Vain: Upon An Hours Rest

Chapter 15: The Great Battle of Falador

          We reach the northern end of the city as the moon was almost making its way to the top of the sky. The screams of battle are just dieing down and as we ride in we see bodies every where.

          Daniel looks up and says, “I want to know how many soldier we have left and when we can make a counter attack. Meet for prayer before the moon is down and we attack at dawn!” Within the hour we learn around 200 of our defending force is dead and dieing and only 350 are ready and fit for battle.

          “Daniel, I have an idea.”

          “Yes?” “Arm at least 100 men with long bows and any cross bows we can find, along with your archers and set them up in high places behind the rubble where they cant be seen. I'll stand on that portion of the wall, when the enemy enters the city we let our arrows fly, but not until everyone is in the city and trapped. After at least five to ten vollys send in infantry and cut the small remainder down.”

          “See to it that it be so!” By dawn every soldier without a bow is hiding at behind the north gate as we slowly watch and approaching force of about 200 infantry men and what looks to be a few knights.

          “It looks like the cowards fled! But as the words leave his mouth the first volley comes down, then a second and a third. By the fifth volley men start dropping swords and putting up hands and screaming to surrender. I rush off y perch on the wall, get on my horse and ride to the north gate.

          “Daniel, run the infantry straight through the city and into the port! Their forces are broken and surrendered!” Without a word a mass of infantry rushes past and charges pass the city. I turn my horse and follow after the end of the force as quickly as i can. I can see archers all over the city climbing down and following in pursuit. The rush begins to slow and I know the front must have hit the blood thirsty battle but when I reach the gate I realize why the charge has slowed and stopped. I go passed the ranks all the way down to the harbor where I reach the front with Daniel and see the ships, way off in the distance, barley noticeable. They distracted us with those few attacks wile the rest of them got away. I'm angry at myself for not leaving when I should have, and almost angry over the things I did do. 

          "Make camp here at the port, take anything that can serve the army and make it known, all of the Temple Knights and elder Elves need to meet me in the jail building!" shouts Daniel. I begin finding the Knights and elves along. It occurs to me he never mentioned the head dwarf but after asking around I'm told the dwarfs have stayed behind back in Varock were the rest of our army is stationed. A hour or so later we are all sitting around a few tables and the meeting begins with Daniel standing.

          "Starting tomorrow, when we begin our march on the western kingdom, will be the most challenging part of this war. At first we were looked at as a small rebel faction. Obvious flaws have been made by Lord Ragen in his judgment of how this war is going. If he were smart he would of went on an offensive by now. We are the rebels, not an army. Many of the men and women on our side have not used weapons before this time. We are more in numbers but still disadvantaged by that fact. When we reach Camelot I want training divisions to begin. I'm going to place you all in charge of divisions now and when we reach Camelot, we will set up there as a fortress, fortify and be ready to defend. We must be ready. Captain Arian, How many Temple knights are left?"

          The new captain Arian Atar stands and says, " Camoron Blake, Johanthan Esternly, Caden Albright, Gom 'Ironmark' Ilgenar, Ospar Nydale, Palid Papur, Pictal Mical, David Odeir. Nine Temple Knights are left sire. Duke Tydon Smith was killed on the way to the Elven lands in a raid on a paganist tower." As he says this my heart drops anew in sadness.