Chapter 28: Invitation to a decisive battle
The Month of Ceres Day 1 Year 675 Of the Second Holy Calendar
The remnants of the knights returned limping back into camp, shattered and broken, with their companies decimated and both of their leaders dead or prisoners of the enemy, with only about 300 returning. The soldiers from the Kingdom of Monica were particularly disgruntled. They couldn't believe Andrew hadn't ordered the attack, and his denials fell on deaf ears. None of them openly contradicted him; they didn't believe his words. This only made him even more angry at Zach, who defied his orders only to get killed, taking with him 500 good knights. Stephron was a popular Commander due to his unpretentious attitude and willingness to fight on the front lines. The officers chose a seasoned colonel to become their new acting Commander and demanded Andrew ransom his return immediately.
The Kingdom of Black and the Kingdom of Antlatur had a history tradition of mistreating each other's prisoners. This started during the Black Rebellion when soldiers from the Kingdom of Black were treated as Rebels and not as soldiers from an enemy nation, meaning they were executed on the spot. The Kingdom of Black responded quickly, resulting in a vicious cycle as the wars never ended. This cycle eventually came to an end. Both nations needed to start ransoming their prisoners because they needed the soldiers and to preserve troop morale. However, saying it had been wholly abandoned was a lie; mistreatment still ran rampant on both sides. Including the civilians, one need look no further than the atrocities committed by the kingdom of Antlatur during the occupation of the Black Valley or the crimes against humanity of Samuel Magyar to see that old grudges hadn't died. The soldiers of the Kingdom of Monica wanted to return their prince immediately to prevent that from happening to him.
Andrew knew it was impossible, but to satisfy them, he sent an Envoy to Valerius, who met with the Envoy and sent back a letter. Delivered by a Brigadier General, he requested an audience with Andrew when he reached the camp and decided to meet with him after he assembled his counsel. The envoy entered with a box under one arm and the letter in one hand. His red eyes gleamed maliciously as he scanned the room, but on the surface, he appeared to be a courteous young man who introduced himself as Charles Cornelia. He offered the letter to the guard, who handed it to Andrew, who promptly read the letter
To the foolish King of the Antlatur, you have met nothing but defeat ever since you came into this land. The army of your general, whose name I do not recall, was annihilated with all his troops. You have met with defeat on more than one occasion brought by me and others. To what meager glory in victory, you claim in this conflict will soon be undone by me. Like when we faced each other in battle not long ago, I viciously defeated you. I won eternal glory. Well, you fled like a coward. To such a coward, I challenge you to a decisive battle based on the traditions of our ancestors. Will you face me honorably on the open field of battle to decide the fate of this war in a fair and noble duel of wits and swords? Or, like the coward I know you to be, will you decline my challenge? After all, whoever wins or loses, this war involving thousands of casualties will come to an end.
Valerius Marcus Dominic Black, The Prince of the Storm, Undefeated General, Vanquisher of the Golden Stallion.
After Andrew read the letter, he put it down on the table in front of them before passing it to Linea. He felt his heart burn with hatred for Valerius but struggled to keep calm. Losing his temper would accomplish nothing. But then he heard the envoy state, “The Honorable Major General Valerius sent me with a gift to give to the King of Antlatur.” Without waiting for a response, Charles set the box on the table and slid it down to Andrew. Before he arrived, the guards had searched the envoy, so Andrew knew there was nothing dangerous in the box but hesitated to open it. He knew what was likely inside it without even opening it.
Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author's preferred platform and support their work!
Ultimately, he slid the lid of the crude box open and found what he expected. A pair of glassy eyes stared up at him, and it was the head of Zack Pickett. Andrew lifted it out of the box, grotesquely horrified by the powerful man he once knew having his head chopped off and examining the massive hole in his skull. “My prince sends me with a message. This is only the first.” Philip Westedale immediately stood up and grabbed Charles, punching him in the face. Charles didn't even try to resist despite being far younger and a military officer.
Instead, he screamed, “I am an Envoy protected by the gods. You have violated the ancient customs and the laws of the Divine.” Philip released him and took a horrified step back upon realizing what he had done. Charles wiped the blood trickling from his nose. “You harmed me, an Envoy protected by the gods. Your kingdom is cursed, and your king is cursed! Fire and brimstone will visit your nation. You have the one fate to die and suffer eternal damnation in the Underworld for your Defiance of the gods!”
Andrew was far from a religious man, but many soldiers and officers were, so he had to appear at least to care about what Charles was saying. “It is for the gods to decide who was cursed, not for mortals.” But he still waved Philip back and gestured for him to sit down. “As for your challenge, I, as the challenged party, get to set the date and location of the battle. Is that correct?”
Charles made an as-you-will gesture, and Andrew continued, “I choose Hayden's Ford in 2 days at noon. Be there, or I'll assume you ran from The Challenge.” Hayden's Ford was a historically significant spot for both kingdoms. For the Kingdom of Black, it was where they gained their independence and greatest glory, where Francis the Terrible had stolen the crown off the head of the King of Antlatur. For the kingdom of Antlatur it was where thousands of their best men had met their ultimate fate. Charles's eyes flashed with cold light before he bowed and departed the tent without even so much as a by your leave.
*****
Charles arrived back at Valerius's Camp and gave him the news. “Hayden's Ford, that works out perfectly for us,” In a satisfied way, however, Charles couldn't help but be somewhat hesitant.
“Are you sure about this, cousin? I thought we were attempting to avoid battle, at least on unfavorable grounds.”
Valerius shrugged. “The die is already cast. We're in fate's hands now. Besides, I'm not going into this blindly.” Valerius smiled grimly. “The heavy Cavalry has been all but wiped out. We'll have an absolute advantage in that field. Their morale will also be at rock bottom, and our heavy Infantry will be able to hold on at least, if not claim victory.”
Charles was still hesitant. “They have an advantage of at least 10,000, cousin. I don't think it would be that easy.”
Valerius laughed. “Some cautious commanders wait for the stars to align for the perfect opportunity, but I am not one of them. Nor am I a reckless Commander who would risk his soldiers' lives if there wasn't a good shot at victory. Andrew Antlatur is angry, and his judgment is clouded. His troop's morale is low, and he's at a cavalry disadvantage. Even if he had more soldiers, what could 10,000 with no will to fight do for him? Our own troops are motivated and full of fight. Victory is at hand, cousin. Can't you see it? Our old rivalry and hatred with that Kingdom. It's time to establish a new glory like the Towers Empire or the Demon King.”
Charles felt the aura of a general rolling off Valerius in waves, overpowering him. He always knew his cousin had decided to him, but he felt it had grown more powerful in the past few weeks. He felt something similar to the golden stallion, but it was different too. His aura was that of a king, and he commanded respect and obedience from his subjects. It had surprised Charles, who had spent the past few weeks outmaneuvering him out of return. But he realized with an unpleasant shock to reality that that was Valerius, his power, not his. Where Andrew had a king's aura, Valerius had a general's aura. Just feeling this pressure, Charles wanted to follow him wherever he went, even if that was down to Hell. He made his determination on the spot that he would follow Valerius black wherever he went, even if it were in Rebellion.