The Godling Chronicles (Shadow of the Gods, Book #3) Read online

  “Let us not forget our human allies,” Bellisia reminded. “Their city is close, and they may be well-supplied with siege engines.”

  “I have not forgotten,” said Theopolou. “But they have not made war in five hundred years, beyond petty border squabbles. The human armies of old were cunning and powerful, but I doubt a single soldier today has ever seen true battle.” His eyes grew dark and distant. “And many of us have.”

  “Still,” Linis interjected, “they are our allies, and perhaps we should wait until we arrive to make any final decisions. Otherwise they may take it as an insult.”

  “Linis speaks wisely,” said Nehrutu. “Though it is clear that Mohanisi and I must breach the gates, you would be well served to include your new allies in your planning. And as Lady Bellisia pointed out, they are near their home. It may provide assets we cannot yet account for.”

  “Then we wait,” said Theopolou. “We will join with the humans tomorrow.”

  The knowledge that the elf army would soon join with humans had caused palpable tension among the ranks. Many were still unsure, not having been present at the Chamber of the Maker. They accepted the word of the elders, but this did little to calm their unease. Many had never even seen a human, and all had grown up with the hatred.

  That evening they halted early and slept until dawn. Theopolou wanted his army rested when they arrived. By midday, they could hear the sounds of blacksmiths’ hammers ringing out in the distance. The ground had become even and far less rocky, and a few trees struggled out of barren soil. When the camp came into view, Theopolou and the other elders gathered in front, and called for a halt.

  Moments later, trumpets blew and the sound of human commanders barking orders carried over the still air as the soldiers scurried to form ranks.

  “I see elves among them,” remarked Linis. “That is a good sign.”

  Theopolou only nodded.

  The humans formed a long line of red shields and long spears. A lone banner hung lifelessly, bearing the image of a great serpent coiled around a full moon. The humans made no move and soon all was silent. Some of the elves among them stirred uneasily, but did not approach. It was Theopolou who moved first, followed closely by Linis and Kaylia.

  “The rests stay behind for the moment,” said Theopolou over his shoulder.

  When they were about one-hundred yards away the line parted and four figures appeared. Three Theopolou recognized immediately as Selena, High Lady of Valshara, and Haldrontis and Stintos, his escorts that had been sent back to Valshara. The fourth was a tall, lean man, with a salt and pepper beard, deep olive skin and piercing blue eyes. His face was wrinkled and cracked with age, but still his strides were long and sure as a young man in his prime. He wore simple leather armor and a long sword on his belt, but atop his brow rested a thin gold crown.

  “I am pleased to see you are well,” said Theopolou to Haldrontis and Stintos.

  “We have been well-tended,” said Haldrontis.

  Theopolou nodded, “Then return to your comrades. They will be glad to see you.” They bowed and walked toward the elves. He turned to Selena. “I am pleased to see you again as well.”

  Selena smiled warmly. “And I you.” She stepped aside to allow the man beside her to come forward. “May I present King Lousis Maldiva, King and Protector of Althetas.”

  “I am honored to meet you, Lord Theopolou,” said the king. His voice was course and gruff, though steady and commanding. “Lady Selena speaks highly of you.” He held out his hand.

  Theopolou paused a moment, then took it, shaking it firmly. “The honor is mine, your highness. I extend to you the friendship of my house, and the houses of all my kin.”

  The king smiled and gave Theopolou's hand one more solid shake. “My city has welcomed elves for some time now. We are glad to extend our hospitality to as many as care to take it.”

  “Sadly, we are in need of far more,” said Theopolou. His somber expression wiped the smile from the king's face. “And I fear many lives may be lost before we see peace again.”

  “As do I,” the king agreed. “But perhaps spilling our blood together will remedy old fears and hatreds. If that is the price we must pay, then I am willing to pay it.”

  Theopolou nodded. “Then let us begin here. Together, we shall rid Valshara of this plague that had besieged it.”

  “If what the High Lady tells me is true, then this is only the beginning.” The king turned and ordered his men to break ranks. “Come, let our forces be as one. Tonight we dine and celebrate our union. Tomorrow is for war.”

  “I would speak to your generals and captains as soon as it can be arranged,” said Theopolou.

  “They already await you,” the king replied. “The High Lady has been mapping out the temple for us. Of course, we wanted to wait until your arrival before forming a plan of attack.”

  “I thank you,” Theopolou bowed slightly. “We have assets that may save many lives, your highness.”

  He raised an eyebrow “That's good news. We have been fearful of the approach to the gates. We hope that you have a way to lessen our enemy’s advantage. I have five hundred swords and fifty horses. More could not be spared without leaving my city and territories defenseless.” He held his arms wide. “But that can be discussed later. Your elves have traveled far. We don't have much in the way of comforts, but you are welcome to all we have.”

  “It is gratefully accepted,” said Theopolou. He raised his hand high, and the elf army marched forward.

  “It's good to see you again,” said Selena to Linis and Kaylia. She moved in and hugged them both. “I notice that Gewey is not with you.”

  Kaylia paused, her eyes suddenly sad and distant at the mention of Gewey's name. “He will be joining us as soon as he is able.”

  Selena nodded with understanding. “I'm sure he will.”

  When the elf army was only a few yards away, they halted. The camp-ground where the humans had chosen was easily large enough to accommodate them, but they stood still, uncertain what to do.

  King Lousis stepped forward and address the elves. “You must feel welcome. We have brought food, water, and wine enough for you all. My soldiers have been instructed to provide you with whatever you may need.”

  After a nod from Theopolou, the army slowly made its way into the camp and spread out. Unlike the elves, the humans had brought dozens of wagons filled to the brim with provisions of all types. Three bellows had been erected at the north end, away from the main group, and a large tent, surrounded by several smaller ones, had been placed in the center, where Theopolou told the elders to gather as soon as they could.

  “If your elders require tents, it can be arranged,” said Lousis. He led the group into the interior, toward the large tent.

  “That will not be necessary,” said Theopolou.

  The passing of Theopolou, Linis, Kaylia, Selena and King Lousis, brought more than a few stares as they made their way through. Theopolou was thankful that the first encounter was with humans that had had dealings with elves, not to mention that there were already elves among them. The situation could have been far worse.

  The large tent was guarded by two stocky rough-looking soldiers, and was spacious enough for ten people to enter comfortably. They snapped to attention at the sight of the king. Inside, a small round table covered by a roughly-drawn map had been place dead center. In the corner, was a small wooden cot, and a chest. A brass lantern hung in each corner and two others above the table. In the far left corner, six chairs were arranged in a semi-circle around another small table.

  King Lousis instructed the guard to bring his commanders, then offered Theopolou and the rest a seat. “I must say, this has happened at just the right time.” Lousis grabbed a bottle of wine from the chest and sat down with a grunt. “I fear that if we are left on our own, we shall come under the thumb of Angrääl.”

  The mention of Angrääl caused Theopolou to sit up. “Have they troubled you before?”

  “I woul
dn't say that,” Lousis replied, and took a long drink from the bottle. “But they have made offers of friendship. But I know an ultimatum when I hear one. They all but cut off our trade with Baltria, when I refused to sign a trade agreement stating that we would only ship to cities allied to the Reborn King.” He sighed. “But that is not what troubles me the most. They have made trade bargains with other cities along the coast. You must understand, though my title is king, I only rule my city and the lands that surround it for fifty miles.”

  “And the other cities?” asked Theopolou.

  “The same,” Lousis replied. “There are twelve kings and queens from the north port of Lamitia to the Tarvansia Peninsula. We govern our territories absolutely, with no interference from the others. This has been the way of things since the Great War.”

  “And if something threatens you all?” ask Kaylia.

  “Then a council of kings and queens is called,” said Lousis. “Before the war, Althetas ruled the whole coast of the Western Abyss. After the war ended, the cities were in turmoil; several leaders, mostly former governors of the territories, wanted to seize control. Instead of civil war, we eventually formed an alliance of city states.”

  “A wise decision,” Theopolou remarked.

  “It was,” Lousis agreed. “The war was over, and no one desired more blood, so the council was forged. It has kept the peace for five-hundred years. But now...” His jaw tightened. “Now a snake has slithered its way into our midst. Men and women I once trusted are under the influence of a foreign power. It is why, for now, Althetas stands alone. Even the kings and queens who I still name friend, and in the past would have called for aid, fear reprisal. None are as rich as Althetas, and can ill afford to lose trade with Baltria.”

  “Why did you not sign the agreement?” asked Kaylia.

  Lousis' back stiffened and his eyes narrowed. “Althetas trades with who it chooses. We do not bow to the will of some tyrant in the north that clearly seeks war and havoc. Our ports and markets have always been free. And while I live, they will remain so.”

  “I commend your resolve,” said Theopolou. “I can only hope that your example will show others the right path.”

  “Cities in the southern region are far more vulnerable than those north of Althetas,” said Lousis. “We use the roads west as much as we do our ports. And I’m embarrassed to say, your people hold the lands to the east of the southern cities, and they fear travel by land.”

  Theopolou nodded. “Rightly so. But those times are in the past.”

  Lousis grinned. “That is good to hear. It will go a long way toward uniting the twelve cities, when the time comes.”

  The tent flap opened and three armor-clad men entered, each bearing the crest of Althetas on their chest plate. The first was tall and lean, and looked weathered and worn, much like the king, though clean shaven. The other two were considerably younger, and far broader in the shoulders, though not quite as tall.

  King Lousis stood. “Ah, good. This is Lord Maynard Windcomber, war master and commander of my forces. These are his captains, Lord Brasley Amnadon and Lord Jeffos Windermere.” The commander and his captains bowed low. Theopolou and the others stood and returned the gesture.

  A moment later, Nehrutu, Mohanisi, and Chiron entered. Theopolou made introductions and they gathered around the table.

  “The other elders have chosen to remain with the army,” said Chiron, before Theopolou could ask. “Though the humans here have had experience with elves, alas, the opposite is not true.

  They want to be near their people in case of any...misunderstandings.”

  Theopolou nodded. “That is probably for the best. We can go over the plans with them later.”

  “To business then,” said Lousis.

  Lord Maynard leaned over the map. “I'm sure you are aware of the danger in approaching the gates. The way is narrow, and protected by bowmen. Unfortunately, it is the only way in.”

  “We can fell the gates,” said Nehrutu. “But not without exposing ourselves. The narrow approach makes it impossible to match their bowmen in number, and as skilled as elf archers are, our enemy need only shoot into the thick of our ranks.”

  “What about the rear entrance?” asked Linis. “We were told it has been blocked. Can it be cleared?”

  “No,” Lord Maynard replied. “It has been completely collapsed. But even still, we face further danger.” He pointed to the path leading to the gates. “We must defend the cliffs on either side of the path. Should they control it, they can simply rain down death upon us. We'd be destroyed before we came close enough to see the temple.”

  “Do you know their strength?” asked Theopolou.

  “We haven't been able to get close enough to know their numbers,” admitted Maynard. “They have taken six of my scouting parties. Still, if they have enough men to protect the cliffs, we'll need to take them first. The terrain is rough and uneven. A skilled captain could make it difficult for us to dislodge them.”

  “And if they are not defending, we waste our strength,” said Linis. “We should send elves to scout. I will lead them. No offense to the skill of your men, of course.”

  “There is no offense taken,” said Maynard. “I have been told of elf seekers. But make no mistake. The men I sent were not without talent, and most were intercepted and likely killed.” He placed his palms on the table and looked directly at Linis. “The elves that came with the High Lady told me of the Vrykol. I think it must be those creatures who watch the pass. If you go, you may not return.”

  Linis flashed a sinister grin. “I have dealt with the Vrykol before. If I encounter them again, there will be less for us to deal with later.”

  Maynard raised an eyebrow and smirked approvingly. “I like that. I like that, indeed.” He turned to Theopolou. “You say you can smash the gates from bow range, as well as take out their archers?”

  “Yes,” said Theopolou. “Without a doubt.”

  “How will you do this?” asked Lousis. “I saw no siege engines with your army, and we brought none. And even if we had, the difficult approach would make them useless.”

  “My kinsmen and I have the means,” said Nehrutu. “We possess skills you may not be able to understand. But rest assured it can be done.”

  Lousis looked skeptical, scrutinizing the elf. “You back up this claim?” he asked Theopolou.

  “I do,” Theopolou replied. “But still we are left with our archers being bunched up and exposed.”

  “I think I can help,” said Maynard. “My men can protect them with shields until they are close enough to fire.”

  Chiron shook his head. “If you do that then they will be first through the gates. Those behind must wait until they move forward. You will lose many men.”

  Maynard threw his head back in laughter. “Then our foes will die by the hands of humans rather than elves. We have not marched here to stay out of the fray.”

  “Then I suggest your soldiers meet with our archers as soon as possible,” said Chiron.

  Maynard glanced at his captains, who nodded in return. “My men will be at your disposal.”

  The rest of the battle plan was simple. Once the gates were down they were to section off each area of the temple until it was all secured. With the exception of the initial force of humans, the rest would be elves, with the remainder of the Althetan soldiers protecting the rear. At first Maynard protested, but eventually let go of his pride, in favor of Theopolou's wisdom. If Vrykol were encountered, humans would be no match for them.

  After the meeting they dispersed. Kaylia and Linis stayed with Theopolou and found a place among his kinsman, while Nehrutu and Mohanisi found a spot far removed from the rest. Theopolou and Chiron met with the other elders and explained the strategy. Each tribe sent their best archers to meet with Lord Maynard just north of the camp to drill.

  By late afternoon, barrels of wine were being unloaded from the wagons, and cooking fires burned everywhere. At first, the elves kept to themselves, but
soon the humans intruded and forced their hospitality on them. The elders and commanders made certain they were close at hand, in case trouble broke out, but the so called ‘rebel elves’ who, like Linis, had been living among humans for quite some time, joined them. This went a long way toward easing tensions, and by the time the sun was beneath the horizon, the camp was completely integrated. And though the comfort level was not one of friendship, soon stories and songs sprang up from both human and elf.

  Selena invited Kaylia to join her in her tent, just beside the king's. When she arrived, Selena was sitting on a chair beside a small chest, atop which sat a cup of wine. She smiled and offered the chair beside her, then filled another cup and handed it to Kaylia.

  “I could see your pain when I mentioned Gewey's name earlier,” said Selena. “I thought you may wish to talk.”

  “There is nothing to say,” Kaylia replied. “Gewey is on an important mission, and I worry. That is all.”

  Selena leaned forward and placed her hand tenderly on Kaylia's. “I'm no elf. But I am a woman, and can tell when another woman needs help. Please...”

  Selena's words and genuine concern struck home and tears welled in Kaylia's eyes. She took a breath and recounted the events leading up to the march.

  “I see,” said Selena, in a half whisper. “And these elves from across the Abyss… you are certain they know what Gewey is?”

  “Yes,” she replied, wiping her eyes. “Though I know Gewey loves me, I still fear that she will convince him that she is the better choice.” She lowered her eyes. “I should not despair, but the loss of our bond is driving me mad. If not for Nehrutu, I....”

  “Gewey is your husband,” Selena interrupted, “to use the human term. He is not hers and will never be. What I know of Gewey, tells me his heart is true. More importantly, that heart belongs to you. If you feel that learning these powers will benefit you, then by all means do so. But if you think you must compete for his love...” She shook her head, laughing, then squeezed her hand fondly. “You are the one he chose. And you chose him. That is all you need care about. And I assure you that when he returns, nothing will have changed between you.”