The Draconia Chronicles: Knights of the Westfold
Chapter 2: Thunder and Rain (The Battle of the Meadows)
One thing is known about dragons, they are a very greedy and unorganized lot. Once put on a battlefield, it is to each their own. Not with us it isn't. I nodded to Lady Claramond and she took her knights off the battlefield to lull our enemy into a sense of false security. They think the battle is theirs for the taking before it even begins.
Lady Claramond pulled down the visor of her bascinet helmet and rode off. The other half of the cavalry would be led into battle by me and Lady Glenda. I gave the knight a firm handshake and a smile. Glenda is my friend, and had been since the second war began. There are none that I trust more than Lady Glenda and Lady Claramond.
For many of our soldiers, this was a chance for revenge. They have all lost mates and loved ones to the one they call 'Black Wing', 'The Hammer of the Westfold', 'Satan's Angel': Queen Oscura. I was there ten years ago after the first war. I was there when the strength of the royal family fell. This war began with the death of a child.
On a rainy day in the market square of the capital, a child was presented before crowds of people in the middle of the square. Seconds later, the child is dead. Her brains and blood were splattered on the stone cross. This was the legacy of the Dragon Queen. She made sure that no one stood against her, not even a child, and her 'right' to rule.
After that, Queen Oscura went on a tour of her newly conquered land, but not to see the land for it's beauty but to see quash any resistance. Every castle, every village, every fortress, and every stronghold fell to the power of Queen Oscura. Not even males and children were spared. It is said that rivers ran red with blood for six days.
Her corpse was left facedown in the mud. Now on the battlefield, the memory of that day is fresh in many minds, myself included. The infantry was formed up for advance. I rode on my horse make and forth to give words of encouragement to our warriors, "My sisters, my sisters in armor and sword, this is our day! Our time has finally come!"
"When this day is through, none shall suffer anymore under the conqueror's yoke, for when the sun rises these fields will be red with the blood of dragons, from the ashes of the past will come a new age, a beautiful age full of prosperity and abundance, look now at the very armor and weapons you crafted, they will bring in the harvest of death!"
I rode on my stallion. The tip of my sword raised to the sky, "Fight my sisters! Fight for your houses! Your Clans and Families! Fight for your mates and children! Fight for honor! Now I bid you stand! Warriors of the Westfold!" Their spirits were high as I heard a loud battlecry from knight and squire, archer and footsoldier all ready for battle.
"Archers nock!" cried Glenda, and the archers readied their bows. I could hear the enemy ahead of our army. I wonder if their words are as strong as their fight? The enemy sent their first dragons into a flying charge head on into our ranks. They made their first move to start the battle. Now it was our turn, "Loose!" Glenda called out.
The arrows were fired into the air, and fell on the charging dragons like rain. They tried to stop the volley of arrows with fire and lightning magick, but it made it worse. Under the covers of arrows, the infantry advanced, "Glenda, take the remaining knights and attack in a pincer movement, I'll lead the infantry and meet me in the middle,"
"Yes my lady!" Glenda said, and the remaining knights were divided into two groups to attack the flanks. The plan was to smother the enemy, and give them no hope of escape. The arrows ceased and the larger portion of the dragon forces were advancing. I pointed the tip of my sword at them while the low roar of the blast horns bellowed the order.
"Attack!" I cried with my loudest battlecry, and the infantry went into a charge at the enemy while I rode into battle on horseback. My horse whinnied and galloped into the fires of battle. The silence of the meadow was broken by the clash of armor and weapons. These dragons will learn a new lesson on these plains, and that is how to die.
As the wind flies, it does me proud to see the banners flying in the wind in defiance of tyranny. These dragons will feel our rage, and the Queen's ears will hear us. Too long has she turned a deaf ear to the cries of our people's suffering. I bellowed my loudest cry for battle alongside these proud soldiers clad in steel, leather, and chainmail.
I could feel my sword cut into dragon flesh. I could hear the sounds of shields breaking bones and spirit. it was expected that I would be unhorsed in battle, but I will not fall in front of these fine soldiers. I cut down every dragon that got in my way of my sword and shield. I have no need for mercy against these heathens. If it flies, it dies.
I tilted up my visor in the middle of the battle, and looked to see the second wave of dragons coming into the fray. I raised my sword to signal an archer to send up a flaming arrow as the signal for the remaining knights to charge. When they did, the dragons went into a panic as they second detachment was attacked from the sides and rear.
The knights under the command of Lady Glenda and Lady Claramond ran down the dragons like grass. Dragons were bludgeoned, stabbed, slashed and ran over by the onslaught. I heard Lady Red sound a 'retreat!' in the distance, but her second-in-command, a fire dragon named 'Kighan', still had some fight in her against my soldiers.
The dragon charged at me, "TIME TO DIE, BADGER DRITCH!" She roared at me in her charge. Her hands were burning, and she had the rage of a demon. I used my sword to cut her down across the wings to slow her down. When she looked up at me, the last thing she will see in this life is my sword. I hacked off her head with one chop.
The army cheered at battle's end. Weapons were raised to the sky. The banners of the Blaireau, Whitetail, and Gwynedd stood strong in the meadows though their standard bearers had fallen with the staff of the banners still firm in their hands. The dead are to be respected and honored. Death on all sides is just another part of the times of war.
The battle was ours. We had taken the field. Out of our army of 1,500 knights and infantry into battle against 3,000 Dragons, we only lost 20. Their deaths will not be in vain. In war, heroes and sacrifices are to be made. They died for the freedom of the Westfold, and the freedom of all Badger Kind. From the dragons, there was one survivor.
I went up to see her, it was a water dragon. The soldiers were conversing among each other on what to do with her. I heard suggestions like lop off her head, and stick it on a spear to having her tied to a cross and fed to the crows. The soldiers were surprised when I arrived onto the scene. This was the time to be diplomatic with the enemy.
I could see the fear in her eyes as I approached her, and took off my helmet, "Please spare me...I have children," the dragon pleaded, on her knees before me. Her own kind left her at our mercy, and retreated to safety. I maybe leading a rebellion, but a monster I am not. Since she is a water dragon. I felt her powers could useful to our cause.
"What is your name?" I asked the dragon, kneeling down to her and pointing her chin up with her eyes in the direction of mine. I could see it in her eyes, the look of a mother. Her children will not be able to survive without a mother's care. War is a terrible thing, but even in the midst of bloodshed. I still showed chivalry to the enemy.
"Blue," She replied. As I looked into her green eyes, I saw something in her that told me to grant her mercy. This dragon looked as old as me. I nodded to her and stood up. I looked around at what was left of my army. Some of them, most of them, wanted to kill her and send her head to the Queen, but I had a different plan for this one.
"Have her shackled and chained, I'll keep an eye on this one," I ordered, my soldiers put an iron collar and chained her ankles and arms. As we left the battlefield and headed back into the mountains, I wondered if I could file a ransom to the Queen for Blue's safe return back to her homeland. Until then, her fate has been placed in my hands.