The valmese on the ladder screamed as it was pushed from the wall, being near the top he knew he would suffer harm when it hit the ground regardles of his actions, his scream was matched by a cheer from the wyvern league soldiers defending the walls of Xore.

Sayri glanced in their direction before turning her attention back to main army as it milled about below the walls. She stood along other nobles on the barbican tower where Count Tamer had decided to have his command when the Valmese launched their latest assault. A grim faced man in his fifties he glared at the sea of steel and red and gold while occasionally turning to a runner to issue some orders. Sayri looked back to the walls as the shouting seemed to intensify but the ladder was quickly pushed off leaving the wall secure again. So far the assault seemed to be a halfhearted affair.

- 'They seem to be halfhearted about their assault.'

Tamer muttered to no one in particular though the closest noble grunted in response anyway.

- 'True, yet the have the towers and ram ready, maybe they are waiting for something?'

Everyone ducked as a stone sailed overhead and slammed into one of the few buildings that had not yet suffered damaged, black smoke began billowing as the flames on the tar smoked missile continued to burn and fire teams rushed to put out the fire before it had a chance to spread.

- 'Bloody merchants refusing to tear down their houses.'

A knight muttered. Sayri frowned, from a military point of view tearing down any buildings that might catch fire was obvious but she could sympathize with people who did not want to see the fruits of their life work disappear. Tamer leaned on the wall and glared at the enemy as if trying to figure out what they were planning.

- 'Any word from the counter miners?'
- 'None my lord.'

Another knight responded.

- 'The sea?'

Sayri glanced back where she could see the great towers protecting the harbour.

- 'Nothing.'

Tamer scowled and looked back to the valm camp.

- 'Are they honestly just throwing themselves at the walls hoping to overwhelm us?'

Almost as if to answer kettle drums sounded from the enemy camp and a new wave of soldiers moved forward as their siege engines slowly rumbled to the walls.

- 'What in gods name happened now?'

Severa scowled and looked away from Robin who after a moment couldn't help but sigh in frustration, rubbing the bridge of his nose as he felt a headache starting.
Soldiers and sailors had gathered at the commotion, two helping another up who seemed to be hunched over in pain allowing most to guess what had happened. Robin sighed again and starting forming the words needed to deal with the matter before he saw the faces of the girls father and waved him over.

- 'Deal with her.'

He muttered before turning back to the throng of uninvolved onlookers.

- 'Get back to work.'

Be barked and they ran off to do as told. He glanced back again to Libra as he talked to his daughter.
Robin scowled as he turned and made to get back to work, everyone had gone insane. A group of brats show up, claim to be their time traveling whelps and these Shepherds, people of status in the realm just up and accept the fact! Thinking dark thoughts he went past the sentries, slamming their halberds into the cobblestones in salute as he entered the house Chrom currently had his residence in. The animated conversation he heard from the vestibule died the moment he walked into the main room.
Chrom looked up to him as did the other officers as well as Lucina and Brady.
Robin sighed as he made his way to the map littered table. Chrom must have misinterpreted the sigh as he indicated a retainer to pour some wine before asking,

- 'Problems?'
- 'Nothing really.'

Robin responded, gladly accepting the watered wine as he took his place at the table before jumping straight to business.

- 'We have roughly twelve thousand men in and around the city, taking in the number of ships we'll have to transport them in at least two trips.'

He looked up to Cherche.

- 'You stand by your statement that Xore is the best port for our purposes?'

The valmese nodded, smiling politely as always.

- 'In truth the port of Kale would have been better but the population has declared for Walhart. Xore however still has a deep water harbour from which to unload the bigger vessels as well as suitable beaches for the smaller craft. Additionally the city is well fortified and it's garrison significant which should mitigate some of the weaknesses of a disembarking army.'

Robin nodded and it was Basilio who asked.

- 'What if the port would not be accessible to us?'

He meant "what if the city falls" but it was politic to not say so.

- 'Where then?'

He finished. Cherche leaned over the table and began pointing out other ports in the orders hands while stating their strong and weak points.

- 'Rise!'

Donnel and other recruits did as ordered, their arms shaking from the exertions they had been put through. It could not have been more than a few weeks when he signed up with the recruiting officer that had visited his village, he seemed a nice enough fellow after all and he bought everyone who cared to listen a round. He also listened well, as the ale loosened tongues he and the other soldiers listened sympathetically as various spoke of their ills and problems, he seemed authentically sorry to hear of the death of his father and the hardships he now went through as the head of the house.

There in the local free house over another pint Donnel listened to the soldiers explain the money they earned and how he could have the paymaster send a portion to his family if he wished and how many soldiers on retirement received land grants as a reward. Soon enough he had put his mark to a wax tablet which apparently meant he was now a soldier.
The following morning he and the other recruits were woken with shouts and kicks as the soldiers, smiles gone, formed them into ranks and made them march to the coast where a ship was waiting. When somebody tried to run the soldiers caught him, dragged him back and broke his legs in front of everyone, making Donnel decide not to attempt to run after all.
The were joined in the ship be others from the island and before long they tightly backed boat sailed to the mainland where the joined the banners main force and where the recruiting officers left them in the hands of training officers.

The were stripped, washed, shaved and fitted with rough clothes and boots after they put their mark to a new tablet which he later learned meant he agreed to have the cost of his kit come from his pay. After that he was drilled, the corporals using their sticks to quickly inform anyone of their failings, when somebody tried to desert the brought him back to flog him in front of everyone.

As the corporal was beating them into formation a liaison officer rode up to him and said something to him, the corporal turned back and barked.

- 'Left face! Forward march!'

The were returning to camp Donnel realized, he looked up to the sun wondering if lunch was issued early.

- 'Off the road! Form up!'

They did as told getting out of the way of a column of men leaving the camp. The marched with halberds shouldered and Donnel realized that they were not marching with their drill corporal but a stranger.

- 'They're soldiers now.'

He turned to his neighbor, an older man going by Paul who nodded at the column.

- 'They've been 'anded over to a battle corporal who'll take 'em to their muster. Can't be surprised, there is war in the air so they're desperate to bring themselves to full strength otherwise his grace won't pay 'em the full amount promised.'

Further talk had to wait as they were ordered back on the road and continued after they had been indeed issued with an early lunch.

- 'So how much longer Paul?'

The man, the sections unofficial leader, sucked his wooden spoon before replying.

- 'Two weeks? Maybe double that. Depends how quickly they'll want us at muster.'

He looked around the camp and the masses of men going about their duties.

- 'Camps only get this busy when there's the promise of war.'
- 'So things were like this with Exalt Owain?'

Paul nodded as he chewed. Donnel listened as he wolfed down his food, knowing that they wouldn't have to much time but he stopped here and asked what had been bothering him for a while now.

- 'Y'all talk like ya been a soldier afore now.'

Paul and several others nodded.

- 'Yep.'
- 'Why re-enlist?'

The first time soldiers looked to the veterans who shared a look before Paul spoke.

- 'Figure the story is the same for all of us, we've wasted away all our wealth we got from the wars and had to do something, and after bein' a soldier there just isn't anything else a man wants to be.'

They nodded bar one, a man who went by Sam.

- 'Me, I got a girl pregnant so they tell me I can marry her or get myself gelded and as the girl wasn't much look at in the light I up and ran here to escape.'

That got a laugh and for the first time since they met Donnel found himself not too miserable or exhausted to have an actual conversation with his tent mates. The meals finished when the corporal walked up and ordered them in ranks before leading them to the armoury where they were issued new boots as well as spears and and other kit, for the first time Donnel found himself looking and feeling like a soldier. The veterans nodded at each other as if this was signal of sorts.

- 'Yeah. Another two weeks and we'll be mustered out of training so cheer up young'uns! It'll only get better from here!'

- 'How's your stomach?'
- 'Go boil your head.'

Robin laughed as Frederick hung over the rail, somewhat green in the gills. Chrom grinned nearby.

- 'Stop being so smug Robin, it wasn't too long ago you stopped keeping Frederick company in his misery.'

Robin smirked at that and clapped Frederick on the back in a sympathetic manner as he looked to the horizon, Chrom following his example. Grey sky and grey water was all they could see and they eagerly waited for the view to change.

- 'You're majesty, my lord, sir.'

Cherche appeared, smiling her ever present smile that wasn't really a smile that for some reason annoyed Robin but he stood up straight regardless as did Chrom and, to his great credit, so did Frederick.

- 'I fear you will wait another day till we see Valm.'
- 'Pity. I'd like to be on solid ground again.'

Chrom muttered, glancing to the horizon again.

- 'Yes a pity.'

Frederick echoed his lord. Robin glanced at the man who suddenly seemed to be putting a lot of effort in seeming nonchalant.

- 'So who wants to break their fast with me?'

Chrom asked with an innocence that belied the sudden unease that appeared on Fredericks face.

- 'I shall stay on deck if his grace will permit.'
- 'Of course, I did not mean you have to.'

The exalt offered with a sympathetic pat on the knights arm. Cherche smiled a bit more naturally as she answered.

- 'I thank you for the offer but I also feel like staying on deck.'
- 'Your loss.'

Robin stated as he shifted his weight of the rail.

- 'Shall we Chrom?'

The two made their farewells to the two staying but as they clambered up the stairs leading to the ships only cabin Chrom paused and looked back. Cherche was smiling a much more natural smile as she talked to Frederick who was making a strong effort to stay upright as he nodded his head and occasionally spoke, the green was gone and the knight looked somewhat red.

Hiding a smirk Chrom continued his climb.

True to what was promised the following day they found themselves looking at the continent of Valm and shortly after they found themselves looking and thick plumes of black smoke rising from it. The ships grim faced captain confirmed what they suspected, the smoke was rising from where Xore should be. Nevertheless Chrom ordered to maintain course and commands was issued, men put on their armour and formed on deck as marines pulled oiled canvas off of the ships ballistae, actions repeated all along the fleet. As they sailed closer the smoke only seemed to grow thicker and eventually the city became visible.

Battered walls and burning buildings became clear and a massive camp under the city walls, Cherche needed a single look at the red and gold banners to declare them Walharts. Worse the walls themselves were decorated with such banners and the great chain meant to block access to the port was down, as the watched ships seemed to heave with movement as their crews prepared them for battle.

- 'Thats it then. We need to head for the next port.'

Robin commented as he straightened, catching Lucina with the corner of his eye he muttered,

- 'Pity we didn't have a time traveler to tell us this would happen.'

Lucina seemed to hear him as she looked at him and took a step forward, what she was planning he wouldn't know as Brady restrained her and said something that seemed to clam her down. Chrom seemed not to have heard as he sighed before turning to the admiral.

- 'Make the necessary orders.'

- 'Princess?'

Sayri woke with a start, when had she fallen asleep? She looked to the man who woke her, the serjant nodded seeing her awake.

- 'There's something happening upside you might want to see.'

She didn't particularly wished to move but she forced herself regardless, with Tamer and many others injured she was the highest ranking individual present making her in charge.
She followed the serjant up the stairway leading to the roof where she paused to look out towards the burning city and the mass of Valmese milling about their positions surrounding the citadel and further on the armies massive camp outside the city walls.

- 'This way.'

She turned to the soldier who led her to the donjons other, seaward side where a fair number of serjants and men at arms stood.

- 'See! Again!'

One of the serjants said, pointing something out to the others.

- 'What happened?'

She asked. The men turned and it was the knight who answered.

- 'A few hours ago the sentry saw sails on the horizon that are coming this way. We thought they were more valmese but the bastards, pardon my language, seem to be as surprised as we are.'

Sayri walked to the battlements and pulled herself up to better see, there was indeed a force of ships sailing towards them though it was hard to see their banners. Looking down she saw that the valmese were indeed milling around the area as if they were not expecting any ships, their own vessels were being hastily preparing to put to sea.

- 'Are they reinforcements?'

Someone asked with hope in their voice.

-' If they are they seem to think the city has fallen. See they are already turning away.'

Sayri turned her attention back to incoming ships and saw that they were indeed turning away.

-'Meleh.'
-'Your ladyship?'
-'Get the signal fire going.'

The noble nodded as he ran off to the signal tower. Turning to the others she picked out some of the men at arms.

- 'Get the biggest banners we have, those ships might be our salvation.'

- 'Whats going on?'

Eyes turned to Owain before looking at what he was pointing at. Shapes were moving on the citadel in an erratic manner. Cherche pushed her way to the front and leaned over the side as if hoping the additional foot would let her see better before she turned back to the gathered Yllisians.

- 'They're signaling us! The citadel is still in our hands that must be it!'
-'If thats the case we should land.'

Chrom said glancing to Robin who frowned.

- 'Even if the citadel is in the leagues hands the port is not. Landing under such circumstances will be bloody.'

Chrom gritted his teeth and looked back to the city before slamming his armoured fist into the rail.

- 'Prepare to land!'

-'Lord Ignatius!'
-'I see!'

The Valm noble interrupted his retainer before he could report as, as stated, he could indeed see that the unknown fleet was moving towards them.

- 'Get the men to their positions, ships to sea. We'll assume they are hostile till proven otherwise. You get word the Farber about this.'
- 'Milord!'

Orders given Ignatius allowed his squires to continue arming him even as he continued to glare at the unexpected fleet who, in all honesty, did not seem to know what they intended first sailing to the port before sailing away only to turn back. With a silent curse he looked to the sea towers that normally would be raising the chain to cut the port off but unfortunately had been damaged during the assault that had taken the city. At least the men stationed there were moving to their positions.

Taking his helm from a squire he put it over his head and began to do the strap securing it, still glaring at the fleet trying to figure out who it was. It was as he was fitting his gauntlets that the wind picked up and the banner on the ships was visible and he cursed, silver on blue, Ylisse.
It would seem that the Emperor was correct about the countries on that continent intervening against them, they had literally taken the port before the enemy could use it to land unhindered.

He would have to ensure it remained closed to them.

- 'Form up! We'll hit them as they come ashore half drowned and blind from seasalt!'

Polearms thudded into cobblestones and fists slammed into chests in response as the noble took his halberd from another squire and led his men to intercept the enemy.

- 'They're past the chains!'

Stahl reported. Robin nodded his helmeted head as he folded his arms.

- 'Good. Let's hope that means they can't use the chain rather than they're waiting for the bulk of the fleet to be too close to stop before raising it.'

No one spoke as they observed the Warships raced ahead intent on catching the valm ships while still undercrewed and moored. Already they loosed a few bolts to gouge when the ballistae would be in range.

- 'Virion I want you to take your men, clear that tower. Frederick you take that one.'

Robin pointed out the chain towers as he spoke.

- 'You grace...'
- 'I'm hitting the gate, make sure they can't close it.'

Robin nodded in consent.

- 'Make sure you don't push too far ahead.'
-' Right.'

Chrom grinned before turning to the "future children", or more specifically Lucina, Brady and Owain.

-'Stay close to me.'

If Robin had any thoughts on that he did not voice them.

-'I'll stay behind, organize reinforcements as they arrive.'
-'What about me, us?'

Sumia, commander of the pegasus knights assigned to the campaign while Cordelia was incapacitated due to advanced pregnancy, asked, correcting herself as she pointed to Cherche.

-'How long till you get your mounts out?'
-'All of them? Hours. But I can get Minerva ready in minutes.'

Cherche answered, Sumia nodding her agreement.

- 'Exactly, I could have a few ready in a quarter hour but all of them will take more.'
-'Get yourselves organized and report to me, I'll no doubt have something special for you to do by then.'

Further talk was stalled as a cry sounded.

-'Incoming!'

Those on deck flinched, shields went high and people lowered their heads as the arrows rained on them, rattling off armour, thudding into shields or the ship and here and there someone fell with a cry of pain.

- 'Wounded off deck! Archers answer the bastards!'

The order was largely unnecessary as the mercenaries new their job rising quickly to loose their own arrows at the valmese manning the sea towers, to little visible effect as the incoming missiles did not seem to lessen till the ballistae were swung around, the large stones they lobbed convincing the enemy to take cover. By the time some officer managed to get them back to action the ship had sailed past.

- 'Soldiers to the front! Prepare to land!'

There rose a great clatter as armoured forms moved to the ships front. From his command point Robin scowled at the enemy as they began forming in the harbour.

- 'Swing the ballistae to the front! Clear the shore! Archers make ready!'

As the orders were repeated he glanced to the side, several ships were burning as the Ylissian warships pounced on the enemy as they tried to get to cast off. Satisfied he looked to the front once more.

- 'Brace for impact!'

Knights, men at arms and serjants, marines and sailors all gripped tight at the call, Lucina following suit just as the ships shuddered and came to an abrupt halt, the force of it sending everyone forward so sharply that she almost felt as if her arm was to be wrenched from it's socket. Before she got back to her feet men were bellowing.

- 'Up! Up and at em! Ylisse!'

Men stood men swore, bellowed and jumped overboard. She made to follow her father but a serjant in front of her fell back, the arrow had punched through his neck.

- 'Move forward!'

She found herself forced forward by the press of bodies behind her and went over the side with none of the grace she would have normally and landed poorly, her legs protesting at the strain.

Someone was on the ground screaming, another stumbled by, clutching his arm. Everywhere men lay, some moving many not. As she looked a serjant pushed down another, a red and gold sash around his helmet, he had his arm up as he asked for mercy. The serjant slid the thin blade of his dagger through the helmets eye slits with practiced ease.
Someone nearly landed on her, swore vulgarly and grabbed her roughly by the arm and threw her forward.

- 'Don't stop! Keep moving forward!'

She moved forward, looking for the silver on blue banner of her father she soon found herself hemmed in from all sides in the press of armoured bodies, something struck her helmet and she staggered back only to find herself pushed forward as men behind moved forward. Somebody stumbled into her with a snarl, too close for any swordwork she lashed out with the pommel and her opponent staggered back. Lucina found herself pushed forward, stabbing the man more by accident than design.

He fell and she found herself falling with him, when she tried to rise something struck her back pushing her down as dozens moved above her.

Chrom used his head, knocking his opponent senseless with his armoured skull, freeing enough space for him to shift his grip to halfswording and stabbed, finding his opponents groin, falchion biting deep. His opponent screamed and fell but before the Exalt could finish him off the press of bodies forced him forward.
Stahl was just behind, the royal banner of Ylisse in his hand, and all around the knights of his court banner pushed forward in an attempt to keep up with their exalt.

- 'Forward! Ylisse!'

They pushed forward.

Forward into the claustrophobic nightmare of tightly packed bodies, armoured forms pressing at one another, a treacherous sea of sword, axe, mace, dagger and fist where dead and wounded either were too tightly packed to fall or fell becoming another hazard over which men stumbled.

Free of the press Chrom paused and looked around, a steady stream of men pushed forward, larger than the trickle moving away, nco's in place to filter out the cowards trying to run from the wounded. Of Lucina and the others he saw nothing which caused concern.

-'Majesty? Are you hurt?'

A knight paused next to him forcing Chrom to concentrate on the battle.

- 'I'm fine.'

He answered even as he looked around till he saw what he was looking for, a banner he did not recognize as Ylissian.

- 'There! Push for that banner!'

They pushed. Blades flashed as they rose and fell, striking faster than serpents and slowly the press yielded as they pushed onward. The Ylissian in front of Chrom staggered sideways as a halberd connected with the mans helm, the Exalt darting forward, pushing the emblem into the weapons shaft, throwing the serjant welding it of balance even as chrom closed the distance, falchion darting forward, punching through his opponents gambeson. The valmese screamed as the Exalt twisted the blade before pulling it free and pushing the dying man aside. The halberd nearly caught his shoulder, as he saw it Chrom managed to pull back enough so it slid off his pauldron. His opponent quickly withdrew the weapon to the guard position, jabbing forth to keep the Exalt back while looking for an opening.

The Valm knight knew what he was doing and every attempt by Chrom to close the distance was countered, his enemy scoring several blows to the Exalt scratching the armour. Were it a duel it might have ended poorly for the Exalt, but it wasn't a duel, it was a battle.

A poleaxe from the side caught the Valmese in the side of the knee, buckling his leg under him. As he fell under Kellams strike Vaike appeared and delivered a blow to the enemies helmeted head that sent him sprawling.

- 'Lord Ignatius! Assist the lord!'

Valmese rushed forward to protect their commander even the Yllissians pushed forward. Elsewhere however the news that their lord fell caused others to break off from the fight and, gradually it turned to a rout as men dropped their arms and ran for the sea gate.

Lifting his bloodied sword high Chrom bellowed,

- 'At them! Forward Ylisse! Forward!'

-Lord Farber! Lord Ignatius asked to report an Ylissian fleet has attacked the port.'
- 'How many?'
- 'Hundreds of ships my lord, It's an invasion. Depending on how tightly they've packed them and how many horses they brought they could have up to seventy hundred.'

Farber scowled at the news, seven thousand fresh enemies. True he had had double that, though he still did not know how costly the assault had been and emperor alone knew how long it would take to gather all the soldiers scattered around the city, to say nothing of how many of them were sober enough to fight.

-'You take half the men here and head to the docks. You, you and you into the city with your sections, drag every man capable of standing here. Am i clear?'

The designated officers answered and moved to carry out their orders leaving Farber to turn back to the citadel, first the last point of resistance refuses to yield and now an enemy strikes him before he can get his men back under control. He sighed, the day was going to be a bloody one.

Chrom saw the black on silver banner before he saw the man himself. Robin strode through the press of bodies, his retainers clearing a path towards the Exalts silver on blue banner.

- 'We've got the gate and I've sent men to secure the other sea gate.'

He said by way of greeting. Robin nodded but he did not stop and continued through the gate, Chrom following after him. The constable stopped and looked over the city, seemingly oblivious to the bodies littering the ground, before turning back to his exalt.

-'We need to keep the pressure up before the enemy can regroup. I'll get Lord Nestor to go for the cities main gate as soon as he unloads his household till then If you could get moving to the citadel I'll have Cherche or Sumia get there to liaison with the garrison to deploy at the most useful to us.'
-'Fair enough. How are things in the port?'
-'It's ours, Virion is mopping up the last resistance. Worse we only have about a third of our men deployed, the sheer number of ships is making it hard for the others to unload though the admiral says he can make the process efficient.'

Chrom nodded but before more could be said the clatter of armoured feet on cobblestones sounded and a column of men arrived down several streets, charging towards the Ylissians.

-'Form up!'

Centered around the royal banner the Ylissians formed ranks as the Valmese struck them.

-'More fighting from the port! The imperials are being pushed back!'

The lookout called out. With that Sayri made her decision.

-'All men form up at the gate!'

Men ran down the stairs to deliver the order as she followed at a more measured pace. As she walked into a courtyard most were already assembled, her retainers waiting with her helmet. Tying it into place she did her best to appear martial as the serjants and men at arms, many several decades her senior, formed up. Before she could speak to them a serjant pointed up as he called a warning.

The wyvern landed with as much grace as a giant drake could and a knight rushed forward.

- 'Cherche! I thought you might have something to do with this.'
- 'Where's lord Tamer?'

The red head asked as Sayri approached.

- 'Wounded. I'm currently in command.'

The wyvern knight nodded as she straightened.

- 'The Ylissians are attacking the imperials in the city, pushing their way to the citadel.'

The short declaration made the men sorrounding her cheer. Sayri waved them to silence as Cherche continued.

- 'Their lord constable asks you wait to attack till you see the fighting reach the green in front of the citadel or when ordered otherwise, try not to shoot any flying horses.'

A cheer sounded again and Sayri felt as if a great burden had been removed from her shoulders.

The valmese tripped and fell, before he could get to his feet a spear struck him, pinning him to the ground. He screamed till an Ylissian shattered his skull in passing.

-'Forward! Keep moving forward!'

Chrom bellowed as he ran up the street, hot on the heels of his running foes. The valmese and hit them hard and well, pushing the thin Ylissian line back against the wall till Cherche and Sumia leading about a dozen pegasus knights struck the Imperials. In the confusion following the sudden attack the counter attack lead by Chrom broke them and now he ran, pursuing the enemy but mostly going towards the citadel to link up with the garrison as Robin stayed back to make sure the reinforcements entered the battle where needed.

- 'Incoming!'

Almost immediately after the cry arrows rattled off armour and shields, where they failed men screamed and fell. Chrom swore as an arrows rattled off his helm.

-'Keep pushing forward!'

He bellowed even as he tripped over a serjant who had fallen, regained his balance and kept moving forward.

-'Forward Ylisse! Forward!'

More arrows hit them, more men fell and suddenly the archers ran back, behind a line of men who lowered their polearms to meet the Ylissian attack.

Chrom swat aside a halberd with falchion before driving the emblem into a spear when a bill hit him the shoulder, failing to penetrate his armour but pushing him back regardless. He tried to move forward but another weapon struck him, staggering him back.
A halberd appeared next to him and struck one of the valmese in front of him, others joined in the attack, some staggering back, some falling most pushing forward into the press as blades sang and blood flowed.

Chrom regained his footing and bellowed even as he drove into the mass before him.

- 'Forward! Ylisse! Forward!'

Farber swore as the bolt fell short of the Pegasus rider as she crossed the citadels battlements. He had likewise little luck in targeting the wyvern rider and other riders that had made the journey in and out of the citadel. The Ylissians were in contact with the traitors, no doubt establishing when the cities garrison was to rush out of the citadel to hit the flank of the Imperial soldiers fighting the oversea army that was driving into them. So he kept a strong force back to watch the causeway leading to the citadel. But as the Ylissians drove harder so he had keep feeding in men to hold the line and the force he had in reserve grew worryingly small.

Reinforcements were trickling into the green but it made little difference. Annoyed he looked to the main gate and the camp beyond wondering why further reinforcements were not coming.

As if to answer his question a rider clattered into the green, riding straight to his banner.

- 'Milord! Lord Keswyk reports the enemy is pushing to the gate, he's holding but says if they send reinforcements he might be overwhelmed.'

Farber swore and looked to the fighting. He could win this, draw them in, encircle, crush, couldn't he? Dare he risk being cut off in the city, hunted through it's streets as the enemy hounded till he reached the gates only to fund them barred? He swore again.

-'All men to me! We make for the gate!'

Even as his orders were relayed a warning sounded and he turned to see the citadel bridge drop and it's defenders charge through the gates bellowing a challenge. Farber swore again.
Some of his men turned to face the incoming column, others ran to him while others dropped their arms and ran away into the city.

- 'To me! To me!'

He bellowed, even as he led his men away. A javelin rattled off armour, another sank into flesh as the man whimpered as he fell. The pegasus riders wheeled away as more came in and threw their missiles into the men below them.

-'Hold! Stay together!'

He bellowed even as men ran past his banner, away from the men coming after them. The Ylissians blood was hot and they came in small groups or as individuals and were little problem to deal with. When nobles joined them, their bellowed commands heard above the din did they become problematic as they struck in groups, and though more of the enemy fell than his own the men around his banner diminished at a faster pace than the enemy. The fight was now constant, a steady mass of men stabbing, hacking and shooting into his ranks. As the man in front of him collapsed, a halberd in his neck, Farber stepped to the front, swatting aside the spear thrust to his face and countered, taking off the hand of the man he attacked him.

The enemy realized he was important and Farber found himself under attack from all angles, blows clattering off his armour at a steady rate and he answered, blocking, weaving and occasionally catching someone, dropping them to the ground.

He looked up and back to the street leading to the gate, it was so close.

A shadow was cast over them and with a roar a wyvern landed at the streets entrance and lunged at them, catching a man. The beast shook the screaming serjant as a dog would a rat and threw the body aside. As if it were a signal their enemies surged forward with a roar and the men around him buckled and broke.
Faber stabbed, his weapon going deep into his opponents gut, the dead weight pulling it from his grasp. Before he could draw a side arm another rushed him so he lashed out and was satisfied to hear bone crack under his armoured fist. He sidestepped another blow and shifted his weight to better draw his sword when he fell. He looked down and was surprised to see blood flowing from his leg where a length of steel had stabbed through the back of his knee. He did not look up in time to see the mace that shattered his skull.

Holy writers block batman! A massive one took place combined with life being a pain led me to abandoning this for a while when suddenly I got smacked by the urge to write a bit.

If you read it this far I hope you enjoyed and if you feel like writing a comment go ahead.

As a quick info for some of the terms; A "serjant" is one of the spellings of the word used to describe proffesional soldiers from the medieval era (notabene it is the source for the modern "sergeant"). A "man-at-arms" was a man who served armed and armoured like a knight but did not posses the social standing of one (aka all knights were men-at-arms but not all men-at-arms were knights). Traditionaly a "squire" was a youth learning the trade of knighthood but as time went on it meant a servant/bodyguard of a knight who differed from other retainers via the fact he was born in a noble family though usualy a poor one hence why he served another in hopes of recieving financial or land rewards.