Chapter 4
The battle began in a meadow where the Imperial troops rushed towards some Bravian pickets they saw in the forests ahead, not even attempting to parlay. Once Natonito had lured them, the fighting began in earnest. The traps that Natonito had laid in the forest were put to good use, causing much injury and death to the Imperial troops who foolishly rushed in, thinking Natonito to be letting his guard down. Little did they know that the suspicious Natonito never let his guard down, and was constantly on the lookout for treachery in those around him, unless they showed themselves worthy of his love and trust, in which case he still kept an eye on them anyway.
�Look how these Bravians fight, like cowards,� one Imperial soldier said to another.
�Yes, but we will see them in the light of day yet and be victors,� another soldier replied.
The battle raged on for hours, as fire engulfed the forest where the Imperial troops were and the dry Bravian underbrush in the woods burned like matches, treating the Imperial troops within like fuel, killing those left inside through the heat of the blast, or by smoke inhalation, until only charcoal and vague memories of a human form remained for those inside. But running was no help. The death from hot lead was no more merciful than the death from hot smoke and hot flame.
�How is the battle going?� Natonito said to his forward troops as the battle raged.
�The battle is going well,� the troops replied. �The Imperial troops have been trapped and are being burned.�
�Excellent. That will teach the Empire not to underestimate provincials again. Without the power of the common folk, no government can long endure,� Natonito said. �I hope we never forget that as we build on top of the ashes.�
�Speaking of ashes, there are a lot of them around here,� a sentry said. �Let�s move further into the forest.�
�I agree, let�s not let this smoke which smothers our enemy be our undoing,� Natonito said as the troops went to an island after wading through the swamp, avoiding the snapping turtles and snakes and alligators.
�All hands accounted for,� the sentry said. �We made it alright.�
�Let�s join the main body of troops now,� Natonito said. �The battle is there now.�
�Alright, you heard the man,� his aide-de-camp said.
�Yeah,� the troops said. �Sic semper tyrannis.�
�Semper vigilante,� Natonito replied. His troops began marching and cheered him on.
The Imperial troops, now frightened for their lives tried to run to where the fight began, out of the swamps where they had been led into a trap by the fierce Duke of the house of Albright, but there they saw they were surrounded. They were cut down by rifles, as the bullets whizzed by those before stinging like the mosquitoes in the swamps to their unfortunate victims.
�Is there any other way out of this place?� the troops said to each other in shocked disbelief. All around them were rag tag troops with shotguns and rifles from home.
�This is an embarrassment,� the Imperial commander said. �I would rather have never been born than to lose to Secfenian peasants.�
�Surrender or die,� they heard the arrogant voice of Oen Bravia.
�Will you have no mercy on us?� the Imperial commander said.
�You expect mercy? This is war. You have said that our farms and homes are fair game for you to burn, our wives fair game for you to rape and murder. You will get no mercy from us,� Duke Van Larken said. �War is hell, and you cannot refine it.�
�Your arrogance led you into war with a people determined to be free, and you expect us to be merciful to you because you bit off more than you could chew?� Oen Bravia said.
�Surrender, men, before these provincials bore us with political science and history,� the Imperial commander said to his troops.
The troops put down their weapons and marched out to the Bravian troops, who tied their hands above their heads and walked them in groups of fifty to the town of Cork. The troops, and those people who were watching the battle, cheered on the Bravian soldiers who had one this great victory against the arrogant empire.
�Do you want any water?� Daniel said to the troops as they got to Cork.
�Sure, boy, where is the town well?� Duke Don asked.
�Follow me, sir,� Daniel replied. The men of Bravia who had so recently won at arms sat around impromptu campfires and drank water and ate bread and meat.
�Thank you, kid,� the soldiers told their young guide.
�Just doing what I can,� Daniel said with a smile.
�A brave little guy, trying to help out his people,� Duke Van Larken said.
�Why do you say that?� Daniel asked.
�I saw you bring supplies to my troops in the fight. There aren�t too many people I have ever seen with as many freckles under a disheveled mat of red-blond hair as you,� Duke Van Larken replied. Daniel smiled a bright, angelic grin.
�What is your name, boy?� Duke Van Larken asked.
�My name is Daniel Miller,� Daniel replied with an unassuming smile.
�We have won a great victory today,� Oen Bravia said.
�I�m so glad you�re safe and sound,� Karen Albright-Bravia said as she walked out. �My love!� She ran and kissed her husband.
�Daddy, you�re alright,� Henry said.
�Yes, son, we won,� Oen said.
�I know. Daniel and I were watching the battle, and bringing supplies from Cork to the battle,� Henry said.
�Who is Daniel?� Oen said.
�Daniel Miller is the kid I�ve been spending the whole summer with,� Henry said. �I never let him know who I was, but his family is who we stayed with.�
�Oh, yes, you passed as a cousin of his or something?� Oen said.
�Yes, I passed as the cousin of the lady of the house, a single mother,� Karen said. �I suppose we will have to rebuild our house, but that will not take too long, right?�
�No, it shouldn�t take long at all,� Oen said. �After all, with the ransom we will get from these troops from the Empire, Bravia should be the wealthiest part of Secfenia.�
�My brother�s plan worked?� Karen asked.
�Perfectly. It could not have worked any better had he written his plan as a story himself,� Oen said. �I don�t think Natonito is much of a fiction writer, anyway.�
�So, what do we do now?� Henry asked.
�We go home, son, and then we try to build up a Bravian state,� Oen said.
�What about the people?� Henry said.
�What about them,� Oen said.
�It was not the dukes that won this battle,� Henry said.
�What do you mean?� Oen said.
�The boy is right,� Natonito said, walking up. �I came up with the plan, and the rest of the dukes, except that traitor, helped out, but this war was won by the people. We cannot forget them.�
�What is next here?� Oen said.
�We will have to make a constitution for the nation of Bravia, if we have that much time,� Natonito said.
�What do you mean?� Oen asked.
�Our example will, hopefully, inspire the rest of the Secfenian people. If they now win their independence, I would rather join with them than be off alone,� Natonito said.
�Really?� Oen said.
�Yes, I think he is serious, dear,� Karen said. �Our brother is not quite the provincial that people think he is.�
�Yes, Secfenia will only be free when it is strong and unified, and a government for and by the people. If we must have an empire for a while in Secfenia, so be it, but the time will come when people will rule for themselves,� Natonito said.
�And what if they are not wise in ruling,� Oen said.
�They will only have themselves to blame,� Natonito said. �Such is justice. We are all responsible for our actions, and the fact that we are not always wise does not mean that we cannot be free, for which dictator and which tyrant could claim great wisdom for himself. We are all human beings, struggling with the same weaknesses of character, and though some are wiser than others, and some richer, it is up to us who are wise and blessed by birth to show we deserve the trust of the people. We cannot claim rule by divine right or even by birthright, but by our own skill at leading and our own love for the people who we serve. The people are not here to serve us, but we lead through serving them.�
�I cannot believe you,� Oen said. �You are no aristocrat. Would you have us be ruled by commoners?�
�What is wrong with commoners. Ability is not limited to the inbred aristocracy, or to their cronies,� Natonito said. �Seeing this rebellion has taught me a lot of lessons about government. I hope I get the chance to put them into practice.�
�I do not understand you,� Oen said. �You lead a great rebellion and you then start figuring out ways to give the power away to peasants and merchants?�
�Yes. In case you have not so quickly forgotten, it was they who rose up for their freedom, and they should not be shoved aside like dogs seeking food at the table other than the scraps left over after the family has had their fill,� Natonito said sternly. �Never forget your fiduciary concern to the people, no matter how rich or mighty you are, you are no more than a man like the lowest of the farm laborers in your estates.�
�I wonder how Russville goes?� Oen said, changing the subject.
�I do not know,� Natonito replied honestly.
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