The smell death hung in the air. Lord Desmond swallowed, at the very sight of the upcoming battle. He moved to the left. His horse, like his rider, was nervous. The horse moved to the right. His face had a shade of pale. He stood up, looked at the battlefield. The terrain was useless for their strategy. They must think something new. What else could they do?
“What’s happening out there?” he asked in a panic tone.
“Nothing good,” Lady Tirdana turned towards him.
“Can’t we do something?”
“Yes, wait till the battle starts.”
“Great.”
“You aren’t alone.”
“Even that information, I count as something.”
“You are scared, aren’t you?”
“Yes.”
“You have the courage to admit it,” her face changed. “I never could.”
“Only then, can a man truly be brave.”
”I guess, it’s true.”
“It matters not. Now, the battle only matters and victory, nothing else.”
“Are you sure about the last part?”
CAMP At dawn, I looked around the camp. A thin layer of mist appeared throughout the valley. The monk got up. He looked in every direction. It was time to go. “It’s time,” he said after a break. His eyes looked at the top of the mountain. “Going my way?” I asked. “No.” “Then, this is goodbye.” “Not all goodbyes are sad.” “True.” “Where are you going?” “East,” I replied, mounting my horse. “Why east?” “There is always work for me there.” “Planning to start a new life?” “Yes. We will meet, again.” “All roads lead east.” “True,” Ispurred the horse onward. The horse went slowly, at first, like he had some dignity. The horse held his head high. We continued, that way, until we disappeared behind a hill. The horse with ease changed speed. We went through the forest like a shadow. With that speed, we could only be seen like such. One oak fel
I entered the nearest inn that was near the first turning. The inn was full. I looked for a place to sit. There was only one table free. I slowly walked through the room. The innkeeper’s gaze was fixed on me. I sat down. The innkeeper got up and went to my table: “What does the honorable knight want?” “A gil stew,” I said. “Aye,” the innkeeper said. A few moments later, he returned with the stew: “Here you go. Planning to stay?” “Maybe, I don’t know.” “Good to hear.” “Tell me, my good man, what is the new gossip in these parts.” “What do you want to know?” “Everything resent that happened.” “The king was placed notices to the boar.” “What boar?” “Huge one, two or three times larger than the normal, they say that he was never caught.” “What else do they say?” “That, he’s magical.” “Where can I get more information?” “About what do you want to
After defeating his brother Tostrig and Halsward Harden in the north, Halstern left much of his forces in the north, including Morcer and Edwerem, and marched the rest of his army south to deal with the threatened Hereninn invasion. It is unclear when Halstern learned of Segwaren’s landing, but it was probably while he was travelling south. Halstern stopped in Listen, and was there for about a week before Kaihon, so it is likely that he spent about a week on his march south, averaging about 27 miles (43 kilometers) per day, for the approximately 200 miles (320 kilometers). Halstern camped at Calderac Hill on the night of 13 October, near what was described as a "hoar-apple tree". This location was about 8 miles (13 kilometers) from Segwaren’s castle at Kaihon. Some of the early contemporary Firdan accounts mention an emissary or emissaries sent by Halstern to Segwaren, which is likely. Nothing came of these efforts. Although Halstern attempted to surprise the He
Halstern’s death left the Draumet forces leaderless, and they began to collapse. Many of them fled, but the soldiers of the royal household gathered around Halstern’s body and fought to the end. The Hereninn began to pursue the fleeing troops, and except for a rearguard action at a site known as the "Malfisse", the battle was over. Exactly what happened at the Malfisse, or "Evil Ditch", and where it took place, is unclear. It occurred at a small fortification or set of trenches where some Draumetmen rallied and seriously wounded Eustace of Boustera before being defeated by the Hereninn. Halstern’s defeat was probably due to several circumstances. One was the need to defend against two almost simultaneous invasions. The fact that Halstern had dismissed his forces in southern Draumet on 8 September also contributed to the defeat. Many historians fault Halstern for hurrying south and not gathering more forces before confronting Segwaren at Kaihon, although it is no
The room was bright. The king sat in his high chair. Under his feet a stool was placed, near the stool, two large wolfhounds slept. One of them moved its head, looked around, and continued to sleep. The king moved in his chair, placed the cape on his other shoulder. He had a pretty face; he wasn’t older than forty. There was something charismatic about him, something sensational about him. His gaze wandered from one part of the room, to the other. From the profile, he looked like his father, the late King Zir. The whole room was silent. The king’s advisor entered, knelt in front of the king, and whispered something to him. The king’s mood changed: “I hear that you come from the east, is that true?” “Yes,” I moved my left leg, “Your Majesty.” “How much, east are we are talking?” “Over the Dragon Mountains, Your Majesty.” “Enough, with the formality, we are talking man to man.” “Alright, Your Gr…” “That court ladyis the mos
The path, which led to the boar, was steep and uneven. It was a problem, for mea normal human, let alone a huge boar. Inch by inch, Imoved forward. It was slow progress. Imoved bit by bit, hopping that will be a wider part somewhere. At this rate, it will take me at least two days find the boar. It is too slow, Ithought. It’s slow as gil snail.I’ll never kill that boar. Myeyes looked; Isaw a small cave opening not far away. There must be a faster way. Ihurried to the opening. The opening was near. Suddenly, somewhere above me a boulder loosened. There was no way back, only forward. Irushed. The boulders fell one by one, destroying with them pieces of the path. A few steps divided mefrom the opening. I was so close. One jump is all I need, only one. Will Imake it? Ijumped, without a moment of hesitation. Ilanded in front of the opening, entered withou
The success of the sortie was already assured; therefore he did not try to go in very great silence. He passed a few tents buried in darkness; no one woke, no one inquired, “Who is there?” Silence, everything around was quiet. Someone appeared from the darkness. The soldiers of Clear Hill heard the squeak of his daring steps and the beating of their own hearts. He reached the lighted tent, raised the curtain and entered, halted at the entrance with pistol in hand and sabre down on its strap. He halted because the light dazzled him somewhat, for on the camp-table stood, a candlestick with six arms, in which bright lights were burning. At the table, three officers were sitting, bent over plans. One of them, sitting in the middle, was poring over these plans so intently that his long hair lay on the white paper. Seeing someone enter, he raised his head, and asked in a calm voice, -- “Who is there?” “A soldier,” answered Kmert. That moment
“It is going yet! Higher, higher!” cried the soldiers. “It will vanish from the eye!” In fact the fog hanging on the cliff began to rise toward the sky in the form of an immense pillar of smoke; the church planted, as it were, on the summit of that pillar, seemed to rise higher each instant; at the same time when it was far up, as high as the clouds themselves, it was veiled more and more with vapor; you would have said that it was melting, liquefying; it became more indistinct, and at last vanished altogether. Miltar turned to the officers, and in his eyes were depicted astonishment and a superstitious dread. “I acknowledge, gentlemen,” said he, “that I have never seen such a thing in my life, altogether opposed to nature: it must be the enchantment of papists.” “I have heard,” said Sadov, “soldiers crying out, 'How can you fire at such a fortress?' In truth I know not how.” “But what is there now?” cried the Prince of Haranna. “Is that churc