The glorious, golden army marched proudly into the forest. Rank upon rank of the proud soldiers flooded the northern trails. Their pace was quick and spirits high as they sang.

Oh we the knightly guard of might,

Bring to thee our golden light.

Bring justice upon our foes,

Guard us from their deathly throes.

Shine forth oh guard of our Queen,

Until we rest in grasses green.

Glinting armor hold me fast,

Guards me from my enemies vast.

Shining steel, sharp in my hand,

Give me power to please the land.

Shine forth oh guard of our King,

May our justice forever ring.

Wyatt had a wide grin on his face as he moved in line with his brothers and sisters. Their golden armor shone with a brilliance that gladdened his heart. He had never felt better to be a part of the gran, royal army.

The troops continued to march peacefully through the dense and ancient forest. No one opposed them as they moved ever closer to the White Mountains that stood tall with their jagged peaks in the distance

***

A tall woman decorated in gold armor, that was far more extravagant than the others, stepped forward. She rested her left hand on her sword as she surveyed the troops. Her right held the reigns of her horse which was armored as extensively as her. Bright gems shimmered on their golden plating as she surveyed her troops.

"My brothers and sisters, we have come here to the foothills of the White Mountains for justice. Justice for our fallen dead, justice for the homes burnt, and justice for the wealth taken from our hands. In these foothills,” her voice boomed as she pointed back to the white peaks, “the northfolk plot their next raids and killings. They will not stop. Today we are here to say no more. We march to bring them our judgement."

"Yeah!" the crowd erupted with a single, united cheer.

“In honor of their valor in our previous campaign against the Northfolk, I have chosen the fourth infantry battalion to join our scouts division in leading the army north. I will personally join them to be the tip of the spear to snuff out these enemies of our crown.”

Ivy excitedly punched Wyatt in the arm, “Can you believe it? We are leading the army!”

Pride surged through Wyatt as they formed up under Captain Ford, the leader of their battalion.

“Listen up,” the grizzled veteran growled. “Keep tight and your head on a swivel. Most of you have only faced these villains in our territory. Well, this is their land. Do no underestimate them. They will try to trick and trap you to throw us off mission. Do not let them.”

“Yes, general,” a unified shout rang as a gold-armored horse approached them.

“Onward, with me!” the tall woman shouted.

***

"I did not know the march would be so difficult," Wyatt panted as they climbed the stone-covered path. It seemed to stretch on forever upward into the rocky ridges ahead.

"You do realize that we are headed to the White Mountains," Ivy rolled her eyes.

“What, can't keep up?" A voice jeered from in front of them.

"Quiet Daniel," Ivy and Wyatt said in unison.

"The three of you, keep it down," the rough voice of Captain Ford hissed. "These northfolk can hear like a fox and are deadly in their own territory. It is my task that you lot don't get yourselves or anyone else in this battalion killed, so eyes up and ears sharp."

"Ah Ford," the general called cheerfully. "We are on the precipice of lady victory. That is worth some lightheartedness."

Wyatt fell silent and grim at his captain's remarks. He knew the older man had seen more than his fair share of war. He also knew the general was fresh from the royal military academy. No doubt she was some daughter of a high lord trying to make her mark. He couldn't blame her, but he and the others trusted the judgement of their old captain over just about anyone else.

The path tightened and became more steep as they pushed upward. Even Ivy was starting to show her tiredness as every pound of armor and gear seemed to get heavier with every step. Even the air felt harder to breathe with it’s cold bite as they rose higher above the forest they were in earlier that day.

"Just be happy we are not carrying the food for the army," she panted. "As the lead, we get the fortune of the least amount to carry."

"But the most danger," Wyatt countered.

He looked around at the stones that felt like they were hiding secret troops that would fall upon the unsuspecting soldiers at any moment. Higher and higher they climbed the zig-zagged path until they finally came to the top.

As they filed into the small clearing, each of the soldiers took in their surroundings. A dense wood and fog embraced this small, open area. Wyatt looked back to see an endless stream of gold following them up the cliffside path.

"I know we have been in the wilderness for some time, but something about this place seems all the more cut off from the civilized world," Wyatt said as he scanned the tree line with suspicious eyes.

"There is an ancient feel," Ivy said in agreement.

Daniel came over to them as they spoke and said, "Let's stay focused. I do not want to be here any longer than we have to."

The general wheeled around with her bodyguard of about fifty troops. She had one plant a Vaeloran flag in the center of the clearing. An ominous silence gripped the troops as the general tried to lift their spirits.

"This is the first Vaeloran army to set foot on these lands," she said proudly. "May it be the cleansing light this dark territory needs."

Something about the enthusiasm of the general make Wyatt's stomach turn. He had always been a loyal and fervent supporter of the royal army, but something of this place felt not quite right.

"This place feels different from any mission we have had before," he said finally.

Daniel shook his head, "Come on, keep to the company and we will get through this. Enough talk of ill omens."

The general raised her sword and pointed forward, into the foggy, alpine forest.

***

The army marched in tight columns that were four people across. They had gone on for hours on a path that seemed to reveal only more trees draped in dense fog. Their moral began to dip as they plotted along, holding their shields and a spears as they marched.

"These spears won't do anything if we are ambushed," Daniel protested. “This forest is too dense. We would be dropped before we could protect ourselves.”

"Then, when the time comes, drop it and pull out your sword," Wyatt said as he tried to block out the negative thoughts.

"I am just saying, it was a waste to carry these. This whole operation seems terribly planned. Why are we even here?”

This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

"Do you want the general to catch wind of your complaining?" Ivy countered. "Anyway, wasn't it you that wished for no ill omens?"

"Shh," a voice from a random soldier called out. “You heard the captain. Enough talking from you three, stay sharp."

Before Wyatt could respond, an arrow wizzed from the trees and struck the general in the head. She fell to the ground, limp at the front of the lines. It felt like everything moved in slow motion from that point. A barrage of hundreds of arrows sliced through the hazy morning and peppered the golden troops. Without the ability to form up their lines, many fell dead in an instant. The rest held out their shields and spears, and got in tight shield wall formations.

Wyatt dropped his spear and drew out his short sword. He went back to back with Ivy as each tried to guess where the attack was coming from. Then, just as quickly as it started, the arrows stopped and all was dead quiet.

"Form up, form up!" The voice of Captain Ford rang out.

Wyatt tried to fall in line with his other soldiers when he tripped over a body. The man grabbed at him as he wheezed short, jagged breaths. It was Daniel.

He started to bend over to help his friend when the soldier to his left yelled at him, "Leave him and get my flank!"

Terror flooded Daniel's eyes as Wyatt said in a quivering voice, "I am sorry," and stood up to join the shield wall.

The soldiers tried to steady their breaths as they scanned the brush that rose up on either side of them. They braced as they thought an attack would come immediately, but none came.

Silence gripped them as some started to tend to the wounded. Wyatt fell to his knees and grabbed Daniel, but it was too late. The man’s eyes were shut in peaceful sleep. The young soldier’s skin was pale and cold as ice.

Then, a deep, guttural horn rang through the air. It was followed by drums. Drums that boomed with a constant beat. Wyatt scrambled to his feet and joined his line.

“Steady,” the captains and sergeants called to the troops. “You are soldiers of Vaelor. You will stand your ground and hold back whatever opposes you.”

Then, a chant joined the drums. Deep voices yelled in deep grunts that repeated along with the beat. All the while, no assault came. Only the sounds of the troops and their drums from every direction.

“T-they are all over,” one of the soldiers cried. “They are all over!”

He, and a few others, lost their heads and started to run back down the trail. There was a mass confusion of heads swiveling and bodies shifting every which way. That was when the northfolk fell upon the Vaelorans.

The northfolk flooded in from every direction. Their attack came with an anger that seemed to quake the very ground. Wyatt stood fast, but the shield wall was immediately broken.

Chaos ruled the trail as bodies rolled around in a violence that was never before seen in that land. Wyatt stayed back to back with Ivy as they fought off attackers. Hand to hand, the Vaeloran’s thick armor and superior weapons gave them an edge. For a moment it seemed that they would hold, but the northfolk came in seemly endless droves.

Ivy was thrown to the ground as Wyatt stabbed another enemy. He looked down at his friend and tried to get her attacker off of her. As he bent over, he was hit in the head by a club. In an instant, the solider went out cold as darkness embraced him.

***

Wyatt woke with the veil of night on the trail. His body was incredibly sore as he tried to move. As he shifted, he heard a twig snap.

He held his breath and listened. After a moment, a small rabbit came running onto the path. Wyatt breathed a sigh of relief and the animal scampered off. That was when two hands grabbed him.

The soldier was pulled upright and sat against a tree stump. He winced, ready for a blow, but none came. Wyatt opened his eyes to see Captain Ford’s grim, grey eyes staring at him.

“Are you alright, soldier?” he asked in a low voice.

“I-I am fine,” Wyatt stammered. “What happened?”

Ford let out a heavy sigh. “Everyone is dead. They knew we were coming and they waited for us to get into the perfect position for an ambush. I knew this was a mistake.”

“Why aren’t we dead?” Wyatt asked as he still tried to gather his bearings.

“From what I saw during the battle, a number of the northfolk had clubs. We must have been the fortunate ones that were only knocked out. Others were dragged off to be bartering chips or slaves, no doubt.”

Wyatt looked around the dark forest to see bodies strewn in ever which way. He scanned their faces until his eyes met with a face he knew all too well. It was Ivy.

He turned away and shuddered. His company had been his life since joining the royal army. Now, they were all gone.

Ford ducked his head and hissed, “Come on.”

The captain half-dragged Wyatt further into the thick brush. There, he put his finger over the soldier’s mouth and whispered, “Shh.”

A moment later, torchlight flooded the trail. Five northfolk walked through with their heads on a swivel.

“All clear up here,” one of them growled in a deep voice.

“These gold folk aren’t so tough way up here,” another one who was smaller than the others laughed and kicked one of the bodies.

Anger flowed through Wyatt as he started at the barbarous group. It took everything in him to hold back from a suicidal charge.

“Job’s not finished quite yet. The rest need some cleaning up down the way. Got to make sure every last one of them is dead. No better message to send to their king and queen than a lost army of gold.”

“Did you hear the one’s we caught near the lake?” the smaller one sneered. “We had them running into the water with their armor still on. They all either drown or were cut down by the Trimbi.”

The group laughed as they moved on. In time, the two Vaelorans were in darkness once again.

“Despicable,” Ford spat.

“What do we do now?” Wyatt asked. “Nothing but northfolk tribes for days of travel. That is if we even made it to the climb down from the foothills.”

“That is exactly what we shall do,” Ford responded. “Did you hear that our people were not wholly destroyed? We had thousands make the climb. Surely some will have lasted and are making their way back south. For us, it is only a matter of finding them.”

Wyatt hesitated as he looked out into the dark, unfamiliar forest. It’s ancient depths looked to be holding an untold amount of dangers that would end them in an instant.

“Listen,” Ford said as he grabbed his soldier. “I know this may seem impossible, but we can still make it out of here, together. It was not my decision to come here, but I will not deny I wished the chance to win glory for myself and my troops. Same as the king, queen, and our general, we were all blinded by our ambition and hate. We should never have come to this place, but we did. Now, all we can do is try to survive.

New life flowed through Wyatt’s veins as he nodded his head with determination. They then took each other’s hands and stood up to being the march south.

***

The time seemed to drag on endlessly as the two stumbled through the darkness. Gnarled roots and dense brush made their way difficult. Every so often, they would see torches and hear the clash of swords. As they crept closer, they would only find a few soldiers that were doomed to fall, alone in the wilderness.

On and on they shadowed the path that was littered with golden corpses. Wyatt tried to settle himself and focus on making out of this nightmare, and making it home.

The two stopped to scavenge for more canteens of water. They ate some heinbrood to fill their aching stomachs.

“Ready?” Ford asked.

Wyatt looked up at his captain to see a silhouette behind him. It was a hulking figure that stood in silence.

“Look out!” Wyatt yelled as he charged the figure.

The soldier was thrown down with a terrible strength. As he looked up, he saw Ford being chocked with one hand as the figure punched the captain, leaving the many face down in the dirt.

“Pathetic golden boys,” a deep below mocked them.

Wyatt took out a dagger and charged once more. This time, he was able to duck under the large, outstretched arms of the northfolk as he plunged the weapon into the man’s thigh.

The man did not flinch as he slammed his fists down on Wyatt’s back.

Before he could deliver a finishing blow, Ford rammed the man with a shield and threw him over.

“Run!” Ford shouted as the man sprang to his feet and grabbed him.

Wyatt did not listen as he picked up a sword and ran the giant northfolk through.

Their enemy grunted and fell to one knee. The two Vaelorans looked at each other and smiled, but it could not last. At least ten torches sprang up to the North as their position was now known to the searching northfolk.

“Go, I will make it seem like it was just me here,” Ford said with a voice that was strong and resolute.

“No,” Wyatt protested and he grabbed his captain’s shoulder. “We can make it. We can make it together.”

Ford shook his head, “It was my lust for glory that helped to lead us to this ruin. I shall pay for it. Please, let me do one good thing with my death and save your life. Now go.”

Ford put a sword in Wyatt’s hand and pushed him away. The soldier stared at his captain as the first northfolk charged. Ford quickly dispatched of them and turned to Wyatt.

“Go!” he bellowed as he charged into the torches that closed in around him.

***

Wyatt could not know how long he ran, but he went as fast and as far as he could and did not long back. After what felt like an eternity, he reached the clearing. The parting of the trees revealed a disaster.

Fire sprouted up everywhere as baggage carts burned and horses ran every which way. The brilliant, golden troops were outnumbered and being cut down near the cliffside.

Wyatt knew in his heart that these were the last remnants of his army as he looked on in terror. Then, he heard heavy breathing from behind him.

He turned around to see a bruiting figure standing there. The man was silent, except for his grunting breaths. He was unarmed as he continued to stared at the soldier.

Wyatt was tired beyond fear, beyond hope. He dropped his sword fell to his knees, resigned to his fate.