Lords of Freedom 2 - Chapter 2

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Lords of Freedom 2 - Chapter 2 - Training for One

It had been two years since Xan had returned to the Heart Of Freedom with Hon as his fiance. The first month or so had entailed wedding preparations in Cavalon, made possible by a certain corridor of the underground river.

Hon’s mother Loris had remained in Cavalon to assist in planning the wedding but her father Sergio had returned to Merker in the interim, as his duties as governor demanded such.

Sergio returned to Cavalon in plenty of time though, to walk Hon down the aisle. Many friends and extended family had traveled to Cavalon for the event as well, and it had been a magnificent celebration.

As man and wife Xan and Hon enjoyed their amazing home and grounds in the Heart of Freedom, relishing frequent jaunts into the forested hills with Sheba. Solomon, the master teacher, held long discussions with them, delving into the hidden wisdom of the ages. Fredric, their steward, proved himself invaluable, cooking tasty meals and keeping the property trimmed and pruned from one season to the next.

When Thoth summoned Xan, Hon, and Sheba to the Hall of Truth six months ago it was to lay out their next assignment. Xan knew at once that it would be quite different than his previous three missions. This time Hon would accompany Sheba and him to aid a visionary woman by the name of Jayn in her fight for liberty.

They’d begun training for the oncoming mission about six months ago and during that time not only Xan and Hon but Sheba mastered new skills.

Hon often played the role of Jayn in their training, clad in white, charging on horseback into mock battle. Riding came naturally to her but it was new to Xan. He not only had to learn to ride but to fight from horseback.

Hon helped him with the basics, but Jartan was always in charge of the battle sequences. Xan’s major weapon continued to be his staff but learning to wield it skillfully on horseback had taken months.

Hon’s primary weapon was a bow and arrows. Sekhmet presented her with a bow easy to draw that launched its arrows with great power and extended range. A circle sight was mounted on the left side of the bow near the grip and arrows shot hit any target sighted, out to three hundred paces. As well Sekhmet provided a quiver that never emptied of arrows.

It was quite miraculous to Hon and Sekhmet revealed the fact that advanced materials and mechanics, combined with cosmic power were inherent in the bow and quiver’s design. Hon would need the edge the enhanced weapon offered to succeed in the coming mission, according to Sekhmet.

Jartan trained Xan, Hon, and Sheba in battle tactics which involved large numbers of armored infantry and cavalry wielding bows, swords, spears, and shields. The training covered every aspect of troop formation with concentration on attack maneuvers.

The tactical formation practiced most was the flying wedge. It consisted of a triangle formation of cavalry with Hon riding in the center. Day after day, week after week they executed it, usually following the same pattern.

While the front lines engaged the wedge, consisting of 1,200 men on horseback, held back. After the mock battle was well underway the wedge would advance. Their own army would split to allow them through; then the wedge would plunge into the enemy lines.

As the wedge penetrated, 100 men retained their position as a defense around Hon. Three hundred men would charge forward and 400 would fight on each flank. The men who had split to let them through would follow behind and on each flank.

The idea was to create a double inside flank attack splitting the enemy as they punched to the rear of the enemy lines. Occasionally the whole wedge would advance and attack from the outside on the right or left flank.

Sometimes Sheba would lead the wedge and sometimes she would circle around and attack those representing archers who shot from behind enemy lines. Xan always stayed near Hon, using his staff to level anyone who came close.

Early on Xan asked why they were using so many men to constantly guard Hon, and why they had her dressed in white. Jartan explained that Hon was playing Jayn’s role. She was an inspirational leader for her kingdom’s troops, as well as a visionary tactician. When she rode into battle she did so clad in white, astride a magnificent white stallion.

Hon received extra and unusual training directly from Maat who explained that Jayn was brilliant, brave, and filled with pure love. However, she was young, lonely, and guarded. She was especially resistant to any romantic involvement, wary of ignoble intentions when it came to men.

She’d seen and endured many hard things and had seen men at their worst time and again, fighting alongside them for freedom’s sake. Love in a brotherly sense came naturally to her, but romance was another thing entirely.

Maat instructed Hon on how to persuade Jayn to let her guard down and follow her intuition with regard to romantic love. There were many honorable men and one in particular who’d prove himself worthy of her love and trust if she’d but bestow it.

As time passed, Xan and Hon received more and more training in battle tactics and troop formations. Special attention was given to flanking maneuvers, especially the use of envelopes, or encirclement. Even more effort went into increasing the speed of the deadly flying wedge.

Sometimes Sheba would race around the army and attack the archers behind enemy lines. Other times she would lead the wedge all the way through the opposing forces. Of course, the enemy would try to stall, surround, and break the wedge, but that was impossible if the maneuver was executed properly.

Sekhmet and Jartan reinforced time and again that the outcome of every battle had to be based on tactics, not luck. The side with the best-trained fighters, in the right place, doing the most effective things would triumph. Without a superior tactical situation, retreat was the best plan until circumstances changed.

© Copyright 2024 Gene Van Shaar