Toby Neighbors: Crying Havoc

* * *

Horns sounded, and the invading army began to retreat. Zollin could see the men fleeing in all directions. Just then King Felix came hurrying up beside him and took in the state of the battle in seconds.

“It’s working,” he said. “I never would have believed it.”

“Never underestimate fear in a battle,” Quinn said.

“You can dissipate the dust cloud,” Felix said. “We need to communicate with our cavalry and tell them to herd the enemy toward the river.”

It took less than two hours to push the invaders back to the Tillamook River. Most dropped their weapons and swam to safety on the other side. King Felix sent a delegation to sue for peace. He graciously offered to escort the armies back to Winsome, if they promised to board their ships and sail for home. Over three thousand men had been killed or wounded in the battle.

Zollin was riding out with Quinn and Mansel, looking for a sign on the battlefield of the wizard he’d fought, when the dragon appeared again. It swung low, but far away from the castle.

“There’s the dragon!” Mansel shouted.

Zollin was riding one of the large horses from the King’s stables. He kicked the horse into a frantic gallop, but he wasn’t fast enough. The dragon wrapped its long tail around someone and took to the air. Zollin knew who it was. Offendorl had called the beast. Zollin could only watch in frustration as the beast flew south.

“What was that?” Quinn said.

“I think it was the wizard,” Zollin said.

“The dragon got him?”

“No, he’s found a way to control the dragon,” Zollin said. “He’s using it to escape.”

They rode on and found the tongueless eunuch who had seen to Offendorl’s needs. He was standing alone. The dragon had eaten the wizard’s horse and terrified the servant before taking Offendorl to safety. The Master of the Torr had left his faithful servant to die.

“What do we do with him?” Mansel asked.

“Leave him,” Quinn said. “He’s just a servant.”

“No, he might have useful information,” Zollin said.

He dismounted and approached the man. Offendorl’s servants were broken, pitiful creatures. They served because they feared their master, and now the man was distraught.

“It’s okay,” Zollin said. “I’m not going to hurt you. In fact, I can help.”

The eunuch shook his head vigorously.

“Please,” Zollin said soothingly. “Did you serve the Master of the Torr?”

The man looked like a dog who had been repeatedly beaten by a harsh kennel owner. His eyes were large and terrified. He opened his mouth and bellowed a wordless shriek.

“Oh, please, put him out of his misery,” Mansel said.

“No! No one is going to hurt him,” Zollin said. “Come with me. I’ll look after you.”

The man looked relieved, but still skeptical. Zollin mounted his horse and pulled the servant up behind him.

“So what now?” Mansel asked.

“Now we go back to the castle to see if King Felix has any useful information. And then we ride south. This won’t be over until the Torr either gives up on me or is destroyed.”

“We have to try and save Prince Wilam, too,” Mansel said.

“Yes, and perhaps we can learn what happened to Brianna.”

Back in the city, the people were celebrating. There were huge bonfires where animals were being roasted and barrels of wine, ale, and cider were being tapped. There was music and dancing in the streets. It reminded Zollin of the harvest festival in Tranaugh Shire, only on a much larger scale.

Zollin rode back to the castle with Quinn and Mansel. All were quiet, each lost in his own thoughts. Quinn was thinking of Miriam. Zollin had shared with his father how he had lifted her across the river the night before, but Quinn was worried that she might not have gotten far enough from the city before the fighting started, or that some of the soldiers who fled across the river might find her. Mansel was filled with guilt. He had murdered an innocent man, and although Quinn and Zollin seemed ready to forgive him, he was having trouble forgiving himself. He wanted revenge on the witch in Lodenhime, but he also wanted to return to Nycoll’s cottage on the coast of Felxis. He understood now why she stayed in the forlorn home all alone. There was something peaceful about the cottage and the solitude. He longed to lose himself there and perhaps someday come to terms with his guilt. Zollin was eager to travel south. He wanted desperately to catch up with the dragon and perhaps learn the fate of his beloved. Brianna was never far from his thoughts, and sometimes it took all his will power not to give into the crushing grief and fear that he would never see her again.

At the castle, the officers of the King’s Army were feasting in the great hall. King Felix was on his throne with a great banquet table spread before him. Zollin was amazed at how quickly the kitchen staff had prepared food. The battle had only been over perhaps two hours, and yet there were cakes, roast fowl, and mountains of vegetables, bread, and cheese. A huge roasted pig sat carved on one end of the banquet table, and two huge venison hams were on the other. Wine and ale flowed from giant barrels that the servants had tapped and were constantly using to refill pitchers for the tables.

Zollin stood for a moment, gazing at the festivities. He noticed that Commander Hausey wasn’t present, nor was Commander Corlis. But the King, his generals, and many of the leading families in Orrock were present. Zollin turned and led the way up to his quarters, followed by Mansel, Quinn, and the eunuch. Inside their rooms Zollin poured a goblet of wine for everyone, even the eunuch.

“Well, to victory I suppose?” Zollin said, holding up his cup.

“To peace,” said Quinn, and they drank.

The eunuch didn’t raise his own cup. He looked frightened and unsure of himself.

“Have a drink, friend. You are safe now. The wizards from the Torr cannot hurt you here.”

The eunuch still looked unsure, but he sipped a little of the wine.

“I can’t believe how fast it ended,” said Mansel.

“Once they lost their advantage in numbers, they had no choice but to retreat,” Quinn said. “We’re fortunate Zollin bested their wizard.”

“Fortunate, indeed,” Zollin said. “I got lucky.”

“Don’t sell yourself short,” Mansel said.

“I’m not, but you should have felt the power radiating from him. He was old, but he was strong. I don’t think things will be that easy a second time.”

“So why not leave it be?” asked Quinn. “No one says you have to go after him.”

“I can’t just pretend he doesn’t want me. If I do that, how long will it be until disaster visits the people we care about again? I have to go. I have to end this, one way or the other.”

“Well,” Quinn said sadly. “I understand. When we left Tranaugh Shire, things were changing so fast I didn’t know what to think. But I can see that you’re a man now. I couldn’t be more proud of you. But I’m though adventuring. I’m going to Felson, to find Miriam and hopefully settle down.”

“I think that’s great, dad,” said Zollin. “You deserve to be happy.”

“Well, I won’t be truly happy until you are.”

Zollin smiled sadly. He couldn’t imagine ever being happy again. Then Mansel spoke up.

“I want to go with you, Zollin. I have unfinished business in Lodenhime, and I owe it to you to help,” he said sadly. “And then, when all this is over, if I’m still alive, I’m going back to Falxis. I met someone there that I care deeply about. I promised her I would return, and I mean to keep that promise.”

“You don’t owe us anything. I’m as much to blame for Kelvich’s death as you are,” Zollin said. “He warned me that something was wrong with you. If I had just listened he might still be alive.”