Burden of Stones

by James Dale

  “As you command,” the Khan of Khazin-Achbor nodded.

  “You are a good man, Hamman,” Jack said.

  “We will share shade and wine when this day is finished, Jack Braedan,” the Kadinar smiled, then wheeled his mount and galloped back to relay the High King’s orders.

  “Borg. Send a rider to Sir Gain,” Jack instructed the commander of the Golden Lions. “Tell him to stop his chase, re-form his knights and await further orders.”

  “As you command,” Cassaban replied.

  “Captain d’Kenna,” Jack continued. “Send Hammer to the High Lord, all the commanders, and to Lady Ara’fael. Have them meet me here. Einnael, fetch Duke Morgan for me if you please.”

  “My Lord,” the Hammer’s commander saluted.

  “At once,” the Horsemaiden replied.

  It took agonizing moments for the Whesguard leaders to arrive as Braedan watched the Kadinar begin their slow turn to the north. General Tolkaen was the last to arrive, having been with Brydium’s Legionnaire infantry at the rear of the formation. By the time they were all present, Jack had drawn his hasty plan in the rocky soil.

  “We cannot win this spread out along the entire front,” Jack began. “We just don’t have enough troops. Mullah Khan is taking the Kadinar north. He’ll fall on the grim’Hiru flank when we attack and try to keep the other forces fixed against the mountains. High Lord, send word to the Lords with King Rhor’dal and Haerold. I want Caladin and Amorhad, and the Ailfar with them to hold here, and here,” he said, pointing to their north and south. “Morgan, I want Doridan to protect our southern flank. The gate in our objective. The grim’Hiru protect it. Uncle, Grimblade was created for this reason. Remove them as a threat. General Tolkaen, bring up the Legion. When they are ready, Sir Gain will take the White Horse Knights and the Doridanian cavalry into their center. The Legion will follow with Thonicil and General Tolkaen leading them and punch a hole to let me do what we came here to do. Theros, you have any dragons that threaten the field. Tarsus, bring Amar and the Galekindar. You will ride with me. Perigaen, all the Lord’s you can spare will go with us. Thoughts?” he finished.

  “I can think of nothing better, at the moment,” General Tolkaen nodded.

  “Nor I,” Malik Gamrin agreed.

  “We must do this quickly,” Jack instructed. “Mullah Khan will be in position in less than half an hour. Is that sufficient time bring the Legion forward and to swing Doridan south?”

  “Only just,” Tolkaen replied.

  “It is,” Duke Morgan nodded.

  “There are no more speeches to give,” Braedan sighed, rising. “Hold the flanks. Pierce the grim’Hiru and get me to the gate. I will try and do the rest.”

  “I was with Ljmarn when we failed before,” Cilidon An’Mera said, laying his hand on Jack’s shoulder. “I will not fail the west again.”

  “We will not fail,” Theros seconded.

  With determined nods, the Whesguard leaders returned to their commands relay the High King’s plan. Soon only Lord Faendil remained. The look on the Seerer’s face was grim. “A moment, Beloved?” Jack giving Anna a brave smile.

  “Of course,” his wife nodded. “I will wait for you here.”

  “I know how this day will likely end,” Jack said quietly, as he drew Faendil out of her hearing.

  “As do I,” the Lord replied sadly.

  “No more ‘there are several possibilities?” asked Braedan.

  “The path is laid out, High King,” Faendil sighed. “When the sun sets, the Bloodstone will be removed from the earthe. And Sunheart with it.”

  “I have…I have not endangered Anna and our child with this plan?” asked Jack hesitantly.

  “Your son will be a great king one day,” the Lord replied. “All possibilities lead to that now. Though his glory will be much reduced without Yhswyndyr in his hands.”

  “I can live with that. So to speak,” Braedan smiled wryly.

  “You have done all Yh has required of you,” Faendil informed him. “No man can could have done more.”

  “Not all,” Jack corrected. “Not yet.”

  “No,” the Lord sighed. “Not all. Not yet.”

  “Have…have you seen how I…?” Jack let the question hang.

  “I have not, High King,” the Lord answered. “In that, there are still possibilities. But if the Bloodstone is to be destroyed, your ending will be the same.”

  “I apologize for how I treated you,” Jack said.

  “You have been less…demanding, than I foresaw,” Faendil smiled. “For that I am thankful.”

  “Will you tell Anna…when this is done…will you tell her…”

  “She will grieve, as a loving wife should, but she will be a strong queen and raise a strong son,” the Lord assured him.

  “Then I am content,” Jack nodded. “Farewell Lord Faendil.”

  “My King,” the Lord bowed.

  “What did he say?” Anna asked, when Jack rejoined her.

  “That we have done all Yh has required of us,” Jack replied, kissing her cheek. “That one day our son will be a wise and gracious High King.”

  “Then let’s finish this and get back home, Beloved,” the Queen of Doridan smiled.

  “Yes,” Jack smiled, bravely. “Let’s go home.”

  Dorad was waiting beside Tarsus when Jack and Anna joined the Galekindar. “I thought you would be watching Ally?” Jack smiled.

  “Not much a Dreamwalker can add to this fight. She is as far from the front as the Lady Ara’fael could send her without knocking her over the head and magiking her back to Golden-brier,” he replied. “Besides, what would I tell our children?” the Doridanian prince asked with a wry smile. “That I cowered safely under their mother’s skirt while their Uncle Jack and Auntie Anna were busy saving the world?”

  “Our future children,” he assured his sister quickly when she gasped in shock. “I’m not that stupid.”

  “Then you are a stronger man than me,” Tarsus laughed. “If Maerinna was here…”

  “Do you pirates think of nothing else?” Annawyn sighed.

  Jack laughed, deep and cleansing. The last hours of his life were swiftly approaching, but he would pass them surrounded by the people he loved most in the world. “I am glad you are here, both of you. Stay close enough to get some of the glory, but not so close you and Ally can’t fill Ail’itharain with my nieces and nephews when it’s done. You too, Tarsus. I promised Kaerl and Mirique you would make Maerinna fine husband.”

  “I will do my best to keep your promise, Jack,” the Amarian grinned.

  “Just like old times, then?” asked Braedan, drawing Yhswyndyr.

  “Gods, I hope not,” Tarsus laughed, drawing his own sword.

  “I love you, Jack Braedan,” his wife smiled.

  “And I love you, my queen,” he smiled back. “Let’s get this done before these pirates decide they have more important things to do than save the world.”

  Jack Braedan opened completely himself to Sunheart, drawing in its power until there was nothing left. He and Sunheart became one. Fear was banished. Doubt was banished. All that remained was a determination to see his task completed. He turned to the east with a calm resignation, ready to face his end with dreams of laughing children in his heart and smile of his wife etched forever in his memory.

  Jack watched the battle unfolded swiftly now that it had been set in motion. Twenty-five thousand foot soldiers of Doridan swung to the south, the banner of the House Ellgereth flying proudly at their front. Joining them was the red boar banner of the Raashan Razorbacks, just as it had been at the last siege of the Iron Tower. The sound of signal horns carried easily across the ruined plain of Grethor, as Duke Morgan arrayed them in a large “L” guarding the Whesguard’s southern flank. It was the men of Duinlor who faced the Doridanians, hard men who lived on the edge of the Great Eriden Forest. They fought with a short sword in each hand, and followed a king dressed in armor of black who rode into battle on a charger e
ighteen hands tall. They met the sound of Doridan’s horns with a shout of defiance and immediately rushed forward.

  To their south was the army of Zsolandar, their leading ranks riding on great elephants with plates of copper armor covering their thick hide. The beasts trumpeted through their snouts as they charged, a shrill and terrifying sound that would have sent most normal men running in fear. But they faced King Rhor’dal of Amorhad and men who had lived their lives battling the grim’Hiru of the north and fierce mountain trulls twice as tall as a man. The Amorhadi were only days removed from facing the fury of Strymag Souleater, draped in the flesh of a na’Houle. Meeting a charge of armored elephants held little fear. A volley of one thousand arrows from the Ailfar accompanying the Amorhadi lifted into the air like a storm of steel tipped rain, falling among the Zsolandari when they were still five hundred yards distant. Battle elephants trumpeted death cries as they fell, to be crushed beneath the shield sized feet of their kin, but the charged was only slowed, not halted. The ground exploded at their feet as Ailfar Spellweavers, led by Prince Cilandrion, worked their art. The charge was slowed further still, but not halted. The two forces met with a crash of flesh and steel. Men and animals died. The sound of it was like the ending of the world.

  Horns sounded to east and Braedan’s gaze was mercifully turned from the slaughter. All was ready. The Knights of the White Horse, led by their new Lord Marshal, Sir Gain Ellgereth, drew swords as one, and the pride of Doridan began to move towards the grim’Hiru. The White Horse Knights rode forward at a trot in Vee formation. Their discipline was a wonder to behold, even as death and blood loomed. Each gleaming white Val’anna stallion moved in perfect step, at the same precise pace as if they all shared the same mind, the same thought. Perhaps they did? Jack considered briefly. He could sense Eaudrueil growing restless, longing to join them. Almost eight thousand other cavalrymen of Doridan rode with them. The 9th Red Horse formed the northern arm of their formation. The 1st Thunderiders formed the southern arm. The 9th and 12th Queen’s Lancers were not far behind. The cavalrymen were well trained and moved at the same pace as the Knights, but not with the same flawless precision.

  As the horsemen moved forward, Brydium’s Legionnaires began to pass around Jack and the others of his company at double time. When the White Horse and the Doridanian cavalry stabbed into the grim’Hiru army, it would be these forty thousand foot soldiers who would tear out their heart and provide the path for the Highswords to reach the walls of the Iron Tower. Jack saluted them as the marched by, fist over heart. Three short days ago, the same soldiers from Brydium had faced the horror of a grim’Hiru shield wall. Yet here they were, doing it again because he asked them to. Only the power of Sunheart filling him, kept him from weeping at the knowledge that thousands of these brave men would not live to see the sun rise tomorrow.

  “Damn you for making me do this, Graith,” Jack cursed silently. “I will tear down your tower and burn you to dust before this…”

  “Elar Amar! Elar Galekindar!” Tarsus shouted, his strong voice interrupting his rage. Four thousand Amarians surged forward at a trot.

  “I guess that’s our signal,” Dorad said, drawing his sword.

  “Stay safe,” Jack ordered, turning his friend.

  “There will be no safe place on this field,” the prince replied grimly.

  “It has been the single greatest honor of my life to serve you, High King,” Ardel d’Kenna said, drawing his own blade. “Hammer!” he cried, standing in his stirrups. “All your brothers before you longed for this day! Ward the King!”

  Jack rode to Captain Einnael’s side as the formation moved forward. “Guard the queen,” he ordered the Horsemaiden. “Whatever happens to me, don’t let her do anything foolish with Siegebreaker.”

  “Of course,” the captain nodded, grimly. “Take care of yourself, Jack Braedan. You are her life.”

  “I will see you after,” he lied.

  The White Horse Knights were riding at a gallop now, their formation waving slightly from its parade ground precision. Four hundred armored knights encased in steel charged into the leading ranks of the grim’Hiru with the sound of a thunder clap. Horses screamed, their valiant flesh pierced by the cruel, iron tipped spears of the grim’Hiru. Knights were hurled from their saddle as their mounts met a wall of flesh and tooth and claw, to be savaged by blood thirsty beast-men. But their charge did not slow.

  A na’Ghomari as large as a Val’anna stallion leapt at Sir Gain. The Lord Marshal of the White Horse thrust his sword into its open jaws as he was hurled to the ground by the weight of the monster to disappear into a maelstrom of blood and steel. grim’Hiru swarmed to overtake the fallen knight, but the charge of the White Horse Knights soon swept them from the field and Sir Gain was once again on his feet, laying about with his sword with deadly precision.

  At that moment, the Kadinar turned from their move north and fell upon the flank of the grim’Hiru. Taken completely by surprise, the desert warriors penetrated deep into the formation of the beast-men before many were aware of the Kadinar’s betrayal of the dark-King. Mullah ad’Jhen lay about with his scimitar, slaying beast-men to his right and left. Hamman Khan was at his brother’s side, dealing out similar death with equal ferocity. In short order, thirty thousand Kadinar had rolled up the grim’Hiru flank and met with the leading edge of the 9th Red Horse, opening a path through the dark-King’s army.

  The Legionnaires of Brydium poured into the gap.

  The men of Brydium, led by General Jha’ar Tolkaen and Prince Thonicil, fell upon their foe with a fierceness that matched the grim’Hiru defenders, driving deep into the thickly pressed ranks. King Ullgah of Morgog, a grim’Hiru reaching over seven feet in height and swinging an iron spiked war hammer, swept aside friend and foe with equal disregard in his fury to reach the prince of Brydium. Wielding Bin’et Ardendel, Thonicil battled the huge beast-man as a circle unwittingly cleared around them. With a tremendous blow of his war hammer, Ullgah dented Thonicil’s shield, breaking his arm. But Thonicil was as a prince of the House Th’nar, in his veins flowed the blood of twenty generations of Dragonslayer kings. Thonicil stood his ground, despite his injury, and the Talon of the Hawk severed the shaft of the grim’Hiru king’s war hammer, then plunged into his foe’s heart. As the King of Morgog collapsed on the field, the surrounding grim’Hiru lost heart, and their ranks descended into confusion.

  The way had been opened to the Iron Tower’s wall.

  “It is time, Eaudrueil,” Jack said, urging the Val’anna forward.

  Surrounded by Galekindar, four thousand Amarians, and three hundred Horsemaidens, Golden Lions, and the High King’s Hammer, Braedan galloped forward into the breech. Theros Th’nar with Dragonslayer and Annawyn with Siegebreaker, charged forward with him. It was the bearers of the Highswords’ task to protect him as well as assail the gate and make a path for Yhswyndyr and Jack Braedan to reach Agash Thugar. Although a path had been cleared, there were still grim’Hiru and other fell beasts on the field. Tarsus soon found himself surrounded by half a dozen beast-men, but his Galekindar leapt to his defense, swarming over them in waves to succor their uncrowned king.

  A large dun colored wolf somehow managed to slip unnoticed through the fray and sought to hamstring Iraesh, but Little Star leapt to the attack and the two wolves rolled and fought beneath the Val’anna. Too far away to help, Jack watched in horror as Anna struggled to stay in her saddle as Iraesh bucked and danced to avoid steeping on her wolf-sister. Captain Einnael was quick to aid her queen however, and drew a dagger, hurling it into the dun wolf’s throat. Little Star plunged her strong teeth into the neck of the wolf and shook furiously breaking its neck and the short fight was over.

  Jack turned in relief from the brief struggle, fixing his attention on the battlements above the gate. A line of grim’Hiru archers had suddenly appeared, drawing their short horn bows and raining a volley of iron tipped shafts into the Legionnaires below. Scores of the brave men of Brydium who had fought
their way to the gate fell beneath the shower of arrows. As they drew for a second volley, the Lord’s accompanying Brydium’s forces entered the fray. A blue dome of power appeared above the Legionnaires and the grim’Hiru arrows bounced off the Word of Protection like they had struck a solid wall. Red fire spewed from several places along the top of the wall to assail the protective barrier. It wavered under the assault of dark sorcery and threatened to break. Jack raised Yhswyndyr and sent a bolt of white fire hurtling towards wall just above the gate. The upper parts of the battlement was immediately engulfed in flame and burning grim’Hiru were hurled one hundred feet into the air. The walls of Agash Thugar however, forged by the power of the Bloodstone, remained undamaged.

  As if sensing that her moment had arrived, Anna lowered the visor of her helm and drew Siegebreaker. “To the gate,” the Queen of Doridan shouted. “Captain Einnel on me,” she commanded and urged Iraesh forward.

  Protected by the Word the Staffclave, Anna’s Horesmaidens fought their way through the few remaining grim’Hiru with a ferocity and bravery that equaled any male warrior of the Whesguard. A nameless Horsemaiden took a spear thrust to the side though an opening in her breast plate as she protected her queen. She swung her sword and severed the spear shaft and the arm of the grim’Hiru who held it.

  She was wavering in her saddle when Jack reached her. He reigned Eaudreuil to a halt beside the Horsemaiden and unmindful of the pain it would cause, grabbed the severed spear shaft. The woman screamed as he jerked the spear free, but the cry had no sooner left her throat when Braedan healed her with a thought.