loss of Lauderdale

the first thing Griffin thought when he hadn't seen the Purtain army in a month was they had called a ceasefire and he wasn't notified, but he stayed alert and kept a constant guard and watch over the entry to the pass.

his daily routine was to check up on the numbers of his army and supplies, his army was getting bigger every day to the point where he had to reassign troops to other other outposts so as to keep everyone safe from disease, in the amount of time he had been stationed here his numbers had grown to 200,000 and his supplies could barely support that. he checked the stock personally each day and he found out he could only support 100,000 but he was half rationing so he could send them off to other outposts.

it was almost unbearable before he heard armor clanking up the pass and looked at the Purtain army with it's new force powerful and proud

***

Phansesis was cautious and kept his men at a distance from the walls and did his average tests, made his men scream at the wall, then he would count the time. But upon the third week Phansesis had his men line up and then he saw that the walls were already occupied by Kiran soldiers, this time Phansesis got his best fire magicians.

"stand at the ready I have a plan." he then got the infantry together.

"men we need you to take wood beams and wood slabs we will build our way to the walls!"

they moved quickly each man throwing their shields up to defend from arrows while men dug in poles and put up cover, slowly the wooden hall was moving towards the wall and the Kiran army was throwing everything they had at them from fire which was dowsed by the water mages to arrows and rocks which bounced off the wood and shields.

soon the wooden passage was close enough for the plan to unfold and Phansesis waited for the right moment by holding everyone off for the night.

"I need the fire mages to hit their walls when the moon is highest." Phansesis was talking to the Sargent's of all the divitions.

"make it happen in one blow with all the power we can throw we must break their walls with their spirits."

everyone seemed pleased with the discussion exept an old man, this man had taught the army for naval warfare he hadn't done anything notable so far and this is the second time he ever talked to Phansesis.

"what are you not telling us?" he had a look of concern. "why are you so scared that you hold off as if in defense?"

Phansesis was suprised but not to mad at such intelligent questions. "I'm afraid of their commander he is cautious and catches on to my ideas to quickly for my comfort."

this put everyone in a uncomfortable situation as they hadn't met anyone yet who could out master Phansesis.

****

the next morning came with a slow manner Griffin watched the Purtain army wake up and start their morning ritual of getting food, and gear he was wondering if it was this day or the next that they would charge him, he didn't check up on anything this day and it put a little fear in all the soldiers but what was worse is the speech he did.

"Brothers, Cousins, friends we are meant to hold this fort for a year yet as I stair off at the army we are to face I see we won't hold for more than a couple months, our enemies are observant and use every moment of time in their favor I see them owning this land we stand of this week or the next!" the whole amount of soldiers were now looking down in horror as they imagined the death to come.

"So let them take this land, for by the time they do the walls will be gone out supplies and men depleted and they themselves wounded for Kira---!"

*Boooooom*

the wall fell down, during this speech Phansesis had his men start their invasion.

dist from the rubble was everywhere even the mage's where coughing and then the the dragons roar was heard

*Raaaaaaaa!*

soon soldiers from both sides were face to face swords slashing with spears stabbing into the ranks to create openings, the arrows on both sides made the rears of both armies keep their shields up though men still died. the cries were heard and within three hours the Purtain army pulled back with a berage of fireballs to keep Kiran from pushing with might.

Phansesis had overseen the ordeal and he saw the sides would massacre each other at this rate so he pulled his men back.

Griffin on the other hand saw his men fight desperately as each and every one of their family and friends where being killed around them.

soon it became evident that a solution must be made of Kiran would throw more men at it and Purtain would kill 8 times what they loose.

Phansesis had reports saying that 500,000 men occupied the fort, though those numbers where not right he thought it true so the amount of men he saw killed made him believe they were equal though in honesty Purtain was the victory.

"we must find a way for us to take the fort without so many losses even as we speak Kiran is sending more troops and rebuilding the walls we destroyed!" Phansesis was scared of a loss that could mean the end of this war as Purtain crumbles.

his counsel was troubled as well but silent in thought as they believed they couldn't have done better.

"I could ask terms for surrender that might win us this fort before we loose the war, though a champion battle would be more suitable!"

***

on the other side Griffin was on his bed wounded from the earlier battle and he voiced the same ideals.

"we should ask for a champion battle so as to hold off as we retreat, I see now this fort is lost we should stick to hit and runs on them as well as poison and burn every well and house all the way to the capital!" his men also saw this as the only way of success though it was obvious they would loose the war at this rate.

both commanders sent each other letters asking for a champion fight the terms where so.

winners takes the fort and must stay their with their army for a week after the fight, the fight was to be held in two weeks and the looser would be buried with funeral rights. with this news the nights went on and each side grew impatient of what was to decide be thought of the end of the war.

****

the day of the fight arrived and Griffin threw on his armor and grabbed his sword, on the other side Phansesis was praying for a victory for the sake of his men and when the sun reached his eyes he armed himself with his best and walked to the field.

Griffin and Phansesis looked at each other before drawing swords, these two where men of action and stood where they were on principal not power.

Phansesis was the first to rush towards Griffin his blade swinging swiftly from overhead towards Griffin's right shoulder.

Griffin saw this action and moved his body while trying to block the blade, as he did this Phansesis's sword cut through his and almost hit him.

Phansesis then jumped towards where Griffin had been standing while stabbing at Griffin's side.

Griffin moved back just from reach before drawing another sword, he then swung down towards Phansesis's hand trying to cut it off.

Phansesis saw this action and swung up to try and cut the sword in half, this time they collided and as equals not a scratch appeared on either blade.

Now Griffin was on the offense, he swung left to right, down and up and always moving closer towards Phansesis with each swing.

Phansesis was allowing him to get closer step by step and did nothing but block and Dodge barley the violent swings that came at him, he never stopped watching for an opportunity to kill Griffin.

soon half an hour had gone by and Griffin had gotten unbearably close and soon started doing stabs over swings so as to keep up his speedy assault.

Phansesis started to smile his victory was assured by each step Griffin took and finally the opportunity came.

Griffin brought his right arm across his body to the left and went to swing, in doing so he left his guard down for a swift counter.

Phansesis quickly rushed forward and stabbed into Griffin's right shoulder then pushed the sword to the hilt as he moved in closer, while he switched the sword to his right hand and then pushed it up where it came out at Griffin's left side of his neck.

everyone saw that Griffin was dead but there was a slight pause before Phansesis fell on his butt staring at his chest, Griffin wanted to ensure a victory for Kiran so he had stabbed Phansesis in the chest with a shot knife in his last moments. it would have worked if Phansesis hadn't been so quick Griffin would have successfully done this but instead he missed his mark and didn't even delve deep enough past the armor to puncture Phansesis's heart.

the Kiran men screamed with rage and charged at the Purtain soldiers and within 10 minutes Kiran was slaughtered.

*the cries of the fires fall,

has left the pain for all.

as the lords of men are left behind,

the Reapers were all but time.

so goes the war of two neighbors.