The Soldier’S Oath: A Sedition Rising

By Christopher Lewis

It is 1530, and life can be as dangerous as it is short, especially for a soldier. In the majestic capital city of Casile, Captain Arathin Briar is content with his life. After taking a beautiful bride six months earlier, he has just completed his training as a soldier when his peaceful existence is abruptly uprooted. Captain Briar has been called to war.

In this age of kings, tyranny and injustice run rampant across the world. After a village is attacked just outside Casile, the countrys foundation is shaken to the core. With little time to assemble a sizable force, Captain Briar and two other captains set out with a small army to gain entry to the village. But little do the soldiers know that they are about to uncover an earth-shattering conspiracy from an unknown adversary that leaves Arathin torn between his vastly different loveshis beloved king and the country he has vowed to serve and his loving wife and the unborn child she now carries.

The Soldiers Oath is an action packed tale of warfare, conspiracy, and honor as a general and his brave soldiers fight their way out of a vast conspiracy that shakes their nations moral foundation.

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: Apr 24, 2012
• ISBN: 9781469744797

Book preview

Prologue

1510, the age of kings, tyranny and injustice ran rampant across the world. Faint glimmers of hope sparked resolutely in the hearts of good men. Valiant men like Captain Adam Bennett and his team of soldiers. Adam was tough to the core. Dedicated, loyal, and absolutely efficient at what he did. He was slightly above average height and broad. Brown hair fell into his face, often shrouding his crystal-clear green eyes. He kept a short, neatly trimmed beard.

He and his soldiers were the best of the best. Most often under austere, covert conditions, they conducted missions deemed suicidal. Failure often meant the loss of their lives, and was unthinkable. They always succeeded with pinpoint precision. This mission was no different, however, the stakes were much higher than usual, especially for Adam. One of their own had been captured on a recent mission and was being held in a prison halfway across the world. Of their own will, against commanded authority, Adam’s team set out on a quest to rescue him.

The prison might as well have been in the catacombs of hell. The Bresben Empire was a mercilessly unforgiving place, ruled by a vicious dictator, far east of what the team considered home. On the journey, secrecy was their greatest ally but was most difficult to maintain. The team changed their disguises several times on the quest. Travelers, merchants, and peasants: they were masters at blending in. It had taken them months to travel there.

Adam was no stranger to the king’s army. He had undertaken more perilous missions than he could count. He came from a simple life: his father was a carpenter, his mother a gardener. When he was young, his father made sure Adam could protect himself, like he did for all his sons. Adam’s father’s time in the military saw him on a campaign in The Bresben Empire, the horrible country he was currently traversing. Ironic, he thought, how some things never change. This mission was not something his father would have ever approved of. He was, in fact, very reluctant to allow any of his sons to join the king’s army, nevertheless they all managed to find service anyway.

The captured soldier was Adam’s older brother. Adam was the youngest of three, and his middle brother was the head of another team dispatched to aid local leaders fight and root out an uprising that threatened the region’s stability. One of their own betrayed the team and most of the elite soldiers died in an ensuing ambush. The middle Bennett brother, however, managed to escape with two other soldiers. Eventually they were captured in the heart of the country and taken back to the coastal prison. It was nestled among a range of treacherously rocky mountains.

Night settled in as the team of ten scaled the last sheer rock face leading to the base of the prison. The air was dusty and dry. It coated their lungs and they coughed heavily. The biting wind beat against their lips and faces. The area was desolate and sparsely populated. The moon shone brightly through the thin clouds, reflecting off the peaks of the prison’s stone towers. A huge wall stood before the team, menacingly overshadowing them. But it was of little concern. What waited for them on the other side, however, was far worse than the maze of hilltops and rock faces they negotiated on their journey.

They prepared their ropes, ensuring the grapple hooks were fastened securely.

Keep it tight, Adam said to his men.

They huddled together in a deep shadow against the grim, foreboding wall.

You know the drill. As soon as those bodies fly over the top, get up there. Briar, you are with me, Adam said.

James Briar was Adam’s best friend. They joined the army together many years back, and James was Adam’s lieutenant. He was quiet and never said much, but his mind was always focused and in tune with the mission. James was a tall man and in the prime of his physical condition.

The grapple hooks found their targets atop the parapets and clanked into position against the gray stone. The team tugged each of their ropes checking their security. Adam, James, and two other soldiers pressed their feet against the wall and began upward. Timing worked out well and the passing guards patrolling the wall remained unaware of the ascending soldiers.

When the four clambered over the edge, Adam and James stood face to face with several guards who looked perplexed. Behind them, one of Adam’s soldiers snapped a twig from the shadow. The guards turned to the noise. The soldiers slit the guards’ throats then thrust them over the outside edge of the wall.

Adam and his men knelt, drew their bows, and secured the section of wall. Their position lay well hidden by shadow. One of the soldiers took aim at a guard above them in a tower. He drew back, released, and the arrow struck its mark. James leaned over the edge of the wall and cawed twice like a bird. A single caw replied and the ropes began to move as the rest of the team ascended in the slain guards’ uniforms.

Not too bad, one of the soldiers said helping a teammate over the wall.

It’s ugly, the stout man replied frankly referring to the uniform. And it smells.

Let’s get moving. The entrance to the prison is halfway across the camp, Adam said.

Behind them, two guards emerged on a tower. Ducking, Adam ushered his men deeper down the wall and into the cover of darkness. He unhooked one of the grapple hooks and retied it to the inside of the wall, facing the interior of the prison.

I’ll go first, Adam said. He pulled his bow around his shoulders and climbed over the edge, clinging tightly to the rope. He pushed his feet against the solid stone and swung down to the ground. Quickly, he drew his bow and notched an arrow. A roving patrol passed by. He was careful to remain unseen. One by one, the rest of the team cautiously slid down the rope. As they hit the ground, they spread out, securing the area. A second patrol passed by and noticed the team against the wall.

Adam knew it was too late. He drew back his bow and fired an arrow, killing one of the four guards instantly. The other guards drew their swords and charged at them yelling. The team shot several more arrows from the shadows and neutralized the patrol before they alerted other guards. Regaining his composure, Adam checked his surroundings, remembering the map seared in his mind. The men dragged the bodies into the shadow and the remaining troops took the slain guards’ uniforms.

This way, Adam said quietly.

The large man took point, yielding his war hammer. Now the entire team was disguised in guard uniforms; however, they were careful not to attract attention.

The prison rose high all around them. The area inside the walls was cramped. The roads were narrow and many of the buildings touched each other, limiting the possibilities of escape. After studying the guards’ patterns, the team split in two groups and marched in unison among the buildings. They came upon the courtyard, or at least what open space there was in the middle of the compound. The prison was a labyrinth of walls and buildings. To the naked, untrained eye, the prison resembled nothing more than a large fortified village. Any building could hide the secret entrance to the underground prison. Luckily, an informant from a nearby village had given them the location several days prior.

They ducked and curved between the buildings, pushing forward to the location. They traversed the streets cautiously. Roving patrols and guards standing watch went oblivious to their presence.

We’re getting close, Adam said.

What are you going to do? Lieutenant Briar asked.

Adam smiled. Walk in.

Adam had not exaggerated. When they approached the target building, a large three-story stone structure disguised as a brothel, Adam walked to the front door and surveyed the building. Along either side of the door, his team lined up, ready to charge in. But Adam changed his mind and ordered his men to line up behind him. He placed his glove-covered hand on the doorknob and swung it open.

Candles lit the massive gray stone room. An L-shaped staircase traversed the wall to their right. A small bar sat directly in front of the door and the room curved around to the left. As luck would have it, a majority of tables were filled with guards, both on duty and off. They sat at an old wooden table drinking large mugs of ale. Despite the large amount of patrons, the atmosphere was very quiet.

Their disguises worked well, the enemy helmets hid their faces disguising their foreign nature. The team split up and staged themselves at strategic points of the room should anything happen. Several went upstairs while Adam took a cautious stroll around the tavern. He followed the room around to the left and two guards stood solid as stone protecting a large, old oak door. Adam turned around and nodded to one of his men across the room. Adam then retreated around the corner and sat at an empty table. Within moments, the members of the team gathered around him and they made for the oak door.

I request passage, Adam said to one of the guards in the accent of the local area.

You’re not an officer, the guard said, looking at the stolen uniform. Only officers are allowed through here. What is your business?

We were requested for the transfer of an important prisoner.

I was not informed. You will not pass, the guard replied deeply.

Very well.

Adam sighed and looked to his team. Half of them turned around and faced the tavern. Adam and James silently neutralized the guards at the oak door. Their bodies slumped to the cold stone floor with hardly a sound, but a clash of thunder might as well have gone off. Adam pulled the keys off the body and unlocked the door.

The guards shot from their seats. Adam’s soldiers launched arrows from their bows heaving bodies around the tavern. The team’s weapon of choice was the bow or small handheld crossbow. They were fast, quiet, and allowed the opportunity to strike from a distance. Each one of his soldiers was an absolute master with the weapons. The entire tavern rushed at them and the soldiers stood firm. A thunderous clash shook the room as metal met metal. The soldiers stood resolute, dominating their enemies.

Beyond the oak door resided a long, dimly lit passageway with a low, curved ceiling. James and another soldier protected the passageway as Adam and the rest of his men charged into the tavern. Bodies littered the ground. Their swords swung up and down, each soldier fighting two, three, and four guards at a time. The ten courageous soldiers vanquished a horde of fifty guards in minutes without a single casualty.

The commotion of the fighting in the tavern attracted more fighters from the depths of the prison. Staring down the long stone hallway, Adam waited anxiously as the distant, clanking iron prison door swung open. He stood at the front of the wedge-shaped formation. His men blocked the hallway just inside the oak door. Thunderous rattles of armor and weapons echoed down the long corridor as marching guards closed in on their position. Adam’s men notched what arrows they had left. The pounding grew louder as the approaching column broke into a run. The dim torches in the hall flickered and cackled. Suddenly Adam and his brave soldiers found themselves gravely outnumbered as the column entered the corridor.

Arrows flew from the valiant ten, striking their targets with impeccable precision. Adam charged forward alone, his sword held tightly in hands. He swung up and down, left and right, dodging, countering, and striking relentlessly. Nothing would stop him from rescuing his brother. Arrows passed around him, hitting more guards. He pushed forward, using the close quarters of the corridor to his advantage. The rest of the team charged forward behind him, inflicting heavy casualties as they pressed for the entrance of the prison.

The narrow corridor opened into a large room. At the far end the ceiling rose drastically higher and large support pillars filled the vacant room. On the far side, the iron gate was locked shut. The remaining prison guards fell back to the gate and pleaded their comrades to open the door and save them. Captain Bennett and his men approached them slowly and spread out. Encompassed with fear, the guards dropped their weapons and quivered.

Bind them, and tie them to the pillars, Adam ordered.

He stood face to face with two guards on the other side of the bars.

Open the door, he said sternly.

The guards scoffed at him and then smiled to each other.

Adam turned around and nodded to two members of the team who stepped back into the shadows.

I’ll only ask one more time. Open the door, Adam said.

The guards replied by thrusting the tip of a spear through the bars, narrowly missing Captain Bennett. Adam stepped back and suddenly two arrows with ropes attached flung from the shadows and struck both guards in the chest. Adam snatched up the ropes, one in each hand. He coiled them around his wrists and tugged to make sure the arrowheads were securely seated in their targets. The guards shouted, grimacing with pain.

The door keys jingled as the guards fought to break the arrows. Adam let out a blood-curdling scream and heaved the ropes with every ounce of strength he possessed. The guards’ bodies smashed against the iron door, killing them instantly.

One of the team members walked up and pulled the keys from the guard’s body. They unlocked the door then descended a long, dimly lit, winding staircase. It ended in a large, dark, damp row of endless iron bars and inescapable stone walls.

Torches moved frantically throughout the dungeon. Adam stripped off his disguise and handed his weapons off to the other team members.

We’ve captured one of the infiltrators, one of his men said to an approaching guard.

The guard laughed. Very good. He punched Adam in the stomach. Get him out of here. Take him to section eight with the rest of the foreign scum.

It did not take long for the team to find Adam’s brother. Two prison guards led the way and swung open the doors to a holding cell. The cell was small and smelled of mildew, urine, and feces. Some sort of liquid puddled in the middle of the floor just before a long wooden bed.

Adam’s brother was in the cell just to the left and in bad shape. Despite the chaos, he lay on the floor curled up, bloody and bruised.

The guards pushed Adam in. Before the door shut, one of the team members stuck his boot in the way.

What the …? the guard said, looking at the soldier.

In a split second, the two guards fell dead without a sound, blades stuck in their necks. The team swung the door open and gave Adam his weapons. Adam fumbled with the keys and unlocked his brother Eric’s cell. He rushed in and knelt next to his limp body. He motioned the team physician to have a look.

Eric rolled onto his back, his brown locks falling into his face. Adam brushed away the hair to reveal a very badly beaten and swollen face.

Brother, he said, softly shaking him.

Eric grumbled and lifted his arms weakly.

I got ya, Adam said, lifting him up and throwing him over his shoulder. Where are the others?

Dead, Eric whispered.

We’re going to get you out of here, and then we’re going to take care of the guys who betrayed your team.

James cast him a quick, uneasy glance.

Getting out of here is going to be the hard part, James said, scouring the dark room.

Let’s get going, Adam said. He took up a position in the middle of the column to protect his brother. No holding back. It’s going to be hell getting out of this place. Now they know we are here.

The team took off. They cautiously navigated between the patrols of roving torches moving closer to the staircase. The coast was clear, and they pressed past one last patrol before starting up the stairs. They walked slowly, fearful of what awaited them. The group of guards they bound to the pillars were gone and they knew their escape just got much harder.

The way we came in is going to be suicide, James said.

I know, he replied. We’ll hit the front door of this tavern and press for the courtyard. There has to be some other entrance into the castle.

As soon as they turned the corner of the body-filled corridor, they came upon a group of guards picking up the bodies. The two parties stopped and stared at each other. Several of the guards drew their swords, but a majority stumbled backward and ran away. The remaining guards then dropped their weapons and ran after their comrades.

The team exited the hidden tavern and began winding around the labyrinth of buildings. The entire castle was on alert and actively searching for them. Hundreds and hundreds of guards scoured the walls and streets.

The team closed in on where they had traversed the wall. Their ropes sat in piles on the ground. They frantically searched for another way out, knowing it was only a matter of time before they were discovered.

All of the sudden, across the clearing, Adam found a small drainage grate leading a trickling stream under the wall.

This way, he whispered, quietly leading the team.

Using the cover of the shadows, they crossed the clearing.

There’s no way we can get through it. It’s solid bars, James said.

Look out, the largest man of the team said. He was built like a hundred-year oak and stood a foot taller than everyone else on the team. He grasped his massive war hammer firmly in his hands. This is going to attract a lot of attention, he said.

Adam nodded then set Eric down against the wall. The team formed a semicircle around the grate, facing the clearing. They placed arrows on their bows and waited. A thunderous clash came from the smashing metal. It reverberated against the walls of the castle and echoed like a ringing church bell. The enormous soldier pounded away, cracking the stone around the metal bars.

Guards came from all parts of the massive castle. They rushed past the small clearing and into the open field before the grate. The team fired sporadically, striking the targets they could hit as they came across the clearing. Two soldiers fell wounded from returning arrow fire, but valiantly returned to the fight despite the searing pain ebbing through their bodies.

The first side of the grate broke loose. The soldier screamed furiously as he smashed the stone and iron, his massive arms and shoulders trembling from fatigue.

A large mass of enemies converged on their position and the soldiers were horrendously outnumbered. They drew their swords and tightened the circle, standing shoulder to shoulder. The mass was upon them. They fought tirelessly, striking up and down. One of the team members went down from an arrow and fell backward into the small stream. Adam grew angry and pushed forward, hitting anything he could. He pushed through his enemies like he was walking through tall grass.

The resonating crashes sounded behind him. He pushed far forward ahead of the team and drew the focus away from them.

Captain! Come on! James shouted as soldiers slipped through the grate. They had Eric and their fallen soldiers in tow.

Adam fell back to the grate as the guards gave chase. Over half the team remained on the castle side of the wall. Suddenly, four dark-cloaked figures dropped down from the wall and approached slowly. All the guards stopped in their