Saturday Excerpt, "Quest"

“After losing consecutive battles, the shattered remnants of the King’s army huddled in the deepest corner of this crescent, with their backs to the trees. Though battered and exhausted from the prolonged conflict, the combined might of what remained of the Mandreans’ grand army bore down on the vastly outnumbered Sartanians to deliver the final blow. Legion after legion of Mandreans, marched down the field to attack the army of Sartan. The very soil shook like thunder beneath their feet. Drums and horns filled the air with a deafening sound. The event struck terror into even the bravest men. It truly looked like the end of Sartan.

”The Mandrean general had ordered his full force to advance and not stop until every elf, dwarf and human in opposition lay dead. He watched from the back, with his entourage, as his soldiers pressed out of sight, to the Sartanian line. Confidence brimmed as they were on the verge of total victory.

“The general had underestimated his adversary. It is said, that a call had gone out throughout Sartan and every person with a bow was called to this tree line.

They hid in the trees along the deepest part of the crescent and waited. When the Mandreans neared the army of Sartan, the archers in the trees began firing their arrows and hurled death upon the invaders from three sides. The Mandrean ranks were so tight it was said a blind man with a bow could not miss. Wave after wave of arrows cascaded down on the helpless army. They could not retreat because of all the men charging behind them. They could only storm the Sartanians entrenched at the edge of the field. Soldiers on both sides were cut down like grain with a sickle. It was the attacker however, who took the greater blows. Line after line of Mandreans fell from an invisible enemy.

“Unable to see the battle lines, the Mandrean general threw all his reserves into the crucible of death. His men fought bravely and continued to advance in spite of horrific losses.

“It is said that the general had just become aware of the situation when a stray arrow struck him down. His lieutenants hesitated and argued in his stead. All the while, the arrows flew and the men fell. Some of the Mandreans made their way to our line with devastating results. Even with the support of the archers, the line nearly broke.

“As twilight neared, the Mandreans had lost the bulk of their army. What began the day as divisions and legions of men, from the massacre, numbered little more than a brigade.

“The setting sun brought a moonless night. Cries of pain from the thousands of wounded were carried on the chill of the evening air. Sartan’s battered warriors took torch in hand and searched the fields. Those from their own army, who could be saved, were carried to a nearby camp. Any found that were beyond saving or from the other side, had their throats slit forthwith. It was described to the King, as an act of mercy. Others called it vengeance. Like so many things, its description depends upon one’s point of view. Regardless of the title given the act, few wounded survived the night.

“In the morning light, the scale of murder became apparent to the victors. It was said that there was not a blade of grass to be seen through the rubble of rotting corpses. Some say one hundred thousand and others say many times that, died on this field, on that single day.”