The Arrows of Elhalla: Adventures in Salvania, #1

By Ted Knight

The perverted emperor Lizrazan, half-man half-lizard, has built up a huge army of fanatical troops in his remote northern fortress, where he rules with barbaric cruelty. In his insane search for power, arcane rituals invoking dark forces have become commonplace.

In the hidden lands of the south the Karus are busy turning their reptile infested swamps into a green paradise. Under the reign of king Irvon, they've perfected their skills with the bow and arrow and created a land filled with abundance.

Its many years since the peace loving Karus were pushed into the swamps. They've been busy minding their own business and tending their fish farms. Then the sound of mothers weeping is heard as young Karus start vanishing from the villages . . .

 

 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ted Knight
• Release date: Jul 4, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393758365

Ted Knight

About the Author Ted spent his first fourteen years in the rooms behind his dad's butcher's shop near Liverpool docks. He studied Industrial design at Trent, and after his PGCE taught in London comprehensives. He had a varied career working in laboratories, architect's and design offices. For many years, he taught design in London comprehensive before going on to lecture at a Midlands College. Before retirement, because of health problems, he took a job as a security guard, on a quiet industrial site. Ted first started writing during teaching vacations. He has written eight books to date and is currently working on his second collection of SF stories. Missing on the Mersey is the second novel, in the DS Einegan series.  

Book preview

The karus are expelled from their homeland by the fendogs and for many years inhabit the reptile infested swampland of the South. Under the reign of king Irvon they persevere and achieve a transformation. The evil Lizrazan envious of their success and needing to assuage his realm's famine, declares karus to be an ‘edible species' and orders his soldiers to raid their villages. At a council of war king Irvon announces an archery competition.  The winner's prize will be to lead a quest to destroy the evil emperor.

The Arrows of Elhalla

by

Ted Knight

Published by: tedknight.co.uk

2020

Copyright © 2018 by tedknight.co.uk

Cover and internal design © Ted Knight

All rights reserved . No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval systems – except in the case of brief quotations in articles or reviews – without permission in writing from its publisher, tedknight.co.uk.

All brand names and product names used in this book are trademarks, registered trademarks, or trade names of their respective holders. I am not associated with any product or vendor in this book.

This book is dedicated to:

Jim and Mike Rawding

Epigraph

One overlord of evils' minions to bind them thralls

Forge them manacles and hold them fast to life that palls

With one bow to free them of what in darkness bind them

With three arrows to save them, one arrow to find them

Steps boldly from the good king's realm, one intrepid son

To break the power of evil, if his quest is won

Table of Contents

Blurb

Title

Copyright

Dedication

Epigraph

Chapter 1 Jotan's home in Salvaggia

Chapter 2 Jotan meets a stranger

Chapter 3 The road to Fenmire

Chapter  4 The meeting with Kreluk

Chapter  5 Jotan goes hunting

Chapter 6 King Irvon's address

Chapter 7 Training starts in earnest

Chapter 8 The champions' competion

Chapter  9 The champions prepare

Chapter  10 The champions set off.

Chapter  11 Lizrazan's cruelty

Chapter 12 The Devwoks attack

Chapter 13 They meet a Fenkaru

Chapter 14 They search for Lizrazan's lair

Chapter 15 Jotan gallops away

Chapter 16: Jotan to the rescue

Chapter 17 Jotan finds the entrance

Chapter 18 The Karus take on the guards

Chapter 19 The Karus are attacked

Chapter 20 The arrows of Elhalla

Chapter 21:  A royal wedding

Author's Email

Other books by this Author

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Acknowledgements

I would like to thank the following people:

My wife Ellen, who encouraged me from the start and has always been patient and understanding.

My friend Honor Rawding who showed interest in my writing from the early stages.

My old friend Alf Paulauskas who encouraged me with positive comments.

My daughter, Sophie, who with her I.T. skills, took my cover sketch and turned it into a full cover.

My daughter's fiancee Luke Jovetic who read some of my early writing and encouraged me to continue.

Finally, all the selfless authors and editors who found time to create helpful online articles and videos.

Chapter 1:

Jotan's home in Salvania.

Jotan could hear the rain dancing on the roof. He walked through the opening to the covered balcony and sat on the bench to gaze out at the rain hissing on the surface of the swamp. He could see little through the dense grey curtain before him. There was a heavy plop. He looked over the balcony just in time to see a large reptile hitting the water. It disappeared through the green fronds into the watery depths. When scaling one of the stilts it had hit the grease-band – a thick layer of oily yellow fat. He took his longbow from the wooden peg with his dextrous left paw and with his right gripped the notch of an arrow. His keen eyes scanned the water. He slid the arrow into position and slowly and smoothly pulled the bowstring back. The bow arched fully, the feathers of the arrow brushed the fur of his right cheek and the arrow point searched for the target. He was in luck. The reptile surfaced nearby amidst a shower of spray. The arrow hissed and passed clean through the fat creature's body leaving a froth of pink bubbles in its wake. The grunkion thrashed for an instant and floated motionless. He often used the poison reptiles for target practice. A dead one would make a fine meal, but live ones were dangerous. He remembered the ditty he'd been encouraged to repeat when young:

Grunkion pie is really nice

Get bitten and you'll pay the price

From the swamp could be heard the splash of rain and the cries of wildfowl. From inside he could hear the sounds of Koto, his mother preparing breakfast. He hung his bow up without hurry and joined his family. His father gesticulated with a chopping motion.

Was it a good shot, Jotan? You know, you'll  win the golden trophy again this year. I can see it. You improve with every passing day. Come and have some breakfast, its cold out there.

Koto had placed a large jug of swamp-berry coffee on the hearth alongside some fresh bread. They ate the prepared food thankfully. Outside it grew lighter and the rain continued its merry dance on the surface of the surrounding water.

Jotan was a fully grown karudov and stood about one a half meters tall. His entire body was covered in a thin layer of soft downy fur. As a baby this whitish blonde colour had given him the appearance of a cuddly bear. Now he had the golden reddish fur of maturity. Buried in his face fur were two soft brown eyes and a button-like nose.  On either side of his rounded forehead, large floppy ears hung down level with a small mouth, hardly visible through the fur.

After he'd breakfasted he prepared to go to work. He was employed on one of the many grunk-patrols. His job as a grunk-bow was to keep the lizards in check. On dry days he'd wear a one-piece canvas coat, covered in pockets of various sizes. Today he donned his oilskins over the coat. He took off his lizard skin sandals, replacing them with waterproof boots and grabbed his bow and arrows before leaving. 

A leafy water-land was all around him. Water-stemlings with their broad green leaves towered over his head and his eyes checked the way ahead. The paths were clear as usual, for the reptiles were lethargic and their movements slow. In winter they rarely strayed far from the water. In summer, they were bolder and a karu needed to watch where he put his feet. At school, he'd learned to recognize all the lizard species. There were more than he could remember. He walked along the waterside thinking about the day's work ahead. The lushness all around had always yielded fruit and edible roots as long as he could remember. Unfortunately, poisonous reptiles had increased and were now a hazard. Soon he'd be shooting reptiles with his friend Alstan and was expecting fun. They'd be after grunks – the deadliest species. Any they bagged would go in the pot after the poison bit was removed.

It was early when he reached his designated position. He looked around for the site watchman. His job was to keep the area tidy, make sure the ground bait was replenished, look after the dogs, and remove any lizards left by careless archers. He eventually spotted him:

Hi there, how's it going?

We're keeping 'em down – just. They're breeding like crazy and getting more aggressive.

Yeah, everywhere there seems to be more of them. How can you be sure they're getting more aggressive? Haven't they always been aggressive?

Yeah, but it's getting worse. We're getting more reports of young 'uns being bitten. People saying their grease-bands ain't doin' the job any more.

Really?

Yeah. At one time they used to stay mostly in the water or bask at the water's edge. Now the critters are often climbing out onto land.

Is it a question of employing more grunk-bows?

Up to a point, yeah. But there's a reason they're breeding so fast and I heard king Irvon knows why. I heard he's looking for brave 'uns. There'll be a special archery competition at this year's festival to help him select champions.

Jotan was intrigued. He wanted to help his people and knew his archery skills were top-notch.

How do I enter?

"There's be a royal announcement soon. News will be posted on the walls of The Green Lizard."

Wasting no time he climbed up on one of the floating-platforms. He notched an arrow on his bowstring, intent on spotting a grunk. Before long something scaly surfaced amongst the water lilies. He aimed carefully and unleashed his longbow's pent up force. His arrow struck home and the grunk squealed. One of the dogs jumped in the water and the dead grunk was deposited by his feet. He patted the dog's head and took a biscuit from one of his pockets:

Good dog, well done. Here you are, have one of these.

His hunting was interrupted by a shout:

Hi, it's Alstan. How's it going Jotan?

Bagged a grunk already. It's easily over five kilos.

Alstan climbed up onto the platform's tower. Wasting no time he began to scan the water.

Anyway, I beat you the other day.

Yeah, I was having an off day. Did you hear anything about the special competition yet?

It's hush hush. They want 'intrepid warriors' prepared to risk their lives. It's a secret and we don't know what the winners will be letting themselves in for. They're all interested in the big rewards round our way. Knowing they won't be paid until it's completed has put a lot off.

Are you up for it?

You bet I am.

Later as the sky was beginning to darken after a good day's hunting, they prepared to leave. They were selecting lizards to take home for the