Blue Lightning and the Bear

by Blue Paladin

Two shadows from the past rise up to confront the New State Army. First they must dispatch the vampire who seeks to make life dance to his whims. But who will aid them against the Dark Knight of Chaos?

26. Chapter 26 Fulfilled His Duty

Chapter 26 – Fulfilled His Duty

The night was chilly. There was no hot southern wind or any clouds to trap the heat. There was nothing between Flik and the stars of the night sky as he stood at the top of his tower. However, his eyes were focused not up but out to the south, where he could see the watch fires of the Highland Army. Little dots of flame spread out over the extent of the peninsula, staggered from the lake in the west to the river in the east. It seemed to Flik to be much like a net, holding the beleaguered resistance at bay until the final blow could be struck.

He looked down, slowly checking each piece of equipment for the coming battle. His shield was showing more wear, full of notches where he'd parried swords and spears. His cape, though cleaned in Muse, was now dirty again, the lower left corner fraying from disrepair. Flik pulled out his sword, let it gleam in the dim light of the two moons. It at least did not have any flaws.

Flik tensed; someone was coming up the stairs of the tower. The steps were too light for Viktor, but it was still a surprise when Shu leapt up the last few steps to stand face to face with Flik.

The strategist took a few deep breaths before declaring, "You really ought to find a less out-of-the-way location for your nightly ruminations."

Flik looked at Shu evenly. "I like it up here. It's peaceful."

Shu matched Flik's calm. "Peaceful or not, you make it difficult for me to find my chief cavalry commander and give him his orders."

Flik couldn't help but be interested now. "Orders? What orders?"

Shu smiled grimly. "The Highland Army will march out to battle in a few hours, probably three or four, just as the sun comes up. I need confirmation of their battle line. Take some of your scouts out and try to get that information."

Flik studied Shu a little more closely. He was still wearing the same clothes he'd arrived in, but he looked somewhat more disheveled. "Have you slept tonight?" Flik asked. "Are you going to be ready for the battle?"

"I don't see how that's germane," Shu answered. "However, no, I have not slept tonight. I've been much too busy making sure that we have enough boats for the plan and navigators skilled enough to get them where they need to be. As for your second question, Yes, I will be ready for the battle. I might ask the same of you."

"I did sleep earlier," Flik responded. "Or at least I tried to. It's not much of a night for sleeping, anyway."

Shu nodded. "In that, we agree. Now see to your men. Also I've scheduled a briefing for an hour before dawn. Try not to be late; we execute the plan as soon as the meeting is finished." Without any further words, he turned and started down the stairs.

Flik waited just a moment before he went down as well. Despite the early hour, the castle was not at all quiet. People seemed to be too nervous to sleep much this night. In fact, the only person who was surely asleep was Viktor, his loud snores audible from several rooms away.

Outside of the castle, Flik made his way into the ruins of the town. His men had billeted themselves in one neighborhood, taking abandoned houses as their sleeping quarters. In the house serving as the headquarters, he found that Jerrim had drawn duty for the watch before dawn.

The senior sergeant jumped to attention when Flik entered. "Is it time to go already?"

"Easy there," Flik chided. "It's not time yet. Our strategist wants a last minute scouting of the enemy lines. Take half a company and give me a report on units and positions. Send it up to the hall on the second floor. That's probably where I'll be by the time you return."

"Sir," Jerrim said and departed to gather the soldiers.

Flik took his time returning to the castle. He was too anxious to try and rest before things got busy. As he walked along the southern wall, he saw a group of boys climbing up to the top.

Casually he strode over to the wall and asked, "What are you doing?"

They glanced back, startled. The younger boys looked ready to scatter, but their leader, a youth maybe thirteen or fourteen years old, said, "We're just looking, that's all."

Flik shrugged. "Mind if I join you?" Nobody answered, so he took that to be a positive answer and hauled himself up to the top of the wall. Though not as impressive as from the tower, even on the wall Flik could see that the Highland campfires stretched across the horizon from west to east. After he'd looked, Flik said, "So, what do you think? It's sort of frightening, isn't it?"

"I'm not afraid," the leader replied vehemently. "Not at all, they're just stupid Highland soldiers."

Flik fought down the urge to laugh. "Your bravery is commendable," he responded. "What about the rest of you?" He looked from face to face.

None of them were able to meet his eyes. Finally, the youngest, a nine year old, said, "I'm afraid. They burned down my home, and they've chased me everywhere I've run, and I haven't seen my parents in nearly forever. And now there isn't anywhere left to go. So, yeah, I'm scared."

Flik smiled. "It's okay to be scared." He knelt down so he was face to face with the youngest boy. "I'll let you in on a secret. I'm a little afraid too, and I have to go and fight them."

"If you're so afraid," the leader retorted, "why do you fight? Why don't you run away?"

Flik shook his head. "No, I could never run. I'd be abandoning my duties if I did that."

"I don't understand," the oldest boy said.

"Well, we all have responsibilities," Flik explained. "Things that we have to do, no matter how much we might dislike them, because we accepted those duties. What about you?" He looked at the leader of the boys. "You're looking out for all of these kids, right?"

"Yeah," he answered shakily. "We're all from Toto, and none of us know where our parents are. So, I've got to take care of them."

Nodding, Flik said, "And you wouldn't leave them, would you?"

"No way!" the leader declared. "They're my friends. I've got to keep them safe or nobody will."

Flik stood up. "And if I don't try to protect you from the Highland Army, who will?" When nobody answered, he said, "That's why I'll go into battle later."

The leader looked up at him. "What should we do if they make it to the wall? I can fight, too."

"No." Flik shook his head again. "It's my duty to fight, it's your duty to look after your friends. You have to stay alive to do that. If Highland makes it to the walls, you all should run and hide. In fact, when the fighting starts, you should be far away from the walls. I don't want to see any of you caught up in this."

There was a chorus of nervous "Okays" from the boys. Flik was about to turn and leave, but the youngest boy suddenly caught his arm. The boy pulled something out from under his cap and handed it to Flik. In the moonlight, Flik could see that it was a fairly desiccated five-leaf clover. "I've had it ever since I ran from home," the boy said. "It's my good luck charm. I thought maybe…you might need it more."

Flik placed the clover behind his bandanna. "Thank you."

The leader spoke up once more. "Do you think you can win?"

Flik paused one moment to look out over the campfires of the enemy. "We will win," he answered. "Have faith in us; we will drive them back."

"I believe you will," the youngest replied.

The meeting hall was lit by only a few fitful candles when Viktor and Flik entered a little later. The west windows let in only the darkness of night. Shu was standing by the dais, eyes closed, possibly catching a few moments of rest after a busy night. Apple was pacing near Shu, looking decidedly nervous. Tsai too seemed ill at ease, though he simply stood in the center of the room. Gilbert was half hidden in the shadows.

For his own part, Flik was feeling a little queasy, his hurried breakfast of greasy eggs and fatty ham not sitting well in his stomach. He heard people entering the hall and looked up, expecting Riou and Nanami, but it turned out to be Rina, Eilie, and Bolgan, with Pilika in tow.

"Is Riou coming?" Viktor asked impatiently.

"Nanami went to wake him up," Rina answered. Flik could see the expectation on everybody's faces; only Shu seemed unperturbed.

Riou and Nanami came in a few minutes later. They didn't look anxious at all; Riou was just finishing up the remains of a muffin that he'd had to eat. Eilie rushed over to his side, examining him carefully. "Good morning, Riou," she said. "Did you get enough to sleep? Are you sure that you've had enough to eat?" She swept some crumbs off his shirt. Riou bore these ministrations stoically, but Nanami frowned a little at them. Satisfied, Eilie stepped back and said, "You know, everything in this battle depends on your success."

Riou didn't get a chance to respond, for at that moment one of Flik's scouts ran into the room. "Commander, we've returned from scouting the Highland lines."

Flik glanced at Shu, waiting for some kind of signal. When Shu remained motionless, Flik said, "Give me the information."

"Yes, sir. On our left and center the enemy appears to be mostly South Window soldiers. There are Highland cavalry units over on our right. There are also units behind the main lines, but we weren't able to get close enough to identify them."

Shu suddenly spoke, though his eyes remained closed. "Did you encounter Solon Jhee's unit?"

The scout looked quizzically over at Shu but replied, "No. We didn't run into his flags."

Shu's eyes opened, and he walked out towards the center of the room. "Very good. The scouts have done an excellent job." He glanced towards Viktor and Flik. "I will now detail the plan. Viktor, Gilbert, your units will deploy just outside the castle walls. Flik, your unit will stand on our right flank, facing the Highland center and the cavalry on their left. I will coordinate your actions from the walls. You must hold them out of the town until Riou attacks. Understand?"

"You can leave it in our hands," Viktor said.

"We'll do it," Flik added.

Shu faced Flik. "One more order: you must not use your Fire Spears against the South Window soldiers. We need those units to be able to fight when they switch sides."

"I understand." Flik nodded.

"Good." Shu walked over to Riou. "Are you ready?"

"Yes," Riou replied confidently. "I'm ready."

Smiling, Shu said, "Then we will begin the operation now."

Nanami turned and gripped her brother in a fierce hug. "Don't do anything stupid, okay? I'll be right next to you, so just stay behind me."

Bolgan, Eilie, and Rina came up. As soon as Nanami was finished hugging her brother, Eilie gave him a slightly less strenuous embrace but didn't say anything.

Bolgan placed his hand gently on Riou's head. "Good luck, Riou."

Rina smiled and gently pulled her sister away. "Yes, Riou. Good luck and be careful."

Shu walked towards the exit, gesturing for Riou to follow. Nanami came after her brother. Just before leaving the room, Shu said, "Gentlemen, see to your units." Then the three of them were gone.

Viktor looked at Flik and offered his hand to shake. "Time to go. We'll hold them, and then Riou will do his part."

Flik shook Viktor's hand. "Agreed."

They walked out of the room, Viktor and Flik leading, Gilbert just behind, and Pilika and the three performers last. The halls of the castle were dark and silent with only a few lit candles showing the way. Barbara, Leona, and Millie waited on the lower floor, serious expressions on their faces. Millie looked a little pouty at still not being allowed to participate.

Barbara spoke solemnly. "Knock their blocks off, Viktor. Don't let them set a foot in North Window."

"They won't," Viktor answered. "I promise it."

Outside the castle they separated, and Flik headed to where his men were housed. When he arrived, he found his men mounted and ready to go. Gathering the four senior sergeants, he quickly laid out the plan. "We'll leave by the western gate and assemble in a line. From east to west it will be Tarrance, Danel, Jerrim, and Rossgard. Rossgard, you are the extreme right of our whole force. If anybody tries to get around you, engage them and send a messenger asking for help. Also, no Fire Spears where South Window troops might get hurt. That's imperative; we want them able to fight with us later on. Let's move."

They did, horses' shod hooves clattering on cobblestones. The route to the west led them past a pond where a large number of refugees were camped. Some of the refugees cheered as Flik rode past. Many of them looked worried.

The sun was rising out of the pale pink east when Flik went under the west gate. He found himself riding towards the Blue Moon, which was full and setting over the waters of the Granias River. He hoped that wasn't some sort of omen. The Scarlet Moon, becoming pale as the morning light grew, was waxing a little past half-full.

Now that they were beyond the town walls, Flik paused and let the formation shake out into a long battle line. While this was happening, a messenger came out from North Window.

The messenger said, "Lord Shu has seen to the departure of Riou's unit. He wishes your men to ride south to contact with the enemy. From there you are to resist as well as you are able and give ground. You are not to initiate a melee with enemy forces. Also, he wished to remind you of his warning about the Fire Spears. That's it. Good luck, Sir Flik."

Flik nodded his understanding and walked his horse forward to join his line. The sun was rising, warming the air rapidly. Across the field, the Highland army was already arrayed in formation; a line of infantry and cavalry that easily overlapped Flik's own unit. The banners in the front seemed to be almost entirely from South Window. Somehow, that didn't surprise him. Why would Highland expose their own troops when they could get drafted auxiliaries to do most of the fighting?

Flik felt his anxieties melt away in the warm air. His training from Warrior's Village rushed up to fill him with confidence. He unsheathed his sword and shouted, "Forward at a walk. Open order. Ready bows."

His men responded, though not with any great precision, and extended the formation as they moved. Over to his left, Flik could see Viktor's men keeping pace, and Gilbert's more distant Zexens also moving. Ahead were the soldiers of South Window. Many of their companies suddenly hesitated, seeing the mercenaries approaching. But Flik could see Highland soldiers behind them, minders set to coax the recalcitrant on.

The enemy directly in front of Flik were spear-carrying infantry, so he closed to a hundred yards of them. It was here that he met the first resistance, not from the South Window troops, but from the Highland mounted archers behind them. He knew these particular soldiers, had fought against them several times. These were Culgan's men. Flik stood his ground, having his men dart forward on horseback, launch arrows over the heads of the South Window soldiers, and then fall back out of range.

After a quarter hour of this, Culgan's soldiers rode up into the South Window formation, the two units becoming thoroughly mixed. Unable to fight back without also hurting the South Window soldiers, Flik ordered a retreat out of arrow range. The opposing infantry and mounted archers followed at a walking pace.

Flik's battle instincts cried out for the Fire Spears. He could see that the Highland formation was now so dense that the casualties inflicted would be appalling. But he didn't give the order; he wasn't about to ruin the plan just to gain a tactical advantage. Instead, as the enemy drew closer, he had his men stay out of range and give ground.

Another problem soon presented itself. Highland heavy cavalry was setting up on the end of their line, off to the right of Flik. Even as he watched, they started forward at a walk, building up speed to outflank him.

Flik shouted for a pair of messengers. To the first, he said, "Go down to Jerrim, tell him to detach a half-company to support Rossgard. Then go to Rossgard and tell him he should use Fire Spears to keep that Highland cavalry from outflanking us. Go!"

As that man rode off, Flik commanded the second messenger. "Ride to Tarrance, tell him to extend to the right."

When that man was gone, Flik shouted at Danel. "Hold formation, shift right!" Flik spurred Nightstar towards the location that he wanted Danel to reform around.

The sudden glint of metal in the sunlight was all the warning Flik had, but he snapped his shield up in time block an arrow plunging out of the sky at him. It struck the wood of his shield, the head splintering through. More arrows were falling around his men. Culgan's mounted archers were advancing again, shedding the cover of the slower moving South Window infantry in an effort to harass Flik while he was changing formation.

He might have ordered a retreat, but he was unsure how the men would respond to a sudden change in orders. A mistake at this critical moment might lead to a rout, so Flik let his commands stand. The shift was underway, men were riding all around him, moving the line slightly to the right. A horse was hit in the neck by an arrow, reared, and threw his rider. One of his men took an arrow in his arm but rode on.

Flik was busy tracking another arrow as it bore down on him. This time he raised his shield and easily deflected it away. Nightstar made a lurch to the right as an arrow buried itself beside her left front hoof.

The formation change was complete. Flik heard the roar of Fire Spears from Rossgard's position, but kept his eyes on the danger to the front. "Back!" he shouted. "Back and out of range. Keep formation!"

The men did, albeit a little raggedly. Now that it was safe to look, Flik checked on the situation to the right. Fire and smoke raged in front of Rossgard's position, but he seemed to have held the Highland cavalry off.

Flik's men traded more arrows with Culgan's mounted archers, but the enemy soon found cover in the advancing South Window infantry. Moreover, the Highland heavy cavalry was forming once again on the right. Reluctantly, Flik gave ground, noting that he was getting close to the walls of North Window as he did so.

After another hour of giving ground as Highland advanced, Flik found his unit flush against the hastily repaired walls of North Window. Off to the left, Viktor and Gilbert's units had been similarly pushed back. Culgan's mounted archers were creeping forward again, the movement suggesting that they were confident of victory.

Danel, a worried frown on his face, said, "We need to get inside the gate, sir. If they pin us up against the wall, we'll be in a lot of trouble."

"If they get to the wall, we won't be able to hold them out of North Window," Flik replied. "Our orders were to defend North Window until Riou's unit attacks. We will follow those orders."

"Sir!" Danel answered, snapping off a salute.

A messenger rode in from Rossgard's position on the right flank. "Sir, Rossgard reports that the Highland cavalry are assembling over to his right again."

Flik chewed this over. Finally he responded, "Tell Jerrim to take the remainder of his unit over in support. We'll just have to extend the lines to cover." He was about to give the order when more of Culgan's arrows began raining down.

One of the mercenaries to Flik's left took an arrow in the chest and dropped off his horse. Another winced as a shaft buried itself in his leg. The men around him were looking at the approaching enemy, unease building in their faces. Flik knew that he needed to buy some time and rebuild their morale. He could do that with the Fire Spears, drive the Highlanders off and reform the lines. But the South Window troops were still just behind the mounted archers. Any attack against Culgan would also be an attack against his potential allies.

Flik raised his sword, drawing in a breath to give a desperate command, and suddenly the South Window soldiers stopped advancing. Culgan's mounted archers advanced a little farther before they too halted. A lull came over the field.

Both the South Window and Highland soldiers were gazing at something happening to their rear. Flik couldn't see what was going on, but he had his suspicions. Had Riou managed to attack Solon Jhee's unit? The men from South Window were becoming very animated, messengers passing back and forth between the individual companies. Then, to Flik's joy and relief, the South Window infantry lowered their spears and advanced on Culgan's men.

"Rally! Rally and advance," Flik yelled. "We'll crush the Highlanders between us."

Culgan was too intelligent to permit that to happen. His unit immediately broke off the attack and began withdrawing to the west at a trot. Flik pressed the pursuit, exchanging arrows with the fleeing enemy. An arrow punched one of Flik's men on the collarbone with a horrid cracking noise, and that man dropped out of his saddle. Moments later though, the mercenaries began overtaking the wounded stragglers from Culgan's men. These men either yielded without a fight or were overcome and made prisoners.

The rest of the fleeing mounted archers finally made it to the safety of their fellow countrymen, a unit of heavy cavalry. Together, both units continued to retreat. But Flik no longer had to worry about them using the South Window soldiers as cover.

He halted the pursuit to allow the sergeants to dress the lines. When his men were back in formation, Flik yelled, "Ready Fire Spears! Attack!"

The range was long, mitigating the actual damage, but the psychological effect was easy to see. The rear ranks of the Highlanders broke formation, trying to avoid the fire attack. Entire companies lost cohesion, becoming masses of riders fleeing in a disorderly mob. Regardless, they were too far ahead for Flik to overtake them without also dangerously exhausting his horses.

Instead, he rode towards the closest South Window soldiers, who were turning to face to the south along the top of a gentle ridge. As Flik approached, he was greeted exuberantly by a familiar face.

"Look at that!" Freed shouted, tears in his eyes. "We're winning! We're winning! Lord Riou has won us a great victory." He had to take off his glasses and wipe teardrops off them.

Flik guided is horse to the top of the rise and looked over the field. It was true. Solon Jhee's unit, in the rear of the Highland formation, was fleeing to the east in a confused rout. As Flik watched, he could see Viktor and Gilbert's units coming up onto the ridge, joining with the South Window soldiers to present a solid front to the remaining Highland infantry.

But that infantry, though still slightly outnumbering the defenders, was in no mood to continue the fight. Flik watched as they began to pull back, withdrawing in the direction of their leader. Culgan's mounted archers were already falling into place as the rearguard.

Flik sighed in relief. They had won. He had fulfilled his duty; none of those children would have to run this time.