Velara (Battle)

1

So. The days of battle-glory and boisterous mead-halls, of glittering, gleaming, golden hordes and magnificent cities had come to this. A battle, the last battle. Fate had brought this war to the gates of the great city of Strìvine, stronghold and capital of the Eamunes. 2

And what a sight to behold. Shining armor and softly glowing swords ringed the gate and battlements, their wielders standing firmly facing the doom of their race. So it had been seen, so it had been told. The final battle had come. No mage could forsee the end, no certainty awaited. Regardless, the Eamune people had readied for a fight, and none would back down. 3

War had raged for three and twenty years, and the people were dwindling. The good king had tried relentlessly to save his race, but destiny weaves as destiny will, and he was dead. His queen was a magnificent woman, but frail, and so power fell to General Daos. A great military genius, he held the enemy at bay and managed to push them back to the Borderlands. But no man could stop the Dead. 4

Which brings us to the proud army of the Eamunes. Daos had amassed all able soldiers, and all told, there were seven and ten thousands. It was not yet midmorning, and the sun already shone strongly, an omen of hope. This nation held no cowards, down to the last child. Crowds of the sick, elderly, and the youth gathered on top of the battlements surrounding the gates, looking on in awe at the strength of their people. 5

General Daos was the only mounted figure, dressed in resplendent robes of red and silver. His steed pranced in golden glory, a trained warhorse, eager for battle. Riding up and down the front line, he gave orders to each captain, of which none took their eyes off the forest where the enemy lurked. 6

The Shinjuks were shadow-creatures, mocking forms of men. They had allied themselves with the trolls, giant, mindless brutes with an insatiable lust for human flesh. Shinjuk Tsas, dark mages, called upon the Drahkaghon, the Dead, which were terrible fire spirits damned in the afterlife to wreak havoc upon the living. There was nothing but hatred left in their embittered souls. This dark alliance was dauntingly large and powerful, two and forty thousands strong. 7

Their general and Queen, Tionak, was the unholy progeny of the joining of a Drahkaghon spirit and a Tsa. It was said that she was born without a heart, and the Eamunes believed it. What kind of creature took pleasure in mutilating another being? They knew she would come, meeting them in open war, and so she had. 8

Daos was finishing his rounds, giving the final orders to a seasoned veteran, Captain Natub. Both were sturdy men, deep brown hair and sharp, gray eyes, tall and broad. The men knew that hope was almost lost, but a man clung to hope with all his might, and so it lingered. 9

“Make sure to signal when you see those bastards try to flank us. If no aid comes, I trust you know what to do,” Daos said evenly. Natub nodded grimly, and put his fist to his heart. 10

“May your sword swing true,” the captain said in parting. 11

Daos smiled halfheartedly at the ancient phrase and urged his horse onward. Natub turned to his soldiers and found them looking up at him expressionlessly. 12

“New orders. Pikes, you take the back. Be ready for a hard run. Archers, you take the middle. We’re counting on you to put a dent in their damned legions. Infantry, you’re in front. We wait for the charge,” he directed. 13

His orders were followed with no conversation. Natub looked down on two soldiers now in the front line, and was slightly surprised to see such young faces betraying no fear.14

“Lijah, Allys, are you not frightened?” he asked gently. The boy, no, the man, answered first.15

“No, Captain. There is no fear within us,” Lijah answered tonelessly, grip tightening on his battleaxe.16

“After all, dying in fear and cowardice will only bring us to the hands of our enemies,” Allys added, inspecting her broadsword. 17

Silence followed these words, broken only by the soft squeaking of leather jerkins and the clink of chain mail shirts. Natub put his fist to his chest, and the two warriors returned the gesture, bowing their heads. Their captain moved on to speak with one of the archers, a tall, fair woman by the name of Shile. Allys sheathed her sword in a fluid and practiced motion, and turned to her friend.18

“There is still time. Would you like to alter your wager?” she asked, grinning, “Thirty-five Shinjuks, four trolls, and three Tsas is a tall order, even for a true brundah like yourself.” 19

Lijah eased his ax back into its loop and swung his buckler onto his back.20

“Why do you doubt my strength?” he teased. 21

“I do not doubt your strength nor your courage, only that lump of stone you call a head,” she bit back. 22

They grinned at each other and Lijah put a hand on his friend’s shoulder.23

“I will not leave your side, little one,” he promised in mock solemnity. Allys snorted. He was only four moons her elder. 24

“And I, elder one, will save your life,” she smirked. 25

Lijah nodded and said sincerely, “I do not doubt it.” They continued their banter until an archer, a middle-aged man known as Dexus, interrupted them.26

“Little girl, should you not be warming some man’s bed? The battlefield is no place for a woman,” he sneered. 27

Allys turned furiously on the man, and pulled out a small dagger from the turn-downs of her knee high boots. 28

“You would be wise not to insult a strong comrade, Dexus. Women have been fighting alongside us for near ten years,” Lijah said sternly. 29

He appeared calm, but the archer did not miss the other man’s hand resting on his sheathed dagger. Dexus shrugged and leered at Allys, and then disappeared into the masses. Allys growled softly and sheathed her dagger.30

“May he be the first to die,” she spat hatefully. 31

Lijah nodded slightly, but reminded his companion that Dexus was an ally, and the army needed every last soldier. She grumbled in agreement and crossed her arms. A strained silence fell between the two as both warriors checked over their gear. 32

Lijah lightly traced the clan mark on his buckler. His index finger first glided across the three golden water droplets, then the stone arch drawn around them. Finally, he stroked the black rose, the innermost object. The black of the petals contrasted with the white background as the moon did with the velvet night sky. 33

Resting the small shield at his feet, he heard Allys hum the first few notes of the ancient, ‘Lyra tih’ Velara’ Battle Song. 34

Lijah grinned slightly and asked, “Do you remember the first time you heard that?” 35

She nodded and replied, “It was my lullaby.”36

“Your parents were the most honorable and fortuitous people I have ever met. You will make them smile today, up in Xa’s Great Hall,” he said, putting a hand on her shoulder. 37

She smiled softly at the mention of their deity, who would watch over them and deliver them to his hall if they were brave in battle. 38

“Do you think Cain and Delie are watching from the wall?” she asked quietly. 39

“I am sure of it,” he answered. 40

Lijah knew that his younger brother and her younger sister were somewhere that they could see the surviving members of their family. If he died, he knew his brother would be devastated. There was so much at stake here, so many reasons to live. So many reasons to deny his tired and world weary body of the welcoming embrace of death. A look at Allys’ face told him she was sharing his thoughts. 41

Suddenly, he saw her hand go to the hilt of her blade. He noticed that some of the pikesmen behind him had readied their weapons. 42

“What is wrong, Allys?” he whispered. 43

“Something moves in the forest. It draws close,” she said softly. 44

The sky darkened, and the assembled army tensed. Battle was near. Death was creeping from shadow to shadow. Shouts erupted when the moon began to cover the sun, an irregular eclipse. 45

“Tionak,” Allys spat.46

Slowly, mockingly, the one sign of hope was devoured by the void. The darkness in the sky boded ill, as if foreshadowing the darkness yet to pass. The absence of light did something to a person, allowing panic and doubt to run rampant through their soul, driving out all shreds of hope. Tionak knew of this weakness, and eagerly exploited it. Mortal eyes strained in the abnormal twilight, searching desperately for the enemy. 47

Lijah felt the icy hands of doubt wrap around him, and tried his best to ignore such an emotion. The forest seemed to darken and wither under the aberrant light. Lijah and Allys’ attention was locked on the border, where tan stalks of grain met graying bushes. The air grew heavy and thick with anticipation and fear. Pikesmen gripped their weapons tightly, archers nocked arrows and were ready to release at a moment’s notice. Muscles tensed, eyes strained, breathing grew irregular. Battle was a hair’s breadth away, so near that the metallic taste of blood lingered on every tongue. 48

And then, with impossible speed, an arrow sprang from the woods and pierced Dexus’ heart. The man collapsed like a marionette who’s strings had been severed. Lijah and Allys looked impassionedly at the fallen man, and then gazed at each other. No arrow followed the first. Lijah knew the battle would come at any moment, so he turned and drew Allys into a strong embrace. She clung to him as if he were her last lifeline. She was a strong woman, but when death was so near, she could afford to let her emotions show for a brief moment.49

Lijah released her reluctantly, and softly whispered, “Est peliohath danyar.” 50

Allys nodded and stepped away, unsheathing her sword. Suddenly, the dying forest burst into flame and the Drahkaghon appeared. The Shinjuks slithered up behind them, followed by massive regiments of trolls. Tsas acted as officers and were all confidently riding their demon horses steadily forward. 51

And there, gliding along on a black cloud, was Tionak, in all her chaotic beauty. Death rolled off her like steam on a hot summer’s day. A victorious smirk was etched onto her pale countenance, a promise of pain lingering on her lips.52

Lijah stared in horror at the enemy’s army. He then realized that this would be the end of his people. Strivine’s battlements would be blood-washed by dawn. Defiantly, he pulled out his battleaxe with his right hand, and lifted the buckler with his left. He would fight. The Eamunes would fight, and this battle would never be forgotten. 53

Allys also accepted her fate. If this was Xa’s will, she would gladly step into the Lika tih’ Drahkar, River of the Dead. She would do what must be done, and would not stand down. The two soldiers were the embodiment of the ideals of every man, woman, and child of the Eamunes. 54

General Daos drew his sword and the archers prepared to fire. Across the field, Shinjuk archers did the same.55

“Veshna!” Daos bellowed, and arrows raced across the field and buried themselves within the flesh of a troll or a Shinjuk. 56

The spelled arrows, created by Strivine’s dwindling number of mages, devastated the Shinjuks. The enemy also released their arrows, and the darkened sky became plagued with shadow arrows. Lijah used his buckler to shield himself and Allys, as unsuited as it was for that purpose. 57

Daos called out, “Prepare to charge! If we are to die here, we will take our enemy with us to burn in the afterlife! Xa’s Hall awaits us!” 58

“Drahkar! Drakhar ulu lea manek! Drakhar ulu Tionak tih’ Shin!” the army cried out, their voices sweeping across the now blazing fields. 59

The soldiers drew their weapons, and prepared for the charge. Those looking on from the top of the battlements began to sing. They sang Lyra tih’ Velara, to hearten their heroes.60

“Wollemna!” Daos screamed. 61

As the Shinjuks released their next volley of arrows, the Eamunes army charged. They ran without hope, without certainty of survival, without fear. Lijah could hear Allys singing next to him. As he listened to the ancient lyrics, his heart filled with battle spirit and his feet grew light. 62

As the great army of the Eamunes ran to their doom, they sang with strength lent from all that had died before, singing that same song. The last thing Lijah and Allys heard was battle, and song.63

May the blood of our enemies64

Flow forth like a raging flood.65

May our swords rend each enemy apart66

Still sharp and nimbly dancing.67

May our song instill fear in blackened hearts68

So raising our own.69

May our slain walk not in shadow70

Valiantly fighting unto the final gate.71

Fin.72

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Translations74

Eamunes-strength of stone75

Shinjuk-shadow creature76

Tsa-dark mage77

Drahkaghon-Dead creature/spirit78

brundah-warrior, similar to a berserker but not to the same extent79

Lyra tih' Velara-Battle Song (literally, Song of the Battle)80

Xa-the God-like figure of the Eamunes, similar to Odin or Zeus81

Est peliohath danyar-May we meet in heaven (literally, may we meet in open skies)82

Lika tih' Drahkar- River of the Dead, think of it like the River Styx from the Divine Comedy83

Veshna-release arrows ('na' makes it a general command)84

Drahkar-death85

Drahkar ulu lea manek-Death to our enemies86

Drahkar ulu Tionak tih' Shin-Death to Tionak of the Shadows87

Wollemna-charge ('na' makes it a general command)88