פּצּפּצּפּצּפּצּפּצּפּצּפּצּפּצּפּצּפּצּפּצּפּצּפּצּפּצּפּצּפּצּפּצּפּצּפּצּפּצּפּצּפּצּפּצּפּצּפּצּפּצּפּצּפּצּפּצּפּצּפּצּ
Chapter Fifteen: Red FloodThe Band of Red Hand stood united before the river of smoldering smoke, the fire's thirst quenched. A spirit of joy and victory suffused the red-cloaked soldiers who had seized victory from the teeth of the Horde. The loss at Getty's Canyon was only a faint memory to the infused soldiers of Manetheren.
Marshall-General Lawe Cathon felt that elation rising, a sort of weightless after the long ages of bearing a heavy burden, a victory long awaited for, a victory so sweet. He stood before the cheering soldiers, the smoking sign of their victory bellowing up behind him.
"It seems your luck still remains, General?" Airene Andalusa gave him a rare quirked smile, "So, you were right after all."
"High praise from you, my lady Airene." Cathon grinned back, and feeling the light spirit of the moment, bowed graciously and kissed her hand. The Aes Sedai touched his cheek lightly and dipped into a slight curtsy. She stepped back to allow Vader to greet Cathon.
"Sir, welcome back to the land of the living," Stren Vader took one knee before Cathon, "I return the office of the Marshall-General back to your hands."
"You have done well, Bastion. If I were to leave in earnest for the land beyond, I will know that the Band will remain well in your able hands, as we had seen today." Cathon placed his hands around the general's shoulder.
Vader stood up, and the two Marshall-Generals clasped hands, the final sign that the Band was whole once more. Vader bowed off, and Cathon turned to face his men.
"True sons of Manetheren!" Cathon shouted over the cheers of the soldiers, "Caldazar has given us this chance, has brought us together once more, for that task that remains. The enemy that hounded us has been destroyed, but the greater enemy still awaits. Though we have become one once more, we have suffered grievously. From Getty's Canyon to this Burning Rivers, we have lost over twenty thousand men of Manetheren, including Lieutenant-General Hill and countless others. Buried in a strange land far from home.
"But we still stand. For we are the steel of Manetheren. Though the Hordes may have stolen the secret of our forge from the Homeland, they have not mastered the art. Their mortal flesh may be stronger, but they are brittle, and will break with a heavy blow. Steel will win over iron, for we will keep on, no matter how beleaguered and battered we are. For they fight for blood and greed, we fight for Manetheren.
"Let the shadows tremble in fear. Let the creatures of darkness howl in terror. Let the black flood churn in dread. For the Band of Red Hand approaches. We have paid the Butcher's Bill too long. It is time to challenge the Butcher himself.
"We bring the blade of red fire to consume the shadows. We bring the chalice of red blood to cleanse the land. We bring the talons of the red eagle to pull down the Fortress of Night. We bring the Red Hand to strangle the Dark One in his own parlor.
"Let the red flood flow forward, for we cannot be stopped. We are the Curse of the Blasted Lands, the Foe of the Shadow, and the Thorn in the Dark One's Side. To Shayol Ghul we march this day! And arrive at last tomorrow!
"Forward the Band of Red Hand! Forward the Caldazar, Forward Manetheren!"
"Shen an Calhar! Shen an Calhar!"
"To Shayol Ghul we march!"
The roar of the soldiers stirred the air, the calls of the men who dared to defy the gods themselves.
פּצּפּצּפּצּפּצּפּצּפּצּפּצּפּצּפּצּפּצּפּצּפּצּפּצּפּצּפּצּפּצּפּצּפּצּפּצּפּצּפּצּפּצּפּצּפּצּפּצּפּצּפּצּפּצּפּצּפּצּפּצּ