As Raoul led his men onto the battle field atop Drum, sword drawn, he surveyed the scene before him. Hurroks and Stormwings were thick in the air, lunging out at Tortall's soldiers. Soldiers in red breeches were Scanrans, and those in gold and brown were Tusaines. The air here was worse that at the palace, thick and heavy. If one looked closely at the clouds, they would notice that they were not white or gray, but a sickening yellow tint, the borders and inside always changing.
Raoul raised his hand and brought it down in a double-chop, signaling a double-speed march. He heard the men mulling behind him, and could feel their fear. He scanned down their side of the battle field. The actual place happened to be a VERY large field, conveniently placed, with the coast in view. Scanran Wolf ships were bombarding Tortallan fleets with catapults of balls and liquid fire. Looking down the line, he saw Alanna in her gleaming gold-washed mail, leading a group of knights. He sent up a silent prayer to the Goddess and Mithros for her, and everyone else's safety that fateful day. A growing rumble brought his vision to the front. The Scanrans were massing to attack. Something flew out of their midst; a small box. Raoul's stomach lurched. He had seen the same thing at Port Leggan a few years ago. It had been a trap--sure enough, when the box landed, it exploded, the smoke forming a giant three-headed serpent. Raoul gulped at the sight of it. The last time he had fought one of these, it had almost cost him his life. With a roar, he signaled for a charge. He and his men sprang forward, the Own entangling themselves with the Scanrans, Raoul heading for the Giant Serpent.
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Jon stood behind-the-lines of battle, concentrating on the battle raging in front of him. A sudden flare of light to the left of him caught his attention. He turned, and saw Raoul pitched in battle with one of Uosae's nightmarish creatures. He made the sign against Evil on his chest, wiped suddenly-wet eyes, and focused on the Jewel once again.
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Kel was part of a group of knights including Neal, Merric, Owen, Faleron, Cleon, and quite a few others. It was led by Gareth the Younger. They were embattled against the Tusaines. The enemy suddenly let out a hair-raising howl and charged. She clutched her glaive and searched inside herself for her center, for she would need all the strength that they could get. Kel's group was outnumbered at least 2-1. Kel braced herself and ordered Peachblossom forward, preparing herself for the onslaught of attackers. Suddenly, large vines, coated in blue/purple fire, sprang from the ground, wrapping themselves around the enemy horse's legs. Kel silently thanked King Jon, and threw herself into battle with renewed ferocity.
(a/n: there are going to be a couple more chapters with battle scenes, so the fight isn't over!)
