[hider=Interviews with Prisoners]

Nizaar had been kept in the cells of Medea for what had felt like at least a week. Though the dungeons themselves were grim and dark, he and Lord Roid were as comfortable as a prisoner could hope to be. They had been given beds, a table, two meals a day and even a deck of cards. Both he and Lord Roid had spent much of the days playing with the deck to take their minds of the currently predicament. Lord Roid had even introduced Nizaar to a new card game native to the lands of Cawanor, known simply as ‘Kings’. Before the battle Nizaar only cared for Roid as a captain and had no interest in getting to know him any further than that. However their time in the cell together had forced him to get better acquainted with the young lord and much to his surprise he took quite a liking to the man. He was young and naive but he wasn’t arrogant, he was also loyal and as far as Nizaar could tell had a good heart. They were currently in the middle of a game of Kings, with Roid as usual having the advantage. However their game was interrupted by the jailor clumsy unlocking the door to the cell. He was a overweight sweaty man who was not native to the lands of Uzgob. He was normally in a drunken state and today was no different. He was accompanied by two other Medean guards of whom one walked towards Nizaar and grabbed him by the arm and led him out of the cell.

“Where are you taking him”? Roid questioned as he threw his hand on the table.

“None of your concern southern dog” Spat the other guard as he signalled the jailor to lock the door. While they clearly had no intention of telling him where they were taking him, Nizaar had a feeling that Fennick had finally decided that he wanted to talk with his prisoner.

The guard dragged Nizaar into a spacious room that held a large table with two chairs on opposite sides. On one side was Fenick, and standing behind him were four fierce-looking tribesmen armed with spears. It seemed like Nizaar had been defanged for the time, but Fenick thought it was always best to make sure with men such as him. Fenick did not like him, but he had sufficiently proved his skill in battle, despite his defeat.

“Welcome, false King. I am sure you by now have become quite used to your new home,” Fenick said. “Let me be brief. I will leave the small talk to a minimum, Nizaar. I hope you understand that your situation. You have not been mistreated, and neither you nor your friend have suffered any bodily harm while in your cell. A less just man would have had you hanged. We have appreciated your cooperation so far, and I will have need of it further. Tell me, what have the De Reimer’s told you? What are Alasdair and Patrick planning, and what is it that could possibly turn a man such as yourself against your rightful king?”

Once the guards released him Nizaar calmly pulled out the seat opposite Fenick and sat down. 

“To answer your first question, I know no more of the De Reimer’s schemes than you do. They do not trust me enough to reveal their plans to me. Even if I did know I am sworn to my emperor and cannot reveal his plans to a enemy, my honour has already been stained once, I will not tarnish it further”. After saying this Nizaar’s face turned grave “However my true loyalty is and always will be to Uzgob and its people. You ask why I betrayed my King, it is because his ambitions were tearing the kingdom apart, and it was his people who were paying for it”. At this Nizaar looked Fenick dead in the eye “and you are no different. Your rebellion has once again brought chaos upon Uzgob, and will spread pain and suffering until you are stopped”. 

“Look how mightily he protests!” Fenick said, scoffing. “It was you alone, and not the people of Uzgob, who deemed it necessary to surrender. Before you so eagerly pass down judgement from on high, remember that it was the people, and not me alone, who decided that it was not yet time to surrender. But enough of this. I do not believe you would have any deep loyalty to Alasdair. After all, a turncoat does not change his nature. I believe I told you that this would go easier if you were to speak honestly. Perhaps you are still misunderstanding your position. I did not keep you alive because I need you. On the contrary, it would be much more useful to me if you had gotten yourself killed. But you surrendered properly, and I will not kill one who has become my prisoner. But if this is all you have to say for yourself, then I might as well march you back to your cell.”

“What is it you want Fenick” Nizaar asked, his eyes unwaveringly staring into Fenick’s “To be free of De Reimer rule? To oppose the church and see the realm follow your own faith? It will not work” Nizaar’s voice saddened “Andris had five kingdoms supporting him and even he couldn’t resist them. You have what exactly? A few hundred fanatics? Tribesmen who arm themselves with animal hides and whatever steel they can scavenge together? You can disrupt the De Reimer hold over Uzgob for a time but you don’t know them like I do. Patrick will see all of Uzgob burn if only to stamp out any dissentients. I beg you as a man who loves this kingdom above all else, end this rebellion and prevent drawing the ire of the De Reimer’s any further”. 

“How quaint, that you speak of the depravities of the de Reimers, yet you gave yourself over to them,” Fenick said. “If you knew the de Reimers as you claim you do, you must know that the suffering they would inflict through war is but a small fraction of the suffering that the people of Formaroth shall have to endure if the de Reimers’ are allowed to consolidate their rule. But I will squabble with you over this, Nizaar. I did not bring you here to hear your excuses, your political philosophy, and certainly not your advice. What I want is information. Perhaps you know more than you are letting on, and perhaps not. I doubt that I shall get anything more out of you on that note, however, so allow me to change the subject. Patrick seems to have put you in charge of taking me out. What of that? What should I expect of Patrick? How will he act?”

“I cannot tell you his plans for as I said I do not know them. But if you are expecting him to march his armies into the desert to face you then you will be disappointed, he is smarter than that. I suspect he will use his forces and the inquisition to squeeze Uzgob and her people. Until they either reject you or be destroyed. With a man as charismatic as Lycaon at the helm of the inquisition, the former is more likely” Nizaar replied, in truth he should have just refused to tell Fenick anything and remained silent, however as Fenick had mentioned he had no true loyalty to Patrick. 

“I would be quite surprised if he could squeeze Uzgob’s people dry, as this land is already dried enough,” Fenick said. “You say that he will not come to the desert? There could be no greater fallacy. No, we shall force him to come to the desert. I reckon that even now Patrick, and especially his men, have already had too much of our Uzgob sun. As for Lycaon, I would not worry about him. He is the past. Once the man had his uses, but as he chose to stay behind while I and Johannia strove ahead, he is irrelevant. I think you will hear little of him in the coming days. Guards, I think this one has said all he has to say. Bring in the other one.”

“If you will not listen to reason then you are right I have nothing more to say to you. Though if you will listen to anything I have said understand this; for your own sake do not underestimate Patrick” as the guards took him away Nizaar simply mumbled “Not like Andris did”.
“Bring in the next one, I think he will be less stubborn,” Fenick said. “And bring me two bottles of wine and a glass. I am sure that our next guest will appreciate it.”

So then Fenick waited, as he waited for the guards to do as he commanded. In a few minutes they brought in Roid. Fenick offered him a seat, and he took it. Then Fenick, holding the glass of wine poured it into a glass, and took a drink from the glass.
“Would you like some?” Fenick said. “I am sure you have been thirsty for it these last few days. Tell me, what is your name?”
Roid looked at Fenick with uncertainty, however he soon ceded.

“I won’t turn down wine if it is offered to me, even if it is given to me by an enemy”

One of the guards made a motion to pour a glass, but Fenick preferred to do it himself. He took up the other glass and poured it full of wine, and then handed into it to Roid.

“You are welcome to have as much as you like,” Fenick said. “But while your at it, why don’t you tell me who you are.”
Roid took the glass from Fenick’s hand and after a brief moment of hesitation, took a sip from it. He was unsure what infomation he should divulge to Fenick, however even in defeat the man had treated him and Nizaar with honour and dignity, the least he could do was show him the same in return. 

“I am Lord Roid of house Gray, I along with two other lords were hand picked by Patrick De Reimer to return order to Uzgob” He replied proudly.

“Lord Roid,” Fenick said. “I am not an eloquent man, so let me be brief. The De Reimers’ reign will soon fall. The whole land rejects them. My uprising here shall be but one of many, soon. It does not take much to see that soon they shall have war with both the Southern Alliance and the Blackwells. I would like you to join me. You will have your men and your command back, and you have far more to gain here than anything Patrick would give you.”

Roid was taken aback by the blunt manner in which Fenick had asked him to change his allegiance

“You ask me to betray both my king and emperor and forsake my honour”?

“Lord Roid, I offer you a chance to fight on the right side of this war,” Fenick said. “I will allow you as much time as you need to think on it. But remember what I have said here. The De Reimers still reign for now, but one day they will fall.”

“And why are you so certain that you, a fanatical desert dweller will succeed while the De Reimer’s will fail” Roid questioned before quickly drinking his wine, he suspected this conversation wasn’t going to last long and wanted to enjoy his drink before it was taken away.
“As I said, the de Reimer’s shall face stiff resistance everywhere,” Fenick said. “His armies are tired, and his resources are spent. War with the Blackwells and the Southern Alliance will come soon, and their fresh troops will tear apart the de Reimer’s armies. In the meantime, rebellions here and elsewhere will spring, and in the end the Alasdair will be swallowed up by his endless list of enemies. Know this, Lord Roid - you may call me a fanatic, but my war was never about religion. That is a battle for another time. I follow the new Church, but many of my new allies follow the old Church. I have one aim, and that is freeing these lands of the de Reimers’ grasp. But I think I may have misjudged you. As you say, I am just a desert fanatic and you are a loyal follower to the de Reimers. Feel free to enjoy your drink as long as you like. I will not take that away from you.”

“Very well” Roid said as he reached for the bottle of wine for a refill, before he could take it however the bottle was snatched away from him by one of the guards. Roid looked at the man bitterly as he finished what was drops were left in his goblet and turning to Fenick “I will consider what you have said, but I wouldn’t get your hopes up. Chances are Patrick will arrive here soon with the Cawanorian soldiers he brought, and unlike that unprofessional mob that we lead they will crush this rebellion”. 

“Well, I can at least let you take the bottle with you back to your cell,” Fenick said.

The guard begrudgingly gave Roid back the bottle to which Roid took with a smirk.

“I thank you for your hospitality, it was more than I had expected” Roid said as he stood up and was led away by the guards who had brought him here.

[/hider]

[hider=Battle on the Roads]

[hider=Summary]
The Grim Company meets the forces of the Holy Order of Saint Elenor on the road and launches an unexpected attack. Lady Grim leads the infantry to attack the front, while Ieyasu takes the horsemen to attack the rear. Ser Gwladis leads the frontline of the Holy Order's forces, while Ser Sayer leads his knights to guard the rear and counter Ieyasu's forces. Gwladis is overwhelmed and killed, and the Holy Order's center quickly collapses. After hearing of his daughter's death, Ser Sayer charges through enemy lines and injures Ieyasu. However, he confronts Lady Grim shortly afterwards and is narrowly defeated and killed. After that, the forces of the Holy Order start to collapse. Herona and a few other soldiers hold the mountain road, which gives Raymond enough time to reorganize the forces of the Holy Order so that they can manage an orderly, less costly retreat. The Grim Company withdraws for the time being, while the Holy Order retreats from Uzgob.
[/hider]

Ser Sayer marched on the road at the head of his army, marching upon a dusty Uzgobian road. He had arrived in western Uzgob and had plans to head further inward in order to combat the heretics. There had been clear reports that a heretical rebellion had begun inward. It seemed that the only thing which sprung from this barren land was insurrection. As his army marched forward, they found a large contingency of forces on the road. Ser Sayer sent his scout to discover who it was. After Ser Sayer waited long enough, the scout returned to him. 

“You’ve returned,” Ser Sayer said. “Have you found out who it was up there?"

“The Grim Company, I think they’re called,” the scout said. “Recognized their flags and arms, ser.”

“I remember,” Ser Sayer said. “They fought on Andris’ side. What do they want?”

“Nothing that they've let become known to me, ser,” the scout said. “But I know they’re on the road.”

“I can see that. I have no interest in this defeated band of mercenaries," Ser Sayer said. “I hope that they shall have no interest in us. It would be unfortunate if our roads were to cross once again. Let us hope it does not come to that. The war is over, and a mercenary does not fight for free.” 

The army had arranged themselves under Ser Sayer’s orders, and by now everyone knew that a large band of mercenaries were on the other side. Raymond, the man who Herona had once known as the strawberry-haired man but who was now her commanding officer, was walking beside her and beside her teacher, Ser Gwladis. Things were quiet for the moment, but it was not to last long. Herona saw up ahead that the Grim Company, mostly on horseback, had already amassed, and for some reason she could tell that it would end well.

“This’s bad,” Herona said.

“Commander Sayer said that they have no reason to attack,” Raymond said.

“No, Herona is right,” Gwladis said. “I see it as well. They are going to attack, and our forces will not hold.”

Gwladis never said much, but she was always quick to act. After saying this she ran forward to the front of the army and was soon out of their sight. Herona slowed down her marching, and took out of her spear, and began to sharpen it. Several moments passed.

“What are you doing?” Raymond said.

“Preparin’ me spear, ser,” Herona said. “Reckon we’ll be doin’ tha’ same soon.”

Rhaetia rode proudly on her horse and was once again Lady Grim, with Ieyasu riding by her side. The so-called Holy Order was right in front of them now. As they were now they did not look like they fully ready to fight, as if they really believed that she would not attack. It was a common belief, after all, that a mercenary would never fight for free, and as far they knew she had not been rehired by any of their enemies. That lack of information would be their loss.

“Men, once these very men routed us, but today we shall have vengeance,” Lady Grim said. “Charge!”

Lady Grim herself was leading the vanguard of foot soldiers of the Grim Company. She yelled her commands, and they charged. From her hands there came a glowing redness, which soon expanded until it became a glowing fireball. Lady Grim propelled it towards the Order’s forces, and it smashed through the center of several ranks, slaying more than a few men, and scattered the center of the Holy Order’s forces. Officers shouted at their men to return to formation, to keep their shields up, but the formation had been broken. It was then that the charge from the Grim Company’s vanguard came, with Lady Grim being foremost amongst them. Ser Sayer shouted orders for platoons in the and flank to assist their fledging center. Lady Grim, however, sought for the Holy Order’s center to break immediately. As Ser Sayer’s own cavalry went to support the failing center of his forces, he soon found himself countered by the Grim Company’s own horsemen, led by Ieyasu. Along with her men she crashed into the Holy Order’s forces. When she faced the first man she struck with a spell of lightning, striking his armor, and he was immediately electrocuted. Then she enchanted her blade with a spell of fire, which could burn at the touch and cut through armor like butter. 

Lady Grim cut down several more men with her flaming sword, as her men advanced. Yet though the center regiment of the Holy Order was failing, resistance still was fierce, as reinforcements from behind came, led by Ser Gwladis’ regiment. Ser Gwladis always led from the front. As she met with the forces of the Grim Company, she rose her sword, and with a single swing quick as lightning she struck down two men. Nimbler than any cat and fiercer than any bear, she struck down every man who dared to face her. More than a dozen men had fallen before her already, and now the brave soldiers of the Grim Company were already cowering at the idea of having to face her. As long as she stood, Lady Grim knew that she would not have victory. The soldiers of the Holy Order rallied around Ser Gwladis, as she slew one after another of the mercenaries of the Grim Company. She did not flinch or hesitate as her enemies swarmed her and slew them one after another.
 
“Idiots!” Lady Grim shouted. “She is just a woman, not a god! Can’t you kill a single woman!”

“I pity you," Ser Gwladis said. “Even if you retreat, I can no longer allow you to live.”

“You dare to mock me?” Lady Grim said. “I am Rhaetia, the Lady Grim. The elves quake in fear at the mention of my name, the Samurai bow to my glory!”

“We are not in the east now, my lady,” Ser Gwladis said. “Have you ever heard the saying, the dogs with the fiercest bark have the slightest bite?”

“So, I am a dog now? How rich! I suppose that would make me a bitch, then,” Lady Grim said. “Though I am no less a bitch than one of Lycaon’s dog. So, from one bitch to another, let me show you just how hard my bite is.”

Lady Grim conjured up a lightning spell and blasted it to her. However, Gwladis was too fast. The lightning Ser Gwladis avoided, and she dashed at Lady Grim faster than she could believe. Lady Grim cursed loudly, and would have been struck down there, except that at the last moment one of her soldiers shoved her out of the way. Her soldier had been slain in her place instead. Lady Grim did not give up. She got herself up as quickly as she could.

“Shit! Surround her! Kill her at all costs!” Lady Grim shouted. “She must die!” 

Ser Gwladis’ company clashed again with the vanguard of the Grim Company. When Ser Sayer had left, he had not brought the best of the Grim Company. Though they had some experience from the Battle of Telmarion and the Riot of Nyhem, they were no match for the best of the Grim Company. In their moment of weakness, Lady Grim decided it was time to strike. With two dozen of her best soldiers she struck at Ser Gwladis. As Lady Grim struck with spells, her soldiers surrounded Ser Gwladis, and fought in a furious struggle. Though Ser Gwladis found herself isolated, she never gave an inch willingly, and being cornered only made her fight that much harder. With a rapidity and a disciplined ferocity that they had never seen before, Ser Gwladis fought. Her body was filled with injuries, as swords came at with from every direction. She brought down with her ten of the Grim Company’s best, but in the end she fell. As her limbs finally gave out, she fell to the ground. She no longer tried to reach her sword, because she knew it was over. Her years of service finally at an end, her thoughts turned to the years she lived, and the places and people she had seen. In life she had never known rest, so now she could only hope that now the gods would give her an eternal rest. She made an effort to close her eyes, and she never opened them again.

“Farewell, knight. I did not know your name, but I knew you better than I have known many of my friends. It was a shame that we had to meet in this way,” Lady Grim said. “Forward! It is over! The greatest of the Order has fallen! Don’t stop moving! Forward!”

The Grim Company’s vanguard continued to advance, past Ser Gwladis body. Before she moved on ahead, Lady Grim cast a small invisible barrier over Ser Gwladis, that ensured the body would remain unharmed for the remainder of the battle. Lady Grim had been in many battles and had fought against a great many who called themselves great warriors, but she had never seen anything like her before. 

In the meantime, as Lady Grim continued to push forwards, Ser Sayer led the cavalry, made up of knights of the Holy Order, against those of Ieyasu. The battle was fierce, as charge met charge, and the fighting devolved steadily, as more and more fell and the earth ran red with blood. In the frontline was Ser Sayer, shouting orders as he was fighting. And in the distance, there was the desperate voice of Captain Keithan, that cried, “Ser Gwladis has fallen! Our hero has fallen!”

“Impossible!” Ser Sayer shouted. “Gwladis! Traitor dogs, mercenary cur, whoreson filth, may the curses of every god and demon real and imagined fall upon you! Not even vengeance a million times over will not be enough for this crime! Gwladis! Gwladis! Charge, you ingrates! Charge in the name of my daughter, the greatest soul ever there was!”

Ser Sayer shouted at the top of his lungs as he charged, and his men had no choice but to follow him. Yet the charge ultimately was reckless. Ieyasu laughed at the foolish tactic, but his laughter perhaps came too soon. Ser Sayer charged with fury, and with himself and several handfuls of other knights he broke through the Grim Company’s line. Ieyasu went to meet them. Each of them, each on horses, charged towards each other, raising their lances, almost like it was joust. Yet here whoever would receive death in addition to humiliation. As both of them went to strike with their lances, Ser Sayer struck a moment quicker and with slightly better aim and knocked Ieyasu off his horse with a strike to the chest. Ieyasu was wounded, and felled from his horse, but survived. Ser Sayer was ready to deliver death from above, when a blast of lightning came towards him. It felled his horse, but Ser Sayer quickly rose himself up.

“This makes two defeats in a row, Ieyasu,” Lady Grim said.

“Careful, Rhaetia,” Ieyasu said. “He seems like just another brute, but he is strong.”

“Of course not,” Lady Grim said. “Lycaon only associates with the best, after all.”

“Is it true, that my daughter, my Gwladis, is dead?” Ser Sayer said.

“If you mean the knight, then she died bravely and honorably,” Lady Grim said. “I have ensured that her body has been left untarnished.”

“And do you expect me to thank you?” Ser Sayer said, but then he gave a mirthless laugh. “Should I thank you that you did not defile my Gwladis’ corpse? Honorable death? Hah! She is dead all the same. I imagine that you surrounded her at every angle. That’s the only way the likes of you could have killed my Gwladis. Now that I have you alone, both of you will die, and they will not be gentle deaths.”

Though his horse had been slain, Ser Sayer had risen himself quickly. He might not have gained the skill that his daughter did, but his was style was the same. As Lady Grim launched a fireball towards him Ser Sayer dodged to the right, and never stopped running towards Lady Grim. Then when he was finally close to her, he struck. When Lady Grim parried, sparks filled the air thanks to the spell of fire cast on her spell, but Ser Sayer was undeterred. He struck again and again at Lady Grim, striking at many different angles. Then Ser Sayer, as their blades were connected, tried to push her to the ground. But Lady Grim made a push herself, and made another strike with her blade, and her enchanted blade cut through Ser Sayer’s armor. He bled but did not yet fall. He thrust his blade with the most force yet, and Lady Grim, charging her blade full with fiery magical energy, parried the strike, and her own fiery blade cut clean through Ser Sayer’s blade. Nonetheless, he did not cease, and thrust his broken sword into Lady Grim’s gut, which wounded her, though she was protected by chainmail. As Ser Sayer’s other hand went towards Lady Grim’s neck, Lady Grim struck her blade at his neck. She struck true, and blood spewed from Ser Sayer’s neck rapidly. Nonetheless, he did not die immediately, and as long as he drew breath he would give up. With one of his hand’s Ser Sayer struck at Lady Grim’s hand and threw her blade from her hands, and he put his other hand across her neck. Lady Grim pulled a dagger from her waist and struck in vain against Ser Sayer’s plate-covered arms. It seemed that it was over for Lady Grim, as Ser Sayer’s grip refused to loosen. However, Ser Sayer was bleeding out rapidly from his neck, and after about a minute Ser Sayer’s strength began to give away. As Lady Grim felt her consciousness slowly begin to fade Ser Sayer’s grip finally loosened, and she drew herself away from her and gasped quickly and desperately for air.

“My Lady Grim,” Ieyasu said weakly.

“You have my permission to withdraw,” Lady Grim said.

Wonderful…” Ieyasu said. “Now I just have the small problem that I can’t move.”

Lady Grim began to raise herself up, though she was still gasping for air and her gut was wounded. She was exhausted – spellcasting tended to do that to a person – but she was far from done. The battle was still at its height. The weight of losing its commander had not yet been felt by the Holy Order. The Grim Company would have to keep pushing. As some of her soldiers approached her, she spoke.

“Carry Ieyasu out of here,” Lady Grim said.

“And what of you, my Lady?” her soldier said. “You have been injured.”

“I still live,” Lady Grim said. “When it comes time for me to leave, I will.”

For a moment, as the cavalry saw their commander fall, the knights faltered, but Captain Brandon ran forward, and blew loud upon the war horn. The sound broke through the sounds of battle and rang through the air. It was loud, and as musical as it was exhilarating.
“Men, knights, cowards,” Captain Brandon said. “Don’t think you’ll get off running now that the going’s getting tough! I don’t know about you, but I tend to show these gutless fools something to fear. For the Commander!”

With Captain Brandon leading what remained of the knights, Lady Grim took it upon herself to counter. She jumped on to Ieyasu’s horse and led the horsemen of the Grim Company herself. As she led the countercharge. As knights thrust their lances towards her, she parried their strikes with her shield, and then struck them down with her blade. At the height of the fighting Lady Grim went to Captain Brandon. As the two of them charged against each other, Lady Grim tossed a fireball. It may have been cheating, but she was not feeling well, and was more concerned with winning than with honor right now. When the fireball reached Captain Brandon fell, and when the knights saw this scattered and began to withdraw at a rapid pace almost immediately.

As for the footsoldiers, Captain Keithan tried to hold the line among the militiamen of the Holy Order. Lady Grim led the cavalry to charge their flank. Being attack from the front and from the flank was too much for the militia. As the horsemen broke through their lines, Captain Keithan himself was slain, and their ranks were broken, and they were forced to retreat. Lady Grim smiled. It seemed that the Holy Order’s defeat was inevitable now, though Lycaon was not here to face her now. The Holy Order was beginning to retreat en masse now, and the battlefield was starting to become even more chaotic as the formations of the Holy Order’s soldiers began to dissipate. There were no longer neat formations within the forces of the Holy Order. They were running the way they had come.

Herona felt almost like she was being trampled with all the people running past her. She was running with them, in her own way. It was a mechanical motion, which Herona did automatically, without thinking of it. She saw Raymond was there, still holding the line and doing what he could to stop the disorderly retreat, along with some of the other knights. But it was mostly himself. It was having some effect, but there was something missing. Why should they have any motivation to fight any longer, after having suffered so many setbacks already?

“Herona!” Raymond said.

“Here ser,” Herona said.

“Retreating with the rest of them, I see,” Raymond said.

“Aye ser,” Herona said.

“And will you be satisfied with that?” Raymond said. “Will you be satisfied to suffer a defeat like this, while you run and are chased like dogs?”

Why not? Herona almost asked that to him. She knew that it was a useless question. Truth be told such questions no longer met anything to her. To some, she was sure, such big questions were very meaningful, but not for a soldier like herself. Nonetheless, she knew that it was her duty – whatever that meant – to turn back and keep fighting even if the whole army was retreating. Because the whole army was retreating, she had to keep fighting. 

“Never mind that, ser. Got somethin’ up ya’ sleeve?” Herona said.

“If we continue to run like this, without any respect for formation, they will kill us all,” Raymond said. “Do what you can to make sure they do not pierce the mountain roads.”

“Aye, ser,” Herona said. “They ain’t gettin’ through me.”

As soldiers ran past her to retreat, Herona took a handful of soldiers that Raymond bad gathered to guard the mountain pass from which they once come from. She did not know what Raymond was doing, or what his plans were, but at least she could hold this pass. A group of horsemen were charging towards her, thinking they would quickly break through such few numbers. As the cavalry charged towards them, hoping to run them down, Herona held out her spear, and did just as Gwladis had taught her. As the horsemen charged her, she struck her spear and cut through the flesh of two separate horses. Her fellow soldiers did the same. They did the same as she did and stood their ground as their spears pierced the flesh of the charging horses. Then a force of shock infantry that outnumbered them three-to-one suddenly charged at them, but Herona stood strong, and with them everyone else. She would just have to do what Gwladis had always taught her. As the first infantryman came to her, she struck her spear through his vizor and cleaved his skilled. Then just as quickly as she struck she withdrew her spear, and struck down another one of the mercenaries. With her spear she aimed rapidly, and just as Gwaldis had taught her. Man after man of the Grim Company fell at her hand, and none could stand against her. 

Lady Grim herself was trying to break their line now. She led a second charge herself. As Lady Grim led the charge Herona carefully eyed her and did something that she had practiced often with Gwladis. As she became close she tossed her spear like a javelin. It was a good shot, and hit Lady Grim’s breastplate hard, and she went down, and did not get up until her men rose her. Their charge was weakened, and Herona did not allow herself or her fellow soldiers to fall before it. Elsewhere, Raymond was gathering the remnants of the army that had scattered behind the mountain pass and was doing all he could to reorganize them. Some came back to reinforce Herona’s position, to make sure the mountain road would not fall. The Grim Company gave two more attempts at a charge, and tried to break through the mountain road, but compared to the initial assault it was lackluster. The Grim Company had lost its leadership, with both Lady Grim and Ieyasu injured and taken away from the action. Lady Grim could have kept watched over them, hoping she could wait them out, but she did not risk the possibility of the Holy Order calling reinforcements. Lady Grim, as her wounds were being tended to, gave the order for a retreat. Yet there was no doubt that this was a victory for the Grim Company, and when there was no longer any sign of the Grim Company Raymond would order their own retreat.
[/hider]

[hider=Epilogue]
Raymond led the infantrymen as they marched out of Uzgob, leading the frontline of the ranks as they carried out their tactical withdraw. He continued to do so until Captain Simone-Simon announce that they would set up camp. Raymond was glad to do so. He was tired, but not as tired as many of their soldiers. He noticed that Herona looked particularly haggard, her arms were drooping, and her eyes looked devoid of life. As Herona was setting up her tent, Raymond went over to. He tried to help her with setting 

“No need fa’ that, ser,” Herona said. “Settin’ up tent’s soldier’s work, fa’ grunts like me.”

“It’s the least I could do, with all you’ve done for me,” Raymond said.

“Ain’t somethin’ a officer’d be sayin’ to one o’ his soldiers,” Herona said. “Just did me duty.”

"Right," Raymond said. He was about to saying something, but then stopped himself. "You did well today."

“Thank ya, ser,” Herona said. “All’s in a day’s work. Tha’ sweat, blood, sounds n’ clanks’ o’ iron, the killin’ n’ dyin’. Ah, but don't mind me ramblin', ser. All I’s sayin’ is, all’s in a day’s work.”

“You seem tired,” Raymond said.

“Reckon we’re all tired, ser,” Herona said. “Long day.”

“That’s not quite what I meant,” Raymond said.

A soldier came up to them and said, “Lieutenant Raymond?”

“What is it?” Raymond said.

“Captain Simone-Simon would like to speak with you, ser, immediately. Officer’s meeting,” the soldier said.

“If that is what the captain wishes, I must obey,” Raymond said.

Raymond had a few other things he wanted to say to Herona, but for now they would have to wait. Raymond walked over to where Captain Simone-Simon was, and saluted. They were still setting us his tent, so he was meeting him outside. 

“Ser, I thought this was an officer’s meeting,” Raymond said. “Where is everyone else?”

“There is no one else, lieutenant,” Captain Simone-Simon said. “Everyone else is dead. Commander Sayer, Ser Gwladis, Captain Keithan, Captain Brandon, and others. I have you and a few remaining sergeants. You did well, captain, better than I did. I don’t even want to imagine what would happen if you had not been there.”

“That was more due to Herona than to me,” Raymond said.

“Humility is good,” Captain Simone-Simon said. “But this is simply the truth. I must be honest, my friend, this is unmitigated disaster on a larger scale than I could possibly imagine. You are the only one who can possibly have any idea what to do next, not me. From now on I plan to defer to you as much as I can. I have no doubt that when we are all back home once again you will be made a captain in your own right.”

“I imagine I don’t have any choice in the matter,” Raymond said.

“I imagine not,” Captain Simone-Simon said. “So, lieutenant, what shall we do?”

We need to get a message to Grandmaster Lycaon. He must know what happened here,” Raymond said. “And then we must wait. We cannot retreat back to Nyhem. I can’t imagine Lycaon would be very happy if we were to do that without his permission.”

“No, probably not,” Captain Simone-Simon said. “Still, it is a shame. I was hoping that this would be an easy mission. Why do you think that they attacked us? Does it have something to do with the heretics?”

“There could be no other reason,” Raymond said. “Perhaps they ran into some money. Or perhaps they stole some. Regardless, they must have managed to pay the Grim Company somehow.
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