The Gift of Battle by Morgan Rice Page A

rope.
    The crank wound
furiously the other way, and the iron gate began to shut on itself again,
sealing the harbor just as the last of Erec’s ships passed through.
    There soon came
the sound of ships crunching and breaking, and Godfrey watched in awe as
several Empire ships, right behind Erec, smashed into the iron gates and
cracked into a million pieces. Hundreds of Empire soldiers cried out as their
ships were impaled, falling overboard and into the harbor.
    Godfrey saw the
joy on the faces of Erec and his men as their fleet sailed into the harbor,
safely inside. There came a shout of triumph, and of joy, and Godfrey knew he
had saved them. He felt elated. Finally, for once, he had done something
worthy.
    *
    Erec sailed
through the gates, into the Volusian harbor, and his eyes opened wide in disbelief
to look over and see it was Godfrey turning the crank, a dog at his heels, cutting
the rope, opening those gates and saving their lives. As he severed the rope,
the iron gates slammed close, cutting off the rest of the Empire fleet and
leaving Erec and the others free inside the harbor and waterways of Volusia. He
and all his men let out a cheer, as the Empire ships cracked and splintered
behind them.
    As Erec looked
over at Godfrey, beaming, he saw him flanked by a group of people he did not
recognize, and he felt a renewed sense of optimism. If Gwendolyn’s brother was
here, perhaps she was, too.
    Erec studied the
city with a professional soldier’s eye, and he was confused to see battle
everywhere, a city immersed in chaos, the Knights of the Seven flooding through
the gates and invading what remained of the city, killing the last vestige of
Volusian soldiers, who finally turned and fled. They had been completely
routed. But why? Why would Empire turn on Empire?
    With the
Volusians killed and the city vanquished, horns sounded throughout the city,
and Erec watched the Seven begin to depart en masse, leaving the city gates as
quickly as they had rolled in. The vast army of the Knights of the Seven was
already leaving, heading back out into the desert and leaving behind but a
small force of perhaps a thousand men to kill and loot what remained of the
Volusians. Clearly, Erec realized, this war had never been about occupying
Volusia—but rather about a vendetta. Erec studied city streets, the open
courtyards, and amid the thousands of Volusian corpses, he counted perhaps
several hundred Knights remaining—about the same size force of men he had in
his ships. They were a vicious force of killers—but with their numbers equally
matched and the Volusians dead, Erec knew he at least had a chance.
    As Erec’s ship
touched down at the edge of the harbor, Godfrey and his men throwing up ropes
to help secure them, Erec leapt from the deck, not waiting for the ramp—the
Knights had spotted them and were charging already, and Erec knew there was no
time.
    He landed below
on the golden cobblestone. He was joined by Strom, and all around him his men
did the same, jumping down, lowering the ramps, securing ropes and gathering
their weapons, all hitting the ground running and ready for battle.
    Even as the
Knights charged, Erec scanned the faces, looking everywhere for Gwendolyn,
wanting to free her; but not spotting her, he moved on, charging forward,
leading his men, and bracing himself for battle.
    There came a
tremendous clash as the Knights of the Seven met his men. The clang of armor
rang through the air as Erec led the way, the first in battle, blocking an ax
blow with his shield, raising his sword and slashing, felling the first knight.
    Erec felt ready
for battle, especially after all that at sea. Joined by his brother, his men,
and even Godfrey and the others, he let out a great battle cry as he threw
himself into the thick of the sea of men, prepared to risk it all for freedom.
    The Knights,
well-trained, came at him swinging, and if he were a regular soldier, Erec
surely would have fallen. But Erec was too well-trained