By the Sword Page 3

“Do you think there is a chance that he will have a change of heart?”

  “That is between him and God.”

  Tanel nodded.

  “Please allow my daughter to have some rest before you tell her.”

  “Yes, Sir.”

  They parted ways.

  The loss of men that Edandir had known for years weighed heavily on his spirit. He would have to push his sorrow aside for the time being. He had to stay focused.

  Although Sanctus’ army was greater in number, Ittonifer was a clever man. He would think of some plan to try and overpower the last God-serving nation. The man was worse than a contagious disease.

  Edandir was going to find out what his next plan was. It was time to put a stop Ittonifer’s madness for good. He should have done so long ago. That treaty the sadistic ruler had signed was pure symbolism. Edandir had tried to convince Queen Roselyn of that. Men like Ittonifer never changed. They might go into hiding for years at a time, but they always reappear – with the intensity of an erupting volcano.

  That evening, Edandir sat with his commanders at a long table in the grand banquet room of Queen Roselyn’s palace. Dinner was about to be served, but they were still waiting for the queen to enter the room. It was unusual for her to be late.

  “The sooner we rid ourselves of that tyrant, the better. I don’t see what there is to talk about!” grumbled Commander Sanere from across the table.

  Edandir nodded in agreement, but their diplomatic queen would most likely suggest that they evacuate the country, rather than stay and fight. Until he convinced her to do otherwise, of course.

  “I’ve heard that the queen might clear everyone out of the city by the end of tomorrow,” scoffed Timlin, a twenty-something knight at the table next to Edandir’s.

  “Idle gossip is never worth listening to,” said his wise twin brother, Pori.

  General Edandir grinned as his friends debated about what the queen would decide. The fate of their country rested in her delicate hands. It was ironic that such a quiet, peaceful ruler was about to stand before a room of anxious warriors.

  This will be interesting, to say the least.

  The large doors of the banquet room opened. Two palace guards walked in and stepped to the side as the queen entered into the room.

  Everyone stood.

  Queen Roselyn was striking as always, dressed in a dark green evening gown with her dark hair pulled back into an elegant high bun. Her quiet confidence gave her a noble air, regardless of what she wore, Edandir thought. She sat on her purple velvet throne. Her troubled hazel eyes betrayed an otherwise stoic countenance.

  “Warriors of Sanctus,” the queen’s authoritative voice resonated throughout the large room as she spoke, “you all know my stance on going to war. We are now the last nation independent of the empire. I understand that it will now be very difficult to peacefully reason with them…”

  “Reason?” a commander down the table scoffed.

  “There is nothing peaceful about those Malinorian animals,” said another.

  “Silence!” hissed Edandir.

  “While it is extreme to suggest that we evacuate the land, I cannot yet bring myself to send my entire army into war. We have already lost so many. I will need to hear from God before deciding on what we must do, but I wish to obtain your input before I do so.”

  A deep murmur circulated throughout the room. Several commanders and knights stood.

  Roselyn’s bright eyes flashed toward Edandir.

  “Sit down!” shouted Edandir.

  They quickly returned to their seats. Edandir would deal with the fools later. He stood and nodded at the queen.

  “Queen Roselyn,” he said.

  “Speak, General.”

  “Our army is as skilled as it is large. I think that, at this point, we need to know what Ittonifer is planning to do next. Our spies have informed me that the majority of Malinor’s men have marched back home. Only a handful of them have remained in Cardamon, so there is no immediate threat.”

  “Go on.”

  “I would like to lead a small group of spies to Malinor the day after tomorrow. We could take the firedrakes for faster travel. I hope this will put your mind more at ease as you decide what to do.”

  “That is a wise proposition,” the queen nodded. “Is there anything that you would like to add, Commander Sanere?”

  Sanere stood quickly.

  “I think that we could wipe them out if we attacked tomorrow!”

  “Too soon,” said Edandir.

  “None of us feels that running away is the answer, Your Majesty,” said another commander.

  “Your Majesty, we wish to stay and fight!” cried a knight.

  The queen stood and the room fell silent once again.

  Finally, her troubled gaze rested on General Edandir.

  “I will not decide on anything tonight, of course. Prepare the army in case of an attack. I will allow you, General, and six other knights to leave for Malinor tomorrow morning.”

  “Thank you, Your Majesty.”

  Several servants walked into the room then. They placed steaming plates of food on the tables.

  For the first time all evening, the queen smiled. It was far too rare when she smiled.

  “Eat well, valiant knights of Sanctus. For we know not what the next week will bring.”

  Chapter Three

  Talya awoke to searing pain and a cluttered mind. Tanel had broken the earth-shattering news to her just before he had left to go to the banquet last night. She could hardly believe that their king had been so cowardly. He had turned his back on God and on all of those that had fought for him. That was the only way that the Malinorians would keep him alive.

  She wondered if the king would change his mind once Sanctus won Cardamon back from Malinor. At least General Landine and his commanders wouldn’t have died in vain if he did.

  Talya closed her eyes again as the pain in her stomach returned. All of her mentors were dead. Hanten was dead.

  Talya arose from her hammock and rushed to the women’s washing room. She quickly washed up and then shrugged into her favorite tunic – a faded olive green garment with a mended rip at the side. The tear had come from one of the first times she and Hanten had practiced the sword together.

  Talya closed her eyes and, for a moment, escaped back to that time.

  Ittonifer and his men are going to pay dearly for killing Hanten.

  Although Talya’s shoulder hurt, she felt well enough to train. A knight only needed one arm to wield a sword. She slipped on her black leather belt and boots and then quietly made her way to Tanel’s hammock. He was still sleeping.

  Talya shook him.

  “Wake up, lazy bones!” she hissed.

  He shot straight up, eyes wide.

  “Are you crazy? It’s at least an hour before sunup!”

  “Hush. There’re people still sleeping around you. Now get up so you can tell me all about last night.”

  “I was sleeping, too.”

  “Shut up!” snarled a lad in the next hammock.

  Tanel turned over and pulled the blanket over his head.

  Talya shook him again.

  “There’s no arguing with you, is there?”

  Tanel sat up with a huff, stretched, and jumped out of his bed.

  “Just let me wash up first.”

  “Of course.”

  When he returned, Talya grabbed him by the wrist and pulled him outside.

  “You didn’t have to drag me. We have lots of time before training.”

  “I just want you to tell me all about last night on the way to breakfast.”

  Tanel scowled at her.

  “It wasn’t anything worth shaking me out of my sleep for! Nothing was decided, but the queen has agreed to allow General Edandir and six knights to see what the Malinorians are up to.”

  “Well, that’s a good start. Did he decide who he was taking with him?”

  Tanel didn’t say anything.

&nb
sp; “Did you hear me?” asked Talya.

  “I can’t believe I let you drag me out of bed.”

  “Oh, stop. It isn’t that early. Please, tell me what my father decided.”

  “Nothing yet.”

  “He had better ask me,” said Talya.

  She glanced at Tanel, who wiped his eyes with a long yawn. She suddenly felt a little guilty for interrupting his slumber.

  “Are you hoping to go?” Talya asked him.

  “Of course I want to go, but General Edandir will make the right choice.”

  “He’d better.”

  Talya and Tanel entered the meal cabin where several other knights were already polishing off their plates.

  “Oh, look. There are people crazier than you, Talya,” Tanel muttered.

  “There’s nothing wrong with being an early riser.”

  “No comment.”

  They both grabbed healthy helpings of eggs, fresh bread, and smoked pork, and then sat down at a nearby table.

  Two other young knights joined them. Both of them looked to be around eighteen. One was a girl with black hair and intense indigo eyes, and the other was a strapping, light-haired lad.

  “You two from Cardamon?” asked the boy as he forked in a mouthful of eggs.

  Talya was too hungry to bother with answering him. She hadn’t bothered to eat dinner the previous night.

  “Yes,” answered Tanel. “I’m Tanel and this is my friend Talya.”

  “I’m Atalsa,” said the girl. “I’m very sorry to hear about Cardamon.”

  “So are we,” said Talya, “but we’ll get it back. I’m sure of it.”

  “I’m going to slaughter those demons,” said the lad.

  “His name is Tasar by the way,” smiled Atalsa. “I must say that I am anxious to get into battle myself. Those Malinorian knights sound like they are from Sheol itself.”

  Talya decided that she would take a break from chewing now that the topic had become interesting.

  “One of ‘em nearly killed me yesterday,” said Talya. “Tanel here saved my life. My rival was a commander. We fought for nearly two hours, and I almost had him. I hope to see him on the battlefield again. Then I can finish him off.”

  “A little thing like you fighting a Malinorian commander for two hours?” laughed Tasar. “I just can’t see it.”

  “I guess you have a pathetic imagination,” said Talya.

  The smiles were wiped off of the other knights’ faces.

  “Well, there is no need to be insulting. It was a logical assumption,” said Atalsa. “Usually women are archers.”

  “Not this one,” Talya muttered.

  Atalsa scoffed.

  Tasar laughed.

  “Relax, Atalsa. They’re just pups. Not even eighteen yet, I’ll bet.”

  Talya rolled her eyes.

  “I’m an archer,” smiled Tanel, “and Talya’s the best sword fighter I have ever seen.”

  “Is that a fact?” snorted Tasar. “If she is so great, then why did you have to rescue her?”

  Talya slammed her fork down on the table and glared at the oaf. The taunting had gone on long enough.

  She took a deep breath. Rage was something best left for the Malinorians, but it wouldn’t hurt to put a cocky brute in his place.

  “Do you want to have a go?” Talya asked.

  “You bet!” Tasar said with a grin.

  Tanel rolled his eyes as Talya got up to get her sword.

  *****

  Jalarn beheld the splendor of Cardamon’s riches as his men loaded the army’s carts with gold, silver, and precious gems from the large mines. He had never seen so much wealth in all his life. They would have to return in a few days to gather its entirety. Ittonifer would be very pleased with him. None of the other commanders had overtaken the palace and obtained Cardamon’s hidden wealth. Waltez had come the closest to overtaking the castle, but Jalarn was always a step ahead of the older commander. Indeed, the devil was smiling upon him these days.

  King Seraphim rubbed his hands together nervously. The incompetent king’s presence was starting to gnaw on Jalarn’s nerves.

  “Did I please you, my lord?” Seraphim asked.

  “I am very pleased with your country’s best kept secret. We had no idea that your land produced riches of such magnitude.”

  The king breathed a sigh of relief.

  “I will take the liberty to cart all of this back to Malinor.”

  “That was not the agreement!”

  “Oh. I’m sorry then,” said Jalarn, unsheathing his sword.

  “Wait, stop!” cried the king. “Take it all.”

  Like it really mattered what the old man said to him now.

  “You are of no further use to me.”

  Before the king could cry out, Jalarn slit his throat.

  Seraphim fell, lying motionless at Jalarn’s feet.

  Commander Waltez walked over. He stared at the portly corpse for a moment. Jalarn detected an envious glare in the man’s eyes.

  “Throw him in the river and then kill the queen,” said Jalarn.

  Waltez nodded and left him.

  It was time to take their spoils and return home.

  *****

  Ittonifer stood on the balcony of his castle. Jalarn, Waltez, and their men had returned with carts upon carts of something.

  “What have they been up to?”

  The sight lifted his mood. Rather than rush back home like a pair of idiots, they had been shrewd enough to collect some of their enemy’s spoils.

  “They must have something heavy in those carts,” said a feminine voice from behind him.

  It was his daughter, Chrissa. She came to his side and they watched as the army entered into the city. The civilians quickly cleared the streets.

  “Father, I’ve been training every single day. Please, allow me to join our troops in the battle against Sanctus,” she said.

  “You already know my answer.”

  “Why did you even bother teaching me the sword if—”

  “Enough, wench!”

  The girl crossed her arms. She had become much too headstrong. Now seventeen, his daughter had been eligible for marriage two years ago. The imp would be better off putting her energy into providing him with strong grandsons rather than arguing with him on a daily basis about matters that did not concern her.

  It was Ittonifer’s unfortunate fate that his only child was a female. At least his nephew, Jalarn, was proving to be quite useful.

  Heavy footsteps sounded from behind them.

  “My lord, I hope that I’m not intruding.”

  It was Naeshi – Ittonifer’s senior guard.

  “What do you want?” asked Ittonifer.

  “Jalarn has requested to speak with you. He says that you will like what he has to say.”

  “He had better be right.”

  Naeshi’s eyes wandered toward Chrissa. His gaze remained on her. She was dressed in a sleeveless gown in the same inky shade as her hair. It hugged her tall, graceful form and emphasized her creamy white complexion. Her blue eyes glared back at the man before she returned her attention to the view below.

  If the guard did not do anything to mess up, like the one before him, Ittonifer would give Chrissa to him. It was high time that another man was given the responsibility of handling her.

  Ittonifer walked with Naeshi back through his chamber and down the long hallway that led to Jalarn’s wing.

  Jalarn met them at the end of the hallway. The lad wore his typical arrogant expression. Unlike most twenty year olds, he was quickly climbing his way to the top of an empire. Still, he had a long way to go before he impressed Ittonifer.

  “Speak, Jalarn,” said Ittonifer.

  “I trust that you know Cardamon is now part of the empire,” said Jalarn.

  “Is the king dead?” asked Ittonifer.

  “Yes. But not before he had offered to give us half of Cardamon’s wealth as tribute, and in exchange for their lives. I kept him alive
long enough for him to show me where their country’s wealth is stored, and then killed him myself. Waltez took care of the queen.”

  Ittonifer grinned.

  So, my brother’s son has turned out to be as shrewd as he is strong.

  “Where is my money?” asked Ittonifer.

  “Half of it is being brought to the vault as we speak, and I will send a group back to collect the remaining treasures. We have experienced great victory,” said Jalarn.

  “You are wrong, young commander,” said Ittonifer. “We are not victorious until Sanctus is defeated and every follower of this so-called God is slain.”

  Jalarn nodded, but annoyance flickered in his eyes. It would do him good to remember his place.

  “How many Cardamonians were slain, Commander?” asked Naeshi.

  “Nearly everyone, but a few cowards managed to escape. Some knights from Sanctus came unexpectedly on horseback, but they did little damage. We managed to take many of them, but their general got away.”

  “So, General Edandir has been sticking his battle-hungry nose where it is not wanted again,” said Ittonifer.

  If Ittonifer knew General Edandir as well as he thought he did, the man would persuade that flighty woman ruler to let him lead his army to Malinor. It would be refreshing to have a worthy enemy to go to war against.

  Ittonifer was pleased with the fall of Cardamon, as well as his new installment of wealth, but there was still much more that they needed to accomplish. Even once they overtook Sanctus, it would not be enough for him.There was a whole world of interesting land out there.

  “We must ensure our victory over Sanctus. We are strong, but outnumbered. They have powers from their religion that we cannot ignore.”

  “Hardly comparable to the great power of our lord, the great prince,” Jalarn argued. “I think we need to focus on gaining more knowledge from him.”

  “Yes,” said Ittonifer with a nod. “Our great prince is willing to help those that prove themselves.”

  Ittonifer was impressed at Jalarn’s thought process. The boy was becoming more like him.

  *****

  Talya and Tasar stood on the field outside of the meal house glaring at one another. A small crowd of knights had already gathered around them.

  “Ready when you are, little lady,” said Tasar with a grin.