The Seven Swords

Chapter 2

"Make yourself known!" a gruff voiced shouted from somewhere in the trees ahead.

"Hold your fire, we have come to speak to Lord Hamelin." replied Jheiran.

There was a pause and the man shouted back, "There are no Lords in this forest!"

Jheiran smiled, he knew the man was lying due to the hesitation. He had not known if Hamelin was still around, he had just guessed.

"Tell Lord Hamelin that a visitor riding a pale horse wishes to see him!" shouted Lord Jheiran.

"The horse you are riding is black!" came the reply.

Jheiran was now starting to grow impatient, "Just do as I say boy, and remember its a pale horse" he said in a stern voice.

There was another pause and the voice shouted back, "Don't move an inch or my friend over here will put an arrow through your chest!"

They waited a few minutes and then five horses appeared out of the trees and approached them. All the riders were clad in armour from head to foot but had no weapons drawn.

As they approached, Jheiran saw movement in the trees in front of them and two men emerged from the leaves in the high branches. It could not have been easy getting up there, let alone getting down and back to camp within the minutes it took for the riders to approach.

All the men wore armour which consisted of different shades of green and brown and it blended in well with the environment around them. Looking at the amour, one couldn't see any polished metal which would give off reflections of light. These soldiers were not taking any chances.

"Follow me," said the man mounted on the horse in the front. Jheiran obeyed and clicked to his horse which started forward at a walk. The man who had spoken fell in beside him and the other four riders all waited for them to pass and then followed from behind.

A little further on they saw the camp. He couldn't decide if it was merely an army camp or a permanent camp. It had the look of a permanent camp yet he could that it wouldn't take long to erect this is every soldier out his back into it.

A tall palisade ran to the right side for as far as he could see through the trees. On his left a massive escarpment raised up towards the sky. Where the palisade met the escarpment stood a big gate made from timber and reinforced with metal slats.

Along the base of the palisade there were sharp wooden spikes driven into the ground at an angle. If anyone wanted to scale the palisade they would be hampered by the spikes, leaving the opportunity open for rocks to be dropped from above.

As they rode up to the gate, Jheiran saw a man wearing what looked like long rags staring at them. He was carrying a bow in his hand and had a quiver full of arrows on his back. A short sword was at his side. This must have been the man who had challenged him earlier. As they rode past he raised his hand in greeting but the man just stood still and watched them.

As soon as they made it through the gate a man came and took a hold of his horse's bridle. "Please step down and follow me," the soldier who had escorted him said, "you may keep your weapons but please do not think of doing anything foolish."

They both got down and followed the soldier. He led them between the tents in a circular pattern and then doubled back on himself and after a while changed direction again. Very soon Jheiran realised the soldier was making sure they were lost among the tents, the only way to orientate himself was to look at the escarpment. Then abruptly they got to a tent which had two soldiers standing guard beside the entrance flap.

As they entered a man with a head full of white hair looked up and smiled. "Jheiran! I can not believe its actually you old friend," he said.

"Hamelin, its been way too long," Jheiran said as the two men shook hands.

"Its alright men, stand at ease. Sir Jheiran is an old friend. I expect him to be treated with the utmost respect." Said Lord Hamelin.

The two guards in the tent saluted sharply and then left. The soldier who had led them remained.

Hamelin looked at the boy and then a knowing look passed between the two veterans. Word would obviously have gotten to Hamelin already about the kings death and the attack.

"Captain, please take the boy to the kitchen and get him some food. Don't let him out of your sight." Said Hamelin to the man who had escorted the two into the camp.

"Yes my Lord," came the reply and the boy followed the soldier out of the tent.

Hamelin and Jheiran turned to each other, "What news do you have?" Asked Jheiran.

"The king and the queen are both dead, which you know. Elannil has been besieged and I expect it to fall soon. They know that after killing the king they have to take the capital also, it would be their one chance to do so." Said Hamelin.

Jheiran was silent for a while and then asked what Hamelin knew was coming, "Who was it?"

"A band of mercenaries carried out the attack and are now besieging the capital but it's anyone's guess who is hiring them," said Hamelin.

"It must be another country getting mercenaries to do their dirty work for them," responded Jheiran.

Hamelin thought for a while and then said, "We have scouts listening all over for any bits of news as to who is hiring mercenaries but I've heard nothing that would point to this. The plans must have been kept away from all the men until right before the trap was sprung, otherwise we would have heard something, even a faint whisper from a drunk mercenary in a tavern."

"Whoever it was will soon find out the boy is with us, we need to be prepared," said Jheiran.

Hamelin nodded, "Many of my men will undoubtedly recognise you and then there will be no more hiding."

"Yes, there is no stopping that. If you can, have some of your best men keep an eye on the boy please," said Jheiran.

"I have an idea for that," said Hamelin, "but for now, would you like some wine? You must be parched and we still have much to discuss."