Persephonie could sense Mat’s mood getting dark, and the whole table was feeling the effects. She didn’t like the gloomy mood and wanted to change it.
“So what’s this caribou we’re eating?” she asked. “Did they just make up a name that sounded funny?”
As she had hoped someone would, Banji chimed up. He told the group all about caribou. He was very animated, and it was obvious that he loved telling stories. Caribou, he told them, were like big shaggy deer with huge antlers. They lived in the mountains and were used by the locals as a source of food and clothing. Everyone pretty much knew what a caribou was, but he was so animated that he had everyone’s attention.
“And that’s not even the interesting stuff,” Banji said when it seemed he said everything there was to know about caribou.
“What else could there possibly be?” Dimitri asked with a chuckle as he finished his bowl of stew.
“I’m glad you asked,” Banji said as Arajin rolled his eyes. He had obviously heard this before.
Undeterred, Banji launched into a fantastic story of magical flying deer and mysterious people far to the north. He tried to convince the group that there was a magical breed of these caribou that could fly. They were raised by a mysterious race of people that no one ever saw but were reported to help those in need. Banji insisted he had met a man who was saved by them after getting hopelessly lost in the far north.
“And I suppose next you’re going to tell us there is a 20 foot monster that terrorizes people that try to travel that far north?” Arajin said with a chuckle.
“As a matter of fact,” Banji replied, “I think that man mentioned something about being chased by a big white creature. He thought it was a polar bear, but I’ll bet it was that monster you just mentioned.”
Arajin slapped his hand on the table and roared with laughter. Soon the whole table was laughing and having a good time. Persephonie was happy that the mood had improved and joined in enthusiastically. She noticed Banji seemed a little dejected and wondered if he really believed the story he was telling. Before she could ask him about it, she saw Michael walking towards them and knew the time for joking was over.
“We have a lot to talk about,” Michael announced as he reached the table. “Let’s meet upstairs where we can have a little more privacy.”
Everyone could tell by Michael’s stern expression that something was wrong and the rumors of invasion were probably true. They quickly finished up their stew and re-convened in Michael’s room to hear what he had found out.
Michael quickly relayed what he’d learned from his agents in Last Hope. No one in the group other than Mat and Persephonie knew about his intelligence network, so he was intentionally vague on how he gathered all the information. Normally, he wouldn’t have shared as much as he did for fear of the truth being discovered, but he didn’t feel as if he had any choice in this situation.
According to his reports, the Wall of Salvation had been breached about a month before. The entire company of knights assigned to guard it had been slaughtered, and no message was sent to alert the King. Word reached the Basilican Monastery through a mountain trapper, and they sent scouts out to verify. By the time those scouts got there, a huge camp had been set up on the southern side of the wall, and more invaders were coming over day and night.
The Northern Army wasn’t taking time to tear down the wall, they were simply sending people over on 20 or more huge ladders. They were using simple cranes to lift supplies over the wall, and it was apparent that this was a well-planned invasion. While the men and supplies were slowly coming over the wall, siege engines were being built from the plentiful lumber on the south side of the wall.
The scouts reported that the Northern Kingdom army at the wall had at least 250,000 fighting men. By the time cooks, blacksmiths, and other camp followers were accounted for, there were probably 300,000 people getting ready to advance into Solandeus. It was estimated that it would take two or three more weeks to get the rest of the soldiers and supplies over the wall. That was three weeks ago.
This army was undoubtedly the largest army to ever invade Solandeus. Even if every fighting-age man in the Kingdom was mustered, they would still be outnumbered by a significant amount. It was clear to the group that things were looking bleak.
Unfortunately, the King didn’t have that same outlook. The Basilican Monastery sent messenger pigeons to the capital city as soon as they got word of the invasion and again after the scouts returned. The King refused to believe the reports and sent a contingent of 1000 knights to take care of the invasion. When none of those knights returned, he sent another 2000 knights, and none of those returned either. Those 3000 knights accounted for a tenth of the army stationed in the capital city, and their loss would sorely felt when the siege came.
“There have been no new reports in the last week,” Michael added, “but as you have probably seen, rumors of the invasion are spreading. I don’t know if the Northern Army is still camped at the wall or is marching on the capital city.”
“We have to get to the capital before the siege starts,” Mat said. “We have to leave now.”
“I agree,” Michael said. “Everyone gather your gear and get ready to leave. We ride in an hour.”
As they filtered out of the room, Michael grabbed Mat’s elbow and steered him over to a corner . He waited until everyone else was gone and the door was closed before saying more.
“There were no signs of survivors when the Northern Kingdom attacked the Wall of Salvation,” Michael told him in a soft tone.
“I know,” Mat replied. “You said that already.”
Michael looked at Mat with a deep sadness in his eyes. “We haven’t been able to confirm it,” Michael said, “but we believe your brother Gavin was stationed on the wall when it was attacked.”
Mat just looked at Michael, unable to say anything. His mind refused to believe that his brother could be dead. His chest felt tight, and he was having a hard time breathing.
“No,” he choked. “Gavin was still training. He wouldn’t be on duty yet. Your agents must be mistaken.”
Even as he tried to deny it, he knew it was true. Gavin had been training for over a year. He was an excellent swordsman and was a quick learner. He would have completed training quickly and advanced faster than most.
“Why don’t you sit down and let this sink in for a few minutes,” Michael said. “I will take care of your gear and getting your horse saddled.”
Mat sunk into the chair by the fireplace and put his head in his hands. It just didn’t seem real. He had never considered that some of his family would die in this conflict. The good guys were always supposed to win, weren’t they?
“I will give you as much time as I can,” Michael said as he headed towards the door, “but we need to leave within the hour. I know it’s hard to take, but you will have to put it behind you quickly. There is too much at stake to linger here.”
Mat looked up at him. His eyes were red, but there were no tears. “I will be ready,” he said softly. “Don’t tell the others. I don’t need any pity.”
There was more that Michael needed to tell him, but he knew this wasn’t the right time, so he quietly left the room and left Mat to sort through his feelings. He hoped that this wouldn’t be too much for him to take. He knew this wouldn’t be the last time Mat would have to come to terms with death, and he hoped that he would be able to cope with everything that was coming their way.
Chapter 3
They rode out of Last Hope an hour later as planned. The mood was far different than it had been only a few hours before. The group had arrived in high spirits after finding the Helmet of Salvation, but the news of the invasion destroyed that; Mat was taking the news about his brother especially hard.
It was approaching sundown, and normally that would be too late to start a journey, but there was no time to waste if they were to beat the Northern Kingdom army to Westport. They would have to travel late into the night and start again befo
re the sun came up. Night travel was risky because if a horse stepped in a hole and broke a leg, they would have to leave someone behind while the rest of the group pushed on.
Mat rode alone at the back of the group, trying to come to grips with his brother’s death. Even though he had asked Michael not to share the news about his brother, the rest of the group knew something terrible had happened and respected his need for solitude that first day out of Last Hope.
After riding until midnight, they made a cold camp and slept for a few fitful hours. When they started out the next morning, Mat seemed more like himself. He was more talkative and anxious to continue on the quest so he could ultimately avenge his brother.
Mat did a good job of convincing most of the group he was doing well, but Persephonie could see the tension in his face and knew he was still struggling with the news about his brother. It was a feeling that she couldn’t fully understand. She was an only child who didn’t remember her mother and wasn’t close to her father. When her father died, she didn’t feel anything other than regret that she never had strong family relationships. The only thing she could think of was to make small talk and be there if, or when, he wanted to talk about it.
Mat and Persephonie rode together at the back of the group the second day. They were far enough away that the others wouldn’t be able to hear them, but they were within sight.
“Michael said he thinks we can make it to Westport by tomorrow afternoon,” Persephonie said to Mat as they were riding. “We may even make it to the main highway late tonight.”
“As long as we get there before the Northern Army, we should be ok,” Mat replied. “If not, we’ll have to fight our way through.”
“We could try to find a way to go around,” Persephonie offered.
“We don’t have time to spare,” Mat said. “Besides, we’re gonna have to fight sooner or later, and I have a score to settle.”
“You can’t fight the entire army,” Persephonie told him. “I know you have a lot of anger inside, but getting yourself killed won’t change anything.”
“I know,” Mat said. “I just feel like I need to do something. I need to make someone pay.”
“You’ll get your chance,” Persephonie promised, “but we need to make sure you’re ready. You have to find the rest of the armor. The prophecies are very clear. The Armor of God must be reassembled, which means all of it must be found. We don’t even have half of it yet.”
“There may not be time for that,” Mat told her. “We may have to do our best with what we have.”
“You have to think about the big picture!” Persephonie demanded. “This war is bigger than one or two battles. You have to finish the quest.”
Persephonie had not intended to get mad at him. She knew that wasn’t what Mat needed, but she couldn’t let him abandon the quest for the armor.
“I’m sorry,” Persephonie said to Mat. “I know you have a lot on your mind and don’t need me telling you what to do. It’s just that you are so important to the future of Solandeus, and maybe the whole world.”
“I know,” Mat said. “I’ll do the best I can. Just remember, prophecies aren’t always right. Besides, you can’t tell what they mean, exactly, until after they have passed.”
Before the debate could continue any further, Banji rode back to Mat and Persephonie. “Are you guys talking about the trip to the Northern Kingdom?” Banji asked. “I have never been there before. I’ve never been on a ship either. I think it’s going to be so exciting.”
“I don’t know if we’re even going to go any more,” Mat said.
“Of course we are,” Banji said. “We’re gonna get to Westport before the Northern Army. We’re gonna sail to the Northern Kingdom and recover the rest of the armor. After that, we’re gonna come back and kick Anton’s butt all the way back to the Wall of Salvation and beyond.”
Before Mat could respond, Dimitri and Lucas came crashing through the trees and raced towards Michael and Arajin. They had been scouting ahead and must have seen something.
“Let’s find out what’s going on,” Mat said as he nudged his horse into a trot.
When they caught up with the others, Dimitri was telling them what they had seen while Lucas occasionally added something in sign language to Arajin.
“It looks like a scouting party,” Dimitri said. “There didn’t appear to be more than 10 people. I don’t know if they’re searching for something, or someone, specifically, but they are definitely on the lookout. It will be hard to surprise them.”
“Only 10?” Mat asked. “That shouldn’t be much of a problem. We’ll just ride in and take care of them.”
“Don’t get cocky,” Michael warned. “A stray arrow or a lucky blow can kill even the most fearsome warrior. A smart warrior always minimizes risks and proceeds with caution.”
Mat bristled at the scolding and glared back at him, but didn’t say anything so Michael continued. “We approach with caution. If we can find a spot where we can shoot safely, Mat and Persephonie can show off their skill with a bow. You should each be able to get off a couple shots before they take cover. That will make it an even fight. Then we ride in and finish the fight before anyone can get away and report back.”
“Does anyone have anything to add?” Michael asked and pointedly looked at Mat.
“No,” Mat replied. “Let’s do it.”
As they rode towards the enemy scouting party, Michael grabbed Mat by the arm to get his attention. “I know you’re hurting, but don’t be reckless,” he warned. “Don’t let anger cloud your judgment.”
Mat pulled away and rode off after the others. He understood Michael and Persephonie were both right, but all he could think about was vengeance. He knew he would have to get over that, but for now, his focus was on avenging his brother.
Michael watched him ride away and didn’t say anything else. He knew Mat was having a hard time with his brother’s death and wanted to give him time to come to grips with it. Unfortunately, time was a luxury they didn’t have, and he had to make sure Mat got his head on straight sooner rather than later. This small group of scouts shouldn’t provide too big of a problem, so he decided it was safe to let Mat take out a little bit of frustration now. After this battle, he would talk to him more and try to help him get his thoughts straight.
Chapter 4
They stopped right before the top of a hill to discuss their strategy for the coming skirmish. It appeared that luck was on their side, because the enemy scouting party was at the bottom of the hill in a small clearing. There were 10 men, and they had stopped for lunch. It appeared that they didn’t have anyone standing guard, and everyone was sitting around talking.
Mat and Persephonie quietly rode into the woods at the top of the hill. Mat was on the right side of the road, and Persephonie was on the left. They were able to stay somewhat concealed in the trees and, unless someone looked directly at them, they wouldn’t be noticed. As the others got into position, ready to charge down the hill, they each readied an arrow in their bow.
When everyone was ready, Michael whistled softly to signal Mat and Persephonie. As soon as they heard the whistle, Mat and Persephonie each let their first arrow fly. Before the arrows struck their targets, both had second arrows on the way. By the time the scouting party knew they were under attack, four men were down and the rest of the group was racing down the hill at them.
As Mat rode down the slope, he took another arrow from his quiver and pulled back his bow. His horse, Spirit, was well trained and ran smoothly. Mat took aim at the closest enemy soldier as he scrambled to defend himself. The arrow hit him in the shoulder, spinning him around. He probably wouldn’t die from the shot, but he definitely wasn’t going to be very effective in the battle. After Mat’s third shot found its mark, the remaining enemy soldiers began to scatter.
Michael and Arajin rode after two soldiers who were trying to escape into the woods on the right side of the road. Arajin’s war hammer and Michael’s long sword were effecti
ve weapons to be used from a galloping horse, and they used them like the experienced warriors they were.
As Arajin approached a fleeing soldier, he raised his war hammer high and swung down at the man’s head. The soldier turned and attempted to block the blow with his sword, but there was too much power; the hammer crashed into his helmet, and he crumpled to the ground.
With his sword held out to the side ready to strike, Michael rode towards the other fleeing soldier. Never looking back, the man kept running. Michael leaned to the side and swung down at the man’s back. He didn’t swing hard, but used the horse’s momentum to give the blow power, and he nearly cut the man in half.
On the other side of the road, Lucas and Dimitri pursued the remaining enemy soldiers. Lucas leapt off his horse and tackled one of them before he could reach the woods. Lucas quickly jumped to his feet and drew both swords that were strapped to his back. As the enemy rose to his own feet, Lucas lunged forward with both swords and skewered the man. Dimitri intercepted the other soldier and vaulted from his horse with swords drawn. As he skid to a stop, he deflected a thrust from a spear with the sword in his left hand and stabbed forward with his right sword. The man’s momentum carried him right into the sword point, and he crumpled to the ground with a deep chest wound.
Banji rode after the last man who was speeding down the road away from them. As he closed in, Banji took a throwing knife from the sheath on his forearm. He threw the knife as the man crested the hill. It hit him in the middle of the back, and he fell forward and rolled down the other side of the hill. Banji rode after him to make sure he didn’t get away.
As Mat and Persephonie made it to the bottom of the hill, they skidded to a stop in the clearing. All around them, the remaining enemy soldiers were being dispatched. They looked around the clearing for signs of more soldiers but didn’t see any. Mat was dismounting when he saw Banji galloping back from the opposite side of clearing.
Armor of God (Salvation of Solandeus Book 2) Page 2