Zenhall’s tight jaw loosened and he exhaled deeply, but his fierce glare did not falter, “we leave the carriage. But the little girl rides with me. I can protect her and it won’t be wise to make two princesses into one target, if… your feelings ring true.”
They quickly shifted into their new travelling arrangements. Topaz continued to ride alone and Diamond sat so fully enclosed by Zenhall’s large frame, that she almost disappeared. Her look of discomfort amused Topaz and she tossed her a playful wink.
The group pulled off the main road after Ben had unlatched the carriage horses, hid it in the bushes and helped Bianca and her husband on horses of their own. The rode together through the woods in the direction of the city, feeling a bit more secure than on the lonely Thames road. But it was not long after they had set out, that they noticed the torch lights through the trees and the unmistakable sound of hoof beats moving towards them from the direction they were heading.
“Oh no, what now?” Bianca cried.
“It’s probably just the Northern guard,” her husband tried to assure her.
Ben shook his head in disagreement, “I don’t think those are Princess Pearl’s men.”
Zenhall growled, “neither do I.”
Nyla was trying to sit up where she was slumped against Ben, “protect the girls,” she said hoarsely.
“Topaz ride!” Ben shouted as the torches moved closer to them.
“Zenhall take Diamond and go with her.”
There was no time now to object to Ben’s demands. But as Zenhall kicked his horse forward, its sudden movement was halted with a pained jolt. The horse grunted and buckled beneath Zenhall and Diamond, a long spear sticking out of its side. Topaz’s eyes widened, just as Ben leapt off his own horse and struck her stead into action.
“I’ve got her,” he shouted as he drew his sword.
Topaz’s horse bolted forward as did the one Nyla rode. On Ben’s command the other soldier followed after them. Topaz looked back in time to see a crowd of men surround Ben and Zenhall, whose swords were drawn. Topaz wished she could see her sister in the dim light, but she had disappeared amidst the crowd and shadows.
“She’ll be okay,” Nyla said beside her. She was slumped forward on the horse but riding hard beside her. It would not be long before they too were pursued.
As they rode, two horsemen fell in line with them from the side, “get out of the way!” they shouted as they over took them. Even in the dim light Topaz could make out their attire, it reminded her of Jahreed. Pointed shoes and all. They too seemed to be trying to escape.
“Help us!” she shouted instinctively.
Fear gripped her heart when it seemed like they would not stop. Then suddenly one of them turned his horse about and jerked his head.
“This way!” he shouted.
Topaz and Nyla exchanged glances, she was not sure what caused her to call out to them, but she knew that they were lost in these woods without someone with them who knew it. The soldier who was steadily riding behind them shouted, “Go, follow!”
They kicked their horses into overdrive and bolted after the strangers, who after their invitation did not look back again. Together they rode deeper into the woods of the north, even as the echoes of swordplay rung out behind them.
Chapter 33
Four’s field was a riveting vision. On one end shiny bronze armor glinted in the sun, moving at a steady stilted pace, as the soldiers of Aldor moved in one accord towards their enemy. On the other end, the dark shingled metal of the Dravian army stood in silent rebellion, awaiting Aldor’s approach. Aldor’s orange flag with the Ma’jion symbol flew proudly in the wind, held upright in the firm confident grip of the flint faced flag bearer.
“Company halt!” General Mathis shouted and Aldor’s army stilled.
Jasper rode up to captain Mathis, and his father who were both watching the scene from behind their orderly army. His knights rode with him, looking impressive in their silver war armor. Squinting against the hot afternoon sun, Jasper gestured to their enemy.
“They are even less impressive than I thought they’d be,” Jasper said, with a concerned twist of his lips.
His father nodded in agreement. He was not dressed in the Aldorian bronze armor but in a gold and silver one with imitation light stone gems embedded on its edges and the Ma’jion carved in black on his breastplate. His armor set him apart on the field, but his father sat upon his horse fearlessly. His horse was armored as well, in gold and silver to match its rider. The king held his scepter in one hand and his sword remained strapped to his hip.
Mathis chuckled, “makes me wonder if we should’ve brought all our men to the party. Prince Jasper and his knights could probably cut them down by sundown.”
Jasper frowned, “I wouldn’t underestimate Haddin. That’s what he wants us to do. So they want to discuss terms?”
Mathis nodded, “so it seems. I understand your surprise, I too was expecting screaming raid.”
They watched as a man rode forward from Dravia’s army. Next to him was a flag bearer, holding the black and red Dravian flag proudly, a bold affront here on Aldor’s side of the border.
“They must feel smug getting past the border.”
Jasper shrugged, “anyone without magic can cross the border, it is us who decide how far in they can come.”
“They want to discuss terms,” the king said, “You’re up Mathis.”
Mathis nodded and gestured to the flag bearer and the two rode to the front of the Aldorian army to meet the men at the middle of the field. Jasper’s horse shifted excitedly beneath him; he was always excited for a good fight.
“They’ve already crossed our border and turned one of our own, what could they possibly want to discuss?” Jasper asked.
The king’s eyes were trained on the exchange in the middle of the field. Jasper knew how much having him here on the battle field meant to the men. He could see it in the way they held themselves, with an air of pride and confidence more than was usual. Every man probably hoping that the king would cast his eyes on him and see something special. If they were uncertain about the seriousness of this battle before, they were sure of it now.
“Haddin has no terms. They’re all just playing a game and they want us to fall for it. Do you see the East here?” Kalgary said.
Jasper shook his head.
“Then prepare for anything.”
It was not long before Mathis and his flag bearer were riding back to them. Mathis had a smug look on his face as he approached them.
“They’re jokers,” he said, taking off his helmet, so they could better see his gloating grin.
“They’ve got about six thousand men, archers on the back rank. About four thousand, of those are foot soldiers. They’re defensive line is made up of boys with arms like twigs.”
“What are their terms?” the king asked.
“They want your surr…” Mathis’ words were swallowed up in a sudden grunt. He tried to reach up to touch the back of his neck, but slumped forward on his horse instead. As Captain Mathis’ body dropped off the side of his horse an arrow sticking out from the back of his neck, a loud horn sounded on the opposite end of the field.
Jasper turned just in time to see his father’s eyes widen in outrage, “Jasper take command.”
“Father…” Jasper started to say something.
“Mow them down!” the king commanded.
Jasper did not have to tell the men twice. With their commander down and the king’s outraged command, all he had to do was say the words.
“Attack!”
Methodically, the front rank moved forward, their stilted march forgotten as they bound towards their enemy with shields up and swords pointing forward. The Dravian horde charged towards them. Now they screamed. Jasper settled his helmet and drew his sword, then urged his horse forward. Eagerly his horse bolted down the line and his knights needed no invitation, the hoofbeats of their horses could be heard thundering ri
ght behind him. Jasper roared as both armies clashed and his band of knights echoed his battle cry.
A flurry of arrows flew into the air and Jasper lifted his shield. Arrows fell like raindrops on the surface of their shields.
“Archers at the ready!” he shouted.
Obediently Aldor’s archers countered with flaming arrows, lighting up the air above them. Arrows fell like rain on their enemies. Jasper cut through a path with his sword, swinging with power and precision as Dravian soldier’s fell to his blade. Aldor’s oversized army was running through them at a pace not even Mathis might have expected. The thought of Mathis death, enraged Jasper further and his sword moved swiftly with justice and judgment amidst another desperate downpour of arrows from Dravia. The Dravian’s fought well, but they were amateurs and they were small. Jasper turned around his horse to take in what was happening around him. He watched with pleasure as the familiar bronze and silver armor moved through the sea of shadows, like steel through flesh.
“Argh!” he heard a man roar and turned his horse just in time for his horse to miss a blade to its side.
The attacker in question was the captain who had negotiated with Mathis. The captain who may have given the order to shoot Mathis in the back. Baring his teeth Jasper leapt down from his horse and swung his sword at the man in challenge.
The man blocked his attack and growled at him, “die Stone waste!”
The Dravian captain dove for him. Jasper’s extended his sword and blocked his assault, then locked it at the hilt and shoved the man back. The man charged forward again and their swords met in a loud parry, joining in with the chorus of war.
The man fought well; Jasper would give him that. But not well enough for a Captain. He had met the Captain of Dravia’s army while at Dravia and he was a tough looking man, a man Jasper was sure would have truly made him break a sweat here. But he wasn’t here, either he had abandoned Haddin or Haddin had decided to retire him, himself.
“Give it up,” Jasper said as they circled one another.
Huffing the man shook his head. Jasper rolled his eyes and stepped forward extending his blade with a swift curve upward. Shadaya had taught him that. He watched the man’s sword leap from his tired fingers and fall atop a lifeless body on the ground. Jasper clobbered him with his gauntleted fist and planted his foot on his chest, pinning him to the ground.
“What are you up to? Where is Haddin?” He asked, shouting above the noise of battle.
The man continued to glare at him.
“What’s Haddin’s plan?”
The man smiled, and extended in hands in nonchalance. Usually this would be the point where Jasper would extend mercy but war was different, shooting a man in the back was different. He lifted his sword.
Boom.
Jasper froze, feeling the earth shake beneath him then stop. He kept his eyes on the man below him, whose smile was growing wider.
Boom.
There it was again. Jasper lowered his sword into the man’s chest and quickly withdrew it. Turning about with his eyes upward. Again, the earth shook beneath them, but the Dravian’s weren’t letting up, they were fighting harder.
When he saw it, he understood why.
“Fall back!” He shouted.
Turning, he bolted in the direction of Stone Vale, “Fall back!” he shouted again. As balls of fire started raining down on the battle field around him.
✽✽✽
Kalgary’s eyes widened at the sight before him. Standing taller than the tallest trees was a creature of nightmares, and it had emerged from the direction of the East and was heading for Stone Vale. It trampled through the forest, causing the majestic trees to bow at its feet as it made its way towards them, the mountain of the east at its back. A giant demon, that’s what it was; with dark holes for eyes and scalded skin. At its approach, the air around them started to reek of burnt flesh. King Kalgary doubted that it was just from the men who were being burnt up by the balls of fire being tossed by whatever it was that tossed it. It was the smell of darkness, darkness that had made its way across the border.
“Your majesty.”
King Kalgary looked down as a wounded man staggered towards him, sword still drawn and ready.
“What do you command my king?”
“Back to the citadel!” he shouted, “mount our defenses.”
He turned around just in time to see his son running hard from the fray, he had no helmet and no shield, just a bloody sword. Kalgary watched as Jasper sheathed his sword and leapt onto his horse that bolted by him, and he felt relief. When Jasper drew near him, he was a bloody dirty mess, his eyes wide with panic. Some of his men had joined him. By now the creature had broken a path through the forest and was moving steadily but slowly towards them. Now Kalgary could see that in one eye a tiny light glinted and that the creature was not alone.
“So that’s where the rest of his army is,” the king said.
Jasper turned his horse about and his jaw dropped. As another swarm of Dravian soldiers bounded around the giant. Among them was an army of Feelers and unnaturally strong men pulling a weapon that catapulted balls of fire into the air and behind them were a company of those red monsters from the outlands
“Father?”
Kalgary turned and held his son’s gaze, “go back to the city,” he said calmly, “command our defenses.”
“I’m not leaving you.”
“No but I will,” he tossed his scepter into the air and caught it at a more comfortable angle.
“I’ll slow them down. Go now!”
✽✽✽
“Did you feel that?” Ruby exclaimed.
Odi turned around and as he did, another tremor shook the earth beneath their feet. Ruby arched an eye at him and turned to follow his gaze. He was looking towards Aldor. They were far beyond the North Territory now, deep in the forbidden forest and closest to the Mountains of Krev than she or anyone she knew, had ever been. But she couldn’t miss the tendrils of smoke rising from where she knew Aldor was.
“Odi,” she looked at him with wide questioning eyes. She saw concern reflected in his gaze.
Then he blinked and turned around, “we have to keep moving.”
“Odi, Aldor is in trouble,” she turned and took two steps in that direction.
“There’s nothing you can do Nketa,” Odi warned.
“Aldor is more than capable of handling whatever is happening… more than you are. And your sisters are safe.”
Ruby was trying to calm her panicked breathing when she felt Odi’s warm hand on her shoulder, “you can’t turn back now,” he said softly.
“Why not?” she whispered.
“Because we’re already here.”
She turned quickly to face what was closest to a smile for Odi and looked behind him to the mountain rising before them.
“Uh…I see nothing but rocks and dirt and trees, hardly any sign of civilization. Looks like the abandoned mountain it is supposed to be."
"I think that is the point," Odi said.
"It has always been the point," a voice said.
They turned in unison in the direction of it, to find a man sitting astride a... Ruby's eyes widened; it was a legendary fire mare. Ruby took in its yellow mane and amber coat; it was wider than any horse she had ever seen. Its powerful legs tapering off to hooves dressed in more of that silky fur. It was the most beautiful creature she had ever seen, and now it was regarding her with fiery eyes like it was more than a dumb animal, like it understood her fascination.
It took a few more steps toward them, and Ruby understood why they had not heard the man come up beside them. The mare stepped with such grace and poise; the sounds of its hoof beats was almost non-existent. Ryder neighed and whinnied, for the first time since leaving Stone Vale. It as good to know she was not the only one excited.
The man alighted from his steed, his dull red hair with threads of white, whipped about his fa
ce with the chilly wind.
"The mountains of Krev is home to the fire horses, the Ma’jion and the thorn bears," he replied, tilting his head slightly in Ruby's direction much like the lords at the palace did when they addressed her.
“Your royalty,” he greeted.
Odi stepped forward and placed a hand on the man's shoulder, "Acha," he said with a smile, an actual smile, "good to see you."
"It is the same for us," Acha replied, he turned to Ruby.
“So, you have finally returned to us, our lost princess,” the man had a natural softness to his shifting brown eyes as he looked at her, “and you have grown to look so much like your mother.”
Ruby’s heart did a leap at the man’s words. It suddenly dawned on her that she had never had the privilege of hearing those words spoken to her.
“You knew my mother?”
Acha nodded with a wistful smile, “and your father. And I had the honor of pulling you into this world.”
Ruby bowed, it was an instinctive urge, but the action seemed to please Acha, “even though you have been away from us,” he said, “you have our ways written on your heart. Come let us go in, there are many eager to meet you and there is a whiff of darkness in the air, we are not safe out here.”
The man extended the hand in which he held a beautifully crafted staff like Odi’s, "your mount, your royalty."
Ruby's eyes widened as another of the majestic creatures stepped from the mist around the mountain, its mane casting a subtle light about it.
"I get... I get to ride that," she stuttered.
Odi chuckled as the mare walked up to him like they were old friends and bowed its head into his waiting palm. He ran his hand along its back and it gave a friendly toss of its head. Then turned to Ruby and tentatively approached her, those understanding eyes seemingly posing a question. She lifted her hand as she'd seen Odi do and the beautiful creature stepped eagerly towards her, bowing its head against her palm just like it had done with Odi. Ruby giggled, relishing the feel of the animal's fur beneath her hand, it was like pure silk and it gave off soothing warmth that seemed to pull the chill from her bones.
Kingdom's Darkness (Gemstone Royals Book 2) Page 27
