“What if I do? We’re not afraid of gremlins,” Josiah said with a smile, feeling Kelond’s wrath from his right. He immediately felt terrible for using that word when he saw Kelond’s face.
“The human speaks for ya, then?” Argyle asked.
“You forgot the third option,” Gideonis said.
“And what’s that, leafeater?” Argyle countered. “Ya, I know what ya are and yer kind is worse than the boy’s here.”
“The third option is that you retreat right now before you lose every single dwarf under your command. We will show no mercy if you wish to fight us today. We will not bury a single one of you,” Gideonis said.
“I guess it’s settled then?” Argyle said with a smile, looking to the banner man to his left.
Kelond watched the dwarf lower the flag and then heard the swoosh of a few hundred arrows being loosed from their bows. He looked up and saw them in the sky. They looked like flying serpents on their way to their target, which was him and the others next to them. Josiah, Gideonis, and Erwin heard the noise too and spotted the arrows flying across the field toward them.
“God’s hell,” Josiah called out, realizing now why the dwarves stopped them so far away from them.
Argyle and the other two dwarves held wooden shields over their heads just in case one of the bowmen undershot his target.
Erwin held out his hands and thought of Viktor and Marianna. He recited the words to the barrier spell and a large blue wall appeared in front of him and the others beside him just in time. The tips of the arrows broke off and the shafts shattered as they pounded into Erwin’s magical barrier. Argyle and the other two dwarves didn’t know what to make of it.
“Let’s get back to the fort!” Josiah shouted as more arrows pounded against the barrier.
Erwin kept the barrier active long enough for them to ride safely to the back gate of Fort Asbury. Kelond heard Argyle shouting “See ya soon” in the distance as they retreated.
Sixteen
∞
“They’ll run out of arrows soon enough,” Josiah said as arrows crashed into the fort’s walls, rooves, and common area. “We haven’t lost a single man yet and they’ve fired at least four thousand arrows by now.”
Viktor, Kelond, Gideonis, Marianna, and Lord Patrio sat around the long wooden table on the raised platform of the dining hall. A few hundred soldiers were stuffed into the room as well, all listening to the hail of arrows rain down on the fort.
“And their troops haven’t moved yet?” Viktor asked.
“No, milord,” Gideonis replied. “I have a few druids in serpent form that would have returned had the dwarves made a move for the fort.”
“What is it they hope to gain by this? They can’t keep it up for much longer,” Viktor said.
“Dwarves aren’t known for shootin’ arrows,” Kelond added. “I can’t say I understand his strategy either. Though, I do know the Elk Mountain dwarves are highly skilled at close quarters combat. Ya’d think they’d prefer to fight us that way instead of this.”
∞
Erwin escaped to a small patch of forest just outside the northeastern side of the fort. He knew the spell he wanted to conjure, if conjured correctly, would be causes issues within the fort. He closed his eyes and thought of Viktor and Marianna. He whispered the words to the tier two barrier spell and felt the energy course through his fingertips. A barrier as long as a row of a hundred men and as tall as an oak tree formed in front of him. It was a magnificent site once he opened his eyes, but he could feel the strain of the spell weighing on him. His arms began to shake and a little blood droplet started to form around the corners of his eyes.
∞
“The king is close,” Viktor said. “We can’t be held captive by two armies at once.”
“I agree,” Josiah added. “These dwarves must break soon and we have no other choice than to meet them in the open field.”
“Ya don’t know the Elk Mountain dwarves, boyo,” Kelond said. “They’re a determined bunch and will stop at nothin’ to get what they want.”
“We’re just as determined,” Marianna added. “I say we assemble and wipe them out.”
“Not that simple, milady,” Gideonis said.
“Well,” Viktor said, picking up the Firebringer and watching Erwin enter the room, “I’m ready to fight and see what comes of it. When they break, we charge.”
Josiah picked up his sword and shield as well, smiling at Marianna and Viktor.
“I will ride with you, my prince,” Erwin said in a soft voice.
Viktor saw the fatigue and redness in Erwin’s eyes.
“Erwin, I know you’re eager for death. Wouldn’t you rather it be in your bed?” Viktor replied.
“I’m not ready for death just yet, my prince,” Erwin said with a smile.
∞
It had been ten minutes since the last arrow cracked against the roof of Fort Asbury. Viktor and the others rushed into the common area to find the ground covered in arrows. Everywhere they stepped was the tip or shaft of an arrow.
Kelond quickly opened the stables and released all of the horses to be met by their riders. Bowmen came out from cover on the walls to ready arrows. Druids met with Gideonis near the back gate ready to charge at his command. Kelond’s dwarves stood behind them, ready to follow.
Viktor rode his horse to the gate and turned to face his army. “I can’t promise that we’ll all make it back alive, but I can promise that if you die today you will have died with honor. You will not be forgotten.”
They heard a distant swoosh and looked up to see another round of arrows coming toward them. It was too late. They didn’t get out of the fort in time. Terror overcame Viktor as he thought he had made a grave mistake assembling his men for battle. He looked at Josiah who appeared to be just as frightened as he was. “Shields up!” he shouted.
Marianna closed her eyes and conjured a small barrier over her head and a few soldiers beside her. Several others leapt underneath it.
Erwin looked up and closed his eyes. Held out his hands and shouted the words to the tier two barrier spell for all to hear. Within seconds the majestic blue barrier appeared over the fort and shielded every man within it. Arrows cracked in half and slid down the side as they landed on it. Viktor and Josiah looked up from beneath their shields at the magnificent barrier Erwin had created. Viktor looked over at Erwin whose cheeks were red with blood.
“I will protect you, my prince!” Erwin shouted.
Viktor felt warmth overtake his body. He knew he had surrounded himself with people who cared for him and were willing to do whatever it took to get him on the throne. “Charge!” he shouted as the back gate lowered. Every man, dwarf, and druid charged through the gate toward the dwarven army. Bowmen on the gates looked to Erwin for a sign that their arrows could be shot through his shield from the inside.
“Fire your damned arrows, you fools,” Erwin shouted at the bowmen while he kept the barrier active. The bowmen fired arrows that landed out in front of Viktor and his charging army, many connecting with the front line of dwarves that had formed.
Kelond rode hard and fast toward the middle of the dwarven line toward Argyle and his banner man. He noticed the line assemble and run toward them after the flurry of arrows had ceased from behind him. He spotted Argyle in the middle, riding atop an elk with a hammer lifted above his head. “Do ya see me now?” Kelond shouted.
Some dwarves in the back of their line fired arrows at Viktor and the others. Marianna rode close by and conjured a tier one barrier that deflected several arrows, saving Viktor and Josiah. A dozen soldiers to their left and right weren’t so lucky.
Viktor conjured fireballs and sent them into the ranks of dwarves in front of him. The balls of fire crashed into dwarven flesh and elk flesh, knocking back dozens of dwarves and incinerating others. Josiah shot arrows into the advancing horde killing a half dozen in a matter of seconds. Gideonis and a few other druids shapeshifted into bears and panthers as they got
closer to the front line of dwarves. Even Lord Patrio seemed to be excited about the ensuing battle.
Kelond’s horse and Argyle’s elk crashed into one another, sending each dwarf to the frozen ground. They both wrestled to their feet, grabbing their weapons along the way. Argyle swung his heavy hammer down first, barely missing Kelond who used the top of his mace to push Argyle back. “I said I’d see ya soon,” Argyle shouted, pulling his hammer back, ready to swing again. Kelond looked to his right and watched Gideonis, in bear form, rip a dwarf’s arm from his shoulder.
Kelond gripped his mace so tight that his knuckles were as white as clouds. “Get on with it, then,” he said with a smile. Argyle swung his hammer down and missed Kelond completely. Kelond spun and swung his mace with so much force that it broke Argyle’s right arm and ribcage and knocked him to the ground several feet away. Kelond walked over to Argyle who was in excruciating pain. He looked around at the action and was proud to see humans, druids, and dwarves fighting alongside one another. “I’ve made the right choice joinin’ with these folk. I’m sorry your days will end this way.” He swung the mace down and crushed Argyle’s skull.
Viktor and Josiah fought through dozens of dwarves with ease. The Firebringer proved to be too much for them and Viktor’s face was covered in red. He looked back at Marianna often to ensure she hadn’t fallen in battle. He was pleased to notice that she could hold her own with a short sword and tier one barrier spell.
The battle waged on for another ten minutes until every dwarf was either slaughtered or nearly dead. Gideonis wanted to keep his promise to Argyle so he finished off every dwarf that he could find.
Viktor noticed Lord Patrio lying on his back near the edge of a skirmish. He rushed over to him. “Let’s get a look at you,” he said, kneeling down to assess Patrio’s wounds.
“It’s fatal, milord,” Patrio replied. “The coldness is already setting in.”
“It is winter, Patrio,” Viktor said with a smile, feeling the depth of the wound.
“You were kind to me, milord. Unlike your brother and his generals. When you take the throne, stay kind. Don’t let it corrupt you,” Patrio coughed out, a little blood on his chin.
“You fought bravely today, Lord Patrio. It was an honor to have you at my side,” Viktor said, holding his hand. Patrio smiled and then breathed his last.
∞
Viktor and the others returned to the fort to find Erwin on his hands and knees. Viktor could tell right away the old man was exhausted and weak. “Sir Erwin,” he said rushing over to him, “are you alright?” The old man’s arm strength gave way and he fell face first into the mud. “Marianna, assist me,” Viktor called out.
A few hours passed and Erwin lay asleep in Viktor’s bedchamber. Viktor sat by the bed holding his hand while Marianna cooled his forehead with a washcloth. “The spell nearly killed him,” Viktor said.
“That’s the trouble with magic,” Marianna added, “the better you get at it the more dangerous it becomes for you and everyone around you.”
“How do you know that?”
“I read through a few of the scrolls on his desk. There’s a section on the danger of tier two and three spells. He conjured a tier two barrier today for the first time. One must not rush into the more advanced spells like he has.”
“Will he recover?”
“Gates wasn’t hopeful, but I’ll stay by his side until the end,” she sighed.
The two of them sat quietly, listening to Erwin struggle to breathe.
Seventeen
∞
The dove landed on Dover’s shoulder. A small scroll was tied to its neck. He looked at Alexander and the other generals, assessing whether they saw the dove or not. None of them did. Their morning march had just begun and each man was focused on the path in front of him. Dover pulled the scroll from the dove’s neck and opened it. Read it quietly to himself.
The rioting in King’s Square has taken a turn. The armory has been overtaken by peasants and a band of farmers has desecrated the palace halls. Please advise.
It was then Dover realized that Alexander had been keeping this news from him and the other generals. Even if they won this battle they’d have nothing to return to. Alexander’s recklessness began to make sense.
“Halt!” Dover shouted. “Generals, to my side.”
The marching horde of troops stopped in place and Benvero and the other generals turned to face Dover. Alexander turned as well.
“What is it now?” Alexander grumbled at Dover.
Dover held up the small scroll. “Rioting in King’s Square? How long have you known of this?”
Alexander looked around at the troops and his generals. “You are not permitted to read my scrolls,” Alexander said, squinting with anger.
“He’s been keeping this from us for Gods know how long,” Dover said, loud enough for some troops to hear.
“Careful, boy,” Benvero warned. “He’s your king.”
“Lord Dover, what are you doing?” Adaman asked in a hushed tone.
“He’s no more a king than I am,” Dover said, jumping down from his horse and drawing his sword. This of course caused the men to stir with wonder and anxiety.
“Are you sure this is what you want?” Alexander asked with a smile.
“You’ve marched us this far knowing we won’t have a home to come back to. Your plan is to take part in and bear witness to another mass suicide and I refuse to play your game. Get down and fight me so one of us can die honorably,” Dover shouted.
Benvero drew his sword but was waved off by Alexander.
“This may be the only thing you’ve done these past few months that makes sense,” Alexander replied, jumping down from his horse. He pulled his longsword from the sheath on the back of his horse and turned to face Dover. He noticed Dover was wearing heavy plate armor compared to his more lightweight rare blackrock armor. He knew the longer the fight wore on the better his chances would be of winning in the end.
“Let’s have a go, then,” Alexander said, moving toward Dover.
The other generals and troops moved away to allow the two of them to fight. A semi-circle of men was created.
Dover swung his sword first. Alexander blocked it and moved to the side. Dover turned and swung again, erratically. Alexander moved to the other side and kicked him in the hip, almost knocking him over.
“Are you going to fight or just dodge me like you dodge every other thing in your life?” Dover shouted angrily.
“You have your strategy and I have mine,” Alexander replied. “Besides, you were never the soldier your father was anyway.” Alexander knew this would infuriate Dover to no end.
Dover’s eyes nearly turned red as he rushed toward the king and swung his sword as hard as he could. Alexander blocked it and slammed his blackrock greaves into Dover’s faceplate, knocking him back. A little blood dripped down below Dover’s helmet as the impact of faceplate on face broke his nose.
“See? Not a good soldier at all,” Alexader smiled.
Dover removed his helmet, revealing his bloody nose and mouth. He was struggling to breathe because of the cold air and heavy armor. “You are a coward in all things. You’ll meet your end soon no doubt.”
“That’s a rather foolish thing to say as we’ll all meet our end at some point,” Alexander replied.
“Yes, but yours is coming sooner than you think,” Dover said, rushing toward him.
Alexander knew he could keep this up for another hour if necessary, but he could tell that Dover was nearing exhaustion rapidly. He felt as though he had already secured the upper hand.
Dover raised his sword above his right shoulder and swung it down. Alexander parried it and then pulled a dagger from his belt. It was the same dagger that had tasted blood a few nights ago in his tent. He jammed the blade up into Dover’s armpit just between two plates of armor. He pulled it out, jammed it again, and stepped back.
Dover fell to his knees. He reached for the dagger to pull it out,
but he was too exhausted and weak. “Daggers are for cowards,” he coughed. “At least finish me with a sword.”
Alexander stood in front of him. He looked down at his sword and thought about Dover’s request. “If daggers are for cowards, why do you have one on your belt as well?”
“Because you ordered that I wear it,” Dover choked out. “None of us ever planned on using them.”
“Well, then,” Alexander said, kneeling down and pulling Dover’s dagger from his belt. “If you didn’t plan on using this one then I guess I will.” Alexander jammed the dagger into Dover’s throat. He remained at eye level with him until he expired.
Alexander stood and looked at the audience of troops, lieutenants, and generals that had formed. “Anyone else with treasonous aspirations?” The troops quickly turned and got in line. The lieutenants and generals pulled their horses back and moved into marching formation. He looked up at Benvero whose face suggested both sadness and relief. “Well, let’s be on our way.”
Eighteen
∞
“He can have my bed,” Yaspar said, watching Gates bring in yet another wounded soldier.
The medical tent had become quite overcrowded over the course of the afternoon. Many soldiers returned to Fort Asbury with injuries requiring immediate medical attention. Gates had enlisted Marianna to help but she was preoccupied with Erwin. He was in need of many other aids to administer ointments and change bandages. Heldar volunteered and could be seen hobbling around from bed to bed to nurse injured or dying soldiers.
“He may need more than your bed,” Gates replied, helping the man lie down. “Can you spare a hand?”
Yaspar looked around the tent and felt a little overwhelmed by the number of men needing help. He never considered himself helpful in this area and would have rather been anywhere on Tresladore than where he was right then.
“Can you or can you not? If you cannot, then please leave the tent to allow room for others,” Gates barked at him.
“No, I can help,” Yaspar replied. “Just tell me what to do.”
“You can start by undressing this man and cleaning his wounds,” Gates said as he rushed to another man being helped inside.
The Warrior Prince (The Tragedy of King Viktor Book 2) Page 7