Legends Lost Tesnayr

by Nova Rose

  Chapter XV

  Amends

  Rybnik lay in a pool of his blood clutching his mortal wound. Jenel knelt beside him as Rybnik’s short breaths barely registered. Gently, she lifted his head into her lap. Tears streamed from her eyes and down her cheeks landing delicately on Rybnik. Despite weeks of hating the man who had betrayed her, all she felt now was sorrow. She still loved him, her mentor.

  “Jenel,” whispered Rybnik, “Forgive me.”

  “Shh,” soothed Jenel. “Rest. I’m going to save you.”

  “You saved me a long time ago. Forgive me.”

  “You always have my forgiveness,” said Jenel. “The healers will be here soon.”

  “It’s too late for that,” said Rybnik. “I only wanted to save Sym’Dul, and you.”

  Jenel swallowed back a sob. She must remain strong. “I know.”

  King Slyamal sprinted into the throne room. His eyes lit up when he saw Jenel. He stopped himself from running to her when he noticed Rybnik’s unmoving form. King Slyamal stepped into the shadows and watched from a distance.

  Rybnik placed a bloodied hand on Jenel’s cheek. He looked into her hazel eyes. “You have your sister’s heart, your mother’s strength, and your father’s stubbornness.”

  “And your courage,” said Jenel.

  Rybnik smiled weakly. “I have shamed all of you.”

  “No,” Jenel whispered, “The halls of your ancestors sing joyously of the honor you have brought. Now rest. Tomorrow there will be another letter in the stone.”

  Rybnik’s hand flopped to his side as his last breath escaped his lips. A great man had died that day. Jenel hugged him close. She berated herself for loathing him. Great sobs racked her body as she pleaded in vain for death not to take her friend.

  “My lady,” said a soldier next to her, “Why do you cry? He is only a traitor.”

  Jenel placed Rybnik’s head back on the cold, stone floor and covered him with her cloak. Calmly, she rose to her feet. “How dare you! How dare any of you! This man deserves to be honored. You are to carry him high on your shoulders. He will be buried with all the grandeur of any king.”

  “But, he is just a traitor,” said the man.

  Jenel slapped the soldier across the face.

  “Why you little,” the soldier raised his hand in response.

  “You dare strike my daughter,” roared King Slyamal stepping away from his hiding place.

  Instantly, the soldier lowered his hand and bowed before the king. “No, my lord.”

  “This man,” said King Slyamal, “Is the reason why Galbrok is dead. By Tesnayr’s orders, he sacrificed everything to bring the demise of the orcs. You will do as my daughter commands.”

  The soldier saluted. He waved three others over. Together they lifted Rybnik’s body high upon their shoulders and carried him proudly into the rays of the sun.

  Jenel ran into the arms of her father. “Father,” she cried.

  “I know,” soothed King Slyamal stroking her hair. “He did what we were unwilling to do.”

  “I hated him when he betrayed us that day,” wailed Jenel, “If only I had known. If only—”

  “Do not waste your tears on such sentiment,” said King Slyamal. “He loved you and protected you. He did what I did not. Sym’Dul lost a great man today, but has gained an even greater hero.” He held his daughter tightly comforting her. “Cry my child. You father has you.”

  From a distance Tesnayr watched the pair. He wiped away a single tear. Inwardly, he wept for Jenel’s grief.

  Stifling his emotions, Tesnayr turned his attention to more pressing matters. “What news of the battle?” he asked another soldier.

  Before the man could answer, the giant window shattered as a black form crashed into the chamber. The niht’anda swiped its immense claw across a nearby soldier sending him flying to the courtyard below. A low growl escaped its throat as it stalked Tesnayr.

  Instantly, men attacked the niht’anda with spears jabbing and poking it in the face. The creature smashed one man with its giant wing. It whirled around snatching another in its sharp teeth.

  Tesnayr charged it. He struck it with a stake hitting it squarely in the throat. The niht’anda yanked the spear out tossing it aside. In one swift movement, Tesnayr jumped onto the creature’s back, holding tightly to its protruding spine. He stabbed it in the small of its back. Stunned, the niht’anda stood erect on its hind feet before tumbling over the rail of the balcony and to the ground below.

  King Slyamal rushed over to the rail. Tesnayr clung to a jagged stone a few feet below. “Take my hand,” said Kung Slyamal leaning far over the rail and reaching out for Tesnayr.

  Tesnayr reached for the king’s outstretched hand. They barely touched.

  “Take it!”

  “It’s too far.”

  Quickly, King Slyamal glanced about him searching for anything he could use as a rope. The drawstring to a curtain caught his eye. He cut it loose. Desperately, he lowered the tassel to Tesnayr. “Take it!”

  Tesnayr reached for the makeshift rope unaware of another niht’anda that had noticed his plight. The beast flew toward him, jaws open. Its leathery wings flapped noisily in the wind as it charged its prey. Instantly, a dragon swooped out of the sky snatching the niht’anda in its jaws.

  Snatching that line, Tesnayr clung to it as King Slyamal hauled him up. He heaved Tesnayr over the rail. “You’re not getting out of marrying my daughter that easily.”

  Tesnayr grinned at the king and clapped him on the shoulder.

  “General Tesnayr.” Selexia hovered outside the window. “The orcs have fled into the hills. They are scattered and confused. I have sent my dragons after them.”

  “Good. I don’t want any left alive,” said Tesnayr.

  “We will do our best.” Selexia flew off.

  Nelyn sprawled on the mushy ground as a niht’anda hit her from behind. She rolled onto her back and stared at it defiantly. Scrambling, she reached for her weapon. The niht’anda blocked her attempt as it slammed a claw into the dirt flinging pebbles everywhere. It leered over her savoring its victorious moment. Accepting her fate, Nelyn closed her eyes.

  An agonized scream erupted from the niht’anda as it crumpled to the ground. Cautiously, Nelyn opened her eyes. Banis stood before her, his horn covered in black blood.

  “How—,” began Nelyn.

  “When you need me most,” said Banis. “Many of the orcs have escaped, but a few lag behind. Come with me.”

  Three more unicorns appeared behind Banis as smoke drifted past them.

  “Alone?”

  “You may choose three.”

  Nelyn looked about her. “Nedis! Nular! Nylin! Come with me!”

  The triplets stopped what they were doing at Nelyn’s command. They eyed the unicorns with interest as Nelyn climbed aboard Banis. Smiling at one another, they darted for the other unicorns before galloping off with Nelyn after the orcs.

  Slowly, the battle sounds died away as the orcs bolted with the niht’anda close behind. As the catapults and the ringing of steel lessened, silence reigned once again over the plains.