The First Valkyrie Read online

  “Dawn has come I take it. What of the Queen?”

  “She has not been seen all night General.”

  “Very well, help me with my armor.” Sighing, General Hamo arose and began to dress. Hammond helped Hamo place the coat of black painted iron mail over his leather padded tunic; followed by a dark blue painted cuirass of hardened studded leather. Finally, Hammond placed the gold trimmed black leather round helm on Hamo’s head. The mask of black iron mail, attached to his helm, fell over Hamo’s face. Hamo strapped his elegant gold trimmed long sword at his hip. The pommel of the sword had been fashioned in the head of a black phoenix: the symbol on General Hamo’s standard. The adjuvat Hammond gave General Hamo a long oval shield with the phoenix painted on its center. Hammond then joined a curved dagger to the sword and strapped a quiver of arrows to his general’s back. Hammond himself was already fully decked out for battle. Together, the two exited General Hamo’s tent.

  Indeed, the army was ready for an all-out assault. New skirmisher units had formed the first line. They were guarded by ten-foot-tall walls of oak, mantelets, attached to carts. The second line, the ladder bearers, crouched with long oval shields attached to their back. The rest of the infantry had formed into tight phalanx formations.

  “Standards!” General Hamo spotted Queen Magiya back in the now deserted camp. She was like a dark sentry watching over them. Shadow seemed to vibrate and move around her; as if the shadows were alive. At General Hamo’s orders, a horn bellowed long and deep, flags went up on the flanks, and the breaching force moved forward. The front line broke into a sprint as they came in range of the battlements. General Hamo watched as men began to fall and the skirmishers attempted to return fire. Only slingers were able to reach the battlements with their stones, while any thrown javelin fell short. Casualties were heavy and continued to increase as the ladders went up. The defenders began to pour hot oil and fire over the battlements as General Hamo gave the next order. The horns bellowed once more followed by drum beats. The infantry moved forward to join the assault and standards went up on the flanks and in the middle of each phalanx. General Hamo and his adjuvat, together with the infantry line commander, dismounted and continued with the infantry on foot.

  The assault was underway and countless numbers in the breaching force lay dead. Skirmishers attempted the assent over the walls and a few had made it. The ladder bearers remained at the base, reinforcing the ladder foundations. A few of the ladders were on fire, while others had been thrown off the battlements. A handful of ladder bearers struggled, under heavy resistance, to reestablish the rejected ladders. General Hamo, his adjuvat, and the infantry commander were welcomed friends to the attackers as they joined the fight. The infantry formed up in a line to climb the ladders. They stood three abreast and crouched under their shields. General Hamo and his companions also crouched beneath their shields. Taking up positions in the center of one of the lines, the three began to climb the ladder.

  “Scytha! (Forward in Bahlic)” the line infantry commander urged his men on as an arrow caught in his arm pit. The commander waivered the ladder, but the men to his left and right held him fast. The commander thanked them and continued to shout. The drummers played at the ladder base, some catching arrows or fire, while the horn men continued to sound deep rolling horn blasts. General Hamo’s adjuvat raised the General’s standard as they reached the battlements. It was answered by the other lords’ standards and then Hammond the Adjuvat caught an arrow in the shoulder. He grunted and stumbled.

  “Give me that!” General Hamo barked as he snatched the standard from Hammond. The general then drove the butt of the standard into a barrel of arrows. One of the lightly armored Maguyari defenders rushed at General Hamo’s exposed back, but Hammond drove his sword point through the defender’s neck. Blood sprouted from the defender’s veins and he fell, but not before landing a blow on General Hamo. The general whirled around to see Hammond saving his life. Hammond, who had dropped his shield, took another arrow just under the ribs. He stumbled again and dropped to a knee. Two more defenders came running toward Hammond. One of the defenders had a javelin sprout from his shoulder. Then, another severed the man’s spine on his lower back. The other defender leapt at Hammond with a heavy scimitar, dropping his shield and putting both hands behind the blow. Hammond raised his sword in defense and the scimitar sheered through Hammonds sword; burying itself into Hammond’s chest. General Hamo let out a roar and hurled a javelin into Hammond’s slayer. The javelin caught the defender in his side. It had been thrown with such force that it lifted the defender off his feet. The man fell off the battlements and plummeted into oblivion. With his javelins spent, General Hamo drew his sword. A blood fury entered General Hamo and he began to cut down everyone around him, with no regard for friend or foe.

  ***

  Eleesa, her escape barred by a slave, waited until Lord Hamago and Harco awoke.

  “Ah…my head feels like it was trampled by a horse.” Harco groaned as he sat up, holding his head.

  “Ha-ha…” Lord Hamago attempted to hide the effects of the drink, but he spoke slowly. “Why are you still here, pretty raven?”

  “You commanded your servants to keep me here…” Eleesa was cut off as a rage filled Lord Hamago. He didn’t say anything but got up and grabbed Eleesa by the neck. Lifting her up by the neck he stormed out of the room. Harco struggled to follow but gave no protest.

  “You’re choking me…” As she gasped for air, Eleesa struggled to free Lord Hamago’s grip. Hamago showed no care for her struggles. He strolled into the latrine room and threw Eleesa on the ground. She held her throat as she coughed.

  “Slaves! Bring the cage!” Eleesa looked up at her cruel captor and then to Harco. She could tell from Harco’s clenched teeth that he wanted to intervene. He did not, however, utter a word or raise a finger. Four very larger, hulking, slaves entered the latrine room carrying a dirty rusty cage. Over their shoulders they carried a very long chain. A fifth slave entered carrying a wooden palate. Jagged, rusty, nails poked up out of the wood towards the ceiling.

  “Father, surely there is another way…” Harco leaned up against the door frame, still holding his head.

  “Don’t worry, if she learns her lessons then she will join our house. Strip her!” Eleesa fought back, feebly, as the four slaves grabbed her and ripped the dress from her. She attempted to cover herself as she tried to get away from them. The slaves showed no emotion as they picked her up and threw her into the cage. They then attached one end of the chain to the top of the cage. The other end they looped through a metal ring set into the ceiling. Heaving under the cage’s weight, the four burly slaves hoisted the cage into the air. Eleesa was not cold as the latrine room was warm. This heat created a strong smell of dung that crawled into her lungs. She was still gasping for air from being choked. Tears were pouring down her cheeks and she curled up into the corner of the cage. She was dirty now from her time on the latrine room’s floor. Dust, urine, and excrement had mixed together and clung to her skin. Lord Hamago smiled and left. Harco and the slaves left with him, leaving Eleesa alone in the cage; naked and crying. Eleesa’s days became longer and the nights shorter. She was allowed no food and only a drink of water each night. After the first full day in the cage she lost track of time. Each night a slave would come in and throw icy water on her. Then another slave, sometimes the same slave, would come in and clean out the three latrines. They were three wooden boxes with a small hole cut in the top. These were the only things other than Eleesa in the room. She had become a part of the furniture. Lord Hamago, Hamaco, and Harco would enter at different times of the day to expend their bowels. Each would stare at her while doing their business. Their greedy gazes always made her skin crawl as if a thousand centipedes were on top of her. The smell of human filth soon became a friend to her. While the latrine smelled its worst, none would enter. Once slaves came to clean, visitors to the latrine would arrive. All but the slaves stared at her naked body,
trapped in her prison. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Lord Hamago ordered the cage to be brought down. She realized the fraud when her cage was carried to the kitchens. There, the cage was hoisted up above the kitchen tables. Only two slaves ever looked at her. One was a very vile fat lady. She would parade around the kitchens hitting other slaves with a wooden spoon. Periodically, the fat lady would pick up boiling hot kitchen oil in her ladle and hurl it at Eleesa. She had tiny burns all over her body like the smallest white freckles. Some of the burns even began to form puss filled mounds. A young slave boy would also look at her. He would steal quick glances at her while cleaning the kitchen floor. Each night, Lord Hamago would order her to be cleaned. Which meant cold soapy water was thrown at her. Then four slaves would assault her body with rough brushes attached to poles. Lord Hamago would laugh as she attempted to defend herself from the brushes. They were like probing rough hands, finding every single inch of her to scrub raw. No part of her body was protected from the tenacious brushes.

  One night, when she thought she had no more tears. The slave boy, who stole glances at her, entered and picked up a piece of bread and cheese. Tying them to the end of his broom handle, he got on top of the table and reached it up to her. He placed a finger to his lips as she stretched an arm down to touch the food. She tore off a few small chunks and ate hungrily. She had not had any food in days. Her figure had become very thin. Her stomach’s growls continuously assaulted her ears.

  “Thank you,” she whispered to the boy. Footsteps echoed outside the door and the young boy scampered away.

  “Time for a cleaning!” Lord Hamago laughed as the cleaning ritual started. Once every part of her flesh was on fire, they left. Eleesa curled up in the corner of her small prison and started crying.

  The next morning her cage was brought to the entrance of the house. Her cage was hoisted onto the flag pole in front of the house gate.

  “Now that you have learned how things work in the latrine and in the kitchens, you will learn how to welcome guests.” Lord Hamago, pleased with himself, turned and left. Every single visitor would stop and stare at Eleesa, naked in her cage. Every day the sun would bake her skin and every night a cloth would cover the cage. This did not keep the cold out, however, and she would shiver. She realized that two nights had past until Lord Hamago ordered her to be brought inside. “Now you will learn to entertain our guests.” There was a feast being hosted at the house. The dining room table was filled with old men and young women. Harco and Hamaco sat to the left and right of Lord Hamago. All were dressed in fine tunics and the women wore fine dresses. The women wore ornate cylindrical hats. The men all wore metal or coral chains around their necks.

  “What fine entertainment you have brought us!” An old man with a pointy grey beard roared. His tone was unreadable, and he sat three chairs down on Lord Hamago’s right. “Let her dance!” The man slammed a cup on the table, throwing its contents in every direction.

  “Lord Bilcar has given you and order slave! My guest’s orders are my orders!” Lord Hamago shouted and hurled a grape at Eleesa. The piece of fruit hit her in the shoulder and splattered. The fruit juices dripped down the front of her chest. With lifeless eyes, Eleesa attempted to stand. She had to use the side of the cage to do so. Then, Eleesa attempted to move her body, but she could only manage swaying. The cage moved back and forth lazily. Then, Eleesa collapsed and the Lord Bilcar roared in anger.

  “She is too weak father. Let me kill her.” Hamaco grinned as he reached for a javelin.

  “No, she will die when I say she can!” Lord Hamago barked at his son who looked indignant. Hamaco replaced the javelin.

  “Let her keep dancing until she dies then.” The young woman sitting to the right of Lord Bilcar laughed loudly. Lord Hamago laughed and began to throw more food. The other guests joined in. Under the merciless barrage of food, Eleesa slowly rose once more. Her body was dripping with vegetables, fruit, wine, pieces of bread, and an assortment of meats. She continued swaying until everyone grew bored and began talking. She went to sit down again but Lord Hamago caught her.

  “Did I say you could stop!” Lord Hamago hurled a metal cup at her. It caught the cage and splashed wine in her face.

  “No, my king.” Eleesa got back to her feet but her words caused the guests to start laughing.

  “Hamago, your slave thinks you’re the king.” Lord Bilcar laughed the loudest, spewing half chewed food from his mouth.

  “Am I not?” Lord Hamago growled.

  “If you want to be then the queen will visit. Then, you will be a dead king.” Lord Bilcar continued laughing as Lord Hamago pushed his food away in disgust.

  “If the queen visits and sees this place then we all will be.” Another, younger, lord interjected as he too pushed away his food.

  “The queen is busy in the south with her war. We have nothing to fear here. My friends listen…” Lord Hamago stretched his arms in a quieting gesture. The room answered, and the guests fell silent. “I have a plan to consolidate power, not just in this city, but throughout the coast.”

  “How would you do that king? By stealing our possessions? By stealing our wives? Our clothes? Yourself and that child gang of yours?” Lord Bilcar was no longer laughing and the other guests tensed up.

  “Everything I have done was not to remove my competitors Bilcar. It was to remove ours.”

  “An alliance…” The younger lord that sat across from Lord Bilcar hissed through his teeth.

  “Hah. If you want an alliance with myself and the House of Gauta then bring my sons back, bastard!” Lord Bilcar spat at the lord across from him, who promptly drew a dagger from his waist.

  “My friends! My friends…” The two lords sat back down as Lord Hamago raised his hands. “Together we can consolidate our power. We could reclaim the entire coast with bandits under our control. Everyone coming to this city will be taxed. We don’t have to worry about taxing the outlying villages. Our bandits will do that for us. Finally, with enough power, we could raise an army against the queen. This whole land might be ours. This land is ripe for revolution. The people clamor for it. Let us to be the ones to give it to them and let us reap the rewards.”

  “You are a lying slave Hamago! You are ruled by your thirst for a kingship. I will not die fighting the dark queen!” Lord Bilcar stood and reached for his dagger. Fear, coupled with too much wine, invaded his wild gaze. A javelin caught Lord Bilcar in the throat and he fell into his chair. Hamaco smiled as his hand returned to eating.

  “Any other objections?”

  “No…” Came the resounding startled answer.

  “Good! Then, a toast! To the new Bahl Kingdom!” Lord Hamago raised his glass. The other guests followed suit without a word.

  “King Hamago! The snake is mighty!” Lord Gauta started a chant that the other guests joined. They reiterated the phrase three times. After a brief period of silence, everyone began to hug and kiss. Wine was brought by the servants and everyone continued to drink. Eleesa was forgotten in the madness. Despite all the people, she felt alone and cried. Her tears mixed with the wine and food on her cheeks.

  The Aftermath of Parties and Battles

  With the fall of Timujri, General Hamo had a lot of work ahead of him. Still covered in blood from the battle, the general had suffered many wounds. He had lost the shoulder protection on his armor along with a piece of his shoulder. He had taken an arrow in his left side and one in the right thigh. He also had lost a pinky on his right hand. The healers wanted him to rest, but he shrugged them off. Just a couple more wounds to add to his collection. General Hamo now stood over the table in Timujri’s war room. With blood seeping through his bandages, Hamo counted the losses of his army. Only two commanders had survived the battle, and each bore their own wounds. One of the commanders was even walking using a stick to support his body. He would more hobble than walk with the stick securely lodged under his arm pit.

  “The queen be damned! Why do you
always insist on commanders fighting with the men! We lost so many!” The older commander, not walking with a stick, shouted his disapproval passionately.

  “Watch your tongue, Queen Magiya is always watching.” General Hamo tiredly berated his commander as he slumped into a chair. “My men are as important to me as you are. I do not take any deaths lightly. This was a hard-won victory for certain, but we must look to our future strategy now. We lost many veterans and among them we must find new commanders.”

  “Future strategy!” The older commander took a breath to lower his temper, but he continued deliberately. “Anything in the future you will do without me. I will take my men and leave this madness. There is a reason why none have taken Timujri. Goodbye General…” The older commander turned towards the door and left.

  “Many of the men will follow him General…” Another commander croaked words from under waves of pain and drank from a waterskin.

  “No one else will be following him…” General Hamo sighed and sat back in his chair. The thud of a body echoed through the silent halls.

  “What was he thinking? Speaking in such a way about the Queen.” The commander shook his head and laid it on the table. “I am tired, but I know better.” The commander peered up at his General who had closed his eyes.

  “You and me both. Our dark queen shall provide. In the morning we shall send out scouts. Our enemies will reach the walls soon and we will be besieged. With haste, we must go campaign farther south into their kingdom.”

  “Why not wait here instead of going farther south? After all, with all the men we lost taking this place. Why give it up? Besides, wouldn’t they lose even more taking it back. We could deal such a terrible blow if they came to us.”

  “That is precisely what the enemy would expect. We do not have the provisions to survive a fully blockaded siege. We must move south. Furthermore, our queen will be with us.”