Chapter four: Preparing for Battle

Military Fun

      "The Troops should be stationed here, here, and here And wait for my signal. Spith you take this section and stay alert. You will be the first wave of attack, I'll take the second section and the second wave, Christie you take the third. Is everyone on board?" Fenix says looking over the worn out battle map. She looks up into the faces of her army's second and third in command. Spith was second and then there was Christie, the only other female besides her in her Army. She had proven herself over and over that she was a capable warrior and Fenix trusted her with her life, She was also her best friend.

 

          "This is a great plan and all, but Fen if you take this route it leaves you totally exposed to the enemy! You will be Vulnerable If they decide to do an air strike with their dragons!" Christie says using Fenix's nickname that she only allowed a select few to use. Spith takes the map from Fenix and studies it, coming to the same conclusion that Christie did.

 

          "I should take the second wave, it's safer this way." He says laying the map back down and crossing his arms indicating there was not further discussion. Fenix's palms warm as her fire power starts to warm up as her anger rises.

 

       "Since when did my safety get in the way of the best plan of attack?" She snaps crossing her own arms, clenching her right palm to keep fire down.

 

       "Since a Kingdom suddenly sprang up fighting in ARES's name and has declared war on YOU!" Spith yells losing his normal calm. Fenix visible flinches at the mention of the God of War's name. It has been three days since the Festival and within those three days their nearest neighboring kingdom, The Kingdom of Sapphire, has risen up and declared war NOT on Amythest but Fenix herself in the Name of Ares. Now it was the day of battle and Amythest's army was half a mile from the battle field they believed Sapphire was going to attack from. The Warriors were all around and the sounds of metal on metal could be heard as they practiced their sword fighting. Spith's hard face soften when he sees what his words have done to his wife. He steps toward her and holds her in his arms. "I just don't want to lose you." he whispers into her hair.

 

       "You wont lose her Spith, Not if I can help it." Hawk says entering the large tent they were in. 'I will transform into a Hawk and scout ahead in the air, If something or someone poses to much of a threat to her I will warn her or you." He explains coming in and sitting on the lone chair that was in the tent. Fenix smiles at her brother in a silent thank you which he returned with a wink. She looks up at her husband to see him mulling over the idea. She could tell he didn't particularly like the plan but knew it was the best.

 

        "See my love, you wont lose me." She says, trying to keep the fear out of her voice. She was trying to be brave for her troops, and her husband, but in reality she was terrified. She feared Ares like nothing else. Taking a deep breath she straightens her shoulders and tosses away her fear. She couldn't cower now, She had to be strong, fierce, brave, for her troops. Suddenly a scout comes bursting in, Making Spith spin around, an arrow already in his bow ready to attack, Christie whips out her sowed pointing it at the scout. The scout stops dead in his tracks, the color in his face draining as he stares at the warriors whose weapons were posed, ready to kill. "Guys weapons down now! Its just Jason." Fenix says waiting for her warriors to lower their weapons. Jason takes a few stuttering breaths and looks relieved when he was no longer the target of an attack. Fenix goes over to the young boy and puts her hand on his shoulder. "What is it Jason,? What happened?" She asks gently afraid the poor boy would faint.

 

         'The... The enemy. they're marching here, they.... will arrive in less then half an hour." he manages to stutter. Fenix's body goes cold, like someone dumped ice water down her back. This was too soon! Her troops weren't fully ready yet! Fenix mules this over in her head for a moment. In that moment she notices the Scout starting to look like he was about to pass out. She grabs hold of the boys shoulders and slightly shakes him, snapping him back to reality.

 

     "Jason Focus! I need you to tell me where they are coming from? North or south? east or west?" She says urgently, panic creeping into her voice. Jason's eyes start rolling back as unconsciousness takes hold again. She shakes him harder. "JASON! this is important! Tell ME! Which WAY!!" she shouts. Jason's eyes snap back into focus and fastens onto the empress. He tries to speak but seems unable to, so instead he just weakly lifts his arm and points in the direction on his left, South. "They are coming from the South? Jason Tell me, Shake your head yes or no." She says more gently realizing the poor boy was exhausted from scouting and running all the way back to the camp. He merely shakes his head yes and passes out right into her arms. She catches him and looks to Hawk for help. He leaps up from his chair and takes the young boy form her. "Just place him over there on my bed. He's done enough he can stay here, He doesn't deserve to see the horror of this battle." She says as she watches her brother gentle place the boy on her thin cot.

 

     "Fen he said they were coming from the South.... that means they are on the battle field of the Emperor, That's five MILES away from here." Christie says referring to the battle field in which Fenix's parents had perished on. Fenix just nods her head. She had come to the realization the moment Jason had confirmed it. If Sapphire was coming from the south then the troops would have to go through two miles of barren land with temperatures up to 100 degrees and exposed on all sides, vulnerable

to any type of attack.

 

      "My Lady what do you want us to do?" Spith asks her, dropping into his army mode. Fenix just stares at him, her big eyes blinking, trying to keep the tears away. He touches her arm gently making her jump, Raking a hand through her fiery red hair, leaving it messy. She sighs.

 

       "We will continue the plan of attack we have, Only instead of taking your section

to the cliff side you will lead them to the little grove, Remember the one?" She says looking at her husband. He rakes his brain for the memory and finally nods. "Good, Christie you and your section will stay behind me and mine, you will still be the third wave, and Hawk," She whirls around to face her brother, who was standing patently, awaiting his orders, " Are you still willing to scout ahead?" She asks. Without hesitation he crosses the small space from the bed to his sister and hugs her tight.

 

        "I am always willing to help protect you from harm little sister, I don't care if you are an Empress, you are still my sister, and an older brother's duty is to protect his sister," He says. He holds his sister at arms length and looks her dead in the eyes, his silver and white one to her red and blue, "I will protect you and Nevaeh until my dying breath." He says with such sincerity it sent the tears Fenix was trying hard to keep at bay streaming down her face. Clearing her throat she swipes the tears away and leaves the comfort of her brothers arms.

 

        'Right, Christie, get Nevaeh, she's with the dragons tending to them. Tell her that its time to saddle them up and get them ready, Spith get the troops ready and divide them into their places, Hawk, Fly brother." She tells everyone, Squaring her shoulders. And just like that, the young scared empress becomes the fierce army general that most kingdoms were afraid of. The Group disperses, Spith going one way, Christie running over to the dragon area, and Hawk exploding into a swirl of feathers as a huge hawk soars up into the Air. Its mighty Screech ringing through the settlement.

 

           When everyone was in their place Fenix stands in front of her army, pride swelling inside of her. These men, good men would fight beside her No matter what, defending her and her kingdom, And she right along side them.

 

       " I know, that fighting in the south will be Near impossible, The odds are against us!" She shouts to her men, pacing front of them. The Large hawk swoops down and settles on Nevaeh's shoulder, who was standing in front of the dragons, Riders already sitting on their backs. She wasn't the best in battle but she could hold her own, as long as she was atop a dragon, she was deadly in the air. Fenix looks at her and sees her nod her head, indicating she should continue.

 

           " I know that many of us... Well many of us might not be coming home tonight, Your sacrifice will NOT be in vain!" She yells, "We Will Win this battle, like we have won many before! Sapphire is fighting in the name of ARES! the harshest cruelest god of all, We shall show them that You do NOT have to fight for him To be victorious! I am proud to fight along side you men! now lets go! FOR AMYTHEST!" She shouts, her strong voice Ringing Clear! The Men Roar up in a loud terrific battle cry. Spith and Nevaeh's voices could be heard above everyone else.

 

    The Hawk gives off a loud shrill and leaps into the air. leading the troop to where the Armies of Sapphire awaited them. Nevaeh jumps onto her dragon, who she had been fighting in battles with for three years now. Along with all the other dragon riders they take to the sky, making sure to keep well back from the army. Fenix, stationed on the ground lead the second wave of the troops, Spith the first, Christie the third.

 

    And on they marched, The sun beating on their Armour. Fenix hoped that the heat didn't crush their spirits. She prayed to Athena that Her army wouldn't be to tired when the battle was upon them. All these thoughts plagued her mind as the troops trudged on.  The Sound of Nevaeh's battle horn shakes her out of her troubles. The horn meant the enemy was close. She scans the barren plain in front of her and through the heat wave she sees the enemy maybe half a mile away.

 

    She signals the troops to halt, and they quickly and efficiently get into their correct positions. Looking up into the sky she could just see a Hawk circling the air, a silent deadly attacker, and behind her she could slightly feel the speed of the wind from the dragons wings. Looking on her left she sees Spith giving her the all set signal, on her right Christie was mimicking Spith.

 

    "Here goes nothing then," She says to herself. Raising her sword into the air she shouts. "FOR AMYTHEST!" as sees Spith and his section break into action just as the enemy springs to life.

Author's Note

Ok so I know this isnt like my other ones, Its sort of short and aprupt I apologize.