As the black night gave way to the first gray light of dawn, the exhausted prince was still in his saddle. His horse still trailed behind Ares. Somewhere in the darkness the prince and the royal guardsman exited the forest. In the dim morning light, they found themselves on a country path with wheat fields on either side. They had survived the night, and now the skyline of a country town stood in the distance.
“Do you recognize this place?” the prince asked his riding companion.
“Yes, it is Stanos. I have relatives who live there,” said Ares.
“Stanos?” The prince sat up straight. “That means we are less than an hour’s ride from home.”
As they entered the town, they found it buzzing with activity, even though it was the break of dawn. Some of the townspeople rushed about while others gathered in small circles.
“What’s going on?” Sebastian asked.
“I don’t know.”
“Ares!” a man with a large-brimmed black hat raced up to the guardsman and grabbed his horses’ bridle. “Have you any news of the battle?”
“No, my friend,” Ares dismounted his horse and embraced the man with a firm hug. “When we left the battle, the king’s army was retreating in disarray. I’ve been riding all night to get Prince Sebastian to safety.”
“You must be hungry. Come have some breakfast.”
The prince dropped down from his horse. When his feet hit the ground, he nearly collapsed. His whole body ached from hours of riding.
“Sebastian, this is Gabor. He is the Mayor of Stanos,” Ares gestured to the man in black.
“Come in, come in,” Gabor led the pair into a nearby house. “It’s an honor to have the king’s son in my humble home.”
Sebastian and Ares were offered a seat at a long wooden table while Gabor instructed his housekeeper to bring his guests some food and drink.
When breakfast was served, Sebastian abandoned all etiquette and dug in with a powerful appetite.
“How long do you think the king’s armies can hold out?” Gabor asked?
“It’s hard to say,” Ares responded between bites. “I believe he has called in all of his reserves.”
“It would be a sad day if Trampa prevailed,” Gabor shook his head.
The conversation was interrupted by a forceful knock at the door. Gabor jumped from his seat and yanked the door open. A man with a bushy beard stepped in. He appeared to be a common man, but Sebastian noticed a sword hanging from his belt.
“Sir Mayor, the villagers are gathering for war. They are prepared to fight off the Trampa armies,” said the man with the beard.
The words puzzled the prince, “Why would you go to war and risk your lives?”
“We are willing to fight and die for our king and country,” The man lifted his chin proudly.
Again, the prince was taken aback. He knew the king was admired by many, but he had no idea the people were so loyal to his father.
“How many men?” Ares asked.
“So far five hundred from Stanos. But more are gathering from nearby villages as we speak.”
“Five hundred?” Ares stood from his chair. “That’s noble, but what difference could they possibly make?”
“Come, I will show you,” The bearded man gestured for the three to follow him out the door.
In the town square they were met by a crowd of men bearing all types of weapons, from swords and spears to pitchforks.
“Who will lead us into battle?” one of the villagers shouted.
All eyes turned to the prince and the royal guardsman.
“Ares is an experienced warrior,” Sabastian addressed the crowd. “He can lead you.”
“I’m not a leader of men,” Ares responded. “I’m not who you are looking for.”
The townspeople began to grumble and argue.
“Isn’t there a general or one of the king’s commanders who can do it?” came a shout from the crowd.
“Prince Sabastian, you lead us,” another villager cried out.
The men cheered and raised their weapons. “Long live the king! Long live the king!” they chanted.
“I can’t do that,” Sabastian responded.
“No,” Ares stepped forward. “The prince must not be put in danger. The king gave me orders to protect him from harm.”
“If Trampa defeats the king’s armies and rules the land, what will it matter?”
Again, the crowd erupted with grumbling. But the sound of a galloping horse caught everyone’s attention and the villagers calmed down.
A lone horseman brought his steed to a halt.
“I have come from the battle,” the rider addressed the crowd from his saddle. “The king’s armies are holding back the invaders, but the situation is desperate.”
“Ride back to the king and tell him a citizen army is forming in Stanos,” Ares instructed the messenger. “Tell him we need a commander to lead us.”
After the rider gave his horse a short rest, he galloped off with his message for the king. As the townspeople waited for the reply, more and more men streamed into Stanos from the surrounding area. Before long the army had grown from five hundred to three thousand, and then to five thousand.
Later in the morning a cry went out that the messenger was approaching.
The prince, eager to hear the king’s reply, when out with the others.
“He’s alone,” Ares said with a sigh.
“That’s not good,” Sebastian agreed.
That afternoon, far to the north of Stanos the citizen army lined up for battle. Over ten thousand men prepared to attack the Trampa army from behind. They stayed as quiet as possible, hiding in a wooded area. The weary men who had marched half of the day were allowed no time to rest. As faint noises of the battle reached their ears, the men could be seen tightening their grip on their weapons. With eyes staring forward, they waited for their leader to give the order.
Moments later the silence was broken, “Charge!”
With a deafening battle cry, the makeshift army rushed out of the forest and onto the battlefield. The Trampa commanders, a stone’s throw ahead, were taken by surprise. In the confusion some fled on horseback. The ones who stayed and fought were quickly overrun. The citizen warriors rushed forward, trapping the Trampa army between themselves and the king’s army. Leading the charge was the young prince on his horse with his sword raised.
An hour later the battle was over with the Trampa army defeated. The king’s soldiers and the citizen army gathered in a circle around their victorious king and his son.
“Long live the king! Long live the prince!” they chanted.
***
In the story the king was losing the battle, but we know from the Bible that God will never be defeated.
Read Isaiah 6:8
Are you willing to go and serve the Lord Almighty?
What kept Prince Sebastian from leading the army into battle?
Is there anything holding you back?