Days 117-120 (95th-98th) First battle

Days 117-119 (95th-97th):
We had a small town on those plains before the Baalocs even arrived. Even from a distance, I could tell how shocked they were to see us already there, set up, and ready. We entertained ourselves by watching them. They used the same kind of tent as we saw outside our barriers. It was obvious many had never set up one in their life. Quite a few fell down many times before they finally got it right. Their markers became shrines of a sort as bits of cloth, flowers, and other things were attached to them. Even the battlefield marker was decorated. Brave Baalocs ran across the field and taunt us or throw things at us. These little forays went on until dark. I could only guess that the large fires they made were to intimidate us or impress up. Huge bonfires lit up their camp to the point nearly every move they made was visible from our side.

Day 120 (98th):
Sometime in the night, just before dawn, Leo's mind voice woke us up. Taking up lanterns, we made our way behind our camp to a small valley. Before us was a sight that stole our breath. Dragons filled the area. Almost all of them had a harness set like I had put on Leo. Faeries, elves, dwarfs, and some others I didn't recognize milled around in the semi dark. Leo's roar caused all head to snap in our direction. I felt very open and exposed right then. Falcon stepped forward and invited us to join them. Other than our foot falls and breathing, not a sound was made. Falcon stopped us in the center of them.
"Kayla, raise your hand and show them your set," Falcon gently instructed.
Raising my hand, a cheer erupted. They crowded around us, greeting us warmly. As the sun rose, we returned to the camp, being watched by dragon riders, dragons, and the Raval camp. Back at camp, Droland and the others patiently waited for us to clue them in.
"They are the reinforcements. Should Maalicus try something underhanded, they have our backs. As far as Maalicus knows, Leo is the only dragon we have. Until needed, they will stay out of sight."
Noise erupted. Questions assaulted us. Mostly, it was "How can they hide?"
Motioning for silence, we directed them to the dragons and riders below. Signalling them, poles were raised and fabric fluttered. When fully raised, a spark shot across and everyone vanished. Cloth and poles were also gone. Gasps rippled through the Raval camp. Leo appeared out of nowhere. He got to the camp as a horn sounded from the Baaloc side. A single rider crossed the field and threw down a gauntlet at the edge of our area. Without a word, Droland marched over and picked it up. The rider reined in his horse and galloped back. Armor was donned, weapons assembled, horses saddled, and non-fighting people and supplies moved between the camp and the hidden dragon riders. Within a couple of hours, both sides were lined up along the edges of our camps. From our side, we could see a few war machines peeking through their demon armored heads. Droland's instructions were short and simple.
"Get close fast. They are distance fighters and good archers. Up close, they are poor swordsmen. Unless a lot of magic is used, the Sisters stay out of the fight. Men of Raval, are you ready?!"
Cheers of confirmation rose. There was a similar shout from the other side. Arrows filled the air between us and them. Marching backwards, our army avoided being hit by the first volley, barely. Using that as a signal, Droland ordered the charge. Calvary and infantry ran towards the Baaloc line. As soon as the arrows were away, the Baalocs had begun marching towards us. Not one of them ran. The war machines rumbled slower then the men and we could see bulky catapults being dragged by oxen and men. Alerting Kendar, I motioned if he wanted them destroyed. He used his finger and made a motion across his throat and pointed to Leo.
"Leo, Kendar says for you to take out the war machines."
"With pleasure. They are old wood and should burn easily."
Taking to the air, Leo eyed the four hulks. Angling across the battlefield, he precisely fired on each machine. The flame severed the ropes and harnesses. The oxen ran, free of the weight and scared of all the noise and fire. The men fell. They got up quickly and tried to beat out the fire. As Leo had said, they burned easily as well as quickly. Many of the Baalocs were unaware of this event until one crashed after the rope that held it together burnt through and it fell apart. Seeing all four in flames, their marching faltered. Archers shot another volley, but it was not as precise as the first and arrows flew off at odd angles. Fortunately, they had not aimed accurately and only caught a few at the rear of the advancing Raval. Leo landed back with us.
From the rear of the Baalocs, bolts of magic began shooting towards us and the army. The few that reached us hit our swords and vanished. Some men were hit and went down. Around a dozen more bolts shot out and then the magic stopped. By this time, our men were in the thick of the Baalocs. They were, indeed, poor swordsmen. Riderless horses ran wherever there was room.
A loud boom caught everyone's attention. A plume of flame erupted from the Baaloc camp. Winged things rose out of the fire and circled it. We did not need clerics or the swords to tell us Maalicus had released demons into the fight.
"Sisters, it is time," I told them.
Since Kendar was a little receptive, we alerted him as to what was happening. He signaled Raval to retreat. When there was a gap between our army and the Baalocs, we pushed all of our energy through the swords to add to their's. Power arched over the Raval army and slammed into the Baalocs and the demons. The humans succumbed quickly and began taking each others weapons, hitting each other, flinging off armor to embrace each other, sitting or lying on the grass doing nothing, plus other things. The demons resisted at first, then were overcome. Since the Baalocs were the closest, they were their main focus.
Our army stopped when the Baalocs were first hit. Standing in awe, they witnessed the effects of seven very focused swords. Some became ill at a few of the sights they witnessed. We continued until the waves of power reached the fountain of fire. With one last push, the flame was closed off. A horn sounded from the Baaloc camp. Kendar motioned for us to retract the swords' power. Doing so changed little on the battlefield. Both human and demon were too deep in the effect of the swords and three more horn blows went unnoticed. A loud bang and sparks over their heads finally got their attention. Picking up weapons, armor, and themselves, the Baalocs slowly returned to their camp. The demons vanished. Raval returned to our camp. Unfamiliar with the protocol of battle, we asked Kendar what was going on.
"It is not surrender, like a white flag, but he has indicated he lost this time. Both sides will regroup and, either later today or tomorrow, we go at it again."
We understood. Fortunately, our casualties were light. Most of the wounded were healed and sent to their tents to rest. A rider was employed to ferry the bodies of the few dead back to Raval. Meals were eaten and the battle was reviewed all over camp. Eyes kept focusing on us. I wanted to hide, but Droland and Kendar said us in plain sight was good for moral.
During the afternoon, a Baaloc rider galloped across the battlefield and threw down a scroll. He did not wait for it to be picked up before he turned and galloped back. A soldier brought it to Droland. He read it over silently. He yelled for everyone to assemble down by the dragon riders' invisible pavilion. Once there and silent, Droland began.
"Maalicus sent us this," holding the scroll for all to see, "in which he has written his account of the fight we just had. I wanted everyone to hear his words as he wrote them.
"'Your evil Majesty Droland,
By your foul power, you have routed my holy army. Even the angelic forces of Tharinzar were corrupted by the demonic power of the Sisters and their Abyss-forged swords. The machines your accursed dragon set aflame took years to build and, until today, had never been touched by an enemy. When you are defeated, I will have you, personally, rebuild them and more as long as you are allowed to live.
'These are the new rules of this engagement. Soldiers only, no clerics, wizards, dragons, or Sisters. I will refrain from calling the angelic forces of Tharinzar. All forms of magic; amulets, talismans, enchanted arms and armor, etc. are forbidden from this confrontation. This will prove the might of my holy warriors compared to your lazy, perverted, bastard born lot. We will meet at dawn.
Most blessed and holy,
Maalicus'
"While it is obvious he is mad, we will abide by these rules. Dragon riders, dragons, clerics, wizards, and Sisters, you will stay here, out of sight. Kendar will alert you if you are needed, should he go back on his word. If there is anyway you can observe unseen, use that to also watch. Get yourselves ready, Raval. Dawn is the time of battle."
We walked back towards camp. Many were discussing Maalicus' words and his insanity. Officers were talking strategy. At the camp, I felt a stranger, then another, and another. My sisters confirmed they felt these people, too. We signaled soldiers that strangers were in camp. Fanning out, they began searching and telling other soldiers. The intruders were found in short order. Some were Baaloc soldiers while others were obviously support personnel; servants and slaves. They were rounded up and taken to Droland. Before him, they fell to their knees and begged for sanctuary and asylum. He got them to be silent. They seated themselves on the ground. About fifteen in all, they each told their names, posts, and how horribly Maalicus had treated them. They knew the demons were not angelic in any way. None of these had any of the "holy words" on them anywhere. The highest ranked, a lieutenant, told how he had blamed them for the defeat and forced everyone to drink a tankard of sulfur water to "purify" themselves of the swords' influences. Some did not survive the experience and were give as examples of being too weak in body and spirit. One or two at a time, these people, a few women among them, left and secretly made their way over to us. They pledged themselves to Droland himself and Raval as a whole. They were dismissed to be treated and tended by the clerics. As they were leaving, they saw us seven and flung themselves to the ground, begging for our mercy and pleading with us not to harm them. We helped them up and assured them we would cause them no harm. The looked at where our skin had touched their's and saw no mark or change. The looks of confusion explained it to me.
"Maalicus told you that our touch was deadly, didn't he?" I asked softly.
They confirmed. I took the hands of two of them. They jerked at first, then realized nothing was happening. I smiled at them and they relaxed. I let them go and all of them went to the clerics' tent for treatment. I shook my head sadly at one more of Maalicus' lies.
Night fell without event. A few more entered our camp after dark. By the time I went to sleep, thirty-six in all had left the Baaloc camp and were being checked over by the clerics. Only five had even one mark on the demon language upon them.