“Knowing Trudor, he will do both.” Clanner said. “But if we make it there, the advantage is ours. Funnel through and they will only come in batches small enough for our men to engage. If they go around the pass, we will make it to the other side and the ships before them. However, one of us needs to hold the rear and stall their advance should the need arise.” There was silence in the room for a time, before Bolr finally spoke.
“I and my men shall do so.” The others nodded respectfully at him.
“Let us move then.”
The soldiers filed out and moved swiftly through the westward passage, constantly passing intersecting passages as they moved. Their eyes darted this way and that, watching for any signs of Trudor’s men. It wasn’t long before they heard the voices of soldiers not belonging to their groups.
They move along the westward passages. Hurry!
“We need to make haste now.” Clanner said as the soldiers quickened their pace.
“How could they know?” Valimius asked. He looked at the others and then shook his head. “The one person we forgot to take into account... Nistam.”
“It is not that we forgot.” Clanner interjected. “There is nothing we can do about it without Matilom here to help.”
“Then we fight... a little.” Valimius said, smiling.
The soldiers laughed.
“Always ready for a fight.” Hagswet said.
The voices were getting closer.
“Form defensive formations on both sides now!” Clanner yelled.
The soldiers unsheathed their swords and reached over their backs, clasping their shields. After that, the soldiers at the rear turned around and continued walking with the unit but facing backwards. The squadron Trudor sent had flanked the men on both sides of the passage. They could see them now ahead and behind them. Trudor’s soldiers roared and broke into a run towards them.
“Assume positions!” Clanner yelled. They were closing in on both sides. The soldiers split into alternating files of two so that one soldier on the one side was sandwiched by two on the other.
“Shields up!”
Huaaaaahhh!!!
The shields came up in front of them. Trudor’s soldiers continued to close in.
“Hold!” Clanner yelled.
The soldiers were upon them now.
“Break stance!”
The two sides clashed thunderously and fiercely. The men of Clanner, Hagswet, and Valimius met Trudor’s soldiers’ swords with their shields, pushing them back and breaking their stance as they did. As Trudor’s men fell backwards, the mutineers went on the attack. Hagswet, whose men were holding the rear, yelled out.
“Clanner! Push forward towards the end of the passage!”
Clanner cut down a soldier with his sword and then rotated his left hand, bringing down his shield to meet more soldiers swords. The soldiers behind him leaped ahead and cut down Clanner’s assailants and then raised their shields while Clanner and the men with him leapt ahead on the attack. The alternation between attack and defense was swift and deadly on both sides.
“Armadillo!” Clanner yelled. The soldiers collapsed in on themselves with their shields facing up and sideways, forming a mega-shielded moving unit. They moved forwards chanting as they did.
Huaaah! Huaahhh!! Huaaahh!!!
Within the shield, Clanner spoke to Ergol.
“You my friend, have free reign to take as many lives to Feona, as you wish.”
“And I would do so gladly.” The armadillo unit broke on the side for a moment and Ergol dashed out with his shield and sword, cutting down as many soldiers as possible. For every soldier who gained the upper hand on him, swords from the armadillo unit emerged between shields and impaled them. Ergol fell back and reassembled with the unit as they continued to move forward.
Huaaaah! Huaaaahhh!!
They could hear Trudor’s soldiers scream in fear.
They are demons! Fall back!
Valimius laughed. “These men would never have become soldiers under King Rikard’s rule.”
“Your sword arm must be itching Valimius.” Clanner said.
“It does. Let me know when to move.”
There were roars coming from the passage way.
“Bolr and his men have arrived just in time.” Clanner smiled. “Valimius. Satisfy your thirst.”
“Finally. Break!!”
A part of the armadillo formation disengaged from the whole as Valimius’s soldiers viciously attacked the opposing soldiers at the front.
Hagswet and his men stayed in the middle.
“Alright men this is going to be tricky. But do not be intimidated by Death class, undertakers or executioner. You are warriors and infantry. You are the base of the giant and the future of Angweleth’s military might. Attack with pride, kill with pride and die with pride if you have to, but stop anyone that breaks through those ranks. We march! For King Davydd and Feona!”
The group moved on and soon they were at the edge of the passage. Clanner and his men roared through first, followed by the rest. They had now over powered most of soldiers sent to check the underground passages. The passage exit, led to a red rocky and sandy desert area. Up ahead, areas of the flat land rose up into two hills with part of the land between them remaining level. It created a natural pass between the hilly terrains. Ergol, Clanner and the rest made their way towards the pass as they overcame the rest of Trudor’s men. In the distance, they could see dust particles swirling and rising around what seemed to be the silhouettes of horse riders.
“Trudor.” Ergol said.
“We have to keep moving.” Clanner responded. “Into the pass!”
The group ran as fast as they could, towards the pass. However, Trudor, Nistam and the rest of the soldiers of Alvo were gaining on them and fast.
“We won’t make it.” Bolr said as he began slowing down and gesturing to his men to do so.
“Yes we will!” Hagswet yelled. “Just keep moving.”
“I volunteered to hold the rear. It is time I fulfilled that duty. Go ahead now.”
“Bolr!” Hagswet yelled again.
“Hagswet! The man has made his choice.” Clanner said. He turned to Bolr.
“Send as many to Feona as possible my brother.”
“I intend to.” Bolr smiled. “Now go!”
The other commanders nodded and took off with their men, entering the pass. Bolr and his men turned to face Trudor and his men who had caught up to them. Trudor and his men stayed on their horses, swords and spears in hand.
“Shields up!” Bolr yelled. His men raised their shields in perfect synchrony. Their swords rested beside the edge of their circular shields, glistening in the sun along with their helmets and the rest of their armor.
“Commander Bolr.” Trudor said. “What is the meaning of this?”
“You want to pretend that you mean to hold banter Trudor?” Bolr retorted, not making any effort to hide his contempt.
“I want to know why you have decided to betray your own home before I send you and your men to the afterlife.”
“It is you who have betrayed your home!! You and that wretched pretentious king of yours. He holds you to his side like a bride while you feast yourself on the waste of his lies. Why don’t you come down from that high horse of yours and lecture me like a man instead.”
Trudor who was laughing as Bolr talked, sighed and readied his horse.
“I see.” Bolr said. “You choose to remain a coward to the end.”
“There is no end for me traitor.” Trudor retorted. “And this is strategy, not cowardice. Let that be a lesson to you as you meet Feona.”
Clanner and his men reached the sea shore where two ships awaited their arrival. The ship had crew members who had brought food and other necessary items required for the long journey. They urged the soldiers on as they began to board. In the distance, Trudor and his men were in hot pursuit. Clanner and the others boarded the ships quickly and the rowers began to maneuver the ships into th
e deeper waters of the river of visions. Trudor and his men arrived at the shores just as the ships pulled away.
“We must ready some ships and give pursuit.” Trudor said.
“No. I will not help you do so.” Nistam Retorted.
“King Sidion left you in my command, wizard. You would be wise to remember that.”
“And I am loyal only to his highness. You have lost four commanders of the Angwelethean army and a considerable number of soldiers. Yet, you wish to give pursuit and sacrifice more. Do you wish to leave Angweleth unguarded?”
Trudor kept silent for a while as he watched the ships pull further away.
“I see your reason Nistam. You will do me this favor then. Peer into the hearts of every soldier we have left. I must make sure that this does not repeat itself again.”
On the ship, Clanner consoled a grieving Hagswet before turning to Ergol and the others.
“Let us pay our respects to the lives we lost today... on both sides. We have been forced to kill our own.” He looked at Ergol. “We have been forced to abandon our own. I hope it is for the right reason.”
Ergol nodded his understanding of what Clanner had said. A few of the soldiers brought up the two soldiers they had taken prisoner in Alvo.
“What shall we do with these two?” Valimius said.
Clanner looked at them for a while.
“Welcome aboard our ship brothers.” He said smiling. “Misguided though you...”
“You are the misguided ones! How could you betray king Sidion?!” The first captured soldier yelled.
“No... we didn’t betray him.” Clanner calmly responded. “He betrayed us. You included. Long before you were born you were already betrayed. Now I have decided not to take your lives, but to show you the truth. The choices you make are yours from there on out. However, be forewarned, if your choice puts you at odds with me or my men, then I will be sure to take your lives.” Clanner motioned to Ergol, who walked towards the bound prisoners with a leather skin bag. He pulled out Balek’s head and dropped it in front of the two astonished prisoners. They gagged and spat as the decaying smell from the head invaded their nostrils.
“Let me tell you a story.” Ergol said.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN: To catch a Pirate King...
The tavern was fully occupied on this night with men and women, drawn to gorge themselves in the pleasures of ale and each other. As such, there was a lot of talking amongst the many pockets of people that had naturally formed as the night went on. The poorly lit tavern, had a lot of dark blotches here and there, where light was all but absent. It presented itself as the perfect location for those who wished to be unseen to remain that way. In one such corner of the tavern on the upper level, two hooded figures sat opposite each other, slowly drinking ale from two large mugs. They had been there a while, saying nothing, yet absorbing every word they could from each tongue loosened by drinks and women. Indeed they had learned a lot.
“Your highness it seems your assumptions are correct. Davydd and the rest were here.” Farok said.
“Indeed.” Sidion acknowledged.
“They did not keep their presence a secret either.”
“No they didn’t. After all Tanak is dead.”
“Tanak... The old man they found long dead in his shop. He is the servant you spoke of?”
“Indeed. He was the one I sent away with the gauntlet. Someone must have discovered him.”
“The question remains, who did?” Farok asked.
Sidion smiled.
“That is what we are here to find out isn’t it?” He remarked.
“And to never send warning?”
“Someone here deadened his tongue. We need to find out whom.”
“And how do we do that your highness?”
“We talk to the person who hears more than they should or care to. The town’s grave keeper.”
“I suppose it is time I looked for him.” Farok said.
“I believe I already found him Farok.”
Sidion nodded his head towards a man seated alone at a table near the balcony of the upper level. The wash of light from a lamp hanging from one of the building’s wooden columns only partially lit his features. He was a thin and gaunt looking fellow, most likely in his fourth decade of life, but looking much older. His hairy arms picked up his mug of ale and directed it to dry and caked lips partly covered with a thick and unkempt shrub of beard and moustache. The man was mostly bald except for some graying hair at the back of his head which fell down to his neck. His reddened eye whites scanned the lower tavern area and the people there. The man put down his beer mug on an area of the table, where the light from the lamp lit up. It momentarily revealed his long dirty fingers and the numerous specks of dust trapped in his hairy arms.
“He’s been working tonight.” Sidion said as both he and Farok observed the man.
After looking around for a little longer, the man got up to leave. He put on a scraggly hat and quickly made his way for the stairs, walking at a brisk pace.
“We follow.” Sidion said.
They both got up and made for the stairs as well. On the lower level of the tavern, both Sidion and Farok made their way through the crowd of intoxicated men and women as best as they could, without drawing attention to themselves. Once outside, they quickly scanned the street for the man they suspected of being the grave keeper. He had put some distance between himself and the tavern, walking – still briskly – down the cobblestoned main street of Sangwa. The street was well lit in most areas but also had its blotches of darkness here and there. Sidion and Farok followed the man at a safe distance. The man turned right, off the street they were currently on. Sidion and Farok quickened their pace until they were upon the intersecting street the man had turned on. They turned as well and walked quickly until they had closed the distance between themselves and the man. It was at this moment he heard them. He turned around to see them walking quickly towards him and was seized with fear. However, before he could run, Farok who had anticipated this, caught up to him and grabbed him by the right shoulder. Fear gave way to survival instinct, and the man whirled around and threw a right hand at Farok. The punch never hit his target and before he could decipher Farok’s movements, the Angwelethean soldier had grabbed the man by the neck and slammed his back into the concrete wall of a building at the side of the street. The man choked and coughed due to the pressure of Farok’s grip. Farok slowly pulled the man sideways to the right, and out of the wash of light which illuminated them. Sidion was soon with them.
“Now, now Farok, there is no need to be so forceful.” Sidion said as he disappeared into the blotch of darkness as well. He motioned to Farok to loosen his grip, which the Angwelethean soldier promptly did. Sidion looked at the man and smiled.
“What is your name?” Sidion asked.
“Why would you want to know it?” The man retorted.
Sidion sighed and continued. “I suppose your name is of no importance to me. I was merely asking out of courtesy. The next few questions however, should be met with the right answer or else...”
Farok tightened his grip around the man’s neck for a few seconds, before letting go again.
“Do you understand?” Sidion asked. The man nodded as best as he could.
“Good. Are you the grave keeper of Sangwa?”
The man nodded again.
“Then you must have recently buried a rare items trader. He was murdered a moon ago or so. What can you tell me about him?”
“I know nothing about the man.” Farok’s grip tightened again.
“Now, now grave keeper. Lying is not your best skill. We wouldn’t want to keep you with us longer than we have to.”
The grave keeper struggled to breathe, as Farok’s grip had practically depressed his windpipe.
“O... O..kay. I’ll tell you what I know.”
“Good. Now talk.”
“The man who killed Tanak the trader goes by the name of Kazan. There were rumors that Tanak was st
ruck by a poisoned arrow and I know of only one man who prefers this weapon. Kazan.”
“Who is Kazan?”
“The son of Ivan the terrible.”
“The pirate king.” Farok noted. “Is he not dead?”
“He... was thought to be. Then the rumors began to spread about his return. Some say he dwells in Sangwa and in the lands not too far off from here. All I can tell you is no emissary of King Vitalis has been able to find him or kill him.”
“And I take it any who has come close, has been sent to the afterlife by Kazan?” Sidion asked.
The grave keeper nodded. “That is all I know. Please let me go. My wife and chi...”
“You don’t have to use your family to plead for your life. I have no intentions of taking it.” Sidion leaned in. “However, if I or any of my men hear mention of us in this town, I will come for you and then not even your family pleas will be able to save you... or them.”
The man nodded again. Beads of sweat formed on his face and trickled down.
“Let him go Farok.”
“Your highness.” Farok said and released the grave keeper from his grip. The man staggered and stumbled as he ran away from the two Angweletheans.
“We know not where to begin looking for Ivan.” Farok noted.
“We do not have to look for him. If what the grave keeper said is true, then he knows of the gauntlet’s location and is going to great lengths to hide it. With Davydd and his followers here, Ivan will retreat to his most comfortable element.”
“Water?”
“Indeed. We are going to do the same, and have the men silently travel the seas near and around Sangwa until we find him.”
“Your highness if King Vitalis...”
“I am well aware of the danger of discovery Farok.” Sidion said.
“Indeed your highness. Accept my humblest apologies.”
“None needed. We retreat for now. You and I will return with more men and under cover of night we shall hunt down Ivan’s men.”
“What about Davydd?”
“If I have found the gauntlet, then there is no need to concern myself with Davydd.”
Farok nodded quietly.
Metal and Magic: A Fantasy Journey Page 82