CHAPTER 13
THE REGROUPING
King Christian had never felt so empty as he did when he watched the wounded being taken from the field of battle. Even reports that they had destroyed more than a third of Diabolos’ army did little to encourage him. Though he wanted to take time to grieve for the loss of his son and many of his friends, he realized he had time only to concentrate on his next plan of defense.
“What can we do now?” the king asked. “We are only about 3,700 against 20,000. I cannot believe we’ve used every resource.”
“Perhaps it would be best to retreat to the castle for our final defense,” Prince John commented. “We could easily protect ourselves and at the same time reduce Diabolos’ numbers further.”
“No,” replied the king. “If we return to the castle we will only endanger those in the castle. We cannot afford that now. Further, if we’re in the castle, Diabolos need merely wait us out. In the meantime he will ravage about the countryside, with us helpless to assist our people.” Then looking around the king commented, “If only we could be invisible for a short while.”
“What are you looking for father?” asked Mary with a sad voice and eyes red from weeping for Lionel.
“We need a place to conceal ourselves so we can surprise Diabolos once more on his next attack. I assure you he won’t be fooled again by the same trick,” the king replied. Then looking at Artemus he asked, “How many archers do we have?”
“Your majesty, all the men of El are expert archers. You may count the entire army as able.”
“Good!” the king said with a note of excitement in his voice. “We will pull back to the trees.” As the king looked at the great oak trees lining both sides of the road leading to the castle, he said, “Place two thousand of the men in and behind the trees, one thousand on each side of the road, and the remaining up the road a little further with swords drawn as if ready to make a final stand. Only I want the men on the road to have their bows and arrows hidden so at the right moment they may surprise Diabolos and his army with their arrows. Perhaps this way we can spare as many of our people as possible.”
The plan was well received among all the king’s commanders, and all began preparations for their next defense.
As King Christian and his army made their plans, not far away Diabolos was raging at his commanders. “I would expect an army of children to make more progress than you!” he ranted. “We left more than a third of our force dead on the field and have not penetrated the King’s Province.”
“My lord Diabolos, even you were surprised at their armies hidden behind the hills,” said his commander, Skolios in desperation.
“You accuse me of bumbling this battle!” Diabolos said as he angrily turned to Skolios, with his staff raised ready to strike him. Diabolos then beat his commander severely, cursing at him and threatening him. “This beating is a symbol of what awaits each man who fails me! Not even death can deliver you from my wrath. For on the other side awaits my dragon ready to torment those who displease me.”
As Diabolos cried out at Skolios and his other commanders, they cowered in fear near the back of his tent.
“Now,” said Diabolos. “I want you to avoid such an embarrassing defeat next time. This is what you will do. You will divide the army into three parts. One half will go through the pass on the road and the other half you will divide in half again sending each contingent around the two hills. In this way we will use Christian’s own trick against him. And, if he should again try to use the same trick, we’ll not only crush his flanking warriors, we’ll capture his center force in a vice and we will crush them as well!” As Diabolos ended his battle plan he laughed such an evil laugh that even his most battle hardened soldiers were filled with fear.
“What shall we do in the event the king has changed his plans, lord?” asked Skolios humbly.
“Don’t worry about such things,” Diabolos commanded. “Christian has used his best trick, and he has no other useful plan except to retreat back to his castle. If that should be the case, then so much the better. We’ll let them all starve in the castle while we ravage the countryside and feast outside!”
No sooner had Diabolos’ words left his mouth than his officers were stumbling over each other to get out of the tent. As he watched his officers flee from his presence, Diabolos thought to himself with satisfaction that his war was for all practical purposes won.
Prince Michael and The Dragon Page 14
