a group of his own men who were running towards them, away from an enemy.
The King pulled hard on his reigns and stopped his horse, he drew his sword and waved the column of horsemen past him, then he approached the retreating soldiers.
“What do you think you’re doing?” yelled Ben frantically. “Are you crazy? Why are we stopping?”
“Ben, calm yourself, please. This has to be. I am going to lose enough soldiers today, with all those brave souls staying behind with Knesh. I am not going to lose any more!” stated Artrex defiantly, as he raised his sword and halted the running soldiers.
Ben obeyed the King’s command, he was as scared as he’d ever been. He wanted to say more, but something inside of him told him to remain quiet. The column of retreating horsemen continued to gallop past as Artrex spoke to the soldiers, who had all stopped running upon sighting their King. He had to shout loudly to make himself heard over the sound of galloping horses.
“Soldiers of the Ruddite Rebellion! We do not have long, so I will be brief. I know we have already asked too much of you this day. You have all performed wonders. It goes without saying that I am very proud of you all. You are all loyal companions, and I would not choose to lose any one of you. But these men and women who leave with me now, are your friends. Your comrades. The sacrifice you have been asked to make is the only chance they have of escape. There is no other way, the enemy is upon us. If you desert us now, they will surround us. And they will capture the stones!” he shouted, pointing at the bag hanging from Ben’s shoulder. “Those stones will help to liberate people, I promise you all! But… My loyal subjects, if you so wish it, I will now remain with you. And I will fight. And I will die, by your side. Friends. Brothers. I will not leave you now. Not unless I go with your blessing!” the King stated proudly.
Ben looked at Artrex in exasperation, he couldn’t believe what he was hearing, he admired the King’s bravery and he knew that Artrex was offering to face certain death when he didn’t have to, but he could see no sense in it at all! He spoke without thinking once again, in typical Ben fashion.
“But… That’s stupid! You can’t!” he screamed loudly, without any regard for the King’s status. Artrex ignored Ben completely and continued to talk to the crowd.
“I am sorry, but I have to ask each of you now, what is it to be?” he shouted. There was an agonising two second pause, before one of the rebels suddenly yelled out from the centre of the group.
“Go my King! Save yourself! Restore the stones! We are enough for this task. Your place is at the head of our army. Come on you old Ruddites, one last battle for our King and country. Let us show these Thargws how to fight!”
The old rebel saluted the King with his sword and turned to rejoin the fight, running swiftly through the trees and towards the sounds of battle. All of the remaining rebels joined him and it was only seconds later that Artrex and Ben heard the sounds of clashing swords once more. Artrex kicked his horse hard and lashed it with his reigns. They galloped as fast as they could to escape from the forest, for they knew that the enemy was now almost upon them.
* * *
Vantrax and Strymos were standing on the ridge that overlooked the Plains of Astelli. The bulk of the Northern Army was waiting impatiently on the fields below them for the order to advance and join the battle. The wizard King and his Gerada could see the vast Erriard forest across the plain, but they couldn’t see the battle that was now being fought amongst the trees. They were in fact, totally blind to the events in the forest, and they were unable to influence what was happening in any way, much to their annoyance. The sounds of battle were being carried to them on the soft morning breeze, but they could discern nothing at all from the noise, and their frustrations were mounting.
The signal for the second wave of Northern Army soldiers to attack was supposed to have been three long sounds of the Thargw battlehorn. But the young warrior who carried the horn into