“Right away, General,” Sir Lomazi said.
A Knight went to fetch an extra mount and Bladeborn turned to Jonax, “Take my most trusted men and Sir Rodon’s top archers and guard the treasure, Jonax,”
“Yes, General,” Jonax replied.
Members of the Army gathered at the center of the city in the market as dawn broke. Word went out that Bladeborn had single-handedly defeated Durg. The men cheered for Bladeborn as he rode down the hill from Durg’s now-blazing palace. Several of the Knights heartily congratulated Bladeborn, and swore they would follow him to their graves.
Bladeborn spent the day seeing to the wounded, Sir Rodon organized the guards around the Rhinolon Temples, and Sir Lomazi took care of the emaciated former servants. It was a long day for Bladeborn. Many men were injured and he healed them until he passed out from exhaustion.
Early the next morning, one of the former servants of the Rhinolon explained to Bladeborn how compromising the elaborate locks on the Rhinolon River in front of Onager could cripple the brutes for years. The human “Foreman of the Locks” was familiar with the controls for the river water. The Foreman, with his human work-crew and their allies among the Lizardmen, had often conspired against the Rhinolon during construction of the water control system. Still, the locks had been completed years earlier. Now, the Foreman explained how the waters could ruin the Rhinolon fields downriver, filling them with silt.
“You say if we open these locks, their fields will be damaged?” Bladeborn asked the Foreman.
The Foreman looked proudly at Bladeborn, and said, “Despite the deaths of thousands of humans, Lizardmen, and Drommu during construction, you must let us to destroy the locks! We built them—it is our right to destroy them.”
“I agree with your advice on this matter,” Bladeborn said. “Before we leave Onager for good, we will ensure that these locks are destroyed.”
Opening the locks was normally a job designated to four ogres. Since the ogres had been killed in the taking of the city, the human, Lizardmen, and Drommu servants who had spent grueling years building them worked the lock levers together, shoulder to shoulder. They fully opened all the locks at once, allowing a torrent of water to pass through.
As the wall of silt-thickened mud blasted downriver, the hillsides in the dredged-out waterway slid down into the current, taking a large section of Onager’s curtain wall. An enormous part of southern Onager’s out-city was submerged, and it also appeared that passage upriver would now be impossible for all but the smallest vessels. The cascade effect through the main waterway for northward river-travel was filled with sludge.
The Army of the Sun, Moon, and Dawn did not desecrate the many-columned Rhinolon Temple and smaller cathedrals, having orders to guard them but not to enter. Therefore, all the Rhinolon that had sought refuge within temple walls avoided the carnage that took place in the streets. Aware of what had happened to his friend Sir Rodon and the Army of the Sun earlier in the month, Bladeborn dared not anger of the lords of the Hells.
Some of the freed human servants were distant descendants of the soldiers who had fought the Rhinolon Two centuries earlier in the Army of Emperor Eshumé. Although only a handful knew of their lineage, they asked to meet with General Bladeborn and see the legendary Sword of the Ancients.
One of these descendants of Eshumé’s warriors said, “We knew Nightslayer would never allow itself to fall into the hands of the enemy! We knew someday we would be saved… Tell us… Does Fortress City still stand?”
“Yes,” Bladeborn said, noting the scars of a hundred whips on the man’s bared back. “It is where I spent my youth. The City has never fallen. Though it has almost always been sealed, I hope to change that in my lifetime.”
“Someday, if you could see fit, our people would like to travel there. Fortress City is legendary to us—second only to the heavens of Saint Morth himself and the Sword you bear.”
Bladeborn didn’t have the heart to tell the foreman about Zipzorag and the Nobility of Fortress City that he had escaped.
“If we can, we shall someday go to the home of our forefathers,” Bladeborn promised them.
“It is more than we could hope,” the man said.
The leader of the Lizardmen said to Bladeborn, “SSS! We will find no peace with your kind, human! Although grateful for our release, there is no trusting humans! We shall only be welcome among those of our own kind! SSS! May we meet again, when we stand before the Judge of the Dead! SSS!”
With that, the Lizardmen left.
“Let them go, Bladeborn,” Sir Rodon said. “They are of another world compared to us.”
Still, some of the Lizardmen who were used to working with humans chose to stay on with Bladeborn, feeling deep personal gratitude toward him. These Lizardmen were the unusual ones—almost all the snake-headed creatures left for the deep reaches of the Infernal Swamp to the south of Onager.
After sacking the Rhinolon Northern capital, the Army of the Sun, Moon, and Dawn vanished into the Spiral Mountains behind the cloak of illusion that protected the Six Valleys. They knew the Rhinolon Northern Legion would return to the ruins of Onager, facing starvation. General Bladeborn and Sir Rodon Thell had planned it that way.
The spoils of war, like the thousands of coins from the city treasury, was partially split with every warrior in the Six Realms force. The leader of the Cliffwalkers claimed no Drommu wanted the coin...vengeance was enough, and Drommu did not commonly carry money.
The rest was sent to the First Realm to finance the next year’s campaign. Jonax went ahead of the main force with the money to make sure it arrived safely and to procure medicine for the wounded. Bladeborn planned to put every coin to good use.
The money was a great boon, and it would fund the war for years. However, the greater treasure was all of the people and former servants they had freed. Most of them had long ago given up hope of being free. Now, all of them could live as they chose in the Six Realms. To Bladeborn, this was the most valuable thing they had taken from Onager.
There was plenty of room in the Realms for all those freed. After sending Jonax and the former servants ahead to the underground safety of the Realms, the Army of the Sun, Moon, and Dawn stayed out in the hills near the Fourth Realm to monitor the enemy. With what they had taken from Onager, even a cold winter could be endured.
Bladeborn gave thanks to Saint Morth and the lesser gods for their victory, and prayed to the Judge of the Dead for the many who were killed in battle. He let all his warriors drink deeply from the hundreds of cases of wine young King Lauren sent. For now, victory was a thing to relish.
Several days after they had set up camp in the hills, specific orders from Deocarla arrived. Bladeborn was recalled immediately to the First Realm.
“What could this be, Rodon?” Bladeborn asked his friend. “Surely Deocarla knows we are poised to finish the Rhinolon Legion…”
“She knows this for certain,” Sir Thell responded. “But we cannot deny her summons.”
That night, Bladeborn, Sir Rodon, and Sir Drak Lomazi rode from camp on their fastest mounts toward the First Realm. Even at top speed the journey took days.
On the surface road that ran between the Fourth and First Realm they came across several small bands of people who welcomed the with open hearts and genuine gratitude. Some had been freed from servitude to the Rhinolon and these people were especially grateful. In these camps, Bladeborn, Rodon and Lomazi tried to cook for themselves, but the former servants of the Rhinolon insisted on doing everything for them.
Finally, entering the underground of the First Realm through the secret cliff-door, Bladeborn noticed how changed everything was.
“Life had been restored to the First Realm,” Rodon Thell commented. “So many new people, and look! Now there are even some families with mothers-to-be!”
“Aye, it is so,” Bladeborn observed. “There are women here that are with child. The Rhinolon curse is lifted! Everyone is happy, hopeful.”
Wo
rd quickly spread through the halls that the “Invincible” General Bladeborn, who had slain Durg the Despicable, was home.
However, before any celebration could be made, Queen Deocarla’s squire appeared before General Bladeborn and his co-commanders. The squire said, “The Queen has sent word, General. She will hold an audience with you in the high courtroom in the palace wing, immediately”
“What is going on?” Bladeborn asked the man. “We rode days to get here.”
“She speaks to you with her betrothed,” the Queen’s squire said.
Bladeborn, Rodon, and Sir Lomazi were shocked. Incredulous, Rodon asked, “Betrothed? Who does our Queen intend to marry?”
The Queen’s squire stated, “It was announced yesterday, with due fanfare, that the great financier and warrior, Lord Esket, will marry our Queen sometime next year. He will become the King of the First Realm, and rule side by side with Deocarla,” the squire stated.
Bladeborn could not believe what he had heard. He said to the man, “Give me a moment, I must speak with my co-commanders.”
“Certainly, General, but do not keep the Queen and her future husband waiting…” the squire said.
Turning to Sir Rodon and Sir Lomazi, Bladeborn questioned, “I wonder if Queen Deocarla remembers vowing to marry me if I were to remove the curse of infertility over the Kingdom.”
“Apparently, she has forgotten,” Sir Drak Lomazi said indignantly. “I am aware of our Queen’s temper, yet I did not realize how fickle she could be…”
“Marrying her bodyguard, Bladeborn?” Rodon questioned irately. “How could she! I know Lord Esket has been the one with the Queen’s ear—and possibly, affection—for three years now. Yet I simply can’t believe…”
“I only want her to be at peace,” Bladeborn said, swallowing his pride. He was hurt, still holding to all the memories of what he had shared with Deocarla. He had not once considered removing the Heartring. Oddly enough, if the magic in the ring worked, she still wore hers. However, despite all that he felt, he could not change Queen Deocarla’s decision.
“There must be some mistake here…Allow me to speak on the General’s behalf!” Sir Rodon asked the squire. “Sir Esket… I personally know that he is a man unsuited for Deocarla!”
The Queen’s squire said, “Sir Rodon, do not cast aspersions on Lord Esket, your future King! it is widely known that due to past events you don’t see eye-to-eye with Esket. But you must put that aside!”
“I, too, wish to speak on the General’s behalf,” Sir Drak Lomazi spoke up.
“The Queen will see the General now, and alone,” the Queen’s squire coldly. “Those are the orders.”
Bladeborn asked the squire, “Where is Jonax, my squire and messenger? He should have arrived two weeks ago with several others… It is very important that I make sure he and the others arrived safely, along with their cargo…”
The Queen’s squire said, “I know of him, but as far as I am aware, General Bladeborn, he is not within the First Realm… Now, if you’ll just come this way—”
“WHAT?” Bladeborn demanded.
Rodon said, “He was carrying very precious cargo, and was accompanied by heavily armed horsemen. He should have arrived by now!”
“I know nothing of this,” The Queen’s squire claimed.
“If you wish, I can make an inquiry into this subject while you have your audience with the Queen and her betrothed. In the meantime, General, come this way, please!”
They were escorted to the grand staging area where the previous year they had been hailed as heroes. Sir Rodon and Sir Lomazi were told to wait, and then Bladeborn was taken to the High Courtroom where the Queen awaited.
As the doors to the High Courtroom closed, Bladeborn felt an ominous hush. The room was barely lit, but once his eyes adjusted to the darkness, he could see Queen Deocarla sat on a small throne. Standing beside her was Lord Esket. The Queen was not smiling, her eyes downcast, and even in the shadowy light, Bladeborn thought that she looked ashamed.
“It is good to see you, General,” Queen Deocarla said formally.
Bladeborn approached, “My Queen, congratulations on your planned wedding to Lord Esket. It is good to see you again…Have I not made all of my promises come to pass?”
“She owes you nothing, General,” Lord Esket said coolly, as though fully aware of the Queen’s oath to Bladeborn.
Queen Deocarla put her hand out to quiet Esket, and then, with calm detachment, stated, “We scheduled this meeting only to let you know where you stand. You are a ‘hero of the Realms,’ Bladeborn, but there is more than that required of a man who wishes to marry a Queen.”
The dismissive tone of the Queen and Lord Esket’s snobbery made Bladeborn’s emotions boil over, “You say there is more required to marry you, Deocarla? What more is there?”
“Control your temper, General!” Lord Esket demanded.
Bladeborn shouted, stepping forward suddenly, his fist in a ball, “I have seen men die—nearly died myself—lost friends, ordered others to their deaths—all in the name of this Kingdom! In the name of what we had together three years ago, Deocarla! The Kingdom is safe from the Rhinolon and will be for years, if we maintain the army! We have lifted the curse of infertility from the Realms! Am I not fit to rule beside you?”
“You don’t understand, Bladeborn…” Deocarla began softly. “You should never have left my side…But you did it twice—last year and this year. How could I not…wish to marry Lord Esket,” She gestured, almost half-heartedly, toward her future husband.
“If I had not left you to fight in the war nothing in the Realms would have changed…” Bladeborn said.
“I realize that, Bladeborn,” Deocarla said, slowly. “But things between you and I have changed.”
Bladeborn began, more softly, “I still love you...”
“DON’T finish THAT sentence, General!” Lord Esket shouted. “You must know your place, and keep in it! The Queen’s decision has been made, and there is nothing you can do to change it!”
“But it is true, Deocarla!” Bladeborn began shouting over Esket. “All I have done was for you, for us!”
“Stop it, both of you!” Deocarla shouted, sounding truly hurt.
Lord Esket looked with fury at Bladeborn. It seemed that any moment the man would draw his weapon to attempt to strike the young General of the First Valley down. Bladeborn could hardly wait for him to try to do so… It would have ended badly for Esket.
Deocarla said, “Bladeborn, you are undeniably a great warrior. Much older men could never have accomplished all that you have at your age. But in your youth, you have overlooked some of the responsibilities I have as a Queen of the Realms. I made a promise to you…I know this is true. But the law of the land keeps my feelings in check. I am a Queen first, a woman second, and always shall that be. Maybe if you were older and more experienced, you would better understand my uncomfortable position here.”
Bladeborn stared longingly at Deocarla certain that his feelings for her had been terribly misplaced.
Deocarla went on, “I kept all your letters, from this year as well as the last two years. Someday, I will read each of them. I wished to see you on this personal basis, one final time. I will always fondly remember what we had. But affairs of state have made this option the only logical course.”
“Affairs of state?” Bladeborn questioned. “What do you mean?”
“You need know nothing more, General,” Lord Esket said, “Now… You are dismissed.”
“How can you do this?” Bladeborn called out, heart-stricken.
Esket barked back, “Your tone and your demeanor show a barbarous lack of understanding! The necessary decisions have been made!”
Lord Esket gestured, and six pikemen appeared from the shadows of the throne room, taking positions to “protect” Lord Esket and Queen Deocarla from Bladeborn.
The Sergeant said, “Sorry General, but Esket made our jobs clear to us. You will withdraw!”
Esket declared, “If you attempt to speak with Queen Deocarla and I again, you will lose you title as General of the Army and be exiled from the First Realm. Leave now, while you have a shred of dignity left, General… Or be removed by my Private Guards!”
“General,” the Lead Pikeman said, “Don’t make this any more difficult. Leave quietly, now.”
Queen Deocarla took her feet just as Bladeborn began to back away. He thought she wiped tear trickling down her face, but he wasn’t sure. He tried to better see her eyes to read the emotion there. But he could not gain insight into how she felt that way, for the glow globe light in the room was low. Bladeborn though for a moment there was more to the situation than immediately apparent. Yet it seemed that all he could do was withdraw.
She turned away from him and took Esket’s arm.
“Go, now,” The Lead Pikeman said.
The door behind Bladeborn opened and he reluctantly went through. When the doors to the High Court behind him slammed shut, Nightslayer said:
~~It is as I told you: nobles are not worthy of your trust~~
“Nightslayer, she never loved me?” Bladeborn asked the Sword.
~~She may have, Swordsman… Yet, you are stronger than she is, and worth more to the Six Valleys than her. You are the war leader of all six nations, and she is merely the Queen of a single part of it~~
His vision blurring with conflicting feelings, Bladeborn said to himself, “I must be strong…”
The Sword of the Ancients said, ~~I can sense that you are allowing your desire to sway you, warrior. Bladeborn, get ahold of yourself, and forget her~~
Bladeborn was surprised that Nightslayer could be so uninterested in what he really thought and felt. He had assumed at one time the Sword understood. Apparently, that had also been a mistake.
Bladeborn met Sir Rodon and Sir Lomazi in the next chamber. They both saw the look on the young General’s face and cautiously asked what happened.
“She is… Marrying a gentleman. One that is fit for her,” Bladeborn replied. “I don’t wish to talk more about it right now.”
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