Choosing Hearts - The Fighter's Passion (Gritty, Explicit Romance Novel) (A Lusty Stand Alone Story) by Diana Quippley Read Free Book Online Page A

everything seemed to be true. He rubbed his eyes and looked
around at the activity all around him. Sleep was not going to be his companion,
at least not until all this was over.
     
    The men had begun
to awaken and gather up their weapons and armor. They had little food to pass
around, so less time was required for eating. Maybe on the way they would find
supplies from the villages and farms that were still left standing. Rogan
exhaled deeply and walked over to the horses. At least the mounts had plenty of
grass and dry oats to eat.
     
    “Get a move on,
men.” Gregory’s resonant voice rang all over the ruins of the Vineberg
farmstead.  “We ride for Orenden in ten minutes. Make haste.”
     
    Rogan heard the
groans and grumbles of the five hundred newly enlisted men he commanded. Most
of them were hurried conscripts - farmers, traders and craftsmen assigned to
defend their homeland. He had enough faith in them, but would not rely on them
to win the war. His highly trained elite force of a hundred warriors, fighters
and swordsmen by profession were the ones he truly relied upon. Strength in
numbers was what the enemy depended on, their army numbering over a thousand
men, yet none in the class and caliber of Rogan’s fighting hundred. He needed
the added five hundred conscripts of make the odds look lesser in favor of the
invaders lest the thousand strong of the enemy find the courage they never had
from seeing that Kirk Falls was defended by only a hundred fighting men.
     
    “All mounted and
ready.” Gregory roared and then sounded the horn. “Ride out, men.”
     
    Rogan kicked his
great black charger and galloped to the front of the tightly packed cavalry. He
took his place at the head of the charge, riding alongside Gregory and Belen.
     
    “On to Orenden.”
The young archer bellowed. “May we rescue every fair lass there this day.”
     
    “And drive the
enemy back to the nether whence they came.” Niles, the bladesman, gave more volume
to the young man’s cry.
     
    The thundering
hooves of over a thousand horses shook the land, kicking up a cloud of dust
into the early dawn. Six hundred riders, well armed and ready for battle and
over four hundred spare mounts moved with the precision of a well trained
cavalry unit, cresting hills and splashing through streams until the farming
settlement of Orenden loomed into view.
     
    Smoke from fires
already lit in several places rose to darken the pale light of dawn as the army
of the enemy dug into position to hold back the inevitable charge. A thousand
paces out, the Duke’s men kicked their mounts into a furious gallop, following
the man who led them in the many battles over the last few days. Rogan’s heart
pounded against his chest, filling his mind as the bloodlust for battle pumped
through his veins.
     
    “Onward, men.” He
roared. “Take no prisoners; give no quarter.”
     
    The clash of metal
on metal echoed deafeningly all around, mingled with the screams of dying and
maimed men. Lethal shafts loosed from recurved bows made from yew whizzed
around them, finding their victims with sickening thuds. Rogan moved through
the enemy ranks like a demon possessed.Only one thought filled his mind: to rid
of all this evil and get back to Alicia. The pendant began to glow brightly
against his chest.
     
    “We have them on
the run… give chase, kill them… kill them all.” Gregory’s frenzied cry soared
over the raucous din all around.
     
    “Show them that
the sons of Kirk Falls are not to be trifled with.” Niles roared alongside the
veteran warrior.
     
    The enemy, what
was left of their vast numbers, retreated back in droves, driven back through
the pass where they had invaded from. The tower was in sight and Rogan knew
that their leader, Nostrazcus, was holding out in the keep of the tower. The
prospect of a long siege aggravated him. He wanted to end this now.
     
    “We cannot breach
the walls of the tower, at least not yet.” Gregory panted,