Dawn of the Valiant (The Valerious Chronicles: Book One)

by Julian Saheed

Harrinus and Errollan could barely see the steps as they walked up the spiral staircase. Each held a large torch that crackled in the silent tower, but the minimal light did little to brighten the black stone of the passage. Behind them walked a young page, barely eleven summers old, carrying a heavy bundle that fell to his knees from his neck where he struggled to keep it up. They passed a thin window and saw the city spread out before them, only a few lights burned at this late hour. Harrinus estimated that they were but forty feet from the top of the tower.

  The General kept his pace slightly slower than Errollan, who was storming up the stairs, eager to reach the summit. Events had occurred too quickly for Harrinus to keep up with them. He knew that what they would do this night would change the entire world. It had been ages since the Maloreichar had declared marshal law. Since then the people had changed. How would they react now that Errollan had taken control of the armies of Feldom? Harrinus sighed. There was only one way to find out.

  Errollan placed his boot on the final step and unlatched the heavy door that led to the roof. The door creaked, as the rusty hinges struggled to work and finally the moonlight streamed into the stairway, followed by a chilled night time wind. Errollan turned and took the bundle from the page, who let his sore shoulders slump and leaned against the wall. Harrinus quickly followed Errollan outside and stopped in his tracks as he realised how high they were.

  They stood on the crown of the Citadel's middle tower and around them stretched the City of Skiye. The wind upon the roof blew so powerfully that Harrinus was afraid to move to the barriers of the roof that stood waist high. Errollan seemed unfazed by the height and moved to the massive iron pole that rose into the sky, an extra thirty feet above the towers four hundred foot height. Unwrapping the bundle, the Honour Guard pulled out a great banner that almost flew from his grip in the turbulent gust. Harrinus moved to help him and together they attached it to the strong rope running along the post.

  Harrinus then took hold of the second rope that ran down the pole and began to hoist up the banner. His arms ached with each mighty tug, but soon the banner was up at the highest point in the city. They tied the rope down and looked up to watch the wind completely unravel the standard. Slowly but steadily the current of air unfolded the banner and there in front of their very eyes, snapping stoutly in the wind, was the banner of war.

  It showed a proud brown Stallion rearing up with an angel on his back. The blue of Skiye dominating the background, with hints of red swirled amongst the image.

  Harrinus had never seen the banner flying from the roof of the city and knew that when the morning sun rose, along with the people of the city, the world would be a different place.

  CHAPTER TWENTY THREE

  THE VALIANT