(Dragonkin) Dragon Rider (39 page)

   When the feeling came over Gaston that something was wrong, his men were less than a week from the castle. That night, as the men of the army arrived in the camp, they could see the glow in the sky of the fires around Argnon in the distance. Gaston found Mareston returning from his daily report to Chidren, and they talked as they walked to where Mareston's tent stood.

   "Something is not right about the absents of enemy scouts." Gaston said to the old solder. "How can they defend the castle, if they do not know where we are, or, when we will arrive?"

   "They know exactly where we are." Mareston said. "They do not need scouts to see us, because they can see our fires like we can see theirs. Besides, there is at least one elf among them, and they can see much farther than you suspect."

   "How do you know there is an elf with them?" Gaston asked, curious about how the man received his information. "No one has returned from any of the battles that we fought to give us any reports on the empire's forces."

   "Because of the traitor." Mareston said. "He reported that an elf prince had arrived at Argnon at the same time as the warrior in the dragon armor, and that was not by chance I'm sure."

   "But it could have been." Gaston replied. "The reports did not say much."

   "I spotted him when the warrior in the dragon armor attacked the monastery in the south." Mareston added. "He was one of the men who came into the monastery through the catacombs below the chapel."

   "Where were you when they attacked?" Gaston asked. "To avoid being killed yourself."

   "The battle began as I was leaving to meet the reinforcements on the road, that were arriving from the camp we had set up in the south." Mareston said. "And that was when I heard the roar behind me. After that I was recalled to Avren's camp in the northeast."

   "What was the roar you heard?" Gaston asked, even more curious than he had been before.

   "I do not know." Mareston said. "But the more I think about it, the more I tend to believe the stories of the dragon to be true."

   "Then we had better keep our eyes open." Gaston replied. "And be ready for anything."

   "That is good advice." Mareston said. "It could be the difference between living and dying in the days to come. Do not lead your men from the front, and keep the more experienced of your men around you from now on."

   "So you feel it too?" Gaston asked.

   "Yes, something will happen soon." Mareston replied. "But all we can do is to wait for it to happen. Chidren does not see the danger to the men around him, because he does not care about them, so we must be ever vigilant."

   "Yes, I agree." Gaston said, as he mounted his horse again. "My cavalry will stay closer to the main body of the army, and watch for the enemy."

   Gaston turned his horse in the direction of his men, and rode slowly through the fires of the main camp. Thanking about all Mareston had said, he decided to do as the old solder had suggested, and keep the veterans of the cavalry that had been with him since before they came to the empire, with him in the back of the formation. The outriders would be doubled, and they would always be within sight of the army.

   Two days later, the lead outrider reported the stream that was not far ahead, and Gaston gathered his men to help the siege weapons make the crossing. He allowed half of his men to lead the army to the only place that the siege weapons could cross, while the other half would help pull them.

   The main body of the army was not far behind, and Chidren ordered the cavalry to wait for them before crossing. It was a mistake he would come to regret later, but at the time he did not care. It was not until he reached the stream himself, that he would learn of his mistake, and his anger would once again rise within him.

*****

Saesic looked on in horror as the forces of the empire began to arrive around Argnon. He watched as the camps of the Lost Cavalry began to appear just south of the great road, and could not believe the number of horsemen each camp held. It was just by chance that the hill he used to elude capture was behind them, and was not searched by the patrols. Though they did not discover his hiding place, he was trapped on the hill, and could not escape.

   The first army led by Javen arrived at the same time as the last of the warriors of the Lost Cavalry, but Saesic was not concerned until the second army arrived, and camped in the trees east of Argnon. He believed the mage king would still take the castle, even though the empire had more men to defend it than they believed possible, but it would be harder than they thought. Saesic thought about ways to get the information to the approaching army, but could see no way passed the warriors of the empire. Twice he crept down the hill in the direction of the road, but was almost discovered both times, and soon gave up.

   Saesic woke early that morning, and was shocked to see the dragon sitting on the tower of the castle. He became fearful of his freedom when Menimeth arrived with the third army, and he realized the number of defenders was far more than even the forces of the mage king could handle. For the first time in more than two years, he began to realize that the castle would not be lost, and that his father would remain the regent.

   His plans changed from waiting for the battle to end so he could take his place as the new regent, to fleeing south as soon as the battle started. He hoped the men in the camps around him would go north when it did, so he would be able to escape undetected. South was his only hope of escape now, but he would have to leave the empire behind completely, if he was to avoid eventually being captured.

   He began to pack all of the items he could carry in a bag to put on the back of his horse, but knew he would have to leave most of it behind. It would be weeks before the forces of the mage king arrived, and the chance for him to escape to arise, but he wanted to be ready when it came. He kept the bags he packed, close to where his horse was tied, and settled down to wait for the events that were already in motion, to present him with the opportunity he needed to escape.

Chapter Thirty-Two

   Saesic was jolted awake by the sound of many horses as they passed below the hill in which he was hidden. They were all moving west very quickly, and he decided that something out of the ordinary was happening in the camps south of the road. The sun was not yet up, and he could still see the light from the fires of the warriors who camped around the castle, and he realized something was different about them as well.

   He began to think that the time had come he had been waiting for, and he slowly crept around the hilltop to the north, but could see no sign of the mage kings forces in the distance. He could not see the light from their fires in the distance, which would have given him some idea of where the army was located, and he wondered why he could not. Gathering all he intended to take with him when he went south, Saesic made his way as quietly as he could to where his horse was hidden, and prepared to make his escape. He had been on the hilltop for a very long time and he was running out of supplies, but leaving the hill had not been possible with all of the solders camped around him.

   Returning to where he could see the castle, Saesic waited for the morning to arrive, as the gray light of the predawn began to fill the sky in the east. He noticed that the purple and gold tents of the empire no longer surrounded the fires around the castle, and the warriors were gone as well. That was when he heard the sound of men crossing the road in the east, and he believed it was the forces of the mage king trying to surround the castle.

   Slowly he crept around the hilltop, until he could see the great road to the east, where he could just make out the shapes of warriors crossing the road. As the light slowly grew, and Saesic was able to see a little better, he realized that the warriors were Elvin. He watched as several hundred of them crossed the road to the north, and to his horror, they were followed closely by many Dwarf's with huge battle-axes. He watched as the last of the dwarf warriors crossed the road, and disappeared into the trees on the northern side. He did not know how many had crossed the road before he heard them, but he knew it was a force to be feared.

   Deciding he would not be able to escape his prison until the battle began, he once again made his way to the north side of the hilltop. The light grew brighter, and he was soon able to see the army of the mage king as it began to enter the open ground north of the castle. When he saw the army in its entirety, he was not so sure the empire would win. It was the largest force that he had ever seen at one time, and they looked invincible to him. The siege weapons were really impressive as the men began to assemble them, and Saesic sat on the hilltop mesmerized by the sight. It was not until the mage kings army began their advance on the castle, that he was brought back to his senses, by the long blast of the old horn once used by his ancestors.

   When the second blast of the horn sounded and the gates to the garrison began to open, Saesic fought the desire to watch the battle, and decided to try to make his escape. It was the hardest thing that he ever had to do, but he had no other choice in the matter. If he stayed and the empire won, he stood the chance of being trapped and captured. However, if the forces of the mage king won, he worried he would not be allowed to rule the west, but would be executed by them instead. It was the way the messenger had called him a traitor that worried him, and it began to make him realize that he would not be treated any differently by the rest of Arnoran's men.

*****

   Commander Rayden stood in the tent, and listened to the messenger as he relayed the orders sent by Menimeth.

   "The enemy is upon us." The messenger was saying. "Your orders are to assemble all of your men as fast as possible, and by way of the trees to the west, make your way to the north of the enemy unseen."

   "Dorben, send word to all of the camps to assemble here as fast as they can." Commander Rayden said. "Then gather your men and prepare to lead the way when everyone has arrived."

   "Right away Sir." Captain Dorben replied, and quickly disappeared from the tent.

   "Do we have any patrols to avoid?" The commander asked the messenger after Captain Dorben had gone. "Or a rear guard to contend with?"

   "The king said they were all forming up in the open to the north, and that you should be able to reach your objective unobserved." The messenger replied. "You are to cut off their escape to the north. If the battle begins to go badly for the empire, you are to attack the rear of their forces in an attempt to change the outcome."

   "So, the enemy has reached us sooner than we expected." Commander Rayden said. "And the plans have changed to some degree?"

   "Yes, There will be a delay in the attack." The messenger informed him. "No one is to attack the enemy from the sides or the rear, until, after the second attack from the warriors in front of the castle. However, with your experience as a cavalry leader, you are encouraged to take whatever action you deem necessary as the battle is fought."

   "I am allowed to reinforce whatever part of the guard I believe to be in need of help?" The commander asked the messenger.

   "If you believe it is necessary, you are encouraged to take whatever action you feel is required if it would help us defeat the enemy with the fewest causalities." The messenger said. "You know the king, he is more worried about the men than his own safety, and he would fight them by himself if he could. However, you are to remain unseen until you are needed."

   "Yes, he is a bit heroic by nature." Commander Rayden said, agreeing with the messenger. "And so we will endeavor to carry out his orders in the same manner in which he himself would carry them out."

   "As will we all." The messenger said. "He is a warrior of the old empire, and though he would prefer not to be the king, his skills are far beyond anyone the empire has seen in many centuries."

   "That is why all men flock to his banner." The commander said. "All the lands of magic know it was the dragon riders that defeated the evil mage king the first time, and the men believed it will happen again."

   "And it all begins today." The messenger said. "The enemy has traveled all night to reach us sooner, but we are not so weak as they may believe."

   "Are there any other instructions?" Commander Rayden asked. "Before I assemble the men."

   "Yes, if you can take any of the enemy prisoner, you are to do so." The messenger replied. "There are a lot of men who fight for the enemy because they were conscripted into his army after their kingdoms had been overrun. They are to be protected from enemy retaliation as well."

   "Then we will do our best to see that it is accomplished." The Commander replied. "And we will capture as many as we can."

   Commander Rayden walked from the tent as the men began to arrive, and found the other officers of the Lost Cavalry waiting for him.

   "We will not be splitting up into separate battle groups until we reach the area north of the enemy position." He said. "And we are not to engage the enemy unless there is a weak spot in our lines that need to be reinforced, or we are trying to keep any who try, from escaping."

   "The scouts are mounted and ready." Dorben said, as he reached the commander. "And the last of the men have arrived."

   "Then the time has come to depart." The commander said, and mounted his horse to lead them to their destination.

   The over one thousand men of the Lost Cavalry rode west for more than a mile, and turned north as the light of the morning began to illuminate the surrounding countryside. They made their way as quickly as possible to a place where they believed they would be north of the enemies current location, when the first blast of the horn sounded from the castle. Turning east once again, Commander Rayden led his men to a place where they could see the battle as it was being fought, reaching it soon after the second blast of the horn had sounded.

   The battle for the castle at Argnon had begun, and the men of the Lost Cavalry would be there to help defend it.

*****

   Feran began donning his armor as the messenger walked from the tent, and spoke to the guards who patrolled the camp. Seconds later, the guard entered the tent and stopped in front of Feran, waiting for his orders.

   "The enemy will be here at dawn." Feran said. "I need the captains here as soon as possible, and the men ready to ride right away. Remember, it must be done with as little noise as possible."

   "Right away Sir." The guard said, and hurried from the tent to carry out his orders.

   The camp began to come alive as men scrambled from their tents, and began to make themselves ready for the coming battle. Feran walked from his tent as the captains began to arrive, and he filled them in on the new orders as soon as all of them were there.

   "Have the men prepare to move out as soon as possible." Feran told his captains. "See that it is done with as little noise as possible, we do not want to alert the enemy to our presents until we ride from the trees."

   "It has been taken care of already." Commander Fracher replied. "And I made sure that all of their weapons would be with them."

   "How long until they are ready to ride?" Feran asked, "We need to be in position before dawn."

   "No more than ten minuets." Commander Fracher replied. "And that will be well before the light of morning can reach us."

   "It appears that the enemy traveled all night so that they could catch us asleep, and slaughter us like children." Feran said. "Do not think that because they have not rested, that the fight will be an easy one. Remember, there are mage's with them, and with magic, anything can happen.

   "We have some magic of our own." Commander Fracher said. "And far more powerful than the enemy believes possible."

   "It is not the mage's that I worry about." Feran replied. "But their cavalry. Pass the word to the men to empty as many saddles as they can, without focusing too much attention on them."

   "You believe they can break our charge?" Commander Fracher asked. "After the spears have been used."

   "I do not know." Feran replied. "But a concentrated counter attack by their cavalry could stall our progress, and result in the loss of more men."

   "With the attack coming from all sides, their cavalry will be of little use except, as a way to allow some of their men to escape."

   "Then it is the north end of our lines that will be in the most peril, if the cavalry attempts a counter attack." Feran said. "Because it is the direction in which they entered the empire so long ago."

   "You are most likely correct on that assessment." Commander Fracher replied. "So we should be prepared to reinforce that side of the lines."

   "Between the both of us, we should be able to keep an eye on them." Feran said. "And if they attack in that direction, extra men can be sent to reinforce our lines there."

   "The men are about ready." Commander Fracher said, as he looked around the camp. "They are mounting up as we speak."

   "Then we should join them." Feran replied, and walked to where his horse waited.

   Within a few minuets, the men were all mounted, and Feran's army began to move to their pre-arranged position. The horses moved quietly through the trees, as the cold gray light of early morning began to fill the sky in the east, and the enemy solders began to emerge from the trees to the north.

   When Feran reached the place from which his men were to attack, they halted and watched as the enemy poured from the trees in the north, and into the open field where the battle would ultimately be fought. They watched as the siege weapons were assembled, and as the front ranks began their advance. When the first blast of the horn sounded from inside the castle, the men withdrew their bows and prepared to attack.

   "So, it begins." Feran said to himself, as he looked out at the ranks of enemy solders arrayed across the battlefield.

*****

   Javen was awakened abruptly, but could see no reason for the alarm he felt, as he lay listening to the sounds of the darkness around him. Several minutes passed without any sign of danger, but the feeling grew stronger, and he quickly donned his armor and gathered his weapons. Strapping on his sword and knives, and slinging his bow across his back as he walked through the camp, he headed for the closest guard.

   "Wake the camp quietly." He told the guard. "We have some company, if I am not mistaken."

   "Right away Sir." The guard replied, and turned to carry out his orders.

   "Have the men prepare for battle, and quickly." Javen added. "I fear the enemy is closer than we thought."

   "Yes Sir." The guard replied, and disappeared into the camp.

   Javen mounted his horse and slowly rode north out of the camp, as the men began to spill from their tents behind him. He made his way through the trees with caution, stopping often to listen to the sounds around him, but it was sometime before he heard the sounds he was listening for.

   The sound of many men and horses echoed through the trees, sounding much closer than they actually were, but it was obvious to Javen that the enemy would reach the castle by dawn. He could tell that the enemy rode on by his position, as they drew closer to their objective, and he began to make his way back to the camp with as much caution as before. As the sound of the enemy solders began to fade, Javen worried less about detection, and more about the coming battle. By the time he had returned to the camp, the messenger had arrived from the castle, and Javen hurried to meet him.

   He listened intently as the messenger relayed the new orders from Menimeth, but of all the armies of the empire around Argnon, he had the least distance to travel to get into position. He called his captains to him when the messenger had departed, informing them of the change of orders when they arrived.

   "As you know, the enemy has arrived early, and the battle will be fought this day." Javen said. "But very little has changed as far as we are concerned. We will be delaying our attack for a short time, and we will ride from the trees and wait for the signal, but in the end, the attack will still be the same."