“They’re right,” Marianna chimed in, “you’re too valuable to the cause.”
Viktor sighed and waved them off.
Josiah, Gideonis, Marianna, and Kelond kicked their horses and rode toward the men in the middle of the field.
∞
“Here’s ya one chance to survive the day,” Kelond said with a big smile.
Adaman, Benvero, and another lieutenant sat atop their horses, unamused at the dwarf’s antics. Adaman scowled at Kelond and Gideonis as he thought their races inferior to his own. He decided to direct all communication to Josiah and Marianna. “You have girls fight your battles now?” he smirked.
Marianna was immediately filled with rage, ready to start the battle right then and there.
“You’ll find she’s more than enough for you and your murdering king,” Josiah said.
“We’ll fight sword to sword, then?” Benvero interjected. “Here on this field? You won’t be hiding behind the walls for us to starve you out.”
“It is not in our nature to be cowards, but we could wait you out if we desired. Half of your men look as if they’re ready to run into our open arms,” Josiah said with a smile.
Adaman attempted to stare down Kelond while Josiah and Benvero conversed.
“Me and ya are gonna have it,” Kelond chuckled, staring right back at Adaman. “I can already tell.”
“Will we see your king on the battlefield today?” Josiah asked.
“A true king commands his armies from a strategic position,” Benvero replied.
“I’m not certain that’s right,” Josiah said. “A true king fights bravely alongside his men.”
“Are you saying that I can count on seeing the boy in battle today?” Adaman asked in a surprised tone.
“You’ll see the true king in battle today,” Marianna said. “You can count on that.”
Silence hit them suddenly. No one was sure of where the conversation should go next. Kelond’s fist clenched so tightly his knuckles were white. Gideonis bit his bottom lip so hard it nearly started bleeding. They wanted to kill the men in front of them so bad they could taste it.
“So, no terms of surrender?” Adaman smirked.
“We all know that surrender is not an option today,” Gideonis added.
“Aye, the druid’s right. We’re gonna fight until it’s done,” Kelond said.
“Let’s get to it, then,” Benvero replied, turning his horse to race back to Alexander’s army.
“See you on the field, dirt midget,” Adaman cackled as he rode away.
Kelond looked at Gideonis who struggled to hide a smile. “I’m gonna do a number on that one,” he said. “And ya be next if I hear ya laugh.”
They rode back toward Viktor and Fort Asbury and each of them smiled, knowing that this battle was the last step to restoring the kingdom.
Twenty-Three
∞
“Well,” Adaman said as he rode up toward Alexander, “they didn’t surrender.”
Alexander looked around at his men. He watched as many of them shook from the cold. He noticed black fingertips and noses, eyes glossed over from malnutrition and exhaustion, bloody black feet on men whose shoes had worn out from the march. He looked up and felt the cold rain sting his cheeks and nose.
“What’d they say of me?” Alexander asked, turning his face to Benvero and Adaman.
“Nothing, milord,” Adaman said, his eyes darting to Benvero.
“Don’t lie to me,” Alexander said, noticing the look Adaman gave Benvero.
“They blaspheme your name, milord,” Benvero said. “And we’ll make them pay for it.”
“No,” Alexander said in a raised voice, “what exactly did they say?”
“They said you were a murderer, milord,” the lieutenant who rode out with Adaman and Benvero said. “They said that only a true king would fight alongside his men.”
“That’s why I said nothing,” Benvero said. “They wanted us to bait you into fighting instead of commanding. Your place is in the rear, leading the men strategically.”
Alexander noticed Benvero squint as he said this, suggesting that he didn’t believe what he was saying. “Benvero, thank you for your concern, but I think they’re right.” He pulled his sword from the sheath on his horse’s back. “I think I do need to fight today.”
“Milord, what if you’re injured?” Benvero asked.
“Ask me the more important question, Benvero,” Alexander said with a smile.
“What do you mean?” Benvero replied.
“Ask me what would happen if I were to die in battle,” Alexander said. “You must be wondering it by now.”
“I’m not going to serve that boy. That’s why you should stay in the rear and command us from there,” Benvero argued.
“I’ve already made my decision. This is how it will end. Either we win today and I remain king or I am vanquished and the kingdom descends into anarchy,” Alexander said. “Let’s go.”
Twenty-Four
∞
Viktor watched Marianna and the others ride back towards him. He looked to his left and spotted Yaspar on the front line of troops. They smiled at one another for a moment.
A thunderclap followed by a bright flashing bolt of lightning in the distance startled the men. Nothing more fitting than a winter thunderstorm, Viktor thought.
“They refused to surrender,” Josiah joked.
“I have a bone to pick with one of ‘em,” Kelond grumbled.
“Do not let him get into your head, dwarf,” Gideonis said.
“Will he fight with his men?” Viktor asked, referring to Alexander.
“We planted the seed. We’ll see,” Marianna said.
“Let’s assemble and get to it,” Viktor said, kicking his horse gently as he rode out in front of a line of troops.
Josiah and the others rode to their assigned spots and informed the men to be ready for battle. Marianna watched Viktor speak to a few troops before trotting out a few yards so he could be in view of everyone. She loved him dearly and committed herself to fighting alongside him, ready to cast barriers if needed. She swore to herself that she’d let no harm come to him.
“Men!” Viktor shouted. “I’m not one for speeches. I don’t have the right words to say to encourage you to fight bravely. Yet... I can say that this is it. This battle determines the fate of the kingdom and you are taking part in it. No one will be able to take that away from you. You fought on the right side of history and your memory will live on. Many of us will die today, that is certain…but death in a righteous battle is smiled upon by the Gods. You will be rewarded in eternity for what you do this day. I am honored to serve and fight alongside you and if I die I will at least know I was in good company!”
The men shouted and clanged their swords against their shields. Viktor held up the Firebringer that was nearly engulfed in flames. Marianna closed her eyes and could feel the blue magic move through her arms and ready to be fired from her fingertips. Josiah held his longsword high in the air and shouted as loudly as he could. Gideonis shapeshifted into a bear and clawed at the icy mud beneath him. Kelond held his mace above his head and shouted along with his dwarven brothers. Yaspar beat his short swords together and yelled alongside everyone around him.
Viktor turned to face Alexander and his army and shouted “Charge” at the top of his lungs.
Twenty-Five
∞
Cavalrymen on both sides of the battle raced toward one another while infantry tried to keep up on foot far behind. Both sides yelled loudly as they approached one another. Mud and ice kicked up from the horses’ hooves and rain pelted faceguards along the way. Men holding out swords and spears, ready to crash into the other, while long bowmen fired arrows safely from the back of both armies. The two lines of horses were to meet head-on in the middle of the open field where Josiah and the others conversed shortly before.
Viktor’s Firebringer shone bright and the flames waved behind his head as he held it high
. He searched for Alexander and realized he didn’t know what he looked like. His horse crashed into another man’s horse causing the two of them to fly off and onto the hard icy ground. The Firebringer landed a few feet from him. A man swung a sword his down and he was rolled out of the way just in time. He grabbed the Firebringer and positioned himself to duel the other man. They were just about to fight when a pike flew through the man’s chest from behind. He didn’t have time to see who had thrown it as a man on another horse crashed into him from behind, knocking him over again.
Kelond collided with two different men. He stayed atop his mount while the other two fell underneath the weight of their horses. He heard them scream in agony, every bone below their ribcage shattered.
Mud kicked up into Gideonis’s eye. He roared in frustration and swiped at the face of a horse, throwing its rider off and onto the ground in front of him. A fellow druid in nightprowler form leapt onto the soldier and clawed at his jugular.
Josiah appeared to be an expert in horse combat. He rode through dozens of troops, cutting them down or knocking them to the ground, on his way to the back line. Every swing of his sword killed an infantryman.
Yaspar let a horse pass him before jumping on it from behind and cutting the throat of its rider. He turned and raced back through the line of infantry, striking down a half dozen men on his way to the back of the line.
Marianna held out a barrier to block a pike that was thrown at her. The barrier broke it in half. She reached down and picked up the tip and chucked it back at the man who threw it at her. The edge of it sunk into the man’s stomach and knocked him back.
Viktor stood up and swung the Firebringer at a few infantrymen that were about to pounce on him. The sword connected with each of them and set them ablaze. Their screams alerted a few other infantrymen who scattered when they saw the fire sword and Viktor’s face. He watched them turn away in fear and he spotted what looked to be someone of importance atop their horse in the distance. He wore a red robe and swiped at men below him with a sword.
Marianna watched Viktor begin to move through the battle toward the robed figure on the horse. She had gotten knocked over a few seconds ago by a duel of two large men. She jumped to her feet and started to race toward Viktor.
Blood sprayed across Kelond’s face as he moved through troops toward Adaman who sat atop his horse twenty yards away. “I’m comin’ ya bastard!” he shouted.
Gideonis howled in pain as a longsword cut through his arm. He looked down at the man behind him who swung the sword. He swung his mighty paw back and across the man’s face, nearly ripping flesh from his cheekbone.
An arrow startled Josiah as it entered his side. “God’s hell!” he shouted as he fell to the mud. He reached down and broke the arrow in half. He noticed an infantryman with a large axe coming toward him. He pulled a small dagger from his belt and threw it at the attacker, catching him in the ear. The soldier cried out in pain and reached for where his ear used to be.
“You have to go through me first, boy,” Benvero shouted at Viktor. Benvero, on foot, swung his sword at Viktor first. Viktor moved aside and swung the Firebringer at him, missing. “I fought with your father,” Benvero said, holding up his shield. “He had much better technique.”
A bloody-faced soldier fell on the ground in front of them. Viktor gritted his teeth and ran toward the soldier and Benvero. He stepped on the back of the soldier and leapt toward Benvero, swinging the Firebringer down in the process. Benvero parried the attack and swung his sword down cutting the back of one of Viktor’s legs. Viktor felt the cold of blood drip down his shin.
Marianna rushed toward Viktor but was shoved aside by dueling infantrymen. She picked up a sword from a fallen soldier and inserted it into side of the opponent of her ally. The soldier screamed in pain just before the other soldier swung his sword down on top of his head.
A druid in bear form was impaled by a pike just beside Gideonis. He roared in anger and rushed into the men doing the impaling. He knocked them to the ground and began ripping through their armor to pull out hearts if he could.
Josiah crawled away from a skirmish happening a few yards from him. He wanted to get a better look at his injury. He felt the blood fill his britches and run across his abdomen. He was frightened by how red the blood was on his hands.
“Let’s have a go!” Kelond shouted at Adaman who was now on foot. Kelond held his mace above his head and gave a loud battle cry.
“Awe, the dirt midget!” Adaman shouted back.
The two of them rushed at one another and swung their weapons at the same time. The clanging of sword on mace was loud enough for Viktor to hear across the battlefield.
A loud thunderclap overhead following by a bolt of lightning that struck fifty yards away illuminated the battlefield for a few seconds. Bodies were strewn about and it was difficult to determine who was winning at this point.
Viktor held the Firebringer with two hands and slowly approached Benvero. “Why have you betrayed the memory of my father?” Viktor asked, cold rain running down his face, eyes ablaze. “He was an honorable man.”
Benvero moved slowly toward him. “Times change. I had to adapt to survive.”
Viktor swung the Firebringer down, cutting Benvero’s shield in half. He then quickly pulled it back and swung again, striking Benvero’s sword so hard it knocked it from his grip.
Benvero saw the rage in Viktor’s eyes. There’d be no stopping him. He knew it was his time. “You beat me,” he said, kneeling before Viktor. “Time to finish me.”
Viktor pulled a dagger from his belt and tossed it in front of Benvero and said, “Finish yourself.”
Adaman swung his sword in exhaustion. He just couldn’t hit the dwarf. “Stand still you cursed creature,” he said to Kelond.
“Aye, this is it for ya, boyo,” Kelond replied, moving toward him. Adaman swung the sword again and Kelond blocked it with his mace. He pushed Adaman onto the ground and stood above him. He kicked the sword away and held the mace high above his head. “Gods have mercy on ya,” he said as he swung the mace down onto Adaman’s face.
Marianna watched as Viktor stepped away from Benvero. She watched the old man pick up Viktor’s dagger and study it. She was surprised by the man’s willingness to rush after Viktor after being defeated in battle. She saw him hold up the dagger with the intention of stabbing Viktor in the back. She quickly sent a barrier into the distance that appeared between Benvero and Viktor. Benvero ran into it and fell to the ground, getting Viktor’s attention. He saw the barrier and spotted her from across the battlefield. They smiled at one another before he jammed the Firebringer into Benvero’s chest.
Yaspar hopped off the horse and cut through three men at once. He leapt over two horses on the ground and swung his two short swords down on top of a lieutenant. He turned and cut down another infantryman who was about to swing an axe down on him. His face was red and black from blood and mud.
The battle was nearly over and Viktor’s army was winning. Many men were left on both sides and he still wanted to kill the king. He stepped over dead bodies of both men and horse on his way to the back line of troops where he could see Alexander mounted on a horse. “Alexander!” he shouted, blood and mud dripping down his face. Troops all around paused their battles for a brief second to see who shouted the king’s name. “Alexander! Get off your horse and face me for the throne!” Viktor shouted again.
Alexander spotted Viktor across the battlefield and smiled. “There you are, boy!” he shouted. “I’ve been looking for you for fourteen years!”
Viktor smiled back and cut down several men on his way to the king. “Well, here I am, Uncle. Face me now that I’m grown and able to defend myself.”
“Certainly, my boy!” Alexander shouted, jumping down from his horse.
Viktor looked around at all the men fighting between himself and the king. He knew it’d be a chore to cut through all of them to get there. “Halt!” he shouted loud enough for nearly everyone
on the battlefield to hear.
“Yes, stop your fighting!” Alexander shouted back.
Men on both sides were confused by this, but they all stepped away from the man they were fighting. The men between Viktor and Alexander created a path for the two of them to use.
The shouting of men died down, but the rain came down harder with thunder booming in the distance every few seconds. Lightning struck the ground not far from the human arena that had been formed by soldiers watching Viktor and Alexander walk toward one another. Marianna fought her way to the edge of the circle that had been formed to bear witness to the duel between prince and king.
Alexander looked at the Firebringer in Viktor’s hand. It burned bright and was a fairly intimidating sight. “Are you opposed to a fair fight?”
Viktor looked down at the Firebringer and remembered something Josiah had said to him a few months ago about being able to fight with weapons besides his trusted sword. “No,” he said, tossing the sword down, “I’m not opposed.” Viktor held his hand out for one of his men to bring him a sword. Yaspar raced toward him.
Yaspar, holding the two short swords Josiah had given to him earlier, stood in front of Viktor. They looked at one another for a moment before Yaspar looked across the field at Alexander. The king and the assassin locked eyes for a brief second before Yaspar handed Viktor the two short swords. “Trust me. You want speed,” Yaspar said, patting Viktor on the shoulder and returning to the circle of men that had formed.
“What in God’s hell is goin’ on here?” Kelond appeared at the edge of the circle. “What are ya doin’, boyo?”
“I have this, Kelond,” Viktor said. “Trust me.”
“Well, if ya lose I’ll finish ‘em off,” Kelond said, nearly out of breath from running over there.
Viktor and Alexander moved slowly across the swampy field, neither one taking their eyes off the other. The thunder was loud. The lightning was bright. The rain beat down so hard it was painful. Yet, the prince and the king didn’t care about anything other than killing one another.
The Warrior Prince (The Tragedy of King Viktor Book 2) Page 9
