A Paradox in Retrograde (48 page)

Back in the field before the citadel amongst the flying grit and
smoke Eldred tried to settle his men's resolve. They had been injured and blinded, but the shelling had stopped. But the tell tale
sound of pounding hooves grew like thunder in his ears. Like a
vision from a dream, the smoke began to clear as the wind rushed
before the line. There he saw through the mist the image of Hector astride a gallant beast. He stood transfixed as a great sword
crashed down upon him, cleaving his helmet in two. He had not
even had time to lift his blade to defend himself. Others did not
give up so easily. After having delivered many a fatal blow from
their horses, they then became the target. With each passing attack, more of the horses were cut down or injured forcing them
from their mounts. There now was a full out melee as metal
crashed against metal. In every direction sword and ax flew cutting swaths of flesh as easily as they cut through the air. Screams
from men and creature alike rose up from the bloodchocked
grass. In a haze of blood lust delirium Ananda and his brother
roved about slashing their blades through a sea of enemy finding
their mark with each attempt.

Captain Martz with coolness uncharacteristic of his age stood up
atop the dugout and raised is sword high into the air the hundred
or so musket bearers followed suit. Martz let out in a holler his
order for all to hear, "Alright boys we'll only get this opportunity
once lets show them whose country this is". The side erupted in a
chorus of blood lust as the human defenders rose from behind
their barricades. In a mad rush they set forth across the field with
bayonets affixed towards the maelstrom. It seemed to those so
engaged that this charge could not fail as it advanced across the
crater marred field. As they drew within fifty paces the holler of
their battle cry reached a thunderous crescendo. With all the bravado they could muster, like a hammer their charge ran headlong
into the body of the demoralized enemy's forces. Mayhem ruled
as the battle degenerated into melee of bloody thrusts and desperate parries. The enemy's skill at arms had never been tested under such circumstances. Within moments of the onset of this action, the invaders resolve seemed to crumble along with their fortunes.

The lines were broken and those that could, hobbled from the
field in retreat. Injured and bloodied with their energies exhausted, the victors stood for a moment to catching their collective
breath. There would however be no time for celebration for more
was yet to be done. Ananda would not make Eldred's mistake. He
gathered together their remaining forces still fit to fight and set to
rallying them on for one final assault. Amida knowing his brothers gift of stirring oratory stood near the rear of the crowd to listen as he addressed the men. In a loud and clear voice he spoke
unaided to those assembled. "It is well that you should rejoice in
your victory. But I tell you the story of your bravery here today
will long outlive you all, and echo for all time. There will be
many chances for celebration and remembrance, now however is
not one of them. Our gamble so far has paid great dividends yet
there is still one hand left to play. Even now your leader Landaus
is engaged in a desperate struggle beyond the forward position.
Who among you now, to stop this deadly incursion once and for
all would join brave Landaus in his moment of glory?" A great
roar rose up among them as if his words had stolen all of their
weariness. They again took to their arms and returned to their
formations. Those cavalry men whose horses had not been too
badly wounded or maimed remounted their steeds. In the midst of
this commotion Amida looked again on the field behind him. The
remnants of burned and broken bodies strewn lifeless was more
than he could longer bear. His brother's words could neither console nor mask the anguish which this image caused him. At that
moment he swore silently that he would never again raise his
hand in anger.

By now Amida had turned away from the action and almost automatically was instead helping with the wounded. Ananda some
how sensed this change and sought him out He stepped down
from where he had stood and searched him out. He found him
there among the stretcher bearers. He was puzzled by what he saw
there so he spoke to him. "My brother will you not join me one
last time in battle?"

"Ananda my dear brother, I have over these many centuries been
your faith guardian. But now I must leave your side. I am sorry
but my destiny has brought me to this place, and I no longer possess the capacity. You must go on without me." As these words
fell from his mouth a figure rose from the pile and contorted
corpses behind him. A severely wounded yet undead Eldred
called out to them. "Hector! I have come to slay you, god willing.
"Amida stared into his eyes with any icy coolness born of centuries of conflict. He undid his breast plate and threw to the ground
in defiant gesture. An enraged Eldred raised his heavy sword and
brought it down in one quick deadly stroke across Amida's clavicle. The shattering blow was enough to knock him cold to the
ground. Ananda was there to witness his brothers undoing and
was caught now in midst of an unfathomable rage. Eldred stood
there before him, and once again his eye was cast upon the image
of Hector. As if to a god, he raised his weapon against him as if in
an offering in some bizarre sacred rite. Upon Eldred's face he held
there a look of sublime serenity as he awaited the inevitable attack. From a hidden place a guttural scream arose in Ananda's
throat as he thrust his sword downward with all his might.
The air was filled with the din of flashing steel as there then ensued between the two a furious barrage of sword blows and counter strikes. With each downward stroke of Ananda's blade Eldred
answered with determination. Within moments the rising intensity of their fighting had drawn the attention a bystanders. Soon
dozens of onlookers had begun to encircle the two warriors
locked in a single combat. Though Eldred's skill and strength
were substantial considering his injuries, he could not summon
the raw energy needed to overcome Ananda's rage. Spurred on by
the madness of revenge Ananda fought on.

Distressed by the potential loss of momentum caused by this distraction Captain Martz despite his commander’s absence without
delay began to organize the assault. He called to a signal man,
"Guardsman prepare on my order to send the signal to begin the
attack. But first call the men to order." The horn sounded and
those able began to regroup into formation. Martz found Old
Brownie in the hands of a cavalryman. He looked back onto
Ananda still embroiled his own personal vendetta. He put his foot
into the stirrup and lifted himself above his mount. He nodded to
the signalman and the noise of the horn rang out once again. Upon hearing the signal they again pressed forward following the
path of retreat taken by the enemy. Though the distance was
merely several hundred yards as they passed over the blood
soaked field it seemed an eternity. As they drew nearer the sound
of the battle unfolding before them began to fill their ears. With
their hearts beating now at a frantic pace they broke into a full
run.

The horse cavalry were the first to reach the enemy ramparts.
They were surprised how there was no one there to greet them as
they passed over the wall. Before them they came upon King
Aaralaat and four of his most fearsome guards. Captain Martz
and the remaining cavalry pounced like a lion onto the heavily
armed guards, and immediately engaged them. Largerand fiercer
than the others they stood their ground without oneiota of fear.
Not far behind on the heels the charging horses, abrigade of
armed footmen began to ford the wall.

Landaus still holding his position continued to look for a means to
advance even as his men were being cut down one by one. This
was a numbers game however he could not play indefinitely for
soon his forces would collapse from the weight of the onslaught.
Just as these thoughts began to cross his mind from the corner of
his eye he saw what he had been waiting for. Without hesitation
he ordered them forward once again. His weary and disheartened
men looked up to see their salvation breaching the wall. "One last
time forward boys it won't be long now." Their vigor renewed,
with all the power they could muster they pushed once again forward. Blade against blade they fought for every bloody inch.

On the far left the two sides of Landaus's force had managed to
link up. Like a giant scissor the two fronts closed in surrounding
the desperate warriors. Along the leading edge of the formation
the warriors fell now with greater frequency as they came within
inches of the deadly bayonets. Landaus sensed now that the coupe
de grass was within their grasp. He scanned the field for the king.
There on the opposite side of the pincer he witnessed Captain
Martz caught in a desperate struggle of his own as he faced off
with Aaralaat himself. Martz was no match in Aaralaat in skill,
but he was young, strong and smart. If he could hold him off a bit
longer he would face him himself. Closer and closerthe two lines
like blades of a scissor grew nearer cutting through the enemy like
a scythe. Though they could not win Landaus knew they would
never surrender. He pushed forward towards the king's guards and
engages one of them directly. Spurred on now by adrenaline and
anger he attacks, slashing his blade furiously he trades blows with
the guard. Landaus with one lightning strike he exploits a gap in
his opponents armor. Between his neck and helmet and he falls.
With his other guards engaged he moves forward to find Aaralaat
standing above a wounded Captain Martz preparing to deliver a
death blow. Landaus rushed forward and brings his sword down
onto his shoulder before he can strike. The blow is deflected by
his armor but its enough to draw his attention from Martz. He
turns to face Landaus and in one lightning strike cuts a deep cut
into Landaus's uniform and scoring his skin. It draws blood but
it's a minor wound. He steps back for a moment to ready him self
to deflect the next blow. He steps forward again with his sword
raised high. As the blow again comes he prepared for an immediate counter strike. Capturing the downward momentum of the
strike he follows it with his own blade down toward the ground.
Like the motion of a spring he turns on his axis and with an upward thrust finds the gap in his armor between his groin and right
thigh. The cut is fast and deep. Landaus whips back his blood
stained sword and makes it ready for one final strike. Aaralaat
stands there looking into Landaus's eyes and knows that he has
been delivered a fatal wound. Landaus speaks, "You should not
have come here now you shall pay the price with your life." He
thrusts his sword forward into Aaralaat's unguarded throat and
with a single strike he is dead. For several minutes after the death
of the king the fighting continued until the last of the resistance
had ceased as to a man the entire corps of invaders was now
killed or wounded.

Back upon the field the duel between Ananda and Eldred had
worn on now for some time. To those wounded who viewed the
fight later reported that Eldred had been wounded no less than
thirteen times. As the victors returned across thefield they were
still so engaged. An unwounded and unhampered Ananda
seemed to play with determined warrior a dangerous game of cat
and mouse. The men looked on too weary to speak. Captain
Whelks sought out Landaus to stop what he saw as adisgraceful
display. After several moments he found him supporting a
wounded Captain Martz helping to escort him from the field.
"Colonel, I must speak with you."

"Well why don't you stop him?"
"Sir he's in quite a state. I think you should like to see this for
yourself."

They trade places and Whelkes accepts the burden. After only a
short while Landaus comes across the scene. There a bloodied
Eldred still holds his sword aloft but just barely as the Ananda
again and again continues to attack his beleaguered enemy. Landaus calls out to Ananda in a stern voice, "Ananda what is the
meaning of this? Do you have no mercy? I order you to end this!"
With his foot Ananda kicks Eldred to the ground. He turns toward
Landaus with a look of murderous intent in his eye and speaks.

"Do you not understand Landaus; I am Hector his god of war.
Through me he will be redeemed and this is his rite of combat.
Through these many centuries I have lived so that they may be
reborn. It is their sacrifice he comes to this willingly." He turns
again to Eldred who has again risen to his feet. "Do you not see?"

"I say when it's over!" He drew back his sword and with on final
strike Eldred was struck down as his head was separated from his
body. Ananda then dropped his blade for the last time. And fell to
the ground in anguished sobs. He crawled about theground until
he found Amida. He was surprised to find he was still alive but
just so. There he sat down among the muddy craters and lifted up
Amida's broken body onto his lap. Amida tried to speak but he
was too weak. Blood streamed from his mouth as hisface contorted in a grimace of death. For several minutes Ananda sat there in
silence as he held his brother's lifeless body. Then suddenly he
lifted up his brother's body. Carrying him in his outstretched
arms without a word spoken he retreated from the field. Many
who stood by, including Landaus himself followed him.
For what seemed an eternity to those sequestered upon the boats,
the thundering sound of battle raged on. Though the battle remained hidden just beyond a veil of mist, each concussion rolled
out over the face of water to shake them. There also were other
sounds carried upon the air, though less distinct were no less
chilling. They stood mesmerized staring blindly into this grey
expanse until the bedeviling sounds came to a sudden halt.