Fall of a Kingdom

by Michael Greenfield

  Her attempt at finding a possible way out of the cell had proved fruitless. Perhaps as much as forty feet below ground and surrounded by an armed Shaler village, she soon found herself taking to just lying on the straw mattress that had been provided and waiting in silence for the next meal. No one disturbed her until the third day.

  The banging of the iron door slamming open startled the young princess awake. She rolled over to face the door and saw the hulking figure of the Mythraan stood in the entranceway. With a single motion he beckoned for her to follow him and then turned immediately back into the corridor and headed for the stairwell that led to the upper floors.

  Once again, two Shaler guards flanked her as they made their way up. Once in the ground floors expansive open area she was led to a hanging wooden lift. The construction was crude, obviously not part of the original design, and she could see the thick hemp rope that it was attached to disappearing through a gap in the ceiling fifty feet above their heads. Rough wooden railings surrounded it completely apart from a small gap where she supposed people got on and off of the platform.

  Now that her eyes were more accustomed to the gloomy interior, she could also see where the rope reappeared on the far side of the room, passing down to a cogged wheel construction manned by a team of pack horses.

  She was led onto the platform, where the two Shalers stood back and left her alone with the Mythraan.

  Slowly, at a silent command from the giant creature, the platform began to rise up toward the ceiling. In less than a minute they had passed through the gap and entered a cylindrical tube that lead straight up through the tower, only a few inches wider than the platform itself. Myriana lost count of the number of openings she saw in the surrounding walls as they rose, but she quickly realised that they were apparently heading for the very top of the Spire.

  She was suddenly squinting as they burst through into coloured sunlight, brilliant blues, reds and gold dazzling her as she tried to focus her eyes. She quickly realised that they were in the middle of the teardrop shaped structure at the pinnacle of the tower.

  The Mythraan stepped off the platform and motioned for her to do likewise. They moved across to a small raised platform where she was pushed up into the middle and left to stand waiting. She didn’t have to wait long.

  Within moments a white mist began to rise around the platform and began to whirl counter-clockwise about it. Soon she could no longer see any of the room into which they had come, but the wall of mist did not encroach onto the platform itself. Gradually it began to darken and an image replaced the whiteness it had possessed before. The image that formed in front of her chilled her blood.

  A long table appeared, sat about which were the figures of twelve Mythraan, each clad in shimmering black robes. Instead of helms they each wore what appeared to be the skulls of some huge beast with long fangs. Their glowing red eyes seemed to bore into her as they sat quietly regarding her.

  Behind the table she could see large fires blazing, shadowy figures moving rapidly about chores that she could not begin to guess at. Several figures could be seen hanging from the ceiling behind them, though she could not make out what they were.

  In front of the table lay two lifeless bodies. As she stared a large hound padded up and began to nuzzle one, before closing its jaws about an arm and began to drag it away. The action caused the body to turn over to face her and she was horrified to see the face of a Lighter.

  An elf. If they already attack the elves then what chance have the coastal kingdoms. Myriana felt the despair begin to close in as she tried to blank out the images that she saw.

  A voice rang through her head. “So this is the Dekltaar? I had thought that perhaps we would see a warrior.” The laughter was vicious, cutting. All of those at the table joined in.

  “Perhaps the Aldr believe that they need not take us seriously. If this is one of the ones they have chosen, then I see little need for us to worry.” This came from a figure at the end of the table. The tallest of them all, sat in the centre, answered.

  “If the Aldr believe she is one of those chosen then we can afford to take no chance. Order Varshirak to bring her to us, perhaps further detailed examination will provide the answers that we seek.”

  From just to the left of the figure another voice cackled in retort. “Perhaps you just seek a new mate. When was the last time that you had royalty?”

  The responding laugh chilled her to the bone. “Perhaps that may not be such a bad idea.” The vision slowly faded whilst the laughter continued. When the air cleared and the Mythraan that had stayed in the room with her could finally see her again she was in tears. Her hands were shaking as she struggled to regain control of herself. Never had she felt so helpless in her entire life as she felt this moment.

  “Father, father!” The scream echoed through the tower.

  “Your father is dead.” The voice was lifeless, cold. Myriana stared up at the creature that pushed her toward the platform again; it’s eyes glowing brightly.

  “No!”

  Riversmeet

  It took seven days for the group to come within sight of the small fort that kept the name Riversmeet. The going had not been overly tasking, if anything it had been monotonous.

  The landscape had retained its empty beauty as they had made their way over rolling hill and moorland heading toward their goal. They made good time now that they were almost all on horseback, though Cal and Farsighter took it in turns to run alongside the party or slightly ahead as they scouted the route and allowed one of the horses to rest at a time.

  If Collett had been impressed to meet the former Ranger initially, he was even more impressed as he saw the stamina and endurance that the older man showed now. The youngster as well came in for praise amongst the other three men of the group when they made camp in the evenings. Tamala stayed quiet as the banter passed around the group at these times, explaining that she was just feeling slightly ill, possibly something that they ate that she wasn’t used to.

  Dorrin wasn’t fooled as he saw the way that she kept regarding the youngster from Fallon’s Glen. Possible trouble at some stage, he mused, though not of the kind that would cause the others to worry unduly, apart from maybe Cal, but that was his problem.

  Now the mood of the group lightened considerably as they topped the final hill before the wooden fortifications of Riversmeet. The watery name for the fort was perhaps slightly misleading as the location was actually the spot where the River Bor’a split in two, giving birth to the River Holdur, but the technicalities of the event were obviously lost on the first person to set up camp here and the name had stuck.

  From the hill they could see clear across the top of the fort, which was little more than a small military camp of perhaps two hundred men surrounded by a wooden barricade. Within the barricade were several longhouses to billet the enlisted troops, and three smaller, but almost as crude, buildings where the officers stayed whilst they were posted to the outpost. Stables near the far eastern wall and a smithy nearby covered the rest of the buildings whilst a large open expanse served as both parade ground and training area.

  At five points around the barricade stood watchtowers. Though only thirty feet high, they provided ample views of the surrounding area and allowed for plenty of warning in the event of a raid.

  It was from one of those watchtowers that the call now rose up as they started to make their way down the hill toward the fort. Both Farsighter and Cal were on foot as they led the group across the short expanse of open ground before them, probably caused by flooding in the past realised Cal, and pulled them up short just fifty yards short of the gates.

  Cal heard shouting from behind the wooden barriers as they began to swing open to allow two men on horseback and a dozen on foot to advance forward toward them.

  Moments later the troop stood in front of them, Cal noting how the foot soldiers kept their right hand continuously hovering near to their sword grips. Although none of them showed any nerves, Cal thought
he could definitely feel a certain tension in the air, obviously they did not receive too many visitors this far north, almost halfway to the mountains from Bor’a. Their closest neighbours were the Shalers at Needle Lake.

  Carefully, not making any sudden movements, they waited as the first of the two officers approached them. As he drew closer, his eyes widened as he saw the uniform and insignia worn by Collett.

  “If that uniform is correct, then you are a long way from home sir.”

  Collett smiled bleakly. “Further than I would have wished. I need to speak to Commander Balton immediately. Inform him that Commander Collett of the King’s Own Royal Guard is here.” He quickly glanced sideways at the others, the message clear. No need to pass on the news of the King’s death until they had spoken to Balton.

  The officer that had spoken motioned for the men to stand down, although they still kept a wary eye on the party. Wheeling his horse about, the officer cantered back to the fort and disappeared inside.

  “Bit overly cautious aren’t they?” Dorrin raised an eyebrow at Collett.

  “People tend to get a bit jumpy this far north. Probably the best way given the neighbours they have to put up with, I mean, look at Luda.”

  Everyone except Luda chuckled as the black clad giant cast a dark frown at Collett. Further mirth was stifled as they saw the officer returning from the fort with another man riding at his side.

  “Avrim?” The dark haired rider pulled his horse up to the side of Collett’s mount and grasped the commander’s wrist. “Avrim, Gods it’s good to see you. What’s it been, two years?”

  “Closer to three you rogue. What did you do to get stuck up here?” Everyone around them visibly relaxed as they saw the two men greeting each other as the old friends that they were.

  “The usual, told His Majesty that I thought his plans for the eastern border was ludicrous.”

  Collett smiled at the image that the words conjured up. “You should know better than that by now. The only one that he seemed to let get away with that was me, though the Gods only know why.”

  “That’s easily explained. You were the only one of us that could best him with a blade.” It took a moment for him to fully comprehend Collett’s words.

  Why seemed, are you out of favour?”

  “We need to talk, inside.”

  Balton looked slightly confused but he said nothing as he turned to face the officer that had accompanied them. “Take the men back in and sort out accommodation for our guests.”

  “I hope that you don’t expect me to sleep with the men Commander.”

  The sound of Tamala’s voice stopped most of the men within earshot stone cold.

  “A woman?” The junior officer’s voice sounded shocked.

  Cal distinctly heard Dorrin whispering to Luda. “She won’t like that.”

  “Thank the Gods that our northern borders are protected by such quick witted and observant officers. I’d hate to think what would happen if they were any less.” The tone was cutting and the officer in question winced visibly.

  Dorrin cut in before any more insults could be thrown. “If you could find separate quarters for the Lady Tamala, it would be gratefully appreciated. At least that way we won’t have to listen to her rambling in the evenings anymore.”

  Tamala shot him a look of pure hatred, but said nothing further. Balton just smiled as he turned his head to reply. “I’m sure that we can arrange something. If you would follow me.”

  The commander of the fort did not wait for anything further to be said but barked a quick command to his troops and immediately proceeded to lead them toward the gates.

  After they had stabled their horses, the party was led into the one of the buildings separate from the ordinary barracks and rapidly shown into Balton’s office. The room was sparsely decorated, the sign of a person that did not spend all that much time in the office itself, although there were numerous maps and items of paperwork spread around the two tables in the room.

  The larger table was obviously the one from which the commander planned any forays that they might wish to carry out, whilst the second, smaller, table appeared to be his personal desk. It was around the larger one that the group gathered.

  Collett picked out a map that covered the area between Holdur and the mountains and spread it out in front of them as the others made themselves as comfortable as circumstance permitted.

  Although it did not cover the area that the map in Lord Marig’s study had, Cal was impressed to see the amount of detail that it showed. He hadn’t realised just how many villages there were in the area around Holdur, although on reflection he realised that he had probably been better off not knowing the number as now he also had a better idea as to how many families were endangered by the marauding Shaler.

  Collett waited until they were all settled before he spoke. For Balton’s benefit he started by introducing the members of the group to him, though he did not mention the fact that Dorrin and Tamala were magic users, but he did explain that Farsighter used to be the commander of the Rangers, just so that there would be no questions asked if he ventured a military opinion.

  “I’m afraid that I don’t come bearing good news. John, you’re garrison is in immediate danger of attack from the west and possibly from the south. I can’t give you that as definite information, but going on what we’ve seen so far, it is hard to believe that the Shalers will leave you at their backs.”

  “Shalers? What do you mean by ‘at their backs’” Balton clearly did not like the sound of this.

  “Almost two weeks ago a party led by Lord Dorrin here, and escorting Her Highness the Princess Myriana, was attacked.” His eyes focused on Dorrin momentarily.

  “At this point.” Dorrin pointed to a spot on the banks of the River Needle, almost half way between Holder and Needle Spire. “We were planning to leave the course of the river about half a day further north and cut northwest in order to avoid Needle Lake and The Spire.

  We were never given the opportunity to avoid the Shalers.”

  “Her Highness was taken and all but Dorrin here were killed.

  As fortune would have it, he happened upon Farsighter and Cal on the road between Fallon’s Glen and Holdur. They killed his pursuers and managed to get him to Gellda and then on to Holdur.

  The plan at this stage was to use the Far Globes in the tower at Holdur to inform the King and to begin pursuit of the kidnappers.

  What they could not have known is that a few days before Dorrin was attacked, we had already received a message in Bor’a telling the King that Myriana was in trouble and that he should proceed with all haste to Holdur. The message was signed by Nagril, Lord Marig’s Prime Advisor.

  Upon arrival at the keep at Holdur, we were informed by messenger that the Shalers had attacked the party and were believed to be about to attack the keep itself. We had no way of knowing that this was part of the Shaler plan, and that even as we moved through the town toward the causeway, the keep itself had been taken by the Shalers.”

  Balton hissed audibly. “How was that possible? I’ve seen the keep and the causeway between it and the town; it would take close to five thousand men to storm that fortress.”

  “If I may.” Tamala rose as she spoke. “The Shalers were working with Mythraan magic users and a traitor in the keep itself. They used a ‘Passageway’ spell to travel from a marshalling area just to the north, amongst the hills, and appeared directly within the keep.

  It would also appear that they might have taken those that they could alive. I pity those that this happened to; I’d not want to spend the rest of my life working the Mythra mines if I could help it.”

  A connection lit up in Cal’s head as he realised that Tamala referred to the lack of bodies within the keep that he himself had noted, though he had no idea at the time as to what it had meant.

  “You mention a traitor.”

  “As we made our escape from the keep we saw a figure on the walls with the Shaler. It was Nagril.”
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  “Damn.” Balton returned his attention to Collett. “What of the King?”

  Almost inaudibly Collett replied. “I failed him.”

  “What?”

  Luda spoke as he could see that it taxed the officer to speak of what had happened on the causeway himself.

  “His Majesty was felled by the first wave of arrows from the keep’s walls. There was no way for Commander Collett to have known what was about to happen and no way he could have prevented it.”

  “Then.” Shocked realisation spread across Balton’s face. “God’s, they hold the Queen.”

  News that all of the officers had been called into meeting spread through the camp like a wildfire. Some of the younger soldiers started to brag about the possibility of coming battle and how they would show off their prowess in the field, whilst the older veterans just smiled and began to ensure that their weapons were all in the best possible condition.

  Several of the sergeants got together and discussed what possible dangers they could face up here, but none of them were ready for the announcement that eventually came.

  It had been jointly decided that the troops would almost certainly be better motivated if they knew the full facts of the ‘Shaler invasion’ as they were now calling it. That it was the beginnings of an invasion appeared obvious to the officers as they could see no better way of starting than by decapitating the forces of the kingdom, for that was effectively what had been done with the murder of the King and the kidnap of the Princess.

  Whilst Balton dispersed his own officers to begin preparations for whatever might be coming, Farsighter took the captain who commanded the Ranger detachment at the fort to one side. Life was made considerably easier for the older man by the fact that the officer was well known to him from his younger days.