Chapter Five
The Great Battle In The East
December 1092
Syrian Desert
The desert night was cold and windy, most of the regiment were silently sleeping, preparing for the large battle that will commence at mornings first light. Mathias, however, was still working on a grand battle plan that will assure the battalions victory. Several of his plans that had worked in the past didn't seem good enough now, especially since his spy had relayed information that the troop will attack on all fronts. There had to be a way to beat those reached heathens at their own game. Mathias racked his brain for awhile, but nothing came to him. With a heavy sigh, he lay down and closed his eyes.
"My friend!" He heard a familiar voice call out.
"Please enter Leon."
Leon walked into Mathias's tent and sat down upon the sandy ground.
"Have you thought of something yet?"
"Nothing and I am sorry to report." Mathias said mournfully.
"Perhaps if we do one of your other glorious moves?" Leon questioned.
"No." Mathias insisted. "For this battle we need something different."
Mathias thought for a moment and then it suddenly came to him.
"Perhaps we should try fighting in a circle."
"A circle?" Leon questioned.
"Yes!" Mathias said excitedly. "They are planning to attack from all directions, if we place the strongest men and a fanned out circle, those heathens will not know what hit them!"
"Do you think it will work?"
With a confident smile Mathias answered, "I know it will work."
"I know that confident smile." Leon said sounding assured of Mathias's decision. "I trust completely in your skills."
"On the morrow I shall inform the men of my plans." Mathias said happily.
"Of course." Leon said leaving his tent.
Mathias lay back down and his eyes shut. Shortly he drifted off into a deep slumber. In his dreams he recalled those happy times he'd spent with Elisabetha. She was his world and while fighting for God gave him a reason to continue, fighting for Elisabetha's safety gave him a reason to succeed. If these heathens could take over the holy land, then they most assuredly would try to conquer the world. He could not let that happen. He would sooner die then see a world of heretics conquer the world.
Night gave way to the first rays of morning. Mathias was awake and prepared for battle. The morning of a encounter, he was always the first to awaken, even though he was often times the last one to sleep. But he always arose full of energy. The first thing he would do is to write his intended battle plans in a book. Then he would sketch out every possible scenario that could take place, even plans for retreat. But plans for retreating were never necessary, even today, he was planning to be victorious. The invincible Belmont Battalion would never be defeated.
"Are you ready friend?" Leon said dressed in his battle armor.
"Yes." Mathias said closing his battle book.
Both Mathias and Leon walked out of the tent and over to the waiting army. Leon stood aside and waited for Mathias to give his orders.
"Gentlemen." Mathias said. "I had received word that our enemy is preparing to attack from all sides. While it may have taken some time to come up with a plan of action, I have a very good one, which they will not be expecting."
The men all smiled brightly at Mathias's words.
"Up until now, we have all fought in rows, it will surprise them to see us fighting in a circle." Mathias said walking up and down the long line of soldiers. "If we keep a good circle formation, we can drive the heathens to hell where they belong, but I need you all to keep a close formation. No straying into lines!"
"Do you understand?" Leon asked the men.
"Yes!" They all cheered back.
"Very good." Mathias said smiling to the men. "Now swordsmen, I need you on the outside of the circle. Archers, you must remain on the inside."
The men all got into their proper places quickly then Mathias continued to speak.
"God has been with us, and he will continue to remain with us. Only those with the sacred holy empire shall triumph!"
"Yeah!"
The sun blazed brightly in the sky. In the distance the mighty Belmont Battalion could see the horde of heathens making their approach toward them. Leon looked at Mathias waiting for the best time to strike. The heathen army ran closer and closer, when finally Mathias gave the signal for the swordsmen to duck and the archers to fire.
Their arrows streamed though the morning sky, instantly striking the first dozen heathens. When they had dropped, Mathias gave the signal for the swordsmen to begin their attack. As expected, the heathens were coming from all directions, but it mattered not. With each wave of heretics, they were all cut down by the strong swordsmen. Leon and Mathias were battling side by side, protecting each other making sure that no heathen got though the first line of swordsmen.
The battle raged on fiercely, as though it would never end. But the battalion would not be swayed. God had given them the power to crush their enemies. At last the amount of heathens had noticeably dwindled; the commander of the heathen side gave the command for them to retreat. The long battle was over and once again no member of the Belmont Battalion was unharmed during the mêlée. Everyone cheered joyously as last heathen ran cowering over the sandy hill.
December 1092
Syrian Desert
The desert night was cold and windy, most of the regiment were silently sleeping, preparing for the large battle that will commence at mornings first light. Mathias, however, was still working on a grand battle plan that will assure the battalions victory. Several of his plans that had worked in the past didn't seem good enough now, especially since his spy had relayed information that the troop will attack on all fronts. There had to be a way to beat those reached heathens at their own game. Mathias racked his brain for awhile, but nothing came to him. With a heavy sigh, he lay down and closed his eyes.
"My friend!" He heard a familiar voice call out.
"Please enter Leon."
Leon walked into Mathias's tent and sat down upon the sandy ground.
"Have you thought of something yet?"
"Nothing and I am sorry to report." Mathias said mournfully.
"Perhaps if we do one of your other glorious moves?" Leon questioned.
"No." Mathias insisted. "For this battle we need something different."
Mathias thought for a moment and then it suddenly came to him.
"Perhaps we should try fighting in a circle."
"A circle?" Leon questioned.
"Yes!" Mathias said excitedly. "They are planning to attack from all directions, if we place the strongest men and a fanned out circle, those heathens will not know what hit them!"
"Do you think it will work?"
With a confident smile Mathias answered, "I know it will work."
"I know that confident smile." Leon said sounding assured of Mathias's decision. "I trust completely in your skills."
"On the morrow I shall inform the men of my plans." Mathias said happily.
"Of course." Leon said leaving his tent.
Mathias lay back down and his eyes shut. Shortly he drifted off into a deep slumber. In his dreams he recalled those happy times he'd spent with Elisabetha. She was his world and while fighting for God gave him a reason to continue, fighting for Elisabetha's safety gave him a reason to succeed. If these heathens could take over the holy land, then they most assuredly would try to conquer the world. He could not let that happen. He would sooner die then see a world of heretics conquer the world.
Night gave way to the first rays of morning. Mathias was awake and prepared for battle. The morning of a encounter, he was always the first to awaken, even though he was often times the last one to sleep. But he always arose full of energy. The first thing he would do is to write his intended battle plans in a book. Then he would sketch out every possible scenario that could take place, even plans for retreat. But plans for retreating were never necessary, even today, he was planning to be victorious. The invincible Belmont Battalion would never be defeated.
"Are you ready friend?" Leon said dressed in his battle armor.
"Yes." Mathias said closing his battle book.
Both Mathias and Leon walked out of the tent and over to the waiting army. Leon stood aside and waited for Mathias to give his orders.
"Gentlemen." Mathias said. "I had received word that our enemy is preparing to attack from all sides. While it may have taken some time to come up with a plan of action, I have a very good one, which they will not be expecting."
The men all smiled brightly at Mathias's words.
"Up until now, we have all fought in rows, it will surprise them to see us fighting in a circle." Mathias said walking up and down the long line of soldiers. "If we keep a good circle formation, we can drive the heathens to hell where they belong, but I need you all to keep a close formation. No straying into lines!"
"Do you understand?" Leon asked the men.
"Yes!" They all cheered back.
"Very good." Mathias said smiling to the men. "Now swordsmen, I need you on the outside of the circle. Archers, you must remain on the inside."
The men all got into their proper places quickly then Mathias continued to speak.
"God has been with us, and he will continue to remain with us. Only those with the sacred holy empire shall triumph!"
"Yeah!"
The sun blazed brightly in the sky. In the distance the mighty Belmont Battalion could see the horde of heathens making their approach toward them. Leon looked at Mathias waiting for the best time to strike. The heathen army ran closer and closer, when finally Mathias gave the signal for the swordsmen to duck and the archers to fire.
Their arrows streamed though the morning sky, instantly striking the first dozen heathens. When they had dropped, Mathias gave the signal for the swordsmen to begin their attack. As expected, the heathens were coming from all directions, but it mattered not. With each wave of heretics, they were all cut down by the strong swordsmen. Leon and Mathias were battling side by side, protecting each other making sure that no heathen got though the first line of swordsmen.
The battle raged on fiercely, as though it would never end. But the battalion would not be swayed. God had given them the power to crush their enemies. At last the amount of heathens had noticeably dwindled; the commander of the heathen side gave the command for them to retreat. The long battle was over and once again no member of the Belmont Battalion was unharmed during the mêlée. Everyone cheered joyously as last heathen ran cowering over the sandy hill.