Fall from Grace, Part 2.
Plains, somewhere at the western Opulensi coastline, year 218 SR.
"Damned rain and mud..." - a man cursed under his breath. "This message was to be delivered at all possible haste, but here I am pulling this accursed chariot out of this stinking mud yet again!"
"Save your breath and pull!" - another man answered. After few minutes of hard labor, the chariot had been lifted from the mud, accompanied by few more curses.
"Get here allready. We must be on our way!" - a soldier with an armor decorated in the shape of seagull's wings yelled. He was Araios, a sergeant of the royal navy. The other man, named Erestion, was from the local garrison from a small town in northwestern opulensi.
"Handling these animals is something far different than rowing a boat, sailor! Wait until I've checked the reins."
In a moment, the squabbling men were on their way again. They had been travelling for a day and a night in a one go, only stopping once to change their horses. Now, their journey was soon coming to an end.
"Look. Old campsites." - said Araios, pointing at the plains in front of them. " The main army must be close."
"Finally. I'm so fed up by this mission. I'll be glad to get rid of that stench of sea you are carrying with youself." - Erestion replied with clear contempt.
"Do remember which one of us is of higher rank. I'll have you punished for mocking a superior officer if you carry on." - Araios replied quickly with cold and determined voice. "And do not despise the royal fleet. Serving on the ships requires much more than just swinging a sword, which is all you do."
"And how much did this grand fleet accomplish now that we think of it?" - Erestion replied swiftly.
Araios fell silent, and after a brief moment he replied: "Just drive."
They rode on for another hour. Rain had stopped, and the skies were becoming clear again. Setting sun releaved itself in the west. In the last rays of the sunset they finally arrived at the army camp at the foot of a large hill. At the entrance of the camp, they were halted by a guard.
"State your business" - the guard said with cold, harsh voice.
"I am sergeant Araios of the Royal fleet. I have a message to the general from the grand admiral." Araios showed the guard the official message bearing the seal of the grand admiral himself.
"Very well, you may enter. You'll find general near the top of the hill, at the eastern slope. Let them pass!"
As the men entered the camp, they saw countless rows of tents on their both sides. Hundreds, at least thousands of men could be seen around them. Each passing soldier Araios could see was seemingly nervous. Erestion noted this too.
"The battle is close it seems." - Erestion said, now with a voice without contempt. Instead, it was replaced by the restlessness shared by the men around him.
Araios stayed quiet.
As they neared the top of the hill, Araios looked down to the camp where they came from. Now he could see it was far bigger than it had first seemed. A massive army, the whole strenght of Opulensi miltiary had been gathered here. As Araios continued to marvel in the sight of such force, Erestion woke him up from his dream by poking him with his elbow and pointing at the ranks of soldiers now in front of them.
"Look at their armor. They are no ordinary soldiers... are they - "
" - Daharai. The King's personal elite guard. And the man on the horse must be Daros..." - Araios replied with a voice indicating of great reverence. "Stop the chariot."
Araios dismounted and started walking towards the general. As the bodyguards stopped him, he showed the sealed message and continued. Then, he was standing next just next to the General. Daros, the legend himself.
"Sir... I bring message from grand admiral of the royal fleet. He - "
"The fleet is destroyed, is it not?" - Daros interrupted him. His voice was calm and steady, as if he couldn't care less of the news Araios brought him.
"...Yes, it is, sir. Only few dozen ships managed to escape. The enemy is landing troops just few days march away in the north." As Araios had said this, he examined the face of Daros carefully. He couldn't notice a single reaction in the man's face. They both remained still, Daros looking at the valley in front of him, Araios at the general.
After a while, Daros nodded and said: " Thank you. You may take your leave. Go rest, as I will have a message for you to deliver back."
"Yes sir." Araios saluted, turned and marched away.
Daros remained quiet and gazed again at the valley in front of him. The sun had almost set, and with the last remaining rays of light Daros could see the enemy camp just few miles away.
"The navy destroyed..." - A man beside him said in a familiar melancholic voice.
"It was to be expected." - Daros replied to the King.
King sighed. "I know. But it doesn't make it any easier."
"By landing troops behind us, they will try to pincer us down here. Not that it wasn't expected, I would have done the same thing in their part." - Daros replied with confident voice.
"Our fate is catching up on us. Soon, the battle to resolve this all will take place... and then we will see if I have done enough..." King said, staring at the enemy camp.
Daros glanzed at the King, and for the first time man could see a faint smile on his face.
As the sun finally set behind the horizon, darkness crept over the land and countless fires were lit in both camps. That night, there was little sleep for the soldiers of either side...