The druid's voice trailed off, and Lucius soon returned to the dark void where dreams awaited him. But this time he dreamt of the beautiful palace and the unopened door again. Yéwa's voice called to him from within the ball of light.
The time has not yet come, Lucius ... soon ... rest now.
TWENTY-EIGHT
Trial by Fire
The chirping melody of a lone thrush flying over the grassland of Ithileo greeted the Aldronian army as they crossed the Dulan River. Thousands of soldiers on foot and horseback marched northeastward into the province of Ragnara, where the northern forest of Ithileo and the southern shore of the Sea of Lagrimas provided a serene backdrop before the cruel black Onyx Mountains riddled the landscape in the east. Behind the front lines of armored pikemen and archers, Silas rode alongside his field marshal, Rainier. A day had passed since Silas joined the march and taken lead of his father's forces. The men were weary of marching across the wilderness and anxious for combat—a feeling Silas only knew too well.
The long march gave Silas plenty of time to dwell on the coming battle—and also on Violet. He regretted leaving her and Avani to travel the remainder of the Barren Road alone, but he quickly dismissed his guilt by reminding himself of the obligation to his mother and sister. Vengeance against the Draknoir had been a powerful motivator for the past few years, but feelings of love caused him to waver, even now when he marched upon his enemy. Silas could not pass an hour without thinking of the night he and Violet kissed. The soft touch of her lips repeated more than a dozen times in his mind. How he wished they met in a less turbulent time, where love would not have been a hindrance to duty.
Within the hour, the last of the Aldronian ranks reached the Narshé, a lake bordering the same forest where Silas' men were ambushed. At the forest's edge, Silas spied movement—two dark silhouettes dashed back and forth before disappearing into the forest.
"My lord, did you—" Rainier said.
"I saw them, marshal," Silas cut in. "Draknoir scouts."
Shouts from men on the front line reached his ears, and he looked to see the cause of their consternation: the scouts had reemerged from the forest with a large force flanking them on both sides.
"How many can you see, Rainier?" Silas asked.
Rainier pulled out a spyglass and examined the scene. "I would estimate anywhere between seventy-five to a hundred thousand strong, your Highness. They've got quite a few Onyx lizards as well."
"So we are outnumbered," Silas sighed. He glanced around at the soldiers marching alongside him. Their faces revealed an eagerness to fight, but the long trek to Ithileo had likely tired them and he worried the odds were not in their favor.
"Organize the men, marshal," Silas ordered. Rainier nodded and ordered all the men to line up in ranks; infantry led the front, archers positioned at the rear, and light and heavy cavalry flanked each side of the Aldronian forces. The field marshal commanded everyone to continue marching to meet the Draknoir head on.
Silas and his forces marched around the eastern shore of Lake Narshé advancing toward the enemy, who also marched in their ragtag formation. Silas ordered Rainier to halt the march then weaved his way through the ranks to the front, where the infantrymen shot him quizzical looks. Royalty seldom fought on the front line, but he could not resist being the first to impale the Draknoir filth with his sword. Rainier rode up alongside him and offered him a helmet.
"Thank you, marshal," Silas said. He placed the battle-worn helmet over his head. He gazed at the northern shore of the Sea of Lagrimas, searching for the familiar sails of Aldronian corsairs and frigates. "I see no sign of my father's ships, Rainier."
"Perhaps they were delayed, your Highness. Baron Stendahl assured us that our routes would intersect here on the plains of Ithileo," the marshal replied.
"I only fear something ill has hindered him. Baron is a brilliant strategist like my father. He would be here now if he assured it," Silas said, biting his lower lip. "We must fight without them."
"Is that wise, my lord?"
"No, of course not. It is beyond wisdom, but we cannot turn back. We fight, marshal."
"Yéwa help us," Rainier whispered.
"Let us hope he does," Silas said, before turning his attention to the men. "Onward!" he yelled.
On the northern banks of the lake, a Draknoir overlord and a band of warriors lined up at the front line. The overlord handed the Nasgothar standard he held to a subordinate on his left and snatched a horn from another on his right. He blew the horn, which caused a great commotion among the warriors behind him. War cries and chest-pounding salutes ensued among the Draknoir ranks—a brutish display meant to taunt the Aldronians. In the center of the Draknoir horde, Silas could make out the slithering shapes of Onyx lizards rearing back as their riders yanked their reins. Longbow archers, not unlike those who killed his Drachengarde brethren, assembled before the lizard riders. The painful memory of watching Asher die in his arms filled Silas' mind and stoked the dormant rage within his soul.
"Men of Aldron, slay these beasts!" Silas yelled. He gave the command to charge by unsheathing his sword and swinging it in the Draknoir's direction.
The Aldronians cried out in unison as they charged onto the battlefield with swords drawn and arrows nocked.
Silas tapped his heels into the sides of his mare, spurring the horse forward. Rainier and the rest of the cavalry followed suit, brandishing their claymores and crossbows as they rode into the fray. In a matter of seconds, both armies collided into a tangled mess of Draknoir and men, fighting to slay one another. At the rear of the Draknoir lines, the Onyx lizards wailed as they pushed through the ranks to devour Aldronians in combat. Silas ordered the archers to loose arrows on the foul beasts as he cut down two Draknoir on either side of his horse.
Arrows whizzed past him, killing two Draknoir riders while pikemen moved into position and stabbed the legs of the vicious lizards. The tactic caught the attention of the Draknoir overlord, who signaled the riders to attack the Aldronian archers in full force. The reptilian steeds bounded through the air and rushed toward the Aldronian archers. Their massive jaws wrapped around the waists of the archers, and Silas watched in horror as his men were thrown like rag dolls across the battlefield. Silas rallied cavalry to his position then led a charge toward three lizards attacking the left flank. He slashed his way through a band of Draknoir wielding pikestaffs, but many of the horsemen in tow were knocked off their saddles, leaving only him and Rainier to face the lizards.
One of the lizard riders caught sight of their advance and steered his mount toward Silas. The lizard reared backward, and its gaping jaws snapped near Silas head. He dodged the bite and thrust his sword into the roof of the beast's mouth. The Draknoir rider fell backwards onto the ground as the Onyx lizard convulsed violently from its fatal wound. Rainier cut down the fallen rider before Silas engaged the remaining lizards on the fringe of the battlefield.
He swiftly disposed of the last two lizards with Rainier's help and saved the contingent of archers, but the battle was far from over. In the center of the battlefield, more Onyx lizards overpowered the infantry. Without support, the Aldronian lines would be split, and the Draknoir would quickly overwhelm them.
"Aim your arrows at the center line!" Silas ordered.
The archers released a volley at the lizards, knocking down several of the riders, but the large steeds were still on their feet, punishing the Aldronian ranks.
"Come on!" Silas glanced at Rainier before riding off to aid his men.
A heavy blow from his right knocked Silas off the saddle and into the surrounding battle. The close-quarter combat was fierce all around him. Four Draknoir warriors tried to attack him in his prone position, but the Aldronian archers hastily killed the brutes.
Silas stood up and gripped his ribs, fearing they might be broken. When he retrieved his sword from the ground, he caught sight of the assailant—the Draknoir overlord. The ugly fiend held a spiked mace and crude buckler in each hand, approaching Silas w
ith firm resolve. The overlord had locked his beady eyes onto Silas like a wolf hunting its wounded prey. He pushed fellow Draknoir out of the way and swung his mace at any Aldronian who tried to prevent his advance.
Silas waited for the monster to draw nearer, hoping the archers would take him down soon. The overlord dropped his mace and unsheathed a long scimitar when he was ten paces away. Silas gripped his sword and waited for a volley, but none ever came. The Nasgothar warrior rushed at him. Silas braced himself for the attack, taking a defensive stance. The overlord swung the long scimitar down vertically at Silas. He blocked the attack, but the force of the blow nearly knocked him down. Hot breath from the beast's mouth blew onto Silas' face as their swords locked for a moment. He surprised the Draknoir when he turned on his heel and swung at the overlord's poorly protected stomach. But the blade only struck the buckler, which the Draknoir deftly raised to block the attack.
Silas exchanged strikes with the large Draknoir for a few minutes, unable to land a decisive hit. He searched the battlefield for Rainier, who still fought tirelessly nearby. The marshal had rallied a group of riders to clear the closest threats to Silas and the archers. Every few seconds a nearby Draknoir would try to assail Silas from behind, but Rainier and his cavalry prevented them from being successful. Arrows rained down around Silas occasionally, but only a few landed on the Draknoir overlord. None of the hits seemed to deter the brute's obsession with their endless duel.
Silas desperately needed help to kill the overlord—his body strained to block and dodge the Draknoir's blows. He yelled for archers to bring down the beast, but another wave of Onyx lizards had descended on their ranks. No one else could aid him. Every man on the field was locked in their own struggle, including Rainier, who fought hard to save their archers.
Yéwa help me.
In a rapid motion, the overlord swung the scimitar high, meaning to decapitate Silas' head. He ducked and rolled, narrowly missing the scimitar's edge. Silas spun around rapidly while the huge Draknoir cursed in his guttural speech. The overlord slowly closed in on him with a confident swagger in his steps. Silas stood his ground, waiting for the first strike. It came swiftly.
A downward vertical swing fell at his left shoulder, but he sidestepped it and swung at the monster's chest. The Draknoir blocked with the buckler again, but left his right side open for Silas' next attack. Silas thrust his sword into a soft spot in the warrior's armor below the breastplate. The overlord growled in pain and kicked Silas' stomach, causing him to double over onto his knees. The overlord's yellow eyes widened when he saw the large sword still stuck in his ribcage. A loud roar escaped the overlord's mouth, and he frantically swung the scimitar at Silas like a maddened animal.
Silas grabbed a fallen soldier's sword and parried the Draknoir's frenzied strikes. Not an ounce of strength had diminished from the overlord despite the sword protruding from his side. A hard kick from the monster's steel boot to Silas's injured ribs sent him to his knees. The overlord slammed the buckler against Silas’ face, and he fell backwards onto the corpse of another Aldronian. The bitter taste of blood filled his mouth as he anxiously tried to rise to his feet. The overlord planted his foot on Silas' chest and pinned him to the ground.
Silas tried to push the Draknoir off, but the creature's weight overpowered him. The overlord smiled maliciously as he raised the scimitar for the killing stroke. Silas frantically clawed the ground for a sword and clutched the hilt of the nearest weapon. At the same moment the Draknoir swung his blade down, Silas swung upward at his enemy's exposed thigh. Silas' blade connected first and severed the beast's leg. The overlord immediately toppled to the ground, awestruck at the loss of his limb. Silas rose to the moment and swiftly decapitated the Draknoir overlord. The few Draknoir minions who witnessed their leader's demise retreated from the battle—their morale suddenly waning.
Despite Silas' hard-won victory, the Draknoir still had the advantage on the battlefield. The horde's numbers exceeded Aldron's, but as more Draknoir became aware their champion had fallen, they began to flee. Panic spread through the Draknoir ranks, and before long the Aldronians pushed their enemies into full retreat back toward the Onyx Mountains. A few warriors and lizard riders held their ground, but they were easily decimated without their dark kin providing support.
Silas watched as his men triumphed over the servants of Memnon and smiled in spite of himself. He ambled over to the fallen overlord and pulled his sword from the Draknoir's side. Rainier trotted over on horseback, bearing cuts and grime all over his face and armor.
"Your Majesty, shall we pursue the Draknoir?" Rainier asked.
Silas thought for a moment. "No, Rainier. The men are spent, as am I. Let the Draks run back to Nasgothar and cower for now."
"Yes, sire." Rainier turned the horse around and relayed the order to the men.
Silas exhaled deeply and sat on the tail of a dead Onyx lizard. He stuck his sword in the ground then wiped the blood from his mouth on his hand. Pain swelled from his ribs, but he briefly lingered on the injury before a deafening roar startled him from behind.
All the men on the field turned to the south and saw it. The silhouettes of two dragons flying in the clouds above the Sea of Lagrimas. Adrenaline surged through Silas' chest when he realized how vulnerable his men were on the open plains. He grabbed his sword and the Draknoir overlord's iron buckler. The men stared at the dragons in a petrified stupor, unmoving until Silas ordered them to find cover.
Rainier galloped near him with Silas' horse in tow. "Come my lord; there is cover in the forest!"
"I am the leader of the Drachengarde, Rainier. It's my sworn duty to rid the world of these devils," Silas replied. He watched the dragons slowly descend just above the water. "Lead the men to the forest. You'll be safe there."
"But, sir—"
"Do as I say, Rainier! Go!"
Rainier nodded, heading to the nearby forest while ordering the rest of the army to follow, but many of the Aldronians stayed behind to aid their Prince.
After failing to persuade them to flee, Silas let the men stay, but ordered everyone to bear shields for the coming fire. The men assembled behind him in a tightly packed semicircle—each man holding his shield to protect the soldier beside him. They stood still for a time, waiting for the dragons to fly closer to their position.
"Archers, draw your bows," Silas ordered. "Shield yourselves from the first flames then loose your arrows. Aim for the eyes and wings if you can."
The dragons passed the shoreline, now only a half mile from Silas and his army. Unexpectedly, one of the dragons roared at the other and broke away from its partner's side. It flew northeast, toward Nasgothar without looking back. The remaining dragon continued its flight to Ithileo. The dragon's red scales shimmered in the afternoon sunlight, and its large horns cast a devilish shadow over the ground as it approached. Silas' heart thumped loudly in his throat, but he feigned courage for the sake of his frightened men.
"The first blast will be the most powerful," Silas whispered to them. "Our greatest chance to defeat it will be before the second blast. We must fell this beast before then. Do you understand?"
All the men nodded and held their weapons and shields at the ready.
"Brace yourselves." Silas crouched and shielded his body with the buckler. The red dragon swooped down in an instant and exhaled a stream of fire on the shielded semicircle with all the force of its massive lungs.
The iron shields deflected the fire, but some of the flames still slipped through the cracks of the shielded formation and singed the men's bodies. When the dragon passed over them, Silas dropped his smoldering shield and ordered the archers to release their arrows. The few who had not suffered burns followed the order, sending a small volley at the dragon. But the flying behemoth was undeterred by the dozens of arrows that pierced its face and backside. It continued on a course to the forest, where Rainier and the rest of the army took refuge. Silas chased the dragon through the corpse-strewn battlefield, screaming
to divert its attention. A sudden feeling of relief and panic washed over him when the red dragon banked to the right and came straight at him. He stood defenseless as the huge demon approached with jaws gaping wide.
Thousands of arrows flew out from the forest and quickly descended on the dragon's wings, piercing the thin membranes connected to the arms. The dragon screeched in pain, but continued with amazing speed at Silas. He ordered the men behind him to shoot the dragon's wings, praying it would be enough to cease its charge. The men fired their crossbows and longbows at the beast's wings. Silas watched the arrows perforate and tear through the membranes, causing the dragon to lose its balance and fall on its face.
The crashing dragon rolled uncontrollably toward Silas, who jumped out of the way to avoid impact. Piles of dirt and grass were kicked up by the dragon's enormous tail as it attempted to stand. It let out a guttural roar and whipped its large spiked tail at the Aldronians. Several men flew through the air and crashed into the waters of Lagrimas. The monster then clasped its jaws on a fleeing soldier and swallowed the man whole.
Silas stood from the ground and approached the raging dragon slowly, hoping to somehow kill it before being detected. But the plan failed as the dragon turned its horned head toward him and hissed. He barely sidestepped the creature's snapping jaws. The dragon turned around and flicked its giant tail at Silas' feet. He jumped to avoid the attack and inadvertently mounted the tail. The dragon swiped the tail from side to side to shake him off, but Silas hung on a long spike and stuck his sword into the tail. He fell off the tail as the red dragon convulsed and roared in agony.
Rainier and the army exited the forest and ran to their brothers' aid. They hurled spears and loosed arrows into the wounded dragon's side. The attacks visibly annoyed the dragon, and it let out a quick burst of fire. The flames engulfed three riders and wounded the rest, including Rainier. The field marshal was thrown off his steed and knocked out when he hit the ground.
The Blade Heir (Book 1) Page 25
