The crowd grew more and more agitated with every bit of malice spewed from Queen Bronwyn. More importantly, the sky began to darken, even though it was midday.
Sir Adelard affirmed, “Your Majesty, I did send out a messenger. I don’t understand why my wolf did not find you.”
Queen Bronwyn bellowed, “You do not send a filthy beast to notify royalty! I demand notification from the Steward of the High Throne directly! My guards dismissed your mongrel!” The ground started to rumble by now and the entire sky was now black as night. “Why have you summoned these people to the capital?”
“The All-Father chose a new champion and successor to the High Throne, your Majesty,” Sir Adelard replied.
Queen Bronwyn snapped, “Do not spout off about that false God! Where was the All-Father when they betrayed my husband?” Thunder emanated throughout all of Aerynth by that time. “Damn that old fool, I am the rightful ruler of Aerynth!”
Silence fell upon all of Mellissar when a single bolt of lightning charged from the Heavens and struck Queen Bronwyn. The force not only shook the ground, but also knocked all of the inhabitants of the capital back several yards. When the crowd rose to their feet, they discovered that nothing remained of Queen Bronwyn except a pile of ash and her crown. Even when someone died, since the Turning, a body normally remained for some time after death, but not in this case.
Sir Adelard exclaimed, “By the All-Father! What happened?” He stood over the remains of the now-deceased Queen.
“I believe you just said what happened to her,” Zeristan replied with a smirk. “It’s not wise to spat blasphemous remarks upon the All-Father.”
Sir Adelard gasped, “Agreed!”
The other knights formed around Sir Adelard, Zeristan, and the newly formed pile of ashes…along with a new hole in the steps. The once smug knights appeared more humble in the presence of the All-Father’s wrath. Sir Malorn approached Sir Adelard and withdrew an object from a satchel. It was Cambruin’s crown. Now that the clouds had dissipated, the gold shown bright and the marks of the All-Father were visible on the front.
“In light of current events it seems wise to support the claim of this new champion,” Sir Malorn stated, handing the crown to Sir Adelard. “Who may I ask is the heir?”
Aedan boasted, stepping up alongside Zeristan with Vanya behind him, “Our son, Megildur.” Malorn looked at Aedan with suspicion, then with despise at Vanya and little Aranel, who of course displayed the mystical tattoos revealing her race.
Sir Malorn chided, “An Aelfborn is the new High King?” He looked up into the sky and mumbled under his breath, “Why, All-Father, why?” Looking back down with contempt at Aedan, Vanya, and Aranel the would-be Saint grumbled, “We will see!” He turned toward the gates and departed shouting, “Send word when you set the time for the coronation of the new High King! This one I have to see!”
Many of the other guests chatted with the High Steward Adelard and hastily left Mellissar. The capital cleared out. A single young Elf made his way through the departing crowds to find Vanya. The young Elf had a slight green complexion, meaning he was from Vanya’s tribe, the Gwaridorn Elves.
The young Elf gasped, since he was out of breath from running. “M’Lady, word has spread throughout the Bard network. We received a report that your son, Megildur, is heading toward the Amazon guild.” Vanya and Aedan stared at each other in horror. “We have assembled several groups aboard ships to assist. They await your arrival. They are at the nearest port to the east.”
Vanya tugged Aedan aside, “I have to help him. I know the Amazon guild and they will not take kindly to Megildur, or his Shade companion.”
“You go. I will stay with Aranel and Zeristan,” Aedan replied. “We will prepare for Megildur and the coronation.” Aedan hugged Vanya and whispered, “Get our son out of there and back on his way.”
Vanya whispered back, “I will.” She turned to face the Elven messenger and commanded, “Lead the way to the ship!” The two Elves departed for the ships, Aedan held his daughter close.
“Father, are Mother and Megildur going to be alright?” Aranel asked.
In a comforting voice Aedan replied, rubbing Aranel’s back. “They will be fine. They will be fine.” He picked up his daughter and hugged her, but Zeristan could tell Aedan was worried about his wife and son, and rightfully so.
CHAPTER 26: The Amazon Encounter
By now, the sun had set and the companions walked in total darkness. They were pressing on, ever so vigilant. Even the moon was not visible tonight, making travel much more difficult. The air was getting cold and damp as they neared another river but they continued traveling east nonetheless. The three knew they were getting close by the sounds of the rushing water.
“Honoria, how much further to the Amazon boundary?” Megildur asked. “I am surprised we made it this far without…” Megildur froze. He had an uneasy feeling they were not alone. The deafening cricket sound fell silent. Megildur slowly reached for his weapon. Neither Gaal nor Honoria had time to react, but it was too late anyway.
A voice commanded, “Move and we will kill you!” Several assailants emerged from the surrounding forest, perfectly camouflaged within the terrain. Megildur panned the area to observe numerous women now visible, and heavily armed. Many of the female Warriors wielding bows only possessed one breast. Megildur heard stories of how Amazon women would remove one to improve their skills with a bow. Standing before him was a female Half Giant pointing a spear at him, and she did not look pleased to see him.
“Scyleia, where are you?” Honoria shouted. Hoping her friend was amongst the Warriors.
A voice resounded, “Honoria, what are you doing with these men?” Scyleia emerged from the Warrior clan. She approached, with her weapon still in hand. At the last second, Scyleia sheathed her weapon and embraced her friend Honoria. Scyleia appeared small in stature, but Human female Bards did not require formidable size or strength. Her protection spells were enough to deem her a valuable asset to the Amazon guild.
“Allow me to introduce my friends. This is Gaal,” Honoria said, introducing her traveling companions. “And this is Lord Megildur.”
Scyleia whispered, “This is him?” Honoria nodded. Scyleia turned to Megildur, “M’Lord, I have heard a great deal about you across the Bard’s network.”
“Apparently everyone in Aerynth is aware of my doings lately,” Megildur responded. He greeted Scyleia. “We were hoping…”
The large Half Giant commanded, “Silence peasant!” She thrust her spear near Megildur’s throat. “We will take you before Queen Andromache! She will decide your fate!”
With that last command, the rest of the Amazon Warriors corralled the three travelers and forced them toward the river. Gaal noticed several women carried chains with someone, or something, restrained on the end of their leashes. Upon further inspection, he deduced they were men…or what remained of them. The males wore metal collars around their necks and crawled on all fours, like beasts. They did not wear any clothes and were filthy. On one of the Warriors, Gaal spied an unusual piece of jewelry around her neck. It was a leathery sack containing two round objects within. He looked back down at the male on the chain and realized where the unusual jewelry came from; they were the male’s testicles.
“Keep moving or I will add yours to my collection!” The Amazon Warrior shoved the Shade forward, who now looked more green than pale.
Megildur noticed a footbridge used for crossing the waterway. It swayed side to side as the long line of Warriors navigated the narrow walkway. Crossing the footbridge, Megildur surveyed his surroundings and realized the Amazons were on an island or peninsula. The Warriors must have chosen the location for its strategic vantage point. They had to cross another bridge before they could see the light from Fort Irsadeng, the Amazon safehold.
The gates loomed over the menacing fortress. Immense timbers fortified the walls and the bones of their enemies decorated the barriers. The guards pushed Honoria, Megildur, a
nd Gaal into a building that contained small animal-like cages. The smell was enough to make even Gaal’s stomach upheave. They were prisoners for sure.
Megildur commanded, “I demand to see your leader!” His guard shoved him into the metal cage like an animal. “I am…”
The Half Giant bellowed, “You are a worthless man who will get to see the Queen when she is ready, not when you demand naive!” The guards slammed the door shut and once again, the three of them were hostages of another barbaric faction. A guild who hated men, that news did not sit well with Megildur or Gaal. The Half Giant oppressor, and the rest of her group, exited the building leaving Scyleia inside and two guards just outside the building entrance.
“Scyleia, what is going on and why have your people enslaved us here?” Honoria pleaded with her friend. “I thought we were friends?”
Scyleia whispered, “We are friends, Honoria,” She did not want the others to hear her compassion. “But my people don’t take well to outsiders, especially males.” She glanced at Megildur and Gaal, who obviously took offense by the comment. “Why did you bring men here? Now the Queen is going to consider you a traitor to our gender and condemn you as well. She will enslave you all. You will spend the rest of your lives being tortured and existing only as their shackled beasts! They will certainly castrate the males and for you who brought them here…I shudder to think of the consequences.”
Honoria grumbled, “Some friend!” She said this loud enough for Scyleia to hear. This caused Scyleia to pause when she reached the door. Turning her head, she looked remorseful, closing the door behind her.
The Half Giant Warrior grunted. “Your compassion for the prisoners is pointless.” She approached Scyleia as she left the barracks. “The Queen will decree their fate, as she rightfully should.”
“She happens to be my friend!” Scyleia countered the brute’s heartless comment. She wanted to cry for her friend but knew an emotional outburst in the Amazon guild would be a sign of weakness. Weakness around these Warriors would lead to her demise. Instead, she turned her sadness to anger with the last statement from the callous brute. This had little effect on the Half Giant, who scowled at Scyleia and walked away.
Preservation took over. Running to the barracks, Scyleia grabbed a travel pack, a bow, and went to an opening on the far side of the safehold. Finding a collection of loose boards, Scyleia managed to push them aside, just far enough to escape. The singular hope now for Megildur, Gaal, and Honoria was for Scyleia to use the Bard network to get help. She wasted no time.
Stranded in the Amazon prison, the three companions looked for a way out. Even Honoria’s Nephilim strength was no match for the cage bars, forged from truesteel. It was the toughest metal in all of Aerynth, next to obsidian of course. Regardless, Honoria kept pounding away at the cell trying to escape until exhaustion subdued her and she had to rest.
Honoria gasped, “This is all my fault, I walked us right into a trap.” She sat down to gather more breath. “I thought Scyleia was my friend.”
“I am just as much to blame,” Megildur admitted, causing Honoria and Gaal to both stare at him with confused expressions on their faces. “I ignored the warning from Commander Nostarion about the Amazon guild. I passed it off as paranoia from one guild about another, when I should’ve weighed it heavily.” Megildur turned to Honoria. “We will share this burden together and whatever may come.” Honoria took little comfort in Megildur’s words, as for Gaal, he took no comfort at all. He still worried for his genitals.
All three worked throughout the night, mulling over escape plans. They looked for weaknesses in their enslavement bindings. None of which worked. Honoria even attempted magic spells on the cages, but this proved futile. Gaal could only fade in and out, which was a useless skill for the situation. Megildur wished Zeristan was with them, he would know a way out…or create his own. He knew wishing would get him nowhere. Night turned to morning faster than they had anticipated. Megildur knew this meant trouble for all three of them.
The Half Giant bellowed, “On your feet pigs!” She rattled the cage door. One of the guards opened the cage with a key. Megildur and his exhausted companions wearily stood to face what came next. The guard motioned for the prisoners to hurry out of the cage, past the Half Giant.
Gaal blurted out, “What, you are not going to even feed us before the execution?” A backhanded motion from the brute followed his outburst, hitting Gaal in the side of the head. Gaal stumbled but managed to stay on his feet, leaving Megildur to believe this was not the Thieves’ first backhand from an insult.
“Move outside!” The brute commanded, forcing all three of them through the barracks door. Once outside, the guards took them down a path to an arena full of Amazon women. The atmosphere filled with disdain toward the captives. This was evident by the numerous vulgar comments and items thrown upon them. Once they reached the center of the arena, they saw a woman sitting on a throne. She appeared Human with long black hair, but larger than most. She stood nearly the height of a Half Giant and almost as muscular. The skimpily covered Warrior donned jewels of high rank. The woman only wielded a jewel encrusted gold spear and her people heavily guarded her. Not that she needed to be. They assumed this was the Amazonian Queen.
The Queen demanded an answer from the captives, “Who dares trespass into Amazon territory?” She stood from her throne and pointed at Honoria. “You, female, I should disembowel you for bringing this vile refuse into my kingdom, but I demand to hear what pathetic excuse you have. Speak now!”
“I speak for us,” Megildur interjected. “I am…” One of her guards struck him, knocking the Aelfborn to the ground. Megildur gasped for air.
The queen lashed back at Megildur, “Hold your tongue buffoon, or next time you speak I will remove your insolent tongue! I am Queen Andromache, ruler of the Amazon nation, and you will not speak unless I command you to!”
Honoria interjected, “Your Majesty, I am Honoria. I am a Bard accompanying Lord Megildur on his quest given to him by the All-Father. My other companion is Gaal, and we meant no harm. We were just seeking passage to Stormvald.”
Queen Andromache taunted, “So you are the mighty Lord Megildur my Bards spoke of?” She descended from her throne to confront Megildur, who was now on his knees before the Queen, subdued by the guards. “I heard of an Aelfborn ‘boy’ who toppled the Dar Khelegur, with the help of other guilds of course. I also heard of your pointless quest from a fallen God to recover a mythical sword that does not exist.” She scoffed at Megildur. “Your pathetic All-Father has no power here, peasant! We worship the true Goddess, Vashteera, the Dark Prowler and Mother of Cats.”
Megildur jeered, “If you feel we are worthless travelers on a pointless quest, then why not just release us and send us on our way?” The Queen glared at him, reached down, and lifted him by the throat.
Queen Andromache growled, “I warned you if you spoke again without my command it would be your last time! Cut out his insolent tongue!” The Amazon Warrior restraining Megildur pulled out her dagger and held it to his face. The Queen pulled open his shirt, exposing his chest. “I always hated these filthy Aelfborn tattoos.” Queen Andromache proceeded in using her spear to slice into Megildur’s flesh, just deep enough to sever the mystical designs and inflict extreme pain upon the Aelfborn Lord. Megildur cringed and writhed due to the intense pain, but that only increased the Warrior’s grip. What passed as moments to the world, seemed like hours to Megildur. The Amazonian leader lowered her spear and nodded to one of her immense guards.
The Half Giant brute now stood before him and forced his mouth open, to gain access to the Aelfborn Lord’s tongue. Megildur struggled by thrashing his head side to side but the brute overpowered him and pulled his tongue past his teeth. Honoria and Gaal were helpless to stop the persecution, since they too were hostages of the Amazon guards. The second guard holding Megildur from behind moved her blade into position to sever his tongue, but dropped the dagger. Next, the guard herself dropped to the g
round alongside her weapon. The Half Giant Warrior released Megildur’s tongue, with a shocked look on her face. Megildur was now free. The brute did not stare at the Aelfborn but just past him. Megildur turned to see a female Elf standing atop one of the buildings, holding a bow, but he could not determine whom she was. He looked down at the guard that was restraining him to realize she had an arrow in her back, from the Elf archer perched on the roof. He looked past the building to see an army of Elves charging toward him. Their skin was pale green. They were from the Gwaridorn tribe.
The Elf with the bow yelled, “Megildur, run!” He did not know how she knew his name, but he knew another chance to escape would not come again.
Megildur grabbed the dagger off the ground and turned to face the Half Giant, only to find she had already departed to confront the Elven army. He held the dagger to the guard holding Gaal and she released him at once. He was going to repeat the same action with the guard holding Honoria, but she already worked her way loose of her restraints and subdued her captor. With all three of them now freed, they ran toward the Elven invaders. Megildur assumed that if the Gwaridorn Elves helped him escape then he could trust them, for now.
The Elven archer yelled out again, “Megildur, over here!” Megildur could see her over by a newly formed opening in the perimeter fence. It looked like the Elven army made a considerable hole in the safehold to get their forces inside. Megildur followed the Elven archer through the opening just to get a surprising embrace on the other side. Megildur pulled back to identify who his liberator was.
Megildur exclaimed, “Mother, is that you?” He was in shock at the sight of his mother as an Elven Scout. His mother led a humble home life, not the life of a deadly archer. His mother was not wearing her usual attire but instead wore dusky leather armor with a dark violet hue about it. At some points, when she moved, it almost helped her vanish into her surroundings.
“Hurry, this way! We must get to the ships! The Gwaridorn will distract the Amazons!” Vanya commanded, trying to move Megildur and his companions along. “I shall explain everything once we are aboard.” They all agreed, since they did not feel welcomed at Fort Irsadeng.
Shadowbane: Age of Aelfborn Page 16
