Chapter 1

Night had come swiftly that day, the dark clouds above all but smothering the sliver of a moon vainly trying to shine it's silver light down upon us. The others were quiet, we had been fighting for almost two days straight, those that were left numbered just under fifty. On the morning we would face near two hundred foot and a hundred mounted men.

It was more our fault that this situation arose, for we did not think that our foe would arrive with such numbers. We had managed to hold the pass with half their numbers but each day more of ours would fall.

The battle had continued on with little respite for those of us left, until night came that evening, for it was far to dark to cross the treacherous grounds before us, to continue the fight. Though that did us little if any good, for even this small reprieve would not last, for I could feel the tensions of the silent few near me clotting the air like a heavy mist. No one spoke but the air reeked of fear and despair, few would survive. Most likely none would, save for myself, but than I can not die, which is little consolation at a time like this.

The men surrounding me were my friends, I had trained and trained with them. If my count was correct I was now the second in command under just one other soldier who had the unlucky fortune of being promoted over me the day before. Not that I was bitter, I was pleased for him to hold such an honor even for so little a time. Shortly after our general had the unfortunate grace to fall to a simple foot soldier's pike.

As I sat and stared at the fires across the rocky field I was drawn out of my reverie by a tentative tap on my shoulder. As I turned I was greeted by my commanding officer, he spoke with a quiet urgency his voice barely above a whisper,"I wish to speak with you."

I nodded even though he would be unable to see, and rose, together we softly picked our way to teh back of the line and he laid out his plan to me. "We're all going to die here, I sent a runner back to the city to warn them of our failure, and perhaps the rest of teh army will be able to advance and meet them not far from us. We have a more difficult task ahead, they are going to storm us with their cavalry onthe morrow, no matter our defenses we will be unable to survive that."

I simply nodded, as a cloud drifted out of teh path of the moon I could once again see his face, I had forgotten how young he was, barely twenty if a day, a wisp of a beard barely covering his cheeks and chin. At that moment my heart fell, he was to young to be leading this army, and younger still to throw his life away for someone elses fight. Alas that is how things happen those who should not are and those whou should aren't.

The sky once again darkend as a heavy black cloud crept it's way across teh sky once again shying the moon away from us. "I think we should take every man and make our move tonight. They will be caught off gaurd and if we can frighten their horses they may cause far more damage than I could hope."

"If we can get the horses to charge into the camp," I said some what doubtful, even though I would have suggested the same course.

"Yes, which is why I need you to lead the men. We'll station them aound one side of the camp with bows, and fire into the camp after the horses have done their work. You should be far enough away that they won't be able to see you and you'll have the fire on your side."

I nodded again knowing this to be most likely the best course of action, "and you'll be leading the group against the horses?"

He nodded, even though I could not see it I did not need to for I had already known what he was planning when he spoke of the plan. "Don't do this, I can lead the team to free the horses, you may be able to salvage what's left of this and still make it home."

"No, they won't listen to me, we both know that," he cut me off harshly, "none of the men respect me, nor do they agree with my promotion. They WILL listen to you, if you claim the idea as your own they will agree with it."

I believe he could tell my reaction to this thought even though he could not see my face, I spoke no more of it, he was going to walk into the mouth of death, not for glory nor pride, but for teh love of his country and of his men. War did strange things to men, those that are brave cower and those who seem meek of heart flourish, but this was a battle doomed to fail, and the remaining three hundreed we were facing might cower at the losses they might face if the plan worked.

Again I nodded, and he extended his hand and I gripped it tightly, as I strode away from him and silently began gathering those that were left. As we all huddled together I outlined the plan, but instead of attributing it to myself I made it know it was his idea. The dark silence that followed after I finished was heavy and oppressive but than one man spoke up. "I will go with him."

Than another and a third and a fourth, as we crept forward in the darkness I once again met my commanding officer as he slid up beside me and he whispered in my ear, "I thank you but you did not need to do that."

"Of course I did," I replied as I looked up at the dark sky, "if someone survives it shoudl be known what you did and what you accomplished when men thought greater than all of us could not, you could. You're doing it right now, you are a great leader my friend."

He almost laughed at me, "I'm no leader and I'm no warrior. i'm just a sheep herder from a small town."

I clapped him on teh shoulder softly and squeezed reassuringly, "no you are a hero. Let it be known that you did what needed to be done inorder to protect those who could not protect themselves."

He nodded, and I nodded and as I let go he and the four other men crept away and into the enemy camp.