Blade of Fate

"At Ropes End"

"It was the last crusade, I, one of the lower ranked captains is stationed at the eastern part of Europe. Compared back home to Italy, it is very lonely here, not much to look but sandy horizons, abandoned villages and passing merchants that are possibly enemies. Still, I do have company, a large brotherhood of a force of one hundred twenty strong. Now currently gathered within the mercy of an abandoned enemy fortress, surrounded by sand barren wasteland, dusty indeed for every breath we take, little shards of small pierce our skin, and while the hellish heat burn our wellbeing to exhaustion. Add that both with the unforgiving sun while wearing chainmail armor. We had no choice, but to obey our kings back at home, promising lands and riches for the taking, a reward they say. I do not believe any of it, even though the majority of the knights cling towards it, hoping to further harden their egos, such common for a warrior of God. The enemy empire has millions of soldiers, advancing steadily westward. What scares me the most is my decision, I  am but a young man, no family ties to look back, yet this all still scared me, a pointless decision with no way out but to fight for our rulers who use us as pawns in their little game."

"Captain Lucius! Our patrols are back with urgent information...its the enemy!, they finally moved their camps towards this castle, and as I speak, thousands are forming a line, encircling us!" A scout said with grim expression, pointing towards the high sandy hills, shaking from the anticipation.

Lucius walked towards the high wall to look, dirty and dark, hooded figures gather to an angular line, overlooking them from above land. He informs the scout to remind headquarters for extra help, as all the captains planned a counter attack last night for this very day. Yet sadly, no one came, and so the crusaders instead focused on defending the fortress, holding till help comes to their aid. All men are occupied, gathering all free hands to set sharp wooden barricades towards the entrance. All are at disarray for their numbers are not comparably to the enemy.

"For heaven's sake, move!" One of the captains push a soldier as he steps up to meet Lucius, they stare intently towards the sandy horizon, shaking pupils with contemplation in mind, the enemy gathers by the second.

"Damn it! How in the blazes did our scouts not inform us sooner!? Are they so blinded by the lands that they cant even adapt quickly, we are knights for god's sake! We are indeed strangers in this land, but we have to protect what is holy, lest we accept defeat!" Marco said as he looks at Lucius, standing side by side.

"Ahaha, Captain Marco! Calm down my friend...panic will only lead us astray towards our goal in holding our ground, last night, the messengers came and informed us of extra forces no?" Lucius smiles at him, knowing that an impending battle soon happen, a battle that will determine whether they remain or die hopeless.

"Of course! Another empty promise from our old stupid rulers, at the confines of their safe home! Lucius, I know you know that they stationed us here just to die and measure the enemy of their forces, while they ready themselves back home for the fifth crusade, just to recover a stupid artifact, in this stupid land!" He angrily said to Lucius.

"I do know Marco...but at least you are sure in your goal towards supporting by finding the holy artifact, while I on the other hand, is stuck riding the waves of my job being a crusader, my purpose you say? I do not know, maybe after this battle if we survive...I will leave my captain status for others who are more deserving of it." He said, expecting Marco to get angry once again.

Marco grimaced from Lucius response, he then grabbed him by the shoulders and say.

"Damn it! Are you out of your mind Lucius? get serious now captain, wake up! this is our reality, and we must fight it, no one will save us but ourselves, do you hear me?" He said storming out from the second floor.

Lucius shakes his head, and shortly followed suit down below the castle. A very narrow path teeming with knights, archers and frontliners. Some are already injured and worse, are missing with a set of limbs, while laying flat on the cobblestone floor. The barricades where nearly set, when a sudden cry from one of the wall archers gets the attention of everyone.

"Its the strike squad of captain Anton! they are lifting the captain's body without a head!" the wall archer warned everyone behind the wall.

Seconds later, the same archer received a barrage of arrows on his chest and two piercing his throat. The others meet the same fate as they happen to shoot back, some successfully fired rounds towards the sandy hills, back and forth was the struggle until enemy horse back penetrated the fortress opening, shattering many quickly made barricades. And from there, the battle finally let loose as both sides clash inside.

"A-ugh..." Lucius stammers, being suddenly lightheaded from the stress of battle and leadership, every captain suffered similar symptoms of sleep deprivation, while the foot soldiers suffered in anxious panic. A bloody pandemonium in front of Lucius presents itself, blood of both enemies and allies splatter the stone walls, flesh and bone being stepped on as the fight ensues in every inch of direction. Watching while his fellow knights fall one by one not because from their lack of will to fight, but because of such massive mass of enemy storming the already outnumbered crusaders. An hour passed by, and the former one hundred twenty became only the handful forty that will try to still resist the enemy and their savage invasion.

Lucius pulls his sword not of bravery, but of extreme desperation. How can he a captain class knight let his men and fellow captains only do the battle alone without his support? He ran many passages, hacking and stabbing every hooded enemy he comes across, as if in a deep trance. The numbers were too overwhelming yet the last twenty fought valiantly for their god and country, one last defense and eight crusaders remain inside the now chilly fortress, being enveloped by the moons crescent shadow, looming dark forms surround the remaining four. Lucius in a great panic, rans towards a group of enemy, managing to cut one forearm, but with the sacrifice of his heart, being stabbed from behind. And as the only last scene he saw was the two remaining knights being hacked to pieces as he now also joins the many brothers lay bodied on the cold stone floor, his blood joining the red pool.

"I had hoped it was the end, but how wrong was my assumption. I closed my eyes because death, it finally got me, ending my miserable life, a coward I was. And yet I opened them once again, guided by fate and destiny on this foreign world of magic."