After Borna returned to his army, Kristian gave him questionable look. Borna simply turned of from his face, it was not place nor time for things like that. He allready saw English army charging toward them. Since local militia joined them, compared to Borna's host they looked huge.

But Borna was aware that numbers sometimes do not win a battle, and this was one of that "sometimes".

He went to left flank with Bloodless and left center to Jata. Strahimir and Svaboo were on right flank.

Left flank was to go first, and after they get encircled by English armies Jata suposed to break through and combine with Borna. Strahimir and Svaboo should hit after Jata. Army was mostly consisted of heavy infantry and heavy cavalry, without proper bait to offer to English armies so they Borna had to rely on strong and fast impacts.


After English army crossed half of the field, Borna charged with his batalion. Clash was scarry. English armies werent brute and undisciplined like Serbs, they were well disciplined and trained. He was surprised by that fact since he knew nearly half of English army consisted of young knights. He didn't know that English training officers are so good. But there was no time for thinking about that now. English armies didn't have experience this time, and his army is very experienced.


Borna simply over runned some soldier and in same time hitted other with his axe. But he got dismounted very fast after his horse got pike in front of his hand. Borna felt on his back, but got up fast like thunder. He noticed Jata is coming in already, then Borna turned around and realized he got encircled. He didn't expect that to happen so fast. Then he noticed 3 soldiers running straight at him. His battle axe helped him maintain the distance, and also used his shield as weapon. In one spin turn he sliced through all three of them. Then he runned in big mass of people, and hitted what he could. He turned around, and saw that almost nothing left of his battalion, Jata's batalion was down to nothing to, and Strahimir was only few meters away alone. Borna couldn't find Svaboo. He also noticed Croatian young hope Rafay Ahmed lying on ground were Borna felt from his horse. He hoped Rafay didn't get heavier injuries. He saw English knights running toward him. He recognized Quenn of England herself and some unknown well equiped knight. Then fight bettwen three of them started. Borna couldn't handle them both so he focused on unknown knigt. What kind of cavalier he would be if he choosed Quenn to knock out first?

But unknown knight and Quenn Elizabeth quickly nailed him, but in moments before Borna fold, he saw unknown knight falling to...

After resting a while on her boulder and getting her breath back, Bella, mindful that she had neglected her duties long enough, stood up again and looked about the battle-field.

Few English knights had emerged from the fight atop their horse. Many knights had been unhorsed and were now groaning and creaking in their heavy armor, starting to get back up again. But several knights had also been wounded or knocked out in the battle and still lay where they had fallen, though some knights had already started to tend to the wounded. Horses of the fallen knights wandered about the battle field or remained standing besides their masters. Since it was supposed to be a friendly fight, both sides had been instructed to take care not to strike any death blows and Bella hoped that there had indeed been no casualties.

Bella went over to get the efforts of caring for the wounded properly organized and ordered that tents from the pack train should be erected at once and that any wounded or unconscious knights, whether they were English or Croatian, should be carried within. A number of knights, who had been knocked out in the battle, were stirring already and might soon be able to move under their own power, with no more than a shoulder to lean on.

Walking in the direction of the newly erected tents, Bella stopped beside a knight lying on the ground. It was king Borna himself. Bella knelt down beside him and gently shook his shoulder, to determine whether he would wake up by himself or would have to be carried.

Borna felt someone shaking him. Then he felt pain in his left arm. Then he opened his eyes and saw female knight kneeling by his side. While Borna was getting up she was looking at him strangely. Borna wondered why she seemed so familiar to him. Then he speaked to her:


"Thank you my Lady. I am King Borna of Croatia. May I know your precious name so I can pass word to Quenn Elizabeth about your care for me and my knights."

Bella saw king Borna stir and then groggily get to his feet. She rose, too.

"I am Bella, my dear Borna. I am so glad to finally see you with my own eyes and to see that you suffered no serious injury."

Bella smiled at him.

"Your knights fought most bravely in the battle against ours, they are a credit to your training and do your nation proud."

Bella turned their steps towards the nearby wood and a thick clump of holly, that would afford them some privacy from the eyes of the two armies camped on the field.

She smiled at Borna, remembering their previous letters, remembering the day-dreams she had had about the king and remembering that before the battle he had sent her a kiss via the herald.

"You know what you sent me before the battle? Let me now return the favor," Bella said, stepped up to Borna and kissed him.

While at first she had only meant to chastely lay her lips against his, when she felt his arms come around her, her good intentions vanished. She melted into his arms and into the kiss, resenting the two suits of armor that separated them that prevented her from fully enjoying the sensation of his body against hers. She felt his strong arms tighten about her, breathed in his pleasant male scent and wound her own hands in his hair. A fire begun to burn within her. She forgot the passage of time and her surroundings and lost herself fully in the passion of the moment.

But before the flame that had been kindled could flare out of control, a startled blackbird flying scolding by her head broke Bella out of the blazing sensations. She was about to ignore the interruption and return to the kiss, when she heard a voice calling beyond the holly bushes.

"Lady Bella. Lady Beeellaaa!"

Bella gave herself a wrench, broke from the kiss and stepped out of Borna's arms.

Just in time. An English soldier came around the holly bushes.

"My Lady. There you are."

He aimed a bow between the two nobles standing before him, then turned to Bella. "I am instructed to tell you that the army is moving out. The camp is already being broken up, the equipment and our wounded soldiers are being loaded on the supply wagons."

Turning towards Borna he added "The tents where the Croatians were carried will be left behind." Bowing to them again the soldier departed.

Now Bella too could hear the rallying call of the English horns in the distance. Regretfully she turned to Borna. "My dearest heart, it cannot be. My duty calls me, as yours does you. I am an English knight and Chancellor of England, you are the king of Croatia. No matter what our hearts might wish, we cannot be together. So I must bid you farewell, but know I will ever recall this moment we shared with fondness."

So speaking Bella turned to go back to the English army.

Before Borna had chance to say anything, Bella turned around and walked toward wood. Borna followed her. Borna catched up and they were walking side by side in silence that was full of something. Then suddenly Bella stopped and said:

"You know what you sent me before the battle? Let me now return the favor."

She came close to Borna and kissed him. He kissed her back passionately, put his hands around her, enjoyed the moment, moment in which Borna was in condition to tear both his and her armor with his bear hands apart in split of second. Borna felt like time stopped and then he heard someone calling for Bella. First he though its halucination, but when he heard it again, disapointed, he realized it wasnt halucination.

Bella broke out in quick move and almost in same time Borna noticed some soldier coming. It was an English soldier he realized next second. Then Borna tried to imagine what would he do to his soldier if he interupted him now, but this was English soldier unfortunately and Borna somehow saw whats coming next.

He bowed to both of them and told Bella that English army is preparing for moveout. After that he told Borna that his soldiers will remain in raised hospital tents. Borna simply noded with his head. Soldier bowed again and left.
Borna then heard horns.

After Bella speaked what was on her mind Borna simply said:

"As you wish my Lady. I hope I'l have chance to meet you again. Good bye."
He noticed only after that his tone became somehow official and unnaturaly courteous.
But she was right Borna could not deny it...

English troops pilaged and razed province Arlberg and killed many inocent people including woman and children.
Report Borna recieved from lieutenant who retreated to Salzburg was worrying. After exchanging few messages with James it was clear that he lost himself. Borna wondered how can archbishop slay so many woman and children and why, for what? Borna decided to send report of his lieutenant and messages he and James exchanged to all other Catholic nations.


"Kristian please send this report of Lieutenant from Arlberg and also this messages of me and James to all Catholic rullers."

"Yes Your Grace. You intend to fight ?"

"Ofcourse I do you think I will allow lunatic to slay my people? Now go."

"Aye Your Grace."

Armies of Croatia combined with Papal state army were on they way back to Croatia. Reports were showing that large English host plundered Salzburg too. Borna didn't like how situation was developing. He already lost 2 shires and many lifes were lost thanx to madman James. He was ready to put an end to that at all costs. Papal State army and Croatian army were nearly strong as English host, with a litle help of local defense they stood a good chance. Borna hoped he will meet James on battle field. He actually hoped to meet any English man who is following James... but the battle with English host is near... and Borna can't wait for it.

Recapturing Salzburg was easy. Croatian survivors who were left alive were happy to see their King again. Only some small regiment that Englishmans left was overruned unmercifully. For first time in his life Borna did something terible in warfare. He enslaughtered every single English soldier that yielded. Then he ordered butchering of them. Eye for an eye. Then he ordered all body parts to be burned. He only left head of one soldier, putted itt aside with thought that he will need it later.

After butchering was done Borna went to his people to see how they are. They were in terrible condition, hungry, tired, beaten up. Borna even find English tag on neck of one of his peasants. It was literaly burned in his skin.

He decided to use that man as messenger.

Borna then ordered his soldiers to take care of peasants.In that moment small group of armed man came into center of province. They all bowed Borna and one man steped out.

"My King. I am Lieutenant Mario. I led defense of Salzburg. Unfortunately, Lieutenant Boris who fled with dozen of man from Arlberg here was killed in battle. We stood no chance sir. They outnumbered us heavily. We did what we could but..." at that point soldier couldnt talk anymore and started crying."

Borna said:

"Take it easy Lieutenant. I am sure you did all that was in your power to defend our people, and am most sure you fought like true Croatian. Kristian, get this man to warm beds, give them food and water, if there isn't any in vilage granary, give them army suplies. To everyone. Strahimir and Svaboo, you handle all this people. I have something to do."

Borna took head he putted aside and called for man with English tag. They went to Royal tent.

"You will deliver this head to Elizabeth de Lorraine or Chancellor Bella of England, and you will also give this letter to both of them. I'll make two copies of it.You will also show them mark on your neck. To both of them."

"Yes Your Grace. With pride."

Borna then offered man with wine and some meat, and after man started eating, Borna went to write a letter.


To Elizabeth de Lorraine, Quenn of England
To Bella, Chancellor of England and Baronnes of North Heaven


This is the head of defender that was left behind by English host to protect Salzburg. Entire regiment was unfortunately beaten in battle since they refused to yield. I send this head to you to show you that actions of so called Archbishop James wont go unpunished. I will avenge my people. Eye for an eye.

The man who carries this message is prove that there is no so called inqusition, but attack of England on Croatia. Man carries mark of England, and not of Holy Cross that Archbishop is so intensivly fighting for.
It was done by English soldiers, they literaly burned the tag in mans neck. I hope you will enjoy the view.

It also shows that James is taking actions on his own out of pure hate, which makes me wonder, who actually is leader of England? James or "Quenn" Elizabeth de Lorraine?

Well, I am sure you are very happy about what you've done.

Now Bella, you will have chance to see full terror of war, and I fell sorry for you, because this didn't had to happen.

I am sorry.

Borna
King of Croatia
Knez of Arlberg and Salzburg

As per the usual practice of England all English freeholders who had the necessary income were required to get an English longbow. Unfortunately it took years of diligent practice to effectively master the longbow, so that the peasants rarely reached the required level of proficiency - or if they did were at once drafted to join the English militia. Quite a number of peasants also owned pikes, though when irregular practice sessions were called for in the village greens, a number of times peasants had been found to have been misusing a pike for a beanpole and arriving at the practice sessions carrying scythes instead. Still, even poorly practiced, a number of the peasants of every English shire were capable of some basic self defense and of doing some damage to any invaders, should English armies at the time be absent.

This held true even for those peasants, who had only recently been liberated from the yoke of foreign rule and had yet shortly enjoyed the benign rule of Queen Elizabeth de Loraine. Unfortunately they, having started this practice but late in life, rarely were able to gain any proficiency with the English longbow, though there was hope for their children, if they remained under England's protection.

Bella received yet another missive from King Borna of Croatia, which was borne by one of those peasants of Salzburg, born Croatians, who had enjoyed a brief stint of English rule.

Only in the case of the messenger, he had apparently been unable to enjoy it:
"What on earth have you got on your neck there?" Bella asked, eyeing what looked like a fairly fresh burn mark.
The peasant bared his neck and said "King Borna particularly ordered me to show you this. They branded me!"
"Who?"
"The English soldiers!"
"What English soldiers?" Bella asked in confusion. "No common soldiers set out for Croatia, only our noble knights with their squires."
"Well," the peasant finally was forced to admit, "they might as well have been English soldiers - they were born Croatian peasants, subject to King Borna, like myself, but as soon as Salzberg was conquered by the English, those damned collaborators threw in their lot with England - and branded me, when I said I remained loyal to King Borna. And beat up my fellows, when they too refused to bow to the rule of Queen Elizabeth I."
"Then you got your just deserts," Bella said, looking down her nose at the peasant. "Obviously you owed your loyalty to the monarch ruling Salzburg, which was, at the time, Queen Elizabeth I."

Bella shook her head at reading the letter - and even more, when a head of one of the defending peasants of Salzburg was shown to her. This time King Borna had gone too far.

She then dipped her quill in the ink and wrote:

QUOTE:
To King Borna of Croatia,

It is flattering in a way that you mistook the peasants who defended Salzburg against you for English soldiers. But of course they were not soldiers, but only peasants, born Croatians, who enjoyed but a brief stint of English rule - too short unfortunately for us to do much for their training. Now apparently they are once again under your rule - those that survive. I hear that you have slaughtered large numbers of those, who did their duty, gave their loyalty to the monarch who ruled the shire at the time - which was Queen Elizabeth I - and defended the shire against your knights. I have the head of one of those peasants here as proof of your actions, it shall of course be buried with all honors and masses said for the poor soul.

With this barbarity against those poor peasants, who were once your own subjects you have gone too far, you are not the man I took you for. The accusations of atrocities and heresies, which Archbishop James leveled against you, which I formerly doubted, gain more credence, the longer I reflect on your latest actions.

We are indeed at war. Pity not me, pity yourself and your knights, when England catches up with you and you are called upon to answer for your actions.

Bella, Chancellor of England, Baroness of North Haven