Legends Lost Tesnayr

  * * *

  Nedis paced through the snow awaiting the arrival of Tesnayr’s men. Anxiety ate at him. Nedis had never been so anxious before. Perhaps it was because he was to pull the rope releasing the pile of rocks. This was one time in his life where he wished that he had no brothers as they would be in the path of the falling rock and snow.

  “If you keep pacing much longer, you will burn through all that ice,” said Nelyn. She sat by the weak fire with the other five soldiers. “If you do not wish pull that rope, I can assign another the task,” she told him privately.

  “Whether I release the rocks or not will not change the fact that my brothers will be in their path,” replied Nedis. “We treat life like a joke. Constantly playing pranks on one another. Even in battle we manage to find something to laugh at. But this is one time where it isn’t so.”

  “You will get through this. You all will.”

  Everyone turned as the crunching of snow hit their ears and people appeared out of the fog. The others had finally arrived.

  “It is time,” said Nelyn.

  “Report,” said Tesnayr.

  “The orcs are below. They know nothing of our presence,” said Nedis.

  “Get in position,” Tesnayr told him. “The rest of you come with me.”

  “Look at our brave little brother,” said Nylin chiding his brother. “He is whiter than the snow.”

  “You’d think he met a ghost,” added Nular.

  “Cheer up, brother, we shall fight valiantly to our deaths,” said Nylin.

  “Death might not want us. Too much trouble we are,” chimed Nular.

  Nedis chuckled at his brother’s comments. “Just come back.”

  Tesnayr studied the orcs. Undisturbed by the cold, they moved about performing their duties methodically. Smoke spiraled from unattended fires. Once again, Tesnayr found himself amazed at their lack of concern over being attacked.

  He motioned for everyone to file past into the clearing directly below the proposed avalanche. Quickly, yet silently, men crept over the snow hiding among mounds of ice and taking care to not make a sound. Taking one last glance at the orcs, Tesnayr took his place among his men.

  Arnin blew his horn capturing the orcs’ attention. Immediately, the beasts snatched their weapons and charged toward the noise yelling and screaming as they went. Their heavy boots thumped in the snow warning every one of their approach.

  “Brace yourselves,” yelled Tesnayr.

  The orcs crashed upon them. Clanging steel filled the mountain air. Tesnayr dove out of the way of an approaching orc slamming into the icy ground. He gripped his sword tightly feeling its power. Flipping himself over, Tesnayr rammed his blade through the beast. “Keep them busy,” he ordered.

  Nelyn swerved and dodged the orcs that came her way. Practicing a move that Idæas had taught her, she cut off the head of one and kneed another in the groin. Nelyn quickly turned sweeping the foot of the orc out from under it before jabbing her sword into the back of its neck.

  Pain rocked her as something slammed into her back. Nelyn crashed into the snow. Recovering quickly, she rolled onto her back ready to defend herself. A harsh yell filled her ears. Out of nowhere Jarown appeared charging the orc, swiping his weapon across its stomach.

  Jarown helped her up. Nelyn said nothing as she retrieved her sword and dove back into the fight.

  Orcs poured over the ridge unaware of the danger looming above them. “Group them together,” yelled Nigilin.

  Archers released arrows forcing the orcs to mesh together, congregating underneath the overhanging ice and snow.

  “Now,” shouted Tesnayr.

  Instantly, his men darted away. They fled over the snow leaping over obstacles disappearing from view. Confused, the orcs stared after them.

  Nedis watched from his vantage point awaiting Tesnayr’s signal. Concealed in the snow he rubbed his palms together to warm his stiff fingers. They tingled. Time edged slowly past. He hated waiting. Eagerly, he watched the battle hoping his two brothers remained unharmed. Then he heard it: “Now!”

  Quickly, Nedis slipped from his hiding place knife in hand. He sawed through the rope that bound the rocks in place. A slow rumble began as the rocks ground against each other before careening downhill carrying the snow and ice with them. The roar grew to a thundering storm. Instantly, the entire mountainside had fallen away toward the people below.

  The orcs looked up in time to see the onslaught of snow, but it was too late. Scrambling in all directions, they scurried out of the way. The wave of rock and snow crashed upon them crushing any in its path. Horrific screams escaped the orc’s throats as the avalanche swept them off the ledge and into the abyss below.

  Tesnayr watched with a stony face. Hand on sword he waited until certain that his plan had worked. One less group of orcs, he thought. “Let’s move,” he ordered.

  Nedis hurried down the mountainside to where he was to meet the others. Suddenly, his shoulder stung as warm blood oozed from a protruding arrow. He had little time to register the wound as an orc jumped in front of him. Nedis raised his fist blocking the blow just in time. The orc jabbed at his knee. Nedis dodged, but his foot slipped on ice causing him to fall. Leering over him, the orc raised its weapon.

  Determined not to die, Nedis gripped his sword and swung it in front of him catching the orc off guard as he sliced its throat. Gripping the black hole in its throat, the orc collapsed.

  Nedis lay in the snow breathing hard. As the adrenaline subsided the pain in his shoulder burned violently. He broke the stem of the arrow off and pushed the rest of it through. Nedis rammed some cloth into the wound to control the bleeding. Grunting, he hauled himself to his feet and continued down the mountain to the others.

  Nular and Nylin cheered when they saw their brother. Their cheers switched to concern when they noticed the blood pouring from his shoulder. They ran to him. Nigilin shoved them out of the way as he approached Nedis. Carefully, he removed the cloth examining the wound. He snatched a poker from one of the unattended fires. “Hold him.”

  Nular and Nylin grasped their brother’s shoulders as Nigilin placed the red hot poker on the wound. Nedis screamed as the heat penetrated the skin cauterizing the wound.

  Once done, Nigilin tossed the poker aside. “That will seal it for now. It appears we will be stuck with your pranks for a while longer,” he told Nedis.

  “I’ll try not to disappoint you,” said Nedis through gritted teeth.

  “That’s our brother,” said Nular, ruffling his brother’s hair.

  “We need to leave,” said Tesnayr approaching from behind. “Unfortunately the avalanche has blocked the road out of here. We have to find another.”

  “I know of one,” said Jarown. “It is narrow and dangerous, but we can make our way back.”

  “Lead the way.”

  Book Two

  Through the Fire

  The world breaks and all is bleak.

  My shoulders bear a great weight

  thrust upon me by unseen forces,

  causing me to hunch over.

  A man aged before his time.

  Through the fire I must tread.

  Like steel tested and hardened

  until its strength matches no other.

  Heavy footfalls fill my ears.

  They are mine, signs of exhaustion.

  Tired and worn am I.

  My years are the prime of youth.

  My body aches. I must go onward.

  Through the fire I must tread

  ‘Til my courage is steeled

  and my strength refuses to yield.

  My path forks and a choice remains.

  To take the road well-traveled

  or take the other wreathed in flame.

  Strength isn’t forgotten on cobblestone.

  My path is hard. I choose the fire.

  Through the fire I must tread.

  Only then will I pass the test.

  There is no other way to strength
en me.