The Clash of Thrones: The Kingdoms at War Series

By Robert Watt

Back of book text:
For thousands and thousand of years the Ten Kingdoms have been at war. The god, Traxias had grown tired of constant battles and wars going on cause death to all humankind. Traxias come to a White Wizard named Kelarina AnTanis and in a dream he tells her to take what he has created and called the Peace Stone to Mount Charnel in the Quawear Mountains in the faraway Kingdom of Quentaria. Once there the god tells shell find a special cave on Mount Charnel with a white marble altar in it. He tells Kelarina shes to place the Peace Stone on the white marble altar and peace and tranquility will come to the Ten Kingdoms of Babashalon.

The story continues with numerous colorful character weaving in and out the story line.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Sep 30, 2009
• ISBN: 9781465326607

Robert Watt

Robert Watt lives in the small Montana town of Butte. He enjoys writing fantasy works. Love many fantasy authors.

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Copyright © 2009 by Robert Watt.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

This book was printed in the United States of America.

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Contents

Prologue

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

This series is solely dedicated to my wonderful and beautiful wife, Julie Ann. You’ll be in my heart and soul forever and ever. I love you, Babe!

Prologue

Captain Tharas Domanes eyed the width and length of the large valley below him with the snow-capped Crystal Mountains in the far distance while the River Irina—a wide, blue-green ribbon—ran listlessly through the center of the valley. The dark green colors of the ponderosa pines, spruce, and evergreens were a beautiful back cast to the oak groves that were striking in their vivid, bright autumn colors of yellows, browns, reds, and oranges.

The captain lowered his head as he shook it slowly back and forth in thought. Dead soldiers were lying sprawled out everywhere on the battlefield directly in the clearing below him in crumpled heaps. Blue and black uniformed soldiers as well s red and black uniformed soldiers were mangle together in a hodgepodge mess looking as though an insane artist went completely mad creating his creation. The smell of the dead soldiers permeated the air as madly wheeling vultures having been feeding off the carcasses before the captain’s raiding legion had arrived on the brown grassy knoll. Flies buzzed in the air or on the bodies in a black mass laying eggs that’d soon become hungry maggots. The creaks of leather from the moving men on their mounts sound loud in the breezeless air. The nervousness of the soldiers was paramount. A number of the men muttered curses to themselves voicing the opinion they were very happy they weren’t amongst the dead in the clearing below them all.

The captain turned to his lieutenant gruffly saying to him. Lieutenant Preylor dispatch the men down there in that battlefield to begin gathering the weapons from the bodies. He was dressed in a dressy black and silver uniform bringing out his oval-shaped face with mellow brown eyes that could glare deviously when he needed them to. He also had a large bulbous nose from his long stints of heavy drinking. At his weapon’s belt was a silver-hilted long sword.

The lieutenant was dressed identical to the captain having less insignia on his shoulder boards wearing a bronze-hilted short sword on his right hip. He had a hard-looking face with a full mustache and beard, and a long, hawk-like nose. His lantern jaw stuck out profoundly when he shaved, which was very rarely. He looked awestruck by the captain’s order for a moment. He rubbed his black leather gloved hand hastily across his mouth before he spoke back to the captain. But, Captain Domanes those men down there in that battlefield have been dead for three or four days. The smell of them from being out in this heat and rotting will make the men vomit their guts out. I don’t think it would be wise to—

The captain ruthlessly cut off his lieutenant. Do it now, Lieutenant Preylor! Don’t question my orders! He glared deviously at his second-in-command.

The lieutenant once again brought his black gloved hand to his face rubbing his long jaw furiously considering the captain’s order for a moment. He then lowered his hand back down looking directly at his command with a deep frown on his face. Yes, sir! he replied brusquely. He turned his white Numerise mount around addressing his men. All of you pay close attention to this! The captain here—has informed me and ordered me to order you all to go down there in that battlefield and prod all of the bodies for all of the weapons there. He ordered it to be done right now! So move it!"

The soldiers grumbled amongst themselves slow dismounting with a look of dejection on their faces, and began fanning out walking toward the macabre battlefield below them. Most of the men gave their commander an evil-looking glare as they filed past him.

The captain glared right back at his soldiers. He shook his head once again in thought. He knew some if not all of his men would be sickened by the smells of the rotting bodies, but he needed the weapons the men would be gathering to take back to the Kingdom of Sardia.

King Treadall had weapons at his disposal, but not near enough to arm all of his one hundred and twenty thousand men. King Treadall would need as many weapons as he could get his hands on to protect himself and his Kingdom from invasion from the other nine Kingdoms if invasion were to happen. It was a very probably possibility. Skirmishes were commonly breaking out all over the surrounding nine Kingdoms. Some for no reason, but petty matters. Little things like border skirmishes had suddenly become big issues with most of these issues being nothing, but complete and utter senseless things as far as the captain was concerned. He just couldn’t believe the way things were heading to. It was as if these so-called wrongful issues were just something to provoke one Kingdom into war with another Kingdom for absolutely nothing. Good men were perishing for nothing other than minuscule matters.

The sudden thought of being on a foreign Kingdom’s home soil crossed the captain’s mind along with the risk of his men if they continued to be where they were located. He rubbed at his right cheekbone deciding after all the weapons were gathered and loaded on the backs of the pack mules he and his men would race back to the Kingdom of Sardia. Then he and his men would be safe. He’d be able to report to his War Minister about the outcome of this battle. It appeared King Tara’s red and black uniformed soldiers had been slaughtered as well as King Belare’s blue and black uniformed men. Another senseless battle, the captain thought to himself. He began leading his black mount down where his men were doing the horrible job of gathering the weapons. This was the part of war he most hated. Death. But death was often part of a soldier’s life. The ones who didn’t forfeit their lives or became maimed for life considered themselves very fortunate indeed.

The captain looked a his men gathering the weapons dreading, but also knowing by placing the weapons on the backs of the pack mules the mules would surely slow them down on the return trip to the Kingdom of Sardia. He looked at his men again raising his voice to his lieutenant.

Lieutenant Preylor order the men to hurry! We must be off this land before we’re discovered here!"

Lieutenant Preylor turned from pulling a bloodied long sword from a blue and black uniformed soldier, and then quickly looked at his command with an irritating look. We’re doing our best, Captain Domanes. There’s a lot to gather up here. Then we still have to load the train of pack mules.

Well, the captain said, do the best you can, and as quickly as possible. We don’t want to get caught out here by an overwhelming force. I’m certain we’ll be blamed by both sides for this massacre if we’re caught here.

The lieutenant shook his head in disgust shouting the order out to his men. The men heard he order beginning to quicken their pace.

The captain once again looked about the area of the clearing of the dead. He wondered just how many soldiers had given up their lives for their Kings four days ago in this out of the way place. The dead soldiers were easy to identify by the colors of their uniforms. The blue and black-colored uniforms of King Belare’s soldiers from the Kingdom of Pomala and the red and black-colored uniforms of King Tara’s men were well known by Captain Domanes. The two Kingdoms bordered his own Kingdom of Sardia that was southwest from where he and his men were now located.

Thinking about all of this was giving the captain a murderous migraine headache. Somehow King Belare’s battle legion must’ve crossed the Kingdom of Sardia or Kingdom of Mendozia to end up here and that was the strangest thing. As far as the captain knew the attacking battle legion hadn’t been detected by anyone in the Kingdom of Sardia. This was certainly another thing he must report to the War Minister. If a battle legion such as these were hadn’t been detected by the patrols patrolling the Kingdom of Sardia then the only conclusion was the members of the patrols were blind as bats. This could be a dangerous situation indeed.

The smells of the dead bodies was beginning to turn he captain’s stomach. He quickly decided to turn his black mount around riding back up to the brown grassy knoll. From there he could think much more clearly rather than thinking just how swiftly he was going to vomit. He could already see some of his men gagging as they went through the terrible trouble of gathering the weapons from the gruesome bodies they were stealing the weapons from.

This had to be the most horrible part about being a raiding legion soldier, the captain thought to himself. His raiding legion was here not only to map certain strategic parts of the Kingdom of Talis they were also responsible for gathering the weapons if and when they could. That was why they’d had a pack train of forty mules along with them.

All of the sudden the captain decided they’d spent more than long enough where they were located. Impatience was dogging at him. They were all in danger doing what they were doing and where they were doing it. He looked down at Lieutenant Preylor who was no mounted on his white Numerise mount hurriedly giving orders out to his men. Lieutenant Preylor! he shouted at his lieutenant.

The lieutenant grudgingly turned to face his commanding officer.

The captain continued onward. Gather all the weapons you’ve collected from the bodies, and load them on the pack mules. We must be on our way back to home soil. Many men have died here as you can clearly see, lieutenant. I don’t want to get caught out here unawares. Besides, if we’re noticed we just could begin some silly skirmish or something. Quickly now! Give the order, lieutenant! Now!

Dumbfounded Lieutenant Preylor looked in disbelief at his commanding officer, and then looked at his men who’d stopped doing what they were doing when they heard the captain give the order. He looked around at his men standing stock-still where they were standing. You all heard the captain! Sergeant Bellowers! Gather a couple of men to bring the train of pack mules down here where we can begin loading the weapons we’ve gathered. You men take them weapons, and put them on a large pile at the edge of this god-forsaken graveyard. You all heard the captain! Quickly now! We must be out of here before we’re discovered! He then brought his gloved hand to his mouth, gagged, and vomited on a dead body that’d had an iron spear driven through its throats. When he finished he wiped his hand across his mouth wiping it on his uniform shirt sleeve. Suddenly a thought crossed his mind, and that thought was: this was a horrible way to live. He should have been a blacksmith where his only worries would be to be burnt by a glowing red piece of hot iron or maybe smash a thumb or a finger or two with a hammer. He let his mind drift as he watched his men gathering and stealing the weapons piling them on a large mound at the edge of the bodies awaiting the arrival of the train of pack mules.

Meanwhile, the captain eyed his sergeant, Sergeant Bellowers. Sergeant Bellowers was heavily-muscled mountain of a man who sat proudly on his appaloosa mount. He looked flashy in his black and silver uniform with silver bars of sergeant’s rank on his shoulder boards. His hair was cropped short, and light brown in color. His face was a proud face with a nose that fit his face. He was a hellion with a double-bladed battle axe, and also quick and dangerous with a dagger.

The detail of men took the pack mules down where the weapons were now gathered together in a large heap, and the rest of the men began loading the animals down. There’d be a lot of weight added to what they were already packing so the captain knew by this fact it’d certainly slow down the progress of going home. That’s if they made it back home alive, the captain thought.

Trevor Moranse looked at his partner, Donal Tuban, and then where the foreign legion of soldiers of black and silver uniformed men were gathering weapons in the clearing of dead soldiers loading them on a train of pack mules. Trevor figured their leader must be the man sitting on his black mount on the top of the brown grassy knoll. It was just like any leader Trevor knew of the fact being getting away from the smells of the dead while keeping his own hands clean. Shout orders. That was the way of a leader, Trevor knew. He’ like to kill this captain knowing full well he could do it right this moment with the longbow that was lying next to him on the ground. The only problem was if he did kill the captain there’d be close to two thousand soldiers scampering through the forest looking for who’d done the dirty deed. That’d mean they’d be after him and his partner, Donal Tuban.

Donal Tuban and he’d been ordered here to watch this area. They’d been ordered to do so by their captain, Captain Jeffers of the Kingdom of Talis’ Army who was now lying in a dead heap along with the rest of his battle legion somewhere down in the clearing of the dead. The captain ordered them to watch this area for four days, and to report any odd happenings—along with the outcome of this battle—to the War Minister. It’d been four days on this very day with nothing out of the ordinary happening except today there was another foreign legion of Kingdom soldiers on the Kingdom of Talis’ home soil. Trevor expected a battle legion of his own soldiers to pass through this region coming onto the battlefield of dead soldiers. He hadn’t expected the black and silver uniformed men from the Kingdom of Sardia to be down in the clearing.

Trevor and Donal had watched the entire battle transpire four days ago down in the clearing.

Trevor and Donal had watched the entire battle transpire four days ago down in the clearing.

Trevor could still remember the sounds of the beginning of the battle. Both sides had their horn blowers, of course. The sounds of the horns and the shouts of their commanders ordering them into the battle died almost immediately with swords and spears and other wicked weapons making their way onto the battlefield. The thunderous hooves of close to four thousand mounts rushed forward toward their enemies. Trevor still had the images of thunderous sounds when the two forces met headlong into each other. The swords and spears and other wicked weapons were flying at amazing speeds while the soldiers fought each other for a valiant victory. Trevor knew the Kingdom of Talis’ soldiers were only protecting their Kingdom. The Kingdom of Pomala’s battle legion were the aggressors trespassing while doing murder on the Kingdom of Talis’ home soil. By the appearance of it all they were also trying to start a war with the Kingdom of Talis. Trevor also knew when his King, King Tara heard the news that a foreign battle legion had attacked one of his own battle legions there’d be grievous consequences to come in the very near future. King Tara was a King not to trifle with especially when the other Kingdoms were on the land of the Kingdom of Talis murdering the son of the Motherland. Trevor could visualize a large-scale war coming ahead, and with him being the son of the Motherland it was his sworn duty to report to King Tara and the War Minister of what he’d seen happening four days ago. Trevor still couldn’t erase the memory of the battle because it appeared both sides were on a suicide mission. The battle had raged on for at least an hour in length, and throughout that hour long battle the soldiers found themselves without mounts to fight from also finding themselves battling for their lives on foot. With weapons swinging and stabbing the soldiers continued to battle each other until not a man was standing on the battlefield not even a commander. The last two remaining soldiers alive had been battling each other valiantly mortally wounding each other and expiring. The only two men who’d survived the battle were Trevor Moranse and Donal Tuban. So here they were four days later, and they were witnessing yet another enemy legion stealing the weapons from the dead soldiers of the Kingdom of Talis’ battle legion loading them on pack mules to be transported to the Kingdom of Sardia to possibly be used against the Kingdom of Talis in the future.

What do you think we should do, Trevor? Donal Tuban asked quietly. Donal Tuban was a brute of a man dressed in tan leather and rugged soft leather boots. He was fierce with a short sword as well as a longbow, and by all rights should have been lying dead on the battlefield, but he was a scout not a mount soldiers at all. He was an excellent tracker, and could read bent and broken branches like a wanton look in a woman’s eyes. His face had been deeply tanned by the harsh summer sun, but was slowly fading from the weakness of the mellow glow of the autumn sun. His nose was profound and very prominent on his lightly tanned face. His sky blue eyes twinkled in the light or when he’d had a thought of mischief or when he was puzzled and confused like he was right this moment.

Trevor himself was a big man, but not nearly as large and threatening as Donal Tuban. He’d a set of dark brown eyes, long, blond hair he kept in a ponytail behind his head. His nose was nondescript except it perfectly fit his other facial features. He was no tracker, but was deadly dangerous with a dagger, short sword, and longbow. He also possessed the incredible ability of having keen ears for all the sounds of the forest, and this had been his main trademark for being chosen as a Head Scout for the Kingdom of Talis’ Army.

Trevor eyed the confusing look on his partner’s face, and then whispered to him. I believe we should get back to our mounts riding hellbent for the castle. King Tara and the War Minister must hear and know about these things as soon as possible. I’m certain King Tara will be very displeased about two different legions of Kingdom soldiers, one slaughtering a battle legion of his own soldiers, and the other Kingdom soldiers stealing the weapons from the dead bodies afterwards. He picked up a dry pine twig as though he was going to break it in two quickly realizing what he was about to do, he instantly dropped the dry twig back on the ground. Come on, Donal. I’ve had enough of this waiting. It’s been four days like we were ordered to do. It’s time we get back to the castle to make our reports.

The two men quickly retrieved their longbows beginning to make their way into the forest to their mounts that were in a secluded position a mile away by a babbling brook.

* * *

It took nearly an hour for the raiding legion to load and pack up all of the weapons they’d gathered from the gruesome battlefield packing them all on the train of pack mules.

The captain appeared to have become increasingly impatient to the point he was rubbing his gloved hands together. He looked by all rights as though should be running his hands nervously through his hair. Lieutenant Preylor! Form up the men, and move them out! Now! barked the captain.

The lieutenant whipped his head up and around to face his fearless, but nervous commander while mumbling something to himself, and returned. Yes, sir! barked back the lieutenant. He then shouted the order out to his men. The men grumbled amongst themselves, but slowly began to mount up on their mounts. They eventually formed up at attention in front of the captain and the lieutenant where the captain sat on his nervous black mount on top of the brown grassy knoll furiously rubbing his gloved hands together.

Let’s move out, lieutenant. Order the men to keep their mounts quiet, and to shut their own mouths. The last thing we need here is to be discovered by a battle legion from the Kingdom of Talis. Our mission is to map this land with strategic areas raiding weapons when we can bring them to the Kingdom of Sardia. We aren’t to be found or caught running across an enemy border. Is that understood, lieutenant?

Yes, sir! bellowed the lieutenant.

Now, lieutenant. Don’t push my patience. Let’s move out staying as quiet as we can until we reach the Kingdom of Sardia. It isn’t going to be easy moving two thousand men and a pack train full of weapons for the distance we’ve got to ride without running into a battle legion from the Kingdom of Talis. He turned his black mount around beginning to head southwest toward the dense tree line of spruce and towering pines.

The lieutenant moved up where he was positioned next to his commander.

The soldiers formed a double line behind the captain and the lieutenant. The men would be spread out in a long line, but at least they’d be riding over each other’s trail so there’d be less chance of a snapping twig or a mount’s hoof striking a rock to signal to the enemy of their whereabouts.

The captain rode up into the forest in a proud, but worried way. What the hell have I got myself into this time, he thought. They’d had to make it back home safely the captain hoped.

* * *

Trevor Moranse and Donal Tuban made their way silently through the dense foliage of towering pine and spruce trees to a gully by a babbling brook where their mounts were tethered.

Trevor was happy the mounts were well rested for they’d be pushed hard to make it the day and night’s ride back to the castle. He’d a real tale to tell King Tara and the War Minister when he arrived back home. The best thing about this tale, however, was everything contained in the story was true. The War Minister, Daren Taboosa was a very aggressive War Minister, and after hearing what Trevor and Donal had to say to him he’d immediately consult King Tara about the seriousness of the problems. Trevor would never forget the likes of the War Minister because the man had the irritating habit of always twitching his left forefinger under his long nose. Trevor hope didn’t mean war. War to him was a senseless act only meaning strife and useless death to the Kingdom of Talis’ Army soldiers, and at times innocent people.

I think we’re far enough away from that raiding legion now we can speak freely, Donal, Trevor said in a low tone of voice. We sure have a tale to tell King Tara and War Minister Daren Taboosa when we get back home. Don’t we?

That we do, Trevor. I certain they aren’t going to be happy about our news. I also know for a fact King Tara is going to be very disappointed about it all. Trevor this just could begin a war with the Kingdom of Pomala."

Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that. The last thing I want to happen is for me to die with a Pomalan arrow or sword stuck in me.

Yes, me, either, Donal replied. You know this could shake the foundations of both Kingdoms if war does happen. A lot of men are going to pay the price of dying over yet another useless war. We haven’t had a war in over thirty years. The last one was caused by a renegade Black Wizard testing the power of his death spell on the innocent people of this land. It’s so strange one King can be like another in ruling, but different in the way they go about the running of their own individual Kingdoms.

I agree with you, Trevor. Kings in their own rights use the soldiers and the people as their own pawns. They give an order of war, and suddenly the soldiers and the people are dying without mercy.

"Well, enough of this talking about war and such. We’d better mount up, and begin to be back at the castle. The mounts are well rested and watered so they should be up to the