A Trial of Souls

by Brian D. Anderson

  Luccia chuckled. “I always suspected that of you. The stories that surround your name are too fantastic for you to be anything else. My father told me that he saw you kill ten men without unsheathing your sword. And he was not one prone to exaggeration.”

  “I remember that,” said Lee. “Your father tried to come to my aid, and would have done so had his guards not held him back. But the truth is that I was only unarmed because Millet wouldn’t allow me to carry my sword when I took drink at the taverns. Otherwise...”

  “Otherwise you would still have bested ten men,” interrupted Luccia lightheartedly. “They were marauders from out of the Weeping Mountains I was told. I also heard that you sailed with Baltrian pirates.”

  “I did,” he admitted. “But I assure you that I took no part in any crimes.”

  “I’m sure,” said Luccia with a wry grin. “But if Darshan is not like you, then what is he?”

  “He is the herald of a new world,” said Weila. “The child of heaven who has come to set the world to rights.”

  Luccia took a deep breath. “If you are saying what I think you are, then I have lived to see impossible times. He is then, as the rumors claim? Darshan is truly a god?”

  Lee nodded slowly. “That is why Angrääl moves so quickly, and why you should not give up hope.”

  “I cannot imagine meeting such a creature,” said Luccia, rubbing his temple. “Tell me about him. What is he like?”

  Lee chuckled. “If you meet him and expect anything other than a man, you will be disappointed. He is no different than you or I. He eats, sleeps and breathes just like everyone else. But his heart has a purity that I have yet to see in anyone I have ever encountered. And in spite of all his power, that is his greatest weapon.”

  Lee went on to tell him of Gewey’s life in Sharpstone, and how he had discovered who he really was.

  “A simple farm boy,” said Luccia with a smile as Lee finished. “You have given me reason to hope. But I still can do little to help you. Until this Darshan is victorious, my plight remains the same. But I will gladly grant you passage through my kingdom, and tonight we shall feast.”

  He turned to Bevaris. “And just so you know, it is the people who have chosen to maintain my gardens with what little they still have. It is their only reminder that we are still a free people.”

  Bevaris turned red with embarrassment. “Forgive me, your highness. I spoke from ignorance.”

  King Luccia smiled and clapped his hands. Two guards approached from the door. “Show them to their rooms and tell the kitchen that we are to host honored guests tonight.”

  “Thank you, your highness,” said Bevaris.

  “And once we have eaten we shall watch a play about Baltrian pirates.” Luccia looked at Lee, smirking. “I’m sure you will find it amusing.”

  Lee laughed. “I’m sure I will.”

  They all bowed and allowed the guards to lead them through the halls to their rooms. Lee pulled off his boots and lay down on the bed, staring at the ceiling. Speaking about Gewey so openly had made him realize just how much had happened in such a short time - and how much was yet to unfold.

  A light rap at the door brought his mind back to where he was. Weila and Millet entered.

  “I am grateful you were able to secure our release,” said Millet.

  “King Luccia is a good man,” said Lee. “As was his father. I pray this war is over before it reaches him.”

  “As do I,” agreed Millet.

  “He asked to speak to one of the elves,” said Weila. “So I sent Lolin. It would seem the king does not fear us, though I cannot say the same for the rest of the people here.”

  “It will take time,” said Lee. “Fear is banished through understanding, and King Luccia has obviously not allowed his ignorance of your people and their ways to cloud his mind or foster paranoia. His qualities as a ruler would show him the wisdom of knowing you better.”

  “If only all people were so open minded, war would never trouble the world again,” said Weila.

  “Hopefully, we will see the last of it,” said Millet.

  “Until then, we must plan our next move,” said Lee. “Being that King Luccia cannot give us aid, we must move quickly to cross the Eastland and make our way to Althetas.”

  “The army should be where we told them to be by morning,” said Weila. “Unless your mind is changed, I assume we will go southwest to the river crossing.”

  “I see no better way,” said Lee.

  “Nor do I,” added Millet. “We can only hope that we make it there unnoticed, or at least unchallenged.”

  Lee shook his head and gave a cynical half-grin. “How often have we had such luck?”

  Millet sighed. “Not often.”

  The feast was not lavish by any standards, though the food was well prepared and the wine plentiful. Only a few officers, including a most unhappy looking Captain Konnor, attended. Bevaris made a point of staying clear of the man, though they did exchange several angry glances. In order to keep the peace, the king eventually ordered Konnor to organize a patrol of the city.

  After dinner, they returned to the theatre. The audience for the play was made up mostly of local citizens, seemingly of all classes. Merchants sat beside laborers as the actors regaled them with a tale of a blind Baltrian pirate who sought the love of his life – a woman whom he knew only by the smell of her perfume. After the entertainment was over and the actors had taken their bows, King Luccia invited Lee and the others to join him for a drink in his parlor. They found a warm fire and comfortable chairs there to greet them.

  “Did you enjoy the play?” asked Luccia, savoring the sweet scent that rose from his glass.

  “It was very well done,” remarked Millet. “But I must ask about your audience. They seemed a rather diverse group.”

  “Our plays are one of the few distractions left to us,” Luccia explained. “Every citizen is invited to attend regardless of social standing. Names are picked at random each morning, then posted in the market square. It has become extremely popular. So much so, that I plan to move it outdoors to accommodate more people.”

  “Your highness,” said Weila. “I have given consideration to your concerns over your personal safety, and have decided that Lolin shall remain here with you. You will not find a more capable elf, and he will not allow you to come to harm.”

  Luccia smiled and bowed. “I do appreciate the gesture, but I think having an elf guard may upset some of my people a bit more than is needed at this time.”

  “No one will ever know I am here,” Lolin insisted. “I can remain hidden from all eyes but those of your highness. Only if your life is in danger would I make myself known.”

  “You could consider it a bond between our people,” suggested Weila. “And as this world is in dire need of courage and heart, I would see to it that you remain alive to care for your kingdom.”

  “What do you think, Bevaris?” asked Luccia.

  “You could ask for no better protector,” he replied earnestly. “And if the Reborn King seeks your demise, it could make the difference between life and death.”

  Luccia thought for a minute. “I would have to inform Captain Konnor of course, and I assure you that he will not be pleased. But that aside, I think you are right. No one would expect me to have an elf protector.” He bent his knees and gave Lolin a sweeping formal bow. “I am honored to have you with me, and I am in your debt.”

  “A debt to be paid only with friendship,” said Lolin. “I would speak to your captain as soon as my companions are away.”

  “I must say that I am eager to see his reaction,” said Luccia with a devilish grin.

  There was a knock on the parlor door and a messenger entered. He handed King Luccia a folded piece of parchment. As the king read, his faced darkened. “A force of sixty thousand soldiers is approaching from the west,” he told the others. Fear was in his eyes. “They are only two days away.”

  The room went silent for a moment.


  “Then we should leave now,” said Lee. “We will do our best to draw them away from the city.”

  Without another word, everyone hurried off to retrieve their belongings. Six guards escorted them to the front gate, where King Luccia was waiting beside their horses.

  “Will you be able to defeat such an army?” the king asked, desperation in his voice.

  Lee mounted his steed. “We must. And we will. Even so, you should prepare your defenses as best you can.”

  Linis climbed in the saddle behind Dina, while Lee pulled Weila up behind him. His stone stare denied her any objection. The night was an empty chasm of fear as they galloped off to join their army.

  “Do not despair,” said Weila. “It is not we who should fear them.”

  Lee grunted and urged his horse on even faster.

  Chapter 28

  Lee was stunned by the speed in which the elves now traveled. Their mobility had impressed him even before this latest situation, but once they were told of the Angrääl army approaching, the renewed pace they set made their earlier efforts seem like a mere leisurely stroll. Moreover, their mood was nothing short of jubilant, with not the slightest hint of fear. For two days they had scarcely rested for more than an hour. Lee began to suspect that even when they did choose to rest it was far more for the benefit of the humans and horses than due to their own fatigue.

  They turned northwest in the hope of gaining high ground, but scouts reported that the enemy had marched south, parallel to Xenthia where the land was flat. Here they had halted. It was clear they knew that the elves were coming and had chosen their place to fight. This concerned both Lee and Bevaris. Though not vastly outnumbered, they had no heavy horses, and the enemy could set lines that would be difficult for the lightly armored elves to break.

  The evening before they were due to engage the enemy, Bevaris and Lee sat together at the edge of the camp pondering on their best plan of action. A few yards away three elves were shooting arrows at a thin pole they had stuck in the ground, regularly hitting the nearly impossible target from more than thirty yards away.

  “Amazing archers,” said Bevaris with sincere appreciation.

  “There are none better,” agreed Lee. “If only we could win a battle with bows alone.”

  “Indeed,” he replied. Bevaris watched for a time, then a wave of inspiration washed over his face. Springing up, he ran over and spoke to the elves for several moments.

  Lee watched curiously as Bevaris nodded and smiled excitedly. He then called Lee over.

  “I take it you have a plan,” said Lee.

  “Don’t move from where you are,” Bevaris told him. He then winked to one of the elves, who took off running until he was swallowed up by the night. A minute or so later a high-pitched whistle sounded from some distance away. Bevaris whistled in return. A brief silence followed, quickly broken by an ever-increasing hissing sound that seemed to rip through the air. Lee barely had time to blink before a white fletched arrow buried itself into the ground less than three feet away from where he was standing.

  “That was from six-hundred yards,” said Bevaris.

  Lee pulled up the arrow and smiled with keen understanding. “That is incredible news. We should inform the others.”

  As morning broke over the field of battle, the elves sang merrily of their impending victory. By contrast, the army of Angrääl stood silent and firm, their banners flying high in the brisk morning air. The elves lined up in long rows, with archers in front and the rest in staggered columns behind them. Lee and Bevaris glanced at each other with knowing smiles.

  Jacob had taken it upon himself to be Millet’s personal guard, and, along with Tristan, insisted on keeping him far behind and clear of the fray. To Linis’ dismay, Dina insisted that he stay with her at the rear as well.

  “There will be other battles,” she had said, feigning sympathy. “I will not tempt fate and have you risk your life before we’ve even been married a week.”

  Reluctantly, he had agreed.

  When they reached six-hundred yards from the enemy lines, a trumpet blast called for a halt. In seconds, the archers had notched their arrows and were ready to fire. Lee raised his arm and silence fell. Then, with one fluid motion, he gave the signal. Thousands of arrows raced skyward. Even before these missiles struck their target, the elves were already sending another volley. Again and again, with remarkable speed they shot death at the enemy. Within moments the Angrääl lines were scattering. The cries of their dying carried clearly all over the field.

  For a short time it looked as if the battle would be over quickly. But the enemy commanders soon recovered their composure. Soon they were reforming their ranks and sending out a wave of heavy horse. Long, steel-tipped lances glinted in the morning sun, their advance on the elf army bringing forth a vengeful roar from the Angrääl soldiers. The elf archers adjusted their fire, but the thick armor on both the horses and men deflected most of the deadly shafts.

  Lee looked over the field and saw the enemy footmen running headlong at them. “They’re closing the gap.” He unsheathed his sword and glanced at Bevaris. “Their commanders are cleverer than I had hoped.”

  Bevaris shrugged. “I have always desired to die in battle. Perhaps today I will get my wish.” His massive sword rang out as he freed it from its scabbard.

  The archers dropped their bows and drew their swords just as the horsemen drove deep into the lines. Lee, Bevaris and the few other human soldiers they had with them, charged in. Lee felled three men in an instant and unhorsed four more. Bevaris swung his blade repeatedly, hewing through armor and flesh as if it were wet parchment.

  Despite many elves falling during this initial onslaught, they still managed to halt the advance, and before long were even beginning to force the cavalry back. But then the Angrääl foot soldiers arrived, smashing their way into the gaps. Though the elves fought fiercely, it was becoming obvious that the sheer force of numbers was going to win the day.

  Lee’s horse reared as a spear pierced its neck, throwing him from the saddle. Only his half-man dexterity kept him from landing on his back. Two more soldiers were quickly cut down by his fury as he carved a path to the center of the battle. But he could see that their line was collapsing. Any moment now, the elves would be split in two. Blood trickled from cuts to his forearm and neck, but years of training made him able to dismiss the pain.

  Then, from seemingly out of nowhere, an almighty explosion sent shock waves thudding into his ears. A huge column of fire erupted at the rear of the Angrääl army. For a second the battle paused as all eyes turned to witness the terrible sight. Another blast followed, then another and another, each one more devastating than the last.

  Roaring and spitting destruction in every direction, a massive wall of flames nearly fifty feet high ripped through the enemy, cutting them in twain. Black smoke billowed up, and the nauseating smell of burning flesh hung heavy in the air. The elves, unsure of what was happening, simply pulled back and watched while their foes were roasted alive. In less than five minutes the Angrääl forces were in full retreat, screaming in terror as the blazing inferno continued to chase after them.

  Lee scanned the horizon. He knew of only one power that could do this. On a tall hill, just beyond the battlefield, he spotted two figures. One an elf woman, the other a human male. His spirits lifted at once. As the last of the retreating enemy disappeared into the distance, the two figures began moving toward them.

  “Gewey!” yelled Lee. “Kaylia!”

  Cries of jubilation arose from the elf ranks as the two came near. The name of Darshan began echoing off the hilltops. Gewey and Kaylia raised their arms in greeting.

  Without a word Lee threw his arms around Gewey, all but taking his breath away.

  “I’m happy to see you too,” Gewey gasped once Lee had finally released him. He looked over the field at the fallen elves. “I only wish I could have arrived sooner.”

  Lee smiled and took Kaylia’s hand. “I see you are st
ill as beautiful as ever.”

  “And I see you still think you are charming,” she replied, laughing.

  Linis, Dina, Millet, and Jacob soon joined them as the rest of the army closed in to shout out their salutations and thanks. After responding to countless warm greetings, they began to make their way through the crowd to the rear. Lyrial and Weila greeted them with a friendly smile.

  “I told you we would come, Darshan,” said Lyrial. “Though it seems as if it is you who has come to our aid.”

  “Believe me,” he replied, bowing. “Your help is desperately needed in the west. The enemy is on the move, and time has run out.”

  “So it seems,” said Lee. He threw an arm around Jacob’s shoulders. “Gewey, this is my son, Jacob.”

  Gewey nodded. “It is an honor to meet you.”

  Jacob lowered his eyes. “My father speaks of you as a son. So I will look upon you as my brother.”

  “Nothing would give me greater pleasure,” said Gewey. “But I’m afraid there are wounded who need healing. Stories and reunions must wait.”

  Lee looked at Gewey in wonder. “You have changed so much. Even your words seem different.”

  Gewey seized Lee’s shoulder fondly. “Much has happened since we first started out from Sharpstone. And still there is much to do.”

  Gewey and Kaylia set about healing those they were able to, not stopping until dusk. Exhausted, they were led by Linis and Dina to a small fire where the others waited. The army was camped about a mile away, and Lyrial had commanded that no one should disturb Gewey until the following morning.

  “If you are too weary, talk can wait,” offered Linis.

  Gewey shook his head. “No. It can’t. I can manage for a time. My strength isn’t completely gone.”

  They took their place beside the fire where a bowl of hot stew and a bottle of wine were waiting. Once they’d finished their meal, Gewey leaned in and stared into the fire.

  “I never thought I would see so much bloodshed,” he muttered. “And there will be more to come.”