The final battle I

The evening came and Melki had ordered lopers brought in from his herds to be butchered and put on the spit. The hunters added deer to the fare and the meal took on a festive atmosphere. But, no one was fooled. Dispite the constant harrassing by the Habrien and Kellen the Kensen were approaching and would be there by morning. 1

Parsi, leader of the Habrien knights reported more than half the Kensen cavalry had been either killed or left without mounts and many of them had deserted rather than attempt to fight on foot. This good news was equally balanced, however, by some sobering facts. There were still nearly thirty thousand men coming their way, the defenders knew and they had taken as many cannon off the ships as they could move. That left them with artillary enough to do catastrophic amounts of damage. 2

Ralak, leader of the Eek, a massive, muscled, nine foot giant with coal black hair and chisled features, was promising a cavalry charge that would nullify the overwhelming advantage the Kensen held in numbers. "Don't you worry, that Bartok made a fateful error, though he doesn't know it yet. He thought quantity would overcome quality. Well, those Kensen might do well in the sea, but on land, with those shoddy horses he's got and equally poor riders, he won't be much of a problem." Bjorn wondered how much truth there was to this. Eek weren't people who bragged, but they too needed bravado to match the elements that would go against them this day.3

Bjorn knew his fellow rangers would fight to the last man, as they had so often done, but he wished he'd had one last chance to be with Ana before this night came. Most of the rangers were with their wives as the feast was exhausted and went off to their cottages to share what many knew would be their last night together. Bjorn went, instead, down to the gun emplacements. Korok was there talking with one of the riders. 4

"You know what will happen when you get out there on that field," he was saying. "I will go too, but I honestly wish we had more riders." The other man merely nodded. The Eek were fearless as any Kellen Elf and it was odd for this frank exchange to be going on. He had never heard Korok say anything that sounded the least bit defeatest and this shocked Bjorn. When he came up to Korok though, there was only that sudden burst of exhuberant energy and the always broad grin. "Bjorn, come and join us my good friend, in a drink. I was just discussing tomorrow's battle plan with my friend here. When the man turned, Bjorn was a bit put back to see it was Ralak himself. He had doubts? Now Bjorn wondered even more what the outcome would be tomorrow.5

"I intend to take as many of those bastards with me as I can," the Eek leader said to Korok. "They killed my entire family on one of their raids when I was a boy. I barely escaped alive. Your uncle was victem of them himself. You surely must realise why it doesn't matter how many of us there are. We can do more than save the royalty of the kingdom. We can kill Kensen, and that is all I think of these days. I want ten for each of my family. I won't die, I assure you until I've reached my personal objective."6

In that case Bjorn thought, he would want to kill forty or more. He'd already killed many Kensen in battle, but this might be his last battle. He wanted to be able to say the kingdom woul never be ravaged by these monsters again.7

"What had Daka said, Bjorn?" Korok asked. 8

"I haven't spoken to him since yesterday. He and Melki have huddled together all day looking over the battle plans, working together on the fortifications and reviewing their troops. I should think his plan is simple. I already know the tower guards will man the walls. The forwards will no doubt lead the attack and the guards will back them up." This seemed fitting since it was the usual battle plan carried out on Chili fields. The forwards, also known as runners ran the length of the field while the guards on the ground tried to stop them from getting into scoring position. To see them fight together, in support would be an awesome sight, he was sure.9

"When the battle is engaged Bjorn", said Korok, "I will be with the cavalry. Where will you be?"10

"With the rangers." Bjorn said, a bit glumly. "I wish I could ride up with you Korok, but the rangers have elected me as the field martial and I will have to stay with them and direct the attack. He went over the figures in his head. None of the Kellen or Habrien had been killed so far. And, there were nearly five hundred Eek horsemen. With the addition of some six hundred rangers and as many volunteers from the estates joining in, and over three thousand Chili players, they had a force of nearly five thousand. While they'd be facing over thirty thousand. And, the Kensen had plenty of artillary. They had only a few cannon for the last wall and ballistae and catapults. Tomorrow would be a battle won or lost on planning and pure courage.11

Korok brought out a keg of wine and shattered the end with his knife. He set it before the three of them and Bjorn, without being asked, pulled a bottle of Vitoemin from his cloaks and poured it into the wine. "Well, gentlemen, let's get a bit drunk shall we, and then try to rest before the morning." All dipped their mugs into the barrel and toasted the coming battle. Though there seemed a hollowness to it all as the final moments slipped away. Bjorn drank deep and tried to forget tomorrow might be his final one living.12

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