tremendous cost in lives. Thousands of Northern Army dead and wounded lay strewn across the forest floor, and a great number of them were Thargws. Sawdon saw their bodies as he walked through the ranks of celebrating survivors and his mood began to change from one of exhilaration to anger. Runners from all areas of the forest began to arrive and reported to him one by one. He learned quickly, to his utter dismay, that the main prizes, King Artrex, Ben and the stones, had escaped. The soldiers who came closest to capturing the King and closing the corridor, told of seeing them gallop away behind the majority of the rebel horsesoldiers, with Ben carrying what looked like a rebel bag across his shoulder. Sawdon seethed with anger as he realised just how close they had come to achieving their goals.
The Thargw Gerada had been in the frontline, unable to see or control the battle. So he was finding it hard now to piece together exactly what hadhappened. ‘Why was the Rebel Army allowed to escape? Why did the second wave of soldiers take so long to arrive? Why had his plans not been followed? And where were the Dzorag?’ the enraged warrior asked himself.
“Shaargh!” he suddenly roared violently in rage. “Those furthest forward are on foot! They cannot pursue the rebels. We have to keep up the chase!”
The soldiers around him fell silent at hearing his roar. He turned to look at a young Thargw to his left. “You!” he bellowed, “go and find the Dzorag, now! Tell them exactly where the rebels were last seen, they are to hunt them down with all speed and every soldier they have. The enemy will head for the T’Nesc Moorlands. They have to be stopped before they reach them. The Dzorag are to kill them all. Do I make myself clear?” he shouted fiercely at the petrified youngster.
“Y-y-yes, Lord Sawdon.” replied the young Thargw nervously, before racing away swiftly to find the Dzorag leaders.
* * *
Vantrax was still on the ridge overlooking the battlefield. He’d taken a lot longer to recover from the use of the Lichtus this time, his strength had been seriously drained and for some considerable period he found himself paralysed, unable to speak or move. He was being tended to by Strymos and the soldiers of his Personal Guard, in the absence of his manservant, Nytig. The sounds of battle had long since abated and it seemed to those on the ridge that a victory must surely have been won. But they had no way of knowing for certain what had happened as yet, and the King’s vision had clearly shown the rebel leader and Ben galloping away to freedom. Vantrax’ strength gradually returned and he finally felt able to stand. He reached for Strymos’ helping hand and rose shakily to his feet.
“Srr... Are you sure you should be standing sire? Perhaps you should…”
“Ra! Stop your fussing, Strymos! You sound like an old woman.” interrupted Vantrax sharply, irritated at finding himself in such a weakened state. He looked down the ridge at the bodies of the three rebel soldiers who had been killed by his Guard. Then he glanced at the three small piles of ash that lay on the slope of the ridge, the closest only metres away from where he stood, all that remained of the three attackers he’d incinerated with the Lichtus, and who had come so desperately close to killing him.
“That was too close, Strymos. We must never allow the rebels to get that close again.” he stated emphatically.
“No sire.” replied the Gerada in agreement.
Vantrax gazed across the plains at the vast expanse of trees in the distance. “What news have we from the forest?”
“A victory sire!” replied Strymos happily. “We have killed many rebels, including their leader.”
“My brother?” interrupted Vantrax amazed. “But, I saw him, in the vision…”
“Srrrr… No, my Lord,” replied Strymos hesitantly, anticipating the fury that might follow his next statement, “I meant, Knesh Corian, their Gerada and…”
“Raaaargh!!! This is no victory, Strymos!” shouted Vantrax furiously, his face turning red with rage. “You fool! You incompetool! Don’t you see? While my brother lives, there will always be a challenge to my rule. There will always be someone for my enemies to rally behind. Do you not understand? He has to die! Raaargh, this is a mess. How did this happen, Strymos? Why were they allowed to escape?” he shouted angrily.
“I, srrr… It would seem that the second wave of attacking