War Of The Wildlands(49)

“You’re right,” Darin said, laughing. “I suppose we could. We won’t be hitting any fancy targets, but we’ll give them something to remember.” The trio dashed behind the workbench to retrieve the sack full of runed arrow tips. Gently emptying it onto the table, Darin said, “Toss these into the center of a group of those bastards and see how they like it.”

“Reylana mentioned mages,” Yori said. “I’ve never seen them in action, but I hear they are ruthless in battle. We should try to take them out first if we can.”

Darin nodded and said, “If we survive this, you might consider becoming a warrior.”

“If we survive this,” Yori replied. “I will continue etching runes until the day I die. I want no part of war, now or ever.”

“Sometimes we don’t get a choice,” Darin replied quietly. “We do what we must.”

Yori turned his attention to the east, where the forest lay quiet and still. Somewhere within those trees, an army was approaching. He squeezed the hammer in his hand and hoped he would not have to use it.





Chapter 30




Prince Aelryk stopped his horse and held up a hand signaling his troops to halt. Mi’tal joined him at the head of the company to receive his orders. “I’ve changed my mind about entering their village with a small force,” the prince said. “We will send everyone in and fully overwhelm the elves. Perhaps when they see our numbers, they will be more willing to negotiate.”

“They may begin the fight before we reach the village, my lord,” Mi’tal pointed out. “Wild Elves are extremely stealthy and frequently hide among the trees.”

“I’m aware of that, Mi’tal,” Aelryk replied. “That’s a risk we’ll have to take. I won’t slaughter an innocent village that has yet to attack us. If we have to kill a few for starting the fight then so be it. No one is to draw their weapons until we are fired upon. I want them to see that we have come peacefully.”

Mi’tal gave the prince a nod and proceeded to spread the message to the lieutenants. The company had nearly a thousand mounted troops as well as seven war mages. The mages required constant protection as they had become the main target in every battle with the elves. Mi’tal wondered if the elves would begin the fight simply because the mages were present.

As he returned to Aelryk’s side, his hand went instinctively to his war hammer. After all, they were about to charge into enemy territory where his prince would be vulnerable to attack. Though a sword had very little chance of blocking an arrow, Mi’tal still wished the prince would draw his sword for protection. Losing Prince Aelryk would be a disaster for the people of Na’zora.

Nat crouched low upon a branch and watched as the company passed through the trees. Their pace was no faster than a trot, and not a single man had drawn a weapon. He made note of the mages in red cloaks near the rear of the company. After the last man passed by, he hurried back to Reylana and the warriors.

“There looks to be a thousand of them. They’re moving at an easy pace and haven’t drawn their weapons. They will reach the village within minutes.” He had never been in battle, so he trusted Reylana to lead his clansmen.

“That doesn’t make any sense,” Reylana replied. “They must be trying to trick us.”

“Could they really just be passing by?” one of the archers asked.

“I don’t know,” she said. “Were there any mages with them?”

“Yes, there were seven of them,” Nat answered.

“I can’t imagine them traveling with mages if they don’t intend to fight,” she said. “We should follow them and see if they enter the village. The mages always stay near the back of the company, and we can take them out first if we aren’t seen.”

The warriors followed Reylana as they made their way into the trees surrounding the village. The Na’zorans were indeed heading straight for them. They were vastly outnumbered, but Reylana was determined to take at least a few of them down, even if the village was lost.

As the prince entered the village, he noticed that none of the elves were fleeing in terror as the other clans had done. The elves visible in the village stood their ground, each of them clutching a weapon. He slowed his horse to a walk and lifted both hands in a gesture of peace.

“I have not come with the intention to kill,” he declared. “I have come to speak with you.”

Hearing these words, the Overseer left his hut to speak with the prince. “I am the Overseer of the Sycamore Clan,” he said. “For what reason have you brought an army into our village? We have done you no wrong.”