“So, is this why you are telling us to hold off on going into Terranasia?” he asked.
“It is, sire,” answered Jarell. “It appears Kerrick is behind the trouble there. Apparently, as our sources have told us, he first took over the lands of Gallyneer and then sent his troops north, into Terranasia and have taken over that land as well.”
“That puts his influence on two sides of Wyndweir, with the Eastern Desert as a buffer,” said Brinn.
“Yes, it does.”
“Now, for some even better news. After Sophia and Golrath delivered Mirroth to the Land of the Dragons, she was returning and flying over the southern end of the Eastern Desert and she saw more troops gathering there. As Claudious had already taken the initial group and left to meet with the rest of our armies, these new troops were just gathering, with no place to go. They were just waiting for one of the wizards to come and take charge. So, she landed and told them what had happened and then told them of your plans to go through the gates of Terranasia.”
Jarell stood up and looked across the table and smiled at Pendivall. The old wizard sat back and looked at him.
“Master Pendivall, they are on their way here as we speak. Within a few days, your little army here is set to grow by four times.”
This was the first time since Jarell’s arrival Pendivall felt like things were starting to turn around.
“That many troops?” he asked.
“Yes. Oh, and before I forget,” said Jarell with his usual rascal grin, “about one hundred of those troops are royal soldiers.”
Brinn’s eyes got really big as he said, “One hundred royal soldiers? Coming here?”
Jarell nodded and smiled.
“So, if you could just hold off your departure for a few days, I think our chances of breaching the gates will be much better.”
Pendivall stood up and his mouth was curved into a wide smile. He turned to his captains and told them to go back to the encampment and pass the word and tell the troops they would be staying put for a few days.
As the pub began to clear out, only the four were left. The pub master brought over four mugs of ale and water and set them on the table.
“Royal soldiers coming here?” he asked.
Jarell nodded.
“Well, I guess I better stock up on plenty of meats and potatoes. I hear those lads can eat.”
Jarell laughed, “And drink.”
“Oh, mother help us,” said the pub owner as he went back to work.
Pendivall sat down and looked across at Hilde and asked, “So, Lady Hilde, how did you figure out the dark wizard was Kerrick?”
Her head dropped and she closed her eyes. Pendivall could see it was a painful subject for her and he was beginning to regret asking the question.
“Master Pendivall,” said Jarell and he squeezed her shoulder, “I don’t think ...”
Hilde stopped him with a pat on the hand.
“Sweetie, may I have some time alone with Master Pendivall and Brinn?”
She looked up at her husband with sorrowful eyes and said, “Please?”
Jarell took a deep breath and then patted her on the shoulder.
“I’m going to head down to the camp and find us a tent.”
He leaned over and kissed her, then he turned and headed out the door, leaving the three of them alone at the table.
Ten minutes later, after she had told the two of them about her history with Kerrick, with plenty of tears from her eyes, they sat there and looked at her. She felt like a bug on the floor, just waiting to be crushed by an unseen boot.
Then Pendivall stood up and walked around the table and cupped her chin in his hand. He lifted her face and looked into her tear-filled eyes, then leaned over and kissed her on the forehead.
“Don’t you dare blame yourself for what is happening now. All of us senior wizards knew Kerrick years ago, long before you met him and we should have seen the trouble he was capable of causing. Now, we have to deal with that son of a pig and it is not your fault.”
She stood up and looked up at the tall wizard and then threw her arms around his waist and he wrapped his arms around her shoulders. He kissed her on the top of her red-haired head and held her close as she cried.
~~~~
That evening there was plenty of talk going around the camp about the pending arrival of a large group of royal soldiers. Some there had been in the encampment near Rosemoor and were familiar with Captain Jong and they had seen Claudious arrive in the Eastern Desert with his group of soldiers.
But, to have one hundred of them coming to Bridgehaven was cause for anticipation.
Almost everyone from down south knew at least one or two men who had descended from the blood line of the royal soldiers. When the last war ended four hundred years ago and the last king and queen left these lands, the royal soldiers who chose to remain had spread throughout the land. They had become farmers, blacksmiths, masons and anything else where their size and strength would be an asset.
Though a good portion of them had filtered in through the other peoples of Wyndweir, a large group had moved to the southern tip of the land, near the sea. They had started their own villages and towns, which had become legend, known as the Land of the Giants. They lived their lives in peace and harmony with all those around them.
However, there was one thing the royal soldier blood line never lost and that was their courage or their willingness to wade into a war, to protect their homes and lands. Though none of these soldiers were alive during the last war, those qualities were still burning deep within their blood, just waiting for the call to battle.
Jarell and Hilde walked through the camp and were accosted on all sides by the troops, asking questions about the coming of the army from Tottenham and they did their best to answer as many of them as they could.
That evening, as the campfires began to be extinguished, they retired to their tent and became even more familiar with each other as husband and wife.
~~~~
In the morning Jarell rolled over on their sleeping mat, wanting to look into the eyes of his beautiful wife and found himself looking at an empty pillow. He sat up and looked around. It was such a small tent and there weren’t that many places for her to hide.
Then, he could hear some cheering and oohs and ahhs coming from someplace in the distance. He could hear the beating of dragon wings and the sound of those wings cutting through the air at great speed.
Climbing out of bed, he got dressed as fast as he could and almost lunged out of the tent. He heard the crowd again and walked around a couple of tents and looked toward the sound.
Then he found his wife.
She was on the back of Venia and they were swooping and diving at targets on the ground. It appeared Hilde was firing arrows from the back of the speeding dragon.
Jarell jogged to the crowd sitting and standing on a hillside, overlooking a small draw where there were various targets set up along the slopes, some on the ground, some in trees and some on posts.
Jarell saw Pendivall and Brinn standing together and he walked over to them.
Pendivall looked at him and smiled.
“Didn’t think you were ever going to wake up.”
“Well, not being the young man I used to be,” laughed Jarell, “my young wife has a tendency to wear me out in the evenings.”
“Apparently,” Pendivall said as he pointed at the flying pair, “you’re not doing much to wear her out.”
Pendivall laughed and so did Jarell.
“So, what brought this on?” asked Jarell.
“Well, Lady Hilde was worried the dragons were too protective of their riders when they went into battle together. The dragons paid more attention to keeping their riders safe and not enough attention to the actual battle and it was causing dragons to get hurt or killed. So, she worked with the weapons guild masters and they created harnesses for the dragons.”
Jarell looked and saw there was a leather harness that had broad straps
stretching across Venia’s chest and her belly behind her front legs. When the harness went up over the back, it passed right in front of the first spine on her back and there was a simple seat Hilde was sitting on. Her legs went down alongside Venia’s shoulders and her lower legs and feet were wedged under the straps, holding her firmly in place.
No matter how rough or fast Venia moved through the sky, Hilde stayed solidly in the seat. As they would fly like lightning over the draw, Hilde would pull an arrow from her quiver and fire it at a target and was hitting them dead center every time.
“Your young wife is one amazing warrior,” said Pendivall. “I see now how she was able to stick a couple of arrows in Kerrick and send him away from the battlefield like a wounded pup.”
“Yes, she is,” said Jarell with about as much pride as he could muster, as he watched her continue the training session.
After about ten minutes, she whispered to Venia and they turned and headed for a landing near the wizards. Venia landed with a thump and Hilde jumped down and walked around to give the dragon a kiss on the nose.
“That was amazing, Venia.”
“I think we work well together,” said the small, green dragon.
Hilde smiled and kissed her again. She turned and walked away as a couple of weapons masters came up and started removing the harness. They were asking Venia about how it fit and if it needed to be adjusted in any way. She told them it was perfect.
Walking up to the wizards, Hilde was covered in sweat and still breathing hard, but with a big smile on her face.
“Good morning husband of mine. I hope we didn’t wake you.”
“I wish I had woken up a little earlier,” he said as he kissed her good morning.
Pendivall asked, “So, young lady, what did you learn? I’m assuming something useful.”
“The biggest fear the dragons had was a rider falling off if they turned or dove too fast. So they were always flying carefully and it was getting them hurt. With the harness, Venia doesn’t need to worry about me anymore and can just fly as she normally would.”
Pendivall nodded and smiled.
Brinn looked at her and then at the dragon.
“I don’t think I could do something like that. Ride a dragon like you do, I mean.”
“It’s an amazing thing, Brinn. But, it is a bit scary, too.”
Hilde turned back to Pendivall and said, “Sire, the two dragons that came with you have said they would be willing to take riders themselves if you think it wise.”
Pendivall nodded and said, “I think it would be a good idea. Two of the Guildenian bowmaidens, I should imagine. They are small and wouldn’t tire the dragons as they carried them.”
Hilde smiled and said, “I’ll see which two would like to give it a try.”
Jarell laughed and said, “I have a feeling you’ll have way more volunteers than spots to fill. And shouldn’t you be looking for three riders? I’m sure if you asked nicely, Morgath would take a rider.”
She looked at him and asked, “Are you not going to be riding Morgath?”
“No, sweets, I won’t. I will be on the ground with the troops. My place is with them and your place will be above the fight where you can rain your arrows down on the enemy. Putting four of you in the air will be better than three.”
She smiled and said, “Okay, I’ll ask him.”
Jarell hugged his wife close and she pushed him away and said, “Ooo, honey, I’m all sweaty and dirty.”
“And your point is what?”
She giggled and said, “I’m going to head up to the bathhouse and get cleaned up before breakfast.”
She turned and walked away and as she did, they all just watched her walk away, her flaming red hair blowing in the breeze as she hiked up the hill.
Jarell felt Pendivall put a hand on his shoulder and say, “I’m guessing you are glad you waited for the sign.”
Jarell looked at the older wizard.
“Master, I had begun to give up hope it would ever happen. But now, I don’t think I could be any happier.”
Pendivall laughed, “You two are made for each other.”
They heard Brinn sigh behind them and without even turning around, Pendivall said, “And you will still wait, young apprentice. I don’t care how much you think you love my niece.”
“Oh man,” sighed Brinn.
The three of them started up the hill, back to the camp and some breakfast.
~~~~
When the army from Tottenham came marching into the village, there was a lot of gaping mouths and wide eyes. The troops from Bridgehaven were amazed at the sight before them.
Over three hundred troops were moving up the road from the west, into the small village. The group near the back were the ones generating the most buzz in the crowd.
Over one hundred royal soldiers were marching in a group, standing at least two feet taller than the rest of the troops. They were all outfitted with their royal armor and weapons, which consisted of a sword, a shield, a long battle pike for most of them and shiny black armor. The armor had the blood red lion of the royal legions emblazoned on the chest. Their helmets had a row of red hair from the front to back, rivaling even Hilde's flaming, red hair.
Pendivall and Jarell stood in the middle of the road and waited for their arrival. They could feel the pounding of the earth from more than three hundred pairs of feet.
The pub owner stepped up next to them and looked at the sight. He was mostly looking at the royal soldiers and becoming more and more apprehensive.
“Oh dear, I don't think I've pulled in nearly enough food and drink for this crowd.”
Pendivall laughed and patted him on the shoulder.
“Relax good man. We'll try to keep them out of your pub as much as possible.”
“You'll do no such thing.” said the pub owner. “When I run out of food and drink, then so be it, but until then, they are welcome in my establishment.”
“Well, we will only be here for a couple of days before heading west,” said Jarell, “so hopefully you'll be able to last that long.”
“Looking at those big boys, I don't think I'll be able to last the night,” said the pub owner as he turned and headed anxiously back to the pub.
As the new troops got closer, Pendivall asked his captains to split the troops off and get them situated within the existing ranks.
As they were doing this, Pendivall noticed about a third of the troops were women and all the troops were wearing battlewear and had swords, shields and bows and arrows. He looked closer and saw some of the battlewear showed signs of use and had holes and even, some blood stains on them.
He called one of the men over who appeared to be in charge of these new troops and asked them about this.
“Where did these weapons and battlewear come from?”
“We came through Guilden, sire. These are weapons and battlewear from the first battles in the Eastern Desert. They made as many repairs and cleaned them as much as possible, but they didn't have enough time. We were leaving to come here, but they didn't want us leaving without getting us supplied.”
Hilde hung her head when she heard where the things had come from.
“Why the sadness, Hilde?” asked Pendivall.
She looked at him and said, “I was there when these items were removed from the dead and wounded troops. It was a sad thing to witness.”
“It would be even sadder, m'lady,” said the soldier, “if these troops had nothing but sticks and rocks to fight with at the gates of Terranasia. It is regrettable the history these items have seen, but they are most welcome by the troops that have them now.”
“Hilde,” said Jarell, “why don't you go to the bowmaidens and have them go through these new troops and make sure their bows and arrows are ready for a battle. Brinn, you can do the same with the new swordsmen. Let us know what you find later this afternoon.”
Hilde and Brinn took off with the soldier and headed into the camp. As they walked away, the group of
royal soldiers stopped in the road right in front of the two wizards.
One stepped forward and nodded to them.
“I am Captain Belgard. Just point us in the right direction and we’ll set our tents and prepare for the coming battle.”
“Captain, good to have you with us,” said Jarell, pointing toward an open area on the edge of the encampment. “If you want to set up right over there, that would be fine.”
Pendivall spoke up and said, “We’ll be meeting in the pub this evening for dinner and I’d like you to join us.”
Belgard nodded to him and then turned around and got his men heading down the hill to the spot Jarell had pointed to. There were about a dozen oxen, loaded down with supplies that followed them down the hill.
As the two wizards watched them go, Pendivall said, “I think the ogres at the gates to Terranasia would be quite wise to turn and run right now.”
Jarell laughed and said, “I don’t think you can use the words ‘wise’ and ‘ogre’ in the same sentence.”
They laughed as they turned and headed down the hill to the center of the encampment and the central tent.
~~~~
“So, Master Jarell,” said Captain Belgard, “what you’re saying is, during the battles in the Eastern Desert, only one royal soldier has seen any action?”
The group was sitting around four tables in the pub and they all looked at the large royal soldier.
“That is correct, captain.” said Jarell. “Captain Jong just happened to be part of Sigarick’s army that entered the desert at Black Mountain, where Kerrick chose to attack first. The rest of the royal soldiers were still with Claudious and still hours away by the time the fighting ended.”
“Hmmm,” grunted Belgard. “I’m sure that didn’t sit well with them.”
“It did not and now, they are all on rotating duty at the top of Black Mountain, keeping an eye on the desert.”
“And how many royal soldiers are there now in Rosemoor and on the top of Black Mountain?” he asked.
“There are eighteen. Is that significant?”
Belgard shrugged his shoulders and said, “I’m just thinking you should have brought them here. It sounds like we’re heading toward a fight they would love to be part of.”
The Wrath Page 2