Divided Nation

Battle Of The Rapid

The battle was over in less than 20 minutes. When Harold and the horsemen fell on the rear of the army, they had panicked. Most of them didn't even have their armor on and the camp itself had no defensive trenches or garrisons on alert. The horsemen swept through the camp, slaughtering anyone within their spears reach. Isiah ordered more arrows to be rained down on the soldiers, but ordered a stop when the State horsemen came too close.

     The whole time, Isiah's army had a nervous vibe around it. We were awkwardly watching the battle from the far side, unable to do anything to help. We had formed a brief semicircle around the bank of the river, ready if the Regime sent any aid, but so far, there was nothing.

     The rain had mostly cleared up by now, but the ground was still sloppy with mud. The river was still a raging current, which some of the Regime soldiers attempted to cross. We shot a couple arrows at a barge that was pushed on, but it wasn't even necessary. The barge tipped over in the raging river and the soldiers armor dragged them down.

     The commanders of the enemy army were barking orders at the chaos, but nothing seemed to be happening. Then, a small force of about 100 men formed up a circle around the tents. I watched as a couple Regime oldiers tried to get inside the circle, but the soldiers weren't letting anyone in, even their own.

     Harold's men had taken out about half of the army, but the rest were recovering from their shock. The whipped out their own swords and arrows and tried to fight back, but they stood no chance against the mounted soldiers. 

    Harold reined around, getting ready for another charge as a ragged band of swordsmen formed up a defensive position. Harold threw off his blood soaked helmet and raised his spear and charged. The horsemen behind followed him. The horses crashed into the ranks, many of the swordsmen fleeing towards the river. Harold's spear cracked down the middle as he rammed into the shield of a soldier. He threw it aside and drew his sword, cutting down the soldier.

     The 100 men that had formed the circle were real soldiers, I could tell. Many of the soldiers in that army were mere peasants that had been forced in. From the way they stood and fought, I could tell that they received very little training, if any. Harold's men scooted around the circle of shields, but everyone outside was slaughtered. Soon, the ground was wet with blood that was leaking into the river, giving it a reddish tint.

     The battlefield suddenly went silent as the last soldier outside of the circle was cut down. The bodies had made a sort of hill around the camp where they once huddle together. The horsemen gathered around the last circle. 

     The circle was far away enough from the banks that our archers couldn't reach them, but they were close enough to prevent Harold's horsemen from encircling them fully. Even worse, they stood on a high hill, and with muddy grounds, it would be hard to storm.

     I had no doubt that we could take the hill, but we would be suffering heavy losses in what seemed to be an almost flawless victory.

     Harold seemed to be considering the same thing when the commander shouted at the top of his lungs at the State army.

      "I have no wish for anymore soldiers to die today!" He shouted, "It's clear that you don't want to storm this hill and you don't have time for a siege. Another Regime army is coming as we speak. Let me and my company go and I'll promise you nobody else will die today."

     Suddenly, Isiah whipped out his bow and shot 3 arrows at the sky. I thought that he had lost his marbles, but a couple seconds later, a raven fell out of the sky with a scroll attached to it. Gods, this man had good aim.

     Then, out of the corner of my eye, I saw another raven fly from the command tent. Isiah reached for another arrow, but his quiver had gone empty.