The Draconia Chronicles: Knights of the Westfold

Chapter 12: Goddesses and Queens (The Battle of the River Righ Part 1)

"These dragons are going to be prepared, we must keep them on their wings" said Lady Noemi whom looked at Lady Glenda for a word, "Lady Glenda, how many companies of archers do we have in our forces?" She asked, battles like these take both time and planning. With the Blackwing's army fast approaching, I knew we had to work quickly.

"I would around 500, why yeh gotta a plan?" Lady Glenda asked,

"Yes, we combine the Blaireau crossbow-women with two companies of your archers, they will expect our first wave to come from the front, the second will attack from the flanks, it is key that we take the Earth Dragons out of the equation," Noemi explained, to think that peaceful dragons like Earth Dragons can be used in a time of war.

"Blue, Qualin, I need for you two to be scouts, and ready by first morning light, Blue take your children to the keep at Whitestone, they will be safe there," I said, laying down my first orders as Queen, "the rest of you gather your strength and rest well, for tomorrow we go to battle," with that I adjourned the meeting, and got some rest myself.

"You two go with them," I overheard Glenda order to a few archers,

By morning, I was relieved that our scouts came back, and not defected back to Blackwing, "Oscura's army is coming up from the south, My Queen," said Qualin as she and Blue kneeled before me as I was yawning and just waking up, "her numbers are great, in the hundreds and thousands," even with such a number, I am not very surprised.

The two archers Glenda sent also made it to camp alive, "Prepare for battle," I ordered to the army. I was led to my tent by my squire to be fitted with my armor. My armor is steel plate with brass bordering on the elbows and knees with chainmail and a coat-of-plates or jupon with the royal crest. I am no different than any other knight in battle.

Like all warriors, my jupon is made to fit to the size of my chest. I came out to the sight of the morning sun. Knights and soldiers readying themselves for battle. They helped out each other with fitting armor, and sharpening weapons to tending to the horses and saddles. It was good to see there was unity between our arm and these few dragons.

Lady Glenda handed me my battle axe as I was putting on my sword belt, "You will need this, your highness,"

"Many thanks, Lady Glenda," I said with a small smile,

The winding horns sounded, and the army marched onto the green fields on the banks of the River Righ. The army was a forest of spears, halberds, swords, maces, axes, and other weapons of every kind. I could see the determination of our forces in the way of their march. Many of them have images of the attack on Conlaodh Moor in the minds.

"Numbers don't mean anything, My Queen," said Lady Noemi looking off in the distance through her helmet.

"But I bet they help," I replied on my stallion, as I saw the Queen Oscura's army approaching. It was the largest army these eyes have seen. I was not going to hold back. I had earned the right to wear the very crown over my chainmail coif. I gripped the leather grip of my battle axe in anticipation as the steel head was near the side of my knee.

I saw two dragons flying down toward the center, one of fire and the other of light. I did not see Oscura among them, but I did see Lady Red, Leader of the Fire Dragons, which would have to do, "Imagine a queen whom would meet another on the battlefield, wouldn't that be a sight?" I stated dryly, Lady Noemi and Blue came up beside me.

"They're going to offer their terms, your highness," said Blue,

"And if you were in my sabatons, what would you suggest, Lady Blue?" I said to the ginger water dragon.

"If it were me...I'd take that sabaton and stick it up her ass," She replied, I can see why Noemi loves her. The fire in her soul burns as red as her hair. I went down to meet the dragons on the battlefield with Noemi and Glenda. The three dragons came with me as well. I dare not hinder them from this. I am sure they have something to say.

"Good Goddess...," said Lady Red seeing the three dragons fighting on our side, "Miss, the army of Queen Oscura demands your surrender, if you ladies lay down your weapons, you'll not be harmed," I wonder if the dragons think I am this big of a fool? The dragons did show any quarter to a village why would they show any quarter here?

"This is not possible, as it is in our tradition," I replied sternly,

"Blue...Elyss...Qualin, how could you do this to your queen?" Lady Red asked the three dragons,

"How could fly alongside a queen whose hands are stained with the blood of thousands of children?" Elyss asked the Fire Dragon Clan Leader.

"Gray-Backs," Lady Red said with almost a chuckle, I wanted to bury the head of my axe in her skull there and now, but I held back.

"Is that what you thought when you hanged innocent badgers, even mates and children, from the walls of Mont Sainte-Foy?" Lady Noemi asked, I recalled the tragedy in the Blaireau Region in the Southern Westfold. I looked at Lady Red, and I could see she had no shame in her eyes for her actions. She does everything in the name of her queen.

"Or when you had my mother, my mate and older sister executed, hmm?" I added

"They were innocent," said Qualin adding force behind her words, it was then that the strength of their allegiance to this cause was made known. It made me feel proud that there are dragons ready to stand up to the Blackwing for all the wrongs she has done, "neither of us will side with a cold-blooded murderer," she added showing defiance.

"Then we will show you no mercy, you fly against us, then you are the same as them," Lady Red said concluding the terms of Queen Oscura.

"I'll look for you among the dead," Blue said as her parting words. We left the field to see our forces. Our soldiers were ready in full armor. Soldiers clad in plate armor, chainmail, scales, leather and coat-of-plates. The knights of the rebel houses, and my own royal knights were as ready to charge as the very horses they were mounted on.

"Well, they won't surrender," I said to the army, and our forces chuckled, "are we ready?" I mounted my white stallion, and looked on at our forces, "I see mothers, daughters, and sisters among your ranks, the enemy's reason to battle today is for greed and conquest, we are fighting for our lives, our families, our mates, and children"

"These weapons you carry, the armor you wear are all symbols of defiance against Blackwing, My royals, you have served me well in taking back these lands, To the rebel houses, you have bled with Glenda and Noemi at the Meadows, now bleed with me as your Queen, now for wrath, now for ruin, and the dawn of a new age!" I roared proudly

I raised steel head of my battle axe to the sky, and brought up the spirits of the army. They brandished their weapons with steel on high, "This is your fight, this is the battle where we tell Blackwing we will not bow to her anymore, even if she breaks our legs. She will have to break our spirit first! Stand now and fight, Warriors of the Westfold!"