The Zulani Empire: The New Chronicles of Elemental Magic by Andrew Wood Page A
Authors: Andrew Wood
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was to meet with another force from Forwich and take up positions along the River Deet. Their job was to stop an invading army of unknown numbers or type from gaining a foothold. The message had also mentioned a force of significant power would be along to assist them in a day or two. Dane interpreted this as the king sending most of his forces north to aid them; he just needed to hold the enemy long enough for the help to arrive.
Chapter 12.
Fabian shook Jamal by the shoulder, "Psst, Jamal I think you need to see this," he whispered. Jamal stirred, struggling to get his bearings as he woke. Wiping a few dried leaves from his face, he sat up. "Look," he heard Fabian say. Jamal looked up and sat there, his jaw gaping in shock. Stood around him, amongst the trees were dozens and dozens of soldiers.
One man stepped forward and bowed his head to Fabian. "Your highness," he said, "It is with great regret I must inform you that your father has fallen." Jamal looked over to Fabian knowing the young royal would not take the news well. He watched as Fabian kept a brave face, "Thank you for letting me know Captain," he said. Jamal was surprised by Fabian's reaction, or lack of it.
Over the next hour, Jamal stayed close to Fabian as dozens of other soldiers made an appearance. Jamal had enquired how the Captain had managed to find them, only to be told that the fire they had lit could be seen from the entrance of the cave a few miles back. By the time the first light of day was breaking through the treetops, there seemed to be as many soldiers as trees surrounding them.
The Captain suggested they wait just a little longer to see if any others managed to make it out of Onay. Fabian had taken to busying himself, needlessly packing away the camp, or collecting firewood they no longer needed. Jamal waited for him to pass and grabbed his arm. "Fabian," he said, stopping the young royal in his tracks. "Are you okay?" he asked showing concern for the youngster. He felt the body of Fabian fight against his grip, before suddenly giving up.
Fabians shoulders dropped and he turned to face Jamal. The youngsters eyes started welling up and Jamal felt nothing but pity. Here was a troubled young man, who had gone through so much lately, and now the father he had tried so hard to please was dead. Jamal held his arms open, and Fabian took the offer, sobbing heavily into Jamal's shoulder. He comforted the young royal for several minutes, letting him have the time to shed the tears he needed to release. The Captain had obviously seen them, and made sure they were left undisturbed.
By what Jamal thought must be mid-morning the now very large group, continued moving through the trees. Spread out over a wide area, Jamal let others take the lead. As he walked, he thought how the appearance of the soldiers would likely mean a change for him. Fabian would no longer need looking after, and he would once more be just another young soldier in the ranks. The Captain, a man named Keir, had already attached himself to Fabian, and declared his and his men's loyalty to his command. Jamal had felt a hint of anger, and even a touch of jealousy towards the man, but remained quiet and said nothing.
As they moved between the trees, Jamal slowly dropped back, joining the other recruits that had made the escape from Onay. Now Fabian had the Captain at his side he felt the need to loiter beside him no longer necessary. Now he could revert to being just a normal soldier, back to being just one of the men. He was not even sure the direction the Captain was leading them, but it did appear they were no longer walking around in circles, as he and Fabian had done the day before.
In Onay, the gates were opened, and the few soldiers and armed civilians walked sombrely out. Three lines of Zulani infantry watched on, as each Murati man threw down his sword or bow, onto an ever-growing pile of weapons. The Councillor who had taken command of the city stood off to one
Chapter 12.
Fabian shook Jamal by the shoulder, "Psst, Jamal I think you need to see this," he whispered. Jamal stirred, struggling to get his bearings as he woke. Wiping a few dried leaves from his face, he sat up. "Look," he heard Fabian say. Jamal looked up and sat there, his jaw gaping in shock. Stood around him, amongst the trees were dozens and dozens of soldiers.
One man stepped forward and bowed his head to Fabian. "Your highness," he said, "It is with great regret I must inform you that your father has fallen." Jamal looked over to Fabian knowing the young royal would not take the news well. He watched as Fabian kept a brave face, "Thank you for letting me know Captain," he said. Jamal was surprised by Fabian's reaction, or lack of it.
Over the next hour, Jamal stayed close to Fabian as dozens of other soldiers made an appearance. Jamal had enquired how the Captain had managed to find them, only to be told that the fire they had lit could be seen from the entrance of the cave a few miles back. By the time the first light of day was breaking through the treetops, there seemed to be as many soldiers as trees surrounding them.
The Captain suggested they wait just a little longer to see if any others managed to make it out of Onay. Fabian had taken to busying himself, needlessly packing away the camp, or collecting firewood they no longer needed. Jamal waited for him to pass and grabbed his arm. "Fabian," he said, stopping the young royal in his tracks. "Are you okay?" he asked showing concern for the youngster. He felt the body of Fabian fight against his grip, before suddenly giving up.
Fabians shoulders dropped and he turned to face Jamal. The youngsters eyes started welling up and Jamal felt nothing but pity. Here was a troubled young man, who had gone through so much lately, and now the father he had tried so hard to please was dead. Jamal held his arms open, and Fabian took the offer, sobbing heavily into Jamal's shoulder. He comforted the young royal for several minutes, letting him have the time to shed the tears he needed to release. The Captain had obviously seen them, and made sure they were left undisturbed.
By what Jamal thought must be mid-morning the now very large group, continued moving through the trees. Spread out over a wide area, Jamal let others take the lead. As he walked, he thought how the appearance of the soldiers would likely mean a change for him. Fabian would no longer need looking after, and he would once more be just another young soldier in the ranks. The Captain, a man named Keir, had already attached himself to Fabian, and declared his and his men's loyalty to his command. Jamal had felt a hint of anger, and even a touch of jealousy towards the man, but remained quiet and said nothing.
As they moved between the trees, Jamal slowly dropped back, joining the other recruits that had made the escape from Onay. Now Fabian had the Captain at his side he felt the need to loiter beside him no longer necessary. Now he could revert to being just a normal soldier, back to being just one of the men. He was not even sure the direction the Captain was leading them, but it did appear they were no longer walking around in circles, as he and Fabian had done the day before.
In Onay, the gates were opened, and the few soldiers and armed civilians walked sombrely out. Three lines of Zulani infantry watched on, as each Murati man threw down his sword or bow, onto an ever-growing pile of weapons. The Councillor who had taken command of the city stood off to one
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