To Claim the Elvin Princess: Apprentice

by Jack Bessie

  “Burn it!” he whispered, before making his way back to the first building. The others had examined it, and had news of a sort.

  “It was once a storehouse...but is filled with places where people slept! Likely the Elvin were kept in here, at least some of them!” Kimarien declared, his voice a whisper. “There is much that will burn!” he added.

  “Good, torch it. Hurry!” he insisted, knowing that the remainder of his flyers would arrive at any moment.

  The two wooden structures were soon burning, and Rasten and his men had moved off behind another, well away.

  Crouching behind the structure, peering around, he noted a lone Eridian venture forth, to toss more wood on one of the fires. Rasten whispered to the Elf with the bow, to keep him from letting an arrow fly, not wishing to give an alarm.

  “There’re here!” he heard from behind himself, and suddenly the air was full of the sound of beating wings. A hundred terranaks emerged from the black sky, and landed in the clearing to the south of the village. These Elvin leaped down, to prepare for the expected rush of Eridians, but none appeared. The sound of a couple of doors opening, was the only sound from the village.

  The Elvin who had landed, went rushing for the buildings and houses, throwing open doors, but found no one inside. Four Eridians emerged, including the one Rasten had seen earlier, cautiously, with their hands held high, and they stood, offering no resistance when the Elvin rushed them.

  Rasten motioned for his close companions to follow, and they moved around from their place of concealment, swords drawn and bows strung, expecting some sort of trap.

  One of the Elvin flyers approached him and spoke.

  “There appears to be no one here...except these four; every building is empty!” the elf declared.

  Rasten nodded, and stepped close to the Eridians.

  “What might you tell us of this? Do you know where your people have gone?”

  The Eridians looked back and forth to each other, before one nodded.

  “Shocara took her warriors to Sardac, to launch an attack on some village. She feared you might come here in there absence, and sent all the women and children elsewhere.”

  “Do you know where?” Rasten wondered.

  “No. She said nothing to us of such,” the man replied, no trace of lie plain to Rasten’s truthsense.

  “Did the Elvin females go with them?” Rasten wondered.

  “They took them somewhere,” the man sighed. “What will you do with us?” he asked, his fear showing.

  “Perhaps we should take you with us, to see how honest you are?” Rasten suggested. “You fear we might kill you?”

  “Shocara hoped you might spare us, my lord...we are not warriors, but only ones who tend the animals and crops!”

  “Did you volunteer for this task?”

  “Yes...because we four have no wives or children, that might suffer, should we perish,” the man replied, clearly proud to be able to contribute to his people’s efforts, no matter how dangerous it was.

  “Take them over there, and watch them!” Rasten commanded. He walked over to his commanders, to consider what they might do.

  “You judge them to be honest?” Kimarien asked.

  “They told no lies, but only what they had been told to say. Shocara wishes to entice us to fight her at a place of her choosing! She guesses that we might fly directly to her, wishing to use the darkness to aid us!

  “Lord Rasten! Sardac is a wicked place! There is little clear area close in, where a large force such as we have might land! The camp is ringed with cut off saplings, sharpened, which might impale a landing terranon, or rider, leaping down in the dark!”

  “So I’ve heard. Here, the darkness would have been our friend; there we need light. I suggest we rest a while, and then fly so as to arrive at the break of dawn, where we might have enough light to avoid unpleasant surprises, and where we could fall on them while they are tired. They will stay up late, expecting us to drop in!” Rasten laughed. “I just hope they don’t run off; we could end up following them around like fools!”

  “Somehow I doubt they’ll do that. I think she hopes we’ll come there, and be at some disadvantage. She seems smart and devious!”

  “She likely is!” Rasten agreed.

  They quickly set up guards, who would take turns, so all might get some sleep. Rasten lay awake a time, trying to envision what Shocara might be planning, but eventually grew tired.

  My visions and dreams all showed us in dire striates, in the dark, fighting by firelight! Hopefully, my choosing to wait until daybreak will render that less possible!” he thought, hoping he was correct.

  59

  When night had fallen, Shocara began to pace. It had finally come to her that they would have no way to know when or even if the Elvin might arrive to attack them. While it seemed reasonable that they would wish to move quickly to take advantage of the darkness, she had to consider that the Elvin might not be so foolish. As the time dragged on, this seemed more likely.

  “Are we supposed to stay awake all night?” Hacarim wondered, as they waited.

  “I don’t know! I assumed they would wish to move quickly, while still fresh and eager to use the darkness, but perhaps they sense a trap, and will now wait! They could have been here by now...perhaps we should try to sleep some. If they wait until light, we would be dead on our feet! Set up guards to watch and tend the fires, rotating them, so all can get some rest. We need to be prepared for anything!” she sighed, frustrated that the Elvin were not cooperating with her plans.

  The men will think me a fool, if the Elvin do not come! What if they simply burn our village and return to Alarinad?! she thought, terrified suddenly, having not considered such a possibility. She tossed and turned on the hard damp ground, finally managing to sleep, but her repose was filled by evil dreams.

  She awoke while it was still dark and listened, but heard nothing. A strong wind was blowing from the south west, and made hearing more difficult, especially from the east. This had concealed the rushing sound of the Elvin terranaks, flowing from the north like water, swinging low and wide of the encampment and landing well away from the eyes of the watchers, had there been enough light to see well. The sky to the east was brightening rapidly, as half of Rasten’s warriors dismounted, and moved off through the trees, the damp leaves muffling the sound of their foot falls.

  “We need to get someone on the tower, to watch for the Elvin!” she called to one of those standing watch. A lone Eridian soon moved towards the forest edge, where his terranon was waiting. He was visible to Rasten, who had reached the edge of the trees, and was crouching, as his warriors moved into position.

  “Take him!” he whispered to Kimarien, who had strung his bow. In spite of the dim light, the Eridian was soon visible as a shadow against the brightening sky, as he prepared to swing his leg over the saddle. Kimarien’s arrow hit him perfectly, and moaning slightly, he fell backward and dropped to the ground.

  Shocara had gone off to pee, and soon noted that the flyer had not departed.

  “What is keeping Jaric?” she wondered, stepping back to the closest fire, to address those standing. There was much stirring, but all were still tired and groggy. One started to jog towards where the other had gone, when he suddenly screamed, as another Elvin arrow pierced him.

  “The Elvin are here!” Shocara screamed, as Rasten and the others ran headlong at them.

  The Elvin unleashed a barrage of arrows, which caught several of the Eridians who were standing. Shocara ran through the camp, kicking men who had not yet woken, screaming loudly to get them up and with swords drawn. She grabbed one young one, and pointed at the forest opposite the side the Elvin were emerging from.

  “Run and wake all the men hidden in the woods...they are our only hope!” she hissed, and turned back, drawing her sword, not looking to see him run off.

  “At them! Fight!” she called, rushing to meet the closest Elvin. She hoped to make quick work of him, but found hers
elf well met, the elf wise and well experienced. One of her men joined her, driving the elf back, and she used this chance to look around, to evaluate what they faced. They seemed well matched, until she noted a mass of Elvin flyers landing off to the south, these one’s running to join the fray.

  Her warriors were being pushed back slowly, until those in the forest burst forth, eager to come to her aid. This gave her warriors momentum, until the extra Elvin could join the battle.

  “Form a wedge!” she called, and her call was repeated, passed from man to man. All understood she wished to pull into a tight triangle, whose base was close to the forest, so they might retreat back towards their terranaks, and escape if needed. Against such a tight formation, even a mass of Elvin might struggle to break the lines, or disrupt their enemies retreat. Rasten, seeing this, was eager to stop such a maneuver.

  He waved to his new forces, arriving, running to meet them.

  “Come! Let us circle round the Eridians, and squeeze them a bit!”

  He was soon running through the forest, leading a hundred Elvin, wanting to circle and stop any Eridian retreat. The Eridians, seeing this, had a dozen sheath their swords, and resort to their bows, intending to hamper the Elvin advance. They were soon frustrated, the trees catching most of their arrows, as the Elvin dodged and weaved to make themselves harder to strike. The Elvin bowmen had better luck, pausing behind trees, to steady their aim, and gain a clearer target. A dozen Eridians soon fell, which helped to make the Eridians even more desperate to flee.

  “Kimarien! Take men and go for their mounts!” he called, and the elf split off with a dozen, and headed straight ahead, to try and reach the Eridian terranaks first. The Elves were much fleeter of foot than the heavier Eridians, and soon left the slow moving barbarians behind. Rasten gained enough position to be able to fall on the Eridians from behind, forcing them to now fight on two fronts.

  This caused the barbarians to bunch up, still being pushed back by the Elvin from one side, but up against Rasten and his Elvin on the other. The fighting was brutal and difficult, the forest hampering everyone’s ability to swing a sword freely. Several Eridians fell to the Elvin’s skill, but Rasten suddenly found the tables turned, Kimarien and his ones arriving being chased by five times as many Eridians, who had been with the terranons. It was now the Elvin fighting on two fronts.

  “Close up and push this way!” Rasten screamed pointing north with his sword. The Elvin worked fiercely to follow his lead, finally breaking away from between the two masses of Eridians. “Don’t let them surround us! Move toward their camp!” he called, working steadily to his left, while still fending off the Eridians in front of him. Seeing the clearing getting closer, He pushed off to the fringe of his group, to better see what was happening in the camp itself. He noted the Eridians still standing, being led by Shocara, shoulder to shoulder, and holding the Elvin well at bay.

  “Follow me!” he called, and a dozen ran with him, heading straight at the place where Shocara was positioned. He called for the ones fighting there to give ground quickly, and this opened a gap, where he and his fellows could squeeze through, falling on Shocara as a group.

  Rasten gave no thought to anything but meeting her sword, but soon found himself in a battle to just stay alive. Her skill was superb, being quick like Amein, but she had more native strength than an elf might display. He soon found himself alone with her, the other Eridians pushed back. Rasten called out orders, wanting his warriors to push hard for the advantage. Noting that she was being left behind, Shocara thought to turn and flee, but Rasten swung a kick at her, which caught her and knocked her down.

  He leaped towards her, stepping on her sword, and had a dagger slashed crossed his belly, that only his mail saved him from. Shocara managed to land her boot into his crotch, and scrambled to her feet while he tried to keep from falling over from her blow. He barely managed to fend off her sword strike, and as his vision cleared, they returned to their battle.

  Shocara suddenly turned and ran into the forest, with Rasten on her heels, She veered away from the mass of Elvin and Eridians, going deeper into the trees.

  Rasten half expected her to turn, but was not expecting her to grab a strong sapling, and use it to spin around to confront him. Her sword thrust was turned by his mail, but his side absorbed the huge blow, making him gasp.

  “Perhaps you’ll like that?! she laughed wickedly. Rasten swung at her, but caught the tip of his sword on a low hanging tree branch. He was able to stop her counter strike, barely, but was soon chasing her again, as she turned and ran away.

  He pursued her more cautiously, starting to feel tired. Shocara was also showing signs of fatigue, and breathing hard.

  She soon turned again, having noted that the Eridians were pushing the Elvin steadily back towards the camp.

  She lunged at Rasten, determined to best him, but he managed to land a ringing blow against her sword, which snapped only a few inches from the hilt. Shocara found the point of his sword against her throat, as he pushed her back against a tree. They stood, eyes locked, Shocara’s enraged. They were both winded, almost too tired to move. Rasten intended to secure her, to make her a prisoner, but he heard his name being called. Pushing slightly harder with his sword, to keep her pinned, he turned to glance, wanting to see what was happening.

  Shocara bowed her throat back, and slammed Rasten’s sword aside with her broken one, using the guard and small blade fragment to move it away. Before Rasten could react, she slammed the side of his head with the hilt of her sword, dropping him like a stone.

  Shocara wasted no time, dropping to her knees, and pulling two leather ties from her pockets, tying Rasten’s hands quickly together with one, and his ankles with the other.

  Her view of the fighting showed that the Eridians were still pushing the Elvin back, and she ran to guide them. When the Elvin signaled each other to retreat, Shocara called loudly to stop her warriors from perusing them. They had lost many men, but had inflicted many deaths on the Elvin also.

  With Rasten missing, Kimerien had taken command, eager to withdraw, and stop the bleeding. There was no way to call this a victory, and the Elvin knew it, even though they had inflicted many casualties.

  “Where is Lord Rasten?!” Kimerien demanded, as they prepared to hurriedly mount up.

  “I last saw him fighting that female!” someone called.

  More checking turned up no sign of Rasten.

  “What should we do...leave him?” a voice called.

  “He’s likely dead...he was fighting Shocar! We can’t lose more people, trying to find his body! I’d rather die, than have to tell the Princess...” he sighed, pulling on the reins.

  Shocara had walked through her warriors, seeing how many were lost.

  “We did well...I think we killed more than they did!” Hacarim suggested, looking exhausted.

  “If they didn’t burn our village, we have won. Come, see what I captured!” she suggested. She led Hacarim and a few others into the forest, hunting for Rasten. She found him, half unconscious, still lying where he had fallen.

  “He’s important...the Elvin followed his commands! And he’s mine!” she said, with a smug laugh. “Strap him on my terranon, like a dead game animal! I shall have much delight abusing him!”

  ***

  The saga continues in:

  To Claim the Elvin Princess:

  Warrior

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  Enjoy

  To Claim The Elvin Princess

  Book Two:

  Warrior

  A Novel By

  Jack Bessie

  1

  Rastin was supremely thankful that he had lied regarding who he was. He had traveled from Sardac to Shocara’s village strapped over Shocara’s terranak. He had been dragged off the beast, rudely dragged into the village and stripped, before being tied to a pole. He had been well abused, beaten and whipped a bit, before the Eridians had tired of his stoic manner, and had locked him in a small building. Both his wrists and ankles were well secured with coarse rope, and lying on his side, arms behind his back, he could do nothing that might help him escape.

  The camp had been quite busy, and he had been fed some bread and given a bowl of water, much as an animal might be fed. He considered this annoying, but was thankful to even be alive. His side ached, from Shocara’s sword strike, the mail keeping him from be hacked in two, but the force of the blow much like a hammer. Part of the warriors had flown off somewhere, and returned two days later, as had the Eridian women and children. The Elvin had only burned a couple of storage buildings, which had much pleased the Eridians. Rasten could only listen, and try to guess what was afoot, trying the comprehend the speech of the Eridians through the log walls difficiult.