by M J Webb
Sawdon entered the command tent and received reports from the revalkas. He learned quickly that a full scale probe of the shield had revealed no gaps, no weak points that could be exploited. The armies he commanded were therefore unable to advance and make contact with the enemy. It was confirmation of a fact he expected to find, but one which did not sit well with the impatient warrior. “Raarrgh! So, since the wall halted your progress you have been idle? Tell me, what have you done about this situation, apart from resting while our enemy strengthens their defences?” the Thargw raged.
The leader of the revalkas was incensed. He considered attacking the great Thargw warrior there and then, killing him where he stood for his insolence, his show of disrespect. But, he knew that King Vantrax would be furious if he did, and the evil wizard’s hold over the creatures was such that they would not dare to attack one of his servants.
Sawdon sensed his anger. “Good! Turn that venom into something useful. Think. This shield must have a power source, a point of origin. It has to be being generated from somewhere nearby. Find the source, kill the shield!”
The remainder of the nearest revalkas gathered around Sawdon as he spoke. “Send your creatures far and wide, they are no longer needed here. We are more than enough to begin the fight if the shield falls. Begin a search of every hideaway, every forest, cave, dwelling you can find. Look for anything out of the ordinary, a distortion of light, a strange glow, wind, anything… Do not waste time investigating what you find. Destroy it! We are too far south for it to be an ally, and these rachtis before and around us are all our enemy now.”
The revalkas nodded and left Sawdon alone with one of his Thargws. The great commander was happy to once again be at the head of an army on a battlefield, free from the prying eyes and constraints imposed by his master, King Vantrax, if only for a short while. He felt alive, invigorated, invincible. “Now, we wait. There are hours of daylight left. With any luck, we will be able to attack them today, end this fight. See to it that our warriors are well rested and fed. Make them ready for battle. When the time comes, I will lead the attack myself.”
* * *
Nothing was seen or heard from the revalkas for the remainder of that day and into the night. Just after midnight, an exhausted King Vantrax rode into camp alongside Melissa and his Personal Guard. The evil King took a short report from Sawdon before retiring gratefully to his bed, having forced the pace on his march to reach the battle as quickly as he could. An uneasy silence descended upon Te’oull and the valley before it.
Several miles away, over the Kielth Mountains, a lone revalkas spotted something strange in the darkness way below him. A faint light was emanating from a cave, but this was an inhospitable, remote, uninhabited region, and the fearsome beast knew immediately what it meant. It dived and swooped low overhead for a better look. The second pass was a full blown assault. Two great fireballs were launched at the cave opening, one from each of its heads.
The Heynai spirits were almost half dead by now. Their excruciating ordeal had sapped every ounce of their energy. They had clung on to life only to gain every precious second they could, to keep the shield intact, and the hopes of their people alive. Their faces had returned to a horrid blend of flesh and bone, and where there was skin, it was ghostly white. They were shaking uncontrollably and all except Sereq were groaning in agony. They had not faltered or given in to the unbearable pain. The race, the contest between them, had not been won. But that did not matter now.
Sereq, the most powerful of the spirits, sensed the attack moments before it came. He broke the circle and warned his comrades, in an uncharacteristically weak voice. “My friends, we are about to enter the afterlife together again. I will see you all on the other side.”
Before any of the other spirits could respond, the first of the fireballs smashed through the cave entrance. The flames hit the oxygen and engulfed everything. It was followed less than a second later by the second, and the great spell was broken. The shield and the Heynai were no more.
* * *
It was almost dawn at Te’oull. Ben Brooker was fast asleep, tucked up under a blanket with his thumb in his mouth as usual. All of a sudden, his sleep was interrupted by a dream unlike any other. It was so vivid and real that it was as if he was actually there. In his mind, he saw the four Heynai standing in a circle holding hands. They looked awful, horrifying actually, very worse for wear. He tried to call out to them, but they could not, or would not, hear him. So, he watched and said nothing as Sereq suddenly stepped back from the others, breaking the bond between them. The old spirit began to talk briefly, but Ben could not hear what was being said. Then, almost immediately, a bright red fire engulfed everything there. The flames were so close to him that Ben could actually feel the heat. His arms lifted up instinctively to protect himself, and he awoke, screaming.
“No!!!”
Ben realised immediately the significance of what had just happened. Within seconds, Verastus was at his side. “What? What is it, Ben?”
Ben took a moment or two to calm himself. His heart was now pounding furiously in his chest and his breathing was heavy. After a short while, he looked Verastus in the eye. “Oh hell!” he stated, his face full of dread. “We’re in for it now. The spirits have been cooked. The barrier’s down!”
* * *
On the other side of the valley, on the fields in front of the city and behind the Heynai’s wall, King Vantrax was also fast asleep. A tremendous, heart wrenching, searing, vicious pain woke him. He clutched his hand to his chest and screamed out in anguish. Everyone came running to see if they could help. Nytig reached him first, but the King pushed him away. He was desperate to speak but he just could not get his words out. He tried and tried to tell them what he had to say until he was blood red in the face, but the pressure on his chest was so great that it was all he could do to breathe. Everyone thought he was going to die. It was if he had had a seizure and it lasted a good few minutes. But, eventually the pain abated and he began to feel himself again, extremely relieved that his lungs were able to capture the oxygen they needed, and painfully aware that it had been a very, very close call.
Vantrax finally looked up from his bed at Sawdon and Melissa. Where once there was a grimace of pain, there now developed an evil smile. “Recall the revalkas right now. That which blocks our path to glory has been destroyed. And so have those who would thwart me!”
Melissa looked at Sawdon and then back at her King, amazed and excited by the news. “You… You are certain, sire?”
The evil wizard looked a little disappointed in her. He nodded. “Yes, I am positive. What? Do you think I am lying? Go, go prepare for war!”
Melissa left and the King turned to his Thargw Gerada. “Sawdon, I have protected you far too much of late. If this little episode has shown me anything, it is that our time is now. You are far more valuable to me commanding from the front, where your true talents can be utilised. Though, I want you far enough from the fighting to be able to make command decisions. You must show a little constraint and learn the lessons of Erriard forest, you hear me?
Now, you are to take this city at first light. Destroy everything and everyone you find. Wipe it from the map. We have them where we want them, trapped within the walls with nowhere to go. We have forces with us now that will ensure our victory, obliterate them all. It has been said before, but let us finally end this war once and for all!”
* * *
In the final few hours before daylight, King Artrex and the spirit of Gerada Knesh Corian at last approached the valley before Te’oull. As they crested the final ridge, the vast armies of King Vantrax stretched out ahead of them, across the fields as far as the eye could see in the fading moonlight. Both warriors were unmoved by the daunting sight. They were experienced rebels used to facing impossible odds and they had expected to see such a force. But, Knesh Corian was troubled by one thing, his mind working as rapidly in death as it had in life.
“Raar! We are on the wrong s
ide of them to be of any use, sire. Their armies lie between us and the Princess. We will not be able to break through to Te’oull in time. If we had another few hours, maybe? We could use the darkness if that were the case and sneak through. But it will soon be light, they will see us… Well, you at any rate.”
King Artrex sighed heavily in exasperation. He knew that his old friend was right, as usual. “What shall we do then? How do we help?”
“There is nothing else for it. We will camp here, under the branches of that old tree. That way their beasts will not see us. Hopefully, tonight, we will have better luck. The shield should hold until then. When darkness falls again, we will make our move. After all, whilst the spirits protect them, all those defending Te’oull are safe from attack.”
Chapter 14
Dawn - 14th September - The City of Te’oull - Siatol
“Princess Zephany… They are here!!!”
A very loud and panicked scream from one of the young soldiers on the wall ramparts interrupted Zephany’s early morning stroll. She looked immediately at Lord Caro, who was as usual by her side. In a calm, decisive, confident and commanding voice she gave him her instructions.
“Sound the alarm. Raise everyone from their beds, and ensure they have enough weapons. Everything is to be coated in the poison of herethdar. Let us pray that it is strong enough to stop their beasts… And Caro!” she shouted, as he began to run away. The Perosyan knight stopped immediately. He turned and awaited further orders. “…There is to be no panic, no hint of concern in our actions. I know what we face, but this is exactly what we expected to happen. It should come as no surprise to any of us. We knew it was coming so there is no cause for alarm. Remind our people of that, will you?”
The teenage Princess who now led the whole of the Estian Alliance gazed up at the cloudless sky. “…Hopefully, if we all hold our nerve and become who we were meant to be, it is going to be a long and glorious day. But then, this day has been a very, very long time in coming, has it not?” she said, smiling.
Caro smiled back at her for he knew exactly what she meant. He nodded once and then left to issue the orders. Princess Zephany joined her warriors on the wall ramparts and looked out across the battlefield. She could see the enemy clearly, confirming to her immediately that the Heynai’s shield had vanished. The revalkas and graxoth had begun slowly, forming up and gliding to within a few hundred metres of the wall. There, they had stopped and maintained their position. Zephany surveyed the massed ranks of enemy infantry below them, counting their numbers and noting the different factions amongst their ranks with interest. She was joined within minutes by Queen Bressial, Lord Castrad, Ben, Jean and Verastus. Finally, Brraall appeared, having taken some time to explain to his tribal warriors what was happening.
The footsoldiers of the enemy started to advance slowly, their roars, shouts and cries breaking the silence abruptly, like a chorus of thunder heralding the outbreak of a devastating storm. Ben suddenly grew even more nervous and his stomach started doing cartwheels. He had faced a full-scale battle before at Erriard forest, but it still didn’t prevent him from feeling sick. He drew his sword prematurely, his hand shaking so much that he almost dropped it. “W-Why… Why don’t they attack?” he asked, pointing anxiously at the creatures above, which were now hovering high over the city.
“They are waiting, assessing our strength. They are trying to note our weak points, anything they can use against us,” replied the Princess. “Relax a little while you can, Ben. They will be upon us soon.”
“What? Err… No, I mean, I don’t want to hurry them if they’re enjoying themselves up there. They can take as long as they want for me.”
Princess Zephany chuckled a little, along with the others. Verastus placed a reassuring hand on the young boy’s shoulder, as Zephany gave one last command. “All of you, take up your positions now, please. Remember, our warriors are looking to you for strength and direction, for courage. The example you set for them will win this day, I promise you.”
Ben just could not help himself. “Oh… My section’s in a bit of trouble then? And there was me thinking it had something to do with my best pal, and a certain box of stones? Well, where is he? Surely he won’t miss this? Tell ya what, I hope to blazes he doesn’t!”
Verastus replied for them all in his deep, soothing tone. “He will be here, Ben. He will not let us down.”
“Yes,” added Jean, who suddenly felt compelled to say something. “I can’t say that I know anything about my grandson, for I haven’t even met him as yet, but from what you’ve told me, he does seem the type to want to make a grand entrance, at the very last minute?”
“Ha, ha…” Ben laughed. “Yeah, you’re right. He’s a right show off these days, and that’s just his style. But, just to be on the safe side, you stay right beside me and the big man, okay?”
Verastus reassured her with a confident smile and Jean nodded gratefully. “Okay Ben, I’ll do as you say. My hero.”
Princess Zephany had the last word. “This is supposed to be the beginning of the end, if the prophecies are true. Well, I hope so, I really do. Whatever happens here today, may the divine one, Nittri-Hebul, watch over you all. You are the bravest of companions, the greatest of friends.”
* * *
King Vantrax was at the rear of his armies, flanked only by ten of his Personal Guard and attended to by Nytig, his servant. Sawdon, Melissa and every available warrior had joined the attack. The King was taking no chances here at Te’oull. The Estian Alliance would be crushed by weight of numbers and his enemies would be destroyed in a single day. Nothing had ever been so certain. His forces outnumbered the rebels by over four to one and their ranks were full to the brim of far superior soldiers, warriors who were raised from the dead and powerful, merciless creatures who would do his bidding without question. Command had been handed to Sawdon, the greatest warrior ever to walk on Estian soil, though King Vantrax maintained control over the revalkas and graxoth. Once he received word that they were ready to commence the attack, he waited until Sawdon and his ground forces were half way towards the city, before unleashing them onto the hapless defenders.
Sawdon watched the first of the graxoth begin the assault. He roared with delight and thousands of Thargws behind him joined in. There was no finesse at all to this battleplan. The great warrior had no secret strategy, diversion or hidden surprise waiting for the Estians. Aided considerably by the aerial attack, the vast land army would launch an all out frontal assault on the main wall. The Thargws and Falorians were pulling and pushing the siege towers they had brought with them from Dassilliak, and that now dictated the slow pace of their advance. The remainder of the equipment had been left behind, Sawdon reasoning that the contributions of the revalkas and graxoth would far outweigh those of ballista, catapult, trebuchet and Retian firethrowers. The attacking throngs moved steadily but relentlessly forwards, for the distance to be covered was not great and their enemy, the Estians, were exactly where Sawdon wanted them; trapped behind the walls of Te’oull. They were going nowhere.
* * *
At the main wall it soon became apparent that the warriors there would bear the brunt of the assault. Princess Zephany ordered commanders and warriors from the other walls to assist, though she left enough in post to defend those sections if called upon. Soon, the first of the revalkas joined with the graxoth and the real battle began. The first wave dived down and struck the warriors on the wall, attacking in groups of threes and fours. It was a surprisingly co-ordinated assault and fire balls began to reign down upon the city. Princess Zephany sprinted to a section of archers she had positioned underneath the ramparts, out of sight. When the revalkas overhead came into view and slowed down to turn around, she ordered them to fire.
The arrows all hit their targets, but only two of the four revalkas fell from the sky. Zephany calculated quickly that it had taken over twenty strikes to bring them down, a worrying statistic given the shortage of archers and weapons in her army, not
to mention the finite supply of liquid, without Tien and his magic to call upon.
The graxoth swooped down out of the sky with alarming speed, mercilessly taking out any individual defenders on the wall who were brave enough to expose themselves in order to shoot their arrows at the approaching waves. The fire from the revalkas set buildings alight and tore into the ramparts. Within minutes, it was like a scene from hell. The dead and dying were everywhere, wounded warriors were screaming and the Estian Alliance was reeling under the sustained aerial attack, being badly mauled. It was a terrifying thought, but the land forces had still to be engaged and the main battle had not yet commenced!
Zephany knew she had to do something, and quick. But, what could she do? Despite the valuable experience she had gained from years of fighting as a rebel, where she had grown accustomed to thinking of the unorthodox in order to save her skin and those of her followers, she knew the answer on this occasion, was nothing. The creature’s onslaught was turning the tide of battle firmly in King Vantrax’ favour before the fight had even begun. She had nothing in her arsenal to combat his beasts. The fight was only minutes old but the Estians were already losing the greatest battle in their history. They were dying in vast numbers and Princess Zephany was powerless to prevent the slaughter. The revalkas and graxoth were tearing them to pieces, and they were virtually unopposed!
