Chapter 18: Old Friends
Movan War Camp outside Jamiche
"The scouts report that a party of Hired Swords are fighting the the Sultanate's Vanguard and he has brought an army of nearly one thousand men behind the hired blades. We should pull back into the Castle and wait them out." Said Lord Clais loudly.
"Who's Banner?" Movan asked sitting up in his chair with interest.
"The banner was black and had a white Deer Skull." Clais said annoyed
"Verseri the band of the Deer Skulls." Movan said grimly.
"Damn you mean the Devil of Halmar?" Jeremius asked looking at his king.
"You know him?" Clais asked curiously .
"Yes he was a servant of my house before my Father, Mother, and I were removed from our home by the old Emperor of Calradia for treason." Movan said rising from his chair. "My how far he's come."
"My king now is not the time we have a battle to win." Mirchaud said sternly.
"I will take the field alone against Verseri." Movan said.
"Against his entire army you are mad my king." Clais said.
"No against him alone at dawn." Movan said. "Send an envoy to him if the envoy returns without his head we will know he intends to fight us army to army. If he returns with his head and a message he accepts my terms, but accept or reject he is mine and mine alone to bring down."
"My King this is madness let one of us be your champion in your stead who is to lead the king should you die?" Mirchaud asked.
"My son Marius." Movan said before leaving the war tent.
As Movan walked through the camp toward his tent memories came flooding back of the days of Movan's childhood. Memories that had been long forgotten.
"This will be hard he was my friend in those days I haven't seen him since those days." Movan said to himself as he entered his tent. "But I must keep in mind he has changed since then I must duel him without prejudice."
As dawn arose the Envoy came back in one piece and delivered the a scroll that said "Challenge accepted."
Movan dressed in his armor riding in front of his army on the opposite side the Vanguard of the Sultanate. Movan spurred his horse forward from the opposite side of the field another figure rode forward toward Movan. Both of them rode slowly toward one another as they came closer Movan could see the man better in the rising sun. The man wore battered plate armor without a helmet his hair was long to his shoulders and black. On his face he had a trimmed beard and his skin was tanned from the sun. The man's horse was dark brown with a black mane and tail.
Both men stopped their horses inches from each other both looked at one another for a moment both not able to speak for a moment.
"When they said I was marching my men against the Kingdom of Roses I thought they meant some pompous lord claiming to be a King. But now I see the banner of a dead house long forgotten by time." Verseri said nodding toward Movans army.
"Not so forgotten or dead old friend." Movan said with a smirk.
"Ha Ha it is good to see you old friend, but now lets to the business at hand." Verseri said putting his hand on a sword hilt.
"You're making a mistake Verseri, many have tried to bring me down many have failed." Movan said putting his hand on his sword hilt. "We could avoid all this."
Verseri leaned forward in his saddle. "Do you have a better offer?" Verseri asked intrigued.
"Yes fight from me and I will pay you double what they are paying you, and I will make you a lord." Movan said.
"Triple and throw in the lordship." Verseri said quickly.
"Done. Now I have further proposition." Movan said .
"I'm listening." Verseri said interested.
"I want you to ride your band into the forest wait for the Sultanate army to pass then when my army engages slam into them from the side." Movan said quickly.
"I'll see what I can do."
And with that Movan and Verseri parted ways and rode to their sides of the battlefield.
"You didn't kill him." Clais said as Movan approached the lords.
"We have only moments, Verseri is going to flank them." Movan said quickly.
"How did you convince him of that?" Mirchaud asked curiously.
"I promised I would pay him triple what they are paying and a lordship." Movan said with a smile.
"I see." Mirchaud said grimly.
From Across the field they heard the sound of drums, and desert horns as the Sultanate main army began to march into view and toward them.
"Sound our horns and march the men forward I'm going to come from the right while Verseri flanks left."
"Sound the Horn!" Clais commanded.
Warhorns began to sound and the infantry began to march forward. Movan joined his guard and motioned for them to follow him. The cavalry rode behind the advancing infantry and archers behind the shield wall of the infantry. Movan and his guard rode harder than they had ever ridden. When they slowed they were behind a hill so the Sultanate riders wouldn't see them. Movan waited until he heard the sounds of the two infantry forces clashing to ride forward. As they came to the top of the hill they were right behind the Sultanate archers. they spurred their horses forward and crouched their lances and slammed into the rear of the enemy. from the far left Verseri came from the forest and slammed into the enemy flank the Sultanate caught off guard by their own men turning on them began a full route and ran from the field. The second wave of the Sultanates men unsettled by their comrades retreat also began to retreat with their comrades as Movans army advanced and cut down men they caught up to.
After the remaining Sultanate soldiers retreated Movan went back to the Camp and settled down for the night. While he ate his evening meal a messenger came into Movan's tent.
"Yes what is it?" Movan asked annoyed by the interruption.
"I come bearing a message from Veluca sire." The Messenger said.
"Let's see it." Movan said still annoyed.
The Messenger quickly handed the scroll to Movan and waited. Movan opened the scroll with his knife and unrolled it and read it quickly then he slammed it down and rose to his feet.
"Messenger bring me two parchments and a quill and ink." Movan said angrily.
The messenger nodded and ran to get them and was back in a few moments.
"Take this down." Movan said quickly. "I King Movan Beltasus King of the Kingdom of Roses summon Lord Regas to be tried in Tribunal of Loyalty.
"The second sire?" Asked the messenger as he finished the first message.
"From King Movan Beltasus of the Kingdom of the Rose to King Harlaus King of Swadia. It disturbs me to have this written, but to make an attempt on my Son and Heir Marius Beltasus life you wish a war with you and so you shall have it."
The messenger wrote the message quickly. "I will send these to Veluca at once and then they will be sent out." The messenger said quickly rolling up the papers on scroll rolls and bowed as he left the tent.
Movan dressed quickly and sent word to his companions and guard to make ready to leave.
"Where do you go my King?" Lord Mirchaud voice said from behind Movan.
"I ride to Veluca there has been an attempt on my Sons life." Movan said saddling his horse.
"An attempt on his life who would do such a thing." Mirchaud said surprised.
"King Harlaus and Lord Regas." Movan said grimly.
"Then allow me to accompany you." Mirchaud said eagerly.
"You are to remain here and keep the Sultanate at bay I will be back when the Tribunal is over." Movan said.
"What will happen to Regas?" Mirchaud asked curiously.
"He will be executed for treason and his head sent to Praven." Movan said angrily as he mounted.
"As you will my King I will remain here until your return." Mirchaud said before walking off.
Movan, his guard, and companions who accompanied him rode away from the camp toward Veluca.