After their victory at the Battle of Blodfelt Valley, Alicia returned to Ravnstad and summoned the Jarls of Feoh to the capital. In five days time, the Jarls of Skalleborg, Gronstad, Stormgård, Skjoldborg and Sjøfestning arrived in Ravnstad and gathered in the Castle Arcturus' War Room.
Inside the War Room, the Jarls were beseated in their respective chairs, though thrones would be a better description, while the Queen of Feoh sat at the head in her own seat. In the center of the room was a large, rectangular marble table with the map of Eostia, the Frontier Lands and Garan. The latter of the two now a part of the Negramstian Empire.
Each of the Eostian Kingdoms were signified by a color. Blue for the Kongeriget Feoh, Pink for the Royaume d'Ur, Grey for the Königreich Geofu, Gold for the Realm of Cen'aina, Red for Tzardom of Rad and Green for the Dwarven Realm of Ansur. Since Thorn was currently a client state of the Negramstian Empire, the country's color was black like the Negramstian Empire's.
With everyone gathered in the War Room, Alicia began to address the Jarls. Looking at each of them in the eye.
"I'll keep this simple. You all know why I called you here, right?"
The one to answer was Jarl Erik Björnsson.
"War."
"But are we not already at war, my Queen?"
Alicia turned her head to the one who spoke. Seeing the Jarl of Sjøfestning, Jarl Bárðr Sørensen, lean back on his chair and rest his cheek on his fist with a bored look on his face. War was nothing new to them. Especially to the Vikings of Southern Feoh.
The Vikings. The traders, explorers, master shipbuilders and occasional raiders of Feoh, were the terror of the port cities of Geofu and Rad when Sigmundr the Conqueror went to war with the other two Kingdoms. Raiding, pillaging and burning. The Vikings were unmatched in naval combat but the Sjøfestning's Sørlige Krigsbånd, who were equipped to fight in land better than the Vikings, were no slouch either.
"We are but the reason why I summoned you all here is because... "
The Queen's fist clenched and the Jarls saw and felt the shift in the blonde's mood.
"I'm done twiddling with my thumbs and being on the defensive all the time. It's time we take the fight to Vult. March into his land and lay waste to it."
"HAHA! FINALLY!!"
The others turned to look as the Jarl of Stormgård, Jarl Úlfr "Úlfatönn" Gunnarsson, shot up from his seat and looked at the Queen.
"I offer you the full support of Stormgård's Hær. My Úlfhéðnar had been itching for a fight."
It was no surprise to the Jars that Úlfr would jump at the chance to fight. Out of all of them, his prowess in battle was unmatched along with Stormgård's Úlfhéðnar. The wolf pelt wearing warriors were as ferocious as the wolves they slay during their right of passage.
The next to stand was Jarl Sigrun of Skalleborg.
"I offer Skalleborg's Hær and her Spydmestre as well. We will send these bastards to the Abyss."
"You can count on Gronstad's Thegn Horsemen. Our mighty steeds will run those bastards to the ground." Jarl Ivar of Gronstad.
"My Hammer Hirdmen and I would be glad to aid you in this war." Jarl Ölvir of Svengård.
"My fleet is no use to the Frontier Lands but my Sørlige Krigsbånd are more than a match to these Black Dogs. They are yours to command, my Queen." Jarl Bárðr of Sjøfestning.
"Ravnstad's Hær is mine just as it is yours. The Stormænd and I would follow you to the abyss." Jarl Erik of Ravnstad.
Alicia looked at the Jarls as they stood tall before placing their fists on their chests and bowing their heads. The blonde Queen smiled at the sight before rising from her seat.
"Return to your lands, my brave and loyal Jarls, and prepare your armies. We march to the Frontier Lands and show Vult the fury of the Norðurmenn."
(Line Break)
In the weeks that followed, the Kongeriget Feoh mustered her forces to form the Store Hær, the Great Army, and marched north to the southwestern border of the Frontier Lands. The rest of the Eostian Kingdoms were surprised and the Royaume d'Ur, even though they were still recovering from the civil war, sent aid to their allies in the form of the Régiments du Nord or the Nord Regiments.
The Nord Regiments were Nordfolk of Feoh who lived near the Royaume d'Ur and volunteered to join the Armée Royale of Ur to help stabilize the Kingdom. When word spread that the Queen of Feoh has mustered a Great Army and was planning to march to the Frontier Lands to fight, the Régiments du Nord asked Lord Blackmoore and the leaders of the Armée Royale to let them join their Queen.
Seeing as the Kingdom was still recovering and didn't have enough of their own soldiers to send nor could they send logistical aid to Feoh, Lord Blackmoore allowed it and the Régiments du Nord wasted no time to march to Feoh and join their Queen.
The rest of the Eostian Kingdoms, however, were reluctant.
The Dwarven Realm of Ansur was still recovering and were focusing on building up their forces and improving their technology. The Tzardom of Rad were busy dealing with the Negramstian invasion of their lands as well as border disputes between their Princes and Princesses. The Shimazu clan and their Imperial allies from the Holy Aurelian Empire were still trying to take down the Ichimaru Shogunate with the rest of the clans that are against the current Shōgun. The Generals of the Golden Vanguard refused to fight and would rather stay and defend the Realm of Cen'aina despite their own soldiers wanting to fight.
Celestine tried to convince them but the leaders of the Golden Vanguard refused. Saying that she didn't need to concern herself with matters of war and let them handle it. This didn't stop Celestine from asking the Rangers of Lenarien to send a small group of their Rangers to Feoh's Great Army.
Not one to stand idle, Origa sent her Shadow to support the Queen of Feoh as well as search for any survivors of the Discordian Army that had scattered. She was confident that not all were dead or taken by the Negramstians.
When the 30,000 strong Great Army was finally gathered, they crossed the border and entered the Province of Crowbourne and took the settlements of Whitefair and Earthholde with ease. The towns having little to no fortifications and only a small garrison of troops to defend them. Upon seeing the Great Army, the garrison abandoned the towns and retreated to the Provincial Capital of Crowbourne. The City of Coldhollow.
Outside the town of Whitefair, Alicia stood in Stormcall Field. The site where King Alister VII and the remaining men of the Hæren stood their ground to hold off the Discordians and prevent them from pursuing the retreating armies of the Eostian Kingdoms.
"You stand on the very spot he stood upon when he decided to stay and fight rather than retreat."
Alicia looked over her shoulder as Jarl Erik Björnsson joined her and looked out into the field. A cloudy look fell over his eyes as he remembered the day he lost his King. His friend.
"We were outnumbered and I urged your father to leave and return to Feoh but he was stubborn. Stubborn as a Nord even when he wasn't one. I think your mother and I are a big influence on that."
Erik sighed and looked up at the sky. Remember everything all too clearly.
(Line Break)
Three and a Half Years Ago
The skies roared as lightning flashed and the storm grew worse. The sounds of battle drowned out everything else as the soldiers of the Hæren who stood their ground despite knowing that this day would be their last in the mortal realm. They were ready to accept death if it meant buying time for the rest of the Eostian Kingdoms' army to escape.
From atop his mount, King Alister Arcturus VII watched as the horde of Dark Elves, Feral Orcs, Beast Men and Undead were held back by the Hæren's infantry.
The first ranks of melee infantry, the elite Stormænd and the Sværdmænd, stood in formation shoulder to shoulder, holding their shields so they overlap. Forming an impenetrable shield wall while the rear ranks, the Spyd Huskarle, were equipped with multiple javelins which they would hurl at the enemy.
"Hold them back!" A Stormand yelled "Let them break on our shields like water on rock. Sigur eða dauði!"
"Sigur eða dauði!" The Stormænd and the Sværdmænd yelled back.
In the rear of the Stormænd and Sværdmænd, were the Huskarle and
behind the melee infantry were the Bueskyttere.
The missile infantry launched volley after volley down on their enemy. Felling many with their arrows but they were quickly running out of ammunition.
After weeks of holding back the Discordians and being pushed back to the edge of the Frontier Lands, this was their final stand. They have bloodied the Discordians and inflicted many casualties upon their enemies. When the Discordians take down one man of Feoh, he brings twenty of theirs down with him. Showing the Discordians the ferocity the Great Tribes were known for. The fury of the Norðurmenn.
But fury and will alone weren't enough.
Despite their best efforts, the soldiers of the Hæren were soon overrun and only a handful of them were left to continue the fight but a handful was enough to hold the enemy while their allies escaped.
"It's time to go, my King."
King Alister, instead of leaving with the Jarls, climbed down his horse. Ignoring the calls of his Jarls as he made his way to join the handful of Stormænd, Sværdmænd and Huskarle.
The King wore a short sleeved scale armor underneath a white, sleeveless coat along with a blue warrior's scapular with gold accents and the runic symbol of Feoh in the center. He had a set of steel spaulders with the one on the right having white fur attached to it as well as a set of steel vambraces and gauntlets. He wore a pair of black trousers and leather boots lined with with fur as well as a set of steel greaves and sabatons. His armor was also adorned by a red scarf. One his late wife had weaved for him days before her and their second child's passing.
On his head was a simple crowned helm and in the King's hand was a runic blade. The runes of the blade glowing brightly and bathing the area around him in red light.
"Alister, stop!"
The King did so and looked over his shoulder as Jarl Erik Björnsson of Ravnstad approached.
"Stop this madness, my King! Please. The Kingdom needs you. Alicia needs you. You cannot die here!"
"I've taught her all I can, Erik. She can rule the Kingdom as I had. Perhaps even better."
Alister turned to his friend before holding his weapon out to the Jarl who looked at the blade with wide eyes. The Runic Blade of Feoh's Kings and the First King of Feoh Sigmundr the Conqueror's weapon. Angurvadal.
"Erik." He began "Promise me that this weapon reaches Alicia and when she rules, watch over her."
"My King. You can't- "
"Do this for me. If not as your King then as your friend. Please."
Erik grit his teeth and his fists clenched before letting out a retired sigh. He reached for the weapon and grasped it by the handle. As soon as the runic blade left the King's hands, the runes stopped glowing.
Erik looked into Alister's eyes and the two shared a nod before the former turned and made his way back to his mount. Two other Jarls joined him while the remaining three Jarls followed after their King. One of them handed Alister an Ulfberht sword and round shield.
The bare few Thegn Horsemen of Gronstad left nodded to one another and climbed down their mounts before grabbing their weapons and following after their King.
Alister made his way to the front of the line. The soldiers parting to let their king pass. The enemy had been pushed back but was slowly converging on the Hæren.
Despite their enemies coming to surround them, Alister showed no fear. He looked each of the enemy in the eye before raising his sword over his head and cried out a single word. A word that was worth more than a thousand speeches. A word that would wash away all fear and doubt within the hearts of men. A word that would rally the remaining soldiers around him and reignite their flames of fury. Making it burn as bright as the Sun God Helios' flame.
"VALHALLA!"
Alister and his Jarls suddenly broke off from the rest of the army and charged into the ranks of the enemy alone. There was no fear, no hesitation, within their being. Just bravery and unbridled Nordic fury worthy of their Norðurmenn ancestors.
"VALHALLA!!"
Not a moment later, the remaining Hæren charged into the ranks of the Discordian army with a war cry as their King and his Jarls lead them into battle. Every single one of them knew that they would die today but they welcomed it with the intent to make this battle the most glorious of all. A battle that would be remembered throughout the ages.
And when death finally claims them, the Valkyries will come and guide their souls to the Halls of Valhalla. Where the brave shall live forever.
(Line Break)
Present
"I watched as your father led the charge into the enemy's ranks. Outnumbered but unafraid. I wanted to join him but I needed to give Angurvadal to the next monarch of our Kingdom. It was only after the battle did the people of Whitefair came upon his body. Hidden underneath the bodies of Jarls Halfdan, Guthfrid and Hroðgar. Protecting their King's body with their own so it wouldn't be desecrated by the Discordians. I'm sure you've heard of it already from the refugees of Whitefair."
Alicia simply nodded before taking out Angurvadal and staring at it's runes. She raised the weapon close to her face before leaning forward and resting her forehead against the flat of the blade.
"Lifðu að eilífu í sölum Valhallar, faðir."
(Line Break)
One Day Later
After leaving a garrison behind for Whitefair and Earthholde, the Great Army began their march to the Provincial Capital and along the way, Coldhollow's garrison and nearby outposts sent soldiers to slow the Great Army's advance until reinforcements from the neighboring Province of Flatreach arrived.
By the time they reached the city, Coldhollow's garrison had holed up and set up defenses across the city streets. Hoping to hold out until help arrives.
While Coldhollow's garrison prepared their defenses, the Great Army encircled the city while Alicia sent Jarl Ölvir and Svengård's Hær to cut off the city's supply coming from Brightglen by taking the town.
They began constructing siege towers and launched an assault on the northern, eastern and southern wall of the city once the towers were completed. Unfortunately, this assault was repelled by the city's defenders who sortied out and managed to burn down the siegecraft. Alicia herself barely escaped the burning siege tower she was on.
After the first attempt to take the walls failed, another was made two days later. Unlike the first one, however, Thegn Horsemen and Iris Knights rode behind the siege towers and hidden themselves from view of the defenders. When the city's garrison sortied out once more in an attempt to burn the siege towers again, the cavalry revealed themselves and repelled the defenders. Forcing them to retreat after receiving a large amount of casualties.
With the sortie repelled, the siege towers made it to the wall unhindered and the besiegers began the tiring, brutal and gruesome battle to take the walls of Coldhollow. Hopefully before winter arrives.
Unfortunately for the Great Army, the Negramstian relief force arrived from the east and began marching towards the rear of her main force. The Negramstians didn't just gather forces from Flatreach but from Windsummit as well. Conscripting men, hiring mercenaries and pulling soldiers from garrisons until their numbers reached 50,000.
With her army too deep into the siege to disengage and properly defend their rear, the Queen sent an order for Skalleborg and Gronstad's armies to engage the enemy relief force. Their combined forces numbered at least 10,000 and were severely outnumbered.
Despite knowing that their enemy was numerous, the Gronstad-Skalleborg Hær still marched east to intercept the Negramstian relief force. Even with inexperienced troops, they still outnumbered Sigrun and Ivar's forces.
The two armies met in the middle of the field with the Negramstians taking a more aggressive approach. Sending out their entire cavalry force charging into Ivar and Sigrun's army with their lances couched and horses galloping.
The Jarl of Skalleborg ordered her Spydmestre to form a spear wall on her signal while the Sværdmænd form a shield wall on the flanks of the spear infantry. Ivar, on the other hand, orderes the Bueskyttere to launch a volley of arrows in an attempt to slow down the Negramstian cavalry. He also ordered his men to do the same as Sigrun's but withheld from using his cavalry.
Meanwhile, the Negramstian Cavalry were closing the distance between them and the Gronstad-Skalleborg front line. Despite taking a small number of casualties from the volley, the cavalry pushed on. Something Sigrun counted on. Once they were close enough, the Jarl of Skalleborg told the Bueskyttere to hold off on their volley and took out a horn before blowing it.
Upon hearing the signal, the Skalleborg Spydmestre and the Gronstad Spyd Huskarle formed a spear wall while the Sværdmænd on their flanks formed a shield wall.
The Negramstian cavalry couldn't stop their charge and slammed hard into the spear and shield wall. Many were impaled on the spears of the spear infantry while the Cavalry's horses slammed into the shield wall. The crash nearly broke the formation but they stood firm and refused to break.
Once the Negramstian Cavalry's momentum was halted, the Spyd Huskarle and Spydmestre lowered the spear wall and started thrusting their spears up at the riders while the Sværdmænd struck down the horses before taking out the riders. Once the enemy were committed to the fight, Sigrun and Ivar ordered the Sværdmænd on the flanks to encircle the enemy cavalry.
The Negramstian Cavalry tried to escape but only a handful managed to do so and fled the battlefield while the rest were slaughtered down to the last man.
Despite taking out the enemy's cavalry, the Gronstad-Skalleborg Hær still had the rest of the Negramstian relief force to deal with.
"Huskarle and Sværdmænd, to the front!" Sigrun ordered before climbing down her mount and joining the Huskarle "Spyd Huskarle and Spydmestre, to the flanks. Archers, to the rear. Move!"
"Thegn Horsemen, with me! Stay in the rear. We'll flank them when they're too focused on the main force."
The soldiers followed their Jarls' orders while the Negramstian relief force decided to send in the first wave of infantry with archers in the front, sword infantry in the middle and spear infantry in the rear. The first wave marched towards Sigrun's army before stopping a hundred meters from their position.
The Negramstian archers then sent a volley of arrows toward Sigrun's army and the Jarl of Skalleborg quickly ordered her melee and spear infantries to form a shield wall while ordering the Bueskyttere to go into a loose formation. Sigrun herself was in formation with the Huskarle who were in the center of the formation and had raised her shield along with the others. Moments later, the Jarl felt the rain of arrows hit or bounce off their shields. Some got through small gaps and a few were unlucky enough to get hit on the foot.
"Steady!"
While the Negramstian archers continued to pelt Sigrun's soldiers with arrows, the Negramstian Sword Infantry began their advance towards her army.
To counter this, Sigrun ordered the Bueskyttere to launch a counter volley aimed at the Negramstian archers. Thousands of arrows arched over the battlefield as the two missile infantry exchanged volleys before the Negramstian archers pulled back after receiving too many casualties.
The Negramstian Sword Infantry, however, had arrived within melee range and engaged the front line. In response, they lowered their shields and met the enemy's charge head on before engaging them in brutal melee that painted the white snow underneath their feet red.
Fighting the more experienced and heavily-armored Huskarle, the Negramstian Sword Infantry's center couldn't break through and were being pushed back inch by inch. The Sværdmænd kept the rest at bay while the Spyd Huskarle and Spydmestre's spear wall held back the enemy's left and right contingent. Preventing them from flanking the melee infantry and the Jarl.
The Huskarle, still fresh and eager since they hadn't participated in repelling the enemy cavalry from before, managed to push the first wave's center contingent far enough back that the enemy left and right contingents' flanks were exposed. The Sværdmænd took the opportunity to attack the exposed flanks while the Huskarle contimued to push the enemy center back.
With their flanks exposed and their numbers dwindling every second, the first wave broke and were routed. Rather than give chase, Sigrun ordered the melee and spear infantries to reform the line and prepare themselves to face the second wave. Beside her, a Huskarl raised the banner of Skalleborg high in the air.
A black skull with Odin's spear, Gungnir, raised above it.
Ivar's men joined in and raised the banner of Gronstad as well.
A white, eight-legged steed. Representing Odin's mount, Sleipnir.
Within the ranks of the Negramstian relief force, the army's Commander, Oscar Rask, ordered that two waves to advance and a third one would follow soon when he gives the signal. He knew that sending a wave of infantry when the previous one loses would only bring more casualties. They would overrun them eventually but their numbers would be depleted. They wouldn't have enough to take back the city.
While Ivar and Sigrun held off the Negramstian relief force, Alicia and Jarl Ivar Ivarsson of Gronstad were busy trying to take the eastern and northern walls of Coldhollow respectively. The Queen herself was on the wall and fighting alongside her men with her Raven Guards at her side as well as Aedan.
(Line Break)
Aedan threw the Negramstian Swordsman over the battlements before dashing forward and slicing the second swordsman in half. The blood covered Grey Warden then leaped into the air before bringing his greatsword down on a third swordsman and slicing the poor soul in the middle.
A fourth swordsman tried to attack him from behind but Aedan spun on his heel and punched the man straight in the face. The strength of the blow knocked the swordsman into the ground and Aedan raised his boot before bringing it down with enough force to crush the man's head. He then grabbed the wrist of the swordsman who was in the middle of swinging his blade down at Aedan.
The Grey Warden grimaced before running the man through with Yusaris. He pushed his weapon deeper into the man's gut all the way to the hilt. Not caring if the swordsman coughed up blood on his shoulder, Aedan pulled Yusaris out and threw aside the man's limp body before facing his next oppponent.
A few feet away from him, Alicia ran Angurvadal into a Negramstian Swordsman's abdomen before roughly pulling her weapon free and simultaneously elbowing a second swordman in the gut. She quickly raised her round shield to block an axe that could have sliced her head off and retaliated with a kick to her attacker's abdomen. The blonde then turned to the second swordsman and punched him in the face with the rim of her shield. Breaking his nose in the process as well as knocking him into the ground.
Without looking, Alicia impaled the Negramstian Axeman to her left in the abdomen and left Angurvadal in the man's gut before taking out her bearded axe and throwing it at the downed swordsman. The axe sailed through the air and buried itself deep into the man's head before the blonde grabbed the handle of her runic blade and violently ripped it out of the Axeman who fell to his knees. Alicia raised her weapon high then brought it down to behead the man in one swing.
A bolt suddenly whizzed past her cheek and Alicia looked to the arrow tower to see Negramstian Crossbowmen shooting flaming bolts through the arrowslits of the tower.
The Queen of Feoh narrowed her eyes at them before making her way to the arrow tower. Followed closely behind by two Raven Guards. The rest of them were scattered and fighting their own opponents.
Aedan saw where the blonde was going and ran after her to help. Bashing his shoulder against an unaware swordsman before elbowing a raging axeman in the face and breaking his nose. Staggering the man and allowing the Stormand behind the Negramstian to cut the axeman down.
The Grey Warden joined Alicia as she tried to kick open the door to the arrow tower. He placed a hand on her shoulder before taking her place and bashed open the door with his shoulder. Breaking it off the hinges and alerting the Crossbowmen inside of their presence.
Alicia moved first. Throwing a bearded axe at the Crossbowman ahead of them and hitting the man in the chest before rushing the second Crossbowman beside him and punching him across the face. Aedan joined her and grab the man's head before slamming it hard on the wall with an audible crack.
The Queen of Feoh then grabbed one of the crossbows on the ground and loaded it with a bolt before shooting the Negramstian Crossbowman running down the stairs and nailing him right between the eyes. She looked to her Raven Guards and pointed at the stairs.
"Clear the arrow tower!"
"Yes, my Queen."
The two Raven Guards put away their Long Axes before taking out their Ulfberht swords and round shields. They ran up the stairs and used their shields to block the crossbow bolts sent their way by the remaining Crossbowmen who were at the top of the stairs.
One of them reached the top and bashed away the Crossbowman's hand as he tried to reach for his sword before the Raven Guard sliced him across the throat and raised her shield just in time to block a crossbow bolt meant for her head.
The second Raven Guard arrived and ran to the first Crossbowman he saw and slammed his shield on the man before pushing him towards the wall. Once he had him pinned, the Raven Guard stabbed the Crossbowman in the side and pushed the blade deeper.
While the two Raven Guards cleared the upper floors of the arrow tower, Aedan and Alicia looked through one of the arrowslits to observe the city.
Most of the garrison were converging in the center. Putting up barricades to block the roads and setting up archers on rooftops as well as inside the buildings. Pike infantry were their first line of defense alongside the barricades. Followed by spear infantry then melee infantry which consisted of Swordsmen and Axemen. The last line of defense was the city hall where the Garrison Commander was probably stationed.
They looked to the north and saw that Jarl Úlfr and his soldiers had taken the wall. Evident by the torn down Negramstian banners taken away by the wind and the banners set up on the top of the arrow towers were Stormgård's banners.
A grey wolf's head with two axes crossed behind it. The wolf representing Fenrir.
She looked to the south and saw Jarl Bárðr's Hær had taken the wall as well nd set up their banner.
A black Dreki ship in the middle of a blue and white striped field.
"My Queen."
The two looked away from the arrowslit and looked at the Raven Guards as they made their way down the stairs.
"The tower is secured."
"Good." Alicia nodded "Go to the top of the tower and tear down the Negramstian banners. Replace it with Ravnstad's banners."
The two Raven Guards bowed their heads before heading back upstairs to raise Ravnstad's banner. Said banner was a blue flag with three, interlocking horns in the center and was flanked by two black ravens.
The ravens represented the All-Father's ravens, Huginn and Muninn. It also represented the twin ravens Sigmundr the Conqueror followed and led him to the land that would eventually be called the Kingdom of Feoh.
The interlocking horns represented the symbol of Odin. The Triskelion.
"What's our next move?"
Alicia looked up at the Grey Warden to answer.
"We have a problem. Our rear is exposed to the Negramstian relief force and, as confident as I am in their skill, Sigrun and Ivar won't be able to hold the relief force on their own. They would be forced to retreat or die trying to slow the relief force down."
The Queen sighed and shook her head.
"If we continue the siege and take Coldhollow but leave Sigrun and Ivar without reinforcements, it would mean that we would be the besieged when the relief force takes out the Gronstad-Skalleborg army. Our men would be too exhausted to a defend against a siege." Alicia answered.
"What's the plan then?"
"I'll send Jarl Úlfr and half of the Ravnstad Hær to aid them while the rest of us continue the siege."
"And you?"
"I'll be taking the other half of the Ravnstad army and join Jarl Bárðr in taking the city."
"Then I'll accompany you. I promised Her Highness, Princess Prim, to keep an eye on you while we're here and I would keep that promise."
Alicia nodded up at Aedan before the two made their way out of the arrow tower.
When they looked at their part of the wall, the Sværdmænd, Stormænd and Huskarle were cheering, banging their swords on their shields, as the battered and bruised defenders of the eastern wall ran to center of Coldhollow with their tails between their legs.
"Looks like they're abandoning the rest of the city to hold the center." Alicia muttered.
The Queen rubbed her chin in thought before calling for two runners. When they arrived, Alicia turned to address the men. Boys, actually. They looked like they were barely in their teens.
"My Queen."
"Go to Jarl Bárðr and tell him to start his advance to the center. While they're at it, tell them to search every... 'establishment' they pass and free any prisoner they come across. There's bound to be someone who knows this city like the back of their hand."
Alicia then turned to the second runner.
"Run to Jarl Úlfr and tell him to leave the wall and help Jarl Ivar and Jarl Sigrun in holding off the Negramstian relief force."
The Queen then turned to her soldiers who listened with rapt attention.
"Jarl Erik." She called out.
"My Queen."
The Jarl of Ravnstad stepped forward and bowed his head.
"Take half of our forces and reinforce the Gronstad-Skalleborg army with Jarl Úlfr. Hold back the Negramstian relief force while we take the city. We'll send a runner to you and inform if we have taken Coldhollow."
"It will be done, my Queen."
Alicia watched Jarl Erik leave and gather his forces before turning to the remainder of her own force.
"Alright. As for the rest of us, we march for the center of the city. We search every 'establishment' we pass and rescue any prisoner we come upon. I want Spyd Huskarle and Spyd Hirdmen in the front ranks. Followed by Huskarle and Stormænd then the Sværdmænd and Øksemænd while the Bueskyttere would take up the rear. Move!"
(Line Break)
Jarl Sigrun Eriksdottir removed her spear from the Negramstian Swordsman's corpse before glaring at the retreating backs of the second and third wave of Negramstian Infantry as the fourth wave slowly advanced towards them. Stopping Ivar's Thegn Horsemen from chasing the retreating enemy further.
The Jarl of Skalleborg looked around her and saw her men and Ivar's infantry were tired and drenched in blood. She too was covered head to toe with the red liquid. Slaying many with her sword or spear. But what caught her attention were the bodies that piled up to small mounds. Some of her men took to climbing the pile of corpses and planting the banners Skalleborg and Gronstad on top.
"Jarl Sigrun, look!"
Sigrun turned her head to where the Huskarl was pointing at and felt relief when she saw Stormgård's Hær marching towards them. Followed by half of Ravnstad's Hær which was led by her father, Jarl Erik Björnsson.
Jarl Erik ordered his soldiers to join Sigrun and Ivar's infantry in formation with Jarl Úlfr doing the same but taking his Úlfhéðnar with him and stood in front of the formation. Yelling obscenities at the approaching wave of Negramstian Infantry.
"Bueskyttere, volley!"
Hearing the Jarl of Ravnstad's order, the missile infantry launched a volley at the enemy. Forcing the Negramstians to raise their shields over their heads to block the arrows. Not all were protected and some were killed before they could raise their shield or a lucky arrow struck them between the shields.
Still. The arrows did not impede the Negramstian's advance.
Jarl Úlfr grinned underneath his wolf's pelt hood before taking out his twin bearded axes. His Úlfhéðnar, meanwhile, were hitting their shields with their axes in excitement.
"Come on. Come on. Drepa."
As one, the Úlfhéðnar began chanting.
"Drepa. Drepa. Drepa."
Once the Negramstians were close enough and charged at the Úlfhéðnar, Jarl Úlfr and his wolf warriors threw their axes at the enemy before taking out a second set of axes and running to meet the Negramstian charge.
Úlfr blocked a sword with his axes before kicking the man in his exposed abdomen. The Jarl then leapt up in the air before bringing both axes down on the swordsman's head. He removed his axes then spun to the side to avoid a spear before bringing one axe down on his attacker's back and cutting the man's head off with the other axe.
All around him, his Úlfhéðnar had gone berserk. Loosing control of themselves and slew any Negramstian they saw. Bathing their shirtless bodies and weapons with blood. Some were screaming incomprehensibly at the Negramstians as they killed soldier after soldier that it forced some of the infantry to flee in fear of the Úlfhéðnar.
Úlfr laughed before spreading out his arms and staring at the fearful Negramstians.
"Ég gef þig úlfunum!"
While the fourth wave of Negramstian infantry were focused on the Úlfhéðnar, Jarl Erik ordered the melee infantry to advance and join the wolf warriors in keeping the enemy occupied.
"No mercy!" The Jarl of Ravnstad yelled.
Jarl Erik led the Stormænd to join the Úlfhéðnar while the Ravnstad Sværdmænd, Øksemænd and Huskarle followed closely behind.
Meanwhile, Jarl Ivar and his Thegn Horsemen took to circling around and cutting down any Negramstians who tried to break away from the melee. Impaling them with spears, cutting them with swords or running them down with their mounts. They were forced to retreat, however, when they saw the fifth wave of Negramstians advancing towards them.
In response, Sigrun ordered the Spydmestre, as well as the Spyd Huskarle of Gronstad, Skalleborg, Stormgård and Ravnstad, to move in front of the fighting forces and form a spear wall facing forward to keep the fifth wave from flanking their soldiers and another spear wall facing backwards to stop the fourth wave from flanking them. She also ordered the Bueskyttere to launch volley after volley at the fifth wave to slow their advance.
"Spydvæg!"
On hearing the Jarl of Skalleborg's order, the spear infantry formed a spear wall.
With Sigrun and the spear infantry keeping the fifth wave back, Ivar decided to send out his Bow Horsemen. Thegn Horsemen trained to shoot arrows efficiently while on horseback. Their arrows struck down any of the Negramstians fighting Jarl Úlfr and Jarl Erik's forces.
(Line Break)
Back in the city, Alicia and her half of Ravnstad's army took the fighting to the streets of Coldhollow in the east while Jarl Bárðr took the south.
The Queen of Feoh removed her sword from the back of a swordsman before taking out her Skeggøx and throwing it at the axeman behind Aedan. The axe sailed through the air then buried itself on the man's back and he screamed.
This alerted the Grey Warden who turned around after impaling a Negramstian Swordsman with Yusaris and punched the axeman across the face. He then grabbed the bearded axe and ripped it off the man's back before throwing it back at Alicia.
The blonde saw the bearded axe sailing towards and caught the weapon inches away from her face.
"Watch it!"
"Sorry!"
Alicia didn't get a chance to retort as she barely blocked a sword with Angurvadal before hooking her Skeggøx on the weapon and disarmed the Negramstian Swordsman then ran him through with her runic blade.
Aedan, meanwhile, smashed his forehead against a swordsman and knocked him down to the ground. He switched into a reverse grip before burying the greatsword into the man's heart. The Grey Warden twisted the blade before wrenching Yusaris out of the swordsman and then stabbed the second swordsman behind him without looking.
The Grey Warden turned around and grabbed the handle of Yusaris with both hands before ripping the greatsword to the side and slicing the man in two. The upper half falling back as the lower half fell to it's knees.
Aedan, covered in blood, guts and other viscera, roared as he went into his Berserker state and swung his weapon upwards. Cleaving the poor spearman in two. He then grabbed a swordsman in the neck and ran him through with Yusaris before throwing his corpse towards another swordsman. Knocking him to the ground.
He turned around and swung his weapon down in an angle at a large Negramstian soldier wielding a twin-headed axe. Leaving a large cut down his upper body. Without losing momentum, he swung Yusaris across the man's abdomen before ending with a large upward swing.
The large Negramstian soldier fell into six bloody pieces but Aedan didn't see it as he ran to his next opponent, or rather, opponents.
The Grey Warden gripped his greatsword in a one-handed reverse grip before swinging his weapon in a full circle while moving forward. Cutting down a number of Negramstians along the way.
Once he stopped spinning, Aedan calmed himself down unless he really lost himself in his Berserker state and end up harming his allies instead.
The Grey Warden took this time to look around him. Ravnstad's Hær had destroyed the barricades by throwing fire flasks at it but the flames grew out of control and were starting to spread to the buildings.
Even so. Everyone continued to fight. Not caring if the buildings around them were burning.
"Hey."
Aedan felt a hand on his shoulder and turned his head to see Alicia. Coated in blood but managed to keep her face mostly clean with only a few splotches here and there.
"Are you alright?"
"I'm fine. How's the battle going?"
"We're getting closer to the center. We're beginning to fight more experienced soldiers. If we find and take out their leader, the garrison will break. They'll flee or they'll surrender when that happens."
Aedan nodded before rising to his full height and resting Yusaris on his shoulder.
"Once we take this city, what's the next plan?" He asked.
"We regroup with the rest of the army and take out the Negramstian relief force. Once they're gone, Coldhollow is ours. No. The entire province would be ours."
As their enemy retreated further into the center of the city, Alicia grabbed a fallen Ravnstad banner on the ground and climbed up the top of the remains of the barricade before raising the banner high above her head and pointed her runic blade at the retreating backs of the enemy.
"Þú verður veislumatur fyrir krákurnar!"
"FEAST FOR THE CROWS!!"