Knight of Strolm

by A L Hardy

  Pain seared through his right side as he rolled off his horse and put the animal between himself and his attacker. Magic rushed into Jurod as he Focused and cast the minor Healing spells on his thigh and shoulder, though he didn’t know any spells powerful enough to heal his arm or side.

  Jurod’s Drashyre burnt thick and hot as he moved around the horse and cast two large balls of Drashyre at the chain-wielding assassin. The chain whistled with the blade on its end gleaming wickedly in the light as it flashed around forcing Jurod to back further away from his target.

  Both of Jurod's fireballs missed the chain wielding assassin, but engulfed Shadow Hand fighters in the main fray. Immediately designing a new plan, Jurod watched the assassin’s chain-blade arch around until he had a clear shot and threw a thin lance of Drashyre onto the link that held the blade to the chain. The chain whistled inches past Jurod’s chest as the blade itself flung off and thudded solidly into Jurod’s horse.

  Jurod twisted his wrist with a fast flick and one of his throwing knives sprouted in the assassin’s chest. There was a momentary look of utter surprise on the assassin’s face before he collapsed to the ground.

  Ilays ran over to Jurod and cast multiple powerful Healing spells on his arm while she carefully tried to pull the bolt from his side. Jurod screamed in pain as the bolt broke free and Ilays’s Healing spells stitched the wound closed again.

  Ilays walked to one of the corpses and started removing an odd metal bracer off one fighter's wrist as Jurod turned to the soldiers to ask, “Where’s Xardan?”

  Realization flashed across Ilays’s face while the soldiers stared blankly at the pair.

  “There were three of us when we arrived,” Jurod explained, “Where did our last companion go when the fighting started?”

  “Wherever he went,” Ilays announced as she moved to the horses and vigorously searched the saddlebags, “He took the spell book.”

  Chapter 11

  As the Kin battled against each other, Toug created the Tougin to aid the Sea-Kin and Rylvia created the Rylvians to aid the High-Kin. Seeing the abominations created by the others, Altavar finally entered the battle against his weakened siblings - and ordered the Desert-Kin to battle against the other weakened Kin.

  *

  Tennlka had waited three days after his encounter with Lord Brath before he withdrew his troops two miles in an attempt to buy Xardan more time and five more days before he withdrew them the remaining three to Faelhart's Crypt. The ancient crypt was the site of the first King's grave; the same site where the young prince Faelhart, founder and first King of his namesake nation, died at the hands of his elder brother Strolm, thus forever separating the two Kingdoms in a blood feud that had lasted generations and bore no signs of weakening.

  The following morning after Tennlka arrived at Faelhart’s Crypt, Lord Brath rode out of Riverguard with a small patrol of guards; one rider carried the black dragon on red while another carried a white flag of truce.

  Three patrols were assigned to escort Lord Brath into an empty tent, and a messenger was sent to inform Tennlka of their arrival. When Tennlka and his Tyrnish bodyguard arrived at the tent Brath had been taken to, the Lord and his officers had been served tall glasses of spiced wine and bowls of something called food among the troops.

  “Sir Brath,” Tennlka greeted as he entered, giving the Lord a small nod of his head.

  “Lord.” Brath corrected.

  “Pardon?” Tennlka asked innocently.

  “I am Lord Brath, not Sir Brath.”

  Tennlka turned and smiled wickedly as he responded, “Not in my camp.”

  Every hand in the tent besides Tennlka’s and Brath’s went straight to their weapons. Brath and Tennlka each raised their hands to stop their soldiers and stared at each other.

  “You only brought guards?” Tennlka asked, “No advisers?”

  “My advisers have matters to attend to in my absence.” Brath explained, “They are needed elsewhere.”

  “Unfortunate. However, if you are ready to negotiate, SIR Brath,” Tennlka continued, “There are rather urgent matters to discuss.”

  Brath signaled to his guards to sit back down and they hesitantly did so; Tennlka’s Tyrnish bodyguard relaxed visibly in response to the mutual stand down.

  “And what are these matters?” Brath asked calmly.

  “Foremost,” Tennlka began, “As King of Faelhart I must inform you that the family of the late Earl of Riverguard wants me to have you arrested and you have made it quite easy for me to do so.”

  “On what charges?” Brath asked.

  “Ten years ago you killed the Earl of Riverguard in your father’s name. The late Earl’s family now wants me to charge you with murder and have your life as penalty.”

  “I have come here under the banner of truce,” Brath objected, “It would be disgraceful to arrest me under that protection!”

  “Yes Sir Brath,” Tennlka answered, “I am aware. However I am also aware that in war, drastic measures are sometimes needed.

  “I am also aware that, in battle and war, death is unavoidable. If we charged everyone with murder who killed in battle we wouldn’t have any armies at all.”

  “So what do you propose?” Brath quarried.

  “I want Riverguard back under Faelhart’s control.” Tennlka announced, “However, as we are in a state of civil war I can’t afford the bloodshed.”

  “You seem to have brought yourself to an impasse.” Brath concluded.

  “No. I’m not.” Tennlka retorted, “You see, since my gold fed and outfitted your army for so many years, and you have no other way of returning my gold to me, your forces are going to either abandon Riverguard or enlist as soldiers of Faelhart. Within two weeks, Riverguard will once again be a Faelhart holding and you, Sir Brath, will be leading a Faelhart army of the once Dragon Lords to retake Laketown as well.”

  Brath’s laughter ripped through the air of the tent as he spat, “And what would inspire me to agree to that?”

  Tennlka’s demeanor changed from a casual, almost mocking display, to a serious, death like aura.

  “Simple,” Tennlka finished, “I do not have thousands of soldiers, but I do have ten Knights among my party. If you don’t agree to my demands then I’ll simply have my soldiers arrest you and send my Knights into the city. By morning your entire clan will be dead and the city will be mine.”

  “I thought you couldn’t afford the bloodshed?”

  “I can’t; but in battle and war, death is unavoidable.”

  Brath silently contemplated the situation and the King's words before he hesitantly responded, “And what would be my… reward?”

  Tennlka smiled as he replied, “Your own life, the Earldom of Riverguard, and a place of nobility in Faelhart.”

  Brath thought for a moment before answering, “How long do I have to consider?”

  “You can stay in my camp as long as you like.” Tennlka offered, “But in two weeks Riverguard will be mine and a Faelhart army will be marching on Laketown. The questions you should consider while you’re here are: do you want your clansmen to live? Do you want to be charged with murder? And do you want the Earldom?”

  *

  17 years ago

  Ilays raced along the tree branches, pursued by two Kin on the ground. They wouldn't have seen her in their pursuit of the three Lythrain riders, but Ilays had heard of the Silvergem House and when she saw their sigil on the jacket of one of the riders, she decided that a little risk this far from the front lines was acceptable. She slew one of the nine pursuers, and these two broke off to chase her instead. That still meant the small band of Silvergem refugees would have to deal with the remaining six, but she couldn't save everyone.

  She ducked around a trunk and leapt up to a higher branch. Below her, the Kin realized that they had lost her and stopped running, focusing on searching the treetops for their prey. Ilays knocked a second arrow to her bowstring.

  Now the hunters become the prey, she thought as
she released her arrow and killed one of the two.

  The shot gave away her position, but she slung her bow over her shoulder, drew one of her mother's scimitars, and leapt from the tree. In single combat, no one soldier of any race can best a Lythrain; and no one Lythrain could best Ilays.

  All is fair in love and war, she thought, a phrase she often heard Malenmar say as he had taught her that honor is for friendly duels and festivals - not battlefields.

  Using fear and panic, Ilays stunned the lone Kin, ripped his axe from his hands, and struck with her scimitar. She looked back, considering the three Silvergem riders that had been fleeing from the soldiers; one was a woman, and she was pregnant. The other two were likely guards, but two guards to six soldiers were not fair odds at all.

  No, she thought again, I can't save everyone. Ramier needs me.

  Sheathing her scimitar, she continued on her trek to the front lines

  *

  17 years ago

  Xardan may have brought an army into Reth, but it was an army accustomed to fighting on walls, hills, and plains. Within the blue and purple forest of Reth, they were outmatched by the Lythrain Rangers. Outmatched - until the Knight of the Black Era arrived. He couldn't be everywhere at once, but where he went the Rangers fell without challenge; when magi arrived to challenge his magic, he expertly countered every spell, cantrip, and Evocation. Ilays watched the advance of the Faelhart army for three days, and they only advanced where Xardan fought.

  They're taking prisoners to the rear camp, Ilays noted, protected from the front lines, but exposed to a rear assault.

  Ilays waited until Xardan fell back, exhausted from the use of his Knighthood; as he went to rest in his tent, Ilays Skipped across the battlefront to a large tree at the rear of the Faelhart camp. Within the tree, she Scry'd the prison tents, searching for Ramier. It only took a moment before an image of Ramier appeared in her mind; he was in a tent with several dozen other captured Rangers. She adjusted the Scry to a broader view of the prison tents - there were a dozen others just like it. In total, Xardan had taken hundreds of Rangers prisoner.

  I can't save them all... at least not alone.

  Drawing one of her mother's scimitars, Ilays descended into the underbrush and ducked behind the first row of tents. Careful to watch out for guards or patrols, Ilays slashed the back of the first tent and began ushering prisoners out.

  "Do not raise an alarm," she cautioned as they eagerly rushed out of the tent.

  She moved along the row of tents, slashing the back wall of each and liberating the prisoners inside. When the first row was done, she dashed across the street to work on the second row - the row where Ramier was kept.

  Shadows wrapped around her as she was exposed crossing between the tents, knocking her legs from under her and driving her to the ground. She twisted with agile grace and avoided the shadows meant to bind her in place. She Focused and cast a barrier of light using hope and ambition. Down the small street, no more than a half dozen paces away, stood the Knight of the Black Era flanked by two guards. Panic flooded through Ilays, all of her training forgotten as she stood before the merciless killer. His hand rested easily on the hilt of his sword, he made no movement to draw it.

  Without a word, Ilays slowly drew her mother's second scimitar and prepared to fight for her life; instinct would guide her spells and blades. Xardan Ta'Caran snapped his wrist and shadows whipped around him; to her surprise however, they did not attack her. Instead, the shadows struck the two guards flanking the Knight of the Black Era.

  "The guards raised the alarm," Xardan told her simply, "You should leave before more witnesses come. I will report that you killed these two, but no one will believe that you were still here when I arrived."

  "My brother is still in one of the tents." Ilays argued.

  "You don't have time!" Xardan repeated.

  "I will die before I leave him behind!"

  Shadows rose at each of the remaining tents and cut holes in the walls for the prisoners to escape through. As the captive Rangers began to pour out, Xardan said simply, "Meet me tomorrow at the Silvergem compound." Then he turned and seemed to melt into the shadows.

  Among the Rangers escaping, Ilays saw Ramier stumble onto the street.

  "RAMIER!" she shouted, running forward to embrace her brother.

  Shocked, Ramier took in the fallen soldiers in the street, the escaping prisoners, and Ilays wearing their mother's leathers and cloak and carrying her swords.

  "You did this!?" he asked disbelievingly.

  "Yes! I came to rescue you!"

  "I told you not to come Ilays! This is far too dangerous for you," Ramier said sternly, but his face belied his true feelings as he said "But I've never been more grateful to see you. Let's get out of here before the guards arrive."

  Once all of the Rangers were gathered in the forest at the rear of the Kin army, they all seemed to turn to Ilays. Seeing that they were relying on her for what little intelligence she had, she quickly said "I think the safest path is through these trees to the front line. Once we're there, we should be safe from the Kin. Keep a wary eye for the Knight and his shadow magic. Anyone here who has a talent in spells that hide or for defense, please join me at the rear of the army to try to mask our retreat or defend us if we're followed."

  Within seconds, the bulk of their now small army was headed at a decent speed toward the front, leaving about 25 men behind who approached Ilays. Upon realizing how young she was, many of them dismissed her outright and turned to Ramier with questioning eyes. Seeing them staring at him, he pointedly stared at his sister, awaiting her orders.

  "The rest of you, use this spell and it should confuse and distract any enemies that follow us. Put it in layers about every ten paces so as to confuse as many soldiers and Knights as we can." As she spoke, she wove a spell of love, confusion, shame, and forgetfulness along the tree line where the army would be most likely to follow through and tied it off.

  Once completed, the men around her all looked at her pointedly. One who seemed to be listening to her fairly well and seeming to want to stave off any chance of the others making a fool of the girl said "As much as we'd all love to do so, they confiscated our Foci. We had hoped you'd have extras since you broke so many of us free."

  Cursing herself for forgetting such a simple thing to have brought she looked at them all and said "I guess I do still have things to learn about mass rescues. I have only my own and a single spare that I planned to give to Ramier. Brother, would you recommend giving it to someone else here? A better spell caster?"

  As she said this, she pulled out the ring she had brought for her brother. She had felt ashamed about taking it from the fallen Ranger she had found the day before, but she had known that she'd need Ramier able to use magic to get away.

  Ramier quickly pointed at the man who had spoken to Ilays "Trel is our best man for this I think. Give it to him for now."

  She quickly handed it to him and he started the same weave that Ilays had used only a moment before.

  "Two barriers will have to do for now. Let's hurry and get out of here."

  No sooner had she finished the words than the Rangers all broke into a run to follow the bulk of their group. They ran without an apparent pursuit for about five minutes when Ilays finally felt the pull of men entering her spell. There were at least 15 of them, and from what she could tell, they were all being protected by a Knight, so her spell was useless. Upon sensing this, she said to Trel "Dismiss your weave and get ready. There are about 15 men and at least one Knight following us. The Knight is making sure the rest don't get confused. I'd recommend that we try to find decent weapons and prepare to defend ourselves."

  Ilays quickly drew one of her mother's scimitars and handed it to Ramier "Do me a favor and don't lose that. I intend to take it back when we're done. Keep running and take care of as many as you can. I think our only real chance is surprise. I'll catch up once the problem is dealt with."

  Before she could turn
away a hand grabbed her arm. "I can't let you face them alone. There are Knights back there!"

  "Ramier, I've been training for the last years with a Lythrain named Malenmar. He is a magician unlike any you have ever met. Once we're out of this mess, I'll take you to meet him, but for now you're going to have to trust that I know what I'm doing. Even if you had a Focus, you are exhausted. I’m well rested; please go. They won't expect an attack from the rear and I can dispatch the Knight before he even knows where I am. After that, the 15 Kin with them should be much simpler to deal with. I know you don't like, it, but it's our only chance at getting away."

  Grudgingly, Ramier slowly let go of his sister. Before allowing her to run off, he hugged her quickly to his chest, then ran after the rest of his men. Each of them seemed to have picked up large rocks or solid sticks to use as weapons. Smiling, Ilays turned from them and jumped into the nearest tree and up high enough to where she knew she could make the landing, but wouldn't be noticed. It was only after several seconds of waiting that she noticed Trel climbing up to the spot where she was.

  "You're much spryer than I thought you'd be," he whispered once he reached her "I'd be a disgrace to Lythrain everywhere if I left a young lady like yourself to kill nearly a score alone. What do you need me to do?"

  "Stay hidden until the Knight is dead. Once they’re taken care of, I will likely be hard pressed to kill the Kin. Feel free to jump in and help."

  Nodding his agreement he nestled into a crook of the tree and seemed to blend in there. She could tell he wasn't Focusing, but using his military training to stay hidden. Once he was hidden, Ilays pulled her bow off of her shoulder and knocked an arrow in preparation of the coming fight.

  They only needed to wait about two minutes before they saw the group coming through the trees. They were moving quickly for Kin and were likely being enhanced by a second Knight, but Ilays could tell the Knights from among the other Kin by their distinctive swords. Two bore a purple gemstones in the cross guards, declaring their powers as non-elemental; likely they were protecting the others from getting confused and granting them increased speed. A third bore a brown gemstone in his cross guard, declaring his power with the Earth; dangerous in Reth, since his power could use plants or stone.