it’ll cause to Vantrax’ operations. And his reputation. He relies on the wealth of those mines to pay his armies.” said Jake, by way of a belated explanation.
Zephany stared straight at Verastus in complete astonishment. “And just exactly how long have you two been planning this?” she asked firmly.
Verastus looked sheepishly at her, unsure if she was offended at being excluded from the planning for the operation, as her royal status warranted. “I… I have been thinking of it from the start, Princess.” he admitted. “Though I have only recently told Jake, and I never thought he would agree to it.” he added in his defence.
Zephany smiled broadly. Then shelaughed out loud at them both.
“Ha ha ha. So be it, Keeper!” she said, as she turned to look at Jake. “I can see that life with you two, is going to be anything but dull.”
Chapter 25
Morning of 15th August – The Battle of Erriard Forest – Part 2
The battle had been raging for hours. The Rebel Army had fought valiantly but the Northern Army advance had not been checked. Ben, Artrex and Knesh had finally had to retreat to their established ‘last line of defence’. They now found themselves in a group of rebel soldiers who were forming the eastern edge of the rectangle formation that would hopefully hold the enemy back long enough to give the remaining rebels a ‘corridor’ through which they could escape, out of the forest. Facing them were the Thargws and Falorians, who continued to advanced relentlessly and were now rapidly approaching their position. The rebels were all exhausted, having dashed from one ambush position to another, but up to now they’d only seen the enemy from afar and had managed to skilfully avoid close quarter battle, just as Knesh had hoped and planned.
This time however, there could be no retreat. They had to withstand whatever the enemy threw at them. There was nowhere else to go and nothing to do but to stand and fight! They could hear the Thargws and Falorians moving noisily through the forest, as they waited anxiously for the inevitable attack. Knesh seemed to be totally at home in the hostile environment. Despite the risks, he stood up calmly and took out what looked like a child’s wooden toy from his pocket. He unwound the vine that was wrapped tightly around it and let it drop, until it was dangling loosely by his side. Then he whirled it violently and rapidly around his head. As the air was forced through the slits that were carved into it an ear-splitting, high pitch shrill sounded loudly. It forced Ben to cover his ears and he instinctively ducked, although he had no idea why he had.
“What the…? Hey! What is that?” he asked, his fear and nerves of before now having subsided.
“It is a Rhuaddan Geslaq. An old huntsmans tool. We have been using them for years. It will tell our soldiers to retreat, they have to protect our escape route, or we will be surrounded. The situation is critical, Ben. The enemy was not meant to have advanced so far and so fast. The enemy opposing us, to our front and to our right, will be here soon. And now they will have heard our signal, it will have given away our position. That could not be helped. Listen to me, Ben! Quickly, you have to do as I say now!” said Knesh firmly, placing both his hands on the young boy’s shoulders.
Ben was alarmed by the sudden urgency in Knesh’ voice, it was completely out of character for the warrior. “Of course I will Knesh, you only have to ask.” he answered, his mood altering drastically as he thought of what the warrior was about to say.
“Ben my friend, I need you to leave right now. You have to go with my King, to protect him and the stones.” he said, for the first time displaying real emotion that he wasn’t trying to hide.
“But, I can…!” interrupted Ben, forgetting his promise as the gravity and probable consequence of the order dawned on him.
Knesh looked back at him sternly. “No! Do not disobey me on this, Ben. Please! If the Thargws or Falorians break through the line, all will be lost. We will be encircled and they will have my King and the stones. I cannot allow that to happen. You have to go now, quickly!” he implored. The warrior looked pleadingly at both Artrex and Ben. Ben didn’t have time to