Over the following day Peter prepared his city and managed to win the argument he had with his Queen, who, like every other battle, want to fight but because she was now officially three months and a half pregnant. Ororo's belly was starting show the signs pressing against her dresses. Since the Purifiers had mutant canceling weapons, with who know how far of a range, she wouldn't be able to help but be a liability and Peter didn't want to lose her and their child. Seeing his point Ororo finally agreed to stay at the castle with the other mutants including Lorna and Psylock, while Peter stood on the far western wall looking out across rolling fields of green grass with the small Hudson River cutting across it. On the other side was a large hill that obscured the field beyond, Peter was looking through a small telescope when he spotted someone coming over the hill.
It was a man dressed in a blood red tunic and trousers under a grey set of plate armor like the lorica segmentata chest armor that was in turn hidden under a red surcoat with a large white cross on it. A red hood and black vail that hid the man's entire head as he held a mechanical cross-like standard in his gloved hand, "Their here." Peter said "It's only one man." A nearby soldier commented "No, their here." Peter repeated and a moment later the man on the hill was joined by other similarly dressed men, the number quickly growing as the ones in the front moved down the hill. Until it looked like the green grass had turned an unpleasant bloody red color, while sticking above them were three stories tall trolls wearing purple colored armor over their bluish skin.
Theses trolls were known as Sentinels because they were mostly known to stand guard at Purifiers base, also among the Sentinel Trolls were giant scorpions who hard shells were reinforced by similar purple armor and known as Sentinel Prowlers controlled by a rider on top that stop them as the army halted at the river edge. Peter knew they would've probably advance forward, but upon seeing the city being already on the alert for them had put a kink in the Purifiers plans to probably come right up to the walls and strike in a blink before any defense could've been made. Now Peter watched as a man dressed in black instead of red colors, with actually bones/skulls of defiant mutants on his staff and sitting on a just as black horse road across the bridge with a small group of followers as they headed towards the city, knowing this was the envoy Peter quickly went to meet them with his Royal Guards and Felicia by his side.
The two groups met half way between the city and the army, who obvious leader removed his red facecloth to reveal a quite scarred up face. One of his eyes were white and the scars on the sides of his lips actually opened to make his mouth seem bigger as he spoke, "Greeting King Parker, I'm Commander Matthew Risman of the Purifiers." "Hello Risman, before you say anymore know that when a person speak to a king that he is accountable to the words given…" Risman nodded his understanding, "Now what's bring you to my city?" Peter 'asked' with a convincing fake questioning ton in his voice as if he didn't why they came while slightly adjusting the crystal on his chest that relayed the conversation back to Ororo in the castle, "Well I feel needed to inform you that there are criminal mutant in your city." Risman answered. "Criminal mutants? I'm not aware of any criminal mutants in York, have you Captain Hardy?"
"No sire I don't know of any criminals, I do know of some refugee mutants that came not too long ago."
"Those are the criminals we speak off, they have done crimes to the Purifiers and I must incest that you give them to us." Risman said "And what crimes have they people done so horrendous for 12,000 Purifiers to come into my land?" Peter asked his voice still light as he waited for an answer, "For the crimes against humanity of being born of devils and demons." Risman said with a quite convincing voice, but didn't sway Peter one bit.
"Devils and demons you say, well that does seem to be a hellish crime if any I ever heard!" Peter replied with absolute sarcasm before he said with a more stern voice "I say it's at the bottom of the list to what you have done." "I beg your pardon Sire?" Risman started to asked before Peter cut him off. "We can cut the banter now, we both know why you here and I will tell you right now that I will not give you one single mutant to torture, rape and mutilate."
"I'm not sure what those mutants have lied to you about King Parker, but they aren't true." Risman said before one of his followers said to his friend in a whisper that no less was heard by everyone, "It seem like his mutant bitch Queen had muddled his head." Peter immediately had to raise a hand to stop Felicia from angrily attacking the Purifier, before he looked straight into Risman's miss match eyes. "Those mutants didn't just tell me their stories, but showed me their scars to prove it Risman. So cut the lying and tell me why you are actually here." Risman gave a heavy sigh before speaking in a flat voice.
"We are here to capture the mutants group leader Princess Lorna, daughter of our feared enemy king and use her as leverage against him. Give her to us or we will be force to kill your human people, now you choice your next words carefully Parker, they may be your last as King." In a instinct Peter and his Guard had their weapons drawn and pointed at the Purifiers as Peter spoke in just a flat yet angry ton that not even Felicia had heard and sent chills down her spine. "You guys brings the skulls and bones of innocent mutants to my city's steps, you insult my Queen, you threat my people with slavery and death. Oh I chosen my words carefully Purifier, perhaps you should have done the same and to tell you Risman, the real reason I came was to see your face so I alone may find you on the battlefield. It'll be good for you do the same, for the time next you see it, it will be the last thing you see on this earth."
With that Peter and his Guard turned and rode back to York, though even over the sound of the horses hoofs Peter's enhance hearing picked up Risman saying. "Finally, a man worth killing." Once back through the gate Peter climbed off his horse and began to tell his people to get ready for a siege, then he turned on the two way ability of his crystal and before Peter could get a word out Ororo spoke. "Well said my love." He also felt Felicia's hand on his shoulder and looking saw her nod of approval that made Peter smile for a moment before becoming serious again as resume giving orders. While he was doing this two people approached, they weren't York soldiers but a blonde haired man and younger black hair woman. Both wore purplish leathery armor over their black trousers and tunics with bows and quivers of arrows on their back, "Your Grace, I'm Clint Barton and this is my partner Kate Bishop, with your permission we wish to join you in this fight."
"You're the mercenaries known as the famous Hawkeye and Hawkette, right?" Felicia said and the two nodded, "We'll be glad for the aid, but we don't have time to form a contact…" Peter began to say when Kate spoke "No need Sire, we're doing this for free because you shouldn't have to pay us to fight animals like those out there." After a moment to consider their words Peter offer his hand to them, "Welcome to the army." And the two took his hand before heading to the wall to join the other archers. While Peter prep his defense the Purifiers prepare for their attack by first crossing the Hudson and spreading out across the field to take up formations that comprised of swordsmen, pikemen, archers and riflemen loading up their rifles and pistols.
The sentinels were dotted around among them, while in the center of the army on a large wagon pulled by a scorpion was a massive magical machine that looked to be many layered rings enclosing on a hexagon shape sphere. Which glowed as the rings started to spin in different directions before a slightly glassy transparent energy dome sprung out to encase the whole Purifier army, it wasn't exactly a protection dome from normal weapons because Peter had seen those that had a sort of rainbow color to them, but he knew that this was just as effective because it would immediately cancel out any mutants powers if they went into the dome radius.
Peter could clearly see Risman standing at the front giving some kind of arousing speech to fire up his fellow Purifiers, who let out horrible cheers and pounded their weapons together as Risman yelled. "First to Fifth Cohort, Advanced!" And around 2,400 Purifiers, along with six Sentinel Trolls and four Prowlers, started to move forward in square shape formations of their door shaped shields lock together and the ones with the cross-staffs projecting domes like the main one made it look like two dozens armor turtles inside upside down glass bowls were moving across no man's land. "All Catapults Fire, Aim Mainly For The Sentinels!" Peter commanded, he knew that though the army was formidable, if the trolls and prowlers managed to reach the wall it would be hard to stop them.
So the trebuchets, mangonels and ballistas fired rocks and spears across the field, while some missed the rest of them had found their mark to either land or roll on top of across of the now pancaked Purifiers. As for the Sentinels, they were mostly affected but one was nailed in a troll face by a bolder and a ballistic spear managed to get past the armor to imbed itself into the eye of a prowler, the beasts, except for the one will a rock in its mouth, screamed in pain before falling dead to the ground that shake like small earthquakes.
Despite this the still large force and monsters continued on through another barrage from the catapults, soon they were past the range of trebuchets but now came into the area where the wall siege cannons launched large lead balls that both destroyed one of the turtles and shattered the knee of a troll who fell onto another. Peter quickly noticed that the other groups were starting to have some nerves ones among their numbers, but clearly their 'faith' in their derange god was strong enough to make the Purifiers press forward.
The archers drew back their bows and Peter actually heard the mercenary Hawkeye giving the others advice like "Their armour is weak at the neck and beneath the arm." Peter also noticed the accuracy of Hawkeye and Hawkette purple feather arrows passing in between the shields spaces, while most just hit the wood, to bring a Purifier down. The two were also clearly creative with their shots because Kate Bishop fire at the rider of a prowler to not kill, but instead hit him in the shoulder and caused him to pull on the rope that forced the prowler to the right into a troll leg and making it fall right on top of the bug and rider to flatten both. It was mostly thanks to theses two mercenaries that the Sentinels were brought down and the remaining Purifiers of about 700, being peppered now by gunfire, were forced to retreat or be completely wipeout, the York defenders let out cheers as the first wave was defeated and yet remained vigilant as they pre for the next wave.
Since the Purifiers came with only infantry and Sentinels they didn't have any siege weapons except for ladders, also it was clear to Peter that though this was a formidable force they were fighting with a disadvantage. Theses Purifiers were accustomed to fighting against mutants since their staffs blocked any of their power attacks, but against humans were a different matter and unlike them Peter's army, though slightly smaller, had more experience in fighting no only monsters like the Horde but against human raiders. Because of his first was a failure Peter knew Risman was going to need to come up with a different plan for attack, which apparently was ordering almost all of his sentinels, except for six trolls and four prowlers, forward into two lines of trolls in front and prowlers behind and ordering them to charge.
Apparently he thought that if he sent in the building size monsters all at once that they could at least soften up the defenders a bit, but unfortunately because they had learned from the first sentinels where the kinks in the trolls armor were the defenders knew just where to hit for the most damage. Plus, even though she was at the castle, it didn't mean Ororo was going to just standby, because storm clouds appeared overhead and since the trolls didn't have protective shields as the Purifiers, they became easy target for bolts of lightning striking them in the head or chest. This actually weaken the Sentinels armor to allow a couple of projectiles to penetrate through to the heart or brain, Peter chuckled and muttered into his crystal "That's my girl." And received a giggle in return to make him smile as he then focused on the prowlers that climbed over the fallen trolls bodies.
Theses were a little tricky to bring down because of their natural hardened shells, but soon most were brought down though one did manage to reach the wall and several defenders had to dive out of the way of it tail as it struck at the battlements. Reacting quickly Peter jumped into the air while using his web powers to pin the sting to the stone and then he landed standing on the side of the wall as he charged down it. Avoiding the pincers Peter drove his sword in between the prowler eyes all the way to the hilt as green blood squirted out of the sides from the prowler brain, which died immediately and the whole creature slid limply down the wall to leave a green stain while Peter removed his sword and with an impressive inhuman backflip jump, landed back on top of the wall among his cheering men and women.
After accepting their praises Peter looked back out at the Purifiers, even though their faces were hidden he knew they was probably showing the same expression as Risman of shock that just hours before they had a lot of giant trolls and scorpions among their numbers. Now in the evening they had lost all but ten of them and 1,700 men that Peter had allowed the Purifiers to retrieve as it was right in warfare, he kept his men at the ready as the trolls removed their fallen comrades like the scorpion who blood stain the wall. The Purifiers had retreated to make their camp back across the river and not many sounds of laughter or cheer came from them, unlike the army behind the wall who fought without loosing a single casualty, though there was a couple of scrapes and one broken leg from the prowler attack.
Though it would call for a party and drinking, the defenders chose to be light on the mead since they knew that they would need their wits about them in the next battle. A little away Peter stood alone, his guard including Felicia turning in for the night by his order, as he looked at his army that he had fought with him against the Horde and was proud to fight with them, he was lost in thought with a hand touched his shoulder and looking around found Ororo, Lorna, Betsy and Warren standing there. Before Peter could speak Ororo wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him passionately for a few moments before pulling away to say "I love you and this is with my permission." Peter was confused as Ororo back away to allow Lorna to step forward to grab his head in her hands and pressed her lips hard against Peter's in a deep kiss.
Who was too surprised to respond as the green haired mutant princess' lips moved away from his as she stepped back a bit, her cheeks rosy as Lorna said with determination to keep eye contact "That is thanks from the other mutants to you for protecting them, and this is thanks from me." Again Lorna kissed Peter, who came out of his shock to respond by placing his hands on her hips and return the kiss that got heated quick as their lips moved in unison with their tongues twisting together until the need for air came and the two pulled apart. Another surprise was that the two should've felt a twinge of embarrassment for a married King to be making out with another King's daughter, but they didn't since they silently reasoned that it wasn't because they were the same age, had permission from the Queen who told Lorna and Betsy about their relationship being an open one and also because the two had felt growing attractions for each other since Lorna first arrive.
Who hugged Peter before pulling away while Betsy smiled in amusement, "Thank you." Lorna said again in a now formal way as a Princess should act "You are very welcome." Peter replied smiling, still feeling the presence of both her and Ororo's wonderful lips on his, as the King and three began walking among the troops talking. "So what do you think the Purifiers will do next?" Ororo asked "I don't know, its clear that their plan was to come here to intimidate with a large army with the assumption I would give you Lorna over out of fear." Peter explained "They were prep against mutants powers, not man power. But that doesn't mean they'll give up so soon…" Peter then notice Lorna had stop walking and was looking, with a strange expression on her face, towards the wall that separated them from the battlefield. "What is it, Lorna?" Betsy asked "There're movement out there, I can feel metal moving across the field."
Without a thought to question Lorna's words Peter made towards the stairs to the wall with the ladies forward quickly behind, it was difficult to see because of the clouds covering the moon until Ororo used her power to make holes that spilled silvery moonlight on the field. Which revealed the dark silhouette of a handful of Purifiers moving across grass to use the catapults boulders to hide behind. They were slowly getting closer to the wall and Peter could make out something slung on each of their backs like a large metal capsule wrapped in raw hide leather, he was unsure of what they were but immediately Lorna and Betsy reacted. "My King, order your archers and riflemen to fire at those men hurry!" Lorna said in a panic and before a question could be asked, Betsy telepathically showed Peter and Ororo images of what the Purifiers was doing. "Suicide Bombers?!" Ororo gasped and Betsy nodded as Peter shouted his men to action to release fire arrows at the Purifiers. Who quickly learned that they were discovered and instead of running, they sprinted all out towards the wall through the rain of fire tipped arrows.
One which hit a Purifier bag that was filled with both gunpowder and flammable liquid that combusted with a big boom that shake the ground a large fireball consumed the man and about ten feet around to leave a crater. Despite the explosion that almost threw them, the rest of the Purifier continued forward and two of them were getting dangerously close, "Shoot Them! Kill Them!" Peter shout but already knew before his spider sense tingled that they would fail and without a thought Peter grabbed Betsy to jump off the wall as Ororo, Lorna and Warren used their powers of flight to shot straight up as the Purifiers hit the wall with a major Kaboom! The blast throwing both stone, wood and soldiers threw the air in every direction with Peter and Betsy sort of among them as the shock wave toss the two to crash onto a nearby rooftop, "Are… you… okay?" Peter asked Betsy with each heavy breath to regain the air knocked out of him.
"I… Think… So." Betsy answered checking her body for an shrapnel and finding none on her or Peter as he helped her to her feet as Ororo, Lorna and Warren, all unharmed, landed and they looked at the now massive hole in the wall. Around it laid pieces of rumble and people, most were either moving, groaning or screaming in pain. "We have to get down there, now!" Peter said and jump, along with Betsy, while the three flyers flew to the ground
