Day Fifteen after departure from Estreon. Badra Plains.

The steady and sure steps of 418 men, only six of them ahorse, filled the plain. Dust and the smell of hot grass swirled and whirred below their feet. Their gazes were firmly fixed on the horizon ahead, and to their right at infrequent intervals. None dared so much as to crack a smile, instead keeping their gazes steady, their weapons sharp, their senses alert. In immediate absence of loved ones, prayers--muttered or at heart--quickly became their constant source of consolation.

Urdin rode ahead of the first rank of infantry, dressed as he was in his usual set of jet-black armor and crimson robe (the latter a personal gift from Asha), flanked by--in that order--Arys, Khalid and Kalasnir. The rest marched alongside their men under the banners (their colors now fading) that Tiana had spent three sols sewing, with two of the three repentant mubarizuns guarding the rear. Not very formidable in size, but this host would have to do against all odds.

Against them, two armies marched in from that many directions: one thousand Skandians from the south and a tad less Vasmirians from the west.

On the Skandian side, due to their incessant conflicts, they could only muster and bring forth about 200 cavalry, most of them lightly armored, led by a certain Risbar Idrista. The rest of their host mainly consisted of conscripts and recruits, armed with simple spears, maces and hunting bows. The 'elite' armored, sword-wielding warriors positioned themselves in the second line, in a hope to prevent the first from retreating. The third line comprised of healers and chanters to somewhat aid morale.

On the Vasmirian side, to which most of Urdin's attention had been insistently drawn during the last few days, marched 250 mubarizuns in the first line, with all their expertise and training. The rest comprised of about 500 infantry, 200 cavalry and about 50 archers. They brought no healers nor chanters, but their siege equipment had been deliberately abandoned after a day's march and some of the men in the infantry still resented their overall leader, Vestia, for that much. What was the point of bringing those along in the first place, they grumbled, if they were to be left behind anyway?

Three armies were about to converge and collide. On this depended the extension of the Hospodian dream: a dream that Husnir had forged, Ingeras had nurtured, Vlos had cherished and Urdin had guarded. A vision for unity and peace that had been shattered the moment Vasmir decided to draw his sword in impulsive career-mongering. Now even the Skandians were joining in to further punish their upstart secessionists.

There on the plains of Badra, under the azure cloudless sky and bright sunlight as the banners flapped and fluttered with due grace, and spear points glinted, the destiny of a whole civilization shall be decided.

***

At length, as if on cue, the three armies halted within sight of each other, their respective banners gallantly fluttering in the wind. Thus began the last-minute face to face negotiations.

Two negotiators, from the Skandian and Vasmirian lines respectively, had already begun to ride forth.

"Who shall we send?" Arys inquired.

"It's best to send he who is familiar with your immediate adversary, the Vasmirians," Khalid replied. "Not to mention most of my comrades are there. I'll go."

"No," Urdin cut in. "You may have some knowledge about the Vasmirians, provided you can refrain from offering biased opinions due to your self-exile; but the Skandians are a whole new lot. I will go."

"But sir, you are this army's primary leader. We cannot--"

Hardly giving any chance for his subordinates to banter, Urdin had ridden forth, his robe flapping.

"My my, if it isn't the former general himself..." the Vasmirian envoy, a wiry figure dressed in red with a hooded face, began. "You are valiant and a nice fellow at heart, I believe. To that end I suggest you stop this madness before it can start, step down from your mount, and kneel. No innocent blood need be shed today."

"Why, yes indeed," Urdin replied, smiling as if to his brother. "No blood but Vasmir's need be shed, and sadly he is not personally here. Your lot is just flesh and blood standing in my way to his throat. Wouldn't you agree?"

"Are you done quarreling?" the other envoy joined, appearing uninterested. He was dressed much like Urdin, with a white robe trimmed with gold for the Eagle's crimson. "Then I, representative to the noble Skandian Empire, will present my demands. Both of you are to stand down, disband your armies, and allow the Empire's forces to take rightful possession of the lands it hitherto owned. You don't wish to know the penalty for failure."

"Why bother, sir?" the Vasmirian envoy returned, almost kindly. "So many seem eager for such penalty today. After all, yours is the largest host on the field."

"If you desire our lives that much, sirs," Urdin turned his horse's head to his army, "come and try to get them."

Just like this, the negotiations came to an abrupt end as the remaining horses were turned back to their proper ranks.

"Well, sir?" Khalid inquired.

"Refusal," came the reply; then, in an indescribable tone, "so be it."

In one sure motion Urdin's sword was out.

"VIVA HOSPODIA, BY THE INFINITE ONE'S GRACE!!"

Amidst thundering war cries and steel hooves, the three-way engagement was on.

***

Despite their modest host, the Hospodians made the first move, advancing in solid ranks towards the considerably-larger Vasmirians, who were quick to imitate the move, seemingly about to allow the Skandians to their south to cut into both armies' flanks.

At the last moment, however, both armies were ordered to turn inwards.

"The heck?! Why are we turning away, the enemy is right there!"

"Shut up! See, the Vasmirians are making pretty much the same move. No doubt they think the Skandians deserve more as well!"

"Why weren't we told so in advance?!"

"We're soldiers, not guests!"

"Guys! We are in the midst of a raging battle right now! VIVA HOSPODIA!"

So it was that the combined armies began to slam through the unprepared and dazzled Skandian lines with impunity. The Vasmirian cavalry leader from his vantage point, meanwhile, frowned upon comprehending what was happening.

"What the heck do they think they're doing..?"

"Seems the Hospodians regard those Skandians as more of an enemy than us, sir..." one of his men replied, "which is not very far-fetched, I would say. Why would we want to continue serving Vasmir when he's not even here sharing the burden?"

Said commander nodded to himself after a brief soul-searching. He drew his weapon and pointed it in the general direction of the Skandians.

"For our comrades! Let's teach those mortals a lesson they're not likely to ever forget!"

"OOOHH!!"

Due to similar strength, for all its ferocity, the cavalry engagement in the flanks did not see much headway for either side for some time.

In the center, mubarizuns from both sides, almost indistinguishable, fought as one; gradually blunting their common adversary's momentum.

***

All going to plan so far...

Urdin grunted as he parried a clumsy spear thrust from a Skandian soldier, before finishing him with a sideways slash and just as quickly going for another in their gradually shrinking line. That the Vasmirians would spontaneously agree to join in his 'bold move', was unbelievably pleasant. Vasmir's clout was not that great after all!

Be that as it may the Skandian lines, buckling as it were, were not yet on the run; and until then he could not know if his depleted army would thereby have to endure a second engagement.

He had just dealt with another sword thrust and was guardedly observing the field in search of the Skandian commander, when a thrown spear flashed past him. The Eagle moved aside in the nick of time, but lost his focus on said commander, which he thought he saw in a flash.

What good would capturing such a small fry do us right now? he thought fiercely, outwardly roaring as all around him the combined host broke through to the enemy's now-faltering second line. It's only Vasmir I wanted to capture, alive or otherwise...

"Don't let them get away so easily, lads! Soar!"

"VIVA HOSPODIA!!"

Urdin's command seemed to echo amidst the tumult of battle, and the mubarizuns--by now regarding themselves as a single force with a single purpose--readily obeyed. The vampires among them flew to cut off, impede and otherwise harrass the Skandian retreat amidst futile attempts by Skandian archers to bring them down, while the Men pressed on with sword and sweat from multiple sides. Amidst this renewed charge, the Skandian banners were trampled and soon forgotten in the rush.

By this time the Vasmirian cavalry had cleared their opposition from the field, and the remaining Skandians' fighting retreat was rapidly turning into a panic-stricken flight. Their alarm was multiplied when they saw said cavalry going in with gusto for the inevitable final move.

The entire affair lasted for just over an hour. At its end, the remaining Vasmirians found themselves too reluctant to engage the Hospodians and simply took the offered hands of restored camaraderie, returning to reform around Urdin as one single host after seeing to their dead.

Between them, the Hospodian-Vasmirian armies took some 400 casualties and about 200 wounded or missing. The Skandian force, on the other hand, were almost completely wiped out. Very few lived to lay down their arms and consent to either renew their pledges as part of Urdin's ranks or being handsomely ransomed. Risbar, upon questioning, decided to take the first course and was even willing to forsake his Skandian rank of Captain and march as common infantry. In return he was allowed to retain his weapons.

Vestia's body was interred with prayers into one of the mass graves dug thereafter, a nameless martyr out of many for Urdin's cause.

"I think that's the last time we shall hear of Skandian field armies of any size, General, sir," Khalid commented as they rode away from the field in the direction of Leo Point, but then halted. "...Sir?"

For Urdin had also halted, dismounted, and went to both knees, unhesitatingly kissing the ground.

"Infinite One, Lord of All the Worlds... Exalted is Your Name for all time. To You belong our lives and everything else between the heavens and this fleeting earth, and beyond. To You belong the finest and highest of praises! Kindly allow our cause to prevail, that we may realize the realm of peace meant for all races of Your humble creations. Grant it be so."

Before long, the plains once again resounded with prayers.

***

This second triumph over the Skandians, as had been the case after the First Battle for Elbar when Urdin's negligible invasion force had routed a Skandian host of much the same size before Tishka Ridge, sent shockwaves of jubilation, astonishment and dismay throughout the region. The Nakria-based empire's international prestige this time was severed beyond repair, and those of Estreon and Hospodia in general gained precious recognition.

For the moment, Urdin decided to reassemble at Leo Point while his men received treatment and yet more volunteers. Messenger-pigeons were sent to Estreon and the next nearest outpost, the Libra Point under Sergeant Husrev Ruhan--the first one containing a spirited announcement, the second a stern warning. The closing statement for the second message read, "It is about time for the ignorant to repent, and the rejecters to be dealt with in ways befitting their insolence. No harm whatsoever shall be incurred to those resubmitting with clear conscience; on the contrary, may they be blessed with the ability to remain steadfast in their vows."

After a four-day respite to gather much-needed provisions and information, during which time he learned that Arenda too appeared to have been in discontent, Urdin resumed his eastward march.