CWE Book II Part 15

XV

Claudia

Never will a moment in my life that I would ever thought of prayers for a swift kill for my children, but this is one time I wished it would come true.

We were surrounded by the lancers as we passed the last forest line. The marchmen protecting us immediately formed a ring around us, but we are outnumbered. The women and children crouched in fear of this attack which may come soon. There was little we can do but wait. One of the marchmen walked up the leader of the lancers unarmed to negotiate our safe passage, but he was met with a lance in his chest. Just when we thought the attack was forth coming, we saw another soldier riding up to the lancers. He is dressed like a Praetorian, but I can’t be sure. The soldier spoke to the leader and an argument was in progress. The soldier raised his right hand, and I can see from both sides of us outside the ring are two columns of Praetorian lancers. This is worse than I thought; we are by pursue by the Praetorian’s too. For some reason, the Lord Conal’s lancers withdrew their army in formation and marched by us to leave the place.

The Praetorian rode to our line of defence and spoke to the marchmen at the front. I can see he is senior Praetorian and he looked very young. He asked for a person to speak and I was the one he asked. I stepped forth to see him with my two kids in tow, as they refused to stayed back with their minder.

‘My name is Senior Praetorian Signus. I bid you good day, Mistress Claudia. Prime Leader Raihan sends his regards. Your column may march on to your borders. We, the 1^st  Column of the Frontier Praetorian will ride parallel to your trail and protect you. You need not worry as we numbered ten thousand and no harm will come to you and your people.’

‘I thank you, Praetorian. But I thought Prime Leader Raihan died in an ambush.’

‘That is hearsay information. I can assured you, Prime Leader Raihan is well and alive. He himself asked me to deliver you to the border safely.’

‘So the rumors were wrong.’ I smiled at the young Praetorian.

‘Praetorian do tell the truth but not necessary the whole truth. Soon you will know all.’  With that, he rode off back to his column and we marched on back to the border of the Outsiders Land.

Darius

The range borders extend from the north to the south of the empire on its western borders. The range mountains being eroded over by the different changes of seasons has cut through by many glaciers have left many features behind to tell their tale. Deep river canyons and flat valleys are found winding their way around the ridges of the mountains. Of these are the two main river Prozen; flowing north and Izren flowing south, cutting across at two points breaking the range into the main mountain. In the north it tapers off to the plains as it near the sea, but its tip is also where the Prozen river flows into the sea.

The Black Range is physical barrier for both the Empire to expand to the western lands, and acts as natural barrier to break the land for its inhabitants. The western lands is rarely explored by the Empire but there are some diplomatic ties with them on the high level. This was what told to me by my father who was posted to the south before as a representative of the Praetorians.

The area around the tip of the range is a favourite hunting ground of the hunters as this is where the wilds animals grazed on the plains and drink their thirst on the Prozen river. One of the favored animal here was the wild horses which graze here. These horses are string and swift as they run on the range and also on this plains. We hunt them to catch them for our use as war horses. As this place was also flat, I used my men to be trained here on the horse we captured to improve their riding skills. Its been four seasons now, and I have my own column of riders; I called the wild riders, as they ride wild among the targets and shoot arrows while doing so. For these reason, we designed our own bows and arrows. They are shorter and sturdier for quick release. The men learned to ride by using their legs to control the horses, and it worked but not without casualties. Now I have is five hundred of such riders, and they are renamed as ‘Darius Rider’.

The one thousand marchmen I brought was station in the forest line to wait for the arrival of the enemy, while my riders are on the river banks hiding in strategic locations. We saw them sailing down the river, three boats in a row. The front boats will tow another two behind which is laden with men, and horses. I see on the front boats are their crews and on the sides are something covered with the cloth. I signaled my men to spread out along the river banks. Given the distance from the boats to the banks, I think we can caused some damages but not much. Nevertheless I had my riders released their arrows as the boats passed by. Our initial volley did caught them with some surprise but they soon recovered. By then, my riders has rode on to the plains to assist the marchmen. 

The largest canyon across the range is Proven Cross. Its situated just before the edge tapered off to the plains. Its a half a day ride from one end to the other and is about to two hundred man’s height deep,  consists of very steep vertical mountain slopes on both sides. Its width is ten mans width and Its impossible to trap them inside the canyon because of the steep sides. But the exit of the canyon opens to some large plain. Here is where I set my reception.

Daniel

We saw them coming; three in row and now expanding to double. These are war boats as can be seen from the bow are the evil looking totems of their gods. I had my boats spread out in formation of a two columns to the side of the river mouth, with intent to block them from moving to the shore. My intention was to run the war boats to the middle while mine take the two sides. Then we can create a pincer move and used our pikes to push them together, and then we can release the flying pots of oil to create the chaos.

But I was wrong in my judgment of them.

The allowed us into their sides with some exchange of arrows. I was concerned when I saw on the deck of the war-boats, which is partially covered with the cloth. My concern was soon made turn to nightmare. The cloth was removed to show their fangs. It was a large bow with more power; I never seen one so big. It was made of wood, and held together with iron plates around the frames and iron nails in the stand. The main stand had a slider on the top, into which were loaded the large steel arrows which has claws in the rear to attached to the bowstring for firing position. Drawing the bowstring back with the winches twisted the already taut string into a series of winches, storing the energy to fire the projectiles.

The release of the projectile was not my only concern. The impact of these powerful arrows was made more deadly with the pots of oil is has on its head, with the wick lighted. The flames soon spread on our boat from keel to bow. As we were not hit by one or two arrows but several, the men has to abandoned the boats to swim ashore.

I came with a hundred boat, and only thirty made it back; plus I lost over a thousand men in the fight. Some of them made it to the river banks, but were met with arrows from the enemies. Some did not get to swim as they were caught by the flames. It was a lost I did not anticipate but I did lose to a more devious foe.

Darius

They came first with their lancers intending to run off any hiding enemies, but we were patience to wait for them to group up. Then we let off our arrows and got many of them in the open plain. The enemy immediately withdrew back into the canyon. Then it was a stand off between us and them. We need to buy time for General Damai to reach the settlement and we did just that. every time they send out a squad, we slammed it back to their leaders.

It was nightfall when we withdrew back to our next rendezvous point. And our next surprise came.

We thought of meeting them on a battlefield which I will test my archers on them. They took our cue and send their men to meet us at a nearby plain. There I lined up my five hundred riders, and we waited. The enemies arrived with their marchmen; I counted maybe one thousand men. I signaled the men to march out, and we rode on a slow trod towards them. Soon we increase the speed and move to a full gallop. The marchmen took on us with their square formation, but we did not attack them up front. We just around them in circles and shot our arrows at them. It was then their ‘specialist’ appeared on the battlefield. They are actually riders in small wooden wagons the length of one man and width of half man. The are two riders in each wagon, while one drives the other is armed with a few lance.\

They came charging at my riders and we were soon fighting them in close range.  They numbered about one thousand and was winning the edge over us. I ordered a retreat and we rode off back to the Main settlement with only two hundred riders.

Damai

The enemies are coming and our effort to stop them has not resulted much but more losses on our side. I have now to planned the defence of this settlement and its people. The wives and children including the ones which Claudia traveled in was safe here. I had them moved to the caves in the hills.

I have requested help from the Yellow Beards, but I have no replies as yet. Now, I have is twenty five thousand men; eighteen thousands marchmen, three thousand lancers and the rest are archers including Darius’s. There are about forty thousand of them coming in from the enemy side.

On the west side of the settlement I have set up three sets of walls from the forest tree line. In front of each wall is a deep moat with sharpened stakes in it. To the south of the settlement, I have only one set of wall which will lined from the west towards the east side of the settlement. But this wall was built a long time ago as their defence against invading armies and it has been constructed over the seasons into that of stones stacked on top of each other and hard muds caked it together. I left my eastern side free of any walls except a series of barricades of stakes facing inwards as that was my retreat line if I am to call for a withdrawal.

As to the shoreline which lies to the north of the settlement. I have built also wooden barricades across in small numbers. I expect the boatmen come in via the boats, and we shall defend it when they land. Along the shorelines are stakes and logs to form barriers.

And then I waited. It wasn’t long and they arrived.

Darius

I came back with my survivors and was assigned to the south wall, as my men can defend there from any flanking movements. We released our horses and took the extra arrows from the womenfolks, there we sat and waited. The General has released almost half his archers here with me in command.

Daniel came back with his men, but he was adamant to fight on water. So the General told him to said out to the other end of the cove and wait for the opportunity to flank the inbound enemies.

We still have no news from the Yellow Beard or maybe our messenger did not make it there.

Claudia

I was with the women and children in the caves, and we kept huddle like animals in the shelter when it rained. There were some women sobbing and some had kept their cries to little muffles in their arms. I held onto the twins and I hope we have another miracle like the one which we had earlier. But the Praetorian left us when we reached our own borders. There is no more Praetorian to assist us here. This is our war and we are to fight it alone.

‘You are the General’s wife?’ I looked up at the woman who was asking for me. She is dressed as a warrior and carries a broadsword. I recognised that sword; it belongs to Damai.

‘Yes, its his. My name is Nina. Your  husband; the General taught me to fight with it, and he gave me it. I here to tell you that I am bringing five hundred women back to the settlement to fight with the men. Among them is Lydia, and so we need you to command the column here. Can you do it?’

I looked at the woman who carries my husband’s sword. Is it true that she was his lover before I came here to reclaim him back. There was words of it in the camp, but I never told Damai. And now she stands before me, asking me to lead the people here. I nodded my head and she left with the sword swinging at her hips. She looked like a warrior from here and I wondered if she is a lady in his bedding. I wanted to laugh at myself for having such thoughts but I am now wondering wouldn’t it be proper for the lovers to die in battle together, or am I just having bad thoughts.

Damai will return to me as he has been. Or will he be like Genus.

Damai

They came on the break of dawn; all thirty thousand of them. There is the eighteen thousand marchmen and two thousand archers, plus three thousand lancers. The westerners are added up to another eight thousand, in their wagons and iron cladded horses. I should expect the second column to arrive from the sea front. Well, they did not hesitate much, as they came in first. The wagons and their riders in the fore, followed by the marchmen all screaming with their cries of deaths to us. The lancers are seen riding off to the south lines. They are trying to flank us.

I have five thousand marchmen behind every wall and the lancers are kept to the rear of the final wall. My orders are to keep to their position and used the wall to defend themselves. A thousand archers posted on each wall will proved the fire power.

The first wall was collapsing, and I move another thousand of my marchmen forward to reinforced it. But it was too late. I signaled the retreat to the second wall. I was on the second wall when they came.

‘Get them on the wall. And hold it. We will stop them soon enough. Aargh...’ The arrow was embedded in my left upper arm. I reached for the wooden staff and broke it off leaving just the arrowhead inside my left arm.

‘General, their second wave is here. They are landing now.’ I looked at the young warrior who is probably some seasons older than my twins. He was soon back on the line lining his bow to take on the enemy. I see many of men wounded or dead on the wall, while others climbed over them to fight on. Where there is a breach, more men was there to hold it. I wished Signar was here, he is better at this than me.

It was then I saw Nina and her warriors; all about two thousand of them wearing armors and carrying pikes. They came to stand with their men and fought like them. I do not know what trigger the call for withdrawal, but the enemies was retreating back across the walls. The ones at the beach was just waiting and not doing anything else.

I was wrong actually.

The column at the beach was unloading their so called heavy bows, and they are lining them on the beach. I called for the withdrawal to the final wall and into the settlement. I lost about two third of my men on those walls. I signaled my lancers to ride for the forest,as I feared there could an attack there.

Darius

They came in from the west riding along the forest line; all their heavy cladded riders and wagons. They learned fast as they could not do much on the soft ground at the beaches, so they were directed here. I let off the volley of arrows but it was little effect on the steel wall of riders. We did hit the wagons and stopped some of them, but they still came.

Soon our lancers engaged them but they were not a real match against the riders in heavy amour. Suddenly I had a thought; I grabbed a netting near me used by the men to fish in the sea. I ran out with it and threw it over one of the heavy rider. His helmet has a small slot for him to see where he is going, but when the netting covered him, his vision was affected. So was his horse to find something which draped over their body and legs. The horse soon panicked and dislodged the rider. It was then the lancers came in to kill the heavier opponent. More of my men saw my act, and started picking up the nettings on the wall or around it. Soon they were doing as I did and the war was now beginning to look more level.

Daniel

I told them men to slowly sail in from their flanks. When our boats reached their empty barges that was dragged by the war boats, we boarded those. We soon make our way slowly across the barges to the war boats, removing any crews we can see. Soon we were on the war boats which is still occupied by the crew trying to unrigged their heavy bows. Not all the heavy bows was removed, only part of them in the front few boats. We took the surprised crews and and lined the heavy bows on the remaining boats towards the cluster of men on the beach. We looked at the bows and learned it fast. When we were ready, we decided to give them a taste of flaming roasted meat. The men was not ready to be attacked by their own flanks and their proximity made the works easier for the fires to spread. 

The ones which attacked was met by my men, and we took them down by the numbers. It was then we saw the second attack was on the last wall of defence. I hoped I bought them time and hope. But for me, mine was due, as the pike that was thrusted into my torso was not be removed easily.

Damai

They come again, and my men are ready for the final round. I saw the fight on the beach and thought it was the Yellow Beard, but I later saw it was Daniel’s men. They bought us hope and motivation to fight on. Its not a losing war until you see the end of it.

I deflected the thrust of the lancer who is fighting on his feet. I swung my sword down on his right shoulder to give him a new one. Then I kicked out at his falling body to fight the next approaching enemy. My left arm aches but I have to ignore the pain if I am to fight. I finished my opponent with a side thrust to his ribs and ended his life. I turned to see the defence and it still holding. It was then I saw Nina taking on her opponent; she did win that round with a down sweep of her broadsword. But she did not see the next coming thrust from the read of her fallen opponent. The sharp end of the pike took her in the upper chest and she felled back from the impact. I ran to her and lunged at her opponent with my sword. As I was about to knocked into him, I swung my sword in an arc to removed his head. I got up to see Nina was lying on top of the dead bodies. I rushed to her side, to see the wound on her. He amour did helped to protect her.

‘Damai, I thought I given my heart to you before. Why does he seek it still?’ I smiled at this tough lady and pulled her to her feet. Her body felled towards me and she embraced me. It was then I saw the wound at her back, which was not protected by any amour. She must had fallen onto the sword which was on the dead body.

‘Nina, you must not die.’ I lowered her to the ground trying to remove her amour so I can get to the wound. She stopped me with her right hand.

‘They won’t find my heart here. Its in you all this time.’ She died in my arms and I was not able to move for a while. If it was not for the cries of the charging marchmen, I may not had move at all from her. I jumped aside to avoid the thrust and got up to confront my new foe.

Darius

I saw it coming. I never seen it before, although some old man told me once before. I shouted out to the men and for those who knows, started running towards the wall. The battle has stopped then, and everyone was standing with their eyes on the coming waves.

‘Move quick. There is not much time. Grab anything you can hold you to the ground.’ I was running over the wall and into the forest to climb onto a tree. The biggest and  highest was my choice. I can see more people running over the wall, friends and foes for the forest or high ground.

Damai

The Gods must be mad at us. I heard of such tales from the old folks and laughs at them. But now I am not laughing anymore. The Gods are at us with these high waves of ten man’s height. I see them hitting the boats and sweeping them like fallen logs in their wake. I knew I cannot outrun the waves, but I will need some cover. I saw a small boat dugout which is still not completed. I ran to it and sat inside it. The water came and I find my boat being lifted up and swept by it. Then I must have hit something because I could not remember what happened next.

Lancelot Part 1

The Beginning

At Herns

Herns is a small settlement of farmers and sheep herders who knows not of the Lord who ruled their land. They are hardly patronized by any officers ranked higher than the Collector who comes twice a year. The Collector himself carries no name but his rank although he is shouldered by two armed men dressed in armors and carrying the long spear. The Collector himself traveled on a small cart drawn by a donkey as he feared the horse since his last unceremoniousness mishap with it. That mishap caused him to rest on his bedding for over two moons. The Collector is a tall man with a crescent shaped face which he sports a goatee to enhance its look. He is ever calculative and very thorough in his collection. Not a single load is missed nor a misplaced coin in the tithes.

The people who made their abode at Herns pays their tithes to the Collector on his oratorial skills and of course his written order of command from his Lord. It matters not to these settlers as writing of any form is as vague to them as the length of the grass in the land. The last time the Collector showed them the so called written order, the goat owned by Henry almost took half it into its mouth. Poor Henry suffered a loss that day as the goat was 'imprisoned' for destroying the Lord's order.

Today is nearing the time when the Collector would come on his cart and two foot soldiers. The feast was prepared for his arrival and the tithes laid in the casket for his inspection. But it was no cart that arrived that day, but a small contingent of army which arrived at the settlement.

"The Lord is coming..." The lad of years not exceeding seven times, called out as he ran down the hill towards the settlement. He is followed closely by his sister whose years were almost ten times. The lad ran into his father' arms who was also the settlement head. The father is none other than Peter of Herns who is also the Settlement Head. Peter is a breed of the farm whose forefathers have always work the plough better and gave back many of it to the land when they lay their physical body on their death. Like Peter, he has grown well with the land produce. He intend to do so for many years and so would his son after him.

"Hold there, Issac." The older man held onto his son by the lapels of his tattered frock. Next to come in was his daughter, Helen who could not stopped in time. Helen bumped into her brother's back and then the two of them tangled up into the father's body.

"Okay. Hold on children." Peter of Herns calmed down his children. "Settle down your excitement."

The children calmed down and Issac motioned to his sister to speak.

"We did not see the Collector." Helen spoke out in gasps of breath. "Its soldiers we saw."

The older man took in a deep breath and then motioned to his wife nearby.

"Take the children to the far woods on rise." He instructs her. "Do not come out until I signaled you. Do not come even if you hear fights."

His wife' Mary who served him for many years both as lover, mother and also companion, then took the children by their arms and ran off to the woods. Other mothers and ladies folks followed suit. Men of all ages who are above fifteen in years rushed to their homes to come back carrying anything that can be used as a weapon.

"Patrick," Peter comfort an old man of past his eighty years. "You may joined the families. We would fight them if they are invaders."

"I be darned if anyone tells me I cannot fight." Patrick is an old Guard of the previous Lord and now having retired with only his trusty blunt sword as the only consolation of his years of service.

"No, Patrick." Peter assured him. "Do not take sight to my words. I have nobody I am willing trust more with my family than you."

"Peter," Patrick replied back in his hoarse voice. "Your words fouls even my breath. Stand aside as I received this army."

Patrick ignored the Settlement Head and walked to the bridge that represent their settlement limit to that side of the land. The shallow stream that flowed beneath it is also the drinking path for the sheep that grazed nearby. Peter on seeing the old man walked to the bridge sighed in despair. He is only a farmer and since the last Head died of illness, he was asked to stand in as he is the largest among them. Since then, he has been unofficially made the Settlement Head. Its now almost two cold seasons and he is still their head. He has asked repeatedly for some one to be but none of the twenty odd men here wants to initiate it.

They have fought off wolves and on occasions the odd group of brigands but never an army. More so, he is not sure if they are friendly or hostile. Peter looked at Patrick and smiled as he knows the old man relish the days when he was a burly soldier and not a feeble infirm old man. He may want to die fighting but Peter knows that most of them here prefers the quiet death to one with an open chest with their entrails hanging out.

Peter caught hold of Patrick's son, Mathew. Mathew is the only surviving son of the family as he could never join the army with his illness of seizures. His father disliked him for his lack bravery and sudden illness that he attributes to cowardice instead of health.

"Mathew, stay at your father's side." Peter told him. "And you take care."

Mathew nodded to Peter as he moved forward holding the wooden pitchfork he would used in the coming fight. He prayed hard that his seizures would not come forth at this moment or he would failed at his quest. He would prefer to die like his brothers in battle than to be branded a coward by all.

"My King, the scouts reports of a settlement over the hill." The senior officer of the Benwick Contingent advised his King. King Ban is mounted on his horse in his full armor and carrying his family crest on the round shield looked at the senior officer.

"There is also a small stream there and we can have some fresh water for the men." The officer continued in his report to the King.

"Proceed on, Galad." King Ban instruct his officer. "Queen Elaine is in need of a proper rest. What is no better than a proper roof for her tonight compared to the tent she had spent for nights."

King Ban looked to his new bride whom he had recently taken as his on the request of Queen Evarice, his brother wife's. He have met his brother King Bors earlier and they have pledged their loyalty to the new King; King Arthur. King Ban is the younger one and he is the more physical of the two as he is more into hunting and wrestling compared to his brother Bors who is more scholarly inclined. It was said by their father that among his two sons, one would rule the throne and the other would keep its border safe for the other. But the brothers have gone against their father's wishes and split the kingdom. By doing so, they won't conflict in their ruling but their kingdom pale in reference compared to Arthur. The young King have impressed both brothers although he only inherit what was once his father's too.

Their pledge to serve the new King was done and now they are returning to their own land, which if needed they would removed anyone who threatens the new King.

King Ban remembered telling his brother when they departing together; that he finds its intriguing for him to bow to a mere boy of fifteen years in age.

"He is a sapling compared to us in years, and yet we bowed before him in servitude. I wondered if madness have overtaken our minds for us to do so." King Ban laughed at his own statement.

"A sapling with an ability to grow into a stout tree that what belies the new King." King Bors replied. "I been with Utter for many battles and even once on the opposing side. His seedlings are without matched in this land."

Both men laughed at the remark they just laid on the old King, who was the father of Arthur.

"Aye, even as you speak of seedling; mine is troubling me to let loose." King Ban spoke out on his coming wedding to Lady Elaine on the advise of the Queen of Bors. It was his brother who planned this as the lady in waiting has already agreed to the union.

"If she is a vixen like her sister, then you may naught have to get up early from bed in the morning." Both men laughed at their words on their bedding mates. The new Queen for King Ban is the sister of Queen Evarice of King Bors.

The wedding was held in a simple ceremony and the couple sent off to their chamber with the merriment continuing on at the Main Hall.

On the next morning, King Bors was to host his brother for breakfast as the later have made his intention to return to his land. He seek his brother's permission and that was granted. King Bors then asked his brother to share his first meal of the day, while his Queen seek the new bride to join them at the Main Hall.

Queen Evarice ran over to the bedchambers where her sister had spent the night with her husband. She find her sister still lounging in bed, and in her night dress.

"Oh my dear," Queen Evarice pounced on her sister on the bed. "Surely, you must be getting up and be ready for your travel back to your land. Your Lord is in the Hall having his meal before he departs".

"Alas, sister of mine." Queen Elaine remarked back to her sister. "I am so satiated by this man of mine, whose pounding of my flesh is ever incessant and deep."

Elaine turned her bosom to her sister and continued in her words.

"His hands so caked with callous and rough in kneading me here, yet he pleasures me within moments."

"Hold your lusty thoughts to yourself or I would be hauling my Lord to his chamber." Evarice told off her sister. "Surely there would be more of those to come, but now your duty as his wife is to be with him in the Hall. So hurry up and get dressed."

Evarice did not hesitate to pull the silky night dress off her sister who is still stretching herself on the bedding.

"Okay, let me do it myself." Elaine got up herself and pulled at the gown over her head. She then stood there in her glory basking in the morning sunlight.

"Do you think I am beautiful, sister?" Elaine asked of her sister as she reached for her breasts and pinched at the nipple which was embedded into her chest. She plucked at it until its swollen point stood up like set of young cherries.

"Yes, you are but now you need is a wash and dressing." Evarice got up from the bedding and walked to her sister. "Where is your chamber maid?"

"I sent her off last night as I do expect to be disturbed at this morning." Elaine told her sister as she bend over the shallow pail of water laid there for washing last night. "Its cold and .....so exciting."

Elaine had dabbed the soft cloth into the water and now rubbing it down her chest. Her hand holding the cloth trailed down her body to her lower torso and she shuddered at the touch.

"Aargh!" she moaned out and her sister Evarice came forth to check on her. "Its so sore there."

"Let me clean it for you." Evarice took on the cloth and slowly dabbed at the sore parts of her sister's body while her sister held out her hands onto Evarice shoulder for support.

"That's nice ........nice yet so..... Good." Elaine clasped her hands tight onto her sister' shoulder as the other slowly part the swollen flesh to cleaned it of the grime and leftovers.

Evarice then removed her hand and stood up. She took Elaine by the shoulder and shook her to come to her senses.

"Sister, your husband awaits you. Do you understand?" Evarice spoke out loud to Elaine.

Elaine nodded to her sister and then she herself complete her bath without the sister who gone off to select a dress for her.

Evarice looked at the contingent of army led by King Ban leave the castle. Among those there is her sister now betrothed to King Ban. For some reason, she felt envious of the union as she felt that only deserving one should be her instead of her sister. The sisters have grown up together with the brothers since young and Evarice have always admired Ban more than Bors. When the announcement of her union to Bors was made, she could not refuse as its uncalled for in the ladies then, but to willingly accept the union.

Today she find her admired person now taking on her other closest companion; her sister. Both the sisters have stayed together since birth and this is the first time they are apart. Even when she was to be with King Bors, she brought her sister here so that she would not be lack of companionship. But now the sister of hers is leaving her here alone. This is the first time she felt that someone had taken away what should had been hers'. She felt her heart beat in pain on seeing her admired person now no more available to her.

She was so pre-occupied that she did not hear the oncoming steps of her King as he came around to embrace her from her rear.

"Surely you are not going to tell me, that you missed your sister now.?" King Bors nuzzled his face into the rear of her neck as his hands groped at her waist line to the bodice laces holding the corset there.

"No, my Lord." Evarice reached with her hands to the back of her head to hold her Lord' head. "I am happy for her that she has found her own Lord."

"Then perhaps you can ignore her and be my Queen again." King Bors have pulled his Queen away from the wall opening to his bedding. "Without your sister here, surely you can be more free to attend to me."

"Yes, my Lord." Queen Evarice replied to him. She can feel his hardness on her body and she reluctantly let herself be led from the wall opening.

Queen Evarice recount her sister's earlier words as her Lord humped away above her, but the thoughts of the morning did not matched the pace the King has set for himself. Both are brothers in blood, but they are of difference in physique, and she have got the weaker of the two. He rolled off her and then fell asleep without a thought to her needs. Evarice looked to the dark narrow recesses on the ceiling; an imperfection of the mason she recount in her mind.

"An imperfection which I am forced to endure," Evarice spoke to herself. She then asked herself if her sister was making fun of her this morning by taunting her with the prowess of other King, or did she set herself an expectation too high for her own Lord. However she cannot regret her choice nor her commitment anymore as her belly is now with his and soon would show if he is to have a heir to the throne. She sighed back in her thoughts and consoled herself at least there would be someone who would pay more attention to her bosom than the King could managed.

Galad led the first squad of thirty foot soldiers armed with long spears and round shields. He rode up to the bridge and faced the large man standing there in his smock with a cloth belt to hold it at the waist and holding a wooden staff.

"Stand aside, farmer." Galad announced his arrival. "I am Galad of Benwick. Submit to my King or die at his feet."

Galad; the knight of Benwick dressed in his plated armor and his helmet is a round top which cover his entire head to the neck, with slits for his eyes and nose. The armor is of dark shades and on his waist is his war hammer. In his right hand he carries the long rectangle shield and the ten foot lance on his left hand. Galad is mounted on a dark stead of a sturdier breed that allowed him to travel long distance.

"My name is Peter of Herns." The farmer introduced himself. "We know no Lord or King but a person named as the Collector. He comes every two season and we give him his dues for protection. The Collector claimed to have the order scroll from King Claudas."

"King Claudas? Frank King?" Galad spoke up on hearing the name. King Claudas is a Frankish line of Kings and they are enemies of King Arthur. "You swore allegiance to a Frank."

Galad turned to his foot soldiers.

"Attack them!" Galad resentment for the Franks cloud his judgment. His parents were killed these Franks and he viewed all of them as enemies.

The foot soldiers charged at the farmer. The first to be killed was Patrick who could not stop the oncoming soldiers, they just brushed aside the old man and trampled over him. Mathew who was near him swung his wooden pitch fork at he nearest foot soldier who just shrug off threat as the soldier attacked Mathew with the bunt end of the spear. The force of the blow caused Mathew to topple over and he keeled over before his seizure took over.

"Leave him be." The foot soldiers ignored the quivering farmer on the bridge and trampled over him too.

Peter swung his staff at the foot soldier who blocked it with the spear while another foot soldier thrust the spear into his midriff. Peter died serving a Lord he had never seen. The rest of the settlers could not stand up to the more experienced soldiers soon themselves dead or maimed.

"Galad, secure me a suitable abode. I need to rest with my Queen." King Ban instruct his officer as they camped in the settlement. Galad had earlier secured the comfortable place for the King and then he led his men to search the settlement. They could find some food and drinks alongside the tithes.

Galad walked up to the captured settlers. There were three of them, and one is badly wounded.

"Where are your women folks?" Galad asked the settlers. "Tell me or I would have you all killed."

The kept their silence and Galad took his sword to kill the wounded one. Then he poised the sword over one of the other two remaining ones. The one which was threatened point to the woods before the sword pierced his neck.

"Find them, and bring them here. Kill the old ones and leave the small ones there." Galad told his men. "Anyone who makes too much noise, kill her."

That night two women conceived a child each. One was Queen Elaine with her Lord, and the other was a young lady who just turned fifteen in years. Her name was Martha of Herns. She was to give birth to a boy whom she would named Peter. The child's father was Galad of Benwick.

CWE Book II Part 14

X1V

Prime Leader Romus

The men looked good in their training and I am happy at the progress made here. But I need men who can win battles. So I looked at Ream; ‘can you win battle?’ I got was a nod of his head; a mute which normally means only knows two words, yes and no. Today his nod is not an acknowledge but a bow to said ‘I don’t know’. That is the third word he know.

I liked Ream as not only is he silent at all times, but he tells the truth from his heart. That makes him a good leader and soldier. ‘We will win them soon. Your men showed me good moves and new tactics. I like that. We will fight soon with your men. Fear not losing, for the next option is to win.’

I got my message from Lord Camlash. Its a tempting offer, but I am not keen on it. So was the one which I got from Conal. They both need my favor, but I am not giving any for now.

‘Get the men more ready; send in more to be trained. We will change the mode of battle.’

Ex-Prime Leader Raihan death was sad, but we were told it was done by the Army lancers. One of them managed to pierce his lance into old man and he died as a result. The Praetorian Guards who escorted him told this information. I have asked Lord Conal for his reply and he ignored me now I ignore his. But the death of a Prime Leader cannot be ignored. Since then, his position as Prime Leader for the Punishment Division remains vacant. I called for a meeting with the rest of the Prime Leader to discuss this soon, to discuss this.

Lord Conal

Its been nearly a season over and I have no reply. I cannot wait for the old fools reply. And none of the other Lords have replied to my messages too. Are we living in the world where cowards are living as Lords. But I will forgive them when they come to see me when I am victorious. Even Lord Giantus will praise me for my strategy.

I have with me now first column of sixty thousand of my army, forty thousands marchmen, ten thousand archers and five thousand lancers, plus a new division called the specialist of five thousand men. I learned all the battles with the Outsiders. I will not be tempted to fight on your ground. You will fight in mine. I have send another column of thirty five thousand to the west of the empire. They been away for over three moons now with my special advisers that I secured from the west, who with the amount of gold can bring me another ten thousand of their warriors.

I depleted the treasury and starve my.people, but these are the sacrifices I must make to secure the needed victory. I got my messages and I send out the order to march; the biggest army ever seen yet.

Braven

He is mad to fight this war with no regards for his people. This is a madman and I must stopped him. I prayed for the Gods help in holding back the other Lords’ and also the Praetorian. And my answer was given; they will not join in his madness as also seen by them. This is war between the Outsiders and Lord Conal army. The spies and scouts told me of the second column in the west; they are traveling the rivers to the mouth to reach the sea and thus coming on the settlements including the Main Settlement. The enemies also includes some western land mercenaries which joined them from the west, and they brought their own fighting methods.

Lord Conal was very clever to conceal his intentions and armies over the last few moons. He send overtures of peace to me a few times which I have rejected. He build his army by using different outpost as training and those he trained he moved them south and west away from my spies. As we did not see the need to send so far down of his land, the buildup was intense there, and young men was forced to serve the army. And all this time, he was also sending threats of war with Granus to get involved with his sister, but the sensible Lord Giantus just ignored his rantings. Lord Giantus even locked away Granus in the chambers to avoid him crating any more embarrassment.

I have with me thirty thousand men; twenty thousand marchmen, five thousand lancers, and five thousand archers. I also have ten thousand more coming from the east to help me, mostly marchmen. I send ten thousand with General Damai back to our land, where another twenty thousand are in the rear already, but they need leaders. And he needs to protect my son, Darius.

If there was ever a time, I needed the help of Gods, this was it.

Damai

I rode on ahead while the men were frantically running on my horse heels. Everyone of them rushed back not to saved their own family but also of their friends who fights at the border with Braven. I prayed hard too as I rode, with the words that none of my family are harmed en-route with me. They traveled with the wives and children of the men who came to the border to stay, Now they are traveling back to the settlement on order of Braven. The column of ladies and children are slower so I assigned a thousand men to protect them. Those are the most I can spare to take care of the five over thousands innocent lives.

I been getting messages from my scouts on the progress of the western column. They are almost half way there, as I am, but a third of them travel swift by the boats provided by the westerns land river settlements. Their men will be full rested while mine is tired by then. I need to move fast to counter their progress. The twenty thousand men we planned at the rear should be grouping up soon at the settlement. They are spread out in the land as peace was there, but they should be about five thousand of them in the main settlement. They have their officers but they have no leaders to lead them in a war, except the old men in the council.

Darius

It was chaos here in the settlement when the news of the invading armies are arriving soon. The men starts to prepare themselves but they are not organized as a whole. I went up to see the elders but the council is in progress. They themselves are experienced in fighting battles with the Frontier Army but never a full invading army of this size. Someone has to lead them, and I know who is that person. I took up the hunting horn by the side of the Hall entrance, and blew on it. It stopped the chaos and they all came forward to the Hall. I soon find Lydia at my side with her full amour and sword. Even the elders came out to see the commotion and was asked by me to sit at the side.

Lord Conal

The hares’ runs for the forest, but I have more than one hound to catch them. I got words of the progress of my western column and also my main column. I will ride now to join the main column to lead them to victory. But there is one column which I held back in reserve; ten thousand lancers to be released now. Their objective is the slower column of Damai’s army; the wives and children guarded by one thousand men.

If one needs to kill the fruits, you must find the tree and to uproot it. Then the tree will die by itself.

Braven

I must catch them before they can group under their Lord. I send an advanced column of five thousand marchmen; three thousand lancers and two thousand archers to reinforce the five thousand marchmen who are grouping at the rendezvous point; the Great Plains. We hold the eastern hill again and they are under a good man; General Servius, previously of the Lord Giantus, who defected some time ago.

I moved my men to set up the second defence line at this place called the ‘Widow’s Lover’ as many war was fought in this great stretch with a river that runs from north to south. Its a flat land with no cover and wars fought here are bitter, which is why they called it name, as many widows are created here. But there is a small farm in the middle of the battlefield which is long abandoned. But the place is well planted with flowers by travelers and passerby, as a sign of respect for the dead. During this wet season, now surrounding garden will be blooming with flowers of all kind.

Soon I got my news on the Great Plains.

General Servius

I arrived with the reinforcement just in time to meet the enemies massing up at the opposite hills. The order was given to form the attacking line, with the marchmen in the middle and the lancers on both sides, while the archers take their place behind the marchmen. My scouts tell me that only twenty thousand marchmen arrived,and their supply wagons. But there was also reports of the ‘specialist army’. I asked of these specialist, the reply I got was they did not get to see them near. But they looked like lancers as they ride horses, but their horsed are all covered with scales of metal wrapped over their back. I seen these before; they are called ‘heavy riders’ or ‘armored men’. The men that mount them are also clad in these scales or mails of heavy tunic to protect them from arrows and pikes. Its the design of the amour that will defect these thrusts unless it direct and very forceful. The riders will also wear head protection made from metal and protect them well. Despite the heavy amour, these specialist fight well on foot too, as they were trained long with it.

I sounded the withdrawal for my men as Braven need to be advised and this is not the battle to fight without strategy. But I was fooled by the enemy, as they had their lancers and marchmen on our flank and are approaching us. With no options, I ordered the way forward to fight but I send a detachment off to warn the Leader. I consulted the officers and decided that the only way to fight was to draw the ‘specialist’ into our trap of squares, while the lancers take on the archers. And our archers on their marchmen. I know its a badly planned strategy , but I need to buy time for Braven to form the second line.

They came, the specialist in the fore. And as foreseen, they looked like a wall of steel armed with long spikes. My marchmen was to take the blunt but was soon organized into squares. As the specialist take them on, the other marchmen of the enemies has arrived to meet mine. So it was open to close combat which I knew I would lose for sure. My lancers tried to ride down the archers, but was met by the enemies own lancers, which was in hiding behind the hills. So another battle was drawn to the enemies, and I signaled the withdrawal of my archers. They retreated but we lost a number of them to the flank attack. I was caught in an ambush by some lancers and decided to surrender to fight another day. But the lance was thrusted in my back ended my career to continue.

Braven

I lost eight thousand men that fight, with one good general who died but he gave me time and information. The surviving; mostly archers was absorb into my units. I have with me twenty five thousand men including the ten thousand who just joined me ; two thousand lancers, and about four thousand archers. I have against me is column of sixty thousand; forty thousands marchmen, ten thousand archers and five thousand lancers, plus specialist of five thousand men. Maybe the place is right to be called Widow’s Lover, as they will be more to joined in soon. Some officers asked me if we can prepare the ‘heavy lancers’, but I told him the supply wagons went back with the third column of ladies and children. We can only pray for miracles as I see the vast army across the field.

Maybe the Gods are with me. It started to rain with heavy pelts on the fields. Soon  many of my men was removing their armors to shed their wet tunics, as it was laden with water on it. The naked men soon find themselves more easier to move, and even some danced in the rain. Soon I got my answer, and I asked the men to remove their wet clothes and heavy armors. Then we marched out, naked men with only our swords or pikes and shields. I moved the lancers to the harder grounds and got them to stay there for their horses may not get wet clogged in. I got the archers to follow in the rear but we modified the arrows. As my men marched forward I got them to stomped their feet hard on the ground.

The enemies did march forward too, as expected the specialist came fore first, followed by the marchmen and then the archers. The lancers took the rear as unexpected. Soon we find the distance getting nearer and the enemies archers releasing their arrows. My naked men covered their bodies with the shields over their head. Without a reason, on my signal, the naked men started running back in withdrawal. This prompted the enemies to give chase with the specialist ever willing to be the main force.

They came forth like the wall of steel, and like steel; the weight of their amour pulled them down into the soggy mud. So were the heavy and wet marchmen, whose numbers are large that they cannot see the front who has stopped due to the mud, but assumed it was the enemies holding the advance. They fought to push ahead, and officers was running helter skelter to issue orders in the heavy torrent rain. My archers lent their weight in by shooting strands of cloth tore into strips tied by the ends. The strands of clothes line was dipped in the paste form the bark of the dark tree; when touched by the unprotected skin burns into the flesh and its very painful. I was shown this by the men when they marched here so I asked  them to collect the juice as it may be used to torture prisoners for information. But they were over zealous to collect more than they need to exert revenge on those who chased them away from their new homes.

The antidote to the poison are the leaves of the tree itself which offers a soothing touch on the wound. When the long strands of cloth burden by the wet rain falls onto the enemies, they tried to removed it with their hands and that cause them to howl in pain. Some of the soon realized the problem, but there are too many of these these strands around and over them. Some tried to cut the strands of cloth with their swords, but its sharpness is not designed for this. It soon a became a nuisance to march as more of the back starts to pushed forth causing more chaos among the marchmen.

Meanwhile my lancers without their heavy amours charged the enemies archers at the rear. As they were skirting the main battlefield area, their horses were not stuck in the mud.

Meanwhile the specialist finds themselves attacked by naked men as they ride on their heavy cladded horses. When they do dismount to fight, they find themselves sunk into the mud and was not able to move fast or at all. The marchmen came at them with their long pikes and soon their thrust will find the exposed gaps to penetrate the flesh. Some of the men actually jumped onto the armored man, and fought with knives.

We fought them until the call for withdrawal was given. My men retreated back to our lines and we count our survivors. I lost two third of my marchmen, half my lancers and one third of my archers. I see on the battlefield are all sort of wounded and dead men and even horses..

Lord Conal

Damn this war and the Gods. Why they pour their grievances on this field when I am about to wage battle on it.

I lost over almost half my men, and all my specialist are gone. Twenty five thousand men gone in a battle the size of a medium farmland. I want to attack again, but the generals said no; the men need to rest. Its crazy that the generals actually denied me of my victory. I would had executed them there if not for the men they command. I was told they will fight tomorrow when the rain stopped.

I stood there at entrance of the tent holding to the flap of my tent. Cursed you, Braven. We shall meet again tomorrow.

Damai

I reached the settlement in time but to see that Lydia was in charge of the defence line. She has got five thousand men in the hills to take on any advance detachment or scouts. Two thousand others are building trenches and deep ditches to slow advancing lancers. The others are building the perimeter and reinforcing old ones. But I counted ten thousand of them including the ones on the hills.

‘Where are the rest? I thought we had fifteen or twenty thousand here.’

‘Some are arriving soon, but two thousand men has sailed down towards the river, in the war boats, and another thousand is with Darius meeting them at the edge of the Black range. The Black range is the main range that separates the Outsiders land from the western lands. The only way to clear the range given the numbers here, was to cross it at the end of the range as its called the ‘edge’. Those are thick forest areas due to the fertile land and abundant water. But its also dangerous grounds for any ambush.

‘Who leads the boatmen?’ I asked of Lydia.

‘Its Daniel, the yellow beard man who teaches us how to sail the big sea.’ I know Daniel and he is a good seamen. And leader too, for those who lived by the boats.

‘Daniel taken the long pikes with him. He will lead them well, like you did before.’ The long pikes was our weapon designed when we fought the Yellow Beards. So we now used that to fight off invading boatmen besides the usual swords. ‘And I have armed the women. They will fight with their men against the invaders.’

I turned to see a large number of women with long pikes and swords going about the settlement. I think we can win this fight here. I wondered how are the wives and children.

Lancelot gallops in or Is it me talking to myself again....Sigh...

Hiya All.

I decided to launch Lancelot; the Dark Untold Tales instead of the Chronicles of the Elves. The reason is because I am onto the second books on that Chronicles and may edit some lines in the earlier works. A step back to the past or future.....that remains to be seen.

Here is my first controversial tale on a popular tale, told with some details never read before. I stand to comment that this tale is fictional and was not based on any findings, so judge me not. Read for the pleasure of reading but beware, its not my usual fare. This one comes out dark, erotic and horrofying at times. So I would rank it NC-17 to M.

What trigger off this tale? Lancelot when I first knew him before any knight, he was my hero in the amoured suit. Of course later came Iron Man, but Lancelot laid the foundation for me. I read most tales related to Lancelot, from the Children Edition to the Novel Paperback; those I can find on dusty shelves in the library and cupboards. You be surprised that you might find a 1960's edition of Playboy there too.  The ones where the pose is more seductuve than 'come and get it ...yum yum'.

Okay, back to Lancelot. Read with my foreword.

Till then, let me complete my Chronicles.