Chapter 16 The Battle Begins

After meeting with the remaining battalion leaders, strategies were outlined counting on the veracity in the statements addressed by Monsignor Bodicelli in his letter. If everything was true, they would proceed and this mix of superstition, ancient lore and faith would be the key -in fact the only way- to victory and their salvation. On this fantastic formula relied the whole empire's safety, as incredible as it seemed.

The senior officers retired to give instructions to the soldiers under their command. Archers and crossbowmen were instructed on how to utilize the holy water and oil in their weapons as indicated in the highest priest's missive. Edmund finished putting his garments and armor assisted by his page when Geoffrey, the messenger sent by Lord Aelderic, ran into the tent.

"My lord, Edmund." Geoffrey knelt in front of the general in reverence.

"Arise messenger. What do you want? And you must to be brief for we are getting ready for the battle." Edmund's tone was severe.

"Milord, you shall listen to what I must say. I have something very important to tell you." The messenger stood up and told him everything that happened in the mansion Cuthberht before he left to the southern regions and what he found out in Swabia about Leila.

"For God's sake! All this... This can't be possible! These are terrible news! How one of these creatures made its way into the mansion? Almighty God, my beloved is in great danger... if it's not already too late for her! And I am here in the other side of the world... No, please, no! I need to think clearly... If anything ever happens to Ardith, I'll die in grief. I can't die here, I must go back to save her!" Edmund ambled uneasily from one side to the other in the tent. Everyone's face dropped. There were not vampires only here in the south, but everywhere... They've been for centuries feeding on humans, living amongst humans and humans were so ignorant, so selfish in their preconceived and inducted thoughts believing that they were the Crown of everything created by God! His faith crumbled and overpowered by wrath and despair the man hurled tables and chairs, kicking off everything he had on front of him. Edmund felt so much impotence and frustration, his hands tied by his responsibility with the empire and church unable to do something to save the woman he loved.

"Lord Edmund, what do you want me to do now that you are informed and aware of the situation?" Geoffrey asked, nearing carefully to the enraged general.

"You must leave immediately, but first take supplies and a silver dagger with you and hand one of those cross pendants to your neck. You need to get out of these fields infested by demons unharmed and make it to Harz before it's too late for Ardith."

Edmund walked to a huge ebony cross hung to a tent's wall and kneeling in front of it, he prayed. "God cover with your providence those who live in the Harzburg castle. Look at me, fighting this battle on your behalf. Please command your angels to guard and defend the woman I love for me. Cover me and my men with your precious blood and shield us. I beg you to send the archangels to stand by men, your men too, against these legions. I implore you to keep this demon named Leila away from Ardith until I return. In your name I pray, Amen."

Followed by the page carrying his sword and shield, Edmund left his tent. The general advanced amongst his men who were already formed in rows in the middle of the field.

Outside, the sun broke over the mountains in the southern bank of the Rhine, his rays timidly reaching a sky filled with grey clouds. In the distance, fiendish beasts growled as they advanced out the woods. Gnarling, they smelled fear, sweat and blood; an open invitation to kill and feed.

In the Christian's side, the men were formed in three groups of four rows. The first two groups were lancers, barricading the frontal line with their shields. Behind them, the cavalry heavily armed marched ready to launch. The two middle groups were conformed by crossbowmen and archers while in the rear guard the back the young general and the battalion leaders mounted their stallions raising up their swords.

Previously, the men had anointed in Holy Water and Blessed Oil their weapons. Carpenters were instructed to make cross-shaped stakes and small crucifixes as amulets to scare the demons away. They hoped and waited, but they feared. Too many lives were lost at that point and too much blood had been spilled and drank by the herd of thirsty leeches. Faith.. Only the faith they had in God maintained the soldiers standing but not still. Their knees trembled and their armor rattled to realized that no matter if they won or lose, that was going to be their last fight. They were about to give everything in a fiery and uneven war, expecting the worst, yet trusting that God would deliver the battle for them.

"My brave men, today we will fight not against flesh and blood. Today we will combat in the name of the Lord against the legions of Satan. In the depths of the forest, forests that belong to us, these bloodthirsty demons await, eager to steal off what belongs to us by divine right... our lives and souls. We won't let them! We would never surrender! We would never yield our lands to the Devil. Today we will give everything to prevent those leeches from reaching our villages to massacre our children and our women in their bloodlust. God will lead us in this battle on this day. I have faith in this... In His name the victory will be ours!" Edmund spoke to his men who excited choired, "In His name the victory will be ours!"

The horns sounded in the Christian camp announcing that it was time to fight. The men marched in unison and their heavy footsteps resonated echoing on the valley. In the distance the enemy boots were heard louder as they emerged from the chiaroscuro density of the forest.

Already the billowy layers of vampires loomed on the plain. Creatures so perfect and bearing so much power that their mere presence was intimidating even in the distance. Coal dark eyes glimmered amidst the foggy curtain of morning dew as they marched with aplomb. Their beautifully sculptured bodies advanced straight up in perfect synchrony and with every step they took, the earth trembled below their feet.

The enemy was less than a league away, and the distance shortened rapidly as they neared at a supernatural speed. In any minute the enemy would be on their faces, and the Christians soldiers couldn't take that chance. If the vampires closed too much the gap, between the two bands, as it seemed, their strategy would flunk.

Edmund raised his right hand, his index pointing up into the air marking that the battle was about to begin. Like a dark and growling dust cloud, the demons hustled towards the Holy Empire's Armada braking in a mayhem their once before perfect lines. "Archers!" The leader commanded and the lancers in the first row knelt on the floor holding their shields together to form a strong armor plate to repel the first attack, while in the back the archers set their arrows on fire and aimed high into the air.

The enemy was at this moment very close to the German's frontal position. Their commanders, the legendary Ardo and Pelagius galloped swiftly their horses, making the scene to look like one taken out of the Biblical book of Revelations. "Nock! Aim!" Ordered the spokesmen in unison. Bows and arrows were pointing in perfect synchrony to the sky, measuring the distance. "... Shoot!" The first round of arrows was fired, some of them lit in fire, others dipped in the consecrated liquids. The projectiles flew up in the morning sky forming a hissing cloud moving upwards and then arching downwards above the raging demons.

Holding their breath, the soldiers waited expectantly the result of this first strike. the arrows fell a few seconds after hitting target. With the contact, a few of them fell, crying sharply as they plummeted to the ground. This time the first attack was effective, resulting in a considerable amount of these beasts knocked over the battle field.

"It worked! It worked!" The men cried with excitement and immediately Edmund ordered a second attack.

"Nock, aim, shoot! Nock, aim, shoot!" The command was given and a second, then a third wave of arrows were launched into the air, arched up and down striking, digging into the monsters' thick skin, piercing with gushing sound every time a projectile hit the moving targets. One by one they collapsed, some of them burning and others twitching and screaming.

There was a gap of hope opening in the German's army and for the first time Edmund's lips tensely curved up as he saw some light at the end of the tunnel and renewed his faith. Yes, maybe this time they would win and he would return back to Harzburg to save Ardith.

While the blood thirsty demons standing kept running towards them, the Empire's armada held tight, the front lines kneeling firmly, their hands gripping the full-body-length shields forming a curved wall of red crosses the shields painted on white.

The vampire's charged, holding their swords and mazes up, roaring like wild beasts, getting closer... And closer.

"Hold!" Was Edmund's command to the frontal rows.

They were a few meters away, approaching at an unearthly speed while Ardo and Pelagious charged in the back, riding their black Arab stallions.

"Hold." Edmund repeated.

Sheltered, but not for too long, behind the iron barrier the soldiers awaited, steadily. On their faces for moments fear overpowered determination, yet they held their position, not able to see the enemy approaching but they knew they would strike at any moment... The loud thumping of their boots on the ground told them.

In the Christian side everything was expectation, every soldier in silence while the mayhem of demons advanced growling and screaming to induce terror.

"Spears!" Edmund ordered and the men on front took their spears out, deadly pointing forwards right in the moment both armies collided.