The Battle of Red Mud
As the sun slipped past the horizon, the mud trenches which had separated the Viator army and the sparsely spread Mentisian-Ignusian alliance, were flooded with an eerie silence. Tension could be felt between the sides as they readied themselves for a battle in the dark. Declan clutched the grip o
f his longsword as the cold of the night slowly crept in against the last rays of sun. Liam and Aubz shot occasional glances at Declan, waiting for him to pull the trigger on the attack. Yet, for every glance in anticipation, they were only met with stoic patience. He was waiting. Waiting for the signal.
The darkened silhouette of the many chevaux de frise pikes turned into a perfect blend with the night sky. A silent reminder that cavalry would be useless against the deadly traps spread across the field. The long trench before the calm, muddy field was packed with eager soldiers. Each ready for their king to set off the charge into their next bloody battle. The faint flutter of a flock of birds startled many who were already teetering on the edge.
As the faint light of a distant Viator’s pipe snuffed out into the night, Declan’s hand waved towards Aubz who immediately hurdled himself over a muddy wall, setting his heavy boots into the thick ground with a loud thump from each step. A deep, bellowing battle cry violently called out from him, signaling his battalion to follow him in a terrifying charge.
Viator soldiers were just as ready for them. Officers ordered their archers to release flaming arrows, illuminating the battlefield with a cluster of flickering, deadly lights. Some made their mark, sending nearly a third of the bravely charging force crumbling into the mud. Aubz remained unharmed as he made it to the enemy’s trench, landing inside with his sword meeting the neck of an unlucky soldier, which instantly scattered the others in terror as their comrade’s head slapped against the wet earth.
The expecting force flanked towards Aubz’s battalion, emerging like ants from their hill around him. Declan turned towards Ciag, who nodded and lifted a flame banner. The flickering heat signaled towards the hidden legionary, who had been cleverly blended into the mud, but who were now popping up from the ground in a terrifying emergence.
The flanking Viator were overwhelmed by Ciag’s men, bringing attention to a quivering Mentisian Optio who had attempted to avoid notice by escaping Aubz’s initial charge. Liam grasped his shoulders and thrust him towards Declan, sending the man crashing to the ground. His helmet slipped off his head, landing against Declan’s armored feet with a hollow clunk.
“So, it has been you this whole time?”
The man grimaced as the officers all circled around him like a pack of wolves on wounded prey. His head whipped between their darting glares and Declan’s stoic stance.
“We knew there was a leak, but we weren’t expecting it from you, Hastian,” Declan admonished.
“You will all be dead when the morning comes. King Amhar is going to unleash a hell you will never beable to avoid,” he spat as the soldiers next to Declan all grew irritated by their traitor.
“Arrest the traitor. We will deal with him once we have finished here.” Liam motioned to a pair of men to take him away
The man cried out in desperation, “The only traitor here is you, King Declan! King of Betrayers! All of you will meet the same fate as the Iudexian King! I swear it!”
The men all looked to their king with a hint of curiosity, but Declan shook it off. He was not going to allow the cries of a foolish man deter him from gaining their much needed loyalty.
