Kaldumahn and Moshat watched as Brerto’s monstrous force tore through Havenstahl’s army. At this rate, they would reach the fair city inside of a week. Unless they rallied, the greatest city of men would fall. Moshat looked over at Brerto who remained at the northernmost point of Biggon's Bay smiling at the carnage unfolding before him. The waves in the bay ran red and frothy pink as they crashed on sand that was equally drenched with blood. Even the trees were spattered with it.
Moshat turned to Kaldumahn and said, “I am going to destroy him now.”
Kaldumahn touched his arm and said, “Be still, brother. That is precisely what he wants. I am unclear of his ultimate plan, but I am certain if we attack him now we will help him achieve it. He has yet to assist his troops in their assault. As of yet, he is merely a bystander. We must be the same. Focus your energy into the hearts of the men of Havenstahl. Whip them up as Brerto has done for his monsters.”
Then the horses came. Glord’s men scattered into the trees and opened the path for Ygraml and his riders. Ygraml led a quarter of his ranks on the charge. His helmet—cast of fine prang and ornamented with a mighty fallon’s rack cast of the same prang—shimmered in the sun. Six thousand men on horseback slammed into the trogmortem and grongs filling the road to Biggon’s Bay, slashing beasts down and trampling them into the dirt. Arrows filled the air as some of the men fired bows from their mounts.
Once the first charge had passed, Glord’s men charged back onto the path reinvigorated by Ygraml’s success. At the same time, both Kaldumahn and Moshat focused their intention on the fighting men of Havenstahl, filling them with strength and reinforcing their resolve. Glord’s men pushed the vile horde from across the Great Sea back toward Biggon’s Bay. Men still fell, but they cut down trogmortem and grongs as they moved forward toward the bay.
When Ygraml’s horses made the beach, they swept it and charged back up the trail. Few fell as they cut through the throng of beasts that became less and less cohesive as fear and confusion set upon their hearts. Great trogmortem fell with arrows jutting out of their bodies and grongs were trampled under the hooves of the mighty horses of Havenstahl.
Moshat smiled as the tide turned. He glanced back over at Brerto whose smile hadn’t completely fled, though it was waning. “The men of Havenstahl stand tall against you, brother,” he boomed across the bay.
“One battle, that is all this is,” Brerto spat. “I did not think my army would take Havenstahl in one battle. Nor did I wish it so. I desire a long, punishing war that spreads fear across this land. I want the people of Havenstahl to suffer. Once I feel they have suffered enough, once I know Maelich and that wench Cialia have felt real pain and real fear, only then will I give them the peace of death. War is at your shores, my brother, and it will remain.”
The battle raged on for most of the day. The push back to the beach was slow but constant. By the time the men at the front felt sand beneath their boots, the sun had begun painting the sky with pink and orange and red. Just before the sea swallowed it up, a horn blasted from the biggest of the ships in the bay that had not been kissed by the fires of the prior evening. At that signal, all of the beasts in Brerto’s horde fled back to their camp. A few men broke rank and gave chase, but Glord blasted his horn. Those that would have continued the assault fell back in line, and then the entire force marched back up the trail to their tents scattered among the trees. Havenstahl had won the day.
###
Daritus stood at the opening of his tent, watching darkness choke out the last bits of color from the western sky. Twilight had settled into the vast clearing before him, but there was still enough light to see a rider charge into it off the road from Biggon’s Bay. His form and standard were hard to make out, but he appeared to be one of Ygraml’s men. In moments, he was across the clearing, dismounted, and bent to one knee before Daritus.
“I have news from the front, my lord,” the rider’s tone was even and emotionless.
“Rise,” Daritus replied. “What do they call you?”
“I am Duvel, proud to ride under the standard of the Great Fallon, Ygraml, for the House of Havenstahl,” the rider replied as he stood.
Daritus nodded his approval, “Hello Duvel. What news do you have from the front, hopefully pleasing?”
Duvel looked to the ground, “I bring good news and bad, my lord.”
“Go on.”
“Glord’s army numbers only around five thousand men…”
“What?” Daritus interrupted. “That would mean that twenty thousand men died today.” He looked up at the sky and continued, “I pray that is the bad news. Where do your numbers lie?”
Duvel nodded, “It is, my lord. Ygraml still boasts numbers over twenty thousand men and horses, somewhere closer to twenty three thousand. That is not even the good news though, my lord. Havenstahl has won the day at Biggon’s Bay.”
“How so?” Daritus shook his head.
“We pushed the army of grongs and trogmortem back to the beach and sent them fleeing to their ships,” Duvel smiled proudly.
“So we have won the first battle,” Daritus said quietly, “but at what cost?”
He looked back at Duvel, “Have any giants fallen?”
“None have entered the battle, my lord.”
“What are your orders now?”
Duvel scratched his head, “I am to camp here for the night and return to my general by sunrise.”
“I have one more mission for you,” Daritus clasped Duvel’s shoulder. “How well do you know this road?”
Duvel smiled, “Better than I know my own face.”
“Good,” Daritus patted his shoulder. “I need you to ride to Havenstahl and blow the great horn. I will send word to your general. I have a new plan.” He paused, stroked his chin, and then continued, “Go now, blow the twin horn and call Alhouim to fight at our sides.”
chapter 21
pain
Perrin woke abruptly; feeling pain in every place her soft mattress touched her body. Her eyes darted around the room for a few moments before finally coming to rest on Leisha who sat beside her. The mother of the king sported hair that looked much grayer than Perrin remembered in its tangled and disheveled state. Beneath the tangled mess of gray, tears streamed steadily down a face that appeared to have aged several years in the few days that had passed since last Perrin saw her. The wet eyes dumping all of the tears on that aged face stared across the top of Perrin and out the window. As Perrin watched the tears pour, she realized she couldn’t see anything out of her left eye, and the same side of her face throbbed.
The pain held Perrin’s focus until the memories flooded back in. She had stood up to the dead-eyed men and apparently been knocked unconscious. Geillan had burned her face. They were there for him. “Where be me son?” she finally shouted.
Leisha jumped a bit, “Oh my dear, when did you wake up?”
“Just now I did,” Perrin replied. “Where be me son?”
Leisha reached out and took Perrin’s hand. “He was taken by the three.”
“What?” Perrin screamed as she sat up. Pain exploded through her head as the dressing on her burns shifted while she rose. At that moment she wasn’t sure which pain was worse, the fire burning in her head or the fist squeezing her heart. “Where they be taking me Geillan?”
“Geillan,” Leisha began, “so you have given the prince a name? I thought you were going to wait for Maelich to return so he could share in that joy.”
Perrin laughed, “Aye, wait for me love I should? Me son might be a brawny, young man before his father be returning from his adventures. How long should I be waiting? How long do I be letting me son go without a name?”
Leisha squeezed her hand tighter, “I know, dear. I do. I miss my boy too. It pains me he is absent from you right now, and it enrages me that he left you, his son, and his city, unprotected.” She paused, looked back out the window and continued, “I fear for him. I have no idea what is going on in his mind right now.”
Leisha sighed and shook her head, “I do not know. They killed four of our guards and floated off into the night. By the time I arrived, you were unconscious on the floor along with your father, and…”
“And what?” Perrin squeezed Leisha’s hand.
Leisha closed her other hand over the top of Perrin’s and leaned in closer to her. “My sweet girl, people died trying to protect you and your son, people you love very much.”
Perrin’s right eye filled, “Who died?”
“Besides the four guards that came to your aid, Chimarra, and…”
“And who?” Perrin’s voice gained again in volume.
Leisha looked into Perrin’s right eye—the one that wasn’t covered by a white dressing—and said, “I am sorry, Perrin. I wish I did not have to tell you this, but your mother was struck down while trying to save you and your son.”
Perrin had no more words. Sobs settled in and she submitted to them. Her body shook, her head ached, her face burned, and she wept.
Leisha pulled Perrin’s head to her bosom and whispered, “I know dear. Those same three bastards took my son away from me when he was a babe just like they have done with Geillan. He was a man when he returned to me, but he did return. We will find Geillan, or he will find his way home.”
“Highness, I need to check her condition, perhaps change her dressing,” Meelah had been sitting quietly at the end of Perrin’s bed. “That is probably enough for today. She has suffered severe burns, a fracture to her skull, and probably a concussion, not to mention all of the bruising.”
Leisha’s expression said more than her words as she shifted her eyes in Meelah’s direction, “Give us a moment, Meelah. Her life has been turned upside down, and her heart needs just as much healing as her body does right now, perhaps more. You are without child Meelah, is that correct?”
Meelah blushed, “I am, highness. My training with Hagen has left me very little time to pursue any other interests.” She paused, chewed on her lower lip, and added, “Please forgive the intrusion. This is very new to me. Hagen has trained me for years, but this is the first time my training has been tested away from my mentor’s watchful eye. He does everything and seems to be everywhere. The only reason I am being tested now is because he is needed at the front with our brave soldiers.”
Leisha’s expression softened, “I am sorry too. This must also be very frightening for you. Hagen does so much. I did not even realize he was training anyone. I suppose, he is not getting any younger. To be honest with you, I thought you were merely a hand maiden. I had no idea you were to carry on Hagen’s practice at the palace.”
Perrin lifted her head from Leisha’s chest, “I ain’t be having time for all of this. I need to be finding me son. Get me a horse prepared for the trail and a few stout soldiers to be accompanying me.”
Leisha turned her attention back to Perrin as the corners of her mouth dipped into a frown, “And where will you look for him, sweet Perrin? The power behind the three is beyond you or me or any of the soldiers in our army. You can journey the trails for as long as you wish, but you will find nothing but sorrow and frustration.”
“Then what would ye be having me do?” Perrin fired back with far more passion than her weakened state would suggest possible. “Would ye have me haunting the halls of this place like a ghost, an empty shell, weeping over me loss? The woman that would be doing that died when them bastards stole me son. This woman can’t be sitting back and waiting for no heroes to come and save the day. I’ll be saving it for me self.”
Leisha sighed as she looked down at Perrin’s face. “No, dear, I wouldn’t have you roaming the halls of this place. I would have you leading your people out of it. You are the queen of the people of Havenstahl now, and as such it is your duty to lead and protect them. I am preparing a caravan out of our fair city for the safety of the Forgotten Forest and my former city, Druindahl. I think you should get out of that bed and lead that caravan.”
“Why would I be leading me people away from their homes, to Druindahl or any other place?” Perrin shook her head.
“An enemy has landed upon our shores,” Leisha replied soberly. “It is a large force; giants, trogmortem, and grongs, lots and lots of grongs. I refuse to take any chances with my people,” she paused and then corrected herself, “I mean your people. In any event, I have the utmost faith in my husband and the great army of Havenstahl, but I have a bad feeling about this fight. The return of the three has me very afraid, Maelich’s absence even more so.”
“So we be fleeing then?” Perrin’s gaze moved past Leisha. “Me first act as queen will be running away from danger while me soldiers fight and die.”
“That is my recommendation,” Leisha replied. “The men of Havenstahl often boast of the strength of our army, but they have never faced a force like this. There is a great and wicked power behind this assault. I can feel it. If I am wrong, we will return after the war is over; the only tragedy being untended fields. However, if I am correct and we do not leave, those fields will remain untended as no souls will remain to tend to them.”
“Leisha?” Perrin’s voice was almost a whisper as she rested her head back on Leisha’s chest.
“Yes dear?” Leisha asked.
“How did ye get yourself to keep rising every day after they stole your baby from ye?” Perrin’s voice remained soft.
Leisha stroked her hair. “It was not easy, and I remained in my bed for many days after they took Maelich from me. I even neglected my duties with Cialia for a time, counting on a midwife the men who came to fight for us provided. I wanted to die. To be honest with you, I almost did. I stumbled out into the forest and walked for days. I found a bluff. It was not terribly tall, but it would have suited my purpose just fine. I stood at the edge of it for hours, nearly convinced myself to dive off of it a few times. In the end, something made me stay my feet there at the edge of that cliff. Trackers found me standing there, swaying like wheat in the breeze, and brought me home.”
“Right now I would be jumping right off of that cliff,” Perrin sighed.
Leisha continued, “I thought I would too. Ultimately what kept me from dashing myself on the rocks below was an idea that everything happens for a reason. There are things about this world I do not understand. They are far bigger than me or you or Havenstahl or even—bless her name—the Great Mother. Your son has a purpose, like his father has a purpose, and like his mother has a purpose. If you survive this pain, Perrin, you will be a stronger person than you ever dreamt possible.”
Perrin cuddled closer to Leisha, “I don’t be feeling very strong right now. I be feeling small and weak and worthless.”
“You are already stronger though, love,” Leisha countered. “I can hear it in your voice, as soft and shaky as it is right now. What is more, you named your son without consulting your husband. I am unsure if you realize how bold a statement that is in your culture. That is why I questioned you about it, not because I found any fault in the action. Your people are very old fashioned, and women simply do not make decisions like that, no matter what the circumstances. Personally, I think it is wonderful, and your people have made much progress. However, even after Maelich and Cialia opened their eyes to the true nature of things, they still hold on to many of their old customs. The Perrin I knew even a week ago would make no decision, especially one as important as the name of the future king, without first consulting her husband. You are becoming a strong woman who can stand on her own. I am proud of you Perrin.”
Perrin sat up and then laid her head back on her pillow, “I hope I be as strong as ye say and not just angry at me husband’s absence. I tell ye, I don’t be feeling it now
.”
Leisha patted Perrin’s hand. Then she turned toward Meelah and said, “Please see to the queen, Meelah. I think it is time to tend to her physical pain now.”
chapter 22
the old willow
The Flagoon River ran from Lake Hirksham in the low hills just southwest of Havenstahl on a meandering route that eventually emptied into the Sea of Sadness. It wasn’t much more than a brook as it skirted the edge of the Sobbing Forest and meandered through the prairie, but it became a proper river somewhere around the edge of Pikan’s Wood. Maelich and Ymitoth were a good few days into their journey when they reached the forest, following the path of the river. The skies had been fair and the air favorable for keeping a good, solid pace. They certainly weren’t rushing though.
Pikan’s Wood was a forest basically marking the end of the prairie. Running all the way to the swamplands in the west and just shy of the Sea of Sorrow in the south, it was best known for the large population of willows growing there amongst the oaks. It was a dark, sparsely populated place that neither Maelich nor Ymitoth—nor anyone else in the civilized world—knew very much about. Maelich stopped before the first willow tree he saw. It was quite literally the first willow tree he had ever seen, and it stood apart from the rest of the forest like a sentinel. Maelich mused the massive tree was a wise old wizard far too busy thinking to be troubled with fussing over his hair.
“What an amazing tree,” he remarked as he marveled at the long, dangling leaves reaching toward the grass beneath them. “We could live under there.”
“Aye, the great willow, she’s e’er been a mystery to me,” Ymitoth replied.
“What is that?” Maelich asked.
Kallum's Fury (Lake of Dragons Book 2) Page 14