The air tastes of copper and death on the chilly plains of Hestil that morning. Soldiers lay dead, warriors rattled their last breaths, and spellslingers, singed and bloody, staggered forwards into the onslaught on broken limbs. The battle had raged all night, and it was far from over. Their men were battered, their forces weakened with exhaustion, but they press on, and all for one reason.
I love you with My every breath,
I make you songs like thunderbirds.
That voice… the Voice of the Goddess. It echoed above the battlefield, over the din of chaos, inspiring them onwards.
Give you My life, you give Me death,
It’s why they were all here. Why they were all fighting this war to end all wars, to restore peace to the world.
And stab Me with your dreadful words.
Queen Tiana raises her bow and spear, lets out a battlecry, and leads the charge into the shambles of Riasom’s army. They would not give up, not when they had come so far in this seemingly endless war. Soon, it would be over, and the small girl singing behind the ranks of soldiers to inspire them onwards would have nothing to fear any longer.
I saw the sun at midnight, rising red.
Deep hued, yet glowing…
It wasn’t only the soldiers this time. Tiana was used to leading the common rank and file, with Sundance and Daegal alongside her. But this battle was different. This time, they had the Dawn Brigade. This time, they were going all the way to Riasom’s throne room, and they wouldn’t stop until his head was mounted on a pike.
…heavy with the stain.
Though united in purpose, the four champions all had different reasons to be there.
I saw the sun at midnight, swift in size and growing,
The heavens bowed their head, bowed their head…
The embers of the sacred forest had barely cooled when Valien Carsomyr arose to the ranks of the Brigade. The knight had merely taken one look at Cordelia before swearing himself in allegiance to the Maiden. With the shame of running behind him, the griffon-knight swore he would never flee battle again, and has become a bastion of courage and power on the battlefield.
From its heart slow dripped crimson rain…
Only a couple months into the war, and the strange, fox-like woman appeared in Queen Tiana’s court. With her strange origins – and the fact that another nine-tail was known to be on Riasom’s side – it was hard for Queen Tiana to trust Saetiri Velu, but the woman had shown herself to be pure of intentions, and her gentle heart and healing touch won her a place at Cordelia’s side. But since joining the group, she has added into their mix something that none of them could face this war without – a smile, and hope for the future.
A great tremor shook it as of pain…
Magnus Bjornson is not someone Tiana ever would have expected to see in Cordelia’s service – not with how he had served under Riasom in the past. Everyone knew of Magnus’ father, Bjorn, the paladin who had ascended to godhood by the blessing of La. But when the war began, Magnus fought for the wrong side. He was a bastion in the army of Hestil. Until, as Tiana believes, one day, he had seen the error of his ways, and he appeared in the camp of the Army of Dawn, bowed on one knee before Cordelia and asking for repentance and a place at her side. Now, he fights for the light – and carves down any who would stand in his way.
I see the blood upon the rocks,
And on the stones, the sorrow of My eyes.
And then, there was the woman who had appeared out of the wilderness to become the last member of the Brigade. Queen Tiana had known of Acacia’s exploits well before then. As a scout, she was invaluable. As a trapper and poisoner, her potential for slaying their foes was even greater than that. At Cordelia’s side, the Brenin has become a potent force for good.
My burning heart weeps amid eternal snows,
The four fight with the army, now, breaking Riasom’s defenses. Morning is dawning, but none of them have slept a wink that night. How could they have? They are so close. They press ever onwards, closer to the keep, until, until…
My tears fall from the skies.
"Rout! We are routed! Fall into the keep!"
Hestil’s army broke, fleeing into the walls of the final stronghold. Queen Tiana roared in triumph, but she did not press the charge. Not for now. No. They needed to take a moment. Catch their breath, and rest. But it would end tonight. It would end tonight.
"Form up!" she called over the fray. "Fire at their flanks, drop whomever you can!" was her final order for the battle. And when Hestil’s last soldiers had either fallen in retreat, or in death, she called the soldiers to a cease fire.
"See to the wounded! Sort out the living and the dead! And ready yourselves for an assault – tonight, we become Kingslayers!"
There was a resounding shout from the soldiers, who, though weary from the fight, were invigorated by the victory. They started combing the field, finishing off downed enemies and healing their own. It was only then that Cordelia went onto the field, putting her healing powers to use to save as many as she could.
As for the rest of the Brigade, Tiana found them.
"I see you all still live – that’s a relief. Prepare yourselves. We have only a few hours before we will fight again. I must meet with Sundance and Daegal and get a report on our remaining numbers. It should only take an hour. We will meet then in my tent and discuss our final strategy," she decided. "Sort yourselves out - keep an eye on Cordelia. And meet me in the tent in an hour. We will need you all to lead the way to Riasom's throne room."
The plan in place, the Queen rode off, and the Brigade was left to catch their breath and see how they themselves had fared in the fight, until it was time to meet Tiana around the war table, hopefully, just for one last time.
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