Chapter 7. A new enemy

The feasting from the wedding lasted two days and by the end of all the celebrations the city of Applewyn was exhausted. Eol however had a task he had to see to personally. Well accompanied by his cavalry of course.  He and his cavalry thundered away down the road and headed for the desert. On the outskirts of the desert lay a city of simple wood. Within the city was a former lord of Applewyn by the name of Zaire. Zaire had at his command three hundred or so of the best cavalry the world had ever seen and Eol intended to bring them back to the city. Eol had it in the back of his mind to plan a whole new form of battle involving his legions and cavalry and these horseman were the key to it. On and on rode Eol and his horseman as they closed in on the desert. They went all night and all day for two days before they arrived in the desert. The great wooden city loomed ahead. "Make camp" Eol ordered his men. He knew Zaire's men wouldn't show themselves until the next morning. The horseman settled in for the night and when they awoke they were surrounded by a few hundred armed soldiers. "Zaire leader of the horseman of the desert step forward and speak with your rightful king" Eol demanded the crowd of soldiers. A dark haired man in chainmail strode out of the crowd, battle axe in hand. "What is it you want of me?" The man demanded as he stared into Eol's eyes. Eol's grip on his sword hilt tightened as he half glared at the man in front of him. "Zaire that is no way to speak to your king" He snapped back as he drew his sword. His men followed suit and soon everyone was prepared for a battle. Zaire glanced at the sword in Eol's hand but was completely dumbfounded when he noticed it as Iliea the sword of the King. He knew only the true king would have been gifted this weapon by the elves. He lowered his ax and dropped into a bow with his men following suit. "My king I apologize for my ignorance I knew not that it was truly you, the king of the reformed city wielder of the King's sword" Zaire apologized while still bowing. Eol kept his face stern as he answered Zaire. "Rise, yes it is I the king of Applewyn, the One of the prophecy, I am Eol son of Orpheus and you and your men are part of my army so I expect you to return to the city with us at once." Zaire was surprised at the conviction behind his King's words. After much conversation Zaire ordered his people to prepare to depart. All of a sudden a hunched over figure in brown robes carrying a blackthorn staff hobbled out of one of the houses and made his way over to Eol and crouched in front of him. "Hail Eol King of Applewyn son of Orpheus rider of Elpina and Thileas, wielder of Iliea and husband of Keldri the elf maiden" Greeted the figure. Eol raised an eyebrow at Zaire who merely shrugged. "Who are you hermit and what is your business? And also how do you know so much about me?" Eol questioned the hunched over figure. The figure let out a crazed cackle before he answered. "Why I am Narius wizard of the land, seer of the future, reader of stars, conjurer of the desert" The figure explained as it continued to cackle. Eol was rather confused as to what this wizard as he claimed to be wanted so he instead chose to ignore him and leapt up into the saddle on Elpina's back and started giving orders for the horseman to form up when the figure leapt up into the saddle directly in front of Eol so they were eye to eye. Narius had one grey eye one brown eye, long gray hair and beard and rotted yellow teeth showed when he grinned. "Leaving so soon? Stay awhile and have a talk with old Narius HE HE HE" Narius cackled. Eol bumped Narius out of the saddle and directed his men forward. Narius appeared beside Eol riding on a donkey. "Can't ignore the future of which I will tell you Eol" Narius scolded. Eol and his cavalry the old and the new continued onward while Narius followed spouting babble. Amongst the babble Eol gathered a phrase. " Beware the elves of the dark Eol they are your greatest challenge!" Eol stopped and turned in his saddle to look at the grinning hermit. "What do you mean beware the elves of the dark?" Eol questioned. The hermit merely grinned then suddenly dissapeared in a puff of green smoke. His cackling could be heard as he dissapeared leaving only the donkey. Eol attempted to shrug off the hermit's words but still had a bad feeling. Eol spurred Elpina onward and the cavalry force thundered away from the soon to be abandoned city and headed for Bridgebarrow where they would rest and resupply. They went on day and night for two days before arriving at their destination where they all dismounted and led off their horses. After dining in the great hall the horseman all found their way to a bed in the soldiers quarters of the castle while Eol took up the room always reserved for him. He collapsed onto the bed in the room still wearing his sword belt and fell asleep. Likewise his soldiers did the same and they slept long into the next day. There was a cry of panic as the city's alarm bell rang out loud and clear in the blue afternoon sky. Eol awoke and dashed for his armor which he hastily put on and hastened out to the courtyard where his commanders and soldiers were gathering. There was only a legion in the city plus the cavalry but all of them stood in a shield wall in the town center as citizens flocked to the castle. When scouting parties had been sent out and returned they carried with them the bodies of the night and morning guards. A hundred men all dead. They had crossbow bolts imbedded in their chests and looks of confusion on their faces. Not a one survived. Apparently the night guard was killed first then after the morning guards found them they were killed too to be found later by the afternoon guard. "SEARCH THE CITY! FIND THESE MURDERER'S!" Eol shouted to his men. The soldiers went off in groups of five but no sign was found of the attackers. Not a footprint was found nor equipment left. The attackers had dissapeared! Search as they did they found no traces of the attackers within three miles of the city. "muster another search party, twenty of our best knights to be ready to ride in an hour half." Eol barked out. When he was brought his horse he leapt into the saddle and waited at the gate for his soldiers. The knights arrived at the gate and they thundered away across the countryside searching high and low for signs of the attackers. Then something strange happened. Knights started falling out of their saddles grasping their chest or their neck until it was just Eol left. he wheeled his horse around sword drawn and urged Elpina on faster then ever as he headed for Bridgebarrow. he didn't make it. Not even a mile had he gone when Elpina dropped to the ground with a bolt in her neck. Eol crouched low sword drawn as he scanned his surroundings. He was devastated at the loss of his dearest friend but he didn't have the luxury of checking on him or mourning. Eol crept from cover to cover as he searched for his attackers. Then a series of clicks launched bolts at Eol from every direction who only just dropped to his belly in time. Then with a flap of wings Thileas landed in the clearing and quickly scooped Eol and the fallen force up in his claws and threw himself into the air as bolts bounced harmlessly off his armor. "Are you quite alright Eol?" The dragon asked anxiously. Eol simply climbed up onto the dragon's back and into the saddle. They landed in the courtyard of Bridgebarrow and doctors and officers surged out of the palace and dashed for the king. "not me tend to Elpina!" Eol wailed at the doctors who were trying to examine him. The doctors set up a surgical station and began trying their best to save Elpina when Selkin appeared observing the stiched up wound in the horse's neck. He placed his hand on the wound and murmured in Elvish. Slowly the horse began to stir and Eol dropped to his knees tears streaming down his face as he hugged his oldest friend. "Will he live?" Eol questioned. Selkin nodded. "he need's to rest and recover" Selkin explained. Eol eventually went to his chambers and by the next morning had patrols scouring the whole of his empire. The mystery attackers were no where to be found.

Author's Note