Harriet – The End of Peace Read online

Harriet – The End of Peace

  The Legends of Quone-Loc-Sie #2

  By John Stevenson

  Copyright 2013 John Stevenson

  For every prophecy there is a time before, a time when a hero was needed and an event gave hope. What happens can be insignificant, but if the need is great it can begin a rumour. If enough people believe, it will become a prophecy; this is that time…

  Though at first the rider was no more than a speck, and almost hidden against the dark forest background he had been watched for some time. He was at the gallop; but seemed to only slowly make his way out into the open landscape of the valley; and longer still before he reached the foothills below the camp.

  It was soon after he began the climb that the sharpest eyed had announced that he wore the colours of the Western Army, and shortly after that, that he was an officer in the Blue wing: though those details were of little real consequence. It was already assumed he came from the battlefield bringing the news that they desperately waited to hear.

  Preter could feel the horse was tiring, and as he looked up he began to worry that this last climb would be too much for the animal as thick, steamy hot breath snorted out of its flared nostrils, but it clawed its way up towards where the sun had begun to dip below the top of Grag Mulla.

  As day drew towards night the approach to the isolated hilltop was a depressing sight, with the encampment almost reeking of the weary and conquered. His mood darkened; the news he brought would not be well received. For a moment he faltered, and wished for the thousandth; thousandth time that the task had been placed on another's shoulders, but there were no others, and there would be no more.

  He could begin to make out individuals now, coming from the circular group of field tents. In the failing light their colours looked almost black, instead of the dark brown of the plains beast hides that they were made from.

  There was almost pleasure as he saw there was no movement from the one larger tent placed in the middle of the circle; it was a fools dream, but he tried for a while to pretend that there was no one there; that the flap would not be thrown back to reveal his king. It was a false hope as driven into the rocky soil before it was the pennant of the house of Loc-Sie. That his lord, and leader was inside and waiting, there could be no doubt,

  About forty people, man and woman grouped together as he rode up to the outer circle, and on through to before the royal tent. He was not challenged, but a single soldier reached up as he reined back on his animal, the man grabbing the halter strap and staring into his eyes. He said nothing, but in an instant all that needed to be, had been exchanged, and the soldier turned to the sweating horse,

  An officer approached full of camaraderie and hope. “Welcome Captain Preter. We are glad to see you,” he said as the rider swung down from the saddle.

  “Look after him.” he said back to the first soldier. “He has done his king and country well.” Preter fell in beside the officer, and they stepped towards the tent as at last the flap was thrown back. King Elgar stepped out.

  “My lord.” Preter said sadly, dipping his head.

  “Preter.” the Grey haired man said in recognition. “Your arrival has been keenly waited on.”

  “Yes My lord.” Then after an instant's hesitation, “But I fear, not the news I carry.”

  “No...” the old man said sadly, his body seeming to sag at the words. “But it is not unexpected.”

  A young woman came out behind him. Preter could not help glancing at how the chill wind caught her long locks of pale hair, streaming it out. Her skin was white, but her cheeks glowed pink. She was heavy with child.

  “Tell of it,” said the king.

  “The armies fought with exceptional valour my Lord. We had high hopes of success. Twice the Veldt attacked and were forced back to their defensive positions. The second time we were on the edge of victory. Then…” He stopped. “Then the forces of Kaar-Khankck appeared out of nowhere and joined with the Veldt.”

  “But they were in the Southland’s,” said Elgar in surprise. “At Gorn not seven days ago. A fast courier has only just brought us that news?”

  “My Lord I cannot explain how an army on foot can move across mountainous lands as fast, if not faster that a single swift horse. But it was the army of Kaar-Khankck, of that there is no doubt.”

  “I don’t doubt your word Preter. But it seems that we fight both an enemy, and what we cannot understand. Though there is little point in how when we talk of what was.” He fell silent for a moment. “Then tell me of it all.”

  “When his army came upon the scene they swept through the battlefield like a storm. Men trodden before like grass in the wind. They had more soldiers and more weapons than we could fight.

  Red wing took the brunt at the center; men were falling so fast we could not count those who still stood. Purple were on the flank and they too were decimated. The slaughter was enough. Commander Natasoy called for a retreat to Isa, where we still have a strong defense...” Now he hesitated. He would have preferred not to say, but he knew the old man would ask. “Elic said he would stay with his troops as rearguard...”

  He saw in the girl’s eyes the dread that the mention of her brother's name brought, but the king showed no reaction.

  “...To give the armies time to regroup. Commander Natasoy bid me tell you that he will hold them back at Isa as long as he can. He begs that you and the household sail to Zeeland, as soon as you can”.

  The old man's voice seemed to have aged as he spoke. “And of Elic?”

  “Commander Natasoy ordered me to you, with all haste, but my heart was with my men. I could not just leave... Forgive me lord but I hesitated on top of a small hill they called Tabar; and looked back. I saw the blue sashes stream out as they charged to blunt the thrust that chased the retreat. They went to the heart off the Veldt, and the creatures hesitated and grouped at close quarters for the onslaught. Then at the very last moment Elic swerved away cutting around onto their flank, finding a weak spot that even I with the advantage of height could not see”.

  The old man smiled.

  “...The blues swept into their ranks like scythe. Their momentum hardly slowed as they cut off the point and worked back, cutting them down in a rolling wave. The Veldt seemed lost and they broke apart running in all directions…”

  The old mans smile faltered as Preter hesitated.

  “It was then,” he continued. “As the Veldt faltered that the Kaar-Khankck came forward again. There was little more that Elic could do.”

  “Did you see?”

  “When Elic saw them coming towards his own flank he pulled back from chasing the Veldt and regrouped to meet them face on. There was no hope. They were pitiful few to so many. His men were driven to a standstill. The fleeing Veldt seeing this returned. I saw of the blue only diminishing patches of colour, in a sea of brown and black; until one by one they faded away”. He hesitated there was no retreat from words either. “I saw Elic’s banner proud almost to the last. Then I could, and desired to see no more.”

  “Father, come inside pleaded Tanalee. The evening is chill”. The girl looked up at the officer, smiling then back at Preter. “I do not doubt that you have need of food and drink before you talk further?”

  Elgar looked at him, “The child corrects her king. Times change beyond what I have become accustomed to during my life. A new mood sweeps over the lands, as well as a new regime.”

  It was three weeks later that Tanalee bore her child and a week after that the armies of the Veldt and Kaar-Khankck marched onto the beaches before the gates of Tanyil.

  Tanalee had, had no news from her father since he had marched; the morning following the news of the army’s
defeat; to join with what few soldiers remained at Isa.”

  Now faced with the fact that enemy forces, secure behind the hastily erected wooden palisade walls controlled entry to and exit from the fortress, she knew that she probably never would hear from him again.

  The small island on which the fortress stood was connected at low tide by a long narrow spit of sand. At the landward end of this, the Veldt built a small-fortified camp. Another was built on the headland above, provocatively looking towards the high walls: this, the defenders surmised was where Kaar-Khankck would be.

  Once established the attackers did nothing; there was no rush. There was no need, across the land only pockets of resistance now survived against their combined might.

  It galled the garrison that the enemy force was so confident that speed was of no consequence, and as if they were deliberately trying to intimidate them, for several days they just consolidated and ignored the fortress.

  At first there had been panic and fear, but the Kaar-Khankck issued a decree that there be no attempt to harass the workers, trades people or civilians, going to or from the fortress. Life was to continue as normal and to prove that, they made no attempt to siege, other than restrictions on the military forces.

  The Veldt had a terrible reputation, but seeing them subdued as they were, many people fled the fortress while they could. Of course the concession did not apply to officers or armed men who gave allegiance to the king of Loc-Sie.

  Eight days after his arrival the Kaar-Khankck sent a message to the commander of the guard.

  “My lady it has arrived.” He stood, still proud, but a defeated man before her.

  “And his term’s Kalain; what are his demands?”

  “His emissary orders that if the gates of Tanyil are opened at dawn, three days from today; and that the garrison surrenders. The Kaar-Khankck personally will enter the fortress at the head of his army, and that it will suffer no retribution or loss of life.”

  “And if the demands are not met?”

  “Then he will withdraw and leave the fortress; and all that it contains to the people of the Veldt.”

  A cold chill ran down Tanalee’s spine. They were to be given to the Veldt. She knew that it was not something that Kaar-Khankck would have chosen, but since he and her father had become bitter enemies, they both had taken up with friends who they never would have in peaceful times. But it was a powerful threat, the Veldt were a brutal and violent people. They would kill and destroy until nothing but a pile of smoldering ruins bore witness to their passing.

  “What are his conditions?”

  “That any person wishing to leave swear allegiance to him; if they do then free passage through the armies will be given. All members of the guard must offer no resistance, and surrender unconditionally. They will then be given the offer of swearing allegiance to the Kaar-Khankck. If they will not, they will be considered having committed the war crime of opposing the army of protection.”

  “They are his full terms?”

  “As far as the fortress and garrison, they were short, without concession, or room to bargain. There is one last note. He specifies that you have his personal guarantee of passage and safety my Lady; on condition that you give total subservience to his will, and acknowledge him as the rightful heir to the throne of Loc-Sie.”

  Tanalee did not speak so Kalain carried on.

  “The emissary brought this, to be delivered into your hand.” He offered her a scroll of parchment sealed with the wax seal of the Kaar himself.

  “Thank you Kalain. I wish for no more death, let it be known to your fellow officers that princess Tanalee of the Royal house of Loc-Sie commands that of two days hence, the armies of Loc-Sie will disband, and that she gives each man the freedom and liberty to choose his own fate,” her voice began to fail, “Tell them… Tell them… thank you.”