Three Must Decide.

Part 42, Should it have come to this.

Chapter note. the first 3 chapters have introduced you to the Three. Each faction is controlled, to a degree, by a real life person so decisions have to be made.

Hidden consequences.

can you really know what you will have to do when you first make a decision.

Decisions.

No new decision here for Ehmet he is already committed to this course.

Read on to see its end.

Ehmet knew he had asked too much of his army, expected more than they could be asked to give, he could see it, feel it, but there was nothing he could do now, he had to find strength for them, force those who fought for him to find yet more from a Well that was already dry.

He kept his voice level and clam, loud enough only for those with him to hear but hear clearly.

"wedge formation, I will lead" he turned and strode to the rear of the line, protests rang out from his aids, not through fear of losing their lives, although no doubt they did but for their Crown Prince. "Wedge formation" he ordered again not looking to them.

There was no room to deny him, their role was to support him and protect him if it came to it and now seeing his resolve they rushed to him, forming up quickly hoping to avoid the horror of failing in their duty. 

Ehmet felt them come around him, he raised his voice "tighten up" and so they did.

He glanced left and right seeing his line still held and then allowed himself a glance over his shoulder. Olivier was there, he acknowledged her, beyond and at the formations back, but not part of it there was the Warden. There eyes met to and that alone confirmed that Remon Gold would not be far from Olivia. A moment more and he noticed that his group was odd, very young and a little too old, the learning and the wise. Now set to the most original purpose of their careers, to fight. he allowed himself a moment of regret, it was likely these most loyal where about to die with him.

"forward, wedge advance" he ordered with a loud commanding voice so all close by would hear, then shoved past his rear rank. soldiers gave way keeping as tight as they could while allowing the wedge formation to pass through.

Ehmet stayed low behind his shield the formation around him that he lead was restrictive, he felt trapped, claustrophobic. He went forward fast, past one, two, three spears not one found him. The last caught him hard, turning him just enough. The blade went past him and punched in to the soldier to Ehmets left. In and out, to be thrust again. Ehmet parried the second, sending it high. Its master dropped the long shaft, drew his sward and pulled round his small shield, they slammed together. 

Ehmet was aware that the wedge on his right had managed to stay together but the left side had shattered as soon as the first had fallen, opening the rest up to the long spears. He had no idea if Olivia had reached the line with him but he had no time to look back. Using his larger shield he opened the way for his sward to stab the Iordan in front. The man fell back and then was push aside to be replaced by another. Ehmet entered the space left the instant before, closing again, feeling the press of his own soldiers on his back and right but his left was undefended. The wedge had broken in to the line but not yet through it.

He saw the blade just at the last, his skill with the shield stopping it from slamming in to his side. To his front his next opponent saw their opening but Ehmet was practiced,he was ready, parried the blow and forced his blade down his assailants arm. They dropped their sward and tried to batter him with their shield but Ehmet was inside it, up close, and the soldier crumpled, a moment of surprise replaced almost instantly with a blank face as the life vanished from them. Again Ehmet went forward. 

Two more and he would be through, but there were few of his own around him now. He focused on the soldier in front, the only way was forward. His opponent was quick with his sward, crouched low, he closed on Ehmet and as soon as he engaged Ehmet felt the experience, the control they brought to the fight. The experience held Ehmet where he was and a panic began to settle in. There was no time to be held and the fight became frantic, practiced routines clashing against sward and sheild in horribly close quarters. Another attack from his right came. This time it seemed that he had an age to react but in those moments Ehmet saw his death, in blocking the coming strick he would be finished by the fighter before him. He let it come angling his body to limit the damage. It was forward or nothing.

There was a moment of wonder when the crippling attack did not land but then out of the corner of his eye he saw a Bronze shield, Ehmets Crown shields had found there way through the gap to their Crown Princes side. One moment he was seeing the beginning of his end and next he was free again to take the soldier before him. A surge of relief replaced by insane battle rage fuelled by the chance to live on and forward again Ehmet went, caution leaving him. The only need, to break the man before him who moments before would have taken his life. 

Ehmet struck hard, closed every gap, no space between them. He stabbed brutally fast and finally one went through the guard then again and again and finally the soldier went down, his face full of rage and as he fell his dying hands gripped the edge of Ehmets sheild. Ehmet tried to hold his shield up but the weight was to much.  He was pulled forward and down the final Iordan in the line tried to cut him down but Ehmet managed to get his guard up and drive the women back with a thrust as he struggled to get to his feet.

He had not felt the strike but his front leg failed as he tried to stand. Ehmet looked down and saw the damage to his thigh. It had been pierced through and blood was flowing. He looked up as he began to feel the effect of the loss of blood and only just turned his face away as a blade found its way through his helmets face plate cutting deep in to his cheek, he fell back, a shattering blow taking him on the side of his head, the world around him fading as he hit the floor. Vision failing, all sound fading before nothing.