Fury of the Crown, page 41
"Very well," said Gorlag, "we shall let our... guest recover from his wounds. In three days, we will determine his fate. In the meantime, who will speak on his behalf?"
"I will," declared Kargen, meeting the chieftain's stare with a steely gaze.
"Very well," Gorlag replied, "and I shall speak against him. The will of the tribe will decide what is to be done with this Human."
* * *
The sword struck downward, cutting into the wood. Athgar felt the shudder as the bow absorbed the blow, narrowly missing his fingers. The rider's massive horse forced him back.
As his vision blurred, he saw his sister, Ethwyn, staggering forward, blood pouring from her forehead. Another rider loomed over her, striking her down with the flat of his blade.
Again a blur, and then he felt his chest tighten as the horse's hooves impacted, knocking him backward. When his enemy opened his visor and laughed, Athgar saw the man's face, one he would not soon forget; the long scar running down the left cheek, cutting through the thick black beard was forever seared into his memory. The Therengian staggered back as all turned dark.
Athgar opened his grey eyes. Everything around him was fuzzy, and out of focus, then a green face loomed over him. Sounds started coming to his ears, the language of Orcs.
"Where am I?" he asked, using their tongue.
"You are in Ord-Kurgad, our village," replied the face, finally coming into focus.
Its wrinkled countenance identified it as an elderly Orc, or at least that's what Athgar assumed. "My name is Uhdrig, I am the village healer," the Orc said.
"I am Athgar," he murmured, his voice weak. "What happened?"
"You were found in Athelwald, buried in the ashes," she replied. "What do you remember?"
The images once again came flooding back to him in a rush. "There was a battle, we were attacked. Men on horses burning the huts," he coughed out.
"You must rest," Uhdrig advised. "You were badly burned. I have used magic to heal you, but the burns will take longer for the spell to have an effect."
"How long has it been?" he asked.
"More than a day, why?"
"I must find the survivors," said Athgar, trying to sit up.
"There were no others," she said, pushing him back down. "Kargen told us you were the only one they found."
"They were all slain?"
"No, but Kargen will explain later. For now, you must rest and recover your strength. Once you are better, we have much to discuss."
Another Orc loomed over him. "How are you feeling?" the newcomer asked.
"Sore," replied Athgar, "and my skin feels like it's on fire."
"That is to be expected. I am Artoch, Master of Flame. Tell me, how long have you held the spark?"
"What spark? I don't know what you're talking about."
"You have an affinity for fire," continued Artoch. "You have been touched by it. With patience and training, you can be taught to harness that spark, to control the flame."
"I don't understand," said Athgar. "Are you saying I have the makings of a Fire Mage?"
"You have, as long as it does not consume you. This gift can be controlled, and even directed if you wish, but it will take great mental discipline."
"I don't understand," said Athgar, "if that was true, shouldn't I have shown some affinity for fire in the past?"
"The gift of fire can be a fickle thing," said Artoch. "While some show an aptitude as they grow, others only have their power unlocked through great suffering. I believe you fall into the latter."
"This is all too much for me," the Therengian replied. "I remember fighting the horseman, and then waking up here, and now you're telling me I'm a Fire Mage?"
"You have the potential to be one, yes," said Artoch
"Who found me?"
"Kargen and Laruhk. They were out hunting when they detected the smoke from your village. I am sorry to tell you it has been burned to the ground."
Athgar tried to sit up again, but firm hands pushed him back down. "You must rest and heal," said Uhdrig. "The time for questions will come later."
"But I have to track down the attackers," insisted Athgar.
"It is far too dangerous," said Artoch. "Without learning to control the fire within you, you would perish."
"I don't understand," said the Human.
"You have great magical potential," explained the Orc, "but you are untrained, making your days dangerous and numbered."
"Nonsense," objected Athgar, "I've never had that problem before."
"No," said Artoch, "I do not suppose you have, but it has been released now, and it can only grow, putting your own life in danger unless you learn to control it. And it is not just you that you must consider."
"What do you mean?" Athgar asked.
"You might find survivors, only to burn them to death in your sleep. Is that the fate they deserve?"
"No, it's not," Athgar agreed, "but I must begin my search before it's too late!"
"You may go if you wish," the elderly Orc replied, "but you would likely not live out the week."
"It's that dangerous?" asked the Therengian.
"It is," said Artoch. "If you would permit me, I would teach you, provided the tribe agrees to let you stay, of course."
"In any case," added Uhdrig, "it is too late. They are long gone, their tracks washed away by rain. One day, perhaps, you will find them, but the ancestors have clearly spoken, that day is not today."
Athgar closed his eyes, his head in turmoil, trying to make sense of everything, until sleep finally claimed him.
* * *
Continue Reading Ashes
Also by Paul J Bennett
Heir to the Crown Series
Battle at the River - Prequel
Servant of the Crown
Sword of the Crown
Mercerian Tales: Stories of the Past
Heart of the Crown
Shadow of the Crown
Mercerian Tales: The Call of Magic
Fate of the Crown
Burden of the Crown
Mercerian Tales: The Making of a Man
Defender of the Crown
Fury of the Crown
War of the Crown
The Frozen Flame Series
The Awakening/Into the Fire - Prequels
Ashes
Embers
Flames
Inferno
Power Ascending Series
Tempered Steel - Prequel
Temple Knight
Warrior Knight
The Chronicles of Cyric
Into the Maelstrom - Prequel
A Midwinter Murder
The Beast of Brunhausen
How to get Battle at the River for free
Paul J Bennett’s newsletter members are the first to hear about upcoming books, along with receiving exclusive content and Work In Progress updates.
* * *
Join the newsletter and receive Battle at the River, a Mercerian Short Story for free.
Sign up for Paul J Bennett’s Newsletter
An enemy commander. A skilled tactician. Only one can be victorious.
The Norland raiders are at it again. When the Baron of Bodden splits their defensive forces, Sergeant Gerald Matheson thinks that today is a day like any other, but then something is different. At the last moment, Gerald recognizes the warning signs, but they are outnumbered, outmaneuvered, and out of luck. How can they win this unbeatable battle?
* * *
If you like intense battle scenes and unexpected plot twists, then you will love Paul J Bennett's tale of a soldier who thinks outside the box.
Dedication
To educators everywhere who give the gift of knowledge and inspire a lifelong love of learning.
A Few Words from Paul
Defender of the Crown parallels Heart of the Crown in a couple of ways. While both deal with a diplomatic journey to a foreign realm, the results are far different. In Heart, Anna was a young girl, a pawn of King Andred in a game of politics. Despite this disadvantage, she completes a very successful mission. In Defender, however, she is now queen, a far cry from the young girl that travelled to Weldwyn.
The court of Merceria remains weakened due to the events that took place in Burden of the Crown, and there is still much opposition to the queen’s policies. Anna, now faced with another diplomatic challenge, must decide who will rule the kingdom in her absence. Despite obvious villains who plot and connive, this time, some of her most stalwart supporters balk at the thought of the queen travelling into the heartland of Norland, their traditional enemy.
Ultimately, though, this tale is about people. Heir to the Crown now has a large cast of characters, and inevitably, some will receive a little less attention than others. In Defender of the Crown, the emphasis is on Hayley as she struggles to deal with her newfound responsibilities, both as High Ranger and as the queen’s steward. It also delves into magic in more detail, giving Aubrey a more prominent place.
After reading this book, some questions are still left unresolved. With a foreign army threatening Eastwood, the military might of Merceria, now bolstered by its allies, must repel this force and then take the war to Norland territory. All this, while a new threat demands that Gerald and Anna march again in Fury of the Crown.
I could not have completed a work of this magnitude without the help and support of my loving wife, Carol. These stories, indeed all my books, are due in large part to her tireless efforts in editing, promoting and inspiring these tales.
I would also thank Christie Kramburger for once again providing us with an outstanding cover, along with Stephanie Sandrock and Amanda Bennett, for their encouragement and support. Though their characters do not appear as often in this tale, I must thank Brad Aitken, Jeffrey Parker and Stephen Brown for their inspirations.
My BETA reading team continues to provide valuable feedback, as usual, catching plot holes and inconsistencies. Their assistance in the editing process is very much appreciated. Thanks to Rachel Deibler, Tim James, Stuart Rae, Michael Rhew, Phyliss Simpson, Don Hinkey, James McGinnis, and Shelley Heddings for giving of your time!
And a quick shoutout to Dianna-Lynn (Dee) Lundgren and Cody Anne Arko-Omori, who, after Carol is finished with the manuscript, give it that final polish!
Lastly, I must thank you, the reader, who has made this series a success. Your emails and book reviews continue to inspire me on this quest.
About the Author
Paul J Bennett (b. 1961) emigrated from England to Canada in 1967. His father served in the British Royal Navy, and his mother worked for the BBC in London. As a young man, Paul followed in his father’s footsteps, joining the Canadian Armed Forces in 1983. He is married to Carol Bennett and has three daughters who are all creative in their own right.
Paul’s interest in writing started in his teen years when he discovered the roleplaying game, Dungeons & Dragons (D & D). What attracted him to this new hobby was the creativity it required; the need to create realms, worlds and adventures that pulled the gamers into his stories.
In his 30’s, Paul started to dabble in designing his own roleplaying system, using the Peninsular War in Portugal as his backdrop. His regular gaming group were willing victims, er, participants in helping to playtest this new system. A few years later, he added additional settings to his game, including Science Fiction, Post-Apocalyptic, World War II, and the all-important Fantasy Realm where his stories take place.
The beginnings of his first book ‘Servant to the Crown’ originated over five years ago when he began a new fantasy campaign. For the world that the Kingdom of Merceria is in, he ran his adventures like a TV show, with seasons that each had twelve episodes, and an overarching plot. When the campaign ended, he knew all the characters, what they had to accomplish, what needed to happen to move the plot along, and it was this that inspired to sit down to write his first novel.
Paul now has four series based in Eiddenwerthe, his fantasy realm and is looking forward to sharing many more books with his readers over the coming years.
Copyright © 2020 Paul J Bennett
Cover Illustration Copyright © 2020 Christie Kramberger
Portrait Copyright © 2020 Amaleigh Photography
* * *
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form, or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior permission of the author.
* * *
First Edition: December 2020
* * *
ePub ISBN: 978-1-989315-53-8
Mobi ISBN: 978-1-989315-54-5
Apple Books ISBN: 978-1-989315-55-2
Smashwords ISBN: 978-1-989315-56-9
Print ISBN: 978-1-989315-557-6
* * *
This book is a work of fiction. Any similarity to any person, living or dead is entirely coincidental.
Paul J Bennett, Fury of the Crown
