The Endurlon

Chapter Five: Defenders of the North

ChapterV

Defendersof the North

"Whatnews from our scouts upon the pass?"

"Theyhave not returned my lord, and there has been no news from Rauro."

"Sendas many men as you can spare to Bannock; we must hold the town."

"Thetown is broken my lord, we cannot defend walls with breaches of thatmany."

"Wemust! It is of great advantage to us, no other place across theselands has such wide horizons. It's key to our defences. The marchesshall stand lest Redstone falls."

"Butsire, we have too few men to withstand another attack from theRents."

"Whatnumber of men can be spared from the fourth garrison?"

"Twoscore only, maybe a few more. Not the numbers you ask for."

"Gatheras many as can be spared from all garrisons, at dawn we march uponBannock."

"Dhrunan,I speak to you now not as commander, but as a friend... I urge you towait, more will come from Redstone. Your father will not give up onyou."

Dhrunan'seyes thinned and his face stiffened. "My father cast doubt andshadow upon me. Yet here I am still, still in defiance of the Rentsand their foul creatures. No Bolane, no help will come to us thesedays." A grave look he gave his friend and greatest commander, andresolute he said. "Tomorrow we march upon Bannock!"

"Asyou wish, though I fear we shall be too few."

"Doyou also doubt me, or my men, these men who still have strength tostand against the north?"

ButDhrunan was distracted by the coming of hooves, and they left theirdebate.

"LordDhrunan! Lord Dhrunan!" Cried the rider as he drew close anddismounted.

Hestrode over and kneeled. Prince Dhrunan, first heir to the throne ofRedstone. Before him stood his lord, like the lords of old he was.His dark shoulder length hair swayed in the breeze. Deep pools ofshadow, glinted with kindness in his eyes, and his face, pale andfierce smoothed with nobility. Upon his frame the dark red leathergambeson of his house, embellished with the stone of fire showed hisstature, over which he wore shoulder guards, and gauntlets of brown.And his pants, equally finished in rough cloth met his boots of darkbrown, weathered and stained.

"Mylord Dhrunan, I have word from your father!"

Standinghe opened a small satchel and retrieved a scroll tied with a crimsonribbon, and he handed it to him. Dhrunan took it, slid the ribbon offand unrolled it to read. Slowly a smirk grew upon his face as hiseyes traced the lines of words. He rolled it up again and turnedaway. Bolaine and the rider looked to each other wondering what drewthe smirk on such a fair, yet grim face.

"Sixhundred men, six hundred men shall be with us in two days. Fortuneshines upon us my friend. You were right, you were right my friend.Father has not given up. Either on the marches, or myself, I do notknow? But this is news well received." He turned to the messenger."Go, get food and rest aplenty for both you and your horse.Tomorrow I shall have need of you to send word to the king."

"Yesmy lord, I shall take my leave." And with that he led his horseaway.

"Iftime is good to us, we may be able to rebuild the defences ofBannock. With six hundreds of men, we can do much to safeguard ourposition."

"Onlyif time is with us Bolaine, if the north does not move for severaldays." And he walked to the edge of the outcrop and gazed north, tothe deep ravine between the mountains of the Erringrim. As he stoodin thought the light of early evening came to darken the vale beforehim.