The Adventures of Brandar Odaron
Book 1: The Hidden Continent
Chapter 19 A Meeting In The Grass
Brandar slept late, then took his ease at breakfast nearer to the noonday meal, studying maps as he ate. And when he had relaxed enough, he had the Officers of the Garrison brought before him, one-by-one, with the lower-ranking Officers first. And he questioned them while they stood and he was seated behind a low table, writing their names and answers upon parchment, though ever did he ensure that each Officer could see that he was also often keeping a hand upon the hilt of his sword.
The Garrison had but nine Officers, including the dead Major. But Brandar spent so much time questioning them that it took him the rest of that day. And in this way he learned the entire tale of the fallen Scout. But this Scout was, in fact, one whom Brandar himself had sent from Baertunas. And for this reason, Brandar felt responsible for his death, which made him deadly serious.
Valiant indeed was the Scout, whose name was Stykhos, and who had ridden for several days upon the Grasslands northwest, at length reaching the Coast, where he then continued west, even beyond the Great Northern Bay. And there it was, he admitted ere he died, that he had been lulled by the smell and coolness of the sea air, as he rode heedless upon the beach, else he may have been more warry.
There he spied hordes of Gobba mustering in the distance, and preparing for war, but knew not that he had been seen coming, and that Gobba were hiding in the grass a little ways from the beach. And these shot him with arrows, where one pierced his shoulder, and two entered the rump of his horse. But as these Gobba use small arrows, Stykhos was able to remove the arrows as he fled, and was not then felled, though he knew he was going to die, as the Gobba always poison the tips of their arrows, and he had seen men die of much lighter wounds.
Verily, he and his horse soon sickened but pressed on, though the horse died one day’s ride from Kombros. Then good Stykhos, ailing and vomiting, continued afoot, reaching the Garrison three days later; crawling at last to the outer fence where he could go no further. And it was by chance that he was found there by a Watchman, whose task it was to walk the fence-line, and ere the Scout died of his poisoning.
The Garrison’s Surgeon tried his best to save Stykhos, but it was too late. And on his death-bed Stykhos gave an account of his mission. And while men begged the Major to send word to the new Warlord, he refused, fearing that the Warlord would come himself to Kombros. And he threatened everyone around him with death by beheading should they defy his orders. But the one who had confessed to Brandar had said to the three who later deserted: “Would that some brave soul had the will to stand against that bully, and go off to see the Warlord. But I am in fear of the Major, such a beast is he. I dare not oppose him.” Thus did the three take it upon themselves to abandon their posts and ride off into the night, to come at length to make report to Brandar.
Now, all eight of those who stood before Brandar repented of their cowardice, and of not rebelling against the Major. But the Major had been an extremely rough individual, even as held by the battle-hardened Officers there, so that not one dared disobey him. And he would bribe corrupt Soldiers to watch his back, and to act as his agents. Therefore, it appeared to Brandar that none but the evil Major, and those whom he had bribed, were willingly engaged in treason, so that he did not punish them severely. Yet, he could not condone their weak-kneed service, and so stripped them of rank and sent them under guard to stand before Duke Flaven and General Jesan in Baertunas. Meanwhile, after appointing one of his Captains and that one’s Band to take command of the Garrison at Kombros, Brandar made ready to go north; desiring next to inspect the defenses at the Tower of Geranost.
As it happens, Jesan was at court with Flaven when the eight Kombros Officers were brought in for judgment. And when Flaven heard the charges against them, he was livid, for he was the Baron of Kombros, and the Villagers there were his People. He himself was born there, as were his father and grandfather, and his late wife. Thus was Flaven of a mind to have them all flogged in public, then sent home in disgrace, branded as cowards; for it was the Sereghran’s custom to brand the symbol for cowardice upon the back of the right hand of a deserter. But Jesan, after reading to Flaven the letter which Brandar had sent with the Officers, offered another punishment, to which Flaven agreed, and this was to give the men the choice either of taking the brand and going home, a most shameful thing among the Sereghran, or going at lowest rank to be posted in the front lines of the Army of Vordurus, where was expected the greatest assault from the enemy. And in that way, any who wished could thus win back their honor. But so discomfited were they at the prospect of being branded cowards, as the Sereghran are all descendants of Heroes of the Mists, and are proud of their bravery, all eight of them chose to go to war, where they all indeed regained their honor; for they fell, together with many Soldiers more and less worthy, in defense of the Realm, whence the invasion had begun. And afterwards their families were told that those men had each volunteered for duty at Vordurus, and died bravely in battle.
Now Flaven, being to that time consumed with the duties of his new status as Duke of Baertunas, had neglected his holdings in Kombros, as his children and servants had come with him from the Jungle to dwell in the Castle at Baertunas. But whence he learned of the events at the Garrison at Kombros, he sent a large contingent of Soldiers to make sure that his estate was yet intact, for none of the messengers he sent there had ever returned, so that he knew not what the henchmen of Duke Vastus had been doing there. And that is how he discovered that some of the henchmen who had escaped from Baertunas had taken up their residence in his very house; together with the henchmen who were already there, having earlier been assigned to keep it for the pleasure of the Demon Duke. But these had also been keeping watch upon the roads, to prevent word getting out about them.
Unwise, therefore, were those men, remaining until the Soldiers from Baertunas arrived and slew those who resisted, and bound with chains those who surrendered. And none escaped. Hence were those men brought to be judged by Flaven, who promptly imprisoned them. But they were later given the choice of going to war upon the borders, or forever remaining in prison, at which they all went to war and also fell in battle.
A few days after his questioning of the Cowards of Kombros, Brandar rode out upon the Grasslands north, leaving behind that Captain and his Band which he had earlier placed in command of that Garrison. And he intended to come as soon as could be to the Tower of Geranost, upon the Northern Coast, which was the last Tower northwards of the Northern Frontier; normally reached in a three-day ride from Kombros, but for what occurred early the third day.
Three Bands only of his Company rode now behind Brandar, yet Tomas, as ever, was there by his side. And the noonday Suns had risen high in a clear blue sky. Thus, the men’s spirits were lifted by cool breezes, smelling of the sea, wafting down from the north and making the grasses sway wavelike, as though the Grassland itself was a great green ocean. So, one and all were now rather enjoying the ride, and expected not to be encountering enemies thereabouts.
Then the Company marked at a distance a mounted Patrol that they assumed must have come from the Tower of Geranost, only six more hours away. And they counted twelve riders in the livery of Frontier Soldiers, slowly heading south, or maybe southwest. Then one in the Company said to a fellow nearby: “Well it is that the Warlord shall not be so angry with the Officers at Geranost. Here is a right proper Patrol, scouting upon the Borderlands, as indeed they should.” Brandar, however, wished to speak with the leader of the Patrol, to learn if any more Scouts had come this way, and he led his Company to intercept the Patrol, which then abruptly changed course, as if to prevent a meeting of the ways.
“What is this?” said Brandar. “Why do they shy from us?” “Who can say,” said Tomas, shading his eyes. “Even should they wish to be left alone, or wish not to stop and wait, they could not have misread your standard at this distance, for we are not that far away; lest they are near-sighted the lot." "Word has long been sent of your coming to the Frontier," said another man. "So, they must know it is you.” “Perhaps they do not recognize the old standard,” said one of the Captains. “Else they wish to avoid a delay in their task.”
Brandar now changed his own course, and rode faster. But the Patrol turned again and rode faster still. Then Brandar caught an odor upon a breeze coming from the direction of the Patrol. And the scent made him draw up his mount so hard that those behind nearly stumbled into him.
Brandar looked at Tomas, who now likewise smelled the stench. And the two, locking eyes, remembered where and when, upon a perilous time in the past, they had breathed other such stinks. Then, as one, they spurred their mounts to charge upon the far Patrol, drawing their swords, as Brandar called out: “After them! They are spies of the enemy, disguised as Sereghran! Catch them, ere they get away! And let none escape the Grasslands! After them, now!”
Naturally, therefore, the far Patrol, upon seeing the charge, made to ride off into the West, which meant that their pursuers were long upon the chase that day. Yet, Brandar and Tomas, using the magic of their swords, sent out fireballs and lightning-bolts, as the thirty-three men of the Company rode hard upon their heels. And not a few times did the two hit their mark; knocking a spy from his horse, or slaying his mount, or both. But any spy who fell alive to the ground soon found himself surrounded by one of the Warlord’s Bands, and thus swiftly met his doom.
Several leagues over the Grasslands did Brandar pursue the spies ere turning aside with the failing of daylight, where three of the spies continued racing away. But he sent one Band to continue the chase, saying: “Let not one of them be left alive! Go now! Then come to Geranost. But return not if even one escapes, or I shall send you back to find him in the enemy’s very own ranks.”
Nine spies had already fallen. And Brandar and Tomas went to inspect one of the dead by torchlight, where they discovered that the spy was a Kobo, cunningly made to appear as a Man from afar, and wearing the clothing of a Sereghran Soldier likely taken from a slain member of a real Patrol from Geranost. But in his anger, Brandar kicked the head of the dead Kobo, and spat upon it’s body, and cursed it.
Brandar next led the rest of his men to the Coast without rest, and came to the Tower of Geranost with the coming of the dawn. And, here too, he found the Garrison sorely lacking in its ability to mount a defense, though none hear had been abusing the People thereabouts. Yet, neither were they aware that an attack was about to come upon them.
Straight away Brandar set about instructing the Officers there as to how he wished to prepare the defenses; ordering a very great strengthening of the walls, and the digging of trenches, and the setting of pikes in the ground around the Tower and the Garrison. And while he and Tomas had both gone without sleep the night before, so many things needed doing, in very little time, that they slept not the next night as well.
In a following morning, the Band which Brandar had sent riding in pursuit of the fleeing Kobo now rode wearily in through the Garrison’s fence, at which their exhausted Captain said then to Brandar: “We pursued the spies in the night, and into the next day’s light without rest, until their horses fell beneath them; for their mounts had not been well kept, and had been ridden to their deaths. And we came upon them as they were slashing the dead horses in anger. So, we slew them without mercy, only to find that they were Kobo made up as Men. But we could not hurry back just then, lest our own mounts fail us. Thus, coming as soon as could be, we found your trail and followed it here.”
Brandar was pleased, and allowed all of his men two days rest, though he and Tomas took only six hours’ sleep that night, at which they continued their work on the defenses until late the next evening. Consequently, much was being accomplished.
Two days later, men came from nearby, mostly from the town of Torquere, in answer to the Warlord’s Heralds asking for men to volunteer for a fight upon the Borderlands. And Brandar had them camp to the south of the Garrison. Then many others men began to arrive iin the following days; sometimes one at a time, but often in groups, and from as far away as Linguonon. And they came also from Trabus and Domosus, and from the fishing villages, and numerous other places in the North, so that their numbers swelled by leaps and bounds. Brandar was thus greatly encouraged, with such a hardy response to his summons. And he named them the “People’s Brigades”, which name they proudly embraced, calling themselves “Brigadiers”; soon even to prove themselves a force to be reckoned with.
From the shore near the Tower, a wide stone pier had been built, reaching far into the water, so ships could load and unload without the need of rowboats. But while there were many boats and small vessels tied to the pier, there were no cargo ships at the time. Goods and supplies indeed came and went here by sea, but the pier was not now busy. And while Brandar had not previously considered attacks from the ocean, he looked upon the water with a sense of dread, remembering his nightmare, and the Harpies of Modeus, and the Sea-Serpents that had chased Wingaron. Thus did he ken that he must quickly prepare for attacks by both land and sea. He therefore sent word to King Aetas asking for Mariners to come to the Tower, for he desired that they hold it against enemies who may come upon the beach, and possibly even from the water. But he also hoped that, in the absence of such events, he could send them south at need. And he asked for supplies and weapons, as the People’s Brigades were continuing to grow in number, and would become a larger force than the Soldiery of the Garrison, though they were armed with farming tools. Proper weapons would they need, especially bows with arrows, and swords and spears, axes and maces, else war-hammers or other pole-arms, and any other true weapon.
As it happens, when all available forces were at last gathered thereabouts, the People’s Brigades numbered far more than the Soldiers and Mariners combined, so that the countryside about the Tower and the Garrison held a rather large army of them. And that had not been expected by the enemy. What is more, Aetas had sent so many supplies and weapons that all the forces there were well-fed and well-armed.
Eventually, Brandar felt that his work at Geranost was done. Thus, he led his men back to Kombros, where he found that Flaven had sent a fine Commander and other Officers to replace those whom Brandar had relieved. And after staying one night, and with his Company restored less that one soul who had been slain by the corrupt Major, Brandar went to Vordurus, where he intended to remain; sure that this Tower was to be the enemy's main focus.
Upon arriving, Brandar ordered all of the Officers who had been dwelling in the Tower, all but Baeren the Knight, to move into tents upon the grounds, forcing them to live in the same way as the men in their Army. Then did he and Tomas take up residence in the Tower, together with the men of the Warlord’s Company, and Baeren.
Much relieved was Baeren to see Brandar at Vordurus, for he likewise believed the Tower was in for the worst of it. And while People’s Brigades had been established there, and also as well as at Baertunas, in numbers as great as at Gerenost, it was not going to be enough to decide the outcome of the war ere it was over, as far as Brandar was concerned. Then he sent word for Jesan to move his army from Baertunas to a wide place in the Grasslands midway between Vordurus and Geranost, which meant that Jesan would be positioned due east of Kombros. Yet, Jesan was also to leave in place all of the People’s Brigades at Baertunas, to keep secure that Fortress, should Jesan’s Army be foreced to retreat. Then Elven messengers from the Southlands came to Brandar, saying: “The Kobo have gathered above the Lowland Marshes, in numbers great enough to threaten all of the southern regions of Arzultaur.” But even while those Elves were speaking, there came messengers from Medhyos, saying, in their turn: “Scouts have seen forces of Durwolc uncounted on the move in the Forest west of Baerhesperos. And we expect them to arrive at that Fortress within three days of this day.” But later, two Scouts, which Baeren had sent out, returned to Vordurus, saying to them both as they sat for the evening meal: “We spied hordes of the enemy marching in ordered companies through the Forest, both in the west and in the north. And we have ridden three days with little or no rest from our last sighting of them. Thus, they could arrive here in but a few day’s time, should they hurry. And we fear that they are so numerous that we shall all be whelmed.”
Thus did Brandar know that battle was at hand. And he sent yet more Heralds into Southern Arzultaur, asking for all able-bodied Sereghran willing to volunteer to join with the People’s Brigades at Angust and Baerhesperos, and at Dhwinos. But to the Duke at Baerhesperos, whose name is Phaedus, he sent orders that any force that Duke could manage were to be sent to the aid of the Lowland Elves at Magadinos, in the Southlands.
Then Brandar sent new Scouts into the Forest west. And barely were the forces of the Frontiers arrayed when one only returned, numbed by fear, saying: “The enemy lays in wait in the Forest, and gathers now in great numbers not two day’s march from us. And their count is more than can be measured without giving up life and limb. Verily, no others of my fellows shall return from the Forest, if they have not already set foot upon the Borders.”
The next day, while Brandar was directing final preparations from his Command Room in the Tower, a tall, dark-haired man in lordly raiment appeared in the doorway, saying that he had come from Baertunas with a gift from Duke Flaven. And he gave to Brandar what seemed a large mirror of fine make, like a heavy disk made of thick but perfectly clear crystal, set in a silver frame intricately engraved with runes and mystical symbols. One face of it was rounded, with a single symbol etched in its center, but the other was perfectly flat and smooth, like the surface of a frozen lake. And when Brandar looked into that surface, here was the image of Flaven looking back at him.
“Good day to you, friend Brandar,” said the image of Flaven to the utterly amazement Brandar. “Please accept this gift for use in commanding your Armies from afar. I am sure that you will find it an invaluable asset.” Then Flaven explained that his image was not a picture but was Flaven himself, speaking through an identical device which he called an Aefarin, meaning “That With Distant Voice”. And with it Brandar could converse with anyone who held another Aefarin, no matter how far away, since Flaven had sent one to each of the most important Lords, including the Kings Aetas and Strabos, and General Jesan, and also the Dukes Medhyos and Phaedus, and even to Turlin of Askondor, Lord of the Lowland Elves, whom Brandar had not yet met. But a holder of any Aefarin may contact the holder of any other, one at a time, by speaking a word of command and the name of the far owner whilst touching the frame, though the other need not be present for Brandar to see through the far device. Thus, when not in use, it may be covered with cloth, or enclosed in a cabinet, else kept in a place in which it mattered not that another user could see through it like a window. Then Flaven instructed Brandar as to the proper words for activating and canceling the power of his Aefarin, and suggested keeping it where he would most often require its use, and also where he could readily see or hear when another Lord was trying to speak with him.
Then Brandar thanked Flaven many times, offering him gold in return, which the Wizard refused, saying: “Take it as a gift, and use it while you remain on the Frontiers, as I foretell that you will have need of it.” Then Flaven dismissed himself, at which Brandar promptly used it to converse with Jesan, then with Medhyos, then Strabos and others; completely forgetting the amazed Tomas and Baeren with whom he had been studying maps and discussing strategies, ere the man who brought the Aefarin had come to his door. And that man was yet there, with a smile upon his face.
After a time, Brandar looked up from his new gift, and realized that he had been somewhat impolite to its deliverer, in not thus thanking him, and offering refreshments and a reward. “Many thanks, good sir,” said Brandar to the stranger, “for bringing me this gift. A reward you shall have for your efforts.” And Brandar was about to call for a servant to bring refreshments, but the man said: “Nay, Lord, begging your pardon, but I am not an errand-runner for the Duke, my friend Flaven of Kombros. I am Calaren, the Magus of Dolon. And I have come to offer you my services in defense of the Lands. But, after having visited with Flaven, who was about to send to you this Aefarin by means of a very trusted Soldiers, I consented instead to bring it along with me. And so, I have come to you here, where I expect I shall be the most useful.”
Of course Brandar had heard of this Calaren, and welcomed him gladly, having no doubt that he would be needed, for the enemy would likely bring Mages of their own. And that proved to be so. What is more, Brandar gave an high office to Calaren, for he was a famous Wizard, renowned as a most powerful Magician. Thus was Brandar in good spirits, what with his gift and the coming of the great Magus. And thereafter these two would become close friends, and would long work together selflessly in all the terrible struggles to come. For many dire battles would they experience through the years, where Calaren would prove to be one of the most valiant and valuable of the Champions of the Realm.
Later that day, and throughout the next, other Mages came to Brandar, offering their services, for Flaven had sent a summons into the Lands requesting their aid. So then Brandar sent them to various locations on the Frontiers, such as Dhwinos and Angust, and Kombros and Geranost, and to Jesan in the Grasslands. But to save time, Calaren proved his value by magically transporting them to their respective destinations. And good it was that this was done when it was, as the war was nigh at hand, and those Mages would be desperately needed upon the fields of battle.
Now was come that war which the Sereghran later named Odune Palagas Ansuros, which is “The Devil’s Devouring Assault”, which was shortened to the “Devouring Assault”. And this was such a terrible conflict, in which countless Sereghran would fall, that the People would come to consider it a turning-point in their history, not only due to the number of slain, but since it marked the first great battles in which the new Warlord took part.
Indeed, all of the Northrons would afterwards play major roles in the most bloody wars of Arzultaur, and not a few times became instrumental in the achieving of victories. What follows herewith are brief Tells gleaned from the full story of this deadly Assault which Brandar brought to Andaria upon his return, and which therefore became part of the Chronicles of Andaria, as a copy preserved in the Library of the King at the Royal Castle in Romin.