01-15-2010, 01:17 PM
The battle was grim but he moved on through the dances. He had left behind the training of swords when he had left Ireland, relying on his claws and fangs, though he realized now that that had been foolish, even if it was in some ways the way of the lands. He was glad that he had picked up the sessions on the ship alongside Zana and Aisleran and had maintained them through the moons that had drawn before today. He was growing tired but the frenzy of the battle was taking over now, he would continue to move once he was past exhaustion if only because he knew there was nothing left beyond failure. His fangs were bare as he pressed on.
The true heir to the throne had kept one eye out for the man who was the cause for this battle. He would make him pay for every life that was claimed today and he would relish the feel as his life force drained from his body. Aisleran called out a warning as a warrior charged into their tight circle, trying to get a bite out of the true Ri. He didn’t get his chance as Aisleran took his life in a flash, his dagger striking out as though it were a viper defending its home.
DaVinci didn’t even have time to thank the man as he pushed on, the small circle moving away from the blood soaked grounds slowly, carefully stepping over the fallen and placing new ones in their wake. He did not have the heart for war and he knew that as they settled upon a patch of grass that had felt little bit of the coppery blood that had run so freely over the rest of the grounds. He turned his eyes towards the rest of his crew as they bunched together once more to defend each other’s backs and make certain that there was no way that someone could slip into their space unless they were willing to meet death.
When Uehban took a spear to the chest and was lost among the fallen his heart ached for the hardened warrior but he had no tears to cry. He just preyed that man had taken his killer down with him before he died. It wasn’t long before DaVinci realized that more and more of the faces around them belonged to their own army and not the enemy. He growled low in his throat as he realized that they were going to have to go hunting to ferret out the coward who had called men in his name but refused to fight beside them.
The clash of war could be heard over the lands but they had won here, that much was clear. DaVinci lifted his head as warriors gathered around him. His eyes were bright though he was feeling the exhaust as someone passed him a skin of water, flavored with mint and lemon. The soothing liquid brought life back to his parched throat, taking a second go at it before passing it on to another. His eyes were dark as he spoke up to those crowded around awaiting orders.
”Malchan has gone to ground it seems, we will have to flush him out like the prey he is.” His eyes narrowed at the thought as he pressed on with more instructions as the men’s faces seemed to echo his own emotions. ”I want those of you who can tend to others to stay behind and help those who can be helped. Guard yourselves and the wounded well. I don’t want any more lives lost than need be.” he met the eyes of the men as they nodded but waited to see if there was anything else he had to say.
He turned towards the scene before them as he spoke. ”I want the senior warriors to come with me and those uninjured who have no skill at bandaging and assisting to find where you can be useful among those areas still in the heat of battle. Be careful, there may be deserters or those that know they are beat who will try for one last victory…” He motioned to Aisleran and the lord Cuhbnan mac Dohthe to join him. A score of other men broke off and followed as well as those with any skill in healing or assisting began to move among the wounded, dying and dead.
They would assist where needed, their men and the enemy. DaVinci had already spoken against killing the wounded of their enemy, knowing too that they would once more be joined as kin if the war had been won. He knew as well that the usurper would not have shown the same kindness but he didn’t care. It was better in the long run to be merciful than to show the hand of a tyrant. He would not bet what Malchan had been.
Mabh appeared with a horse that had been caught in the woods, his reins tangled in a thorn bush having kept him from galloping free. DaVinci lead the beast as they searched high and low for the traitor, avoiding the small pockets of battle where they could and lending a hand where they couldn’t. Some warriors faded off into the battles hear but not seen but DaVinci was looking for any signs that would lead to the man who was responsible for this all.
They had been lucky when they joined in one last fray, one of the commanders from Malchan’s army having sense enough to admit defeat and surrender had presented them with information of interest. He had spoken of the usurper and how he had been on the outskirts of the war always, having watched from the rise where they camped as the army marched out. He swore that the man had stayed on the bluff to see them off and had returned to his tent, assuming that his warriors would do their job and do it well enough to ensure that DaVinci wouldn’t live.
The man snarled in rage and let the warriors take him into custody and back towards the grounds were the wounded were being helped and those too far gone were given the chance to see one last friendly face. DaVinci ordered the man to stay behind and witness what Malchan had lead their people to, to be the one to be at the side of every gasping comrade who had rode into the battle alongside him that the medics could find. He ordered the same for anyone else who would put down their weapons and come willingly with the men.
The day was growing late, it was strange how quickly time passed when war was upon you. DaVinci could see the shadows settling in as he released all but a few of the senior warriors. Somehow along the way Aisleran had found a horse of his own and Mabh too. He turned towards the woods where the falsely appointed Ri had remained, climbing onto the back of the beast that had willing bore him on. His eyes were stormy as he spoke softly to Aisleran and Mabh. ”We’ve got a hunt before us and blood is on the hands of Malchan. He won’t live to see tomorrow.” He gave instructions for those who still wished to follow him to find mounts if possible and follow, but giving them the warning that he wouldn’t wait, they would have to catch up. In a flash he was off, with Aisleran and Mabh hot on his heels.
The true heir to the throne had kept one eye out for the man who was the cause for this battle. He would make him pay for every life that was claimed today and he would relish the feel as his life force drained from his body. Aisleran called out a warning as a warrior charged into their tight circle, trying to get a bite out of the true Ri. He didn’t get his chance as Aisleran took his life in a flash, his dagger striking out as though it were a viper defending its home.
DaVinci didn’t even have time to thank the man as he pushed on, the small circle moving away from the blood soaked grounds slowly, carefully stepping over the fallen and placing new ones in their wake. He did not have the heart for war and he knew that as they settled upon a patch of grass that had felt little bit of the coppery blood that had run so freely over the rest of the grounds. He turned his eyes towards the rest of his crew as they bunched together once more to defend each other’s backs and make certain that there was no way that someone could slip into their space unless they were willing to meet death.
When Uehban took a spear to the chest and was lost among the fallen his heart ached for the hardened warrior but he had no tears to cry. He just preyed that man had taken his killer down with him before he died. It wasn’t long before DaVinci realized that more and more of the faces around them belonged to their own army and not the enemy. He growled low in his throat as he realized that they were going to have to go hunting to ferret out the coward who had called men in his name but refused to fight beside them.
The clash of war could be heard over the lands but they had won here, that much was clear. DaVinci lifted his head as warriors gathered around him. His eyes were bright though he was feeling the exhaust as someone passed him a skin of water, flavored with mint and lemon. The soothing liquid brought life back to his parched throat, taking a second go at it before passing it on to another. His eyes were dark as he spoke up to those crowded around awaiting orders.
”Malchan has gone to ground it seems, we will have to flush him out like the prey he is.” His eyes narrowed at the thought as he pressed on with more instructions as the men’s faces seemed to echo his own emotions. ”I want those of you who can tend to others to stay behind and help those who can be helped. Guard yourselves and the wounded well. I don’t want any more lives lost than need be.” he met the eyes of the men as they nodded but waited to see if there was anything else he had to say.
He turned towards the scene before them as he spoke. ”I want the senior warriors to come with me and those uninjured who have no skill at bandaging and assisting to find where you can be useful among those areas still in the heat of battle. Be careful, there may be deserters or those that know they are beat who will try for one last victory…” He motioned to Aisleran and the lord Cuhbnan mac Dohthe to join him. A score of other men broke off and followed as well as those with any skill in healing or assisting began to move among the wounded, dying and dead.
They would assist where needed, their men and the enemy. DaVinci had already spoken against killing the wounded of their enemy, knowing too that they would once more be joined as kin if the war had been won. He knew as well that the usurper would not have shown the same kindness but he didn’t care. It was better in the long run to be merciful than to show the hand of a tyrant. He would not bet what Malchan had been.
Mabh appeared with a horse that had been caught in the woods, his reins tangled in a thorn bush having kept him from galloping free. DaVinci lead the beast as they searched high and low for the traitor, avoiding the small pockets of battle where they could and lending a hand where they couldn’t. Some warriors faded off into the battles hear but not seen but DaVinci was looking for any signs that would lead to the man who was responsible for this all.
They had been lucky when they joined in one last fray, one of the commanders from Malchan’s army having sense enough to admit defeat and surrender had presented them with information of interest. He had spoken of the usurper and how he had been on the outskirts of the war always, having watched from the rise where they camped as the army marched out. He swore that the man had stayed on the bluff to see them off and had returned to his tent, assuming that his warriors would do their job and do it well enough to ensure that DaVinci wouldn’t live.
The man snarled in rage and let the warriors take him into custody and back towards the grounds were the wounded were being helped and those too far gone were given the chance to see one last friendly face. DaVinci ordered the man to stay behind and witness what Malchan had lead their people to, to be the one to be at the side of every gasping comrade who had rode into the battle alongside him that the medics could find. He ordered the same for anyone else who would put down their weapons and come willingly with the men.
The day was growing late, it was strange how quickly time passed when war was upon you. DaVinci could see the shadows settling in as he released all but a few of the senior warriors. Somehow along the way Aisleran had found a horse of his own and Mabh too. He turned towards the woods where the falsely appointed Ri had remained, climbing onto the back of the beast that had willing bore him on. His eyes were stormy as he spoke softly to Aisleran and Mabh. ”We’ve got a hunt before us and blood is on the hands of Malchan. He won’t live to see tomorrow.” He gave instructions for those who still wished to follow him to find mounts if possible and follow, but giving them the warning that he wouldn’t wait, they would have to catch up. In a flash he was off, with Aisleran and Mabh hot on his heels.