Chapter 6

Jak breathed deeply, pulling himself back onto his knees he prayed and meditated
softly. He felt himself relax, his shoulders dropped and sadness swept through him.
He let it, and watched as the sun set over the mound that had held him prisoner.He
watched the mountains grow dark before him, watched for any sign of movement but
there was none. He grieved for those that had died in the narrow passageway, those
that had died for his escape, and he had prayed solely for strength, that their deaths
would not be in vain. He grappled with the emotions that washed over him. He tried
in vain to calm his anger. The scars on his back had begun to itch incessantly, the
dwarven silver of his armour helping them to heal. It was enough to remind him what
had come of his anger, but now it fought with his other emotions for control.
The Code had taught him to honour death, to be glad for those who died in battle.
But they had died so that he could live.
He breathed deeply again, struggling to recall the battle, trying to name those he had
seen fall, but he could not. He simply grew stiffer and colder. His shoulder sent stabs
of pain through him every time he attempted to move it, and the damp and dew began
to seep up through his armour coat, making him shiver, and hurt all the more. He
reached into his boot, past Argo’s dagger and into the pocket which held keeri’s ring.
He turned it over in his hand, marveling as he always did at its craftsmanship. It
caught the dying rays of the sun, contrasting the dwarven runes that were engraved
into it, picking out every feature of the delecate interwoven design of the silver. He
clutched it tight, letting thoughts of home flood through him. He wanted to defy his
captain, he wanted to run to her as fast as his tired legs would carry him. He wanted to
hold her, to protect her. The whistle Keeri gave echoed around in his head, and he
turned his head to the west, to Dragonburn.
But what would he be returning to? He asked himself. He looked to the sky, he had
prayed for her, but would that be enough?
Something stuck in his throat then, and he felt ashamed.
He had doubted his goddess, but here and now… it felt to him like she had left him. In
the growing dark of the evening, he was alone. He swallowed a sob then, holding his
face in his hands.
‘faith’ he meditated.’guidance’
‘Thera, hear me’
‘wait’
The voice flowed through him like water. It warmed him, soothed him. Jak pulled his
hands from his face and wrapped them around himself. She had heard him, and the
voice was a warning.

He crouched lower into the grass.

“I know what I should do” he said out loud. “But I don’t know if I have the strength”
He lifted his head, and turned it eastward, the mountains to his back. East was help.
East, was Stonekeep. He had no idea how far away it was, but his duty pulled at him.
He had to go there, he had to warn the knighthood.
If they did not know already.
The thought struck him then, if the knighthood did know about this, the roads would
be swarming with patrols, they could not have marched a whole colulm of villagers
through the forest realm unseen. Could it be that they did not know? But how?
The cavern.
It dawned on him then, and his mouth hung open. With everyone holed up in there,
who would then warn the knights? No warning, the knighthood, the only ones with
the power to stop them. They would be unaware anything was wrong until the troll
army appeared on their doorstep, with the entire forest behind them as occupied
territory. Impossible for a scout to get through the villages now swarming with
troops….. black rock, taken to a man….
“By the Gods” Jak whispered. There was not even a warning flare from black rock…
they must not have had the time…..

Jak shuddered. The dusk deepened into night, and he knew he had to make his move.
Thera’s warning still echoed in his head, but he knew he could wait no longer. He
stood up slowly, easing his aching muscles back into action. His arm instinctively still
curled around himself, he rested against the nearest tree. His armour warmed him far
better now that he was on the move. The wind brought him snatches of smells and
sounds, there were horses nearby. He turned his head towards the sound, and began to
head towards it.
A shaft of light from the mound made him freeze where he stood.
The door was opened, the light from inside cut through the darkness, mingling with
the shadows of the trolls that began to swarm through it. They lit torches, and started
out. They headed toward him. Behind him, he could see where the knot of trees
ended, and he walked slowly backwards until he was almost there. He had watched
Keeri hunt many times, and now he crouched as she did, laying himself almost flat on
the ground, trying to keep himself ready to run if he had to. He lowered his shoulders,
and raised his head. The line of torches was getting closer, and he could make out the
features of the troll at it’s head. It carried over it’s shoulder a large Hessian sack. Most
of the trolls that advanced did. Jak held his breath, backing into a bush. The sharp
twigs proving little resistance to his armour, but they stabbed and prickled underneath
it. He watched the trolls advance at an easy pace, coming right inside the
undergrowth, trampling through the spot where he had been only a few moments
earlier. The first troll raised his hand, and dumped the sack roughly. He turned on his
heel and ushered the others in. They piled them high, laughing and joking, until the
line wormed its way back into the mound.
Jak let out a long breath. Slowly, he pulled himself up, staring at the mound before
him, knowing full well what was inside the sacks. Slowly, trembling he approached
the sack nearest to him, and untied the knot at the top. Something slid out, landing on
the ground at his feet. He staggered backwards, fighting the urge to vomit.
One of his fellow knights lay before him, his eyes wide with terror, his mouth open.
His throat slit to the bone. It took a while for him to recognize, and he stared in
disbelief.
“Brother Argo” his voice was soft, mournful. “May your spirit find it’s way to the
halls of your fathers…….. who dwell….” The words stuck in his throat as he bent
down to close the knights staring eyes “Who dwell in glory in the east.”
The prayer for the dead.
He stared at the monumental task before him. Some thirty or so sacks were piled up,
two sometimes three high. Dark patches soaked through some.
He jumped backwards, feeling something fall against his feet. Argo’s sword had
slipped through, and now it lay, bright in the undergrowth partially out of it’s
scabbard. Jak bent down, picked it up reverently.
“I will take this to your father, Argo” he said softly. “I will see to it, he will be proud
of you.” He shook his head, staring at the pile of sacks again. It seemed to him, the
more he stared, the more it seemed one of the sacks was moving. The light had faded,
and he wanted to dismiss it, but he was sure. He pounced on it, dragging it free of the
others and pulling it to one side. It was moving, he could feel it. He untied the knot
hastily, and rolled down the sack. The face that stared up at him he hardly recognized.
Both of Donel’s eyes were swollen, his face was blanketed in blood. He opened his
mouth to speak, but no sound came from it.
“Captain” Jak said, and brought the dagger from his boot to cut away the rest of the
shroud. His captain still gripped his sword, his knuckles white, and bleeding. Jak
looked him over, seeing dark red patches seeping blood into his armour coat.
“Where are you hurt?”
Donel coughed softly, smiling through chapped lips
“I cannot quite tell” he said quietly. He tried to sit up, but cried out, and slumped back
down again. “Everywhere?’
Jak hardly knew what to say. He knelt next to his captain, looking him over,
wondering what to do first.
“What are you still doing here, lieutenant?” Jak took a deep breath.
“I was instructed to wait” he said simply.
Donel nodded.
“Is it the first time you have heard Thera’s voice?”
“I had started to doubt……” he shook his head. “I wanted to wait until nightfall, I did
not want to meet any more troll patrols by daylight. They would have come from the
west and I would have had to meet them head on…..” he looked at Donel “She knew”
he said softly. “She told me to wait…..” he felt a hand on his arm.
“I would have done the same” he said, his voice steadying. Jak found it hard to smile.
They were shielded from the mound now by the pile of sacks, but they both knew
they could not stay. “I think I heard horses……” Jak said, cocking his head to the left
Suddenly, there was a blood curdeling scream. Another of the sacks began to writhe
violently. The knight inside screamed again. Jak glanced at Donel, and stood up. Still
the sack writhed, and he pulled it from the pile and slit it open with difficulty, the
knight inside would not stop thrashing, and clawed at the sack as Jak tried to pull it
free.
No! DON’T!” The man inside screamed, and Jak clamped a hand over his mouth
“hush!” he said with some urgency, dragging the man free. The terrorfied knight
stared at him with fear dead eyes. He struggled for a moment. “Halos, it’s me!”
recognition flooded through his face, and his stiffened body relaxed a little. Jak
noticed again the pain in his shoulder as he dragged the knight away from the mound,
laying him down next to Donel. Halos’ breath wheezed as he lay, trying desperately to
get enough air into his lungs. He stared at Jak, he stared at the sky. He glanced around
him, trying to get his bearings. His breath came in ragged gasps, but any air just
seemed to wheeze out of him.
“I thought they would bury us….” He whispered. “I was afraid they would……” he
went silent, staring again into nothing as Jak slit the sack down further, and eased the
knight out of it. It was sticky with blood, as was Halos’s cloak, armourcoat and tunic.
Jak looked him over, he must be cut deeply somewhere, but Jak could not see where.
The smell of blood as he finally pulled the sack away was overpowering.
He ran his hand along Halos’s near side, and found nothing. His hands felt across the
back of his neck, and down his other side. He stopped, and felt warm blood
underneath his fingers. He rolled him towards his knees a little, and saw the wound
that ran from his hip, almost to his ribcage.
Halos’s breathing was shallow now and he was pale from loss of blood. He started to
shake uncontrollably. Jak let out a long slow breath, and laid his friend down. He sat
back, a wound this large he could not close without a healer. He shook his head, and
took his cloak from his shoulders and laid it over him.
“is………..it………bad?” asked Halos, finally calm, his voice shaking, his teeth
chattering. Jak did not know what to say.
“no, it’s not Halos. You’ll be alright”
“It’s funny” the knight said, his voice dreamy and far away. “I can barely feel it
anymore” Jak flashed a look at Donel as Halos closed his eyes.
“rest, my friend” he said. “It will be better in the morning”
Jak sat back on his heels, and watched his friend die.
He shook his head again, clenching his fists slowly. Again, he battled for control.
“Is there anyone else?” Donel asked quietly. Jak shook his head
“I don’t know, I haven’t checked” he paused. “I can’t……….” He glanced at Argo’s
sword that still lay in the grass.
“Every Knight must see death” Donel said “Before he can truly value life”
“I had always believed in the glory of death” Jak sighed, staring at Halos’s body “But
what glory is there in this?”
“Brother Rose” Donel said, sensing the change in his friend. “The glory of death is
not for this life, but for the next” Jak stayed quiet. “Each of these men have
distinguished themselves in battle. They lived, and died as the code dictated.. no
Knight can ask for more than that”
“The code be Damned” Jak said venomously. “The code killed these men” Donel
flinched at the words.
“Brother” He said sternly. “The enemy killed these men…:
“On YOUR orders, to get ME out” he whispered. “This is my fault, I should have
been ready… we all should have been ready” angry tears ran down Jaks face, he
stared at Donel, trying desperately not to look at Halos.
“No one person is to blame” his captain said softly. “I gave the orders, yes. I gave
them on good faith. Faith that has seen me through time after time. Thera’s will be
done” he said decisively. “You must NOT doubt the code” Jak shook his head. “you
cannot.” Donel pulled himself slowly onto his elbow. He stared at the mound of sacks
before them. “Help me up” he said.
“No” said Jak. “Your wounded, I don’t know how badly, you don’t know how badly.
You could only make things worse” Donel shook his head
“We must make a move” he said, wincing as he brought himself slowly to a sitting
position. “Jak began to shake his head, but his captain looked at him firmly. The
young knight needed something to do. “go, find those horses and bring them here”
“What about you?”
“I’ll be fine” Jak watched for a moment as Donel struggled painfully to his feet. “go!”
He turned, heading toward the sound of the horses, not knowing what else to do.

He crept around the outside of the mound. He was burning with anger. It all seemed
so unfair. He heard troll voices to his left, and froze, cursing himself for being so
stupid. But they did not notice him. They stood at the entrance, laughing and joking,
huge flagons of ale in their knarly hands. Jak moved on, slowly and quietly, heading
for the back of the mound where he was sure he had heard the horses. Trolls were
known to ride their horses until they died underneath them, and he was not hopeful of
their condition, even if he did find them. He came across a crude wooden rail, built
into the far side of the mound. He ran his hand along it, the sound and smell of the
horses was getting clearer to him now.
A straggly handful of thin, worn out horses huddled together before him. They
watched him approach with tired, dead eyes. The ill fitting troll saddles made the
horses shift uncomfortably, the harsh leather opening cruel sores along their flanks.
They were large horses, bred to take the weight of the trolls, but their size made their
painful thinness all the more apparent. Jak tutted softly, walking behind the animals,
running his hand over their bony rumps as he passed, wondering what his father
would make of these.
A flash of red caught his eye.
At the far side of the rail stood a pair of magnificent horses. They were phoenix
horses, as black as night and dressed in the skirts and armour of the Pheonix knights.
Jak marveled at them. They were sturdy warhorses, they stood tall and still. Their
black eyes followed him as he approached them.
“Steady” he whispered, running his hand across the muzzle of the closest horse. It
tossed it’s head, pulling against the reins that tied it. The two horses were a perfect
match, Jak was sure they were brothers. The phoenix knights, the cavalry of the
knighthood took great pride in their horses. Their owners looked after them, often
slept beside them when on placement. Their saddlepacks were intact, and bore the
colourful emblem of a two headed phoenix, wings spread, flame licking at its feet.
Their skirts were a deep red, fringed with gold and inlaid with orange. On the muzzle
of the horse was a brass nameplate. Solar. Jak patted the horse softly, and moved onto
the next one. He stamped, and champed at his bit. His nameplate read Flare. Yes, Jak
thought, they were a pair. He ran a practiced hand over the horses body, and for a
moment he was back home, inspecting his fathers stock, ready for the sales that day.
He whistled softly. He would have paid hansomly for this pair. He moved along the
line, and came across two more horses. Sleek, and smaller, their tracings were silver,
their saddlepacks light blue.
These were scouts horses. A grey stood before him, lashing its tail at the flies that
were congregating at a deep wound on it’s flank. Jak went to its head. It was delecate,
looking it over he was sure she was female. There were no other injuries on her.
Smaller than the warhorses, this animal had the frame and bearing of a racehorse.
There were large pouches on either side of her saddle, and the emblem of the Dragon
order was embossed on the soft brown leather. These were messenger horses for the
knighthood. The animal that stood next to her was a dark chestnut, more muscular
than the first but still of the same frame. He stood, his neck arched proudly, and tossed
his head at Jak’s approach. He bore the same symbols and tracings of the grey stood
beside him. Across his chest was anther nameplate, windwalker. Jak jumped over the
rail, sliding the reins of the messengers horse along to meet the two from the other
horses.
“Well” he said softly. “I know your names, therefore I should tell you mine. My name
is Jak Rose” He laughed at himself for a moment, talking to the horses like he spoke
to his squire. He sighed. “Now, how are we going to get you out of this mess?” he
asked, glancing up and down the rail. Another group of troll horses huddled at the far
end of the rail, far more than at the near side.
Jak pulled the dagger from his boot, but changed his mind, the blade hovering above
the reins. No, he did not want to cut them. He had to make it look like the horses had
done it……
He glanced up and down the rail again, and ducked under the bar. He came up
between the heads of the two phoenix horses. “Right” he said, clicking his toungue.
“back up” He took their head pieces and pulled them gently backwards. The well
trained horses understood. They took the strain, pulling their heads up, moving their
huge feet slowly, desicively. Jak let go “Keep pulling” he said. He took a deep breath,
took the rail in both hands and, ignoring the pain that lanced through his shoulder and
down his back, he began to pull. The rail began to crack. The messengers horses
caught on, and Jak felt it as they began to pull too. He took the weight on his good
arm, bent his knees and pulled with all his strength. The creaking grew louder, and
louder and with a huge snap, the rail broke, sending Jak tumbling into the legs of the
horses. They stopped dead, Jak heard their heavy footfalls only inches from his head,
wincing, just waiting for the blow. But, thankfully it did not come. He stood up,
curled his arm around himself. He was in pain now, is skin, his muscles. He stood still
for a moment, meditating against it, willing himself not to cry out.
The horses flicked their ears at him, staring at him with their dark eyes. The rail had
broken a little further up, between them and the second clutch of troll horses. Jak
dragged the rail away a little, and began to slide the reins down the knarled and
knotted wood. Soon, he had all four horses by the head. He turned to go.
From the group of troll horses, there was a soft whinny. Jak looked back, and
suddenly felt sorry for them. Sighing a little, he bent down again and slid the reins
from the wood. The crowd of horses stood together, gravitating to one another as Jak
loosed them one by one. Sweating from the effort, he finally freed them all. Jak curled
his nose at the smell, a rancid mix of troll and horse sweat.
“right” he said softly “off you go” He slapped the nearest animal on the back, and
they bolted as a herd into the night. He nodded. Now, he felt like he was starting to
accomplish something. Turning, he took the four good horses by the reins again. He
glanced at the sky, which was beginning to pale. He brought the horses quickly into
the knot of trees, wondering if perhaps the trolls inside had heard anything or not over
their conversation. They had hardly moved.
Donel was kneeling, his head leaning against a tree when he got back. His eyes were
closed in prayer. His face was pale, and he swayed a little, but his breath was
measured, and his eyes flickered under closed eyelids. He did not disturb his captain,
he walked between the horses, again, giving them closer inspection. He noticed the
scratches on the bodies of the phoenix pair, and wondered what fate had befallen their
riders. He reached into the pockets of the messenger’s horses, and pulled out a wad of
dispatches, food orders and something in a flowing script that smelled strongly of a
woman’s perfume. This scout had been on his or her way from StoneKeep. The
dispatches, he noted told of an increase in activity on the border. It seemed to the
knight who wrote it, that things were solidly under control, but more troops were
needed for it to stay that way. There were undelivered scrolls informing Knights of
their intended return to Stonekeep for de briefing and changes in duty. Jak blanched,
there was one there for him. The notes were dated only a few days ago. He stuffed
them back into the pockets. He would return them to Stonekeep. He draped the reins
of the horses loosely over a branch, and rubbed his shoulder. He flexed it, wincing.
Donel shifted, and stood, still with his eyes closed. He stood alone, shakily but
standing. He let out a long breath, placing his feet apart, his hand out before him. His
face contorted with pain, and he stumbled. Jak caught him, and he opened his eyes
with a snap. Donel sighed, as Jak steadied him.
“Do you think you can ride?” Jak said, looking at his friend with concern. “Are you
bleeding?” Donel shook his head.
“I don’t think so” He walked slowly towards the horses. “These are fine horses” he
said, looking them over. They tossed their heads at him. Jak nodded.
“Help me” he said, trying to steady himself enough to vault up onto the large horses
back. Jak knelt, and boosted Donel up onto the horse. He grunted, and gripped the
reins. “What about the other two?”
“We’ll take them with us, they will have no problems keeping up”
“hummmmmmm” he agreed.
There was a bed roll on the back of each of the horses saddles, and Jak knew they
would be glad of them later. There were stale provisions in each of the saddlebags.
Jak watched Donel steady himself, his back straight, his bruised face pale in the
starlight. He glanced up, and wheeled the horse around. Jak followed, and together,
they faced the South
Donel turned to Jak.
“At a gallop” He kicked back his heels, and the horse bolted forward. “To
Stonekeep!”
“To Stonekeep!” Jak answered, and the horse followed Donel’s with barely a flick of
the reins. He could hear behind him as the other two took off, and although the
warhorses was quickly at full gallop, the messengers animals seemed to canter
alongside them.

Jak threw his head back, feeling the wind through his hair. He set himself a rhythm
against the galloping horse below him, and he smiled. Grateful at last to be doing
something, he gave the powerful horse its head. The two phoenix horses were nose to
nose, their ears pricked, their tails fanning out behind them. The rode into the forest,
and it took Jak a long time to figure out exactly where they were. They joined the road
to Hama’s Rest, just as Dawn broke. This road would join with the forest road, and
that in turn would take them straight through the forest realm and on towards
Stonekeep. Still, Jak had traveled this road many times and something was not right.
Even at dawn, the forest was eerily quiet. The only sound was the thudding of the
horses hooves. Jak instinctively veered away from the main road, keeping in the
shadows of the trees. The way was tougher, and the horses had to slow, but Jak was
unnerved by the silence.
It was noon when Donel finally fell from the saddle. Jak had watched him, he leaned
far forward, resting almost on the horses neck. He had seen him struggle, seen many
times how he slumped forward, only to right himself again, the horse underneath him
barely breaking his stride. But this time was different, this time his captain had not
brought himself back up. He barely made a sound, but Jak watched his eyes flicker
shut, and slowly, he began to slide. Jak was kneeling at Donel’s side before either
horse had pulled to a stop. The messenger horses skittered past them, rearing a little
before cantering to a halt. They turned their heads in unison, and walked to stand with
the pheonix horses
Jak ignored his own pain as he dismounted, and rolled his captain over gently. He was
pale, his whole body shook. Jak glanced around, but what he wanted to see he didn’t
know, until his eyes rested on a place they could make camp. The horses ahead of him
had pulled up now, and dipped their tired heads. They plodded toward them slowly.
He clicked his tounge to bring them closer and tried in vain to lift his unconscious
Captain. After a second attempt, he gave up. He looped his arms under Donel’s
shoulders, and dragged him through into the undergrowth. He took the bed rolls from
the horses, and laid one under Donel, and laid one on top of him. Slowly, Donel
opened his eyes.
“Thera give me strength” he whispered horsely. Jak handed him some trail bread.
“Here, Captain you need to eat” Donel shook his head
“Water” he said softly. Jak nodded, and handed him the waterskin that he had taken
from his own saddle pack. Donel drank sips of it, before settleing down into the
bedroll. He sighed
“Where does it hurt?” Jak asked.
“everywhere.. but that is not helpful, is it?” He said with a wry smile. “We took a
beating in the tunnel” Jak turned his head
“I don’t think I want to know” Donel let out a long slow breath.
“How far away are we?” he asked.
“We are a few miles from Hama’s Rest” Jak looked around him. “In fact, I would not
be surprised if….”
There was a soft thud only a few inches from his head.
“Speak” a voice said sternly “and be recognized”

Jak glanced up, seeing a pair of highly polished black boots first, traveling up a bright
orange armourcoat, gleaming gold chain mail tassets, a red tunic. Relief flooded
through him as he saw the blazing emblem of the phoenix knights on the man’s tunic.
His black armour caught the sun, and gleamed with a mirror like finish. Jak stood
awkwardly, and saluted the man who, judging by the ailettes on each shoulder,
outranked him considerably.
“Brother Jak Rose, of Dragonburn” he said crisply, pulling himself together. He
brought his hand up to his stomach with his palm to the ground and bowed low at the
waist. The knight salted him back.
“Brother Ashford Pheonix, of Hama’s Rest” he glanced down at Donel, who had
drifted into unconsciousness again.
“This is my captain, Donel Rose” The phoenix knight nodded, put his fingers to his
lips and let out a long whistle. The two horses shot their heads up, and two other
figures dropped from the trees on either side of them
“Solar?” one of the knights said, walking toward the horse. Solar snorted, and walked
toward him. The man glanced at Jak, and then over to Flare. “These are Aurak’s
horses!” he said. Jak looked at Brother Ashford.
“Your news cannot be good” he said gravely
“How far are we from the town?” Jak asked
“Not far” ashford replied, glancing down at Donel again. “lucky for him, we can
reach the guardpost before nightfall” He stopped, looking at each of the other knights
in turn. “Something is not right here” he said softly. “You two” he addressed the
phoenix knights. “Can you carry him?”
“Sir” they bent over donel, and lifted him gently between them. He cried out, his face
contorting. The knights that held him looked doubtful for a moment, but Donel settled
again. Ashford turned to Jak “Come”
They walked at a brisk pace through the trees. Jak bit back pain. His legs ached, his
skin scratched and tore against the ragged fabric of his armourcoat. His shoulder
stiffened, and he brought his arm across his chest again.
“You are hurt?” Ashford asked. Jak simply nodded.
“Where did you find these horses?” The Pheonix guard asked, looking with pity at the
tired horses that trudged along beside them.
“you know them?”
“they are twins. Their owners rode out several sunrises ago”
“Where were they going?”
“Blackrock” Jak shivered.
“They reached the first Guardpost at Hama’s rest as dusk was settling. Donel
remained unconscious, his eyes flickering, moaning gently. He had started to sweat.
They stopped before an unassuming tent, set in a clearing in the trees. This village,
much like Dragonburn harbored is villagers in the trees. For an instant, Jak’s heart
longed for home. Donel cried out as they placed him gently into the guardsman’s cot.
The guardsman came out, and presented himself.
“Go” said brother ashford to Jak. “Go with him he will take you to Sir Nasran”.
They walked at speed, across a large clearing. Climbing a ladder, they stood at the
entrance to a large house tree. It was draped on either side with orange banners, the
emblem of the phoenix shone out at him from among the branches. He bowed to the
guards at the door as it was held open for him.
“This is unexpected!” a voice boomed from inside. “Is this the one we have been
watching all day? Well, send him in!”
Jak climbed the ladders stiffly, and brushed the curtain aside.
The gentle shady cool of the room swept over him, and he ran a hand across his brow.
Sir Nasran, who had been sat at the head of a large map table, stood and waited for
Jak to salute him before motioning him to sit. Jak shook his head. He stared at the
commander he had heard so much about.
He stood tall, almost a foot taller than Jak. He had stripped to the waist in the heat of
the day, and now he wore his tunic on bare skin. His shoulders and arms floated above
a trim athletic waist. He was the youngest commander in the knighthood, his deeds on
the battlefield were legendary. Knighted while only a sixteen year old squire, legend
said he fought off a battalion of feline to stop them getting to his lord’s injured
warhorse. Now, he was almost fifty summers old, but he looked no older then Donel.
He undoubtedly had a natural talent He could read the battlefield like a book, and
even now, his brown eyes glittered at Jak with his intelligence. His braids hung over
his shoulder, the silvering hair almost invisible for the many service ribbons. He kept
his beard short, unlike many other Knights his age. He was not ready to grow old just
yet. He wore his ceremonial plate armour easily, missing some pieces, the heat of the
day had made it almost impossible to stay in full plate. Jak swallowed. He would not
like to come up against this man in battle. But, he had a job to do, and Jak took a
steadying breath
“With all due respect, sir” he said quietly “I am in a hurry” The commander’s
eyebrows raised ever so slightly. He looked the tired knight up and down.
“Sit” he said, smiling as he did so himself. Despite it all, Jak sank into the chair
offered to him. Sitting served to remind him of his fatigue, and he cried out softly.
“Your’e hurt?” Jak took a deep breath
“Sir I bring urgent news. I have come from Dragonburn, which is, as far as i can tell,
now under troll occupation” silence fell on the room like a shroud, and Nasran’s eyes
widened.
“Bring this man a drink” Sir Nasran said, leaning closer across the table that separated
them.
“We were imprisoned, the villagers and the knights in a cavern. A day and a half’s
hard ride from here” Jak sighed. “My captain and I escaped, but at great cost” He
looked the commander in the eye, trying to not be intimidated by him “Sir, if the
conditions and the lack of food don’t kill them, damp sickness will. They are holding
people there from every village in the realm that they take, they are headed….”
“for Stonekeep” Nasran said.
Jak nodded.
“They will use the people as a bargaining tool….” The commander said thoughtfully
“They ambushed us……”
“ambush?”
“I know, sir. But that is what they did, that is how we were taken…….. it was
Dragonsbane when they descended upon us, we simply did not see, nor hear them
coming”
“Unusual, indeed” the commander said, bringing his hand over his beard.
“Sir, this village is not safe… they will come on you like they did us…..”
“No, they won’t. Not now.” There was a pause. “We will send word to Stonekeep..”
Jak shook his head.
“You will need every man here to fight them” he said “They come in numbers I have
never seen before, and you are short on swords… I saw the dispatches”
“They have gone over the border…… a distraction?…” he shook his head, drawing a
deep breath before slamming his fist on the table. “Preposterous!” he boomed,
catching Jak off guard a little. “The trolls are not that smart!!” Nasran looked at Jak. It
was hard to doubt his story. When the big knight spoke again, his voice was calm.
“When will they come?”
“Not tonight, I can assure you we have not been followed… your horses are quite
something…” the commander smiled, a knowing glint in his eye. “Perhaps at the next
moon…. While we were there, they brought in villagers from Knights Journey. I can
assume commander, that you are next” he took a deep breath. That was all he had to
say.
Jak’s formal posture melted, and he put his head in his hands
“You have done well to bring me this news” the commander said. “My guardsmen
will see that you find a billet…..”
“No” Jak said, shaking his head. “Food, and water for me and my horses” he said,
raising his head. “I will ride to Stonekeep and bring this message to the High
Commander myself”
“The closer the trolls get, the harder it will be to rout them” Sir Nasran said quietly.
“I have a messenger’s horse” Jak said quietly. “He is swift, he cantered alongside us
the whole way…. We were at full gallop. I can be at Stonekeep in two days…..”
The commander looked at the knight before him carefully. He was pale, his tired eyes
were sunken. He took slow deep breaths, and his hand drifted unconsciously across
his waist. His shoulders were slumped and it looked as if he had not washed in
days.“If I stop” Jak said quietly, feeling his gaze “I fear I will not have the strength to
get going again” The commander nodded. Jak opened his mouth to speak again, but
the commander raised his hand.
“wait, brother. We will call a council, now. You can say what you need to say before
all of us” Jak nodded, and closed his eyes. He started to relax.
Pain throbbed through him, he was exhausted. He felt his head start to drop.
“Thera” he whispered. “Guide me” He slipped into meditation, knowing he had little
time to do so, but he needed the strength he prayed for.
“Marko” he said, raising his head to the Knight that had presented Jak to him. “See
that this man’s horses are fed, and washed down and prepare supplies for a four day
ride.” The knight nodded, and swept out of the door into the blazing sunshine. The
commander looked at the other knight at the door. “Sound the horn, we must call a
council” The knight saluted.
“Sir, We have Captain Donel Rose at the guard post, he is sorely wounded sir.”
“Are there healers attending him?”
“Yes sir”
“Where?”
“Guardpost north, however if he can be moved to the infirmary he would have been
by now” Nasran nodded, and waved the man away. A second later, a horn call split the
air around them. Jak opened his eyes, trying to get a control on himself, trying to
banish the aching and tiredness that made his eyes heavy, and his limbs stiff.
Slowly, the room around them started to fill with phoenix knights. Their black armour
glinted, and suddenly Jak started to feel dowdy. His armourcoat was tattered under his
battered and unpolished armour. His hair hung in limps strands over his face, which
was dirt streaked and unshaven. His shoulders dropped, his cloak hung dirt streaked
from his shoulders. Still, as he stood beside sir Nasran, he had to hold his head high.
They would listen to him.
Soon the room was filled. There were confused murmurings, but all who looked at
Jak, fell silent.
“Brothers!!! Our friend here has brought us warning!” Sir Nasran boomed at last. He
moved aside, and motioned Jak to speak. He swallowed, his mouth suddenly bone
dry. His reached toward his sword belt, and his hand brushed Argo’s sword. The
sensation of the cold steel under his fingers, the memories flashed through him, and
he stepped forward.
“I am Brother Jak Rose” he said commandingly. “I have come from Dragonburn,
which fell into Troll hands on DragonsBane”
Silence again.
He paused to draw breath. “They have taken every town to the North, including Black
Rock. And they are on their way here” The knights in the room glanced at one
another, startled angry looks on their faces. “Dragonburn was destroyed. The trolls
plan to reach Stonekeep without us getting word. They capture all, and are holding
them in a cavern, some miles East of here. That is where my captain and I have
escaped from to bring you this warning” The faces of the knights before him turned
grim. Some had seen the two knights come in to the village, some had watched the
healers move Donel slowly and carefully from the guard post.
And, looking at Jak it was hard to disagree his story. Silence hung heavy in the air, as
Jak looked around the room. “Can I assume there will be no surprise attack?” he said
quietly. The front row of knights nodded their heads. Sir Nasran moved in front of
Jak, and he took a step backwards
“They will not be here tonight” he said firmly. “On the next moon, or perhaps after
that is when they will strike, and we will be ready” There was a low murmur among
the gathered knights. “Division captains and lieutenants stay, the rest of you are
dismissed. Keep your wits about you brothers, there is more to this than is apparent”
The knights filed away, and the few that were ordered to stay began to sit at Sir
Nasran’s table. Jak stood behind the chair nearest him, loathe to sit, loathe to stay. The
Commander looked at Jak, and did not ask him to sit. “I apologise brother, there is not
the time for introductions” Jak nodded. “How many are we up against, my friend”
“Thousands” he said grimly. “This is the second village of the forest realm. If there
were enough to ransack Dragonburn, there will be more then enough to do damage
here” The commander nodded, and turned to his captains.
“We will position archers here, here and here………” he began, pointing to places on
the map that was inlayed into the table.
Jak tried to listen, but he could not. His mind strayed, his gaze shifted from the table,
his hands drifting to the pommel of the sword at his waist.
“Brother?” Sir nasran asked. “You are anxious?”
“My apologies, commander but yes, I am. I must be moving…… but if I may I would
like to see my captain before I go” The commander motioned to one of the sentries.
“Tell us first how you think is best to deal with this” he said somberly. “We have
never known the trolls to act in this way. As one who has faced them, please give us
your thoughts.” For a lowly lieutenant like Jak, this was an honour. He drew breath
and picked his words carefully.
“Protect the villagers. Do not let them be taken. Change their plan, that may well be
enough” Sir Nasran nodded, and motioned to one of the guards at the door. He stood
next to Jak as he gave a grave and formal salute. One by one, the men at the table
stood to salute him back.
“Thera be with you” they said. Jak nodded decisively and turned on his heel.

He willed his aching muscles to keep up with the guard at his side. He took him
through the milling villagers and knights, and across what looked painfully like the
clearing in Dragonburn. The infirmary was on the ground, a sprawling building
draped in white sheets that rustled in the slight breeze. Donel was in a cot, low off the
ground at the far side of a large long room. There were only two other patients besides
him, but they passed over fifteen beds. Jak knelt at Donel’s side. He was sleeping.
Bandages covered one half of his face, his arm was strapped down by his side. Jak
heard but did not see the healer approach
“Your friend has taken quite a beating” he said softly
“Will he be alright?”
“Given time. He needs to rest now” Jak nodded.
“Will you tell him……..”
“That you had to hurry?” Donel said weakly, without opening his eyes
“Yes, captain” Jak said with a smile. “No rest for me. I go to Stonekeep”
“Does it hurt?”
“Like hell” Jak sighed. “But what choice do I have?” Donel smiled.
“I taught you well” his captain said, opening his eyes slowly.
“On my honour” he said quietly. “This will not be in vain”
“It already isn’t Jak. You warned the commander? Then you have bought yourself
valuable time, and you have saved these villagers”
“WE have saved these villagers” donel nodded.
“When do you travel?”
“One of the horses should be ready by now”
“Take two”
“two?”
“it’s a scouts trick, one horse carries your supplies, the other carries you. That way,
both horses move faster”
“Good plan” Jak said nodding, casting a glance up at the guard that stood behind him.
“You are taking a phoenix horse?”
“the messengers horses we took from the trolls.. I need a sprinter, not a warhorse”
There was a pause. Donel closed his eyes. “you have to rest, captain………”
“so the healers keep telling me” Jak smiled.
“I will come back on the way……..” Jak hesitated, feeling he was letting his secret
slip “back home” Donel sighed
“Be prepared, Jak. You may not like what you find”
“I will take my chances” Donel nodded.
“Thera go with you”
“And with you” Jak stood, saluted and left reluctantly. He bowed to the healer on his
way out, and met up with the scout again. It was only a short walk to the stables. As
soon as he was in view of them, he broke into a run. Windwalker, the chestnut scouts
horse pricked his ears. He was stood in a courtyard, surrounded by stables, surrounded
by thick set warhorses. He tossed his head. Jak flung himself into the saddle, and took
the reins from the squire at the horses head.
“The other” he said. “I will take the grey” he said to the boy as he handed up the
saddle pack with his supplies in.
“But sir, she’s not saddled”
“That wont matter” he said to the boys back as he hurried to get the horse. “Strap the
saddlebag to her.” The squire did as he was told, and brought Shadowdancer to him.
She skittered nervously, and Jak took the reins. A quick glance at her, and the saddle
underneath him told him what he already knew. The versatile messengers saddle
would easily fit both horses. He nodded at the stable squire, shifting slightly in the
saddle, and taking a long slow breath. He let the urgency he had held off all afternoon
flood through him, and patted the messengers horse on the neck.
He kicked his heels back, and the horse shot out of the stables at a gallop. The speed
of him took the breath out of Jak for a moment, and he let Shadowdancer’s reins slip.
But she had no trouble catching up. They joined the road leading to Forest Gate just
as the sun began to set. They headed into the North, and towards Stonekeep.