Lightstar Family/Xarnelf/Roleplay 11

Second Defeat at Akanos

As Lord Daran stood victorious once more upon the southern battlement, he asked almost mockingly, "Do you even know what you are fighting for?"

Down upon the bloody field, Xarnelf wanted to retort, 'For justice, an ideal that you will never understand nor appreciate!' but the words died in his throat as he tried to choke back a sob caused by the destruction around him.

No longer able to hold back the tears welling up from his heart, the young knight dropped down to his knees and let out a mournful wail of agony at the lives lost seemingly without purpose. In his pain-and-anger-filled mind, he cursed his supposed allies for abandoning them, for being cowards and running away with their tails between their legs. He cursed the walls of Akanos for protecting Lasanar, for standing firm again. He cursed himself for being too weak, for failing his men who trusted him with their lives.

Dejected, Xarnelf slumped forward with his head down. He heard his friend Igna the Drake shout something close by but did not possess the active state of mind to pay any attention. He did not even notice his captain crawling towards him, evidently wounded, until Urjintah grasped him by the shoulders and shook him roughly.

Then, Xarnelf turned his head and gazed dully with weeping eyes at his friend since childhood. He whispered hoarsely, "I failed them, Jint. I failed them all. I should have trained them every day and night like you said. Then they wouldn't have died. I should have...should have..." He broke out with fresh sobs, unable to continue talking.

Smiling softly and sadly, Captain Feralgem gently shushed the young knight. "Shhhh..Shhh...Shh....It was not your fault, Xarne. We could not have predicted that our allies from Svunnetland would desert us in our hour of need. You did your best. We all did.

"Now, we must gather the Farsighters and leave this battlefield behind us. Not all is lost. A quick head count showed me that yes, many of our men have fallen, never to rise again, perhaps over half of our original number, but those that live will be strengthened both in mind and spirit by this taxing ordeal which we have undergone. We shall mourn for the dead in due time, but not now, not here, where all of us remain in mortal danger.

"Come, rise with me and set an example for the men. You are their leader, and in this trying time, they will look to you for encouragement and strength. Be strong, my friend."

Newfound resolution slowly crept its way into Xarnelf's weakened body, and he wiped away his tears. Gradually, he regained enough of his composure to put on a mask of determined resolve and rise to his feet. Supporting his captain with one arm, the knight called out to his men.

"Farsighters, to me! Let's leave this abysmal place!"

The archers rallied to their leader's call, all of them supporting each other as they retreated from the field. Xarnelf did not look back.