XXXVIII

Chapter XL

The cliffs rose up then. Before long, the valley below echoed with the battle-cries of the Corridane archers, whom David had left on the heights in anticipation of that which in fact occurred: that Damerson in his hubris would order his men to pursue the retreating Corridanes along the cliffs into what thus proved to be a trap. The Corridanes on the heights made short work of the men hard by the cliffs, then turned their superior range on the main body of Damerson’s reserves, some yards back from the battle. These men, knowing they were helpless against the hail of arrows coming against them, did the only thing they could and fled the scene.

Observing this from his hillock some yards to the side of the battle, Valun found himself more inclined to pity his enemies than to congratulate David for winning the battle in such a manner. He said as much to Meltran, who still stood beside him.

Privately reveling in the defeat of the man who had thrust him out of his palace at knifepoint some ten years past, Meltran, understandably, grew impatient with anyone who showed the slightest sign of sympathy for the man or his works.

“Would you rather stand here and order thousands more of your men to die simply because your men do not have a commander who takes the advantages he sees? You are too scrupulous by half, Valun Evenhand! You have won the battle, so it is your duty to celebrate the fact with the men who have actually done the fighting, whether you think it right or not!... But doubtless, you would have words with your hard-won prisoner first.”

As the reader will have guessed, these words heralded the arrival of the man Valun had ordered captured, and the two guards who were the last to survive the chase through the thick of the battle. Meltran produced a rope, and the two guards tied the man’s hands and forced him to his knees three feet from the kings.

The prisoner was a young man, no older than Valun himself. His brown hair hung in limp but wildly separated strands about his neck. His bushy brows were set in a perpetual glare, and his green eyes bored into the kings as if he would burn them with his will.

Valun said “Who are you and from whence do you come? I would know more about you, and I do not often speak so.”

The prisoner made no answer, but remained there, a new rock upon that ground that knew so few, thought there were cliffs so near.

Then Meltran spoke: “Speak! Were you convinced or conscripted by that vile fiend Damerson? Speak, or your head may serve to answer for his!”

Valun would not stand to hear that from another. Asserting his own authority, he reminded the Brandian that the man was his prisoner, captured by his men. “I will not have a man so threatened before my face. To my knowledge, he has yet to do wrong which may be judged against him. He must speak.”

But still the man refused to speak even one word.

Silence reigned around the group for several seconds. When it became apparent that the prisoner did not mean to speak at that time, Valun said “Place him in my tent, to wait until I come again. Untie his hands and bring him what he wills, but do not let him escape.”

As the guards propelled the prisoner past the kings in order to place him in the tent, the prisoner, who had resolutely refused to look up until that moment, cast one swift glance up at Valun, who on his part did not indicate in any way whether he had understood the message.

Mounting his horse, which had been kept close by for the duration of the combat, Valun said “I go now as you have said, to celebrate their victory with my men. No doubt your own men wish that you would join them.”

Though Valun had been some way off from the battle, still the size of the armies had been such that Valun’s steed had to pick its path carefully, even as many of the Corridane survivors moved through the ranks carrying away those who remained alive. When Valun had nearly crossed over to the cliffs, he finally discovered David, doing as his men were, and stumbling under the weight of a man who had lost an arm. Both of them noticed their king’s arrival and acknowledged him.

“We are laying those who may still live behind the lines, my lord.”

“Very well. I will visit them. Having done that, I will want an explanation from you. Deliver this man to those who are able to care for him, and do nothing else until I have spoken to you.”

The soldier David was still carrying across his back remarked “Ah, the privilege of kings. To stand back and watch your men die, and then do nothing more than glare at the ones who are living. Did he want you to die too?”

The man’s nonchalant manner grated on David. “No. He wanted me alive. But not here where he can see me. He didn’t want you here either.” Shrugging to adjust the man’s weight, David trudged on.

Valun, meanwhile, had ridden ahead to meet those men who had already been brought off the field. Though he had been prepared for a huge number of casualties, the sheer size of the actual number still astonished him. Reining his horse in several feet short of the lines, he dismounted and handed the animal over to a man who had noticed his presence.

Valun had been angry with David when he left that noble squire, but when he saw for himself the long lines of David’s men who had given their future well-being in his service, the king of the Corridanes decided then that he had never understood the true meaning of faith and loyalty.

The men had been ordered to turn back, return to their homes, and forget the man now standing before them until he had proven himself worthy of their allegiance. Now, thousands of them were dead, and several thousand more were permanently handicapped. Why? Because they had decided to follow the man who wore the crown rather than the commands he had spoken.

Moving forward, Valun began to move down the lines, commending each of those still awake in turn for their loyalty and the courage they had undoubtedly shone in the combat. Several rows along, Valun met Meltran, who, with his men, was utilizing the healing skills they had learned during years of forest exile to the aid of the injured men.

Looking up from the knot he was tying on the binding of a man’s arm, Meltran told Valun “There is a man of your ranks walking the lines. He wishes to speak with you as soon as he may. He is on his way over here now.”

Looking in the direction Meltran was indicating, Valun saw a man moving toward him, who increased his pace when he saw that the king had noticed him. The man was of average build; nothing distinguished him from many of the men lying on the ground except the short cape he wore, which was fastened around his neck with a plain bronze chain. With a start, Valun realized that David had also been wearing a cape like that one; Richard must have given orders on his own authority that commanders were to be designated in such a manner.

The strange captain had soon reached Valun and was now on one knee before him, proffering his blade hilt foremost.

“My lord, it is my honor to swear my loyalty to your house. Will you accept it?”

Caught off his guard by the man’s swift action, Valun hesitated. “Are you truly the captain of those men who came from Carribeasa?”

“I am, sire. Do you believe what I say?”

“I heard from one of my guards that the men of Carribeasa had come over the mountains. I believe your words and accept your allegiance. Rise.”

Not wanting to disrespect the wounded by holding a long conversation while standing over them, Valun indicated that the two should move away, past the end of the line.

“Now tell me how this comes about. But four days ago I left you under siege within your own city, though it grieved me to behave in such a manner toward my own people. And now I meet you on a battlefield outside our own borders, pledging your loyalty to me for all time.”

Stopping in his tracks, the captain replied “I know full well, my lord, about the delegation that met you outside the walls, and also that they spurned your commands and basely shot at you as you turned away. What you do not know is that those men did not represent the people of the city. They represented the men who ruled the city, who called themselves the Council, nothing more.”

“How did it come about that they ruled at all? For Damrod was a brutal ruler.”

“He ruled like that because the people loved the old king, and most men consented to execution or imprisonment rather than enforcing his rule over their countrymen. He was forced to bring in bands of Naiberns to enforce his authority. But many of the men who were not forced into outlawry, imprisoned, or slain, made their way to my city, which is far enough away from the southern border that we were dealt with last. In the time that we were afforded, the Council, which at that time was still loyal to your father, renounced Damrod and declared the city free from him, with a decree that none should even speak the name of the man who wore the crown. Damrod sent several armies against us, but none so big as the one you yourself did; we were able to beat them off. In time, the council’s loyalty became perverted; they became loyal to themselves alone, feasting while we starved. Sir Richard’s siege was the last straw. A band of men stormed the council chamber, slew the council like sacrifices, and cast them from the walls. As soon as we were able, we marched to your aid.”

Preparing to go back toward his tent, Valun said “Thank you. Do what you can for your men. I have a prisoner with whom I wish to speak alone; you may have seen my guards pursuing him. It is now two hours past midday. When two more hours have passed, I will be free.”

As Valun was on his way to back toward his tent, he heard the sound of someone hurrying to catch up with him. Turning around abruptly with his hand on his sword-hilt, fearful of being caught unawares, he saw that it was only David coming to report to him.

“The next time this occurs, you are to call out so that I may not take you for an assassin. Walk with me. I have no wish to pause outside my own tent.”

When they reached the tent and entered it, they found the prisoner seated on the ground, his legs crossed, eating a piece of salt pork which was nearly as large as his hand. He did not look up when his captors entered, but continued to tear ravenously at the meat he held. Valun allowed him to carry on in this manner for a long moment, seating himself on a small folding stool which David had brought him for the purpose. When the meat had nearly disappeared, Valun spoke up.

“Now, it is time again for me to ask: Who are you, and from whence do you come?”

Having finished, the prisoner rose to his feet before Valun and replied “I do not know.”

“How is it that you do not know? Every man knows his own name and the country of his birth.”

“I tell you I know not who I am. Neither can I tell you how many years of life I have lost. For I lived within a prison until they took me from there, put a sword in my hand, and bid us march.”

David, who had taken a position directly behind Valun’s seat, leaned in and whispered “He speaks like a Corridane.”

Under his breath, Valun asked “In voice or words?”

“Can you be king of the Corridanes and not know the answer to that? You are jesting, my lord.”

The prisoner had been watching them intently during this exchange. Seeing that it was concluded, he stepped forward and said “It seems that your servant is aware of something about me that I myself am not. I would be cheered if you would tell me.”

Rising in his turn, Valun found that he was looking down upon the man by necessity. Retaining a straight face, he said “My man says you speak like one of my people. Like a Corridane. If it is true that you are young and that you spent ten years in a prison, than you never lost the voice you were born with, and I know of two men whose name might also be yours: William Longfurrow and Prince Valnor of Corridane.”

The silence inside the tent was almost tangible. Each man was waiting for one of the others to break it. Agitated horses and injured men could be clearly heard, even though they were some hundreds of yards away. Finally, Valun broke the silence again.

“David, bring us some more food and drink. I will be spending a long time with this man.” 

As David brought in a small table, another seat, and a plate of food, Valun turned to the man whom he no longer considered his prisoner and said “I will tell you what I know, which is that I am the king of the Corridanes and that you seem to be a Corridane who was imprisoned by the ruler of the Brandians. As you do not know why you were so treated, it is likely that any charge they brought against you was false. I also know now that my brother the prince Valnor was imprisoned by the Brandians ten years ago. Do you remember an old man who was perhaps in your cell with you?”

It seemed that Valun’s speech had jogged the man’s memory. He sprang up from his seat crying “Yes! The old man still lived when I left him only weeks ago. In the past, he spoke more readily, but recently he has spoken little more than these few words: “Bring me Valun and I will be content.”

Now Valun leapt to his feet in his turn. “David! My horse and one other! We must be swift as the wind. You may warn the Valkyries, but no one else! Command my men; I ride alone!” With that, he turned back to the other man, grasping his shoulders and nearly shaking him. “Tell me my father is well! I have come through stone and steel only to see him back alive!”

“He was alive when I was taken from him. I know nothing more.”

At that moment, David rushed inside. “My lord, your captain craves words with you before you ride! He has other news, and sues for pardon that he did not speak of it sooner!”

“I will listen in the saddle. You are my lieutenant. Why will he not speak to you? Come.” All three men hurried out of the tent to find a large black horse and an equally large bay standing nearby champing at their bits. As Valun and his companion mounted, the captain from Carribeasa ran forward.

“My lord, your Sir Richard did not come because he heard news that your capital was attacked. The news that alerted him to this was a sighting of a man of your court fleeing to the river in the company of a lady and her guards. This seemed to worry Sir Richard greatly, so I thought one should tell you.”

“I can not go back there and go where I am going all at once! That which I am doing is the more pressing matter. Obey this man David as myself. I will return when I have succeeded!” Putting spurs to his horse, he rode off up the valley, in the direction which the fleeing Brandian forces had taken. The four Valkyries who still lived sprang out of hiding and followed him.

David turned to the captain. “Gather the men. We will return home. Our task is done.”

“Is my message of no use at all, then?”

“Is it of no use to the king. But Sir Richard may consent to go in his stead.”

“Very well. And now what of the injured men?”

“I will ask the lord Meltran to see to them and send them home when they are healed. You are dismissed.” The two men then went separate ways, prompted by the same trust.

Chapter XXXIV

Chapter XXXVI






Having slept only fitfully, that is, not at all, Valun, loath to spend anymore time than necessary in a tent, emerged at dawn only to find that Meltran had roused his followers long since. Seeing him, several men moved forward to strike Valun’s tent for him. As they did so, Meltran approached to speak with him.

“Did you sleep well?”

“One could say that, but it would be a lie.”

“Your defeat still riles your conscience?”

“Yes.”

“Then my advice to you is to go back where you came from, and take your tent with you.” Stepping back, Meltran struggled to suppress a grin at Valun’s horrified expression.

“Go back I where I came from? With a tent on my back? Me?!”

“Of course. It’s your tent. I sent for it from your men before you ordered them to leave, knowing how important the completion of your quest would be to you.” Unable to hold it back any longer, Meltran broke into laughter, saying “Come now. Admit that you will never finish this quest until you stop feeling that the whole world is against you.”

“What-How- Why do you say that of me?”

“I see it. Your eyes betray you. Your eyes are always moving, looking out for danger that isn’t here because you are worried that someone is trying to finish you.”

Pausing for a moment, Valun realized that this was true. It had become a habit. Instead of looking directly and steadily at Meltran, he was constantly trying to look beyond the Brandian lord in every direction possible without turning.

“You have a special servant, even on the march. You have a force of men who have sworn to protect every step you take. Why would you do this if you truly trusted those who deserve your trust? If you do not soon learn to trust your people, you will lose their trust, begin to hate them for it, and soon become the sort of cruel ruler you truly fear becoming. Stop and look at me!” Meltran shouted these last words angrily, causing everyone, including Valun, to stare straight at him. A moment later, to the surprise of all present, Valun simply keeled over on his back, falling with a thud on the soft grass.

Moving closer, Meltran saw that the Corridane’s eyes had taken on a glazed look. Reaching down toward one of Valun’s hands, the Brandian saw it twitch to avoid him. Turning away, he called to his men “The lord Valun is alive, but in a trance. We can not move yet. Raise the tent once more and place him within it.” Gesturing over his shoulder at the band of men riding toward the camp, he added “And someone assure those men that no harm not of his own making has come to their ward.” To himself, he added “If his enemies could see him now. All they have to do is shout at him.”

Some time later, Valun, who had hardly noticed his surroundings after going into shock, and had fallen into a deep sleep almost immediately after coming out of it, awoke to find himself, as we know, in his tent. He lay still for a few moments, trying to recollect why he found himself there once more. He knew he had risen earlier. Had a whole day passed, from dawn to dusk, already? Still unsure, he rose and stepped outside to discover the truth.

As he stood there, squinting in the bright sunlight, a man approached him, stopping a few feet away. Valun received another surprise; the man was quite obviously a Corridane.

“Are you well, my lord?”

“Do I look unwell?-What are you doing here, anyway? I sent you home.”

“No, but some Brandians told me-“

“Never mind what any Brandians told you, why are you here?!”

“I, and my comrades, are here, my lord, by order of your aide, and because we wish to fulfill our oath. We swore to be more willing than any other of your subjects to give our lives in your defense. We can not stay true to our word out of your sight.”

“But the army? Are the rest of them still going home, as I ordered them?”

:”I regret to say they are not. You see, yesterday, after we had once more reached the top of the cliffs, we soon fell in with thousands of new men, who were eager to prove their loyalty.”

“Prove their loyalty? Was not Sir Richard at their head?”

“No, my lord. These men came from Carribeasa. Since meeting them, your man has turned them back this way in your name. He appears to think that you still wish to win the battle.”

“I am not here to fight battles. I am here to find two men, dead or alive.”

Meltran, who had been standing at a little distance from the two Corridanes while listening to them speak, now came forward and spoke. “Valun! Have you forgotten what you wrote in the letter that was meant for my palace? You wrote then that a failure to return your people to you would be considered a declaration of war. There is no denying it. You do want to fight battles. You wished to then, and you still wish to. Go! Call for your horse and your armor, and spend your wrath on those who have insulted us both! They are still there! Perhaps, if you are fortunate, you may even capture someone who knows the answer you are seeking. Go! Where there are strength and wisdom, justice will prevail. Where there is one without the other, all is lost. You have the strength once more. Go find the wisdom!” With that, Meltran turned away, not deigning to even acknowledge anyone else’s presence.

By this time, the rest of Valun’s army had caught up with their fellow. Anticipating Valun’s wants, they had brought his horse and armor along with them. In a short time, Valun was fully armed and mounted upon his horse once more. He snatched at the reins. “Well? We are not here to remain in the background and watch the slaughter like judges! Come now!” Urging his mount forward, Valun rode to meet his returning men. The men lessened their speed at his approach. Furious, he called to them “No! There is no time for stopping now! See, they are waiting! Charge with me now, and let no man falter in his step! Onward, Corridanes!”

Turning his horse, Valun galloped far ahead of his men, his sword raised as if he were carrying a banner rather than a blade. His great speed gave his falcon headpiece, the wings of which were outstretched, the appearance of launching away altogether. The Valkyries, who had been caught unawares by their lord’s sudden charge, galloped anxiously after him, as he had made himself a mark to every Brandian bow. In fact, only moments before they could reach him, a hail of arrows were unleashed. Most missed, but one came so close that it would have killed the bird, which was torn clean off of the king’s helm to land several feet in the rear.

A moment later, Valun laid low the man who had slain the emblem of his house. The battle was joined once more.

This second clash of the two armies proved to be even more chaotic and brutal than the first had been. Valun, refusing pleas from his men to fall back for his own safety, plunged recklessly into the midst of the Brandian forces. After a few tense moments, however, the Valkyries were able to push their way through to his side and surround their lord.

Breathing heavily, Valun leaned forward, grateful that his charger was still able to hold it’s own head up, unlike it’s master.

Perceiving the death-cry of a Valkyrie swordsman as he fell to the ground slain, Valun looked up. For a moment that seemed to last an age, he stared at the man standing not six feet away. In the next instant, he cried to the archers standing on either side "Stay your hands! You others, capture that man alive and bring him to me! Alive, I say! You may die if you do not!"

Wasting no time, three of the swordsmen and one lancer charged off into the melee.

Turning to those who remained, Valun said "Come. We will await their return close by the lord Meltran's camp." Accordingly, Valun and his four remaining men turned and fought their way back to the outskirts of the battle, and from there made their way to a small rise not far from the camp of Meltran and his followers. At the word, the men planted one of Valun's standards at the highest point, so that all would see it, to take heart or lose it, as their loyalty dictated.

After a few moments of silence, as the air rang with the sounds of clashing metal, battle-cries, and death agonies, Valun turned to his companions once more and said "I desire to know whether my commanders also remain alive. I am afraid I must order that you go in search of them. But do not let them leave their men!"

The two remaining horsemen saluted and galloped off. Now, for the first time that day, Valun was able to observe the battle, the vast majority of which had been some distance from him. It took careful combing of the frenzied scene before he was finally able to spot one of his own banners; evidently several of the standard bearers had already fallen. Valun felt sure that where he had found one, he would soon spot the others, and his confidence was not in vain. In a few moments, he had spotted two more scarlet banners. His attention was soon brought back to the first he had spotted, though, as it had suddenly begun to sway wildly from side to side. Someone clearly meant to attract everyone else's attention. Seeing this, Valun optimistically decided that one of his commanders was signaling his survival. The king became doubly sure of this when the banner farthest from him began to behave in the same manner, and then abruptly stopped after a few moments.

Valun, satisfied at the nature of the signal, indicated to his remaining two guards that they should do the same. This done, he said "One of you make your way to the lord Meltran's position and ask that he return here with you."

Without waiting for further speech from his king, one of the men, who had noted the Brandians' position earlier, sprinted off.

It was not long before Meltran himself appeared beside Valun on the crest of the hill, having easily outdistanced the messenger. A few more moments passed in silence, which Meltran broke. "Ah, I have not run so swiftly since I was but a page. I was told you desire speech with me?"

"Yes. In deference to the wisdom that comes with age, as you asked me to do, I ask you what you see and what you would do."

"I see a desperate battle of desperate men. I say that if I commanded the army which is on the field now, I would order a retreat of the left flank, which is closest to the cliffs. And now I would ask you something: where are your archers?"

"Truth be told, I do not know."

"Folly! Folly! Pull your men back! Pull them back, I say!"

"Every man, or the left flank only as you said before?"

There was a pause. "The flank only. I see your man's plan now. Cruel it would seem, but it may very well end the battle. You may move to order your men to fall back, but if you do not do it soon, your commander will order the move of his own accord."

A pause. "Ah, I see what you mean. It is the only thing to do. We will wait. My man is clearly deserving of more credit than I give him."

Pointing toward the banner farthest from the lords, Meltran recalled Valun's attention to it. "Look. Away on the left flank. Your man has made his move. He pulls his men back. It is a dignified retreat, still. Clearly strategic only. I wonder that Damerson does not see it. Your man hopes for a stream of foes, whom, you see, he will push against the rocks if all goes well."

The commander in question, David, was not at liberty to elaborate on his plans himself, being in the midst of the battle, but it was as if Meltran had read his mind. Close by the center of the line, alongside the standard, he rallied his men.

"Hold the line! Let there be no break now, at the point of all! Every man of you gave your word to follow the sword and anvil! Those that step back now forfeit themselves to judgment! Hold the line, for your own glory, for the glory of your land, and the glory of your name forever more! Your sons will say 'My father fought at the cliffs' and ever hold their heads higher for the fact! Stand now! They come!"

Damerson's hesitation had broken; he had given the word to broach the attack with new vengeance.

Chapter XXX

Chapter XXXII




Early in the morning, not long after the sun has risen over the hills, all Brandia lies at peace. All Brandia, save the valley of the white cliffs, lies at peace. Within this valley are three parties, two preparing to make war upon the other. On one side of the valley is the sword and anvil on scarlet, denoting the position and camp of King Valun III of Corridane, blowing proudly in the freshening breeze. On the far side is the banner of the usurper Damerson, which is completely black, and has no charge or emblem of any kind upon it. Between these two opposing camps, there is a third, that of the followers of the officially condemned and exiled king of Brandia, Meltran, which flies no flag and lies well hidden, as the men of that party are well-versed in being. All of them wait to see who shall order the first charge and strike the first blow. In order to discover the thoughts and plans of the commanders of each party, we must enter each man’s tent and hear them for ourselves. We will first visit the tent of Valun of Corridane, where he is discussing his plans with his favorite servant, David.

“If you, David, were the absolute ruler of twenty-five thousand men, and were about to send them into battle, as I am, what would you do?”

“If I were you, my lord, I would first discover how many men there are in the force that opposes us. Only then would I act. If there is a man who can tell us our foe’s numbers without deserting from his own force, it is king Meltran. We must send for him.”

“Precisely! We must send for him, but how are we to discover where he is? He left us no message.”

“If men go out to search for him, they may be caught. We can not risk that. We must assume that he is in this valley, with his men, waiting for the armies, which, you must remember, are each at least a hundred times larger than his band, to clash, so that he and his men may ply their skill by ambush.”

“You are using many words to say very little; that we can not find him, and therefore can not know the size of the enemy force.”

“Yes, my lord, I am afraid I am. But you must remember and think upon this; would it be better to have three hundred more bows on the front line, or some five thousand bows on the front, and three hundred more on the flank? For that is what you are faced with.”

“That is simply a part of the more pressing question I am faced with. The question I must really give thought to is how to fight the battle that is coming.”

“Do you mean to attack, or wait for the black Brandians across the valley to do the attacking?”

“I would prefer to attack, but if I do not know the size of the foes’ force, I must command my men to wait.”

“Would you have your footmen or your cavalry support the archers?”

“I will commit them when I see fit to do so.”

At this, David moved as if to leave. “Give the word. I go to find Meltran.”

“Go, if you must.”

We will here take leave of the camp of the Corridanes, and cross the valley to hear what is being said in the tent of Damerson, commander of the black Brandians. At the moment, he is in counsel with his spy, Salium, to determine what should be done to insure victory in the coming battle. It appears that they still disagree on some points.

“I say that we must be the first to attack, for if we do so, we may catch the Corridanes unawares, but if we wait for them to make the first move, we may well hear their war-cries within the bounds of our own camp before we are prepared to defend ourselves.”

“If you will restrain yourself, man, you will hear why I have not already ordered the attack, as I told you before! I am content to wait for the Corridanes to throw themselves upon us, for I have no doubt that our force is greater than theirs, and if that is true, then we may defeat their whole force with half of ours. Moreover, if they were to reach our camp unnoticed, as you fear they might, they would be swift indeed, and running through the air also, for to reach our camp across the valley they must be invisible, and silent too. But they are mortals, and therefore we are able to defeat them.”

“We are mortals ourselves, and therefore they are able to defeat us. You disregard two points which every commander must acknowledge at all times; that skill can counterbalance numbers, and the feelings of the men who do the fighting. I feel it my duty to tell you that your men do not love you, and if you push them too hard, or if the old king Meltran, whose presence in the valley I have not confirmed to anyone, were to reappear, many of them would desert.”

“I do not care whether they love me or not, they will attack or defend according to my orders alone, not according to the whims of an upstart spy! You must return to your place in the lines. I have no use for advisers who persistently oppose my views. I will send out orders within the hour. We will use a three-pronged attack. You are dismissed.”

Even as the commanders of the two armies at either edge of the valley are speaking with their aides just as we have heard, the aforementioned King Meltran is also discussing his plans regarding the impending battle. We find him in the center of his camp, which is situated some two or three hundred yards to the right of the battlefield, speaking with his two nephews.

“Eldarn, how many men do you think Damerson has in the field?”

“I can not give their numbers with any degree of certainty, my lord, but I trust I would not be far wrong if at one time I had at least a thousand men after me.”

“Tell me again. What did you hear Damerson and the spies say? Did they sound ready to attack the Corridanes or not?”

“Judging by what little I heard, I would be surprised if they have come to an agreement yet. Damerson was in favor of attacking, but the spies assured him that the Corridanes were many and prepared, so that attacking them would be foolish.”

“Do you think Damerson has more men than King Valun or not?”

“To find that he outnumbers king Valun two to one would not surprise me.”

As Eldarn was speaking, a man ran up to the group, stopped short, and announced “My lord, a man has just come from the Corridane camp. He says he was sent to request your presence there.”

Meltran rose in an instant, replying “Very well. I come. We do not have a moment to lose. Eldarn, you come with me. Dranulf, you shall remain here. Be ready to take command at a moment’s notice if Damerson charges.” With that, Meltran departed with the messenger. When he reached the edge of the camp, he found David waiting for him there. Without a word, the three men continued to run until they reached Valun’s tent in the middle of his camp. As they stepped inside, David announced the Brandians.

“My lord, I have found the lord Meltran’s camp, and he has come swiftly, with a companion.”

Then Meltran spoke for himself. “My companion is my nephew, Eldarn. If your question concerns the black Brandians, as I am confident it does, he is better prepared to answer it than I.”

“You are right again. David actually went for you on his own account, but I need to ask you precisely what you have thought of; what is the size of the force opposed to us?”

Eldarn stepped forward and bowed before Valun. When he straightened up, he also spoke up. “As I told my uncle soon before we came before you, it would not surprise me to find that our enemy has twice the men you do.”

“Why do you believe this?”

“Last night my uncle sent me into the foes’ camp to discover their plans. The distance between the edge and the center of their camp and the hundreds of men spread out throughout that length convinced me that what I say is true.”

“If that is the case, how are we to fight the battle, outnumbered as we are?”

Meltran replied “There is no question of how. We will fight because we have come to fight. You must fight, for otherwise, you would lose the respect of your people. How would you like to call them together now only to tell them that you are turning and retreating before the enemy you came so far to fight? The question is will you order your men to attack, or wait for the black Brandians to make the first move? I advise you to move forward at least one hundred yards, for your camp is placed in a narrow passage which would impede your men in pitched battle.”

“Where are your men?”

“My men are some hundred yards to the left of the battlefield, where we may easily harass that flank of the enemy.”

“Very well. I will order my men to move forward. We will concentrate our strength upon the right and the center, leaving the left open for your men to take down at will. If we cause them to retreat, we will give chase, then fall back once more and wait for them to charge again.”

“Very well. May it be the will of The Great One that we feast together after the battle is fought.” The men saluted one another, and the Brandians departed to return to their own camp.

Valun wasted no time, immediately ordering David to dress him for battle. Twenty minutes later, Valun, wearing full armor, was mounted upon his charger and riding through the camp giving his orders. “Forward until I call a halt! We shall wait for the black flag to strike the first blow! No horns, no cries! We must still try to surprise them! I will not hide from you that we are outnumbered! But we shall prevail despite that! Why? Because we fight to avenge our honor! Those men across the valley under the black flag fight to uphold dishonor! We fight to restore honor! If The Great One has chosen a side in this combat, He is with us! Archers, to the front and wait till I give the word, then let shafts fall like rain upon the foes of honor!” At the conclusion of his speech, Valun rode to the front of the lines, bringing his horse to a halt in the center of the line of archers. His visor was still raised, but he made no move to lower it as yet.

A moment later, as the Corridanes settled into their positions, silence fell over the whole valley. No one said a word. They tried to restrain themselves from moving. Men could hardly tell whether the man beside them was even breathing. A bird living in the forest above the valley could be heard twittering. A larger bird replied with screeching cries. The men remained silent. Then, suddenly, the horns began to sound.

Long, deep, notes issued forth from the midst of the black Brandians’ camp, rolling like thunder as they reverberated off the cliffs on either side of the valley. Before the last echoes had died, the Corridanes caught sight of men in the opposing camp preparing to charge. Suddenly, they began to run across the valley as fast they could go. The Corridanes stood watching them with bated breath, waiting for their king to order the archers to fall back before they were massacred by the oncoming troops. But Valun remained silent, watching the enemies. Finally, the moment he had been waiting for came.

The black Brandians who had been charging forward stopped abruptly when they had left their camp three hundred yards behind. They fell to the ground as the archers who had been running behind them nocked shafts to their bows. An instant before they raised the bows and fired, Valun simultaneously turned his horse back toward his own camp, jumped off, goaded the horse to safety, and shouted “Every man down!”

The men had noticed the danger at the same moment as their king. The moment he threw himself off his mount, every man on the lines had dropped flat as if the very ground had opened beneath them. Because of their swift action, very few men were hit, though many more came perilously close. A moment passed before a lookout that had been stationed beside the banner upon a hill close by the camp winded his horn to warn the men to rise and face new danger, which they could hear the approach of well enough themselves, as the thunder of the charging foes could be heard from several hundred yards away.

“Up! Make them pay for every shaft and then fall back! Right and center!” In an instant, the Corridane archers had risen in a body, and an instant later had sent their shafts speeding toward their closely packed opponents. They did not wait to see what came of them, but turned and retreated back to their camp as fast as they were able. As they archers retreated, the footmen charged toward the front, with Valun at their head, his cloak billowing out over the back of his mount, which he had remounted swiftly while shouting his orders.

But they had moved too swiftly. As most of Valun’s men charged toward the center of the black Brandians’ line, the flanks Damerson had ordered opened out behind them and threatened to surround half the army. When he saw this, in the midst of the melee, Valun cried to his men “Leave the left! Leave the left! Come to the right!” As many men as were able heeded his words and fought their way back toward the center, and a moment later Valun heard over the din of the battle the piercing notes of hunting horns and the sound of hundreds of shafts speeding toward the enemy’s left flank, just as had been agreed between Meltran and himself only an hour before the battle. This sudden attack on their rear by hidden foes threw the black Brandians into brief confusion, but the loss of three hundred men was not enough to cause them to turn and run. Instead, the men on the right and in the center began to fight harder than they had before the ambush. In consequence, the Corridanes had no time to appreciate the fact that, due to the skill of Meltran and his followers, the black Brandians stopped fielding a left flank only five minutes after the exiled Brandians had shown themselves.

A consequence of this, though, was that the two flanks which remained drew all of the black Brandians’ remaining force, which was still considerably larger than that of the Corridanes. In a last desperate move, Valun called on the cavalry to charge, just before the Corridane was forced back into the tight space they had left before the battle on Meltran’s advice. The Corridane cavalry, ten thousand strong, broke upon their foes like that last wave which dooms a ship in a storm at sea. But even that was to no avail. After their initial charge, which did deal heavy damage to their foes, the Corridanes were forced back once more. As the Corridane cavalry and footmen retreated, the five thousand bowmen began to rain shafts down upon the black Brandians. Every shot felled a man. They kept this up for as many as five minutes before their adversaries turned back to return to their own camp.

At long last, the battle had come to a halt. The valor of the Corridanes had cost their foes many men. Nevertheless, the overwhelming numbers of the Brandians had taken their toll. The Corridanes had lost so many men themselves that they could not hope to defeat their opponents as the balance now stood. Valun thought he would be unable to bear the shame of it. The valiant Corridanes, who had marched for three days and more to arrive at this place, had been soundly beaten by the forces of an evil-minded usurper.

Valun sat sullenly silent in his tent, refusing to speak to anyone, even David. Accordingly, David stood outside the opening, deterring anyone from attempting to come close. Those who were not engaged in properly burying their numerous fallen comrades were behaving in much the same manner as their king. After several minutes of morose silence, Valun rose from his seat and called “David!”

David entered hurriedly. “Yes, my Lord?”

Valun returned to his seat, his disappointment weighing all the more heavily upon him since he had made the effort to rise and speak. “David... I must send the men home while they can still get out of this place. As neither Richard nor Robert is here, I must put you in command of the return march.”

David was shocked by this announcement. “Me? In command?! My Lord, what will you be doing, that you will be unable to lead the men back yourself?”

“I... will be doing what I came to do. Looking for my father. I pledged my honor to find him and bring him back to his country, and if I do not accomplish that I am shamed forever! I tell you that I will not return to Corrandion, no not even to the borders of my country, until I find my father or his grave! Now, listen, and commit these words to memory; as soon as you return to Corridane, seek out Richard and Robert, and tell them both that they are to rule together in my name. They are to decide between themselves whose heirs shall begin the new line of kings. Go now to carry out my orders.”

“Yes, my lord.” David turned to go, as Valun had fallen silent once more, leaning forward and covering his face with his hands. But he was not yet done speaking.

“David, you must strike my tent along with the rest. I will abide with the king Meltran.”

“Yes, my lord.”

So it was that, acting on orders given by David, the remainder of the Corridane army broke camp and began to march away, back toward their own land. Their king, Valun III, stood watching them sadly as they marched slowly past him, staring at the ground. When the last man had passed him, Valun drew his sword, which had been cleaned thoroughly by David since the combat, and raised it so it caught the sunlight and flashed brightly toward the retreating army.

David caught sight of the movement and the flash as he was turning to make sure that the last stragglers had caught up. As soon as he saw what Valun had done, he called a halt. “Salute your king, Corridanes!”

Heeding his words, the army stopped abruptly and shouted with one voice, weapons raised, a great cry which could be heard nearly a mile away. “Valunariaaa!”

Sheathing his sword once more, Valun turned away from his men and began to make his way toward the camp of the exiled Brandians. He was not long in reaching the place, where he was met by a sentry who conducted him into the presence of Meltran.

Meltran rose to greet him, expressing surprise that he had not left with his men. “What is this, Valun? You are remaining behind while your men depart? Have they grown dissatisfied with you already?”

“No, thanks to The Great One, they have not deserted me yet. I sent them away.”

“And why is that?”

“I did draft the men, I will say that, but the ones who followed me to the field of battle came willingly, driven as I was by the desire to see the Peacemaker live out his life in his own country, as he deserves.”

Meltran could hardly believe what Valun had just told him. “Because they gave you unquestioning loyalty, you are sending them away? Do you expect that three hundred men, which are of course yours to command, will be better able to defeat our enemies than the ten thousand you sent away?”

“You saw yourself that another attack would have destroyed them. As their king, I ordered them to follow me. As their king, I ordered them to leave me. I would rather that the men who survived think less of me, than that they all die through my folly.”

“But what of you? Why have you remained?”

“One man can avoid an army. Ten thousand must fight or be shamed. I can not find my father through conquest, so, with your aid, I will find him without fighting.”

“Very well. That is the best that you can do in your situation. All I ask is that you heed my words when I wish to advise you, for as you might have determined from my story, I was grown and ruling when you were only a young prince.”

“I know the value of the words of my elders. I will do as you ask.”

“I in turn respect you for your deference. It is not often that a young man shows the growth of wisdom which you have. Cole! Prepare a place that the lord Valun may use while he abides with us!”

Chapter XXV

Chapter XXV




When Meltran heard that Valun wished him to join in the evening meal in Valun’s tent, he was not surprised. “On the contrary,” he told David, who stood waiting to carry his reply, “I had been expecting your king to ask about his father at some time during this day. No doubt he will ask me to speak once I am in his tent, with none but you in attendance. I will come in one hour.”

With only the least necessary acknowledgement of the statement, for he was a man of few words when he had no questions to ask, David turned his steed and rode back toward the encampment of the Corridanes. Once there, he informed Valun of Meltran’s cheerful acceptance, and his hint that he could most likely answer the Corridane monarch’s most nagging question.

Immediately upon hearing this, Valun sent David away to order that the cooks double the amount they had sent Valun each night to this point, with the explanation that Valun’s counterpart was be his guest at the meal.

The allotted hour had scarcely passed before Meltran came riding into the Corridane camp. Valun rode to meet him, conducting him straight to his own tent, where they dismounted and gave their horses to David to stable. The two kings immediately entered Valun’s tent and seated themselves on the ground, there being no cushions, and chairs a waste of space on the march. A short time later, a man brought in the meat, and they were soon too busy eating with relish to say anything at all to one another for several minutes. When they had finally paused, Meltran put down his piece and said “I expect that you have been anxious to hear news of your father.”

Putting down the piece he had just raised, Valun replied “Of course. Else I would not have invaded your country.”

“Then I expect I shall have to tell you the whole story from the beginning.” Meltran answered. “But before I start, I must quench my thirst.”

Rising and putting his head out of the tent, Valun called to David. “The lord Meltran must quench his thirst. Bring us some from my stores and then see that no man disturbs us.”

After David had brought the drinks, and Meltran had taken a long draught, he finally began.

The man came running forward. Approaching the king’s throne, he made a low bow, straightened up a moment later, and announced “My lord, there is an old man outside the gates. He has a young boy with him. He is demanding an audience with you.”

“Let them in. I have been expecting them.” Meltran replied, glaring down at his chancellor, who remained standing where he was. Feeling the king’s eyes upon him, the man turned sharply and strode straight back out of the audience hall.

After giving orders that food for three men should be brought in to him, Meltran dismissed his attendants and remained, waiting silently for his visitor.

Nearly half an hour had passed before the guests made an appearance. One, a tall man who had seen as many as forty summers, and probably more, whose hair was just beginning the transition from its original dark brown to the gray of old age, and was clad in a large dark brown traveling cloak over a tunic of thick green material, was leading a boy by the hand toward Meltran’s throne.

The boy being led was clad in the same material that his father wore, the only difference being that the boy’s tunic was also brown. The boy was scarcely twelve years of age, but looked older than his years. His hair, which was the same color as his father’s had been, was cut short.

With admirable dignity, the man led the boy straight up to the foot of the throne upon which Meltran was seated awaiting them. When they had come within two feet of the king, the visitors paused. Remaining upright, the older man finally broke the silence which had hung over the room since his sudden appearance. “Hail, Meltran, lord of Brandia! May you reign longer than your father! I have come upon the usual business, which we may speak freely of later. But at this moment, I have a boon to ask of you.”

“Whatever it may be, it shall be granted with all possible speed. I know how great a friend you were to my father, peace be upon him.”

“I ask that you accept this boy, who is my second son, Valnor, into your court as a page, so that he may aspire to a high place in your court, but not to the throne, which is your own.”

“That is easily done. But why do you wish him to grow up away from his own country?”

“I do this because I do not wish my sons to fall out and war with each other over the throne when I am gone. Valnor understands why this is done.”

“Then he understands what he must do?”

“He does.”

“Come forward, boy.” Meltran said to Valnor when he heard this.

Valnor came forward, albeit slightly nervous now that the time had finally come. As he made the final few steps to the throne, he glanced back at his father, who only smiled back in a yes-I see-you- and –you’re- doing- fine sort of way. Seeing this, Valnor took heart and immediately began to walk in a more confident manner. When the Brandian king asked him solemnly if he promised to serve him faithfully throughout his life, and lay down his life if he must at his lord’s command, he answered “I do solemnly promise that I shall do whatsoever my lord commands.” In a firm tone which belied the hesitation he had felt a moment before.

“You have raised a brave boy, my lord Valun, and I shall see that he gets enough to keep him busy here.” Meltran remarked, making an about-face from the recent solemnities by breaking into laughter. “Yes, you have raised a fine boy! He will go far in my court, I assure you.”

The time was much later. Meltran was once more seated in his audience hall, but the visitors had long since gone.

Suddenly, a guard who had been stationed outside the doors stepped inside long enough to announce “The lord Damerson, Sire. He wishes to speak with you.”

“Let him in.”

A moment later, the guard disappeared around the door once more, being soon replaced by the lord Damerson, who was none other than Meltran’s chancellor. Without any ceremony whatsoever, he ran across the room, bounded upon the dais, and stood beside the king.

“What is the meaning of this outrage?!” cried Meltran, shocked at the man’s presumption.

“It means only this.” The chancellor replied in a menacing tone, drawing a knife which he had kept hidden until this moment. “It means that I have noted what you mean to do for that foreign page. You are favoring him, meaning to name him your successor over us, who are not his people. But your plans are foiled.”

As Meltran was about to cry out to the guards, Damerson quickly added “Neither are your guards as loyal as you would wish. Opening one’s money-bag in the right places can do wonders. All the fools who remained loyal to you are waiting in the courtyard; archers are menacing them still. I order you to join them now!”

“What of the old king of Corridane and his son? If you kill them, it will bring war down upon your head.”

“That question is settled. They have disappeared. Their deaths will be blamed upon the bandits of Waldon forest. To you I am merciful. You and your followers are henceforth exiled, but will be slain on sight if you do not leave my country within three days. But beware, I have outsmarted you once more. If you attempt to take the pass through the mountains to Corridane, and raise them up against me, you will die before you reach the pass. It is watched. Now go!”

“I was threatened with certain death if I defied him, as he had a knife in his hand and the guards at his call, and I was weaponless and, being in my own audience hall, saw no need for armor. So I left. My favorite steed, which would suffer no other man to mount him, was brought out, I mounted, and led my loyal followers out through the main gate, menaced by archers the whole time. Once outside the city, my followers and I rode hard for several days to reach Waldon forest. We succeeded in surprising the outlaw band at their merrymaking, and soon caused them to join my men, which they did quite willingly when they heard what my erstwhile chancellor had accused them of. We have been living there ever since my exile, waiting for you to take action to aid your family.”

Startled, Valun cried “You-!”

“Yes, I did” Meltran replied, downing another draft of wine. “I intercepted your messenger, wrote a reply within a day, and sent him back. I chose my words carefully to be sure that you would be insulted and invade. I also knew that you would not have received any answer at all if your messenger had reached his destination.”

“But what have you seen that makes you so sure that the new ruler is mustering against me?” cried Valun, who was suddenly worried that he had acted too soon after all. “If you intercepted my messenger, the man ruling your country now never received my message. They will not come out to face me, and I shall have wasted the fortitude and loyalty of my countrymen.”

“That score was settled also. If you had not spoken so suddenly, I may have explained before now. When I had intercepted your message, I did not fail to think of the consequences of the failure of a declaration of war to reach the intended opponent; or at least, occurrences which are unintended consequences to honorable men, of which I am sure you are one. No sooner had I read your message than I bade one of my men write a message to the man now styling himself king of this land. In short, it read ‘Any man who would keep an old man locked up in a dungeon for his own political gain, as you have, deserves death, or at the least, an even deeper dungeon somewhere far from his own country. That is my belief, and I and my men are coming to see that it is done.’ Have no fear! He has raised an army to oppose you. I have seen it myself.”

“And now,” Valun said, rising from his seat. “If your story is complete, it is dark enough outside that we may make our way down the cliffs in safety. The moon has obliged us by being nearly full. We must go. My men have darkened their weapons and wear cloaks. What of yours?”

“My men” replied Meltran, rising in his turn and becoming solemn once more. Crossing to the entrance of the tent, where Valun stood looking out into the darkness, he continued “have done the same, and must lead yours, for they know the path.”

“Very well.” Beckoning David over to his side, Valun added “Fetch our mounts, and rouse the men quietly. No shouts or trumpet-calls.”

“Aye, my lord.” was David’s whole reply before he disappeared to do as Valun had commanded.

In a surprisingly short time, David had brought both the kings’ mounts around to their tent and left to rouse the army before they had mounted properly.

Riding slowly in the darkness, Valun and Meltran could hear the sounds of the men moving into place quietly, seemingly without orders. Observing this, Meltran turned to Valun and remarked “Your man only makes me wish all the more that my own chancellor had not rebelled against me. Your man does everything well and without question. Kings would give many things to command an army of such men.”

“I am one of those. It was a happy chance that this man is in my court, or I would not have been able to do many of the things I have done.”

Meltran did not reply, and so the two kings rode in silence for a while, hearing the inevitable, though muffled, sounds of Valun’s army being marshaled into position.

When the men had been silent for several minutes, Valun heard a man approaching him cautiously. A moment later, David’s voice came out of the darkness near at hand. “Every man is in his position, Sire.”

“Very well. We shall proceed, then. The lord Meltran’s men must be found to lead us down the cliffs.”

Meltran replied on his own account, saying “I have no doubt I will find them at the edge of the cliffs. How shall I inform you of our movement?”

“The moon shines. The light it affords us should be enough for a runner to see by. Send two men to me when you are ready to depart, and we will follow you.”

“Very well. They will not be long.” Meltran replied, turning his horse and riding off in the direction of his own camp.

Valun and David continued in their original direction, speaking softly between themselves. “I admire your speed in forming the men up, my man.”

“The men are ever ready to do all that you would command, my lord.”

Struggling to keep a straight face, Valun replied “Really? I am glad to hear that it is so. But my heart tells me that one very popular aide is behind this unwavering devotion. Tell me, what is it that you say to the men which allows me to retain their loyalty?”

“Nothing, my lord. I hardly ever speak.”

“Come now! Silence never earned a man’s loyalty! What do you say?”

“If you really must know, when we were still traveling through the pass and you sent me back to see that the men were still following, I told them then that you were not allowing them a rest because you considered them stronger than normal men. I have only reminded them of that.”

Valun laughed. “Well, I see that I owe you more already than I had ever wished to owe to any man! What would satisfy you? To be the governor of Carribeasa when our adventure has reached it’s end? Name what you will. It will not be held from you.”

“I have no wish except that my lord should remain beloved by his people till the end of his days.”

“And if your wish is fulfilled, it will be due largely to your own exertions! Do not be offended if I offer you a position of power after all!”

“I do not wish to lead. I wish to follow.”

“And a fine job you do of that. Now you may follow me to the front of our force, if you please.”

“I please, indeed.” David replied. At this, both men broke into laughter, but cut themselves off in a moment, remembering that they were attempting to move down the cliffs silently.

Hardly five minutes later, Valun and his aide had positioned themselves at the front of the force. They were met there by two Brandians, who had been waiting for them for several minutes.

Before Valun could speak, one of the Brandians had come to the point. “King Meltran has moved on by this time. Now that you have arrived, it is time for you and your men to follow us.”

“Very well, then. Lead us.” Valun replied to this. Glancing at his king, David could see by the light of the moon, which shone down upon them unobstructed, that Valun had taken on a grim expression. He had set his jaw and was staring into the shadows as if he thought he could actually see men moving ahead of them.

The Brandian guides rode about six feet ahead of Valun and his guards, followed by David at the immediate head of the army of Corridane, marching slowly.

After several minutes of carefully calculated movement, they finally reached the top of the path. Here, everyone halted for a short time to make sure that there were no stragglers. When the ranks had become settled once more, they continued their march at a slow walk. Remembering that were archers stationed on the sides of the path, every man was careful not to make a sound.

It seemed an eternity before the last rank reached the ground at the bottom of the cliffs, but the well-disciplined troops actually completed the passage in short time. The moment David rode to the front to report that the last rank had passed unharmed, they started again, making for a ring of large fires which the guides judged to be nigh on a thousand yards farther ahead and to their right.

Breaking the silence for the first time in nearly an hour, one of the guides told Valun “Those fires mark our lord’s camp. He told us where to seek him. But we must yet go warily, for we yet know not whether our enemies are nearby.”

“Why do you speak falsely? That their archers are watching us here is proof enough that they are nearby. We must take care that we do in truth go to your own camp instead of theirs.”

“Very well, we will ride ahead and prove that we ride to our own camp.”

“Do so.”

At Valun’s insistence, the guides rode forward without another word. As soon as they were out of sight, which did not take more than a few moments, David rode up alongside his king and began “My lord, do you-“

Valun cut him short. I know what you say, Sir David. You would say ‘what if these men are spies, and are now returning to their own men to attack us?’, and for that reason, I order you to return to the men and tell them that we will make camp here, but that they must hold themselves ready to defend themselves at all times.”

Stunned, David had barely listened to the serious orders. “Sir-Sir…”

“And why not? Now do what I have ordered. Tell the men they may make camp and hold themselves ready to repel an attack.”

“But King Meltran and his men? We were to join them!”

“They are all skilled archers. If they have made their way past the enemy force and camped in another place, they will be a much greater aid to our cause from the enemy’s flank.”

Having no answer for this reasoning, David left without replying to comply with his king’s earlier orders. When he had returned to the army’s position, he approached the closest man and said “Pass the word. We are ordered to make camp here, and stand ready for an attack.”

The man he had spoken to replied “Then we will not make camp. If we were setting up camp, we would have no time to defend ourselves if the enemy attacked. I suggest you dismount and make the best of your position. We will be roused early on the morrow.”

Heeding the advice, David swiftly dismounted and, hobbling his horse, lay down beside it. Once on the ground, he found that he was far more exhausted than he had thought himself to be, and swiftly fell into a deep, dreamless sleep.

Strange as it may seem in light of the impending battle, there were few who did not share David’s peaceful sleep. One of those few was the rightful lord of Brandia, Meltran himself. Unable to compose himself to sleep, he rose from his place and began walking toward the edge of the camp. There, he met the sentry and spoke with him.

“Does any sign of the Corridanes’ coming reach your ears, Dranulf?”

“None, my lord. Those fires you can see before us do not aid me to see their approach if they are coming after all.”

“Aye, I see the fires. You are sure they mark the camp of our enemies rather than our friends? When did they spring up?”

“Not long after I had begun my watch, and my watch is the second tonight. I am sure it marks the camp of our foes, for the Corridanes, being our allies, would doubtless consider our camp their own.”

This answer disconcerted Meltran, who began muttering under his breath. “Spies…spies… mayhap that is why he will not come to find us… fears a trap, as I gave no detailed directions and lit no fires. Moreover, he has seen that my men cannot endure close combat. He means to have us remain on the flank and ply our skill from an unprotected side.” To Dranulf he said “Do not expect the Corridanes to approach, but keep your eyes on the foe’s camp yonder. If you wish, send a silent man out toward their camp to determine their plans. Do not hesitate to rouse the men if they seem to be massing for an attack.” Then he turned away to return to his place, speaking to himself once more. “Folly. It was folly, and other men must pay for it….”

Acting swiftly on his lord’s words, Dranulf left his post for a moment to rouse and speak with his successor.

“You, Eldarn, are you a swift, silent, tracker?”

“None better in this band, though I say so myself.” replied Eldarn, raising himself up on his elbows to look more closely at his companion. “Your watch has not yet passed. “Why do you rouse me now?”

“The king desires a silent tracker to enter our enemies’ camp and discover their plans. I thought of you promptly. Will you go?”

“If the king desires it, of course I will go. I will remain there until I die or until your watch has expired.”

With an attempt at a laugh, Dranulf replied “Don’t die. Then we would have no information and fewer men. Now if you will go, you had best go now.”

“Then goodbye.” Replied Eldarn, who was standing by this time. He put his hand out toward the other man, and Dranulf clasped it hard, slapping him hard on the back with his free hand.

“If you are caught, take a few with you. Our uncle would be proud of you for this.”

“If you think so, leave the telling of the tale to me!” Eldarn cried in a parting shot as he began to jog toward the ring of fires some five hundred yards ahead in the direction of moonrise.

When Eldarn had come within one hundred yards of the enemy camp, he slowed to a stop and began to use all of his considerable skill as a tracker with the aim of entering unnoticed. He waited for several minutes, lying flat upon the ground, to determine whether a sentry had been stationed outside the ring of fires. His senses and skill telling him no one had or was going to pass; he swiftly rose from his position and began once more to approach the closest blaze.

From a distance of fifty yards, he could hear the voices of the men sitting around the watch-fire nearest to him, but could not yet make out what they were saying. As he approached even closer, it became clearer to him. It was the best he could have hoped for. They seemed to be discussing the occurrences of the recent days.

“Relman and Salium returned nigh on half an hour ago. They brought bad news.”

“What could that be?”

“The Corridanes have invaded. Their force is large; so large that our men could not make out the true size. They seem to have captured the watchtowers at the end of the pass. Relman, who escaped only because he appears to have insisted that he must carry the news to us here, claims that both towers were captured by only seven men. That proves two things: that Relman is a coward, and the Corridanes are dangerous foes.”

“Whether those claims be true or no, there is a claim which would startle you, brought by Salium, rather than the ‘coward’.”

“And what could startle me?”

“The old king Meltran has returned. Salium spotted him riding in the midst of his band of followers.”

“Meltran! The old king! He and all his followers were exiled, not to return on pain of death! I saw them leave, all riding away so proudly as if they still had the power!”

“So my news has startled you, after all. It’s quite obvious that they never left, and now they have come out of hiding because they expect these invaders to do the heavy work in clearing our leader from their path. But I have never heard that fifty thousand men quailed at the prospect of combat with an unknown number of enemies.”

While the first speaker was still groping for an answer to this, Eldarn rose and strode into the view of the fire casually, as if he was one of their companions coming to bring fresh news. Crouching down near the fire in the space between the two men, he turned toward the one who had spoken last and said “Do not take such an insult from him, man! He is insulting you and all your comrades in one blow! Besides, darkness makes it hard for even the best scouts to count the enemy’s numbers properly. The Corridanes could have a much larger force, or they may have, in their pride, deployed a vastly smaller number than our own. But of course that question can not be answered until the sun has risen. Have you knowledge of the general’s plan?”

“Do I have knowledge of the general’s plans? No! I am just a sentry. When was there ever a need to tell a man what he is expected to do?” the soldier replied in a tone laden with sarcasm.

“If you can not tell me, where can I find out that information for myself?”

“You could go to the general, but if you’re only in the rank and file, as we are, you won’t get an audience, much less be told what the plan is.”

“I’ll try anyway. I must know.” Eldarn answered, rising and hurrying away before the soldier could grow suspicious of his plans.

As he walked through the camp, he noticed several similar camps, where small groups of men clustered around firepits were smoking their blades. Several men called out to him, inquiring what his business, but he ignored them, continuing on his way without slackening his pace. After several minutes of silent walking, he spotted a large tent which had been erected in the center of the camp and could only be the general’s. Slowing to a crawl, he crept ever closer to the side of the tent.

It seemed that luck was with him this night, for, without detection, he reached the side of the tent, and from there could easily hear the raised voices of the men inside. At least one appeared to be holding a torch, for he could see the silhouettes of the men against the side of the tent as they spoke.

“What do you say, Salium? Shall we try an attack tonight?”

“You ask for my opinion, my lord? I say that it would be better not to risk it. The Corridane king is alert and will have his men prepared. When I pointed out our camp, speaking as if I were one of the old king Meltran’s followers…”

“Meltran?! Has he come back? I exiled him and all his followers years ago!”

A different voice now made itself heard. Eldarn presumed it was the voice of the other spy, Relman. “Oh yes, my lord, he has returned! I saw him myself, in the midst of his band of useless followers, holding his head high as if he thought he was already king again!”

“Why did you not follow my orders, then? I ordered that he was to be slain if he showed his face in my country again!”

“I would have done the deed, my lord, except that we would not have succeeded in our attempt, for his followers were clustered around him too tightly for us to squeeze in more closely than we did.”

“My lord, will you let me finish! As I was saying… Hold! I see a man outside this tent, where none are permitted to be! We must catch him, quickly!”

“At this last cry, Eldarn remembered that the light worked both ways; if he had been able to see them on the inside, they would be able to catch sight of him on the outside if he moved too close. And he had done just that.

A moment before Salium had finished speaking, Eldarn began to run at his utmost speed, sped onward by the cries of “Spy, spy!” which were growing gradually louder as more men joined the chase and gave the call to warn their comrades nearby. As many of the soldiers were carrying torches which they had lit swiftly from their communal campfires, it took all of Eldarn’s speed to stay out of the range of the growing circle of light pursuing him.

He ran, ducking and weaving, doubling back, stopping in his tracks and dropping to the ground while the outraged enemies ran past him, for what felt like hours. After several minutes of exhausting evasive maneuvers, he was finally surrounded only feet from a fire at the edge of the camp. Before he realized it, he had almost run straight into the arms of two especially large soldiers, who, having been seated beside the fire, had simply stood up and turned around, and were now barring his only path of escape. Desperate, he did the only thing left open to him; with a tremendous effort, he avoided their outstretched arms and leapt upon their broad shoulders, launching himself off into space directly over the fire. He landed on his feet and continued to run before the shock of the landing could cause him to fall.

Nearly an hour later, Eldarn staggered back into camp, only saved from falling from exhaustion for the fourth time by the timely arrival and support of Dranulf, who had remained on watch throughout the night to wait for him. As Dranulf laid him gently down on the soft grass and passed him a skin full of water, Eldarn finally managed to croak “I must see the king. I have valuable information!”

“You must calm yourself. You’re not in a fit state to move from here, and you won’t be for a long while. Tell me the message that I must take to the king.”

Eldarn bristled at this preemptive statement by his friend, and immediately cried No! I heard it! I would not be in this state at all if I had not had to run for my life from half the foe’s army! I will not speak if I may not speak to the king directly!”

“Very well. I will bring the king here, then.” Dranulf replied sharply, turning and striding off into the darkness. As soon as he had passed out of Eldarn’s sight, he accelerated his pace and began to run through the camp, not slowing down until he had reached the king’s place of rest. “My lord! Our scout has returned and he has news for you! I would have brought the message, but that he refused to speak unless you came yourself!”

“I will come. We must know what he has learned. Bring me to him now.”

At this, Dranulf turned, saying nothing but “Yes, my lord.” in answer to his king’s words. After several more minutes of walking back in the direction which Dranulf had come from, they finally arrived at the place where Eldarn was still lying prostrate on the ground. When he saw them approach, he called out to them.

“Hail, King Meltran! I have news, and we may thank our fortunes that the news is not half so dire as it could have been! Our foes’ leader in the field is your own chancellor, Damerson! His own speech told me so. He seems to have grown wiser since he exiled us, for he asked the advice of his spies. Yes, his spies! Those two men who were so eager to lead the Corridanes down to this valley! They thought to convince the king Valun that he followed them to our camp, there to set upon them in ambush! But the Corridane king seems to have seen through them, for their ruse did not succeed, and the more level-headed of the pair advised against attacking the Corridanes, as he believed they would be prepared for just such an event. But what is worse for you and all of us, my lord, they recognized you, and now know that we have come out to reclaim our country! We are all marked men! None who is captured will be spared!”

“Then we must take care to mark them first in the battle tomorrow, and may every shaft lay an adherent of that devious villain Damerson low! If only I myself could nock the shaft which laid him low, I would be content!” the Brandian monarch cried, saying all this in a cheerful tone in an attempt to revive his man’s low spirits. The attempt appeared to succeed.

“Oh, my lord!” Eldarn cried in a euphoric tone. “If only you could have seen my last great leap, you would have said “There goes a true Brandian, worthy to be my kin.”

“You are my kin. Surely you have not forgotten that your father was my younger brother? And whatever Damerson may have believed, you were never in danger of having your throne taken from you by Valnor! Now, you must be at peace. I expect you to return to your duty in a short time, though.”

“Yes, my lord.” Eldarn answered in a level tone, as Meltran rose and left

Chapter XXIV

Chapter XXIV




It was the day following the events in the previous chapter. As Valun emerged from his tent shortly after dawn, he observed that many men were already roused and preparing themselves to march. Pleased, Valun turned and saw David striding toward him.

“I was only seeing that your orders were carried out.”

“I can see as much, and it pleases me well.” The king replied. “If the Brandians mean to offer battle, as their message seemed to show, no doubt they are marching toward us just as we are marching toward them. Now, how would you propose to fight this battle?”

“How would we arrange the men, you mean?”

“Yes.”

“This is what I say. I do not doubt that they will expect us to order a cavalry charge to open the combat. If that is the case, we must send the foot soldiers first, for their line will be heavy with pikemen to stop our cavalry. The foot soldiers will charge, and after a short engagement, will fall back. As they do so, our cavalry shall divide and charge both sides of their line, as the remaining infantrymen return to the fray.”

“A simple, sound, plan, my man. But you have not said what you would order our archers to do.”

“That, my lord, would depend upon the land. On flat ground, the archers would be a danger to our own side if placed behind them, and in the way, and in danger themselves if placed in front. On high ground, though, our archers could deal heavy damage.”

“So you would keep five thousand men out of the fighting if the land is flat? That shall not sit well with them, my friend. And do you not expect that the Brandians also will have archers?”

“I do. If they are strong leaders, they will plan as I have, and search out high ground to place their archers upon. If they must, your men seem proficient at rooting enemies out of their positions.”

“Do not expect that. That was done under cover of darkness, and surprise. At this battle, the defenders will be fully aware of our approach.”

“If that is the case, there is nothing more to say on the matter until we have seen our enemy’s position. I shall ready the men to march.”

Nearly an hour had passed before the men were ready. When that time came, Valun sent David away to bring his charger, as he could see that the men were prepared to leave. As he mounted, he added “Call the Valkyries. We ride to battle!” As David turned and rode away on his own steed, Valun rode straight toward his position at the head of the soldiers. Once there, he was surrounded by the Valkyries. In the next moment, David called the orders in Richard’s place.

“Fall in! Standards! March!” With that, the army of Corridane began to march once more.

The force from Corridane marched swiftly and silently, meeting little opposition. Indeed, all Brandians they met turned and ran ahead of them, giving the appearance that they had been ordered only to watch for the approach of Valun and his army.

By the end of the first day, the Corridanes had sighted a forest on the horizon. It seemed to stretch on for miles. The many trees were set so close together that they appeared as an unbroken line from the distance at which Valun and his people stood from them.

Turning to David, who was sitting on his own horse beside the king, Valun remarked “An impressive expanse, is it not?”

“It is, my Lord. Do you wish to travel straight through it?”

“Why not? If one does not know how long either path is, would one not take what appeared to be the more direct route? In our case, the direct route leads straight through that forest. Tell the men they may make camp.”

Early the next day, Valun and his army rose swiftly and began to march toward the forest. Scarcely two hours had passed before they had reached it and entered by a path which seemed to open up before them as they approached.

Valun was several yards along the path when he heard the voice. “Move and you die. What business do you have bringing such a force of armed men through this forest, as if you wished to invade this land?”

After a short pause, Valun replied loudly. “I am King Valun of Corridane! I have come to rescue my father from his unjust imprisonment in your country! And if you mean to offer battle, then come out into the fields and fight like men rather than hiding behind these trees pointing arrows at us unprovoked!”

The voice suddenly broke out into laughter. “Really! Did you expect that the men holding your father captive would be living in a forest? My men and I have enough compassion to live in a castle if we wished to hold such an old man as a captive! But, as you are aware of their presence, there is no reason for us to keep ourselves hidden any longer! Stand down, men!”

Valun immediately began to hear rustling in the tress all around him. When it stopped, nearly thirty archers clad in dark brown or green suits stood before him. Their leader was a man only slightly more than six feet in height who had long golden hair and a beard. He was wearing a green suit and a quiver full of arrows, and holding a strung longbow, just as many of his followers were. He approached Valun, extending a hand to the monarch of Corridane, who remained seated on his mount.

“I welcome you, Valun of Corridane, to my grand realm of Brandia.”

“Are you, then, Meltran the first, king of this land?”

“Yes, I am. Let me introduce you to my court.”

“Introductions can wait for happier times. At the moment, I must ask you this: Why, if you are the king of this land, do you live in a forest, with no more than thirty followers?”

“I was overthrown by ambitious men and exiled. They are not aware that we remain, for any man who strays too close to our forest does not return.”

“Can you help me find my father?”

“I can not help you with that, but I and my men can and will help you fight your battle against the men who threw us out of the castle.”

“Do you have more followers, or are the men before me your whole band?”

“I have more, and I shall bring them along. I was popular to more than only thirty men of my own court.” The King of Brandia, replied, laughing again. “And my men shall serve as your scouts.” He added, before he turned back to his retinue and spoke to them, giving orders to prepare for their departure. Once his men had departed to carry out his orders, Meltran of Brandia turned back to the party of Corridanes and said “I will lead you through this forest myself. The paths are more treacherous than you would wish for a party as large as yours.” With that, he turned and strode away. The startled Corridanes could do nothing but follow behind him, keeping their horses restrained to avoid overtaking their guide.

Valun and his army followed the exiled king of Brandia through the forest, which served as his home, for several hours, hardly making a sound on the soft grass which carpeted the forest floor. Several times, Valun nearly rode off the trail by mistake, before noticing at the last moment that his guide had turned back in the opposite direction.

Before long, they were joined by Meltran’s followers. There were more of them this time, all carrying bows and quivers.

After about two more hours of steady marching, the army finally reached the other side of the forest. Pointing out distant hills which could be seen on the horizon, Meltran told Valun “Our enemies are bound to be positioned on those hills, waiting for you arrival. My men and I will go in advance of your force.”

Before Valun could reply, Meltran and his followers had departed, marching away in the direction of the hills, which the men could see on the horizon.

Unable to remain in one place long enough to wait for the Brandians’ return, Valun, after nearly an hour more, ordered his own men to continue marching toward the hills. They had been marching for nearly two hours before they met Meltran and his men coming back.

“You will be in grave danger if you continue on from here.” Meltran announced as soon as they had come within speaking distance. “The enemy has archers on the hilltops. If you go much farther, your lives are in danger.”

“Our lives are in danger in any case, unless you show us the path which allowed you to observe our enemies unmolested.”

“It is this way.” Meltran replied, turning back the way he had come.

Valun and his guards followed Meltran and his men until they came to a little-used path nearly two hundred yards to the left of the main force. Halfway up the path, Meltran and all of his men stopped momentarily to nock arrows to their bows. They carried them on their left, pointed at the ground, ready to bring up and fire at a moment’s notice. Meltran took advantage of the pause to remind his men for the benefit of the Corridanes “Fire on sight. We can not wait for them to find us.”

Without another word, the whole party continued up the path. After another five minutes of marching, they reached another bend. Here, Meltran held up his hand to order a pause. “The end of the path is around this turn. None may go past this point, or they will be seen. One man at a time may move to the front and fire his shot. Then we must retreat.” After having said this, he raised his own bow and continued on for several feet until he had disappeared around the bend.

He returned several minutes later, his mood visibly brighter. “They keep their heads down so long, one would think they were expecting an invasion!” He began to laugh, and then remembered the situation and quickly fell silent once more, motioning the next man forward.

Nearly half an hour had passed since Meltran’s own shot before the last archer, one of Valun’s own guards, returned to the main party after having successfully fired his shot. Observing his return, Meltran remarked “I trust that we have thinned their ranks somewhat with our enviable aim. We shall have to face them in any case on the morrow.”

As the band of archers made their way back toward the place at which they had left Valun’s army, Meltran momentarily increased his pace until he had come alongside Valun’s mount. Once there, he began to dispense advice in solemn tones. “My men and I know this territory well. Much better, I believe, than our enemies, for otherwise they might have discovered our path. We shall have a hard fight ahead, for they have chosen well in the placement of their men.”

“Why may we not avoid them and continue on our way?”

To this inquiry, Meltran replied “If you attempt to proceed one day farther from the place of your current camp, you could meet your end in an awful manner, having plunged over the edge of the sheer cliffs you would reach. The hills our enemies have placed themselves upon mark this side of the only safe path down to the rest of my country. Doubtless, we will find the remainder of our enemies’ force arrayed at the bottom of the path.”

“Then we may wait for darkness, and make our way down then, when their archers will not see us.”

“You may try that, and it would work well, I am sure,” Meltran answered, quickly checking his counterpart’s impulsive decisions. “But you have not considered that their men will be waiting at the foot of the path for us to come down upon them. Do not think that they will not post sentries.”

“Under cover of darkness, they would not be prepared for our onslaught, even with sentries posted.”

“That is unfair advantage, which a true man would not deign to take. I would urge you, in the name of the honor which brought you here, position your men upon the plain, and fight the battle on fair ground at dawn.”

“If you make it a question of honor, to fight after dawn, instead of taking the advantage we would otherwise have gained, I must admit that I hold myself bound to do that. But we must take the steps necessary to insure that our enemies do not attempt to do the same to us. The single fact that they exiled you should prove that they set little store by honor.”

“You have my thanks. My men and I will stand watch to allow your men the rest they undoubtedly need. Remember. We shall not move before sundown.”

Following this final injunction from Meltran, the two kings parted, preferring to remain among their own people during the remaining hours till dusk.

That night Valun called David to his tent and said “I want you to tell the men that we shall make camp here for three days. They must have time to rest themselves after the hard marching they have been enduring for so many days.”

“It shall be as you say, my Lord.”

Valun spent much of the intervening days visiting with his troops and seeing that they were prepared for the impending combat. But after he had gone up and down the lines for the third time, he began to wish for Meltran’s company once more. Accordingly, he paused long enough, when he had reached David for the fourth time, to order him to ride to the Brandians’ camp to request that the lord Meltran take dinner in the tent of the lord Valun. This David did without reply.