The Gathering Storm

Few epics from heroic ages past ever sported such a strange array of beings and peoples. No poets had ever sung of such an army, many kinds joined together against a common foe.



Certainly he had had problems on the march. He had heard mutters against sorcery. He had heard men whispering that it wasn’t right to consort with pagans and heretics, or whether it was right for a child to challenge a parent or a lord to challenge the wisdom of the skopos. But their fear and their doubt was also their strength. They had, most of them, thrown over their old prejudices out of loyalty to him. The Wendishmen might distrust the Quman, but they granted them a measure of respect. And frankly, for the men, there was something heartening about fighting alongside centaurs, that ancient race that had once burned the holy city of Darre. Their inhuman nature was always visible to any man with eyes, yet they had a kind of beauty as well. Now and again Sanglant had seen a man stare dreamily at one of their Bwr allies, and more than a few times he had caught himself admiring their robust figures clad in nothing beside the accoutrements of war and wondering at the mystery of their existence. Now and again he had to remind himself that they weren’t women at all. Now, like the rest of his army, they waited with spears or bows or swords held ready.



It was so damned hot. He prayed that he had not moved too soon, that this wait in the stifling heat would not sap his army, and indeed it was midafternoon before Henry’s army marched into view and began to form up in battle array. Two well ordered contingents of infantry, one wearing the tabard of the King’s Lions and the other Wendish milites out of Saony, flanked a mass of cavalry riding under his father’s banner, the conjoined sigils of Wendar and Varre. The banner displaying the imperial crown flew gloriously above all the rest as a bannerman hauled it back and forth to let the fabric stream.



Henry’s farthest left and right flanks were held by alternating bands of cavalry and infantry belonging to various nobles from Aosta. Missing was the banner of Duchess Liutgard of Fesse. Wichman had noted this force but a few hours ago and now they were gone.



Indeed, Wichman left the center and rode back to inform him of this fact, galloping up onto the rise with a gleeful grin on his face.



“D’ya see that?” he called breathlessly as soon as he came within shouting distance of the prince. “That bitch will have taken a force around our flank. They’ll go north into the woods and swing around to hit our defensive line from the northwest, where we’re thinnest. Best to send the reserve to meet them.”



“Do you think so?” Sanglant shook his head. “Henry will stall to give her time to arrive. He’ll have her attack at the same time he’ll signal Queen Adelheid to sally forth from the walls.” Check, his father would say in a confident way that encouraged one to resign the game right then. “Nay, Wichman. The next move is mine. We’ll not spread ourselves thin. We’ll win this battle before Liutgard can get all the way around our position.”



Wichman snorted. “Henry outnumbers us! That’s just what’s on the field. Who knows how many wait with the queen to attack us from the rear.”



“Numbers aren’t everything. We have winged riders, and Bwr, and griffins. We are bold, not cautious.” He stood in his stirrups, lifting his lance as he gestured toward the imperial banner, then shifted his gaze to stare down his cousin. “I challenge you! Will it be you, or me, that captures the banner bearing the sigil of the crown of stars?”



Wichman laughed outright, outraged and delighted, and reined his horse around before Sanglant could say another word.



“Look there,” called Hathui. A dozen riders rode forward from Henry’s front line bearing the Lion, Eagle, and Dragon flag of Wendar. “They want a parley.”



Sanglant nodded at Chustaffus, who lifted the black dragon banner once, twice, and thrice. They rode down the rise and advanced to the forefront of the host, dust spitting up where hooves struck. As they passed through the Wendish line, a cheer rose and continued until he gestured and Chustaffus raised the banner for silence. They stood at the edge of the tributary stream. Across the cracked and stony bed waited those who spoke for the emperor.



He recognized three of these noble courtiers, two armed and one a cleric.



It was the cleric, one of Henry’s schola, who spoke. “Sanglant, the emperor Henry, your father, begs you to lay down your arms and embrace him as a son should. Have you forsaken God and parent alike? How can you rebel against the one who gave you life? He weeps, wondering what madness possesses his beloved son.”



All suffered under the sun’s hammer. Sweat flowed freely. Resuelto twitched his ears. The heat would drain them long before courage flagged.