Hilde’s mouth dropped open as she looked across the square at the gathering of townsfolk. Symon was trying to talk to them, but it was obvious he wasn’t having any luck.
She stormed across the square and about halfway across, started working on getting herself under control. She didn’t want a repeat of last night.
As she stepped up beside Symon, she asked the leader of the village, also the pub owner, “What is this I hear you won’t leave?”
“That is correct, missy,” said the man.
Symon could feel the electricity in the air, coming off Hilde as she bristled at the way this man was talking down to her. She was definitely his brother’s wife. As she stepped forward to confront the man, Symon put a hand on her shoulder and stopped her.
“Let me find something to throw at your head before you get started.”
Hilde’s head snapped sideways to look at him and he patted her on the shoulder. She took a deep breath and then turned back to the group. This time she addressed the entire group, bypassing the man.
“I’m unsure what you’ve been told people, but the dark wizard’s army is on their way here and we estimate their arrival sometime tomorrow around mid-day.”
“We won’t be pushed out of our homes again,” said a short, thin man in the crowd. “We will fight them.”
The rest of the crowd rumbled and showed they were of the same sentiment.
“There are at least one thousand of them!” yelled Hilde.
“With a dragon,” whispered Symon in her ear.
“With a dragon!”
Straight away, the rumblings stopped.
“Look, people. I get it. These are your homes. This is your village. You want to defend it with your lives, but let me assure you, you can’t win. I have seen what one dragon can do to a village. It will destroy your homes and kill you and you won’t even get an arrow anywhere near it.”
She looked around the group. She could see her words were sinking in. Mothers were clutching their young ones near to them and the men were starting to see the foolishness of their ways.
“Please, I beg of you. Gather what you can carry and start heading south. You will meet the army of Wyndweir coming north and they will protect you.”
The short, thin man that had spoken, nodded and turned immediately and hustled a woman and two children away from the group toward their home. The others began following and within a minute, the pub owner was the only one left standing there facing Hilde and Symon.
“These are our homes,” said the man, shaking his head dejectedly and looking at the ground.
Symon stepped forward and put a hand on his shoulder.
“Yes, they are. And they can be rebuilt over and over again if needed. But, they can’t be rebuilt if you are killed trying to defend them against an army.”
The man looked up and nodded. Then he said, “Well, I have no wife and kids, so I guess I might as well start walking.”
“No sire,” said Symon. “These are your people. You need to take charge of them when they gather back here from their homes. Get them safely away from here.”
Hilde stepped up and said, “Have them clear your storeroom of food. You will all need something to eat while on the road.”
He nodded and turned and headed for his pub.
Symon turned to her and said, “Now, let’s see if we can calm the fears of my men.”
They turned and headed toward the small encampment on the edge of the village. Hilde could see the two dragons sitting just on the other side of the tents and one lonely Guildenian.
She patted Symon on the arm and said, “I leave your men to you. I need to take care of the ones I’m charged with.”
She turned and walked away, toward the dragons.
~~~~
It was just an hour later when Lianna called out and pointed toward the sky. Not pointing to the east, but to the south.
Hilde turned and looked and saw two dragons beginning their descent. She recognized Morgath and Caroline, but couldn’t figure out who the second dragon was and who was riding it. It only took a few more seconds to realize it was Sophia and she had Pendivall and Brinn on her back.
As they thumped down in the small clearing, Hilde ran to greet them. She ran right into Pendivall’s arms and caught him off-guard.
“Oh, my my my,” said the old wizard.
“I’m sorry, sire,” said Hilde as she stepped back. “I shouldn’t have, but it’s so good to have you here.”
She looked over at Brinn and stepped over and gave him a hug, too.
“Caroline tells us we are in for a rough time,” said Pendivall.
“Yes, sire. There is an army coming this way, numbering upwards of one thousand. They will be here by tomorrow afternoon.”
“It looks like we got here just in time,” said Brinn with a smile.
“Without an army of our own,” said Hilde, “we may be outmatched.”
“They will be along, little lady,” said Pendivall. “Your husband is testing the limits of the average Wyndweirian as we speak. I should think we’ll see them by tomorrow morning.”
“If he runs them ragged they may not be of much use to us,” she said.
“I don’t think they’d slow down if he ordered them to. Besides, Captain Belgard and his men will be running into town within an hour.”
“Master Pendivall, as I live and breathe.”
Pendivall turned around to see who was speaking and his mouth dropped open.
“Symon. What bit of magic brings you here? And wearing the colors of the dark wizard, no less.”
“No magic master. And these colors I would gladly trade for those of Wyndweir if I could. All of my men would.”
Pendivall looked toward the encampment and asked, “How many do you number?”
“Just under one hundred.”
“See there, Hilde,” smiled Pendivall. “Things are looking up already.”
They all heard a cry of distress and turned to see Caroline fall into Lianna’s arms. The two newcomers looked at Hilde with questioning eyes.
“We lost Gwen yesterday. And Koranth.”
“No,” said Brinn as his eyes turned misty.
Hilde was surprised to find she still had tears to offer as she looked at the two bowmaidens embracing each other.
Brinn started walking toward them. He felt the hurt severely because the bowmaidens had taken him under their wings, promising Millicent they would return him to her safely.
Pendivall turned to Symon and said, “We need to find a place from which to make a stand. Letting the army of Kerrick just walk into this village and destroy it shouldn’t be an option.”
“If we move about an hour to the east of the village, there is a valley with mountains on both sides. It opens up into a field just this side of the pass. There’s nothing there, but trees and a small creek.”
“I shall take Hilde and go have a look,” said Pendivall. “While we’re gone, start getting your men ready to move.”
He looked over and saw the villagers beginning to gather around the pub owner.
“I take it those villagers are getting ready to flee to the south.”
“Yes, master,” said Hilde. “We’ve told them to get out of harm’s way.”
“That will do,” said the old wizard. “Okay, young lady. Shall we take a quick flight and see about this field Symon tells us of?”
“Absolutely, sire.”
The two of them walked to the dragons and climbed on Venia and Sophia. Morgath was a bit miffed at being told to stay and watch over the village, but Caroline patted him on the neck and soothed his hurt feelings. Besides, he was told, Keeleth needed a friend to stay with her.
The two smaller dragons launched themselves into the air and were out of sight within a couple of minutes.
~~~~
“So, what are your impressions of Symon?” asked Pendivall.
“I feel he is a good man, wanting nothing more than to see this war end and return home to h
is family.”
They had settled down in the fields that Symon had told them about and Pendivall was looking at sight lines and places to protect his troops.
“Well, that may be.”
“Is there something bothering you, master?”
He stopped and looked at her and then smiled. He knew he could never hide anything from her.
“When Jarell and Symon parted ways, it was not on the best of terms. Jarell has no idea that his brother is here and when he finds out, we may have to prevent a minor war between them before we can worry about Kerrick and his army.”
“They’re brothers, sire. Won’t they get past any bruised feelings?”
“Five hundred years ago, when they went their separate ways, words were spoken and walls were built. You know as well as anyone, Hilde, words can wound more deeply than any sword or arrow.”
Hilde ceased what she was doing and looked at Pendivall.
“Surely after so many years, they can discover a way to put their hurt behind them.”
“I’m going to tell you something, Hilde, against my better judgment. But, it’s something you need to know before those two come together, because it will involve you in some lesser way.”
Hilde tilted her head. She couldn’t, for the life of her, figure out how she would be involved in a spat between brothers that happened over five hundred years ago.
“You are not Jarell’s first love,” declared the gray-haired wizard.
Hilde felt like she had just been kicked in the stomach.
“What do you mean?”
“Back then, Jarell and Symon were thick as thieves, as close as two brothers could be. If they hadn’t been set on the path to become wizards, they likely would have become outlaws. Their parents could see that and decided it would be best to split them up.”
“Symon told me all about this. About how they were sent to live with different masters for their training.”
“Well, did he also tell you that there was a young woman, living in their village, and that the two of them were both drawn to her?”
“No, he didn’t.”
“Laurelai was her name and a more stunning beauty has never been seen. She quite possibly could rival the beauty of our own Marnell. She was of wizard blood, herself, but she had no desire to tread that path.”
Hilde was trying to follow the story. She still couldn’t see where she would fit into it.
“Jarell was ready to sell his heart and soul to be with her, as was Symon. But she wouldn’t hear of it. She could see that these two brothers were just one step short of being hooligans and she made it clear she wouldn’t stand for it. She told them both to go to their training and the future would take care of itself.”
Pendivall sat down on a rock and pulled his water bottle out. Hilde settled down across from him on another rock.
“Something tells me you didn’t bring me out here just to scout this location.” said Hilde.
“No, Lady Hilde, I did not. I brought you here to forewarn you of the impending collision between two brightly burning stars.”
“Symon told me about how he lost the duel and when he refused Jarell’s help to prepare for the next time he could venture into the pit, that caused a rift between them.”
“Losing the duel and Symon turning away from the life of a wizard isn’t what caused the rift.”
She looked across at the old wizard.
“Hilde, Symon left the Gathering Place that day, raced home and convinced Laurelai to leave with him immediately and start a life with him. By the time Jarell had returned home, they were gone. Jarell was enraged because he felt that Laurelai would be better with him. I was sent to his home to calm him down. For awhile, I didn’t think it would happen, but Jarell struggled his way through it.”
“So, he felt like his brother had stolen the woman that he loved.”
“Yes he did and after a few years, he found out that Symon and Laurelai had gone to Gallyneer. He tracked them down, against the wishes of the wizard council, I might add and by the time the two brothers encountered each other in that little village, Symon and Laurelai had been joined for ten years and had three children.”
“And Jarell just couldn’t admit that she loved Symon and just be happy for them?”
“He tried. He really did try, but deep seated feelings came to the surface and words were spoken. Words that two brothers should never say to each other. Words were directed at Laurelai that no man should ever utter to a woman. Swords were drawn and Jarell was banished from setting foot in Symon’s house, ever again.”
“So, Jarell really did love Laurelai.”
“More than life itself. And what was really strange about the whole episode is that Jarell never felt the sign for her. Not once. He was more drawn to her beauty and smile than anything else. But, he should have been smart enough to know that she wasn’t the one for him.”
Hilde shook her head and said, “Sometimes you men can be downright stupid when it comes to women.”
“Young lady, you are not telling me anything I don’t already know. Why do you think I am trying to keep young Brinn and Millicent away from each other. He’s not old enough to feel the sign and there’s the chance he may never feel it. I fear he is letting his heart lead him down a path that would best not be traveled.”
“So, I was Jarell’s second choice,” said Hilde as she lowered her eyes to the ground in front of her feet.
“No, Lady Hilde, you are not his second choice. It took him over six hundred years to feel the sign, which I’m sure you felt, too.”
She looked up and nodded at him.
“When he felt the sign, he knew that his one and only love had just walked into his life. I can assure you, you are not second to anyone in his heart.”
“Why didn’t he ever tell me he had a brother, or sisters for that matter?”
“I think he still feels a bit of shame about the way things turned out between him and Symon. Their little spat has gone on for so long I don’t think either one of them knows how to build a bridge and get over it.”
“Well, maybe it’s time for us to figure out a way to help them past this.”
“That very well could be. And …”
Pendivall stopped and looked to the west.
“What’s the matter, sire?”
Pendivall jumped up and started toward the dragons and Hilde followed.
“You’ve felt something, Master Pendivall. What is it?”
As they climbed onto the dragons, Pendivall looked over at her and said, “You remember I told you Captain Belgard and his men will be in Strafton within an hour?”
“Yes.”
“They probably just walked into a village filled with soldiers wearing Kerrick’s colors!”
In seconds the two dragons launched into the air and their riders held on for dear life. The last thing they wanted to find was about a hundred dead soldiers because of a simple miscommunication.
It only took about ten minutes to reach the village and from the air, it appeared that Pendivall’s fear were fast becoming reality. The Gallyneer soldiers were backed up against a wall and the royal soldiers were advancing on them.
Actually, they were trying to advance on them. As they drew closer, Pendivall began to laugh to himself. Situated squarely between the two groups of soldiers were two little bowmaidens and one apprentice wizard, all three of which had their swords out. They were holding the royal soldiers at bay.
As Sophia landed near the two groups, Pendivall yelled to Captain Belgard to have his men stand down.
“But, sire, these are the dark wizard’s troops!”
“No captain, most of these men are recruits for the Gallyneer Liberators.”
He turned and looked at Symon.
“Sorry captain. I forgot to mention you were about to be visited by a regiment of royal soldiers.”
Symon nodded, but the massive amount of fear in his eyes could not be hidden, as he looked at the size of the royal soldiers.
Pendivall turned back to Belgard and noticed that some of his men were still brandishing their swords.
Hilde walked up in front of Belgard and looked up at him.
“Please captain, I don’t want to see any of your men get hurt or even killed at the hands of these three ferocious warriors,” she said as she waved her hands toward the three smaller warriors.
Captain Belgard snorted a half-laugh as he motioned his men to stand down.
He looked down at Hilde and said, “It seems m’lady, like we’re never going to get to fight in this war.”
Hilde shrugged her shoulders and said, “That’s not entirely true, sir. By this time tomorrow you will be getting as much fighting as you could ever imagine.”
She turned and looked at Pendivall and asked, “Send them forward to prepare?”
Pendivall nodded and said, “I leave them in your capable hands, Hilde.”
She turned back around and pointed to the road heading east.
“Take your men east. You will find some fields about an hour from here. Well, for you and your men, maybe thirty minutes. I will meet you there by the time you arrive.”
“And what are we going to find there?”
“Right now? Nothing. By this time tomorrow, about a thousand of Kerrick’s troops, coming from the east.”
A smile spread across Belgard’s face.
“Now that’s what we’re talking about.”
Hilde couldn’t believe how eager Belgard and his men were to confront an army that was, quite possibly, ten times the size of his small army.
Belgard turned and got his men started up the road and within a few minutes they were nothing more than a dust cloud hanging over the road.
Hilde turned around and saw the three warriors, standing shoulder-to-shoulder and she giggled.
“I don’t think Captain Belgard realizes how close he came to losing all of his men.”
Caroline and Lianna smiled and laughed.
Brinn squeaked out, “I’m just glad you got back when you did.”
The two ladies laughed and put their arms around his shoulders.
“Don’t worry, Brinn,” said Caroline, “we would have defended you.”
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