Also big thanks to my friend Matej who basically kicked my ass today into concentrating on writing and not slacking off. Without his help I'd have written a story I'd be less happy with.
While writing today's post, I have The Art of War from my favorite band Sabaton on my mind.
If you know the enemy and know yourself,
you need not fear the result of a hundred battles.
If you know yourself, but not the enemy,
for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat.
If you know neither the enemy nor yourself,
you will succumb in every battle.
- Sun Tzu, The Art of War
LINK to part 1.
Checkmate - a short story in two acts - PART 2
UNDEAD = black figures (yeah, unrealistic, but judge after reading)
HUMANS = white figures
Word count: 1839
Following the general's orders, the soldiers marched promptly forward, to strike the undead ranks first. Battle-cries echoed all around the field where the battle was taking place. Though nobody questioned if the creatures could hear them at all. It was not for the enemy, it was for them. Rush of blood and thirst for battle overwhelming reason. The battling grounds are not the time and place for reasoned thinking. Fight or die. Or not. This was no ordinary enemy, who would greet them in battle on equal footing, in the middle of the field. The soldiers started to slow their stride and watch attentively.
"Proceed with the plan." were the Necromancer's orders which were felt by each of his servants. Almost immediately, the serpents flew high over the palisade and after landing, proceeded to slither towards the approaching human battalion. Had it not been for the controlling power of the Necromancer, their animal instinct would have taken over, and they would have jumped heedlessly into battle, did some damage but eventually perished. And the Necromancer knew all too well the price of reckless actions.
The outposts were in complete terror. The glaring eyes of the creatures could be seen for hundreds of meters: "The enemy has started to move! Flying beasts are coming to meet us!" The King briefly considered and ordered:"Then we shall meet them on equal footing! Dispatch the cavalry at once, at the ready! Wherever those creatures are, I want them taken down! Soldiers, join the others, we will be able to capture the middle ground, and from there we press on!" And the orders spread, knights in heavy armors and war-ready horses started to advance before the palisade. From above their horses, once those magnificent beasts gained momentum, there was no creature, big or small, that could withstand the impact.
And then hell broke lose and the well organized two sides face-off descended into the madness of battle.
The common soldiers met the armored skeletons in the field and started massacring each other. Where one man fell, another one succeeded in an endless exchange of casualties on both sides. But the soldiers were outnumbered, and in response to the events, the King decided to call forth the cavalry that descended swiftly and cleared away the battleground. Now side by side to the comrades in the soldier ranks that were still standing, they observed in terror shades in the sky that descended upon them. The snakes were watching closely it would seem, and used their chance well. Screams of terror and pain filled the air.
The King was already dreading the casualties, but decided that it was all or nothing. Waiting could really not pay off in a situation like this. He needed only look the Queen in her eyes to know they were thinking alike. She nodded and put her hand on the King's cheek, and kissed him on the other: "Farewell my love, may our souls meet again in a time of peace." She disappeared before he could respond, so he numbly raised the hand to where her head has been a mere seconds ago. "Do not say it. Do not say it like that! We will win, no matter the cost!" His eyes cleared and a new determination was to be found there.
As soon as the Queen appeared on the middle ground, the tide of battle changed. She looked the snakes in the eyes and dismissed them with a sickened hiss. She threw her hands before her, and, following her movements, the swords from the fallen soldiers were released from their grip, and flew towards the creatures, slicing them without mercy. "And such is the nature of humans. They condemn me for manipulating human life into servitude even after death, and yet they want to manipulate all the rest. Time to show them a glimpse of our power as well." the Lich wished to smile as she listened to the Necromancer's sign to attack. Of the human nature there was not much in her left. But oh, there was envy, envy for a beauty that she could not have anymore.
Suddenly a battalion of soldiers exhilarated by their Queen's debut started shaking violently. While trying to maintain control, they felt their energy weakening, and a horrible sensation of the body trying to release itself from the metallic container. And in a flash, a great oval blackness appeared in their midst and drained their bodily juices, as if drinking a mere glass of water. Only armor and weapons remained, and there, standing in between, was an ominous figure, grotesque in her skeletal grimace, assuming an unnatural standing position. "Come on and face an equal enemy you coward!" the Queen screamed towards the Lich. To her surprise, the creature formed thoughts accompanied by hateful emotion:"All in due time my love." And with that, the two mages were locked in a deadly pursuit and outmatching.
Arrows flew from both sides, cutting down common soldiers, knights, snakes and archers alike. Everyone is equal in death. Snakes were spreading terror amongst the humans ranks, while their cavalry incited courage and countered the snakes wherever possible. For the two mages the only concern was each other, and killing some soldiers was merely a point of showing off the power, as blades and armor was flying around, and life being drained out of the participants. An endless lock, until the King ordered:"Bring in the heavy artillery!"
Everybody on the battlefield stopped what they were doing when the ground started shaking violently. Tremors all over the place, the power of the colossal machines was to be felt. Even the two mages suddenly realized that these towering figures were a key element in the resolving of the battle. The Queen was aptly at their side, reinforcing their structure with magic, keeping them moving forward faster. The field has been opened wide, so an opportunity for the march forward was set. On the other side, the Necromancer ordered the towers to be used as a defensive measure. The screaming pile of bones and dirt reluctantly moved and waited, with front lines weakened, it was their time to take a stand soon.
The Queen lead the march into the enemy territory. On the other side, the Lich was trying to do the same, but here destructive powers were at a far better use in a direct confrontation. The human's army was, little by little, gaining ground. The serpents were not a problem anymore, for they could be easily taken down by the projectiles inside the tower, so they were merely flying around, avoiding enemy fire. In that moment, the Lich appeared on the top of the tower, with Queen right beside her. With bloodshot eyes the Queen asked the Lich: "You are going to die too, you know. Why? Why are you doing this?" and the Lich responded: "And why are you humans pursuing us? Our memory is collective. One dies, hundreds follow. I'm a mere casualty, you are an asset." Having said that, the Lich pierced the queen's stomach with her extended skeletal fingers. The Queen's reaction to pain was a mere "ooomph", with no air left in the lungs from the surprise. She will not fall alone. Hugging the lich in a deathly embrace, she flew herself from the Tower: "Like sisters in death, though God awaits me, while hell calls for you creature!"
After their fall the morale of the humans army was at it lowest point, the King hardly keeping the mixture of anger and tears at bay. But he didn't let go. The towers pushed on, destroying the palisade walls and nearing the den of the Necromancer. The archers followed in suit, destroying anyone who wanted to obstruct their march.
Meanwhile the snakes found their place in the wandering. They found an unprotected part of the walls, and sailed smoothly over. The Necromancer thought to them "At long last, the choice of the battleground will prove itself useful. In the time so far ago these mortals have forgotten, in this exact place a great battle took place. Through this creature's mouth, I commend you to obey my will. Rise." And the earth started opening and long slain heroes, lovers and friends full of sorrow due to their untimely death, began to crawl from the ground. Without armor they blindly jumped at their feet and all ran towards the King's residence. The humans have fought bravely, but for every skeleton slain, there were hordes of new ones in their wake. The archers trying to keep them at bay, only to be cut down by the pervasive snakes.
The King took up the sword, and fought valiantly:"You will not take me alive! I will join my beloved one in the afterlife in the God's embrace, and there will be others who will clear the earth of your filth!" He managed to kill several lines of the skeletons. What he failed to realize in the heat of the moment, was that he was forced in a corner, ironically the same position that he thought he'd put the undead army into. And there came the flying serpents, like angels of death, cutting down the air on the King who observed them with terror. In mid-flight their eyes glowed with a craziness and a moment later, the king's head was torn smoothly off the rest of the body.
The news started spreading quickly and people started to riot in panic. Some flew, others cried on the ground, some surrendered straight away. A banner man deep in grief stood tall as he took the white banner and marched from the camp to the field. Waving the flag, telling the people it was over.
The towers almost breached the Necromancer's refuge, were halted and stopped. Nobody had the energy left to fight nor a reason why to. Morale destroyed, they had to pay the price of war.
High above the ground, almost touching the clouds, unseen from the surface, there were some bat-shaped wings flapping. A flock of serpents was holding the King's head by biting their teeth into his flesh. And the King was terrified to see the spoils of war, his soldiers, many of which friends, killed with a clean cut to the heart, and then reanimated. These skeletons had all the skin on it, fresh new human recruits for the army! It was not only a battle that was lost today, but indeed, the whole of mankind! "So you see," the King began to hear a voice echoing in his head "this is what you humans do. Destroy hoping to conquer more and more. But war always has its price, and no matter how long you can run or laugh, or erect strongholds to protect you, the more you move and stir the lives of others, the more you coin eternal enemies against you. Sleep now, as you're to be one of them." And the King felt the sensation of closing eyes, as the snakes sharply turned downwards, towards the Necromancer's encampment.
Vae Victis.
(woe to the vanquished/conquered one)
- attributed to the Gaul chieftan Brennus
Hostile armies may face each other for years, striving for the victory which is decided in a single day.
- Sun Tzu, The Art of War
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