Aftermath

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

The ride felt like a year, yet the moment we arrived, everything passed like a second. With an expression filled with horror as we watch the chaotic battle rage on.

The hill that used to stand was dug out, chunks ripped off of it's top as steel and blood clashed. I shout to the men with a flourish of my hand, "End the fighting! Fire at will!"

"Yes, Sir!" was their reply as the knights behind me rode like thunder, washing over the chaotic battle like a wave clearing out the sand.

With the battle at the hill done, I rode behind the tide. Watching as infantry die by men's sword or burn under my men's fire. It all looked utterly horrifying, along with the mixed smell of dirt, blood and steel. It painted a grim sight.

The initial contact was destructive, the bombardment of fireballs ripping apart any pathetic resistance was over in a minute. The infantry lowering their weapons on both sides as my men stopped their swords from further bloodshed and our arrival signalled an end to the battle.

After that, I push forward atop the hill as a hundred knights surround me. The white flag atop the hill a sign of their surrender, one I intend to use.

We ride our way there and with a look to my left and nearly gasp in shock as I notice a gruesome sight. The bodies of a thousand knights scattered in the clearing. All the while, a fire consumes the grass, leaving behind burning bodies and black smoke.

Even the forces I've assumed to have been Lenard are retreating with their knights, badly battered and injured. Taking what seemed like heavy losses, considering the amount of corpses laid down by the field.

Knight Commander Evans spoke beside me, "Your Highness, should we follow them?"

I shake my head as I replied, "It's fine, there's no need to waste our resources, since they've practically left behind half of their army."

He gives an affirmative nod as we continued through the hills. To come upon a tent, burning and wretched, ash covered the officers as they bowed their heads in reverence.

"Who here is in charge?" I spoke with authority.

An officer spoke as his head remained bowed, "Duke Vincent is the one with the highest authority over this army."

I blink in surprise at his answer. I thought it would be Prince Athan, there were indications that he was the one that led the armies' retreat from Aster.

"Then where's Prince Aster." I ask him as I walked past, heading towards the tent, seeing a destroyed map and table.

"Dead, Your Highness." The officer replied as his forehead kissed the ground.

Dead? I would've thought that he'd at least put up a fight. I look out to the field to see once more the mess of blood and steel. That could hold some answers.

"What happened over there?" I point to the spot of carnage.

The officer continued to bow as he replied, "His highness Athan, sallied out and took care of the enemy commanding force." His voice was then filled with shame, "He died trying to do it."

"Did they make contact?" I ask with curiosity, if Lenard died from his last-ditch attempt, that would be great."

"We do not know, Your Highness. All we know was they made contact." He replied.

"Were there any survivors?"

He spoke in a hurry, "Yes, I believe there were some knights that came back from battle. Unfortunately, we couldn't make contact, because of the fierce battle in our hill."

I give a nod of understanding before looking down in contempt as I spoke, "Then it would be fair to assume you have surrendered? Correct?"

The head officer only replied, "Yes, Your Highness."

Such a shameful display coming from the head officer of a defeated army. I give a shake of my head, It mattered little to me, as long as I win it's fine.

I look to the knights behind me and ordered them to go forward, "Take every man here in custody. Have them in chains."

With the Athan's life now in question, I could take a more assertive stance. The only thing left now is to see if he succeeded on giving Lenard a death blow.

With such thoughts in mind, I look to Evans as I ordered him, "Send a contingent of your men and scout this entire clearing. Check for any survivors."

Evans saluted as a contingent of men followed right behind him. Their gallops loud as a hundred follow right beside me, all of which are headed to a clearing."

I take a ride around before giving out another order, "Lord Andrews, take the surviving knights into custody, we should find out what actually happened and confirm the information."

Andrews saluted in respect as I looked around and disembarked, heading towards one of the table's chair I looked around as hundreds of soldiers surrendered, their hands tied as knights pull on them.

I look to the afternoon sky now bearing down on me, I give a small smile, realizing the battle here has ended and perhaps our control of Northern Rosalia is now complete.

After all, with such disastrous defeats and heavy casualties. Even if Lenard survived, I'm sure that the nobility around would be glad defects from his side, just to save their power.

With such thoughts in mind, I continue to wait as reports file in. Each one describing the casualties we took, the casualties our enemy took and prisoners left to imprison or set free. Perhaps I can decide on what to do with them, the moment I get full report on our supplies.

A shout interrupts my thoughts as a knight drags in another prisoner, his face battered and his armor half melted along with scars and burn present all around his body

"Tell him what you told me." The knight shoves the prisoner forward with a shout.

The prisoner nodding as he spoke, "Prince Athan could make contact with Prince Lenard. Unfortunately, before Prince Athan could truly kill Prince Lenard, powerful magic ripped through from him damaging our forces."

He bows his head as he continued, "Despite sustaining injuries, Prince Athan took Prince Lenard's head and died along on our retreat."

A grin crawls itself up my expression as I take in his words. I can't help but be excited. With this, any legitimacy on the throne of Rosalia becomes questionable. With this, our occupation would now be considered legitimate, based on the fact my sister was married to him.

"Good, good." I muttered as I looked to the injured prisoner.

I look up to the knight with a smile, "Give this man a treatment and a proper meal." I stood up as I glance at him. "I repay men with the favours I am given, therefore you'll be free to go." I give a shrug, "Or follow us till you return."

The man sobs upon the land, his voice filled with gratefulness, "Thank you, Your Highness."

Done with his words, I stood back up. Lord Evans riding to my side, holding unto head and bringing with him was a corpse, one dressed in armor.

"Sir, we found a head to what seemed to be Prince Lenard." Evan spoke as he points to the bag beside him.

"It's fine, just bury him." I spoke as I wave him in dismissal, thought a thought comes to mind as I stop him, "Wait, bring the two prince's corpses. We'll bury them at Rosalia, so we could at least make a show of their death."

Evans nods as he looks to his soldiers, holding to what I could only assume to be Prince Athan. "Is that him?" I point at the mess of blood and steel and the man holding him hesitantly nods.

"Good, we'll have them buried within the capital and at least create a good impression over the remaining nobility and officials and gather the little influence we can get."

The soldiers before me nod as walk back to my horse and the men pile up their dead, to either bury their body or at least burn it.

An officer then rides up to me as I ride slowly back down. I spoke to him, "So, how much supply do we have left? Will it be enough to return to Aster?"

The officer replies, "Yes, sir. Even if we don't ration our supplies, we have more than enough supplies to return back."

"That's good, so how much casualties did we incur?" I continued as I rode down the hill, the breeze turning cold as it traveled through the hill.

"About ten death and fifty injuries." He replied as he continues to sift through the gathered reports.

I tap my chin in thought, I did hope to return back to Rosalia but we probably need to gather more information and perhaps we should burn both their corpses.

With that I give out the order, "Assemble the army, we'll be leaving in an hour." .