The Great Empire

Heathen's Rush

The next couple months was a grueling trial of my patience as I trained a grand total of thirty men and women we wouldn't be able to hold off a full blown attack for long. Yet I trained on they were coming along well yet they weren't ready. One day I awoke to the sound of Lilian training the warriors I glanced out my window she was drilling them on the use of a spear instead of a sword watching her move was something amazing she danced along the battlefield like she was born there her slim figure made it damn near impossible to hit her I watched until she noticed me and shot me a smile her short hair getting into her face a little. Gods that woman could light up the darkest night with that smile I shook my head and smiled back putting on my armor and heading out to meet her. "How are our recruits doing?" I asked holding my helmet under my arm
She shrugged and responded with "going good,however they won't be able to defeat a large army we need help maybe we should go after that woman Applyon?" I gripped my helmet and sighed with a nod "maybe you are right send out some scouts to track her down and ask for help I'll keep training the men" Lilian nodded and went on her way I went to showing some of them why a sword was much better than a spear. As the days dragged on and summer turned to fall winter would soon be on us we stored just enough food for the winter if it was lost we would starve. I was busy taking inventory when I heard it a soft thundering I would have mistaken it for a weird breeze then it got louder and louder that was war drums I ran from the silos to the walls and my heart sank an army of unknown invaders three hundred strong. These didn't look like Applyons warriors these were savages wearing nothing but cloth armor with wolf skins on there heads and across their chests I ran to the warning bell and rang it "everyone get to cover soldiers at the gate now!" I shouted it was soon panic as civilians went to hide in the main hall. Lilian was by my side in moments "what's the situation James" I sighed and shook my head "three hundred barbarians at the gate we have thirty men I hate to do this but if they can swing a sword they need to be on the front lines go get them" she nodded and was off I stood on the top of the wall looking at my men they were scared and if I'm honest so was I "men I know we are out numbered and you've only trained a few short months but now is the time to make a stand if we fail out there everything we love falls and I refuse to let what's left of our people go out the Great Empire will last for another thousand years who's with me!" I shouted lifting my blade into the air and the men cheered Lilian had joined is with another hundred men and women this would have to do I watched the army they hadn't moved yet,but I waited and watched as she armed the new recruits that's when it happened a two ton rock flung at us from a unseen catapult smashed the gates throwing me form the wall. My ears were ringing I looked around we lost some men in the blast i pushed myself to my feet to see warriors wielding twin axes come thought the hole first i stood and charged one kicking him in the chest slamming him again the wall bring my sword down slashing him open and with a right hook sent him to meet his god more warriors poured in as my men charged with Lilian at the front I slashed my way through the ranks that's when I heard someone speak in a brutish tongue and pointed at me with am axe as he slashed his way through four of my men with one swing. He started to run at him and him at me I jumped to bring my blade down on him to finish him quickly that was a grave mistake. I was tackled back into the main hall where our children and woman were three men stood and grabbed table legs to use as clubs I raised my hand to halt them and spoke "stay back I will deal with him if he gets past me kill him" I turned to look at him that's when an axe slashed across my face plate knocking lose I tore my helmet off and threw it at him followed with a hay maker punch sending him backwards. He fell against the wall and I drove my blade toward his throat but he moved and the blade sunk deep into the wooden wall behind him getting stuck I tugged and tugged to no avail the bald would not come lose I turned and was met with a big ass fist knocking me aside then an axe being swung at my head I ducked and punched his ribs shoving him back he swung his axe again and I caught the blade throwing it aside and shoving him back, using the wall as leverage, I jumped off it bringing down my fist on his head he stumbled and I took a little play out of his book and tackled him into the hilt of my blade which impaled him thought the chest he looked at my grabbing at my armor as I grabbed the hilt and ripped hit from his chest my face covered in blood and my hilt forever stained with the blood of this savage. I ran back out onto the battle field joining my men we pushed them out of the town but not without our own casualties. We had lost a great number of our own they lay dead there faces I remember and they will forever haunt my mind these were men I called friend. Now they laid dead by unknown assailants I would not let this day go unanswered I watched them retreat but this was not enough something burned in me a fire like never before these savages would pay however that would have to wait we had the dead to bury. I turned and faced Lilian "how many have lost?" She looked up her face hidden behind her helm she just shook her head "to many James" we looked to the horizon and wondered when these savages would return. We spent the next few days holding ceremonies for our dead rejoicing for our victory and mourning for our lost. I did not join in ether my heart full of rage for the loss of our brothers and sisters mothers, fathers,sons,daughters almost this day we would not have another loss like this for another couple years that I will make sure of.