It was Sigismund who broke the distressing silence that certainly did not help the soldiers listening. "There is one thing I don't understand: if what remains of the knights was ruthlessly hunted down by the enemy's henchmen, how is it possible that we came across your foot soldiers instead of them?"
Astor jumped right up and laughed cheerfully. Giving an account of the escape had lifted his spirits: “Well,” he began to explain, “after the disaster of our army, annihilated in front of the walls of the City of Time – which was the name of our capital, Robuald –,” he revealed “we withdrew under the cover of darkness. The attackers, in the grip of a joyful excitement, were intent on looting the city and inflicting further horrors on the dead. Our blood boiled at the thought of leaving our fallen comrades at the mercy of those monsters, but it was immediately clear that our only hope of future redemption laid in the retreat. We outflanked the battlefield, skirting the edges of the forests that embrace the valley where the palace stood, and climbing through the barren areas behind them, where it is impossible to leave a trail, we headed East. The few information we possessed encouraged us to follow that direction, since we knew that the kingdom had been attacked from every angle except that, and now I understand why. I judged that we would be able to find shelter only to the East.
Thus, after taking every precaution to throw off any pursuer, we abandoned the mountains and, covered by the cloak of night, we descended towards the main road that leads to these lands. We wandered for a long time until, a few days ago, we realized that we were not the only survivors: on the ground were unmistakable, though old, tracks of horses. Given that the pursuers did not have cavalry, I understood that it could only be you, undoubtedly headed towards the same destination. It was a great relief that, however, vanished quickly and turned into apprehension since a large contingent was following, having picked up our trail just before us.
In hindsight, the risk we took was perhaps a sign of further recklessness, but I had no other choice, and so I decided to proceed even during the daylight. As we advanced, the hoof prints and the sign of the passage of those beings mixed increasingly, until the latter disappeared completely under them, but it was still clear that they outnumbered us, and by no small margin. We kept marching on at a forced pace, and yesterday at dawn, we finally spotted their rear guard. Luckily, it was only those filthy little worms that, I assume, the enemy uses in the back to provide support services to the warriors, and I think they had found you only by chance. Obviously, their leader counted on an easy win and perhaps some kind of reward. Maybe he hoped they wouldn't have to shovel their filthy garbage anymore and now he's a part of it instead! Astor broke out in a booming laughter that infected his soldiers and spread throughout the entire assembly, reassuring them more than a sip of brandy.
After calming his laughter, he added: “There's not much else to add, because we were on them quickly and finished them off without losing too much time. Since those repulsive corpses cluttered the way and ruined the landscape, and since we had finished our business and you were not in further danger – or at least I thought so – we gathered them up and burned them. You know the rest.”
“I infer much more than what you reveal, my friend” Sigismund smiled. “It seems that the fate of my brave knights is to be conducted out of trouble as if they were lost children, but let's put pride aside. I am very grateful to you. We saw the smoke in the morning yesterday and judging by its density, though distant, it could not have been caused by a fire of a few bodies. The enemies you faced must have far outnumbered even your company, yet you did not hesitate to engage in battle.”
“Quite the opposite, Sigismund: they were only repulsive, unskilled creatures, but they were right on our path and so they threatened both your rear and our front. I couldn't avoid them, and even if they were triple in number, they would not have been enough to satisfy our desire for revenge – not even if there were ten times as many! No battle and no victory can erase the pain that the memory of our comrades fallen under the walls of the fort brings to my heart. Our fort now turned into a stronghold of terror and wickedness, where every sacred feeling will be profaned.” Astor stopped talking, and once again a silent sadness took hold of their minds.
“Forgive me, friends, if my inconsiderate curiosity will revive painful afflictions not yet healed,” ventured Robuald, “but several times, in two days, I have heard of the great battle in which the enemy unfortunately prevailed. I have known the valor of the knights and therefore I do not need to know that only an overwhelming force could have taken victory from you. However, I would like to know the course of the battle in order to understand how we can defend ourselves from the impending threat. Perhaps from the trials that have so cruelly tested you – forgive such speech but it is the love for my people that spurs me – perhaps from them, my people can draw that precious and necessary lesson to avert such a terrible disaster.”
Astor simply shook his head and let out a deep sigh, so it was Sigismund who had to answer: “Truly atrocious has been the fate that shattered every ounce of our security, crushing any attempt of recovery or resistance, and it pains me to speak of it. But, since you are asking and since our debt to you is immeasurable, I will try to recount the events that marked the fall of our kingdom.” A somber expression crossed the young prince's face, who, lost in his thoughts, began to speak in a low, broken voice: “Despite the fact that the fighting never stopped – day or night – and that black blood flowed from the swords making even the walls slippery, nothing seemed to intimidate them, it seemed impossible to stop them. Every projectile was thrown, every warlike action was attempted, every arrow was shot. The tar flowed down the fortification and quickly ignited as soon as the burning arrows set it on fire, illuminating the night overflowing with grotesque and desperate forms. The men responded to the assault blow after blow, until fatigue weakened their strength, leaving them with the only rest that death could grant. Slowly but inevitably, the external defences were breached and the survivors were pushed back into the citadel where they stood strong as long as they could. But when every resource was drained, when the illusion of foreign aid, which could not come, proved to be vain, when wisdom surrendered to despair, we attempted a sortie that resulted in an immense disaster. I dare not even think about the fate of those who did not know the privilege of falling holding weapons. However, I trust that there were very few, because, as the few survivors have told us, even women and old men chose to face death fighting rather than be reduced like our own assailants. Undoubtedly, if they had surrendered, the enemy would have been able to consume his extreme vengeance with great pleasure, turning us miserable beggars into slaves like he did many years before. But no! I saw my entire people fall, and I hope that no one was captured.”
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Upon hearing this, the survivors of the battle lowered their heads, trying to turn away and escape the horror that assailed them, struggling to sink their nightmares into nothingness.
Robuald would have liked to ask more questions, but he preferred to wait. However, he didn't wait long because Sigismund easily sensed his thoughts from that silence and resumed the tale: “No one had ever seen those creatures before. Let us mention again, as a renewed torment, the appearance of the first, ancient enemies moved to assault from the Lost Kingdom who too were deformed, albeit they were once men. The corruption of the body was the visible consequence of that of the soul – after all, they were endowed with body and soul – and its painful contortion was all too evident to the sight. Instead, no one had ever met these creatures, which I can hardly define as monsters, not even in a dream. You, my loyal Robuald, have fought against the race that most resembles man in its bodily image, but there are some who are conceived, I believe, to fulfil a single, perverse purpose. There are shadows, that spy everywhere as if they are driven by the air, carrying with them fear and confusion; some can sneak into every crevice, moulded to pollute sources and veins as deep as they flow; others can cling to rock and crumble it; some use their own body to pound like a heavy hammer, but the majority recall dark visions and disquieting images that every man harbors hidden in their ancestral memory. What worries me most, whatever they are, is the ignorance of their origin that prevents us from reaching and bringing back the decisive victory. The other successes are only illusions that actually give more strength to the enemy, reducing ours. If only we could have captured one of them to interrogate it and steal their secret! That secret that allowed them to arrive with the wind without travelling any path, nor taking any time to spread into ours.
One morning, like any other, arising from a radiant dawn following a night without sinister omens, the signals that the sentinels positioned at the four corners of the Realm transmitted daily via the signalling towers and that reached the center of the kingdom every day, inexplicably ceased, and that same evening we were besieged. If the city wasn’t always guarded by an officer and substantial body of guards, it would have been forced to surrender in a short time. But, come on! I forget that what appeared inconceivable, still happened, and that I am no longer able to speak of our home as if we could still dispose of it, alas!” Summoning courage, he continued: “The war lasted for many months, because there were numerous fortresses located along the borders and at the entrance of every crossroads, but it was only a matter of time. This agony would have lasted much less if people with a less troubled history were attacked, assuming that such a privileged breed exists! However, all of our forts were simultaneously surrounded and sieged, and only a few gathered enough strength and luck to repel the attackers.
At that time my company was stationed to the South, while the one led by Astor was deployed to the North. It was reported that it was precisely in those cold lands where the enemy's attack was the most brutal, and if my proud cousin had not been there, holding his ground against the invading hordes, the war would certainly not have lasted so long.”
Astor made a gesture, as if to defend himself, but Sigismund immediately continued: “As it happened, both the infantry and the cavalry managed to break through the barrier that surrounded them. Repelling every new assault launched against us with the tip of our spears, we arrived almost simultaneously at the rescue of the King, holed up in the citadel, but from two opposite directions. Yes, we could finally see the embankment that had protected us from childhood, but alas! What a different sight it showed now: we found it engulfed in flames, infested by swarming usurpers.
We arrived too late. Too late!
Furious and upset, the two contingents thundered against the enemy flooding our beloved city, but the opposing reserves were so abundant as to hinder every attempt to reunite and engage them together. We tried to get closer over and over again, but in vain. Something horrid, like a foaming a river of disgusting and muddy creatures divided us.
We fought, but more and more separated, more and more distant, until we completely lost sight of each other in the fertile valley that surrounds the Royal Castle. I cannot say how long we battled, for time, like everything else, had lost its meaning – perhaps for hours or perhaps for an entire day – helped only by the few small groups that managed to come out of the walls demolished in several places to join us, reporting the events that I am narrating to you, between one assault and the other. Besides, not many words were needed to explain the tragic events unfolding before our blinded eyes, filled with anger and pain. The city was lost and the remains of the King and the royals, seized inside the captured stronghold, were disgustingly displayed on the battlements of the same fort, so that everyone could see the massacre that had been perpetrated from afar, and thus lose what little courage remained.” Sigismund stopped, covering his face with trembling hands and struggling to stifle a sob.
So Astor, concerned about the morale of the troops, quickly resumed the description of the events with a sharp tone: “When the strength, which only blind pain provided us, was entirely consumed, and the ruthless voice of reason prevailed over the broken cries of our souls, we understood that we had to retreat as long as the bulk of the hostile forces was distracted, intoxicated by their own murderous fury. Having lost sight of the captain's standard or the regimental banner, we convinced ourselves that no one else could have survived.” He stopped, noticing that Sigismund had regained enough composure to continue the narration, which he did: “We charged on our steeds, opening a path towards a direction that would take us far away from that horror. We managed to gain a few days of advantage, perhaps because we were not deemed worthy of being pursued.”
We found the entire kingdom afflicted by that plague, as if it was vomited from every underground crevice and every filthy crack. There were still numerous clashes that we had to endure in secondary but nonetheless ruthless ambushes, and along the way our number did not stop decreasing. I am truly amazed that we were able to make it this far, since, at times, I thought the enemy was having fun with us by inflicting a slow torture. In reality, I believe they had completely lost interest in a few hundred insignificant exiles and they started chasing us only when they realized that the continuous losses suffered by their troops could not have been inflicted by a completely negligible warrior. Their presumption cost them dearly, as they unintentionally allowed that union, which proved impossible within the walls of the fatherland, but that today has increased our valor a hundredfold. Now they will have to fear us again, since we no longer represent a risk that can be laughed off” Sigismund concluded with a note of challenge in his voice, eliciting murmurs of approval from all the foot soldiers and knights.
“Well,” said Romuald taking the floor “Well, I have listened to your words with great attention and only now do I realize how fearsome the calamity that pursues us is. If I had gone further without meeting you and without knowing the situation as I do now, I would soon have met a very sad fate. It is therefore undeniable that you have saved my life, and perhaps the immense tragedy of your tormented people can allow mine to prepare for the hardest struggle it has ever faced and that certainly awaits it, and united we can perhaps win it! I can only add a single piece of news to what I have heard. I have been given the opportunity to seize what was denied to you: I have been able to capture some monsters, to capture them alive.”