Chapter 5: The Rising Tide
Tor rode swiftly leading the men from Morsli to Morenas. The city was in sight, and so was the host of Dareak marching towards the castle, in the front on horse-back was the Steward of Dareak, the last Nazzhan. Tor rode faster and the cavalry followed. He turned to see that the enemy had stopped. The sun had just rose and the morning dew covered the ground. Tor stopped his horse and the others behind him stopped as well. Kiern walked up to Tor. "Why do we not enter the city?"
"The enemy does not want the city." Tor replied, "They want the sceptre. Malcor wants it to bring forth the Nazzhan once again."
"The nazzhan have been gone for over two-hundred years. They cannot just simply appear out of nowhere." Kiern replied.
Tor remounted, "You do not understand the power of a wizard."
He turned and waited for the rest of the men to mount then spoke, "We head for the mountains and for the tombs of the old kings."
Tor drew his sword and waved it and pointed towards the tombs and his horse galloped off, followed by two-hundred others.
The mountains where the tombs stood were behind Morenas. There was a narrow passage into them which led into a large valley full of tombs and crypts. One tomb named Haudh Draca was the tomb of the king Dracaus which was where the sceptre of darkness sat. Dracaus had slayed the Lord of Dareak two-hundred years before. Dracaus was the Great-uncle of Tor and he was the one who gave Morenas to Tor's father.
Tor rode across the fields. The Steward of Dareak caught sight of him and ordered a cavalry charge at Tor's unit. Tor saw the oncoming pursuers and drew his sword. Kiern saw them as well. He veered off the path followed by most of the unit. They met the orc riders a few yards from the tombs. Tor joined the fight.
Ligen, inside of Morenas saw his captain fighting and the enemy cavalry closing in around him. He shouted, "Rangers! Shoot them down!"
The rangers near him sprinted to the east wall and drew bow and arrow and let them fly. Their efforts were of no help. The enemy was too far away. Ligen turned and slammed his fist against the stone wall. He saw the enemy lighting their catapult's ammunition. He blinked and the flaming rocks were in the air. He followed one that fell into the courtyard infront of him. He neither moved nor flinched. Instead he drew his sword. The catapults had done tremendous damage to the Great hall and the towers. The rubble fell killing around one-hundred of the defenders. Ligen shouted out, "Fire the Trebuchets!"
Behind him trebuchets let rocks fly into the ranks of the enemy. The enemy was not phase at all. The steward if Dareak egan to ride forward followed by he enemy troops, Orcs, men and goblins intertwined. Ligen cried out, "Volley!"
A rain of arrows fell upon the attackers. The first and second ranks were severly hurt.Ligen looked back over to Tor and aw that the battle had thickened over to the east.
Kiern swung his mighty sword killing an orc. He cried out to Tor, "Make for the tombs-"
An orc sword had pierced his armor felling him instantly. Tor did not turn to see his fellow die, he had turned and began riding. Few enemy cavalry tried to pursue him but his horse was too fast for them. Tor heard a horn blow to the east and turned to see Thinslan and Thimarus charging in followed by hundreds of men. Tor halted and laid waste to his adversaries and awaited the arrival of his friends. The two turned off the path of their cavalry and joined Tor in the matter of minutes. Thinslan left command to his honorable captain, Fror who lead the riders into the castle via the east gate. Fror lead the cavalry up to the second level and he dismounted next to Ligen, "Thinslan brings his support."
Thinslan, Thimarus and Tor rode swiftly into the tombs entrance and dismounted. Thinslan walked forward, "The air is foul. I sense that evil is already here."
Thimarus drew his sword and walked slowly towards one of the hill tombs, he wiped away the dust on the runes and read them. Suddenly he was forced back with an explosion of dirt and rock. Thnslan and Tor drew their swords and walked warily to Thimarus. From the cloud of dust emerged a human looking thing, it's skin was peeled away laving bones and muscle showing. It was greyish in color and bore a crown. Thinslan spoke, "What brings you haunt my ancestors Malcor!"
The body fell limp and a black mist appeared, it formed into a person. Malcor stood before the three and spoke, "I come for the sceptre lord of Akhear."
"You sinister creature!" Thinslan said as he stepped forward, "You killed the one who bares it!"
"Ah, but I have killed many of your ancestors, even your father do you not recall?"
Thinslan walked towards the warlock sword pointed towards him. "You won't kill me!"
The warlock drew a sword and swung it towards Thinslan who parried it and swung his mighty sword as well.
Thimarus ran forward. Tor stopped him, "Let your father fight."
Thimarus stopped and looked around. The ground around the hill-tombs was beginning to piece apart. Thimarus pointed and Tor nodded. They turned back to back and waited for the dead to attack them. Thinslan noticed it too, "How dare you bring this devilish sorcery into my peoples resting place!"
Malcor laughed and then chanted an incantation and his blade began to glow. Thinslan swung his sword again and he was blocked and sent back and hit the wall of a tomb. He slowly got up. Tor ran to help Thinslan and Thimarus was left to face Malcor.
Malcor laughed and spoke, "Now my creatures kill these fools."
Ghosts of sorts began to form around him and he pointed a finger at Thimarus and the ghouls attacked. Thimarus stepped back and drew his second sword. He wielded both of them with precise skill, slaying the first ghoul ever so quickly.
Ligen paced around the upper tower watching his men be torn to shreds by catapults, walls were in ruin and the orcs were about to break the lock on the gate. The first level was covered in rubble. Ligen called Fror too him, "Send your cavalry to hold the north gate, that will bide us time to regroup to the second level."
Fror said to him, "We will not be scapegoats."
Ligen shot back, "You will defend us."
Fror turned and mounted and put the riders into rank and had them prepare at the top of the great stairs overlooking the north gate. The enemy had only forces attacking the west and north gate, the east was completely unharmed.
Ligen mounted upon his horse and watched as the great tower of Morenas was destroyed in catapult fire , the rubble rained down upon the place where he had been. He cried out, "Reinforce the gate, do not let them in."
The gate was brittle and a single blow from a ballista opened it, the host of Dareak had indeed broken the gate easily an now were pouring into the castle. The hand-to-hand combat began. Rangers, footman and cavalry met the orcs and omasari at the walls. Ligen rode through rallying men and sending them to the front. The Steward of Dareak, the general of the enemy, and the last nazzhan charged through the tattered lines of the defenders, splitting them. Ligen spotted this and rode down to the stairs and charged towards the enemies that opposed him. He ran past the shield wall and flung himself into the fight on the first level. He cried out, "Fight! Do not fail!"
Many men followed in the counter-attack. Ligen met the Keeper at sword point. He jabbed through the nazzhan's armor and pulled out his sword and the keeper fell. It stood up and towered of Ligen whose's counter-attackers were now being pushed back. Fror cried out, "Ligen fall back!"
Fror held a bow and let and arrow fly into the nazzhan and it was crippled. Ligen stepped back and looked around, "So much death, so much pain...."
He raised his sword and turned to Fror who motioned him back. Ligen shouted to his friend, "My brother, it is my time."
He turned and instantly an arrow struck him in the chest. Ligen fell to his knees. another arrow struck him. He, using his sword stood up and took another arrow in the stomach. He dropped his sword it fell to the blood stained ground. He was then at that moment, riddled with arrows laying dead on the foot of the stairs. Fror ordered the Riders of Akhear to retreat. Their ranks had been split apart and now were beginning to fall easily. Fror cried out, "To the me riders, to me!".
The riders rode through enemies towards the east gate where they had came in and rode up the stairs. Their numbers were dwindling and Fror could not get organization among them. he ran over to the officers commanding the defense of the second level.
He cried out, "The enemy's numbers are to great we can not for another charge!"
An officer shouted back, "We will stand until the last man falls."
Fror turned to see that the enemies first battalion of orc had broken through the west gate. He cried out, "Riders of Thinslan ride to the aid of the defenders!"
Some riders heard this and rode off to the west gate. They met the orc marauders and briefly stopped their advance, they stopped it enough for Tor's officers to organize a shield wall near the north gate to defend against the attackers. A soldier ran up to Fror and tackled him to the ground and covered him as a rain of arrows fell upon the defenders. Most of Tor's officers died. Fror survived but his saviour did not. Fror pushed him aside and found a un-manned horse and mounted. Another rain of arrows came down, but this time Fror was pierced many times and fell off his horse and lay dying in the courtyard. he propped himself up against a piece of rubble. He watched men run past him and die an instant later. Fror coughed up blood and closed his eyes just as the gate broke and an army of orcs spilled in. Fror quickly opend his eyes again to the sound and stood up. The arrows hurt him. He swung his sword slaying an orc. He fell back and drew his ranger horn. He blew it and the riders fell back and dismounted. They stood in the middle of the courtyard facing an onslaught of orcs and omasari. Arrows rained down again. Fror was not hit for he had ran up to the rubble of the great hall. He looked over to the tombs and saw Thinslan laying next tot a tomb. He blew his horn and cried out, "Make our stand here. We must give Thinslan time!"
Thimarus finished off the last of the ghouls and pointed his sword at Malcor and charged him. Malcor struck the ground with his staff and Thimarus was sent flying back into a mound. Thinslan stood up and picked up his sword. Malcor turned and pointed his staff at Thimarus saying, "Tell me where the sceptre is or I'll kill your son."
Thimarus looked at his father. Thinslan dropped his sword and pointed at the tomb of Dracaus. Malcor motioned for Thinslan to open it. Thinslan walked into the cave with Malcor following and with a great heave pushed the stone covering the tomb. Malcor walked over and looked at the body of the former king. He reached down and grabbed the sceptre and held in the light. He turned to Thinslan who stood looking at his grandfather. Malcor spoke, "I think that's all i need from you."
He drew a sword just as Thinslan turned and slashed through is coat of mail. Thinslan fell to the ground holding his stomach.
Malcor then walked over to Tor how had drawn his sword. Malcor disarmed Tor and struck him in the leg felling him to his knees. Malcor raised Tor's sword for the killing blow above his head. Thinslan cried out, "No, do not kill him! Finish me if you must!"
Malcor smirked and brought down the sword just as Thimarus tackled him. The sword flew and landed near their feet. Malcor jumped up and held his sword at Thimarus's neck. Thimarus grabbed Tor's sword and parried Malcor's blow. Malcor swung again and Thimarus overpowered the warlock but shattered his sword in the progress. Shards pierced Thimarus's skin and he stumbled back. Malcor stood up and grasped his staff. Malcor turned to Thinslan who was propped up next to the tomb of Dracaus holding his stomach. Malcor chanted and incantation and a dark mist enshrouded him. He drew the sceptre from his bag and chanted another incantation and the shadow increased. Thimarus wiped his face and his hand was covered in blood. He drew a knife and charged at Malcor. He jabbed it through the body of Malcor. Thimarus felt a tremendous sharp pain surge through his arm and he let go of the knife and stumbled back. Malcor turned and took the knife from his back and threw it aside. He then drew a dagger of his own. Thimarus stepped back wards and saw that Thinslan was getting up. Malcor followed Thimarus's eyes and turned to Thinslan and threw the dagger. Thinslan let out a cry as the dagger struck him in the chest. Thimarus's eyes widened as he watched his father fall to his knees and then to the ground dead.
Tor stood up and tossed Thimarus his own sword. Thimarus, filled with anger and rage charged Malcor who had drawn his own sword. Tor leaned back against the mound for he could not move his left leg. Thimarus swung at Malcor with full intent of killing this man. Malcor blocked it and jabbed at Thimarus's knees but Thimarus parried that. Malcor stepped back from the fight and drew the sceptre once again. Thimarus charged but a black jet of lightning struck him and he fell back wards near Tor. Malcor then chanted an incantation and the sceptre began to glow. Thimarus stood up to see a jet of green light shoot from the sceptre and go into the clouds. Tor cried out, "No, don't do this Malcor!"
Malcor smiled and said, "I created these creatures and they shall be remade."
Thimarus looked up to see the clouds forming into a crude skull and a snake. He did not know what was to happen. Malcor brought the sceptre down as the sky began to turn dark. He then spoke to Thimarus, "Now young king see the power of your ancestors bane!"
Thimarus dropped his sword and walked back to Tor who was now standing. Tor said, "This will not be the end."
They stood facing Malcor as a black veil covered the entire burial mounds. Dark eyes were beginning to be see near Malcor and near the limp body of Thinslan. The nazzhan had been risen.
Arimus awoke, It was mid-day. He stood up and cringed in pain. He knew something was wrong. Arimus walked out of the house and saw the village women cleaning clothes and gatherng water from the well. Arimus walked over the the vacant armory. He swung open the door and saw the lord of Morenas's armor sitting on a dummy, "Why did Tor not where his armor?"
Arimus walked over and felt the armor. He then put it on. The breast-plate was shining gold as well as the leggings. The helm was a darker gold with a ruby in the center. He grabbed a pair of sollerets and cavalry arm guards. He searched for sword but what he found was a halberd. He also found a bow and arrows. The halberd fit in a slot on his back and the bow at his side with the arrows. He walked out and the women stopped what they were doing. They all stood up strait and followed Arimus with their eyes. The children came out of the houses and watched as well. Arimus ignored the attention and looked for a horse. A women walked up to him bearing one by the reins. Arimus mounted and spun it around to face Morenas. He heard a horn behind him. It was indeed the support from Mitas, led by one of Arimus's relatives Thimulas son of Eldrv, King of Mitas. He led what Arimus could see a few hundred men. Arimsu waited for Thimalus who stopped in front of Arimus. "Why are you not at Morenas helping your father and brother?"
Arimus lifted his leggings and Thimulas saw the blood still oozing out of a wound. Thimulas then said, "Do have any word of victory or defeat?"
"None. We may know if we ride to Morenas."
Thimulas nodded and Arimus rode off towards Morenas followed by Thimulas and his cavalry.
Thimarus and Tor ran out of the Tombs and saw Morenas battered and covered in dead bodies. Tor spotted the defenders up upon the third and final level. Thimarus looked back and saw Malcor walking out followed by his black mist. They ran into the plains. Thimarus shouted out to Tor, "How can we fight Malcor and his Nazzhan?"
"We must, where can we run We'd die beofe we'd reach the second level of Morenas or we die on the fields trying to stall Malcor's threat."
Tor turned he held Thinslan's sword. Thimarus turned as well. Malcor was walking out the black mist was following him. The sky drew darker and darker. The skull in the sky began to grow, "To the death..."
Arimus now could see the dark sky ahhead of him as well as the mark. He rode faster and within a few minutes the castle was in clear sight. The other riders rode behind him. Thimulas rode up to Arimus and drew his sword. Arimus drew his halberd and they rode together. They then heard a horn blow near the tombs. Arimus cried out louder then the galloping horses, "To the aid of the king!"
He heard the men draw their swords. Thimulas took the lead and then suddenly stopped his horse, "The nazzhan..."
Arimus did not stop and rode past him. He didn't care if they were nazzhan or warlocks he needed to save his father. He rode faster and saw Thimarus and Tor advancing upon Malcor and the nazzhan. Thimarus blew the horn again. Arimus cried out, "No!"
The two charged into the nazzhan and were instantly swallowed up in a cloud of nazzhan. Arimus looked back and saw the riders behind him with Thimulas. He pointed the halberd at Malcor and rode on. Malcor spotted the two enemies and walked into the ranks of nazzhan and saw the severly wounded bodies of Tor and Thimarus. Thimarus coughed and said to Malcor, "You will not win this war..."
Malcor drew his staff and then saw the riders of Mitas and cast a fireball into the enemy ranks killing many. Arimus reached the front of the ever growing nazzhan ranks and jumped off his horse and stabbed a nazzhan in the chest and waited for the riders to reach him. They tore through the ranks. Thimarus grasped the horn and brough it to his lips. He blew it and the dropped it instantly. Tor lay motionless next to Thimarus. Malcor drew his sword from it's sheath and pointed it at Tor. Arimus heard the horn and saw Malcor pointing his sword. Arimus threw his halberd into the neck of a nazzhan and drew the bow. He let fly an arow that hit Malcor in the wrist making him drop the sword. Arimus grabbed another arrow and jabbed into a nazzhan and then put it on the bow and aimed at Malcor and let the nazzhan bloodied arrow fly. It struck Malcor in the shoulder. Malcor turned and saw Arimus. He shouted out, "Nazzhan to the tombs!"
Instantly the nazzhan turned and filed into the tombs. The riders pursued and the two armies fought at the gate. Arimus cried out, "Do not harm them."
Malcor raised his staff and began to chant something, Thimarus recognized it. He drew a knife and stabbed Malcor in the ankle. Mlacor winced in pain and withdrew. Arimus saw that the cavalry was pushing the nazzhan into the tombs steadily. He turned to malcor and saw a red jet of light strike him. Arimus fell over motionless.
Thimulas dismounted and grabbed Arimus's bow, he drew and arrow and cried out, "Leave them be!"
He let the arrow fly and it struck Malcor in the throat. Malcor fell over. He coughed up blood, and was choking out undecipherable words. His staff glowed though and black lightning soared from it striking Thimulas in the chest killing him instantly. Tor rolled over and saw Thimulas die.
Malcor lay limp, Thimarus stood up. He spoke, "Is he dead Tor."
Thimarus helped Tor up, "You cannot simply kill a warlock like that, remember Malsar?"
"No I do not recall." Thimarus spoke.
"I'm sorry I thought you were your father. Well Malsar, the brother of Malcor, fell to the blade of the Lord of Dareak. Or so we thought."
The body of Malcor began to disinegrate. "Malcor will be back."
Tor and Thimarus limped to Arimus, who spoke to them, "Leave me. I will live, save Morenas."
Thimarus nodded and he picked up his brothers bow and arrows. Tor then helped up Arimus. "Do you wish to see your father?"
Arimsu nodded. Thimarus led the two, through the back entrance to the tombs. They spotted nazzhan looting through Thinslan's pockets. Thimarus let arrows fly killing three of the four. The other one was killed by cavalry. Tor cried out, "Assist my men in the castle. Be wary the nazzhan are in there as well."
The mark still loomed in the sky. Thimarus watched the main gate to the tombs as Tor lead Arimus to his father. Thimarus didn't want to look. Arimus fell to his knees in a pool of tears and blood. Thimarus spotted another army emegring from the forest of Morislas, "Nazzhan..."
He turned and shouted, "The nazzhan, they are springing from all corners of this land!"
Tor looked up and saw the armada coming. Arimus did not look but instead placed his ceremonial dager upon the chest of his father. Tor spoke solemnly, "As we mourn the nazzhan are forming, great legions and the lord of dareak has risen, risen from his ashes to take his rule over Dareak, The lands of Ordo and the lands of Oma."
Thimarus turned around, "True, you are right. The lord of Dareak will first try and destroy Triten and then eventually take over all of the realms of men."
Arimus stood up, "We can not win this war alone. Remember Dracaus and how he brought forth the alliance of elves, men and dwarves to stop the lord of dareak from conquering Mitas."
Tor drew his sword and spoke, "There is still war here in Morenas, we must win this fight."
Thimarus walked out the door followed by Tor and Arimus who pulled his halberd from the body of the nazzhan he killed. They entered the postern gate near the tombs and walked up the spiral stairs until they reached the third level, their wounds were leaving small bloodstains on the stone. Around two-hundred defenders surrounded by rubble and dead bodies, which littered majority of the castle. From waht Thimarus could see the omasari and orcs had been replaced by nazzhan and goblins.
Tor cried out, "Do not fret, we can still win!"
Many defenders turned and saw their captain and cheered, a new found hope was in them. Tor limped out onto the terrace where his captains were preparing a defense. he calle dout to them, "Join the fight, they need you there."
The captains drew swords and rushed past Tor. Thimarus shouted, "Tor we must make a stand!"
"We will."
The defenders had run out of arrows and the end seemed to be near. One of Tor's officers shouted to Tor, "My lord, from what I can see the enemies numbers are in the thousands and we only have around four-hundred."
Tor cried out so that all could hear, "Form ranks, all of you. There will be no more men of Thinslan or men of Tor now we are men of Acadia, and we will win this fight!"
All of the men let out a cry and filed into the rank. Men of Akhear in their gold cavalry armor and the men of Morenas in their ringmail side-by-side. Thimarus and Arimus stood behind Tor who turned and watched the some four-hundred men move into their lines. He picked up a fallen spear and walked to the crumbled ruins of the great hall. A torn and broken banner lay at it's steps. Tor picked it up and tied it to the spear. The men watched him do this. He spoke to them, "If I am to fall when bearing this banner, who will pick it up and carry it to victory?"
A soldier stepped forward covered in blood and his cloak tattered, he said, "I, Ro-mere knight of Acadia will bear the banner if you fall my lord!"
Tor smiled, "We will attack them with all of our rage and hatred, for they have killed your brothers, your friends, your king. We will avenge them with the enemies blood!"
The men let out a loud cry that shook the lower levels. Tor walked to the front of them and pointed to the gate, Thimarus walked over and grasped the lever. The omasari, orcs and nazzhan looked up to the high gate, many began to recoil and start walking backwards, for fear had been instilled within them. The Keeper of Dareak did not move. Instead he ordered a line of archers to set up infront of the steps to cripple the defenders counter-attack. Archers took postion and drew arrows and waited for the gate to open.
Thimarus let out a deep breath and pulled the lever to open the gate. It slowly opened. Tor now stood infront of the open gate bearing the banner. He cried out, "We will have Victory!"
Arimus raised his halberd and walked past Tor followed by the men. Thimarus joined them and marched. Tor raised to the front, he cried out once again, "We Will Have Victory!"
He bolted in a dead sprint, followed by his men. Their screams echoed in the distance. The Keeper of Dareak shouted in a chilling voice, "Slay them!"
The omasari archers let their arrows fly. Tor took two in the the leg and chest. He staggered but still ran on. Another volley and many men were hit but few fell. Thimarus cried out, "For Acadia!"
The archers retreated quickly and were replaced with pikemen. Tor cared less and threw his sword into the throat of an orc and sprinted on. The pikemen were quickly killed off by the charging men. The keeper retreat back across the courtyard. Tor raised the spear higher. It would not be brought down. Archers fired from behind The keepers line of defense Tor took another arrow and fell to his knees. He coughed and dropped the banner. He picked up a sword that lay next to him and swung it with all his strentgh into an orc. An omasari spotted him and placed an arrow on his bow. Arimus cried out, "Tor, no!"
The omasari let the arrow fly as Tor turned to face Arimus. It struck him in the back. He fell once again. He groaned and felt the presence of an enemy behind him. He swung his sword and killed the nazzhan. Thimarus ran up to Tor but took an arrow in the shoulder and fell back. A nazzhan walked up to Tor, who dropped his sword and looked up to death. It jabbed the sword into Tor's chest. Tor let out a cry and fell over onto the ground. Ro-mere ran up and killed the nazzhan with a mighty swing of his sword. He picked up the banner and raised it high, "The banner has not fallen!"
Arimus ran up to Tor, "Please be alive please..."
No answer came back. Tears came streaming down Arimus's face. He stood up from the limp body. He spotted the Keeper and threw his halberd into the chest of his target. The keeper fell over off his horse, dead. The orcs around him ran down the stairs and back into the first level. Arimus cried out, "Rally to me!"
Thimarus stood up and drew his second sword. Arimus looked down to the first level, the orcs and nazzhan were forming ranks and archers were in perfect lines with arrows drawn. Thimarus ran up to his brother, "This will be the end."
Ro-mere ran next to Thimarus, "To Death!"
Thimarus cried out, "Let's get em' boys!"
He charged down. Archers fired their arrows. one struck Thimarus but he kept running. Arimus let out a cry, "Thimarus!"
Thimarus took two more arrows. He fell to his knees. His swords fell from his hands as he fell to the stone. Arimus shouted to the men still with him, "Come on!"
They ran down the stairs and bashed their way into the enemy. Arimus swung his sword and then took a blade in the leg. He fell over in pain. Ro-mere rushed to his side and took a jab in the stomach. The rest of the men ran past them. The enemy, leaderless and disorganized began to retreat. Ro-mere raised the spear that lay next to Arimus and ran to the top of the gate and placed upon it. He coughed and fell to the ground dead, as the enemy ran from Morenas. Arimus closed his eyes and lay there. A soldier, Corlas, sent men to the gate and had them place anything they could on to it. He yelled to a group of soldiers, "Take the lords, Arimus and Thimarus to the upper level. They are to die if they are not healed soon."
The soldiers picked up the body of Arimus and ran the stairs. Others picked up Thimarus's and they carried it to the great hall.