It was a long and arduous journey through the wilderness. The vast majority of my legion marched through hills and valleys. The sound of their footsteps echoed like the sounds of rolling thunder. The trampling of my army carved a path through the terrain. It took several weeks until we finally arrived at the appointed meeting place. It was a large open area with small patches of trees and a few large rocks dotted around the area.

  The area was filled with tall grass that grew as high as the shin. The trees were tall and made for good lumber for walls. We picked out the best spot for our camp as we explored, but sure enough our little hunt for real estate was interrupted when our scouts reported sighting the Bull’s army nearby. It wasn’t too far from us, and so before any building could be done, we rounded the legion up and prepared for battle.

  When they came into view, we saw the Bull’s horde. They were great in number, but were a simple sea of barbarians. We could hear their jeers and gruntings from many yards away. They were a rabble, but not one that could easily be dismissed. We’ve faced them before, and those times were brutal. But the Bull had the element of surprise with them. This time, we faced them on the field of battle.

  To their band of mongrels and mixed tribes, our forces were the picture of order. Neat rows of soldiers in uniformed armor, compared to the Bull’s ramshackle equipment. Both humans and ophidians joined our ranks and were as disciplined as possible. Both armies stared at each other, waiting for the word from either side. But instead, the Bull himself rode out to the middle of the field. He was riding a horse of all creatures. In the Blasted lands I had seen many strange and fantastical animals. Even the beast that I rode was like a large feathered bird with taloned fingers and razor sharp teeth. It had been ages since I had seen a regular horse. I swear it made me feel nostalgic.

  I rode to meet with the Bull. Kallista rode with me, joined by Octavian, Brutus and a standard bearer. The Bull sat alone on his horse, and despite the fearsome sight of my war mount, his black steed did not even flinch. At long last, Here we were, face to face with each other, although the Bull hid behind that helmet of his. That great masked visage that was adorned with two large and imposing horns, hence the name. As before I couldn’t see his eyes through the helmet. It was pitch black.

  At long last, I spoke.

  “We meet again, my lord Bull.”

  “I am no “lord”, Hadrian. I have no need for your worthless titles to provoke my status as leader. I simply am.”

  “So this is what has conquered your territories? You’ve clearly brought more than enough.”

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  “I only need a few. Those that do not fight in this battle will act as witnesses. There are many who would love nothing more than to see you die, ‘crucified.’ So many.”

  “I’m sure there are.” I smirked, having known well that my reputation preceded me. “You brought an audience to this battle then? Then I believe I have you outnumbered. I brought more soldiers than you.”

  The Bull tightened his grip on the reins of his mount as his voice roughly emerged from his veiled lips, the sound of his voice against metal adding to that dread he tried to evoke. It would terrify others, but not my most loyal. And not to me.

  “I did not challenge you just to trade words with you, crucified one. We stand here in this field of honor. That is all. As accustomed to the many tribes of these lands, this battle will be done under the eyes of the gods, where we will discuss the terms of this engagement.”

  “Very well then, ‘Bull.’ What are your terms?”

  “We will fight for three days from sunrise to sunset. We’ll only fight with men. No siege weapons. If that sorceress of yours is here, she will not help you with her magic. Mounted cavalry and archers are allowed, but that is it. The majority of these battles will be with the sword, the shield and the spear.”

  “If that's the case…” I said as I made sure my mount didn’t wander off. “Then I assume that if either of us breaks these oaths then, with the entire territory watching us, we will have some sort of punishment.”

  “So you do have a brain…” The Bull grunted out as he peered at me through the blackness of his helmet. “Break any of these terms and you will be known as an untrustworthy dog. None would treat with you, because they would know that you have betrayed your oath before the gods themselves.”

  Those rules applied to the Bull just as much as it did for me. With little choice, I accepted his terms with a nod.

  “And what of assassins? How do I know that you won’t send any in the middle of the night to kill me?”

  “Do not insult me, crucified one. As long as you do not break the rules of our war, so too will I maintain them. I would not kill you through deceit when I can do so with my own strength.”

  There was no lie in his voice. I had become a great challenge for the Bull to overcome. To defeat me would bring him glory unlike he had ever had before. He hadn’t even challenged Lak’Ashara, and yet I had that “honor” if you would describe it as so. As long as I fought an honorable war, so would he.

  “Very well then. We fight for three days. How shall we determine the victor?”

  The bull nodded and raised his hand, slashing it downward in the air. Several slaves with large, heavy baskets on their backs struggled, but moved over to us before they placed the rocks on the ground in a line.

  “On the final day, if you take more land and kill more men than we kill yours, you are victorious. If during these three days either of us is killed, then the one left standing is victorious. We will fight at dawn tomorrow. Prepare yourselves.”

  He reared his horse and then went back to his camp. So too did I turn towards where my legion was setting up camp. Fortunately, my men were well trained and disciplined. Using some nearby trees as lumber, we were able to erect a wall that surrounded the camp just in case the Bull went back on his word.

  I did not believe that the bull would go back on his word, but one can never be too careful. By nightfall the walls were complete, rising high in the air and free from prying eyes.

  I patiently waited for the coming battle. Tending to Abbessa’s and my own needs, I slept with a satisfied smile on my face. I was excited. A proper battle with the bull, rather than the ambush tactics I had seen him use before. I hoped that the Bull was not underestimating me, for I would not make the same mistake for him.