The Exodus Sagas: Book IV - Of Moons and Myth (82 page)

“
Vuumber?
Where? We knows o’ the army, yer majesty, we knows---“
Tannek felt a tight grip of a hand on his arm.

“What is
Vuumber?
”
Kaya asked quick.

“Means war, a battle chant to Vundren we do, when we charge into
….oh
no.”
Tannek looked to Zen.

“Zen, where are the others? Where are they?” Kaya knew already, she felt it. She saw the look on Zen’s face, his terrible knowing glare full of tears, and he pointed with fatigued relief at the ruins of Mooncrest.

“In there? They are in the ruins? Do the Armondi soldiers have them?” Kaya did not want the answer.

Zen fell to his knees, nodded, and nodded over and over while he pointed west. He was near naked, blood covered, exhausted, and maimed. He tossed the hammer back to Dalliunn, but it thudded to the ground. Dalliunn was
already
gone. He spun to look, the lewirja was a half mile ahead, neari
ng the outskirts of the ruins
, with
the weapons of his friends
he had gathered
. All alone.

“Are they captured, Zen, you are sure?” Kaya sniffled a bit, but held back her tears as Azenairk nodded. She looked to Cristoff. “We must go.”

“You know what odds we face if we do. It will be a slaughter, Kaya.” Cristoff spoke softly, yet Zen heard it.

Tannek ran to the wagon led by his men,
he opened
the sarcophogous on top. He motioned for Zen to come. Instead, he ran
back
to the waving hand of his new king, and was grabbed by the beard. Everyone stared as Zen Thalanaxe whispered and shouted with his meek voice, right into the ear of Tannek Anduvann. He gripped his fists, stomped when he spoke, and pointed more times than anyone could keep track of.
He likely did not know how he whipped Tannek’s head about by the red braids. Then it stopped, a
nd Zen pointed to everyone, and
stood with his arms crossed.

“Me new king, Azenairk Thalanaxe o’ Kakisteele, has a few words he wanted me to speak outloud for ye’ then.” Tannek cleared his throat. He heard three steps behind him, his king moved up, whispering more into his ear, yet it looked like shouting.

“Go ahead, master Anduvann.” Cristoff rubbed his brow, hearing thunder faintly to the east, where the caravan was.
The former lord of Saint Erinsburg looked to his people, his knights, all those gathered here in force. Fifteen hundred in all that could hold a weapon
and fight
, one and a half legions to face five legions of Armondeen.

“King Thalanaxe says to yell ye’ that he done carried holy relics, passed down through four dwarven kingdoms, and until his father passed, never thought o’ what he done encountered on this journey. No one believed in it, yet he carried on.
Then he met four friends that believed in it with him, enough to put their lives in jeopardy.
” Tannek breathed in and listened to the whispering shouts in his ear.

“He says that he
has
fought giants, snowpanthers, cannibals, dragons, and many a man and beast to get here. He says he done laid Mudren Sheldathain to rest, deep under Kakisteele. Ye’ all be here, cuz ye’ have faith in what he and his friends was doin’, faith sometimes he did not even have himself then.” Tannek choked up a bit, but still listened close and repeated what he heard
from the whispering lips of Zen
.

“He says to tell ye’ that he made an exodus, to a place that was not supposed to be, through lands they said he could not pass, with friends he never knew he had, and done killed an immortal demoness that they said could not be killed. The curse that could not be undone, is gone. And if
anyone here
thinks they cannot battle to see his
closest
friends freed,
if ye’ think we cannot win, by Vundren
,
the road back to yer homes, is east.”
Tannek took another breath, hearing the last words come out, soft and clear
,
to his ear alone.

“He says he goes to fight for his friends, ones that was there with him the entire journey, ones that he could not o’ made it here without. Me king will go in alone, for
lady
Shinayne, and Sir James, and Gwenneth, and Saberrak Agrannar, and he says he will fight with all he has. He thanks ye’ all for bein here, but he cannot leave them to some terrible fate, not while he done has strength left in him.”
Tannek lowered his head.

T
hen a
ll eyes went from Zen
and Tannek,
to
Lord
Cristoff.
Alden, give me a sign, something. Our heroes are in there, captured by wicked men that outnumber us more than three to one. I do not know the terrain, our people are tired, yet I will charge in and die, if it is what you re
quire of me Lord. Please, send me signs
,
tell me what to do,
anything.

He heard the screams of Rosana giving birth
, he heard Garret praying loudly
.
“
That’s it Savanno, come
now. Push Rosana, Savanno wishes
to come into this world. He is strong, I can tell already, push now, good, rest.”
Cristoff smiled as the trickle of
sun
light shone over her tent.
There is one.

Cristoff looked to his left, past the beam of sunlight battling the gray clouds, and saw another light. It was white, floating, not one minute away. It was the sword,
Loestiri,
and fifty armed
elven
priests of Siril following it.
It was headed right for them, humming and floating
,
and glowing bright.
There is two.

Lord Bradswellen looked right, the thunder was close, right over a foothill, and then he saw. Five hundred cavalry
roared over the
hill on Shanadorian stallions,
no banners, no flags, but he knew the man
leading them. He saw the greatsword raise and point to him, then five hundred lances and blades rose after, Sir Jardayne of Highmont roared a battle cry and charged toward them with the cavalry of Evermont.
That would be three, thank you Alden, watch over us all, amen
.

He made the sign of the feathered cross on his chest, drew his blade, and raised it high. “Soldiers of Harlaheim, of Marlennak, of Tintasarn, and of Evermont…we march on the city of Mooncrest
and the legions of Armondeen
! All forces,
ready for battle
!”

“
Vuumber!
”
Yelled the dwarves as they marched with their new king.

“
Arah!”
Shouted the elves
following the dancing and hovering blade
.

“
Hail!”
Yelled the human men
as they massed into the west on foot and on horse.

Cristoff nodded to Zen with a smile and a salute, the nod was returned. The dwarves opened the stone container atop the wagon, pulling out ancient plate armor, a crowned helm, and an axehammer. All made of some polished gold, covered in crescent moons, and they quickly began dressing their king for battle, in the armor of Mudren Sheldathain. Cristoff walked toward the screams and labored breaths of Rosana.

“My love
, I have to go.” Cristoff stepped in the tent
and looked to the priest.
“If
I must break my promise to
her and my son
, and not re
turn, will you watch over them in my stead
,
father
Garret?”

“It would be an honor, Cristoff.”
Garret nodded, hands covered in blood.

“
No, do not leave me, no Cristoff, not now.”
Her words were weak, she was covered in sweat, the baby still had not come.

“Brunnwik, Ga
rret, please see my son Savanno
, safely into this world with his mother.” Cristoff sighed, kissed Rosana on the
forehead, and nodded to Garret as he let her hand tug and fall.
“Drodunn, I need you on the field
of battle
.”

The tent flaps opened
, allowing a tremendous noise of armored me
n and horse to issue in. The armies were moving, yet two elves stepped forward and bowed to Cristoff, their blades sheathed behind gray robes.

“My lord, Arylius sends us to assist in the birth of your son. We are priests of Siril, as long as you are not offended, we may be of help.”

“I have Alden there, Vundren here, by all means. If Siril’s priests offer, we will take all the help we can get at this moment.” Cristoff nodded, four priests of three different religions and races, each took places of prayer and attention around Rosana.

“Go, Cr
istoff, I will not fail in my du
ties, Alden willing. Please, do not fail in yours.” Garret nodded, knowing at this moment, Cristoff would likely stay in the tent, had he time to think
.

“Farewell, I shall see you on my return, and
I pray
we will walk with Savanno in the streets of a new kingdom, together.” Cristoff heard her pleas and cries, he could only imagine her pain, but he had an army to lead.
He had brave heroes to save, and he knew where he belonged.

“
Hail, hail, hail!”

The chant was overwhelming as he walked out the tent.
It sho
cked him to a w
ide eyed stare.
His white mare was ready, and his squire helped him up
as he gazed across the army
. Cristoff looked down to five hundred dwarven warriors in red and black, their beards
still as they waited with Drodunn and Tannek
Anduvann
. Then to five hundred Evermont cavalry in their armor and shans, blond
e
haired big men ready for battle
behind Sir Jardayne and Sir Codaius
.
His eyes looked to Leonard and Karai
from the Order of Saint Tarumin
, leading their five hundred Harlian forces. Kaya was mounted and armored to his right, the elves with the floating sword were with Aariss and Arylius Diravas to his left. Julia Whiteblade had a circle of men around the caravan, knowing someone had to remain to protect it and its nine thousand refugees. He saw no lewirja, no Angeline, but he
had no time to search
for anyone.

Just as Cristoff went to speak, Azenairk Thalanaxe walked forward next to him, in his full
golden
battle plate and crown, and
with the matching crescent moon shield
, and then raised his golden hammeraxe high.
Every
soldier fell to a knee, and every man on horse bowed their head
s
.

“
Vuumber, Vuumber, Vuumber!”
They all yelled, the dwarves first, but the chant was taken up by all present.

“I could not have said it better, your highness.” Cristoff bowed to Zen, and drew his blade. “Forces of Mooncrest, of Kakisteele, and o
f Tintasarn, by order of K
ing
Azenairk Thalanaxe
,
advance!
”

Temple of the Whitemoon, Outskirts of Mooncrest

Bryant Salganat did not notice his surroundings deep in the earth
, mystical as they were
. He barely opened his eyes, and when he did, all he saw was the tearing eyes of a small winged woman that caressed his forehead as she sang to him in a language he did not understand.
Clean, healed, and somehow fed without memory of eating, Bryant felt fine of body. It was his heart that was in pain now.
He was alone, in the dark
sanctum of mourning
,
and
all he knew was dead and gone.

Liogan had not left the chambers,
not once, feeling
that his prince needed him. For what, he did not know, but he stayed. Small goblins came and went, as did a white horse with a horn growi
ng out of its head in a majestic
spiral. Golden minotaurs walked back and forth in silent curiosity. A cyclops had even passed by in the underground sanctum of the temple. Liogan paid them little more than a nod, and found it odd that he, a human, was the center of attention here.
Everything seem
ed to move, and all that moved
watched him and Prince Bryant with curious eyes.

“Your majesty, please. Come outside, some fresh air will do you good.” Liogan Andellis looked down to the prince of Chazzrynn. He had not stopped sobbing for many, many hours.
Ever since she
had
told him.

“
Bryant
will be staying with me, Sir Liogan. His heart is broken, in so many ways, he needs the love of a woman
, a mother
. You humans know suffering in your short lives like no other being.” Princess Ramaya-nun, the red haired petit fairy that she was, spoke with
authoritative
power and truth to her words. “Accepting the death of a loved one, is not something he may resolve in short time.”