by A. J. Walker
As dawn arrived, he awoke to the sound of the elves and men gearing up for another day of battle. Gazing down to see that the orc army had lined its forces along the edge of trees, Theodor was surprised to see humans mixed in their ranks. He also noticed several large, beastly creatures towering above the orcs and humans. The tall, dark beasts resembled the stance of a human or elf. Their skin was dark and covered in black fur. They were creatures he’d only heard talk of before.
“Looks like we’re in for a good fight today,” Ivan said coming to stand alongside Theodor.
“Yeah. I see they’ve gathered some kurr,” he said, pointing toward the large beasts among the enemy lines.
“I hate kurr,” Ivan said, spitting at the mention of their race. “Half elf and half fairnheir.”
“What’s a fairnheir?” Theodor asked.
“The fairnheir are giant hounds that roam the Eastland Territories. Long ago, an elf king thought he could form a new race, superior to the elves. They’d have the wisdom and intelligence of an elf combined with the physical dominance of the fairnheir. Needless to say, his experiments didn’t go as well as he’d hoped. They turned on him and killed him and his family before racing off to the Eastland Territory. Now they’re wild creatures that lack the intelligence the elf king hoped they’d obtain. Merglan has been the first person in history to reason with the kurr and band a group of them to fight for his cause.” Ivan pointed to a kurr standing larger than the others among them, “do you see that one in the middle, wearing armor.”
Theodor nodded.
“That’s Thargon, their leader. He’s the one who convinced the members of the kurr race to fight for Merglan. I’d try to steer clear of him during the fighting.”
Theodor spent the next hour watching the orc, human, and several kurr stand steady in their attacking formations. Ivan and Theodor’s plan was to wait until they charged up the hill toward them. From their vantage point, they could pummel them with as many arrows as possible before charging down to meet them.
Ivan stood by Jazzmaryth as Theodor waited for the enemy to make the first move.
“What are they waiting for?” Theodor asked, concerned they hadn’t attacked yet.
Suddenly Ivan’s focus shifted elsewhere. He sensed a second threat approaching. Turning to Theodor he said, “They're waiting for dragons. You’ll have to lead the charge while I’m gone.”
Theodor nodded, wishing Ivan and his dragon could lead them into battle. He watched as his friend mounted Jazzmaryth and flew out over the forest. Moments later, Theodor saw the bright lights of dragon flame in the distance.
Within minutes of Ivan and his dragon leaving, the orc army began their march upslope. It didn’t take long before they came within range of the archers. Theodor gave the command to nock their arrows. Motioning his sword in a vertical slash downward, he shouted, “Loose!” The arrows rained down on the enemy by the hundreds. He continued commanding the archers as they fired several more times at the advancing force. The hill slowed the enemy as they advanced, and Theodor was able to bring down more of the army than would’ve been possible if they’d still been fighting in the forest.
When the enemy drew near, Theodor led the charge from the safety of their position. Firing arrows freely as they rode, the humans, elves, orc, and kurr fell in great numbers as the two armies collided. As the battle raged, Theodor and his troop fought fiercely to drive the enemy back. He heeded Ivan’s warning and positioned himself clear of the armored kurr when they rode into their ranks.
Ivan battled the dragons in the distance for most of the day before he returned. The combined armies of elf and cavalry were able to hold the enemy at bay, unrelenting in their fight. Upon Ivan’s return, the enemy retreated back down the hill and into the forest. In a fiery inferno, Jazzmaryth set the borders of the forest ablaze before returning to their post atop at the base of the mountain. Theodor and his men gathered arrows as they marched back up the hill to their stronghold.
While keeping watch that evening, Theodor asked Ivan, “Are there more dragon riders who could help us?”
“There are two more, who still have dragons,” Ivan told him. “They’re battling Merglan as we speak on the Eastland Mountain front. He’s got a large army of orcs and men fighting the dwarves and he’s battling the two riders. If he gets past them, he’ll be heading this way to join forces with this army. From here they’ll march on the Enlightened Forest. The old magic built into the Enlightened Forest has deterred Merglan from attacking it thus far. This is the closest he’s come to breaking through the elven forces. If he does he might try to force his way past the magic protecting the elven city.”
“We’d better squash his army soon then, so you can get these elves to the Eastland Front,” Theodor said.
“You wouldn’t come with?” Ivan asked, hearing Theodor’s emphasis on you.
“This fighting has me thinking. I’ve put in my fair share of time. I only needed two years of service before my enrollment ended. I’ve given the nations of humanity more than that. I’ll fight to stop Merglan’s forces here, and if we succeed, I’ll be retiring.”
“Where will you go?” Ivan asked.
“I liked Westland,” Theodor said.
“Oh.”
“The Grandwood area was particularly nice. Has good soil for crops, and it’s by the ocean.”
“Good fishing there?” Ivan asked, raising an eyebrow.
Theodor smiled and nodded, “Yeah; best I’ve seen.”
“Good,” Ivan said. “Maybe Hannah and I will come and visit you once our little tike is old enough to travel.”
Theodor hesitated at the mention of Ivan’s wife’s name, “Did you say Hannah?”
“Yeah,” Ivan said. “My wife’s name is Hannah.”
“My sister’s name is Hannah.”
Ivan smiled, “You don’t think there’s more than one Hannah in this world, do you?”
“The day we graduated training, I saw her step out of that carriage. I thought my mind was playing tricks on me, but that was her, wasn’t it?”
Ivan squinted at Theodor, “I think you may be mistaken.”
Theodor stared blankly into the darkness as he recalled what his father had said about the man who swept his older sister away from their family. “That means you’re...” he trailed off. “Royalty,” he said flatly, staring at Ivan in a new light.
Ivan looked to make sure there wasn’t anyone around that could hear what he’d said. He held his index finger to his pursed lips, “Shhh. Keep it down.”
Theodor’s brow rose as he caught Ivan in a lie. “A-ha,” he said in a less quiet tone than he meant.
Motioning with his hands for him to keep his voice down, Ivan whispered, “Alright, alright. You figured it out.”
“I knew it,” Theodor whispered sharply.
“Oh, you knew who I was the whole time?” Ivan asked sarcastically.
Theodor looked down at his feet, “Well, no. But I knew that was my sister who got into the carriage with you. How is she? I can’t believe she’s married to you. And pregnant. That means, I’m going to be an uncle,” Theodor smiled brightly. “I’ve always wanted to be a fun uncle.” He furrowed his brow again and said, “Hold on, so you’re actually royalty?”
Ivan nodded slowly, “Yes. And Hannah is doing fine. She’s safe back in Cedarbridge. The elves are making sure she’s cared for.”
“So how royal are you?” Theodor asked. He knew Ivan would still be the same person he’d always known, no matter how wealthy and prestigious his family was.
“It’s not safe to talk about it here. Merglan could be listening. You already know more than you should,” Ivan said.
“How could he hear us if he’s all the way over in Eastland?” Theodor asked.
“You don’t know what he’s capable of. Know that he’s made threats to kill everyone I hold dear. If you want what’s best for your sister and nephew, you’ll keep this to yourself and not speak of it anymore.
; “Okay,” Theodor said, raising his hands innocently. “But you’ll still have to come and visit me in Grandwood once this is all over.”
Ivan paused a moment, then nodded, “Of course we’ll come to visit. As soon as it’s safe.”
“The commute will be much faster with a dragon,” Theodor said with a smile.
“I can count on you to keep this between us, right?” Ivan asked, bringing the seriousness of his tone to Theodor’s attention.
“By my honor,” Theodor replied, holding his hand over his heart.
“Good,” Ivan said, returning his gaze back to the smoldering tree line.
Later that night, Theodor lay on his back looking up at the stars, thinking about his friend Ivan and which royal family he might belong to. His sister, who he hadn’t seen since she ran off to marry Ivan, bore his child. No doubt their child and future children would grow to be of great importance in the nations of humanity. He went to sleep wondering what their life would be like once the war was over.
Chapter Ten
─
Theodor and The Kurr
THEODOR LEANED OVER HIS horse’s neck, its nostrils flared as the mare inhaled in short breaths that quickened in intensity as she carried him down the open slope. He’d allowed the enemy forces to advance nearly halfway up the hill before leading his cavalry to meet them. Theodor gripped the two-handed hilt of his sword tightly. In the moments just before his horse careened through the advancing enemy’s front lines, he brought his freshly sharpened blade down on the heads of his muddled foes. Plowing headlong into their monstrous enemies, Theodor instantly became lost amidst the chaos of battle. He hacked and slashed as the blur of gray orcs, armored elves, and crimson cloaks of his troop became tangled in battle. Theodor’s eyes caught a glimpse of something large charging toward him and he realized he’d pointed his mare straight for a large kurr, clad in dark armor. Taking a moment to identify the adversary, Theodor recognized him by the bulk and blood-stained battle axe.
Thargon, he thought as he stared down the beast.
Theodor and Thargon’s gaze met, staring at each other briefly before Thargon lifted his large head and let out a monstrous growl. Keeping an eye fixed on him, Theodor hacked at several orcs while Thargon dispatched two elves with one cleave of his axe. With the path between them cleared, Thargon bore his yellow, fanged teeth and began to charge directly at Theodor. Theodor drew in a deep breath, readying himself for the attack.
Spurring his horse forward, Theodor raised his shield and pointed the tip of his blade at the hulking kurr. Just before horse and kurr met, Thargon lunged to one side, slashing out at Theodor with his mighty axe. Theodor countered, moving a hair’s breadth away from Thargon’s deadly swing while simultaneously piercing the point of his sword toward the beast as he rode past. Theodor’s blade pierced through and cut the flesh between Thargon’s armor-plated shoulder. The downward momentum of the kurr’s axe drove deep into the rear quarter of Theodor’s mare. The crippling blow sent her slumping to the side.
Theodor felt his horse’s rear slant sideways as he leaned away from the bulk of the passing beast. As the mare fell, Theodor quickly loosened his feet from the stirrups and pushed himself out of the saddle, narrowly escaping the crushing weight of the horse. He slammed into the ground with the middle of his back making first contact. His helmed head came next, bouncing hard against the field as he rolled downslope in a blur. The wounded horse rolled next to him, narrowly missing him as they tumbled violently across the battlefield.
Coming to an abrupt stop, Theodor lay sprawled on an open patch of grass amidst the chaos. He gasped for air as his lungs struggled to gather the breath he’d lost during the tumble. With his head ringing, Theodor managed to find his strength and rose to his feet. At his side, he noticed the writhing movements of his maimed horse. It struggled to rise on all fours, but the hack from Thargon’s axe crippled the mare and she collapsed with each attempt. With the gaping wound to its rear quarters, Theodor knew she couldn’t survive. In that moment, surrounded by brawling men, elves, orcs and kurr, he made a decision that would haunt him for the rest of his life. Theodor placed his knee on the mare’s neck and leaned hard to her, pressuring the horse to remain still. He grabbed his sword from the grass at her side and drove it deep into his steed’s heart, ending her suffering.
As Theodor pulled the blade out from his trusty mare, he brought his gaze up to see Thargon cutting down elves who’d been following Theodor’s charge. Despite their speed, the elves were unable to outfox the kurr and they fell under the powerful blows of his axe. Thargon was on the warpath and Theodor was his target. As the beast advanced, Theodor found his shield and quickly raised it. He steadied his blade and planted his feet firmly against the slope as he readied himself for the raging kurr.
If I’m going to die today, it’ll be with a blade in my hand and my head held high, he thought as the large beast lumbered nearer.
Thargon’s axe whistled as it swung down onto his shield, beginning the deadly dance of single combat. Blocking the wild swings of Thargon’s axe with his shield and sword, Theodor held his ground against the kurr. Rolling to one side, Theodor escaped from under the vertical swinging of Thargon’s axe. The beast heaved his axe deep into the ground as Theodor rolled into a crouch at his side. With his axe embedded in the grassy field, the kurr left an opening along his left flank. Taking advantage of the opportunity, Theodor slashed out and his sword cut deep into the meaty kurr flesh. Thargon bellowed as he wrenched his axe from the ground and swung it side-hand, ramming the flat of it into Theodor’s raised shield. The blow forced him off his feet and sent him several yards through the air before he returned to the ground.
Theodor slid on his side for a moment but managed to get his feet under him before losing control. He watched as Thargon’s hand clutched where Theodor’s sword had pierced his side. A steady stream of dark blood oozed out from between his black fingers. Smearing the blood across his chestplate, Thargon whipped his hand clean and resumed his grip on the shaft of his battle axe. He seemed to be unfazed by the wound and his tenacity struck fear into Theodor’s heart.
He didn’t allow the beast to make the first move. Theodor sprang into action and charged at Thargon with renewed determination. Thargon rushed to block Theodor’s sword as he now switched into a defensive stance. Moving with a speed he’d never been able to achieve before, Theodor realized Thargon was taking steps backward as Theodor peppered him with blows. He sent a powerful swing at the end of a lightning-fast sequence of combination strikes that knocked Thargon’s axe to the side and exposed his chest. Theodor kicked him hard with the flat of his boot, sending him toppling over backward. Theodor pounced on him like a puma and punched the base of his shield down hard into Thargon’s thick skull. Fueled by the opportunity to best the beast, Theodor battered the kurr’s mangled face with the edge of his shield several more times in quick succession before Thargon rolled him off to one side.
Exhausted, but still pulsing with adrenaline, Theodor sprang to his feet and blocked the heavy retaliating swings from Thargon’s axe. His arm went numb from the beating on his thick oak shield. He raised it again to block yet another blow and felt the wood shield give way with a loud crack. It split in two, falling from his arm. Shocked, Theodor quickly dived away from the kurr’s hacking swing. Once again, Theodor found himself at Thargon’s exposed side. He stabbed wildly with his sword. The blade once again tasted flesh as it cut deep into the kurr’s hamstring. Thargon crumpled to one knee, letting his axe fall at his side. Theodor retracted his sword and struck out again at the wounded beast. Thargon’s arm swiped into the blade’s path, blocking the sword as the sharp blade lodged itself deep into the bone of his forearm. He twisted his body to face Theodor and reached out with his free hand, closing it around Theodor’s throat.
Theodor gasped for air as the kurr’s strong hand gripped tighter around his throat. Not letting go of his sword’s hilt, Theodor wrenched the blade loose and brought his arm back.
He stabbed forward with every dying ounce of his strength. He felt the tip of the sword slide in under the kurr’s armored chestplate as it cut through to Thargon’s core. He relaxed his grip for a moment upon realizing the injury, and Thargon’s dark hand clamped down harder with more force than ever before. Theodor began to see small flecks of light dancing in his peripheral vision. The darkness tunneled in around him, blocking out the bright light of day. As Theodor’s lungs burned for air before giving out, he forced the blade deeper into the center of the kurr, only coming to a stop when the hilt thundered against the armored front of the beast. Then the blackness eclipsed the light and Theodor saw no more.
“THEODOR, ARE YOU ALRIGHT?” A familiar voice entered his consciousness as Theodor opened his eyes. He saw Ivan kneeling over him and realized that he was shaking his body. Theodor tensed his muscles and winced; everything ached. Ivan helped lift him to a seated position and Theodor looked around to observe his surroundings. The once tumultuous battlefield teaming with orcs was suddenly calm and he realized the battle was over. Around him, the sloped hillside was littered with the bodies of the dead and dying.
Theodor attempted to speak but a sharp pain in his throat prevented any words from coming out. Rubbing his throat, he tried to speak again, but only managed dry mumbles. Shaking his head and pointing to his throat, Theodor tried to tell Ivan he couldn’t speak.
You can’t speak? Ivan’s voice came through into Theodor’s mind.
He nodded and looked down at his side. Thargon’s lifeless body lay in the blood-soaked grass, Theodor’s sword handle still protruding from his midsection.
Ivan reached down and helped Theodor to his feet. “Let me see,” he tilted Theodor’s chin, examining his neck. The bruising around his throat matched Thargon’s large hand perfectly. “Hold still,” Ivan said, muttering several elven words, Ivan passed his hand over Theodor’s throat.