The Wrath

by D Glenn Casey

  Martin took a breath and let it out slowly.

  “I think I’d like to see Wyndweir when this war is over. I’ve heard stories of that land, but I’ve lived my entire life on this mountain.”

  “When this war is over, you should be able to travel to all the lands of this world. East of Wyndweir is the Eastern Desert, which is where the dark wizard is located. But, once we rid the earth of him, you could even visit there.”

  “I’ve heard the Eastern Desert is a place no man would ever want to live in.”

  “That is true, but to stand on the top of Black Mountain and look across the desert to Mount Thunder is a sight you will never forget. And on the other side of the Eastern Desert is Gallyneer.”

  “Yes, I’ve heard of that place. It is the place where the dark wizard gets his army.”

  She looked at him and shook her head. She took his hand and squeezed it.

  “It is the place where he kidnapped men and boys and forced them into his army. Most of his troops are there against their will and we fight to free them just as much we as do to free ourselves.”

  Martin heard what she was saying, but it was getting lost behind the feeling of her hand holding his. His mind was muddled at the touch of her skin. In a flash of boldness, he raised her hand to his lips and kissed it.

  “Then, I shall fight to free them, too.”

  She pulled her hand away from him quickly.

  “No! You will not! You will stay here, hidden on the mountain and be safe with your mother and father. Do not get caught up in this war, Martin.”

  He jumped up and stepped away from her and then turned around to face her.

  “I can’t just sit here and do nothing. You’re fighting, your friends are fighting, your dragon died. How can I just do nothing?”

  “Yes, you can and you will.”

  Martin looked and saw his mother standing there.

  “But mother ...”

  “But nothing, Martin! You will stay out of this war!”

  “Listen to your mother,” said Gwen. “War is not the heroic stories that you hear about around the campfire. It is brutal, it is foul and it cares not whether you are a one thousand year old wizard like Sigarick or a sixteen year old boy like yourself. It will cut you down without batting an eyelash. Stay away from it.”

  Gwen was getting herself so worked up over this that she began to feel a bit of pain in her side and placed her hand over it.

  Clarissa stepped to her side and placed a hand under her arm and helped her up.

  “It’s time to put you back to bed, soldier. You need to calm yourself before you injure yourself further.”

  Gwen looked at Martin, but he had turned away and was looking out over the valley. The two women could tell he was upset and angry at being told to stay out of the war, but neither one cared whether he was angry or not. It only mattered that he listen to them.

  Chapter 11 ~ Hide And Seek

  Jarell found Brinn stalking along behind Captain Belgard and the captain didn’t look too happy about it. As he went from position to position, visiting with his men and making sure they were prepared, Brinn was right there, listening to every word and trying to absorb everything he could.

  “Young apprentice, what are you doing up here?”

  Brinn turned around to confront Jarell.

  “I am merely trying to make myself useful, sire.”

  “And what makes you think you would be less useful, working beside your master? What he will be doing over the next few hours is going to be just as important as anything that Captain Belgard is going to be doing. You can learn just as much from him.”

  Then Jarell leaned in and said in a low voice, “And between you and me, he’s getting along in years and could use your help.”

  Brinn hung his head, knowing he had no chance of winning this argument.

  “Head on back there and find Master Pendivall. He’s asking for you.”

  Brinn took a deep breath and shook his head. Then he turned and started walking back toward the main body of the army.

  “I’m glad you came along Master Jarell. Nothing I said to him could persuade him to leave us and rejoin his master. He even tried telling me we were doing this all wrong.”

  Jarell looked at Belgard and shrugged.

  “For once, I have to say I agree with him, captain.”

  “You don’t think we should set ourselves up here in the front?”

  “No sir, I don’t. I’m not going to advise you to do something different, because these are your men and you know their capabilities.”

  “What would you have us do instead?”

  “I would split your men into smaller groups and scatter them in and among the platoons of regular soldiers. Put two or three of your men with each platoon of swordsmen and bowmaidens and have them fight alongside them.”

  “You don’t like our chances up here in the front, do you?”

  “I think you could hold your own just fine, but on the off-chance that you didn’t and Kerrick’s forces were to overrun you, the swordsmen and bowmaidens would be at the mercy of the invaders. With your troops scattered among them, they would stand a better chance.”

  Belgard looked at the wizard for a moment, considering his ideas. He turned and looked back down the hill a little ways and saw the rest of the army getting themselves situated and knew that Jarell was right. If the dark wizard’s army somehow found a way past his men, the rest of the army would be nearly defenseless.

  “Besides,” said Jarell, “and I don’t know how to put this, but something doesn’t seem right.”

  “Something seems a little off, doesn’t it?”

  “They came with five dragons and our ladies knocked four of them out of the sky. Is the army really going to continue marching toward us like nothing happened?”

  Captain Belgard called one of his lieutenants over and told him to start moving the men back and splitting them off and placing them with the different platoons of the army.

  “We need to get some eyes in the air and see what’s really coming toward us,” said the captain.

  “I was thinking the same thing.”

  They both started back toward the line and Jarell veered off toward the area where the dragons were. He saw Hilde standing with Venia and near Caroline and Morgath.

  “Sweetie ...”

  He stopped when she gave him a sour look that said she was still a bit miffed at him and his brother for their silliness.

  “Look, you need to get over this. My brother and I were stupid for allowing our feelings to drive us apart for so long, but we’re good now.”

  She took a breath and let it out slowly.

  “I’m glad you two have come to your senses. Now, what was it that you needed?”

  “We need to get some eyes in the air and see what’s coming through that pass.” said Jarell as he pointed toward the draw.

  “You don’t think it’s what Lianna and Gwen saw?”

  “I think it’s exactly what they saw, but I think there may be more to it. It just seems too easy, that they will march right out of that draw and into our army. Something’s not right.”

  Hilde nodded and then looked at Caroline.

  “Let’s go, Caroline. Let’s see what is bothering this husband of mine.”

  “Yes, m’lady,” said the little bowmaiden as she climbed onto the back of Morgath.

  Jarell looked at the two dragons and said, “Please bring them back safe.”

  “That is our mission, sire,” said Venia.

  Within seconds, both dragons and riders lifted off the ground and headed for great heights over the pass. Before long they were lost above the clouds.

  Jarell didn’t have a good feeling about sending them out there alone, but he had a more uncomfortable feeling growing in his belly about the imminent battle.

  As he walked toward the rear, he could see that Belgard’s men were being scattered among the rest of the troops and felt a lot better about that set up. Having them
all up front may have brought the war to swift conclusion, but there was the off chance that they would have been overrun and that would have been a terrible tragedy. Also, it would have made it more difficult for the bowmaidens to shoot their arrows at the enemy troops, having the royals up there in front of them.

  He found Pendivall and Brinn in a small clearing and the older wizard was lashing out at his apprentice with his staff. Not in anger, but in training. When he cast a lightning bolt with his staff, Brinn would cast a shield to defend himself. Even though Pendivall’s casts were strong, he had taught Brinn well. His shields held every time.

  As he was walking up, Jarell lowered his own staff and cast a small, compact ball of wind at the young apprentice and Pendivall cast a lightning bolt at the same time and Brinn had to divide his attention between the two. He split both hands in front of him and blocked both attacks. He got pushed backward when they both hit at the same time, but he was still able to fend them off.

  “Very good, young wizard,” said Pendivall.

  “Yes, very good indeed,” said Jarell. “I guess we don’t need to tell you what your responsibilities will be.”

  “To shield and protect the swordsmen and bowmaidens, to the best of my abilities.”

  “That is correct.”

  Pendivall said, “But, don’t forget to protect yourself at the same time.”

  Jarell nodded and added, “Keep your eyes to the sky. We know the enemy has at least one dragon and I’m sure there are more. Defend those around you from dragon attacks.”

  “Yes, sire.”

  ~~~~

  Hilde and Caroline returned in less than half an hour and the news wasn’t good. It was more confusing than anything.

  “We counted well less than one thousand troops, Jarell,” said Hilde. “I think only about four hundred march toward us and they shall be here within two hours.”

  “Four hundred?” said Jarell as he looked at Lianna.

  “I know what we saw, sire. There were at least one thousand.”

  “Lianna, I do not doubt what you saw. I merely wonder what has become of the other troops.”

  Belgard spoke up and asked, “What is the land like on the other side of the pass?”

  Hilde said, “There is a small village, Deanburg, just at the entrance to the pass and from what we could see, it has been destroyed. Farther to the east is Ashwick, which is where Lianna and Gwen first saw the army.”

  “Another road goes through Deanburg, running north and south.”

  “Is there?” asked Pendivall, turning and looking at Brinn.

  “Yes, sire. I am from this area, if you recall.”

  Pendivall grinned as he remembered he had found Brinn living in a humble village in the northern part of Wyndweir.

  “That road runs south from Deanburg, over the mountains and down into Wyndweir, near my home. It also runs north and over the mountains on the other side of the valley, into the Northern Lands.”

  “Well,” said Jarell, “I don’t think they would have gone south because if I remember correctly, that road comes out not too far from Rosemoor. The bulk of our army is sitting right there, with Claudious and the rest of the royal soldiers. Surely the enemy wouldn’t walk right into that mess.”

  “I find it hard to believe they would have gone north, either.” said Belgard. “The Northern Lands are in a perpetual winter and nearly impossible to pass through. Even the dragons wouldn’t go there if they had a choice.”

  “We need to know,” said Pendivall.

  Hilde said, “Caroline and I will head over the mountains to the north and scout all the way back to where the road enters the Northern Lands. Lianna can head to the southern route and see if she can see something there. We’ll send Sophia with her.”

  Jarell looked at Lianna and asked, “Are you up to it?”

  “Sire, Gwen would be quite upset with me if I didn’t do this in her memory. I shall go.”

  “Then, if you happen to find those other troops, you fly straight to Rosemoor and find Claudious and let him know.”

  “Yes, sire.”

  Pendivall said, “Alright ladies. Go and take a look, but remember to avoid fighting them and try making it back here as quickly as possible. We’re probably going to require your help very soon.”

  The three dragon riders nodded to him and turned and left the gathering. Within minutes, all four dragons were in the air, two heading north and two heading south.

  The others scattered out among the rest of the troops to let them know what was coming their way. The mood throughout the troops was that the dark wizard’s troops were going no farther than this field and would be driven back to where they came from.

  Chapter 12 ~ An Enemy With No Morals

  Flying high above the pass, Lianna looked down from the back of Keeleth and could see clear into Wyndweir. Sophia flew alongside and all three sets of eyes explored the narrow road below for signs of the missing troops.

  The road was not used very often, though it was one of the faster ways from northern Wyndweir into Terranasia. Most of the traffic from Wyndweir went west, through Bridgehaven and then through the gates near Keirdon.

  The only other road into Terranasia went east out of Wyndweir and cut across the northern edge of the Eastern Desert, just a half a day’s journey north of Mount Thunder. It entered into Gallyneer and then you could go north and into Terranasia from there.

  Those were the only three passages into Terranasia and the one they were scouting below was the least used because it was the steepest and hardest to navigate. Lianna didn’t really expect to see the troops using this road, because of its difficulty.

  As she looked farther to the south, the green landscape that stretched away from her, beckoned to her, calling her to go home. After losing her best friend, she wasn’t sure if she had the strength to carry on anymore. It would be so easy to point Keeleth toward Guilden and be there within a few hours.

  “Those kinds of thoughts won’t do, Lianna.”

  The little Guildenian was startled out of her thoughts.

  “What?”

  “You are bearing an overwhelming sense of loss from the death of your friend,” said Keeleth. “That’s understandable. I feel the same way about losing Koranth. I’m sure Sophia would agree with me. Koranth was a great friend to both of us.”

  “This is true,” said Sophia. “My spirit still cries over the loss of Koranth. And also Lyrroth and Jorath and all the other dragons that have fallen.”

  “I’m just not confident I have it in me anymore to fight like I did a few days ago. I led Gwen into that fight with the red dragons and I got her killed.”

  “That is not accurate,” said Keeleth. “I was there, remember? First of all, we never would have outrun those red dragons. We were going to have to fight. Of that there is no doubt. And you didn’t force Gwen or Koranth into that battle. They turned to fight of their own accord.”

  “I was the leader of the two of us. I should have been more cautious.”

  “I don’t see how you could have been more careful. We did everything we were supposed to. We stayed high, above the clouds and turned and headed back to our army when we saw the enemy. That their dragons saw us before we could leave was nothing more than bad luck.”

  “Bad luck or not,” said Lianna, “I don’t know if I can be of any use in a fight anymore.”

  They flew on in silence for a few minutes. Lianna still feeling sorry for herself and Keeleth trying to decide what to do with her.

  Finally, Keeleth spoke up, “I can bear you home to Guilden right now. I can take you there and leave you and you can stay home, safe from the war and never have to fight again. Or, I can take you to Rosemoor and you can go back to working with Cryssn and the other healers and support the war in that way.”

  Lianna thought about this for a second and then said, “I don’t think running away from Hilde and the others is the answer, but going back to being just a healer may be the path I should take. When we get
back to our army, I’ll tell Hilde to find another rider and will work with the healers. They will need me more there than in Rosemoor right now.”

  “That would be a good decision, though I will miss having you as my rider,” said Keeleth.

  Lianna reached forward and patted Keeleth on the back of the neck.

  “I’m certain another rider will assume my place and you will be just as happy with them.”

  They flew the entire length of the road a couple of times. The southern end of the road took them so close to Rosemoor they could see the smoke from their campfires in the distance.

  When it became clear there were no enemy troops on this mountain pass, the three turned back toward the Strafton fields and flew the entire way in silence.

  As they landed near the edge of the army, Jarell came out to meet them and after giving her report, Lianna asked Jarell to find another rider to take her place.

  Jarell could see the hollowness in the Guildenian’s eyes and knew she would not be a fighter anymore. He patted her on the shoulder and told her to find the healers near the rear of the army and get ready to help them.

  After she walked away, Jarell looked at Keeleth and Sophia. Both were sad that Lianna had chosen to surrender the position of dragon rider, but they understood.

  “I don’t know who is ready to take her place,” said Jarell. “I’ve left this in Hilde’s hands and think filling your seat is best left to her, Keeleth.”

  “I understand,” said the large dragon. “I will keep my armor and saddle in place, so that when she returns, I will be ready to go with a new rider.”

  Jarell nodded to her and then looked at Sophia.

  “Any chance you’d like to take on a rider?”

  “I thought you would never ask,” said the small, blue dragon. “I would be honored to bear a rider.”

  Jarell signaled to a couple of Guildenian weapons makers and directed them to get a saddle made for Sophia and they went right to work on it.