By the Sword Read online

  *****

  General Edandir stared up at Ittonifer’s tall castle. He caught sight of the men that were releasing the catapults at his army.

  First thing’s first.

  The first pair of soldiers had been so focused on firing their artillery that they did not even notice Edandir approaching them. They were not wearing masks like the others.

  A stupid decision.

  Edandir jumped off of his dragon and drove his blade through the first one’s back. His partner gaped and clumsily reached for his sword. Edandir pointed his blade at the youthful Malinorian.

  “I suggest that you get out of here. Now,” said Edandir.

  Wide-eyed, the lad stumbled away from the catapult.

  Edandir glanced at the fireball projector to his left. The two soldiers that operated it were already running toward him. Then, they were both on the ground, each with an arrow sticking out of his chest.

  Tanel, Wenyn, and several other archers had infiltrated the area.

  “We’ll take it from here, General,” said Tanel.

  Edandir was relieved that Talya’s friend still stood.

  I am going to make that boy a commander.

  Edandir sheathed his sword, grabbed hold of a crevice in the castle’s stone wall, and started to climb.

  *****

  Chrissa held her sword at Naeshi’s thick neck. Now was her chance to end the life of the man that had been hunting her down for the past year, but it took more courage than she realized. She didn’t want him to die.

  The other men that Chrissa had slain that day were faceless enemies, but she had known Naeshi for most of her life. Although he had turned her life into a living hell recently, she couldn’t bring herself to kill him.

  Naeshi laughed.

  “You want to fight like a man, but you’re too squeamish to kill me!”

  “Stop mocking me and accept that God has been merciful to you. I am giving you a second chance. Let us part ways.”

  “Die, wench!” shouted another Malinorian warrior to Chrissa’s left.

  She barely dodged his powerful swing in time. Before he unleashed his scythe on her, she stabbed him in the stomach, stopping him short. Her sword had penetrated through his lightweight armor, but it did not do as much damage as she had intended. The knight’s eyes widened as blood seeped out of the fresh wound.

  In her peripheral vision, Chrissa saw the shadow of another enemy coming at her right side. She blocked a stab from the warrior in front of her. She tried to turn and face the other man to her side, but he already had his strong arms wrapped around her mid-section.

  She turned her sword around and thrust its blade backward. The warrior grunted and let go of her. A man with a scorpion breastplate lay still on the ground. Naeshi was gone.

  The knight with the swinging scythe lunged toward her again. Chrissa leaped out of the way and managed a gash on the man’s exposed lower back. He whirled around and took a run at her, but the ground shook from underneath them. Her enemy stopped and looked in the direction of the noise.

  A giant black lizard with rows of razor-sharp teeth was running toward them. Chrissa and the Malinorian both ran, but the reptile caught the man in its powerful jaws and ate him whole.

  Chrissa stared, paralyzed by the horrific sight. It would come for her next. She backed up with her sword outstretched in front of her. She was ready to slash at it when it lunged for her. She was not going to die without a fight.

  It licked its chops and glared at her.

  Chrissa swallowed hard and braced herself. It tilted its head, blinked once, and rushed after a section of enemy knights. She stared after it, confused.

  “It seems as though Ittonifer’s big plan has bit him in the rump.”

  Chrissa turned and looked up to see one of the giants standing beside her. He was younger than the other ones. It was Saclam’s grandson, if she recalled correctly.

  “They’re only going after the Malinorians now?” she asked.

  “Something switched in them a short time ago. Looks like Ittonifer’s magic strategy has failed. God has shown Himself. And to think I had doubted Him all this time. I only agreed to aid your country because I wanted to crush that bloodthirsty empire. I suppose it’s never too late to believe.”

  “No, it certainly isn’t,” Chrissa smiled.

  *****

  Blood seeped from Talya’s fresh wounds. She could barely stand, let alone defend herself. She leaned against the wall of the prison as Jalarn fought his uncle. She was too weak to fight, but she couldn’t leave him. Not now.

  “Jalarn, there is nothing that you could have done that the Savior cannot forgive. It’s not too late,” she said.

  “Those are the words from a defeated wretch,” said Ittonifer.

  Ittonifer took a step toward her, but Jalarn slashed at him, driving him away.

  The sound of rapidly approaching footsteps caught Talya’s attention. Someone was coming. Her vision blurred as her entire body quivered. She was losing too much blood too fast.

  “Jalarn…” she tried to call, but her voice only came out as a faint whisper.

  Strong hands picked her up by the under arms and carried her away from the prison cell and down a dark hallway.

  “Talya, can you hear me?” asked the voice.

  It was General Edandir. Her father. There was fear in his tone.

  She tried to open her eyes, but she was so tired.

  “Father, we have to go back. Jalarn is still in there. You have to help him.”

  “Talya, you’ve lost so much blood.”

  Talya fought her exhaustion in frustration. Her father was not listening to her. She did not have the energy to argue with him, but she had to try.

  “He… he’s so close. You have to go back and… help him.”

  “Save your strength and try not to talk.”

  “You don’t understand. Jalarn… saved my life. He – he needs help.”

  Her lids fluttered open. Her father glared at her for a moment before gently setting her down on his dragon’s saddle. They were in the air within moments.

  “Please…” she whispered.

  Talya tried to fight against the weakness that had overcome her, but instead she slipped away into darkness.

  *****

  General Edandir landed his firedrake at the camp. He quickly carried Talya to the physician’s tent. He set her down on a wooden bench. Seline rushed in and immediately bound her deep gashes.

  “Don’t you have a softer bed for her?” Edandir asked.

  Seline eyed him.

  “That is not a priority right now.”

  Edandir swallowed as dread formed in the pit of his stomach.

  Talya’s blood had already seeped through the bandages. Her slender body trembled.

  Edandir was going to kill Ittonifer for this.

  “She’s lost so much blood already,” said Seline.

  “Which means you will do what it takes to save her.”

  The doctor administered another layer of bandages over Talya’s wounds and then placed three layers of thick blankets over her body.

  Edandir couldn’t lose her. She was too young to die and he loved her so much.

  “Why didn’t I forbid her to fight?”

  “She wouldn’t have listened to you,” said the doctor.

  Edandir sat next to Talya’s bed and held her much smaller hand with both of his. She was still just a child. A full life was well ahead of her. But she had risked it for God. It was something that her mother would have done in a heartbeat.

  “Please, do whatever you must to save her.”

  “Of course I will, but I can’t make any promises.”

  Edandir kissed Talya’s forehead and rushed out of the tent. He was angry at Seline’s lack of faith. Talya couldn’t die. She had a strong will. She had done what God had asked of her. Surely He would honor that and look after her.

  Edandir eyed the sky. The sun was much lower on the horizon than where it had been w
hen the battle began. He had to get back and help his army.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Riding on one of Sanctus’ dragons, Uittan saw General Edandir just leaving the military camp on his firedrake. The prophet clicked his tongue and his steed flew toward the general.

  Talya had completed her mission, but at a high price. God had been right about her when Uittan had had his own doubts in the beginning.

  Edandir noticed Uittan then.

  “Uittan!” he called.

  “General, I have come to deliver a message. God wants you to go back to Ittonifer’s castle before returning to battle.”

  “Will she make it?” Edandir asked.

  “I do not know. I’m sorry,” the prophet said.

  The general lowered his head and closed his eyes.

  “Edandir, I need to speak with you about Jalarn.”

  “What about him? My daughter could die and yet you speak of Ittonifer’s sadistic nephew?”

  “Edandir, do you realize that he saved Talya’s life?”

  Edandir stared at him.

  “Jalarn rescued her from Ittonifer’s sword. His heart is open to God right now, but you don’t have much time.”

  “So… it’s true?”

  “Yes!”

  “Talya was trying to tell me something about going back for Jalarn, but I thought that she was just lightheaded from the blood loss. Jalarn, second in command to Ittonifer, saved my daughter’s life?”

  The prophet nodded.

  “Why would he do that? He has already almost killed her twice,” said the general.

  “Ride swiftly, General. You haven’t much time. But remember that the Lord is with Talya, no matter what happens. She is going to be taken care of.”

  Edandir gave him a scornful look before kicking his dragon into rapid flight.

  *****

  Tanel shot at two Malinorian knights that were just about to send another fiery boulder on his people. Atalsa took care of the pair next to them. The rest were taken down by the other bowmen.

  “We did it!” cried Atalsa.

  Although her friend Tasar liked to brag about his abilities, it was Atalsa that should have done the bragging. She had a better eye than Tanel or even Wenyn.

  “The battle isn’t over yet,” said Tanel.

  Tanel caught sight of Tasar and a wave of relief swept over him. The cocky knight’s skill had deepened since he had sparred with Talya only a week ago. He fought off several men at a time with his strong frame and quick movements.

  Atalsa noticed Tasar, too, and ran to his side.

  A larger group of Malinorian knights was approaching them from behind. Tanel took care of five of them while Atalsa picked off the rest. Tasar swung her around twice, and they hugged for longer than necessary.

  Tanel shook his head.

  “Hey! This is a battlefield.”

  The youthful couple broke their embrace and disappeared together into the sea of fighting soldiers, clearing a path. They certainly made a lethal pair when they put their minds to it.

  Malinor’s numbers were considerably smaller now. The warriors of Sanctus had all but decimated the devil-worshipping army with the help of the giants and the monsters that had suddenly turned on the empire. It was clear that God had His hand on the battle. Only God would have been able to influence the beasts like that.

  Endil’s deep battle cry could be heard echoing over the raging battlefield. With renewed vigor, Tanel charged into the thick of the battle. He left his sword in its sheath as he took down several more enemies with short-range archery.

  There were only three of the great monsters remaining, but the animals tore through sections of Ittonifer’s army as though the men were as light as air. Every single one of the ten giants prevailed and valiantly fought five or six enemies at a time.

  They had not won yet, but they were so close.

  A badly wounded enemy knight nearly stumbled into Tanel. He fell to his knees and drove his sword into the dirt. He looked even younger than Tanel.

  Tanel swallowed as he scanned his surroundings to make sure that no one else was coming at him, but what he saw surprised him. All around them, Malinor’s men were kneeling and setting down their swords. They were surrendering.

  Tanel raised his arms and cheered at the top of his lungs along with others as relief swept over him. A tear streamed down his cheek.

  It’s finally over.

  Endil caught his attention because he was just standing there. The man looked troubled instead of happy.

  Tanel strode over to the formidable man.

  “Endil, what’s wrong?” he asked.

  The knight didn’t answer. Instead, he stared straight ahead. Tanel followed his gaze.

  It can’t be.

  In the distance, like a horrific plague of black locusts, was another army of black armored warriors, larger than any force that Tanel had ever seen. The battle was far from over. It had just begun.

  *****

  Jalarn and Ittonifer dueled back and forth within the prison. Thankfully, Ittonifer’s back had been turned when General Edandir had taken Talya. Now that she was away from Ittonifer’s harm, Jalarn could concentrate better.

  So far, his uncle was unbeatable. The older man had lost neither his power nor his skill at nearly sixty years of age. He seemed to always be one step ahead of Jalarn, but Jalarn would catch him off guard. He had to.

  “Just look at you,” Ittonifer said. “Your life is worthless now. You went against everything I taught you, and now you’re going to die. I can’t believe that I had once promised you my throne.”

  “You didn’t do anything for me until after you starved my mother to death!”

  “Jalarn, Jalarn, why didn’t I just kill you that day when you came to me begging for that loaf of bread? I should have seen that you would turn into an idealistic weakling like her.”

  Jalarn came at his uncle with an even greater fury, bent on severing the man’s head from his neck.

  Ittonifer backhanded Jalarn in the face and swung for his throat. Jalarn blocked Ittonifer’s sword just in time. That was too close.

  It amazed Jalarn that he had felt so invincible, so powerful mere days ago. Now, he stood up against his uncle, and he was barely staying alive. He thought he had everything he wanted. What a fool he had been.

  Talya had told him that God would forgive him no matter what, but was it really true? He had hated God and anything to do with Him ever since his mother died. The devil’s way used to make so much sense, but what Talya said was true. The prince’s way was selfish and lonely. Even most of the magical spells that Jalarn had studied only served to hurt others or make them do what the magician wanted them to do.

  This is something I will have to think about later. If I survive.

  Pushing the thoughts aside, Jalarn brought all of his attention back to the duel. He unleashed a series of aggressive strikes at Ittonifer, but the man was ready for every single one of them.

  With a great roar, the Malinorian ruler lifted his sword above his head and jumped. He crashed his blade into Jalarn’s. The sword flew out of Jalarn’s hands.

  Ittonifer held his blade at his throat. It was over.

  “Killing you like this would take away the fun,” said Ittonifer.

  Jalarn knew what that meant.

  “Get up. Your death will be witnessed by all of Malinor and Sanctus today. You will see the largest army that the continent has ever known, and you will die knowing that you threw it all away. I was right in not telling you about my backup plan.”

  Ittonifer pressed the point of his sword into Jalarn’s back.

  “Move!”

  They walked out of the prison, down the dark hallway, and out of the castle.

  Thousands of men in Malinorian armor approached the battlefield. A mere two thousand or so knights from Sanctus stood gaping at the army that was about to bring its devilish fury upon them.

  “How did you do it?” asked Jalarn.

  “You w
ill never know.”

  *****

  The thundering rhythm of the massive army’s battle drums combined with its deliberate marching made the ground vibrate. Only moments ago, Tanel and his fellow warriors had been elated at their victory. Now, fear and defeat laced the air.

  The surrendered Malinorian knights shifted nervously where they knelt.

  “I should have known that it was too good to be true!” cried Atalsa nearby.

  “Retreat!” cried one of the commanders.

  Tanel wished that they could, but it was not an option. Every innocent civilian in Sanctus would die if they did. Malinor would infiltrate the city shortly after them. It was better to fight.

  Chrissa jogged up a hill and lifted her voice.

  “Listen, warriors of Sanctus!” she shouted.

  Some people stopped to listen, while others paid her no mind.

  “Don’t you see? The devil is doing this to drive the faith and hope out of us. As a former servant of his, I know his wicked ways. This is our chance to stand up to his force and show him that our God is so much more powerful than a few Malinorian knights. And even if we die today, we still win.”

  Most of the soldiers and knights near Tanel scoffed and shook their heads.

  “She’s crazy! Look at all of them!” shouted Tasar.

  “Her new faith is clouding the reality that is before us,” said Timlin.

  An older knight elbowed Tanel and shook his head.

  “To stay would be sheer madness. Queen Roselyn would have no army left. The Malinorians will destroy our families.”

  “No, Chrissa is right,” said Tanel.

  He ran up the hill and stood at Chrissa’s side.

  He was met with an audience of both angry and fear-ridden faces.

  “God has brought us this far. He turned those monsters against our enemy. Remember what we have been taught since our youth – that He lives in us! Who can we fear with God in our hearts?”

  There was a great murmuring from the crowds. Many soldiers turned to leave.

  “Cowards!” shouted Endil as he joined Tanel and Chrissa on the hill.

  “You call yourselves soldiers?” shouted Chrissa.