Warring Kingdoms - Strife for Victory

Chapter 12 - Falling at the Walls

The trip towards their capital city was smooth. Multiple mercenaries attempted to attack us, but our heavy infantry made swift work. Carrying the flag of Reclion, we marched towards the outskirts of the city. The Imperial army was waiting for us. 

They stood in a large crescent, spreading out the forces thinner but wider. Their footmen stood at the centre of the crescent, while the heavy infantry and men at arms stood towards the outside. 

Since their army was spread out extremely wide, it would be difficult to flank them. We had to divide our army and attack them from multiple areas. I devised a plan. Divide our army into 3 parts. The frontline, the flankers, and the skirmishers. The frontline, which would consist of heavy infantry, spearmen, and spear sergeants would form into a rectangle and attack the ends of the crescent. This would divide their army into half, one side on each end, trying to fend us off. Our skirmishers will target the enemy's light infantry during this time, possibly breaking a few units' morales. 

This would give the perfect opportunity for the halberdiers, spear sergeants, and footmen to rush into the middle, flank through and out, and take the army. As this happens, the skirmishers will change their target towards the left wing of the enemy. Our cavalry would go around the side and flank the right wing. We would have a swift victory. 

We moved our frontline into position. 

"Charge!" I shouted.

Ichvar blew his horn twice, announcing the frontline into battle. They charged towards the edges. Our skirmishers took action and focused down the center. The enemy's light infantry, was hit hard by the volleys. Soon, 2 units lost morale and faltered off of the battlefield. 

"Sir! The enemy shock cavalry! Archers, retreat! Pull back!" Our commander shouted. 

Looking to the west, I saw the enemy's cavalry charging towards us. Armed with lances, two mercenary units were attacking us. 

"Noble Cavalry! Prepare!" I shouted. We mobilized into a unit and prepared for a counter charge. 

We galloped towards their direction, but evaded to the left. Not fazed by our actions, the enemy cavalry charged for our archers. The enemy cavalry made contact with our reserve army. Our commander had prepared spearmen and axemen to take the brunt of the charge. 

"Round up backwards! Charge!" At an angle, we charged towards their cavalry. As the enemy cavalry started pulling back, we slammed into them. Our own reserves got caught in the strike, but the charge was devastating to their shock cavalry. Their cavalry, stuck between our axemen and cavalry, fell quickly. 

I quickly looked back to observe what was happening on the battlefield. We were late. The enemy army were pushing back our frontline. 

"Reserves, flankers, strike! Attack! Get behind them!" I frantically shouted. 

If we didn't get this, the battle would end horribly. As they sprinted down the hill, I saw movement in the forest towards the east. A hidden army emerged.

"East! Cavalry, axemen, attack!" I shouted. They had hidden mercenaries. No, allies.  They had to have made an alliance with the neighboring countries. We had no allies. 

This was bad. We were losing a lot of troops on the frontline, and the flankers were late.

"Skirmishers, focus the primary army! Shock cavalry, spear sergents, attack the secondary army! Commander, pull back our army on the frontline, assemble them on the hill, try to maintain our position! Earl Ichvar, blow the horn." I, gathering my cavalry, charged towards the enemy's allied forces. 

Meanwhile, Ichvar blew the horn twice, announcing the men to retreat. Ichvar, after blowing his horn, spread out his dismounted elites onto the base of the hill, to assist the retreating men. Slowly our frontlines and flankers fell back. We had lost around 5 units and had 7 remaining out of the 12 frontline and flankers. Morale was low, but this battle was critical. 

Our men slammed into the enemy's allied forces, and they weren't expecting it. Pulling back after the hit, our axemen and sergeants charged in soon after, chipping down the secondary force. The secondary force was small, only consisting of 5 units. However, still bigger than our remaining reserve army. They brittled, as our elites broke them down. The enemy's allied forces only consisted of middle-class infantry, weaker than our men. As the elites attacked the enemy, my cavalry pulled back and rounded up, preparing for a strike at their flank. 

Our army was at the hill, holding strong. The elevation helped our spearmen and footmen reach out. However, the enemy slowly were creeping up the sides. Unfortunately for them, our cavalry was prepared. Slamming full force into their flank, we rammed a spear into their men. As I attempted to pull out, I heard a familiar voice screaming.

Ichvar.

I saw him, fallen to the ground. He was bleeding out of his stomach, and had serious wounds to the arms. 

"Cavalry, pull back and focus their archers. Go for one strike and regroup on top of the hill, I'll save Ichvar. Go!" They regrouped into a proper unit, and galloped away. 

I, focused my attention on getting Ichvar out. I dropped my spear, and unsheathed my sword. Swinging through and into the enemy army, I reached the Ichvar. I hoisted him up onto my stallion. 

"Earl Ichvar, I'll get you out of here. Hold on strong!" My stallion, kicking wildly at the enemy, regained it's balance. It was damaged from cuts, but it was standing tall. We charged out and behind our lines. I dropped the Jarl off next to the reserve cavalry.

"One of you. I just need one of you!" I shouted. One man raised his hand, turning his attention to me. 

"Get Earl Ichvar back to Kaeyedes and get him medical care immediately! On the way, notify our men at Kaeyedes to bring reinforcements! Go! Now!" I commanded. 

I might have saved a man's life, but we were losing. The fall of Earl Ichvar demoralized the army, and we were falling. I saw my broken-down cavalry unit falling off and retreating into the distance, not seeming to come back. 

"Reserves! Retreat back to the kingdom, the Elites and I will hold them back! Return with Ichvar and take this for the kingdom!" I shouted. The reserve cavalry rounded up the soldiers, and fled towards the south. 

"Dismounted elites! Round up! Retreat back onto the hill! Form up into the head of a wedge! footmen! Those who are willing to fight, hold on! If you aren't willing, save yourself!" I screamed. 

Uncertain men looked around and started retreating. We had around 200 men left. They had 700. Our archers, most of the infantry, and cavalry had retreated. I raised the torn flag of Reclion and shouted. Dismounting and sword in hand, I charged. 

Throwing myself into the frontline, I hacked and cut at the circular shields of the Keroldians. Our wedge formation slowly moved back, but refused a flank or anything. They couldn't encase us because of our wedge slowly expanding. Our elites stood strong. While they were exhausted, they were still willing. The will to go on was always stronger. 

Stabbing into their men, we slowly fell back. Now, they were losing men much quicker than we were. They had no strategy, now they just wanted to kill all of us. We had lost around 70 men, compared to their 200 lost. 

Soon, we had our backs to the forest. They wouldn't lead such a big army into the forest. We could poke them and constantly chip them down. We would make a final stand. 

"Men, retreat! It's a slaughter!" I shouted. 

It was my fault. I should receive the consequences. 

My men slowly started fleeing, but I kept fighting. Memories of life back at home fueled me. Thoughts of my wife. My friends. My family. Cutting and parrying, I slowly pierced through into their infantry. I didn't know or care what was happening. I didn't know I was deep into the enemy unit, destroying men. 

A cut at my arm snapped me out of my rage-filled slaughter. I cut at him once more, slicing into his shoulder. I pulled the sword through, decapitating him.

Staggering back, I realized I was lost. In the middle of the forest, limping, alone.

I was defeated, but not dead.