A Warrior's Journey

by Guy Stanton III

  “But what shall I tell the governors?” General Karsa asked looking visibly shaken by what was happening so quickly around him.

  “Tell them? Tell them nothing! Now go!” My father said savagely and General Karsa quickly left the fire’s light.

  Commanders rushed off into the night leaving my father alone to stand by the fire of his campsite and I couldn’t but help think he was the epitome of what a leader should be. When he noticed my presence he approached me and I felt humbled all over again at the knowledge that I had come from this legend among men that both friend and enemy alike respected and feared.

  “Gather your gear together Zevin and mount up. Soon you shall discover what war is all about.” He said softly before passing by me into the night a warm hand squeezing at my shoulder in his passing.

  Things got faster paced and I hung onto my stallion, as the cavalry peeled out of the camp with no light to guide us, but the light of the almost full moon above us.

  The air of excitement all around me was a palpable feeling as to a man we wondered what grand adventure we were on the very cusp of experiencing. This was no steady trot along slow moving troop formations, but a pace eating gallop.

  We traveled south down a narrow valley all through the night. By morning’s early light we made camp against the sides of the valley that had narrowed even further. There were to be no fires or loud noises of any kind.

  The men tried to get some rest, but it was difficult with the bright daylight and rampant excitement of what was taking place. A lot of the men that I had been riding along with came to me to ask what my father intended and all I could tell them was that I knew no more than they did. I wasn’t about to ask father either. If he wanted me to know he’d tell me.

  In the two nights that followed we repeated the exercise of the first night continuing southward at a quick pace. The next morning we didn’t stop though, but continued to ride on into the daylight.

  The route we were taking seemed to be avoiding any sign of settlement and it was clear to all of us that we were headed for some target deep in Zoarinian held territory. It was hard to imagine how we could go on much longer without being detected.

  The mood of the men grew strained at that very prospect and what would result with us being so deep into enemy territory.

  We got a big break. The clouds that had been building up for days broke loose into a heavy continuous downfall of rain. It was miserable to ride through, even worse to camp in without any fires, but it provided us cover to continue moving on undetected as no sane person would be out in this tempest.

  Five long days later we pulled up under the light cover of a marginal patch of forest as the rain continued. We were allowed to make shielded fires and I had the first hot meal in days.

  I felt completely exhausted from the ordeal of riding endlessly through the beating rain not to mention the double time action of my nerves. Surprisingly we stayed camped in the forest all of the next day as the rain began tapering off.

  That evening we mounted up and rode on quietly. After darkness had fallen we began entering cultivated fields and passing by small settlements. There was no way that our passing would go unnoticed in the morning by startled farmers rising to find their crops trod under by several tens of thousands of cavalry.

  In the distance there was a greater darkness against the moon lit darkness of the night that the whispers of the men around me said was the ocean, which was likely true because we could now smell the salt breeze coming off of it.

  With the sea off to our right we continued riding down the coast at a sedate pace that was killing me. Shouldn’t we be riding faster?

  Gradually in the distance lights began to pop up and increase in number and I realized that I was staring at one of the Zoarinian’s great seacoast cities. Were we seriously going to attack such a huge city?

  As we rode the city became bigger and bigger. I heard a rider comment that we were roughly an hour out from it at our current pace. Soon after the rider’s comment, we were given orders to halt for a brief rest.

  I couldn’t take it any longer and I walked stiffly in search of my father. I found him standing on a knoll alone facing the city in the distance.

  “Full of questions Zevin?”

  How did he know who it was in the dark? He turned enough to see my nod in the darkness.

  “Come along Zevin. I’ve decided that you are to play a vital role in the upcoming battle for the city.”

  He started off the knoll and swallowing down the apprehension that I felt at his words I stumbled along in the dark after him. So we were going to attack the monstrous city!

  What could he possibly mean by ‘vital role’? At the base of the knoll a group of castle lords and officers waited. Talaric was there too.

  When we reached the group father didn’t waste any time, “I know you’ve all been wondering as to the cause of our mission and I apologize for all the secrecy and the blind faith that I have required of you and your men. The city before us is Rauel and we are going to destroy it before this night grows much longer.”

  There was a shocked silence among the group at the audacity of such an action.

  “Roric may I ask why?” Asked a castle lord.

  “Rauel is where this new cult primarily originated from and its primary temple is going to burn with the rest of the city tonight.”

  There were no more questions as all present were unerring in their loyalty to my father.

  “We have the element of surprise and we are blessed to still have it. The Zoarinians have long been overconfident in their belief that they are impervious to invasion. Their great cities by the sea are not geared for any form of self defense. There are no walls and guard watches are practically nonexistent. The only defensive capability comes from the citadel located centrally in each city. They are usually complemented with the more undisciplined soldiers, while their more senior soldiers have quarters within the actual city itself. This is the plan of our attack, Talaric you will take two hundred of our best men and slip into the city and make your way into the citadel. You will gain control of its access points and secure them until you receive reinforcement. Captain Rostu you will take 10,000 cavalry and assault the city from the south. Lord Salonis you will take another 10,000 cavalry and assault the city from the north. Captains Ona and Manak you will each take 5,000 men and attack the city to either side of my column of 10,000 cavalry as we head for the city from the landward side. Once we hit the city, Zevin you will break off from my column with 2,000 cavalry and go to reinforce your brother’s efforts to hold the citadel. The remaining men of my group will follow me as I assault the temple grounds, which is the most heavily guarded area of the city both night and day. We will put the city to flame starting in the center at the citadel and then working outward, but only after the citadel has been taken. Once the city is well under blaze we will withdraw and make for home as fast as we can. Captains you will need to prepare for a running battle, when we retreat as they will try to slow us down and block us off from reaching the Valley Lands. We will not engage the enemy in our retreat other than to force our way through. Any questions?”

  No one said anything although Talaric looked like he wanted to. I was reeling from the news that I was to lead a relief force of 2,000 men to reinforce my brother taking the citadel.

  Captain Ona and Lord Salonis both patted me on the back encouragingly, as they left to prepare their men and head out. Everyone had left even Talaric.

  Father came over to me and put his hands on my shoulders and looked into my eyes, “I have every confidence in you son to do the right thing when the time comes. I wouldn’t put this responsibility on your shoulders if I didn’t think you could handle it!”

  I nodded but I didn’t really believe him.

  He was crazy to give such a responsibility to someone as inexperienced as I was. I headed back toward my horse and the men I was suddenly thrust into headship over. Whether I could do it or not I was going to give it my best
and let the Creator do the rest. I owed the men I would lead my best despite what doubts I may have as to the rightness of my command.

  Chapter Four

  First Blood

  In roughly an hour’s time the long unbroken line of cavalry started forward, as unsheathed swords and lance points glistened in the moonlight of early morning. The city was still lit up with lights that no doubt burned all night long.

  Slowly the long line of cavalry approached, as my father’s group and the two flanking captains kept their pace slow to allow the other groups the time needed to attack the flanks of the city simultaneously to our own attack.

  As if by some silently given off signal the pace of the long line of cavalry quickened. The city drew closer and closer. The long line of cavalry broke into a gallop. I clung to the reins of my stallion full of excitement and yes, fear.

  The city grew taller and brighter with every passing second like some great hideous many eyed monster rising up before us. Down and up over ditches and fields we plunged the pace getting faster and faster. I saw the big wide central street of the city opening up before me just as father had said it would. It would lead my group straight to the citadel.

  I headed the big stallion for it as the men to either side of me and those knotted up in a shapeless mass behind me followed my lead. The hooves of our mounts pounded down on the cobbled stoned streets of the city, as we streamed uncontested into it.

  The wide street was full of the active night life of the city. Bright lights shone through colored glass, as sultry musical beats vibrated through the air. The sight and sound of us charging into their nightly pastimes shattered the scene of a city at play. People shrieked in fright and ducked into any hiding place they could find, but many of them in their panicked confusion where trampled over by our mounts, along with their belongings.

  It was a scene of utter chaos and mayhem the like of which I had never experienced before. I had one saber in my hand, but I did not use it. There was no time to. We rode so fast and our objective was not to stop and fight, but to reach the citadel and relieve Talaric and his men.

  The lights of the city streamed by me in a blur of color as my eyes remained tunnel focused upon the street before me and the endless stream of shrieking people that I was mowing over.

  My stallion plunged and smashed through the glittering throng valiantly. He was ready for the battle. He surged up and over carts and other obstacles, while smashing through tables and people alike. Onward ever relentless, as if drawn by some love of the savagery of the moment and not by any act of mine in urging him on.

  It came to me suddenly as to what I would name the black beast that I rode. I would name him Relentless.

  It seemed but seconds since we had entered the city, but most likely it had been several minutes. My eyes began to trace the outline of the tall walls of the citadel and its towers rising up out of the poorly designed city.

  Suddenly it seemed to me that I plunged through this strange world of colored lights alone. I glanced back over my shoulder hoping to alleviate the fear that it could be true. My men still plunged through the fray as did I, but they were a horse length back from me.

  In that brief moment my eyes locked with theirs and I saw the eagerness for the fight shining brightly within theirs, like a pack of ravening wolves with prey in sight.

  The urge to be a leader worthy of such a pack drove me over the edge of my mind’s own limitations and I turned back into the saddle and quit being my savage mounts passenger and became the masterful rider of the coiled wrath that glided beneath me, as I matched him in the intensity of the moment and urged him on even faster.

  Relentless answered the call with a willingness that any warrior would have relished. We were both now fully committed to the struggle, wherever it may lead. The citadel suddenly loomed close, and with it came an unwelcome sight. Enemy soldiers were pouring out of the gate into the city. Where was Talaric?

  Had his men failed to hold the gate? I could see no sign of him. They had left the main body of the army over two hours ago. I glanced up to see the gate keepers running madly along the top of the wall gesturing at us excitedly.

  They meant to close the gate and bar the citadel away from our conquest!

  I could not let that happen!

  Talaric could be held inside prisoner and beyond that father had tasked me with its capture and I wasn’t about to either disappoint him or fail to rescue my brother.

  My right hand resheathed the saber it held, as I dropped the reins altogether and guided the raging mount with my knees the way that Rolf had taught me. Reaching back I unlatched the bow from my back and let the arrow quiver free to dip to the side under my one arm. My right hand swept to the side for an arrow, as I brought the bow up in my left hand. Fitting the arrow to the bow I let it fly and somehow from the whirling bucking platform that I sat upon my arrow sped true and slammed into the chest of the man nearest the gatehouse.

  I let another arrow fly and as I did a hail of arrows from behind me joined it. In one sweep of whistling death giving force the wall top was cleared of any who may have closed the gate for the moment.

  Relentless thundered upon the draw bridge still lowered over the moat of murky water that surrounded the citadel. Relentless and I plunged through the ranks of packed soldiers before us into the front drill yard interior of the citadel.

  I drilled arrows to my left and right clearing the walls of any who might reach the gatehouse and lower the gate. I had always been a good archer, but the ease and accuracy by which I was downing the enemy seemed to me as if it was some new talent that had just been awakened within me.

  Wheeling to fire at another section of wall where the enemy were headed for the gate I barely managed to hold onto the arrow before I had loosed it.

  They weren’t enemy soldiers, but rather Talaric and his men. I turned away in anger from the sight of my brother. My men had nearly been sacrificed on the approach to and locked within a gate that was to have already been held within our hands!

  I heard a clanging noise and looked up to see the second gate of the citadel further up the citadel grounds had closed. The second ring wall had stairs leading to its top, but only one gate, which was now closed barring us from the inner citadel grounds. In the insanity of the moment of action I plunged Relentless towards the steep narrow stairs.

  I shot off my arrows at any archer that showed himself, even as I heard arrows whiz past me. Relentless bucked his way up the narrow steps and at one point it felt like we were going to fall over backwards and probably would have if I were heavier and Relentless had been wearing full battle armor. We made the top of the second wall and I reattached my bow to my back. I was out of arrows anyway.

  The wall top was too cluttered to navigate mounted so I leaped off Relentless leaving him to find his own way. My father’s sabers were in my hands and they felt good. I made my way across the wall top ducking arrows from the inner courtyard and wild sword swings on the wall.

  I was so glad for Rolf’s intensive training at this moment. True it had often been excruciating and his manner often seemingly cruel, but it was paying off now. My blade was quicker and my moves more nimble than any opponent I faced.

  The enemy soldiers fell to the side or over the wall, as I made my way to the gatehouse. I didn’t think about the lives I was taking, only the objective ahead of me.

  Some part of my consciousness knew that to be so objective and dispassionate about the ending of life heralded in the fear that I had always had about myself. I was a cold blooded killer at heart, when I needed to be.

  I couldn’t be concerned with the loss of that innocence right now. The killing before me needed done. I wasn’t doing what I was for the thrill of killing, but rather to save lives, my men’s lives.

  Introspectively I watched with what skill and savagery I fought with, skills beyond what I had ever learned on a practice field. I didn’t like killing, which was why I had never been an avid hunter. I had left the glory o
f killing wild game to others, because I saw no glory in it only the necessity by which to survive.

  I feared what my new status as an abject killer would bring me in life. Would there ever be a woman out there who would want me? Girls my age had never seemed to care for me, which had left me wondering as to the possible reasons why. I wasn’t bad looking and while I wasn’t the eldest son of my father I would still have a position of preeminence in life. Maybe they had sensed this capability for killing heartlessly under my quiet exterior façade that I had constructed and carefully maintained in order to keep my emotions invisible from the world. Oh well it was what it was and there was no changing it.

  I had almost cleared a path to the gatehouse. I had to get that gate open!

  Another enemy soldier in front of me fell away not by my saber’s strike, but from an arrow coming from his own side. I sensed danger from behind and I wheeled to face it.

  I felt the edge of a sword slice along my jawbone where the back of my neck had been but a second before. I sliced backward blindly with one saber and felt its impact with something solid and turning completely I finished the soldier off with my other sword.

  The way to the gatehouse was open and I ran stumbling over the bodies along the top of the wall. Once in the gatehouse I laid my swords to the side and grabbed one of the handles of the winch and began to heave with all my strength against it.

  The rusty iron gate began to rise slowly. Suddenly there were more hands than just mine on the crankshaft and the gate rose quickly. As the port callus rose higher I watched my men stream through it screaming like banshees out for blood, into the inner confines of the citadel.

  The fighting for the citadel would soon be over. I leaned against the crankshaft, as a sudden wiriness took me over for a second. I opened my eyes to see the handles of my sabers extended out to me by Velanas, a soldier I had been riding beside throughout the patrol.