Holding The Line (Book 2)

by Andrew Wood

  The General nodded and passed the message on to the officer leading the operation. He in turn instructed the archers, who Levin noticed, looked even less certain than before. They all did as asked however, and lifted the bows much higher, aiming on a completely different trajectory. This time the results were all different, each man had been given allowance to make his own adjustment. Hence, some had it near the mark, others still fell short, and two overshot by some distance, clearly over adjusting.

  None actually hit the large Orlac sized target, but one was within a few paces. General Skalton nodded, "that was better Levin, and at least from that we can see the arrows can be sent that far. Not that I doubted you of course," he grinned. The archers spoke amongst themselves for a minute or two, discussing what thought the best angle for firing.

  They all lined again, and Levin was relieved when two smashed straight into the intended target. He could not help but punch the air, "Yes!" he shouted, and then quickly apologised to his commander. General Skalton spoke once more to his officer, and Levin noticed the targets being changed for the more regular sized ones. "I want to see how far these arrows punch through, so these targets are just plain timber, an inch thick," he explained to Levin.

  The archers firstly released normal broad head arrows, and then followed that with the bodkin type, before finally firing the new type. As expected, more of the normal arrow types hit, but the archers did manage to get three new ones on target.

  The General ordered the men at ease, and he gestured for Levin to follow him. They trotted their horses down the firing range toward the targets. Both dismounting for a closer inspection, it was easy to see the broad heads had stuck into the target, though not pierced right through. The bodkin had penetrated and hence punched a narrow hole, and had sunk some way through. Levin felt like thanking the gods as he noticed all three of the new type had punctured the timber. More impressive was the size of the hole it had made as it smashed through.

  The General looked up, "now that would cause a pretty nasty injury to any creature. Well done my lad, you will see me out of job before long, the way you are going." Levin beamed a big grin, although for a while there he had thought he had wasted everybody's time. The archers were summoned down towards the targets to see the damage done. Even one or two of them looked impressed.

  "I want twenty men, practicing day and night if need be with these, until they can hit it regularly from two hundred paces," General Skalton ordered. "I will see to it more are manufactured." The men saluted and Levin joined the General in moving his horse back towards the city. "Well done again, now we can go back and devise some plans for fighting these things."

  Jak Corley stood off to the side, watching Levin ride off back to the city. He felt some pride for the lad, before returning his attention back to his recruits. "Well, come on you lot, fun over. Get back to work," he ordered. "Captain, are we to train with the new arrows as well," asked Dane. A few of the others backed him up vocally. "Not as far as I know Dane, I am sure the General has no immediate plans to be sending recruits back out to a battlefield." There were a few groans, but he ignored them, "come on!" he shouted, as they all moved back to their own part of the training grounds.

  In Bashek, both Jared and Kaden risked moving about the city in day light, to see if there appeared to be any repercussions of them killing three more guards. Covered in the large dark cloaks, hoods pulled over their heads, hiding the faces underneath, they paced slowly along the main street. Normal city folk moved aside for them, some cowering away completely, such was the fear the Darekian's held over them.

  The people moved around, heads drooped as if life was not worth living for them. Jared almost felt like stopping and telling them, that soon it would all be over, but of course, he knew he could not. For now, he would have to assume the pretence he was a Darekian hidden under that cloak. They made their way to the market square, and there seemed nothing more than people going about their miserable existence. The stalls lined up, sold various items of little value. Some were just selling stuff they owned, in hope of making a few coins to buy food.

  The stalls selling the few meagre items to eat were doing so for highly inflated prices. Moreover, the goods they were selling looked as if they were nothing more than scraps. Both men knew that unless this city was liberated, come wintertime, people would be dying of starvation. It was up to them to set the seeds of rebellion, which could lead to that happening. They made a swift turn of bearing, as they noticed four other figures cloaked as they were, coming their direction. They could not risk even talking to these men, and though it may have looked suspicious, once round a corner and out of sight, they ran.

  They turned down a few side, narrow streets, before resuming the more slow deliberate paces of the Darekian Guards. As far as they were concerned, they could now step up the task of taking down the city guard. For now at least, it appeared as long as their targets consisted of Besemian, not Darekian Guards, and as long as they hid the bodies, no one seemed to care. Tonight they had another meet, with the now twelve strong resistance movement. They would now push ahead with more attacks, and hopefully get the city in a position where it could be free once more.

  In Darekia, Supreme Overlord Fenlor sat in his chambers. The flames of the fire pit in the centre of the room, giving sufficient light by which to work. He had earlier learned further information, about his defeat at the River Fivan. The story he had heard about his army being burned from the face of the earth was apparently true. It now emerged that a young man, was being mentored by that continual irritation, the old wizard, Sandred of Kelan.

  He knew all too well, if he allowed the tutorage to continue unhindered, this pupil would become too strong, even for him. Hence, the previous night he had sent out two of his best assassin's. A job such as this required stealth and ingenuity, not traits attributed to an Orlac. For this task only men would do. Men trained to the highest standard, they would slip in, carry out their duty and move away into the shadows, before anyone knew they were there. His target would be this new pupil of Sandred.

  He sometimes wished he had enough power to risk engaging that old wizard directly. The old man had been a hindrance to him and his line for hundreds of years. Fenlor would make sure; he would not be an Overlord that fell as others did before him. He would strike this young pretender early, not leave it as his ancestors had done and ultimately failed. Once this pup had been sorted, he could then release his new Orlac and with the new control, could wipe Corlan from the map.

  After an afternoon and scribbling diagrams, and writing numbers on scraps of paper, General Skalton finally nodded to himself. He thought he had finally worked out his plans for fighting against the demonic beasts known as Orlacs. With earlier help from the young lad Levin, whom Jak Corley had taken under his wing, he was now confident his tactics could be put into action. Now he just needed to persuade the King to go on the offensive.

  As Levin only usually assisted the General for the mornings, he had returned to the training grounds, south of the city to watch the continuing practices going on. There were now more archers, firing his new arrow types, at the large targets down the range. Though still more missed than hit, it was apparent the men were slowly getting used to having to make large adjustments to their aim.

  Jak walked up behind him, "I think everyone is impressed with you Levin, even that lot," he pointed behind him to the recruits who were busy doing their own training. Jak offered the chance for him to come and join them, "I think one or two might want to have a go at you. I am sure you can still better them, you are taught personally by the best don't forget." Levin laughed, "Ah! As modest as always Jak, sure I'll come and whip a few more of your recruit's asses." Jak laughed, "Don't be over confident Levin, some of these lads are getting quite good."

  Levin was feeling quite pleased with himself, today had gone well, better even. It was hardly a surprise when the large man appeared before him. The same one he had embarrassed during the recruits first few days o
f training. Levin thought this was not going to end well. The tall dark haired man looked down at him, "Hi, Would it be okay if we sparred?" Levin was somewhat surprised by the politeness of it all, and looked towards Jak, who just smiled.

  Levin nodded "of course." The man picked up two training swords and handed one over, "My name is Patrick, please don't hit me too hard this time." Levin smiled, and nodded he was ready. Patrick did not lunge foolishly forward without thinking, as he had done earlier. Just because he was much larger and stronger than his opponent did not mean he was better. Levin could already tell the improvement, and had to move quickly to block an attack.

  The bout continued, and some of the other recruits stopped their own practice to watch. Jak did not seem to mind them doing so, it may prove educational to watch and others soon joined. Levin made an attack of his own, which was quite quickly knocked aside. Patrick then made a counter, and only a quick reaction stopped Levin getting whacked across his ribs. The two moved back and forth for almost ten minutes, before a rider came up to the group, with a message for Jak.

  The Captain raised his hands, and stepped between the two, "Well done you two, unfortunately Levin, you have been requested to General Skalton's office immediately." There were a few groans from the watching crowd, but the two young men, lowered their training swords. "Well done Patrick," Levin said holding out his hand. Patrick smiled back, and shook it, "thanks," he said. "And thank you for going easy on me," he whispered into Levin's ear. Levin smiled, before whispering back, "I wasn't. It was all I could do to keep you at bay." The two shook hands again, and separated.

  Jak then shouted out, "Dane you are to go as well, you best get running, or Levin will be there without you." The two looked very confused. "You are welcome to jump up if you wish," the youngster offered a hand to Dane. The two got up onto Levin's horse, and Dane sat behind him, putting his arms around the younger man's waist to for something to hold on to.

  Levin trotted his horse back into the city, and up in through the keep gates. There was already a stable hand ready to take his horse off him, "The General says for you to go straight up to the king's office." Levin was starting to get a little concerned, why did the king suddenly want him?" Dane was feeling the same, and he thought that it had been the General, not the king, who had wanted them.

  The youngsters made their way up the flights of stairs, up on to the top floor, before knocking at the door. Two big Royal guards stood motionless either side, but neither moved to stop them. After hearing they were to enter, they went inside and stood before the King's desk. General Skalton was there, stood beside the king, and the two were perusing over a number of detailed manoeuvres written out on bits of paper.

  Dane and Levin stood, silently waiting until such time they were asked to speak. It was the king who looked up first, "Hello Levin, tell me of this arrow head of yours. Thomas tells me your father used to make it for some people who hunted bears." Levin nodded, "Yes your majesty. They say one good well placed shot with the arrow could down a large bear." He turned his attention to Dane, and from under his desk revealed a sample arrow, then passed it to him. General Skalton leaned over to talk quietly to the king, but the others could hear, "this is Dane your majesty. The young man responsible for these," he pointed to the notes on the table.

  Caldar looked up again, "Dane, you think one these arrows would take an Orlac down." The young recruit run his fingers along the shaft of the arrow, and felt the weight. "No your majesty, but I did see the damage these things did at the trials this morning." A silence came, before Dane realised they were still waiting for him to continue, "I have heard your majesty has fought Orlacs himself, and knows only too well how ineffectual normal arrows can be." Caldar nodded, "so you do not think using these would help. I myself always preferred a sword to a bow." Dane spoke again, "I am not saying they would not help your majesty, just that I do not think one shot would down a beast, unless it was a lucky one. Judging by the size of the hole these things create, maybe two or three to help incapacitate one, at least it could then be killed by other means."

  The two youngsters were asked their opinions, and though most of it was aimed at Dane, Levin was allowed input. How bizarre it appeared, that the King and his General sort council and opinion off a fourteen-year-old boy and a seventeen-year-old recruit. Such was the case, that few had fought Orlacs, it had come to this. After about half an hour, King Caldar placed his palms down on to the tabletop and stood, "well Thomas, I must admit I am still not certain, though I am willing for you to try. Collate your best men, and have them ready."

  The General nodded, "thank you your majesty. Thank you boys you may resume to whatever you were doing," he said turning his attention to Levin and Dane. The two saluted and walked out of the office, "You want a lift back out to the training grounds Dane?" Levin asked. Dane shook his head, "no thank you, I'll be fine. Besides if I walk, it means it takes me longer to get back to training," he added, before realising Levin had been the one adopted by Jak. The two smiled, and Levin patted him on the back, "don't worry I won't tell him. Mind if I walk part of the way with you?" Dane did not mind at all, and the two walked down the stairs, "Patrick has improved," he said. Dane nodded, "I think he and Camden are probably the best amongst us with a sword."

  Levin mentioned to him, how he had struggled to contain Patrick when they had fought a little earlier. In fact, he surmised that had the bout continued much longer, Patrick could well have bettered him." Dane laughed, "You sound as if that is something bad. You are what, Fourteen? And can not only better most of us, but match the best." That did make Levin feel a little better, he had thought perhaps he was not as good as he first perceived. When put like that he supposed it did not sound too bad. In the keep yard, the two said their farewells and went their separate ways, Dane back to his training and Levin to the spot him and Jak shared amongst the temporary builds.

  As a treat for being good of late, Sarena and Taylor joined Luken for a stroll out to the riverside. It was time for him to resume lessons, with his least favourite of people, Father Dagon. As usual, he had guards front and rear, and Taylor was content to hold his mums hand. As much as Luken knew it was good those two bonded, he also would be first to admit, he was a little jealous. They had for so long gotten used to it just being father and son, and now he realised how Taylor must have felt, when Sarena was added to the equation.

  They found Father Dagon already waiting, and despite the look he gave, clearly not approving of the others being present, he stayed silent. Sarena and Taylor stayed back a little, as an attempt not to impose on Luken's tutorage. "I have been in consultation with Sandred, and he wants us to attempt something new." Luken just nodded, and though he thought this was likely to end in disaster, kept it to himself.

  Dagon explained how previously Luken had controlled a random amount of fire or one of the other elements, now he was to intensify them. Rather than have a huge fire roaring here, there and everywhere, he was to minimise it. In doing so, this would make it more intense, and therefore burn much hotter. He wanted Luken to imagine it as a beam of light, though instead it needed to be of fire. "Think of it as a burning hot ray of sun," Dagon told him.

  He thought that he understood what he was trying to explain to him, and so set his mind to work. The old man produced a candle and from that single flame, he was to materialise an extreme force of fire. The first attempt saw him nearly burn Dagons eyebrows off, much to the amusement of Taylor, who sat a short distance away laughing. "Boy, if you cannot concentrate I will ask you tell that pair to go elsewhere," he scowled.

  Luken gave him a stern stare, "they will stay Dagon. I am sorry for nearly setting you on fire, but don't go blaming them." He concentrated again, and the flame from the candle widened, and soared up, twisting as he had done to show off his skills to Prince Issac of Murati. The flames were some ten feet high and hovered a few inches from the grass below, and twisted and spun like a vortex. "No. No. No, you are not listening. When did I teach you to do t
hat?" Dagon scolded him.

  "I taught it myself; good do you not think so?" he said innocently. Dagon stared stony faced, "No. I do not. I did not ask you to start teaching yourself, did I? Suddenly you are an expert perhaps. Well fine if you want to go it alone then do so." With that Dagon, stood and started walking away, leaving them at the river and heading for the main track to the city.

  Luken was angry, this man was simply intolerable, no matter what he did, it appeared to be wrong. "Dagon, where are you going?" he shouted after the old man. He was ignored, and that made his blood boil, he flicked his hand and the old man was stopped in his tracks. A wall of invisible solidity slowly pushed the old man back to the prince.

  Luken was going to give him a piece of his mind. He stood and faced the old man, "you are the rudest, most miserable person I have ever met. I try to do what you ask, and no matter what I do, you make snide remarks." Dagon looked at him, "Have you finished boy? I will tell Sandred I will not teach you anymore." Luken just shouted some more, "good, and to be honest you have not really been teaching me anyway. We always end up arguing because you are so impossible."

  The two stared each other down, "Fine boy, have it your way. Next time you nearly kill yourself, do not come running to me." Luken shook his head, this man was simply just plain horrible, "you know what Dagon; I really do not care anymore. Tell this bloody Sandred what the hell you like, I will teach myself. If I kill myself doing so, then that is your failing not mine."

  This time Luken let the old man trundle off, and was still very angry. So much so, he sent a huge jet of flames across the surface of the river, causing a huge cloud of steam to fly up. He followed that by thumping his fist, and caused the entire area to shake. Sarena quickly stood, noticing the guards were starting to get concerned. They were after all, under orders from Luken himself, to render him unconscious should he appear to be losing control.