Captain Valerion looked over his assembled....soldiers? No. Many of these had not held a weapon until this day, some already shaking with the weight of the chosen sword or spear or shield. His men? He could see women shuffling in the ragged lines, some wearing light chain mail; others with boiled leather vests and caps. Others, young boys and girls barely able to brag about their sixteenth nameday, struggled to fit into any armor that could be strapped on to them. A few veteran fighters and these homeless wretches were all he had. It would have to be enough. His....

"Friends."

Every eye was upon him. "Friends, yes. And my brothers and sisters too, hear me!" the Captain spoke in his most commanding tone. "Shortly, our enemy must be upon us." A few more began to shake visibly. "They have taken every city and village beyond the Ranges and must needs now flow through this pass to reach the valley beyond. I see the few survivors of their depravities gathered before me today. The fact that you are here, standing with me today, heartens me and strengthens my convictions that our cause is not yet wholly lost!"

"My friends, word has been sent out but we MUST give those in the valley time to flee! There is no help this side of the mountains that will arrive in time. Every hour we stand, every moment we push back, may mean hundreds, perhaps thousands, of lives!" Many faces paled, some shook their heads and wept, but none left. Good, it would do. "These....creatures....fe ed on our fear. They think to drive us like dry leaves before a gale and slaughter those behind us as a show of their terrible strength!"

Valerion drew his blade, it's ringing report as it slid free was like a note of pure defiance, the sound seeming to hang in the air a long moment. "I say we shall feed them their own fear instead!" As those in the crowd gazed at the Captain, many seemed to be waking, as if truly seeing him for the first time. "Remember...." tears now filled Valerions eyes as well but his voice hardened even further. "Remember Longhollow, and the corpses of the children! Remember the charnel pits and the stink of the vile smoke!" Many sobbed at this, but he could see lines tightening, hands gripping, eyes gleaming.

"Remember the screams, and the laughter it brought upon those doomed to relentless massacre!" He said, "remember, and let the anger of the fallen fill you! Let their need for vengeance flow through your hearts until there is naught else!" Tears, but no sobs now. Good. They may not all be soldiers, but a measure of a warrior is not always in his arms and armor. One may be killed, but true defeat lies in the surrender of ones will.

"It is said that when all seems lost, a man may shed all fears and fight as god!" Valerion bent and lifted his shield, a sharp nod of his head throwing down the snarling dragon mask that was his helmets visor. "I mean to show our enemies the truth of those words!" he turned and began a fast pace toward the rapidly darkening pass that was the only clear route through the great mountain range, "WHO WILL GO WITH ME?!" he shouted with all his strength.

The following cries and racing feet of those behind him echoed and challenged that of the rolling thunder overhead. Together, they raced into the darkness to stand and die, unafraid.