The Lords of Areon (The Chronicles of Areon Book 3)

by Aaron J. Ethridge

  The members of the band climbed to their feet, the young ladies assisted by the young men, and headed deeper into the woodlands. After roughly an hour's worth of hiking, the lieutenant led his party to the top of a hill, from which the gates of the city through which they had ridden could clearly be seen between the large, but sparse, trees that filled the area.

  An army was pouring from the massive portal, marching rank by rank, the pennants on their commanders' spear tips flowing in the gentle breeze. In front of the foot soldiers, a band of several hundred cavalry rode slowly forward. At the very head of this force were numerous mounted warriors whose own banners revealed the fact that they served Lord Valrak.

  “I don't like the look of that,” Kilren said, shaking his head slowly.

  “Nor I,” Ian agreed. “They must have been preparing for this for at least a week. There's no way they assembled an army of that size in just a few hours.”

  “Which explains why they thought Erana was a spy,” the lieutenant asserted.

  “It does,” she agreed, gazing down at the massive force. “We have to warn my people.”

  “Don't worry,” Kilren said, slipping his hand into the maiden's own, “we will.”

  The party turned and made their way from the hill; the many trees that surrounded them soon blocking the view of the enemy army. Shortly after they reached their destination, they all stretched themselves out on the ground, trying to rest and, if possible, relax. It was likely they would be spending a good portion of the evening in the saddle. That being the case, it was rather important that they do their very best to conserve what energy they had.

  As the sun was setting, Ian was busy composing a short note to the farmer who would, if their plans succeeded, soon be deprived of six of his beasts of burden. The bard carefully avoided any specifics, but assured the owner that the mounts were being used by a Telian Knight and his traveling companions, that they had left more than enough gold to pay for the purchase of new animals, and that his own horses would be returned, if possible, before very many days had passed.

  With this message in hand, along with a bag filled with coins, the elvish maiden and her betrothed crept slowly toward a large stables in the quickly failing light. Both were experts at the art of remaining unseen, and they reached the door of the structure without the slightest difficulty. This changed, however, as the barking of several dogs suddenly disturbed the quiet of the night. Fortunately, the building was set far enough from the farm house that this didn't immediately attract any human attention. Unfortunately, the dogs proved to be of sufficient size, and of sufficient numbers, to deal with any intruders without additional aid.

  “Stand perfectly still,” Erana demanded as a pack of ten large and ferocious animals approached the pair snarling viciously.

  “Don't worry,” Kilren replied quietly, “I was planning to. At least, until they start tearing us to pieces.”

  “Shhh,” she said softly.

  “I wonder when they got these dogs,” he whispered. “The last time I stole one of their horses...”

  “Shhh,” she interrupted.

  The animals slowly surrounded the pair, their heads down and their hackles up. The elvish maiden stepped gently forward, her palms outstretched toward the nearest of the beasts. In reply, the animal snapped its teeth, emitting a low growl of warning. She was certain the beasts meant to attack. They had been trained for it. These weren't simply wild animals, they were guard dogs that had been taught to kill unwanted intruders. In whispered prayers, she asked Selvios for aid.

  A sense of serenity filled her soul as the words fell from her lips. She was a ranger of Innalas and, even if men had made these beasts into weapons of defense, they were still innocent animals. They were defending their home, but she was no threat to it. No harm would come to what they meant to protect. She simply had to find a way to assure them of that.

  In defiance of the beast's bared teeth and savage snarling, the maiden reached out and softly touched the nearest animal on its head. In just fractions of second, this act of faith was rewarded by the creature becoming somewhat less agitated. The fire in its eyes began to die away and the growls that still filled its throat varied slightly in tone. After a few seconds more, it had smelled her hand and began wagging its tail. The other dogs quickly followed suit and soon surrounded the maiden and began licking her all over.

  “That was closer than I like,” Kilren observed, wiping the sweat from his brow.

  “It was,” Erana agreed somewhat excitedly as she scratched one of the animals behind its ears. “I think I just cast a spell!”

  “That's wonderful, dear,” her love replied somewhat distractedly, “but, for the moment, I think we need to stay focused on why we're here. Your abilities just saved us from the dogs. I don't want to have to try use mine to save us from the farmer.”

  “That's a good point,” she laughed, rubbing one of the animals vigorously on his side. “Let's go.”

  The couple made their way into the stables where they quickly found six horses, six saddles, and six bridles. The money, along with the note, were left where the owners could hardly fail to find them before the pair climbed on the backs of two of the beasts and headed toward the tree line; leading the other four horses behind them, tied together with a length of requisitioned rope.

  “It seems that went well,” Ian said with a smile as soon as they returned.

  “It did,” Kilren nodded, “but we had a bit of a close call with a pack of guard dogs.”

  “I take it Erana dealt with them,” the bard speculated.

  “She did,” the lieutenant replied. “In fact, she may have used magic.”

  “Did you?” both Darian and Gwendolyn asked at the same moment.

  “I think I may have,” the maiden replied with a slight smile. “I was saying one of the prayers that the rangers of Innalas use to calm enraged animals and it seems like it may have worked.”

  “Oh, it worked,” Kilren assured her. “I've got no doubt of that.”

  “That's wonderful!” the knight exclaimed. “What did it feel like?”

  “It's hard to explain,” the elvish maiden replied, “I was just filled with an overwhelming sense of calm.”

  “That's how some of my prayers make me feel,” the Telian smiled. “I'm sure you actually did cast a spell.”

  “I hope so,” she replied. “I really expected to know, though. You know what I mean?”

  “I do,” he nodded. “But the power of the Eilian doesn't always manifest itself in such a way as to be glaringly obvious.”

  “Just keep praying,” Garik added. “Eventually, you're bound to do something that has to be magic.”

  “Good suggestion,” Kilren laughed. “Now, let's get out of here. We have a long way to go tonight.”

  The remaining members of the band mounted. Over the next few hours, Kilren led them up hills and down dells, along short sections of road, across crop covered fields, and through tree filled glades. The twin moons rose, covering the countryside with their gleaming silver light, as the party passed along. Sometime before midnight, the lieutenant began to lament the rather limited nature of their requisitions up to this point.

  “When did we eat last?” he asked suddenly, turning his gaze to the knight at his side.

  “This morning?” Darian said thoughtfully. “Yesterday morning? What time is it?”

  “Almost midnight,” Erana asserted.

  “Then it was this morning,” the Telian smiled.

  “Either way,” Kilren said, shaking his head, “way too long ago would be a good way to describe it. We should have stolen a sack of grain when we grabbed the horses.”

  “Stolen?” the knight asked, his brows drawn together.

  “Requisitioned,” the lieutenant replied, rolling his eyes. “I mean; aren't you hungry?”

  “Daegon says that a soldier who can't miss a meal isn't much of a soldier at all,” Garik said.

  “We've missed two,” Kilren replied, turn
ing his eyes to the young warrior.

  “There's food all around us,” Erana asserted.

  “Then, grab some of it,” her fiancé replied. “I don't feel like riding all night on an empty stomach.”

  “I don't mean that there's any at hand,” she laughed. “I just mean that we should be able to find food before we reach the fortress.”

  “Oh, we will!” he agreed. “The next farmhouse we see is going to provide plenty to eat.”

  “I'm not going to let you rob a farmhouse, Kilren,” the knight asserted.

  “Obviously!” the lieutenant replied defensively. “But, whereas it would be hard to explain why I was buying six horses on the outskirts of Mikral City, it will be simplicity itself to explain why I'm wanting to buy food.”

  “And what will you say?” Darian asked.

  “That he's hungry?” Garik suggested. “Buying food isn't exactly suspicious activity, Darian.”

  “In the middle of the night?” the Telian asked.

  “I may have to wait until morning,” Kilren admitted. “By then, I'll be so hungry that the food will taste delicious, no matter what it is.”

  The band continued its journey until shortly after dawn. The decision was made to spend a few hours in repose and head out again around noon, traveling for the remainder of the day and the entire evening. They felt it was wise to avoid the road, which somewhat reduced the speed at which they could travel. This deficiency was more than made up for, however, by the fact that they were cutting across the country in a straight line toward the fortress. Due to this fact, they hoped to reach their destination early the following afternoon.

  Kilren, as good as his word, headed to the nearest farmhouse as soon as the party stopped for rest. He returned minutes later with meat, cheese, a skin of fresh milk, and even a basketful of biscuits. After their prolonged fast, this meal seemed like a feast. Eating, along with laying down in the soft grass after hours in the saddle, put the lieutenant in such a good mood that he felt the time had come for vengeance.

  “Garik,” he said suddenly, sitting upright as he spoke. “I'd decided to spare you while we were in danger. Now that I'm certain we're safe, however, it's time for you to get what's coming to you. Behold!”

  As the young man said this, he stuck his chin out for the boy's inspection, running his hand gingerly down one side of his jaw then the other, doing his best to draw attention to each of the slender hairs that sprouted from his face.

  “What do you think of that?!” he asked with the tone of a victorious conqueror.

  “What do I think?” the boy chuckled. “I’m amazed that you've got the nerve to call that a beard. I've seen thicker hair on a peach!”

  In spite of their best attempts, both maidens burst out laughing at this assertion. Erana did her very best to stop, but she found Gwendolyn's own attempts hilarious. Unfortunately, Erana's struggles struck Gwendolyn as extremely humorous as well. As a result, the two ladies were unable to stop laughing until they both had tears in their eyes.

  “Maybe I should shave...” Kilren said slowly.

  “You should,” Darian asserted. “It makes your face look dirty. I didn't want to say anything before, but... well... just shave is all.”

  “Do you think it makes my face look dirty?” the lieutenant asked, gazing at his love.

  She refused both to make eye contact with him or to acknowledge that she had heard the question.

  “Alright then,” he said with a sigh. “I'll shave. But don't think this means you're off the hook, Garik. Revenge is on its way, boy!”

  “I can hardly wait,” he replied with a wide smile.

  The members of the band completed their repast before quickly falling to sleep. The watch was divided between the four males after Garik insisted that he be given his share of the duty. Just before noon, the party climbed back into the saddle with bleary eyes and weary limbs. They traveled on until the following dawn, when they decided that, under the circumstances, they could risk an hour's rest. This taken, they once again pointed their mounts toward the fortress and kicked them into motion.

  They were within miles of their destination by noon, following a rough dirt track that led across a wide meadow. As the band reached the top of the hill they were currently climbing, they spotted a group of six soldiers bearing Valrak's standard, heading in the opposite direction.

  “Halt,” Darian yelled the moment they were view. “You are trespassing on the lands of Solarin and you are all under arrest.”

  “Seriously?” Kilren said, turning his exhausted gaze to the Telian.

  Chapter 5: Siege

  “It's our duty to defend the land,” Darin pointed out, drawing his sword as he spoke.

  “Oh, I agree,” Kilren replied, quickly cocking his crossbow, “but I'm not sure that this is the best way to go about doing that.”

  “What do you mean?” the knight asked, carefully watching their slowly approaching enemies.

  “He means,” Ian asserted, pulling a small metal flute from his jacket, “that we're exhausted, that we've got information that it's critical for us to get to Lord Andor, and that the last thing we need right now is a fight.”

  “I do,” the lieutenant nodded. “Plus, of course, two of them have lances and you don't even have a shield.”

  “Which is why I keep mine on my back when I'm not on my horse,” Garik explained, raising his own shield as he spoke.

  “If a fight does break out...” the Telian began.

  “If?” Kilren interjected.

  “You stay out of it, Garik,” Darian continued. “They're not likely to hurt you, provided that you don't provoke them.”

  “Right,” the boy replied, rolling his eyes.

  By this time, the mercenaries had gotten roughly within a hundred feet of the party, where they brought their mounts to a halt.

  “In point of fact,” their apparent leader said, his eyes locked on the young knight, “these lands belong to Mikral and are under the rule of King Palnar. You and your companions, if you truly speak in the name of Solarin, are the trespassers. So, who are you and why shouldn't we arrest you?”

  “I am Sir Darian Calmar,” the young man replied, “Telian Knight, Knight of Solarin, servant of Lord Andor, and one of the protectors of this place. I suspect you of being scouts sent by King Palnar to spy out the land. I have the authority to arrest you, and I hereby do so. Lay down your arms and you'll be well treated as prisoners of war.”

  “I suppose it's pointless for me to demand that you do the same?” the man asked, lowering his lance.

  “Completely,” the knight nodded.

  “I thought as much,” he replied with a smile, before kicking his mount into motion.

  His allies instantly followed his example and the six mercenaries flew up the hill toward the knight and his companions. Darian and Garik charged the enemy – each of them focusing on one of their lance-wielding foes – while Erana and Kilren selected and shot two of the band. Gwendolyn began chanting and Ian playing, each of the pair calling on the arcane power in their own way.

  Both the knight and his chosen adversary were quite skilled. The first charge of the enemy captain failed, however, his lance being deflected by a blow from the Telian's blade. Darian's counter attack was blocked by his enemy's armor as the man rode past him, while another of his foes engaged him with sword and shield.

  The mercenary flying toward Garik seemed to take into account that he was facing a child. It was obvious, at least to one who had any knowledge of mounted combat, that he had no intention of hurting his opponent and was only attempting to frighten him. This was a fact Garik took complete advantage of. As the soldier's lance passed him, its wielder having missed him quite intentionally, the boy lashed out at the weapon with all the strength he had. The magic blade sliced through the shaft, severing it completely; leaving nothing but a useless stick in his adversary's hand.

  The arrow and the bolt of the elf and her love did not enjoy the same level of success. The m
aiden's shaft struck the shoulder of her target's armor and was deflected, whereas the lieutenant's hit his adversary in the upper left portion of his chest, just below his collar bone, ripping through armor and flesh alike. As their actions had different outcomes, they also elicited different responses. The soldier who had been saved from the arrow was content to take a circuitous path up the hill in an attempt to flank his foes. The one whom the lieutenant had successfully shot charged directly at his attacker, obviously intent on killing him before he could cock his crossbow again.

  Fortunately for the young knight, Gwendolyn was able to complete her spell before the enemy captain could complete his charge at the Telian's back. She threw her arms out, enveloping both horse and rider in searing flames. Not only did this alter the captain's course somewhat, his screams of pain attracted Darian's attention, warning him of the impending attack. As a result, he was able to avoid his foe's deadly lance.

  The tune that Ian had selected was an ancient Solarin war song. As he played, his listeners were somewhat surprised to hear an answering melody coming from just beyond the tree line on the edge of the meadow. It was obvious that reinforcements had heard the fray and were quickly coming to the party's assistance. Two of their foes – including the one that had been the elvish maiden's unsuccessful target – turned their mounts, heading back down the hill a short distance and preparing to face whatever foe might be attempting to flank them.

  The unlucky soldier with the bolt in his chest managed to reach Kilren just before the lieutenant was able to ready his weapon once again. With a single blow from his sword, he knocked the crossbow from his opponent's hands, instantly drawing back for another strike. Before this could land, however, an arrow passed through the right side of his chest, causing him to scream in agony as he dropped his weapon.

  This was far more resistance than the mercenary captain had been prepared to face. The ladies in the enemy band seemed as skilled at combat as the men, and even the boy appeared to be somewhat dangerous. This, coupled with the fact that reinforcements were on the way, forced the captain's hand. He had information his lord wanted. He couldn't risk his life, or the lives of his men, on some pointless skirmish. Deftly dodging the second of the sorceress's fiery attacks, he called on his men to break ranks and retreat.