Rise of the Darekian's, The

by Wood, Andrew

  Darak, swayed a little, his dark hair dropping in front of his eyes, "perhaps my lady, you would care to join me for a drink when you return," as he spoke with the same drunken garbled voice. Sarena put her free hand forward to stop him advancing any closer, "I'm afraid I must refuse my lord, perhaps another time," she said hoping he would move out of her path. He stumbled forward a little and met her hand, then backwards as he felt himself against it, looking none too pleased at the rebuke, and what he thought was a shove into his chest. He swayed a little before barging his way past her, nudging into her as he went off, cursing to himself as he did. Sarena felt relieved he was gone, she was going to have to ask, discreetly to be moved, she did not want to be in the room next to that man.

  Luken had just sat down after lighting the single oil lamp allocated to his room, when there was a rap at the door, "enter," he said. Sarena opened the door, and he gestured for her to enter. Taylor walked in behind her, and run to give his dad a hug; it was as long a time as any, that the two had been separated since they had met. Sarena placed hope down on Lukens bed; as usual, the young girl was fast asleep, before joining the others around the table. Another knock on the door, and two of his new Royal guard who were stationed outside the building, opened the door to admit an elderly woman, carrying a tray covered with a linen cloth. She curtsied as best she could, before approaching and placing it down on the table, "your evening meal Highness, I shall be back a little later to collect the dishes." Luken thanked her, waiting in anticipation to see what she had bought them. She carefully placed one dinner plate in front of Luken, then Taylor and lastly Sarena, before removing the cloth off the tray. A bowl of mixed vegetables, a plate of sliced beef, and a pot of dark gravy was placed on the table, as well as a plate of biscuits, much to the delight of them all.

  After living off stew and bread for what had felt like an eternity, it was nice; to once more eat a proper meal. Even Taylor ate his fair share of vegetables, before making a beeline for the plate of biscuits. Sarena spoke of her discomfort at being placed next to the Lord Galliss and his sons, explaining her situation she had just endured with the youngest. Luken had earlier witnessed the looks the man had been giving Sarena, "I will have a talk with Lord Galliss tomorrow, he seems a nice man, I'm sure he won't take offence if I ask him to have a word with Darak. If not I suppose we could see about getting you moved, but I understand, these few rooms are a premium," suggesting in an ever so tentative way, she was lucky to get one at all, though he would never actually say so.

  It was getting late, and Taylor was yawning, clearly exhausted by the long day they had endured. Luken asked one of the guards to escort Sarena back to her room, and make sure she was safely inside before returning. Taylor quickly washed himself, not properly, but Luken was in no mood to bother, before undressing and getting into bed. Taylor produced a book, as Luken went to tuck him in, "can you read to me?" he asked. Noticing the book was one he had packed away when they had fled Hamalin, unsurprisingly the one about a wizard. Although he was ready to sleep himself, he obliged, but made sure it was only for a short while. Once he himself was readied, he put out the lamp and lay down, and thought how thankful he was, to actually, be able to sleep on a bed once more.

  Caldar rode at the head of his troops, crossing over crop fields and pasture, avoiding any main roads or frequented tracks. The last two days had seen them make slow progress, and had only encountered two settlements, one had been burned to the ground, the other left totally abandoned. Its occupants had fled in such a hurry; they had discovered many of their personal belongings still there. He pulled his horse to a halt as he waited for his four scouts to reach the group, he did notice they appeared to ride with some urgency, and indication they had news of importance. After a simple bowed head, the scout spoke, "highness, there is a small farmstead over that direction, currently under attack, from probably about thirty or so Darekians."

  Caldar wasted no time; he gave a shout, dug his heels into the horse's flanks, and rode at speed, quickly followed by the rest of his men. Riding over the brow of a hill, he slowed for a few seconds, allowing some resemblance of a line to form, before drawing his sword. Signalling to tell his men to charge, two lines, one after the other, into the backs of the enemy already engaged below. They could see a building already on fire, as well a number of dead Darekian soldiers, lying on the ground around the main house, each with several arrow shafts protruding out of them.

  As they thundered down the hillside to engage, the enemy turned realising they were being attacked. Arrows kept firing from somewhere inside the building, taking down more enemy. As Caldar approached, he raised his sword, and then swung it down hitting a man across the shoulder. The force of the slash from being on a mounted position cut deep and the man fell to the ground. Trying to turn his horse whilst keeping momentum, he picked his next target. Noticing one of his men being pulled from his mount and run through with a blade, he made a move to attack. This time he struck a man across the neck, almost taking his head clean off, as blood sprayed out like a fountain as he sliced through. The second of his ranks smashed in to the enemy already engaged with the first charge, easily causing casualties on the already busied enemy.

  Wiping his brow, he looked around at the scene of so much killing, the last of the Darekian men had been cut down, and his men were now checking the dead and piling them to be burnt. He felt regret and remorse for his own dead, eight men dead, two injured as well as four horses that he had to put out of their misery, having succumbed to serious wounds. The door of the farmhouse finally opened and an elderly man made his way calmly out of the doorway. He looked over fifty years old at least, with scraggy grey hair, and of an average height and build, "they all dead then?" he asked, spitting on the ground as he did. Caldar eyed the man for a while, wondering why at least he had not even thanked them for saving his life. "We would have seen them off eventually anyway, even if you and your men had not showed up you know," he said, quite sure of himself.

  Caldar actually smiled at the remark, "we?" he asked, noticing no one else. The man gave a shout and others started exiting the doorway, five men, well four and a boy, and a young woman. The man introduced them as his sons, Eric, Davis, Carlton, Edward and Mitch the youngest, then to his daughter, a twin of the one named Edward. She had long auburn hair, tied with a red bow at the back, brown eyes and soft pale skin, and the young prince was lost in that view for a moment, "her name is Vanessa," the man added bringing him back to his senses.

  The man and his family took one look at the building that had been set alight, and reluctantly knew it was beyond them trying to fight the fire. The only thing they did do was to try to salvage a few items from within it, dragging a few sacks out into the yard, before they deemed it unsafe to repeat the process any further. Once Caldar was happy, the enemy dead had been piled and his own buried, he returned his attention to the family they had just fought to save. It was the father who spoke, "been lots of folk around here come under attack by this lot" he said spitting on the ground once more. He continued on, telling them how they had made their home more defensible, by dampening the thatch twice a day, and making arrow slits in the boarded up windows.

  Caldar doubted whether they would have held out indefinitely, but credit where it was due, they had already accounted for near on a dozen enemies before he had made his appearance. The family appeared to be making repairs before Caldar spoke "I would suggest sir that you and your family leave this place. Move south with us to a more secure area." The father immediately went on the defensive, "Are you a fool son," he said, clearly thinking the man before him was no more than a soldier. "I lived here all my life, my children were all born here, my wife died here, you think I am going to give it all up just because some half witted Darekians attacked."

  It was quickly apparent the man and his family were not going to be easily persuaded to leave their home, despite their awareness of the dangers. He knew if he left them to their own devices, eventually another group would
come and flush them out, or worse Orlacs would find them first. He tried explaining to the father, what was out there, and though the old man did look alarmed at the mention of the word Orlac, Caldar got the impression he was not believed. Caldar struggled to hold his temper when he heard the father say, "those bloody lot in the capital aren't doing nothing, the kings not doing anything, sitting on his fat lazy ass no doubt, sipping their wine whilst hard working honest folk like us are getting attacked and killed." Noticing Caldar looking ready to burst, it was the man's daughter, Vanessa, who spoke next, "perhaps these men are from Hamalin Father."

  Taking a deep breath, he had to, or probably kill the man; "let me tell you sir, as you have obviously not been informed. Hamalin has been destroyed, as far as I know everyone was killed with them." Vanessa spoke again, "our apologies, we did not know. Are you all that are left of our army?" Caldar told them of the men and defensive lines being built at Casham and Berston; but as far as he was aware, either anything north of that, was in enemy hands or like the farm, they were at, under threat. He spoke of the treaty with the south Besemians and how that country was being torn apart, warring with itself. "Who is running the defences then if our king is gone, were the young princes killed also?" Vanessa enquired.

  "I fear one was, but I am holding up", he said with a certain sudden sadness to his voice. It took several seconds for the words to sink in, but when they did, the entire family quickly fell to their knees in front of Caldar. The father begged forgiveness, not just for himself but for his family, he had assumed him just an officer, some young noble's son who had been jumped up the ranks. "I am sorry to hear of your loss" Vanessa spoke softly, "Father, maybe we should reconsider the offer. I personally think we should go with the prince and his men." Her father looked at her, grimacing, before looking at his sons. Each in turn nodded, "oh very well. If we may your highness, we would like to join you." They asked for a short time to gather some items, as well as supplies for the trip south.

  An hour after and with still a few hours left in the day the group rode off, continuing their trip southwards. Caldar still wanted to keep off the main tracks, choosing once more to cross fields instead. Vanessa spoke of a number of other farmsteads in the direction they rode, and suggested they stop off and warn the occupants, if they were still there, of the impending attacks. Caldar appeared to have an immediate liking of the young woman, he thought she was pretty, quick witted as well as having a caring nature. She smiled at him, and chuckled to herself, as she explained how foolish they had all been in speaking ill of the royals, and then to have one staring them straight in the face. Caldar realised how funny that must have looked, and laughed along with her. He had not felt like doing so in quite some time, but there was something about Vanessa that made him feel it was all right to do so.

  After the best night's sleep he had had in quite some time, he was awoken by the noise of Taylor trying to get himself dressed. He did not mind, it was probably time for him to get up himself anyway. He sat up, yawned, and noticed the sun was up. They did not have glass windows in the wooden buildings but some form of stretched oiled skin. You could not really see through it but it did let a sufficient amount of light in to see what you were doing. His optimism for getting up soon waned when he realised he would probably be spending the day being hounded by people wanting his say on this, or someone wanting his authority on that. After a knock the door opened, and a serving woman was let in, "Your breakfast highness, I'll just place it on the table for you, don't let it get cold mind" she added, as a hint to get himself out of bed.

  Taylor was already seated and waiting as Luken finally slumped down on the chair, "can we start dad?" he asked politely. "Of course, you did not have to wait for me you know" he replied, removing the cloth off the tray. Thankfully, gruel like porridge was off the menu, instead they had a number of slices of toasted bread, a small tub of butter, and one with a fruit preserve in. In addition there was a small jug of fruit juice, which Luken poured first, before picking up a piece of warm toast and spreading butter on it, then doing the same with the fruit preserve and passing it over to Taylor. He did likewise for himself and savoured every bite, before having a second slice. Once suitably well fed to make a start, the two washed at the stand in their room, before exiting to start the new day.

  Deciding it was better for Taylor to once more keep company with Sarena, rather than have to follow him round all day, he made her room their first stop. Shadowed by his two guards, Levin now having been fully relieved of the duty, and after a brief talk with the young Lady, he left his son with her. He needed to go to the command tent first to check on the latest happenings, and was greeted by Jak Corley, "morning your highness, you are looking very bright this morning. Slept well on that comfy bed of yours did you" he smiled as he said it, "some of us still have to make do with the floor," he mumbled. Luken laughed, "I'm sure a little longer won't hurt Jak", the elderly guard harrumphed, "they should be putting men of my...experience, in beds, it should be you youngsters made to sleep on the floor." Levin was, as he almost always appeared to be of late, stood next to Jak, and the two youngsters shared smiles at the old soldier grumping about his aches and pains.

  Once they got to business, Jak updated the young prince of the latest news. Trees were being felled by the hundreds, and already they had started quite a stockpile. Men were working, sawing the timber into planks, whilst the rest was being cut for other uses. Whatever could not be used was being piled for firewood. The smiths were hoping to have the huge iron hinges in place today, and the doors were almost complete. They hoped sometime tomorrow to have them in place; the metal studs would be fixed on once in position. Once complete, work could start on a set for the city gatehouse. Work had started clearing away the grass and weeds inside the city, confirmed by the smoke of burning fires visibly rising above the walls. The city walls themselves were being checked over, and repaired where needed. The keep ground floor was being cleared, and they hoped to start moving up to start replacing roof timbers. Whilst the roof was being sorted, due to the good weather they hoped also to make a start on stairs, and floor boarding.

  Pleased everything was clearly in hand, he next went to check with General Skalton, who he found by the bridge. He found him surveying the riverbanks, and area across the other side of the bridge. Woodsmen were already busy cutting trees, and some large horses were pulling those they had, back across the bridge to the camp area. A number of guards stood casually at the entry, though they quickly straightened when Luken passed them by. On seeing the prince approach, the General made his way to him, "Morning Thomas, any news I should be aware of?" Luken asked as the two neared each other. The General shook his head, "nothing new your highness, I was just checking the local vicinity, these river banks are nice and steep, would make any attempt at crossing more difficult." He continued by telling how he thought the tree line was better now it was being cut back, and that his scouts had not seen anything of note heading their direction. They had however spotted smoke rising far off in the distance, though it was impossible to tell how far, and which direction the enemy were heading.

  Lord Galliss, followed by his eldest son Aric, was waiting for the two of them at the bridge gatehouse. The lord was overseeing the final checks before the huge oaken doors were bought out to fit. He explained to Luken and the General, how once fitted the doors could not be lifted off their hinges. They would also have iron studs on the outside, as well as three wide iron bars fitting across the inside, making it near impossible for them to be burst open. He told them if anyone wanted to get through them, once they had been fastened shut they would literally have to smash them to pieces. Not an easy task, as he pointed out that all the while anyone who tried, would be being fired upon, from the now repaired battlements. General Skalton nodded his head in approval, and Luken knew these new doors must be good if they impressed him.

  Sarena sat next to Taylor at the small table in her room, assisting him in writing out his alphabet. A loud thud at th
e door, and as she rose to answer it burst open. Despite it only being mid morning Darak appeared already drunk, stumbling through the doorway and into the room. "I've come to see if you would like that drink now, my lady?" He asked slurring his words slightly, and offering a bottle of spirits he had half drank in his hand. Sarena felt uncomfortable by his presence, "I think you should go Darak, maybe lie down and sleep off your drunkenness." He smiled, taking a swig from his bottle, before wiping his mouth with his dirty sleeve, "I'm not drunk, at least I don't think so," he stepped nearer. Taylor stood and quickly stepped between Sarena and Darak, shouting "she said go away," standing as tall as he could make himself. Darak laughed at the boy, "oh get out of my way you little brat" he mumbled, grabbing Taylor and pulling him to one side, and onto the floor in a heap.

  Sarena fumed, "how dare you" she screamed, her face reddening, she raised her hand and slapped him hard across the face. Darak rocked back, completely stunned by it all, dropping his bottle on the floor. The glass shattered and the contents spilled out across the bare wooden boards. "You silly bitch" he snarled, grabbing her arm, and shaking her violently. Taylor darted out of the room, hearing Sarena scream behind him and he ran, he ran like he never thought possible, he needed to find his dad, and quick. Without even thinking, he sprinted out of the camp area and headed for the bridge, somehow knowing that is exactly where his father would be. Luken turned to see his son running, sensing something was wrong by the look on his face, "what's wrong?" he asked as soon as Taylor reached him. Taking a few deep breaths, "its Lady Sarena, that man's son" he pointed to Lord Galliss, "is all drunk and burst into our room, he shoved me to the floor, so she slapped him, but now he's got her and ..." Luken, Galliss, Aric, General Skalton and Lukens guards were already running before Taylor had even finished.