Castles - Book 5 - The Frencolian Chronicles (complete)

Chapter One

Jobyna Chatelain felt the horse tremble as he climbed the steep, rocky incline. At the top of the ridge, she drew a deep breath in exhilaration, dispelling her tiredness for a moment.

Stretched out before Jobyna's emerald eyes was a lush green valley nestled between embracing ranges. A thousand shades of green danced before her tired gaze, refreshing her turmoil-filled mind. Far in the distance, along the edge of some woods, their company was setting up camp for the night. Smoke from newly lit fires rose lazily, misting the lengthening shadows.

Jobyna's captor, the exile king, Elliad, urged Speed on down the rocky aisle of the glacier-carved natural amphitheater. Jobyna wished she could ride Brownlea, her own horse, but Elliad made her ride with him on Speed. The mute slave girl, Ellice, rode Brownlea.

Over three weeks of travel on horseback made the captive princess feel weary and sad. Every step Speed trod was one step further from Frencolia, her home country. Jobyna wondered where they were going. How much further would it be? She knew Elliad would have a destination in mind but he did not speak to her except to give commands.

"Eat, Sparrow!"—or—"Sleep!"—or—"Wake up!"—he would bark at her.

At various stages on the journey, Elliad left the women, children, servants and slaves with several hundred soldiers and went off with the rest of his great horde of troops. He always returned triumphantly and it was some time before Jobyna learned the purpose and method of these excursions. Extra horses, carts and provisions were added to the assembly from his plundering and destruction. Scouting parties sent ahead, reported back to Elliad. Armed with maps he decided the routes they would take.

The awful truth was revealed to the tenderhearted girl one night when they set up camp in a deserted manor house stronghold. Jobyna's heartbeat increased, she felt dread creep through her veins. Damp splatters in the main hall looked like blood. Some of Elliad's soldiers were wounded.

Elliad told his knights, "Terminate those unfit to travel."

Elliad motioned for her to be seated in the dining hall for a 'celebration' dinner.

A shrill scream disturbed the meal. It came from somewhere upstairs in the manor house then silenced in a brief choking sound. Jobyna instinctively stood, her hand over her mouth.

A knight hastened down the stairs to stand in the open door, carrying the limp bloodstained body of a child under one arm like one would carry a sack of potatoes.

"Sorry Sire, we found him hiding in a closet upstairs."

The sight of the mutilated child and thoughts of what dastardly things had been done were too much for Jobyna. Fainting, she fell to the cold stone floor.

Jobyna awoke in a darkened room. The shutters had been boarded up and she supposed this was to prevent her from escaping.

Ellice brought food and juice, but Jobyna was too upset to eat anything. Jobyna's hatred for Elliad grew stronger.

He was a monster, void of human feelings, lacking in moral fiber, and the lowest of the low. A worm upon the dust of the earth was worth more in Jobyna's estimation.

~~~~~

Speed galloped the length of the valley floor. New strength filled his veins and eagerness spurred him on. Brownlea lagged behind momentarily then gained a new surge of power. By now the horses knew the tents ahead meant rest, fodder and fresh water. The sooner they arrived, the quicker the ordeal of the day would be over. Elliad drove the beasts hard. At the end of the day, the horses' coats were lathered in sweat. Failing horses were butchered to help feed the hungry multitude.