Chapter 20:Push Back
Peace reigned for two more months after the execution of Mirchaud, more lords came to join the kingdom there were more lords than there were castles to put them in. In this time relations between Marius and Bernatys worsened then grew better as Marius finally forgave Bernatys for her hand in her brother's assassination attempt on his life. Reports of border incidents between Swadia and Movan's Kingdom became more frequent until two years passed and Marius was sixteen and old enough to join in campaigns. The reason for the border disputes was because of the war in which Movan was helping Swadia to end with the Nords of the North lands. Movan and his armies under the Marshaling of Clais took the City of Dhirim and cut the Kingdom of Swadia in two. Surveyors on both sides disputed the new border as several Swadian castles cut of Dhirim from the rest of the Kingdom of the Rose. Eventually war was declared by the New King of Swadia the Claimant who had overthrown King Harlaus the previous year it was rumored that the new ruler was a queen named Isolla of Suno. Movan eagerly jumped at the chance to fight against the new Swadia that had murdered his long time friend however before they could march the whole of Swadia was at the gates of Veluca, Movan and his men defended, but in the end Veluca fell to Swadia and they were forced to retreat to Jelkala which they had secured from the New Swadia at the start of the war. Now Movan and his Lords stand on the opposite end of a battlefield facing the army of two thousand Swadians against their thousand eight hundred Rosemen Movan paced his horse in front of his men the banners of his lords and his own flying over their army.
"Many of you come from, or have fought the Swadians, each of you knows no one stands a chance against their heavy horses, but this day they shall be stopped they seek to see our walls come crumbling down and their banner flying over the lands we forged into our own and earned through our own blood and sweat. We have pushed back many invaders in the five years of our kingdoms existence we shall do so again. We hold the hill they hold the forest valley below, let them come to us let their charge be slowed while My son Marius hits them in the rear we are the anvil of my son your prince's charge he his your hammer fall and hit hard and break these bastards backs." Movan yelled commandingly.
Movans men cheered as Movan finished his speech some banged on their board shields with their weapons. Many in Movan's army carried the board shield painted with the red rose of Movan and their various lords crests. Across the field Movan expected that whoever was leading the Swadians was making a similar speech and calling his men cowards and men without honor. Movan waved his sword forward and rode slowly forward down the hill to give the archers a superior view over the forest below.
From below Movan heard the thunder of the horses in the tree line then the swadian horsemen burst through the brush and were slowed by the steepness of the hill. Movan's infantry rushed forward and formed a shield wall several layers thick the sergeants placed their shields out and braced for the attack. from behind the infantry the archers rained down arrows and crossbow bolts into the oncoming horsemen the arrows bouncing off the armor while the bolts hit their mark and penetrated deep into the horses and men's chain and metal armors. as the charge reached the shield line the spearmen began to stab into the horses and their riders. The shield line fell back a little as some men were pushed back, but then pressed forward and pushed the horsemen back.
"Hold the line!" Movan ordered sternly as he watched the battle.
Then there came a warhorn from behind the swadian line and banners flew out of the trees banners of Movan's army Movans infantry pushed the Swadian infantry and cavalry back until they were smashed into by the flanking force as the flanking force slammed into the swadian flank. Several of the horsemen tried to turn but couldn't in the mass of horse and men. Movans horsemen cut deep into the swadian line while the infantry held and pushed the enemy toward the hammer of the calvary. the Swadian line broke and men tried to flee but were cut down or surrendered. the battle was over after four hours as the sun set the remaining forces retreated toward Veluca where Bernatys awaited rescue. Movan and his guard rode down what men they could and captured some and dragged them back to camp. As they came back Marius waited on his horse next to Borak who was dressed in the khanate armor styled after his father Borcha's armor. Marius was dressed in plate armor with the rose crest of Movan etched in it. he also wore an open face helmet which showed his young dirty face with a stubble beard.
"Good job hammer." Movan complimented as he stopped in front of his son and Borak.
"Thank you father you made a pretty good anvil." Marius said with a smile that disappeared into a somber look. "How close are we to mother?"
"We are a three days march if the Swadians do not have anymore roadblocks for us to deal with." Movan said confidently. "So are you growing used to battle my son?"
"Yes father I grow more accustomed to it daily as we march and fight." Marius said with a nod.
"Remember my son even the soldier is a peasant that wants to reach home same as we do when it's over they will return to their villages or city lives until called to war again." Movan said wisely.
"Yes father." Marius said nodding.
"Get some rest we march at dawn." Movan said before turning his horse and riding toward his tent.
"Come on Marius lets find us some victory women." Borak said with a smile.
"You two are not old enough for that yet." Klethis scolded as she was looting a corpse for valuables nearby.
"Oh come on mom." Borak protested.
Movan smiled as he rode away."He is growing up so fast." Movan thought to himself as he rode away listening to the arguement between Borak and his mother about finding a woman for him and Marius to warm their beds that night.