PART 1 – THE BRIGHTNESS FADES.

It only took three cycles and forgotten was the loss of so many warriors, such is the pride of the powerful and the hunger of the tyrant. It was only death that took away greed from one’s mind.

Amerghin looked from the top of the tower in Enna Aignech toward Athlethan. He felt their time had come. In the morning, they would leave. The black tents of his army stretched as far as he could see. They had fifty thousand warriors with weapons. There were spears, swords, horsemen, giants and fierce Tulpha gangs that fought unanimously. They fought amongst themselves and often fights broke out and a few were periodically killed. Such was the habits of men that lived by the sword and fought for power and prestige by slaughtering others.

Amerghin grinned as he thought about the throne room in Athlethan. He wanted to see Aillel Findabair dead, his head on a spear. He thought back to when he had seen his father slain by this usurper king in battle. He did not care that it was his father who like him in his pride, desired Ailell’s throne and had turned on the throne in an act of treason.

The next morning, they would leave and like a black wall of water, wipe over the whole of the south, leaving him to do as he wished. Amerghin smirked and licked his lips when he thought of the beautiful white princess Caer Omaith alongside him on the throne; Ruad demoted or even dead if he could help it. Above all, he wanted the Scabbard of Athlethan. He had learned of its secret, that the rightful king and bearer of the sword and its scabbard would receive an extended life. This was the power that lay within this coveted item.

The Dark lord himself had extended his own life in a similar way but the source of power was dark and from deep within the crust of the planet. The Scatach steel was from the stars and bore unseen light within it. Healing and good. The power it held had briefly been witnessed by Tuatha and the three brothers of Esclarmonde. Witness that Riangbra had everything to do with this sword’s origins.

But Amerghin did not want the sword so he could do good. If he did lay his hands upon it, he would become more powerful than Mac-Roth himself. He would become highly desired as leader among all people, yet they would be without hope, like obedient sleepwalkers with nothing but an empty despair in their hearts. None would be able to stand before evil that had the power of good at their disposal.

Amerghin was suspicious of Ruad’s treachery. He had nearly managed to find out where his allegiance lay. He despised love and his wife Queen Dagemar was nothing but a pawn for him to use. So, seeing Ruad fawning over this princess from the enemy made him feel ill.

One of his guards tapped him on the shoulder. “My Lord, Ruad approaches.”

His dis-trust of anyone meant he had assigned two of his most devoted soldiers, men who owed him their lives in previous battles to watch his back from treachery.

He turned to Ruad as he approached. “Do the generals have their orders?” he asked.

Ruad glared back at Amerghin. “We leave for Rochad in the morning, first light, all soldiers will be packed and in ranks for the march.”

“Where is your woman?” he asked. “Will you be bringing her? She is a distraction and best left behind.”

Ruad fidgeted nervously behind his back, telling Amerghin news like this was dangerous. Morann had told him the news that they were to have another child and he was worried for her in this unsafe environment of war.

“Morann is pregnant with another child” he told Amerghin, “she will be staying in Enna Aignech till I return, which will not be long.”

Amerghin grunted and shook his head, turning away with a look of annoyance on his face.

Ruad turned and returned to Morann to spend his last evening with her. It would be a long time before he returned, although he didn’t know it then.

Morann was ill from the pregnancy, and Ruad’s return made her feel a little better. She was worried about staying alone in Enna Aignech. It was her home but didn’t feel that way anymore, especially with her family exiled in Athlethan.

Ruad gently lifted her head and tucked another cushion under it. He down and put his lips on her forehead. She smiled and accepted his kiss.

“I have left you and Dare with a guard and two trusted nurses,” said Ruad comfortingly.

Morann nodded.

This would be his last night of good sleep for a long time as he lay alongside the mother of his children.

Dare, Ruad’s son, was now three cycles old and he was already strong. He didn’t understand that he wouldn’t see his father for a long time, and Ruad would miss the early cycles of his life.

The next morning as the sun tinged the horizon, a trumpet blast and then a drum started up. At the second beat the ground shook as twenty thousand soldiers took the first step in their march to Rochad. The horses and horsemen would leave later as they covered more ground each day.

The beat of their marching steps continued till it faded out as the ranks of soldiers diminished and disappeared over the nearest hill in the distance.

It was four days later that the armies of the dark lord reached the forest of Rechrainn. Rochad scouts were seen galloping off toward Rochad. Amerghin dispatched horses to try and stop them, but they never returned.

PART II – HOPE FALLS

Alarms being sounded across the city in the darkest part of the night bode no good in the hearts of the people of Rochad. Rochad scouts had ridden into the city speaking of a huge army gathered at the Rechrainn forest road leading to the city. Immediately riders were dispatched to Athlethan to rally the troops that were living there. Riangbra warriors of Athlethan, Warriors of Dun Emain with Naoise and Ardan as newly appointed generals by King Aillel.

Tethra and Devorgill were already in Rochad when the news came. Their children were in Athlethan, being cared for by extended family.

“The time has come” Tethra said to Devorgill, “We are about to make our stand for all that is good.”

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Devorgill looked at Tethra and nodded. She could see the worry in his eyes and on his features and he looked a lot older than his twenty-two cycles. He carried a huge burden, and it was not what he was born to do. His friend prince Tuatha was a born leader and could bare this burden better than he could. But Devorgill trusted him and wrapped her arms around his neck looking into his eyes.

“I believe in you,” she said encouragingly, “For our children you would die and that will give you the strength you need, just have faith in Riangbra.”

Tethra took his mind from his tasks for a moment and gazed into Devorgill’ s eyes. This was just what he needed. This was the focus he needed, a reason to fight and to lead.

Rochad was full of the soldiers of Enna Aignech and the Rochad horsemen with a small contingent of Athlethan’s forces. The majority of Athlethan’s army was guarding the people in the city there.

Tethra had made sure the bridge across the boulders, a natural fortress to the city walls, had been dismantled and all small boulders and rocks had been removed from the landscape around the city. They would not allow the same plan to be used in the coming battle.

They didn’t stop to make camp. With a roar the Black army of the Dark Lord came to the city of Rochad at first light. Like a wave created by an earthquake in the deep it washed over Rochad. The battle raged for three days, the lines if fighting men in the city slowly pushed back by a new line of fresh soldiers itching to fight.

Early in the battle, they came at the front gate and over the rocks in such numerous numbers the warriors on Enna Aignech could not drive them back. They still lost many soldiers, some trampled by their own as they pushed at the gate and scrambled over the boulders dragging ladders. Some fell between the boulders dashing their heads on the rocks. They did not want to displease their General Amerghin, because he had promised them riches. Many would never see those riches, and Amerghin did not care they died, it would cost him less eventually.

Many of the soldiers were controlled by the mind-bending Triune gas from Mt. Sennol. Many died because they were frenzied by the drums and lack of sleep but the roar of the soldiers attacking just served to drive them onwards to death or to glory. By the end of day one, not one from the initial push remained alive.

The casualties were heavy in Rochad as well. By day three the lines were almost at the gates at the rear of the city. Tethra and all but ten of his Riangbra warriors remained. They were covered in blood from warriors who had died near them or those they had killed. The Rochad horsemen awaited the retreat of the remaining soldiers making a final stand.

Then it came, an attack from both sides like the pincers of a scorpion surrounding its prey and then the sting of its tail the soldiers pushing through the city, Tuatha and his valiant fighters were in danger of destruction. As they retreated two armies from each side descended into the valley to where the path away from the city led.

It was Findtain, Rus and the rest of the Rochad horsemen. They had divided into two groups and rode at the advancing army. They clashed with a loud rattle of armour meeting spear and sword. The horsemen ploughed through the line of soldiers, throwing them into disarray. They turned and began fighting for their lives as their adversary with trained and swift blows halted their advance on Tethra’s now weakened warriors.

It was here that the Rochad captain Rus lost his fight. His horse wounded by a spear in the legs, fell and he rolled off the horse straight into the advancing enemy. As he rolled and then stood, he turned to face insurmountable odds, it was him against a wall of spears and shields. He managed to deflect two spear thrusts, stepping forward and driving his sword into their necks. Then there were many spears coming at him, and he could not stop them. Many of them bounced off his armour but it was only two that found the vulnerable parts and pierced his flesh, removing the ability and will to fight on. Then his body was trampled by the advancing troops and Rus was no more.

His sacrifice was not wasted, as it gave time to Tuatha and the remaining warriors of Enna Aignech to escape up the valley to the security of a narrow ravine that led through a mountain pass toward Athlethan.

Once the horsemen saw the men had nearly escaped, they retreated galloping after the men, only about nine hundred warriors left. Picking up the wounded and exhausted on their horses and they ran for the safety of Athlethan.

They were exhausted but they ran. It will go down in the annals of Athlethan history as the greatest feat of endurance ever achieved. They ran till they fell. Pursued by fresh enemy soldiers who had slept well the night before. When they caught up at one stage, Tethra, Devorgill and his Riangbra warriors stopped to halt the advance. Many more enemies fell in this small battle.

“Go,” panted Tethra to Devorgill, “Get out of here, go to our children” as he swung the sword. Devorgill fought alongside Tethra, and he could see her strikes were tiring.

“I will not leave you till we are both safe with them” she said.

Tethra looked at her pleadingly and lost concentration and one sword got through his guard and wounding him in an armour joint. He cried out and fell to a knee in pain. Devorgill’ s eyes widened, and she stopped to look at his wound. As she did two soldiers saw an opportunity and a sword went through Devorgill under her breastplate. She gasped and Tethra cried out in fear and anger, killing the three soldiers with one swing of the sword. He picked up Devorgill and placed her on a horse with a Rochad rider.

She looked at Tethra with her eyes wide and full of love, as if to take the memory of him in and take with her. “Do not leave me,” Tethra’s eyes seemed to plead as he glanced back at her being carried away. Devorgill watched with dying eyes as Tethra continued his valiant attack.

This expensive attack meant the warriors moved forward, gaining ground, superior in fitness to the idle soldiers of the dark lord who did not exert themselves in training like these warriors did. None were left behind, the Rochad horsemen picking up men who had fallen asleep while running, crashing to the ground from tiredness and sleeping on despite falling headfirst into the earth.

When they finally reached Athlethan they came upon a silent army, rows upon rows of fresh Athlethan warriors and the regal splendour of the banners of Dun Emain with its soldiers in bright silver armour. They parted their ranks, and every soldier bowed their heads in the direction of these brave men and women who had given their lives and energy in the defence of all that is good.

When the soldiers of the Dark Lord came into view of this barrier they stopped and stared. The brightness of the setting sun reflected off the shining armour of the horses and men that faced them blinding them so they could not see what they were attacking. The white walls and towers of Athlethan also reflected the brightness of the sun making it almost unbearable to look at.

Their generals stopped the advance, and they retreated some distance off awaiting Amerghin, Ruad and the generals to see what they were to do.

Shortly after, Tethra arrived in the city they were met with the care and healers they needed. But the mood was sombre and many mourned at the loss of their partners and children who had given their life in the battle of Rochad.

Tethra felt cold and empty. He ran to where Devorgill was lying in a healer’s camp. She was coughing up blood. He ran to her and kissed her. “I love you” he gasped. Cradling her head in his hands, tears streaming down the side of her face.

“Tell my children I love them,” she coughed and spluttered, looking into Tethra’s eyes and with her last breath “I love you Tethra.” Tethra cried out loud and long, his pain heard and reflected by the whole city. Many cried loudly at the loss of one of their most loved princesses who had only given herself in the service of others.

Much more could be said of Tethra’s loss. It could not be written, and if it was, the lamentations could not be borne by any who heard or read them. It seemed so unfair that the deep love they shared could be broken in this way. Many shared Tethra’s broken loss of purpose for a long time after. But Tethra knew he had to rally and in the spirit of Devorgill’s sacrifice, knew she would want him to continue to lead, which he did. Seeing him rally like this, boosted the morale of all those who saw him, also the entire army, once the news had spread of his resolve, despite his pain.

Tethra’s own wound had been forgotten, the sadness and loss of blood finally took hold and he fainted. He was carried to the hospital where he was treated alongside the many other brave and wounded warriors.

Caer Omaith and Fiall ran from soldier to soldier, helping those who needed it the most. Their robes muddied, and blood splattered, but their concern outweighed how they looked. As they worked making the warriors comfortable, Fiall kept her eye out for a sign of Rus. She had seen the horsemen riding past toward the stables, some dropping off their precious cargo of wounded soldiers, but did not see him.

Finally, she saw Findtain walking past leading his wounded horse toward the stables. She ran to him, and he saw her coming. He had a look of a defeated man. She looked at him questioningly and he looked her in the eyes, tears in his own and shook his head.

Caer Omaith fell to her knees screaming out in a cry of loss and dejection.

Fiall ran to her and held her tight. Crying with her friend.

Once she had released all her pain and loss, she wiped her eyes stood up and went back to helping the soldiers, sobbing quietly. Fiall watched her friend and shook her head at her friend’s selflessness.

“Are you okay?” she asked Caer Omaith.

“This is what Rus would want me to do” she said simply, tears almost blinding her eyes as she worked. I want to honour him and help his brothers.

It was a time off loss and sadness that threatened the resolve to defend, that hung on a very thin and fraying thread.

***

The silent army of Athlethan stood as a barrier to the invading and malevolent armies of the dark lord.

Amerghin looked at Ruad smiling.

We have had a successful day, he said. “We will rest the men tonight and attack tomorrow. Athlethan will be ours by dusk.”