Thread: The Lady in Waiting (Lady Bloody Ava & Greeneyed23)

Tia was up in the raven's nest watching the ship's progress. She had come out this morning in men's leggings and had tried to find a distraction. The only real one had come from a beastly fellow who had grabbed her rear. She had not needed the captains shout for she had whipped around backhanding him across the cheek and eye her other hand punching him in the other eye as her right foot came up into his groan then she gripped his ears and yanked herself into him kneeing him in his pillowy gut making him vomit onto the deck as she had pulled his head down and to the side. She then had elbowed him on the back of the head and neck sending him crashing to the deck. The captain then had given her a spyglass and sent her up to the crow's nest to keep her happy and away from his crew who now thought she was some kind of witch. She had spent the whole morning up there and was curious what else she could do to entertain herself. Rallon had gotten very little sleep. Just about the time his betrothed was putting his sisters to bed the besieged had launched a surprise attack to distract the besiegers from another oncoming force. Rallon had not even had time to put on his armor when the army of Acre had attacked. he couldn't even get to his blasted horse. Shouting for his men to get their arms and armor, and yanking his second to a stop. Get my armor. bring it with you. I'll need help to get it on when we've pushed them back inside. what are you- Rallon was gone before the man could even finish the question bearing only his sword and a long dagger. He hurdled over around and below every obstacle he came across even rolling across the bent back of Guy himself as the fool tried to pull on a boot. Rallon himself was barefoot clad only in his leggings his broad back and chest bare. Rallon launched himself up one of the broken siege towers running rapidly up the burned smooth wood ignoring the crumbling beneath him. he reached the peak a full twelve feet in the air and with a roar launched himself over the spear points of his foes and landed atop three surprised attackers crushing one's chest with his weight impaling one through the skull with the dagger while his sword found the neck of his third victim. He yanked both free and surged forward beheading two men with a backstroke and disemboweling a third before crippling a fourth with his dagger. He rolled across the screaming man who was then skewered by his own spearmen while Rallon hurtled toward the gate batting blows aside and slashing and cutting his way through them like a scythe. in terror the men above him dropped the portcullis on their own men and slammed the gate behind them as Rallon slammed a body against the steel then slammed his back to the man's chest and brandished his weapons at the attackers he had just waded through. You seem to have forgotten something gentlemen. Oh whats that corpse? Im not alone. NOW!! He dropped yanking the man he had been speaking to atop him letting his first shield fall atop them both as first the archers unleashed a hail of missiles into their enemy who had turned to cut down the madman who had leapt into their midst. Now they turned to try and rally only to be met by the rush of enemy spears and swords and were hacked to bits. Once the man with Rallon's armor reached the portcullis Rallon shoved the bodies off himself. took ya long enough. the man started to be angry until eh saw Rallon grinning. How do you it you mad Englishman? Rallon shrugged on his tunic , his chainmail, then his breastplate while others helped him put the other pieces. Well Kazim it helps that i truly am mad. im mad to stay here while a gorgeous woman who loves me is waiting for me back home. im mad to have ever come to this nation that i never had a claim on. And im mad because... he paused while he aided the men in fastening everything on then to put his helm on once he had the strap in place. Before he closed and locked the visor, I wear this shite while here in this unbearable desert heat. you have no idea how hot it gets in here. Now lets go. Oh and if we don't hurry you will miss your prayers. If we do will you put in a prayer for me? Kazim knew that the madman was serious about this. Of course Master. 'Stop calling me that. And please ask Allah to end this bloody siege soon. I want to go home. Kazim arched an eyebrow. Why not ask your own God? I have. I'm still here. I figure maybe he's busy with Richard and his shite. So since Saladin has stopped fighting Allah can't be as busy. Maybe he can spare a moment for a mad infidel? Kazim laughed. you are almost blasphemy. Never. As-salamu alaykum my friend. Kazim smiled. Wa alaykumu s-salam my friend. Rallon nodded and vaulted into his saddle sheathing his sword and snatching up several spears planting them into the pouch on the saddle then held them with his left arm and began to ride followed by Kazim and the rest of the army while Guy blathered and threatened. Rallon reined up on the open hillock around the city and planted his spears then pointed at a rocky outcropping with good cover. Archers there. i want each of you with at least two shields and after you fire your volleys get under cover. We cannot afford to lose any of you. Rallon watched the approaching attackers as he called a weapons boy over. I want as many of those spears as you can get. I don't care if it's just the heads. Get your fellows and bring them and all the arrows you can. the boy nodded and ran off then pointed at his pikemen. Roll that boulder onto the road between those two hills then take positions behind the rock and hill. i want the spaces between filled with all the rocks you can manage before they arrive. Then your pikes will be used to stab through and around the boulder and above you as they try to come over. they cannot climb to your right and i want them to come left. drive them towards me. The pikemen nodded and got to work. Guy rode up. Granger!! Some one must guard the gates of Acre! You do it then. Insolence! i will- Rallon whirled on him. Try you moron. You have squandered these men and your time. Acre is shaking it their boots right now. This is the real threat. It has to be broken or we die right now. Now get the fuck away from me. He spit at Guy's feet and roared, KAZIM!! The man rode up pointedly not looking at the shocked Guy. My lord? Rallon pointed to a rise at the flank. Take your horse up there. Fire your quivers empty then and only then form the phalanx and ride down into their flank. Ride through them then rejoin me so we may see what affect your horse have had. Off you go. Kazim studied the rise for a moment. My lord? Rallon looked at him from the corner of his eye. May I have some the engineers to shift the boulders? Rallon scanned them. Take them. But only shift the ones that will roll. If it refuses move on. You cannot get distracted. Kazim nodded. my lord. then with a whoop lead his men up the rise and began to marshal them into place. David!! A young frightened man ran up. My lord? Rallon smiled and patted the man's shoulder. David today I am taking command of the swordsmen. I want you on a horse. Your job today is to turn every other war machine we have and have all of them firing nonstop. I want half bombarding that damn city the other half hitting them and them only. He pointed at the oncoming horde. Am I understood? Yes my lord. Good. Now go...oh and David? David turned back. My lord? Rallon sighed. if you must get off the horse and help. Alright? David blushed but nodded. Good man. Until i give the word i want only fire bombs fired at the oncoming horde. Off with you. David grinned and ran off mounting his horse and rushed toward the war machines. Guy sputtered. Do you think Acre will surrender? Hell no you idiot. They'll never surrender to you. They are waiting for Richard and are hoping he is more honorable than you. he'd have to be. Guy snarled and raised his hand letting it fly at Rallon who whipped his head about and caught the man's hand in an iron grip. I'll put up with alot Guy. But you and your traitorous bitch have cost the lives of many innocent young men and women all because you didn't have the brains to listen to your betters. I've had enough. Your kingdom is dead. I'm here to keep these men alive and no other reason. When Richard arrives and sends you packing I will be going home. So until then keep your hands off me, my men, your mouth shut, and most importantly away from me. Now go put on your fucking armor before i feed you to them. He hurled the man's hand into his chest then turned away to face the oncoming forces. Guy stared at him in shock then silently rode off to obey ignoring the looks the men gave him. Rallon meanwhile began to inspect his men. Now son what are you going to do without a helm? My lord I... None of that. There are plenty spares from earlier. find one that fits and get it on. And tighten your straps. That's a good lad. Why Bernard you old sod. Didn't i kill you last time? Bernard laughed. No not yet my lord. Damn. Guess i'll have to try harder. Now what the hell are you doing? You are not wearing that hideous shield on my battlefield. But my lord... NO! It's ugly....wait... gentlemen is this shield not hideous? Uh.... Ugly boys. Oh yes my lord. Very much. Quite. But my lord it is all they had. Rallon studied the young man with narrowed eyes. What's your name boy? Marcus my lord. Alright Marcus here is what we will do. I want that shield at the mainline. Your job it to just hold it in place. Tight against the rest of the line. Am i clear? Yes my lord but- No buts! I am going to stand to your right. You shield your left and hide behind that hideous shield and guard my left with it and I will kill anyone who gets near you. The young man slowly nodded. Very good. Rallon continued to walk amongst his men cajoling, joking, teasing, and inflaming and encouraging them constantly. He did not try to play with their emotions he just made it clear. They fought or they died. When his men were fully prepared he remounted and went to check on the archers. Everyone have two shields? No my lord. Damnit Runil what did i tell you? Yes my lord but...I found this. The man held up a old fashioned but solid steel shield that stood nearly five feet long and was more than three feet across. Well I'll be damned.... very well...too bad we don't have a thousand of those. Just make sure you and your men get under cover Runil. And i expect a constant barrage. And only two volleys before they reach us. No more. Runil nodded. Good man. Enjoy that monster. He next went to examine the pikemen's position and finding it satisfactory except one thing. What the hell happened? The men looked at their feet. gentlemen you don't just stand around. you call for help. Rallon then got down and squatted by the boulder which was almost in position but not quite. With a grunt he stood up and hefted the boulder up then let it slam into place. Now the rocks. They quickly patched in the holes while Rallon found a number of stakes and quickly but effectively planted them in rows behind the boulder giving the pikemen some more space with which to maneuver their weapons. Now remember all you really have to do is keep them from coming through here and instead going to your left right to me and the swordsmen. No heroics. If you see a target gut him, otherwise let him go. you are my right flank. if you need aid call for it. The pikemen nodded. Good. I have great faith in you gentlemen. With you here we cannot lose. He then went to check on Kazim who had a number of boulders shifted and ready to drop onto the enemy. Be careful old friend. When you start that they will target you. Kazim nodded. True. but we will be fine. My lord? Rallon turned. They are still some time away and it is almost time for prayer. may we? Rallon blinked then saw the brightening sky. Well so it is. He mounted up and rode to the edge of the ridge. My friends!! Everyone looked up at him. Dawn is almost upon us. I do not have the rights or ability to call you to prayer but if you wish you may now while you have the time. We may soon be in the presence of the Almighty so i suggest you thank him for your life and ask him to help our cause. My Christian brethren pray as well. Now is not the time for hatred. Now we fight for each other. So pray to the God of your choice and ask Him for help. Be respectful. And I advise you confess your sins now. Just in case you do see Him face to face soon. And for those of you that do I want a favor. He smiled. Tell him to send me home!! They all laughed and tension visibly eased. My brothers I wish you all peace and happiness. Hopefully soon we will all be with the people we love. Until then we can do aught else but pray and fight. So do the one while you have the time. Then prepare for the other. His speech had served multiple purposes. It had distracted all of his men, made them all laugh, and had also got them all indeed praying. He made his way to inspect David's work and was well satisfied telling the young man so then he took his place at the front of the swordsmen next to the young man with the hideous shield as promised then he knelt and began to pray, giving thanks for the day and his mean and praying that each of them would survive the coming battle and go home to their families. He also thanked the Father for ending the disease outbreak and prayed that the Father also had a good day. his prayer was unorthodox as he spoke to God like he would another person, but it made Marcus and a number of other consider their own prayer life. Finally everyone had finished their prayers and Rallon watched as the enemy was now only a few hundred yards away. he was pleased that they were marching into the sun and was even more pleased that the river and the trenches he had had dug around it had slowed them enough to gain that advantage as well. His scouts had reported that it was a force of some seven thousand. Rallon had five thousand and was grateful that Saladin had not sent more men to face them. When they struck the blood bleached land where yesterday's skirmish had taken place Rallon shouted. DAVID!! And the young man came through in grand style. The bombardment on the city began first then as one the other machines began to launch their missiles into the oncoming forces. The flames spread instantly engulfing several at a time and forcing the men to the right exactly as Rallon wanted them. RUNIL!! When the enemy was close enough Runil launched his two volleys into the charging men slaying and crippling hundreds forcing them to shift to the left away from the archers who were perched above the pikemen, their plateau serving to shield the pikemen from downfalling arrows which Runil and his archers used to resupply firing them back rapidly from cover. The army tried to press up the road through and over the boulder only to fall onto the stakes and the wicked spikes of the pikes who slew dozens before the army wheeled left and filled the field before Rallon and his swordsmen rapidly. KAZIM!! Kazim grinned as he and his men dropped the boulders off the cliff into the shocked men below crushing dozens following the stones with a nonstop volley of arrows into their midst, specifically on their cavalry and archers. Rallon brandished both swords now, having found his other in the ribs of a wounded man who had died last night. He twirled them and nudged Marcus with his shoulder. You guard my left and I promise you will survive the day. the young man cringed but nodded. Driven to survival and a mad zeal to protect the vital port of Acre the leader of the enemy forces pointed his sword at Rallon and shouted. Attack!! Rallon leapt forward as the man rushed in and engaged him as his followers rushed in. He glanced up and grinned as Kazim finished with his arrows and mounted up riding down into the press crushing as many as his sword slew. This action startled the enemy who turned to face the flanking maneuver. Rallon barked, NOW!! And his swordsmen drew and rushed into the newly presented flank then fell back behind the shield line while they turned to see that their leader had been decapitated and many of their number had been slain seemingly by a solid line of shields save for one madman who stood before the line. Rallon grinned and roared an unintelligible challenge at his foes then reached behind him into the boxes the boys had waiting for him and began to hurl spear heads into them while his rear guard began to hurl spears into their midst. While they tried to react to this Kazim and his cavalry wheeled through them riding behind them and fell in behind and began to slay their way toward Rallon. Pressed forward by the horse, harried from above by the archers and the war machines, dying in droves from the spears and swords before them, the enemy was on the point of breaking when Rallon gave a whoop and another. NOW!! As one the pikemen rushed up from the trench and drove into the right side while Rallon and his swordmen wheeled to the left and drove in while his shield line pressed in. He gave the signal and the war machine's barrage ceased and soon after so did the archer's attacks as Rallon stabbed a man who did not fall. He looked up to see that Kazim had stabbed the same man at the same time and they were holding him up. Pulling his blades free Rallon grinned then gave a whoop which was returned by his men. He flinched as he heard...applause. He turned toward the sound and shook his head. No...it can't be. Leopold V of Austria had arrived. Ten minutes later Leopold had taken command of the Imperial forces. Or as Rallon knew them the cowardly idiots who had refused to fight this morning. Rallon stood in his bloody armor quaking in rage as he learned that the siege was to be held. Leopold did feel the need to say. And Lord Granger I must commend you on the action this morning. Outnumbered by two thousand and still you lost only fifty men. That much was true. Fifty of his men had been killed by bad luck. Everyone in his command had been hurt, he himself had what seemed to be hundreds of cuts and bruises, but his losses were astounding. Marcus had indeed survived. Rallon glared at Leopold, who despite his silencing of Guy, wanted him to keep fighting rather than going home. He must see to the fall of Acre. Rallon ground his teeth then said. My lord there is little more that needs done. Saladin has all but written the city off. If we were to continue bombardment we could have the city today. Nay my friend. We must be patient. Tell me are Saladin's men good fighters. The damned man was looking for glory!!! Yes my lord. My lord? Yes my friend? May i dismiss my forces? Of course. And that misspoken word is how the men who had served under Rallon were sent home less than an hour after the most impressive defensive action any of them had ever taken part in. Rallon almost chased each man out and when Leopold came to inspect Rallon's men three hours later he found only a single tent. Rallon's. The man was in his now larger tent washing off the blood from his body having seen to his weapons and armor. Where are your men? I dismissed them. With Guy no longer in command their service was up. That was the promise made to them by your precious Bishops and Partiarchs. I have it in writing. I have sent them home to their families. You have em and that is all you shall get. Leopold glared at the nude man his face threatening to explode in his rage. Rallon smiled. You can do what you want to me but you will not make me break my word. My lord. Leopold glowered then swept from the tent. He ordered the marshaling of the Imperial forces then took them on a patrol. he soon found a force to his liking and set to them bloodying his sword and self well while Rallon slept. He was not surprised that his deeds of the morning were not only ignored but entirely discounted. he had gotten his pat on the head and that was all he would ever receive. Well that was the last true war they would get out of him. He was done. He wanted to go home. And when his own king arrived, in May sometime according to Leopold, he would do whatever he had to get Richard to let him go home. His dreams were full of Rose and he smiled as he saw her beautiful fresh face. He saw them together and once again the idyllic city of York he had left. He would have peace and happiness. He would even be able to take Gregory and James fishing. And go riding with his father. Talk with his mother. Play with his sisters. See his old friends. He had such hopes. Simple but pure. And doomed to be dashed.