A Twist of the Tale

by P R Glazier

  Chapter 44. An End To It

  Orln stood with tears running down his face. His comrades looked on helplessly; fear and anxiety tainted their features. But soon he perceived the two warring sides had been separated, they stood there looking at the fiery barrier and at the opposing forces to either side. To his utter horror and disbelief, the soldiers of the T’Iea’Neat’Thegoran army were dropping their weapons and were holding their heads in their hands, some had fallen to the ground, some sat around in obvious pain. What had happened? Was this some kind of terrible weapon of confusion that Te’Onolan’u’De’Hu’uinned had kept secret? Thor, Orln and Neth’Gore stood between the armies, they stood upon the anvil and the hammer if it fell it would smash them to pieces. The T’Iea’Neat’Thegoran appeared helpless now; Te’Onolan’u’De’Hu’uinned’s army would slaughter them without remorse. They turned but the soldiers of the renegade general did not move, they also stood aghast at the vision before them. Something or someone was moving through the throng, soldiers could be seen to part and allow whomever it was to pass.

  Thor looked up, some warning vying for his attention, he saw Te’Onolan’u’De’Hu’uinned the T’Iea commander break through the lines of his army, he stride towards them a look of pure hate upon his features, his eyes glowed with the heat of battle, he raised his great sword above his head and was about to bring it crashing down. But suddenly Thor’s sword was raised and the familiar clang of blades meeting cut through the still and silent air. The two T’Iea glared at each other. Te’Onolan’u’De’Hu’uinned twisted his sword and flung Thor’s to one side, Thor was forced to role and bring his sword back up defensively as blow after blow fell down upon his upturned blade. Thor feared the look of pure hate that was in the others face. Spittle flew at him as Te’Onolan’u’De’Hu’uinned screamed illegible words. Thor tilted his blade to one side; his opponent’s blade slid down and struck a rock. Te’Onolan’u’De’Hu’uinned dropped the blade and grasped his jarred wrist. Thor had the time to slip to one side and stand; he raised his sword and stood looking at the T’Iea general who had withdrawn a long dagger from his belt. He advanced on Thor once again. Thor fell back further, he sought time to gather his wits and decide how to counter this fierce onslaught. But whatever he seemed to do this experienced fighter seemed to know what he was doing before he did himself. 

  Orln looked on in horror as the two T’Iea danced and parried, stabbed and withdrew. He could see that Thor, although a good swordsman did not have the experience of his opponent, a battle hardened soldier with years of campaigns behind him as he was progressively raised up through the ranks to get to his current elevated position. But something else fought within Te’Onolan’u’De’Hu’uinned, something that Orln despised, an evil presence that was deeply rooted, an integral part of this old commanders being.

  Thor’s arms were tiring, his muscles ached and he knew a few more defensive parries would make him drop his sword. Thor decided that he might have a slim chance if he could get the higher ground, so he started to swing around still defending and dodging his opponent’s blows. He had his back to the hill, perhaps if he could feint a blow then jumped backwards he would be able to raise his sword for one good strike, perhaps even disarm his opponent, give himself enough time to try and reason with the soldier. Sure enough an opportunity came, Thor raised his sword as if to block yet another blow, but he dodged to one side and let his sword arm go limp. The strike came but as a glancing blow, deflected off Thor’s sword. Thor found his sword propelled down, he used this force to continue the downward movement and then swing it around and back up, the added momentum should apply enough force when brought back down to give a bone jarring blow to the others weapon and maybe disarm him. Thor felt a relieved sigh leave his lips as indeed his opponent’s dagger jarred and twisted from his grasp, it landed three metres away in the heather. But to Thor’s dismay he found himself slightly off balance and his foot caught in something behind him. He found himself falling backwards, his sword was flung from his grasp, he was slightly winded as he hit the ground.

  Suddenly to Orln’s horror Te’Onolan’u’De’Hu’uinned picked up Thor’s own blade which he raised above his head and Orln saw that no mercy lay in those eyes, he saw to his horror that he was about to plunge the blade into Thor’s chest. The ranger did not hesitate; he swiftly took an arrow, notched it and drew on the bow string. Orln released the arrow and it sped on a path that would have taken it directly between the eyes of Te’Onolan’u’De’Hu’uinned, but to his surprise the arrow was nocked from its path by another shaft. He turned to see where the shaft was fired from. He instinctively ducked as another arrow sped out from the mists, he cried out in alarm, but his cry was not heard for another’s voice screamed in pain and frustration. He turned back to see who had been hit.

  Thor could not take his eyes from the shining blade hanging high above where he lay, it would be brought down and his life would end. But his complete surprise Te’Onolan’u’De’Hu’uinned did not bring the blade down, instead he dropped it to one side as if his grip had weakened and he was no longer able to support the weight of the weapon. Thor watched as his sword dropped, the flat of the blade bounced harmlessly off his leather armour. Te’Onolan’u’De’Hu’uinned fell forward to his knees as he cried out in pain and anguish, his features screwed up in agony, he clutched at his right arm. An arrow, a T’Iea arrow, stuck out from a wound at his right wrist. The arrow had been shot with such force that it had passed right through the plate metal wrist guard and entered the flesh beneath; the cruel looking iron arrowhead had passed right through and out the other side, blooded pieces of bone and skin hung from the tip. The only thing stopping the arrow from passing right through was the fact that the shaft had split and the damaged shaft had caught in the steel of the armour plate. The hatred in Te’Onolan’u’De’Hu’uinned’s eyes died, he cried again in pain, but his eyes showed fear and not hate. He seemed to be seeing the vista in which he found himself for the first time as if he had awoken from a dream for he looked about him in shock whilst he clutched his injured arm. Then he looked beyond where Thor lay. Thor raised himself upon one elbow and turned to look behind him, he looked at Orln.

  Orln bent down, he helped to pick Thor from the ground, he then shrugged whilst shaking his head, “not my arrow.”

  Thor looked beyond where Orln held him, about fifty metres distant he could just make out a figure walking through the smoke and fume of battle. His eyes focussed, a T’Iea ranger, a female, strode cat-like towards them another arrow notched in her ebony coloured long bow. He saw her take up the tension of the bow once more and her eye levelled along the arrow ready to release it. Her arm and nerve remained steadfast even as she stalked forward. Even from this distance Thor could see her green eyes burned with an inner fire, the chain mail coat she wore shone like crystal glass flashing in the sunlight. She shouted but one word in both T’Iea and common speech, “DOLN’HER’T - ENOUGH!”

  Two soldiers came forth to support Te’Onolan’u’De’Hu’uinned carefully under the arms; they made to haul him away. But they stopped as a second female voice shouted, “LEAVE HIM! That is a task for me.”

  Thor knew that second voice he looked into the swirling fume that remained form the battle and saw a second T’Iea female come to stand by the side of the first. He tried to speak, tried to cry out but the lump in his throat would not allow it. The second T’Iea female happened to look his way and recognition shone in her face, “Thor? My son!”

  The battlefield was quiet, unbelievably silent compared to the noise that had raged but moments before. The only sound was the crackling of smouldering flames as some of the fallen Startmektoken were being consumed by whatever unholy fire the projectile weapons contained. They stank as they burned, a greasy patch of melted material upon the heather was all that remained after the fire had done its work, a reminder to the deadly folly these creatures represented in ancient times but no more.

  Orln lowered his bow and cast it to o
ne side, he collapsed to his knees and again held the still form of Neth’Gore in his arms, the tears had dried from his cheeks. Now he just felt bereft of emotion, like an empty shell. So much had passed through him in the last few hours he felt hollow, drained as if his very soul had been laid bare upon the heather and trampled into the mud.

  Thor hugged his mother close, Minervar smiled at him and then easing him to one side she bent to administer to Neth’Gore. A deep sadness appeared in her eyes as she looked at Orln and said, “I am sorry. I can do nothing, only the Maker can help him now.” She rose and went to help Te’Onolan’u’De’Hu’uinned who was supported by two of his soldiers; he had fainted by the look of him.

  By now the barrier that had appeared between the warring foes had disappeared, the two T’Iea armies just stared at each other their weapons fallen by their sides. The only noise was the slight wind that blew across the moor rustling the heather and the laboured breathing of the soldiers that surrounded them.

  Orln laid his friends body once more upon the heather and stood slowly, his breathing came in rasps. Thor came to his side and placed his hand upon his shoulder. Orln gazed into Thor’s eyes for a second. He walked forward. He strode through the soldiers of his own army until he stood in front of where Neth’Gore’s barrier had once been. There he could see a feint movement in the heather, it looked like a strip of oil running across the moor, but it seemed to fade and disappear before his eyes as it snaked away to his left and right. He knew this to be the mark of the arcane flowing back into the earth. He looked at the army that faced them, not a single soldier exhibited any emotion in his, or her face. They just looked blankly towards where he stood. Orln pulled at the leather straps that held his quivers in place; he unstrapped both quivers from his back and dropped them to the ground. He reached slowly to his side and withdrew a dagger from its scabbard and opening his hand let it slide from his palm and now lay upon the heather. He lifted his booted foot and brought it down upon the blade, a metallic ring heralded the blade snapping in two.

  Nar’Allia strode across the battlefield, many T’Iea stood or sat around holding their heads or just with glazed looks upon their faces. They did their best to administer aid wherever they could, most of the soldiers seemed to come out of a daydream, the moment Nar’Allia addressed them, her voice seemed to jolt them back into consciousness once more. Nar’Allia looked up after releasing the hand of a T’Iea bowman lying prone in the mud, she picked up a sword and thrust it blade first into the mud above his head. She repeated this several times until she perceived there in front of her across the heather another soldier stood; he had removed his helm and his eyes looked directly into Nar’Allia’s. They stood their staring at one another, both breathing heavily. Nar’Allia gasped and cried out in dismay she ran forward, her breathing came in sobs. The former T’Iea’Neat’Thegoran reached to his side and withdrew the small dagger that hung there and this was discarded. The warrior looked at the weapons lying there, he looked at the broadsword he had already dropped, he rose and turned towards where Nar’Allia ran straight towards him. 

  They both slowed to within ten metres of each other, then the two T’Iea walked towards one another, they stood an arm’s length away and suddenly they fell into an embrace. Both hugged each other. Nar’Allia could only say a single word as a whisper, “Father.” If they could hear anything other than the sound of their own sobbing breath they would have heard the noise of a thousand weapons being dropped to the ground as the two armies took up Orln’s lead. But the only other sounds they could hear were the creaking of their leather armour as it rubbed together rising and falling with the sobbing of their tears.

  Thor stood amazed at the scene around him. T’Iea that had a short time ago been fighting one another fiercely were now walking together across the field of battle. They held each other, they bent administering to the dead and dying, healers from both sides healed and relieved pain regardless of which army their skills were used upon. Soldiers bent and checked any they could find, they planted a weapon, a sword, a bow, a spear, vertically into the ground by the head of the fallen soldier to mark him or her as being alive and in need of a healer. Thor looked up after pushing an arrow into the ground by a fallen T’Iea archer who was moaning. He knelt for the tone of the voice was female; she had a goblin stone dagger pushed deep into her shoulder, much blood had pooled onto the ground where the blades point had protruded out the other side of her body. A dead goblin lay face down by her side, an arrow through his or her eye. Thor gently slid the female ranger’s full-face helmet from her head, dark hair spilled out over the heather, the T’Iea moaned and then opening her eyes she smiled at him. He recognised the ranger; she was the one that had captured him during his deception with the goblins. He smiled in return cradling her head in the crook of his arm, for some reason tears came to his eyes. He did not let go until a healer bent to his side and started to administer to the T’Iea woman.

  The ranger held tightly onto Thor's hand not wanting to let him go, she nodded as if acknowledging something unspoken, something that did not need words. He smiled and nodded at her.

  The healer inspected the dagger and the wound for some minutes before she said, “do not fear young man, she will be fine, the wound is clean and is not poisoned, it can be knit and she hasn’t lost too much blood.”

  Thor waited, he held onto the ranger’s hand hard and cradled her face to his chest as the healer prepared to draw the dagger out of her shoulder. To take her mind off it he asked her name. 

  She whispered through clenched teeth “Yu’Enia.”

  He just had time to tell her his in return before he winced as he heard the blade scrape against the bone until it was free. Yu’Enia cried out in her agony, her blue eyes welled with tears. He felt he should say something, her grip tightened, her fingers bit into his arm, she shuddered and his hand was released as she fell into unconsciousness. So in the end he just thanked the healer then stood. He glanced around; there across from where he walked he saw two T’Iea sitting on a raised hillock holding each other close. Where they sat was well within the land that the T’Iea’Neat’Thegoran held and one soldier did indeed wear the black hardened armour of the T’Iea’Neat’Thegoran. Something compelled Thor to walk over to this duo. When he reached the place Thor cried out in relief and joy for there he saw the face of his half-sister, he shouted something illegible just for the sheer joy of this reunion and ran forward to greet her. Nar’Allia threw her arms about Thor’s neck. It was then that the second T’Iea raised his eyes to Thor. His face was drawn and haggard, but the features Thor recognised. Thor gasped, he knew those eyes. Thor reached down and helped the T’Iea to stand. The T’Iea smiled, he made his shaky legs support his weight, as he stood tall. Thor grasped the T’Iea’s shoulders and drew him into an embrace.

  Orln stood, he clasped the forearm of his old friend R’Thy’Uln once more, they together mourned the passing of one of their number. As they stood there in silence, a small diminutive figure approached them. They turned at the presence and saw the goblin Niepre standing there in a haphazard collection of armour, parts of steel, other parts leather, some even pieces of wood strung together, he also exhibited bloody weapons about his person. He bent, crouched down and placed one hand upon the ground in the manner of greeting of his people.

  “Siiirrrr, Pixiiies arrre donnne nowww. Pixiiies goooo now. Ellvvves arrrre thankkkking Pixiiies?”

  R’Thy’Uln turned and he stood to attention and saluted the small goblin man, “yes Master Niepre, we thank and honour your people for their aid and bravery.” R’Thy’Uln looked around him; many dead goblin bodies littered the ground. R’Thy’Uln did not know what to say, but in a faltering voice he spoke. “We thank you for your sacrifice.”

  The goblin man stood and removing the leather helm from his head he dropped it to the ground, he then looked directly into the eyes of R’Thy’Uln. Thor thought he saw some kind of challenge in that look, as if the Niepre sort to dare R’Thy’Uln i
n some way. “Theeeen baaarggaiin is dooone noow. Ellvvves go noow.” The goblin turned without waiting for any answer and strode off in the direction of where the rest of his people awaited him. R’Thy’Uln stood amazed for hundreds of Goblins crowded around the area, once again far more than he ever thought existed. When Niepre reached them their ranks parted to let him pass through, he disappeared into the throng, many hundreds strong. Then they all turned and silently walked away. None turning back to acknowledge any farewell.

  The T’Iea watched them go. Orln looked at R’Thy’Uln, who smiled wryly. Orln asked the question that was on his mind, “what was that all about?”

  R’Thy’Uln sighed. “The goblin men suffered when we arrived here. They suffered unjustly at the hands of Te’Onolan’u’De’Hu’uinned who had become misguided. When we left Te’Onolan’u’De’Hu’uinned in disgust for what he had become, we made a decision to aid the goblin men in any way we could. I suppose in a way we tried to make good the suffering that had been inflicted upon them, tried to show that not all the T’Iea were so disposed towards them. So after a lengthy period of mistrust and showing them that in fact we meant them no harm, we trained the goblins to fight, we trained them so that they could protect themselves from any who would harm them. A few days ago I approached Niepre and asked if he would go to his people and make a request, see if they would aid us in this battle to rid the eastern lands of all the T’Iea that held malice against his kind. To my surprise and great relief he agreed. But he stipulated one thing in return. His demand was that when the fighting was over and peace once more descended on the eastern lands, then the T’Iea, all of the T’Iea you understand, would leave the east and go back over the mountains, never to return. Well I agreed, I said that if I survived I would make that happen. It is to this promise that I must hold. We must go Orln, all of us, there is nothing for us here now, the T’Iea’Neat’Thegoran threat has at last been removed from the world.”

  “What about Te’Onolan’u’De’Hu’uinned and his army?”

  “We will take Te’Onolan’u’De’Hu’uinned back to Ter’Hadsnefel, there he may be tried for what he has done and in the process I hope that you and the rest of my loyal soldiers will be pardoned of any accusation of desertion. What will happen to the rest of his army I do not know, but I am sure that as they were just following the orders of their commanding officer then no punishment shall befall them. I will promise them this on my life; if any have to be made an example of then it is myself I shall offer for the satisfaction of our generals.

  Orln shook the hand of his friend and nodded saying, “let us hope my friend that it does not come to that. Far too many have died this day already, I would wish for no more bloodshed to satisfy any misguided foolish thoughts or any personal vanity.”