Chapter 7: Forged by Steel
"Make our Horns heard from the mountain as we march on Praven, Men I know each and every one of you, you have each proven your metal, but now it is time for your metal to be forged from scraps and forged into a great steel blade that will come crashing down on our enemies heads and destroy them. Many of you know I have ambition to rule a Kingdom of my own. This moment this time of Swadias greatest need its King forced to hiding in some castle in the south not wanting to take on the Nord armies head on, he negotiated an uneasy truce with the Khanate who are masters of Horse and bow. Yet the Nord has taken his castle their Capital, and so we will take it back and ask that it be rewarded to us as it is rightfully ours should we take Praven successfully. As your commander I do not enjoy hurling you into the jaws of death unlike the nobles of these Corrupt Kingdoms who wage war. I see each of you as my equal and so Now I ask you now will you follow me into the jaws of death once more? Will you take what is rightfully yours? Or will you not and cower like the King of Swadia and all the Kings in their walled cities?" Movan Yelled to his assembled men from the steps of the Keep of castle Maras.
"GROW THE ROSE SHATTER THE ROCK!" Borcha yelled raising his sword high.
"GROW THE ROSE SHATTER THE ROCK" Klethi yelled raising her sword.
"GROW THE ROSE SHATTER THE ROCK!" The rest of movans men said raising their weapons as they shouted.
"What is it we are?" Movan Shouted.
"WE ARE THE ROSE THAT GROWS ON THE ROCK!" Movans men shouted back
"And what is it we do?" Movan shouted again.
"SHATTER THE ROCK!" Movans men yelled back to Movan.
"Come men onward to Praven !" Movan said sheathing his sword and mounting his White Horse.
Movans men cheered as Movan and his Captains passed by then quickly mounted and rode behind or, fell into ranks and began marching their spirits high and with thoughts of victory. The trumpeters blew their horns loudly. By late afternoon Movan and his men were at the gates to Praven above them the Nords stood proudly and defiantly.
"I wish to speak to your commander." Movan shouted up to the Nords on the wall.
"Fetch the captain a little worm wishes to speak to him." One of the men yelled to his men.
One of the men quickly left and when he came back he was followed by a man dressed in armor and carried a blue sheild with the Black Raven sigil on it.
"Who are you and why do you come." Said the man in a booming voice.
"I am Movan Beltasus, Count of Maras Castle Vassal of the Kingdom of Swadia." Movan shouted in a commanding voice. "And who do I have the honor of addressing?"
"I am Captain Jaeger Iron Fist Captain of the garrison of Praven by order of King Ragnar." Jaeger said
"It would be a shame to lay low so many honorable men such as yourselves over a petty city." Movan said.
"Aye but my scouts tell me you have only one hundred men to fight us against our five hundred." Jaeger said boastfully.
"My scouts report there are only two hundred of you garrisoned here." Movan said leaning to pet his horse.
"Bah enough talk you will fall you are vastly outnumbered you will be a good warm up for my men." Jaeger said with a huge grin on his bearded face.
"Are you a betting man Iron Fist?" Movan said smiling back. "Because that is exactly what I am doing a desperate gamble where the stakes are higher. Movan draws his sword. "Men tell them who we are."
"WE ARE THE ROSE THAT GROWS ON THE ROCK!" Movans men shouted.
"AND WHAT DO WE DO TO THE ROCK?!" Movan shouted again.
"SHATTER IT!" Movans men replied drawing their weapons and pounding them on their shields.
"YOU ARE A FOOL MOVAN BELTASUS WE WILL NOT GIVE AN INCH TO YOU!" Jaeger shouted.
"WE WILL SEE WON'T WE!" Movan retorted.
Movan turned his horse and began riding away, movans men set up their siege line and built a ladder to attack with from the walls of Praven Movan could hear the Nord commanders barking orders to their men to take positions along the wall. Movan drew his sword once more to raise his men's morale.
"Today we are outnumbered, so we must fight harder than we have ever fought in our lives, I know each and everyone of you will do your best to push these Nords from this city some of you may die, but you will not be forgotten, you will live on remembered as men who laid down their lives for the greater good. Do not fight for a king, or land, or riches fight for what is just and good. Believe in me and you will know victory you all know this to be true we have seen worse battles against higher numbers before. The men on that wall will be hard to bring down people in the North always are but we will conquer and let the Northmen know we are coming for them. Shout your battle cries and let those Nords that we are coming for them. Movan said.
Movans men cheered and beat on their shields.
"Now men with me charge." Movan said as he began to move forward.
As Movan and his men charged forth the Nords began firing volleys of arrows down into them Many men fell as they advanced with their ladder on their shoulders. As they reached the wall the arrows stopped and the Nords formed a shield wall in front of where the ladder was positioned. Movan sprang up the ladder ahead of the rest of his men. When he reached the Shield wall he was bashed with one of the shields and lost his balance and fell down off the ladder hitting his head on it before he hit the ground. As he laid there he fell into unconsciousness.
When Movan awoke his vision was blurry for a few seconds then he lost consciousness again, the next time he awoke he was determined not to go unconscious again as he sat up he was gently pushed back down onto the bed.
"Rest easy my love." Said a familiar voice.
"What happened where am I?" Mocan asked as he looked up to the ceiling. "Who are you?"
"It's me Lady Bernatys I will return in a moment the others will be glad to know you are alive." Bernatys said.
Movan heard footsteps and the door close then reopen and several more footsteps entered.
"My boy I don't Know how you did it but you pushed the Nords back with one hundred men no less ." King Harlaus said as he came into view of Movan. "You have been out for about a week."
"My king." Movan said trying to sit up.
"No need for formalities you are still heavily injured you have several broken bones that must heal before you can return." King Harlaus said pushing gently on Movans chest.
"You are still stubborn Movan I wish for my sake you would not take such risks." Bernatys said.
"CAPTAIN YOU'RE ALIVE THANK THE GODS." Klethi as she came in and hugged Movan.
"OWWW KLETHI RIBS!" Movan shouted in protest.
"Oh im sorry." Klethi said letting go of movan.
"My king what has happened where are we?" Movan asked.
"We're in Praven the Nords have signed a truce for now thanks to your full hardiness don't ever do that again One city is not worth one of my best Men dieing over." King Harlaus said. "To say the least they were impressed by your bravery and from what I hear Maras Castle is swarming with recruits from the villages in the kingdom each wanting to join the great Movan Beltasus."
"I tried to argue against attacking Praven with so few men but as usual he wouldn't listen to reason." Borcha said stroking his moustache.
"No you didn't both of you are the same." Klethi said punching Borcha in the arm.
"Could you all leave I need to rest." Movan said weakly.
"Right you are come let us speak of matters of state later and how you are to be rewarded." King Harlaus said before leaving the room with all but one from the room.
"It is good to see you again my lady." Movan said
"If we are to be wed to one another you will have to stop taking risks like you do." Lady Bernatys. "However I hate to deliver sad tidings with you being injured."
"What tidings." Movan asked.
"Father has promised me to another." Lady Bernatys said sadly.
"Who is he I will fight him at once!" Movan said attempting to rise but was kept down by the pain from his injuries.
"Count Rafarch I do not wish to marry him but King Harlaus has already made the arrangements.
"I see, then I shall face Rafarch in single combat." Movan said. "Soon as I am well enough to fight I will fight for you my Lady.
"Rest now you will need your strength to face Rafarch sleep now my love we will see each other soon." Lady Bernatys
"Movan fell into a deep sleep once again and slept soundly.