Two Brothers Pt.3

Athan Geldstein Month 11, Day 22, Year A.F 652. Road to Ivrid, Kingdom of Rosalia.

The barrages were endless as I watch the knights ride closer. I shout to the messengers, "Have all knights! retreat behind this hill."

The consequent scramble makes me grit my teeth as I watch their knights circle the hill. The only good thing I could see here is that the dug trenches seem to work as another barrage makes contact, the hill trembling from the force.

"Sir! The knights have hidden behind the hill!" A messenger shouts beside me as another barrage makes contact. The ground trembles as I stumble back.

I walk back before looking back at the battlefield, noticing the enemy infantry enveloping our position and with the knights quickly moving through the plains, it was only a matter of time before we were destroyed.

With a stride, I enter the commanding tent. The officers left were panicking, aware that our plan has gone in smoke. Some were screaming and fighting as they try to decide on our next moves.

"MOVE!" I shout to them as I walk my way to the table. A space forms before me, as they part ways, leaving me a space to walk into as I looked at the table.

The map before me represents the battle in full, from the information going in and out of the tent and the countless regiments it represents.

"The current situation is untenable." I say to them as I take a few more and plop the an army behind us. "I do not know if you were informed, but at about five hours an army of eight thousand knights will appear behind us."

The dread was almost palpable. I give a sigh before speaking up once more, "So, we either have to win this battle or die on this hill."

Or they could probably surrender me to the enemy, but I'm not the one that's going to give them that idea. Well, even if they decide to do so, there is no way to ensure their continued health after. After all, they remain enemy combatants.

Another barrage shakes the ground, and I look at the men before me. Rosalia had the best infantry in the continent, though most would argue for Iridian Principalities. I don't think mercenaries count.

Yet now, in the middle of such a dire situation, those once brave demons looked around in hesitation. Their fear palpable, I was filled with irritation, knowing my skills to be lacking.

When Duke Vincent was in charge such fears were absent. Only now when I have been in charge did cracks starts appearing. Anger flows through me as I close my eyes and opening them once more, now filled with resolve.

"Enough of this cowardice!" I shout at them, "We can't just sit here and look around for an answer. We either die here as cowards or die out there as men."

They flinch before I continued, "Now help me think of a plan or die trying."

Lenard Geldstein

"My Prince, the envelopment has finished." Lord Belford spoek beside me as we watch the hill be bombarded with the fireballs of our knights.

"Give the order to advance, we'll be annihilating them here." I reply to him as I watch the tent atop that hill, tens of men coming in and out.

"Can we have that hill bombarded?" I ask Belford as I watch their trench be blown to smithereens.

"We cannot, if we get close enough to do actual damage, the knights would be at risk of damage. One which we cannot afford at this time." He replies to me.

"All men advance!" He shouts as officers relay his order.

A few moments pass, and the sounds of marching thundered through the clearing. Thousands of men simultaneously marched up the hill.

The knights, meanwhile, raise their hand as thousands of fireballs erupt once more, pelting the dug trenches with terrifying power.

The long lines of which burned in fire. as the regiments passed through, unfazed.

"How long do you think this should last?" I ask him as another barrage shakes the ground. We stood, watching while it gouged the ground up and craters appear around it from the tremendous force.

"It is only a matter of time, I believe five hours should be enough." He replies to me as we looked on in concentration.

Lord Ivid then runs towards us as he salutes to us both, his tired blue eyes an indication of something to come, "My Prince, the perimeter has been scouted, no force has been sighted."

I give a nod, "Good."

"But," He interrupts as he points to the hill, "Behind that hill, there's an eight thousand enemy force, comprised of what our scouts believe to be solely of knights."

"How close are they? And whose?" I ask him as he tiredly breathes out.

"The scout's approximation is about four to five hours. Though we weren't able to determine whose it was, all we knew was it came from the same direction of where this army came from.

I tap my chin in thought. Whose could it be? If it came from Aster, it could only mean my brother is being followed by an army, whose is up for debate.

"Then, isnt this good news?" Lord Belford spoke as he heard Ivid's report.

"It might not be," Lord Mirs interjects as he arrives from finishing the supplies.

"Perhaps this one is the Araselian army, the one that arrived with a forty thousand men behind him." I say to them as I clench my fist in anger, reminded of the betrayal they did.

"Then should we retreat? I mean, won't this turn into a mess. What if they attack during our battle? We can't possibly win against an army of eight thousand knights." Lord Ivid meekly spoke as he looked down in anxiety.

"NO! What we should do is quicken this battle. We should advance and retreat and build up distance that we would be able to safely retreat."

Lord Mirs raises an eyebrow as he responds with irritation, "Then waste our tight resources? We're already struggling as it is. If we hasten this battle by throwing our already tight resources. We'll be impacting any of our futre battles."

"FUTURE BATTLES!" Belford shouts as he gestures to the hill. "Right there is the sole reason we are in this mess. What we need is to take him out before Rivider could use him against us."

Mirs nurses his head in what seems like a headache. "I've said before and I'll say it again. Killing Prince Athan does nothing for our war effort. All we'll be doing now is wasting our resources when we could be retreating."

He then rides closer to me his voice pleading, "My Prince, please think clearly on this. We need to cut our losses now and scrounge up the remaining resources we have and hole up as we consolidate."

I look to him, my expression stern as countless passed through my mind. Do I want to do this? Is this the right choice. But every time I close my eyes all I remember was the hardships they put me through and the catalyst for father's death, the catalyst so close to me.

"No, we push forward and take this hill before us and take our first win." I spoke grimly as I notice Mirs sigh in disappointment as he left and Ivid look around in hesitation before following after him.

"Take my armor and sword! I'll be entering the battlefield." The servants around me run, preparing for the battle ahead.

Athan Geldstein

"Sir! They've started their advance unto the hill!" A messenger shouts as he enters the tent.

I keep looking down as the ground shake once more and the smell of ash pervades my sorroundings.

The officers around me watch before one spoke, "Sir, should we release the knights?"

I shake my head as I hold my chin, "No, they're the only key we have in winning this battle. Losing even a bit of them, would lessen our chance significantly."

"SIR! The enemy infantry has made contact." The messenger arrives.

Another barrage shakes the ground, growing ever closer to our position. Once they reach the third line. Only then could the knights properly throw their weight.

"SIR! Message from our scouts! They notice a contingent of men originating from the enemy command currently riding to our destination." A messenger runs in.

"That could only that my brother has taken the field and has decided to fight himself." I spoke as the officer look around and nod.

"Rejoice!" I shout with a smile.

"It looks like we were given a chance to win this battle." I shout as I gesture to one of the servants to take my armor and give it to me.

"Have all the knights prepare for my command and evacuate this tent immediately." The surrounding servants strap me with armor as I continued,

"We ride the moment they commit their knights and leave a hole to exploit."