Shota held his breath as the soldiers charged up the hill. A few brave birds joined him on his perch in a cedar tree, but most of the birds and animals had fled or taken shelter.

All of these, pike men by the huge pointed spears they carried, had the same banner flying from poles attached to their shoulders. They were leaving! Unless this next group no, they had the same banner. Shota squinted to read it. Names and crests were different from regular writing, which was hard ...