yet 2 b named - Chapter one.

1

Chapter 1.2

After seven long years of warfare, the dust finally began to settle. The lands of Farlond were in ruins. Only one city was still standing, Mennathrier the capital of Farlond, the last stronghold. The citizens of Farlond waited in terror, as the King of Gorlond proceeded to Mennathrier and proclaim its total dominance over Farlond. They all knew that Mennathrier would not hold to the full force of the Gorlond Army. It was a lost cause.3

In the battle room of the citadel, Renn second in command of the Farlond army also knew it was a lost cause. They had lost a lot of good commanders in the past seven years. That was the reason why he had risen so fast, from head sentry of a border town to second in command.4

The walls of Mennathrier were strong and they might have enough time to get the royal family out before it fell, but it would fall. Thousands of innocent people would be slaughtered and countless more turned into slaves. Renn sighed and stood up, the army should be outside the city walls within a week. There was no use thinking about that, he had gone over the supply reports and army reports numerous times. He turned to look at the deceased list. A total of thirty-six officers had died in the last three years, most of them not in battle. About twenty of them had died of mysterious diseases or were assassinated. Renn had heard some rumours about an assassin that was taken as a child and trained by the Gorlonds, who had supposedly been from Farlond. But they were only rumours, campfire talk between travellers and bored soldiers. Renn walked to his quarters, only a short distance away, and got ready for bed. The royal family were across the hall, the Gorlond Assassin might not be real, but other assassins sure were. Renn remembered when the war started; his home was one of the first towns to be attacked. As Renn drifted into sleep, he remembered a girl, a few years younger than him who was never seen again, dead or alive, after that very day.5

*~*~*~*~*6

“Sir, they’re preparing the catapults,” shouted Morl, Captain of the southern wall. Renn ran up the steps to the rampart, they had been waiting eleven days for the Gorlond army to appear. They started attacking this morning at dawn and since then haven’t relented. The royal family was on its way to Warthin, a small war country to the north that would harbour them till the time of there return. Renn would be staying as commander of the army and city until the war ended, or he was killed.7

As boulders hit the walls, Renn put all other thoughts aside as he gave and received messages from pages from other parts of the wall. The picture wasn’t good; the Gorlond’s had a total of 73 thousand soldiers, 52 of which were less than ten metres away. The rest were scatted throughout the country. Renn had an estimate of 15 thousand soldiers under his command at Mennathrier and about another two thousand scatted between here and Warthin. As another round of boulders hit the outer wall a court page came running up to Renn. “Sir, Captain Thire is dying, an arrow came out of nowhere and hit him in the chest, it didn’t go far but the tip was poisoned. Sargent Moor told me to come get you.”8

Renn swore, Thire was at the citadel seeing to supply and transport, where Renn was supposed to be. Renn preferred to be near the front for both moral support and up to date reports. Thire preferred to take care of transport so Renn had moved the roles around this morning. Renn shouted at Morl than started off towards the citadel. As he was arriving he saw a body lying down on the pavement, covered in a sheet. Moor saw him and walked toward him.9

“Tell me that’s the assassin.” pleaded Renn.10

“The assassin got away, I suggest you go indoors sir we haven’t cleared the area and that arrow was meant for you.” Moor replied pointing toward the body.11

“The assassin won’t try again Sargent, he knows we’ll be watching for him. I’m putting you in command here until I can re order the command chain, I’m going back to the wall.”12

“Yes sir.”13

Renn watched Moor walk off shouting orders to the guards and pages around him. Turning around to go back he noticed the positioning of the arrow. It was in his back and had skidded along the shoulder blade. An inch lower and it would have pieced Captain Thire’s heart. Whoever the assassin was, he had good aim. Walking away from the citadel, Renn thought it was going to be a long day.14