Border Crossing part 2
This is the conclusion to Border Crossing:
Dana and Jayden left Maya’s house early the next morning. It was a cool, sunny day, and Jayden headed for the bridge. They found it guarded by ten soldiers dressed in blue and gray. No one approached the bridge, and pedestrians went to the opposite side of the street when they neared it. Jayden took a seat at an outdoor café and ordered breakfast.
“Glorious morning, isn’t it?” he said as a waiter served them. Once he was gone, Jayden added, “We have to thank Maya for more than lodging when we’re done here. Her painting of the bridge was most informative.”
“How’s that?”
“The bridge is made of fitted blocks of granite, too hard to break with the spells I’ve learned, but her painting showed mortar between the blocks. I might be able to cut through it and bring down the bridge piece by piece. Still, I need a closer look to make sure her work is accurate before we begin.”
“Speaking of Maya, she’s at the end of the street,” Dana told him. Maya was standing by a wagon loaded with fresh produce. It looked like she was buying food, and quite a bit of it. Two women walked up to her and smiled. That made Dana happy. Maya had seemed so lonely before. It was good to see her cheerful. “She’s talking with friends.”
Jayden kept his eyes on the bridge. “Really, what about?”
Dana was about to scold him for expecting her to hear a conversation so far away, but then she saw one of the women point to Jayden and give Maya a predatory smile. Whatever she said made Maya blush beet red. The two women laughed, and one patted Maya on the shoulder.
“You,” Dana told him.
“A worthy topic of conversation,” Jayden said. He finished his meal and stood up. “I need you to distract the guards so I can take a look at the bridge without being noticed. This could be dangerous based on the way Edgeland’s residents avoid those men.”
“I’ll keep a healthy distance.”
A short walk brought them to the bridge. Jayden stayed back and looked like he was studying the nearby abandoned hotel while Dana came closer. She smiled at the nearest soldier and said, “Hi there. I was wondering if there’s another hotel in town. This one’s closed and I need a place to stay.”
The soldiers leaned against the bridge’s support columns and barely reacted to her question. “We’re not tour guides.”
“You must have been here longer than I have. Have you seen anywhere I—”
“Do I have to repeat myself?” a soldier demanded. He took a step closer to her. “You can sleep in a ditch for all I care.”
“I’m sorry.”
“I don’t care! Nobody does!” The soldier pointed his spear at her and shouted, “You’re not fooling anyone! The bridge is closed to traffic until the king and queen say otherwise. Nothing’s going to change that, not begging, not bribes, not whatever sob story you’ve come up with, so bug off!”
Dana ran. She made sure not to get too close to Jayden so the soldiers didn’t guess they were together. She stopped when she was a block away, and was relieved when she felt a comforting hand on her shoulder.
“Sorry about that,” an unfamiliar voice said. Dana yelped again and bolted from the strange woman trying to comfort her. The woman looked startled and held up her hands. “I didn’t mean to frighten you.”
Dana pointed at the bridge guards. “What’s going on?”
“I wish I knew,” the woman answered. “Baron Vrask’s men used to guard the bridge. They’d let through people they were sure would come back, but these men won’t let anyone cross. I was supposed to get a wool shipment from Kaleoth weeks ago, but they won’t let the wagon across or let me go to them.”
Jayden walked up alongside them and asked, “Are you all right?”
“Just a little surprised,” Dana told him.
“We shouldn’t stay here if the guards are so hostile,” he told her. He took her by the arm and led her away. The woman waved goodbye and went on her way. They’d traveled a few blocks before Jayden said, “Maya’s attention to detail is exceptional. There is half an inch of mortar between the granite blocks, the bridge’s only weakness.”
“When are you going to destroy it?”
“The guards will be at their worst at midnight. Darkness will limit their vision and the late hour will leave them tired. Until then we’ll occupy ourselves studying the town and looking for potential threats or sources of aid. I don’t expect to find either, but we’re not in a rush.”
Edgeland’s markets were sparsely populated and had little to offer. Many shops were closed with signs saying they were out of stock. Others were open but offered only the most basic supplies. Dana and Jayden attracted little attention from shopkeepers and customers.
“Why do you think they closed the bridge?” Dana asked.
“Possibly to keep Kaleoth spies out of the kingdom. It’s a draconian move that costs the kingdom far more than it benefits, but paranoia seems to be the rule of the day.”
“What’s the point of doing it now? You said they won’t invade until springtime. Keeping the bridge closed all winter is going to make people in Kaleoth suspicious, maybe enough for them to double their guards on the bridge.”
Jayden frowned. “It’s certainly odd. I’d suspect such a move closer to the advent of war, but for that to make sense the king and queen would have to invade almost at once. Kaleoth is mountainous and has many natural chokepoints. Enough snowfall would close those for months and produce a serious avalanche risk. An invading army would have to make excellent progress in the face of determined opposition or be bogged down.”
“The king and queen must know that. They’re evil, but they’re not dumb.”
“So what are we missing?” he asked.
Dana and Jayden returned to Maya’s house late that day to find her busy cooking. She blushed when she saw Jayden, but she seemed a bit more at ease with him. “Dinner will be ready in a little while.”
Dana caught the scent of spices and cooking meat. “Is that mutton?”
“I paid my rent for the year with the money you gave me,” Maya said. Dana was shocked one gold coin went so far, and was amazed when Maya added, “There was some left over, so I splurged on groceries.”
“Which you’re sharing with us,” Jayden said. “Your generosity as a hostess knows no bounds, and that smells incredible. If you’ll excuse me, I need to work in my room.”
Once he was gone, Maya asked, “I noticed your uncle doesn’t wear a ring. Does he have a girlfriend at home?”
Dana stopped to admire one of Maya’s portraits. “Him? Ha, ha, no, I haven’t met one. The only woman I think was interested in him was Suzy Lockheart, and that didn’t turn out well. I think she came on too strong.”
“Nothing happened between us!” Jayden shouted through his closed door.
“Really.” Maya tried to sound casual and failed utterly. “What’s, um, what’s he like?”
Dana froze. Jayden’s casual flirting had more of an effect than he’d realized. This could end badly. Dana tried to come up with an answer that was polite and still make it clear there was no chance for a relationship.
She struggled for a response and briefly let an honest answer cross her mind. Jayden is a man on a mission. At some point he was hurt so badly it left scars across his soul that might never heal. I think he wants a family to replace what he lost, and that’s probably what I am to him, a sister or daughter. If you’re his friend there’s nothing he won’t do to help you. If you’re his enemy there’s nothing that can save you. He’s the world’s only sorcerer lord, and powerful as he is, he’s going to get himself killed taking so many risks. I’m terrified that I can’t save him.
After much thought, she said, “He can be difficult.”
“I wouldn’t say that. He’s the nicest man I’ve ever met.”
“Come on, Maya, a pretty lady like you must get lots of attention from men.”
Maya blushed and redirected her attention back to the cooking pot. “Um, yes, well, there were two men. Um, one joined the army to make his fortune. He said he’d come back for me once he became an officer, but that was three years ago. The other one, ah, he likes me, but he likes beer, too. Lots of beer.”
Dana sat down at the dinner table and faced Maya. “That’s not husband material. Uncle has been getting better about how he treats people. He can still be harsh at times. You’re seeing him at his best.”
“He’s on his best behavior for a failed artist?” Maya sounded hopeful.
“You’re not a failure,” Dana said. She got up and pointed at the nearest painting. “This is gorgeous. My mom would pay good money for this, if she had money, good or otherwise.”
Jayden came back from his room carrying a bag. “Excuse my interruption of your no doubt fascinating discussion. Niece, we’ll need to talk about coming activities.”
Dana was happy to exit this awkward conversation and warn Jayden about Maya’s interest in him, but her joy was short lived when the bag he was carrying tore. It wasn’t surprising since he’d loaded it with stone tablets inscribed with spells of the old sorcerer lords. The heavy tablets landed with a thud on the floor, followed by a few dozen gold coins and a jeweled ring. Maya stared in amazement at the bag’s contents. Her jaw dropped and she took a step back. Dana got between Maya and the tablets.
“I can explain,” Dana said as her mind raced. “My uncle is a historian.”
Maya looked puzzled. “Historians are paid in gold?”
“Historians explore ancient places. Sometimes they find things…nice things.”
Maya put a hand over her mouth. “You looted this stuff?”
“Looted is such an ugly word,” Jayden said. “Tragically accurate, though.”
“That’s why you came here!” Maya exclaimed. “I was wondering why you were by the bridge the other day. You found this neat stuff and you’re trying to get out of the kingdom before it gets confiscated.”
“Um,” Dana began. Maya’s guess was illegal enough that she might go to the authorities.
Maya ran over and clapped her hands. “Ooh, let me see what you found! That’s a gorgeous ring! Can I try it on?”
Dana watched as Maya, giddy as a schoolgirl, gushed over the treasure and marveled at the designs on the spell tablets. Dana whispered to Jayden, “She’s an adult, right?”
“Physically, yes,” he whispered back. Louder, he asked, “I hope we can trust you with this secret?”
“Oh!” Jayden’s question dragged Maya’s attention back to him. “I won’t tell a soul. If I had half as much as you I’d keep it a secret, too. Lots of people have had their money confiscated. Tax collectors show up and suddenly you owe twice as much as you should.”
Jayden got another bag from his room and repacked the spilled goods. Maya handed back the ring and smiled at him. “I don’t think you can get to Kaleoth from here. Soldiers aren’t letting anyone come or leave. There are other places you could cross, but they’re guarded, too. You have to walk a long time to find someone to sell this to.”
“An unfortunate situation, but one that lets up enjoy your hospitality awhile longer,” Jayden told her. He smiled and looked like he was going to keep flirting with her when panicking men ran past the nearest window. More men ran by. “That’s rarely a good sign.”
Dana stuck her head out the window and saw men and women racing by. “What’s the matter?”
“There’s an army coming!” a man yelled before he turned a corner.
Dana, Jayden and Maya went outside to find every nearby street in a state of confusion, with men, women and children fleeing like their lives depended on it. Maya pointed to a nearby street corner and said, “That’s the highest point around. We’ll get the best view there.”
The sun was beginning to set as they reached the street corner and looked outside the city. The city wall made it impossible to see anything close by, but in the distance they saw what was undeniably an army approaching Edgeland. Dana guessed there were over ten thousand men in blue and gray, maybe more. It was divided into dozens of companies carrying flags and beating drums. Some companies had their own distinct flags with gruesome images like ram skulls and bloody swords.
“Why is everyone scared?” Dana asked. “Those are our soldiers.”
“Only some of them,” Jayden said. He pointed at one of the unusual flags and scowled. “Those flags are for mercenary companies, foreigners fighting for pay. Such men are known for brutality and robbing anyone they meet unless their officers keep them on a short leash. If they pass through quickly then Edgeland’s people should be safe. Otherwise they’ll suffer attacks.”
That worried Dana. If Jayden’s plan worked then the army would be stalled her for weeks or months. There was no telling how much damage they’d do, and a pretty girl like Maya with no family to protect her would be in great danger.
“Jayden, we can’t leave Maya here.”
“No, we can’t.” Jayden took Maya’s hands and said, “We’re going back to your house to collect our things. Pack whatever essentials you need. We’re getting you out of here before those men arrive.”
Maya stammered, “L-leave? Where? That many men will fill the city.”
“Please, trust me.” Jayden led Maya back to her home. They hurried to pack supplies including food and Maya’s art supplies and then left the building. There was no way to carry all of Maya’s paintings and they were forced to leave them.
Still in shock, Maya asked, “Why is an army coming here? We’re not in danger.”
“Their stay is intended to be temporary,” Jayden explained. “I was wondering why the baron’s men were removed from the city gate and the bridge. The king and queen must have worried that spies would see their army approach, so they closed the bridge to prevent Kaleoth receiving a timely warning.”
“I know people in Kaleoth!” Maya cried out. “They’re good people. They’ve done nothing to deserve this.”
Jayden put a hand on her shoulder. “No, they haven’t, and we’re going to save them.”
“Dana called you Jayden,” Maya said. Dana paused for a moment and winced when she remembered the mistake she’d made. Maya pointed at Jayden and said, “You, you’re the sorcerer lord.”
“I am.” Jayden picked up one of Maya’s bags. “I’m a wanted man with a staggeringly high price on my head because I want to stop our kingdom from invading Kaleoth and possibly other lands. Dana is helping me prevent that invasion. Maya, I need more help, a person to give the people of Kaloeth a warning.”
“I’m just a painter,” she pleaded.
“Then today is worth remembering, because a painter is going to save thousands of lives.” Jayden wasted no more time and led them to the bridge. They avoided panicking people, but doing so still slowed them down.
It was getting dark when Dana, Jayden and Maya reached the bridge to find the soldiers yawning and inattentive. Two of them were even asleep. Jayden snuck closer and hid behind a parked wagon before casting a spell. Shadows wrapped together to form an enormous clawed hand. The hand was nearly invisible in the darkness, and it came as a surprise to the soldiers when he hit them like a battering ram. Men cried out as they were tossed about. Two tried to fight back and stabbed the hand before they were bowled over. Their leader tried to run and got thirty feet before the hand threw one of his men into him.
“Subtle.” Dana’s word dripped with sarcasm.
“Tonight is going to be loud, flashy and time consuming,” he countered as he used the hand to carry defeated men to the closed hotel. “Subtle isn’t an option. Dana, help me tie these men up. Maya, cross the bridge and tell the soldiers there what you’ve seen.”
Maya hesitated. “What about you?”
Jayden cast a spell and formed a black sword edged in white. Maya gasped at the sight of the magic blade and backed away. He told her, “I’m going to slow down the enemy for as long as I can. Go. Lives depend on you.”
Maya ran across the bridge, leaving Dana and Jayden alone. It took more time than Dana liked to secure their prisoners. Once that was done, they walked onto the bridge and stopped where two large granite floor blocks met. Jayden placed the tip of the sword over a thin gap between the panels filled with mortar and drove the sword in. It bit into the mortar and sank in slowly. With a final thrust the blade went through to the bottom of the bridge. Jayden walked forward, pulling the sword with him. His magic sword cut through the mortar so slowly a snail could outrun it.
“Keep an eye on our adversaries,” Jayden said as he inched forward.
The nearby closed hotel had spaces between the bricks wide enough for Dana climb onto the roof to get a better vantage point. “The army is still coming, but they’re not rushing. It could be an hour before they reach the city gate and longer to reach us. Why aren’t they hurrying? And why aren’t there knights on horseback?”
“Why would they rush when they think friendly soldiers hold both the city gate and the bridge?” Jayden called back. “There’s no need to exhaust their men with a fast march before battle when they believe they can catch Kaleoth’s soldiers unaware. As for the knights, Kaleoth’s steep hills and mountains aren’t the place to send horses. The king and queen will save their cavalry for the flatter countryside of Zentrix and Brandish.”
Dana spotted movement outside the city. “I see people with carts and wagons fleeing into the countryside. Looks like Edgeland’s population is going to drop even more.”
“And on the other side of the bridge?”
Dana turned around and frowned. “Men are running around. Maya’s talking to one of them and pointing at us. Jayden, you said the king and queen wouldn’t attack so late in the year. Avalanches, passes closed by snow, stuff like that.”
“All good reasons not to attack rendered invalid by simple fact it hasn’t snowed yet. Campaigning will be impossible in a few weeks, giving the king and queen a brief window of opportunity to make a surprise attack and seize the capital city of Kaleoth. If they can win every battle for the next week they’ll take Kaleoth before winter comes.”
Dana watched the approaching army. “They certainly have enough men. Wait, I see something big in the front of the army. Jayden get up here.”
Jayden let his magic sword dissipate and climbed onto the closed hotel. Dana pointed at a dark towering figure leading the army. Jayden’s eyes widened and his jaw dropped. “That’s Wall Wolf, an iron golem that guards the king and queen. It’s served the royal family for centuries and has never been beaten. It could have won the civil war singlehandedly except it was too slow to reach most battles in time.”
“Can you stop it?”
“I won’t even be able to scratch it!” Jayden climbed down from the hotel and went back to the bridge. “If the king and queen have sent Wall Wolf then they’re totally committed to this war, even sending their personal bodyguard for the task.”
“The army is getting close to the city gate,” Dana said. She climbed down and joined Jayden. “That many men are going to close off any chance for us to escape.”
“When I’m done we’ll cross over into Kaleoth,” Jayden told her. He reformed his magic sword and drove it between two granite slabs. “We’ll find another way back into the kingdom later.”
They heard noises behind them. Dana turned to see Kaleoth soldiers gathering on their side of the border. Soldiers rolled wagons across the bridge and then overturned them to form makeshift barricades. More soldiers armed with crossbows arrived and took up positions on rooftops.
“Following Maya might be harder than you think,” Dana said.
“The bridge is open!” a man yelled. An older man ran by Dana and Jayden to Kaleoth, then two more. Soon crowds of frightened people fled the coming army. They avoided Jayden, but a man slowed down long enough to say, “I don’t know what you’re doing, but do it faster.”
Dana heard a woman cry out, “Crimson Reapers are coming! Hide your daughters!”
“Mercenaries?” Dana asked Jayden.
“Among the worst, and as brutal to civilians as they are to their enemies.”
Dana retook her place on top of the abandoned hotel. “The army reached the city gates and are coming through. We’ve got more people headed our way.”
The stream of frightened humanity turned into a river. Dana saw men and women flee into Kaleoth and clamber over the barricades. Kaleoth soldiers helped them across. She also saw Kaleoth soldiers point at Jayden as he hacked into the bridge. Some men followed suit with pickaxes and hammers.
“Ten minutes until they get here, maybe less,” Dana called out. “How far did you get?”
“Not enough by half,” Jayden called out. He’d cut far enough to reach where two large granite slabs came together. He made a ninety-degree turn and began cutting out the mortar along another side.
Dana watched the fleeing crowds shrink to a mere trickle. She’d been wrong on how long it would take the army to reach the bridge. Their pace slowed to a crawl once they were among the buildings, and she saw mercenaries breaking into homes and shops. It took a lot of effort to get them moving again, and more than one officer resorted to using a whip on his own men.
Terrifying as they were, Wall Wolf was far more frightening. Dana could make out more details as the iron golem came closer. It stood twelve feet tall and looked like an enormous knight, even if the arms and legs were far too thick and the shoulders too broad. The golem carried no weapon, not that such an enormous monster would need one. It took slow steps but never stopped marching forward. The golem kicked over a wagon in its way and stepped on it, crushing it to kindling.
“They’re two blocks away and closing,” Dana told Jayden. She climbed down and joined him. Jayden had cut a gash fifteen feet long in the bridge and still hadn’t done significant damage.
Jayden kept working. “Get ready to run for your life.”
The vanguard of the army came onto the street ahead of them while Wall Wolf was a block away but still visible above the rooftops. Soldiers and mercenaries saw Jayden and stopped a hundred feet away. Every tenth man carried a lantern, lighting up streets. Officers soon came, and following them was a man in plate armor and a purple cape.
“As I live and breath, the sorcerer lord,” the armored man said. He watched Jayden inching along and laughed. “Spitting on the bridge would be just as effective.”
Jayden drew his black sword out and raised it in a challenge. “Judging by your armor you’re from the Rendmal family, likely their eldest son Kyver. Your father served with distinction during the civil war and was known for justice and mercy, traits you clearly don’t share if you’re invading a friendly state.”
Kyver shot back, “They’ve no right to such a title.”
“Kaleoth could have sent raiding parties to loot our farms and villages during our civil war. Instead they sent food to starving families. Your father held them in high regard.”
“My father is not in command of this army,” Kyver said as Wall Wolf smashed through a house on its way to the bridge. “I am. Kaleoth is an enemy state because the king declared they are enemies, and the king’s word is law. If he said the sky is yellow and not blue then his word makes it so. Loyal men understand such things.”
“If that’s an example of your keen wit, I see why you use it so rarely,” Jayden quipped.
More soldiers and mercenaries came but stayed well back. Kyver also made no move toward Dana and Jayden. Instead Kyver held up an iron baton with a black pearl on the end. “I’ve heard tales of the damage you’ve done. I could kill you with a word, sending a thousand men after you until one of them strikes you dead, but a more efficient means is at hand. Wall Wolf, hear me and obey. Kill the sorcerer lord.”
Soldiers scattered as Wall Wolf stomped toward Jayden. Cobblestones shattered under the iron golem’s feet. Jayden let his magic sword dissipate and instead chanted words Dana recognized even if she didn’t understand them. Jayden held out his hands and a tiny spark formed between them. He kept chanting as Wall Wolf drew closer, a hundred feet and then fifty. When the spell was finished the spark flew out and stopped inches from Wall Wolf’s head.
Boom! The spark exploded into a blazing fireball that washed over the golem. Soldiers cried out in panic and fell back while Kyver stood his ground. Seconds later the flames died away and Wall Wolf took another step toward Jayden. Jayden’s most powerful spell hadn’t even scratched the golem. Kyver laughed. His men rallied to his side and laughed with him. Jayden backed away as Wall Wolf came ever closer.
Dana asked, “I’d say he weighs twenty tons, wouldn’t you?”
Jayden reformed his black sword. “At least.”
“How much weight can this bridge take?”
Jayden stopped retreating. “That’s a fascinating question. An hour ago I would have said there’s a fifty-fifty chance Wall Wolf would be too heavy to cross it.”
Dana looked at the deep gash in the bridge. “If we walk back ten steps and two more to the right, and Wall Wolf comes at us in a straight line, that would put him right here.”
Jayden and Dana backed away while soldiers and mercenaries cheered on Wall Wolf. The iron golem marched relentlessly forward, slow but never stopping as it closed the distance between them. Jayden smiled wickedly when Wall Wolf reached the damaged section of the bridge.
Crack! A slab of granite ten feet long broke free as the last bits of mortar shattered. The slab tilted up and Wall Wolf slid backwards until both the golem and bridge section fell into the raging waters below. Water shot up high into the air and rained down onto the bridge and riverbank. Soldiers cried out in rage and Kyver’s look of smug superiority vanished, replaced by shock.
“That was entertaining,” Jayden told Kyver. “What else did you bring me to play with?”
“Fetch long timbers!” Kyver yelled. “Tear down the houses to get them if you must! I want that gap covered! Archers forward!”
Dana gripped Jayden’s arm. “That’s our cue to leave.”
“It is at that,” Jayden agreed. He and Dana ran down the bridge, with Jayden grinning like the cat that caught the canary. “This will slow them down long enough for me to bring down the bridge from the other side. Kaleoth will be safe now and forev—”
Wall Wolf came up from the river, climbing up a support column to stand before Dana and Jayden. Soldiers and mercenaries cheered when the iron golem stepped in front of them and clenched its huge fists. It blocked Dana and Jayden’s escape, and the bridge was destroyed behind them, trapping the pair.
“The show’s not over, boys!” Kyver shouted to his men. “Watch the king and queen’s enemies fall!”
“Go left,” Jayden told Dana as he went right. The bridge was wide enough that Wall Wolf couldn’t fully block it, nor could the iron golem go after both of them. Wall Wolf pursued Jayden, as ordered, ignoring Dana entirely. “Dana, you’re clear, run!”
“I’m not leaving you!”
Wall Wolf stomped after Jayden. Jayden swung his sword at its heels, only for the magic blade to bounce off. His next swing was equally useless. Wall Wolf swung its right fist and missed by a wide margin. Jayden slashed his sword across the fist without effect.
“Staying won’t help!” he shouted. “Run!”
Crossbow bolts flew over Jayden’s head and hit Wall Wolf. Dana spun around and saw Kaleoth soldiers peppering the iron golem with accurate crossbow fire. Their aim was impressive, awe inspiring, and totally useless. Bolt after bolt shattered against the iron golem’s tough skin without leaving a scratch.
Wall Wolf tried to stomp on Jayden. It missed, but when Jayden ran out of the way the iron golem swung its left hand and landed a glancing blow. It was enough to send Jayden flying twenty feet farther down the bridge. Soldiers cheered and Dana screamed. Jayden struggled to his knees before falling down.
Dana tore through her bags until she found her magic short sword. She hadn’t had the opportunity to practice with it in Edgeland because it would have drawn attention. Dana didn’t know how much good it would be without training, but trapped between a raging river and an iron golem meant there were no other choices. She raised the blade high and charged. She felt it warm up as she ran, then it began to glow. She was five steps from the iron golem when the sword lit up like a bonfire. Dana screamed and slashed at Wall Wolf’s right leg.
The sword hit, no surprise when her target was large, slow and not paying attention to her. Magic blade met magic monster and produced a shower of sparks so strong Dana had to clench her eyes shut. When the light died down she stepped back and opened her eyes. She’d wounded the golem, leaving a cut eighteen inches long and a quarter inch deep.
“That’s it?” she yelled.
“Is that all you’ve got?” a soldier jeered.
Kyver looked more impressed. “Wall Wolf has never been hurt before. Only a powerful weapon could make such a scratch. Wall Wolf, hear me and obey. Kill the girl and bring me the sword.”
Wall Wolf turned to face her. Dana backed away. “Oh boy.”
More crossbow fire hit Wall Wolf as the iron golem closed in on Dana. A Kaleoth wizard shot magic flame and hit the golem in the back. Wall Wolf ignored them and kept after Dana.
Dana ran around the golem. She swung at it again, but this time it was expecting the blow and pulled away at the last second. The golem swung its fists at her and missed, but more attacks quickly followed. It was all she could do to avoid the monstrosity.
Wall Wolf raised its right foot and tried to crush her underfoot. For a moment it looked like it might do just that before a clawed black hand as big as a man wrapped around Wall Wolf’s head. The magic hand pushed forward and tipped the iron golem over. Dana looked over and saw Jayden on his knees, his right hand held forward.
The fall did Wall Wolf no harm. It grabbed the huge hand with both its hands and pulled hard. Jayden screamed in pain as his magic hand was ripped apart and evaporated. Soldiers and mercenaries laughed all the louder as Wall Wolf stood up.
Dana raised her sword as Wall Wolf advanced on her. She knew it was pointless even as she did it. Her sword had barely hurt the iron golem when she’d hit it. If she struck a joint like the knees or ankles maybe that would do actual damage, but Wall Wolf had brought down Jayden with one hit. It would need no more to finish her.
“You stupid sword, you were supposed to be special!” she screamed at it. “You barely did anything to that monster! We paid good money for you!”
Wall Wolf came closer and raised both fists over its head. Dana backed away, briefly lowering her sword. The tip of the blade grazed the bridge, cutting a groove an inch deep with the barest touch. Shocked, Dana fell back further and let her sword slide against the bridge. The sword sliced through granite blocks as if they were made of sand.
Dana gasped as she gathered her thoughts. Jayden’s sword had been able to damage the bridge but not Wall Wolf. Her sword could damage the iron golem, if only just, so it should have no trouble finishing the work Jayden started and do the job faster. Wall Wolf had survived one trip into Race Horse River. Dana intended to give it another bath.
Dana ran around Wall Wolf, staying just outside its reach. She found where two granite slabs connected in the bridge and slid her sword into the mortar between them. The blade went in easily, and she ran between the slabs, hacking through mortar like it was nothing. Wall Wolf followed her to the cheers of soldiers. Dana heard men betting on how long she’d live. Wall Wolf was beginning to catch up with her when she followed another line of mortar in the bridge, hacking through it effortlessly. Wall Wolf pursued her as ordered, not understanding the danger it was in.
Crack! Another section of the bridge gave way. Dana jumped onto the nearest stable part of the bridge as the slab underneath her tipped and slid backwards. Wall Wolf was on the opposite end of the sinking section. It was reaching for her when the slab fell into the river and took the iron golem with it. Soldiers shouted in outrage, none louder than Kyver. They cheered again when Wall Wolf climbed up the nearest support column. Dana was waiting for it.
It was hard to hurt Wall Wolf, in part because of the iron golem’s long reach. That advantage disappeared when it was climbing. Both hands held tight to the support column and had to stay there until the golem got its feet back on the bridge. That left a few precious seconds where the golem couldn’t avoid her or attack.
Dana saw Wall Wolf pulling itself up and aimed for its fingers. Sparks flew when her sword hit the thinner armor at the iron golem’s knuckles. Wall Wolf pulled itself higher up until Dana saw it eye to eye. She swung again, hacking off four fingers. Wall Wolf fell into the river again, but when it tried to climb up it couldn’t do it with only one functioning hand.
The screams of unruly mob of soldiers and mercenaries were deafening as they saw their champion fail, none louder or more horrified than Kyver. The enemy general howled like a wounded animal and beat his breasts. He regained control of himself long enough to bellow, “Archers, kill her!”
Any elation Dana had felt vanished as dozens of archers took aim at her. Magnificent as her sword was, it couldn’t stop arrows.
They didn’t get the chance to fire. Kaleoth soldiers had been helpless against Wall Wolf, but they had no problems fighting men. Crossbowmen rained down fire on the soldiers and mercenaries. Wizards in Kaleoth’s green and gray shot streams of flames and ice javelins. For a moment the soldiers held their own as archers returned fire. That ended when a single glowing ember drifted toward their side of the river. Kyver saw it coming and ran screaming from the fight with his men following suit. The spark floated lazily to the opposite side of the river before it detonated in a fireball that swallowed up nearby buildings.
Dana ran to Jayden. He was sitting up, but casting that last spell had taxed him beyond his limits. Dana reached him as he began to sway back and forth. She grabbed his shoulders and steadied him. Jayden looked at her only briefly, saying only two words before he passed out.
“I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay,” she said softly. Dana put her sword away and checked Jayden’s wounds. He had several broken ribs and his right arm looked awful. Moving him could do serious harm, but she couldn’t leave him here. Dana grabbed him by the shoulders and slowly pulled him toward Kaleoth.
She’d only gotten a few feet when another set of hands took Jayden. It was Maya. She had one of Jayden’s bags over her shoulder and helped carry Jayden. Between the two of them they pulled Jayden to safety while crossbow bolts and magic flames soared overhead.
“He needs a healer,” Dana said.
“There aren’t many in Kaleoth who can treat wounds this bad,” Maya told her. They reached the other side of the bridge and soldiers helped them through the barricades. “I know a witch who might be able to help, but she charges a lot.”
“I’ll pay it,” Dana promised, “no matter the cost.”
Dana and Jayden left Maya’s house early the next morning. It was a cool, sunny day, and Jayden headed for the bridge. They found it guarded by ten soldiers dressed in blue and gray. No one approached the bridge, and pedestrians went to the opposite side of the street when they neared it. Jayden took a seat at an outdoor café and ordered breakfast.
“Glorious morning, isn’t it?” he said as a waiter served them. Once he was gone, Jayden added, “We have to thank Maya for more than lodging when we’re done here. Her painting of the bridge was most informative.”
“How’s that?”
“The bridge is made of fitted blocks of granite, too hard to break with the spells I’ve learned, but her painting showed mortar between the blocks. I might be able to cut through it and bring down the bridge piece by piece. Still, I need a closer look to make sure her work is accurate before we begin.”
“Speaking of Maya, she’s at the end of the street,” Dana told him. Maya was standing by a wagon loaded with fresh produce. It looked like she was buying food, and quite a bit of it. Two women walked up to her and smiled. That made Dana happy. Maya had seemed so lonely before. It was good to see her cheerful. “She’s talking with friends.”
Jayden kept his eyes on the bridge. “Really, what about?”
Dana was about to scold him for expecting her to hear a conversation so far away, but then she saw one of the women point to Jayden and give Maya a predatory smile. Whatever she said made Maya blush beet red. The two women laughed, and one patted Maya on the shoulder.
“You,” Dana told him.
“A worthy topic of conversation,” Jayden said. He finished his meal and stood up. “I need you to distract the guards so I can take a look at the bridge without being noticed. This could be dangerous based on the way Edgeland’s residents avoid those men.”
“I’ll keep a healthy distance.”
A short walk brought them to the bridge. Jayden stayed back and looked like he was studying the nearby abandoned hotel while Dana came closer. She smiled at the nearest soldier and said, “Hi there. I was wondering if there’s another hotel in town. This one’s closed and I need a place to stay.”
The soldiers leaned against the bridge’s support columns and barely reacted to her question. “We’re not tour guides.”
“You must have been here longer than I have. Have you seen anywhere I—”
“Do I have to repeat myself?” a soldier demanded. He took a step closer to her. “You can sleep in a ditch for all I care.”
“I’m sorry.”
“I don’t care! Nobody does!” The soldier pointed his spear at her and shouted, “You’re not fooling anyone! The bridge is closed to traffic until the king and queen say otherwise. Nothing’s going to change that, not begging, not bribes, not whatever sob story you’ve come up with, so bug off!”
Dana ran. She made sure not to get too close to Jayden so the soldiers didn’t guess they were together. She stopped when she was a block away, and was relieved when she felt a comforting hand on her shoulder.
“Sorry about that,” an unfamiliar voice said. Dana yelped again and bolted from the strange woman trying to comfort her. The woman looked startled and held up her hands. “I didn’t mean to frighten you.”
Dana pointed at the bridge guards. “What’s going on?”
“I wish I knew,” the woman answered. “Baron Vrask’s men used to guard the bridge. They’d let through people they were sure would come back, but these men won’t let anyone cross. I was supposed to get a wool shipment from Kaleoth weeks ago, but they won’t let the wagon across or let me go to them.”
Jayden walked up alongside them and asked, “Are you all right?”
“Just a little surprised,” Dana told him.
“We shouldn’t stay here if the guards are so hostile,” he told her. He took her by the arm and led her away. The woman waved goodbye and went on her way. They’d traveled a few blocks before Jayden said, “Maya’s attention to detail is exceptional. There is half an inch of mortar between the granite blocks, the bridge’s only weakness.”
“When are you going to destroy it?”
“The guards will be at their worst at midnight. Darkness will limit their vision and the late hour will leave them tired. Until then we’ll occupy ourselves studying the town and looking for potential threats or sources of aid. I don’t expect to find either, but we’re not in a rush.”
Edgeland’s markets were sparsely populated and had little to offer. Many shops were closed with signs saying they were out of stock. Others were open but offered only the most basic supplies. Dana and Jayden attracted little attention from shopkeepers and customers.
“Why do you think they closed the bridge?” Dana asked.
“Possibly to keep Kaleoth spies out of the kingdom. It’s a draconian move that costs the kingdom far more than it benefits, but paranoia seems to be the rule of the day.”
“What’s the point of doing it now? You said they won’t invade until springtime. Keeping the bridge closed all winter is going to make people in Kaleoth suspicious, maybe enough for them to double their guards on the bridge.”
Jayden frowned. “It’s certainly odd. I’d suspect such a move closer to the advent of war, but for that to make sense the king and queen would have to invade almost at once. Kaleoth is mountainous and has many natural chokepoints. Enough snowfall would close those for months and produce a serious avalanche risk. An invading army would have to make excellent progress in the face of determined opposition or be bogged down.”
“The king and queen must know that. They’re evil, but they’re not dumb.”
“So what are we missing?” he asked.
Dana and Jayden returned to Maya’s house late that day to find her busy cooking. She blushed when she saw Jayden, but she seemed a bit more at ease with him. “Dinner will be ready in a little while.”
Dana caught the scent of spices and cooking meat. “Is that mutton?”
“I paid my rent for the year with the money you gave me,” Maya said. Dana was shocked one gold coin went so far, and was amazed when Maya added, “There was some left over, so I splurged on groceries.”
“Which you’re sharing with us,” Jayden said. “Your generosity as a hostess knows no bounds, and that smells incredible. If you’ll excuse me, I need to work in my room.”
Once he was gone, Maya asked, “I noticed your uncle doesn’t wear a ring. Does he have a girlfriend at home?”
Dana stopped to admire one of Maya’s portraits. “Him? Ha, ha, no, I haven’t met one. The only woman I think was interested in him was Suzy Lockheart, and that didn’t turn out well. I think she came on too strong.”
“Nothing happened between us!” Jayden shouted through his closed door.
“Really.” Maya tried to sound casual and failed utterly. “What’s, um, what’s he like?”
Dana froze. Jayden’s casual flirting had more of an effect than he’d realized. This could end badly. Dana tried to come up with an answer that was polite and still make it clear there was no chance for a relationship.
She struggled for a response and briefly let an honest answer cross her mind. Jayden is a man on a mission. At some point he was hurt so badly it left scars across his soul that might never heal. I think he wants a family to replace what he lost, and that’s probably what I am to him, a sister or daughter. If you’re his friend there’s nothing he won’t do to help you. If you’re his enemy there’s nothing that can save you. He’s the world’s only sorcerer lord, and powerful as he is, he’s going to get himself killed taking so many risks. I’m terrified that I can’t save him.
After much thought, she said, “He can be difficult.”
“I wouldn’t say that. He’s the nicest man I’ve ever met.”
“Come on, Maya, a pretty lady like you must get lots of attention from men.”
Maya blushed and redirected her attention back to the cooking pot. “Um, yes, well, there were two men. Um, one joined the army to make his fortune. He said he’d come back for me once he became an officer, but that was three years ago. The other one, ah, he likes me, but he likes beer, too. Lots of beer.”
Dana sat down at the dinner table and faced Maya. “That’s not husband material. Uncle has been getting better about how he treats people. He can still be harsh at times. You’re seeing him at his best.”
“He’s on his best behavior for a failed artist?” Maya sounded hopeful.
“You’re not a failure,” Dana said. She got up and pointed at the nearest painting. “This is gorgeous. My mom would pay good money for this, if she had money, good or otherwise.”
Jayden came back from his room carrying a bag. “Excuse my interruption of your no doubt fascinating discussion. Niece, we’ll need to talk about coming activities.”
Dana was happy to exit this awkward conversation and warn Jayden about Maya’s interest in him, but her joy was short lived when the bag he was carrying tore. It wasn’t surprising since he’d loaded it with stone tablets inscribed with spells of the old sorcerer lords. The heavy tablets landed with a thud on the floor, followed by a few dozen gold coins and a jeweled ring. Maya stared in amazement at the bag’s contents. Her jaw dropped and she took a step back. Dana got between Maya and the tablets.
“I can explain,” Dana said as her mind raced. “My uncle is a historian.”
Maya looked puzzled. “Historians are paid in gold?”
“Historians explore ancient places. Sometimes they find things…nice things.”
Maya put a hand over her mouth. “You looted this stuff?”
“Looted is such an ugly word,” Jayden said. “Tragically accurate, though.”
“That’s why you came here!” Maya exclaimed. “I was wondering why you were by the bridge the other day. You found this neat stuff and you’re trying to get out of the kingdom before it gets confiscated.”
“Um,” Dana began. Maya’s guess was illegal enough that she might go to the authorities.
Maya ran over and clapped her hands. “Ooh, let me see what you found! That’s a gorgeous ring! Can I try it on?”
Dana watched as Maya, giddy as a schoolgirl, gushed over the treasure and marveled at the designs on the spell tablets. Dana whispered to Jayden, “She’s an adult, right?”
“Physically, yes,” he whispered back. Louder, he asked, “I hope we can trust you with this secret?”
“Oh!” Jayden’s question dragged Maya’s attention back to him. “I won’t tell a soul. If I had half as much as you I’d keep it a secret, too. Lots of people have had their money confiscated. Tax collectors show up and suddenly you owe twice as much as you should.”
Jayden got another bag from his room and repacked the spilled goods. Maya handed back the ring and smiled at him. “I don’t think you can get to Kaleoth from here. Soldiers aren’t letting anyone come or leave. There are other places you could cross, but they’re guarded, too. You have to walk a long time to find someone to sell this to.”
“An unfortunate situation, but one that lets up enjoy your hospitality awhile longer,” Jayden told her. He smiled and looked like he was going to keep flirting with her when panicking men ran past the nearest window. More men ran by. “That’s rarely a good sign.”
Dana stuck her head out the window and saw men and women racing by. “What’s the matter?”
“There’s an army coming!” a man yelled before he turned a corner.
Dana, Jayden and Maya went outside to find every nearby street in a state of confusion, with men, women and children fleeing like their lives depended on it. Maya pointed to a nearby street corner and said, “That’s the highest point around. We’ll get the best view there.”
The sun was beginning to set as they reached the street corner and looked outside the city. The city wall made it impossible to see anything close by, but in the distance they saw what was undeniably an army approaching Edgeland. Dana guessed there were over ten thousand men in blue and gray, maybe more. It was divided into dozens of companies carrying flags and beating drums. Some companies had their own distinct flags with gruesome images like ram skulls and bloody swords.
“Why is everyone scared?” Dana asked. “Those are our soldiers.”
“Only some of them,” Jayden said. He pointed at one of the unusual flags and scowled. “Those flags are for mercenary companies, foreigners fighting for pay. Such men are known for brutality and robbing anyone they meet unless their officers keep them on a short leash. If they pass through quickly then Edgeland’s people should be safe. Otherwise they’ll suffer attacks.”
That worried Dana. If Jayden’s plan worked then the army would be stalled her for weeks or months. There was no telling how much damage they’d do, and a pretty girl like Maya with no family to protect her would be in great danger.
“Jayden, we can’t leave Maya here.”
“No, we can’t.” Jayden took Maya’s hands and said, “We’re going back to your house to collect our things. Pack whatever essentials you need. We’re getting you out of here before those men arrive.”
Maya stammered, “L-leave? Where? That many men will fill the city.”
“Please, trust me.” Jayden led Maya back to her home. They hurried to pack supplies including food and Maya’s art supplies and then left the building. There was no way to carry all of Maya’s paintings and they were forced to leave them.
Still in shock, Maya asked, “Why is an army coming here? We’re not in danger.”
“Their stay is intended to be temporary,” Jayden explained. “I was wondering why the baron’s men were removed from the city gate and the bridge. The king and queen must have worried that spies would see their army approach, so they closed the bridge to prevent Kaleoth receiving a timely warning.”
“I know people in Kaleoth!” Maya cried out. “They’re good people. They’ve done nothing to deserve this.”
Jayden put a hand on her shoulder. “No, they haven’t, and we’re going to save them.”
“Dana called you Jayden,” Maya said. Dana paused for a moment and winced when she remembered the mistake she’d made. Maya pointed at Jayden and said, “You, you’re the sorcerer lord.”
“I am.” Jayden picked up one of Maya’s bags. “I’m a wanted man with a staggeringly high price on my head because I want to stop our kingdom from invading Kaleoth and possibly other lands. Dana is helping me prevent that invasion. Maya, I need more help, a person to give the people of Kaloeth a warning.”
“I’m just a painter,” she pleaded.
“Then today is worth remembering, because a painter is going to save thousands of lives.” Jayden wasted no more time and led them to the bridge. They avoided panicking people, but doing so still slowed them down.
It was getting dark when Dana, Jayden and Maya reached the bridge to find the soldiers yawning and inattentive. Two of them were even asleep. Jayden snuck closer and hid behind a parked wagon before casting a spell. Shadows wrapped together to form an enormous clawed hand. The hand was nearly invisible in the darkness, and it came as a surprise to the soldiers when he hit them like a battering ram. Men cried out as they were tossed about. Two tried to fight back and stabbed the hand before they were bowled over. Their leader tried to run and got thirty feet before the hand threw one of his men into him.
“Subtle.” Dana’s word dripped with sarcasm.
“Tonight is going to be loud, flashy and time consuming,” he countered as he used the hand to carry defeated men to the closed hotel. “Subtle isn’t an option. Dana, help me tie these men up. Maya, cross the bridge and tell the soldiers there what you’ve seen.”
Maya hesitated. “What about you?”
Jayden cast a spell and formed a black sword edged in white. Maya gasped at the sight of the magic blade and backed away. He told her, “I’m going to slow down the enemy for as long as I can. Go. Lives depend on you.”
Maya ran across the bridge, leaving Dana and Jayden alone. It took more time than Dana liked to secure their prisoners. Once that was done, they walked onto the bridge and stopped where two large granite floor blocks met. Jayden placed the tip of the sword over a thin gap between the panels filled with mortar and drove the sword in. It bit into the mortar and sank in slowly. With a final thrust the blade went through to the bottom of the bridge. Jayden walked forward, pulling the sword with him. His magic sword cut through the mortar so slowly a snail could outrun it.
“Keep an eye on our adversaries,” Jayden said as he inched forward.
The nearby closed hotel had spaces between the bricks wide enough for Dana climb onto the roof to get a better vantage point. “The army is still coming, but they’re not rushing. It could be an hour before they reach the city gate and longer to reach us. Why aren’t they hurrying? And why aren’t there knights on horseback?”
“Why would they rush when they think friendly soldiers hold both the city gate and the bridge?” Jayden called back. “There’s no need to exhaust their men with a fast march before battle when they believe they can catch Kaleoth’s soldiers unaware. As for the knights, Kaleoth’s steep hills and mountains aren’t the place to send horses. The king and queen will save their cavalry for the flatter countryside of Zentrix and Brandish.”
Dana spotted movement outside the city. “I see people with carts and wagons fleeing into the countryside. Looks like Edgeland’s population is going to drop even more.”
“And on the other side of the bridge?”
Dana turned around and frowned. “Men are running around. Maya’s talking to one of them and pointing at us. Jayden, you said the king and queen wouldn’t attack so late in the year. Avalanches, passes closed by snow, stuff like that.”
“All good reasons not to attack rendered invalid by simple fact it hasn’t snowed yet. Campaigning will be impossible in a few weeks, giving the king and queen a brief window of opportunity to make a surprise attack and seize the capital city of Kaleoth. If they can win every battle for the next week they’ll take Kaleoth before winter comes.”
Dana watched the approaching army. “They certainly have enough men. Wait, I see something big in the front of the army. Jayden get up here.”
Jayden let his magic sword dissipate and climbed onto the closed hotel. Dana pointed at a dark towering figure leading the army. Jayden’s eyes widened and his jaw dropped. “That’s Wall Wolf, an iron golem that guards the king and queen. It’s served the royal family for centuries and has never been beaten. It could have won the civil war singlehandedly except it was too slow to reach most battles in time.”
“Can you stop it?”
“I won’t even be able to scratch it!” Jayden climbed down from the hotel and went back to the bridge. “If the king and queen have sent Wall Wolf then they’re totally committed to this war, even sending their personal bodyguard for the task.”
“The army is getting close to the city gate,” Dana said. She climbed down and joined Jayden. “That many men are going to close off any chance for us to escape.”
“When I’m done we’ll cross over into Kaleoth,” Jayden told her. He reformed his magic sword and drove it between two granite slabs. “We’ll find another way back into the kingdom later.”
They heard noises behind them. Dana turned to see Kaleoth soldiers gathering on their side of the border. Soldiers rolled wagons across the bridge and then overturned them to form makeshift barricades. More soldiers armed with crossbows arrived and took up positions on rooftops.
“Following Maya might be harder than you think,” Dana said.
“The bridge is open!” a man yelled. An older man ran by Dana and Jayden to Kaleoth, then two more. Soon crowds of frightened people fled the coming army. They avoided Jayden, but a man slowed down long enough to say, “I don’t know what you’re doing, but do it faster.”
Dana heard a woman cry out, “Crimson Reapers are coming! Hide your daughters!”
“Mercenaries?” Dana asked Jayden.
“Among the worst, and as brutal to civilians as they are to their enemies.”
Dana retook her place on top of the abandoned hotel. “The army reached the city gates and are coming through. We’ve got more people headed our way.”
The stream of frightened humanity turned into a river. Dana saw men and women flee into Kaleoth and clamber over the barricades. Kaleoth soldiers helped them across. She also saw Kaleoth soldiers point at Jayden as he hacked into the bridge. Some men followed suit with pickaxes and hammers.
“Ten minutes until they get here, maybe less,” Dana called out. “How far did you get?”
“Not enough by half,” Jayden called out. He’d cut far enough to reach where two large granite slabs came together. He made a ninety-degree turn and began cutting out the mortar along another side.
Dana watched the fleeing crowds shrink to a mere trickle. She’d been wrong on how long it would take the army to reach the bridge. Their pace slowed to a crawl once they were among the buildings, and she saw mercenaries breaking into homes and shops. It took a lot of effort to get them moving again, and more than one officer resorted to using a whip on his own men.
Terrifying as they were, Wall Wolf was far more frightening. Dana could make out more details as the iron golem came closer. It stood twelve feet tall and looked like an enormous knight, even if the arms and legs were far too thick and the shoulders too broad. The golem carried no weapon, not that such an enormous monster would need one. It took slow steps but never stopped marching forward. The golem kicked over a wagon in its way and stepped on it, crushing it to kindling.
“They’re two blocks away and closing,” Dana told Jayden. She climbed down and joined him. Jayden had cut a gash fifteen feet long in the bridge and still hadn’t done significant damage.
Jayden kept working. “Get ready to run for your life.”
The vanguard of the army came onto the street ahead of them while Wall Wolf was a block away but still visible above the rooftops. Soldiers and mercenaries saw Jayden and stopped a hundred feet away. Every tenth man carried a lantern, lighting up streets. Officers soon came, and following them was a man in plate armor and a purple cape.
“As I live and breath, the sorcerer lord,” the armored man said. He watched Jayden inching along and laughed. “Spitting on the bridge would be just as effective.”
Jayden drew his black sword out and raised it in a challenge. “Judging by your armor you’re from the Rendmal family, likely their eldest son Kyver. Your father served with distinction during the civil war and was known for justice and mercy, traits you clearly don’t share if you’re invading a friendly state.”
Kyver shot back, “They’ve no right to such a title.”
“Kaleoth could have sent raiding parties to loot our farms and villages during our civil war. Instead they sent food to starving families. Your father held them in high regard.”
“My father is not in command of this army,” Kyver said as Wall Wolf smashed through a house on its way to the bridge. “I am. Kaleoth is an enemy state because the king declared they are enemies, and the king’s word is law. If he said the sky is yellow and not blue then his word makes it so. Loyal men understand such things.”
“If that’s an example of your keen wit, I see why you use it so rarely,” Jayden quipped.
More soldiers and mercenaries came but stayed well back. Kyver also made no move toward Dana and Jayden. Instead Kyver held up an iron baton with a black pearl on the end. “I’ve heard tales of the damage you’ve done. I could kill you with a word, sending a thousand men after you until one of them strikes you dead, but a more efficient means is at hand. Wall Wolf, hear me and obey. Kill the sorcerer lord.”
Soldiers scattered as Wall Wolf stomped toward Jayden. Cobblestones shattered under the iron golem’s feet. Jayden let his magic sword dissipate and instead chanted words Dana recognized even if she didn’t understand them. Jayden held out his hands and a tiny spark formed between them. He kept chanting as Wall Wolf drew closer, a hundred feet and then fifty. When the spell was finished the spark flew out and stopped inches from Wall Wolf’s head.
Boom! The spark exploded into a blazing fireball that washed over the golem. Soldiers cried out in panic and fell back while Kyver stood his ground. Seconds later the flames died away and Wall Wolf took another step toward Jayden. Jayden’s most powerful spell hadn’t even scratched the golem. Kyver laughed. His men rallied to his side and laughed with him. Jayden backed away as Wall Wolf came ever closer.
Dana asked, “I’d say he weighs twenty tons, wouldn’t you?”
Jayden reformed his black sword. “At least.”
“How much weight can this bridge take?”
Jayden stopped retreating. “That’s a fascinating question. An hour ago I would have said there’s a fifty-fifty chance Wall Wolf would be too heavy to cross it.”
Dana looked at the deep gash in the bridge. “If we walk back ten steps and two more to the right, and Wall Wolf comes at us in a straight line, that would put him right here.”
Jayden and Dana backed away while soldiers and mercenaries cheered on Wall Wolf. The iron golem marched relentlessly forward, slow but never stopping as it closed the distance between them. Jayden smiled wickedly when Wall Wolf reached the damaged section of the bridge.
Crack! A slab of granite ten feet long broke free as the last bits of mortar shattered. The slab tilted up and Wall Wolf slid backwards until both the golem and bridge section fell into the raging waters below. Water shot up high into the air and rained down onto the bridge and riverbank. Soldiers cried out in rage and Kyver’s look of smug superiority vanished, replaced by shock.
“That was entertaining,” Jayden told Kyver. “What else did you bring me to play with?”
“Fetch long timbers!” Kyver yelled. “Tear down the houses to get them if you must! I want that gap covered! Archers forward!”
Dana gripped Jayden’s arm. “That’s our cue to leave.”
“It is at that,” Jayden agreed. He and Dana ran down the bridge, with Jayden grinning like the cat that caught the canary. “This will slow them down long enough for me to bring down the bridge from the other side. Kaleoth will be safe now and forev—”
Wall Wolf came up from the river, climbing up a support column to stand before Dana and Jayden. Soldiers and mercenaries cheered when the iron golem stepped in front of them and clenched its huge fists. It blocked Dana and Jayden’s escape, and the bridge was destroyed behind them, trapping the pair.
“The show’s not over, boys!” Kyver shouted to his men. “Watch the king and queen’s enemies fall!”
“Go left,” Jayden told Dana as he went right. The bridge was wide enough that Wall Wolf couldn’t fully block it, nor could the iron golem go after both of them. Wall Wolf pursued Jayden, as ordered, ignoring Dana entirely. “Dana, you’re clear, run!”
“I’m not leaving you!”
Wall Wolf stomped after Jayden. Jayden swung his sword at its heels, only for the magic blade to bounce off. His next swing was equally useless. Wall Wolf swung its right fist and missed by a wide margin. Jayden slashed his sword across the fist without effect.
“Staying won’t help!” he shouted. “Run!”
Crossbow bolts flew over Jayden’s head and hit Wall Wolf. Dana spun around and saw Kaleoth soldiers peppering the iron golem with accurate crossbow fire. Their aim was impressive, awe inspiring, and totally useless. Bolt after bolt shattered against the iron golem’s tough skin without leaving a scratch.
Wall Wolf tried to stomp on Jayden. It missed, but when Jayden ran out of the way the iron golem swung its left hand and landed a glancing blow. It was enough to send Jayden flying twenty feet farther down the bridge. Soldiers cheered and Dana screamed. Jayden struggled to his knees before falling down.
Dana tore through her bags until she found her magic short sword. She hadn’t had the opportunity to practice with it in Edgeland because it would have drawn attention. Dana didn’t know how much good it would be without training, but trapped between a raging river and an iron golem meant there were no other choices. She raised the blade high and charged. She felt it warm up as she ran, then it began to glow. She was five steps from the iron golem when the sword lit up like a bonfire. Dana screamed and slashed at Wall Wolf’s right leg.
The sword hit, no surprise when her target was large, slow and not paying attention to her. Magic blade met magic monster and produced a shower of sparks so strong Dana had to clench her eyes shut. When the light died down she stepped back and opened her eyes. She’d wounded the golem, leaving a cut eighteen inches long and a quarter inch deep.
“That’s it?” she yelled.
“Is that all you’ve got?” a soldier jeered.
Kyver looked more impressed. “Wall Wolf has never been hurt before. Only a powerful weapon could make such a scratch. Wall Wolf, hear me and obey. Kill the girl and bring me the sword.”
Wall Wolf turned to face her. Dana backed away. “Oh boy.”
More crossbow fire hit Wall Wolf as the iron golem closed in on Dana. A Kaleoth wizard shot magic flame and hit the golem in the back. Wall Wolf ignored them and kept after Dana.
Dana ran around the golem. She swung at it again, but this time it was expecting the blow and pulled away at the last second. The golem swung its fists at her and missed, but more attacks quickly followed. It was all she could do to avoid the monstrosity.
Wall Wolf raised its right foot and tried to crush her underfoot. For a moment it looked like it might do just that before a clawed black hand as big as a man wrapped around Wall Wolf’s head. The magic hand pushed forward and tipped the iron golem over. Dana looked over and saw Jayden on his knees, his right hand held forward.
The fall did Wall Wolf no harm. It grabbed the huge hand with both its hands and pulled hard. Jayden screamed in pain as his magic hand was ripped apart and evaporated. Soldiers and mercenaries laughed all the louder as Wall Wolf stood up.
Dana raised her sword as Wall Wolf advanced on her. She knew it was pointless even as she did it. Her sword had barely hurt the iron golem when she’d hit it. If she struck a joint like the knees or ankles maybe that would do actual damage, but Wall Wolf had brought down Jayden with one hit. It would need no more to finish her.
“You stupid sword, you were supposed to be special!” she screamed at it. “You barely did anything to that monster! We paid good money for you!”
Wall Wolf came closer and raised both fists over its head. Dana backed away, briefly lowering her sword. The tip of the blade grazed the bridge, cutting a groove an inch deep with the barest touch. Shocked, Dana fell back further and let her sword slide against the bridge. The sword sliced through granite blocks as if they were made of sand.
Dana gasped as she gathered her thoughts. Jayden’s sword had been able to damage the bridge but not Wall Wolf. Her sword could damage the iron golem, if only just, so it should have no trouble finishing the work Jayden started and do the job faster. Wall Wolf had survived one trip into Race Horse River. Dana intended to give it another bath.
Dana ran around Wall Wolf, staying just outside its reach. She found where two granite slabs connected in the bridge and slid her sword into the mortar between them. The blade went in easily, and she ran between the slabs, hacking through mortar like it was nothing. Wall Wolf followed her to the cheers of soldiers. Dana heard men betting on how long she’d live. Wall Wolf was beginning to catch up with her when she followed another line of mortar in the bridge, hacking through it effortlessly. Wall Wolf pursued her as ordered, not understanding the danger it was in.
Crack! Another section of the bridge gave way. Dana jumped onto the nearest stable part of the bridge as the slab underneath her tipped and slid backwards. Wall Wolf was on the opposite end of the sinking section. It was reaching for her when the slab fell into the river and took the iron golem with it. Soldiers shouted in outrage, none louder than Kyver. They cheered again when Wall Wolf climbed up the nearest support column. Dana was waiting for it.
It was hard to hurt Wall Wolf, in part because of the iron golem’s long reach. That advantage disappeared when it was climbing. Both hands held tight to the support column and had to stay there until the golem got its feet back on the bridge. That left a few precious seconds where the golem couldn’t avoid her or attack.
Dana saw Wall Wolf pulling itself up and aimed for its fingers. Sparks flew when her sword hit the thinner armor at the iron golem’s knuckles. Wall Wolf pulled itself higher up until Dana saw it eye to eye. She swung again, hacking off four fingers. Wall Wolf fell into the river again, but when it tried to climb up it couldn’t do it with only one functioning hand.
The screams of unruly mob of soldiers and mercenaries were deafening as they saw their champion fail, none louder or more horrified than Kyver. The enemy general howled like a wounded animal and beat his breasts. He regained control of himself long enough to bellow, “Archers, kill her!”
Any elation Dana had felt vanished as dozens of archers took aim at her. Magnificent as her sword was, it couldn’t stop arrows.
They didn’t get the chance to fire. Kaleoth soldiers had been helpless against Wall Wolf, but they had no problems fighting men. Crossbowmen rained down fire on the soldiers and mercenaries. Wizards in Kaleoth’s green and gray shot streams of flames and ice javelins. For a moment the soldiers held their own as archers returned fire. That ended when a single glowing ember drifted toward their side of the river. Kyver saw it coming and ran screaming from the fight with his men following suit. The spark floated lazily to the opposite side of the river before it detonated in a fireball that swallowed up nearby buildings.
Dana ran to Jayden. He was sitting up, but casting that last spell had taxed him beyond his limits. Dana reached him as he began to sway back and forth. She grabbed his shoulders and steadied him. Jayden looked at her only briefly, saying only two words before he passed out.
“I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay,” she said softly. Dana put her sword away and checked Jayden’s wounds. He had several broken ribs and his right arm looked awful. Moving him could do serious harm, but she couldn’t leave him here. Dana grabbed him by the shoulders and slowly pulled him toward Kaleoth.
She’d only gotten a few feet when another set of hands took Jayden. It was Maya. She had one of Jayden’s bags over her shoulder and helped carry Jayden. Between the two of them they pulled Jayden to safety while crossbow bolts and magic flames soared overhead.
“He needs a healer,” Dana said.
“There aren’t many in Kaleoth who can treat wounds this bad,” Maya told her. They reached the other side of the bridge and soldiers helped them through the barricades. “I know a witch who might be able to help, but she charges a lot.”
“I’ll pay it,” Dana promised, “no matter the cost.”
No comments have been added yet.
