Golden Sword

Chapter 22

Finally, the word came from the scouts that the Paradisian army was approaching. Although the roads had been totally open the enemy army had moved cautiously and had delayed at Patchwork. It was now early September and the weather was still very hot. Moving south on Gantham Road, they had bivouacked in an area just north of Gantham two nights ago. They had broken camp early this morning and were now in marching column again headed toward Mercedium. With this news Keika's army had been deployed to its ambush positions in the hills and woods to the west of the road and lake. Everything and everyone was ready and her officers and soldiers were anxious to engage the enemy. Crouched in hidden positions stretching as long as the lake itself, nearly thirty five thousand waited to take their revenge on the invaders. Grey, overcast skies hid the rising sun on this day of decision.

Keika and her Paladins were deployed in the forest above the entrance to the trap, so they could close the northern door. Just to their south lay St. Germaine's 1st Legion, followed by the Mercedian 2nd Army, commanded by Devin. Deployed next to them was Hilliard's 2nd Legion, then the rebuilt 1st Army commanded by King Harold, Jack and Eric and finally Mantini's (granddaughter of the old Field Marshall) 3rd Legion. They were supported by the Otani and Mercedian cavalry at the end of the trap, closing the southern door. She desperately wanted Eric at her side, but had been unable to rationalize having him with her for any other reason than to be able to protect him. Having him almost three miles away was causing her a lot of anxiety.

King Harold, as per his instructions, was the nominal leader of this battle, but, with such a long, thin battlefield, he would have almost no command control. Once the trap was put in motion, there would be no stopping it, and everything would play out with little direction from the general officers. The scouts had reported that the Paradisians had broken camp at daybreak and should be marching along the road through this area sometime in the next two hours. Thousands waited to greet them, resting comfortably amongst the trees, shrubbery and shadows. The morning was even a little cool. Perfect weather for a battle.

Scouts came gliding silently by them, crouching low as they went. One stopped by Keika. "Just around the bend, my Princess, they will be here momentarily." The scout then went on her way toward the King to report to him. Turning to Valerie, Syr Shen and Roxanne beside her she said, "They are just about here.......I can hear them now....it won't be long, pass the word." Whispering could be heard around them. Tension filled the air. Anubis began to whine and growl low as he did before any engagement. Hands gripped swords tightly and many offered prayers to their God. Keika said a prayer to hers and also asked for her mother to watch over Eric. You said you would hear me, she thought to her mother, please, please keep him safe. She couldn't remember ever feeling so nervous.

Faintly at first, but steadily growing louder, they could now all hear the clinking of arms and armor. Shortly after that the sound of many marching boots came to their ears. The heartbeats of the listeners quickened as those sounds slowly drew near. Then, coming around a bend in the road, appeared the Paradisians. Their scouts led the procession by about a half mile, but they only checked out the area directly beside the road, and did not detect any sign of the Army of the Alliance waiting quietly in the shadows and foliage above them. They proceed on and then, with heavy boots plodding steadily on the road, were followed the heavy infantry.

As they began to march past their position, she could hear an earworm of col legno battuto begin in her head. This was a violin technique where the wood of the bow was used to strike the bow strings directly. It produced an eerie percussive sound. Often before and during battle, her mind would serve up music in the form of an earworm, almost like background music. She had no idea why, but it seemed to keep her calmer. During the siege it had been Rachmaninov, Vivaldi and Dvorak, now for this battle, her subconscious had apparently selected Gustav Holst's 'Mars'. Nothing could have been more appropriate. The oncoming army certainly represented the God of War well. But he will smile on our side today, she thought. Holst's masterpiece swelled into that driving, threatening beat that almost matched that of the passing infantry's boots. She knew this piece so well and had played it many times. The brown clad army continued to march by, ignorant of the ever growing danger on their right, laying in wait in the woods and brush.