Garadaine
by Leonard Hoffman
| The clanging of stick against stick filled the forest air. Sir Tsuk watched with amusement as the young Prince Garadaine sparred with one of the guards. Garadaine's sister Kiana cheered from the sidelines. But it was Commander Belon who grimmaced. "That young prince will never learn the essentials of fighting this way" Belon muttered. "Look at him playing like that." "Belon, I think you are too hard on him," Tsuk said. "I am Garadaine and Kiana's personal bodyguard, and I know his fighting style like no other." "Then Tsuk, you should understand what I'm saying. When you or I were his age, we would not be making such blatant mistakes! He fills his mind with books of history and mythology, but never takes the time to really learn what it means to be a warrior. How does he think his father has been able to forge Ikros into the great kingdom that covers all of Kahlan? With archaic knowledge of dates and names? No! With the hard realities of steel!" "But the world is changing, Belon. No longer are warrior kings like Garalt and Ulmerad necessary to maintain the peace. Garadaine is the future of Ikros, a future that may not need rivers of blood to be created. The old guard like us won't be of much use in that future." Belon turned from watching Garadaine and stared directly into Tsuk's eyes. "Perhaps you are ready to give up everything you live for, but I am not." And then, getting up from his seat approached the soldier sparring. "Enough! Garadaine, you are old enough to do more than this child's play!" Belon grabbed the soldier's sparring stick and pointed it at Garadaine. "Defend yourself!" Garadaine took a few steps back with a new sense of fear. He knew that Belon had earned his position as commander through amazing fighting ability. Belon had a tactical fierceness that left enemies and friends trembling. But past those first few steps, Garadaine did not step back.. He had his father's bravery. "Good, child, you know to stand your ground!" Belon yelled. "This will be your next lesson." Belon lept with such speed that Garadaine didn't think it was possible. Garadaine was able to block an attack from the right and from the left. And then he saw it: Belon had left his right shoulder open! Garadaine began to swing his stick towards Belon when suddenly a sharp pain hit his legs, and he collapsed, dropping his stick. "Watch out for simple tricks! When I exposed my shoulder, I knew you would expose your legs. And now look at you." Belon walked over to Garadaine's fallen stick and kicked it into the forrest. "And your third lesson: Never drop your weapon!" And Belon hit Garadaine's right arm with his stick. Belon walked away muttering to himself, "Never have I seen such incompetence." Tsuk and Kiana ran over to Garadaine. "Oh my! Are you hurt?" Kiana cried. "He'll live" Tsuk said. "Listen boy, Belon may have been rough on you, but those are real lessons. You'll need to learn them if you ever want to be king." Garadaine looked up at Tsuk, his eyes almost in tears. "I don't want to be king if it means dealing with the likes of Belon!" Kiana helped Garadaine limp over to their royal tent. Tsuk looked down and kicked a rock. Noticing the guards standing around watching, he began to bark orders, "You there, prepare the night fire. And you, stand guard first watch. You, gather sticks for the fire! Go!" The next morning, soldiers were running everywhere preparing for the day's march. This was going to be the stretch of the journey, taking them close to the borders of Ikros, and therefore into danger. Sir Tsuk knew the dangers well. There had been reports of orcish activity along the border, although several leagues to the north of where the party would pass through. Orcs tended to act randomly in their attacks, and despite reported activity being so far away, Tsuk expected at least some action along the way. Tsuk's problem was how to best insure the safety of the royal children. He knew Garadaine's training was insufficient at best, at least against Orcs. And while Kiana was fairly good at the bow, she had almost no combat training. Tsuk thought it best that they travel in the carriage at the back of the party. That way, any blockage along the road would be first encountered by Commader Belon and his men. Tsuk watched Garadaine and Kiana take down their tent. He was proud that the royal children were always willing to help with the menial tasks. Despite Belon's point about Garadaine's lack of fighting ability, Tsuk knew the children had the potential to be great rulers. Even in Garadaine's fighting, Tsuk knew how little Garadaine had been trained. "Any lesser man would have been brought down by Belon's first two attacks," Tsuk told himself. "Garadaine has talent beyond his training." The party began to get underway midmorning. Travel was slow at first as the men and horses got used to marching. Tsuk knew how much this bothered Belon. Belon had fought in the Immortal War, when marching slow in the morning was not so common place. Back then, a party this size would be almost a league along the way by this time. But there hadn't been a major war for many years. Tsuk knew that men would tend towards the easier way of doing things when their lives weren't on the line. Sir Tsuk let his squire Kulen drive the royal carriage, while Tsuk rode on his own horse. This gave Tsuk greater freedom in movement, which helped him stay aware of his surroundings. He rode up to Commander Belon at the head of the party. "You really shouldn't be so hard on the boy." Tsuk said to Belon. "And you shouldn't be so easy on him. It does more harm than you think." Belon replied. "The boy has talent. And all it needs is to be awakened." Belon made no reply, and turned his attention back to the map. "How close will we come to the northern border?" Tsuk asked. "Close enough. Less than a league away. Last night I received a message falcon informing us of two Orcish raids outside Thalestone Village. Nothing to be too concerned about. Thalestone is ten leagues away from our path. We should be fine." Belon said. "Excellent. Let me know if you recieve any other messages." And Tsuk turned his horse back towards the royal carriage. When he got back there, he saw Garadaine sticking his head outside the carriage window. "Careful young prince, we wouldn't want you falling out and breaking your sore arm," Tsuk said with a grin. "Do you know how long we have to go, Tsuk? I really love the trees this far north. I'd love to stop and get a chance to look at them closer." Garadaine said. "Milord, we won't be able to stop for several hours at least," Tsuk said. "We come very close to the border, and there have been reports of Orcish raids at Thalestone." Garadaine looked at Tsuk with a suddenly serious expression. Tsuk continued, "Do you have that knife I gave you earlier?" "A knife, Tsuk? Only women and servants use knives!" Garadaine exclaimed. "Don't be so dismissive, prince. A knife is a weapon of only the greatest warrior. Any fool can lop off your head with a broadsword, but a knife requires skill and cunning," Tsuk said. "If you thrust hard and deep right here," pressing Garadaine's rib cage, "a knife could stick in for days, slowly cutting and bleeding until they die. It could be a death blow against even an Orc champion. You remember that." Garadaine sat back down into his seat, "But I should use a sword. Like you and Belon." "All in good time, young prince" Tsuk said. "You will have your time with a sword soon enough." The party continued riding for some time; Garadaine tired of watching trees pass, and began to doze off in the carriage. He awoke to a loud *tap* *tap* *tap* on the side of the carriage. He looked out the window to see the guards standing at the ready. Tsuk was off his horse feeling the ground with his hand. Belon was standing not far from him, his eyes searching the forrest. Garadaine moved close to Kulen and whispered, "Why have we stopped?" "I'm not sure why," Kulen said. "Tsuk and Belon both got very serious suddenly. I think it is probably nothing." Garadaine sat back into his seat. Kiana was also awake. "Is everything okay?" She asked. "Don't worry Kiana, Tsuk and Belon are both looking. There's nothing they can't handle." Tsuk began to walk back to the carriage; a moment later Belon joined him. "It seems we have company, " Tsuk said to Garadaine. "A band of Orcs, moving fairly swiftly." "Are they coming towards us?" Garadaine asked. "Not exactly," Belon said, answering for Tsuk. "They're moving in such a way that they will cross our path a league or two ahead. Tsuk, could you tell how many there were?" "Fifteen or twenty maybe. More than I would want to handle with our party," Tsuk said. "What are we going to do?" Garadaine asked, beginning to get worried. "Well that depends," Belon said. "Maybe they know we're here, maybe they don't. But if they know we're here, then maybe they know what we're transporting. An Orc chief would love to get his claws on the heirs to the Ikrosian throne." "Protecting the royal children is our primary concern," Tsuk said. "Belon, you continue forward with the guards and the carriage; I'll take Garadaine and Kiana myself and travel off road until we get to a protected village." "Yes, I see where you're going with this, Tsuk," Belon said. "The Orcs will attack us, but we'll retreat leaving the carriage. We'll make our escape while they search for any supplies or gold, and you'll get by completely undetected." Belon pulled out his map. "We'll meet at this town here, Stonebarrow. It lies along the Karak Ravine." "Agreed," Tsuk said. Belon began gathering together the guards, explaining to them the plan, while Tsuk readied Garadaine and Kiana for their cross country hike. "I'm afraid, Tsuk" Kiana said. "Don't be," Tsuk replied. "You'll be in my care. As long as we make good time and keep quiet, we'll be as safe as sparrows." It took only a few minutes to prepare, and Tsuk, Garadaine and Kiana were off. Heading south easterly, they'd follow the Karak Ravine until they made it to Stonebarrow. Tsuk noted how much faster the men reacted to orders knowing that Orcs were near. He chuckled to himself thinking how only when an attack was imminent would such obedience be displayed. It was only a few minutes after Tsuk had left with the royal children that Belon first sensed dread. Hearing and sight were only so good at figuring the distance of an enemy. Those senses could be easily fooled by a talented tactician. Belon knew this, for he had often used his enemy's miscalculation to his own benefit. Troops could be hidden, where neither ear nor eye could detect them, and used for the element of surprise. But smell never lied. The first thing Belon smelled was the remnants of brunt fowl. The sort of thing a few warriors would cook as they waited. Belon urged his men faster. He knew they'd have to go at least a few miles in order for the plan to work. The men marched faster, almost running. The carriage horses almost trotting. In a growing state of panic, Belon feared that stale smell of burnt fowl. And then he heard the strangest sound. The call of a bird not native to these forrests, nor to this end of the world. An arrow flew out of the forrest, hitting the side of the carriage. Belon pulled down his face mask and drew his sword, yelling orders for his men. They were not far enough along, the royal children were still in danger. Three large Orc warriors, followed by an Orc champion and several more behind emerged from the forrest. As the guards began to fight the Orcs, Kulen began driving the carriage. "Good thinking," thought Belon. "They'll follow expecting the children to be inside." Belon moved towards the champion, expecting him to be the chief. A kill might stop this raid before it got any farther. The Orc champion carried a battleaxe and a sword. It hit harder than Belon expected, but he found on. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Linan get run through with a spear. Belon yelled for a retreat. He thought if they could get the Orcs to chase them, it would help Kulen get farther along, and all that meant Tsuk could escape. Belon began moving to cover the retreat of his men. Belon remembered his squire days, training under Sir Kullvox. "Remember, whelp," Kullvox would say. "Orcs maybe stronger than men, but we're smarter. Don't expect them to be dumb, but you're smarter." Belon attacked the Orc champion, and then opened his side. The Orc attacked, exposing his legs. Belon struck quickly, knocking him on the ground. Before the Orc could move, Belon had run him through with his broadsword. With the Orc champion dead, Belon expected the others to stop fighting hard, but they fought harder. As Belon tried to pull out his sword, the Orc, not yet dead, grabbed the blade with his hand and smiled with his blood filled mouth. The Orc held so tightly, Belon couldn't pull out his sword. Just as Belon realized what the Orc was doing, he looked up to see another Orc champion running at him with a broadsword. Belon fell back with a loud thud. He looked down to see the sword sticking out through his armor. He turned his head just as another guard, Rufo, was stabbed in the neck. There were Orcs everywhere. Not even twenty yards away, the carriage was on its side with two Orcs going through it. Next to it, Kulen laid with eight arrows in his back. As Belon turned his head back up, he saw an Orc shaman arrive. "Are these all the humans?" the Shaman asked the champion who had killed Belon. "No, migod. Scout smelled human scent some yards back, into the forrest." "Go then, I want them found before night fall!" Then Belon blacked out. Tsuk, Garadaine, and Kiana began running as soon as they heard Belon's retreat call. Tsuk knew the Orcs might find their scent, but hoped Belon had been good enough to lead them in the wrong direction. Stonebarrow was still a day's journey away, and there was no way they could run the entire time. They stopped near a small clearing. Tsuk wanted to give the children a rest, especially Kiana. She wasn't at all trained for such travel, and she was already showing signs of wear. Garadaine looked better. Tsuk knew he would one day be able to handle such stress, but not yet. Garadaine kneeled close to Tsuk. "Do you think the're following us?" "I can't tell for sure," Tsuk said, his hands on the ground. "It is the same sort of strange feeling I had when we first found the orcs." Garadaine looked at their surroundings. "I think we are getting close to Karak Ravine. If we could find a way down, the river would mask our scents. It would be easier travel to get to Stonebarrow." "Smart thinking, young prince," Tsuk said. "You will make a great warrior one day. We should leave immeadiately." Garadaine walked over to where Kiana was sitting. "Kiana, we're going to be leaving soon." "So soon, Garadaine?" Kiana said. "I feel so tired. My legs feel wobbly." Garadaine touched her forehead. She felt cold. Tsuk came over and felt her shaking. "She becoming dehydrated. Once we get to the river she'll be fine. But..." Tsuk stopped and looked around. "Garadaine, go see if you can find some long branches. Something we could drag your sister along on." Garadaine ran off. "Don't worry, Kiana. We'll be to the river soon, and everything will be fine then." At first Garadaine couldn't think clearly. What had Tsuk asked him for? Sticks? For what? He stopped running and tried to breath deeply. I'm no use just running like a wild man, he told himself. Tsuk and Kiana need me. Then he remembered: dragging sticks! He went to the closest tree, pulled out the knife Tsuk had given him, and started cutting off large branches. Kiana would lay back on the branches, while Tsuk and him would drag her along to safety. Garadaine felt himself fill with hope as he ran back to the clearing where Kiana and Tsuk were waiting for him. When he got there, Tsuk and Kiana were not to be found. Garadaine stopped himself just in time to see two large Orcs walk into the clearing. As Garadaine crouched down into the underbrush, he watched as the Orcs looked about. He could hear the sniffy the wind for scents. As one began to walk closely towards him, Garadaine gripped his knife. When the Orc was almost within lunging distance, an Orc champion ran up and shouted something in Orcish. The three Orcs then ran off in the direction of the ravine. Garadaine knew they had found Tsuk and Kiana. He ran, too, but careful not to make too much noise. He followed the three Orcs until they came to the ravine clearing. There Tsuk stood with his sword drawn, with two arrows sticking out of his chest. Kiana was shivering against a nearby tree, and surrounding them were three Orc corpses. The Orc champion smiled to Tsuk, and pulled out his bow. Tsuk took a step back, closed his eyes and grimaced as the first arrow hit his stomach. The second arrow hit Tsuk's sword arm, and he dropped him sword. The two Orc warriors rushed in and began stabbing him, while the Champion walked over to Kiana. He smiled with crooked Orcish teeth. Garadaine wanted to rush in and stab him with his knife, but he held back. There was no way to kill three Orcs with a knife. It wouldn't help Kiana to be killed now. Garadaine held back, and tried his hardest to slow his breathing. Tsuk's blood would be pungent enough to keep them from picking up his scent, for now. He watched as two more Orcs arrived, one champion, who had a bloody hand, and one warrior. They were followed shortly by an Orc shaman with another Orc guard. That Shaman is their leader, thought Garadaine. The Shaman walked through the Orcs, who all looked worn and tired, stopping to look at Tsuk's body, then over to Kiana. Looking straight into Kiana's small eyes, the Shaman spoke to his lieutenant, "Who is lost?" "Migod, the human ju'uk killed Scout and Forward, and also Meghekt," the Orc champion replied. "With the others killed, that is ten killed." "And Bejghekt is wounded," another Orc added, motioning towards the champion with his hand cut off. "Clan Ughekt will remember their sacrafice," the Shaman said. "The human ju'uk will now remember that this forrest is ours!" The other Orcs cheered. "Take this little human hejumuk-creature. We will continue up the Black Dragon Ravine and camp at Feloghekt's Point." The Orcs began moving together, gathering their supplies and loading them onto a small cart. An Orc tied Kiana's hands together and tossed her onto the back of the cart. Another Orc went over to Tsuk's body and cut off his head, throwing it into a satchal. Shortly, the Orcs began marching again. As Garadaine quietly followed them, the stench of death filled the air. Garadaine could only imagine that the satchal was filled with the heads of the other guards and Belon. While it made him sick to think of it, he was also thankful that they wouldn't be able to smell him following. They marched til nightfall, when they reached a large gagged stone outcropping that hung several hundred feet above the river. Feloghekt's Point, thought Garadaine. Although the stone out cropping was open to the sky, the Orcs decided to camp fairly close to the tree line, allowing Garadaine to be able to get close without being spotted. He watched as they started a fire and all gathered about. They left Kiana tied to the cart. The Orc shaman walked out to the edge of the outcropping while the other Orcs pulled out their Orcish wine and began drinking away. Garadaine knew they were drinking for victory, and probably wouldn't stop until they were all drunk. He decided to wait until they all fell asleep, grab Kiana and make off with her to Stonebarrow. Garadaine then climbed a nearby tree, so he could get some sleep before attempting to rescue Kiana. As he lay in the branches, he dreamt of Tsuk and Belon. He thought of how Belon had chastised him so harshly for failing in his military training. He felt very afraid. He knew that it was a real possibility that both himself and Kiana could die in the next few hours. His body shook with that realization. And he thought of Tsuk dying. Of how bravely he stood, defending Kiana with arrows in his chest, bleeding. Garadaine had always thought that Tsuk had no fear. But he knew better, all the greatest warriors felt fear. Garadaine knew his father felt fear as he stabbed out the Great Black Dragon's eyes. He knew the old king Ulmerad had felt fear fighting the dark forces of Zakar. "Everyone has fear, boy," Tsuk once told him. "But it is training and discipline that teach you to face your fears. That those fears cannot dominate your will, and you rise above your fear." As Garadaine watched the stars slowly move across the night sky, he realized why Belon had taken such offence to his lack of training. Garadaine swore to himself, that if he survived, he would devote himself to training and discipline. To ready himself for whatever may lie ahead in his future. To be always be prepared. Garadaine slowly lowered himself out of the tree, keeping an eye out for the Orcs. He crept up to the edge of the camp and saw them all sleeping. Even the Orc on guard has dozed. Garadaine gripped his knife and grabbed a hard stick. Now or never, he told himself, I will save my sister. He crept up to the guard Orc, who was near where Kiana was sleeping. Once within striking range, Garadaine lept at the guard, hit his stick against the Orc's chest and arms to keep him from moving, and thrust the knife under his throat. Blood came gushing out. Garadaine realized this was the first thing he had ever killed. The Orc body fell over, and Garadaine inched his way towards his sister. "Kiana," he whispered, "wake up." Kiana slowly opened her eyes. When she saw her older brother she smiled and started to squeal. Garadaine put a finger over her mouth. "Quite, we're still in the Orc camp. Can you follow me?" Kiana nodded and the two made their way to the edge of the camp. As Garadaine reached the closest tree, he motioned for Kiana to go ahead of him into the forrest. As he was turning to follow her, he caught a glimpse of black and green blur behind him. He looked just as the Shaman fell hit him in the face with his staff. Garadaine fell back, blood spurting out of his nose. "I knew there was another out here!" the Shaman shouted. "Uqughukt! Wake the warriors! This hejumuk- ju'uk has killed your brother!" The Orcs, tired at first, then snapped up, grabbing their weapons and running over to the Shaman. Uqughukt grabbed Kiana, who was trying to scury deeper into the forrest, and dragged her back. He threw her onto the hard stone and then hit her in the face. "Not my sister!" Garadaine yelled. "Your sister, eh?" the Shaman said. "You human ju'uk have trespassed into our territory long enough! This forrest belongs to Clan Ughukt!" The other Orcs began to growl. "And it will be my pleasure to kill both you and your sister. Bring them." Two Orcs grabbed Kiana and Garadaine, and followed the Shaman to the edge of the stone outcropping. The Shaman looked down to the rushing river below. He turned back towards Garadaine and Kiana. "My mother gave birth to me on this rock! She died that night, and when I reached of age I swore I would bring a sacrafice to her." The Shaman grabbed Kiana by the foot. "A human virgin hejumuk should do nicely." And he turned and threw Kiana over the edge. Garadaine lurched forward as he watched his sister's face. The Orc behind him grabbed Garadaine by the shoulder, but had difficulty holding him down. Garadaine would not move, as he heard Kiana's scream decend and then cease as she hit the water. He then began screaming and struggling against the warrior's hold. Another warrior had to come and help hold him down. The Shaman turned again, with a grim smile on his face. "And I will quiet this ju'uk scum myself." And he pulled out a dagger and buried it into Garadaine's gut. Garadaine's body went limp; he fell against the cold stone. "Leave this cowardly ju'uk scum to bleed to death." The Orcs holding Garadaine's body let go. "It is almost dawn. Prepare the cart to return to our village." Garadaine turned his face toward the morning sky. "I failed... I failed..." he muttered as he lost conciousness. Garadaine awoke in a giant bed. He recognized it as the royal suite in Illana Castle. Queen Alyia, his mother, was sitting upright next to him, completely asleep. King Garalt walked into the room surrounded by advisors and supplicants. "Garadaine! You're awake!" Garalt exclaimed. Alyia's eyes shot open. "Oh my child!" she exclaimed. "You're alright." Garadaine tried to raise himself, but felt a sharp pain in his stomach. "Don't try to move, you're still healing," Alyia said. "Kiana?" Garadaine, suddenly remembering his sister. The horrified look in her eyes as the Orc threw her off the cliff were locked into Garadaine's mind. It seemed everywhere he looked, he saw her eyes burning through. "We found her washed up river, a few miles from Stoneburrow. The same day we found you at Formeathan's Point," Garalt said. "It was my fault," Garadaine cried. Alyia ran her finger's through Garadaine's hair. "No son," Garalt said. "It is my fault. I knew the Orc tribes in the north were becoming more active. I should never have sent my own children along such a dangerous route." "Garalt," Alyia said. "We talked about this. You can't blame yourself. You sent both Tsuk and Belon to guard them. How could you have known?" "Alyia, don't be like that," Garalt said. "I am the King. It is my position to know." Garalt walked close to Garadaine's bed. "Son, I'm glad we found you when we did. I ..." Garalt's eyes seemed about to cry, but no tears came. "You will have all you need, just ask. Get well." Then Garalt turned and stormed out of the room, the host of advisors and supplicants following behind. "Mother, I..." Garadaine said. "Quiet now, my son," Alyia said. "You will need your strength." |