Trials by Pedro Urvi

Gerart wondered.
    “Nothing good,” said Lomar. “But if the siege towers are coming, the army will be behind them. We have to get ready.”
    “Soldiers! Every one to their posts!” cried Gerart.
    Several of the guards on the stairs ran to relay the orders to the officers of the depleted army who were sheltering under the Great Tower and the buildings beside it, out of reach of the enemy.
    Soon, quickly and in good order, the wall was once again filled with soldiers of Rogdon, who watched the advance of the Norghanians from the ruined battlements with little hope. Gerart saw the two siege towers advancing towards the eastern and western sections of the wall. He sent Longor to deal with the eastern part and he made his way to the western sector, leaving Lomar in charge of the great cauldron of oil above the gate.
    Lomar looked out at the advancing Army, feeling his heart sink. This time they were sending the Invincibles of the Ice. The ten thousand men in white advanced behind the two enormous towers. He sighed and looked around. He could sense the fear in the frightened eyes of the men around him, of all the men along the wall… They knew what was coming; they knew this was the final assault. They were sending the best of the Norghanian Army, their elite, together with their two most powerful assault machines. Everything would be finally decided today, and the men of Rogdon were just beginning to realize the fact.
    Lomar swallowed and felt the relief in his parched throat. Today is the day we either live or die. My heart and my courage shrink at the advance of such an impressive enemy. Somehow, in this crucial moment, after seeing so many of our men die in battle, dying in the midst of this carnage doesn’t seem such a glorious end. It’s true that I’m where I always wanted to be, seeking glory in the field of honor, for Rogdon and for the King. But after witnessing so much death and suffering on these walls I regret having wished for glory and fame in such a frivolous way. I’m proud to be here, to be fighting for my kingdom, and that’s the reason I should have followed, to save my nation, my brothers in arms, the helpless peasants, women and children, from the invading army. Those are noble ideals to pursue, not personal glory, not battle and meaningless bloodshed that serve only to attain empty glory. How wrong are the reasons which guide us in our ignorance, how much stupidity and vain glory there is in the dreams of our youth? Now I see it clearly.
    As he reflected on his reasons for joining the army and the Royal Lancers, the face of his good friend Kendas came to mind. What had become of him? Where would he be now, the enterprising peasant turned Lancer? He had not the slightest doubt that his friend was still alive, and hoped he was in much more favorable circumstances than his own.
    Don’t let anything stop you, Royal Lancer, ride swiftly as the wind, leave all your enemies behind. Fly on the back of your mount, Kendas, fly, and may evil never catch up with you .
    The white tide came up to within two hundred paces of the wall, and unease surfaced among the soldiers of Rogdon. For a moment Lomar thought that several of the men would give in to fear and despair and run away from the wall. While he was pondering on how devastating that would be for general morale, he heard Prince Gerart’s voice thundering:
    “Soldiers of Rogdon! Today we’ll show the world the true mettle of our hearts!”
    He turned his back to the enemy to address his men. “Today we’ll show the invaders that the men of Rogdon don’t know fear, that their spirits are unbreakable! Today we’ll deliver death and destruction on the invader, we won’t fall back a single step, and no enemy of Rogdon will ever set foot upon our nation. Our duty is to defend the Kingdom from invaders and that’s what we’ll do. Not one, not even one will enter this fortress unless it’s feet first! We’ll defend our land to our last breath!”
    The