Chapter 14: Banners of Riserstead

"Just a little bit further and we should be able to see the town soon." Tico spoke as the three beleaguered teens walking behind his horse continued pace. It had been quite the adventure since leaving Karn a few weeks back as rumor had reached winter's edge in advance of the party of the downfall of Jule. While Tico had a hard time believing it, he knew rumors of this sort didn't spread absent a root of truth. Traders and travelers in the holdfast spoke of the downfall and new leadership of the city. The news stung but Tico quickly realized that Riserstead was now the only safe stronghold of any kind with ties to the Savoy force. And while there was a risk of running into a platoon of Valtrex soldiers on post to defend against action or plan for reclamation of the town, the risk was the best option long term for the party. The teens were resilient and solid travel companions but the weakened force of Savoy needed to sure up and truly be able to access their strength.

Fatigue was about them but thankfully during their travels overnight animal traps set by Claire and Ion proved quite useful. Rabbits became a dietary staple of the expedition as the rider's supplies and funds had all but vanished from the lengthy excursion. However, that was about to end as the group was nearing the town.

"There I can see it!" Tico being atop horseback was the first to lay eyes. It was still long ways off but being a clear and sunny day for the first time in quite some time it was easier to spot the village than previously. Smiles were had as the others reached the rider's point and could take in the view. Claire smiled grandest as she quaffed her hair back. It had been weeks since their family had been settled and had time to really rest. This was something she was most assuredly anticipating. She turned her gaze northward from Riserstead.

"What is that Tico?" a large cloud of smoke and a light rumble had caught he eyes as she pointed and got the others attention. Smiles shifted in a matter of moments as the group began examining and squinting to figure out what the dirt cloud was.

"OH NO!" the rider with the best viewpoint from atop his nag exclaimed.

"What do you see?" Ion cupped his eyes trying to improve his vision to no avail.

"WE NEED TO RUN TO CALLE! NOW!"

…..

"KEEP MOVING FORWARD!" at the front of the cloud of dirt rising to the heavens was a horde of men column stepping in trained and disciplined military fashion toward the town of Riserstead. As the head of this military effort arriving from the north were none other than Peter and Flynn Valtrex, the sons of lord Fulcrum Valtrex. Next to them was a cavalier all too familiar with the road and areas around Riserstead by this point, Orlando. "How much further Orlando? The men are itching for a real encampment." Peter questions the scout leading the way. Peter was a warrior class specializing in axe combat and wild like his step mother. He was slightly taller than his sibling and stronger, however Flynn was much more patient and cunning, and thus in most sibling tussles, Flynn would win, purely due to strategy.

"We'll be there soon sir." Orlando was so relieved to see upon his return journey to Valor that ready at the gates were the 200 soldiers under the command of the sons ready and waiting for their orders to march. Somehow the skirmish sacrifice of the trainees and Lester seemed forgotten and moot once he gazed at a battle ready force of blood thirsty warrior hungry for an opportunity to claim territory. "We are roughly an hour's march. However, they will be aware of us arriving if we continue in the daylight, and we will give them about an hour to ready themselves if we decide to fully commit ourselves this day." The scout knowing that at this point the citizenry would still be unaware of the encroaching army absent travelers passing through or scouts in place was advising caution to simply running right into town and laying claim to it. As while the men in this force were properly trained soldiers rather than inexperienced recruits. The fear of the prowess of the men present during the prior battle was known all too well by the rider.

"We will take the village tonight." Flynn spoke calmly as he continued eyes forward toward the destination. "I know you mean well, and I'm sure more men might be at risk from this quick offensive. Yet, these are city men and the quicker we gain control of the town the quicker we can begin building it into a proper town, walls, keep, barracks and all." Peter slapped his older brother on the back, excited by the news and that both of them were in agreement about the order of business. No delays. No dawdling. Just swift action.

"Orlando, I'm planning on us two Valtrex boys being right at the front in this battle. If our weapons are clean after this fight, then how can we call ourselves leaders?" Peter flipped his axe in the air as they kept walking to purpose. "Today is going to be fun, just you wait."

…

Back with the party of teens and the scout. "I'm going to ride ahead guys as my horse, while tired, will reach the town much quicker than us at our pace." Tico said as panic in his eyes set in from the pace of the army moving to position. "Hustle along and meet me there!"

"Giving them a head's up to prepare a defense?" Ion asked as Tico kicked hard into his horse's sides.

"NO! I'M HOPING TO CONVINCE MY PEOPLE TO FLEE!" The galloped hard down the path toward the town. Ion grabbed Kyler's spear to allow the tired younger boy to have less weight upon him during this trek to the town. Claire pushed Kyler along to pick up the pace now that he wasn't carrying a heavy lance. The trio didn't understand why they were going as well to a town about to be overrun by an enemy force. Yet, the man among them who knew the surrounding lands best was galloping hard toward the town and so they decided to stay true to purpose and trust their friend.

…..

"Tico is that you?" Calle hollered and waved as she saw a familiar horse and rider growing larger as they approached. The cavalry leader wouldn't admit this in front of the general assembly of soldiers and lords but she cared for this scout much like a younger sibling so seeing his return was quite the boon to her spirit. It had been a few months since the last fight for Riserstead and the town showed evidence, a stockade wall to the north with a proper gate, two new wells were dug and erected, and a three buildings had been setup to hold the Savoy forces or guests absent having to put out the villagers. Calle in spite of being in recovery from her wounds in the last battle, which were now mostly just remnant scars, being able to be a gracious and wise viceroy for the village since the departure of Shenis. "Get down from that horse and embrace me young scout." Calle had a smile on her face few had seen in the town, ever at the safe return of the young rider.

"Not now Calle!" Tico quickly retorted. "There is a Valtrex army headed your direction! We have to flee." Calle knocked her head back and contorted slightly in confusion as she had yet to see signs of a military advance. Tico could see the words were falling flat. He dismounted and began explaining the mass of dust he and his friends saw as they reached the village. "Calle, we have at best two hours before they are upon us."

"How large do you estimate?"

"Large, far too large for us and six other riders to win in battle against." Calle was puzzled as to what to do. It was her charge that the town of Riserstead be kept safe. The town was the northern expedition base camp after all, and news of the fall of Jule had not reached these parts yet. Tico, Calle and the others were under the assumption that Shenis was on his way back with more fighting men, ready to bolster and continue their campaign. The cavalier was in a perplexing scenario. What to do as the news of a thundering army of great strength was currently marching this way. With nothing more than herself and 6 horsemen to stop the incoming tide.

"I will ride out." Tico was confused by this response from his commanding officer.

"Ride out, you must be joking. We need to flee with all haste as anything other than a full retreat will lead to wanton loss of life."

"Tico, I was charged with guarding this town. We have begun fortifying the defenses and I know our lord is on the march to reinforce the position. I must hold for as long as I am able." Calle gave the order to ready the riders. She quickly began suiting up for combat. Her goal was more than a simple fool's charge into death's embrace. She believed the move to ride out would ensure a greater degree of safety for the people of the village, but also that they would and could perhaps buy time for Shenis and whatever military reinforcement he was arriving with the chance to reach Riserstead.

"Tico. You are to rid south and see if you can find the lord Savoy and embolden him to quicken his pace to our position." Tico explained the trio of siblings he had enlisted into his company as they were nearing view of Calle. The cavalier understood and asked Tico to inform them to move with the scout at their own pace toward the south in hopes of running into their Lord. Tico was not thrilled by the request as he could see in Calle's eyes that she knew what this day would perhaps bring. Calle seeing her scout's concern embraced the young man as a sister embraces a younger brother. She held his head to her chest and thanked him for his service and loyalty and then pushed him back signaling he needed to once more ride and ride true. Tico paced backward until running into his steed at which he gripped the reigns after stumbling for a moment. As he mounted he and Calle exchanged one final look of remembrance with each other as she herself ascended atop her mount. Tico then knocked his horse hard and galloped with haste to his young friends who were fast approaching.

Calle turned back once more as she heard the sound of a single horse bolting into the horizon. She then turned her attention to the other riders in her charge. The six riders with her had a series of mixed responses. One seemed ready to loss his nerve, whilst another looked poised for battle. She looked over at another and saw a face that believed he would not only survive this sortie but also walk away victorious. Calle envied his belief.

"I know this doesn't look good men. But we must draw this encroaching force away from the town. And we must do so with good strategy and movement. I need you all to trust me and follow closely." The six still readying themselves focused up and calmed their restlessness and rattling from tightening and latching on their armor.

"What are our orders?"

"We are to march in a single line and blitz strike at the enemy line. In doing this our goal is not so much to break them or slay them, but we wish to ride directly through their lines and then break North West. Our goal is to ride straight through them and thus break their focus from the town and perhaps draw them away from the settlement." Several of the men looked dejected at the proposed stratagem. A move seemed by all to be extra risky and with a very high probability of mortality. The prospect of a single line of 7 would make for easy catapult and ballista targets. However Calle reminded them that the encroaching force seems to be moving with purpose and is not an entrenched siege effort, meaning longbows, ballista and siege weapons would be so far in the rear if brought with the force that they are unable to be used upon the riders.

"What above a column approach, captain?" a rider spoke with hope in his throat.

"A column could work but it makes it even riskier if a lead rider is knocked down. Single file gives us the highest chance of breaking the lines clean. With minimal risk of survival as an all or nothing ploy." She could tell the riders were pacing themselves slower in their battle prep. Clinging to the air of peace as if slowing their ready would postpone the onslaught. "Join me facing the horde once ready." She rode to position.

Atop her steed in the cool of the early evening the cavalier felt the burden of leadership and honor upon her. Slowly the men rallied to her position, nervous, eager, and scared. They still came and fell to position. Calle was proud as she counted out and saw all six of her riders were at her side. In the distance toward the south, she saw her friend Tico blazing deep a trail toward Jule, with a growing margin behind him the band of three teens the scout spoke of. She smiled as she could see the teens were safer with each step as she believed with her actions the township in her charge would perhaps be. "Run, young people." She whispered as the horde approached and entered the towns view as their armor beamed the low moonlight with defining glint, showing both the mass of the force and the truth that this army was properly equipped unlike the prior encounter Calle had experienced. She smiled further remembering this would now be the third battle she had partaken in over this tiny township, a township that would not be listed on many maps.

Silenced entered. The time for memory was over as the Captain gritted down. Though the mission was death, she would not yield. She draws her sword and positions it to gleam moonlight back toward the enemy lines. The rider bucks her horse, forcing the power beast to its back legs. The horse stands tall and so does the leader of the small band. The front hooves return to the Earth and Calle darts forth into the unknown of night. The movement emboldens the others one by one as they too signal to their horse the purpose. Cries echo force in the night air, as quickly a thick cool pulse forms. The riders thunder in unison as they take to position in the thundering line pounding loose dirt as they advance. The enemy is far off…But not far enough off.

"What do you know Brother, we have us a couple of brave ones!" Peter speaks as he perks up at the moonlight on the sword and lance tips. The faint cries of a few scared boys grow in their infantile volume, from a mute moan, to a slight groan in his ears.

"What a pity, it is so few." Flynn says as he is saddened that the army will not have a proper challenge.

"A battle is a battle Brother." Peter stretches his arms out as he rallies a core group from his unit. The men rally to him and march faster, going from a nice paced walk to a trotting speed, seeking to close the gap quicker. Flynn laughs as the smaller band breaks away. The general keeps the march steady as he is more than okay with his wild brother enjoying himself.

Calle in a thundering gallop notices the glints closing in quicker. She is encouraged at the sight of a smaller band making their way. Rather than the full force she may yet stand a chance if she can repel this smaller group. Peter was moving to purpose but with really only 20 of his men at his side.

"THUCK!" "THUD" "NEIGHHH!" only a few moments had passed but the distance had been closed. To Calle surprise as a rider directly next to her had been struck and killed, falling prey to a flung axe into the chest. She then looks back to the front and sees what lies ahead.

"HALLLTTT!" The command from the rider comes too late as 3 more of her riders mush straight into a spearwall repelling them from their horse and the horse unto the ground with a grueling series of panicked cries. Calle reacted quick enough to change her direction and pace seeking to regroup.

"AHHHH!" Another of the riders found himself caught, cut, and now culled by the warrior of the Valtrex clan. His oversized battle axe drenched in flesh and blood as he slung it back onto his shoulder. His victim fell from his steed after a few more strides. The shift in weight took the horse to ground with him. Peter, walked slowly to the steed and stomped on his head silencing the frightened animal.

"Shut up!" He exclaimed in a raised but calm tone. "You make too much noise for something so weak." His attention turned to the final two cavaliers in his group's midst.

"How dare you!" a rider strode in and landed a stout blow to the shoulder on the warrior. However, the blade failed to pierce the hide armor worn by the man. He struck again and again. Yet, His blade could not pierce the man.

"This isn't how you kill someone boy!" The raised voice of calm from the warrior struck through the air and instantly ceased the rider's motivation and will to fight. His arms dropped as he sat upon the horse. Peter grabbed him by the heel and ripped him clean from the horse. As he collided with the ground Peter slammed his axe into the man's sternum. Blood surged from the chest as the axe was quickly removed revealing the caved cut hole in the armor of the rider and the man drifted into death as blood filled his lungs and throat, culminating in a trickle protruding from his mouth.

Calle thrust and parried and thrust as she moved about the cluster of men doing all she could to keep the spears from both herself and her horse. However she was at a disadvantage with the sword in hand as the lanes all had the ability to keep her nearly at a safe distance, and even when she was connecting with her strikes they were blunt and weak, barely able to dent the helmet. Still even as she saw her final companion fall. The rider continued her war. Swinging wilder and wilder she would not let this be a pure massacre. She is determined.

"STAND DOWN!" a voice calls out and the rider finds the spears still at the ready but growing in distance from her. She turns her horse back and forth seeking the origin of the command. "Can you at least humor me?" the warrior called to the rider. "Unlike these other disappointments." Calle now fully grasped that she was already alone. She quickly glances at the fallen horses and riders that trusted her and followed her to their doom.

"For Shenis!" She whispers as she makes a break from the warrior. The moonlight is dim but enough to see what need be. Calle seeks to land one final good blow. Her horse is honest, her blade is sharp, her aim in unobscured.
"SHUNK!" Peter slides to the right and swings the axe clean through separating the front legs from the horse, using its own momentum against it. The horse cries as it falls face first into the ground, snapping its own neck and providing a quick death. Calle is thrown from the steed and smacks hard into the ground. In the crash her grip on her sword is loosed. She is dazed. She is hurt. She tries to get up, but notices her left leg is bent backward. She tries to breath, but then finds her sword sheathed in her chest, puncturing her lung. She is tearing up as she knows death looms. She tries to crawl. Peter steps upon her legs and upon her back. She coughs up blood and still will not fall from her elbows as she stays upon them, in spite of all the pain, the spirit of a leader, a warrior, a woman resides in her. She keeps huffing. Even as Peter readies his axe one last time this evening. "My Lord Shenis…"

"SLIT" The axe caves in and splits her skull at once. The rider dies and yet does not fall from her elbows which she has proper herself from the ground with. Peter easily removes the axe from Calle and noticing the resolve of the rider, gives a nod of acceptance and respect. While she didn't threaten the Warrior, or provide him with a real challenge, she showed grit. And Peter despite being a tad wild, respect that immensely.

"Private!" The warrior called to his nearest soldier as he wicked the blood and bone from the axe. "Tell my brother to change the banners of Riserstead." While he had no true knowledge that this was all the township could muster for a defense. He figured that such a pitiful and futile effort would only be done if numbers were absent from the town.

The men of Valtrex had reclaimed their southern outpost with the slaughter of a mere men riders and their horses.