Delton Guardians: Gravelburn's Revenge

By Benjamin Fun

Book 2 of the Delton Guardians series

Rochgwar leader Gravelburn is on the run and intends to rebuild his mighty army to take revenge on the meddlesome Delton Guardians.

But an acquaintance from the past may be an even greater obstacle to his plans.

About the author:

Benjamin F

• Language: English
• Publisher: Suited Word
• Release date: May 11, 2021
• ISBN: 9781914964022

Book preview

GRAVELBURN’S

REVENGE

Benjamin Fun

Text copyright (c) 2021 by Benjamin Fun

The right of Benjamin Fun to be identified

as the author of this work has been asserted by him

in accordance with the

Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988

Contents

Prologue                                    1

The Hunt                                    5

Tactics                                          10

First Option                                    18

Missed Opportunities                              27

Friend or Foe?                                    33

Pursuit                                          38

Headed for Lacton                              45

A Good Walk Spoiled                              53

Here, There and Everywhere                        59

Capture                                    72

The Accidental Poet                              80

Surprise Visitors                              85

Infighting                                    94

Guess Who                                    105

A Brief History of Time                              122

Sing for Your Supper                              124

Realisation                                    134

The Talent Show                              141

Rescue Party                                     169

Happiness                                    174

Nettles and White Spirit                        184

With Friends Like These                        190

Who Needs Enemies?

Final Fight                                    205

Epilogue                                    210

Prologue

They sat by the fire, warming their hands. Well, technically John couldn’t warm his hands because he was no longer alive. Gravelburn, the one made of stone, had been on the run for three days. He had broken out of his prison cell a few months after he had been captured by the members of Shock Unit (now called Power Unit) and imprisoned in their Delton base.

Stone warriors don’t eat, thought Gravelburn bitterly, and neither do ghosts. He wasn't really making much sense, but was just finding things to be unhappy about. He would have thought grass grows or the wind blows in the most venomous tone. He was miserable not because he was hungry, but because the enormous army he had once commanded had been greatly reduced in number by the Guardians, with most remaining survivors now mostly stuck in cave tunnels with the exits blocked. Gravelburn, former leader of the mighty Rochgwar army, was now merely leader of his travelling companions.

John was fine, although he wasn’t too happy about losing his body. He floated around like a white mist and was still trying to get used to his new existence.

Suddenly, a rustling sound came from among the bushes. A mini Rochgwar popped out with an armful of twigs and proceeded to throw some onto the fire to keep it going.

What took you so long? chided Gravelburn.

Don’t be so harsh on him, advised John. After all, he helped you escape.

Yes, grumbled Gravelburn, I suppose you’re right. He paused for a few moments, deep in thought.

And if it wasn’t for him, John added, you would still be playing I-Spy with that Nitro guy!

Yes, snapped Gravelburn, but if it wasn't for me, he’d be stuck in a owl’s nest, learning how to flap his arms and lift his massive body off the ground! And anyway, leave me alone in peace, you two. I’m thinking of more important things.

Gravelburn scoffed at how things had turned out. He was not thinking about important things like he said he was, but was reminiscing about the great distant past, thinking of what might have been. He’d had a plan so evil it could wipe out anything that stood in its way, but the Delton Guardians had stopped it. This is a summary of what had happened so far: Rochgwars regenerate from pieces of rock, so Gravelburn had kept sending his men into battle. It looked like they were always losing, but he was only biding his time, waiting for the day when all the broken rocks would reform, rise against the Delton Guardians and take over their base. His plan had been to repeat the strategy and move on to take over other Guardian bases. Over time he would have control of all the land, if it all went to plan.

Shock Unit, the group of young Delton Guardians, had gone into the tunnels that Gravelburn’s Rochgwars often used, and further on towards the Rochgwar camp, wiping out the stone warriors. They had defeated his army until only Gravelburn himself was left, and he soon found himself captured and a prisoner in Delton. Months passed with no end in sight for him, until he escaped with the help of John and Monty – the mini Rochgwar we mentioned earlier. (Where Monty had been during the battle and how he came about is a mystery to all.)

They were now headed for the outskirts of Delton, to escape being hunted down and re-captured, and to find someone or something to help them in their quest for world domination.

The fire that Monty kept feeding eventually died out overnight, but Gravelburn’s thirst for revenge continued to burn deeply within him.

The Hunt

Charge!!! shouted Slick, and Attack Unit ran forward. These Guardians were driving out the last remaining stone warriors from around their base. These pockets of Rochgwars had regenerated from broken rocks left around Delton after the last battle. The Guardians had gone around breaking up bigger rock pieces in the weeks after the last battle, but must have missed a few. Suddenly Attack Unit, which was under Slick’s command, tripped over obstacles while pursuing their enemies through the long grass. Well, actually it was Stealth Unit led by Ember that they tripped over. Stealth Unit had been practising their camouflage on a training exercise and had somehow gotten in the way of Attack Unit chasing down Rochgwars.

Whoops! Sorry about that! apologised Ember to Slick, as the Rochgwars slipped further away from their pursuers.

After them! roared Slick.

The two units gave chase, but the Rochgwars were too fast for them.

We’ll have to give up! wheezed Ember a while later after giving chase unsuccessfully.

Too right! said Slick, also out of breath. Their armour weighed them down. The two unit commanders had resigned themselves to the fact that the Rochgwars were going to escape, but suddenly, out of the blue, emerged the other leaders of Power Unit from the other end with some of their troops!

The stone warriors who had escaped from Ember and Slick were shouting insults back at them, but they didn’t see Cut, Fil, Nitro, Robin, Jack and Heath approaching from ahead of them.

Bye! shouted a stone warrior, waving back to Slick and Ember before he promptly ran into a collection of maces, swords, spears and lances and crumbled into a pile of rocks. His companions stood stunned and silent and were quickly surrounded.

Right, said Robin to his troops. Herd these prisoners back to base to be dealt with. We’ll join you in a bit. Lieutenant Azer, I’m putting you in charge of the prisoners. Now go!

Yes sir! came the reply, and with that the soldiers left, leaving only the eight member of Power Unit behind. Power Unit was the new name given to the command group of the old Shock Unit, to show that each member was now part of an elite group and also in command of their own unit.

Right guys! said Robin. Gather around me. I have an urgent message from Murx Espin you all need to hear.

They all gathered round as Robin produced a note. This is something Murx Espin received yesterday from one of our scouts, he said, and read out:

General Espin

There is not much time! Gravelburn has been spotted in Greenwood. Please send reinforcements to help track him down.

Robin looked up from the note to study the reactions of his friends.

Is that it? asked Slick. He had been expecting more.

Robin explained the situation. "Murx Espin has decided that Power Unit should go and track Gravelburn down. It is important we catch him within the next few days, because the longer time passes, the more possible routes we have to explore and the greater the chances he could escape.

"It was thought that Gravelburn would head back to the tunnels to free his troops, but this latest message suggests he is actually making his way in the opposite direction through Greenwood. Sneaky devil. What he is doing there, no one knows, but Murx Espin thinks the eight of us have the experience to track him down, and can move more swiftly on our own and without our units. So those are