The Sword of Light.
Book Three: A Clash of Light and Dark
Copyright© Andrew G. Wood
2017
ISBN-13:
978-1548319939
ISBN-10:
1548319937
All Rights Reserved.
Other titles:
The Chronicles of Elemental Magic
Book One: Rise of the Darekians
Book Two: Holding the Line
Book Three: Prince of Magic
The New Chronicles of Elemental Magic
Book One: A New Threat
Book Two: The Zulani Empire
The Sulbria Chronicles
Return of the Phoenix
The Kothian Chronicles
The Elementalist
The Elementalist: Battle of the Mind
The Elementalist: Next of Kin
Chosen: A Gift of Power
The Caldronian Guild:
Book One: The Apprentice Sorcerer
Book Two: The Rogue Sorcerer
Book Three: The King’s Sorcerer
A Clash of Light and Dark
Book One: Return of the Darkness
Book Two: The Dragon Stone
Chapter 1.
The lands that linked the human border to that of the Orcs had seen several small-scale skirmishes of late. As a result, the King had been forced to send extra troops to the two garrison towns in the area. Both Calness and the slightly larger Tudbury had received additional soldiers as well as a couple of magicians, although even with these increases in numbers they were still insufficient to deal with the more frequent attacks that were taking place in the local vicinity.
King Willem had promised more, but alas with his forces already stretched due to the increase in activity from the armies of the Darkness, it would appear neither of the two garrison towns would be getting many extra reinforcements just yet. While those living in these settlements had up until now been relatively safe, it had been those who lived in the smaller outlying villages and farms that had been subjected to the brutal attacks by bands of Orcish raiders.
Although it was widely accepted that these attacks were in no way part of the main Orc clans, moreover the Clan leader who currently ruled the Orc lands, it was hoped that those in charge might have some influence in stopping them. It was now accepted that one of the smaller clans residing near the border with the humans was now responsible. As to why this usually minor group had suddenly decided to expand its territories and claim the human land as their own, nobody was quite sure. However, whatever the reason, the people currently living there had no intention of giving it up, at least not without a fight.
Jaxon, a young man of nineteen years old, had been sold by his parents the previous year into the service of the military. Average in height and build, he had initially attempted escape from the clutches of those who now apparently owned him. However, his freedom had been very short lived, and after being captured and taken back to Carison, Jaxon had been flogged for his crimes. Not wanting to undergo such torture again he had ultimately accepted his future was no longer his own and had undertaken his military training.
Even this in itself was sometimes cruel, with failure to accomplish certain tasks often leading to further punishment. While this may not have amounted to any more whipping, some of the soldiers in charge of their training did seem to take great pleasure in watching certain trainees suffer. Whether that was just by stopping them eating or giving a slap or maybe a sly kick, it was all bullying nonetheless. Jaxon had also noticed that those from a wealthier background were somehow treated better than those like himself who had been sold to the military and from poor families.
While he knew the reasons why his mother and father had sold him, the fact that they had, still invoked feelings of hate towards his parents for doing so. Jaxon had received no warning on the day he had been taken. He had arisen to go to work, as he had done since he was fourteen, but after breakfast, his father had called him outside. On doing so, he walked straight into the arms of the recruiters, who cuffed his hands and took him away. As he had sat on the back of that waggon, he had looked his mother and father in the eye but could see no remorse or sadness in either, an image that hurt him deeper than the betrayal itself.
Having arrived at Calness just a week ago, Jaxon had been amongst the twenty soldiers sent here to reinforce the town and local area. To call it a town was probably stretching the truth a little, he thought perhaps a large village maybe a little nearer the mark. As he looked up into the murky grey sky, he felt a drop of rain falling on his face and sighed. On duty until mid-day, he was just one of three guards expected to patrol the perimeter fencing of Calness.
The outer wall was actually just a palisade, something that Jaxon had thought laughable on first arriving. How a timber built stockade standing perhaps just twelve feet in height was expected to withstand an army of orcs he was not sure. However, it had soon become apparent that the defences were a little better than he had first envisaged. Although the outer perimeter was indeed very basic, what he had not noticed on arrival was the fact the timber barrier was effectively taller. This was due to the fact that some years ago they had seen fit to dig a trench going all the way around the fence, meaning any would-be attacker had about eighteen feet in height to deal with. The only exception had been the strip of land approaching the gateway, which had been left as it was.
Since his arrival, Jaxon had already seen several signs of trouble, and while none of them had involved him directly, he was quite aware the area around him was dangerous. Orcs were naturally brutal and fierce warriors, and as a result one of the soldiers who had travelled with him to reinforce Calness had already been killed. The man had been one of six on patrol a few days earlier that had stumbled on a pack of Orc raiders. While they had, in turn, managed to inflict casualties, the patrol had definitely come off second best.
Jaxon ran his hand through his light brown hair as he felt the rain dripping down on it. His uniform consisted of dark brown cotton trousers and shirt, a leather jerkin affording him some small amount of protection and a pair of black leather boots. His regulation army short sword hung at his waist on his left, and the small thin-bladed dagger on his right. Across his shoulder was his recurve bow, something he personally preferred and was not the standard issue. While it did not have the range and power of the crossbow that the army suggested they use, Jaxon felt more confident with it. Having the ability to fire at a much quicker rate, and also more accurately, he felt it gave him a better chance.
As he had been a smithies apprentice for a few years, he had learned how to make his own arrowheads. While he had never mastered the role of being a blacksmith, nor probably ever would now he was in the service of the army, he had managed to make slight improvements to his own weaponry as a result of his experience. Aside from his sword’s blade and tip being much sharper, he also had upgraded his arrows.
While the standard tip utilised by the army’s archers was a broadhead and those on the bolts of the crossbows more a kind of bodkin or narrow pointed tip, Jaxon had his own design. The arrows in his quiver were all tipped with a slightly curved broadhead, that cut much deeper than a standard arrowhead, something that he hoped would be especially beneficial when he eventually had to face an Orcish warrior.
With the rain now coming down as a constant drizzle, Jaxon walked carefully along the narrow planks that gave the stockade fencing its walkway. Fixed about five feet down from the top of the fencing, these narrow planks gave the defenders the ability to peer over the top and offer them protection at the same time. The only problem being, when it rained these narrow strips of wood became very slippy, and though the fall to the ground was not excessive, doing so still was considera
bly painful, as Jaxon had discovered on his first day’s guard duty.
As he strolled carefully along the walkway, he glanced up to the single watch tower near the main gate. He raised a hand as the young man positioned up there gave him a wave as if both were just checking everything was as it should be. Jaxon turned and then started back along the length of fencing he was guarding, an endless trek back and forth, while all the time keeping a look out across the lands to the south for any sign of trouble.
While most of the trees around the local area had inevitably been used in building Calness’ defences, there was still substantial forest areas further afield. This area had immediately been identified by Jaxon on his arrival as a likely spot for any would-be attacker to congregate before making a charge. Although still half a mile away, any group of bandits could gather out of view from the guards of Calness, hidden by the trees. The fact that a large army could probably group up so near to where he was guarding, and no one would see it, did not sit comfortably.
With the people of Calness moving around the small built-up area within the perimeter fencing oblivious to what was going on outside, Jaxon had the advantaged view of seeing both simultaneously. Many of the homes were simple, half stone, half-timber built with wooden shingle tiled roofs. Aside from the small, stone built chapel near the centre and the two inns the only other of note was the fortified garrison building positioned near the main gates.
While this did not have a wall of its own, it was stone built and did have crenellations around the top. With a set of sturdy oak doors, narrow slit windows that were positioned all around and a well-equipped armoury, it was definitely built with defence in mind. Of course, if it ever got to the point of them ever standing and firing through the slit windows and battlements atop the building it would mean the town was likely already being overrun.
Jaxon spotted a familiar face exiting one of the town’s three stores and from his elevated position gave a wave of his hand. However, the person for whom it was meant clearly did not see him, as she merely crossed the street and walked into another building. Jaxon felt a little disappointed at not getting any kind of response. The young lady in question was called Maya and was apparently one of only two magicians that were currently based in Calness. Spotting her on his arrival, he had hoped to catch her eye on several such occasions, but alas, up until now at least, he had been unsuccessful in doing so.
With the rain still falling sporadically, Jaxon felt cold and wet. With a couple of hours still to go on his shift, his pacing back and forth along the walkways was fast becoming tedious. After peering out into the distance, he turned once more to do another lap, as his attention was drawn to someone shouting. At first, he could not see anything, and almost turned away to continue his patrol, but caught sight of a small child running from the trees.
Probably not much older than about ten years of age, the little girl screamed, her arms waving frantically as she ran towards Calness. Jaxon quickly let his bow slip from his shoulder before removing an arrow from his quiver, although never taking his eyes off the girl. After placing the arrow on his bowstring, he held it in place as he saw two lumbering orcs come crashing through the trees just twenty paces or so behind the little girl.
While he knew Orcs were much slower than humans, he doubted such a small child would be able to outrun a fully grown orc. Whereas he doubted why such an innocent girl would make a target, he was acutely aware that Orcs held no such sentiment. While he trusted his shot to be good, he doubted the child would make it to within his range in time. This, of course, left him in somewhat of a dilemma. Did he merely hope the girl could run a little bit faster and get in range so he could help, or should he risk injury and leap down off the wall and play the hero?
As far as Jaxon was concerned there was only ever one course of action he would ever take, and without delaying any further, he pulled himself up over the top of the palisading throwing his bow down the other side. After lowering his body down as quickly as he could and dangling for a few moments he dropped to the ground, bending his knees as he landed and rolling to one side as he had learned in training. Scrambling quickly to his feet, he leant down and collected his bow, before readying another arrow on the string and started running.
“Keep moving!” he shouted loudly trying as hard as he could to narrow the distance between himself and two Orcs giving chase. The nearest was catching the girl far quicker than he thought, and Jaxon knew if he did not act now the child would surely die. Running his fingers down his bowstring to remove any residual water and tapping the arrow to do likewise, he dropped down to one knee. Pulling back on his bowstring as hard as he could Jaxon took aim and targeted the leading Orc.
Calming his breathing down and remembering his training he steadied himself before firing off his first shot. Knowing that one arrow would not be enough to stop two Orcs, He quickly grabbed another as he glanced up to see his first slam into the first attacker. The orc was halted in its tracks, and although the shot was not a fatal one, it had the desired result in buying the girl a little more time.
The child ran towards him as he fired off another shot, this time targeting the second Orc. The arrow flew true and slammed into the chest of the attacker sending it tumbling backwards, the tip and shaft sinking deep into its flesh. The first may not have been a fatal shot, but Jaxon was convinced his second was just that as he watched the first turn about and charge towards him. The girl reached him, “Go, quickly in through the gate,” he told her waving his arm before readying another arrow and once more targeting the first Orc.
The huge figure ran headlong towards him, with his first arrow still protruding from the Orc’s shoulder it did not appear to hamper its movement. Jaxon calmed himself and held back the bowstring, trying not to panic. A missed shot now would see him in danger and at risk of being cut down and being alone outside of the wall knew he had no backup. Only when the onrushing Orc was no more than twenty paces away did Jaxon fire off his next shot, which he was relieved to see hit his target. The Orc stumbled forward a few more paces, dropping its massive axe before finally succumbing to its injuries and falling face first just in front of Jaxon.
Standing back up, he glanced over at the tree line just to make sure no more Orcs were making a charge, before looking over at the gate. The girl was stood outside, being attended to by several of the townsfolk who seemed to have gathered to see what all the fuss was about. Four soldiers then appeared and ran over to where Jaxon was stood, all with swords and shields in hand. “Bit late now,” he mumbled faking a smile as they approached him.
Jaxon waited a few moments while the soldiers checked both Orcs were actually dead, although he noticed one of them stabbing the second with a sword. Happy they were not about to get back up he wandered over to both to reclaim his arrows. While two pulled free quite easily, the third had wedged into the Orc’s shoulder bone, and Jaxon knew it was one he would have to write off as lost.
After cleaning the two arrows that he had managed to retrieve, he replaced them into his quiver, before hooking his bow back over his shoulder and heading towards the gate. He spotted the young girl and made a beeline her direction just to check she was okay. At the gate, he was greeted by the Garrison Commander, who after checking he had been the one out in the field congratulated him on a job well done. Although it was evident he would not be partaking in any questioning, he could hear the child explaining what had happened. From the small snippet he overheard, it was clear that this young girl was probably now an orphan and that her parents had both been slain by Orcish raiders.
On his way back inside the town, he passed Maya walking the other way, and although he smiled as she went by he didn’t think she had noticed him doing so. To make matters worse, not only was he soaked through, he still had the remainder of his shift to complete before he could dry off and relax. Aside from his Commander giving him a well done, nobody else had bothered thanking him for risking his own life to save the little girl. With a shrug of his shoulde
rs, he headed for the set of wooden steps and clambered up to retake his position on the narrow walkway around the palisade fencing.
Chapter 2.
Karesh and Akeev had travelled right through the previous night, aside from one occasion where they had been forced to take cover. Thankfully for them, Sessi had been alert to the danger nearby and given them fair warning. About a mile or so south of their position, and heading their way had been a large formation of Balgraf, and although Karesh knew these beasts were probably heading into the elven lands to fight, he was quite aware there was little he could do about it.
After resting up for an hour or so and feeling it was safe to move on, they had made slow but steady progress and eventually had crossed the invisible line that divided the elven lands from those tainted by the Darkness. Feeling a little safer having done so they had rested up for the remainder of the night, with the intention of finding the nearest elf settlement or outpost at first light.
With the day appearing to be a gloomy one, Karesh for one was thankful for the tall trees that kept the rain off. Akeev, it seemed did not mind the constant drizzle, but was far more interested in every new plant, tree, bird or animal he spotted. Evidently having lived on a small island all of his life, Karesh assumed nearly everything in the forest would be new to his friend. With Sessi moving ahead of them, Karesh even afforded a few moments to point a few things out.
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