For Butt

They reached the peak of the hill just before midday. The mounts stood motionless in pools of the mingled sweat of man and horse that collected in puddles beneath their hooves. The armor so well designed to protect the men's bodies from the weapons of enemies now worked with the sun to exhaust them; encasing their bodies in metal ovens and draining them of all strength and moisture.
The fortress lay below them, teeming with starving Creatures. The inner courts, only just visible over the summits of the outer walls, seemed to move as if the fortress itself was a living entity of flesh, blood and fur. The very air seemed to wash over the men with a nearly tangible sense of anger and unending hunger. Aiden's stomach soured. Something had happened here.
The sun, nearly finished with the day's work, bathed the small band of warriors in its final rays, making it seem to the Creatures as if a vast army hovered above them, waiting to pounce. The flurry of activity that had not ceased since midday last rose in ferocity. In nearly hysterical excitement, they prepared.
The men slid from their mounts to their knees and from there allowed gravity to pull them the rest of the way to the ground. The horses eagerly nosed the water bags slung over their shoulders, licking the drops that escaped from the loosely tied ends.
Anders came to stand at Aiden's stirrup. "Aiden, we have to make camp for the night. We can go no further this day."
Aiden didn't take his eyes off the fortress. "Something has got them riled."
"All the more reason to take our rest now."
Aiden didn't respond.
Anders took his arm. "We all but have her, Aiden. She's just down there. Let her rest tonight. We will have her tomorrow." He shook Aiden's arm. Aiden looked down at him. "We will have her tomorrow, Aiden. Now come."


This time they didn't bother to hide the fire. They piled as much timber and twigs on the flames as they were willing to brave the dark for. When they were finally satisfied with the blaze, they lowered their aching bodies to the ground and sat in silence, waiting. From time to time they glanced at Aiden, but he remained motionless, staring out at the silhouette of the fortress lying in wait below them. For hours the only sound that broke the uneasy silence was the shuffling of horses trying to find a decent place to lie down. Some of the band slept, but most just lay on their backs and watched the flames slowly consume the kindling. Their eyes, gleaming orbs framed by shadow masks, held vacant expressions that hid the fear behind them.
Light was just beginning to spread across the sky when Aiden finally stirred.
"We proceed as before."
They all sat up and watched him.
"Anders, you take squad one and circle around to the rear entrance. Solomon, you take squad two and approach the west wall. When you have engaged them on both sides, I will take the main force to the front gate."
Solomon and Anders exchanged a glance.
"You know we haven't the force to launch such an assault with any kind of affect," Solomon said. "Had we the full two thousand we started out with I would gladly support your plan. But twenty battle-weary men could not make the smallest indentation in the Creatures' numbers. Their archers would fell us before we saw where they perched."
"And even were we to reach the gates, our numbers are too small to fell them or to take the inner courts were we to get inside."
"We will not have to fell the gates, nor will we be divided when we launch the main assault. A watcher squad patrols the outside of the fortress. When they see an attack from such a small band, they will rather handle the problem themselves then share the meat with an entire battalion. Anders, as soon as your squad has engaged them, move to Solomon's position on the west field. The watcher squad will pursue and you will break in opposite directions in great disarray. Smelling a fresh meal, the Creatures still inside will open the gates and attempt to round you up. I will come in with the remainder of the force and join up with you. We will then punch through them and make straight for the cells on the upper levels."
"Once we have gained the inner courts and, gods willing, the upper levels, how are we to escape?"
"We don't."
They stared at him.
"We don't?"
"No. Once we have Gabriella, we will make for the stables where they keep the captured horses. Five of the surviving men will ride out with her, not pausing to fight or to assist anyone in any way. Their priority is to get Gabriella out. The rest of us will do what we can to get out. But I will not deceive you; the chances of our survival are almost non-existent."
They looked at each other, the fear no longer masked.
"Each of you agreed to come with me under the assumption that there was a hope of returning. I tell you now that there is no longer any such hope. Because this is the case, any who wish to return now are free to do so. No man here will think less of any man who so chooses and you will leave here with your honor. Be there any who choose to leave, do so now."
One man turned and was quietly sick. No one else stirred.
Anders slowly stood and began to make his way to the horses. "First squad, on your feet. Get your gear ready; nothing heavier than your sword. Get your mounts warmed up. Be prepared to ride out by sunup."
The moment of terror passed, the camp was a flurry of activity as each man chose his weapon and made ready his horse. Shortly after sunup the three groups split up; Solomon through the trees to the west, Anders to the east, the remainder behind the crest of the hill overlooking the battlefield. Like he had done on countless other battlefields across the Kingdom, Aiden prayed and waited for the first blow.