A/N: Readers . . . I have not abandoned the story but this chapter took a while to write. I abhor final battles, and that is why I've drawn this thing out. I have taken great liberties with tactics and form; if you are an actual student of history (and I know many people claim to be an authority), I apologize for the faux paux in regards to what a force of Sacoridia's size and technology is capable of.

When this story started months ago; I was very much encouraged by the feedback I received, good and bad, and I thank the handful of dedicated readers who take the time to leave me a few words.

With book 5 coming out next year, I am sure there will be a sleuth of new interest in the series and a lot more participation within the fan-fiction community.

Disclaimer: As always, we none of us own the characters or the world that Kristen Britain has created. We are selfishly using them to create side-stories that in no way, shape or form, resemble the true awesomeness of her imagination.

The Lady Yolandhe fastened the clasp that held her thick woolen cape to her person and gave a slow smile to General Isleigh, who was watching her with no little amount of distaste.

He had voiced his objections repeatedly to her presence in the camp but abstained when he realized his complaints had fallen onto deaf ears. The lady had all but endeared herself to her fellow royals, and the rest of the royal staff was gradually warming up to the unassuming and cordial lady. Even the distrustful contingent of Weapons no longer looked at her in suspicion.

Lady Yolandhe straightened and squared her shoulders as she regarded the young couple before her. It was still rather early in the morning, as evidenced by their bleary gazes and slightly rumpled appearances. Unconsciously, the queen was leaning slightly into the warmth of her husband and he had responded by wrapping an arm loosely around her waist.

She gave them both a fond smile, 'Several of my weyrs are already at the rendezvous point I established near the harbor, it will not be difficult to assemble and move forward.'

'I wish to thank you again, my lady, for your timely interventation,' Zachary said softly, 'We have had few allies in this time of war and your friendship has been most welcome.'

Yolandhe reached out to pat his arm and touch Karigan's cheek briefly, 'It is my pleasure, and my duty, to assist the current monarchy and protect this land from invasion. It warms my heart to see the love between you two and brings back warm memories of my own prince.'

Karigan looked at her solemnly, 'Will we see you again soon?'

Yolandhe sighed and nodded, 'I imagine you will. I have been through this sort of war before, my dears, and I wish for you to brace yourselves. This will be a bloody affair that will be fought in the streets as well as the battlefield. They are an enemy without honor who will leave destruction in their wake. You need to be prepared for the casualties that will come from this.'

The queen's face blanched, 'What would they do to the city's inhabitants?'

Yolandhe looked at the king's grim visage briefly before responding. 'That would depend on how much time they are given on their own and who their leaders are. Pray that our forces keep them too occupied to pay any mind to anything else.'

Karigan bit her lip and gave a brief nod, her gaze dropping to the floor as she absorbed the weight of the warning. It was together too surreal to think that the city she grew up in and explored would be brought to ruin and worse by such an enemy. As a girl, she had thought the port with its majestic ships and bustling streets immune to the strife that plagued other provinces. The general commerce and healthy economy of the area always provided for those who had less, and for the most part, it was an idyllic place to live.

And now it was to be crushed underneath the boot heel of a tyrant that this country had seen once before, and had taken long to recover from. Mornhavon had left behind numerous scars on Sacoridia, some of which lingered on in the consciousness of its people. Karigan's eyes darted over to the brooding figure of General Isleigh, who stalked the ground around the command tent. Many individuals, like the general, still harbored a deep and lingering resentment of magic and those who wielded it despite the assistance that had been rendered in the past few years.

She exhaled slowly and pressed closer to Zachary as she brought her gaze back up to Yolandhe, giving her a weak smile. 'I suppose we'll see you when we see you,' she finished lamely.

Yolandhe gave them one more sympathetic smile before walking away briskly from the couple. They watched her pick her way through the mud before disappearing into the thick morning fog that permeated the fields and woods. With a feeling of trepidation, Karigan looked up into Zachary's face, 'I cannot help but feel that we should have sent an escort with her.'

He shook his head, 'I offered but she insisted she would travel quicker and easier by herself. Knowing her abilities, I did not question her decision.'

They turned and began to make their way back to the command tent. She stopped before the open flap and wrapped her arms around her torso as she looked back out into the fog. 'Is it true, what she said about the enemy?'

Zachary hesitated before answering, 'I have been mostly on the open battlefield or fighting the creatures from Blackveil. There are . . . well documented wars of the past that highlight the actions of a mercenary army who have been permitted to plunder and loot a city. If their leaders did not allow them the opportunity to do so, they would lose the support of that particular sort of soldier.'

Karigan looked at him warily, 'You think those enemy ships bear mercenaries?'

He shrugged, 'It is very possible. Many of the fighters may be the descendants of the Second Empire army but if they are from these small communities, they are more likely to fight for coin than for sentiment.'

She said nothing for several moments as she scuffed her boot against the top of a stake, 'Is this how you feel every time?'

Zachary tilted his head to the side and gently moved her away from the tent entrance, 'And how would that be?'

'Not quite . . . helpless, but that there is this feeling of dread and foreboding. Almost as if . . .' she trailed off uncertainly.

'Almost as if there is no truly favorable outcome?' he asked quietly, bringing her chin up to meet his gaze. She smiled wryly, 'More or less what you said.'

The corner of his mouth twitched slightly, 'I feel this way before every battle, and many times before every council. I cannot facilitate everyone's happiness and I cannot guarantee all will be well. I can only try and endeavor to succeed. The pitfalls of every leader,' he finished.

'Ah see now this is why I married you,' she said with a wink, 'To experience all these new roles and anxieties.'

Zachary smiled at her attempt at lightheartedness, 'Any regrets thus far?'

She looked slightly affronted, 'Of course not, I just hope those around me do not know how terrified I am of making a mistake, or letting you down.'

He tugged on her hand and led her back inside the tent. 'You could never let me down; you are what keeps me sane in such times.'

They would wait for several days before word of any sort came into the large camp. The increasing tension was palatable as the soldiers quietly began to secure their weapons and put together a pack for the coming assault. The orders given were to prepare but none alluded to when the army would actually take to the road to Corsca.

Green Riders continued to stream in and out, some bearing the usual sort of correspondence forwarded from Sacor City. A few others brought word from the would-be allies of Sacoridia. It seemed a bittersweet victory when Rhovanny declined to commit their fighting forces but offered a steady stream of supply trains from their farming communities. The news had sent General Isleigh into a cursing storm until Zachary reminded him that their own harvest would not yield enough to feed a large army and keep the populace fed through the winter. Nor would it enable them to set enough aside to reseed the fields.

It was seen as a sort of blessing that the army had seen so little fighting that previous winter, and that the numerous detachments of the then separated forces were able to find support in their host communities with little difficulty.

There continued to be no word sent from Eletia but such news was a regularity in regards to such an elusive people. When prompted, Zachary did not seem perturbed by the situation and would not offer any sort of speculation as to their whereabouts.

Karigan continued to assist in the recovery of any local inhabitants caught in the crossfire, but after Fergal's narrow escape from the city, the numbers rescued seemed to dwindle. She still managed to get word to her aunts but only received one response, detailing what the senior leaders in the camp had already discerned.

There was an established curfew that was brutally enforced by the soldiers tasked out as a police force. Food shortages were occurring across the different quarters and any who raised their voices in opposition to the occupying army were immediately dealt a short drop and a sudden stop. As of a day ago, Karigan knew with certainty that her aunts had come to no harm but they had not mentioned the welfare of her father. She knew that someone of his nature would not willingly sit quiet while the walls of his business and city were brought down around him; she only hoped that he exercised enough patience and sense to not make a target of himself before help arrived.

It was an inhuman roar that alerted the camp and echoed eerily through the fringes of the forest. Several groups of people ran down to the edge of the woods and lifted their gazes to the skyline. Plumes of black smoke billowed out against the blue sky, broken up by the occasional flash of soaring iridescent color. It robbed many of their capacity to think at that precise moment as they watched the creatures of legend lay waste to presumably the enemy fleet.

The gawking came to an abrupt end as orders were bellowed to assemble. The camp swarmed with activity as soldiers hastily grabbed their belongings and fell in to their ranks. The Light Horse saddled and mounted efficiently, already riding ahead with their orders to scout the roadways south.

Zachary immediately herded his staff into a brief meeting before quickly dismissing them to their duties. He spared Karigan a brief glance before ducking into their tent and donning his armor. She had already been garbed in her Rider green, and repeatedly refused the light armor that was pressed upon her by Brienne.

Condor was brought to her already saddled, but without the usual saddlebags and packs. He had been outfitted with several bands of padded leather around his torso and forelocks, affording a degree of protection. As she mounted, Zachary quickly strode out of the tent with his helm tucked under his arm. He caught her gaze and went to Condor's side, placing his hand on her ankle as he leaned in to whisper, 'Remember your promise, Kari.'

Karigan inclined her head in response and waited for Zachary to mount his charger, moving Condor to the bay stallion's side as they ventured forth with the small force of Weapons.

The army had effectively, in less than thirty minutes, readied themselves for movement and waited for the king's contingent to take its place on the somewhat dried road. Standard bearers posted themselves intermittently along the columns, along with buglers and drummers.

Zachary gave a nod to General Isleigh, who gestured to the bugler at his side. The young man raised the horn to his lips and blew a series of trilling notes that was echoed and repeated along the expanse of road. The first column of soldiers stepped off on the beat of the drum and the army ventured forth.

It took a little over an hour marching at a fairly brisk pace to reach the outskirts of the city. Close enough to hear the horrific screaming that emitted from inside its walls and smell the putrid smoke. The front gates hung open, one of the doors hanging hapzardly by its enormous hinges.

General Isleigh quickly deployed the columns in a horizontal line facing the main gate and stationed several more companies behind the first rank. After a few whispered commands to the Rider at his side, the general sent him to the far left flank, towards the drainage fields.

Zachary studied the walls intently, his eyes flickering up to see a few lone dragons circling lazily far above. They were no longer pursuing the diving maneuvers that the army had witnessed on their approach but were instead watching the proceedings on the ground with close scrutiny.

His gaze cut over to Isleigh who regarded him expectantly. With a barely perceptible sigh, Zachary raised the index finger and middle finger of his right hand, made a circular motion in the air and pointed forward.

The general barked a series of orders that were repeated by a few blasts of the horn. Five companies began to trot forward, a line of archers following closely behind as they advanced towards the gates.

Karigan watched from her position amongst the other waiting Riders and the reassembled Light Horse, turning to look at Brienne, 'Why is there no one to meet us on the field? They must have seen us from the watch towers.'

Brienne kept her eyes on the gates as she spoke, 'Potentially, they are waiting until we enter the city and the streets nullify our numbers. With any luck, the majority of their forces were destroyed along with the ships.'

They watched the companies surge forward with trepidation, waiting for some sign that the enemy had surfaced but no one appeared. At a certain point, the first line of advance stopped and a single blue pennant was thrust into the air. Zachary turned to a nearby aide, 'Inform General Isleigh to advance with caution, hold the reserve outside of the city walls for the time being.'

The officer nodded and wheeled his mount around to relay the order. The bulk of the army began to tentatively move forward in bursts, carefully protecting the flanks and rear while keeping their eyes forward. The initial front line had broken into small groups, their dark grey tunics disappearing into the open gates as they crept inside in increments.

The noise level began to rise slowly as the clash of steel and shouts of engaged soldiers began to override the anguished wails of the residents. The drums picked up the tempo to a quicker step and the front companies quickly disassembled into small squads, waiting as the advance line did to enter the city.

Zachary grimly watched as people spilled out onto the walkways of the city walls, grey tunics mixed with black as their blades flashed in the sun. Several bodies fell off the heights, to replaced by even more as the fighting continued.

Sacoridia's banner was unfurled at each of the watch towers within an hour of entry to the gates, prompting Zachary to slowly move forward, despite the protests of his staff and Weapons. He sent forth Fergal to sprint ahead and gather a status report, glancing back at Karigan with an unreadable expression.

After twenty minutes, Fergal shot out of the gates and tore back across the plain, a thin line of blood trickling down the side of his face as he reined in his mount next to the king. 'The outside blocks of the city are mostly secured sire, but they are still weeding out skirmishers hiding in the buildings. General Isleigh sends his compliments and continues to advance toward the docks.'

Zachary nodded in response and frowned at the gash across Fergal's forehead, 'Get yourself to a Healer, Rider.'

Fergal's hand reached up to touch the cut in surprise, 'I thought that archer had missed me completely sire.'

'Get going,' the king repeated gruffly, signaling to the bugler to sound an advance. Fergal raised his hand briefly to his brow and tiredly trotted to the rear guard to follow his king's orders. He passed Karigan and offered a feeble smile. She smiled back and watched him go with no small measure of wonder, remembering the first ride she had taken with Fergal Duff. Brienne had noticed her gaze and remarked candidly, 'War often makes us grow up in a hurry.'

Karigan grimly acknowledged her words and moved Condor to fall in with the rest of the Riders. She had unofficially become the captain while they were in the field and gathered the twenty or so individuals around her. She looked into the eyes of the veteran riders and into the scared gazes of the young unseasoned individuals. 'You shall go to your assigned officers and remain at your posts until relieved. Deliver your messages quickly and stay out of the way of the soldiers. If needed-,' she paused, '-you know how to defend yourselves.'

A young girl of fifteen looked at her with her large doe-like eyes, 'You think it will come to that, ma'am?'

Karigan looked at her, 'If you do not kill them, they will most assuredly kill you. They are cornered, with no method of escape and thus, they will be desperate. Do not give them an easy target.'

The group of Riders replied with a chorus of affirmations and once dismissed, dispersed to their assignments. Karigan and Brienne came up beside the king's contingent and waited beside the aides.

It chafed her to wait whilst the others carried the burden but she remembered her promise and quietly kept her eyes forward as she waited for her king to issue the order.

I am working on the other end of this scene but wanted to offer a tidbit.