Chapter 1
“Now comrades, I must warn you
these vile vermin and low life scum are nothing more than peasants! Peasants
who had the audacity to remove their beloved king from his well-deserved
throne,” said the mad king as he stared at the outrageously constructed wall
which could be seen even at about a week’s journey away, which was the around
same amount of time facing the king and his army. By now they were closer to
the small kingdom of Selah rather than the kingdom that he felt belonged to
him. After the rebellion the king’s personal army had dwindled to two hundred
and his officials down to three. Ever resilient, the king managed to build up
his army to a drastically larger number than even he thought possible.
Two score peasants that he used as
his personal servants, a hundred more poorly trained combatants equipped with
nothing more than metallic pipes and sharpened sticks (only there to stand in
front of the ranks and take the blunt of any beating, basically suicide
missions). A score of decent knights who had chain-mail armor rickety weaponry,
but amazing sills in battle making them more valuable and less expendable.
Three score soldiers to match his own and a dozen of Calvary men with horses.
Lastly, he enjoyed the company of flutists and drummers, more whores then he
could count or handle. Plus, he had strategically “borrowed” archers from the
small city-state of Rokur (More like killed the governor and convinced a group
of warriors to join his cause and their reward was all the gold they could ever
want). He had somewhat of a royal king’s militia, so he had hoped. The citizens
of Starla had been secretly training young men to become fighters and by now he
was sure they had chosen a new leader who continued this training, especially
since news of his escape have been known around the world by now.
The king needed a plan if he wanted
to penetrate the walls of his own kingdom. He needed a bigger army and he was
sure if he pleaded he could convince Selah’s king, King Darrial to loan him a
few fighters. Both kingdoms had been warring with each other even before he was
born and surely if he could offer them peace Darrial would loan him his whole
army. Still, that was a big if, the king had been gone for quite a while and
the possibility that Selah and Starla had come to an agreement were highly
plausible. Nonetheless, he couldn’t come running up to his old kingdom with no
more than his numbers and expect to have an easy go of it. The king called for
a halt and instructed his head officers to set up camp. That night he, his officials, and his captains met to discuss their future plans. In attendance was the mad king,
his closest official, Jordan, the head of the army, Heinrich, Matthais, the the sorcerer and Gengrich, the
most secretive of them all.
“We're no less than a week's journey from our victory, now I've sent to scouts to get wind on Selah. See if those savages have made any sort of agreement with my kingdom in my absence," Jordan said, "If they haven't I suggest we get their support, those dirty, filthy, peasants will have surrounded their walls with archers, soldiers, warriors, allies, and any and all natures of beast just ready to attack if they get any whiff of the smallest enemy." The group was in general agreeance. Everyone expressed their support for the idea, except one. "What makes any of you believe we can't take those peasants?" Said the king, "Do you doubt my prowess? Do you believe I'm an ineffective leader, that I can't squash FILTHY, DIRTY, LITTLE MAGGOTS BETWEEN THE COARSE OF MY FINGERS?" All of those in attendance frightened daring one to disagree so they won't have to run into battle overwhelmed. "S-s-sir, your highness.... it's not that we don't----" Heinrich's words stopped short as he saw the king reach for his blade. "Even you, a big burly strong man as yourself is scared of me and my power." The king said with a near smirk. "Hahaha, you guys need not sit their scared out of your wits. Powerful I am, stupid I am not. We will see if the scouts return us good news. If they do, we will make our move."
**Nightfall**
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