Chapter 26: The battle of Hartayon fields...
Marcus Drone was not in the mood for a long siege. He ordered his bombard catapult, to take down the main wall of Hartayon keep. Several bear like orcs, loaded the catapult with a burning boulder. The command was given, and the catapult released it's contents.
A direct hit! The middle of the great wall, collasped, sending the unlucky men on top of it, rolling onto the ground. Graynar, and Taylon Baxters, were both flung from the destroyed wall, and landed amongst the massive orc army. In the process, Graynar lost his cape, and his helmet. But this did not phase the knight of Sikaron, he raised the sword of his father's, above his head, and prepared to defend himself from the incoming orc soldiers.
On his right, a helmless Taylon Baxters, joined Graynar in the fight for their lives. The orcs were numerous, and Graynar knew, they were trying to get passed him and Baxters, into the breached wall. Thankfully, Wolf, Renvale, Gunfar, and serveral Vazanay soldiers, had rushed out to support Graynar and his friend, from the offencive orcs. Together, and united, the warriors of the castle, held back the orcs, even if victory was an impossible goal.
As the army of battle scarred warriors trudged onwards, through the ocean of ugly adversaries, Graynar watched as Hurokol and Boldan, rushed out of the keep to their aid. Unfortunately, Azaron and undead skeletons, awaited them. But Azaron was not intrested in Boldan and Hurokol. He wanted Graynar. And was prepared to destroy the knight, using his dark magic. Like an imatation of a zombie, Azaron walked towards Graynar, blasting beams of blue energy. One of the deadly beams, nearly hit Graynar's head, but luckily, only a few hairs were lost.
As Graynar avoided the mind controled wizard, Marcus Drone stepped onto the battle field. But the human was not alone. His bodyguard, Wolfy, was there at his side, growling as he smelled blood.
"Wolfy, smells blood. People are hurting?" said the confused half wolf.
"Shut up, you mangy mut." spat Marcus, looking for an opponent that could give him a challenge.
"You see that little dwarf Wolfy?" said Marcus. "He is bad. Kill him for me."
Wolfy looked at Gunfar, who was fighting several fat orcs.
"Wolfy must kill him?"
"Yes you idiot! Now go." spat Marcus for the final time, and he unsheathed his blade, and ran towards his prey. Wolfy stood there silently, for several seconds, before he decided that Marcus's word was law.
Meanwhile, Marcus approached Tayon Baxters, who was momentarily resting after several stressfull minutes of battle.
"Fight me knight!" said Marcus.
"With pleasure." Taylon, said in return.
The two men erupted into battle. Taylon's mace was fast, but heavy, and Marcus knew it. The human captain, pummeled Taylon with a whirlwind of aggressive attacks. Taylon blocked everyone, but he had given too much energy out in a short time, and needed to regenerate. But as Marcus had planned, the knight was down to half strength, and in deep trouble. It was unfortunate, the Taylon's time meeting with Graynar, had ended so quickly. The captain had slain Graynar's knight hood friend, with the blink of an eye. It was also unfortunate, that Graynr had just turned around to see his friend, at the moment of his death.
Graynar stood there watching Baxters die, just like when he believed Boldan to be dead. Taylon fell to the ground, with Marcus Drone at his feet.
"Not bad. I prefer opponents with swords much more. But this was an intresting challenge." said Marcus, as though he were talking about his fight, over a cup of tea.
"You- " spat Graynar, lounging at the man who had killed his friend. Marcus was not surprised by this attack, and lifted his sword so that it connected with Graynar's attacking one.
"Ah- " said Marcus, drawing away from Graynar. "I know who you are." he said, suddenly afraid.
"What?" shivered Graynar, anger building inside his chest.
"You are the son of Ray Willzar!" said Marcus, turning around. "Wolfy, time to go!"
The big half human wolf, left an unconscious Gunfar on the ground, and picked up Marcus onto his shoulder
"Why does Wolfy leave?" said Wolfy, eyeing Wolf, and Renvale.
"A momentary retreat Wolfy." said Marcus, blowing into a small trumpet, which was the singal of retreat. As the erie trumpet, echoed through the bloody battle field, the orc army turned on it's heals and ran after their captain. Graynar ran after the giant wolf, but knew he could never catch up to such a massive creature.
Azaron was about to blast Graynar with his magic once more, but Hurokol inserted a dishonable sword butt into Azaron's skull. Knocking the wizard out cold.
As the smoke of the orc's footsteps parted, the tremendous damge of the battle of Hartayon keep became visible. Dead orcs and Vazanay soldiers, littered the field, along with weapons, and puddles of blood. In the middle of the death and pain, Graynar kneeled. He was beside his friend, now all that was left, was just mere memories of the years they spent together long ago. Graynar didn't know who Marcus Drone was, but he knew he must avenge his friend. Graynar turned to see his other loyal friends. Hurokol and Boldan, walking towards him. To Renvale and Wolf, which he barely knew. And then to Gunfar, who was massaging his head, and looked as though he had been thrown a hundred feet. King Vander Vlax, and his son, prince Slaywood, ventured from the some what intact keep of Hartayon, to survey the battle field.
"By the gods, you must have killed at least a hundred orcs." said King Vander, looking at the knights of Sikaron, and at the piles of dead orcs.
"A victory indeed!" smiled King Vander, clapping his hands.
No one else smiled, no one else clapped their hands. Hurokol walked over to King Vander, looking like he could punch the king.
"Hugo," said Hurokol, "This is no victory. This is a devastation, a slaughter, a massacre! One hundred and fifty orcs lay here dead. Along with one hundred dead Vazanay soldiers. You have no men left to fight. The orcs will return again, at the moment they are regrouping, preparing for their next attack."
"Poppycock!" said King Vander. "They wouldn't dare. We will hold out until the last man! Or so help me god, I'll pick up a sword and start fighting myself!"
Hurokol grabbed the king's shoulder. "Hugo, we are but twenty some men left. Staying here would be suicide. We must get the women and children out of here. We can flee to Sikaron, or Rayhona."
King Vander did not look happy, he was not a man that wanted to abandon his kingdom.
"What will we do in Sikaron Hurokol?" said the King. "Hide in Cordontay, or Shardon? Someone is trying to rule our world again! I'd rather stay here and die, then go off to Sikaron and get killed fighting another army of orcs."
A pause between the two men, all living eyes and ears, were on them.
"So be it Vander." said Hurokol. "I will go to your people and ask them if anyone wants to escape with me and the Sikaron knights. You can stay if you want Hugo, but it will be pointless."
Hurokol summoned the party of Sikaron warriors and started to leave. Graynar watched prince Slaywood eye his father with uncertainly. Did the king really want to stay and fight off nine hundred orcs by himself?
Graynar watched Slaywood hug his father, and follow Hurokol. The remaining Hartayon soldiers, left the king soon after, they didn't want to stay and die. King Vander was not as kind as people said he was, at least, he wasn't as kind at the time of war. Graynar truely did not think the king was going to come with them. But that wasn't important now, because Graynar's heart had suddenly jumped out of his chest.

His father, after thirteen years of being dead, stood there before him!
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