1250BC

The supply wagons creaked along slowly, the oxen straining at their harnesses as they hauled our provisions. My mother held the reins in one hand and cradled my baby sister in her other. She smiled at me as I trotted my warhorse alongside her.

"Look at you, all grown up!" She said proudly, reaching a thin hand out to pat my armored clad arm.

"Mueter." I said, ducking my head. "Not on front of the men!"

Her smile turned sad and she whispered "I wish ye wouldn't fight my son."

"Mueter, I'm a man grown and a warrior trained in battle!" I protested hotly. "I'll stand with father and the other tribes against the invaders and we will end this today."

She said nothing, only looked at me with unshed tears shimmering in her eyes. My sister began to fuss and she looked down to her shushing her softly, as her chubby hands flailed, her golden bracelets jingling merrily. She soon quieted and began to chew on her circlets.

I gave mother a tight smile. Then I turned by horse from the wagon and spurred him onward and towards the column of calvary that stretched for nearly a mile alongside the river Tollense.

I would never admit it, for fear of being called a coward, but I was afraid. I had been with my father on raids and skirmishes before. But this was different, we were an army now. The sheer size of our force was more men than I had ever seen, but the enemy was rumored to be twice our size. .