The Merchant and the Menace (41 page)

Hrafnu leaned on his ax and stared across the
valley. Every moment the Zodrians waited was a moment closer to the gate’s
completion. He grew restless. The taste for blood grew in his heart. Years of
vengeful ambitions were being fulfilled. Amird’s grip grew stronger on Hrafnu.
The Zodrians would pay for the deaths of all of the children he lost in this
struggle. He turned to see the iron gate swaying from dozens of ropes. It would
not be long now. The gate would fit into its hinge posts and his city would be
safe.

‘I grow weary of your cowardice, Zodrians,‘ cried
Hrafnu. ‘Ride forth, or go back to your dung pen of a kingdom!’

The Zodrian leaders saw the same developments as
Hrafnu. Their cowardice and hesitation forfeit their chance to capture the
gate. Several riders hurled insults back to the giant and the cavalry line grew
restless. A shield slipped from the saddle of a rider in the front rank,
spooking the mount next to him. As the horse reared and lunged forward, the men
on the far ends of the line concluded the charge was called. The heat of the
moment carried events. Horses bolted forward from all sides of the line. A
charge of cavalry surged into the ravine.

Hrafnu smiled and swept up his ax and blade. The
uneven line of horsemen came barreling down on him. Once more Hrafnu defied his
age. The great ax cut huge swatches through the approaching Zodrians. The
broadsword deftly picked rider after rider from their mounts. As the giant
decimated the front line, a second charged forward. When he was unable to swing
freely, the giant simply threw a shoulder into the nearest stallion and bowled
the cavalry line over. Wild-eyed horses fell kicking madly. Riders tumbled to
the ground. Ax, broadsword and steel shod boot systematically dispatched those
scrambling for safety. The melee of mounts and riders worked to Hrafnu’s
advantage. The Zodrians were unable to reach Hrafnu over the horses that
surrounded him, but the giant’s long reach inflicted more and more damage.

Line after cavalry line assaulted the giant. The
Zodrians scrambled to form fighting units. Once a small line was patched
together, it charged back into the mix. The bloodshed continued unabated.

“Have you ever heard a song by the Delvin scribe
Iorg, describing the scene that day, Kael?”

“No,” replied the boy.

“It portrays a decidedly Zodrian lean, but I
believe it to be quite a fair study of events. The Scribes prefer accuracy over
all else in their histories. Would you like to hear it?” asked Granu.

“Yes, of course,” answered Kael.

Granu’s eyes closed and he searched for the words.
The prince’s voice softened as he sang the lines of “The Battle of Keltar
Gate”.

Jumping down from towers bound

Neath a wintry sky

Hrafnu sneered and drew his ax

To kill here or die

The riders came in waves of two

And broke upon his beach

Twenty died from his cruel ax

None escaped its reach

Turning round with wild howl

To face the onslaught of his foe

Twenty more were put to death

Fighting toe to toe

The news soon came to Manreel’s ears

He winced, the death toll high

And riding forth he drew his sword

To kill here or die

Hrafnu heard the thunderous hooves

And stayed his bloody game

Cries arose from all about

The dying, maimed and lame

Giant eyes narrowed upon the sight

Of Manreel on his steed

Hrafnu grit his teeth and ventured forth

To commit an evil deed

“Ho! Hrafnu!” shouted Manreel

“I journey to your den.

I should have come here long ago

To stay this waste of men!”

“Manree,” snarled the fiend

“Flatter yourself not so.

I travel forth to greet you,

And make you next to go!”

“Travel on,” waved Manreel

Then raised his fiercesome blade

Hrafnu thundered forward

Across the open glade

They met upon this open glade

Earth encased in snow

Hrafnu swung his weapon

Manreel blocked the blow

Hrafnu spun and thrust his ax

Manreel’s horse did wheel

The Zodrian hero disappeared

From air ripped by steel

“Ho, Hrafnu!” cried the Zodrian

“You tarry with your blow.

Your age has made you sluggish,

dull-witted, weak and slow.”

Manreel spoke in hearty boast

But knew his words untrue

The day would not be won by strength

Only skill and speed might do

His warhorse was his best defense

Against the giant’s brawn,

Dunrave’s flanks were armor sheathed,

Steel glittered in the dawn

Manreel drew the steed about

Charging hard to Hrafnu’s front,

Its steely chest slammed forward,

The giant caught the force full brunt

Horse and giant stood immobile

Neither gave up ground

Manreel’s blade slashed downward

Its mark was never found

Hrafnu gathered all his strength

And raised the horse on high

Slamming Dunraves to the ground

Manreel lying there nearby

The giant should have finished him,

Yet his rage knew no bound

He threw his arms on high

Shouting, “Vengeance is found!”

Manreel rolled upon the snow

And scrambled to his blade

Hrafnu spun to meet him

His smile slow to fade.

“No armored beast supports you now

fair Zodrian leader of men.

Methinks no longer do you boast

Having ‘journeyed to my den’.“

“Hrafnu! Dark powers control you

And hatred twists your mind.

Vengeance consumes you,

And makes your heart go blind.”

“You disgust me mortal creature,

to issue soft words now.

Judgment day is here for you,

See the sweat upon your brow.”

“The sweat of battle is truly there

Yet fear will not be found.

I fight for king and country

to them stay honor bound.”

Hrafnu roared and swung his ax

Manreel leapt and rolled

The giant’s ax clove frozen earth

Locked solid in its fold

Manreel stopped at Hrafnu’s feet

No room to use his sword.

Hrafnu raised an iron boot

Laughing, “Manreel I grow bored.”

The iron boot rushed downward

Toward Manreel’s helmless head.

If not for quick action

The Zodrian surely would be dead.

From neath his cloak he drew

A dagger forged in Elven fire

And praying held it o’er head

His fortune now so dire

Hrafnu came down upon this blade

With all his force and weight

Steely spike rent iron boot

Sealing Hrafnu’s fate

The hilt glanced Manreel’s head

And wedged against the earth

Manreel was saved

Hrafnu’s howl held no mirth

The giant lost his footing

Falling toward the snow

Manreel snatched his weapon

Readying the fatal blow

As Hrafnu fell, Manreel rose

His blade did spin and slash

Hrafnu’s body was exposed

There opened a mortal gash

The Keltaran king lay dying

Manreel’s worst was done

The giant lay in disbelief

His battles always won

Those arrayed across the gate

Shuttered their mountain hold

The Zodrians cheered their hero

His courage shown so bold

Manreel stayed the joyous cheer

He held his hand on high

Stepping toward his terrible foe

Who lay waiting there to die

Manreel knelt beside the giant

Cradling his shaggy head

No mortal man is now aware

Of between them what was said

The giant howled in agony

Holding hands up to the sky

“Father, today I am not your child

Today I killed and died!”

Granu’s eyes remain closed for a moment. Kael sat
lost in thought. The story of Manreel was always that of a glorious hero, a man
who fought evil and destroyed it. Now, Kael was confused. If he were to believe
this version, Hrafnu was not evil at all. When Hrafnu met Manreel on that open
field, the giant was a man driven to the depths of hopelessness and misery. A
man pushed harder and further than any man was ever pushed. Wouldn’t Kael give
in to hatred and despair so much earlier than Hrafnu had?

The pair sat in silence for a long while. The
history of the world as Kael knew it had just drastically changed, and the
judgments he held were changed with it. The murmur of approaching voices
interrupted the boy. Granu’s hand signaled Kael to remain silent. Someone spoke
just inside the clearing.

 “... telling you the giant murdered the boy. Where
else might he be? The beast is no good. When he shows himself, you must deal
with him. You are the only one in the group keeping him from murdering us all
in our sleep! He will do his worst then flee to the hills, back to the scum
that spawned him in those forsaken mountains,” snarled Tepi.

“I do not trust him, and prefer to see him chained
and caged than with that staff,” snapped Manfir.

Kael shot a glance at Granu. The giant let out the
smallest of sighs and frowned.

“But I gave my word to the Elves to treat him as an
ally, and that I shall do,“ added Manfir.

“Elves? Out-worlders and trespassers,” hissed Tepi.
“They own no rights and no say in the business of men. They act in their own
best interests. If it doesn’t benefit them, they care not. They would sacrifice
all of Zodra if it meant one extra coin in their pocket!”

“You don’t know them, Tepi, and therefore do not
know what you say,” stated Manfir.