Page 2 of 5 Chapter II Zundap The Bretonnians had arrived where they were needed most. Zundap. The Marquis was on the right flank along with the Forces of Marquess Etien De Rochefort, Duc Guillaume le Courageux, Robert de Giselles, Sir Hillier, Sirt Gindle and Baron Ivan Loben, The massing of Lances stretched as far as the eye could see. The stillness of the morning was inspiring as was the incessant trudging of feet from the enemy infantry. The Bretonnians held their ground for the terrain favored the charge. Each captain had their section of the enemy advance to attack. The enemy kept coming and their seemed no end to the number of warriors. The knights errant started to advance, but were held in check by the Grail Knight champions. Like a tide of floodwater stopped by a barrier of logs, the Bretonnians seethed to attack The enemy advanced and no response from the Bretonnians was seen. The enemy was not in range of the warhorses. Silence on the part of the Bretonnians was taken as hesitancy by the enemy and they gleefully advanced, sword and spears drumming on shield. But the Bretonnians were praying, obediently, quietly offering prayers to the Lady of the Lake. And when the enemy was within charge range, Trumpets sounded and the flood was unleashed. It was recorded that the sound of thundering Bretonnian hooves could be heard at Zundup, half a mile away. The clash of forces was equally heard. Citizens of the city crowded the walls to see the battle. The Marquis hit the Chaos warriors hard. He struck with Lance and killed a standard bearer. His warhorse, Thunderbolt, trampled the enemy. So focused on his own fight , he had no time to survey the field. The struggle was terrific. After the lance had struck home he drew the Champions Sword and weighed into the fray. His sword arm swung left and right, hewing chaos soldiers like cordwood. He heard the war cries of his daughter AndreaLyn. His years were with him and what had been lost in endurance was compensated by great skill. Thunderbolt began to turn about on his forelegs, kicking the enemy with murderous effect. The Marquis felt a sharp pain in his right thigh and ignored it. Another sharp pang and he ignored it, swinging his sword, blocking and bashing with the Shield of Angilulf. The dust rose up like earthen fog and obscured the sun and the battle continued. The fighting lessened and blue skies could be seen through the dust. The Marquis found he and his regiment alone, but with fighting on the left and a bit on the right. Ahead was an open ground of 200 meters or so. Finally a recognizable voice from the left. “Haloo, old man!”, the voice was recognized, “Have you seen the enemy commander?” It was Sir Grindle. The Marquis bellowed back “ Haloo yourself!! He is yonder with his bodyguard!’ and pointed the direction to the enemy general and Sir Grindle was off on a mission. In a heartbeat the Marquis noted that the Knights Errant, all three squadrons were engaged with the enemy and he and his regiment were off to help them Jumping over bodies was easy for Thunderbolt The campaign horse was still strong and agile. Looking ahead the Marquis saw one regiment of enemy infantry run from a squadron of Knights Errant . Caught between the young knights and the Marquis’ regiment, the enemy was annihilated. The Bretonnian horses turned to face new adversaries. Finding many still left, the Squadrons formed into Lances and charged in. Never forget the power of prayer. The Bretonnians had prayed and many were saved by the Blessing of the Lady from all manner of Missile fire. The enemy commanders cursed the Bretonnian ‘luck’. Slowly, like an avalanche of bravery, the Bretonnians were gaining the upper hand. Then Sir Gindle rode by, the head of the Enemy General impaled on his lance. “How do you get this off?” he said, half laughing. The Bretonnian swept the field, but lost Zundap to Chaos. The siege was successful, as Chaos had been delayed for a time. The Orders came down, To Fort Schippel postehaste.
|