Soldiers of the Eye and Ear

By Shawn O'Toole

The sprite Twaylee enjoys her harrowing quests with Dame Aylith but even the adventurous must sometimes rest. The two elves visit Twaylee's comrades from her days in the Royal Army of the Blessed Court. After their brief respite, the two questing agents venture into a land of goblins to foil a scheme of the dark elves. Unfortunately, the enemy is ready for them.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Shawn O'Toole
• Release date: Sep 11, 2013
• ISBN: 9781301701537

Shawn O'Toole

Shawn O'Toole is an avid reader who expresses his love of literature by writing his own. Though his favorite works are classical fiction, most of his actual reading is historical or scientific non-fiction. He combines his inspirations to create yarns that are fantastic yet believable. He is restless and eager, so one need not wait to delve into his adventures.

Book preview

SOLDIERS OF THE EYE AND EAR

by

Shawn O’Toole

SMASHWORDS EDITION

*****

PUBLISHED BY:

Shawn O’Toole on Smashwords

Cover Art Illustrated by:

Shawn O’Toole

Soldiers of the Eye and Ear

Copyright © Shawn O’Toole 2013

Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored, or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the publisher of this story, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Your support and respect for the property of this author is much appreciated.

This story is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or places, events or locales is purely coincidental. The characters are products of the author’s imagination and used fictitiously.

*****

SOLDIERS OF THE EYE AND EAR

*****

Chapter 1

Surprises

Elves are a race untouched by age, illness, blemish or imperfection. They are the wisest, most graceful and most beautiful of all sentient flesh. For all their glory, however, they were not without woe or strife. War was their bane, as it was for all races. Neither time, nor plague nor even mishap ever killed an elf. The hands of an enemy, however, could and often did.

The elves of the Uncanny Court sought to vanquish those of the Blessed Court. Armies arose and slew many. Spies and assassins lurked and crept about, dealing dark and murderous deeds in the name of the righteousness of their cause.

The greater fays are the paragons of their kind; the leaders and heroes. They tower over all other elves, not only in stature, but in strength, skill and wisdom. Still, though powerful magicians and mighty warriors, they were few in number.

The adolescent sprites and childlike pixies are the Little People of their race. Though small and weak, they were vast in number. The sprites, the bigger and stronger of the Little People, swelled the ranks of the elfin armies. They were the foot soldiers. Their multitudes were the raw might of whatever cause they served.

A sprite, whether male or female, is a small, willowy, beautiful creature. Clever though silly, brave though fickle and spry though weak, they are surprisingly formidable. Though only half the weight of a man, they are thrice as nimble. Light on their feet and true when they strike, sprites made for a fine soldiery.

Her golden hair was pulled back and fastened into a bun. Her slanted eyes were bright green and her skin fair and hairless. She wore a green, snug, sleeveless shirt that covered her crotch but left her long, willowy limbs and firm, shapely buttocks completely bare. She wore a leather corslet over her body shirt and leather boots and bracers. She was armed with a spear-sword: a two-edged short sword; nearly half the length of which was handgrip. This nymph was a high elf, a sprite and a soldier in the Royal Army of the Blessed Court.

The nymph snapped to attention as her lady and a retinue of sprite witches and wizards approached.

Hello, Cathleen, Lady Nayola smiled. The greater nymph towered head-and-shoulders taller than those with her and the armed guard before her.

Milady, Cathleen, the sentry, gave a nod.

Lady Nayola continued on, her entourage smiling and some of them waving as they passed.

Cathleen was again alone, standing watch