|
Tale of Six Kings
By Nick Van Owen
Chance rules some,
Fate rules all,
Time shall conquer them.
When those who remember die,
Who shall remember then?
- Time, Chance and Fate. As sung by the bard Thaos
Dawn broke over the stronghold Cyndale, fortress of Lord Shad.
The stronghold is a massive thing with walls seventy-five feet tall and forty
feet thick. The only thing to be seen behind the walls was the great four
towered hall of Shad's residence.
In the great hall the five lords of Draconia had gathered to discuss
the current state of affairs in the region.
"Friends," Shad was saying, "We all realize how corrupt King Cerdric
is. He lets thieves go where they will, murderers act with impunity, all
manners of scum infest our fair cities, but...... The question is, what
shall we do about it?"
Lord Erik stood and said,
"We should overthrow him, with our combined power; we could crush
Cerdric."
"Yes," Artos replied, "But without supplies from Avellon our countries
will wither until all our people have left or are dead."
"You always were a coward Artos. Do we not have farms, fisherman and granaries? We can support ourselves; we need not rely on the Imperium!" said Wyndag, "But I do not think we need rebel." he added meekly.
Damung stood and bellowed, "Why do we sit here squabbling like children while Cerdric grows stronger every minute? We must act soon or not at all! We shall put it to the vote."
"Alright, we shall put it to the vote" Shad said. "All in favour?"
Damung and Erik stood.
"All against?"
Artos and Wyndag stood.
"It looks like I have to decide the matter. Very well, I stand for rebellion." Shad said. Then he continued, "Very well, return home gentlemen, and assemble your war hosts. We ride one month hence."
With that, the lords began to depart.
"Artos and Wyndag" Shad called.
The lords turned back to hear him.
"If you are not for us, you are against us. You would be wise to assemble your war hosts, whatever you choose." Shad said simply. With that, he turned and strode out of the room.
Wyndag stood outside the great hall and began walking toward where his party was assembled. He knew the high king would reward him well for this information. Yes, very well indeed.
"Shall we head for Kraykon, sir?" his coachman's voice penetrated his thoughts.
"No, make for Imperius. I have important business with his Majesty."
Damung had been walking to his coach when he overheard what Wyndag had said to his coachman.
"That traitor!" Damung said to himself. "To Kraykon," he told his coachman, "and send a message to Ardis and tell him to make ready the troops."
"Yes, sir," the coachman replied.
Damung settled in. It would be a long ride and he meant to have the truth from Wyndag, even if he had to tear it from the traitor's tongue.
The high king had been pleased. He had promised Wyndag double the usual supplies for the winter.
Wyndag smiled over this turn of events. "Those other fools will be crushed before they can assemble their armies," he thought to himself.
The coachman pulled to a halt in the castle grounds in front of Kraykon. Wyndag had given the order to assemble when he left Shad's castle two weeks ago. Even now, his armies assembled on the parade grounds. He had a massive host of forty thousand. Second only to the High King's and Lord Erik's armies. It consisted of ten thousand horse, five thousand archers, and twenty-five thousand foot soldiers.
He walked to his hall and threw open the giant doors and strode in. It was not that large, only a quarter the size of Shad's, and towerless; though it was elaborately furnished with every comfort available, unlike Shad's crudely furnished hall with wooden chairs and beds and not much else. He sneered at the thought.
As he approached, he saw a figure in his chair. As he drew closer, he stopped suddenly. It was Damung!
"What is he doing here?" Wyndag thought.
Damung called out to Wyndag, "Hail traitor! Back from His Majesty's heels?" he said sarcastically.
"Why would you think that, O fat one?" Wyndag replied.
Damung stood, his face flushed with anger.
"Say what you will, traitor. I shall kill you with my own hands." With that, he rushed toward Wyndag.
Quicker than chain lightning, Wyndag threw back his cloak and drew out the dagger which he always kept hidden there.
Damung saw the dagger too late, and gasped as it pierced his heart.
Wyndag brushed past him as he fell, and sat in his chair. Summoning a servant he said,
"Take him outside and throw that filth in the trash where it belongs."
The servant picked up the body and bustled out.
Wyndag smiled to himself. The others would find out, but it would be far too late, and he would emerge the victor.
The servant hauled his Lord Damung's body to the trash heap. Damung had brought the servant along with him to warn Ardis should anything happen to him.
The servant finished his duty. Then he saddled his horse and rode for the gate.
"Where are you going?" the guard demanded.
"Lord Wyndag has asked for a production check on his farms." the servant replied.
The guard eyed him suspiciously. Then said,
"Alright. Open the gates!"
The servant rode through as calmly as possible and on for another mile. Then he kicked his horse into a gallop. He had to reach Rockaxe castle as soon as possible.
Ardis stared in disbelief at the servant. Anger welling up inside, he hurled his goblet to the floor shattering it into a thousand shards.
"TRAITOR!" he bellowed, "He will pay ten thousand times over for this!"
He stomped out of the room.
"Emitai!" Ardis yelled.
"Here M'Lord." Emitai replied, falling into step alongside Ardis.
"Are the troops assembled?"
"Yes M'Lord. All twenty-five thousand present and accounted for."
"Send a bird to Shad and inform him what has happened, ask him for immediate aid. Then tell the troops to make ready. We ride tomorrow."
"Tomorrow?! B-b-but M-M'Lord!" Emitai stammered.
"Tomorrow Emitai. Or I get myself a new advisor. Understand?"
"Yes M'Lord" Emitai said meekly.
Ardis then strode out to make ready for the next day.
Shad shielded his eyes with his hand, peering out over the hills for enemy troops. He wiped sweat from his brow. Wyndag was still hoarding his troops in Kraykon.
It had been two weeks since he had received the shocking news from Ardis. He had rode out immediately even though only twenty thousand of his total thirty five thousand troops were ready.
He led his five thousand horse to the south of where his and Ardis' main strength were. His job was to scout and make sure no one attacked from the side. Also he would attack from the south in the attack on Kraykon, while Ardis attacked from the north and their other combined foot soldiers attack from the east.
That battle would come soon. Just over these hills lay Kraykon his main force could have been there today. But they carried the siege engines which slowed them down. They wouldn't be there for at least a day.
Suddenly the wind shifted and the sound of battle reached Shad's ears.
He suddenly realized what was happening. Ardis' troops were not hindered by the siege engines. So Ardis, fuelled by vengeance had given the order to march regardless of the odds.
"The fool!" Shad said under his breath, "They'll be slaughtered!"
Shad rode back to his troops. He signalled the horn blower who let loose a long echoing call on the hunting horn.
Shad hoisted his sword aloft, and shouted,
"Attack!"
Shad took off a full dozen lengths ahead of his band.
Coming over the hill he realized how badly they would be out numbered. Ardis' ten thousand and his own five thousand against all of Wyndag's forty thousand.
He looked towards Kraykon. The streets were black with men fighting.
Parts of the city were aflame, illuminating the men fighting in the walls.
Shad hit the back of Wyndag's forces ahead of his own forces. The first pebble in an avalanche.
Dark Blue clad figures rose before him, only to be cut down by his slashing blade. His horse took an arrow in the side and he leapt off. Still swinging his sword, he slashed his way through. Death in a tattered black coat.
Suddenly a gap appeared in the fighting and a mighty roar went up.
Ardis had found Wyndag!
Ardis fought with a strength born of fury, madly hammering at Wyndag with his great war mace.
Wyndag parried each blow, though the effort was clearly tiring him. Each cut was a bit slower than the last as he wore down. Shad knew he looked at a dead man.
Then it happened. Wyndag parried awkwardly and his sword snapped like a twig. Ardis' swing carried through into Wyndag's chest. Shad heard steel break and a dull smack like a stick hitting wet meat. Wyndag gave a small gasp, then fell forward.
Their leader dead, men began to throw down their weapons. Shad knew the battle was won.
1/25/02 8:18:12 PM
Comment on this fan fiction!
|
|
|
