FanStory.com - The Battlefieldby Roxanna Andrews

Joshua watched Ond-Natt crashed to the ground and burst into flame. He was amazed to see the Lucas roll from the beast and stagger to his tent. He could not believe the man had survived such a fall.

Joshua brought Dyster down. He would put an end to the life of this one who had caused so much suffering.

Before he could dismount, he saw a slave warrior, painted blue, slip into the tent. Joshua quickly made his way to the opening and watched as the man plunged his spear into Lucas. He was startled as the warrior threw his head back and sounded a war cry. He had practiced the very same war cry many times as a boy. It was Wahaland.

Joshua realized the warrior must be Jarle, father to his mentor and father-in-law, Augdon. He had not known Jarle before his capture, but knew of his aid in spying on the enemy and felt he owed him a debt.

Jarle pulled the spear from Lucas' body and the man he thought dead held his sword against his stomach. His actions were swift for a man so badly injured.

"You should have brought me my horse," Lucas said in a raspy voice.

Joshua reacted and in one quick, slashing motion, Lucas's sword dropped to the ground, and his hand with it.

Lucas screamed in pain. Rolling into a fetal position, he lay motionless, his eyes half open as in death. Blood pooled on the ground beside him.

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Lyse watched as her mortally wounded dragon made a hard landing and plowed across the ground, spraying snow and bringing down brush as it skidded. She and Nyla had jumped from the dying dragon on to another whose rider had come to their rescue. As it rolled to its side and died, Lyse could not keep tears from her eyes. She had raised the dragon, it had been hers since she was a small child. Now the magnificent green beast lay dead.

There was no time to mourn as Lyse ask to be taken to the battlefield. She would fight were she could. The dragon landed and the rider sent it to the woods to eat. He ran with the women to join the battle. Seeing a horse running free, Lyse commandeered the animal for herself and Nyla. She took the reins and turned the animal back to the fight.

The horse soldiers fought for their lives as the enemy seemed to be without end. When one died another took his place. The enemy slashed at man and horse with sword and ax, many without weapons, threw stones. But few found their mark as the archers and warriors cut them down.

The enemy was malnourished and had little physical strength left. Too many battles had left them exhausted. The horse soldiers asked them many times to surrender, but they seemed not to care if they lived or died and paid no heed to the soldiers request. Some seemed to welcome death, others fought with the desperation of an unsound mind. Having lost their ability to reason long ago, they fought like the madmen they'd become, refusing to give up.

*Jarle's men had joined the horse soldiers and fought beside them. They felt some guilt as they cut down the men they were housed with just moments before, they knew their desperation, but they fought on.

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Jarle held out a hand to the young captain. "You are Joshua." It was a statement not a question.

Joshua took the outstretched hand.

"I am Jarle, father to Augdon and Cedric."

"Yes, that was my guess."

'It seems I forgot the first rule of battle. Never take your eyes off your enemy," said the older man.

Joshua smiled and clapped the older man on the shoulder. "It is a good rule to remember."

Jarle smiled and they left Lucas where he lay. They walked from the tent and watched a moment as the huge Ond-Natt burned.

"I have never seen such a beast. Evil and bad tempered like his master," said Jarle.

Joshua nodded, "Thank God he is also dead like his master."

He sent Dyster to the woods to wait until summoned and he and Jarle ran to join the battle. In a short time, Joshua was surrounded by ragged, wild-eyed men. They came at him with sword and ax, but Joshua expertly fought off his enemy. The ground around him was soaked in blood as he dispatched each man who came against him. None laid a hand on him.

Jarle, with face and hair painted, was joined by enemy warriors thinking he was one of them. Jarle, too, felt guilt over having to kill men he had lived with for two years. He knew most had been forced into the life they now led, and he gave them a choice, die, or surrender. Many did, having lost the will to fight. Those that refused, quickly lost their lives.

During a lull in the fight, Joshua Looked around him and saw his warriors engaged in battle, and gaining ground. He saw his two uncles, Eric and Drake, off their horses and fighting hand to hand with the enemy, easily defeating them.

In the hour that followed the number of the enemy began to dwindle and soon none were left to fight. Most were dead, many surrendered. The battlefield was littered with bodies, the snow blood stained.

Joshua searched for Lyse and found her sitting on a horse, bloodied but unharmed. He lifted her out of the saddle and held her close, relieved to find her without injury.

"I feared for you," he told her.

"No need, I am well."

"Where is my mother?" Joshua asked as he looked over the battlefield.

Before Lyse could answer, a deafening scream echoed off the mountains and all eyes turned toward the sound. Standing over the body of Ond-Natt was the mother dragon. The female had found her prized offspring. She nudged the charred body of her son, and screamed again, white hot flame pouring from her mouth.