Trance Warriors: The Siege of Scarn by Robert C Auty

Author:Robert C Auty
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: trance, warrior, siege, scarn, fantasy, fiction, heroic, sword, sorcery, magic, Connor, battle, weapon, spear, bow, arrow, war, fighting, book, hero
ISBN: 9780956428486
Publisher: Andrews UK Limited 2010
Published: 2010-07-01T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

Merrill waited, seated on a large wooden chair placed at the centre of her army. The soldiers stood to attention and not a few of them sweated heavily, for approaching them across the open, gently undulating hills was the army of the Horan Empire. Spread as far as the eye could see, the legions marched towards them.

She felt a little uneasy. So many? Twice, perhaps three times as many as she had requested. Malik had brought her the news of his success and he was now deep in his dungeons, busy producing the vials her private guards required. Still, twelve ‘children of Scarl’ flanked her; she had forces enough to deal with this emperor should he become troublesome.

She looked about at her men. Her ‘chosen’ thousand, converted to the vials, flanked the children of Scarl, who in turn sat mounted behind her. To her right were just over three thousand regulars, with another five thousand conscripts to her left.

General Goren stood at the centre of his regulars. She would have to consider his position when this venture was concluded; he continually stared at her and his stare was not complimentary. But for now she would leave him be, as his men respected him and he was a good general.

Riders broke away from the advancing horde and galloped towards her. Three men: one white-haired and straight in the saddle; another grey-haired, smaller, slightly stooped and awkward as if he were unused to riding; and the third - she rose from the chair to see him better - a beautiful young man with short-cropped, blond hair and, even from this distance, deep blue, wondrous eyes. She would have this one, and soon. She knew who he was, his demeanour told her - someone heavily under the influence of the vial. And by his features, she could tell as he approached, severely overindulged in them. Wonderful!

The horses stopped and the three men dismounted. “I am Arturius, First General of the Horan army, and this is His Imperial Highness, Horatius.” The white-haired man gestured flamboyantly at the smaller grey-haired gentleman.

“I am pleased to meet you. You must be Queen Merrill,” said the man. “I have brought the forces you requested, to keep my side of the bargain. This is my son, whom you have aided, Maximus.”

Maximus moved forward and Merrill proffered a hand. He took it and gently kissed it. “It is good to meet you, lady; may this be the beginning of a truly beneficial alliance,” he said. He seemed reluctant to let go of her hand, and the look he gave her made Merrill crow triumphantly inside. He wanted her; the vials worked their magic!

Merrill stood for a few minutes, waiting for more words of welcome, but the three men remained unmoving and silent, Arturius pointedly staring at the chair. She realised what he meant and, blushing slightly, she stepped aside and offered the chair to Horatius. He didn’t even thank her, but moved to sit, the end of his purple robe held imperiously over his arm.

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