Man of Loss

I dare say that Wilford was the most normal of the bunch. He always spoke in a soft steady voice offering good advice and comfort by the bucket full. It would be fair to say that he was the emotional back bone of our little squad. we had been an inseparable duo ever since I joined the heavy infantry, if it weren’t for him, I dare not think of how many near misses would have ended differently. Above all Wilford was a sanctuary of peace in time of distress, a true friend.

Wilford ruffling his hay like hair broke the silence first “you know Boss, despite how long we’ve been here I don’t think I’ve seen even half the camp. It’s funny isn’t it the hardest things to see are often the closest.”

“True, but its not like there’s too much new to see, no matter where you go in camp, it’s just tents and towers with the odd latrine in between. I’m more excited to see the inside of those walls, I wonder if they’re just as impressive on the inside as out.”

“I’m sure it’ll be a sight to behold. But you know I haven’t been able to shake this feeling.”

“What feelings that?”

“I’m not completely sure. You know me I’m not the superstitious type, but I just have this feeling, this feeling that tomorrow’s going to be a bad day.”

“What day out here isn’t bad, its Cold and wet and just downright miserable.”

“Perhaps, but this is different it feels like something terrible will happen. Before my grandmother died, she said a similar thing. It is as if the looming weight of fate is resting heavily upon me, pushing me further and further down, until I fear I can never get up again, and no matter how much I scratch, and kick, and scream it will not ease.”

Seeing Wilford in this state I was stunned for words, as he said he wasn’t the superstitious sort, if he was, I would brush it aside as nonsense, but this is Wilford I’m talking to. Thinking it best to say something than nothing I tried to relive his worries.

“don’t worry, you’ll be fine, your just anxious before the battle is all. I can’t blame you its going to be a rough one, but well make it through, we always do. I’ve got your back, and you’ve got mine not even a giant could stop us”

“Your probably right, no good in me dwelling on it, doesn’t change what we’ve got to do. Hope I haven’t made you too uncomfortable.”

“Don’t worry about it, although you know once we win, I won’t let you live your doomsayer talk down.”

“Hahaha its only fair. Afterall we still talk about you and Hild….”

“aghhh shut up, I tell you guys one thing and its never ending.”

“Hahahah”

“It’s getting late, we best be heading back now”

“Agreed. Oh, and Boss”

“Thanks for the talk”

“Any time”

I lay in bed, but my mind would not rest, Wilford’s words echoed in my mind. “fate”, such a terrifying thing, from the moment your born to the day you die she’ll be with you. But are all of your struggles against it really in vain, surely, we are our own people, fate may guide us but that doesn’t mean were just puppets on strings. Our minds are our own its us who have the final say in what we do, say or think. I believe in fate and her power over men, but she is not my master, and if I must struggle against her I will. Somewhere in the middle of these ruminations, I found myself drifting into a deep sleep.

BANG!! BANG!! BANG!! The morning call awoke me like a cat doused in water. Jumping out of bed, I steadied myself to the best of my abilities. There was no thought other than battle on my mind, not even Wilford’s foreboding talk could distract me. I honed my spear, sharpened my sword and polished my shield. Then came the armour, a layer of blue cloth, concealed by chain and held in place with plate, all neatly wrapped in blue cloak. Lastly, I donned my helm, a practical piece of steel marked with a single stripe signifying my rank, after this battle, I’ll make it two.

“Gregor, Twins, Wilford, Harry, Hans! Gather up.”

“Sir!”

“I don’t care about how you feel about anyone here, were a team, we stick together. Got it?”

“Yes, squad leader, sir!”

“Good. Let’s move out.”

Marching out of our tent we joined the ever growing column of ants. In meticulous order we formed on the unit parade grounds. two thousand heavy infantry, split into four shining blue rows all waiting for Commander Ross to give the order.

“Brave men of Drachia. you are the rock of the empire, unyielding, unmoving, unstoppable. Today the filth of Saltz wishes to put you to the test, they fear you so much they stoop as low as paying barbarians to fight their war. Does that scare you?”

“NO!”

“Will they make you yield !?”

“NO!”

“Then I say, let us remind them that not even the mountains are safe when Drachia is coming! What do you say men, should we show them what a real army looks like!”

“SIR YES SIR!”

“HEAVY INFANTRY! FORWARD MARCH!”

Our hearts are burning with passion, the beating of the drums stirring our souls… we felt… unstoppable. Our confidence grew with every unit that joined the procession, the archers sang, the infantry chanted, the cavalry galloped. Not a single snowflake fell upon our heads for fear of been engulfed by the inferno. Out of the gate we marched over the hills we strode, the walls growing ever closer. We crested the ridge above our enemies, we swelled on the horizon proliferating across its edge.

The trumpets blew and our formations condensed, we became as the blocks set upon the map, laid out in perfect order. Our grips tightened as the gates of Auldberg rose, revealing her defenders. They were an unceasing flow of men, first they rivalled our numbers, then exceeded them. Seeing this commander Ross grinned his toothy grin and spoke.

“See lads, now it’ll be a fair fight”

There was no reassurance in the face of the enemy quite like that of commander Ross’s bravado.

The table was now lain the strategies made and the men ready, the next move would be this battles debut.