Iron of the Innocent: Mistress of Agony (Vol 2)

Chapter 7: Wings of Shadow

274 I.C.
Sacren
Black Sword Kingdom
Central Black Sword
City of Maegon

Oppressive darkness covered the sky, creeping forward in all directions from Dark Vale, choking the sun with its unyielding grip. Days passed without light, just the distant glow of fire in the western sky and whatever lights that burned within the city or on the plain. Marshal Varie Reddragon stood with her lieutenants and personal guard, garnet tinted eyes on the battle spread out before her.

Exhaustion caressed her features, marred with the filth of the battle field. Her once pristine, dark plate armor was battle worn, and her black command cloak was tattered. One hand held her sword, the other her long bow. The weeks of war had been brutal for both sides, and her armies were pushed back by relentless, overwhelming numbers.

Part of Varie's dark red hair had come loose from a braid, and it billowed out behind her, along with her cloak as the western wind blew against her. The points of her elven ears and cheeks were flushed, and her eyes focused on the ranks of her warriors.

"Fire!" she stormed with a great cry, raising and dropping her bow. Her archers launched yet another volley against a mass of enemy soldiers attempting to flank her lines to the south.

The battle was situated on a flat plain before the walls of Maegon, a fortified city at the confluence of two rivers in central Black Sword. Two wide, thick bridges crossed the river from the main western gates of the city onto the field of battle. It was the last stronghold protecting the capital city and Black Sword castle from the invasion coming out of the west.

The marshal stood on the wide, stone wall, surrounding the city, overlooking the battle, calling out commands to her army that were then echoed by many voices. The standard bearer behind her held the thick pole that flew Black Sword colors. Its fabric fluttered with the wind that had been working against her archers all morning.

Knowing they were facing a large bulk of the invading forces here, Varie was extremely concerned by messages from her field commanders to the north and south that arrived at dawn's twilight. What little change in the sky that could be called dawn. Enemy forces were engaging her generals on all fronts, attempting to cross the river, and there were simply not enough soldiers to send reinforcements.

Varie gritted her teeth, feeling that her army was stretched too thin as they tried to cope with superior numbers out in the open. Especially on the field below. She sighed and shook her head. "This is not going to bring us victory," she said to the man on her right. "They can fall back to thin out our lines. There is nothing to keep them from doing so."

"I agree," he said. "Their plan is obvious."

"As soon as they are confident, they will send in their cavalry. Then we would send in ours. Even with our cavalry, our numbers will not be able to counter the strike," the marshal said considering her options.

"I don't like this. Pull them back," Varie ordered.

"To the bridges!" Several voices relayed the command and a horn blew several short notes. The Black Sword forces began an organized, careful withdraw to the two bridges crossing the river.

"They take us for fools, trying to draw us out. If they want us, they will have to commit," Varie said watching the enemy lines stay in place as her soldiers began to withdraw. She eyed the command tents and crowd in front of them across the northwest field in the distance. "Bastards," she cursed.

The Black Sword army repositioned itself with foot soldiers carrying heavy shields, choking the bridges in a defensive maneuver. Archers took up position in the bridge fortifications and along the river below the city walls. Black Sword cavalry was positioned to strike anyone attempting to cross the waters.