Brave Men Die: Part 2 by Dan Adams

itself?’
    ‘Any of the above, Byrn. It’s like we’ve done this so many times in our lives that they all seem to blur into one another.’
    ‘We have only been here twice before, Cronos. The first time as young men, spending our days performing drills and standing watch on the walls. The second time was when those Kyzantine mercenaries got the shits with us. Remember, we wouldn’t let them through into the Kingdom and they tried to overrun us.’
    ‘They weren’t quite expecting us to be actually good at our jobs back then. We held them for a whole three days before their captain ordered the retreat and headed back into the Empire.’
    ‘You know I can still remember the man’s face like it was yesterday,’ Byrn commented.
    ‘Same. There was something about the way he raised his eyebrow and looked down on us in outrage when he learned a seventeen year old had convinced the captain to refuse them entry. What was it, “no respectable man in Murukia would hire them.” Bloody dodgy lot they were.’
    ‘They were good times Cronos.’
    ‘Yes, but it’s different now. There are a lot more of them than there are us.’
    Byrn shot him a look. ‘We don’t know that yet.’
    ‘I feel it in my bones. History won’t repeat itself here like it did back then. This is going to be bloody and a lot of these boys won’t be going home at the end of it.’
    ‘Maybe not, but they know what they signed on for. They will gladly give their lives if we give them the order to stand and fight and hold them off Murukan soil.’
    ‘I don’t doubt that Byrn. I just want to strike the first blow before they can get themselves dug in out there in the valley and we have to spend months getting them out.’
    ‘We still don’t know why Black Claw came under attack. This could have been it, this handful of soldiers acting under orders from a disgruntled Kyzantine, and it ends here with them.’
    ‘That might be the case but I won’t hold my breath in the meantime. Is everything set Byrn?’
    ‘Yes, the Sentinels are on the wall, the Fists are resting, and the Fangs are preparing for a charge.’
    ‘Good … good, I want to be able to go as soon as the scout returns.’
    ‘He still hasn’t yet?’ Byrn asked, a look of worry flashing across his face.
    ‘Speak of the devil,’ Cronos exclaimed, pointing toward a lone figure darting out of the shadows and racing across the open toward the gate.
    ‘Lower a rope,’ Cronos’ voice boomed. He and Byrn raced along the rampart.
    The scout hit the wall running, grasped the rope and heaved himself up. Cronos reached out and grabbed him when he was within arm’s reach and pulled him over the top of the wall.
    Sweat dripped from the man’s face as he gulped in air. His eyes were open wide and the whites of them gave away his growing concern. His lips were parted and dry, waiting for the signal to report. Cronos indicated he should get on with it.
    ‘Sir, there is a small detachment camped just around the bend, about a hundred and fifty soldiers. I climbed the slopes to get a better angle to look into the valley but I could see no one there.’
    ‘Surely they know that we that we have retaken the gate. Perhaps this is just the advance force?’ asked Cronos as he stroked his beard.
    ‘That’s likely. If we push through now while the sun still shines across Cerebus Valley we could hold them at Iron Talon Gate,’ Byrn suggested. ‘If this really is an invasion and not a disgruntled neighbour pissing on the fence.’
    Cronos paced along the rampart in tight circles. He raised his head and looked for the sun. The afternoon would last for another couple of hours and the summer heat was still rising.
    ‘Let’s go. I want the Fists to take out the detachment. The Fangs will overrun those that flee and press on into the valley. Leave half the Sentinels to guard the gate and the wounded, the rest will follow. We march upon Iron Talon by nightfall.’
    Pollux marched through the gate next