Prince Lander and the Dragon War (Tales of Old Natalia Book 3) by S. D. Smith

Author:S. D. Smith [Smith, S. D.]
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3
Publisher: Story Warren Books
Published: 2022-04-19T04:00:00+00:00

Lander was about to die. He closed his eyes as Forne cried out in delight and sliced down on Lander’s defenseless form.

Expecting a painful end, Lander heard the pitch of Forne’s cry shift from exultant to surprised. A thud sounded, and Lander looked to see the enemy captain crashing back with an arrow in his chest. He was dead.

“The king!” came the cry from the loyalist host. “The king fights for us!”

Lander swiveled back to see Whitson Mariner charge in, bow firing arrow after arrow alongside his band of reinforcements. Casting down his bow as he neared Lander, the old king drew his sword and drove into the enemy. Lander lurched to his feet, watching wide-mouthed as his father fought with relentless ferocity.

“Your blade, Captain Deeds,” Riley said, passing the prince’s sword back to him.

“Thank you, son.” Lander coughed and rubbed his leg. Riley saluted, then waded back into the battle. Lander, after testing his leg and quickly rewrapping the wound, joined in again himself. The prince fought on, but he couldn’t keep from watching his father every chance he could. Whitson ended twenty-three enemies that Lander saw, again and again saving the lives of his allies. He fought like the legendary warrior he was, and the oathbreakers were pushed back and defeated.

“They’re on the run!” Whitson raised his blade high, and the soldiers nearby cried out, some shouting rude taunts at the retreating oathbreakers. “Lander, lad, secure this area. I must hurry back to be certain they aren’t attacking elsewhere in the camp.”

“This may have just been Nickel’s theory proved right, sir,” Lander said.

“Aye,” the king replied. “A feint. I believe it was. Still, I must be sure.”

Lander bowed, and the king held up his sword in salute.

Captain Cove shouted, “A cheer for the king, who’s added this day to his long line of heroic deeds. The Savior King!” They cheered him ten times as he hurried off. Finally turning on the edge of the forest, Whitson bowed and waved at the clamoring crowd of weary, grateful soldiers. Then he was gone, and Lander, through misty eyes, turned again to his duty and ordered an officer to take a band and pursue the enemy only as far as the stacked rocks crossroad, then return.

Lander held the north gate, aiding the swiftly arriving doctors as they organized the injured into an order of priority. The prince bent over the worst cases, held hands, and whispered kind words. He had done this for years. It had been done for him. It was the grim duty of all officers—especially a prince.

Later, Nickel Drekker found the prince working to resecure a corner pole on the edge of a hastily made hospital tent. “Yer Highness, the gate’s repaired, and Captain Cove said the pursuit party’s back and all happy. The enemy’s gone. He said yer orders have all been carried out, and ye might inspect the stations at yer will.”

Lander grunted as he drove in a peg, then tested its taut cord. “Thank you, Nickel.

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