“Father told me.” Miceral scanned the area. “Where are they?”
“About an hour’s march from here. Close enough to join you in time, but also close enough to return to Prince Wilhelm if you reject my offer.”
“What’s your count?”
“Two legions of foot soldiers and another quarter of horse.”
“Those are good numbers.” Miceral smirked at his friend. “For a first-time captain.”
Leothan returned the grin. “First time commanding humans, you mean.”
“You’re still trying to get me to accept that our practice battle was real?”
“Your father said it was a real fight. Don’t blame me if my side won.”
“Do you really want to insult the man who is about to negotiate your fee?” It was an empty threat, and Leothan would know that.
Leothan glared at him. “You think this is about money?”
The response took Miceral by surprise. “No, not for you, but your men expect to be paid.”
“Pay my mercs what you pay your soldiers.” All trace of humor was gone, and his fingers returned to playing with his ring. “Negotiation over.”
“What’s this about?” Miceral asked as Jagwin and his guards tensed. “We were joking and then you switched to Angry Leo.”
As if he’d thrown a lever, his expression changed back to friendly. “Sorry, it’s been a stressful string of days. First taking over the company, and then negotiating with Wilhelm for our release without knowing if you’d hire us. The men and women are anxious about my decision. It’s bad business not to have a contract right before a battle.”
“Wouldn’t know, I’ve never been a mercenary. Well, not for real.”
A tiny smile stretched Leothan’s lips. “Your partner nearly gave it away playing with the owner’s dog. Not that anyone believed you two were mercenaries. You were too carefree.”
“It served its purpose.”
“You sure? Information is a valuable commodity, especially in a busy port like Belsport. You two were the subject of a lot of conversations. Too many for it to have been coincidence.”
“What does that mean?”
“You were mildly interesting. Enough for men to talk about for a night over their food, but hardly worthy of rampant speculation. Once you left, people talked about you for days. That typically means someone was asking questions and even paying for information.” He shrugged. “No one approached me, so that’s just conjecture, but I’ve been around long enough.”
Was that how Meglar found them? It didn’t seem possible. No one knew they used a Door to Glaston. “Again, it served its purpose and we made it home.”
“So do we have a deal?” Leothan glanced over his shoulder as if expecting his company to show up. “Either way I need to get return to my soldiers.”
Miceral held out his arm. “We do. How soon can you get into position?”
Leothan accepted. “By the time I get back and get them moving, we can be here in two hours.” He pointed to the gate. “Less if we check in farther north.”
“Marshal halfway between this gate and the northern one. Take a rest when you get here. We’ll use you as reinforcements when we know where we’ll need you most.”
“That’s perfect.” He squeezed Miceral’s forearm again and let go. “I’ll be off. The sooner they get here, the more rest they’ll have before fighting.”
With a leap, Leothan mounted and rode north.
“I don’t trust him.” Jagwin never took his attention off the dwindling form.
Miceral nodded. “He’s an old friend. We trained together as teenagers.”
“Hmm.” Jagwin tore his gaze away. “If you hadn’t said that, I’d have ordered him killed before he made it four paces. Something about him doesn’t sit right.”
“Leo’s a bit of a loner.” Miceral tamped down his own misgivings. “He left Northhelm when we were in our thirties. He came and went for a couple of decades. Then I didn’t see him for fifty years until Farrell and I accompanied Peter on his coming-of-age journey.”
Jagwin didn’t respond, so Miceral headed back inside. He needed to clear his head before Meglar’s army arrived. That would be only a bit after Leothan and his company.
Farrell directed his guards to the northeast gate. Any detour would destroy the internal calm he’d struggled to find after saying his goodbyes. Meglar wouldn’t survive the encounter. His own chances weren’t that high either. Those around him understood, but seeing the pain they tried to hide weakened him.
When they arrived in the Great Hall, he stopped so suddenly a dwarf ran into him. Hundreds of guards stood in two lines leading to his Permanent Door. They wore the colors of the different temples and included dwarves, humans, and Arlefors. He noticed the head of each temple had joined their guards. At the end, unicorns made up the last few places on the left and peregrines on the right.
“What is this?” he asked Vregar.
“Your Majesty.” Vregar spun around and saluted. The guards who accompanied him assumed a position in the lines. “When we leave you, my dwarves and I will go join our captain to defend King Miceral with our lives. War is a dangerous business, as my friend and mentor Greigel taught us. On behalf of Captain Jagwin, myself, and every dwarf in the guard, it has been an honor to serve you these past months. Your courage and determination is an example of a true dwarf for the world to see. We hope to greet you when you return, for we know you will win, but if we cannot, know we died proud of our king.”
He snapped to attention and the other dwarves did the same. As a unit they drew their weapons and clapped them against their breastplates.
The entire sendoff took him by surprise. “I never wanted to be king, but I was . . . I am humbled to lead such wonderful dwarves. I will not let you down.” Farrell returned the salute. “For the honor of Trellham.”
Vregar held his troops in formation as Farrell walked past. Father Gedrin and his guards met him first. Wearing the full regalia of his office, he gave Farrell a genuine smile.
“Ours has not been the smoothest relationship. After much prayer, I’ve been reminded you answer to no being other than the Six.” Gedrin put his hand on Farrell’s shoulder. “For what this is worth now, you have my full support.”
Farrell managed a small smile. “If you’re inclined, I would have your blessing.”
The priest’s eyes opened a bit wider. “For what that is worth to one such as you, I ask that Honorus bless you and keep you safe.”
“Thank you.” He reached up and squeezed the hand on his shoulder. “When such a thing is worth nothing to me is the day you should oppose me with all that you are. Until then, I am honored.”
Glendora stood with the priestesses of Lenore. “Mother Grenda is off doing the Blessed Mother’s work. I was asked to stand in for her.”
“You have been a positive influence in my life since the day we met. I’m pleased to have you see me off.”
“And you have been a joy to know, child. The love you and Miceral share for each other and your children is an example for everyone. Go with the blessing of Holy Lenore.”
A few Arlefor guards stood with the other soldiers of Arritisa. Mother Burcia’s expression struck him as bittersweet. “The chance to see you off on this momentous day is an honor I never expected. You stood before our Blessed Mother with the strength and humility of a true Champion. In my heart I know She chose wisely. You have Her confidence and love. Let that sustain you when you need it most. Go with Her blessings.”
Father Aswick stood before his guards flanked by Lamenar and Wasquar. He smiled, but Farrell saw the emotions it held back. “You didn’t think my brothers would miss the chance to see off the human they helped crown high king, did you?”
“The stoic patience of the dwarves is a blessing,” Farrell said, bowing to the trio. “I’m honored you came today.”
“Drendar told me you are one with all the beings of Nendor, and he was correct,” Lamenar said. “You win over the heart
s of even the most doubtful simply by being who you are. That is a gift from the Six to the world. Without you, our future would be grim, but you are a light for all to follow. You have our admiration and our love. May it help you today.”
“May Khron bless you with the strength and courage to stand for the world today,” Aswick said.
Before the assembled guards in Falcron’s blue, Lingum smiled like a proud father. “When we met, I questioned the Holy Father’s wisdom for selecting you. Since that day, I’ve never had a doubt. You have shown wisdom beyond any I know and the will to use that gift when others would turn you aside. Some would call it foolish, but I call it courage of faith. Keep that strength and do what you believe to be right.”
He held out his hand. When Farrell accepted, he pulled them into a hug. “It is my great honor to stand beside you. Go with Falcron’s blessing.”
Standing just in front of her guards, Jolella had a tearful smile on her face. He held out his hands and she accepted them. They stared at each other quietly until Farrell could not hold back a huge smile.
“Sister of my heart, you have been my rock. You believed in me when others doubted. When I needed a voice to back me up, you spoke the words. I love you like no one else in all Nendor, and I’m certain that is not a coincidence. Thank you for getting me here and making me stronger for the journey.”
A tear ran down her cheek. Dozens more followed, and she pulled him closer. “Our bond is a gift I will always treasure. There is a purpose in what She wrought. Remember that. You have always been blessed by the Holy Mother, now go use Her love as only you can.”
The unicorns and peregrines bowed as he approached them. No one came forward to speak. Rothdin and Nerti had already given him their words of support. He nodded to both sides and continued to his Door.
With his back to those who bid him well, Farrell opened the portal and stepped through. The support of those who had touched his life in a positive way filled him with renewed determination.
Once he thought he didn’t have a family, but he was wrong. He had the largest family of all. Everyone, his entire family, needed him to do what only he could do.
The plains sparkled in the sunshine and a cool breeze danced over his skin. He closed the Door without looking back and walked to the open space between the twin Sources. Lifting his right leg first and then the left, he settled into a calming position. He closed his eyes to clear his thoughts of anything that would stop him from protecting his family.
Chapter Thirty-Seven
The dust hovered over their approaching enemy. Miceral had fought enough battles to know it would take an enormous army to make such a cloud. How could they beat that?
“Where did he get so many bodies?” Miceral asked no one in particular. “Emptying the Free Cities he captured wouldn’t give him half that number.”
“He has been planning this for three decades,” Zenora said. “His family for longer, I’m sure. According to Kel, his mother is the high priestess to Neldin. There’s no way to know how long he’s been creating Chamdon and putting them in stasis.”
“Is this his entire army?” Horgon asked.
“No,” she said. “I suspect he’s bringing a like number to Gharaha.”
Miceral’s heart threatened to burst. “Farrell!”
“Will be fine,” Zenora said. “The Six and Neldin agreed the fight is between Champions only. Even one Chamdon violates that covenant.”
“Don’t forget, we spent ten years modifying the Plains,” Sanduval said. “It won’t stop Meglar, but it will wipe out his army in a heartbeat.”
“Too bad we didn’t replicate those spells here,” Horgon said.
“Had we known, we would have.” Heminaltose tapped his staff on the ground. “When we started, we didn’t know this gate existed.”
It was too late to wish for more time. They had to fight with what they had. Any other army and he’d have liked their chances. The four armies converging on the plains would have been the largest force ever on Ardus. Except the Chamdon army was twice their size.
Horgon turned to Heminaltose. “Are you sure you can draw out their chief wizards?”
“They’ll come,” he said. “We didn’t have time to do all we did on Gharaha, but we did enough. There are some devastating spells over a large swath of ground. If we target the wizards who counter our defense, that will bring their strongest mages. If they don’t come, we’ll destroy their army around them.”
After the Battle of Jarian, Miceral appreciated the importance of having the better wizards. If Zenora and the others could gain the upper hand, the wizards could slaughter their enemy. “Our role is to keep them at bay long enough for you to take out his inner circle.”
“Correct,” Zenora said.
Miceral didn’t ask what if Meglar’s wizards were more powerful. He wasn’t sure it mattered. Everything depended on who won on Gharaha. Still, if . . . when Farrell won, Trellham and Haven needed to be intact or it would be a hollow victory.
He surveyed their enemy. Despite its vast numbers, the army maintained remarkable order. They also seemed oblivious to the other armies Miceral couldn’t see but knew were there. If their allies remained hidden, he liked their chances.
An explosion sent clusters of Chamdon flying. Another reminder their fortune would hang on whose magic was stronger.
New blasts erupted around the charging army. Their wizards moved to defend against the outbreaks. Heminaltose, Zenora, and the supporting wizards unleashed a deadly barrage. As Heminaltose said they would, they targeted the magical activity in enemy ranks. Dozens fell, and their fiery deaths decimated the surrounding Chamdon. A hail of new magic from Haven’s defenders cut down the few creatures that made it through the gauntlet.
“They’re countering!” Sanduval yelled. He and the group of wizards assigned to defense sprang to action. A wall of energy welled up from the ground and covered Haven and Trellham’s army. It curved over them and connected with the mountain. Moments later, the ground shook as something struck the shield in multiple places.
Heminaltose led Haven’s response, and an all-out wizard’s fight erupted. The larger shield faded, but Sanduval and his contingent kept still. Small skirmishes broke out up and down the front. Most went in favor of Haven’s wizards, but Miceral saw two explosions inside his army.
A series of powerful balls of energy crashed into Zenora and Heminaltose’s shield. It shook the ground but did little else. They returned fire as the hail of deadly energy continued to rain upon them. Sanduval and his mages joined the fight, and the two sides exchanged blows.
Meglar’s army came to a halt, and a knot of black-robed wizards advanced to the front line. They stopped when they were in front of Haven’s chief wizards.
“Do you recognize them?” Miceral asked.
“I only know one personally,” Zenora said. “Meglar’s uncle Ulgar. We met at a family event. He’s the one with the gray hair in the center.”
“Kel briefed us on all five,” Heminaltose said. “Ulgar is in charge. He’s not the strongest, but he’s the most dangerous. The two on either side of Ulgar are his son Fardin and his daughter Tarnicia. She is the strongest of them. Brezlaw, is to Tarnicia’s left. He’s the one who caused Nordric’s death. His sister Murkeria is next to Fardin.”
“You never met them?” Miceral ask.
“Meglar and his mother kept the wizards in the family hidden,” Zenora said. “Fortunately, Kel kept track of them.”
Miceral wanted to more about the enemy wizards, but some of Meglar’s lesser mages directed an attack at Haven’s soldiers. Each time a shield surrounded the intended targets. Sanduval and his wizards leveled the attackers beneath a lethal barrage of energy.
The melee ended and the two sides regrouped. Miceral didn’t like what he saw. Meglar’s wizards divided into six groups. The senior wizards made up a seventh. He’d always thought Haven had the superior wizards, if not in numbers, then in strength. Though he didn’t know the level of
Meglar’s wizards, they had the numbers on their side. By a lot.
“Stick to our plan,” Zenora shouted, sparing a glance at Sanduval. “Our soldiers need you.”
Heminaltose bombarded their enemy with a salvo that hit each of the groups. He released two more waves, and Zenora targeted one of the groups. The shield surrounding this group changed color a moment before it burst apart. A ball of yellow energy struck the wizard leading the group and she crumpled. The others in her group died seconds later.
“Show-off,” Sanduval said.
When Meglar’s wizards attacked again, the Chamdon charged forward.
Miceral drew his sword and pointed toward their solders. “We should join them.”
“I know as high king you feel the need to be there, but you must wait. I need to be up here to direct our efforts.” Klissmor moved to a small rise still within the shielded area. “When we leave our defense and take the fight to the enemy, trust that we will be there to lead our forces.”
The answer didn’t calm Miceral, but he understood. New magical assaults helped blunt the Chamdon charge. Enough made it through to crash against the more conventional defenses. The dwarves “thrown-together” battlements worked better than any Miceral had seen before. Even those planned and built in advance.
The first wave of Chamdon were pushed back and trampled by the mindless creatures behind them. Their inability to deviate from their last command was a weakness Horgon and Klissmor incorporated in the battle plans.
Different-colored balls of fire pelted the southern edge of Meglar’s army. In the blink of an eye, the Bendari army appeared in midcharge. Their shamans followed the plan and targeted the handlers and any mage who fought back.
Focused on the army in front of them, the Chamdon ignored the Bendari even as they cut into their ranks. The surviving handlers struggled to turn their soldiers to meet the new threat.
Before they’d fully addressed the new threat from the south, a new assault struck from the west. The Arlefors also targeted the low-level wizards who directed the Chamdon. Facing no resistance, the powerful creatures drove deep into their enemy lines.
Champion of the Gods Box Set Page 218