Death and Honor part 4

It had been seven bloody days since Chieftain Keagan and the war band of Gradith Azul had ridden to battle.  Aria sat in the Great Hall receiving messages from the members of the Masked Riderum.  The shadow force had been entrusted with the task of keeping the city-fort abreast of battlefield conditions.  The battle had drawn the war band farther north than anyone had foreseen.

The barbarians had joined forces with the savage beastmen that wandered the countryside in herds.  Never had such an alliance been made before.  In addition it seemed as though the enemy somehow managed to constantly keep one step ahead of the Maltean forces.  The toll on their numbers had already been great and reinforcements had been sent twice already from the city.  The surplus of battle capable men was now practically exhausted and things were not looking at all well for the war band that had ridden out.

Even as Aria thought thing could go no worse, Mac ‘Althur one of the Riderum came charging into the hall out of breath.  “Chieftess, dreadful news!” he panted as he jogged up to the dias where the thrones sat.

Aria dropped the most recent battle report she was pouring over and leapt to intercept the man in three quick strides.  “Calm yourself ‘Althur and speak quickly.  What has happened to our people?” she asked.

“It’s that bastard of a whelp Camryn al’Noit.  He joined with the barbarians and has been informing them of the war council’s movements.  He knows how the warlords move and their tactics.  He is the reason our men have met such resistance.  And now the barbarians have ambushed the war band as we were returning to Gradith Azul my lady!  Three warlords have fallen and the Chieftain among them.  They need all able men to ride out and do battle!” he gasped as he finished.  His words stumbling over each other in his urgency to explain the situation, the emotion clear on his face.

Everything slowed to a crawl in Aria’s mind as she heard of her fathers falling in battle.  Her eyes grew dark and a ringing grew in her ears, drowning out the shouts of admonishment from Man ‘Althur for action.  She began to waver on her feet and came back to her senses as she collapsed into the arms of near by councilors.

“Sound the alarm ‘Althur.  Gather everyone to the gates,” she said without looking at him.  “Hurry,” she gasped.

“Yes Chieftess!” he said as he turned and ran from the hall.  “Carwyn, Hunter,” she called to two guards nearby. Gather the militia, immediately.”

“Yes my lady!” they saluted as they ran after ‘Althur.

* * * * *

Moments later the bulk of Gradith Azul’s residents had gathered along with the militia, by the city gates.  The buzzing and hum of conversation droned like a thousand angry bees.  Marching from the hall came Aria, outfitted in the light leather and steel armor favored by most Maltean warriors.  In her right hand she held a recurve bow and at her hip hung a quiver bristling with black and red arrows.  The crowd settled to a hush as they looked upon the intensity of the young woman’s face.

She jumped up to the back of a waiting supply wagon and addressed the assembled population of the city in a strong voice.  “Our war band that rode out to face the barbarian hoards has been betrayed by one we once new as our own!” she shouted, anger clear on her face.  “Three of our warlords may have already fallen to this cur’s treachery,” she paused to compose herself and continued, “Our Chieftain is among those three” she chocked out, her voice raw with emotion.  “They need our help.  All of our men have ridden to war save those few who remained to protect our city.  So to you, our women I turn!”  Her eyes scanned the mass of upturned faces, making eye contact with so many.

“We have been trained since our birth as archers and fighters though we do not practice these skills for war but for sport.  Today this changes.  For those willing I ask you to return quickly and prepare to ride with me to war.  Gather your weapons, your bows, your horses, as quickly as possible.  We ride light and we ride fast.  There is no time to doubt our selves.  Our country men, our brothers, husbands…our fathers wait on us.”  She paused to look deep into the hearts of her people.  “Join me now.  Please.”

Almost as one the crowd dispersed rapidly.  Some of the people ran to their homes to gather their weapons others preparing horses and packs of supplies for those that would ride out.  Within moments more than one hundred women were mounted and prepared to ride out.  Part of the city’s militia stood ready to ride out as well, while another group of women and young men began taking their places along parapets and in towers to replace those men that were leaving.

Looking across the faces of those gathered, Aria felt a tremendous pride swell inside her, almost to bursting.  She was somewhere between tears and screaming as she heard the gates of the city creak open.  She became calm as she turned her horse to look out to the horizon where her father and her people were dying because of one mans betrayal.  Then suddenly all her raw emotion settled to a simmering anger as a dangerous clarity swept over her.

She completed the circle she was making as she turned back to face the collection of warriors waiting her order.  She raised her fist high in the air and stood in the stirrups of her saddle.  “For victory and honor my sisters of battle!” she cried.

As one the silence was shattered by the sound of one hundred women, with fists, bows, swords, and axes held high, “For death and glory!” they cried in return.

* * * * *

“And with that, Chieftess Aria, the Bow of Gradith Azul, rode forth with her war band,” said grandmother with her gentle strong voice.  “And from that day forward we women have forever been riding to war alongside our men.”  She groaned as she stood, “Now then little ones, away with you.  Off to your beds, fire burns low and the moon is high.”  She shooed the more reluctant ones with the hem of her robes as the children murmured and complained sleepily as they left for their homes.

“Thank you grandmother for the story,” young Arriane said softly as she kissed the elder woman on the cheek.  “I very much enjoyed it,” she said as she turned to walk off.

“Remember well the story of her courage my child,” the older woman said as the young girl walked off.  “Remember it well, for one day soon you too will be called on to save your people.”