Battle of Damned Souls

By Sasan Shabrou

Hyaterra is a world much like ours was before the civilized world as we know it except with magic and wizards and helpful elves and amazing sword smiths. Now that the last great beast has been slain and the final horde of goblins and orcs have been shoved in a deep hole in the ground guard by the knights of Oshtex and Orichoro,the real monsters slither in the courts of Kings and the minds of powerful warlords. The eternal war between Sumrila and Vussaui rage on, the King Zephkletos leads his men to war against his barbaric neighbors based on freewill, and the sea dogs of Deruwa will encounter sea battle from the powerful kingdom of Gycrun as their leader Grandki sails back from the Council of Kings. This is the world of Hyaterra.

In this book the world of Hyaterra expands. The plot between Sumrila and Vussaui thickens with rumors of dragons and a dark lord. The Gycrun city of Turpin might turn up a spy. Anstal and Atbythia clash armies that will damn them all.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Sasan Shabrou
• Release date: Jan 15, 2017
• ISBN: 9781370851836

Sasan Shabrou

Sasan Shabrou lives in Fairbanks, AK with his wife, two beautiful daughters, two dogs, three cats, and lots and lots of snowy mountains...

Book preview

Battle of the Damned

Copyright © 2016 Sasan shabrou

Published by Sasan Shabrou at Smashwords

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your enjoyment only, then please return to Smashwords.com or your favorite retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Dedication

This book is dedicated to my two daughters, Emersyn and Everly, my wife Nicole, the NaNo WriMo group in Fairbanks, AK for all their support this year for all the wonderful encouragement and everyone who partook in NaNo WriMo this year, it takes determination to finish a book and even more for attempting to write 50,000 words in one month. This book is dedicated for you for participating in NaNo WriMo whether or not you finished.

About the Author

Sasan Shabrou

Sasan Shabrou October 2016

Sasan lives in Fairbanks, AK with his wife, two daughters, three cats, two dogs and lots and lots of snowy mountains.

Look for other books by Sasan Shabrou

Dawn of Destruction

Forward

Hyaterra is a world much like ours was before the civilized world as we know it except with magic and wizards and helpful elves and amazing sword smiths. I mainly wrote these stories for fun and to tell a much larger story by the time I’m done with it all. I’m in no rush to finish all the stories in my mind nor will every story be told when I’m finished. I’ll admit there are plenty of mistakes in this book. I have no copyeditor or editor for that matter. No publisher to tell me that I shouldn’t tell that story or take that character out. I write what I want to and how I want to. I’ve tried my best not to confuse you but you don’t have access to my notes nor the maps I’ve created. Nor do you know how the events of this world will unfold. To be honest neither do I really. I just have major ideas thought out but as to who lives or dies.... nope just writing as I go on that one.

- Sasan Shabrou

Table of Contents

Chapter 1- When War Comes Home

Chapter 2 - Honor

Chapter 3 - New Alliance

Chapter 4 - We March for War

Chapter 5 - Homefront

Chapter 6 - Grandki Comes Home

Chapter 7 - Duty

Chapter 8 - Snakes in the Garden

Chapter 9 - Tragedy and Love

Chapter 10 - Don’t Tread on Me

Chapter 11 - Who By the Fire

Chapter 12 - Glory

Chapter 13 - A Hero is Born

Chapter 14 - Eternity How Long

Chapter 15 - Combat

Chapter 16 - After the Destruction

Chapter 17 - Between a Father and a King

Chapter 18 - A Proposal for Two

Chapter 19 - Victory

Chapter 1

When War Comes Home

The snow reflected the sunlight as Leipora checked the sea coast. The harbor looked empty as Captain Arni's fleet and the rest of her husband's fleet had left chasing after miscellaneous Gycrun ships. It had also been weeks since her husband Grandki had smposively left for the Council of Kings in Atbythia. That was also about the time rumors of his death started floating around. It was hard to stay positive from Ketling's encouragement and admitting that yes Grandki was seriously injured but that he was well and had traveled in a low profile to the Council of Kings. Leipora had left her children at Ketling's house. Oshbar, her hometown was a very important harbor and crucial for both Deruwa and Gycrun's naval power.

Since coming back home Leipora had spent the weeks collecting and purchasing weapons for the towns people to defend themselves. The Gycrun tax collector Glaw had a small band of men hiding in nearby woods. They would attack nearby food deliveries which had become vital for winter survival since the Gycrun army had taken all the food originally harvested in the fall. With Glaw lurking in the woods and Grandki gone; Leipora didn't feel safe in her own home. Ketling made frequent visits and often stayed for days at a time. Today was one of those days. Leipora came inside to see Ketling was making morning tea.

Did you sleep well after your travels, Leipora asked Ketling, who had arrived late last night almost startling Leipora.

As well as I could after learning the news of the latest attack, Ketling stated.

What attack? Leipora asked concerned of her husband.

The attack launched towards Oshbar from Turpin, Ketling said, Gycrun had been collected warships in Turpin for weeks now and this will be the largest assault in retaliation for Grandki breaking the blockade.

We don't have the ships to defend the city.

That is why Anr has went to Lenatha to ask for help to aid Captain Arni.

Have you heard from Grandki?

No, Ketling responded.

Well, Leipora remarked taking a drink of her tea, I'll go around the town and see what is needed. Get the town fortified for land defense.

Leipora, Ketling said grabbing her hands, You truly are a remarkable woman.

Let us hope our efforts are not in vain of the Gods, she replied looking at him.

Keeling and Leipora separated ways. Ketling went about his business while Leipora went down to the docks. There is where her husband kept his vaults which the Gycrun military had used as an armory when they controlled the town. After loosing control of the town they left in such a hurry they left all the weapons there. Leipora's plan was to use their abandoned weapons against them.

The vault was kept shut by a simple lock. With use of a good sized rock and effort Leipora was able to break the lock open and get into the fully stocked vault. Not only did the Gycrun army leave behind weapons and armor but about chests full of gold coin were left as well. With the docks open there was a possibility of trade but if Ketling was right now trade ship would try to get past the Gycrun warships that approached. The gold would still come useful in the future. For now though the spears, swords, and shields would do well in the hands of every abled man. Leipora even armed herself with a slim and elegant blade, something almost elven due to the shape and markings along the side. She grabbed as much as she could manage before heading towards the town square.

No one questioned Leipora as they all remembered her humility when the war started and how she shared her family's harvest with the town during the blockade, they remembered how harshly the Gycrun occupation was under the rule of Glaw and his boss Sifor Drygawn, and most of all they remember the bravery of her husband Grandki when he took on the blockade and freed Oshbar before his disappearance and rumored death.

Today we fight for Grandki, a townman said as he took a spear and shield.

Let us pray to the Gods we do not fight today, Leipora commented.

You might want to pray harder, another townsman says as he points to the sea. On the horizon the outline of many ships came approaching. The attack was about to begin. Once Glaw noticed the ships he would draw his band of men out of the woods.

Hurry everyone arm themselves, Leipora tells everyone. A woman comes up to grab a sword.

Yes use it to protect your children, Leipora reassures her. The woman mocked looked at Leipora.

Do not tell me to do one thing when you will not be doing it as well, the woman replied, I fight today for Oshbar.

Realizing the error in her thinking Leipora nodded. Even Ketling managed to get a sword and shield even though he found it most displeasing.

Word has been sent as fast as a sparrow can fly, Ketling told Leipora.

Why a sparrow? she asks.

Because the rider I sent out is now dead, Ketling said, I'm sure of it.

We need men at the town gates, men in the town square and men in the harbor, Leipora commands.

Leipora! someone shouts, Glaw and his men are approaching your house.

With Glaw out lurking from his hiding place the battle had begun. Glad and his men were busy looking in the sheds and stables thinking that Leipora had went to go hide. They never expected to find her leading a charge of armed men to defend her home. Swords clashed and blood was spilt on the snow. Glaw might have lacked training with weapons but his men were fully trained members of the Gycrun military. The townsmen Leipora led had only ever held a hammer or plow in their hands. She alone had only held a broom and cooking utensil.

Keep a firm hand she told herself. Just like butchering a cow she thought to herself. The first man she killed was fighting another man but he had gotten too close to her when he had dodged an attack before he noticed her. Before he changed his attacking focus on her, she had buried her newly gotten sword into his chest. Once in action the her sword made a singing sound.

A voice of an angel, someone commented on Leipora's sword. She herself was astonished at the noise it made. Surely something like this would cause fear in the enemies hearts.

Singing Saber, I'll call you, Leipora said looking at her sword. She looked up to see Glaw and half of his men were gone, Let us get back to town and find Glaw and his men.

Now her attention was caught by the warships approaching the harbor. Each sail bared the royal seal of Gycrun. Dragon fire soared from the ships and onto the harbor. Gycrun wasn't coming to reclaim Oshbar, they were coming to destroy it, Leipora realized.

We need to quickly remove all the valuables from the vault on the docks, Leipora commands. After rushing to the docks she sees Ketling is already down there directing two small groups, one is busy trying to put out the fire and the other is busy evacuating all moveable valuables to a safer location.

Leaper, Ketling excitedly greets her, Take the gold and weapons to the house of Grandki. Ketling smiles cheerfully at Leipora after giving out orders.

When do you think Captain Arni will arrive? Leipora asks.

Now, Ketling says pointing out to the West as another fleet of ships entered fro the horizon. These ships bare random animal emblems on their sails. Captain Arni had arrived announcing his presence with a shower of arrows on to the Gycrun fleet.

And he brought help! Leipora exclaimed pointing to the East. A large fleet marked with the royal seal of Lenatha came to offer assistance to the Deruwa people. The Western Winds had arrived and showered the Gycrun boats with dragon fire. The water light up as boats caught on fire. Burning men jumped out of boats hoping to die quicker from drowning than by fire.

Sifor Drygawn watched from afar as his attacking fleet sat in the water on fire after the third wave of dragon fire from the Lenatha ships. He had been prepared to take on and hopefully destroy the fleet of ships Captain Arni had but the Gycrun navy would never be a match to any fleet Lenatha produced, which is why any raid involving a Lenatha ship used a Deruwa pirate ship. There would be no Gycrun victory by sea today, in fact King Cerderick Brenrog will be furious at the lose of so many ships. Sifor hoped the Council of Kings went well for the King or that the assassin was at least able to kill Grandki in Newa.

Let us go back, Sifor ordered to the captain of the ship, We are done here for the day. With that the boat turned around and heaed back towards Turpin, the Gycrun port city on the Deruwa islands.

Watching the sea battle unfold was fascinating but after the second attack of dragon fire from the Lenatha ships reports of a fire in the town directed Leipora's and Ketlngs attention. They both knew Glaw was at large and he was evil enough to burn the town to the ground before he would surrender.

They rushed towards the smoke to see Glaw burning down the temple and grain storage. What little grain that had been saved was now gone and the only comfort the people had was now in smoke, taken away by the cruelty of Glaw.

This town is mine, Glaw said as he slices the throat of one of the scared priestess. Her lifeless body fell before him at his feet as he continued towel towards his next victim, another young and scared priestess.

You cannot murder servants of the Gods, Ketling shouts, Be reasonable.

If the Gods condemn these actions strike me down, Glaw screams, raising his arms up in the air. Nothing happens and he slices another throat as his victim lets out a soft muffled cry for help. Glaw only had about ten men with him now and there were at least thirty good men with weapons willing to put up a fight agains him.

This town will never be yours, Leipora tells Glaw.

Than I let it burn to the ground, Glaw replies.

We out number you Glaw, Leipora says, Surrender.

No, Glaw says before charging at Leipora. The towns people of Oshbar attack what is left of Glaw's men while Glaw and Leipora take swings at each other. Glaw had a little bit of form and training but luckily for Leipora she had a superior weapon and the singing that Singing Saber made kept catching Glaw off guard, distracting him fro his focus. Glaw lived a life of taunting and giving out commands. Leipora lived a life on the farm and raising children. Tired Glaw began to loosen on his form. His attention focused on the singing of Leipora's sword rather than the fight. Leaper lunges and slices his forearm that held his sword. Glaw shrieks as he drops his weapon.

You bitch, Glaw shouts, I'll enjoy pleasuring myself with you before feeding you to the ravens.

Glaw charges at Leipora quickly with full force. Leipora puts her sword Singing Saber in front of her for protection but Glaw doesn't slow down or halt his assault. Instead he thrusts his body onto her blade as it punctures one of his lungs. Leipora moves pulling her sword out cutting more of his vital organs in doing so. Glaw kneels down gasping for air as his lung collapses and fills with blood. His eyes widen with fear as he sees death quickly approaching.

"Put him