laneys.info Beware of Yankees, drunks, and loose women.

As the four ships neared the empty port town of Arras, the captain informed his passengers that they would be stopping to gather fresh water and allow the horses to stretch their legs, which all agreed. Alex stood on the crowded deck as the crewmen tossed ropes to those who had jumped to the dock and tied them off. Amidst the discussions, someone shushed all aboard and eyes gravitated to Sir Alister.

"Battle," he pointed north which prompted all to gather their weapons and armor as the horses were brought up. Alex raced back down the narrow stairway to the large open berthing area that they had to share with everyone to gather Stephen's armor and his own as well. He meandered through the bustling bodies and soon approached the knight and helped him don his armor.

"Send riders ahead and investigate this battle," Stephen directed as fighters soon ran across the gangway and into the ruin of Arras where they mounted their horses and sped through the quiet streets of the burned out town.

Alex mounted as Stephen and Kenneth joined the other templar and paladins from the other three ships, then followed through the line of blackened homes and businesses to join the scouts on the northern gatehouse. Sir Lericanin turned and leaned over the parapets as the paladins approached.

"What news," Stephen asked.

"Two large units of knights are engaged with an army of orcs and goblins. I've sent two scouts to the east to pick us a route through the trees and bring us on their flank."

"Well done," Stephen stated as he turned to the paladins at his side, "Let's to the gate and rescue these men."

Alex followed as clacking on the flagstone echoed within the narrow streets until they reached and crossed the drawbridge that led east. The long line of knights and squires rode quickly and quietly into the forest passing gutted farms and homes until reaching the flank of the fighting armies who had chosen a wide open field to engage in. Stephen motioned and brought everyone up into line along the trees. Once done, he unsheathed his sword and pointed which prompted the paladins and templar to charge down the long slope and into the enemy's flank. Alex sped behind with the other squires and watched the dark armor of the enemy be consumed by the mounted knights and soon vanish beneath their hooves.
A loud cheer went up as the other two units waved their sword and weapons in victory, then began carrying their wounded towards the city. He noted the heraldry of the mounted unit of red field sporting a white horses head and two white flowers to either side denoting the Frontiersmen, a scout and ranger unit used in the hinterlands by many kings.
The second was a simple, larger, white horses head on red field denoting the Order of Dina. It's cavaliers had given their pledge to the unit that the emperor had formed himself and named after his mother.

Alex joined the group and burned the dead enemy bodies in the field where they fell as the sun dipped below the horizon. As the fire rose, they turned and left the memory of those they had killed to the surrounding forests and fields.

"I heard that the two Orders that we fought with today will be joining us northward," Darvin informed.

"Where are they going to fit on the ships," Arthur asked, the squire to Sir Alister. "Its going to be another day or so to our destination."

"It'll be a tight fit, unless they're going to ride along the shoreline." Darvin shouldered his shovel as they neared the drawbridge.

"On the boat would be faster, I think," Alex added. "Though, I agree it will be a tight fit. Ship travel in the berthing area is already uncomfortable enough as it is."

* * *

Two weeks northward through the burned out remains of many towns and villages finally brought them to the southern shores of the large lake that bordered the farmlands of Couronne itself. Lake Siret fronted the paladin and templar as they dismounted and gazed across the placid lake to the tall tower that stood on the northwestern corner. Beyond, the evening's light picked out the distant city that rose and commanded a wide hill at the foot of the Gredos Mountains beyond. Black smoke and fires lined the eastern walls and even from this distance, they could tell that the city was still holding on.

As they set up camp, Alex gathered packs and set them out near the horses who he had just watered and led back. Soon, Stephen returned with Sir Kenneth and they claimed a spot on the ground as he handed them some jerky and their waterskins.

"We attack tomorrow morning, so get your rest. We've sent some of the Frontiersmen to the east to find us a fording point so, hopefully we can join the two armies that they sighted earlier."

"We know they're friendly," Alex asked.

"Yes, one is the dwarven army of the Black Anvil Clan. We're not sure who the second is but, we'll find out soon enough."

"The dwarves did come," Alex smiled. "That'll make Artek and his cousins happy."

"That makes me happy too," Stephen agreed. "If we're to lift the siege of Couronne, I can't think of anyone better to have on our flank."

Soon, Alex laid down but knew that with what was to happen tomorrow, he couldn't sleep. As the night claimed the activity within the silent camp, he drifted in and out of dreams that carried him many places, some of which he recognized until a form approached and kneeled nearby.

"Alex, get up," Sir Kenneth stated. "We're breaking camp."

"Alright." He quickly resumed his duties in the darkness and got them prepared to leave as the knights soon led their horses through the forest eastward as the scouts soon led them to a shallow point which they crossed. After he led his horse up the opposite bank, he followed the long column west and towards their allies awaiting within the bordering trees, keeping the long river to their left until arriving at the northeastern corner of the Lake.

Stephen turned as the column stopped and handed Alex his reins. "Alexander, I want you to stay in the rear and guard the healers. Keep the horses with you in case we need them, but ensure that the ladies in the rear are safe."

"Of course, sir."

"Arhus will guide us today, even if we haven't been able to hear his voice," the paladin smiled, then turned to pick his way through the mustering lines beyond. Alex's blue eyes followed the golden rays of sunlight that pierced the boughs above and highlighted the armor and surcoats that stood now in their ranks facing the distant line of black armor in the field beyond. Their tall flags quietly waved in the morning breeze and sported a red sun on black field. The same heraldry that he had noticed on the walls in the dormitory of Durkheim.

As Stephen spoke to the troops, Alex noticed the flying battle in the skies above the city and he stood amazed at the acrobatics and fiery explosions that erupted from them occasionally. He then realized that they were dragons and his heart leapt in disbelief as one dark form sped over the eastern walls, spewing flaming death onto the defenders.

Loud battlecries brought his attention back to the battle before him and he scanned right to notice the large mob that centered their army and noticed the blue painted zealots who screamed as they charged the awaiting enemy, prompting Stephen to quicken their pace to keep the widening gap from becoming a weakness. As if in a meatgrinder, he watched as the patient enemy fired into the center while other zealots disappeared from view. Within several hours, the fighting produced more injured and wounded than Selyria and her helpers could keep up with until the horn blew the retreat. He wasn't sure who signaled it until he noticed the central army falling back in disarray and the templar with their cavalier allies back to the treeline also.

The usual aftermath chaos ensued and he soon noticed Sir Stephen being carried back to them and his eyes widened. Approaching, he led the horses nearby, then let their reins go as he kneeled beside Sir Kenneth.

"He'll survive," the elder fighter informed. "He's had much worse."

"What happened," Alex queried as Stephen's eyes fluttered open and turned to him.

"The center was being decimated," Stephen informed in whispering tones as sweat poured from his brow. "That General of Arhus's Enlightened needs a new leader. Our enemy was too well prepared for that kind of tactic."

"We'll keep our perimeter and hit them again tomorrow."

Stephen nodded weakly as Selyria soon tended to his wounds.

* * *

That night, movement in the fields below alarmed the camp who mustered and formed up along the treeline. As Alex remained vigilant near the rear with the wounded, a loud shriek resounded within the dark forest as he heard someone sprinting from the army and run eastward. His breathing slowed as he braced himself for the worst, especially after seeing the dragons fighting that morning. But none came and soon the army marched, line abreast down into the field.
Soon, a rider returned.

"The enemy is gone. We're taking the wounded into the city. We've won."