"Sir, I really believe it should be time by now." An Ammary soldier sent with Arek complained more as he looked at the shadows on the ground. It had already hit noon, and he knew his commander well. The man was a perfectionist when it came to timing. He couldn’t stand if it was wrong, from himself or his men.

"Wait." Arek, however, dismissed it. Looking at the shadows, he was sure Marcus had said that just after noon was when he should move. If he moved too early, then the entire plan would fail. The Ammary soldier tightened his fist looking at Arek’s convinced face. But he couldn’t; he didn’t do anything knowing it came from a place of conviction, not a petty feud to endanger his commander and brothers’ lives.

Despite that he had a bad feeling. He watched and waited, never taking his eyes off Arek, who watched the change in the shadows. "ON GUARD!" A soldier called out, seeing someone run over, and quickly everyone grabbed their weapons. Arek looked at the man and squinted.

"Count Arek. The fort is wondering why you haven’t moved yet." The scout said with an exhausted breath, collapsing to the ground. As if struck by lightning, Arek froze on the spot.

"What do you mean?" He asked the question he already knew the answer to and could feel the daggers of the Ammary soldier digging into his back.

"The assault has begun. Enemy reinforcements have arrived." The scout quickly spoke, still lying down. Arek clenched his fist and clicked his tongue. Grabbing the horn on his hip, he blew hard, and his men started to march.

"MARCH FASTER! WE CAN NOT DELAY!" Arek shouted at the top of his lungs and started to jog. The Ammary solider’s eyes went dangerous looking at him. Grabbing the sword on his hip, he wondered if it would be better to kill him on the spot for his failures. If they arrived and the defence had collapsed because of stupidity, would he be able to forgive himself? His brothers, his commander. Everyone could be dead by the time they arrive because he didn’t take command.

The thought lingered for a while, not going unnoticed by Arek, who felt the predatory eyes staring at him, but eventually, he sighed and let it go. It wasn’t his decision to carry out the punishment, nor would it do any good to the morale of the Commonwealth rebels with them. If he killed Arek, it would just prove that all the slander about the Empire spread in the Commonwealth was true.

’Let’s hope he dies on the field.’ It was the only blessing he could hope for as they charged to the fort. The bad thoughts that had flooded his mind after hearing the scouts’ news had been pushed out, knowing it did no good to think the worst before battle.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

"UGH!" All the air in his body escaped Marcus’s mouth as someone slammed a shield into his chest. Falling back, he clutched it and swung his sword, keeping the attackers away. Slowly, he had been pushed back. Although a pile of bodies lay in front of him, the onslaught of enemies was overwhelming. For every kill, two more seemed to appear. His eyes darted to the right and saw the Ammary reinforcement holding the line. He felt happy knowing it wasn’t completely over.

"Arek." Through gritted teeth, he growled the man’s name like a beast wishing to slaughter him. His plan had gone to shit because of one person. Did he trust the wrong man? Why did he give command of such an important thing to an outsider? "AHHH!" Marcus cried out and swung his sword. Despite the small wounds covering his body and the scars over his armour, he refused to budge. His breathing had become heavy, and he struggled to recover, but he couldn’t back down.

Kacper could feel his forces slowly pushing Marcus’s back and smiled. He was beating the opponent he dreaded. He couldn’t help but praise himself for catching onto Marcus’s plan before it could work. "DON’T STOP! THEY WILL BREAK SOON!" Kacper cried out, getting a cheer from his men who could hear him.

Marcus heard it and took a couple of deep breaths, giving himself a small recovery. He could only afford a few seconds away from the melee. "NOT AN INCH! AS LONG AS I STAND, THEY WILL NOT WIN!" Marcus cried out before jumping back into the battle. It was short, and for many, it may not have been enough time to recover any energy, but Marcus felt different. As long as he could attack and defend, it was enough.

"THE COMMANDER STILL FIGHTS! DO LOSE OUT TO HIM!" Someone saw Marcus charging in again and couldn’t help but be motivated. His cry was followed by a boost in morale as Marcus’s force, for the first time in a while, pushed the enemy back.

It was wild to Kacpe. He saw the madman who made it all possible. Marcus, like a hero of old, fought through his rapid breathing, not giving an inch. He brushed off every small wound and killed whoever gave it, only blocking anything he believed would be lethal. Even in battle, he didn’t let anything control him, and while he had to take a long break from the fighting, Marcus hardly did, coming back within a minute of stopping his carnage.

Ludwick watched everything. He watched as the Amary solider he and his reinforcements fought become envigorated. The mere mention of their commander inspired a deep need to do better. Even then, they never lost the synergy they had started with, instead becoming a tighter, impenetrable wall.

Adam watched from the fort at the battle just below. His troops held the line before the first walls but had been pushed back, their backs now touching the wall. The Empire’s troops that had been placed below fought with conviction, never retreating and fighting to the last man. Many had died, and he knew many more would die, but Adam didn’t waver. He watched everything, knowing he was the final bastion if the defence outside failed.

His eyes looked out to the west to see if Arek’s forces were coming, but he couldn’t see anything, the treeline blocking it. ’tch’ He could only click his tongue in annoyance. He felt useless right now. Unable to help with the battle below. He knew his job was important if all else failed. He was the one to take Marcus’s place if he died. His life was too valuable to lose right now.

Marcus had told him to leave if it looked unwinnable, to warn the Empire of his demise. Adam couldn’t help but feel sorry that he wouldn’t carry out the order. He wouldn’t leave no matter what. He didn’t deserve to. Even if it was an order from his superior, he would make sure he delayed the Commonwealth troops a second longer if he had to. If it meant his death, so be it; the Empire would find what happened either way.

It was mayhem. Everything Marcus tried failed to break through. He needed Arek. He needed a miracle soon. ’No.’ Marcus said in his mind, blocking another attack. He needed his plan to work. He created these conditions; only his work could help him now. He couldn’t trust anyone but the people he was in command of. No god or anything would help him now.

On the right side of his face, he felt the warmth of fresh blood hit him, adding to the layer of filth already there. He could tell the man to his right had died, and Marcus could only back up. He swung his sword desperately but with precision, making sure to waste a single move.

"COME ON!" Marcus cried out. He had motivated his men as best as he could, and now all he could do was get in the heads of his enemy. "DON’T YOU KNOW WHO I AM?" Marcus’s bloodshot eyes made him look crazy as the men before him flinched at his crazed screams. Marcus didn’t hesitate and killed another.

"DON’T YOU KNOW WHAT I CAN DO! NONE OF YOU CAN KILL ME!" Marcus swung his sword again, missing his target, who backed up. A stray attack cut across his chest, making a deep cut in his armour. Marcus didn’t look down at it. "DO YOU THINK YOU CAN KILL ME? YOU ARE NOTHING!"

Kacper overheard his crazed cries and looked at Marcus. It was like the man fought alone, yet allies surrounded him. He could see his men before him wavering at the his mere presence. "I AM MARCUS HARDLY!" His shout echoed once more. "SECOND OF THE AMMARY MILITARY!" Blood flew after each shout, be it enemy or ally. It didn’t seem to matter to Marcus. "WHO ARE YOU? NOBODY! IF YOU KILL ME, NO ONE WILL REMEMBER! THEY WILL ONLY REMEMBER ME!"

The arrogance in his voice was suffocating, but no felt it was undeserved. Once again, a stray attack flew out, hitting Marcus across the face. His cheek tore open from it, and for the first time, he showed pain. Yet it only added to the terror he induced. He didn’t stop, forcing himself to fight through the pain and exhaustion.

"ENEMY REINFORCMENTS!" From behind, Kacper heard one of his men scream.

"no, no, no," Kacper said in a panic as he forced himself to fall back, pushing past his men. Looking out, he saw hundreds of men charging at his unprepared flank. "BRACE!" Kacper cried out, but no one heard his order. Arek and his men slammed into the side of Kacper’s unprepared forces. His heart seemed to stop for a second, seeing the sight before him. Why did he think it would only be one force flanking him?

Clenching his teeth, he stopped thinking like that. They were all but encircled, but Marcus’s side was weak. They could still force it to break. "FOCUS ON THE LEFT! THEY ARE WEAK! THEY WILL FALL!" Kacper yelled this order before running to the new batch of enemies. He needed to take charge before everything collapsed.

Marcus heard the shout in the enemy’s camp and smiled. His previous hate for Arek had vanished instantly now that he had arrived. "REINFROMCENTS HAVE ARRIVED! PUSH! PUSH!" Marcus cried out, his words coming out slurred due to his wound.

Adam watched everything. Looking at Marcus’s front, he gritted his teeth. He had to make a choice. ’Forgive me, Commander.’ The plan had partly failed but could still be recovered. Looking at his men in the fort, I saw nearly two hundred. Some are on the walls, over waiting for the coming siege. "MEN!" Adam cried out, getting their attention. "MEN!" he cried out again, getting all of it. The arrow fire stopped, but Adam didn’t care.

"GRAB YOUR WEAPONS! WE ARE SUPPORTING COMMANDER HARDLY NOW! TWENTY OF YOU REMAIN ON THE WALLS TO CONTINUE FIRING ON THE ENEMY!" Adam gave his order and pulled his sword out.

Heading down the steps, the back gates opened, and the nearly two hundred men charged out. It wasn’t part of the plan, but he was sure Marcus would understand why he had done it. With a battle cry, he charge forward leading the reinforments out to join the battle.