by Jon Kiln
“It is I who should be declaring war, General Jeon.” The Queen stood and faced the tall Mirnean General, a steely determination in her eyes. “You have invaded my lands. You are killing my people and with some evil magic spell, you are then desecrating their bodies. You, General, are already at war. The boy remains in safe hands and will be protected from you, at all costs.”
“Your foolish pride will cost your people dearly. You will have no population left by the time I have finished. As for you, Ganry de Rosenthorn, I will have the greatest of pleasure running my sword through your heart when next I find you on the battlefield.”
“You are being duped, Jeon,” Ganry said in a quiet tone, trying to calm the General. “When your son returns, the body will be an empty shell. It will not be him. Thankfully, his soul has already passed on to the next life. What you propose to do is not out of love, but out of your own selfish needs. You are a fool.”
The Genera stood, his face red with anger, his hand on his sheathed sword hilt. “I will happily end your life, here and now. You are a traitor to your land of birth, and your cowardice resulted in the loss of my son.”
Ganry, his own anger rising, stood his ground, his hand ready to unsheathe his own sword, if necessary. If only the General would listen to reason, but it was clear he was beyond any rationality.
“Stop this nonsense, both of you,” a voice shouted out. The Duchess D’Anjue entered the room. “General Jeon, you will behave in a manner expected of someone of your rank, or be a guest in our dungeons!” she said calmly, but authoritatively. “Ganry, lay down your arms, this is not the time or place for you to be disloyal to your Queen.”
The General still bristled, his anger now completely out of control.
“While your wife and child burned alive, I listened to their screams,” Jeon spat at a shocked Ganry. “My revenge will never be complete until you are dead.” He let go of his sword and turned to leave.
Ganry stood there stunned, a rage burning inside of him. He had never suspected the General was complicit in his wife and daughter’s deaths. Always believing the official version that they had died at the hands of bandits. Now, he knew the truth, and it burned him inside with a hatred of the man standing before him. It took all his willpower not to kill Jeon right where he stood.
As Jeon passed through the doorway, he turned sharply and spoke to the boy, Cronos. “You would do yourself a favor if you left this place and came to us voluntarily. Fewer would die. Do you want their deaths on your conscience?”
“Leave now, General, before I forget the honor of my family and have you thrown in the dungeons and executed for your crimes against my people!” Queen Myriam ordered. “Guards, see him out of the castle.”
The General and his bodyguards were quickly surrounded by Palaran soldiers. He was marched away, but the threat of death loomed over their heads while they remained in the castle grounds.
Ganry stood and watched, seething with rage. His body trembled as he attempted to control his emotions. He felt a small, soft hand slide into his own blistered, hardened fingers. When he looked down, it was Cronos who had moved to his side.
The boy said nothing, but Ganry felt an inner peace run through his mind and body. His rage dampened and the red mist before his eyes lifted. Cronos had used his gifts to reach him, simply by touching him he had eased his inner pains. The General’s words had brought back the sharp memory of his beautiful wife and daughter. It had jolted the deep pain as he once again felt their loss.
The heartbreaking memory had never really left him, but he had coped with the pangs of sadness following their deaths. But now that he had learned the truth, the torment felt as if it had only happened yesterday. His life now had new meaning, no longer was it the faceless bandits who lived in his dreams. He knew who their true murderer was. Soon, very soon, he would dig the blade of his sword into that wicked and cruel heart, and extinguish the life of the man who had done so to theirs.
33
“You should have kept him here and executed him,” Artas said as he stood talking to Myriam. “It’s not as if they play fair, or even by any rules.”
“The temptation to do so was strong, Artas. We had a responsibility to the rules of a parley. It is a sacred tradition that no harm should come to those who are involved,” she replied quietly. “Besides, Ganry does not need my help in seeking his revenge. He will find the time and place to avenge his family.”
Artas looked over at his mentor who appeared completely drained. All had heard the words that the General had uttered about his family. It was he who had had them burned alive in their own home. He had considered it a punishment for the death of his own son. Jeon was blind to the truth that his son, Porteus, had died by his own foolishness. The fault could not be laid at Ganry’s feet. Though his grief was great, he remained oblivious to the facts of his son’s own stupidity.
“It is because it is his son who died,” a small voice said to him.
“Cronos,” Artas said in surprise. “Can you read my mind?”
“In a way,” he explained. “I do not know your exact thoughts, just a general idea. Your thoughts were strong with raw emotions so I can better understand what you are feeling. You have a great respect for your mentor. But, remember, the General had a great love for his son, and this is what blinds him so. He has been promised by the witches that if he delivers me to them, they will return him. He cannot accept his son’s death and therefore continues to be fooled.”
“You are a wise one for such a small boy,” Artas said, slightly taken aback by his thoughts being read.
“It is not wisdom, Artas, just the truth. It speaks to me and it cannot be denied.”
Artas felt a shadow loom over him. When he looked up, it was the giant who entered the room. He moved to Cronos and gently scooped him up, placing him on his shoulders. Together, they were so tall that the boy’s head almost touched the ceiling.
“My new guardian is a little overprotective at the moment,” Cronos laughed at Artas’s amazed expression.
This was the first time Artas had seen Rochmyr close up. Previously, it was from a distance when he seen him enter the castle gates. He was a huge man, towering above even the tallest Palaran soldier. It was a great relief that he was now on their side as he would not want to meet him on the field of battle.
“I am jealous, young Cronos. I would dearly like a warrior such as him protecting me on the battlefield. Perhaps we could come to some arrangement?”
They both laughed at the joke, even the giant smiled briefly, before he carried Cronos out the door, bending sharply so they could pass under the mantle. Artas knew it was a good thing that this small Emperor was making close companions, for he had a long and busy life ahead of him.
***
Ganry was not fully aware of what was going on around him. He noticed the giant lifting the boy Cronos, but mainly his vision was hazy. Retreating into his inner thoughts, he was remembering better times. A time when he was husband and father to a beautiful wife and an adorable little girl. How could anyone purposely murder them in such a horrific way? Killing Jeon was all he could think about. Even then, he wished he could make him suffer before doing so, rather than simply ending his life with a clean thrust of his sword.
Ganry’s family had been innocents, whereas Jeon’s son had died through his own actions. It was bound to happen, sooner or later. How could Jeon not see the truth of the matter? His grief had blinded him badly, and driven him to murder innocent people. The General wished to be with his son again, well, Ganry intended on making sure he joined him. They could live together forever in the afterlife.
“Your wife and daughter do not seek revenge, Ganry,” a small voice interrupted his heavy thoughts. “They wish only for you to go on living. There is time for you to be with them, but that time is not now.”
“Cronos,” Ganry exclaimed, knowing the boy had left the room. He realized that the voice was in his head. “You cannot speak of my family. You cannot know w
hat they want,” he replied, in his own thoughts.
“I have spoken to your daughter, Ruby, and she tells me her mother wants you to live through this mad event. They will wait for you, but time has no meaning to them. You have much yet to do here in this world.” Ganry had a vision of Myriam that Cronos put in his mind. “Others still need your help.”
“How can you know my daughter’s name?” Ganry was becoming agitated at the boy, and anger inflicted the tone of his voice, even though it was still only in his thoughts.
“She spoke to me. I can hear the words of those who have passed, sometimes. She does not want you to throw your life away for them, when they can wait forever for you to join them.”
“Go to your chambers where you will be safe.” Ganry no longer wished to have this strange conversation inside his head. Yet, the boy knew of his situation, and of his daughter’s name. He did not understand how this could be, but the last few years had taught him to open his mind to many things. Talking to the dead was just one of them.
Grecia approached him. “The boy is to come with us. We need his help to track the witches.”
”Is that wise?” Ganry queried. For all he was annoyed at the strange boy, he did not wish him to be in harm’s way. If he was to be captured, all this would have been in vain.
“It’s the only way, my friend,” Grecia smiled, touching Ganry’s arm. “He will be very well protected, by us and his newfound guardian. If we are to stop this madness, we need to find those witches. Only then will he truly be safe.”
Ganry said nothing, but he knew she was right. They could not hide him away in the castle forever. Sooner or later, the witches would have him. The final battle was approaching, scores would be settled and the fate of two nations hung in the balance.
34
The gates of Castle Villeroy swung open as the diverse group left the castle under cover of darkness. Ganry led the way with Artas and Riley just behind. Following them were a small number of the Queen’s Guards, and running at their side were the wolves of Palara. Bringing up the rear, a large giant of a man with a young albino boy on his shoulders.
The Mirnean army was amassed on the fields surrounding the castle. They had set up camp readying themselves for the assault on Castle Villeroy. They far outnumbered the troops that Myriam had at her command inside the castle, but Villeroy’s walls had never been breached, though it had never faced such numbers before, either. Myriam had called for reinforcements from the Barons in the north, who commanded huge forces all loyal to the Crown, but none had yet arrived.
Unbeknownst to Myriam, General Jeon had foreseen such a move, and had sent a large contingent of men to head off any reinforcements. They had engaged the troops less than ten miles from the castle and were holding them back. Without these men, Myriam’s position was very precarious.
The invading forces were massacring Palaran citizens as they swept through the kingdom, with the witches reanimating the corpses, adding to their already overpowering numbers. The undead were not as great in numbers as before, as most of the villages and towns were now deserted. The people had taken to the hills, hiding from the invaders. Still, the sight of the undead and their ghastly wails could chill the heart of the stoutest warrior. The witches of Mirnee had much to answer for with these despicable atrocities, and it was to that end that the war party had left the castle.
The boy, Cronos, rode upon the back of the giant, Rochmyr, and by their side ran his other guardian, the wolfman, Torno. He wanted to try and locate the whereabouts of the witches, a crucial task if the castle was to survive the upcoming onslaught. Rochmyr would keep him safe and away from any heavy fighting, at all costs. They headed into the forest, the most likely hiding place of their magical enemy.
Ganry led Riley and Artas, along with fifty or so of the Queen’s Guards. They moved quietly through the night, keeping a wide distance from the Mirnean camps. It had been his plan to flank the enemy and take their position at their rear. Once the battle began, they would sound the horn and lead the corpses away, before finally finishing them off. If the plans were successful, they would cut their way through the enemy’s flank, causing as much destruction and confusion as possible. Ganry hoped this strategy would buy them some time while the boy searched for the witches, but that was not all he hoped for. In the ensuing mayhem, he would try to seek out Jeon and kill him. He needed to exact his revenge for the murder of his family.
Ganry was concerned that finding the corpses may prove to be difficult. Spreading out his men to cover as much ground as possible, it might reduce the risk of being seen. In the end, it turned out to be an easy task. Their pitiful wails and the dreadful smell led them straight to the area where they had been corralled. They were set well away from the main camp, with no guards to watch over them. It seemed the Mirneans were not enamored with their dead allies. Despite being unguarded, they did not wander at all. Clearly some magic had been cast on them to keep them subdued.
“Now we wait,” Ganry told Artas and Riley. “When the assault on the castle begins, make your move.”
The sun was beginning to rise as they moved into position with the enemy camp a hive of activity. Mirnean soldiers were falling into rank, readying for battle. The whole area was bathed in a deep red light from the rising sun, casting a sinister glow everywhere. Ganry hoped this was not an ominous portent, but he knew that it wouldn’t be the sun staining the ground red in the coming hours. A loud horn cut through the early morning air, the signal that the attack was to commence. The soldiers began to march towards the castle. The horn also had a mobilizing effect on the undead as they too began to stir, shuffling mindlessly towards the sound.
“Now, Artas,” Ganry commanded, and Artas brought his own horn to his lips, blowing a long deep note.
“I think the witches have learned their lesson from the last time,” Riley said as the undead ignored the sound of Artas’s horn. Instead, they continued on with a relentless march towards the castle.
“No matter,” Ganry replied. “We can still surprise them from the rear, finish off these abominations, then finally lay into these Mirneans.”
Riley nodded his agreement and gave the orders to the Palaran soldiers. As one, they all drew their weapons. The advance began first on the ranks of the undead.
***
Queen Myriam fastened the buckles on the last of her armor with the help of one of her ladies in waiting. This had been Queen Beatrice’s armor, one of her ancestors who had worn it in the great wars of the North. It had lain in wait for more than two hundred years, but it felt right to Myriam, and it fit her well. Her kingdom was under threat, and the D’Anjue royal family had always fought to protect what is theirs. She would be no different.
Despite Ganry’s insistence, she would not hide away in the cellars with the women and children and the elderly and infirm. She was a D’Anjue, her place was with her Royal Guard. A sword was chosen from the walls of the armory. Not a heavy broadsword, but a smaller, thinner double edged weapon. It balanced well in her hand. She twirled her arm, her sword cutting through the air in sweeping arcs, first one way then the other. Yes, this was a good sword, fit to be carried by a Queen.
She had insisted that her Grandmother stay below ground and away from the fighting, saying the Duchess was too old for battle and would only be in the way. Besides, she had told her to keep up the morale of the women and children of the castle, who would be in hiding with her. She would also organize treatment for the wounded and food for everyone. The Duchess had agreed and Myriam felt relieved that her grandmother would be safe, at least while the castle walls stood.
Myriam sheathed her sword and left the armory. She took the stairs direct to the battlements where many of her Guards were preparing for the imminent attack. As she stepped onto the ramparts, her commanders all bowed respectfully before her. They had all come to admire this young Queen who had brought their kingdom together after the coup, and saved the royal Duchess from the Akkedis lizard people. It renewed their h
ope to see her dressed in the royal armor, ready to fight by their side.
Myriam stepped forward to greet her men, but before she could say anything, a loud blaring horn cut through the morning air.
The battle had begun.
35
The wolves came to a stop and circled the giant who carried Cronos. Rochmyr lifted the boy off his shoulders and set him on the ground. Once his feet were firmly on the wet grass, he stroked at the wolf’s head. Torno licked at his hand.
“I will need a few moments,” he said out loud to the wolves.
They whinnied and growled low as they made a protective formation around him. He sat on the grass and rubbed at the green blades, making his contact with nature. As he closed his eyes, he could see an image of Ganry on the battlefield, ready to attack the enemy. He wished that no more had to die, on either side. But he knew that while the witches were free to spread their evil, this would not end. For this, he hated the witches and all that they stood for. Cronos had not comprehended his full powers yet, but he had a strong connection with mother nature. It was she who gave him the visions, and as the trees witnessed Ganry, so could he. They had a special connection, one he could not yet fully understand or control.
Slowly, he moved his thoughts away from the battlefield and tried to spread the scope of his visions. The witches were not yet on the battlefield. They would be in hiding, probably in the forest. He concentrated hard, trying to imagine the differing landscapes that surrounded him. Scanning the huge canopy of trees that had stood in these forests for hundreds of years, trying to see what they could bring to his vision, but nothing came to him.
A fog was blocking out his visions. Feeling frustration at not being able to widen his visual perception, he suddenly found himself flying above the ground. It seemed he was on the back of a large black bird. No, he was seeing through the eyes of the bird as it swooped and flew over the forest canopy. Now he could see for miles.
