Britannia Part 14

Impending War

Yagami Province Sunrise…

The scout returned with news on the evading forces he dismounted his horse and ran up to the king, "You are right I waited by the hills just a few feet away from the road and there must be as the general said five thousand at least."

Haruko frown, "Never the less gather any man able to fight and give them armor and a sword," he said to his general who stood a foot away from him.

The general nodded, "Let's go," Imago said to the scout.

"Kumiko send warning to the Ishida and Tachikawa's of impending war that is upon us. We will be needing help," Haruko said.

"Taichi slow down, we can not keep on going. The horses need rest," Koushiro shouted over to him.

Taichi brought his horse to a walking gallop he steady him then dismounted, "Your Right Koushiro my apology my mind is on other matters," he said.

Koushiro dismounted his horse as well then walked it over to where Taichi was, "of course you were," he said he moved toward the a forest as they were only about three hours away from the Yagami border.

"Why did she choose not to tell me?" Taichi asked unexpectedly.

"Maybe she was scared of your reaction," Koushiro replied.

"But…," Taichi stopped and shook his head he sat against a tree truck. "Nothing makes sense."

"Taichi, you know your parents were against both of you," Koushiro said strongly.

"I know…but she should have still been able to come to me. We could have figured out how to tell my parents," Taichi said he looked over at him, "You understand do you not?"

"Yes Taichi but you got to think about her side of things as well," Koushiro said.

Ishida's castle outlook tower…

Two soldiers stood staring into the far off distance when they saw a torch being lit coming from the direction of the Yagami Province slowly another was lit and another.

"War brews in the Yagami province quickly get the king," said the soldier who was still staring at the torches in the distance.

The solider ran down the tower stairs and down all the way to the bottom floor to the thorn room where Yamato was sitting on the throw with Takeru and Daisuke standing in front of him talking to the both of them. When the doors opened they all turned there attention, "Yagami province has lit the torches, they are in need of help," he said urgently.

Yamato stood up and followed by Takeru and Daisuke then went up to see the torches lit all of them, "Takeru get men ready for war immediately," Yamato ordered.

Tachikawa Castle…

"Your majesty! The Yagami have lit the torches!" he shouted entering the thrown room.

Mimi, Miyako and Jyou looked between each other, "So it was an army after all," Miyako said shocked.

"Jyou gather every man able to fight," King Ryota said as he stood up.

"Yes, sir," he replied and walked away from the two woman to do his job.

Ishida's Castle…

Takeru and Daisuke where busy in the courtyard lining up all their soldiers they could put together.

While all that was going on Hikari and in Sora's room still trying to console her until they both heard shouting and moving about from down in the courtyard.

"What is that?" Sora asked she got up and walked toward the window and looked down and found Takeru and Daisuke inspecting men. Hikari joined her, "Looks like they are preparing soldiers," she said.

"For what?" Sora said.

There was a knock on the door, "come in," Sora said.

The door opened and Yamato came in, "We are answering to the call of the Yagami province for help the torches have been lit," he said.

"What?" Hikari said shocked. "Who would…" she stopped then remembered of a kingdom that would be attacking her own. "Imagawa must be responsible," she said quickly.

Yamato nodded, "I figured that they would be," he said.

"Taichi and Koushiro are going in that direction they will be caught in between them," Sora cried.

"I know," Yamato then paused, "That is why I came to tell you."

The Next Day.…

The Imagawa army approached and with them they brought ladders long enough to breech the Yagami castle walls and a battering ram that was being carried by five horses. What they could see from the watch out point.

As the army dawned closer within a day's journey from the Castle the Yagami's capital was gathering a army with the only towns just to the north of the castle to rely on, they could only gather three thousand men strong enough to battle.

Imago taught the new comers to sword battle the basics as the King watched walking about the men who were practicing. He hadn't expected that a day would come where he would have to fight a war would happen not since his own father was in power of the Yagami Province were they're such battles. He was ill prepared for the current battle and he was sending men that would probably die with out a lengthy training of five years he won't expect them all to live. His only hope was that help would arrive and soon.

Taichi and Koushiro arrived at the broader that connected the Ishida province and their own. Taichi spotted in the distance a army of thousand of men marching toward his castle and home, "Koushiro they have done it," he said sicken.

Koushiro remained silent as they watched them going toward the castle, "Taichi we can not go into battle when they are in-between our castle and us. We will have no way to fall back too," he explained quickly knowing what his friend was thinking.

"We have no choice we must fight!" Taichi said fiercely, "Imagawa is a coward; he himself isn't even in the army."

"With what army Taichi?" he shouted at him.

A horn blew in the distance trumpeting twice loudly. They could also see red flags flapping in the wind and they very well knew that it was the Tachikawa province with about a mere three thousand men.

"Let's head that way and join up with them," Taichi suggested he tugged on the rinds and his horse went into a gallop toward the northwest.

Koushiro followed him and soon they were riding like a speeding bullet toward the Tachikawa army.

Ishida Province…

Yamato was on a horse in front of many soldiers he paced his horse back and forth then said, "We head into battle to defend our neighbors who are in need," he raised his sword above him in to the air, "Let us head out," he lowered his sword pointing northward.

The soldiers started forward while Yamato remained behind because he could see Sora running down the steps toward them, "Yamato! Please! Take me with you!" she cried kneeling on her knees in front him with tears soaking her face.

Yamato steadied his horse, "Sora you know that is impossible for me to do that, women do not belong on the battle field. Especially those who have a child to rise," he stated.

Hikari came running into the courtyard and went by her side, "Sora no I told you we have to stay," she said trying to calm her down.

"HIKARI, you know your brother when he is angry he will think irrationally!" she shouted at her.

"Soldiers," Yamato said point at two of them, "Retain her in her quarters while I go through the gates," Yamato order with regret but it was the only way to stop her from following them out, "When the gate is raised then you can let her go."

Sora rose from her knees but as she did two soldiers came and grabbed her by both arms she struggled to free herself, "YOU CAN NOT DO THIS!" she yelled angrily at him.

Yamato turned his horse around and rung the wrens his horse then galloped past the gates and soon after he was growing smaller and smaller into the field. The gates rose after fifteen minutes went by they were completely shut.

The soldiers let her go she fell onto her knees once more and sobbed, "It's my entire fault," she whispered through her sobs.

Hikari helped her up to her feet, "Sora let us go to your quarters and I will make you some tea," she said.

In the Yagami fields, the Imagawa province army was close to the castle about thirty yards away. The drawbridge of the Yagami castle opened up and out came Haruko upon his horse and behind him an army of three thousand men all on horses.

Haruko had heard the trumpeting of the Tachikawa province, which he could see them with their red flags waving in the air. Once all of the army exited the castle the drawbridge raised again and closed. They all lined up across the length of the castle with long spears drawn upwards with small blue flags attached.

The Imagawa soldiers stopped in their tracks lining up themselves with their yellow flags raised so all could see.

"Jyou! It's me Prince Taichi!" Taichi shouted to him as they continued galloping toward the Tachikawa army. The army was halted and Jyou on a horse as well went toward them.

"What are you doing here I thought you would be over where your father is?" Jyou questioned.

Koushiro joined them, "It is a long story," he said.

"Koushiro thought best to fight with allies instead of just us against them," Taichi said looking over to the army in yellow.

"I would think to agree, come on," Jyou said he turned around and galloped back toward front of the Tachikawa army.

Hikari settled Sora down she was nursing Raidon quietly while rocking in a rocking chair. She smiled at them then looked through the window. Taichi is angry yes but in the end, he will be all right. Hikari looked at her nephew, because he knows that he has a child and he would not abandon him.

Tachikawa army had joined the line with they Yagami army Taichi was greeted by his father and then stood ready to fight.

Haruko and Ryota both approached the Imagawa army, "Step forth Yoshita," Haruko demanded.

After waiting for a while a man stepped forward, "King Yoshita is not with us, but he has sent a message. He regrets that he can not see the final down fall of the Yagami kingdom and your death," said Yoshita's general.

"Regrets, he does not know that it is he that will parish," Haruko said quickly.

He and Ryota turned the horse around and head back to the front line, as did the Imagawa general.

"He is a coward, he is back at his castle," Haruko said approaching his son, Jyou and Koushiro.

"I told you father we should have done something to make him pay and now he declares war," Taichi exclaimed angrily.

"That is enough Taichi. We must do what is best for the people of our province and that is to defend it against the enemy who wants justice to destroy our royal family," Haruko said strongly he looked to his son to Ryota and Jyou, "This will be the first time where the Tachikawa, Ishida's and Yagami's will be fighting together."

"You said it right Haruko," Ryota said agreeing. They nodded and looked at each other. Both kings went in opposite directions of the line of soldiers who held up spears each with red and blue flags making a sea of colour.

Then they both started to ward each other holding their swords out and clanging them against the spears as they ran down the line stopping in the middle faced forward toward the Imagawa army. Who also had finished their speech of the good that was to come to defeat the Yagami and Tachikawa armies and take over the whole of Britannia.

"Men forward!" Haruko and Ryota shouted and they began toward the Imagawa army with swords up into the air.

To Be Continued…