The Olvion Reality (The Chronicles of Olvion Book 1)

by Larry Robbins

  “Commander Ruguer, I will need you to devise a plan to most effectively use our cavalry. As you have already stated we need to protect them as much as possible. Each one we lose is a cost we can ill afford but they accomplish nothing if not utilized.

  “The first of our scouts will be reporting back in approximately two hours. I need everyone in this room to stand ready and keep yourself available. If we need you I want to be able to find you quickly.” The monarch looked down the table to Brackus. “Good Vice-Monarch, I will need you to organize the support units. We need the fletchers to be turning out thousands of arrows starting now. The medical facilities need to be evaluated and a triage system set in place. I don’t want our wounded lying in hallways bleeding while waiting for decisions to be made. Then we need to have a food distribution system organized to service the walls and defense posts. You know what is needed there.

  “I have members of Parliament already organizing the general population as a support network.” The king stopped and looked around the room, taking in every person in attendance. “Make no mistake, we are in peril. How we fare will depend on the support we receive from the Coastal Kingdoms and the tactics we are able to devise. That has always been our strength. Good day to you.”

  The king squeezed Ruguer’s shoulder and exited the room followed by a dozen or so aides.

  At that, the meeting broke up and small groups wandered out while mumbling in discussion. Ruguer remained in the war room while we all filed out. Dwan was waiting for me in the hall.

  “I wanted to tell you that I will be involved in the preparation for treating our wounded,” she said. “I may not see you for some time.” Her eyes showed obvious fatigue and her hair was not as organized as it usually was. Rebellious strands hung in her face.

  “I understand”, I said. “I just wish I had something more to do. If you need any help in your efforts let me know. For some reason I have been asked to keep myself available. I don’t have any idea what I can add to the preparations. But, I’m here if they need me”, I said with a shrug.

  She leaned in close and gave me a quick kiss. Then she was gone. I started down the hall towards the main stairwell. It was a grand affair made up of some sort of marble-looking polished white granite. Huge paintings of past kings and other significant historical figures were hung on each landing. I marveled at the majestic beauty of the structure. How sad it would be if such a creation fell to the destruction of the nearly mindless cannibal horde.

  I saw Vynn walking before me and wished him a safe and rapid journey to the coast. As I descended the stairs I returned the greetings of the Olvionis who passed. I was growing used to the attention. About half of them seemed to accept that I was, indeed, The Legend. The rest appeared to be reserving judgment. I felt Tinker stir in her pouch. I put my hand inside and stroked her soft pelt. In return she sent me one of her mental transfers of emotion. This one was a mixture of tranquility and urgency all rolled into each other. Then one of her mental image transfers began to form in my mind and I sought out a small alcove which afforded me some privacy. I leaned against the wall, closed my eyes and allowed the image to take shape. Tinker was obviously putting a lot of effort into trying to convey a message to me and she was not waiting until I could find some privacy. I drew a deep breath and concentrated on relaxing myself.

  In my mind’s eye I saw water flowing along in a stream. Then I saw it pouring from a cup, then from a jug. A picture of barrels formed. The barrels were brimming with water and sloshing out as the vessels were jostled. Then the images were gone. I waited a few moments more. Hoping more clues would be forthcoming. They were not. I opened my eyes. A few warriors were passing by and seemed a little disturbed at my actions. I smiled at them and went on my way.

  Continuing down the grand staircase I pondered the meaning of Tinker’s message. I pulled her gently from her pouch and looked into her eyes. She returned my gaze but gave me no more images. She climbed from my hands to my shoulder and gripping my ear. As always I found her presence and touch calming. We returned to my room, attracting much attention along the way. Some that we passed would actually wave at Tinker as if she were a small child and others would just stare.

  Inside our small apartment I lay on my bed and pondered Tinker’s projected images.

  Water. Streams and cups and jugs. Barrels. What was it that Ruguer said? “We know how they feed their troops”. But they needed water also, just as we did. We had the benefit of numerous wells in the walled city which produced high volumes of output. We had water enough for a thousand days and more. But the Grey Ones did not.

  How much water would two hundred and twenty thousand fighters require? The answer had to be astronomical. The amount might have to be measured, not in gallons, but in acre-feet. Being raised in Clovis I knew a little about large water requirements because we were in a huge agricultural area. Clovis and Fresno were both simply irrigated deserts and the crops depended on water being funneled to our fields from mountain runoffs.

  I wondered how much water could be taken from the streams and lakes near this city. I didn’t really know enough to formulate an answer. I fell asleep still pondering the problem.

  I don’t know how much time had passed before I was awakened by a lad who was barely in his teens. He seemed awestruck by me when I opened the door, obviously one of those who believed me to be The Legend. His eyes got even bigger when Tinker hopped into my arms. He informed me that the king was summoning me. I had him wait in the hall for me as I freshened up. Then I followed the youngster back up to the war room. This time there was just Zander and Ruguer present.

  “Come in Tag-Gar,” Ruguer invited. He had deep lines creasing either side of his mouth and a groove between his eyebrows. It was unusual seeing him stressed and without his customary smile.

  The guards shut the door once I was inside and Zander slid a mug of tea over to me. I sat. Ruguer drummed the table with his fingers as I took a sip.

  “We have a favor to ask of you,” Ruguer said. “Some of our scouting teams have returned. They are reporting that the few outlying farmers that refused to come into the city earlier have been killed. The Grey Ones still have raiding parties roaming the countryside searching for civilians from more distant farms who have fled their homes and are trying to make their way to us.” The King’s Sword paused as he sipped his tea. Tinker popped up from her pouch when she smelled it. She hopped out onto the table and sat up, wiggling her whiskers. I pushed my mug over to her and let her sip from it. Ruguer continued. “Pulg and Layann are out with their teams right now searching for them and engaging whatever Grey patrols they encounter. We need to get at least two more teams into the field before the advance body of the Greys get their siege firmly established.”

  I began to feel an uncomfortable sensation in my belly.

  “I spoke with them last night,” Ruguer continued, “Both say you would be their first choice to lead a team. If you are agreeable to help us out I am conferring the title of Sub-Commander on you. Your team will be totally under your direction and you will have full discretion on any actions taken. These team members are the best in their field, top instructors in different combat specialties and their best students. You’ll find them very capable.”

  I knew it. Just when I was getting used to a roof over my head, a comfortable bed and regular meals.

  I looked at my two new friends. To say that I had enormous respect for these men would be an understatement. “This kingdom has taken me in and treated me as if I were one its own. I will do anything it asks of me. But are you certain that I am the right person for this assignment? I would not want to be the cause of bad feelings among your noble warriors by suddenly showing up with the rank of Sub-Commander when others have served for so much longer.”

  Ruguer put his hand on my shoulder. Tinker raised up to sniff it eliciting smiles from both of my companions. “Tag-Gar, no man or woman in our military would resent or second guess a decision by their command staff. They trust us and
know the importance of loyalty. When they see your new rank they will know that we have noticed traits in you that are needed in the war effort. None will question it further.”

  With that being said I swallowed hard and accepted the assignment. Before leaving I told them about the visions I had been receiving from Tinker. I passed along my belief that they must have something to do with the manner in which the Greys were getting water to their troops. “Is it even remotely possible that, if we were to find the locations from which they would be taking water, we could…I don’t know…poison it or something?”

  Ruguer scooted his chair back and looked at the king. “Can you have one of your academicians do a quick estimate of the amount of water they will require and from that suggest which of the bodies of water in the valley they would most likely draw from?” he asked Zander.

  “I can and I will,” he answered. Zander turned to me. “I believe that nothing in this life happens without a purpose, Tag-Gar. Your unique perspectives, aided by the abilities of your little animal friend, may prove invaluable to our defense.”

  Ten minutes later I walked up behind Dwan. She was in a large building just within the Eastern walls of the city. The site had been selected as a triage center. It resembled a large Quonset hut stretching back approximately fifty yards with a thirty foot high ceiling. Four rows of beds reached back into the building. Dwan was giving instructions to a group of medical people. I tapped her on the shoulder. The look on my face told her all she needed to know.

  “So they figured out that you are worth more in the field than in the city walls,” she said.

  I smiled, shrugging. “Looks that way. They have a team gathering by a place they call the East tunnel. I am to join them there as soon as I get my gear.” I removed Tinker’s pouch from my shoulder and handed it over to her. “I will worry less if you keep her for me.”

  Tinker poked her head up and squawked. She leapt from the pouch to Dwan, scrambling up to her shoulder. There she stared at me. A feeling of anger and defiance flooded over me.

  “It would appear that Tinker has ideas of her own,” Dwan observed.

  I squatted down so that my eyes were on the same level as Tinker’s. “Listen to me, little girl. This is going to be very dangerous. I really need you to stay here and take care of Dwan for me. She’s enormously important to me.”

  Tinker continued staring, not dropping her gaze at all. Her tail was stuck straight up into the air and spiked out in every direction. Another wave of defiance hit me. And…refusal! My little friend was telling me that she was going with me and that was the end of the matter. As if to emphasize my assessment she emitted a seagull-squawk, followed by a long musical trill. Her noises sounded, to me, like a declaration followed by a plea.

  “All right, Tink,” I said. I guess we are in this together.”

  She trilled again. Her tail went from looking like a bottle brush back to a beautiful white silkiness. She leapt from Dwan’s shoulder over to mine, gripping my ear until it hurt. I pulled Dwan in closer. She looked around, embarrassed by the public display of affection. But she accepted my kiss and responded with one of her own. When we broke I saw worry in her beautiful eyes.

  “Don’t worry, Healer, I’m bigger than anything out there.”

  She managed a smile for me but it was competing with forming tears. She turned away quickly. I felt like I should do something to make her feel more at ease but there was really nothing I could do. I put Tinker back in her pouch and left.

  After leaving Dwan I followed a young guide that Ruguer had provided for me. He led me down several landings under the ground level of the castle. There were no windows down this deep and glow bulbs illuminated the twists and turns through which my guide was navigating. The walls were no longer finished and smooth, now just rough stone. It appeared that the passageways through which we were traveling had been carved from solid rock centuries ago. They probably had been. At last we came around a corner and I saw three people waiting for us. My team.

  My guide, who never introduced himself, stepped back, seeming to blend back into the dark wall behind us. I took a long look at the three warriors. Upon my arrival they all three snapped to attention with straight backs and fists held across their right breasts. They had evidently been informed of my new rank even though I was not in uniform. I was embarrassed and I had no idea what to say. Then I remembered how I interacted with members of my R.E.A.C.T team at the prison. I relaxed, this was not so different. I may not be a warrior with years of training behind me but I had been tested in battle and had proven my worth.

  “I am Tag-Gar,” I said by way of introduction. “I will be going with you into the field tonight.” There was a brief and uncomfortable silence before one of the warriors, a man slightly older than I stepped forward. He still had his fist over his breast.

  “It is customary for you to return our salute,” he whispered.

  “Oh”, I whispered back.

  I did as he suggested, placing my fist over my own breast. They all dropped their hands so I did too. The man who had helped me out with the protocol executed a brief nod. He had a closely cropped brown beard and had the same slight build of most of the Olvioni inhabitants but wiry muscle snaked down along his arms. He gave off an air of competence. If we were on Earth I would have judged his age to be in the neighborhood of thirty five years.

  “Sub-Commander Tag-Gar, I am Temms,” he said. “I train our warriors in unarmed combat.” I examined his equipment. He wore the typical black leather uniform tunic cinched by a leather belt over tough fabric trousers. His knees and elbows were armored as were his forearms. The metal was stained dark brown, almost black, probably to cut down on reflection. Temms had a short sword which he wore in a sheath across his back, just like mine. A curved knife hung from his belt. The last item of armament, also hanging from his belt was interesting. It looked very much like a large ball peen hammer. I was later to learn that this weapon was called a war hammer.

  I nodded back to Temms. “And who are your companions?”

  Behind Temms were a man and a woman. The woman was attractive in a rugged way. Her hair was cut short, pulled back on either side and pinned up. Her uniform was identical to her two male companions except neither she nor the man beside her had armored knees. An unstrung bow was in her hand and a quiver with dozens of arrows was slung across her shoulder. Her only other weapon was a dagger. Temms pointed to her.

  “This is Waan. She was one of my best students but now teaches archery.” He indicated the man to her left. “This is Crain. He teaches…” The term Temms used was unknown to me. I was a little disappointed. I felt my ability to converse in the Olvioni language was going well but I still encountered words that I had never before heard being used. I sighed and pulled Tinker out of her pouch. The effect on the three warriors was just as I expected.

  As I have stated, after the hearing before the Olvioni parliament I had become something of a celebrity in the kingdom owing to my being identified as “The Legend”. But if I was a celebrity then Tinker was a rock star. Mountain Children were almost mythical creatures themselves, something akin to Yeti and Sasquatch in our world. Few were the people who had ever glimpsed the elusive and fabled creatures. As nearly as I could determine the only white Mountain Child that had ever been seen was the one that had accompanied The Legend on his exploits two centuries past. These three battle-hardened warriors could not hide their shock at the appearance of the animal.

  I put Tinker on my shoulder and explained my predicament to Temms. “I am still struggling to learn your language and some words elude my understanding. If you would repeat your introduction to the good warrior Crain my friend here, Tinker, will help me to understand.”

  Temms indicated his understanding, the psychic abilities of the animals were part of their mystique. He began again.

  “Sub-Commander…”

  I stopped him.

  “Please, Temms. We are a small unit and I don’t know how long we will actu
ally be together, maybe even just for tonight. Formalities really are not called for unless we find ourselves in a more formal setting. I would prefer if you would just call me Tag-Gar when we are in the field.”

  “I understand,” he said with an approving smile. “Warrior…I mean, Crain is an instructor in the javelin. Indeed his ability with the weapon is remarkable.” In my head Tinker supplied the interpretation for the word “javelin” but not the rest of Temms words. Evidently, along with all of her other abilities she was able to discern the individual words with which I was still having problems.

  Crain and Waan were both around the age of twenty five. The years of military training had given both of them athletic physiques. Looking at the small group of military professionals I felt I was in good company.

  “Okay”, I said. “The King has advised that there numerous citizens of Olvion who have fled their farms and homes and are trying to make it back to the safety of the city. These men, women and children are our primary concern. Though you may be tempted I want it understood that I, and only I, will decide if we engage any enemy forces we may come across. My inclination is to avoid combat unless absolutely necessary. I would rather we let a hundred Greys live if it means we can save one citizen.” I saw approval in their eyes. “Questions?”

  Waan studied me for a moment. “Do you intend to carry all of that equipment?”

  I examined their armament again and compared it to mine. They were traveling light, carrying only their primary weapons with nothing that would reflect light or make noise. I had my spear, helmet, shield, sword, two knives and battle mace. They must have heard me rattling down the passageway for a mile.

  “Good point,” I said. I took off everything but my mace and one knife. I kept the armor for my forearms but removed the ones on my lower legs. I them jumped up and down a few times to make sure my armament made no noise.