Born with Sunrise

Chapter 3

Chapter 3

Staying low amongst the thorny pruyee bushes was a hardship, but not one that even registered in his mind. He had been in far worse situations over the years. Since he had been joining his fathers on missions at the age of twelve, he had found himself in many an uncomfortable situation, that this was a mere annoyance that could be ignored, thought maybe he found it a little less annoying than that of his seasoned warriors. Having taken over the lead of the warriors his father choosing to spend his late years safely at home in the loving arms of his mother. He smiled knowing that his father whined constantly at not going on any more 'adventures' when he could tell just from the look in his father's eye as he has left them. His father was exactly where he wanted to be. And they all knew it. Keeping the smile from his face, he made sure his focus was on the men and his mission once more. The longest thorn of the bush was currently using as protection tried to pierce the leather of his armour clad arm.

With a silent signal, his restless men surged forward with a singular focus. Most would have waited for the cover of darkness, but in his mind they were cowards. Aye, he would agree darkness was needed for certain clandestine activities. But for an attack only cowards used the cover of darkness. If you were a highly trained warrior people you need not use other methods to help your advantage, as others had done in the hopes of beating them in the past. They had won the battle, but the war was far from over. It was their honour which had blinded them, but it was their honour which would mean they won in open battle, with the sun beating down upon their faces. If only figuratively speaking. For the cloud cover this day meant they were only in direct sunlight in fits and bursts.

Yet as they cleared the brush and the outlaying buildings of the tribe came into view, he could feel the difference in his bones. Something about this mission had called to him from the start and from the moment he had accepted it from his king, he had known it would lead to something, not that he could even begin to hope, for that hope had been dashed over and over, but the seedling itself was starting to peep through the surface no matter his own thoughts on the matter. He was a reasonable pragmatic man, but even he knew when the weakness took over, he could not stop it from growing within him. He could only cage it and utilise its power to his advantage in the fight. It had fired his soul for so long now, it was a part of him, even as he wanted to try and forget it existed.

Drawing his broadsword from its place upon his back, its rasp the only noise as his feet flew silently through the springy grass. This was the fourth tribe they would be attacking in just under a Sen night. Sweeping through this nation showing a might that they thought long gone from his people. They were finally fighting back against the people who had taken away their hearts. This time they would show the known world exactly what they did to avenge those who had meant everything to them. They were finally strong enough and nothing would stand in their way, not now.

Finally, they broke through the first huts onto the slightly muddy pathways beyond. It was then he let his roar of a battle cry flood free, his rage rising up to meet his cry, following with the clarity of his mind clearing even further to take in all around him. As his roar slipped forth, so did those of his warriors, taking his lead even if that led to their finally journey. These men had proved their worth many times over, they would step into the line of fire for him as he would for them. With a lightness of foot which was belied by their size they made sure that whoever was in this tribe knew they were coming for them. They may not have much time, but they would give them that warning at least, it was more than they had ever received.

Those of his men who preferred the battle axe to the broadsword started a thunderous rumble as they thumped them against the small round defensive shields upon their forearms. The sound reverberated throughout his body. His heart pounding within his chest with both excitement and the almost religious beating of the drums. The dangerous beat took over his very soul as they came upon the first wave of defence. It was with some surprise as he attacked he took note of the full armour that was worn. They would not have had time to adorn themselves in full battle armour from the time they first heard them. That meant something was happening that his scouts had missed and he would be having very physical words with them about that. Thrusting that thought to the back of his mind, he concentrated on the powerful blows of his opponent's weapon as he parried and danced with his partner.

These men were the best trained he had come across on his mission so far, which told the part of his mind not completely focused on the battle around him that this tribe was important in this land. And whatever had caused them to be dressed as this today was important to the tribe. Such a shame that had not been invited. A grim smile overtook his face as with a graceful arch of his broadsword he both dispatched the opponent before him and took up the dance with the one who stepped into his path from the right. The narrow pathways in this part of the clan's buildings meant that there could only be three of his men abreast fighting, whilst the less wide, though no less muscular men before them could stand five across. Not that being outnumbered meant anything to him, he was able to take on four of his men at a time, so these puny weaklings were nothing to him.

Well, puny may be a little harsh, as he parried the next blow and felt the vibrations all the way to his shoulder. The grim smile still in place, whilst the majority of his face was obscured by his helmet, he knew he was an imposing figure to behold. The fear quickly masked on the faces quickly rounded the corner to join the fight just proved that to him. His momentary distraction of the approaching back up cost him with a nick in his leather armour, a small scratch his only injury the sturdy leather protecting him from the worst of the blow. Bringing his head back into the fight he concentrated only on the men in front of him.

He heard the battle cries of his men who had taken different routes into the tribe. Knowing that they had covered all routes in, he knew it was only a matter of time before it was brought to its knees before him. His men had their orders and his trust to fulfil them to the last word he had spoken. He had not brought all of the thousand warriors he had command of to this battle. But he had known to bring the majority of them from the unsettled feeling in his gut. He was very glad for the feeling now, knowing that with his numbers their victory was assured. If he had left behind the same amount as last time, it would have been touch and go as to how many losses he would have, but victory either way was assured to him and his men. There was no other outcome that he would accept.

Slowly, they made their way forward, one body at a time, eventually the men attacking diminished in such numbers that they were able to move towards the centre circle the people of this land build around. They met very few other warriors from the initial defenders and knew that the rest were waiting in the centre. What did surprise him was the number of women and children that were running free, crying and upon seeing their invaders letting forth screams of terror. They let them alone, for now. The women of his people had not be left alone, but he would at least treat these women with more dignity than was afforded his own people. They would no longer know their freedom, but him men had explicit instructions not to touch them unless they had made the ultimate connection, in which case the woman in question would be spoken too. In each case so far, the women had seemed to jump at the opportunity to become the wife of one of his men. More eager than he would expect from any person who had been taken captive by an invading force, especially a force showing as much power as he and his men were.

The men knew to leave the women for now, if any tried escaping the tribe then so be it, that would be their decision, but they were days of travel from anywhere else, and they would most probably not survive any journey with the storm he felt coming, he felt it in his very bones. But that would be their choice. If they stayed he would take their freedom, but would ensure their survival over the coming days.

With his guard up and his grip tightening instinctually upon the hilt of his broadsword, anticipating an attack, he rounded the last of the large huts to the inner circle. It was already a cacophony of sound and screams as the fight had already begun by those of his men who had made it through none defended routes. Knowing who the leaders of this tribe where by the circle of defenders around them, he let forth a roar and headed straight for the cowards who hid behind their own men.