The Sword of Light: Book One of the Veredor Chronicles (13 page)

‘
Our enemies will be searching the highways,’ said King
Ignis.

‘
We shouldn’t go near the highway. I don’t think horses will
help us much,’ said Red. ‘I think it would be best for us to walk
to Galdir. It wouldn’t be wise for us to leave the
wilderness.’

‘
I’m sure horses will help us move quickly,’ said Cassiel. ‘We
also must buy supplies somewhere; the fish will only last a couple
of days.’

‘
I think Cassiel is right,’ said the King. ‘Lantern Hill is a
small town west of Ancora on the main highway and probably only a
day north of where we are now. We could buy some horses and food
and quickly return to the wilderness.’

‘
It’s a bad idea,’ said Red, shaking his head. ‘Eben can hunt
and has his bow, and we could collect mushrooms.’

‘
I can hunt, although it would take some time out of our day,’
said Eben

‘
We can’t afford any delay,’ said Cassiel. ‘The enemy will
learn where we landed and will follow our tracks from the village.
We can be sure they will have horses, and once they find our tracks
they will catch up to us in no time.’

‘
You’re right,’ said King Ignis. ‘If we continue without
stopping for horses and supplies our enemies will most likely catch
us before we reach Galdir. Stopping at Lantern Hill is our best
option. It may be worth the risk.’

‘
North it is then,’ said Cassiel, happy the decision had been
made

‘
I still don’t like this idea,’ said Red. ‘I stopped over at
Lantern Hill not so long ago. It’s a dangerous town.’

‘
What Red says is true; it will be dangerous,’ said Baftel. ‘I
see a menacing evil hovering over the town of Lantern Hill. We
should be cautious of this idea.’

‘
What do you see, Baftel?’ asked Cassiel.

‘
I can’t be sure. Evil gathers further north. The highway is
being watched by our enemies.’

‘
It is a risk we’ll have to take,’ said King Ignis.

CHAPTER
NINE

The company
journeyed north and the land flattened out as they marched toward
Lantern Hill. As they progressed the trees grew more numerous and
the landscape gradually turned into forest. Eben and Red had passed
through the same forest weeks earlier on their way to Ancora. The
forest was the magnificent Altus Forest, the largest forest in
Ortaria. They found a goat track that led northward through the
woods, and by the mid-afternoon the trees gave way to the muddy
highway that cut directly through the forest from east to west.

‘
Is Lantern Hill to the east or west?’ asked Cassiel as he
looked from left to right.

‘
West,’ replied Red.

‘
I thought east,’ said King Ignis. The highway gradually
curved out of sight through the forest.

‘
Is that horses?’ asked Stella softly.

‘
Quick, off the highway!’ cried Baftel.

They all
dashed back off the highway and made their way into the trees as
the sound of galloping horses could be heard growing louder from
the west. They ducked out of sight behind trees and bushes and
watched as a group of at least two dozen armour clad horsemen rode
by at full speed. A few moments later they were gone from sight,
and the sound of the galloping faded away into the east.

When they were
certain the horsemen were gone they walked back toward the highway.
Baftel led the way and looked in the direction the horsemen had
ridden.

‘
They’re gone,’ he said.

‘
We should go west,’ said Red. King Ignis nodded. ‘Lantern
Hill is west. I travelled back and forth a lot along this highway
when I was a trader. The town is about an hour from here. We should
stay off the highway for our safety.’

The group
walked through the forest and kept just south of the highway to
avoid the possibility of an ambush. After about half an hour the
forest started to thin and gave way to a long lush field that
stretched out into the distance. At the far side a line of yew
trees grew along the base of a small hill that the town of Lantern
Hill was built upon. They could all clearly see the outline of the
gabled rooftops and smoking chimneys of the stone houses and huts.
They stopped short of the field and stood just within the last
trees of the forest.

‘
How should we proceed?’ asked Cassiel, looking to King
Ignis.

‘
We can split up the tasks; that would reduce the time we
spend in the town. One group can get the food, and the other group
can buy the horses and the swords,’ suggested King
Ignis.

‘
There’s a dark shadow covering the town. I don’t think we are
safe here,’ said Baftel.

‘
What do you see,’ asked King Ignis, glancing uneasily back at
the wizard.

‘
Vultures feeding on a carcass,’ said Baftel
gravely.

‘
Keep your eyes open. If we get separated then we’ll meet back
here,’ said King Ignis.

‘
I can buy the six horses we need,’ said Red. ‘I know a
merchant in the town who sells horses and travelling goods, and we
may even be able to buy some swords from him. After I buy the
horses I’ll lead them all to the other side of the
town.’

‘
Good,’ said King Ignis. ‘I’ll go with Red and Baftel to buy
the horses and swords. Cassiel, Eben, and Stella can buy the food
supplies. We’ll meet on the western side of town as quickly as we
possibly can. Don’t talk to anyone unless it cannot be avoided, and
keep your heads down.’

Cassiel
divided his gold between the two groups. They crossed the field
quickly and ascended the slope of the hill up to the eastern
entrance of the town. The town had no wall and was cut in two by
the main road that ascended directly over the hilltop and ran
straight down the opposite side. A few scruffy guardsmen near the
entrance scowled as they passed by. The whole town was very dank
and grimy. The streets were full of mud and rot. The people of
Lantern Hill looked to be downtrodden and miserable. Eben felt
dismayed by the haunted and bleak faces of the townsfolk.

Red led the
King and Baftel away to the right as Cassiel, Stella, and Eben
walked up the hill to the top of the town. At the top of the hill
there was a large open square and in the centre was a marble statue
that had been smashed and was missing its arms and head. Cassiel
sighed at seeing it.

‘
That statue was of Teodric the Builder. He was one of the
greatest kings who ever lived,’ whispered Cassiel.

They walked by
the broken statue and down the road leading toward the western side
of the town. A little down from the top of the hill they found a
merchant storehouse. Cassiel went inside to arrange the supplies
whilst Stella and Eben waited at the door just outside. Eben looked
over the rooftops and down across the countryside as the view from
the hill was panoramic. He could see the many fields that
surrounded the town. His eyes glanced up the road and his heart
froze when he saw a hooded horseman passing the ruined statue and
heading in their direction. The rider was dressed in black and had
a deathly pale complexion. His eyes were fixed on Eben and
Stella.

‘
Get inside,’ said Eben, taking Stella by the arm; he led her
into the storehouse. Cassiel was finalising his deal and had slung
a large sack of food over his shoulder.

‘
Cassiel!’ shouted Eben. Cassiel quickly turned and looked
back at Eben and Stella. ‘We’re in trouble.’

‘
What is it? What did you see?’ asked Cassiel.

‘
There’s a horseman near the statue. I think he’s a Skathean,’
said Eben. The colour instantly drained from Cassiel’s
face.

‘
A Skathean!’ he repeated as he quickly went to the window
beside the door. He looked out. An instant later leapt back. The
whole storehouse shuddered, and the window shattered with the sound
of a mighty crash. Orange flames smashed through, knocking Cassiel
to the floor, and setting fire to the far side of the
storeroom.

‘
Zarceler! Zarceler is here, and he has Skatheans with him!’
cried Cassiel. Cassiel struggled to get up off the floor; he was
clearly injured from the fiery blast. The storeman ran out a side
door as Eben drew his sword. Stella looked horrified and went to
help Cassiel.

‘
Eben!’ cried Stella as Eben moved toward the front door. The
store around them started to burn.

‘
I’ll protect you!’ shouted Eben. He threw his bag, axe, and
bow aside and looked to the Sword of Light in his hand. Courage
pushed the fear from his veins. A shockwave smashed into the door,
blasting it off its hinges and forcing Eben to stumble back. A
moment later a fierce Skathean stepped in through the doorway. His
face was deeply pale, and his piercing blue eyes revealed his
murderous intention. He was clothed completely in black and wore a
long dark cloak. He held a large sword in his hand, and he stared
directly at Eben with malice.

Suddenly a
blast of fire from the hand of Cassiel struck the Skathean,
knocking the evil warrior toward the door. With great agility the
Skathean recovered his balance. He leapt towards Cassiel and Stella
furiously, ready to swing his blade, but Eben moved forward and
stood between the Skathean and his friends. Their blades clashed
with a screech of steel on steel. The Skathean fell back and stared
at Eben with menacing eyes. Eben quickly advanced. He struck at the
Skathean several times and forced his opponent to parry. The
Skathean stepped backward and out through the doorway onto the
street.

‘
Go out the back!’ shouted Eben, looking over his shoulder to
Cassiel and Stella. Stella helped Cassiel. They went toward the
back door as the fires blazed around them.

‘
Eben, they’re Skatheans! You can’t beat them!’ shouted
Cassiel as they exited out the back.

Feeling
confident, Eben leapt out into the street after the Skathean.
Instantly he was surrounded by five waiting Skatheans. Zarceler was
standing across the way and grinning wickedly. Eben stood at the
doorway as the storehouse burned behind him. He raised his sword
and was ready for combat.

‘
It looks like a wonderful sword, boy!’ said Zarceler with a
smirk. ‘You are surrounded, surrender!’

‘
Never!’ cried Eben defiantly.

Instantly he
found himself defending multiple blows from the Skatheans. He
struggled to parry and counter attack as the Skatheans pushed him
away from the storehouse and down the road. He kept stepping back
as they advanced and strained to defend the incoming strikes,
stabs, and slashes. The five of them worked together like a
machine. They surrounded him and forced him further down the hill
until he was eventually near the western edge of the town.

With his back
against a stone wall he desperately tried to defend himself. His
sword flickered in the light of day and moved so gracefully in his
hand, but his faith and courage were diminishing and his weariness
was growing. A moment later a flash of bright red light struck him
in the chest and he dropped to the ground; the Sword of Light fell
from his hand as he curled over in pain. A burning sensation of
fire circulated in his abdomen. Completely breathless he curled up
against the stone wall as the Skatheans pointed their swords at him
and were ready to finish him off. Zarceler approached and looked
down at him with a mocking smirk.

‘
In truth, I have never seen such a wonderful display of
swordsmanship. What fool in all of history would challenge five
Skatheans at once? You lasted so long. It’s a pity you are not my
servant. You would make a good bodyguard; unfortunately I have to
kill you,’ said Zarceler, grinning viciously.

‘
He has the Sword of Light,’ hissed one of the Skatheans.
Zarceler’s jaw dropped, and his eyes filled with devious wonder at
hearing the words.

Eben found
some energy within and started to get up off the ground. He looked
up at Zarceler who was grinning down at him and gloating.

‘
Where did you get that sword, boy?’ asked
Zarceler.

Eben didn’t
answer and stared defiantly up at the evil wizard.

‘
We will take the Sword of Light to the Master,’ said
Zarceler, grinning with malicious delight.

Suddenly a
bright blue wave of energetic light blasted out from the stone wall
behind Eben. The shockwave knocked all the Skatheans and Zarceler
away from him; they all tumbled to the ground. Eben grabbed his
sword and regained his feet. A moment later he could see Red
charging down from the top of the hill on a large horse.

‘
Eben!’ cried Red.

Eben felt his
confidence return at seeing his friend coming to his aid. He dashed
away from the Skatheans and rushed back up the hill toward Red. The
Skatheans were quick to regain their feet and turned to pursue him.
Zarceler watched with a sneer as Eben ran. Moments later he reached
Red. Red leaned down and helped Eben up onto his horse.

‘
We have to get out of here! The others are already out of the
town.’

‘
What about Stella and Cassiel?’

‘
They’re safe with King Ignis,’ said Red.

The Skatheans
were almost upon them. Red turned his horse around and charged away
from the Skatheans. Zarceler snarled and was furiously enraged.
Several dozen town guardsmen appeared at the top of the hill and
attempted to block their escape. Red turned the horse and charged
down a side lane that led out of the town.