I know it is Saturday, but this is the makeup post for missing Tuesday. I have to say I rather liked it. I really like the set up more than anything else. If I am going to do something with this, which I might, I’d need to figure out a bit more about why everyone wants to go a conquering. it could be fun. But here is the makeup writing prompt, Happy Saturday and I hope you have a fantastic weekend.
Friday, April 9th: He was destined to go down in history as a flamboyant failure.
He was destined to go down in history as a flamboyant failure. Others tried to seize power through strength of arms. They attacked and when their outright assault on the crown failed, they faded way. Their names were copied from their banners and placed on a list for future school children to learn. At best some demanding instructor might require numbers to go along with the names. Ethelbart brought 20,000 men, Galtorous came with 50, 000 strong, Barron Luschesen only arrived with 15,000 but lasted twice as long in the field as the others.
It was the only notable achievement in the lot. All of these would be usurpers used the same tactics. In study the only difference was in their supplies. All came and expected they would have to wait out some sort of siege. The Barron may have come with fewer men but his supply wagons were larger and this so was his siege.
At best it was an illustration of the adage ‘an army marches on its stomach.’ The castle offered no direct resistance; it simply waited out the invaders. It was built in such a way as to contain the pass between the two maintains within it walls. Much of the castle was built inside the mountains to either side. The mountains themselves stretched across most of the kingdom. Getting around them was impossible. To invade one had to go through the castle. On the other side, people livestock and agricultural fields remained untouched. Life in the castle continued as normal throughout the generations of sieges. It became an annual event. Each year more greedy kinds and nobles would arrive, attempting to gather the wealth of the Kingdom for themselves. Each year they stayed for a time and then trudged home. Inside the castle spaces were erected for those who wanted to watch the new comers. At first it was a sport, but as watching the invaders parade and posture grew boring the local populace began to take bets on the duration of the siege.
It was in the eighty second year of the sieges that he arrived. It was clear right away that he would be something to see. There were soldiers of course, but the tents were not the sturdy canvas the people came to expect. They were multicolored and trailed ribbons and feathers. When the camp was set up dancers and acrobats could be seen performing as though the army encampment was some sort of festival.
Word soon spread that this was trickery. And in truth the people didn’t need the warning. They could see the soldiers, still armed waiting in the shadows. Looks through the spyglass proved they were not relaxing and watching the entertainment. The entertainment was a lure, bait to draw them out of the castle and into the field where the invaders and not the defenders would have the advantage.
Ten til Midnight 