Chapter 62

Karim shook me awake. It was still dark, with only the small lamp in his hand giving light inside the tent.

“It’s time”, he whispered.

I got up, pushing away the fear that had woken up with me. The ground underneath my feet was cold, and I walked over to the basin and washed my face. Selene and Uruk would already be preparing their troops, and I wondered if they… No, I shook my head. We shared breakfast in silence, and although I couldn't taste anything, I forced myself to eat.

After that, Karim helped me with my armour, and I could feel the cold breastplate chilling my body through my tunic. He wrapped a belt with a sword around my waist and then stepped back, looking at me with approval.

I followed him out, and he led me through the camp. Everywhere were torches burning and soldiers running to and fro to get ready. Suddenly, the earth under our feet trembled, and the sound of countless horns rang in the air. I halted, looking towards the river. A wall of burning torches spread out in the distance. The Imperial troops had gathered.

It stretched out as far as the eye could see, and I shivered. Karim gently pulled my hand and I forced myself to follow him to the group of soldiers who would be our escort. I had to believe… The silver shield of my banner shone in the light of the torches as I mounted and looked towards the horizon, illuminated by the first rays of the sun.

The first of our troops moved across the river, forming the battle formation that Karim and Manelia had prepared. Somewhere, Uruk and Selene were standing with their forces, but I couldn't distinguish their banners among the others. I hoped they…

Horns blasted closer to us, and more and more troops surged over the river. I watched the fortress where Imperial troops held the line. There were so many of them… Karim put a hand on my shoulder, and I almost startled. He nodded, and we rode forth, crossing the river. I glanced at Manelia, who rode on my left. He whispered a quiet prayer as we took our position on the small hill behind our troops.

This was it… I took a deep breath and nodded to Vaya, the old spell caster who accompanied us. She bowed her head, and I could feel a tingling in my body as she cast the spell that would carry my voice to the troops.

I stared out over the lines upon lines of soldiers. My mind went blank. I had spent countless nights memorising the speech Karim had written, but when I stood in the stirrups and looked at our lines, all those words lost their meaning. Who was I to tell them all of this? What comfort could those words bring to them? Fear and despair crept up, spreading through the air. I shook my head. I had to believe… I took a deep breath.

“I know you are afraid and doubt your choices.”

My voice echoed in the air, and Manelia looked at me, surprised.

“We all left our loved ones behind, hoping they would be safe, hoping they would never need to feel the fear that we feel now”

My voice started to shake as my thoughts went to Aki and Chaya.

“Our parents, our friends, our children deserve better than this. They deserve to feel safe and happy. This is why we came here. This is why we will fight, despite the fear and despair we feel, so they never need to feel it themselves…”

I wiped tears from my face and took a deep breath.

“Soldiers of the South, forth!”

“The sun will rise again!”

Horns blasted in the air, and the earth shook under the hooves of the horses charging the enemy lines.