Chapter XI
The Burning Plains
The morning sun shone brilliantly on the city of Drynelle. Its walls glittered in the warm light providing a false sense of serenity. Looking upon it, no one would suspect that a battle was about to take place.
Arnin and Tesnayr stood on the great fields before the city eyeing it.
“I do not know if we can win the battle,” said Arnin.
“Winning the battle is not important,” replied Tesnayr.
“What is?”
“Winning the war. A man can win many battles and still lose the war,” said Tesnayr, “Whatever happens, follow the plan.”
“As you command,” said Arnin.
“I mean it,” said Tesnayr, “Follow the plan. The five kingdoms are far more important than me.”
Arnin looked at Tesnayr questioningly. He had an uneasy feeling that something was about to happen that he would not like. Tesnayr’s words provided little comfort.
“Mount up,” said Tesnayr. “It is time.”
The piercing sound of an orc horn reached them. So it begins, thought Tesnayr. He watched as Sarwyn and Serein stood poised in front of the city gates. They were yards away but the temptation they offered as targets was clear. An arrow headed straight for them. It soared through the air only to explode inches away from the two fairies. They grinned at each other.
Irked, the orcs along the wall launched a series of arrows in a blackened mass that arced toward the fairies. They pounded the ground creating a prickly carpet on the grass. A wide, clear circle surrounded the fairies as they remained unharmed.
The two began speaking in their own tongue. The ground rumbled as the grass grew rapidly. It twisted and tangled itself as it rose in height stretching out over the land. Tesnayr watched amazed as it slowly formed a catapult.
Giant boulders rolled across the ground to the newly formed catapult. They lined up each waiting to be loaded and fired. Sarwyn snapped her fingers. The catapult instantly flung a boulder toward the city. It sailed over the wall and crashed within the center. Another boulder shot from the catapult smashing into the stone wall. A giant dent remained where the rock hit.
That did it. The heavy gates to the city rumbled as they opened. Out marched a line of orcs. They spread themselves out in front of the gate and stopped awaiting orders. Behind them the gate sealed itself. Banging filled the air as the locks were put into place. The orcs lowered their spears snarling as they eyed the fairies.
“Now!” yelled Tesnayr.
The air filled with the sound of hundreds of pounding hooves as they poured from the trees and small rise heading straight for the city. At the same time the orcs charged heading straight for them.
Sarwyn and Serein stood their ground waiting for the precise moment. Their heads darted from side to side as they watched the cavalry and orcs draw near. At the last second, the two fairies disappeared into two specks of light.
Metal rang out as the two armies clashed. Orcs fell to the ground as horses trampled over them. Other horses reared high as lances pierced them in the chest throwing their riders off.
Arnin held tightly to the reins of his horse as he galloped toward the line of lances. He braced himself as his horse jumped over the beasts and landed hard behind them. Quickly, he turned his mount around striking the orc nearest him.
A massive black shape charged for him. Arnin ducked just in time to avoid being smacked by a niht’anda’s wing. His horse neighed in fear as the creature leered toward him exposing its razor fangs that dripped with yellow saliva. The niht’anda’s breath nearly choked Arnin. He jabbed his sword at the creature’s eye. It dodged. The niht’anda bashed its claw into Arnin knocking him and his horse over.
The niht’anda crept toward him. In one swift movement it sunk its teeth into the flesh of the horse. Arnin cringed when the horse cried out in fear only to be silenced by the crunch of its bones as the dark beast fed on it.
He reached for his weapon. Nothing. The niht’anda’s massive claw pinned it to the dirt. Momentarily cursing his luck, Arnin jumped to his feet. He and the niht’anda faced each other for several seconds. Arnin dodged to his left. The creature headed him off. He swerved to his right only to be met by the niht’anda’s quick reflexes. A sinking feeling filled his stomach as Arnin realized that the creature was toying with him. Arnin attempted to lunge for his sword. Air burst from his lungs as the niht’anda backhanded him in the stomach. Arnin flew several feet away landing hard on the soil.
The niht’anda leaned on all fours as it moved toward him. Arnin stared at it accepting his grisly fate. Suddenly, shoots of grass shot from the ground latching themselves around the wrists of the niht’anda. Confused, the creature yanked at its bonds. The grass wrapped tighter pulling it to the ground.
Fear filled the niht’anda as more stems of grass wrapped around it covering it. The beast wailed and screamed in fright at its predicament. Its wings viciously smacked the ground in its efforts to break free. Vines burst from the soil grasping the wings of the niht’anda and wrenching them back. A sickening snap filled the air.
Arnin watched mesmerized as the earth pulled the niht’anda into the ground burying it. More grass covered the creature like a blanket until nothing remained except a small mound.
Arnin noticed Sarwyn for the first time. She stood erect among the swarming bodies locked in battle; alone as though ignored by everything and everyone. She pointed at Arnin’s sword. Instantly, the earth rolled the weapon to Arnin delivering it to his hand. He picked it up and nodded in her direction as a gesture of gratitude.