The Forgotten War (Howard Sargent) by Howard Sargent

Author:Howard Sargent
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: ebook
Publisher: Book Guild Publishing
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

53

There is no sight likely to stir the blood and fire the senses more than that of an army arraigned for battle. To see the banners raised, to hear the cornets sound and the hoarse cries of the captains exhorting the men to ever greater feats of valour. To witness the sun glint off polished armour, off burnished shield, off the fierce eyes of the warriors is to be born anew, purified in the blood about to be shed, the blood of the brave. How humbling it is to see spears raised in unison, ranks and ranks of disciplined and determined men march with one step, one heart, one soul under the Gods. Even I, as a humble priest, could not fail to feel the lust of battle pulsing through my unworthy body; ’twas almost as if I, too, wished to fling myself at the shields of the enemy crying ‘Artorus! The Gods! And the joy of war!’

Father Edforth Crebinus, Chronicle of the Emperors and the Downfall of the Knights of Rumil.

Baron Felmere gazed at his full goblet of wine. It was nowhere near noon yet and he still felt like he needed it. Knights Dominic and Reynard stood before him and their news was not good.

‘So the mages have not returned and the enemy is on the march.’ He sounded almost matter of fact.

‘Yes, the Arshumans have surprised us. The scouts say they are but a few hours away.’ Reynard had a bit of a cold and snuffled his words.

‘And the mages? Mytha’s bloody wounds, they were supposed to be back this morning. I knew I shouldn’t have let them go.’

‘No sign, Lukas. I have sent a knight along the road to look for them, but if you remember their instructions were to be back today and it is still but morning. We expected to attack the enemy at our leisure; no one expected them to move on us.’

Dominic was already fully armoured, his helm pushed back to reveal his sharp grey eyes.

‘Well, no matter what, we need to mobilise pretty sharpish. What of their numbers?’

‘That is what makes it such a bold move. They have fewer men than us – maybe not even five thousand including mercenaries and fresh troops unproven in battle. Their king rides at their head in his golden armour; you know how the Arshumans love their pointless displays of ostentation.’ Reynard looked tense.

‘Well, as Dominic says, we need to go out and face them. You don’t know the country round here, do you, Hartfield?’

‘No, Lukas, but once you’ve seen one muddy field...’

‘Perfectly true. Now, if you leave the tent and look out from the camp you will see a high ridge lined with trees on the eastern horizon. Beyond that is a low plain that extends for some miles. It used to be prime farming country, lots of hamlets and villages, it also used to be very pretty in the early autumn – golden fields and sheep and cattle grazing in the sunset. Now, of course, no one lives there.

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