Fall of the Stars Book 2: Victory's Wing

Keion the Snake King

To Keion's right, situated on a congregation of rolling hills, was half a thousand Snake Warriors, men young and old, trained and seasoned fighters, armed with their curved blades and spears and full body shields. Their armor was scaled, their hair braided so that it would fit into their coifs. Some of their weapons and armor were old and going to rust, but it did them justice nonetheless. They had left their wives and children on the Isles to fight for their king, hoping to win fame, fortune, and land.

To Keion's left, far off in the distance where the grass grew taller than most men, was another half thousand men, armed with throwing spears and bows. Keion expected the land dwellers to try to flank him, so he positioned the men in an area where they would not be seen. From there they would rain down on the enemy, bleeding them while the other warriors slaughtered them.

Behind Keion was the grand majority of his force, two and a half thousand men, the sons of the richest and most powerful on the isles. They flew flags of various colors, but the standard that flew higher than the rest was the red sea snake coiling around a Glitterfish. When Keion had declared himself Snake King, he carefully chose the design, aiming to draw support by ridiculing their oppressors. For years the Snake Islanders were not allowed to touch the land owned by the Star King and his subjects. Every attempt was met with hostility, and the islanders found themselves stuck and overpopulating.

But with the Star King at war the Glitterfish's army would be weakened. Keion, with his new army, found the perfect chance to strike and took it. Now all he had to do was defeat the Glitterfish on the field and secure the new land for him and his people. He had no castle or wall to protect him, and the little villages he took had no defenses, so he was left with no choice but to face the Fish in a pitched battle.

"Today, men," he shouted, walking slowly among the ranks of his men, "We will engage in battle, a battle that will likely be the last for many of you. Some of you will die. That is the unfortunate price of freedom. But what you will leave in your legacy is a new future for your sons and their sons!" His men let out a loud cheer. "No longer will we crouch in the darkness and shy away from a bloody Fish. Today, my men, my brothers, the Snake shall feast upon the Fish! We are men of fangs and poison. We do not cower in the face of death, nor do we balk at the sight of the enemy! Aye, they may have greater numbers, but we are hard men, men of fangs and men of poison, and we have the strength to overcome this great enemy." His men cheered again, this time louder and more joyous. "Remember this, men: every Snake is worth ten Fish!"

Just as his speech finished, a man called for his attention to announce the arrival of the enemy. Just in time, Keion thought, snatching his scythe from his weapons bearer. He stood at the front of his two and a half thousand, staring the other men down. They were much too far away to see their faces, but the blue and white flags with the white fish glittering were unmistakable even from such a distance. A great many of horsed men were on the right flank, but Keion had no fear of horses. He had the horn ready to blow to signal his men in the tall grass to start firing.

The enemy missile troops, armed with their bows, stood in the front ahead of two lines of spearmen. Keion's men raised their shields, prepared to block the rain of arrows. They will not break us, but we can trick them. After they feel we are broken they will charge. And then my hill men will take care of the rest. Their bows were notched and ready to fire, Keion judged from their shift in position. He ducked under his shield.

Keion waited and waited, but nothing came. He feared looking up and getting caught with an arrow, but he knew he had to rise at one point.

"The grass!" someone yelled. Keion looked up from his shield and saw the arrows, tips red with fire, flying toward the grass. The arrows, however, were coming from the enemy's right side. The archers in front launched their arrows toward the hills.