Into the Fray

PRELUDE

The young boy sighed, as this was his sixth week away from home, fighting this terrible war. His name was Jacque de Turre, the year was 1436, and he and his small group of crossbow men were marching to support the cavalry and infantry who were traveling to reinforce troops besieging Temes, a Swynham city, under control of Count Moore of the Bellakes. They were instructed to travel with a group of 18 swordsmen, 7 men-at-arms and 12 archers to cut off all supply carts headed to and from the west side of the city. He was a standard soldier until the fifth cart...

Chapter 1, The Girl

It had went smoothly so far with few casualties, a nick in the arm here, a dent in the helmet there, until the fifth car. Jacque and his 13 men were acting as sweepers, to make sure they weren't being followed, so they weren't essentially hurt, but what they saw was unforgiving. The main force had been ambushed, they were hiding in the trees on either side of them, wearing leather jerkins for maximum speed and held short swords for close combat. His squad was slaughtered, not expecting the attack. The Swynhams were gone almost as quickly as they appeared, leaving no trace except for the bodies. Letting out a yell of anger, Jacque desperately checked the bodies for his friend, the lieutenant of the foot soldiers, and found him slumped next to an oak, bloodied from numerous stabs in his stomach. "No!" He yelled, finally finding him,"Get up dammit, get up!"

"No, it's my time friend" "come on ill carry you back!" "No! Listen boy, they raided the supply cart, they have much needed ammunition and weapons, and a girl, perhaps 15, go get them; she may have information." "But what abou-" "Go...." And the man was silent. With a tear in his eye Jacque stood up, beckoned his men over and set out for the soldiers