Chapter 9: Holy Maiden          Rekka no Ken: Vol 3: The Tactician and the Black Fang: Chapter 1: Taking Leave

Chapter 10: The Farseer

Pent walked forward and touched the ice that sealed in Eshan. The defeated lord’s eyes were nearly bugged out. Pent’s eyebrow twitched and he turned away.

Yodel bent to pick up the Holy Maiden Staff and touched it to Pent’s shoulder. The staff glowed a little, and Pent’s colour returned and he didn’t cough anymore. Yodel went next to Roger and then Erk.

“I hope you are unharmed, Your Majesty,” Pent said to King Mordred, who was cleaning and sheathing his silver sword.

King Mordred nodded. “I am, and so are my wife and son. We are completely shocked, Reglay, completely and utterly shocked. What could have happened to Lord Eshan?”

“Lust for power,” Pent answered. “I still can’t understand what was going through his head…”

“But if you had not come, we do not think we would be alive now. Eshan would not only have taken over Elimine’s Church, he would have usurped the monarchy.” The door of the throne room came unlocked and several troops of guards poured through. Douglas motioned to them to take the iced-up Eshan away.

Pent bowed. “It is always my duty to serve Etruria.” Continue reading →

Chapter 8: The Cost of an Amethyst     Chapter 10: The Farseer

Chapter 9: Holy Maiden

It was dawn the day after the next when Pent and his company finally reached Aquleia. The day intervening had led them to Deis, where Ocery’s son Roger not only approved his soldiers’ travelling with Pent, but enthusiastically joined them. He was understandably furious at Pent for the death of his father, but the allure of an adventure with possible battlefield action against Lord Eshan excited him even more. Phil, his captain, and Paul, the second in command, had their hands full trying to keep their young lord calm enough to react reasonably to anything. He seemed most unwilling to listen to anything Ceniro said, even after both Phil and Paul told of how well he directed the group. Ceniro shrugged at the two guards after a twenty minute discussion with all three of them.

“It’s all right. Just stick to him like limpets and make sure he doesn’t get swamped. He should be able to take care of himself; just point him in the right direction.”

Phil nodded. “Will do.”

So at evening, they had set up their growing multitude of tents by the road almost two hours ride from Aquleia. Pent had tried to use the contact staff to talk to Douglas, but nothing happened.

The next morning, bright and early, they were entering the white towered city of Aquleia, the centre and jewel of Etruria, and found it in turmoil. The citizens were standing around, buzzing like angry bees; ordinary business was conducted, but an air of tension and excitement pervaded everything.

“Interesting,” Pent commented. “Eshan’s not interested in the common folk, and they’re not certain what to do yet. I suppose we shall see what happens later. Let’s see if we’re stopped heading for the castle.”

They were not stopped along the road to the castle, and indeed when they reached the castle gate, it was devoid of guard except a lone pair of soldiers with Eshan’s livery, who scurried away as soon as the armed group swept up. Continue reading →

Chapter 7: Siege of Castle Wrigley     Chapter 9: Holy Maiden

Chapter 8: The Cost of an Amethyst

Pent and the ten other riders with him arrived at Lesil’s castle a few hours later. It was night, but the moon shone brightly. It was tall and not wide, with no moat but a fearsome gate. Fiora had led them there, watching Lesil’s army ride off from the air. Their horses were as drained as they were themselves, but Pent was adamant that he would rescue his wife that same night.

“Now, I would assume, Ceniro, that most of his army assaulted us. Probably half of the soldiers could be a problem for projectiles… Hm? Oh, I know from the military review a couple months ago. Boring stuff, but you see it comes in handy.”

“What we need to do is keep Lesil in sight,” Ceniro said, sounding more tired than ever as his group trudged along, still hours back. “Find some way for you and the horses to take a rest for maybe an hour, maybe two if we can, while seeing that he’s not… bothering Lady Louise.”

Pent thought furiously. “I could… ask to speak with him. That would work for about five minutes, maybe a little longer, but certainly not a whole hour. He wants to destroy us, doesn’t – wait…”

“What?”

“There’s a light flickering in that window, third story, left of the gate. It must be Louise! No one else would want to signal us, would they?” He raised a determined fist above his head and the light gave a little jump in response and then stopped flashing.

“Well, now we know where she is, and that she’s not being watched for the time being. Go ahead and call on Lesil-“

“Arrows, sir,” George spoke up as the familiar hiss reached their ears. They hastily moved back out of range, all except Pent, who shouted Lesil’s name.

“Lesil! Come out and talk!” Continue reading →