Albertus, Dennizon, Freedom, and Kitana brooded over what Zakaire had reported to them. As it turned out the beastly army was known as Char and they were marching on a nation known as Ascalon not too far removed from their current position, may be a day and a half march away. In truth it was not just Zakaire this information came from but from a patrol he Ascalonians he had encountered that had been part of a force meant to defend their lands before the sky rained fire and decimated most of their army.

As it turned out the Ascalonians had been at war with these beasts for centuries and had erected a great wall to repel them. This method had been very successful over many years, too many years it occurred to the Immortals, who upon thought considered it to be the reason that finally drove the beasts to develop such devastating magic to overcome it.

The Ascalonians had suffered grievous losses in the onslaught and were now in sore need of help though there seemed to be none for them since simultaneous assaults had been launched against their only allies.

“So they offer us land and shelter in exchange for our assistance in repelling these Char?” Dennizon asked Zakaire pointedly. “They do Milord.” He replied simply. “Can we make it to their lands safely though is the question.” Kitana added looking deep in thought. “According to Zakaire we can get there, though safety would not be a guarantee regardless of the way we went.” Freedom reminded them.

“Well what choice do we have? Ultimately we can stay here and eventually starve or be discovered or we can try to secure our countrymen land again and assist in an effort to save the world from knowledge that should have never been.” Albertus said accentuating his remarks with sharp gestures from his hands.

“Well, whatever choice the High Council makes know that the Crusader Army will follow. We cast our lot with you and our future home whether here or there. We await your command. I will go and prepare my men for a decision.” Kitana said her piece and abruptly turn on her heel and walked away clearly indicating that she left the decision to the remaining men, her choice having been made.

“Well, Count Freedom, have you any advice in the matter?” Dennizon asked. Freedom did not miss a beat. “Where the Council leads, I will follow.” He said simply. “That is good to hear noble Count.” Albertus said with a smile. “As the last remaining noble your role is a crucial one.” “Indeed it is.” Interjected Dennizon, “And after much discussion Albertus and I think that it is such an important role that it would be better served by a Duke.” Freedom said nothing but simply waited for the two men to continue, only a bit of a question expressed in his features. “Freedom, you have served us well, your loyalty is unquestioned, and it is time that you were promoted to your well-earned position as Duke of the Republic.” Albertus said.

Freedom stood and saluted both men and said simply. “I will strive to lead with honor and uphold the ideals of our clan always. My honor is in your hands and my service at your disposal.” With a smile Albertus and Dennizon simultaneously stood and made a deep bow to Freedom, a most unusual and honorific gesture to be sure. The most one could hope for in the Republic.

Paragraph 32: A Heavy Price

Dennizon stood at the ready with his group of men aside an identical group led by Duke Freedom. The night before there had been a small, but nonetheless formal and jubilous ceremony to mark the promotion of Freedom to Duke. It was a welcome reprieve from the joyless atmosphere that all of them had been engulfed in basically since they left Camelot. They had made a feast of dried heels of bread and what salvaged from containers originally meant to wash the dust of travel from their weary bodies. Some dried fruits and beef jerky had been consumed as well by Freedom and the Council as gifts from the families they led. They had tried to refuse but the people had insisted. Dennizon could not help but smile at the bond shared with his people and felt that even though he had had more sumptuous meals in more splendid environments that had been a feast he would always remember and think fondly on. That is if today was not his day to die.

He had been awakened early that morning by Phoenix to tell him Zakaire had not returned from his scouting trip today. Phoenix had taken it upon himself to go and find the man only to stumble on a wounded Char scout. Before he died Phoenix discovered the Char could speak a very rudimentary version of their own language and that the Char not only knew where they were, but were sending a regiment to deal with them. As for Zakaire, Phoenix said the beast only gurgled in what had to be a laugh and died.

Since that time the remaining Immortals had been mobilized and a plan had been formed. Dennizon and Freedom would each lead a party to confront the char force. They would do their best to buy enough time for Albertus and Kitana to lead the refugees away and to what safety could be found under the care of their potential allies in Ascalon. It was a pitiful display really in that each party had less than 100 men, each containing more than half their number in mere boys as young as 14 years of age. Dennizon was loathe to put them at risk but they were willing if it meant they could save their younger brothers, sisters, and mothers. As it was, every surviving adult male that could be spared was in either Dennizon’s or Freedom’s party

Dennizon felt someone’s presence behind him and turned to see Albertus walking up. The old man silently joined him and simply stared with him in the direction they both felt would take the men to certain death. “Well, it has come to it.” Dennizon said gravely. “We have” replied Albertus simply in reply. The two men stared into the distance for a moment longer until Albertus turned and faced his friend. They had been the closest of friends for years now, to the point they felt towards each other like brothers of the same blood. “It is for our people.” Albertus said, phrasing his statement with a slight hint of a question in it. Dennizon turned and faced his friend, searching his face for what he really meant to say. In those eyes Dennizon saw doubt. Or so he thought. Looking closer he saw that Albertus felt what he no doubt would as well were their positions exchanged. Fear of loss. Fear of the loss of a friend, and for Albertus, loss had plagued his life, but so had the blessings of fruitfulness from his labors. Dennizon fully understood. “It is for our people. It is for their future and for all those who have sacrificed their lives for it. If today is my day, is Freedom’s day, or is the day for any of these other men. I dare say we will embrace it gladly.” Albertus nodded his head. “I of course agree,” he said with his usual resolve, “But I will never gladly embrace the parting of friends and brave souls, even if that parting is only for a while.” Albertus lingered there a moment and then stepped forward to embrace his friend in a fierce hug. Dennizon was taken aback at the unusual display of emotion but returned the embrace in earnest and then shook his old friends hand solemnly. Albertus stepped aside and then Dennizon saw a line of all the Immortals. One by one they each came and repeated the gesture. One by one the Immortals that were to escape embraced each of those who would buy it for them most probably with their lives. It was a momentous moment for Dennizon and the others as well. Freedom even openly wept in gratitude at the kind words of encouragement and compliments that were doled upon him by Kitana.

When the procession had completed itself Albertus gave one final nod to both Freedom and Dennizon and turned to get the refugees ready to travel.

Dennizon turned to Freedom and gave him a sturdy salute. “Well noble Duke, my friend, the time is come. Shall we?” “Let’s do it.” Freedom said, standing with back straight and truly fitting the part of the Duke. They parties had no horses as was common for them in a maneuver such as this so they set at a quick and steady pace for the Char regiment marching their way.

The two parties marched side by side for 2 hours and it was then that they began to see the cloud of dust ahead of them. It was not long before the familiar thump of drums and the peal of a shrill horn could be heard. With a sharp gesture of his hand Dennizon gave the command to break and he and Freedom began marching away from each other to split the Char forces. It would weaken them no doubt, but the goal was to buy as much time as possible engaging as many Char as they could. Dennizon gave another command and the ranks drew together in a compact formation in the shape of a diamond with the youngest boys in the center. Every man had a shield which Dennizon instructed them in the use of to make an effective shield for their entire body against any incoming arrows.

They marched in this fashion for maybe 15 minutes before the first rain of arrows came down upon them, bouncing harmlessly off the seamless grouping of their shields. Howls of rage could be heard from the approaching Char in frustration at this tactic. For some reason they didn’t want to engage right away and they wanted their arrows to make a difference. So Dennizon called his group to a halt and instructed them to wait. There was no siege that he could see so it only made sense to make the Char come to them.
The char saw this and wasted no time. Immediately the Char broke forward into a run faster than any human could move advancing on the tightly packed group of men. Dennizon’s men had no spears or lances though he wished they had now for it would have been useful against this charge. “It is a small matter men.” He said trying to reassure some of his men obviously affected by the charge that would hit them in seconds. “When they come, fight with backs to one another.” The ground began to shake with the approach of the char. “We alternate out the center ranks to give the men a chance to rest.” He said, yelling now as the roars of the Char became overbearing. “Above all, hold the ranks!” Dennizon yelled at the top of his lungs. There was a brief pause in the final seconds before the Char hit them. Dennizon took a breath and wondered how Freedom was faring. Then the Char hit.

Freedom had instructed his men to fight just as Dennizon had instructed him. But when the Char hit they literally knocked most of the formation down with their speed and ferocity. Almost immediately three men had fallen to the Char. Freedom swung his sword and shield with all of his might and managed to cleave a Char’s skull just before it did the same to him. In minutes the Char had surrounded them all, and their immense weight pressed against their formation making it nigh upon impossible to effectively fight. The Char were like some kind of ghastly combination of minotaur and humans with course hair, horns, cloven feet, and the great calloused hands of seasoned warriors. Their breath was rancid and their guttural language seemed hate filled to Freedom’s ears. Still fighting Freedom tried to shout out encouragement to his men, more than once staving off blows that would have struck a comrade with deadly force while trying to protect himself as well.

Freedom swung his sword wide in an arch, gutting three Char who could not evade his swing due to their own kin pressing against them from behind. He then turned and blocked another Char’s great axe with his shield and drove the upper point of his shield into the soft flesh below its muzzle while swinging wildly with his sword arm at another Char and severing his hairy arm. Freedom couldn’t help but cringe as he was sprayed with the blood of the man fighting next to him, a boy no older than 17, who in his panic swung too high exposing his torso and leaving him open to the vicious serrated blade that caught him off guard. In a rage Freedom swung wildly in the direction of the Char who had slain the young man but took a deep cut to his chest as another Char took advantage of his distraction. Freedom screamed in pain and was pulled into the center of the formation and replaced by other men more rested than he, the first replacement was beheaded almost immediately and the second gutted but able to run the Char through in a dieing blow. Freedom’s vision grew hazy before refocusing and watched as the same carnage befell his men all around him. He hoped Dennizon was doing better.

They needed more time, they needed more time. Dennizon fought beyond any limits he previously thought he had. Char after Char fell to his blade as his battle frenzy continued. They needed more time. It seemed that too many men were falling too fast. With the rate at which they Char ran if he and his men fell now there was no way Albertus and Kitana could lead the refugees to safety in time. Unlike his group theirs were comprised mainly of the remaining women and children and would have no chance at self defense. Dennizon ran his sword straight through the neck of a Char that came at him bellowing, killing it instantly. But Dennizon’s sword was stuck. In that instant another Char ran forward seeing an easy kill. Dennizon yanked frantically at his sword trying to free it but it was stuck in the dead beast. Dennizon let out a yell, bracing himself for his own death when suddenly a hand axe spun through the air and landed with a thick thud into the face of the charging Char. Dennizon turned and saw Phoenix at his side fighting off the Char trying to reach Dennizon. “Get it free sir! I can’t hold them off much longer!” He yelled. Dennizon wasted no time and gave a monumental heave pulling his sword free just in time to parry a blow aimed at Phoenix’s neck and shoulder. “The Council Guard indeed!” Dennizon yelled with a loud laugh. Phoenix gave him a wide-eyed look of acknowledgement and a smile and turned back to the defense. Suddenly a yell caught Dennizon’s attention and he turned in time to see Umores fall beneath no less than three other Char writhing and fighting the whole way down. Dennizon turned to help and was knocked sideways were he saw, to his horror that the formation was breaking up. Indeed, several Char muscled their way in a space they made by killing two Immortals and made their way to the center of the formation. The young boys there were extremely young and, though they fought valiantly, fell quickly to the massive bulk of the Char. Dennizon watched with despair as the youngest of the ranks and the tired and wounded were slaughtered and he was totally cut off from view of Umores. That was all he had time to do though for now he was surrounded by Char and only Phoenix stood at his side. Dennizon clapped him on the back and swung his sword with renewed ferocity yelling, “The Guard and the Council must hold out a bit longer lest all we fight for is lost! To battle my friend, it has come to it at last!”

Freedom was in immense pain from the wound to his chest and shoulder but he was starting to grow numb. He knew he had lost lots of blood but now the numbers of his men were so few he had no chance to rest. He spun in a full circle executing a move gracefully, despite his injury, which dispatched no less than five Char, perhaps more. Spinning around Freedom saw his old-time friend Doomwolf beset by an equal number of Char and began to work his way towards them. Very suddenly Doomwolf was then run through the stomach with a long spear, its point protruding out of his back. Freedom screamed in rage as he watched his friend go down. Nearly crazed now Freedom fought forward to his friend with little to no regard for his own safety. He ran his sword through the back of a Char’s neck and used it to vault over the body and grabbed the muzzle of another Char bent over his friend, loosing his grip on his sword, and with the strength of his rage pulled its jaws apart and broke them. He heard the bone break with a sharp crack and the beast writhed and spun around, Freedom on its back, until it was silenced by the wayward sword of one of its own kin. Freedom then screamed as a sword was raked across his face and eyes, temporarily blinding him. Blood and sweat stung as Freedom fell to the ground in pain and was stabbed in the leg while he was down. The offending Char pulled the sword free and raised his sword to complete the kill when he was knocked sideways by another Char pushed against him. Freedom could only see out of one eye and not well out of that one but he saw this and took the opportunity to jump up, punch the Char in the muzzle, and rip his long handle axe from its furry hands. He flipped the axe around and brought it down hard on the Chars head, splitting its skull wide open. Limping, chest and shoulder now numb and only able to barely see from one eye Freedom dispatched another Char before sagging to his knees. Another Char came at him and he rose quickly and chopped off its sword arm with the axe. The char spun wildly clearing a small space around Freedom and his fallen friend Doomwolf. Only a few men remained standing a fighting around Freedom. Blood rushed to his head and his vision began to spin and turn white. Freedom knew this was the end.

Dennizon and Phoenix fought back to back and somehow managed to keep felling the Char coming at them. A pile of dead bodies began to accumulate around them. Dennizon and Phoenix, however, were not unscathed. They continued to take countless small wounds which now soaked them both in blood. Dennizon knew they could not last much longer. Then several Char charged both of them at once. Phoenix and Dennizon both put their shields in front of them to shield their bodies and were crushed together, unable to move as were the Char pressing against them in their rage. “An ill end Dennizon.” Shouted Phoenix through gritted teeth. “Crushed to death” Dennizon could not reply for the effort it took to not be crushed but managed to grasp the hand of his trusted friend as if to say, well done. Just when Dennizon thought he could not hold out any longer a wave of arrows pelted at least 20 or more Char in front of him. Some died and others ran off in a panic and in pain. Dennizon, dazed and confused looked around and saw around him not only Char but men, mounted on horses firing arrows from their saddles and felling Char with their swords. Rejoining the fight Dennizon joined these new arrivals and watched as more and more of these newfound allies appeared around him.