I'm cautiously optimistic that I'll have Chapter 16 done by the end of January, if not sooner. Chapter 17 will probably be longer, as it is going to be a very long chapter and with the holidays ending a lot of the free time I've had to write will disappear. On the other hand, I'm very excited for Chapter 17 so maybe I'll be able to plow through it quickly. Anyway, here is a brief preview of Chapter 15. Look for the full version around New Year!
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Excitement welled in Henry’s chest as he watched the dark ashlar stone
walls of Dromstadt rise above the horizon.
Dromstadt was not as rich or elegant as Ruar or Orlous, but even now it
charmed him. The city of his youth
hadn’t been his home in over 20 years, and he had stayed there only all too
briefly after it had been liberated from the orcs. Now Henry was on his way there again. Will it
be for the last time? If I lose this
battle I won’t get another chance. The
war I’ve been fighting since King Garrett was deposed has led me here. It’s taken decades of fighting, persuading,
plotting, and scheming to get the northern lords to rebel, to get Thesta and
Sandora on board. If only we had the
elfs we might have won the war already.
But then I wouldn’t have my Sylvia.
Henry scowled as he thought of the Elfish Isles. Why did
Prince Augras have to return this year and not next? What Abyssal hole did he crawl out of with
his black magic just when humanity’s greatest chance to throw back the orcs was
at hand? The King spurred his horse
and trotted up a nearby hill to get a better view of the terrain. The sun sat high in the sky, bathing the
world with its warm nourishing rays. His
chain hauberk weighed heavily on his shoulders, but he ignored it and the light
that was doubtlessly reflecting off the armor.
There was no need to hide their movements; his outriders had already
clashed with the orc scouts and sentries and both their location and
destination would be obvious to Belkor.
There was only one place they could be going. As Henry reached the crest of the hill the
fields outside of Dromstadt became visible.
The city had long since pushed back the primeval forests to make room
for farms and villages. In years past
the fields would have been full of peasants planting the next harvest. Instead, the fields were being trampled
beneath the feet of Belkor’s army. His
camps stretched out before the city, but didn’t surround. He
wants to keep his forces together until I am dealt with.
A sigh escaped his lips as another avenue for an easy victory was cut
off. Belkor was building fortifications
to block the way from the south, apparently content to let Henry come to
him. The King took a moment to consider
the situation, rubbing his bearded chin as he looked over the enemy’s
disposition.
“The orcs aren’t going to be accommodating, are they Your
Highness?” Etienne asked as he rode up
beside Henry. The Thestan commander was
still unsure in his role, having assumed it only after Queen Amelie departed
and Phillippe died.
“They never are, but there is still a weakness there we can
exploit.” An idea began to form in the
back of Henry’s mind, a risky idea, but one that just might work. It’s
risky, but what else can I do?
Etienne studied the landscape from beside the King. “We’ll need to draw them out of the
fortifications and meet them on the open field, and then signal the garrison to
come out and hit them from behind. But
how will we lure them out?” Etienne
fidgeted uncomfortably. “Using the orc
princess as bait no longer seems effective.”
“Not the way we have been, no.
Torture is not going to lure them into our trap. We need to set a sweeter bait then that.”
“What did you have in mind, Your Highness?”
“Belkor won’t move to save his sister from torture, but what about from
death? I promised to reign in Daniels’
worst abuses, but at this point an honorable death might be a mercy. Even that might not tempt Belkor though, so I
mean to sweeten the pot so to speak.”
“How?”
“By executing her myself. I’ll
build gallows in front of our remaining forces and go forward with a small
force. The orc pretender won’t be able
to resist the chance to grab me and his sister.
When he moves, you do, and the garrison.” Henry pointed to a small village east of the
orc encampment. There, you see that
village to the east of the orcs? You
will attack from there, right into their unprotected flank. When the garrison sees the battle erupt, they
will know to ride out and take the camp from the rear. There won’t be any escape this time.”
“That is a bold plan, Your Highness, and risky. You shouldn’t put yourself at so much risk,
it is too dangerous. And the princess-”
“There isn’t any choice, not anymore.” Henry stated, making up his mind
and becoming surer by the moment. “We
need decisive action. If we draw this
battle out maneuvering or get dragged into a siege then it gives Grotok more
time to conquer Thesta and Sandora and link up with Belkor. As for the Princess, I hope not to have to
kill her. If Belkor moved as predicted
we will take her back to our lines for safe keeping. I would like to have both her and Belkor in
custody before we face the sorcerer.”
Etienne looked relieved at that, but not completely. “Even still, the risk-”
“We’re losing the war, Etienne.
The Catabrians have left us and the Sandorans are dead. Thesta and Sandora are invaded and Queen
Amelie is hopelessly outnumbered. Our
enemies have even tapped into some dark power from the Abyss to plague and
curse our forces. Now is the time to
risk everything, for soon we shall have nothing.”
The Thestan commander’s face turned to the east, looking out to the
still snow-capped Lyskean Mountains and Thesta beyond them. “I hadn’t wanted to believe it was really as
bad as that.”
“It is, worse maybe. Which is
why we cannot shirk from our duty.
Because it is no longer just duty to ourselves, our families, or our
Kingdoms, it is now a duty to all mankind.
We fight to keep ourselves free from orc dominion and dark magic.” Henry turned to his retinue and summoned
Daniels over.
“Yes Your Highness?” The
grizzled old footman asked.
“Get the Princess ready. I’ll
most likely kill her in the morning.”
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