Battle Standards

(continued from “Chief of Scouts“)

The royal host assembled into ranks at dawn. Teleperien and her bodyguard were at the center of the line. Xenograg’s contingent came just behind. That contingent now numbered twenty-four. Xenograg had accepted six Eldicoreans into temporary service, including—scandalously—a young Eldar male. The elf was given the highest position of honor possible, that of Xenograg’s personal bannerman.

These two dozen may have been the smallest troop unit, but they were also the most colorful. Amaltea stood out prominantly in the gold-trimmed redcoat of the Royal Army of Barsi. Everyone else wears tabards in the distinctive black-sigil-upon-light-blue of Xenodar. The Rellugai have lamellar armor under their tabards; the rest (including Amaltea) have elfin mail.

Owing to the forest terrain, the three battle standards have been mounted on short poles. It is with their heraldry that individuality is indicated. The first standard is the same red as Amaltea’s uniform, bordered in gold. Its device is two golden unicorns facing one another, rampant. Indeed, it is the Royal Standard of Barsi; there are two queens going into battle here this day.

The second standard had not been seen before in Eldicor but was renown all over Rhydin: yellow field, bordered in gold, bearing Xenograg’s sigil in black. The third standard matched the tabards: Xenograg’s sigil in black upon a light blue field bordered in gold. This is Amanda’s, and thus Xenodar’s.

(continues in “The Hard Truth“)