Iron War by Alex Linwood

Author:Alex Linwood [Linwood, Alex]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781951098070
Publisher: Greenlees Publishing
Published: 2020-06-08T22:00:00+00:00

A trumpeter called alarm, and the people along the road vanished, returning to their tents and makeshift shelters. The swiftness of their disappearance took away Portia’s breath. Ahead, the gate to the town was shut. Soldiers lined the top of the walls. A second trumpet call rang out, and the troops standing on top of the wall raised crossbows and aimed them at the dwarves on the road. A cloud passed over the sun, sending the entire landscape into deep shadow.

General Seren raised an arm, bringing the troops to a halt.

Not even insects made a noise as the two sides appraised each other. At a signal from the dwarf commander, a white banner was raised and flapped in the cold breeze that blew from the fields. Nothing from the town’s soldiers showed acknowledgment of the signal.

The clattering of armor reverberated in the air as additional troops came around the walls of the town on either side and positioned themselves facing the dwarves on the road. A few soldiers stood with crutches, ready to defend the border even while injured.

“Seems we are not welcomed,” said the Dwarven commander quietly. She turned to look at Portia. “Come join me. Slowly.”

Portia signaled her horse to move forward. The strike of each hoof on the dirt road reverberated in the air. The hairs on Portia’s arms and neck stood up. She feared making a wrong move and sending the armies into action.

“Any suggestions, young human? We are here for an alliance, but there might be too much fear here for that. Do you know any of these people? Can you vouch for them or for us?” asked General Seren, speaking low while keeping her eyes on the armies ahead.

A second to the commander held out a spyglass to Portia, extending his arms slowly and held high so the opposing army saw that it was not a weapon. Portia took the cold instrument and held it to her eye, scanning the soldiers. Dark circles ringed under the soldiers’ eyes and fear showed on their faces. Their arms shook as they held the crossbows at ready, holding the heavy weapons in ready position.

The faces were all unfamiliar to Portia. A motion caught her eye on the far end of the wall, and she moved the spyglass to that location. An older woman in uniform stood, also with a spyglass held to her eye, staring at the Dwarven army in the road. The woman lowered the glass. Portia recognized the face. It was General A. Bancrot. What was she doing here, so far from the Elven wall? What had happened?

An arrow skittered along the road ahead, shot from the wall of the town. It missed badly. The soldiers around Portia jumped, hands flying to swords and their own crossbows.

“Halt!” called General Seren.

Another command rang out from the other side.

A hiss of disapproval rang from the Dwarven soldiers around them, and the air smelled of fear, but they did halt. Portia held her breath as all motion ceased again as the two sides eyed each other, waiting for the other to take the opportunity to attack.

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