How did the enemies know? Perhaps their scout had picked us.

My heart raced as I took to the killing on the ground.

   "Fall into position," Backwood screamed from top of his voice. "Shield wall." He descended with his comrades from their beast joining the forming wall.

Zhing! Zhing! More arrows spurted from the forest. More screams followed at the rain before we completed the shielding. Even then, unfortunate men kept on falling.

We raised our shields in a protective barrier. We watched as the enemies wove through the forest. The figures leaped out to the clearing and charged for us. It was a fountain of men.

In a moment they poured at us. The clunk of steel against steel broke out. Their fight to tear down the shield fortress was desperate. They pushed us back by their number. Alas, we gave in to the pressure, and our wall crumbled before our eyes.

Blades swirled through the air, catching its prey with a splatter of red. I rushed into the the killing, whirling blade forth and back, with efficiency and prowess of an expert.

Our forces weren't disoriented by the ambush. We fought systematic against the savage men. But our number was reducing. The enemies were swallowing us, and were yet ready to sacrifice more men to crush us to dust.

Through the killing, dancing and falling, I caught sight of a barbarian champion urging fresh charge to his men by his proficiency. He was a beast.

Pushing my sword through the throat a man, down to the hilt, and drawing it out quickly, I allowed the dead mans frame away from clear sight of the barbarian champion. I glared at him. Alas, his gaze fell on me and my deeds. With guttural cry he dashed for me.

Sword and spear in hand, I moved for the enemy too. He wielded a glaive, and was most expedient. 

Series of clunks pursued our thrive. The barbarian was fast, but rash. I would use it against him. I on the hand, methodic and calculative. He was a surging vortex, attacking at every second. His exactitude masked by his fury and adrenaline.

Our movement entertained either party of supporters - a flawless dance. The barbarian smirked when he broke a hit, landing pommel upon side. I winced, embracing reality.

He lunged at me again, I moved away from his strike. He made at me again, but I ducked under his forearm. Free of my spare, I cast out my Rapier and struck. His hand shot up in a breath, his gauntlet holding out the blow. I purposed drawing my sword. The barbarian had locked it alas. I tried then to twist my blade through. But the man held his ground.

He held the struggle strongly, and it almost seemed he would have the better hand.

I made a shift, then swirled around from the struggle in a heartbeat, sweeping my right foot beneath the man. His heavy body crashed down with a brilliant thud. I plunged my sword down on him, before he could get himself, puncturing through his heart. His eyes widened in fear, and then he breathed his last.

His supporters were broken by their sight, but it was fresh encouragement to our party.
 
Just then the air was filled with blare of a conch, and in a moment, they showed up...
 
Several hundreds of soldiers tore through the scrubs. Graceful calvary soldiers, baring banners with Kedrone emblems.
Our allies at last!

They poured upon the valley, and together we choked on the enemies, giving them not even an option for escape.

The war had ended in our favor.

I was walking away now from the congregation of rejoicing soldiers. In heart considering the just concluded battle. It was all a strategy!

Captain Backwood had arranged with the alliance, and then he had used himself and his forces as bait.
 
It was stupid risking lives this way. But the stupid things of we mortals, were the very ones which counted the most. It was a bold, sacrificial call.

But the abrupt call from behind, suddenly froze me in utter shock, yanking my thoughts far from me.

   "Soldier!" The voice called out, and it seemed well like the calling man was in fact speaking to me.
  I turned at once, only to realize it was indeed the Captain Barkwood who was calling.

   "I saw you in the battle. You fought well." He said to me with a warm smile.

   "Thank you sir!" I said, and was about turning away, when his next word pinned me to the spot.

   "I knew it," he bellowed "Captain Dorack!" His eyes flashed with amusement.
  Once he had seen his words play on me, he bellowed even harder.

   "Captain Dorack! Behold Captain Dorack!" He proclaimed, like a lost subject. This was bad...my disguised was at last compromised.
 
The scattered soldiers - of those rejoicing, and of thus doing final justice to the enemies, began moving up and pairing up, in duos and wider units, until the gathering was intimidating. Of those that knew the name Dorack and those seeking to satisfy their eagerness...they drew closer.

The Captain of the other faction, galloped to us. In a single gaze, I could tell who this comrade was...Pedrel, my once first lieutenant.

   "My lord," he cried, descending from the brown stallion.

  "Pedrel." I held him up. Without restrain he embraced me.

He was glad to see me, but their was little he could say to me, for it was clearly written on me...I was a broken man, seeking crude vengeance.

   "I almost had him today, before you came with your men. You scared him off." I told.

  "Forgive me my lord,." He was bowed. "I was merely protecting the greater number."

  "I know. I know you were." I answered with a blank smile "It only means, I shall get him next time." I smiled humorlessly.

"We shall do it together. But its time to come home. Kedrone needs you. Your entire family needs you. We had searched for you, ever since the battle for Amlyxone."

  "I can't come with you. But now you know where I would always be. Where Dakor goes, I follow closely.

  "My lord," the man Barkwood, stepped forward. "I was with you at the Broken Siege of Kedrone. I fought no far from you at the Battle on the valley of Goor. And I was with you at The conquest of Amlyxone, at the falling of her gates."

   "You are indeed a strong man then," I beat his right shoulder softly. "Forgive me, these days am weary and my memories are fast fading."

  "Isn't it enough..." Pedrel cut in. "We all are still grieved for what happened. I am particularly sorry for not standing by you...I failed you. But you can't hold up the obsession."

   "I have been doing what I need to do....vengeance." I simply responded.

   "Shouldn't you come back and join us atleast. This life you seek is a cruel one. The path; a very lonely one." Barkwood told.

   "I know it is...which is why I walk my path alone; cause let's be frank, who would be foolish to walk it with me." I made a humorless chuckle.

   "If Karmadin hears I let you walk away again, he could take my head." Pedrel spoke with bowed head, almost as if apologizing for his intended.
But I knew the man too well...I read out quickly his intentions.

   "Pedrel," I held his shoulders. "Don't do it, it wouldn't profit. Even in my weary state I could  still take out more than a handful of men before am bounded down." His eyes flashed to me with shock.

   "Glory in your victory, and don't hold me against my wish."

   "Forgive my lord, for thinking such evil." He kowtowed in a breath.

   "I understand why. And for your head, give Jeron this." I paced my blood dripping Axe to keep.

   "Iceclaw?" He protested. The man knew how much attached I was to the piece. 
  
   "May your strides be protected and your path be guided by the gods" Barkwood prayed.

   "And to you my friends." I said, this time striving hardly to mask the sadness of life and fate, and how they had torn me from loved one's.

  "I have to go now...I have a cause to fulfil, a chase to embark, and a head to cut off." I smirked. My back was turned from them -- I was making my way from their gathering.

  From behind me, the strange chatter and hails had been birthed, until it had become a resonance.

   "Commander Dorack, soldier of fortune, man of Kedrone Wall, conqueror of Amlyxone, Valiant of the white valley."

They kept hailing, till I mounted a beast and rode away.