Elendil
New member
Chapter One
Acwellen
Acwellen
"Father..." The girl whispered, her fingers tracing the words carved into the tree trunk. "Father I don't know if I can keep going!" She paused for a moment. "The Rangers have the heart...They always will. But Father I don't know how long I can lead them. How long can we stand against the wizard? When there are only a dozen of us left!" She sank to her knees and stayed there for several minutes.
"Acwellen..." Said a voice behind her.
The girl turned slowly. "Oh Ace..." She whispered, "Ace I'm so frightened!"
Ace wrapped his strong arms around his little sister. "All will be well, he said quietly. "We must not give up hope! After all, we will always have each other."
"You're right..." Acwellen gave a small smile. "You always are."
"But of course! What else are older brothers for? However, you must come, for we have visitors. They are waiting for us at the camp."
"Who?"
"A pirate..." Ace glanced at his sister as if waiting for her shocked reply. "And a knight."
"I thought they were all dead!" Acwellen exclaimed.
"They say they thought the same of us."
"I'd better see them then..." Acwellen brushed her dark hair out of her eyes.
* * *
Acwellen stared at the two people in astonishment. She had been expecting two men, but here there was a boy and a girl. The boy looked to be about a year or so younger than her, and the girl two or three years older.
"Greetings," The girl said, laying her hand on the hilt of her sword, "I am Hariam, leader of the last remnants of the knights."
Acwellen bowed to her. Rangers did not curtsy.
The boy stepped forward. "I am Jimarn, Captain of the ship Ūnuscornu. The leader of the few remaining pirates."
"I am Acwellen, and these..." The girl motioned to the people standing around her. "Are my men. What brings you to my forest?"
"Here," Hariam handed her a roll of parchment.
Acwellen unrolled the parchment, noticing the royal and read it's contents aloud.
"I, King of Triewe-tēorian hereby offer the some of One hundred marks per head of a Knight, Ranger or Pirate."
"How does he know?" Ace asked. "How could he know we still live? Have we not all remained hidden, unknown to all?"
Jimarn looked at the ground. "The fault is of one of my men... I had never trusted him... but he was a relative of my mother's...he betrayed us... As a result three of my men, and two of Hariam's have been killed."
"How many men do you have left?" Acwellen, "We have but twelve, including myself."
"It seems you have faired better than I." Hariam said sadly, her green eyes filling suddenly with tears. "For we have but five...The last man to be killed...he...he was my brother."
"Salūtāre," Said Ace and Acwellen at the same time, using the word that expressed grief but the hope that the victim had at last found peace.
"Salūtāre indeed," Said Hariam quietly. "May he rest in peace."
"I have fourteen men left..." Jimarn laughed, but it was a bitter laugh, not a joyful one. "It's strange I call them men for these is not one full grown man among them! We need to speak to you privately though Acwellen," He said firmly, "On matters than can not be delayed."
"Alright."
The three walked a short way from the Ranger's camp to a ring of trees. Once there Hariam burst out. "The wizard," she spat at the very name. "Is going to attack Seaden."
Acwellen's jaw dropped. "That can't be!" She exclaimed, "Seaden will be destroyed! The country is tiny! They'll never be able to stop him!"
"I know," Jimarn grimly, "Which is why we've come. Seaden wants us to help him."
"Us?" Acwellen raised an eyebrow, "Between us we are only what thirty or so, and some of us no more than children."
"Seaden is not going to stand by. If the soldiers cross the sea into his country, they will kill every man woman and child. And so he and his soldier are coming ashore, to cut them off from the boats."
Acwellen nodded, "and he asks for our help?"
"Yes, for everyone knows that to get to Seaden, you must pass through the forest." Said Hariam firmly. "And who knows everything about the forest?"
"You are thinking of an Ambush?" Acwellen asked.
"Yes!" Jimarn exclaimed, "I will take the boats, you must kill as many of them in the forest as you can, and then drive them to the shore where the knights," he nodded at Hariam, "And Seaden's men will do the rest."
"What say you?" Hariam asked, "We must know your answer soon. Today if possible."
"What is there to consider?" Acwellen asked after a moments of silence. "I don't really have a choice! They wizard will just try to kill my men and me otherwise! I guess this is the chance we need to show him we are still a force to be reckoned with!"
"Good," said Jimarn getting to his feet. "I must go and tell Seaden."
"And I," Hariam said, "Must go and prepare my men. I suggest you do the same, as the soldiers will march through the forest in less than a fortnight! I take my leave of you, Acwellen of the Rangers."
"So little time..." Acwellen murmured. "But it is all we have. Farewell!"