The Honor of Liondin's Legion

Rejoice the Honored Dead of Liondon's Legion

Raise Lance! Donn Shield! Bare Sword!
Liondin's legion rides to war.

From the night into dawn's crimson light,
Grim despair as death waits in the valley.
The bloodied plain is the alter of their sacrifice
and for their children each died a hero's ending.

To the last man they fell, breaking the back of their enemy.
Four generations of peace did they gain,
So their grandchildren's grandchildren could rejoice
in a song bird's spring serenity.

They rode through the night and though haste pressured them with full measure, they conserved their energies for what they might find upon the road ahead. So it was, they entered the valley boundaries just as the splinter of dawn sliced through the land below them.

A great host of the enemy sprawled before their despairing sight. Where once streams flowed silver and tall grasses grew green, a muddied wallow and trampled waste lay beneath an enemy plainly seen.

The distant rattling of armor and squeals of skittish horse bespoke the camp coming to life, while in a nearby tree a song bird trilled his spring-time melody. Yet, the sweet casual bird song lent not an ounce of reassurance for the weary night riders. They were greatly out numbered and they all knew right on their side wouldn't counter the might of the force below them.

Liondin turned to his men and saw the grim faces of warriors confronting their last battle. He had no words of assurance for them so he saluted them before raising the horn of war to his lips. As he desended into the valley, being spurred on by the rumble of horsemen galloping behind his lead, the clear pure tone of the horn heralded their charge and announced their claim to the lands upon which these usurpers had dared to trespass.

So went the charge of Liondin the Valiant and the fall to the very last man of his faithful legion. The sacrifice is still sung in the halls of kings and chieftains of the horselands some hundred years later. Though Liondin and his faithful perished, they managed to break the back of the invasion force threatening their homes and families. The enemy was forced to retreat back from where they came. And, peace was bought for future generations.


[I hope to insert image at a later date to complete this piece.]