Wielder's Fate (16 page)

Darian exploded with laughter.  Traven didn’t care that he had slipped up.  He wanted to know what the letter said.

“Let me see it,” he demanded.

“I will retrieve it when we stop for the night,” Darian responded.  “It is buried in my bags.”

The elf urged his horse faster and zoomed off towards the eastern gate.  Traven narrowed his eyes and gave chase.

13

Blaize looked down from the wall and watched Traven walk away.  It was frustrating to see someone with so much power and ability to help the army leaving in such a great time of need.  However, he really did trust his young friend.  If Traven said he had to leave, it meant he truly had to leave.  Others might think differently after the young wielder’s recent failure, but Blaize believed him.  He hoped Traven would be able to return quickly with whatever powerful object he was attempting to acquire.  If Traven could then defeat the galdak wielder and help the army, his current absence would be worth it.

Looking out over the city, Blaize was worried for its citizens.  There was a good possibility that the Kalian Army could hold off the galdaks for a few days, but he wasn’t sure how much longer.  Without Traven, they would be at the mercy of the galdak wielder if he approached the city again.  The army would be hard pressed to keep the numberless galdaks at bay without even considering the attacks of a wielder.  Blaize hoped he could at least keep the citizens of Candus protected and evacuate them safely when it became necessary.

He glanced up and down the walls of the city.  They were strong, solid walls.  They would help to stop the invading creatures as long as the wielder didn’t destroy any more sections of them.  There were only three entry points on the eastern side of the city.  It would be harder to defend all three than it would have been to defend only one, but it was still doable.  The galdak’s advantage of numbers would be somewhat negated by the limited entry points.  All three were manned heavily and fortified.

The walls were lined with archers, and a constant rain of arrows would slow down the monsters.  In addition, there were numerous piles of flammable materials set up along the outside of the wall.  When the battle commenced, he would have them all lit.  The galdaks would have to face a wall of blazing light.  He hoped the fires would erase any advantage the creatures expected to have by attacking in the dark.

The defenses were in place.  The army was prepared.  Now there was nothing to do but wait.  Blaize stared out into the darkness, straining his eyes to make out any sign of the invading horde.  All he saw was blackness.  He wished he had Traven, or even Darian for that matter, by his side.  Either one’s eyes could pierce the darkness better than any of his current men.

In the silence that always befalls soldiers before the commencement of a great battle, Blaize began to notice a low rumbling sound.  It slowly grew louder and louder.  He still couldn’t see the invaders, but he could hear them.  It wouldn’t be long.  Several whistles pierced the air.  The galdaks had been spotted.  Blaize strained his eyes and began to see the first signs of the creatures.  At the moment, they were still no more than moving shadows at the edge of his vision.  As they continued rushing forward, the shadows solidified into the forms of numerous monsters.

Blaize’s heart began thumping faster and his hands twitched.  It was about to begin.  He quickly calculated how long it would take for them to reach the wall.  The creatures were racing forward at nearly an all out run.  He waited several more seconds and gave the signal.  Bonfires sprang to life all along the wall.  The darkness immediately surrounding the city was suddenly pushed back as it was illuminated by the bright flames.

The galdak warriors, temporarily blinded by the light of the fires, tried to skid to a halt, but the momentum of the horde was too great.  Their progress was slowed but only slightly.  As the illuminated monsters continued pushing forward, well within range of the archers, three sharp whistles pierced the air.  Immediately, the Kalian archers began to rain death down upon their attackers.  Volley after volley was sent into the galdak horde.  Hundreds of the creatures fell to the ground, but the horde continued forward, right over the top of their fallen comrades.

The first ranks of galdak warriors closed the final open space to the walls and launched themselves into the stone.  It was as if a mighty wave was crashing against a large boulder.  The wall shivered with the impact but remained firm.  Blaize was once again taken aback by the ferocity of the galdaks.  The archers continued to pick off the creatures, but each time one fell, another would instantly take its place.

Blaize checked the three entry points into the city.  None had been breached yet.  His soldiers were standing firm in the face of the hellish onslaught.  He glanced out over the invaders.  Their red bodies and glowing yellow eyes covered the entire visible part of the plain.  It truly appeared to be a nightmare coming to life.

The screams and yells of battle began to be interspersed with a growing number of dull clanking sounds.  Blaize watched with narrowed eyes as a grappling hook came clanking down almost on top of him.  The metal hooks scraped against the top of the stones and came to rest at the edge of the wall.  The galdaks were beginning to climb.

Blaize whipped out one of his swords and brought it down on the hook’s rope.  The sword bit into the stone with a shower of sparks.  Blaize groaned as he realized that the rope was in reality a metal chain.  He hacked at it several more times before a link snapped and the chain fell.  It appeared the galdaks were better prepared than they had anticipated.

Three more grappling hooks clanked down near him and scraped the stones before sticking firmly at the edge.  It would be impossible to cut through all of the chains quickly enough.  He looked back and forth along the wall and saw that several galdaks were already beginning to reach the top.  He quickly sent an order for more soldiers to man the walls.  It looked as though there would be as much fighting on top of the walls as there would be on the ground.

Blaize had expected to remain removed from any sword fighting tonight, but it looked as though part of the battle would be coming to him.  He silently unsheathed his other blade.  No galdak would gain access to the top of the wall anywhere near him.

* * * * *

Kalista stared out of the palace window at the dark, silent city.  A messenger had arrived earlier informing them that the galdaks were about to attack.  She supposed that the eastern edge of Candus was bustling with troops, but all was quiet near the palace.  The citizens were in their homes, wondering whether or not they would be sleeping there the following night.

Everyone was aware of the immense size of the invading army.  Some thought the Kalian soldiers could hold the monsters at bay indefinitely, but others believed an evacuation of the city was inevitable.  Kalista was with the latter group.  She had heard of the galdaks’ ferocity in the previous night’s attack.  She had also heard reports that Traven had not been able to defeat the powerful galdak wielder.  If Traven could not stop the wielder, she doubted regular soldiers would be able to contain him.

She turned from the window as Gavin strode into the room.  He was dressed for battle and ready to join the troops at the eastern wall.  She hurried over to him and embraced him.  She did not like the idea of her fiancé heading towards the fighting, especially after what had happened the night before.  However, she knew there was nothing she could say to keep him at the palace.  He was determined to help defend his city.

“Must you go?” she asked in a vain attempt to dissuade him.

“You know I must,” Gavin responded as he held her tightly.  “This is my city.  It is my responsibility to protect it.”

She knew he was right, but she did not have to be happy about it.  It looked as though it would be another long night of waiting and worrying.  Hopefully Gavin had learned his lesson the night before and would remain safely behind the lines.  If not, she hoped Traven would be nearby.

“Have you heard any update on the Wielder Traven,” Kalista asked curiously.  The last she had heard was that he had been defeated by the galdak wielder but had been able to escape unscathed.

“Does it matter?” Gavin said as he pushed back from her.  The previous warmth in his eyes had turned to ice at the mention of the young wielder.  “He failed.”

“That does not mean he cannot continue to help the army,” she responded.

She was still trying to get used to the swings in Gavin’s attitude.  One moment he would be his old, pleasant self, and the next he would be depressed and sad or cold and hard.

“I would not plan on it,” he stated coldly.  “The Wielder Traven has abandoned the army.”

“What?” Kalista asked with more than a hint of surprise and disbelief in her voice.

“You don’t believe me?” Gavin asked harshly.

“It’s not that,” she responded quickly.  “I just find it hard to believe he would abandon us.”

“Abandon us or abandon you?” Gavin asked with a raised eyebrow.

Kalista suddenly realized why he was so upset.  He obviously did not approve of her friendship with Traven.  He had been fine all evening and night until she had mentioned the young wielder’s name.  Gavin was very jealous of him.  She supposed he had a right to be.  She had spent almost as much time with Traven over the last few days as she had with him.  It would be a lie to deny that she found the young wielder intriguing and that she cared for him.  How could one not care about someone who had saved one’s life multiple times?

She also could not pretend that she wouldn’t feel personally betrayed if Traven really had abandoned them.  Gavin knew her better than she often gave him credit for, but she did not appreciate his flippant question.  She kept silent as she turned away from her fiancé.

“Kalista, I am sorry,” Gavin said as warmness returned to his voice.  “I should not have said that, but what I said about Traven is true.  Several reports have arrived of him racing off into the night heading away from the battle.”

“If it is true,” she responded as she turned back towards her fiancé, “we will have to trust in the discipline of the Royal Kalian Army to save us.”

“It is the greatest army in the world,” Gavin said with a smile.  His eyes had returned to their normal softness.  His smile faded, but his eyes remained unchanged.  “It is quite possible that an evacuation will occur no matter how diligently our soldiers fight.  I want you to be prepared for that.”

“I know,” Kalista said as she walked towards him and embraced him once more.  “Be careful.”

“I will,” he responded as he held her tightly.

After the long embrace, Gavin stepped back and gave her another smile before turning and walking out of the room.  Kalista stared at the door for several moments before returning to the window that she had been looking out of before Gavin had entered.  She looked down at her engagement ring.  She hoped her fiancé truly would be careful, especially if there was a galdak wielder about.

Her thoughts then turned to Traven.  She found it hard to believe the young man would abandon the army.  He was most likely involved in a strategy to surprise the invaders.  Thinking of her recent conversation with Gavin, she suddenly felt foolish for the letter she had earlier sent to Traven’s chambers.  She quickly summoned one of her maids to go and fetch the letter.  It would be best if Traven did not read it.

She stared out the window, trying not to worry too much about the battle that by now was most likely raging along the eastern wall of the city.  She knew the army would be able to hold its position for the night, but she wondered how many more nights it could keep the attacking monsters at bay.  She probably should have her belongings packed and ready to move if an order of evacuation was given.  After a short while, her servant returned empty handed.

“The letter was nowhere to be found,” her maid said apologetically.  “In fact, all of the Wielder Traven’s belongings appear to be gone.  The room was completely vacant.”

“You are certain everything, including the letter, is gone?” she asked.

“Yes, my Princess.”

Kalista dismissed her servant and turned back to the window.  Could it be true that Traven really had abandoned them?  She began to feel sick to her stomach and slightly angry.  She had not thought the earnest young man could do such a thing.  How could a hero like Traven abandon them in such a time of great need?  How could he abandon her?  Her eyes glistened slightly as she stared out into the dark night.  Did her letter have something to do with his choice to leave?  She wished she had never written it.

* * * * *

Shaman Azulk stood just outside his tent, looking towards the human city in the far distance.  It was growing noticeably lighter with the coming of day, but his dark clouds still covered the entire sky.  They effectively blocked the intense light of the sun that would be harmful to the eyes of his people.  He hoped they would also help to create a feeling of gloom and despair in the hearts of the humans that loved the light of day so much.

The first of his warriors were beginning to return to the camp after a long night of fighting.  They had suffered many casualties, but the loss was hardly noticeable amongst a horde so large.  All of the galdak warriors knew what they were fighting for, and all were willing to sacrifice their lives if necessary.  Those who had died had not died in vain.  The cause of the galdaks was progressing forward with each human death.

The humans had suffered numerous casualties during the night.  The galdaks had effectively scaled the walls and overrun the archers.  They had also broken through one of the holes he had created in the wall and had destroyed several buildings before being pushed back out of the city.  Azulk wouldn’t be surprised if his warriors were able to completely overrun the human’s defenses the coming night.

He could guarantee it would happen if he wanted to, but his place was not fighting with the warriors.  He was a shaman.  As such, he was responsible for healing the wounded, controlling the sky, and defending them against any human wielders.  The first two responsibilities would certainly keep him busy throughout the day.