Timothy pulled Lucia from her horse into his after the Rooster hit the Wismarines. He embraced her tightly, shielding her from the carnage around.
The Rooster divided the Wismarines in two like how a chisel would peel wood. The first line of Wismarines were trampled beneath the hooves of the horses. The horse they were riding even stepped on several Wismarines. The crunch of breaking bones was an eerie vibration.
The Wismarines attempted to fight back, some of them turning to shield against the Rooster. Those brave but foolish souls were slaughtered by the veterans.
The Rooster spread to cover the entire length of the Wismarine back. A few remained to guard him and Lucia though. But the once solid formation had been softened. It was alright. The Rooster was slaughtering Wismarines left and right.
The Castonians under Erik which he saw were beginning to rout earlier were now pushing hard. Their black mail armor and smooth movements provided a feeling that they were not men but machines. The Vanadians and Borondians were also coming to surround the Wismarines, apparently already routing the ones they were facing.
The Inkish and Cantonese were still struggling with their opponents though. But he wasn't worried about them.
The Vanadians and Borondians soon arrived. He saw William without his arms trying to direct the attack. His brother was a good warrior and a great man. Most of the Wismarines were now fully surrounded, panicking.
Timothy closed his eyes and just let everything unfold. There was nothing he could do anymore. Neighs of horses, screams of dying men, steel hitting steel- he heard the chaos but saw none of it. He just hoped that all of this would turn into their favor.
"Tim" Lucia called. "They are fleeing."
Who? Who are fleeing? Our men? Theirs? Both?
The calmness and the little sprinkles of joy in her voice made him believe that they were the ones winning. He opened his eyes and saw that the Wismarines were fleeing, rushing through any gaps they could find. The elephants and Falconheads stayed but they were surrounded and being slaughtered.
The battle wasn't over yet but it was already won. Timothy felt glee. They had won.
"But where is she?" Lucia asked
"Sarah? Maybe with her Falconheads. I don't know."
She turned her head to him, azure eyes brimming with worry. "I have a bad feeling about this. Our victory seems too easy. She is Sarah Wismar, insane, committed, dangerous. She wouldn't just remain idle." She frowned as her eyes looked past his shoulder. "Tim, what is that?"
Timothy looked behind. A few dozen riders were approaching them. Their armor were those of the royal guards- blue cloak and full plate, head fully covered in helm. They were just about a hundred paces now.
"It's Sarah. Tim, it's her!"
"Defend!" Timothy shouted to the men around them and pointed to the approaching riders. "Wismarines. They are Wismarines."
The newcomers galloped in an instant, pointing their spears toward him and Lucia. From the discoloration of the tips, he knew their weapons were poisoned. Nasty. It was nasty.
The few men around them met the newcomers. Lucia was right. They were Wismarines. They could hide behind royal guard armor but their identities were apparent as day.
The clash began just a few paces from them. Timothy galloped away. One touch from those weapons was all it would take for the Union to fall.
Four Wismarines went past despite the gallant attempt of their men. Four opponents with three poisoned weapons.
"Tim I'm scared" Lucia said.
Timothy looked behind. The four riders were still chasing them. Some Castonians noticed what was happening and were coming to the rescue but Timothy feared it would be too late.
A Wismarine eventually caught to them. Timothy redirected the spear thrust with his bracers. He ducked, pushing Lucia down first, to avoid another thrust.
Another Wismarine rode to their side and swung down his sword. Timothy held his arm to defend. The blade was deflected by the armor but he felt the force. The Wismarine pounded on his arm with rage. One scratch. A single scratch would kill him.
Three quick-thinking Castonians ran down three of the Wismarines. Timothy recognized them as Jop, Elisar and John- all from the Rooster. The remaining Wismarine was still chasing them though and slashed the leg of their horse.
The horse neighed and then tumbled. Timothy was thrown forward. His back hit the ground, one of his ribs probably broke. He grimaced in pain but forced to stand up. He must defend Lucia.
He found her lying on the ground. Her eyes were shut. Her dress was torn. The Wismarine dismounted and dashed toward Lucia, holding his sword.
Timothy met the man and rammed his body. The two of them fell and rolled on the fine soil. Timothy ended up on top fortunately. He grabbed the Wismarine's hand, the one holding the sword and angled the blade toward the man's chest. He eyed the small gap in the armor.
He knew he was wrestling with a Falconhead. Behind the royal guard helm was a man devoid of senses. These monsters were strong and he wasn't the fittest of men. But he must for Lucia. Even if the nasty poison penetrates his skin, he must.
Timothy was winning. Surprising but true. The Falconhead wasn't as strong as he thought. He was able to force the blade into the thing's chest. It buried deep.
The Falconhead leg go of the sword, grabbed and nearby rock and smashed it in Timothy's face. The world spun. Timothy was dazed. He staggered and fell on his butt. The Falconhead's rose, its figure was blurry but he could make out the glimmering dagger on its hand.
The next thing he knew, Lucia was wrestling with the Falconhead, defending him despite being injured.
No. No. No!
Timothy leapt, again ramming the Falconhead in the chest. He jabbed at its helmed face, not caring if he breaks his wrist. The Falconhead fell. Lucia handed him the dagger. Timothy rammed it in the Falconhead's stomach. The blade buried just above the hips where two joints of armor met.
The Falconhead grunted and kicked him. It pulled the blade out and tried to stand. Timothy was about to attack again when Elisar came with Jop. The two Castonians each stabbed their swords on the Falconhead.
Timtohy turned to Lucia. "Did he scratch you?"
"No" She shook her head. "No I was careful. And you?"
Timothy doesn't know. He checked and was relieved that he was uninjured. He wrapped his arm around Lucia and led her near the Falconhead who was still alive but dying.
"Where is John?" He asked.
"Fallen Your Majesty" Elisar said. "Falconhead got him."
Timothy felt sorrow hearing that. John the drunk sentry. John the unwilling Centurion. John Wilkin, he was a loyal man.
"Remove her helm" Lucia said.
"Her helm?" Timothy eyed her and then realized what Lucia was saying.
Elisar complied and the Falconhead wasn't a Falconhead but Sarah. He knew it was her despite not meeting before. It must be her. She was kneeling with two blades stuck in her body, bleeding badly. She was smiling despite the blood tricking down her lips.
"You could have ran" Timothy said. "Escaped."
"I'm not a fool" Sarah said. "You would catch me anyway. Isn't that the reason why you wanted a battle? To catch and kill me? Well now you have, Sarah Wismar in flesh. I enjoyed our little game, the three of us. Fun. It had been fun."
"Countless people have died and yet you call it fun? It wasn't" Lucia said.
"Maybe" Sarah grimaced, the trickle of blood from her lips worsened. She smiled. "I misspoke. It wasn't fun. It was necessary. We are two forces fated to clash. It was written in the stars. One of us must fall. And I could have crushed either one of you. But you two are unfair to work together against me."
"Nothing is ever fair." Timothy said.
"Yes, nothing." She chuckled. "This world doesn't offer fairness. There is only victory and defeat." She glared at them "Are you going to kill me now, King Timothy?"
"I am. To end the war and bring peace."
"But you can't. Oh you two can't. I represent the thing you could never kill, no matter how hard you try. I am chaos. I am the dark side of men, the lingering evil in every person. People like me will rise again. You can't kill the darkness in us humans."
"You are right." Lucia stepped forward. "People like you would continue to destroy peace. I guess we'll just have to kill you over and over again."
Sarah laughed. It was endless and loud. And then she screamed. Her rage battered the wind. Her scream soon turned into gurgles after Timothy himself slit her throat.
***
'Fifth Day of Late Autumn, Five Hundred Eighty
I am dying. We have lost. As I write this last page of my journal, the gash on my side bleeds. Highness Sarah is dead. Our army is broken. The Union has won. If you happen to pick up this journal and read it, know that Hatshin the cook has lived. I just wished that I could have lived long enough to taste peace. Mother, Father, I miss you both.'