Legends Lost Tesnayr

  Chapter XII

  A new Ally

  Slowly, King Edrei walked across the now silent field with Tesnayr by his side. The rain had stopped. Each step stained his leather boots a brighter shade of red. The king looked out at the valley that had once grown abundantly with fields of crops and farmland. All that remained was mud and rivers of blood. The difference between the two became indistinguishable. The destruction to his home pained him. The once fertile land had become little more than a tomb.

  Crows circled above cawing incessantly and waiting to feast upon the dead. King Edrei stepped around the bloodied remains of a horse and its rider. Bodies lay scattered everywhere; an arm here, a leg over there, and a partial torso nearby. Most of the dead had lost any identifying characteristics. The mourning would be great. A particularly gruesome scene greeted him over a small rise. Clasping his hand to his mouth, King Edrei forced himself to keep the contents of his stomach.

  Smoke drifting across the valley added to the gloomy atmosphere. Piles of burning wreckage covered what ground wasn’t littered with carcasses. Dispersed throughout were soldiers as they solemnly checked for any that still lived. He watched as Tesnayr callously kicked a dead orc with the sharp point of his boot. Despite the roughness of his actions, King Edrei noticed the twisted emotion on Tesnayr’s face.

  “We need to bury them,” said King Edrei.

  “We haven’t time,” said Tesnayr. “My ruse only bought us days. A week at most.”

  “We can’t just leave them here.”

  “We do not have time to grant every man here an individual funeral. And where would we bury them?”

  “I know a place,” said King Edrei.

  “It will have to be done by nightfall.”

  King Edrei nodded. “Captain,” he called to a passing soldier, “Grab every available man. Search through the field for wounded and cart the dead to Cavern’s Den for burial. You have until sunset.”

  “Yes, my king. And what of the orc remains?”

  “Burn them,” said Tesnayr.

  The man saluted and ran off.

  “General,” said Nigilin approaching from the side, “We’ve done the count. There isn’t an exact number yet, but at least half of our people our dead. The number of orcs that perished is smaller.”

  “How many weapons did you obtain?” asked Tesnayr.

  “About 200 swords, 96 axes, and 154 shields,” replied Nigilin, “Most, however, are too damaged to be of any use.”

  “Grab some men and go gather supplies: weapons, armor, and food,” said Tesnayr, “And take the triplets with you. They seem to be adept at finding what we need.”

  Nigilin gave a knowing smile and disappeared.

  “Triplets?” inquired King Edrei.

  “Three brothers who look exactly alike, and have proven to be most useful, while at the same time most annoying,” replied Tesnayr. A hint of a smile played across his face.

  Soft coughs caught their attention. Not far from them lay a fatally wounded man from Sym’Dul. He clutched his middle as blood squirted between his fingers. Next to the soldier knelt King Slyamal. The king supported the man’s head as he tried to speak.

  “My king, did we…defeat them?”

  “Yes.” The sorrow in King Slyamal’s voice surprised Tesnayr. “We have won this day. Your courage saved us.”

  The dying man parted his bloody lips into a grin before going limp.

  Gently, King Slyamal picked the dead soldier up. He stopped momentarily when he noticed King Edrei and Tesnayr watching him. Pushing his way past, King Slyamal carried the man off the field.

  By sunset all had been prepared for the massive funeral. The bodies had been piled in a cave as directed by King Edrei. Gathered outside stood what remained of the living. Wearied sadness engulfed them all.

  Tesnayr stood at the forefront overseeing the entire affair. A part of him envied the dead; their troubles were over. He had wanted King Edrei to give the eulogy, but the king had insisted he do it. “You are our commander now,” the king had said.

  Clearing his throat, Tesnayr did his best to contain his emotions. I must be strong. “We are gathered here to honor those that died this day,” he began, “They gave their lives that we might live. These men valiantly fought against the orcs to protect their families and their homes. They have paid the ultimate price.

  “Let us not mourn for their loss. They gave it freely. Let us honor them as the brave and courageous men they were. And let us strive to be as honorable as they were.”

  At the end of Tesnayr’s speech, twenty soldiers stepped forward with wreaths made from pine and sage. The sweet aroma of both filled his nostrils blotting out the stench of death. One by one the men placed their wreath within the tomb. Upon Tesnayr’s signal, two men rolled a boulder in front of the cave opening.

  Silence ensued only to be broken by a strong male voice singing. Gradually, others joined until the mountains of Hemίl echoed with their parting melody.

  Oh great voice upon the wind

  Hear our plea.

  Take these men who died this day

  And guide them to the fabled lands.

  Do not let them wander, lost souls

  Journeying through mountains’ mist,

  Deep in caverns, a prison with

  Endless walking until Time grows old.

  Save them from treacherous seas,

  Boundless and aimless as can be

  Endless lust for far off adventure,

  Lost in eternity with no measure.

  Take them to bountiful lands

  Of flowing rivers with milk and honey.

  Spare them from Death’s realm

  Of tortures and sadness aplenty.

  As the final notes of the song ended everyone filed away to tend to their duties. One by one people left the gravesite until all that was left was the silent tomb.

  Tesnayr stared at the night sky listening to the men sing again while racking his brains for a new plan. He felt like a failure. Newly appointed general, and the first engagement was a defeat. If it hadn’t been for the use of trickery they would have all been killed. Before he had had victories, but not against such a huge army. Besides, it seemed for every engagement won there were three more to fight immediately afterwards. “This isn’t working,” he said to himself. “Just like the last time.”

  “Of course it isn’t,” said Ernayn stepping from the shadows.

  Annoyed, Tesnayr stood to greet her. He held his tongue refraining from voicing what he wanted to say to her and her knack for appearing from nowhere. “May I help you?” asked Tesnayr.

  “I am here to help you,” replied Ernayn.

  “Or yourself,” muttered Tesnayr.

  Ernayn cocked her head at his statement. “It’s true that I have my reasons for being here. I like the orcs no more than you do. It is also a fact that your method of fighting is not working, though you have had many victories. I should think that a man who knows the orcs like you do would have discovered where they are most vulnerable.”

  “Their leader, Galbrok,” said Tesnayr, “Is their vulnerability. Kill him and the orcs would be leaderless. They’d scatter.”

  “Oh, so it is that you know how to beat them.”

  “Cut the sarcasm,” said Tesnayr growing more annoyed. “If you have a reason for being here, state it.”

  Ernayn pursed her lips. “You would do well to show me more respect.”

  “You have to earn it first. If you have some advice, please, give it.”

  “You need a wizard,” said Ernayn.

  “Wizard,” said Tesnayr. “I have seen many strange things since I came here, but people who do magic?”

  Fire emanated from Ernayn’s hand. “Do not discount it because you have never witnessed it. You are good at fighting the orcs and have had a few victories, but you are no nearer to winning than you were when this war first began. Even you are missing one key element. This wizard has been well placed to overhear rumors. Such insight may p
rove useful.”

  “And what is that?” asked Tesnayr.

  “You need a wizard,” said Ernayn, again, “I know where you can find one.”

  “Where?”

  “In Swalya. There is a tavern there where he spends his time. He has a fondness for drink. The locals will know who you are looking for.”

  “In a tavern,” commented Tesnayr. “He isn’t—”

  “Oh, I wouldn’t worry about that,” interrupted Ernayn. “He may be a little inebriated, but no trouble. He may help you where you need it most.” Ernayn stalked off into the dark leaving Tesnayr even more perplexed than he was before.

  “A wizard,” Tesnayr muttered to himself, “Things just keep getting more interesting.”