Legend of the Swords: War
Read Legend of the Swords: War Online
Authors: Jason Derleth
Legend of the Swords
By Jason Derleth
Text copyright © 2012 Jason Derleth
All rights Reserved
Table of Contents:
Prelude
The corpse opened its eyes.
A circle of light shimmered just above. Dimly, the realization came that it was under water, and long unused muscles struggled to sit up.
Water cascaded, running in and out of wrinkled, rotting skin and disintegrating clothes. More poured out of its lungs, through an untasting mouth. Breath came, but provided no satisfaction.
Laboriously, the corpse rolled over, and slowly pushed up to a crouch. Its eyes watched as a small fish nibbled on a ring finger, but there was no pain.
Standing seemed to take all of the dead body's reserves. Once upright, it stood without moving for several minutes, head down and body swaying, before finally looking up. Dead eyes found that it was standing in a circle of water. A well-used dirt path was nearby, turning toward the setting sun, turning away.
Shoulders slumped, then lifted in a useless sigh as its gaze followed the road and found mountains in the distance.
With no destination, there seemed to be a long way to go.
War
The whole town is burning!
Ryan’s young heart raced as he and his friend Edmund sped towards the fire. Thick smoke billowed out from the buildings of Middleton. As they got closer, the crackling and rush of air turned into a roar. Horse carts lay scattered near the path into town, the horses’ harnesses cut.
“Where is everyone? Why aren’t they trying to put it out?” Ryan yelled as they ran into the center of town. He held his hands in front of his face to block some of the heat while peering through the smoke.
Ryan saw Edmund shake his head, and noticed tears making tracks on his soot-stained cheeks. Ryan grimaced as a bag of herbs, gathered for potions, slipped out of the younger boy’s hand as they ran towards his home.
“I don’t see anybody!” Ryan called.
Edmund’s house had only just started burning. Ryan followed as his friend threw open the door and jumped into the smoke. A quick look showed that nobody was there. Coughing and spluttering, eyes watering from the smoke, Ryan grabbed Edmund’s shirt and pulled him, crying, out of the building.
After a moment of holding Edmund back, Ryan felt the younger boy relax and stand up. He braced himself, mentally, and turned to head towards his own home.
I’ve got to keep it together, for Edmund’s sake
, Ryan thought.
He’s about to lose it.
Ryan’s heart leapt into his throat as he saw his house had burned to the ground, leaving only smoldering ruins. He called out to Edmund and they ran closer.
I was just there this morning,
he thought.
We had eggs and toast. I asked mom if I could go with Edmund to gather herbs for his mother.
As they approached, he felt the sweat on his arms and face evaporating, cooling his fire-heated skin.
There was nothing left but a few shards of blackened pottery and the smoldering remnants of their dinner table.
This time it was Edmund who was pulling on Ryan’s arm as he called his father’s name, his mother’s…
It took a while, but Ryan eventually pulled it together. He looked into Edmund’s eyes, and saw understanding and pity—something that he would not have found a few hours before, when they had been playing at being knights with stick-swords in the forest.
As Ryan looked around the town, he saw that the fire was already mostly out, with only a few buildings on the East side of town still in flames. They split up and checked several of the burnt-out buildings, finding them mostly empty. The Miller’s wheel was intact, and the Smith’s anvil looked so untouched it seemed almost out of place.
The stables were empty, as well; the horses had run away, or had been taken along with the people.
“We should get some weapons,” Edmund said, looking back at the Smith’s.
“I doubt there are any left,” Ryan said. His cheeks felt tight and dry from the heat. He saw that Edmund’s face was bright red, as if he had been in the sun too long. “But you’re right, we should check.”
They looked through the Smith’s house, which was more intact, but they couldn’t find any weapons. Edmund sniffed, and Ryan pushed gently at the smaller boy’s shoulder.
“Let’s get out of here,” Ryan said. “The smoke’s bothering me too.”
Edmund nodded, and they staggered up a hill next to the remnants of their hometown. They both slumped down against a rock and watched the empty town smolder.
Edmund broke the silence. “Who do you think did this?”
Ryan shrugged. “We’re just a farming village,” he said. “I have no idea what’s going on.”
“Maybe they came for my mom.” Edmund’s eyes were wide. “She’s the only potion master for miles.”
Ryan chuckled softly, but stopped when he saw the hurt in his friend’s eyes. “She’s been a wonderful help for the village, Edmund, but I think there are other potion masters.”
The younger boy nodded. “Do you think it might have been … the war?”
“The war with the Triols?” Ryan asked. “I … I don’t know. I suppose it’s possible. But they’re supposed to be a long ways from here.” He patted Edmunds shoulder. “I hope that’s not what it is. Dad says they’re monsters.”
“At least there aren’t any … “ Edmund blanched and fell silent.
Ryan nodded. “True. There aren’t any bones. But that’s just raises a new question: where is everybody?” He grunted in frustration. “It doesn’t make any sense!”
Edmund squared his shoulders, and sat up tall. “They’re ok. I’m sure of it.” He tried to smile, but his lower lip trembled too much.
Ryan smiled, but then sighed deeply. “What are we going to do?” He looked away.
“I don’t know. I guess … away from this?” he said, gesturing to the town below.
Ryan thought for a minute, his eyes unfocused, but staring at the glowing cinders. Suddenly, he stood up and held his hand out to the younger boy.
“Let’s go find them, then.” He looked around. “We’re going to have to find them quick, or make a shelter—it’s going to be dark soon.”
Ryan saw Edmund grimace, but he pulled him up to a standing position anyway. The fire’s smoke had filled the sky with low-hanging clouds, and the beginnings of the sunset seemed out of place: beautiful and serene. “Maybe they headed towards Bridgeport,” Edmund said, referring to the large city a few days’ travel away.
Ryan’s eyes widened a bit, and he nodded. They started walking towards the road at a fast pace.
It didn’t take long before they were beyond the wheat fields and near the forest that was between them and Bridgeport.
“It’s getting dark fast,” Edmund said, scuffing the dry ground. He pointed to the overgrown forest that the dirt road wound through. “And it’s going to be darker in there.”
Ryan nodded, looking at the dense undergrowth and tall evergreens. It was already too dark to see more than a few yards past the first boughs of the canopy.
He stopped suddenly. “Do you hear that?” Ryan said, pushing his right ear forward.
“Is that a horse?” Edmund’s voice was hushed, and his eyes darted left and right, looking for cover.
“I think it’s more than one,” Ryan said. He stepped off of the road, and nudged Edmund to do the same. “Maybe it’s someone from the village coming back to get us?”
“We can hope,” Edmund muttered, but he was frowning.
A chestnut galloped out of the forest, sweat glistening from its flanks. A shadowy gray horse quickly followed. The riders wore the armor of knights, with the crest of the king. The chestnut’s rider had a big, curly brown beard. The rider of the gray horse seemed taller, more powerfully built, and had a small scar on his left cheek, right below his glinting eyes. They saw the boys and slowed to a canter, then, as they got closer, a walk.
“Those horses are huge,” Ryan whispered out of the corner of his mouth, gesturing at the chestnut in front.
Edmund nodded. “That smoky black one in the back must be eighteen hands high.”
“Hail!” the knight on the chestnut called. His voice was clear and strong. “We have come to check on Middleton. We have news that our enemies, the Triols, have attacked. How fares the town?”
The boys were silent for a moment, looking first at each other, and then up to the knights. Ryan stepped forward.
“Triols, Sir knight?” he asked.
The knight nodded sharply, motioning sharply for Ryan to continue.
“Middleton lies burned, Sir knight,” Ryan said, quietly. “Although it seems it was empty when it burned.”
The knight frowned. “Stay here,” he commanded. He nudged his horse forward, then into a hard gallop, and was quickly over the rise. The knight with the sneer followed.
The two boys looked at each other again, eyes wide.
“Triols?” Edmund’s eyes narrowed and he looked at Ryan. “And we didn’t find any weapons.”
* * *
The knights returned quickly, before dusk.
“It is as you say. The town lies in ruins, but there are no bones, and little blood,” the bearded knight said as he dismounted. He left his horse on the side of the road. The second knight dismounted as well, and he quickly began clearing weeds and grasses a short distance from the road.
“From the signs, the Triols have captured all of the townspeople.” He took off his helm, and looked closely at the boys, their simple, patched clothes, and their sinewy muscles. “All but two, at any rate. I presume that you hail from Middleton?”
They both nodded, but Ryan could not hold his tongue. “The Triols have captured our families? How do you know?”
The knight raised his eyebrows. “Be careful how you speak to your superior, boy.” Ryan looked down at the ground and nodded sheepishly. “It is a simple matter of looking at the signs, young farmer. There was blood on the ground in the east, in the direction the Triol army was last seen. And there were signs of struggle near the forest’s edge, which we found by following the blood.”
The second knight spoke. His voice was gravelly, and low. “Gregory, you are too kind to these boys. They must help set up camp, if they want to stay warm tonight.”
“I’m not helping set up camp!” Edmund blurted. “I’m going to search for my family.” He started walking towards the forest’s edge to the southeast of them, but the second knight caught his arm.
“You’re going to search for your family, in the forest, in the dark?” He laughed sharply. “When they have been captured by an attacking army? I suppose it’s not
my
business if you’re going to be stupid.” He pushed Edmund away, laughing again.
“Armand, don’t be cruel,” Gregory said, curtly. “Boy, what are you called?”
Edmund turned to look at the knight. “Edmund, sir.”
“Edmund, the only chance of finding your family and friends lies with our army, now.” Edmund’s mouth dropped open at the knight’s words. “And the only way that you will be able to join our company is if you live through the night.” He gestured towards where the other knight was.
Armand had been opening packs on his horse, but now stared openmouthed at Sir Gregory, who continued. “Which you certainly won’t be able to do on your own. Now help us set up camp. We’ll need firewood.” He turned away from Edmund and started rummaging through his saddlebags.
Ryan walked over to his friend’s side. “Edmund, we’d better play along,” he muttered in a low voice. “They can help us.”
On the other side of the camp, Armand finally closed his mouth, but continued staring at Gregory with disbelief. He cleared his throat, and everyone turned to look at him. “Gregory, you can’t be serious.”