Vain: A Kingdom In Flames

Chapter 25: First Blood

          The next week is spent preparing for war. Weapons are being made as fast as possible. Crude swords and jagged axes are being handed out everywhere. Food is being stored, and the rebels are being taught how to walk in a division. I and Hope have precious little time together, and the time we do have we happily spend praying, for our army, our future, everything! Its decided that Tydon will go, and accompany Duke Brom in his attack from the south. Ivan and Elizabeth will lead an attack from the east side of the city, attempting to charge into the eastern gate. Brom and Tydon will charge the southern gate, and I and Lorna, will charge the west. Hope will hold a division back, in case either of our sides need help in securing the gates. We will have to defeat the small armies guarding each gate. On the southern side, Brom will send in one thousand troops straight at the gate, and when the warriors from the south ambush him, he will then send in another thousand, with an extra 3,000 in the rear, waiting in order to feed reinforcements to either of the three attack points. Hope will wait behind with a thousand of her own, and I and Ivan will each have a thousand. We have 8,000 in total. 3,000 rebels, and 5,000 Ard's. We dont know how many soldiers Edward has, be we sent many scouts, and they estimate, near 1,000 on each side. Another scout who went further south said he spotted probably 2,000 desert warriors south of Varrock. The people we rescued out of Varrock say Edward has at least 4,000 to 5,000 infantry in Varrock. Around 1,500 archers lining every wall. The rest are infantry. I happen to know that in case of attack, our father always planned to stuff as many infantry as he could in the palace courtyard, which is walled off except fro a small entrance on the west and south side, and try to bottleneck an army if worse came to worse. That will likly be Edwards plan. He could probably put 500 to 1,000 people in there, all through out the castle and the yard. We have also been told that Edward has only five catapults, set up. Three on the top of the palace, and one on each side the city. We will have to take them, because we dont have any of our own. The day before we march, I see Jeremiah, and I walk up to him.

          "Jeremiah, my friend!"

          "Hello Danny!"

          "How are your sons?"

          "They are fine, they will stay here with the other children."

          "I'm glad, but I need to speak with you on something."

          "What is it?"

          "Well, The Lord has put it on my heart to have an armor bearer. And with everyone else busy, I believe God is leading me to you, and I'd trust no one else more to have back in battle."

          "It would be a great honor my friend! Oh what an honor!"

          "Meet me in the front lines," I toss him one of my swords, "And show this if anyone questions you."

          We spend all night preparing for battle, and getting everyone into divisions. Its all set up to march tomorrow before sunrise. I rise early, with only about two hours of sleep. Most everyone else is still fast asleep. I kneel by my bed.

          "Dear Lord, I love You, so so much. And I don't deserve all You have done for me, and that's outside sending Your only begotten son to die for my sins! I just want to tell You, today, if I die, then I will have lived for You, and I will die for You and I look forward to resting in Your arms. And if I live, I will live for you until You see it fit to bring me home! In Jesus's name, Amen!