The Crusade
Te, Stratikrator, Ðekeron o`lannos tec`Veritas, a tec`ela`Assemblai, protorion virse-ela chatosi, eöntasei Eta-kelaeii, a virikratos Elo`valum`viriae.
I, Stratikrator, pledge allegiance (eternally) to Veritas, and to her Assemblum, as a wall (defending) against her enemies, protector of the Ones servants, and executor of his just will.
-Stratikrators Oath of Service, circa 900 P.D.
Prologue:
Passing through the thickening clouds, a light rain began to fall. For miles around, the soft patter of water on grass filled the ears of those still alive. In the predawn light, smoke rose silently from a shallow valley. It was warm, as a soft breeze blew in from the sea. It swirled around the rising tendrils of smoke, and they reluctantly gave way, dissipating into the night air. Even in the mountains of central Exilsium, no place was far from the sea.
As the curtain of smoke pulled away, a shallow valley was revealed. It ran red with blood. Some kind of battle, or slaughter, had happened here. Moving closer to the carnage, there were hundreds of bodies, broken and bleeding, that lay at haphazard angles across the entire length of the valley. Towards the eastern end, a small village was clustered near the worst part of the battlefield. The corpses lay thickest here. A figure slowly emerged from the carnage, pushing aside the two bodies that lay on top of him. Back hunched, he tore off his helmet and ran.
He ran for what seemed like hours, stopping only to collapse in a heap at the foot of a great tree. Gasping for breath, he lay back against the tree, sobbing uncontrollably. This was madness. This was
was
---
They came in waves. The enemy had cold eyes, he saw. They had been beaten back and defeated before, but there were always more. As both armies moved north, the warfare became crueler, and more barbaric. They were fighting for their homes.
Men! Now we will break these scum, for honor and glory!
For honor and glory!
The battle was joined, as both sides met in the center of the valley. Slowly, inevitably, they forced the enemy back towards that village. It had been cleared long before the enemy scouts arrived, but abruptly a flaming arrow struck one of the thatched roofs. They burst into flames, as the enemys archers dived off the building, shrieking in pain.
They were forming for a cavalry charge. Spearmen were ordered to the front, and the ranks of horse crashed into them like waves beating on the rocks at Krenel. They held, and he drove a spear into the heart of an oncoming horse. It foamed, and collapsed right in front of him. He barely cleared the writhing body, hearing the horses scream as one of his comrades finished it off.
They were falling back, praise all! They retreated silently, bowing to numbers and strength. Their gray cloaks whispered as they fled the valley, leaving only smoking ruins in their wake. The men cheered, and one of their captains ordered him and five others to sweep the houses still standing for hidden enemies.
He entered the first house, a simple cottage, breaking down the door with a kick. Inside he saw one of his comrades, holding a child by the hair. She was small, with dark eyes had black hair. Her eyes pleaded for mercy, but she didnt struggle. Her parents lay behind, in a pool of blood.
He screamed. The blade fell. Something caught fire, and outside he heard a shout. The enemy! An ambush, they cried, the enemy had laid a trap.
Figures in the door, blades in their hands! Darkness.
---
He sat in the shadow of the tree, and dawn did not come. The clouds were thickening. Then he heard the telltale clatter of cavalry. Three horses approached, and their soldiers dismounted. They had cold, bright swords, and colder eyes. The tallest one wore a purple cape.
They were Valins. He would die now.