58 Fire Seeds (1/2)
When the runner had come to inform him of the upcoming fight, Dedrick hadn't been surprised. After all, the boss had told him to be prepared. Thus, he led his men into the city, eager to prove himself. His enthusiasm had ended the moment he stepped into the dark streets of Arguna. Dedrick had thought it would be time for him and his men to prove their mettle at last, yet he had to face hostilities before he could even see his enemy. With no lights to be found within any of the houses the so-called silver city was a dark and dreary place, with night stretched over the complex architecture all around. From within the darkness, he could feel something gnaw at the back of his neck. Someone was hidden there, and watched their every move. Since their move-out earlier, laughter had been ever-present within the troop, but now it had been extinguished like the lights around them. Their march slowed, as his men huddled together in preparation of an ambush.
”I have a bad feeling about this,” Dedrick said.
”No worries, bandit. It's just scare tactics. They won't act, I can guarantee you that. As for the actual battle? Your worries are even more misplaced. We have our secret weapon, after all,” the rude Fadelio gave a calm riposte to Dedrick's reasonable concerns.
”Who's worried, you mountain giant?” the mercenary barked back.
Really, Dedrick wanted to share the guys confidence, but the strange and unusual land he had been dragged into by his greed would not allow his nerves to calm. Maybe crossing the oceans for the vague promise of riches and honor hadn't been the smartest move, even if that promise had come from a man he trusted. However, thinking back to that so-called secret weapon did help ease his mood, somewhat. At first he had been confused when Fadelio had brought those sheets of metal, but Dedrick had wizened up to the plan once the giant had begun to pull the fire seeds out of their wagons. Two days ago, Corco had ordered them to start collecting the spores from around the capital. Of course he hadn't called them fire seeds, but as usual, Dedrick had tuned out of the prince's lengthy explanation. Thus, the word 'fire seed' stuck in his head after a spectacular first demonstration of their power. He looked forward to using them again.
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The mountain giant had been correct: Their journey ended without interruptions.
”You see? What did I say? Just scare tactics,” Dedrick proclaimed with confidence. Always the wise leader, he decided to ignore Fadelio's rude look from the side.
As soon as they had reached their destination, they were called into action. Just as they had settled into their formation, Dedrick could see movement from their opponents. Though he said opponents, all he could see were some shadows move around in the darkness. The boss had been right. The enemy really had come prepared. All lights around the mansion had been extinguished. Only their torches formed a sea of light within a black ocean.
”Right, you know what to do. I'll go over to protect Laqhis in case they try anything funny. Good luck,” Fadelio said.
”Don't need it.”
”Make sure the parabolic mirrors are pointed to the right spot and be sure the torches are close enough too. If the spores don't pass through the flame-”
”I got it, I got it! Good Lords what is wrong with you? Get over and protect your boss. This here is my work. Let me show you how a real knight handles a war.”
With his last word spoken, Dedrick saw Fadelio off. As the figure of the warrior got smaller and smaller, the former knight's mouth formed into a grin all on its own. It was time to show these long-haired weirdos how they fought back in Arcavia. He organized his men to put up the two bronze mirrors and aimed them at around fifty feet away from his front line. The perfect distance for the matchlocks.
”All right, boys! You know the drill! Back four Rows! Matchlocks! Once you see the flash, open fire! Not any sooner! Can't see anything? Too dark? Too bright? Too much smoke? Doesn't matter! There's a hundred of 'em in that dark soup over yonder, so you're bound to hit something! And don't forget to move back after your shot! Step forward! Fire! Step right! Move back! Reload! You can count to four?! Then don't screw this up!”
From the distance he could hear someone recite a solemn speech in Yakua.
”Under the gaze of the stars, lay to rest the conflict between Princes Corcopaca Titu Pluritac and Pachacutec Titu Pluritac. Let honor and blood speak the final verdict and let peace return between the lords.”
The war was about to start.
”First three rows! Halbardiers! Down on your knees and make sure not one of 'em gets through! When they scatter from the fire: Be ready to storm on my command! Torches! Position in front of the mirrors! You're not only fuel for the fire seeds, you're also our light as we march ahead, so hold steady! Bellows...iers! Push on my 'fire'!”
Soundless like ghosts, their opponents rushed forward to close the distance. Once they had spanned half the field, Dedrick could finally make out their front line from the torchlight within their own formation. Two mercenaries on each side held their torches in front of the massive mirrors to create a cone of light, focused in on an area about fifty steps away from them. They would provide the sparks to set the fire seeds alight.
Dedrick felt the tension of his men rise as he focused on the wave of darkness before him.
*A bit closer.*
He heard the man to his right try to swallow down his nerves.
*Just a bit more.*
Once the shadows charged into the cone of light, they turned back into humans. Those he knew how to kill.
”FIRE!”
As the bellowsiers pushed down on their bellows, they ignited an enormous flame in front of the mirrors. The light traveled down the cone of light and culminated in a flash which engulfed the entire enemy formation. Right after, Dedrick heard the whipping sound of the matchlocks go off, soon followed by heart-rending screams as the first salvo reached its intended target.
”Music to my ears,” he grinned.
Everything went so well, Dedrick didn't even have to do anything. After just a few salvos, the enemy had already lost all semblance of order. A second flash sealed their fate.
”Right flank, Scolo! Left flank Zelefries! Forward and encircle! Center after me! Box them in and wipe them out!”
In organized rows, the troops marched ahead. As they advanced, they stepped over dropped weapons and dead bodies. Any enemy they encountered, they would make fast work of. Held back by the spear and ax of the halberds, the thorn could cut off the life of even the armored foes. With every further step, their own torches would illuminate more of the battlefield. At last, they could see what destruction they had wrought. Pools of blood, shattered limbs and heads, men on their final breath looking up in search for salvation, as they tried to stem the tide of life which escaped their bodies through their bullet wounds, and in the center, surrounded on three sides, the last, pitiful remnants of their enemy, ripped out of the darkness. Now that he got a good look at them, they really weren't much. One by one, the wraiths started to drop their weapons.
It was a flawless victory.
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When Corco turned back around, the brawl was already decided. Still, he was glad the darkness managed to shield most of the spectacle from his view. The prince had seen his fair share of blood over the years, far more than he had ever wanted, but he still wasn't too keen on watching a massacre, even if his men were the ones to commit it.
At least the end came fast. By now Dedrick's men had surrounded the last remnants of the wraith troop and began to disarm them. Corco turned his head to gloat and found his brother's entire body tense like a pulled bowstring. His widened eyes swam around the darkness around them, in search of an answer to a question he didn't understand. Corco decided to help his brother out.