The Long War 03 - The Red Prince

by A. J. Smith

  He didn’t stand. ‘There’s a fucking big dog over there.’

  One of the Ranen whistled and the huge dog bounded away from the dead knight. It was the biggest dog he’d ever seen. Bigger than the wolfhounds common to Fjorlan and much larger than the hunting dogs used in Tor Funweir. It nuzzled up to one of the men and received a playful scratch behind the ears.

  ‘Is that a Volk war-hound?’ he asked.

  A few of the night-raiders looked at one another impassively, in muted acknowledgement that Hasim did know something.

  ‘Er, shall I introduce myself?’ he asked, when none of them answered him.

  More silence.

  ‘I’m Al-Hasim. I come from South Warden seeking allies against the knights of the Red. And looking for an attractive young lady.’ He smiled cheekily, hoping they would have a sense of humour. ‘She’s called Bronwyn. I think she came by these parts.’

  PART 2

  CHAPTER 6

  HALLA SUMMER WOLF IN THE CITY OF JARVIK

  THE MOOD OF Jarvik matched the rugged terrain in which the city nestled. The City of the Green-Eyed Lords was at the highest point of the plateau of Ursa and dominated the barren, rocky terrain. It was far from the coast and relied on snow melt and underground rivers for its fresh water, while its livestock was kept in heated buildings on the northern edge of town. The predominant colour was grey and it lent the city a harsh and humourless edge. Living so long under the house of Ursa might also have contributed to the people’s sour disposition.

  The gullies that stretched from Hammerfall, through the Bear’s Mouth, and ultimately to the Low Kast, were at their narrowest in Jarvik and looked like nothing so much as jagged fissures in the icy ground, through which fresh water bubbled up from vast underground lakes. The city was encircled by a seemingly bottomless gully which acted as Jarvik’s natural defence, though much of it had now been built over or covered in, leaving just a few sheer drops into blackness. Although the outer walls were built of stone and dug into the natural rock, most of the inner buildings were constructed of wood and thatch, with the more important structures built half underground in order to protect them against the cold winds that lashed the city.

  Jarvik wasn’t as large as Fredericksand, or as impressive and ancient as Tiergarten. It was a lump of a city, which gave the impression of having simply been dumped in the most hospitable area of an inhospitable plateau.

  ‘It’s time,’ said Wulfrick from the window.

  They’d been in the city of Ursa for almost two weeks, slowly moving their five hundred-strong company through the gullies and quietly into Jarvik. The majority of the city’s battle-brothers were either with their thain in Fredericksand or at the Bear’s Mouth with Grammah Black Eyes, the bastard currently razing Hammerfall. Halla and her captains had met no resistance and the remaining chain-masters evidently didn’t consider a stealthy incursion to be a threat. There were no gate guards and many of the streets were devoid of life, making it easy for Halla’s company to put things in place.

  Rexel Falling Cloud had taken men to secure the city’s ballistae. Oleff Hard Head had quietly moved men into position round the chapel of Rowanoco. Heinrich Blood and Anya Lullaby had met with disgruntled citizens all too willing to throw in their lot with Halla, and the axe-maiden herself had remained close to the Ranen assembly while the large spider bite in her chest healed.

  Wulfrick, the huge axe-master of Fredericksand, had remained with her and ensured that their men were spread throughout the city, waiting quietly until Halla judged it was time to reveal themselves.

  The non-combatants among her company had been the last to enter Jarvik. They had picked up women and children from burning villages in Hammerfall and placed them safely in the farming and livestock areas away from the assembly. Halla expected them to remain in the city when she left with her battle-brothers. She silently thanked Rowanoco that she would no longer be responsible for those too weak, too old or too young to fight.

  ‘Is everything in place?’ she asked Wulfrick, rising from her chair and retrieving her walking stick.

  The Gorlan venom had been a persistent foe, not easily defeated. Even now, her muscles ached and her mood was dark.

  ‘Everything was in place a week ago,’ he replied. ‘We’ve been waiting for our leader to be able to walk by herself. I didn’t want to have to carry you when we reveal ourselves... it sends the wrong message.’

  They were in a small stone house next to the assembly. They’d found the building deserted and had moved in, using the house as a central point from which to coordinate their incursion into the hostile city. Halla, Wulfrick and twenty of her toughest axe-men had watched the comings and goings of the city’s populace closely, identifying those that would need killing and those that could be potential allies. The senior loyalist left in Jarvik was the chain-master David Emerald Eyes. He was one of the few men left over from before the family of Ursa took the city. By all accounts, the old warrior was no friend to Rulag Ursa or his loathsome son.

  ‘Give Rexel the nod,’ she said, testing her aching limbs, ‘and tell Oleff to enter the chapel.’

  ‘Aye, my lady,’ responded the axe-master with a shallow nod.

  Wulfrick turned from Halla to the waiting men, standing eagerly by the door to their acquired headquarters.

  ‘You heard her, lads... it’s time. Get to it,’ he said with quiet authority. ‘Quick and quiet, by the time they know what we’re doing it’ll already be done.’

  They all saluted and split up, Rudolph Ten Bears taking men northwards to the chapel of Rowanoco, and Lars Bull taking others westwards to the outer wall. Five stayed with Halla and Wulfrick and waited for the next order.

  Halla felt stronger than she had since leaving the spider caverns, but she was not yet fully mobile. The ice spiders had potent venom which had only been counteracted by the combined craft of the wise woman Anya and the novice of the Order of the Hammer, Heinrich. She could walk unaided now but still preferred to use a walking stick to keep herself upright. It was more dignified than leaning on Wulfrick’s huge shoulders.

  ‘Shall we go?’ asked the axe-master, picking up his two-handed axe from the floor.

  It was early morning and their plan was to march up to the Ranen assembly and announce their presence to the few remaining lords of Jarvik. Most of those who remained were old men. She hoped that a few well-placed threats would make their coup a bloodless one.

  They stepped out of the building and on to the hard stone streets of Jarvik. The morning was freezing cold, with a crisp wind. The cold made the wound in her chest throb and she grumbled quietly, realizing that if there were a fight she would be unable to take part. She still carried her axe, insisting that it remained at her hip, but she was too weak to heft it with any force.

  ‘Who do we have to worry about?’ she asked.

  The small group made their way across a wide avenue towards the stepped building that lay at the centre of the city. There were no guards, but the lords would be in attendance. Rowanoco’s Stone had to be occupied during the hours of daylight, and deliberations took place from dawn till dusk.

  ‘The Blood Fists are still here,’ replied Wulfrick. ‘I don’t know which one is in charge, but he’ll be in there and likely be an arrogant bastard.’

  ‘Thran,’ said another of her men. ‘His name is Thran Blood Fist. He’s a pig.’

  ‘Well, let us hope he behaves himself,’ responded Wulfrick, with a violent grin.

  Halla limped up the steps and approached the heavy wooden doors. Wulfrick and the others were polite enough to stand behind and let her lead. The axe-master had his great axe slung casually over his shoulder and the other men were similarly armed. She held her walking stick tightly and used her other hand to push the doors inwards. A grunt of exertion showed the others that her strength was insufficient to move the heavy oak and Wulfrick moved to assist her.

  ‘The hinges get stuck in the cold,’ he said, showing a rare tact. ‘Let me.’
>
  He put a huge hand against the door and flexed his shoulder, causing a sudden creak as the door inched open. The others approached and within moments both doors were flung open.

  ‘What is the meaning of this intrusion?’ shouted a voice from within.

  Halla stood in the doorway, flanked by warriors and the axe-master of Fredericksand. She had to squint to see through the dark entrance to focus on those seated within and was gratified when she saw barely twenty men in the stone auditorium.

  Moving slowly forward, her walking stick announcing her presence with a rhythmic thump, Halla kept her single eye on those within. They were mostly old men, white-bearded and barely awake, but a number of them stood and glared down at the intruders.

  ‘I am Halla Summer Wolf, lady of Tiergarten. I claim this assembly and these lands in the name of Teardrop and Summer Wolf.’

  A moment of silence. Wulfrick stepped forward and the assembled lords of Jarvik exchanged looks.

  A green-eyed man, seated in the centre of the stepped auditorium, had not stood up but seemed more alert than most of the lords. He was of advancing years and bore an old red tattoo over his left eye. He glanced either side of him, frowning at the man who had spoken first, and then nodded politely at Halla. ‘I am David, called Emerald Eyes, and I will speak for Jarvik,’ he said in a deep voice.

  ‘Silence, chain-master,’ roared the other man, who held two throwing-axes in indication that he was in charge of the assembly in the absence of a thain.

  ‘I am Thran Blood Fist,’ he shouted, ‘and I will speak for Jarvik. By what right do you step on Rowanoco’s Stone?’ He stood defiantly upright and hefted both his axes. ‘Speak!’

  Wulfrick smiled at Halla. ‘My lady, would you like me to teach this man some manners?’

  She returned the smile but waved away the offer.

  ‘Lord Blood Fist, you are an axe-master of Jarvik and I don’t wish to shut you up, but I’m not asking for an election. I’m taking your city. It belongs to the house of Ursa no longer.’

  Blood Fist held his axes across his chest, but his eyes betrayed conflict. He was considering casting an axe, but was not sure this was worth dying for. He looked at Emerald Eyes, confirming that he would have little support, and then laid both his axes on the marble stone in front of him. ‘I will not shed blood on Rowanoco’s Stone, but I do not recognize your claim to the realm of Ursa. The battle-brothers of Jarvik will not stand for this treachery.’

  Wulfrick snorted with derision. ‘You’re short on battle-brothers. We have more. It’s simple.’

  ‘Don’t be a fool, Thran,’ insisted David Emerald Eyes. ‘This was inevitable.’

  ‘I remain loyal to Ursa, even if you do not.’

  Blood Fist stepped down from his raised seat and spread his arms wide to signal his submission. He stood face to face with Halla, sizing her up, though he kept glancing at the huge figure of Wulfrick.

  ‘I knew your father, girl. He’d be proud of what you’ve become. A traitor and a rebel.’

  Halla’s men tightened their fists around their axes and Wulfrick growled. Just as she was about to retort to the insult, five men entered the assembly from behind the raised seating. They wore the red bear claw of Ursa and hefted glaives. From their chain-mail armour, Halla guessed they were the guards of Rowanoco’s Stone, though they appeared to hesitate at the sight of Halla’s men.

  David Emerald Eyes stood and held up his hand . ‘Stand down, there is no fight here.’

  Thran did not smile, but his eyes betrayed a new confidence.

  ‘Wulfrick,’ said Halla quietly, conveying meaning with a serious look.

  ‘Aye, my lady.’ He moved to stand before the five men of Ursa and held his great axe at the ready. ‘Do you know who I am?’ he asked.

  They exchanged glances, but all shook their heads.

  ‘I am Wulfrick, axe-master of Fredericksand and servant of Teardrop. I have killed men and beast by the thousand and I stand here ready to kill you.’ He paused. ‘Do not give me a reason.’

  The show of strength startled the battle-brothers, doubly so as no more of Halla’s men had advanced. The huge axe-master was confident he was more than a match for the five guards. Thran, who had heard of Algenon’s axe-master, now backed away from Halla and approached the raised seats.

  ‘For the sake of our men, our families and our city, I surrender to you, Lady Summer Wolf.’ He bowed his head in shame.

  The man was not a fool and Halla breathed a sigh of relief.

  ‘You are wise, Lord Blood Fist,’ she said, with a respectful nod.

  A whistling sound reached her ears as a signal arrow was fired from Falling Cloud’s position.

  ‘We have the ballistae and the walls, my lady,’ said one of her men.

  ‘Let’s hope young Rexel was met by equally wise men.’ Halla directed her words at Thran. ‘Your walls are ours.’ Another signal arrow from the centre of the town. ‘As is your chapel.’

  ‘I bet Oleff found a way to get his axe wet,’ joked Wulfrick. He held his great axe in one hand and pointed it at the armed battle-brothers of Ursa. ‘Drop. Your. Weapons.’

  A word from behind told her that Heinrich, Lullaby and two dozen of her company were approaching the assembly as arranged. The reinforcements were not needed but she was glad of the extra support.

  ‘Do as they say,’ commanded Thran. ‘We will not throw our lives away.’

  David Emerald Eyes allowed himself a thin smile, reflecting his allegiance to the city rather than to its Ursa rulers. He stepped down from the seating and bowed his head to Halla.

  ‘And now I will speak for Jarvik,’ he said, as battle-brothers flooded into the assembly and a tingle of pride travelled up Halla’s spine.

  * * *

  Halla was tired. She had risen early and her chest ached. The strength in her arms, tested by permanently leaning on her walking stick, was beginning to wane and as she walked along the southern battlements of Jarvik she desperately needed to sleep.

  Wulfrick, Rexel Falling Cloud and David Emerald Eyes accompanied her. Her men had met little resistance. Aside from a small fight at the chapel of Rowanoco, the city was now theirs. Thran Blood Fist and a handful of others were being guarded in the assembly and those who wished to join Halla’s company were being organized by Oleff Hard Head. Several hundred men and women had greeted them with enthusiasm, shaking their hands and thanking them for deposing Rulag Ursa. This in itself assured Halla that she had done the right thing.

  ‘It’s a shame you can’t stay,’ said David, stopping at a ballistae turret. ‘This city needs some leadership.’

  ‘Jarvik was never our destination... just a necessary stop,’ replied Halla, struggling to keep her mind alert.

  Falling Cloud pointed to a broken limb on the huge ballistae. ‘They fouled the artillery for some reason.’

  ‘Maybe they thought we were an invading army,’ quipped Wulfrick. ‘Halla, how long do we remain here? The Bear’s Mouth beckons.’

  Emerald Eyes shook his head and frowned. ‘More death, my lady? You don’t need to leave. Keep Jarvik strong and fight Rulag here.’

  ‘And abandon Hammerfall?’ replied Halla, glancing at Falling Cloud. ‘We saw first-hand what Grammah Black Eyes was doing to the cloud-men.’

  ‘A lot of your people agree,’ said Wulfrick. ‘Our company gets larger and I have not had a proper battle since my thain was killed.’

  Halla rubbed her eye to relieve her tiredness and tried to smile at David. ‘I’m sorry, but Fjorlan needs us to fight, not to wait. We take loyal men from Jarvik, we kill Grammah Black Eyes, we take loyal men from Hammerfall... and we fight Rulag at Tiergarten.’

  Wulfrick smiled. ‘Where sits Alahan Teardrop.’

  ‘He lives?’ asked Emerald Eyes with incredulity.

  ‘He killed Kalag Ursa,’ replied the axe-master with pride. ‘Make no mistake, David, we are not beaten.’

  Falling Cloud, who had the most invested in seeing Hammerfall freed, stoo
d next to Halla and nodded. ‘If we can muster the cloud-men, we have an army. If we can get to Tiergarten, we have a thain.’

  ‘I understand,’ said David. ‘But I’m an old man and I want some peace.’

  Halla laughed at this, causing the men to look at her in confusion. ‘Peace is hard won, it seems. You will have little, I’m afraid, if you are to be Jarvik’s lord.’

  ‘I’m a chain-master, not a thain.’

  ‘Would you prefer I invest Thran with the lordship of your city?’ Halla knew there were many logistical problems in leaving Jarvik, but she had no doubt that David was the right man to lead the city. ‘You don’t need to pledge your allegiance, just rule fairly.’

  ‘If you lose, my lady, Rulag will kill anyone here who didn’t fight you.’

  David was a wise man and he made a good point. All she could think of to say was, ‘We won’t lose.’

  He let a pained laugh escape his lips. ‘Confidence is admirable, but I have already done enough to be killed... should you lose.’

  Wulfrick and Falling Cloud looked at him. ‘We won’t lose,’ they repeated.

  Emerald Eyes shook his head and puffed out his cheeks, the expression of a tired old man who knows he can’t win. ‘Very well. I will trust in blind optimism.’

  ‘Trust in Rowanoco,’ replied Wulfrick. ‘The Ice Giant doesn’t want a troll cunt like Ursa ruling Fjorlan.’

  ‘Unfortunately, the Earth Shaker won’t be joining your army, master Wulfrick, so I fail to see how he can help. You have no priests.’

  He was right. Halla’s company contained only an novice of the Order of the Hammer. To go into battle without a priest was considered not just a bad omen but presumptuous. Without the Order it was impossible to know whether Rowanoco approved their actions.

  ‘Old Father Brindon Crowe,’ said Halla after a second. ‘He sits in Tiergarten with the high thain. We will talk to him before we leave your city.’