The king mounted his horse and kicked his way out to the front of the line.

The army fell into a hush behind him. When he made a gesture to rise, those who were seated rose to their feet to hear his words.

“Men of Norderland! Here me, men, and see me,” and his words echoed into the coming darkness.

He raised his both hands to the sky and raised his voice “See these hands! These hands have spent a lifetime in toil. For the first dozen years of work, they spent in farming this great land to give forth its abundant harvest.”

A few cheers broke out of the crowd and were quickly hushed.

“The next dozen were spent in training with the greatest knights and warriors in this kingdom’s history. Then in war, smashing its would-be conquerors against the deadly rocks of our shores.”

A roar broke out then, for many of the men there remembered The Last Great War. If not themselves, their fathers and uncles had served.

“And now, men of Norderland, Brothers in Blood. I ask you for your hands.”

Another roar broke forth, longer than the last. King Frey smiled broadly and let it linger for a moment before continuing.

“The enemy before us is an ancient foe of our kind. They know us. They know our strengths. They know our weaknesses. So I say to you now, let your weakness become strength!

For I know what they do not. We possess the greatest strength of all. We fight not for glory or gold or for expanding our borders. Nay, we fight for our Gods. For our family. For our homeland!”

The roar that followed was the loudest I had ever heard before. Unconsciously, I joined my voice with theirs.

The king turned in his saddle and pointed at the walled city before them. “Look at them now, men. They cower in their cage before us. Hear me now. Before this day ends, their towers will burn. Their leaders will bow before us. And they will know then with whom they are at battle.

Let them hear you now. Let them hear the men of Norderland. And let them know that WE – ARE – NOT – AFRAID!”