The fearsome Selgays had decimated the first row of Trolls, tearing them to shreds with their razor sharp talons and pointed beaks. The biggest of the animals, the one that had transported Cairn, had a mountain Troll in his claws as he rose into the sky. Diving at the marauding enemy, he heaved it into the pack and knocked down dozens of the black beasts with the dead body of their compatriot as they ran. The Selgay flapped its great wings heavily and rose up almost vertically, prepared to attack again. The remaining two formidable flying beasts were poised for another run as well, when the line of attack broke momentarily before their charge. The Trolls retreated in panic, not knowing how to defend themselves against the terror coming at them from the skies. The Selgays shrieked in response.
The great animals circled the area before the open gate, taking turns at diving down with fantastic speed on any daring savage who infringed upon the space they now possessively patrolled. A horn sounded in the distance, and then a contingent of the enemy emerged from the crowd, led by a larger Troll clad in black and crimson hides. All around him they scurried and scampered, apparently following his orders. His guttural commands were issuing from his slobbering jaws in a booming voice.
The wriggling mass of black beasts assembled behind its leader, and then from out of the ranks, the beasts pulled a host of wooden war machines, fitted with large, spearlike projectiles. As they set them up, the rest of the Troll army thronged behind them, far enough from the city to be out of the direct path of the terrifying beasts. The leader dropped his arm and the others let loose a missile. It sprang high into the air with great speed, and it just missed the outstretched wing of the front-most Selgay before it fell over the walls into the center of the city and shattered on the stones of Pardatha’s streets. Another dangerous projectile struck the largest of the animals, grazing its side and sending it shrieking into the sky. The assailants were gaining confidence by this new development and the birds, their primary task completed, hovered very high in the sky, out of range of the new weapons unleashed upon them.
Tomas stared out among the warring masses, and from the west, leaping over heads and bodies and tearing through dozens of Trolls, with his huge teeth bared and his claws extended, came Calyx, bloodied but alive. He had numerous cuts along his hind legs and one ear was sliced clean through, but his eyes glowed a bright and healthy red, and his coat, though soiled, shimmered and shined in the sun. Cairn rushed to his side and hugged him around his big neck, while he examined him from head to tail with his wearied yet worried eyes.
Once the Moulant was safely inside the city Tomas, who still remained standing in the path of the charging Trolls, turned his gaze upon the gate. His eyes locked on the carved Noban and he concentrated deeply. The ponderous gate shook slightly and then began to slowly creak shut. It moved heavily, scraping the ground as it neared its counterpart. As it progressed, it lifted slightly and began to move more freely and fluidly. Tomas did not let his intensity falter until the gate was fully closed. It met its twin with a resounding bang, and then Grogan and his attendants immediately rushed from the crowd to set the seals, finishing the job and locking it tight.
A great cheer arose within the city and Tomas, expressionless and weakened, leaned heavily upon his friends Cairn and Preston, who had meanwhile pushed their way through the ranks and returned to his side. Calyx sat next to them, licking his wounds, allowing his compatriots the luxury of space, since none but the bravest of the common folk would dare approach them with the big cat so close by.
Calyx raised his nose to the sky and roared his acknowledgment and thanks to the Selgays, sending the few, bold Pardathans who had gathered nearby to gaze upon the Moulant with wonder, running for shelter. The great Selgays shrieked in response and then soared into the clouds, back toward their homes in the Thorndars. Preston turned his face to the sky and waved, while Cairn looked up and smiled. He wanted only to preserve the image of these departing allies in his mind’s eye and sustain the feeling of gratitude in his heart forever.
Chapter Fifty-one
Baladar did not have the time to properly thank the young man who had accompanied Cairn into Pardatha so fortuitously. The Trolls, maddened first by the Selgays and now by the gates closing in their very faces, attacked with a vengeance. The big machines that shot their missiles at the giant birds now took aim upon the rooftops of the city, sending blazing shafts over the high walls and deep into the heart of Pardatha. Fires burst out in many places, and the people of the city mobilized in order to prevent widespread damage.
The Troll army attacked in waves, accompanied by barrages of burning projectiles. The soldiers upon the battlements were still weary from the previous fighting, but they fought as well as they could. The bowmen continued to down the enemy from their vantage points behind the crenellated towers. But as the battle wore on, the Trolls became more aggressive. They rolled out even larger machines and used them to hurl huge stones into the city, shattering roofs and crushing bones. They remained just out of the reach of the archers’ arrows and they were thus free to act with impunity.
This enemy was smart and well organized. Its leaders took their time and planned their assaults, rather than wasting their numbers futilely. The assault continued in this manner for hours, and it was taking its toll upon the city of Pardatha. The fires were burning in some places uncontrollably and many buildings were crumbling under the barrage of rock and stone. Although Grogan mounted a noble defense, Baladar could see the signs of fatigue setting in.
The Trolls continued their steady bombardment, and now they began to aim their rock hurling devices against one spot on the wall. A single blow to the thick stones of the fortifications would not do any harm, but this continuous attack, coupled with the exceedingly perfect aim that their weapons afforded them was causing great concern among the councilors. The relentlessness with which the Trolls mounted their assault was disconcerting. They could continue on in this manner for a long time, wearing down the city’s defenses and morale. And more importantly, the wall was showing signs of giving way to the perpetual cannonade, no matter how slowly.
Baladar convened the council late in the afternoon and he invited Cairn to join them as well, along with his two charges, Tomas and Preston. Robyn dar Tamarand had not yet fully recovered from his previous exertions, but the remainder of the council members were present. Baladar had not had a real chance to meet his newest guests yet. In fact, he was so consumed with the defense of his city that he had not even gazed closely upon the faces of all of his visitors, but a vivid image of Tomas lingered in his mind since the moment he first saw him.
When Cairn entered the circle of stone accompanied by Tomas and Preston, Baladar was visibly shaken and he could barely contain his astonishment. No one but he and Elion remained in the city who had seen Davmiran at close range, and this boy could be his twin. Elion gasped when he arrived and was too surprised to even take his seat. Filaree looked at the two of them in shock, never having had seen either of them react so dramatically to anything, despite all that they had recently been through.
“What is it, you two?” she asked of them in wonder. “You both look as if you have seen a spirit,” she commented.
The other councilors waited anxiously for an explanation for the odd behavior of their leader and the young Elfin Prince. Cairn suspected the reason for their reaction immediately, and he chose not to keep them in suspense any longer.
“Greetings, good people. For those of you who do not know me, I am Cairn of Thermaye. I was summoned here by your Lord Baladar, for the purpose of acting as a teacher to the young heir of Gwendolen. I had received information earlier that he was not presently here in the city, but I was determined to reach Pardatha nonetheless. I have brought two travelers with me, if it pleases you,” he continued humbly.
“We have been journeying for many days and we have much news to share with you that we have gathered on the way. Oh, by the way, if you have not already learned for yourself, my friend Calyx is here as well,” he said, pointing to the cat-like beast reclining beside the stones. “This boy is Preston, of the Thorndar Dwarves,” he said, laying a gentle hand upon the boy’s shoulder. “And this is Tomas,” Cairn said warmly, putting his other arm around his back. “They are like family to me, and I hope that you will welcome them among you as you do me,” he finished, still standing.
Baladar had not closed his mouth since the three walked into the council chamber. He stared continuously at Tomas, and he finally could not contain his wonder any longer. Finally, he stood up and spoke.
“I am sorry to have to bypass the formalities of so anticipated a visit, Cairn of Thermaye, but I must ask this question forthright and straight,” he addressed Tomas directly this time. “Forgive me my son, if I appear to be aggressive, but you bear a striking, even an uncanny resemblance to the boy I call Davmiran, the heir of Gwendolen. It cannot be mere coincidence.” Turning now to Cairn he asked, “What do you know of this, Cairn, my friend? Please, enlighten us.”
When he was finished speaking he sat down once again.
“It is a long story, Lord Baladar, and I am afraid that now is not the time to tell you everything you must eventually learn. But, the resemblance is true. This boy is the twin to the heir.”
The table erupted in gasps all around. Cairn waited for them to calm down and then he continued speaking.
“He was raised by a woodsman and his wife, Trevor and Safira, into whose care he was entrusted when he was a new born babe. Alas, they are no longer alive to bear witness. On my way to Pardatha, I stumbled upon his uncle, who was kind enough to invite me to his home. Tomas and I have been together ever since,” he paused.
“You are surely his twin!” Elion remarked, examining him closely. “The eyes are identical, though of a different hue. And the face! Dav’s hair is longer, albeit,” he said, his face alive with joy.
Tomas stood up slowly and allowed his brilliant green eyes to wander from person to person around the large table, until they finally rested upon Cairn.
“It is as he says,” he began. “He has been more than a friend to me, and I will be eternally grateful to him. And Calyx and Preston too,” he continued. “My brother does not know that I exist, although I am sure that he has felt my presence often, as I have and do his. I have been aware of him ever since I was a small child, but I was taught about my past purposefully, while he was deprived of this knowledge purposefully as well. I am anxious to meet him. There is much that we must do together. I know that he is no longer here in Pardatha. I have known that ever since he left the city. I also sense that he is not thinking, that he is in a state of unconsciousness. Is he safe? What can you tell me of him, Baladar?” he asked with deep emotion.
Baladar stood and looked seriously and meaningfully at Tomas. The words did not come easily to his mouth, as he was overcome by the events unfolding before him.
“He is safe, Tomas. Quite safe. And, forgive me for answering you first without offering you our warmest greetings and welcome to Pardatha, but I thought that you needed to hear that,” he rejoined, preparing to continue. “The noble young Elf, Elion…” Baladar nodded in his direction, “… rescued him from certain death in the hands of our enemy, and carried him all of the way back to Lormarion, where he rests, protected in the heights of Seramour,” Baladar stated with pride.
Tomas’ expression barely changed, but he was greatly relieved and he closed his large eyes for just a minute, in order to fully absorb the information that he was just given.
“I am grateful to you, Prince, for what you did. I would like to hear more about it some time soon,” he said to Elion, respectfully. “But, what of his health?” he asked with mounting concern.
“As to his state of mind, he arrived here unconscious. As you know, the King is dead! His family—your family, Tomas—was attacked by Colton, and the brave woman who raised him, Mira, was able to cast him to us here, at the ultimate cost to herself. I have the token with which to awaken him, and I was returning to Pardatha after having visited Calista, the Lady of the Island, in order to imbue the token with the power it required, when I discovered him missing.”
Baladar’s face clouded with concern, remembering the awful feeling that took root in his soul upon learning of Dav’s absence.
Elion stood and interrupted them.
“I was returning to Lormarion from my uncle Bristar’s in Crispen when I stumbled upon a retinue of riders leaving Pardatha. They led a horse out of the gates draped with a blanket, and then they left it there to fend for itself as if they had forgotten about it completely. They departed in one direction and the horse wandered undirected into the field near where I was hiding. To my surprise, I watched as a boy fell from the saddle onto the earth. I went to aid him and I discovered that he was unconscious.” He looked at Tomas, and then continued his description of the events. “I knew that I could not leave him alone and unprotected. I felt uncomfortable for some reason about bringing him back into the city, so I sort of pulled him all the way to Seramour. I left him in the care of my mother. She is a healer of great prowess, and I am sure that his physical ailments at the least have been well attended to by now.”
Elion finished, seeming to wonder himself at how odd it all sounded now.
“When Colton attacked, I was relieved that Davmiran was not here. Until then, I felt as if I had let you all down,” Baladar said, remembering those hours with remorse.
“Things are as they should be,” Tomas said. “When it is safe to do so, I will travel to Lormarion and meet my brother,” he commented matter of factly.
Baladar had many questions, as did the others who had been summoned to train this boy’s brother, but then was not an opportune time to ask them all. Baladar rose once more and spoke.
“These are dangerous days. We do not have the luxury now of learning all we would like to, as the Troll army is pounding on our walls. We have been through much these past weeks, all of us,” he said, looking around the table. “And I fear that the battle has only just begun. The Dark Lord has not been defeated, as we all know. He will return, and he is determined to locate Davmiran. It is only a matter of time before he does. We must deal with our immediate problems, and then we can begin to address the future,” he concluded.
“If we do not do something soon, there may not be a future for us here!” Filaree said, defiantly. “It is well and good that the heir has a brother and that we are all learning our history lessons, but have we forgotten just how dangerous our enemy is?” she asked, reminding everyone present of her recent loss. “I think that we should concentrate on our defenses now and leave the niceties for another time,” she finished.
Tomas looked upon her, his large eyes full of sadness, and he moved to her side. She held her head in her hands, and he was looking down at the stone of the table. He placed one hand upon her shoulder and she gazed up at him as a single tear ran slowly down her cheek.
“I am sorry for your loss, Lady Filaree. You must have loved him very much,” Tomas said .
Filaree never really acknowledged Cameron’s death. She had not allowed herself to cry since the tragic moment, and she refused to think about his absence during the battle. But, now that Tomas brought it up and said the words out loud, she could no longer pretend that it was not true. Her eyes welled up with tears and she laid her hand over the boy’s, grasping it and squeezing it hard. She looked into his eyes and found warmth and comfort there, and she smiled a sweet, sad smile.
“Thank you, Tomas. Your words mean a lot to me,” she said under her breath. “And I am sorry if I was too harsh before,” she replied.
“We are all tired, Lady,” Baladar said.
“But Filaree is correct. We must find a way to defeat our foe nevertheless,” Thembak reiterated, feeling the urgency of the circumstances.
Tomas and Filaree continued to stare at one another for a short while, and then the boy returned to his seat.
Her eyes followed him until he was sitting once more, then she looked around the table and spoke once again.
“These Trolls are strong and smart. Our greatest danger is the possibility that the wall will collapse under their barrage. We must find a way to disable their catapults.”
Her voice had regained the strength and composure that characterized her manner.
“She is accurate. A siege we can withstand. Without a new source of supply, they will eventually return to their homes in the mountains. But, if they breach our defenses, both sides will suffer great losses,” Mistress Marna commented. “Any breach will renew their hope. It would only prolong the battle. The Lady of Avalain is correct. We must stop the cannonades at all costs,” she agreed.
“If our archers cannot shoot that far, and if we do not send a force outside the gates to attack them directly, how do you propose we disable the catapults?” Pertar of Axlon asked.
As the group pondered this difficult question, Robyn dar Tamarand walked into the oval unnoticed by the others.
“What is this I am being told of another attack?” he interrupted the conversation. “Why was I left to sleep for so long if the city was in danger?” he shouted.
The others stopped what they were doing and looked with relief upon the face of the man who had sacrificed so much to save them not very long ago.
“Robyn?” Lord Baladar asked. “You are looking well rested. How do you feel?” he inquired.
Robyn walked to his side and he looked with great curiosity at the new faces circling the table. His eyes were shifting rapidly, first from Tomas’ face, then to Preston’s, then to Cairn’s and back again.
“I feel quite well, Baladar. Thank you for asking. Now, please tell me who attacks us presently? I thought we had rid ourselves, at least temporarily, of the danger,” he asked, his gaze resting upon Tomas.
“The mountain Trolls marched in from the north after the last of Colton’s lackeys dispersed. But, you missed more than their arrival, Robyn,” Elion answered for him.