by A L Issett
“You think your armor can stop me?” Perry laughed. “You are facing the only three bolt swordmaster in history. I would be on the mage before he could even utter a spell and your armor has deficiencies, not to mention the majority of our countrymen are all Duke Haggerty’s from what I see with a good number of my own men thrown in for measure. I have no time for your idle threats.”
“Let’s calm down, we are still in a warzone” Galero said as two men came up holding a box. Tanner turned to them as they smiled, he recognized Darouth and Wallace, the captain of his own guard along with the second in command. Tanner rushed over and lifted the lid of the box, inside was the Sword of Ages and the Helm of Time. Tanner placed the helm on his head and grasped his sword. He had not held it in a year or so. The sword was blood thirsty and was always looking for a fight. Now though it felt like embracing an old friend that hasn’t been seen in many years. The sword thrummed with delight as a smile crossed Tanner’s face. Tanner swung it a couple of times, it was far more balanced than the axe and a thousand times more deadlier. The sword cleaved through armor and bone alike, only the thickest of armors could turn back a sword like this and then only if it were plate. Ordinary helms stood no chance against it, Tanner was complete.
“I came as fast as I could Milord” Darouth said as he took a bow. “I took our fastest horses and took off, you have about 200 men and women on their way right now as far as infantry goes and another 40 for cavalry. The rest are all support, of us here presently you have 20 cavalry.”
“Set up somewhere and get rest” Tanner commanded. “I’ll have others care for your horses, you did more than enough.”
Tanner watched his troops go and faced Edmonson who still looked a bit angry. The mage stalked around holding his staff up menacingly giving an evil eye to any who dared look his way.
“You are going get a headache walking around with a look like that” Tanner said to his friend. “You look like someone trying to pass a particularly tough shit but whose asshole won't work with them.”
“It’s Carolina..” Edmonson replied.
“We can get this figured out, right now you need to catch up with that niece of mine” Tanner replied.
“You are not coming?” Edmondson asked surprised.
“No, I told Darlene she will have my sword for this battle and the strength of my men” Tanner replied. “Tell the King to leave this little kingdom alone as my payment for getting your woman.”
“Uncle, uh wow” Edmonson replied shocked. “Are you sure? You don't even really know this Queen.”
“I don't but I can sympathize” Tanner replied. “Besides, I am sure I will be rewarded handsomely for my help, come let us find the Queen and see where your wife is.”
Tanner led Edmonson to where the Queen was located after pointing out a spot where his men could rest. The separatists could technically still attack but with the new bodies the royalist had on their side it was unlikely. Tanner was sure the separatists were watching from the hillside and had to see the new fighters joining in. This number would only grow in the next couple of days Tanner thought, which at least gave the royalist a chance to come up with a real plan for fighting the separatists in their ambush site. Tanner saw the Queen was talking to her advisor Farlane and from the look on her face she was relieved.
“Your Majesty,” Tanner began. “This Jinx Flinger wants to know where he can find his wife at so he can start hitting the trail. I on the other hand am honoring my word.”
“H-His wife?” the Queen asked.
“Yeah, Carolina, this one is her husband” Tanner replied.
“Galero can give you the route” the Queen asked as she looked over Tanner and her eyes roamed for a second on his belt. “You are not using the axe anymore or the helm that goes with the armor?”
“No, that can be for someone else” Tanner replied. “I have had these for longer than you have been born and many idiots have met their end at the end of this blade.”
“Longer than I have been born?” Queen Darlene asked.
“I know you have heard the rumors about me” Tanner began. “I am far older than you are and I am the reason at least partly there is a five kingdoms. The short of it is that this sword gave me my youthful look and keeps me forever young depending who winds up on the other end of it. Perry was good, better than any I have ever faced but in the end it is doubtful that even he could last for too long.”
“Your sword, it is-” Queen Darlene stammered.
“It is like those braces you all wear, well in the sense that it is magical” Tanner began. “And I’ll tell you all about it right away after you get this Jinx Flinger on his way to see his woman before he fries us all like chicken in bacon grease.”
“Here is my captain now” Queen Darlene said as she looked over Tanner’s shoulder. “Galero, this is Princess Carolina’s husband. Can you please show him the way to her.”
Tanner watched as Galero motioned for Edmonson to follow him, before Edmonson left he and Tanner exchanged a brief hug before the mage departed. The sword could feel that there were mages nearby and thirsted for their blood. Tanner rested his hand on its hilt and felt the rush of power it gave him again. If he drained while holding the sword it would come to him almost tenfold. Not only that, if he could hit a spell with it, he could direct it back at its owner.
“You seem happy to have your weapon” Darlene said as she could see Tanner had his eyes closed.
“I am happy to have it back on, even more so than I realized” Tanner replied.
“May I hold it?” the Queen asked.
“That would be daft” Tanner replied. “The sword can take over minds and force you to do things you normally wouldn’t. Once when I was in a battle and it fell from my grip the enemy picked it up. The poor fool started slaughtering his countrymen before slitting his own throat. The sword likes me and hates everyone else who dares touch it.”
“A sword can do all that?” Darlene replied.
“It’s all in these runes” Tanner said as he withdrew his blade. “You see all this fancy writing going up and down this blade? Some of it is what gives this blade its sharpness, I can cut a man in half when I have it. The other is what gives this blade its own spirit. It is hard to explain but this sword has a life and a soul. It likes to be used in war and loves even more to kill. It has accepted me as its owner.”
“Would it be possible to borrow it?” Queen Darlene replied. “My smith could possibly recreate this blade, if I could make others like it, maybe without the mind control it could go a long way to winning this war.”
“I don't mind but I gave my word to that twat Perry that he could do the same” Tanner began. “My price though is simple, I want three copies of your magic items. But we are out here in the middle of nowhere, where would you find a forge or ore to undergo such a task?”
“We have mages that can make fire hotter than any forge” Darlene replied. “If needed we can turn out a decent quality sword in a day or so while here in the field. I keep ore here in case we come across certain materials. But this is not the place for this talk, I want to show you something and will need your help now that you have agreed.”
Tanner nodded as the Queen gave a look to her advisor. The old man weaved his way around the camp until he came upon a covered wagon. Tanner thought it looked like any other wagon and wondered what was so special about it when the back of the wagon opened up. Tanner could hear some shuffling followed by a grunt. A man came walking slowly out of the back, the door acted as a sort of ramp for him to get to the ground. He was old, older than any man Tanner had ever seen before and his hair was the color of freshly fallen snow. He had a beard that hung almost to his waist and despite his age he looked sturdier than a man his age ought to be. His arms were bare and although they were heavily wrinkled you could see muscle underneath. His back was wide and his shoulders were broad, when he finally stepped on ground Tanner noticed two things. That the old man was short, much shorter than a normal man but n
ot quite as short as Tanner’s former body guard Stephen the half man. The second thing he noticed was that the man had the Hammer of Champions strapped to his belt.
“Master Orecrusher” the Queen said as she took a bow. “Will you take a look at something for me? It is another magical artifact.”
Tanner watched as the short man looked around, it was then Tanner’s heart practically wanted to burst out of his chest. This was no little man, his memories from the helm let him know this was a dwarf. Tanner had thought the race extinct as he nor anyone else he knew had seen a dwarf in quite some time. Tanner pulled out his sword and displayed it while looking at the hammer. The hammer was capable of forging magic items but it needed its own source of magical energy. It was a weapon for an enchanter and the last known one was centuries ago, the mythical King Xander the Red. How Darlene was getting magical energy to even put in the hammer was something Tanner wanted to know. Tanner knelt and the dwarf peered at the black sword and ran his hands just over the flat without making contact.
“This is the black metal of those who once lived in the mountain” Orecrusher began in a voice that was both deeper and more forceful than Tanner imagined. “The magic written into it is a mixture of languages long since dead. The maker of this weapon was a master, where did you get this blade at?”
“I stole it from my master” Tanner began. “I was once a captured slave and stole it when I ran free.”
“Is it for sale?” the dwarf began. “You can name your price.”
“It is priceless, besides the sword has a mind of its own” Tanner replied.
“I cannot read all of it, but I saw mind magic embedded into it” Orecrusher began. “I can make a poor copy of this weapon, but even a poor copy would be much too great a weapon. Comparing a normal sword to what I could create would be comparing a stick to a fine staff. The only thing I would need are magical folks.”
“I can arrange that Master Orecrusher” the Queen relied. “How many do you think you can make?”
“This should not be as hard as the bracers, the magic would only affect the sword, not the wielder” Orecrusher said and ran his hand over his beard. “I can make maybe two per mage but I’ll know more once the work starts. I don't know everything this sword can do but I can take some things from it.”
“We don't have many mages as it is but I have one of middling power” the Queen began. “Although if everything goes well we may be able to take mages from the separatists and use them for our own ends.”
Tanner was asked if he could leave his sword somewhere the dwarf could look at it and complied. He could feel where the sword was at now that he had made contact with it once again and had not worried about it being stolen. Tanner had no idea what the plan was going to be to stop the ambush but now that he knew many of his own people were coming to the fight, it would work its way out in the end. Tanner found his own troops and laid with them. He would stay in his armor this night.
CHAPTER 7
Tanner awoke to a new day when the leader of his troops, Darouth woke him up. Tanner had gotten up groggily as the man was dressed fully and looked far from the sun exhausted man from yesterday. Tanner had been the last to rise as he could see his people were all up and tending to their horses.
“You have visitors” Darouth said getting to the point. “I didn’t let them pass our perimeter, one claims to be a son of a Duke or some other nonsense.”
Tanner walked over and could see Perry standing proudly with six of his mages behind him. The man looked at Tanner for a moment then motioned for his men to go away. Tanner looked over his shoulder at Darouth and the man smartly walked away.
“Despite our differences you remember our bargain” Perry asked.
“I do remember if it is about my sword” Tanner replied. “You will have your blade. I have to ask though why are you still here? You know the Princess has already been released along with the Duke’s daughter.”
“Because other than the mage no one else has left yet” Perry replied. “And I have not received word the Princess is safely back in Ket.”
Tanner could not argue with the man’s logic as a messenger came running up with a summons from Queen Darlene. Both men shrugged as they made their way towards the Queen where it seemed like all of her military leaders and advisors were there. Tanner could hear the subject on everyone’s lips, the separatists had pulled back. Apparently Galero sent scouts into the hills to see where exactly the separatists were and saw them pulling out quickly. They left so quickly their last catapult had been disabled and left behind they moved out so fast. The separatists must have known the force the Queen had was only going to get bigger and maybe crush their forces outright. Now the problem was that no one knew what to do next other than pursue them. The separatists were far from beaten and if they pulled back to the capital it would be hard to dislodge them. The capital had been fortified against invaders, the only way it fell from the Queen was through trickery. If they holed up there the separatists would have enough food and a stream passed through on the outskirts which would give them enough water. Someone had built up a clay representation of their capital and pointed out all kinds of hidden tunnels that would no doubt be guarded.
“We need to get at their leadership” Galero said as he stopped paying attention to the miniature city. “If we don't, this will drag out far longer than we have allies. Either that or force their leaders to flee like the rebels they are.”
“No, No” Farlane said as he looked at the Queen. “What we need to do to win is to come up with a way to forgive the soldiers who are fighting against us. For all who desert we will give them a writ of innocence and welcome them back into Quetian society without any punishment. This would make thousands leave if they knew they would be welcomed back. Without an army the separatists would have to flee.”
“Maybe this can be done another way” General Kasing said joining the conversation. “Why don't we simply ask them to give up and leave? Send your terms of surrender but let their leadership know they have so many days until your army surrounds whatever city they are in. Exile the leaders, men who know they will die anyway don't mind throwing other lives away. If you exile them instead to one of the other five kingdoms we can always send in assassins after them later. It is a long shot but if it doesn't work we can always go with another plan, we just need the right messenger to deliver the message.”
“What do you mean about the right messenger?” the Queen asked.
“Well if I had everything perfect Your Majesty,” General Kasing began. “I would send the Ketians along with a few of our own. Seeing that the help we have is formidable, we would at least give the impression that we are bargaining from a real position of power.”
“I would go with this group” Captain Galero demanded. “This could work and if it doesn't well then we have lost nothing.”
“Would you be willing to go?” Queen Darlene asked as her eyes brushed over Perry and Tanner.
“I would if only because you asked” Perry replied. Tanner rolled his eyes then nodded.
“Well then we should leave at once” Galero replied. “I will get our terms ready along with the Queen and meet both of you along with ten of your riders. It might be a good idea to display your colors, if a bit dangerous.”
Tanner nodded and left, if he was going horseback riding he would kill his horse with all the extra weight his armor provided. Tanner ended up taking it all off and instead wore a tunic with his crest on it as five of his men suited up to leave. He would take Wallace, his second in command along with four others assuming Perry would get his own group of five together to make ten. Tanner at first worried about not having armor but he still had his helm, all he needed was his sword which alerted him to danger anyway. Tanner rode to where he knew the dwarf was and could see his sword had not moved. Tanner sheathed the sword as the dwarf peeked out of the back.
“I perhaps made my finest weapon” the dwarf said with a nod. If I could examine your blade more later I t
hink I could do even better, as is though I think what I have will suffice. The Queen already got a hold of my masterpiece.”
Tanner nodded and could see the rest of his party coming up beside them. Perry proudly displayed the banner not of his house but of King Golden. The group let out and made a somewhat fast pace to begin with but the horses gradually slowed. Tanner was the only one not wearing armor so the horses were straining from carrying so much weight. Just as Galero was about to call a halt Tanner spotted three horsemen a ways ahead of them. Galero had a white flag raised high as one of the riders ahead of them broke off. The air around the group was a little tense, everyone knew this would be the hard part, meeting the leaders without being attacked outright. The men formed up and rode on giving their horses a chance to stop running and trotted up to the pair of riders that remained from the separatists.
“We wish to talk to whoever is in charge” Perry said as he approached the other riders. None had any rank that Tanner could see but they looked well fed and were well armed. Both had a crossbow, a shield and a lance of some kind. These men were comfortable fighting on horseback, that Tanner could tell.
“And who are you?” the rider on the left replied, a man who looked to be in his late twenties.
“I have a title peasant” Perry said snobbily. “And I don't care about this little war you have going on, if you disrespect me again I’ll have your head.”
“You are talking to Duke Wayne and Earl Tox both of Ket” Captain Galero said speaking up. “They are both here on the orders of the King of Ket. You may already know who I am and I speak on the behalf of Her Majesty, Queen Darlene of Quet.”
The riders snorted upon hearing Darlene’s title but said nothing. Finally one of them gave a nod to the other and he took off, Tanner’s guess was to deliver the news. Galero followed the rider who departed at a trot without asking permission of the remaining rider and kept his hand on the hilt of his sword. Tanner likewise did the same and led his men on, Wallace stayed closest to the enemy rider. If the man had any crazy plans Tanner knew he would be dead before he could enact them. Wallace was one of the fastest knife throwers he had ever met and knew the man had at least one hidden in his palm. The majority of the army was a couple of marks more ahead, Darlene’s troops would have never caught up with them as Tanner could see the enemy had jettisoned anything not of immediate use including weapons, wood, even food was not spared. As Tanner got closer to the army he figured only men on horseback stood a chance, if the enemy hadn’t obviously halted for their message Tanner doubted they would have caught up before tomorrow. Perry trotted through the enemy army first with his head held up high and the king’s banner flying behind being held up by one of his men. Tanner could hear whispering amongst the troops as they pointed out the different banners. A difference between this camp and the royalists was that every tent seemed to be laid out perfectly. It was like Tanner was in a little city, men were still setting up bigger tents so Tanner figured they must had been planning on staying the night. Tanner and his group were brought before a big tent where men stood outside examining his party. Tanner let his sense flow and could see that two of the men, were mages pretending to be normal guards. Tanner started a slow trickle of power and leeched from the false guards. Tanner was allowed to keep his sword and enter the tent and immediately knew why, there were at least ten mages inside along with a grey haired man in general stripes.