Burden of Stones

by James Dale

The company headed at a gallop toward the center of the city, toward Ellgereth Palace. The seat of power for the kingdom, the most logical destination for Kiathan to flee now inside Dorshev. What he would do there was anyone's guess. His treachery had been revealed, even with a na'Hhoul to aid him, the arrogant Duke of Raashan could not believe it was still possible to usurp the Ivory Throne. Jack could think of nothing he might hope to accomplish except...except hold King Ellgenn as ransom for safe passage out of the city?

  Judas Bloody Hell. What a mess this had become.

  He urged Eaudreuil to run faster.

  The company road unimpeded through the city. There was no need for caution. Kiathan and the Raashani had already sent pedestrians fleeing for safety, emptying the street of all but the most recklessly curious onlookers. The group galloped headlong through Dorshev, unchallenged until they were within a mile of the king’s palace. At the intersection of King’s Gate and Rael Street, they were met buy a full company of Doridanian soldiers. The coat of arms on their tunics marked them as Home Guard, protectors of the city and commanded directly by the palace. At least one hundred strong, dressed in shining coats of chain mail and armed with swords drawn, they presented a deadly obstacle.

  Captain Eraehart rode boldly to within ten yards of formed troops. “Stand aside for Princess Annawyn.”

  Annawyn rode forward through the protection of Duke Morgan’s guards and her Horse-maidens so they could see the truth of his words.

  "It...it's the princess," one of the troopers in the front rank said loudly.

  "Hold the flaming line!” an officer ordered, forcing himself to the front of the line. “Your prince demands it!" He was obviously one of Kiathan's lackey's, though he wore the uniform of the Home Guard.

  Confusion marked many of their faces. Their beloved princess stood before them. Their oath to protect the royal family was second only to their fealty to the city of Dorshev’s.

  “Stand aside,” Annawyn ordered.

  Their officer turned his back on her. “Hold the flaming…”

  This time Annawyn did not have to ask Lukas to relieve him of command, a Doridanian sergeant did it for her. Stepping up to the officer, he felled the man with a single blow to his jaw. Turning, he bowed to Annawyn. "Doridan has no prince," he growled. "What are your orders, highness?"

  "Send a runner to the 18th King's Rangers," Annawyn ordered. "Tell them to come to the palace with all speed. The crown has need of their services."

  "As you command," the sergeant saluted. "With respect princess, if you mean to take the palace it's not going to be easy. Last night a battalion of Raashani left their siege of the White Horse Tower and entered the grounds. Four hundred men at least. You should send for the 1st and 9th Heavy Horse as well."

  "What is your name sergeant?" Annawyn asked.

  "Rae Haldor, highness," the sergeant saluted. "2nd Home Guard."

  "You are Senior Sergeant Haldor now," the princess replied. "Captain Eraehart, send riders to the 1st and 9th. Senior Sergeant, you and your men follow us."

  "Anna," Jack began...

  "My father is in the palace," the princess said hotly. "If we do not move quickly, I fear Kiathan will..."

  "I know what you fear," Jack nodded. "But there's a battalion of Raashani troops in the palace. Anna," he said quickly, seeing she was about to protest, "We all knew if we didn't catch Kiathan before he reached Dorshev it was going to be rough. We'll, it's about to get rough. He has a battalion, plus what he brought with him. We have a little more than two hundred. We need to wait for your cavalry to arrive before attacking. Once we have assembled enough men, we'll get your father. I swear it to you. But if we attack too soon, even with two Highswords...we will be wasting lives."

  "He is right princess," General Gamrin agreed. "Even if we somehow manage to get inside, with what we have now, Theros and Cilidon would have to do much of the heavy lifting. We go to the palace, see what's what, and wait for reinforcements. We need some archers as well, who can shower the battlements with arrows while the Highswords get us inside. If we do that, Yh willing, some of us will see the next sunrise."

  "The 7th Dorshev Longbow is still quartered within the city," Haldor suggested. "My cousin Dormand is with them. They aren’t scheduled rotate to their southern base until next week. They are still loyal to the throne. They are still loyal to you, my princess. They can be at the palace in less than half an hour. With one hundred archers, you can safely assail the gate."

  "Send for them," Duke Morgan said. "We will make adjustments as needed when we arrive at the palace."

  As riders were sent to gather forces loyal to Annawyn, the company resumed their march toward the palace. A scattering of citizens ventured from houses and shops to watch them pass. It had been an uneasy winter and spring in Dorshev. Popular though Kiathan had once been as Swordmaster of Aralon and betrothed of their princess, his systematic downsizing of the Doridanian army and his increasingly harsh decrees, issued in the name of an increasingly absent king, had begun to grow more and more burdensome to a large number of the populace. Many, like Sergeant Haldor, had been watching anxiously for months as the Duke of Raashan's power grew. They had been watching with growing trepidation as their kingdom slowly slipped away from them. They had been watching, and waiting for their princess to say, "Enough."

  Their wait was finally over.

  The walls surrounding Ellgereth Palace gleamed white in the afternoon sun. Blue and silver pinions waved on the battlements, the color of the House of Ellgereth, but the only troops visible on the walls were dressed in the black and red of Duke Kiathan. At Duke Morgan's command, Captain Eraehart boldly rode forward, well within range the archers on the wall. Though officers could be heard shouting orders, no threatening move was made towards him. After a tense moment, he turned his mount and calmly returned.

  "There are only archers on the battlements," he reported. "No catapults. No fires for heating oil. As long as we can keep their heads down, we can attempt the gate without suffering too many loses. Once we are inside?" the captain shrugged.

  "We spread out and secure the grounds?" Jack said. "Once the archers arrive, we let them make it rain steel and then we get into the palace as quickly as possible. Captain Eraehart, you and your men will go to the king's quarters and secure him if he is there. Tarsus and I will take my Golden Lions and the Hammer straight to the throne room. The heavy horse, we’ll set to rousting the Raashani rats out of your home."

  "Why the throne room, Jack?" Annawyn asked.

  "Because it's the only place in your palace I know how to find," he replied. "And it's the only place I've seen Kiathan in my dreams."

  "Jack," Annawyn warned.

  "Don't worry," he assured her. "I know the rules. Find your father. Make sure he's safe. Theros and Cilidon or I will find the na’Hhoul if he’s within the palace. If we run into Kiathan I let someone else take care of him."

  "High Prince," Captain d'Kenna saluted, joining them, "The Heavy Horse will assemble at Elldoride’s Square."

  “Very well,” Jack nodded. “Once the archers arrive, we get this party started. “Any suggestions?” He asked.

  There were none.

  Braedan and Annawyn followed Duke Morgan’s guards and the Horsemaidens, followed closely by Captain d’Kenna and the Hammer's, with the Golden Lions and the Galekindar securing the rear against surprise attack. Down the Kings Gate another three blocks and they arrived at Elldoride's Square, the broad intersection which was the cross roads of Dorshev. There he found two squadrons of cavalry assembled, eight hundred heavily armed and armored horsemen. If their skill equaled their fierce appearance, they would have more than enough swords gathered to handle a lone Raashani battalion.

  "Who commands these boy scouts," Braedan asked, for the first time confident this plan might actually succeed.

  "Colonel Dreuhil commands the 1st Thunderiders," Annawyn informed him. "Colonel Valdaen commands the 9th Red Horse. Colonels, this is..."

  "Introdu
ctions can wait, Anna," Jack said, patting her thigh. "Colonel Dreuhil, when we breech the gate, take the 1st to the right and sweep the palace grounds. Colonel Valdaen, take your 9th left. Kill any who resist. Then prepare for counter attack."

  Colonel Dreuhil looked Braedan up and down with an appraising eye, then turned to Annawyn. "Highness, why is this man giving orders in your name? Is this not the pirate Jack Braedan, condemned and sentenced to death last fall?"

  "Colonel Dreuhil, Colonel Valdaen," Annawyn said, her voice steeling against the protests she could feel rising. "This is indeed Jack Braedan, the former pirate. But much as happened since he was here last. He is now also...” she hesitated briefly. To reveal all he was at this time would only add to the confusion of the day. “He is also the new Swordmaster of Aralon, my champion and battle captain until the threat against the Ivory Throne is removed."

  "By threat do you mean your betrothed, highness?" Valdaen asked.

  "I do," the princess nodded. "Kiathan Ellgaer is a traitor to Doridan and the Whesguard. On my oath, he will face charges of treason. On my oath..."

  "Highness," Colonel Valdaen interrupted. "I have served the House of Ellgereth for thirty years. On my oath, if you name Ellgaer a traitor, the 9th will see he faces the crown's justice. The true crown's justice."

  "I am honored by your trust," Annawyn bowed. "Now I ask you to trust Jack Braedan."

  "Then what does the...princess' champion ask of us?" Colonel Dreuhil asked, still eyeing Braedan with reservation.

  "Clear the palace grounds of Raashani, then hold it while we find Kiathan," Jack replied. "Will you do that for your princess?"

  "We will," Valdaen nodded.

  "Colonel Dreuhil?" asked Jack.

  "My Thunderiders will not fail the princess," he promised.

  "Good," Jack nodded. "Now...where are these Kings Rangers?"

  "I am Captain Braegil," a tall, whipcord soldier replied, walking up to them. "How may I serve the princess?"

  Jack examined Braegil. The man was a shade over six feet, and appeared to be all sinew and muscle under his gleaming mail. "Captain, where I come from Rangers march faster, fight harder, and are twice as dangerous as good, honest soldiers. Does that describe your men?"

  "Not by half," Braegil smiled grimly.

  "Good," Jack nodded, "because your job will be to scour the palace and find the na'Hhoul Kiathan brought into your city, into your princess' home, and keep it...entertained, long enough until Theros or Cilidon, or I can run a sword through its heart."

  "A na'Hhoul?" Braegil asked, a raised eyebrow his only reaction to the task he had been given. "I thought maybe you had a challenge for us."

  "Captain Braegil, the na'Hhoul slew three hundred Raashani today in the Pass of Galhir," Annawyn said quietly. "Do not underestimate its magik."

  "I do not believe in magik. I believe in is this, highness," the captain answered, laying his hand on the sword at his hip.

  "He's a ranger all right," Jack nodded. "Good luck Captain Braegil." He reached down to offer him his hand.

  "After my lads dispatch this beastie," Braegil said, his hand shake firm as a vice, "I'd be honored to have a drink with a fellow ranger."

  "What makes you think I was ever a ranger?" asked Jack.

  "Only a ranger would call fighting a na'Hhoul entertaining," Braegil smiled.

  "I didn't say it would be entertaining for you," Braedan replied, wryly.

  "I'm looking forward to that drink," the captain laughed.

  "If your Rangers kill the na'Hhoul, they'll drink free on me for a month," Jack promised. “The one who kills it will get one hundred gold Th’rakken.”

  "One hundred…I hope you have coin saved from your days in the Brotherhood," Braegil said. "My boys can drink a lot."

  "High Prince," Captain d'Kenna interrupted. "The 7th Longbow is coming."

  "High Prince?" Braegil asked, for the first showing real surprise.

  "A reformed pirate has to find work where he can," Jack shrugged. "Rangers lead the way."

  "All the way!" Braegil saluted, recovering quickly.

  Now it was Jack's turn to be surprised. Did all Rangers share the same motto, no matter what world they called home? Returning Braegil's salute, he wheeled Eaudreuil about and followed Captain d'Kenna to find the archers.

  The 7th Dorshev Longbow once numbered three hundred and eighty men. Thanks to Kiathan's downsizing of the Doridanian army, their ranks had been reduced to barely half its former strength. Once the most seasoned company of the king's archers, the 7th was now mostly young recruits, with a few grizzled veterans who had chosen reductions in rank rather than the boredom of retirement. Their commander must have seen the doubt in Jack's eyes as he surveyed his company.

  "Many are still wet behind the ears, but they can shoot. I am Captain Talan Ellath. What are your orders?" Apparently, the young commander had quickly deduced who was in charge, and did not need to know why Princess Annawyn was deferring to him.

  "I need you to keep the Raashani dogs’ heads down while we breach the gate," Jack instructed.

  "Each man has a quiver of twenty arrows," Ellath informed him. "More are on the way."

  "Don't skimp hoping to make them last until re-supplies arrive," Jack said. "Make it rain steel for as long as they last."

  "We will," the captain promised.

  "Good," Jack nodded. "Now, King Ellgenn had the foresight to surround the palace with a grove of Silverwood. There's maybe a hundred yards between them and the wall."

  "I know my king's palace," Ellath replied. "How long until you are ready to attack?"

  "By the time your men are in place, I'll have everyone ready," Jack said.

  "Will five minutes be sufficient?"

  "It will," Jack nodded. "Captain Ellath, if we make it to the gate without getting pin cushioned by the Raashani, tomorrow I'll see the princess makes you a major."

  "They will not fire a single shot," Ellath grinned.

  As the archers moved out to take up their positions, Braedan and Captain d'Kenna returned to the waiting troops and sought out his friends.

  "They will be ready to give us cover in five minutes," Jack informed General Gamrin. "I want the cavalry to be ready in three."

  "They are ready now, Jack," Malik replied.

  "Then I guess its show time. Is it safe to assume," Braedan said, turning to Theros and Cilidon, "if you thought your Highswords would have any trouble getting us through the gate, you'd have said something before now?"

  "Dragonslayer was made to slice through armored scales," Theros said. "King Ellgenn's gate will not stand against it."

  "Flesh or bone, steel or stone, Grimblade cares not, nephew," the Ailfar king replied.

  "So, what are we waiting on?" Malik asked, drawing his sword. "Let's go collect my head."

  Captain du'Gail positioned his squad of Dragon Guard around Theros. Captain Beltaran did the same for Cilidon with his Ailfar Rangers. Once the 7th Longbow began providing them cover, they would ride straight for the palace gate. Formed behind them was the 1st Thunderiders, followed by Colonel Valdaen and his 9th Red Horse. Next came Braedan, Tarsus, the Golden Lions and the High King's Hammer; followed by Duke Morgan, Anna and her Horsemaidens, Haldor and his home guard, then Captain Eraehart and his men. Last of all was Captain Braegil and the King's Rangers. Jack was not about to waste their wanton destruction on mere Raashani infantry.

  Jack stood in his stirrups and surveyed the gathered force. Altogether, there was now close to a thousand men waiting to storm Ellgereth Palace. Only once, at the height of the war in Afghanistan, had he been a part of such a large collection of men preparing to go into battle. He'd been a mere corporal then, a Ranger like Braegil had guessed, but still only a simple gunfighter, a small cog in a vast machine. Here however, now, at this moment, he was the one leading all these brave men into a potential meat grinder. Every soldier who died, every grieving widow, and fatherless child created today, would rest squarely on his head. Malik had been wr
ong about one thing. Looking at all these men, Braedan thought he would likely die of a broken heart long before his hair turned gray.

  "Is this how it will be when we finally make war on Red Slayer, Horse-brother?" Eaudreuil asked.

  "No," Jack sighed. "It will be much worse I fear."

  True to his word, Captain Ellath soon had his longbow men in position among the Silverwood grove. Though the grove was planted in straight rows and well groomed, Braedan doubted the Raashani manning the walls of the palace could make out their number with any degree of certainty. Most of them may have been young, but they were obviously well trained. At some unseen signal, almost two hundred men stepped from their hiding places among the trees, drew, and released as one. Before their first volley had covered half the distance to the palace wall, the second volley was in flight.

  It had begun.

  "For the Ivory Throne!" an anonymous soldier shouted.

  "For the Ivory Throne!" nearly a thousand voices shouted in thunderous reply.

  At the head of the waiting troops, Marten du'Gail, Captain of the Dragon Guard, drew his sword and urged his men forward. Surrounded by twelve Ailfar Rangers, Theros Th'nar, King of Brydium, and Cilidon An'Mera, King of Ail'itharain, drew their Highswords and followed after him. By the time the assault force had reached the midway point, Braedan had counted seven volleys, and there was still no answer from the Raashani defenders. The young archers of the 7th were doing their job. The Dragon Guard neared the gate, splitting right and left, allowing Theros and Cilidon to pass through their ranks. The two kings leapt from their mounts and even from one hundred yards away, their shout could be heard clearly.

  "Yharies Sinalda! enna'Eoyolas! Daeon Cythora! Daeon Anath Lith'loriel!"

  Jack Braedan had wielded the Talon of the Hawk. The power he had drawn from the Bin'et Ardendel when he had spoken those same Ailfar words of power during his fight with the demon Morgamaal had been tremendous. His sword Grimrorr, forged with Ailfar magik, was also more than simple steel. Yet he knew neither of those swords held a fraction of the power he could sense building in the two Highswords. As one, Theros and Cilidon swung their blades at the palace gate. Stout timber banded with steel exploded inward as if struck by lightning.