Jiron positions himself over James and Miko while the others form a circle around them. Knife at the ready in his good hand, he stands firm as he watches the riders thunder closer.
The area around where the barrier had been is littered with the dead and provides them some cover. Also, the charging riders have to slow when they reach it to prevent their horses from stumbling.
Illan and the others move to attack while the riders are trying to move through the dead bodies. “For Madoc!” the battle cry can be heard as Uther’s sword takes out the first rider.
Other cries are heard as the battle is joined. Hinney and Keril stand shoulder to shoulder as they manage to hold their own against three riders.
One horseless rider manages to break through the ring of defenders and runs toward where Jiron is waiting. A smile crosses the rider’s face when he sees a man with only one good arm and just wielding a dagger at that.
Striking out at Jiron with his sword, the man so sure of victory, is surprised when Jiron easily deflects it to the side. Suddenly crying out in pain, the man falls to the ground after Jiron breaks his knee with a well placed kick. Trying to block Jiron’s next attack, he swings his sword wildly.
Jiron strikes out with his foot again and connects with the man’s groin. Then with his other foot he kicks the man’s swordarm, causing the sword to go flying. He then moves in with his knife and finishes him.
Standing up, he looks around at the battles going on around him. The defenders are taking a toll, especially Jorry and Uther who have a ring of bodies around them. Fifer has two dead while Illan and Yern have accounted for seven.
Keril suddenly cries out as a sword takes him in the side. Hinney quickly engages the rider as his friend falls to the ground. Other riders come and join the one fighting Hinney, Jiron knows he’s not going to last long.
Suddenly, to the south, more horns can be heard. Jiron looks and sees dozens of riders riding fast toward them. Damn! More reinforcements!
The horns sound again and an answering horn can be heard coming from the pass. The riders engaging the defenders suddenly break off and race to their awaiting horses. Leaping atop them, they join the riders coming fast from the pass.
Jiron can see the clan chiefs giving them an ugly look that says this isn’t over before they race off to the west. The large group of riders coming from the south breaks into two groups, the larger of the two turn to follow the clan chiefs. The smaller group approaches the scene of the battle.
“They’re ours,” says Illan when he can make them out. “Everyone alive?” he asks as he quickly takes stock of the situation. Coming over to where Hinney sits with Keril, he realizes Keril isn’t going to survive much longer. He kneels down as Keril turns his pain filled eyes to him.
“Did we win?” Keril asks.
“Yes, son,” Illan says to him soothingly, “we did. You fought bravely which saved the day.”
A smile spreads across his face.
When Hinney looks up at him, hope in his eyes, he shakes his head.
Illan gets back up, pats Hinney on the shoulder and goes over to see how James and Miko are doing, leaving him alone to share Keril’s last moments in peace.
Jiron sees him approaching and says, “They’re alive. Not sure if they will make it, though. James isn’t doing too well and Miko, well, I can’t even begin to guess about him. He doesn’t respond, though he only has minor cuts and bruises.”
“Keep an eye on them,” he says as he moves to greet the approaching riders, Jorry and Uther join him. He notices Uther has a blood soaked cloth tied around his arm and arcs an eyebrow in question.
“It’s not bad,” Uther tells him. “Just a minor cut.”
Nodding, Illan turns back to the riders. Once they’ve come close, he holds up his hand and says, “Thank you.”
The officer in charge says to his men, “Fan out and see if there’re any left alive.” As they move to comply, he gets down from his horse and greets Illan. “What the hell happened here?” The insignia on his uniform says he’s a Madoc cavalry captain.
“We were set upon as we were about to enter the pass,” Illan explains.
The officer gazes around at the hundreds of dead scattered about and the holes where the explosions had occurred. Then he turns his attention to Illan and his group. “You all there are?” he asks incredulously.
“Yes,” he replies.
“How did you manage to kill all these and only lose three?” he asks.
“Actually, we only lost one,” he tells him. Indicating James and Miko, he adds, “The other two are just unconscious.”
“I see,” the officer says. He holds out his hand and says, “Name’s Captain Herril.”
Taking the hand, Illan says, “Illan.”
“Now, how did you do it?” he asks.
“Can’t really explain it,” he says. Changing the subject, he asks, “How did you come to be here?”
“Yesterday, the Empire’s forces launched a major offensive against our line,” he says. “This group here was seen to pass by while we were engaged with the others. Once reinforcements arrived and the line stabilized again, I was sent to track them down.”
“Fortunate,” Illan comments.
“Yes, it seems so,” Captain Herril says. “You wouldn’t know anything about why they’re here would you?”
“I’m sure I don’t know,” Illan says, straight faced.
“Uh-huh,” he says, not sounding convinced.
One of his men rides up and salutes, “A couple are still alive.”
“Take them for questioning,” he tells the man.
Saluting, the rider returns and with others, begins rounding up the survivors.
“Where do you plan to go from here?” the captain asks.
“Through the pass into Cardri,” Illan says.
“And then?” he asks again.
“Who knows for sure?” replies Illan.
Illan notices that someone, probably Jiron, had covered up Abula-Mazki’s body to avoid any questions there. “We should be going,” he tells the captain. To Uther he says, “Go round up our horses, we’ll bury Keril first and then head into the pass.”
Jorry and Uther move away as they begin to round up their horses that had been scattered during the battle.
“I’d still like to know how you did this,” the captain demands, not going to be balked further in this.
Illan turns to where Jiron is sitting by James and hollers, “Get the letter.”
Nodding, Jiron searches through James’ pouch, finally pulling out the letter. Getting up, he brings it over and hands it to Illan who then hands it to the captain.
The captain opens it and begins reading the words written upon it. His eyes widen when he realizes whose signature is at the bottom. Finished, he returns the letter to Illan. “Okay then,” he says. “I’ll not press you further.”
“Lieutenant!” he shouts to one of his men.
A rider comes over and says, “Yes sir.”
“Get the men and the prisoners ready to ride,” he tells him.
Saluting, the lieutenant says, “Yes sir.” Then he turns back to the rest of the men and begins shouting orders.
Once his men are ready to ride, the captain mounts and says, “Good luck to you.”
“You too, captain,” Illan says.
Turning his horse south, the captain rides out with his men falling in behind. A string of horses in the middle of his men hold ten wounded clan riders.
As they ride away, Illan moves to where Hinney is still cradling Keril’s head in his lap. Even before he reaches them, he knows Keril is dead. “We have one more service to perform for Keril,” he says to him gently.
Looking up with tears running down his face, Hinney says, “He was a good friend.”
“Yes he was,” agrees Illan. “But it’s time we let him go.”
Nodding, Hinney comes to his feet and then picks up his friend. Over to the side, Jorry and Uther have already dug a grave
for him. When Hinney gets closer, they gently remove Keril from his arms and place him within.
They fill in the grave and everyone gathers around as each tells of some experience they’d had with Keril.
When they’re done, they secure James and Miko to their horses. Mounting, Illan gets them moving toward the pass, and Cardri.
Epilog
_________________________
The first thing he becomes aware of is the fact that he’s lying in a bed. Odd, he doesn’t remember there being a bed by the Pass. He cracks his eyes open then closes them quickly when the light strikes his eyes like red hot daggers. Moaning, he brings his arm up and lays it over his face to block out the painful light.
“He’s awake,” he hears a voice say.
“Get Jiron,” another voice says and he hears a door open and close.
“James,” a soft, female voice says soothingly. He feels someone sitting on the bed next to him. Then a hand is placed on his chest as the voice speaks again, “James?”
He parts his lips to say something but is unable to speak.
“Here,” the voice says again, “try to drink some of this.”
Opening his mouth, he feels a cup being placed to his lips. Then, cool water slowly enters his mouth, soothing the parchedness. And when he swallows, the liquid eases the tightness of his throat. After the cup is pulled away, he’s able to croak out, “Where am I?”
“You are in Trendle, James,” the voice says and then he recognizes that it’s Mary who’s tending him. “You have been here several days. We were worried about you.”
“Miko?” he asks.
“Your friend is doing well,” she replies. “He is in Devin’s room and still very weak. We will let him know you’re awake.”
He nods his head. The door opens and then feels another person sit on the bed. Then he hears Jiron’s voice say, “Man, am I glad you’re back.”
“Me, too,” James croaks. “Water,” he says reaching out weakly. The cup is returned to his lips as he takes another small sip.
“Not too much at one time, now,” she advises.
When he’s done drinking, he asks, “Are Tersa and the others here?”
“Yes, they made it,” Jiron says happily.
“They’re staying at Hern’s old place right now,” Mary tells him. “When they showed up and explained things to us, they were allowed to move in while they waited for you.”
“Thank you,” he says. Cracking his eyes open, he can see Mary and Jiron sitting on the bed. The light hurts his eyes, but they seem to be getting used to it, either that, or the water has somehow helped.
“You’re welcome,” Mary says. The door cracks open again and he hears a small voice ask, “Is he okay mama?”
“Cyanna,” her mother says, “he’s fine.”
James can hear her say something to another by the door when her mother says, “Girls, now leave him be. He needs his rest.”
“Yes, mama,” Cyanna says and then the door closes once more.
“We better go,” Mary says to Jiron. “He still needs a great deal of rest.”
“Alright,” he replies. Getting off the bed, he looks to his friend “You get some rest James. If I’m not here when the next time you wake, I’ll be over with Tersa.”
Then Mary gives him one more sip before rising. “Get some sleep,” she advises. “It’s the best thing for you right now.”
As they leave the room, he closes his eyes and before drifting off to sleep one more time, remembers the message that Abula-Mazki had sent: The Fire walks with the Star. They know, and they’ll be coming for it.
James’ adventures continues in:
Trail of the Gods
Book Four of The Morcyth Saga
Check out the epically adventurous worlds of fantasy author
Brian S. Pratt
The Broken Key Trilogy
Four comrades set out to recover the segments of a key which they believe will unlock the King's Horde, rumored to hold great wealth. Written in the style of an RPG game, with spells, scrolls, potions, Guilds, and dungeon exploration fraught with traps and other dangers.
Dungeon Crawler Adventures
For those who enjoy dungeon exploration
without all the buildup or wrapup.
Fans of his previous works, especially The Broken Key, will discover Underground to be full of excitement and surprises. First in a series of books written for the pure fun of adventuring, Underground takes the reader along as four strangers overcome obstacles such as ingenious traps, perilous encounters, and mysteries to boggle the mind.
Ring of the Or’tux
In many stories you hear how ‘The Chosen One’ appeared to save the day. Every wonder what would happen if the one doing the choosing bungled the job?
In Ring of the Or’tux, that’s exactly what happens. Hunter was on his way to a Three Stooges’ marathon when in mid-step, he went from the lobby of a movie theater to a charred tangle of stone and timber that once had been a place of worship. From there it only gets worse for the hapless Chosen One. First, an attempt to flee those he initially encounters (who by the way are the ones he was sent there to save), lands him into the merciless clutches of an invading army (those whom he was supposed to defeat).
The Adventurer’s Guild
Jaikus and Reneeke are ordinary lads whose dream in life is to become a member of The Adventurer's Guild. But to become a member, one must be able to lay claim to an Adventure, and not just any adventure. To qualify, an Adventure must entail the following:
1-Have some element of risk to life and limb
2-Successfully concluded. If the point of the Adventure was to recover a stolen silver candelabra, then you better have that candelabra in hand when all is said and done.
3-A reward must be given. For what good is an Adventure if you don't get paid for your troubles?
Jaikus and Reneeke soon realize that becoming members in the renowned Guild is harder than they thought. For Adventures posted as Unresolved at the Guild, are usually the ones with the most risk.
However, when they hear of a party of experienced Guild members that are about to set out and are in need of Springers, they quickly volunteer only to discover to their dismay that a Springer's job is to "Spring the trap."
If they survive, membership in the Guild is assured.
Top
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty One
Chapter Twenty Two
Chapter Twenty Three
Chapter Twenty Four
Chapter Twenty Five
Chapter Twenty Six
Chapter Twenty Seven
Chapter Twenty Eight
Chapter Twenty Nine
Chapter Thirty
Chapter Thirty One
Chapter Thirty Two
Warrior Priest of Dmon-Li: The Morcyth Saga Book Three Page 48