Authors note: After some consideration I thought I might change some of the Calormene's ranks, I adopted the names from the Ottoman empire ranks from our history though they are a bit different in my story, Lieutenant is now referred to as Bash-Kara and sergeant is Kara, Captain remains the same. I was reminded that the Calormene rulers title is Tisroc from here on the proper titles will be used, now back to the story.
The army on the march left a dust cloud that could be seen for miles if the desert winds kicked up, sand swirled around the men's legs and stung at their eyes but most of these Calormene troops were tough hardy men used to the harsh climate and conditions. Haytham had sent outriders ahead of the main body and alongside it just in case of trouble; Haytham doubted they would meet with any trouble though, they were still in Calormene territory and he doubted any bandits would dare attack them directly.
The distance to Narnia was not terribly far a few days at most but one disadvantage of having such a massive force was it slowed progress down considerably; Haytham estimated a week's march.
Not much of interest took place during the week long march it was a constant routine get up, march, stop, rest, repeat. It was after a week had passed the Calormene army found itself in Archenland, or what used to be Archenland. The Telmarine invasion had destroyed what was once a small but proud country now all that remained were farmers and shepherds who gaped at the rows of fighting men moving past them; two hundred years ago there would have been an army from Archenland moving to stop them.
It was regretful Haytham mused, the Archenlanders had been assimilated into Telmarine society so much now they were unidentifiable from Telmarines, a culture no more; Haytham remembered king Lune and how he had proudly opposed the Calormenes in the past. The march brought them to a ruined fortress set atop a mountain, "Bash-Kara, we make camp there." Haytham pointed towards the crumbling walls, the sun had already begun to set and the sky was an eerie red behind the stone walls. "At once."
The Calormene set up camp in what was once a courtyard, rubble lay all around, where catapults had smashed towers and walls to the ground, sentries were posted at the front entrance the only on accessible to the walls, a rusted iron gate lay on the ground weeds growing around it. It was an ideal place to camp out especially now that they were officially in enemy territory. No one could reach them without travelling up the hill to the gaping hole of the main entrance, in a few places the walls had holes in that could let a man thru but it was a steep climb, the amount of loose rocks posed as a hazard and an alarm system, which gave Haytham an added safety comfort.
But there was one thing unsettling about the place, it was spooky. That violence had taken place here was obvious the rubble and the scorch marks upon some of the stone works was evidence enough, one of the men had even come across an old sword blade broken off at the hilt a great notch in the blade. People had died here and the men were superstitious, Haytham had to admit now that there was even less light aside from the campfires the place was creepy.
One soldier thought he had found an intruder and when he challenged him, he found only a pile of stones that resembled a man in the darkness. The horses all of them solid war horses seemed nervous of this place they nickered nervously to each other in the darkness, as the men drifted off to sleep they couldn't help but wonder if they were laying on someone else's resting place. The sentries on duty gripped their weapons nervously it was a dark cloudy night and their imaginations were running rampant, they couldn't decide what they feared most, Telmarines come to kill them at night, ghosts, or one of the strange Narnian creatures they had heard so many stories about.
Haytham rested uneasily in his tent something was bothering him something just didn't fell right he tried to dismiss his feelings as nothing as he drifted to sleep.
The sound of steel on steel roused from his sleep quicker than a snake striking at its prey, Haytham bolted strait up, A night attack that must be what's happening, Haytham rushed out of his tent sword in hand in just his night shirt, he expected to see raiders setting tents alight, what he found instead was much more puzzling. Nothing, no enemy was riding amongst them causing chaos only his own men running like he was weapons in hand looking for an enemy that did not exist.
"What in Tash?" Haytham said, the sounds of combat were unmistakable he heard the clash of arms the shouts of anger and pain but he saw nothing, "Could there be some kind of battle raging below the fortress? He dismissed the idea with a shake of his head they would still have see something. "Everyone remain calm!" He commanded even though he himself didn't feel calm. Haytham picked his way thru confused looking soldiers projecting an aura of calm as he told them to stop running around and stay still. Haytham thought he saw one of his men dart behind a pile of rubble but it was just a quick glimpse; it was then that the sounds stopped, "This place is haunted!" Someone yelled, he may not be wrong Haytham thought.
Haytham stepped behind the pile of rubble where he thought he had seen one of his men go, there was nobody there, confused Haytham turned to go back to the rest of his men when he found himself face to face with something. Wisps of transparent hair blew past a skull with hollow eyes, badly damaged armor clung to a bony frame, a well worn sword was thrust in a scabbard, which trailed the ground. Haytham gasped at the apparition in all his years he had never seen anything like this.
The ghost heald up a bony finger, it spoke in a gravelly voice, "Soooon." The voice croaked, "Soon your time will come to pass as mine did." Haytham found himself at a loss for words, he felt terrified even more terrified than before any of his battles. "W-who or what are you?" Haytham asked, the specter spoke again, "I was like you once a leader among soldiers, I have come simply to give you a warning. This will be your last campaign and your last battle lies ahead, heed my words and make peace with yourself."
The spirit faded away right before Haytham's eyes. The Calormene general took a moment to compose himself drawing in deep rattling breaths, finally Haytham rejoined his men. Kamal saw Haytham and instantly hastened over to meet his general, "Sir, are you all right you look like you just saw a…" "Don't finish that sentence." Haytham snapped, "New plan Bash-Kara, let's break camp now instead of waiting for dawn. "Yes, sir." Haytham shivered the specters warning still rang in his ears; he was living the last days of his life. "What better way to live my final days then in the service of the Tisroc?" Haytham said out loud to himself.