The Light and the Darkness: Live By the Sword

By R.W. Dekar

A world of mystery and secrets, a world that forgot its past, a world filled with magic . . . Gaianterra. That past is about to reemerge, and with it, chaos. A huge war has broken out because of a power-hungry and delusional emperor. Nation after nation is imperiled by the war taking place on a global scale. But more is going on than even those waging the war know. In the shadows lurks an evil that bends the outcome of the war to their wicked ends. The war is not as simple as it seems; it serves as a catalyst that will pit the forces of good on a path to confront a powerful evil. Can tragedy be avoided, or is history doomed to repeat itself?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Page Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Feb 12, 2019
• ISBN: 9781643505558

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The Light and the Darkness

Live By the Sword

R. W. Dekar

Copyright © 2019 R. W. Dekar

All rights reserved

First Edition

Page Publishing, Inc

New York, NY

First originally published by Page Publishing, Inc 2019

ISBN 978-1-64350-554-1 (Paperback)

ISBN 978-1-64350-555-8 (Digital)

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Prologue

Prelude to the Encroaching Darkness

A cool breeze blew over the wide-open grassland. The sound of children at play could be heard in this vast expanse of soil at the edge of the city. It was a perfectly wonderful summer day.

There was a woman standing by herself, looking out over the land toward the children at play. She was squinting with a hand above her eyes to help shield them from the sun. She was short, stocky, and mildly attractive and was wearing simple clothes, the clothes of an ordinary peasant housewife, a full-length blue work apron and simple leather shoes. Her hair was pulled back and tied with a single ribbon to complete the look of a busy, simple, and happy homemaker. That is, except for the scowl she had to go along with her squinted eyes.

Darien? Darien Jaden! Your mother has been looking all over for you. Run along home now, you hear? the woman yelled.

Among the children at play, one boy suddenly perked up at the sound of his name and started toward the woman. He had short golden-blond hair and pure-blue eyes. He was wearing the usual clothes a young boy would wear, similar to what the other boys he was playing with wore. His long brown pants had some stitching in them from too much roughhousing, his white shirt was dirty from the mud and grass, and mud covered his brown leather shoes as well. Contrary to his looks, however, he was not an ordinary peasant child. His father was an earl and worked for the Archduke of the Grand Duchy of Tandor, part of the Royal Kingdom of Zal’Thora.

Yes, ma’am, Darien said in a voice thirteen-year-olds use when they’ve been scolded. Then he turned to his friends and said, Bye, guys.

You’re still coming tonight, right? a boy named Kyle said.

Yes, Darien replied. I’ll see you guys later.

Don’t forget that Carol and Karina won’t be coming.

Oh, right, well, at least the others will be there. We all won’t miss out on the fun tonight.

Yeah, seeya then. Better get home before you get in trouble, mama’s boy, Kyle said with a sarcastic grin.

We’ll see about that, Darien replied, running off.

*****

A large, muscular man in his forties with shoulder-length black hair, black mustache and beard, and dark brown eyes was walking down a long corridor of gray stone with a red carpeting that had gold embroidery along the borders, which ran down the center of the walkway. He was wearing thick dark gray plate armor with black accents. The shoulder plates had three five-inch-long spikes over an inch and a half in diameter at the base. On the chest plate was a crest: a big gold kite shield with a silver sword, blade down, in the center with a blood-red fire in the upper left corner, a black lightning bolt in the lower left corner, a dusty tornado in the upper right, and a black orb in the lower right. A long black cape was billowing out behind him as he walked. The armor only enhanced how large he looked as well as how sinister he appeared. He walked with a grim smile upon his face, which was reserved for only those who were truly evil.

He came to a large room with lots of men working urgently, carefully, building something made of metal, making several in fact. Then he walked up to a man wearing a crisp blue uniform made of cloth. The man had short-cut brown hair and wore wire rimmed spectacles over his brown eyes. The same crest on the other man’s dark gray armor was embroidered on the upper left corner of his blue uniform. The short-haired man failed to notice the other at first, busy supervising the other men hard at work. He turned around at the sound of footsteps as they came closer. His supervisor’s face changed to a competent grin in recognition of his guest as he threw up an arm with his fist clenched across his body, smacking his chest in a vigorous salute.

The big man in the dark gray armor waved off the other’s salute with his hand. Chief Engineer Altan, I assume your brand-new inventions … the what?

Skyships, Your Excellency, Donald Altan replied.

Ah yes, the Skyships. I assume you’ll have a fleet ready in time for our surprise siege, asked Emperor Alexander Gershwin.

Yes, Your Excellency. I have six being built, and they’re about ninety-five percent completed, Altan beamed.

Six? You haven’t even made one to test the design yet, Emperor Gershwin said with a slight frown.

Ah, yes, well … I’m one hundred percent confident in my work. I won’t fail, Your Excellency.

See to it that you don’t. Or I’m one hundred percent confident that you’ll never see anything again, ever, Emperor Gershwin said with malice.

Aye, sir.

How long until they are ready?

One week, sire.

Good. Clenching his fist in triumph, Gershwin said, I’ll annihilate the Royal Kingdom of Zal’Thora starting with the Grand Duchy of Tandor. Muwahhahahaha. He laughed while walking away.

*****

A middle-aged man with short black graying hair and brown eyes sat upon a huge throne with two smaller chairs on either side of him that were currently empty. He wore a magnificent black cloak with yellow accents on top of a dark gray shirt and pants. There was no hood on this cloak, however. Three red braided ropes dangled from clasps on his left shoulder and connected to clasp on his chest. If the man’s intent was to look important, he went slightly overboard. And indeed he was important. He was the Archduke of Tandor, Grand Duchy to the Royal Kingdom of Zal’Thora, Dermais Vikor.

A man rising from a kneel before the throne stood fifteen feet away from the archduke. He was wearing a dull-gray uniform with one red braided rope draped in the same fashion as the archduke’s.

Chancellor Marcus, how are the preparations for the opening of tonight’s Quadricentennial Fair? the archduke asked.

We’re right on schedule, my lord. Vendors are ready to open within the hour, and the fireworks are all staged for tonight. The parade kicks off in two hours, just finishing up the final touches on placement and maneuvers, Marcus beamed.

Great, I hope it’s the best festival we’ve ever had.

It will be, my lord. You can ask your son, Soren, about it later tonight. And that’s only the first day. We have two weeks of festivities planned.

Where is Soren anyway? the archduke wondered.

*****

Darien’s friends, Kyle and Brent, Soren, Dogen, and Sophia were all in an alleyway, talking, waiting. The four boys were wearing what they had on earlier, similar clothes to what Darien wore earlier. Each boy differed in how dirty they were from one to the next.

Sophia wore a new, clean full-length dress. Her long blond hair and blue eyes were uniquely distinctive shades of color—no one would confuse her for another. In fact, the only other person any of them had ever seen with the same hair and eye color was her twin brother, Kyle. Fortunately, he kept his hair short so there was no confusion, none whatsoever to his gratitude. How embarrassing would it be for him if someone mistook him for his sister?

Brent stood awkwardly as he and the others waited for Darien. His short brown hair and green eyes were barely noticeable in the dimming light of the evening.

Dogen waited with his arms folded. Being larger than his friends and with his bright-red hair and blue eyes, he was hard to miss even in the dimming light.

Soren stood silently watching with his brown eyes as his long (for a boy) black hair blew in the breeze coming through the alleyway.

Soren, where is Darien? The parade is about to start, and he should’ve been here an hour ago, Sophia whined.

He said he’d— Soren was cut off.

Hey, guys, I’m here! Darien shouted, running to meet his friends.

You made it! Sophia exclaimed.

About time, Soren said with a grin.

I told you I would be. Sorry I’m late. I had to do extra chores for being late to dinner.

Guys, we should hurry and get a spot. The parade has already started, Kyle said.

The group rushed off to find a good location to view the parade.

The sidewalks were crowded with a lot of people waiting to see the parade, eating, drinking, laughing, and buying souvenirs that vendors were selling all over the streets. Most of the businesses closed their doors to open some vendors on the parade route. Since there were already a lot of peddlers around and about normally, there was a huge amount now. There were even some from other cities and towns that came with the throngs of visitors that had been waiting for the Quadricentennial Fair of Tandor to begin.

The sounds of drums and other instruments could be heard from down the street as the parade came marching along. At the front, Grand Knights carried banners from towns and cities throughout all of the Royal Kingdom of Zal’Thora. Among the largest banners was the Grand Duchy of Tandor’s, with its gray castle on a scarlet background with a black kite shield and sword and a gold crown along the top from left to right, which denoted its position as a vanguard on the kingdom’s front lines. And larger still was the banner of the capital of Zal’Thora itself, Zal’Kayor, which was a large gold crown on a field of scarlet.

Following them were Grand Knights at arms with kite shields and swords, axes, or spears drawn and held ready to defend their kingdom from any and all threats. They were in full battle armor, as were the Grand Knights with the banners, who had steel that gleamed in the sun from being recently polished. The same crest from the banner of Tandor was on the chest, and blue and yellow accents were on the rim of the entire suit of armor, with blue and yellow plumes on the top of the helmet. The cape had a huge crest of the Kingdom of Zal’Thora in the middle, while the rest of it was checkered in blue and yellow. The kite shields were steel with the crest of Tandor in the center. It was a magnificent sight.

Behind them were soldiers wearing hard leather and playing the instruments, which filled the air with music. Behind them were knights in the same armor as the ones ahead of the band. Behind them were the archduke’s personal bodyguards, the Royal Knights. They wore full-plate armor that was completely blue except for the crest of Tandor on the chest, with yellow plumes on the helmet and a solid yellow cape. They held swords as well as kite shields. Instead of a simple steel colored shield with the crest of Tandor, it too was yellow, though it still bore the crest of Tandor.

The archduke was on a throne that was mounted on a huge carriage, with his wife seated next to him, and his advisers and ministers were on carriages behind his own. There were more Royal Knights behind all the carriages, and yet more Grand Knights behind them. Needless to say, it was a long parade, longer than Darien or anyone else around had seen before. The crowd was cheering and clapping the whole time it passed them by.

As the parade passed by Darien and his friends, they all cheered in tune with the rest of the onlookers.

Wow, it’s so wonderful! Sophia exclaimed.

Look at all those knights, said Kyle.

That’s only a small force compared to the entire army in Tandor, Soren casually said.

I want to be a knight someday, Darien said in awe.

You can’t be a knight, Soren remarked.

Why not? Sophia asked. I think he’d make a good knight.

Because he’s too important. He’s going to be an earl as his father is now, Soren said.

Well, I still think he’d make a good knight.

Come on, guys, let’s get out of here. Let’s go out of town where it’s dark. Watching the fireworks will be better in the dark, Brent suggested.

Yeah, the five boys all agreed to exit the city.

Nooo, haven’t you heard there are vampires and werewolves out at night? Sophia pleaded. It’s too dangerous.

Oh, come on. Don’t tell me you believe those stupid stories, Brent said it mockingly.

Yeah, Sophia, there are no such things as vampires and werewolves, Dogen said.

But what about all the missing people from town? Sophia questioned. They have posters of missing people plastered all over the wall near the Hunters’ Guild. And not just here, but all over the Royal Kingdom.

Well, we know some of them probably ran into thieves, bandits, or some other vagabonds, Soren said. Some probably got lost. And there are a great deal of monsters and wild animals that are known to attack humans. But none would come this close to the city, not with the knights and soldiers out on patrol.

Yeah, we’ll be safe, Darien agreed.

You guys know that the monsters are smarter and more organized in distant lands. In the past, they have actually fought wars with humans, Kyle chimed in.

We’ve all been to school, you know, said Dogen. And monsters haven’t been at war with humans in over forty years. And never here. The more intelligent ones live faraway, mostly on other continents.

Yeah, around here they are more like big ugly animals. In any case, they are few in number, and none are vampires or werewolves, Brent said, dismissing that notion.

But, Sophia began, what about the hunting party in the woods that saw someone dressed from head to toe in black up in the trees, jumping from tree to tree faster than fast without even making a sound?

Brent said, Rumors and folks telling stories, is all.

Okay, fine, let’s go then, Sophia said dejectedly.

They headed out of the city and into the night.

*****

Later that night …

So, my boy, how did you enjoy the parade and the fireworks? Archduke Dermais Vikor said.

They were great, Dad, especially the fireworks, Soren said.

And how was being outside the city at night?

But how—

You know that Nathan, your personal bodyguard, keeps an eye on you at all times and reports back to me, Dermais scolded. How many times do I have to tell you to mind your station? You’re—

Too important to put yourself at risk, Soren finished the familiar speech. I know, Dad, I’m sorry. I was just having fun.

I know, son, but I don’t want you outside the city walls at night, not with vampires and werewolves on the prowl.

Awwww, Dad? Not you too!

People say they are just stories, but if you do the research, you’ll find that not too long after the last of the monster wars, the number of missing townspeople has actually increased. And not just here—

All over the kingdom, Soren sighed. I know, but there are other explanations for it.

It goes further than Zal’Thora, Dermais said. Soren looked ready to continue arguing, and the archduke was getting tired.

All right, enough. Just do as your old man asks, will you? It was not a question. Now run along and play.

Yes sir, Your Lordship. Soren gave a mocking salute and hurried away quickly.

Dermais sighed, Kids …

*****

There were a lot of men moving all about a huge castle. The castle was flying the crest of the Empire of Lumin’Valeria, as it was the emperor ’s castle itself in the imperial capital of Torren’Nova.

The men were soldiers of the Empire. They were wearing dark gray chain mail or ring mail—depending on their own personal preference—dark gray gauntlets, and a helmet that had a guard over the nose and ears. They wore swords and axes at either side of their waist, a kite shield or a buckler, and some even had spiked bucklers on their arm. One wore a metal chest plate with two diagonal blue stripes going from the right shoulder down to the left side.

Is everyone in position? asked the soldier with the two blue stripes.

Yes, sir, Captain Kendall. Everyone is in place, all areas secure, replied one of the soldiers.

Excellent. The emperor is due to come to inspect the new skyships within the hour. Carry on.

Aye, sir, several soldiers responded in unison.

Farther down the corridor, the emperor was being escorted by an entourage of Imperial Sentinels, three in front of him and three behind him. They were clad in heavy dark gray plate armor that covered them from head to toe. Huge broadswords hung from their left hips. A kite shield held in their left hands were dark gray and had the Empire’s crest in the middle. Walking next to the emperor was a soldier in the same armor as Captain Kendall, except he had three blue stripes instead of two. When they arrived at where the Skyships awaited their unveiling, the three Imperial Sentinels that walked behind the emperor stopped, turned around, and took up sentry at the entrance, drawing their swords, making a ringing sound that cut through the air. The other three fell in behind the emperor, keeping a short distance from him.

Here we are, Emperor Gershwin, Your Excellency. I think you will be pleased with what Chief Engineer Altan has created, said the soldier with the three blue stripes.

It had better be, for his sake, Gershwin said with venom in his voice. Commander Morson, you will be in command of these Skyships and the newly trained knights, the Aeroknights. However, there will be a slightly different rank structure. Along with a new uniform, your rank will change. You will now be captain, currently the highest rank in the Aeroknights.

The regular army rank structure, which was Morson’s previous post, had four officer ranks ascending from lieutenant to captain to commander and finally general. The Aeroknights’ rank structure followed that of the Imperial Navy’s. Its ranks were ascending from ensign to commander to captain and finally admiral. It would take Morson a while to get used to being called captain again.

Yes, thank you, Your Excellency, Morson responded enthusiastically.

Altan walked up to the emperor and Morson. Welcome, Your Excellency. Captain. If you’ll follow me to meet your new subordinates, Captain Morson.

They walked over to a formation of several thousand knights. They wore dark brown hard leather armor, with smaller swords than what the standard knights wore on their hips, some with rapiers, tucks, and fleurets, others with cutlasses and a few with hangers. Instead of the Empire’s crest, they had a new one emblazoned on their chest. It was a four-bladed propeller with the blades pointing north, east, west, and south with two swords crossed diagonally through the middle of the propeller. They wore dark brown leather hats with a wide brim around the circumference, and black capes that draped from their shoulders and stopped a few inches above the waist. "May I present the Aeroknights, our sky defense and invasion force.

And now, gentlemen, what you have been waiting for. Altan turned and shouted to his crew chiefs, Unveil the Skyships!

The big drapes in front of the Skyships were pulled down and rolled up by six engineers. They revealed six large metal ships with eight giant propellers in rows of two, each with four blades. The Empire’s crest was painted on the sides of each in the center. The crest of the Aeroknights was painted smaller and at the front of the ship’s side.

Altan looked over at the emperor and Morson. Magnificent, are they not? he said it as a bold, confident statement instead of as a question. There is a total of thirty-two cannons on each, sixteen per side. We have the standard cannon balls for destroying buildings, and we have incinerating shells for killing personnel under shelter and special ammunition for personnel in the open—a cannon ball with small metal projectiles inside, Altan said with a smile that did not reach his eyes. Altan shouted, "Commander Ford, prepare the Phoenix for takeoff!"

Aye, sir! the commander replied.

Ford boarded the Phoenix; his five hundred Aeroknights were already on board and in positions. Shortly after boarding, the engines started blowing out black smoke, which, thankfully, started rising up and out of the open-ceiling hangar, which was designed and built specifically to house the Skyships. The noise, which sounded like constant thunder, was almost as intrusive as the thick smoke. At last the propellers began spinning in unison and slowly picked up speed. One minute later, the craft lifted off the ground and started to fly high in the sky in a circle around the city.

Excellent, well done, Altan.

Thank you, Your Excellency.

Tell me, how long it will take our forces to reach Tandor?

About four hours, Your Excellency.

Perfect. How long can they sustain flight?

They can fly for ten hours before needing to be refueled, My Lord.

Hmm. We’ll have to establish refueling depots throughout the Empire and the lands we conquer.

How long will it take to finish the thirty-ship fleet?

Well, I only have enough men to work on six at a time and will take twelve months for each crew to build one, so four years, give or take six months, Your Highness.

That’s fine. I’m in no hurry. Now that we have air power on top of our sea power, how about working on something for our ground troops?

Like what, Yo—

I’m sure you’ll think of something, Gershwin interrupted.

Yes, thank you for your confidence, Your Majesty. Of course, I’ll need more skilled labor to complete the other projects, unless you want me to pull resources from building the Skyships.

Yes, Gershwin agreed, you will have as much extra workers as you see fit.

Yes, thank you, Your Excellency.

Gershwin turned to Captain Morson. So what do you think? Are you ready to recruit and train tens of thousands of Aeroknights to fight and some to also operate the ships?

Yes, I am honored to be given the task, sire.

Good, then go prepare to attack Tandor. We will take off at two in the afternoon tomorrow.

Aye, sir. Morson saluted with his fist, making a hard metal-on-metal clank, and started off toward his new troops.

Soon Tandor will be mine, Gershwin said to himself then laughed out loud. Muwahhahahaha …

*****

The newly made captain and commander in chief of the Aeroknights, Captain Morson, was in his new uniform, a silver metal chest plate with the three normal diagonal lines denoting his rank, but they were green instead of blue, with brown leather gloves, boots and pants, a full-length black cape, and the same leather hat worn by all aeroknights, except that it too was black. Commander Ford, wearing the same uniform except that it only had two green stripes, was standing in front of the captain.

Ford was a muscular man who stood above average in height. His clear blue eyes were full of intelligence and cunning, his crooked nose spoke of a man who liked to fight, and his short dirty-bond hair made him look like the warrior that he was.

Commander Ford, are we prepared for the invasion? Morson asked.

Yes, Captain, sir. Everything since the minor delay before takeoff has been running smoothly. The men are prepared to land and then attack right after the Skyships bombard the city, Ford answered.

Captain, sir, we are nearing the landing zone. It’ll take the men two hours to advance on the city, a man with one green stripe reported.

Thank you, Ensign. When we land, have the flight crew rest. We’ll prepare the cannons while in the air after takeoff. Dismissed, Captain Morson commanded.

Aye, sir, the ensign saluted, about-faced, and walked off.

*****

Darien was arriving at home after being out playing with his friends. As usual, he was dirty—clothes, shoes, hands, and even his face this time. He jogged past the wrought-iron gate and the man in gray leather armor with a sword on his left hip, and he said, Hello, Rich.

The man’s leather armor bore the crest of the house of Jaden—a golden kite shield on a square of red. The man replied, Welcome home, Viscount Darien.

Darien started walking when he neared the door of the mansion. The mansion was huge and made of gray stone. Stone pillars three feet in diameter held up the roof covering the stairway and the patio to the door, where two more men stood guard in the same leather armor. Both men greeted Darien, and one opened the door for him to enter. Darien walked through the long corridors to where the dinner table was. When he arrived, he rushed to sit down while looking at all the great food on the table. There was a basket of fresh baked bread with a dish of butter, a big bowl of salad with a sauce in another bowl nearby, potatoes, slices of ham, chicken breasts and legs, beef steaks, apple pie, chocolate cake, coffee, wine, milk, and water. It was a meal fit for a king. Or nearly a king, as Darien’s father, Frankfert (Frank) Jaden, was an earl and the minister of the Knights of Tandor. Frank was an important man, to say the least.

Darien, you know better. Now go wash up, you’re filthy, his mother, Bethany (Beth), said.

Listen to your mother. She knows best, Frank said with a grin.

Frank was a muscular man of above-average height with short light brown hair, blue eyes, mustache, and a short beard. He wore dark-green clothes and cape; the cape bore the crest of Jaden in the center, while the shirt bore the crest of Tandor in the center. He wore this uniform to work and most of the time at home, for his work often followed him. At his side he wore his large broadsword, which he was never seen without, save by his wife in bed or in the bath.

Beth was a thin, petite, beautiful woman with long straight blond hair and dazzling blue eyes. She wore a simple yet magnificent white gown, gold necklace, diamond earrings, and gold bangles on her wrists.

Okay … Darien got up and walked off.

*****

As the people of Tandor partied and ate—most of the knights and soldiers were on leave, doing the same thing—the Aeroknight forces of 2,400 men advanced. All that Tandor had on duty were 300 soldiers to guard the city walls, 130 Grand Knights to guard the castle, twenty Royal Knights to protect the archduke, and several handfuls of personal guards to protect various barons and other nobles.

There were soldiers on the top of the wall that surrounded the city, looking out for any signs of danger, be it man or monster. One guard stood still, peering out nervously, hearing something. Hey, he called out, does anyone else hear that? It sounds like a lot of thunder.

Now that you mention it, yeah. Sounds far off in the distance, one of the soldiers replied.

No, it sounds like it’s rapidly getting closer … louder, said a third.

A fourth guard pointing into the sky said, What are those up there?

Yup, definitely getting closer, the third replied.

Yes, but what are they?

No one answered; they all just shook their heads.

As the Skyships got closer, they could slightly see the crest of the Empire. Enemy raid! one shouted. Men to arms, alert the castle.

But it was too late. As the ships passed overhead, their cannons began to fire. Six ships. Thirty-two cannons each. One hundred and ninety-two cannons in all.

Some shells hit the city walls, crumbling them in huge sections. Some hit houses and shops in the city, utterly destroying them, incinerating, and special shells blasted among the people gathered for the celebration festivities. People were shouting, running, panicking, dying. Many people were on fire, screaming hideously. Some ran aimlessly around while on fire, too panicked to remember how to put it out. The whole city was almost engulfed in flames. People were being cut down by the projectiles from the special shells, torn to shreds and ripped apart, left in the streets to bleed to death. Volley after volley screamed through the air to crash down upon the ground.

Some of the people got lucky and survived the bombing and the ensuing fires. They rushed to the gates of the city to get out. In front of them they saw men in dark brown leather with black half capes and wielding swords. The Aeroknights began attacking, signaling the end of the survivors’ luck as the enemy knights began hacking and slashing any man, woman, or child who tried to escape.

One really big Aeroknight sliced through a man’s throat with his cutlass, rushed forward, and stabbed another man through the heart. His sword and his armor were covered in blood. The streets were filling with blood. A woman whirled around and began to flee, but she slipped in the thick red mess that covered the ground. An Aeroknight descended on her, stabbing her while she lay on the street, once, twice, thrice … seven times. A man tried to come to her aid, only to have his arm cut wide-open by another Aeroknight, and then he was no longer able to help even himself as he became the victim of a vicious thrust.

Some of the soldiers on duty lived through the onslaught from the Skyships. They mounted a counterattack. Swords clashed with swords, making metallic sounds that could barely be heard over the screams of chaos. One soldier cut the head off of an Aeroknight then slashed another across the chest, blood spraying all around. But he was quickly overwhelmed as Aeroknights killed his comrades, fought to get around him, and stabbed him in the back while he fought off those in front of him. The last thing he saw was the blade protruding through his chest covered in his own blood, watching more pour out of his wound while an Aeroknight in front of him lifted his sword with two hands, angled it downward, and thrust it into the side of his neck. The Aeroknight drove the sword hilt deep into the soldier and tried to pull it free, but it was stuck, so he put a foot on the dead man’s chest and pushed and pulled until the sword came free, making a bloody, fleshy sound as it came unsheathed from the corpse. Then Tandor’s resistance ended; the soldiers were all now dead. Aeroknights continued to slay civilians that tried to flee and took prisoner those who surrendered, however few there were. They rampaged on toward the castle, on toward Archduke Dermais Vikor.

In an alleyway, Aeroknights were encroaching on a group of children. It was Brent and Dogen, Kyle and Sophia, Carol and Karina. The boys moved in front of the girls to shield them. Karina and Carol looked at the blood that covered the knights’ armor and dripped from their blades. Both succumbed to terror and made a run for it. Carol screamed as an Aeroknight came out of the shadows and stabbed her through the chest.

Please, leave me alo— Karina was cut off as another knight cut off her head; it rolled until it bumped into a wall and stopped. The unseeing eyes of the poor girl stared up into the endless sky.

No! the boys and Sophia cried out and wept over the deaths of their two friends.

The Aeroknights moved to surround them, their swords ready.

*****

Darien and his family’s meal was interrupted at the sounds of the Skyship attack on the city. Miraculously—or was it?—the mansion escaped the bombardment unscathed. The personal guards swarmed around the earl and his wife and child as they escorted them out of the mansion to leave the city and retreat to safety. One of the guards said, I can’t believe this is happening. I wonder who would attack Tandor like this, and how?

Frank answered the questions confidently, I know who it is, the Empire of Lumin’Valeria. They must be using a new technology to attack us. I’m sure you’re aware that the Empire is the second most advanced kingdom on the planet, on all of Gaianterra.

Second, questioned a guard. Forgive me, my lord, but are they not the first?

No, Frank answered flatly. Evidence has been discovered that clearly suggests that at least one other kingdom exists that is more advanced. We don’t know where it is or what is its name. Also, the evidence is highly secret so, even I don’t know exactly what it is. Enough of that, more important matters are at hand. Please escort my wife and kid safely outside of the city. I’m going to the castle. Maybe there is still hope for an offensive that will save Tandor.

The group moved through the torch-lit hallways of the mansion toward the front doors. They heard banging noises and the sound of wood giving way. They have broken in, Frank thought to himself. You men, take my wife and kid out another way. We’re about to have some company. Let’s give them a warm welcome, Frank said, drawing his large broadsword, making a metallic ringing sound that reverberated through the air. The men escorting Beth and Darien turned back toward where they had come from. More ringing ensued as the men who remained with the earl drew their blades.

The youngest guard with Frank was worried that he’d never see his wife of three months again, much less get to have a child with her. He gripped the handle of his sword until the blood drained out of his knuckles, causing them to turn white. He could hear the footfalls of the enemy soldiers drawing nearer. He wondered what the others were thinking, wondered if they heard the footsteps of the enemy as well. He couldn’t take the fierce anxiety of waiting for battle. He began to rush forward on his own. When he got to the corner, he suddenly took a sword in his gut. In a hurry to die, boy? a snarling voice asked him as his vision went dark, and he could feel nothing but the searing pain. The Aeroknight pulled out his sword, blood dripped all over the stone hallway, and then he stabbed the young guard a second time, this time through the heart.

Attack! Frank roared with all his worth, using a battle cry to try to throw off his opponents. (Sword fighters, true swordsmen, have the warriors’ spirit. The warriors’ spirit can help a man beat someone if they have more spirit than their opponent.) Frank, at one time a general in the Royal Kingdom’s army, had an incredibly strong warriors’ spirit. Frank’s battle cry allowed him and his four remaining guards to easily cut down an enemy each.

The gray stone corridors of the mansion were wide but not as wide as the ones in the castle. Even though they were wide enough to fit six or seven men across, there was not enough room for five of them to fight in. Fortunately, personal guards and castle guards were trained not only to work together but also to fight together in narrow passages and the rooms of the places they protected. This gave Earl Frankfert and his men an early advantage.

After Frank gave his battle cry, he and his men quickly rushed their momentarily stunned and confused opponents. They slashed them across the midsection while rushing. Five sprays of blood gushed out nearly simultaneously from the victims of the first assault. Their lifeless bodies could be heard hitting the stone floor. They continued moving forward, without missing a step, forward to the next group of Aeroknights. But the Aeroknights stood ready with their swords to block the rushing slash attack that had just killed their comrades. The second line of Aeroknights successfully parried the charge, all except the one defending against Frank. Frank’s large broadsword sliced through the air and clashed with the smaller cutlass of the Aeroknight, making a loud metallic thwack as it broke the lesser sword in two and sent the severed piece flying across the room. Then the broadsword came into contact with the leather armor, cutting through it, through skin and muscle and finally through bone and organs. Blood splashed on those nearby as the dead knight’s body fell, his face full of shock and pain.

More Aeroknights dashed into the fight. They outnumbered Frank and his men two-to-one. The guards couldn’t fight them off for long. After a guard stabbed one Aeroknight through the chest, another Aeroknight slashed that guard’s throat. Another guard died without landing a blow to either of his opponents. The third guard did his best but only took out one with a slashing blow before being stabbed from behind. The last guard was more skilled than the others. He cut down his first opponent with a fast-arching strike, continued through the swing, and spun, slashing the second assailant’s throat.

Frank disarmed one man by slashing his wrist, then he quickly grabbed the enemy’s sword off the ground with a rolling dive, avoiding a horizontal swing from the man behind him. Then Frank got up, spun around, and thrust with the acquired sword at the armed man, piercing him through the heart. Then with his own broadsword, he finished off the disarmed man, who was now grabbing for a hidden dagger, by cutting off his head, which flew off the man’s shoulders and rolled along the stone floor, stopping upright, facing Frank as it blinked its dying eyes.

I guess a person’s head does live for a short time after being severed from the body, Frank thought to himself.

The only remaining guard moved to stand shoulder to shoulder with the earl.

The three Aeroknights that survived, that had killed the other guards, regrouped with two more men, one with a green stripe on a metal chest plate. He was an ensign. The ensign stepped forward to challenge Frank to a duel, but the earl’s guard took up the contest.

Please allow me, my lord, the personal guard said.

Go ahead, show them what you can do, Albert, Frank said.

Albert and the ensign met in the middle and touched swords, then both took two steps back. Albert took the initiative and swung his sword horizontally at the other’s body. It was blocked, and Albert was caught with a quick kick to the stomach, which surprised him and caused him to stumble backward. The ensign took advantage of this and lunged forward, slashing with his falchion across Albert’s stomach and then sliced upward, spraying blood and spilling guts out of the giant grotesque wounds.

Frank, enraged, started forward, but the ensign backed off, and his four men rushed to attack. The earl parried one strike, lunged, and killed an enemy, but the third and fourth Aeroknights landed blows, one cutting his upper right leg very deeply, the other slicing into his left side. Frank’s fast reflexes prevented the one at his side from being immediately fatal, but the wound was still a mortal one if left untreated. Recovering with amazing strength and speed, Frank slashed the man who had cut his side across the chest, a killing blow. Then he stabbed the man who had cut his leg in the stomach, shoving his sword nearly hilt-deep. Frank released the handle and pulled out a knife which he used to parry the last man’s swing. Then the earl punched the man across the face, breaking his jaw, and grabbed and spun him around in his arm while slashing his throat using the knife in one fluid motion.

Trying to catch the ensign off guard and buying himself some time, he hurled the knife at the ensign’s midsection. While the ensign dove to the floor to avoid the knife, Frank retrieved his blood-soaked sword. Knowing he could easily beat the other if he was not injured and also knowing that he could not beat him with his diminishing energy caused by his wounds, Frank devised a plan. It wasn’t the best situation to be in, yet it would have to do. He stood ready as the ensign charged, then he lowered his shoulders and shifted to the left in order to force the other’s blade to pierce through his left shoulder, which went all the way through. This left the enemy without a way to attack or defend effectively. Frank easily killed him by stabbing him through the chest, twisting his sword and causing a massive amount of blood to spill out onto the floor.

*****

While all that was going on, the personal guards with Beth and Darien were heading to go out the back way of the mansion. When they finally got outside through the back exit, they were ambushed. There were eight Aeroknights and only four guards. The oldest guard, the most senior in the group, turned to the youngest man and said, Kalos, take Lady Beth and Viscount Darien out of here. Guide them through the Yellow Birch and to the next town, Valmont.

But, Gregor, I can’t just leave you here. We can take these guys if we stand together, Kalos pleaded.

No! Don’t argue. More men will show up. If you stay to fight, it will be the end of all of us, Gregor Archan said solemnly.

Giving a farewell salute, Kalos Sumpter took off running with Beth and Darien.

The eight Aeroknights began their pursuit after Kalos and his charges. Gregor Archan and the other two guards started to intercept them. Six Aeroknights stopped to meet their challenge, while the last two remained on the pursuit. Gregor only wanted to stay alive long enough to help Kalos and the others to escape. The enemy assumed the two men would be enough to kill a woman and her child as well as a young man—not far from being a child himself—easily enough that they decided to bide their time for reinforcements to arrive.

Little did they know that Kalos was a very skilled warrior for his age. He had a long way to go, but he could handle himself, probably, Gregor thought. He’ll have to handle it himself. He has no choice. Failure isn’t an option. Darien is too important. His family line is too important. He’ll be the next Earl of Jaden someday. With any hope, Darien will grow up to be as strong and as wise as his father. He’ll need to be. The Royal Kingdom of Zal’Thora itself is at stake, for the Empire has started its war here, but here it shall surely not end. Lord Frankfert, a genius military strategist, tried to warn against this scenario, but his words fell on deaf ears, ears that belonged to the king’s own ministry and chancellor. Now look at this mess, a mess Earl Frankfert will have to put back together, if he’s even still alive. Get a hold of yourself, old man, Gregor chided himself. Maybe there is a way to survive this. Look! Look and think!

No one on either side had so much as moved a finger. Both sides had a mind to wait, to wait and see whom fortune would favor. From behind him, Gregor heard footsteps, a lot of them. He turned to look and thought, Never mind about surviving. Let’s just kill as many of these infernal bastards as possible. The other two guards turned to look too, to see what Gregor saw. A huge force of Aeroknights was coming toward them, maybe fifteen or twenty men.

Suddenly, Gregor rushed the six men, catching one off guard and slashing his chest deeply. Blood now covered the once-clean steel blade of his sword. The five remaining men overwhelmed him, each plunging their sword through Gregor’s body nearly simultaneously. The other two guards watched in horror, unable to move, unable to think of anything except, I’m going to die! And they were right, as the larger force came from behind and cut them down immediately. The Aeroknights moved on to clear other houses and buildings, leaving behind four dead bodies and plenty of blood to feed the grass.

*****

Kalos was clean shaven with green eyes and midlength brown hair. He was young, fit, and muscular and was of average height. His good physical condition came in handy as he ran in his armor away from the invading forces.

Don’t stop, keep running, Kalos warned. They’re still following, but they’ve separated. I’ll catch up.

Beth and Darien didn’t pause to acknowledge; they just kept on running. Kalos stopped and hid behind a large, thick tree. The two men chasing them were pretty far away when they had started running. One was larger than the other by maybe fifty pounds. Both of them were running at full speed to make up the distance to their prey. With their difference in abilities, they were now considerably far apart from each other by maybe, fortune willing, as much as five seconds. Kalos was hoping this would give him time to ambush one and then try to kill the other. Of course he was gambling that there were only two of them, that he hadn’t missed more men joining in the chase or more reinforcements on their way to back them up.

Kalos could hear the men’s feet hitting the ground, could hear their gasps for air. He tried to picture in his mind how far away they were from the tree he was hiding behind. He knew that if he miscalculated his timing of the ambush, he’d probably die. And if he died, Lady Beth and Lord Darien would die as well. He had taken an oath to protect them, and he couldn’t let them down, couldn’t let Gregor down either. He imagined them getting closer and closer, fifty feet … thirty feet … ten feet … now! Kalos jumped out, sword ready … too soon, way too soon. The first guy was just now ten feet away. He could still make it; he could still do it. He rushed the Aeroknight while the man tried to frantically draw his sword. Too late, he had it out, and now it was probably a hopeless fight as the second man had time to catch up with his sword already drawn. Kalos went for it anyway and swung his sword at the first enemy. Chink! The aeroknight’s sword broke. But how? Kalos wondered. Maybe it was instinct, adrenaline, fight-or-flight. It didn’t matter; all that mattered was the sight of his sword cutting the flesh of the Aeroknight and the sound of the blood as it fell onto the leaf-draped ground. Then he realized the job was not done; there was still one more. But the heavy man was out of breath. Too much weight and not enough training. Well, that’s just too bad, Kalos thought. Then he feinted low; the Aeroknight swung his sword to parry, but Kalos struck his chest, piercing it, watching the blood that was pumping through the Aeroknight’s body now pump out of his body. Mercifully, Kalos took out his sword and slashed the man’s throat, killing him faster, sparing the man the unnecessary pain of a slow death.

Kalos searched off in the distance with his eyes, trying to detect more enemies. Satisfied that no one else was following them, he searched the bodies of his fallen foes for anything valuable. He was not a thief, but he did believe that the victor should get the spoils. After cleaning the blood off his sword with leaves and putting it away, Kalos began the run to catch up with Beth and Darien.

*****

Archduke Dermais, the Grand Knights are currently defending the main courtyard to the castle. All of the Royal Knights on duty are assembled here. We must get you and your family out of here, my lord, Marcus reported.

"Is that all, Chancellor? You know as well as I