Ancient Guardians: The Uninvited (38 page)

“Gentlemen,” Navarre said, “Our next strategy is crucial. As you are aware, since Michael is a trained Guardian he knows our tactical training and strategies. That being said, it is crucial we plan to do something he would not expect.” Navarre stepped back and let Samuel address the men.

“We’ve decided to mislead Michael and his army by attacking on foot, instead of horseback.”

Levi leaned forward, “With all due respect, sir, you’re sending us on a suicide mission. We’re already outnumbered until Harrison arrives; we need those horses fighting alongside us.”

Samuel looked at Levi, “You are correct in this assumption, and that is exactly what we want Michael to believe.”

“Keep in mind, our horses will be mentally connected to us, and they will know when we need them.”

The men continued to strategize and go over their battle plans in the command center throughout the remainder of the night. The hour before daylight greeted the lands of Pemdas and Armedias, the Pemdai warriors filled the courtyard outside of Pasidian Palace, prepared to depart for Armedias. They sat on their armored horses and waited for their emperor to join them.

Empress Allestaine walked somberly alongside Navarre and Levi as they made their way toward the courtyard. As they exited the palace to where the Guardians waited below, Allestaine turned to Levi.

She brought her hand up to his cheek, and stared intently into his fierce eyes. “My son, courage and strength do not describe the true warrior that is carried within your blood.” She kissed him softly on his cheek. “I am honored to be your mother, Guardian. Be brave, my son. I will anxiously await your and Reece’s return.” She smiled, and extended her hand to him.

Levi bent over and raised his mother’s delicate knuckles to his lips. “The honor has always been mine, my lady.”

Levi turned and walked down the steps to where Areion awaited him. Effortlessly, he hoisted himself up on the powerful horse, and quietly waited for his father to say his farewells.

“Emperor,” Allestaine addressed her husband.

“Yes, my love.”

“There is no greater pleasure than to stand in your presence as your empress. Be brave, Guardian.”

Navarre nodded, and reached for her hand. He lovingly brought it to his lips, offered her a respectful bow, and then turned to address his warriors. “Gentlemen, you all know very well that we are a fierce people. We are trained daily for the battle in which we are about to encounter. Before we enter into battle, I must have you know my wishes as your emperor.”

Every man in the group remained quiet, awaiting the emperor’s command.

“The purpose of our mission today is not to terrorize, to maim, or to torture. The purpose of this mission is to recover the Key. You must understand; the soldiers that lie between you and the Key do so because they were ordered to. Therefore, I ask that you honor their sense of duty as you fight, and offer them a quick, painless death.”

Navarre descended the steps and mounted his stallion. With Levi and Samuel trailing behind him, he guided his horse through the crowd of men. Once at the front of the line, he spun his stallion around to face his warriors. “Today we honor the memory of our fathers and the ancient Guardians. Let mercy and clemency be delivered on each bevel of your blade!” Navarre boomed. He held a tight rein as his horse began to pace in place. “Brave men of Pemdas, it is a great honor for me to fight alongside each of you. Now, let us fulfill our duties as Guardians, and recover the Key!”

Navarre loosened his grip on the reins, and led the charge to Armedias. The horses fell into perfect formation as they galloped away from the palace.

Just before daylight made its way to Armedias, the horses silently carried the warriors through the vortex. Each man quietly dismounted his horse and drew his sword. The horses returned swiftly through the vortex to Pemdas and awaited the next command.

With their horses concealed, the Pemdai warriors marched toward the slain bodies of the Armedites’ front line. They stood with their shields and swords drawn, waiting for daylight to make their presence known. Levi stared into the lavender colored sky; Armedias’ sun would rise at any moment now. He gripped his sword tightly, ready for the charge.

Exactly as planned, the Armedites woke to find that their front lines had been obliterated. Levi listened closely to the scattered thoughts of the Armedite Army; they were running around in confusion, trying to figure out how the Pemdai made it into their lands unnoticed.

The Pemdai remained motionless as they waited for the Armedites to respond. At that moment, Levi felt the mind of every Pemdai warrior collectively reading the minds of the shaken soldiers below.

The Armedites were in shock as they realized they were not yet prepared to battle. They were relieved when they saw that the Pemdai had not come to fight with their unique horses.

As the Pemdai remained tuned into the minds of the Armedite soldiers, they were able to hear the commands given to them from Michael.

“Ah, the proud Pemdai warriors have finally come to fight and retrieve their beloved Key.” He snorted, and pointed to where the warriors of Pemdas stood, waiting. “There they stand on the hill, gentlemen, saving their horses’ lives, as they know they are severely outnumbered. Even though they have taken out our front lines, they understand they have no chance against you. These men know they will die today; but their foolish pride will send them to their deaths, not their honor or bravery. It is amusing that they should choose to spare their horses’ lives, and battle us the old-fashioned way. My fellow soldiers, these hopeless men are on a suicide mission!”

This was good; the Guardians’ plans were falling perfectly into place.

Michael turned to face his men. “Tell all of our men to dismount their horses, and send them away. If the Guardians choose to fight on foot, we will happily accommodate their wish. Do not be alarmed; our archers will destroy the majority of them before our swords are drawn. Gentlemen, prepare the charge.”

Arrogant fool!
Levi thought, as he watched the Armedite war horses flee the battlefield. The Pemdai warriors began their march forward, baiting Michael and his army further. Navarre and Samuel were in front, leading their warriors down toward the Armedite army.

Across the valley, the Armedites had their swords drawn, and they began marching toward the Pemdai men. As the Armedites streamed down into the ravine, the first wave of their archers on the castle top from behind them released their bows, sending thousands of arrows sailing through the sky.

“Archers!” Samuel shouted.

At the announcement from the commander, the Guardian horses stormed through the vortex. The line of horses each approached his respective rider from the rear. As the horses passed at full speed, in one swift movement, each Pemdai warrior grabbed a handful of mane, and successfully mounted his horse without breaking its stride.

The Pemdai charged full speed down the hill as the arrows fell into the grass behind them where they once stood.

Navarre and Samuel’s plan was flawlessly executed; the archers could no longer be used, as now the Pemdai were in the midst of their army. Once in their camp, the Pemdai lunged themselves from their horses and fell into perfect rhythm, battling their enemy with sword and shield only. The horses battled violently alongside the warriors, giving them more of an advantage against the Armedite Army. Just as Navarre had requested, the men pursued and killed each opponent instantly, causing them no pain in delivering them to their deaths.

As Levi and Areion fought alongside the Guardians, they were ambushed by a group Armedites who charged in on horseback. They were so encased in the battle before them that they had not seen the surprise attack coming toward them from their sides.

The Guardians fought to mount their horses in order to defend themselves against the invading army. Most were successful; however, Levi and Areion had become separated in the attack, leaving Levi completely vulnerable.

Levi defeated four men before he was restrained on the ground with a blade at his neck. As Levi struggled to roll out from underneath the man who pinned him to the ground, Navarre came from behind and removed the man’s head from his body with one swift motion.

As Levi reached to grab Navarre’s outstretched hand, he watched as a sword penetrated through the abdomen of his father’s armor.

Levi grabbed his father as he collapsed to the ground. When he looked up, he saw Michael Visor wiping the emperor’s blood from his sword.

Michael smiled amusingly at him. “Fear not; I will be your emperor soon enough.”

Before Levi could respond, Michael mounted his horse, and sheltered himself within an army of men. The moment Michael fled, hundreds of Guardian horses surrounded them; they formed an impenetrable barrier around the fallen emperor, and everything grew silent.

The Armedites retreated hastily, having no way to break through the wall of horses that served to protect the Guardians behind them. The warriors rushed to where Navarre lay, breathing shallowly in the arms of his son.

As the men gathered, Levi called out. “Where is Samuel? The emperor must be escorted back to Pemdas immediately!”

One warrior looked down at Levi remorsefully. “Samuel is dead, sir.”

“Areion!” Levi roared.

The horse charged to Levi’s side.

“The emperor is still alive; you must get him back to Pemdas for help this instant,” Levi ordered as three men approached and helped Levi strap his father into the horse’s saddle.

“Go now, Areion!” Levi demanded, before the horse galloped fiercely toward the vortex.

“We have lost Samuel; are there any others who have fallen?” Levi questioned.

“We have lost 37 men in total, sir. Eleven wounded have already returned to Pemdas,” a warrior responded.

Levi nodded in understanding. “The Armedites have only retreated because they believe we will give up now that our emperor is no longer among us.” Levi stared purposefully at the group of men surrounding him. “Gentlemen, our emperor is still alive, and we will fulfill the duty he has assigned us. Let us not forget; Harrison will be joining us soon with the rest of our army. It’s time for us to form a new strategy.”

As Harrison arrived at the vortex to Armedias with close to thirty thousand men, his father approached him with more troops. With a quick exchange and farewell to his father, Harrison turned his horse, and prepared to lead the charge into Armedias.

Harrison suddenly halted the men behind him when he saw Areion entering Pemdas through the vortex.
Levi!

“Areion!” he called out as the horse sprinted to him.

King Nathaniel and Harrison quickly dismounted and approached Areion. The men were astounded to find that the fallen man was their emperor.

King Nathaniel unstrapped his brother from the horse and held the emperor in his arms, “Son, I will bring our emperor back to Pasidian. You must join the rest of the warriors this instant!”

Harrison turned and swiftly hoisted himself back up onto his stallion’s back. He ordered two men to escort King Nathaniel’s return to the palace.

“Gentlemen, let us join our men!” Harrison shouted, as he gave charge.

The mob of warriors responded, and rode aggressively through the vortex into Armedias.

Levi knelt on one knee, going over the next phase of their battle plan.

“Sir,” a Guardian interrupted, “The Armedites are holding their formation on the other side of the horses’ barrier. They’re anticipating our retreat.”

Levi stood up, “Are their archers still in place?”

“Yes; however, their army is too close to ours to use them.”

“Thank you,” Levi answered, “Once Harrison joins our army, Michael will find out that he has made a grave mistake by underestimating us.”

At that moment, the ground began to shake, and Harrison and his army thundered through the vortex.
Right on time, Harrison,
Levi thought as the men approached rapidly.

“Sir, our reinforcements have taken Michael by surprise,” a Guardian announced, “He is scrambling to figure out his next move.”

“The coward will most likely flee, but we’re not stopping until we’ve recovered the Key.” Levi responded as Harrison approached him.