Tain, and the Defeat of the Chekor

Following the death of King Urmeisandor, his son Trilothan ascended to the throne. During this time, the Chekor raids became both bolder and more successful. The people abandoned the western towns, and the surrounding country became barren and deserted. After five years, Alreith was swollen with refugees, and it became clear that next year the Chekov's rapine would reach the royal city itself.

Trilothan realised that only a bold action could protect his people. He spent many days in council with his ministers and advisors. Tain formulated the plan they finally adopted. Trilothan introduced just one change. Where Tain had proposed leading the military forces, Trilothan took that position himself, leaving his friend in charge of the civil population.

As soon as the last rains of winter had passed, Tain and Trilothan set to work. The last people of the west retreated to Alreith, and camped in the hills east of the city. Damage caused by the winter floods remained unrepaired. Indeed, certain bridges that had survived intact were deliberately pulled down or weakened. Trilothan blocked some approaches to the Alreith valley with rock slides. He established hidden caches of weapons, food, and fortified horse corrals at strategic positions throughout the western kingdom.

By the time that the flowers bloomed in the meadows, the Alre river had fallen to a slow trickle. The southern lands were too dry for crop or beast, and those people abandoned their land, further swelling Alreith's eastern encampments. Trilothan and Tain, along with their chief followers, made great sacrifices to Bern and to Alre. Trilothan then sacrificed seven fleet white horses to Hicos, while Tain made his devotions to Disopendor. The friends embraced before Tain left to take command of the encampment. Trilothan along with 300 of the finest horsemen in his command rode west to meet the Chekor.

The horde had already crossed the furthest border, and moved swiftly through the landscape they had already devastated. Trilothan first assaulted the enemy as they passed the deserted walls of Cotnu. The Chekor out-numbered the king's party by over twenty-fold. Not even the noblest soldier could hope to prevail in a straight fight. Instead, Trilothan harassed the horde's flanks, inflicting small victories at little risk to his own men. The Chekor carried few supplies, living off the land like locusts. So, Trilothan fired forests, grasslands, and the few fields that had been planted, and poisoned water sources.

Slowly, the Chekor were steered north, to the hills where the roads had been blocked. For five days, the horde hunted for a route through to Alreith, but on the sixth they finally approached the royal city. Here, Trilothan at last turned to face the enemy directly. His efforts had reduced but not stopped the horde, as he expected. The royal forces were still out-numbered ten-fold. With holy words painted on their limbs, they prepared to sell the walls dearly. As night fell, the assault began. Fire fell into the city, stone smacked the stone of the wall, and a forest of ladders topped the defences. Throughout the night, the precarious balance was held, but before noon, the invaders gained the goat gate, and threw it wide.

Knowing the city was lost, Trilothan issued his final order, and plunged into the fray. The royal standard was carried to the highest roof, and fired.

Alreith was lost, but the delay was enough. To the east, Tain accompanied the last of Trilothan's people to enter the mountain passes. Seeing the standard blaze, he knew the city was lost, and his childhood friend was dead. Signalling Alrei priests, Tain unleashed his vengeance.

The Chekor had gained the royal city, only to find it empty, stripped. Their confusion was doubled when a clap of thunder echoed down the valley, though the sky was clear. Once, twice, thrice the valley resounded, then a terrible silence. The Chekor chiefs struggled to control their superstitious men, as the most cowardly threatened to provoke a general rout. Too late, they began their retreat, for now Alre reclaimed his own. A wall of water, fully one hundred yards high rushed down the valley, drowning the devastated city. The flower of Chekor manhood, already starving and poisoned, was lost beneath the flood. Their strength was broken for a generation or more.

From the high pass, Tain watched in sadness and satisfaction. Turning his back on the devastation, he walked into the mountains, the last to leave his ancestral home and joined the exodus east.