Editing The Battle at the Gate of Adagalsack (section)

==The Conference at the Gate==


'''King Julian''' and '''Duke Relmopator''' led the forces of Adagalsack beyond the Great Gate, the wind whistling through the high stone arch as banners waved and troops readied for battle. In the distance, the Azcalan forces assembled—an endless sea of men, beasts, and warriors clad in feathered armor.

'''Duke Fortunadus''', the ever-present tactician, was already consulting his map, his eyes sharp with anticipation.  His Gathering of the Green warriors wandered among the forces of Adagalsack giving kind word, encouragement, and singing battle songs..

The great assembly of troops followed the King and his favorite duke, The south wind.    With them came the East Wind;Trualta,  the Horse Lord and his forces.

Behind Relmopator flew his familiar Bob, the beholder, seeing, and recording everything..  On his lap is the small dog  Kevin, familiar with battle by now.  Behind them the forces of the south.

The Azcalan forces were led by the Great Prince of Zictla, Zictalas, Son of the Azcalan God-Emperor Tonacat.  200,000 feathered infantry.  10,000 of the Chiplix spread out to leap and lead.

Realmer’s eyes narrowed as he observed the Azcalan lines. "They don't fight to conquer, Julian. They fight to... feed something darker. These men, they believe sacrifice is the only currency they have with their gods."

Contact occurred quickly with the forces of Adagalsack outnumbered but far better trained and armored.   Duke Fortunadus mentally contacted Julian and Realmer. " You guys have them pinned.  I’m rounding up some eager soldiers—three thousand bards, practically tripping over themselves to become legends, or at least part of songs. I’ll take the East around your line, Julian. Running room is plentiful, but watch your left—the dottles cavalry is there. They are doing well but that flank won’t hold if the Azcalans strike at full force."*

Julian frowns grimly, "Understood. And if we pull back to the road, we might force them to the Gate. Outnumbered or not, our troops are better seasoned." 

 
As the dottles flanked widely Fort called mentally, “Hey!!, they have something like 100,000  infantry about 5 miles down the Azcalan road!!!

Julian curses. "Alright. Let's do a staged retreat back to the road. See if we can lure them to the gate.  We have better troops.  .Rotating units in the gate we can out last them.”
 
Fort says," They can certainly breed!!!"

Realmer says," they breed heavy to feed the alters."
 
An hour passes as the battle breaks up to follow the Adagalsack troops as they race to a defensive hold at the gate.
 
Once the gate defense was established a 100,000 troop line faced the 350,000 Azcalan invading  force.

King Julian shouts, “We won't give them an inch!!  If I die here, by the teats of the unicorn, the bastards will know they fought a Prince of Amber!  Can't let Eric have all the glory of dying for Amber!!”

Duke fort rolls his eyes, trying to decide what troops he could get here fast enough through magical portals.  

The forces of Adagalsack reposition themselves, marching back to the Great Gate in a disciplined, steady retreat. As the Azcalan army pushes forward, the clash grows fiercer, the air thick with the clamor of swords and the smell of smoke and sweat. Both sides know this is more than a battle; it is a test of wills and legacies.