? This little victory does wonders for morale, but in the end it has changed very little. The war is not won yet, not by a long shot. They will be back, and soon with greater and more terrible strength. Hasn’t that been proven to you over and over again? My task remains the same, I need to convince Soul to order a retreat. Your promise remains the same as well, you are coming with me to be my student!”
Drake eyed Gatal darkly, and then said, “A promise I regret making. Was there any valid reason to our mad rush to get here, now?”
“Silence, fool!” Gatal snapped back. “Nothing has changed within the last few months here, much less the last two days. It has always been my purpose to keep you. Now come, I have found placement for your pitiful men, too.”
Glaring as Gatal, Drake stood up and stretched, then singled Horace who was nearby, enjoying the dancing spectacle. “Horace! Please gather the men for me; we will be leaving for Central shortly.”
Horace shot Drake a look as if he could not believe he was getting ordered around. Still, he slowly left to do Drake’s bidding. Drake looked back towards the city and Ashton wondered what was going through his head. He asked Gatal, “You said you found a place for us?”
“Yes,” Gatal responded roughly. “I have talked with this Fort’s Captain; he has said that reorganization of troops from the outer legions is taking place within central. Once there, I will be able to get them into a favorable unit, as Drake desires. With any luck, that won’t matter and the whole frontline will withdraw into the city before the enemy attacks again.”
The group was gathered up and regretfully, they started their way over to central. Leaving the fort and the soldiers there, Ashton felt something he had not felt in awhile, a great feeling of belonging with the military. Out on the edges with Lieutenant Dravis, he was part of a discriminated group of soldiers pushed away from the main body. But here, at least today, nobody made those distinctions. Leaving the fort along the road, Ashton wondered what his position would be again. Was Gatal going to take Drake away? It seemed like it. Drake had promised him that he would take him back to his home village when he could. Would Drake remember such a promise after Gatal was through with him? Somehow, Ashton felt less certain about his future than ever before. Back then, Drake had always been with him, but now he was going to get taken away. Ashton felt his gut contact.
The road they were on was paved and smooth and there was plenty of traffic now. Order and restructuring of the troops damage assessments were under way. Already, Central seemed to be preparing for the next assault.
Ashton’s musing was interrupted when Vanyor asked him, “Hey, do you see that enemy group over there? What are they doing?”
Ashton turned and looked to where the man was pointing toward. Across the river and advancing upon the second fort was a small group of enemy soldiers. Ashton might have mistaken them for allied reconnaissance or something, but for the standard that they supported proudly. It was the normal banner of the enemy, a bright red backdrop with black designs on it that Ashton didn’t understand. But this standard had extra flurry to it, as if it was special. The enemy group was small, only about twenty soldiers. Ashton doubted the second fort had even seen it yet.
What was most striking about the group was not that it was walking calmly into no man’s land, approaching the armies of Kami, it was the man who led it. He was still too far away to see clearly, but he seemed to draw the eye, like he was out of place, even on this battlefield. Perhaps it was the bright silver sword the man carried openly in his hand, which flashed and glittered in the light so clearly.
The group marched casually across the war-torn ground, ignoring the carnage scattered about and the hulking ruins of siege equipment. They could be seen stepping over the dead bodies that littered the ground, the assorted broken weapons and wagons. The sight was so absurd to Ashton that he stopped in his tracks to stare at it. Why would a small group of twenty advance upon them, when the entire force of the enemy had been pushed back only a couple hours earlier? Perhaps they were looking for something.
Ashton drew Gatal’s attention to the group. “What do you make of it?” He asked. Gatal stopped as well and scrutinized it. The whole group turned at the commotion as well, watching in interest. The enemy stepped just out of range of the fort’s arrows and halted. It had the fort’s attention now and cries of challenge rose from it. A few vain arrows flew out towards them, but did not reach. The leader of the small enemy squad looked up at the fort and then turned back and said something to his group. They bowed slightly and retreated slowly, keeping their fronts facing the man and their heads low in reverence.
Ashton heard Horace mutter under his breath, “What are they doing?” The lone enmey man turned and seemed to size up the massive fort in front of him, as if contemplating a blank canvas as an artist, swinging his sword idly in his hand.
Suddenly, Gatal stood up straight, his face contorted in the worst horror imaginable. Frightened, Ashton asked cautiously, “Gatal?”
Gatal whispered terribly, “Impossible!” He paused for a moment and stared into Ashton’s face. He shouted suddenly, “SOUL!” In a flash, the priest disappeared leaving his startled horse behind.
Ashton and Drake flinched at the sudden disappearance and Drake yelled, “Gatal!? What the Hell?!” But he priest was gone. Ashton looked back quickly to the enemy.
The man was still eyeing the fort, and swinging his sword around carelessly, as if it was a simple toy in his hands. From the fort issued out a mounted battalion to take him out, and they were presently crossing the ford in the river. Then they turned and charged the man, their swords drawn and their war cry ringing.
Despite the overwhelming advantage that Kami’s forces had, Ashton felt his heart pounding in anticipation. He heard Heath yell out next to him eagerly, “Cut down that unholy creature!”
When the horses were nearly upon him, the soldier with the silver sword turned at stepped slightly back, taking a stance. When the horsemen were only yards away from him, their battle cries echoing across the plains, the man stepped forward and slashed at the lead rider. A great light exploded from the scene, blinding Ashton. When he looked back, the horsemen were gone, only partial remains of horses and men were left, charred and smoking. There was a large new crater, as if a meteor had fallen from the heavens. A second later, the sound of an explosion reached Ashton’s ears along with a hot breath of wind to his face. The battalion had simply been blasted away.
A dead silence engulfed the valley after seeing the sudden destruction of a mounted battalion by one lone figure. Then cries came out from the fort and the man suddenly leapt forward across the river in a single astonishing bound and slashed upwards on the front wall of the fort. The whole thing exploded as if a large bomb had been detonated under it. Pieces of stone, molder, and dead men rained down across the territory.
Ashton suddenly knew why Gatal had panicked, indeed he felt himself fighting panic as well. Now he understood why the enemy retreated, where the army had failed, a vessel of the enemy god had come forth to destroy them all.