Chapter 7

The hours were ticking away. Gabriel already had his armor strapped on, staring out the barracks entrance. He wasn't able to sleep much. He had become anxious, worried. Many of the villagers had fled the town; others opted to take refuge in the castle. Pidgeot riders had been sent requesting aid from the nearby lords. The city was prepared for the siege. Soldiers and their Pokémon patrolled the walls; lookouts were on constant watch at the gates. The enemy had yet to arrive on the horizon.

Gabriel climbed the steps and stared out into the distance. The dark skies had begun to blend into a shade of grey, dawn approaching. Black clouds still loomed overhead, their arrival foreshadowing the oncoming invasion.

Why now?

The Ferren commander stared down at the map. There were only two gates for the city of Elatia, one alongside the eastern wall and another along the southwestern. From what he understood about the gates, they were made of timber wood. With the arrival of his army, soldiers stood guard at every hour of the day. They had yet to spot the stonewalls, staying out of sight.

After the territory of Fer separated from the Federation, the region had entered a relative peace. After thirteen years, their lord had made the first move against the Federation by beginning an assault on the territory of Elatia, the closest one. Elatia had been a prime target, the territory was not known for their military might.

The commander moved his figurines forward. A forward charge on the gates would leave them open to archer range and whatever Pokémon they had in their possession. Their defenses couldn't possibly be particularly strong, they had heavily injured the battalion that had arrived to protect the refugees. Their relentless assault on the outlying villages had brought heavy losses upon the innocent.

Necessary casualties. He smiled at the thought of burning through Elatia as he had the towns. Turning to his subordinates, he ordered the assault. He stepped out of his tent and looked upon his army, their red armor glistened in the morning glow, despite the black clouds.

Their red army would burn through the territory with ease. I will help our lord see this land turn to ash.

Far off on the horizon, the enemy came into view. Their red armor glinted in the morning sun. The bells rang through the town, archers lined up on the walls. Gabriel ran down the steps and formed ranks with the other men. The gates parted down the middle and they marched out. Upon exiting, the gates closed behind them, leaving a wave of isolation of the men, despite the archer cover and the Pokémon marching beside them. It was the first time Gabriel had been outside of the gate when it closed; it was almost always open. Now, he was to guard the entrance with his life.

Umbreon watched from the wall, standing next to Houndoom and Larken. Gabriel wanted him on the inside, to protect his mother in case they got through. The battalion had stopped marching a couple meters away from the wall. Gabe turned and could see Umbreon gazing at him from above. He gripped his spear tighter and checked the blade strapped to his back. His dark Pokémon wouldn't be able to help him this time. He looked to the empty space beside him, neither of them liked being apart from each other.

He held the shield in his left hand. It was cumbersome and large. It impaired his movement but was a necessary precaution. He had gotten lucky last time. He didn't want to be caught off guard again.

The sun was well into the sky when the Ferren army stood no farther then a couple dozen paces in front of them. A large mustachioed man rode out to them, glaring down at the opposing army.

"Leave your lord and join us!" He demanded, raising his spear. He held the reins in his hands and turned the horse, pointing his blade down at the Elatian soldiers. "Or perish here." Some of the men looked around, watching for any movement on their end. A few were beginning to feel uneasy, slowing swaying as they adjusted their feet. A clang echoed through the ranks as a man dropped his spear and ran across the field. He had initiated a wave of abandonment and hopelessness across the army; many men followed suit.

There were empty spaces where former comrades once stood. Gabriel felt the hairs on his neck stand on end, an already one-sided fight became that much more difficult. What was left of the army banded closer together, filling in the gaps left behind by the traitors. Shoulder to shoulder, they stared down the enemy leader. His laugh roared through the town, reverberating pass the men.

"So be it. Here, Elatia shall fall." He turned his Rapidash and rode back to his army. The sweat began to drip down his face as he gripped the spear tighter. With a sudden burst of flame, the enemy charged at them, blades in hand and Pokémon at their sides.

Larken readied her bow as the enemy charged the infantry. She nocked her arrow and waited for the order. Her captain's order roared through her eardrums and she released the arrow. The wave of arrows descended from the heavens, raining down upon the charging enemy. She quickly pulled an arrow from her quiver and nocked it. Again, she fired. She aimed for no one in particular, just another soldier. Looking to the horizon, her eyes were met with a sudden fear.

Eve stood at her balcony and watched as the battle unfolded. She could already hear the cries of men, the sound of blades crashing against each other. The door creaked open and the sound of footsteps bounced off the walls.

"Eve dear. We need your help downstairs." The lord approached his daughter and spoke from behind her. His white beard framed his face. His formerly long, feathery hair had disappeared, revealing a balding scalp. All that was left was a long strand of hair, behind his ear. He looked into the mirror and twirled it in his finger as he spoke. "We need help passing out the rations."

"Yes father." She looked away from the walls and descended the staircase. She prayed that her friends were fine.

Lanz was passing around a small ration of bread to every person. The assault had just begun but it was necessary to conserve what little supplies they had. The civilians had taken shelter in the lord's castle, the next safest place. He noticed Lady Eve come down the stairs.

Haunter phased through the floor and looked to him. Lanz had yet to take notice of his Pokémon, he continued to stare at Eve.

"Oh, Haunter. How fares the battle?"

Blood dripped off his spearhead as it pierced an enemy soldier. Up above he could hear the screeches of bird Pokémon as they fought with the archers. A Growlithe came pouncing at him, it's mouth aflame.

He took cover behind his shield, blocking the flaming hound. The shield began to burn into his armor; the heat from the Growlithe grew stronger with every second. A torrent of water came blasting in from his flank, cooling down both his armor and dissipating the fire type. He turned to his side, a soldier nodded as he ordered his Poliwag to release another blast again.

Gabriel jabbed his spear into an oncoming soldier. The blood splattered on his face, on his armor.