Jason Sterling stared open mouthed at the vast army gathered across the valley against them. The Tyrant of Alepp had assembled nearly fifty thousand pirates against them. Jason had convinced four of the nobles to join them. Once Baron Hilldeg had joined the cause with 4500 men; the Baron's Northdrop, Rocktren, and Bukten had gathered under the banner of Commander March with 10,000 men. With his own 2,000 men, they had around 18,000. Having been joined by companies of volunteers, they had marched onward to meet the enemy in the Vale of the Ford.
A deep, churning river rushed and roar from a waterfall at one end of the Vale, and traveled ten miles until the bend in the Ford. The valley had been named for the Ford of Calpe, which was just in front of Jason. Well, not right in front, they were on the crest of the valley, and had to descend half a mile and ride along for about a mile before they reached the ford. But it was still in front of Jason, whatever the distance.
Adrenaline was pumping through his veins, adrenaline that he had never experienced before. As he listened to Eric and the four Barons riding along the lines encouraging the men, he thought of the last three weeks since they had that fateful fight in the ravine. He still worried about Abraham, Frodo and Lydia not being back, but his place was here in the attempt to try to free Alepp once and for all. He reminisced about how he had met Mary in the hall before leaving with the Baron and Eric. This was only the second conversation between them, but they seemed to have an immediate connection.
"Master Sterling, I pray that you will survive this war! I know you are our deliverer, and that once you have accomplished the journey before you, you will depart your world.. I would enjoy seeing you after this all blows over, and maybe we could get to know each other before you depart."
Jason bowed, "Of course, m'Lady."
"And one other thing, I would very much appreciate if you would were this as a token of me into battle.'' She stretched out a handkerchief, indicating that he should take it.
Jason hesitated, "Lady Mary, I would not want to give you any false pretenses-"
She cut him off with a merry laugh, "You would be doing me a disservice by not taking this. And besides, my father guards me, you will not have to worry to much about me. Many boys had tried to win my hand, but my father has always been my protector."
Jason smiled, "Good. I will wear it." With that, he has kissed her proffered hand swiftly kissing it, and departed to the main hall and out into the courtyard.
Sterling snapped back to the present, when Commander March reined up next to him. He was to ride with the leaders and captains into the battle first. "Are you ready?" Eric asked kindly.
Jason gripped his spear tighter, and grimaced, "As ready as I'll ever be."
Baron Hilldeg clapped him on the back, grinning, "Of course you are. I can't wait to see your skill in arms."
Jason inhaled deeply, "I hope so." He gave a weak smile.
Laughing together, the leaders got into position. "Ready? Do you want to do it?" March questioned Hilldeg.
"No. You have earned the right." Joseph said, suddenly serious.
Turning in his saddle, Commander Eric bellowed, "For Elohim and country!"
18,000 voices roared in reply. With a mighty shout of, "Elohim and country!" They Aleppians charged down the hillside upon the ford, as the Pirates yelled and rattled their shield and dashed down the opposite slope. Eric, Jason, Hilldeg, Northdrop, Rocktren, and Bukten led their companies into battle. Heavy armed horsemen went first and the footmen charged behind them. Sir Evans led the company of volunteers.
The army of 18,000 clashed with the larger army square at the river ford. The armored horsemen drove deep into the ranks of the Pirates. Jason hadn't spotted anyone with the mark of the Emperor. He would most definitely stand out with many plums and banners. Or that's what he thought from the stories he had heard.
Jason launched his spear aimed directly at the heart of one of the foremost horsemen, who dropped like a sack of grain. Jason drew his sword. The adrenaline came rushing out. He was no longer nervous or scared, he was a warrior. He was going to free Alepp. With this thought, he transformed into a mighty man of valor. His six foot five inch frame stood out, and attracted many of the mighty pirates, but he felled everyone of them.
After two hours of fighting, and despite the encouragements and prayers of the leaders, the men were being pressed back. Soon companies were fleeing, the onslaught was too great. Jason Sterling and the other leaders tried to rally the troops, but only a core group stood there ground. And even they were starting to lose ground.
Commander March was wounded with an arrow that had lodged in his thigh. Sir Evans was nowhere to be seen. The four barons were standing firm, but Rocktren had a disabled left arm, Northdrop had a broken rib, but the rest were fine and wholesome. These and one hundred others were standing firm against the entire force of the Pirate horde. But they could only stand for so long, one by one the Pirate bowmen hid behind their lines and shot the champions down one by one.
When all seemed lost, there was a mighty shout from the back of the multitude of Pirates, and out poured the Wildmen of the Woods. And to Jason's short-lived pleasure, Frodo and Ab at their head. Suddenly, the strength came back into the arms of the mighty men of Alepp, and they rose up and charged and the Pirates could not withstand the assault. The Men of the Forest crashed in from the back, and the Aleppians pushed in from the front.
Before they knew it the Pirates were fleeing, and the victorious Aleppians pursued them. Too tired to think about chasing them down, Jason turned to face his friends. His brothers he had not seen in a long time. He started to sprint towards Frodo, who was likewise racing to him. But before they had covered half the distance, an arrow whistled out of nowhere and found it's mark in Frodo. Frodo halted in surprise, looked at Jason, and collapsed where he stood.
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