The White Knight

Chapter Ten--The Battle Between Good and Evil

"We should be nearing the Plains on Musglove,” said Michael as he and Maria rode along side by side on their horses.  The journey, since they started, had been safe and easy.
         Michael noticed something moving on the path ahead of them.  "What is that?" he inquired, pointing.
         Maria looked to where Michael was pointing.  At first, she did not see anything.  Then she saw, within the shadows of the trees, that it was Shariene.  Maria was about to speak out to the lion, to tell him that it was her.  Then she was struck speechless.
         There was a knight in dull gray armor.  His face was ugly, scarred and deformed, which most of it was hidden by a scraggly beard.  To her horror, Maria saw the knight with an arrow cocked in his bow and was aiming directly at Shariene.
         Maria quickly found her words.  "Shariene!  Watch out!"
         Shariene quickly flattened himself against the forest floor, not a second too soon, for the next moment a black arrow went flying over Shariene’s head.
         "Damn you, yon evil knight!  You have not seen the last of me!"
         The deformed knight fled off into the forest.
         Shariene came up to Maria.  "You have saved my life.  So I owe you mine."

         "Geoffrey, I hear some horses coming in this direction.  They seem to be coming at a fast pace."
         "It sounds like only two.  Stand by in case it is some of our knights in trouble.  If they are Red Knights, we shall attack them.  However, let's make sure that the knight is an enemy before attacking.  We just want to kill the enemy, not friends."
         Geoffrey fitted his arrow onto the bowstring.  In the distance they saw the two knights, one in white armor and the other in black.
         "They are coming in this direction.  That Black Knight might be a friend."
         The knights drew closer.  When they saw the Kingsbane, they slowed their horses down to a walk. 
         "Is that you Maria?"  Geoffrey asked hopefully.
         "Yes.  It is I," she said removing her helmet.
         "We were wondering what happened to you.  Do not run off like that again.  You had many people worried."
         "I am sorry about that.  I had left the book by the stream and went back to get it.  I ran into some trouble."
         "Do not worry about it, wait until we get back to the camp.  It is not far from here."
         In a few minutes they came out of the forest and stood overlooking the Plains of Musglove.  The Plains were barren areas of flat land.  In the distance on either side of the Plains was the forest.
         Upon reaching the outskirts of the Plains, several knights approached.  Of them two knights were in black armor, Nils and Bartlette.
         Nils approached Sir Michael.  "How did you happen to get here?  Did you come on your own will or did this young knight defeat you?"  He said this laughing, but stopped short when he got a second look at Maria.  "Hey!" he exclaimed, "this knight is a girl!"
         "I will explain about that later on, because it is a long story.  First tell me how you came here."
         Nils told about the battle with the Red Knights and what had happened.  "Sad to say," Nils said, "Most of the Black Knights were slaughtered."
         "What a fool Joseph was.  If I had known, I would not have left to seek revenge against this knight," he said indicating Maria.  "I would have ordered a retreat.  Did Joseph make it?"
         "Not that I know of.  He was still fighting when Bartlette and I withdrew.  We were separated from the other knights.  After we lost the Red Knights, we came here.  Sir Peter and Geoffrey found us and they brought us here.  Eventually other Black Knights came here also.  Unfortunately, it was only a few.  I fear many more will not join us."
         Sir Michael bowed his head in silence, saddened by the fate of his knights.  Taking a deep breath, he raised his head.  "I see both are you are wounded.  However, the wounds are clean.  There will be no fear of infection.  With some rest and good food, they will heal quickly.  Let me take care of the horses and I will meet up with you."
         He walked slowly away. 
         "I need to talk to him," Maria said.  She followed Michael.  He stood morosely looking towards the north.  He turned towards Maria when she appeared at his side.
         He sighed, "I should have been with my men.  I felt that I had a grudge and foolishly, went to seek revenge.  Most of the men I am responsible for are dead.  I am the only one to blame."
         "No, Michael.  You did what you felt was right.  You left a knight in charge."
         "It was very foolish of me to leave Joseph.  He let the power to go to his head."
         "There was no way you would have known.  This also may be just the will of Rem."
         He turned towards Maria, confused.
         "It is like in my world, everything happens for a reason.  The Supreme Creator of Earth, God, does everything and allows everything to happen for a reason.  Even when things seem to look bad, everything works out in the end.  It may be the same in Utofamia."
         "Thank you, Maria.  I greatly appreciate your encouragement and kindness.  You are absolutely right.  I just sometimes forget and get frustrated.  Rem will see things through to the end."
         “Michael!”  Sir Peter came walking up.  The two brother embraced.
         “It is good to see you,” Michael said.  “Maybe it will be different this time.”
         “One day, according to the prophecy, this will be over.”
         King Alexander approached them.  "Get some food and refreshed; we are having a briefing in an hour."

         "The days ahead look grim with the Red Knights back in Utofamia," said King Alexander.  "However, as far as I can tell from the scouting reports, there are about two hundred known enemy knights.  If years ago, we were able to drive out over one thousand Red Knights from Utofamia, this may be easier accomplished since our numbers are equal.  Sir Michael, you will be pleased to know that twenty more of your knights just showed up."
         "That is good to hear," the Black Knight leader said.
         "Do you think the Red Knights will show here again like last time?" Sir Peter asked.
         "It is very likely.  The enemy is not interested in coming to a world and then leaving.  They are blood thirsty, looking for a chance to kill innocent people.  We have sent word to the villages and warned the civilians.  They have abandoned their homes and have gone in hiding."
         "What type of defensive actions are we taking?" Maria asked.
         "We will have the Kingsbane lined up to the east of the battlefield.  They will shoot at the enemy as they approach.  When the enemy is closer, I will call for a charge."
         "What about the deformed knight Michael and I saw?  He was not wearing red armor."
         "I can answer that," said Shariene.  "It is a Death Bearer."
         "What is that?" asked the King.  "Is this another evil creation of Melisande?"
         "Yes, Sir," answered the lion.  "The dead are not even protected from Melisande.  She has a spell that raises dead knights.  Even if a knight was brave and Nobel, he would have no memory of his previous light.  The Death Bearer only answers to Melisande."
         "Can they be killed?"
         "I am not sure, Sir," the lion answered humbly.
         Maria spoke up, "King Alexander, the knight we saw was wearing armor.  There may be a chance they may be killed.  Why would he have to wear armor if there was no way to kill him?"
         "That is true."  Shariene, Do you know how many of these Death Bearers there are."
         "I have seen one hundred knights brought back to life when I was Melisande's prisoner.  The numbers may be higher."
         King Alexander paled.  "We have another thing to fear if these knights join with the Red Knights."

         
         "Quick!  Wake up!" said Geoffrey.
         Maria stirred in her sleep.  It was way too early; the sun had not even made an attempt to rise over the horizon again.  It was a week since she had arrived with Michael at the Plains of Musglove.  She and the others were practicing the tactics Sir Peter and Sir Michael were training them to do.
         "You have to wake up and get going!  The Red Knights have been seen coming in this direction!"
         Maria quickly awakened.  She jumped up and started getting her armor on.
         "Do you see my sword?"
         "It is over there in the corner.  There is your helmet, too!"
         She was ready within a few minutes.  She quickly walked towards the horses.  "Any idea of how soon they will be here?"
         "They are still a distance away.  It might be a while, but we have to be prepared."
         She and Geoffrey got their horses and started walking towards the two groups of knights and Kingsbane that were already getting into formation.  Geoffrey grabbed Maria's arm.
         "Maria, the others are not looking.  Take your horse and hide in the forest."
         She stared at him, shocked.  "Why?"
         "You will be protected; the enemy will not be able to find you."
         "What do you think I am, a coward?  I did not become a knight so I could hide.  I am in this fight and there is nothing you or anybody else could do or say to persuade me to do otherwise."
         Geoffrey looked at her in silence.  Then he said coldly, "Fine, this is where we part company."  He turned and joined the other Kingsbane.
         Maria, wondering about Geoffrey's behavior, lined up with the other knights.  She looked around for Michael and saw him leading a group of knights towards the edge of the forest.  Then she remembered King Alexander's plans.  The Kingsbane, as mentioned before, would start the assault by shooting at the enemy.  Then when the King ordered the charge, the knights and the Kingsbane would rush the Red Knights.  Sir Michael's knights would wait and attack them from the side, hoping this would give a surprise advantage to the White and Black Knights.
         Osondria, sitting on a horse next to Maria, looked up at the sky.  "It is too beautiful of a day to be fighting."
         "I agree too," said Maria.  "It will be hot too.  Make sure you drink water when you can."
         "That I will," she said, taking a drink from her flask.
         They waited in anticipation for an hour.  Then the first of the Red Knights could be seen approaching in the distance.
         "Not yet," said Geoffrey, as Bartlette got ready to shoot his arrow.  "They are too far away; our arrows will never reach them at that distant.  Wait for my order."
         A few minutes later, Geoffrey yelled, "Now!"
         Arrows flew in the air.  From the first volley of shots, ten of the enemy fell.  However, the Red Knights did not falter; they kept advancing.          
         Then King Alexander yelled, "Charge!"  The combined White and Black knight forces charged the invading Red Knights fiercely, hoping to overthrow them or to turn them back.  However, the Red Knights would not give ground. 
         On the first assault ten of the ally knights were slain.  Maria stared in shock as a knight next to her fell from his horse with a spear through his chest.  Even if she wanted to turn back, she could not with all the knights around her.  She was in the midst of the battle.  While both the enemy and ally knights fell around her, and she was afraid, she was excited.  "How did I ever pick up these fighting skills, so quickly?" she wondered as she felled three Red Knights in a row.          
         With a loud cry, Sir Michael’s group of knights charged from the forest.  The Red Knights had not expected this new attack. The element of surprise worked and their causalities were double of that of the allies.
         A Red Knight ran at Sir Peter, blood-stainded sword thrusting at his chest. Sir Peter's eyes followed the tip of the blade as it streaked toward his flesh. He braced himself for the impact, and then he rose up away from the sword as his horse reared.  The spear sunk into the horse's belly.  With his horse slain under him, Sir Peter had to continue fighting on foot.  When Maria saw Sir Peter on foot, she rode upon a Red Knight and struck him down. She led his horse to Sir Peter, and gave it to him. She then knocked down two more knights and gave them to horseless knights.                    
         "Maria!  Look out!" Geoffrey yelled.
         Maria turned just in time to see a Red Knight charging her.  He brought a killing blow upon her.  Using her shield, he was able to block most of the blow with her sword.  However, the sword glanced on the shield and hit her in the shoulder.  Wounded, Maria fell from Chilowna.  While her wound was not life threatening, her arm hung uselessly to the side.  She continued fighting on foot, using only her good arm.
         When Geoffrey saw the knight strike Maria, he was wrathful. With his sword he hit the knight on the helmet with such a force, that a quarter of the helm and shield fell down. The sword continued downwards unto the horse's neck.  The knight and the horse fell down to the ground.  Geoffrey's horse suddenly reared as an arrow sunk into its belly.  He was thrown to the ground.
         "Stay next to me!" he yelled at Maria.  They fought side by side.  Geoffrey stood next to Maria's wounded side.  As a team, they deflected blows from the Red Knights
         "How are you feeling?" he yelled over the din of the battle.          
         "Just fine!"          
         "You are a natural!"  Geoffrey yelled back.  "It is like you were born to be a knight!"          
         Sir Michael rode up to Geoffrey and Maria, leading two horses.
         "You found Chilowna!" Maria exclaimed.
         Geoffrey helped Maria get back on his horse.  Then he remounted his.          
         "You have to excuse me," Sir Michael said.  "I have a battle to attend to."
         "Maria, get to the field hospital," Geoffrey yelled.  "You need to get you shoulder fixed!"
         "Geoffrey!  Look out!" Maria yelled.
         Too late a Red Knight came running up behind the Kingsbane and stabbed him in the back with his sword.  With a cry, Geoffrey fell from his horse.  Maria looked desperately for Geoffrey. However, his body was lost among a sea of horses and knights.  Tears in her eyes, she saw the Red Knights.
         "You coward!" she screamed, grieved immensely, rushing at him.  She brought the knight down with one swing of her sword.
         King Alexander saw Geoffrey lying as a dead man, in danger of being crushed by the hooves of the horses.  Roaring like a lion, he charged a Red Knight, stabbing him through the right side.    The knight fell from the horse dead.  He took the horse by the reins and led him to Geoffrey.  He helped him onto the horse, saying,  "Take this, brave Kingsbane, you have need of a horse."  The horse led the wounded Geoffrey to the edge of the battlefield.  The Kingsbane slid from the horse.  He rose and made an attempt to walk back into the battle.  However, after he walked only a few paces, he passed out from a lack of blood.
         King Alexander found himself surrounded by the enemy.  Several knights came to his rescue.  Sir Peter struck one Red Knight on the helmet; his head was split in half.  Sir Michael struck one on the shoulder; the arm flew uselessly to the ground.
         King Alexander's knights were all horsed again and they fought together as a team.  The noise of the battle raged throughout the Plains of Musglove.  The knights fought with eagerness and courage.
         The Red Knights realized this group of knights had the power to defend them.  This was not like previous invasions when they outnumbered the combined forces greatly.  The leader realized that the battle would not end so easily. 
         "King Alexander," the knight shouted at the top of his lungs.  "We will return with ten thousand men," the Red Knight said.
         "None of you will leave this battlefield alive," the King returned.
         Another cry came from the forest.  A cry of dismay rose from the mouths of the Allied Knights.  Around one hundred knights with deformed faces and wearing dull gray armor stormed the battlefield.  "The battle is not yet over!" the Red Knight leader yelled, as he saw this new group of the knights attacking the White and Black Knights.
         "The Death Bearers!" King Alexander yelled.  "Retreat!"  The allied knights quickly turned their horses and started moving as fast as they could away from the enemy.  The enemy knights took advantage by cutting down the knights as they retreated.
         Maria rode Chilowna towards the forest.  Soon she was within the safety of the trees.  Yet she was still being pursued.  She turned her head quickly to see how many knights were behind her.  There were three.  She looked forward again and saw a tree branch reaching out for her.  Too late to duck, she was hit in the head and went flying from the horse.  Her helmet went flying as she fell.
         She lay face down on the ground.  Maybe the knights would leave her alone, presuming that she was dead.  However, she cried out in pain as one knight roughly pulled her by the hair and throwing her on the back.
         "What do we have here?' the Red Knight said.  "A female?  It does not matter, a knight is a knight.  I shall kill you with no mercy."
         "Idres," said another knight.  "There are no females in our camp.  Why don't we take her back with us?"
         "That is a good idea," the one called Idres said.  "I am sure the others would appreciate it." He reached down and gently stroked Maria's face.
         With what energy she had left, Maria jumped up and ran.
         “Catch her!”  Idres yelled.  “Do not let her get away.”  The knights chased Maria further into the forest.
         She had an advantage over these knights.  Her chainmail was considerably lighter than the bulky plate armor the Red Knights were wearing.  If she could put some distance between her and them, maybe she could escape from the pursuers.
         “No!” she exclaimed as she came to a halt.  A creek was ahead of her.  The banks were too steep to climb down.  Even if she was able to do so, she would never be able to cross the water.  The weight of her armor would be too heavy for her to swim across.
         She turned to face the advancing knights.  There were three of them, with Idres in the middle.  She could see him grin evilly through his face piece.
         “Nothing to worry about, my lady.  We are not going to hurt you; we just want to have some fun.”
         “I will fight each of you,” Maria warned.  However, Maria was not sure if she would be able to stand up to them.  With her wound hurting, she, possibly, would have been able to take down one knight.
         “Oh, come on now,” Idres spoke sweetly.  “You come with us and nobody will get hurt.  Now, how about it?”
         Idres’ eyes suddenly opened wide.  He pointed to something behind Maria.  The three Red Knights fearfully turned around and fled from the White Knight.
         Maria looked behind her to see what caused the Red Knights to be afraid.  On the other side of the creek was a creature with the lower body of a white horse and the upper body of a man.  Maria, from her knowledge of fantasy books, knew this was a centaur.  The creature smiled shyly at her and started to descend the bank.
         “Maria!” she heard somebody yelling.  The centaur startled and disappeared back into the forest.
         Gregory, a Kingsbane and a friend of Geoffrey quickly approached her.  “Thank goodness I fond you.”
         “Where is Geoffrey?  He was hurt!”
         “I did not know.  We will look for him.  Let’s get back to the camp.”
         “What about the enemy?  Some had chased me, but there are gone.”
         “I saw three running out of the forest.  Shortly after the Death Bearers showed up, both they and the Red Knights rode off, riding in different directions.”
         “Melisande must be in Utofamia.  She created those deformed knights.
         “She may have been in Utofamia for a while, since Shariene was a captive of her.”
         They returned to the camp ground.  The wounded were being tended to; however, Geoffrey was no where in site.  The last of the dead were being carried away.
         “Do not be sad,” Gregory said, as he saw Maria’s eyes start to tear up.  “Bellerophon will take care of them.  Some day we will see them again.”
         Maria saw King Alexander talking to Sir Peter and Sir Michael.  She walked over to them.
         Sir Michael rushed over to her.  “You are wounded.  I do not have any more Conchiva; we used it on the most wounded knights.”
         “It will be fine,” Maria said.  “At least your herb saved many lives; more knights would have been slain if not for Conchiva.”
         King Alexander approached Maria.  “I am certain Melisande is in Utofamia.”
         “I am thinking the same thing,” she agreed.  “There is no doubt about it with the Death Bearers.  Yet, it is possible the Red Knights do not know yet.”
         “I hope so.  We are lost if they join forces.  We will have a better chance of winning if we can fight those two groups separately.  Unfortunately, the Death Bearers have been raised from the dead.  They may not be so easy to kill."
         Princess Astaire came to her father.  “The Red Knights have set up camp three miles from here.”
         “Any sign of the Death Bearers?”
         “No, there is not.”
         “That is good to here.  Check on the knights and get a number of the deaths.”
         “Yes, father.”  The Princess walked off.
         “Is the Princess a warrior?” Maria asked.
         "My goodness no!" King Alexander said, laughing.  "She provides my knights with food, clothes and weapons.  She also searches secretly for information of the Red Knights.  This information aids us in our planning."
         King Alexander left to check on the wounded.  Maria said to Sir Peter, "Geoffrey was wounded in the battle.  Do you have any idea where he is?"
         "Alas, I do not know.  He has not been seen since."
         "He fought bravely."
         "That is true.  He is unafraid of death.  You also fought bravely.  Your helmet was found and we feared the worst;  I shall give them back to you.  Your horse is with the others."
         The conversation between Maria and Sir Peter was interrupted by a commotion in the forest.