by D A Godwin
I have it.
Strike now!
Both of the demon’s arms stopped as shields flashed between them—silver on the left and silvery-blue on the right. Tormjere dove straight between, slicing open the demon’s unprotected stomach.
The demon lurched backwards as Tormjere ducked away. A blur of silver came streaking by as Shalindra drove Shining Moon into its ribs. As the creature staggered to the side, Enna’s silver-blue shield surged forward, knocking the demon further off balance.
Tormjere spun to avoid a grasping claw and…
Throw it!
…threw his sword like a javelin, lodging it in the demon’s chest. A ball of silvery-blue energy slammed into it, burying it to the hilt.
The demon staggered drunkenly against another building, then pushed itself upright and flung debris at both women. Their shields protected them, but left Tormjere momentarily defenseless. The demon’s claws swiped at him. Weaponless, he caught the massive hand in both of his.
For an instant he held, straining against the demon’s weight as it bore down on him. Then his wrist and forearm snapped as he was forced to his knees. With what strength he had left he pulled the demon’s hand with him away from where Shalindra advanced.
Shining Moon came streaking into the unprotected wolfs-head, shattering bone. One eye dimmed as the demon slumped to the side.
Hold still.
Just kill it.
Tormjere reached for his sword which still protruded from the demon’s chest but was knocked back to the ground by the demon’s flailing arm. It tried to bite him, but silvery-blue energy slammed into its head like a fist. Shining Moon struck again. Tormjere’s vision was blurred, but he drew his knife and waved it at the creature, trying to distract it however he could.
It struggled to rise, fighting against both women as they hammered it again and again, until it was driven helplessly onto all fours, yelping and snarling like a dog being beaten. Then, with a final twitch, it collapsed and died as suddenly as it had appeared.
Tormjere fell to his knees, cradling his mangled arm as he crawled towards it.
Enna took a step towards him.
Help Shalindra.
She turned to see Shalindra sagging against the wall. Blood matted her hair and ran down her side, staining her robes red. Parts of her face were already turning an ugly purple.
Enna rushed to catch her before she fell, then laid her gently to the ground. Soldiers were running towards them, their shouts mingling in with the terrified sounds of the townspeople as they took to the streets.
Enna closed her eyes and took a deep breath, ignoring it all as she placed a tender hand on Shalindra’s forehead. She prayed with a voice as gentle as the breeze, and silvery energy began flowing delicately into Shalindra, closing her wounds and restoring her strength.
Enna felt drained, and she shook her head to clear it.
Shalindra’s eyes fluttered open. “Tormjere. No.”
“I will help him,” Enna said. “Stay here.” She pushed herself to her feet and hurried to him.
Tormjere was still on his knees, clenching the hilt of his sword still buried in the demon’s corpse.
“Tormjere?”
He seemed not to hear her. She took his shattered arm tenderly in hers and repeated her prayer.
He did not flinch as his bones grated back into place with a sound that set Enna’s teeth on edge. It was not the horrific nature of the wound that disturbed her, but his complete lack of reaction. Tormjere just stared into the distance with an unsettling, almost euphoric grin on his face, as if the world was exactly how it should be.
Adjudication
Dawn’s light revealed the full destruction wrought by the demon. A gaping hole had been torn in the wall that ringed the city, collapsing almost an entire section. Another hundred feet of the battlement was damaged to the point of being ineffective. Several buildings had been reduced to rubble and dozens more smashed in by stones from the wall. Carrion birds circled high above the demon’s body as it lay rotting in the street, already releasing a terrible stench that turned even the strongest stomachs. Every knacker in the city had been called out to dispose of the immense carcass.
Shalindra found the smell worse atop the wall. She limped to the crenelated edge of the battlement where Birion stood grimly surveying the field, but there was no escaping the foul odor.
As awful as the scene inside the wall was, the carnage in the Ceringion encampment was infinitely more terrible to behold. Blackened grass and torn earth marked the path of the demon’s rampage. Tent poles still smoldered. Hundreds or possibly thousands of bodies were scattered across the ground. There was little activity, save by those collecting the dead.
Shalindra shuddered as she watched them move about their grizzly task.
Birion shook his head. “I almost feel sorry enough for them to offer aid.”
They both turned as horns sounded, but for once it was not the call of a Ceringion advance. Around the west end of the city marched a host of men and horses, following the banner of House Deurmark.
“Where is your elvish companion?” Birion asked.
Now she’s your companion, too. Soon you’ll have enough of us to start your own kennel.
“Enna rests at the temple,” she said, suppressing a chuckle. She didn’t need to look to know that Tormjere was leaning against the gatehouse wall, far enough away so as not to intrude. He always knew when to be close, and when not to.
“If you will excuse my presumptiveness, you should be doing the same, my lady.”
Shalindra wanted nothing more than to lie down and sleep. Her entire body ached, and her head throbbed painfully if she turned it too fast. Their desperate battle the night before had taken a toll that went far beyond physical discomfort. “I will not argue you the point, commander. But I needed to see.”
Birion stroked his mustache. “I understand. When a warrior has been tested, he often finds comfort in returning to the battlefield once it’s quiet.”
He turned and moved slowly towards the stairs that led to the street. She walked gingerly beside him, grateful that he maintained what he surely considered to be an excruciatingly slow pace. They stopped to watch the corpse being butchered inside the walls. “I confess that when you first arrived, I was skeptical of your claims. I could not believe that someone so small could have stood up to a creature like that.”
She managed a half-hearted smile. “I still find myself having similar thoughts.”
“You both have proven my initial opinion wrong, something for which I am most thankful.”
Shalindra glanced down at the streets before the gate, once more packed full of cavalry awaiting the order to ride into battle. “You are taking to the field today?”
“We are. We will drive their western flank back towards the river. Once they’ve committed to Sir Deurmark’s advance, we will sally through the gate and fall on them from the side or possibly rear, depending on how aggressive they are.”
“Are you not afraid of getting caught in the open?”
Birion looked again at the disarray in the Ceringion camp. “Had I enough men, I would smash their entire host. We will see no attack from the main camps today.”
“And if you should face more than just men?”
“Should a demon appear, we will deal with both it and the one who’s control it is under. This city has asked far more of you than we ever had rights to. You will not need to take the field today, my lady.”
One of the knights below signaled to him.
“I must join my men. By your leave?”
Shalindra nodded. “Take care, Lord Birion.”
He hesitated, then knelt unexpectedly before her. “If we may have your blessing, my lady.”
Shalindra’s mouth opened in surprise. Her gaze went to the hundreds of men who awaited him below. To a man they sat upon their horses without sound or movement, their upturned faces watching expectantly. She quickly regained her poise and laid a hand on Birion
’s bowed head.
“May Eluria keep and protect you, may Her light guide your blade and Her love your heart, and with light and love give you the strength to end this conflict.”
“I shall bring us victory today,” Birion said as he stood. With a final bow, he descended the steps to his waiting horse.
Shalindra found her eyes drawn to the high castle walls, where another figure had watched her as well. She only caught the man’s outline as he turned away, but she was certain it had been Poloni. No doubt another conflict awaited her the next time they met.
I am tired of fighting.
The tide’s turning in our favor.
But at what cost to us?
No victory is without cost.
You know it worries me.
None of us would have survived if not for how we’ve changed. I wouldn’t do it if there wasn’t a need.
She turned back to the battle unfolding beyond her sight, as Edward and his men fought their way into the woods west of the city.
Would that there never was.
* * *
Shalindra was standing on the wall with Tormjere when the Kingdom forces returned hours later. Despite her fears, no demon had stalked the field, and no wizard had made an appearance. Fewer men were returning than had ridden out this morning, but there was a spring in their movements that spoke of victory.
Birion saluted her as he rode past, an honor repeated by every captain that followed him through the gate.
Once inside, Birion turned his horse over to a squire and mounted the steps to join them atop the wall once more. He was covered in sweat and muck from the battle but appeared uninjured.
“My lady,” he said as he bowed. “I pray you have not been standing here all day on our behalf.”
“Then you will be thankful to learn that I have not been.”
Birion looked relieved.
“I did find the time to walk towards the west gate and back,” she said with a mischievous twinkle in her eye.
Birion shook his head in admiration. “I’m pleased to bring you good news. The Ceringions have abandoned Marbridge and Lord Deurmark has regained control of the Smallwood. The west road is open to us once more.”
“I am relieved to see so many of our men returned. Are there any who need…”
“Our casualties were light, and Sister Enna has arranged for their care at a building near the west gate, on Brewer’s Lane. I must report to Lord Poloni, if you’ll excuse me.”
Shalindra nodded, then gave Tormjere an accusatory glare.
You knew Enna was going to do that?
He’s right, you need to rest. Enna and the others are more than capable.
She let her perception shift and studied herself through his eyes, much like viewing herself through a translucent mirror. Do I really look that tired?
He chuckled. “Do you want an honest answer?”
“Fine. I will rest for the remainder of the day. After we check on Enna.”
* * *
The situation remained unchanged for three days. The Ceringions held their positions far enough away to make attacking risky but seemed unable or unwilling to attack themselves.
The fourth day dawned cool and grey as the sun hid behind clouds that brought the promise of rain.
Shalindra walked her morning ritual from the south gate to west, checking the men on the walls. Tormjere followed a half-step behind her, as always. She praised the workers who were still repairing the damage inflicted by the demon, delivering a smile here, or a hand on the shoulder there, and healed two men who’d been injured by the backbreaking work of replacing heavy stones.
They found Birion waiting for them by the south gate as they returned.
“It is quiet today,” Shalindra said to him.
Birion inclined his head respectfully. “My lady. They appear to have withdrawn another quarter mile in the night, but we’re unsure as to why.”
“Are they retreating?”
“Regrouping, perhaps, but not retreating.”
Edward’s coming.
There was something unusual about that, and Shalindra turned to see her cousin hurrying along the battlements towards her.
“These just arrived from Kendenhall for you,” Edward said, handing her a rolled-up piece of paper. “There were three birds.”
Shalindra took it and saw it bore the crown-and-ship seal of Actondel, signifying that it came from her father. Her name was written in fine script on the outside.
She broke the seal and read it, then shook her head incredulously before reading it again.
“What is it?” Edward asked.
She handed him the paper. “My father, His Royal Highness King Fabrian the Second, declares that a treaty has been arranged with the Ceringions, and thus commands us to cease all hostilities immediately. Further, we are to allow one of the Imaretii to join our forces as a neutral observer.”
Does he realize who we’ve been fighting this whole time?
Edward looked suspiciously at the paper. “We are certain of this?”
“Yes,” she said. “The signature bears the royal seal, and the seal of Ceringion, and it contains the proper phrases that indicate he is acting of his own free will.”
“This explains their recent actions, then.”
“Does Lord Poloni know?” Birion asked.
“Birds arrived for him as well,” Edward replied. “I would assume with similar news.”
“My father is now on his way to Halisford to sign the treaty,” Shalindra said, “and he bids me to join him there immediately.”
“Out of the question,” Birion stated firmly. He caught Shalindra’s amused expression, and immediately dipped his head in apology. “Your pardon, my lady. I cannot answer for you, but this request is ill-conceived.”
“He’s right,” Edward said. “Our enemy would doubtless seize the opportunity.”
“It is more a command, I think, but I thank you both for your concern.”
It doesn’t seem the best time for us to be strolling through the countryside.
I had planned on riding this time.
Edward continued looking worried. “I’ll prepare an escort. When do you wish to leave?”
She glanced at Tormjere.
You know I’ll see you there safely, should you choose to go.
I do not see how it can be avoided, dangerous or not.
“We shall be ready within the hour,” Shalindra said to Edward.
* * *
Shalindra’s room at the temple was small and devoid of decoration, with only a bed and a small table to fill the space. A small window let in light from high on the white wall. Normally a place of calm reflection, it was now filled with hurried activity.
“You’re leaving?” Enna asked, watching as Shalindra stuffed the few items she possessed into her pack.
“I dislike the need, but it seems for the best,” she replied.
“The summer solstice is only a few nights away. Surely you can wait until after the celebrations. Even with all that has happened, we cannot fail to recognize the beginning of the new year.”
Shalindra felt a smile creep onto her face as she vividly recalled that night on the mountain when she had first prayed to the moon. “The lack of ceremony will not prevent me from speaking to Her on our most holy day.”
They heard footsteps and turned to see Kayala standing at the door.
“I was told you were travelling,” Kayala said. “Has the war ended?”
“That is what we have been told, Sister. My father commands that I return to him, at least for a time. I had hoped to see you to Fallhaven, but…”
“I understand. Marie and I will remain here until it becomes safe to travel. Though I was hesitant to tell you of Shining Moon, I do not regret that decision now. Take care with Her gifts, and may She always watch over you.”
“Thank you. Once I have seen my father, I will return to safeguard you on your journey to Fallhaven.”
Shalindra slung her pa
ck on her shoulder and stepped from the room. Enna followed as she made her way through the clean, white halls towards the gardens.
“I would accompany you on this journey, if you would allow it,” Enna said as they walked.
“I would like nothing better, but there is more to be done here.”
They emerged from the temple to find Tormjere and Edward waiting with horses. Shalindra paused at the top of the steps and placed a hand on Enna’s arm. “If you come, the city will lose their only defense against another demon. You must keep Kayala safe and see her to Fallhaven should I not return in time.”
Enna seemed about to say more, then bowed her head. “Yes, Sister. What you say is wise.” She looked at Tormjere. “Be careful.”
The trio mounted their horses and rode outside the city wall to where her escort waited, a hundred of the most loyal men under Edward’s command.
“I regret that this was the best we could do on such short notice,” Argus said, unfurling a hastily-stitched green and gold banner of Actondel, “but I shall be honored to escort you today.”
Shalindra smiled. “It is quite fitting, and I can think of no one I would rather have in command of my escort.”
Argus swelled at the compliment, then bowed as he turned to prepare the column.
Edward pulled Tormjere aside and spoke quietly. “Argus has been at my side almost this entire war. These men are the most trustworthy that I could find, but they are still only men. You are to protect my cousin, from everyone.”
Tormjere raised an eyebrow.
“There may still be those who plot to take her, even amongst our own forces. I’ve not forgotten how and why you arrived here. Trust no one who hasn’t earned it.”
“Yes, my lord,” Tormjere replied.
Edward gave him a wry grin. “Not that I needed to remind you.” He extended his hand. “Luck to you both.”
Homecoming
Halisford was a grand city, perched on the southern edge of a shallow canyon carved from solid bedrock by the Yarrowonli River. Similar to Sandenmill, docks had been constructed on the narrow canyon floor, and they teemed with boats full of furs, wood, and tradestuffs. Porters and other beasts of burden carried those goods up and down a series of wide steps cut into the canyon wall. Above them, a pair of massive bridges of stone and wood wide enough for two wagons to pass by each other without colliding, spanned the canyon. Sturdy, round towers anchored the ends of each bridge and were joined together by a thick rampart and gate.