Asgoleth the Warrior - By Bill Kirkwood Page 0,50

and ride for the other end of the valley, move!’

The Akonites hurried to obey but even as they did so a sinister sound smote their ears. Every eye stared upwards as a long, moaning, whistle became louder and louder. Cries of fear and alarm broke from their throats as they saw the sky grow dark as sheets of arrows flew down at them from the slopes above.

Then the deadly missiles were among them and cries, curses and screams filled the valley as the Akonites died under that deadly hail. The arrows found every crevice in their armour and men and horses crashed to the ground to be trampled under the hooves of their comrades. The Akonites turned and milled in panic but there was no escape from flight after flight of feathered death.

Valshin cursed and wept as he saw his army reduced to a smashed and bloody ruin before his eyes. A few managed to break free from the carnage and they galloped away but mounted Torran warriors awaited them and they were swiftly cut down.

Valshin raised his fists above his head and cried out in rage and anguish. His cry was cut short as a Torran arrow pierced his throat. He stared at the shaft in disbelieving horror, and then he swayed forward and crashed to the ground. He lay there, clutching vainly at the shaft as blood filled his mouth. Then he gave a drawn out gasp and died with his army. The last thing he ever heard was the loud roar of triumph from the throats of his enemies high above.

A silence fell upon the Valley of the Eagles then. To the victors on the heights above it was a moment to be savoured. Below then an Akonite army lay dead and they had achieved this great victory at the cost of only one man. It was unbelievable, yet there before their eyes lay the truth of what their barbarian leader had said. The Akonites were not invincible, they could be defeated. Slowly men began to make their way down the slopes towards their fallen enemies. There were trophies to be collected.

Bal Shoteb watched them go then said to the grinning Calthian beside him,

‘By mighty Solus, Asgoleth, your trap worked. If I had not seen it with my own eyes I would not have believed it. How did you know they would come?’

Asgoleth replied,

‘They were arrogant fools, Bal Shoteb. They were so secure in their might that they believed the tale I had poor Nythos tell. They thought there were only a few thousand ragged and hungry wretches opposing them. They were too confident of victory. Well their arrogance cost them dearly this day.’

‘What now, Asgoleth?’

Asgoleth grinned at his friend.

‘Now we press home our advantage. We must move against Demos before he learns of this defeat. Send some men to see if there are any survivors among the Akonites. If there are, put them to the question. We must find out where he intends to strike now that his hellish weapon is ready. If we can take him by surprise we may well be victorious again.’

Bal Shoteb nodded in agreement and told off some men to carry out the Calthian's commands. Agoleth urged his mount on and Bal Shoteb turned his horse and rode beside him as they made their way towards the caves where the women and children had been placed for safety. Amira would be delighted at the news of this victory and would be anxiously awaiting them.

As they rode they were surrounded by cheering warriors. All around them men raised their weapons in salute as their leaders passed. Bal Shoteb grinned widely and waved back at them but Asgoleth did not. He knew that very soon he would have to order these happy, cheering men into battle once more and many of them were going to die. Demos would not be destroyed as easily as Valshin had been. He was a cunning and evil foe and it would cost many lives to bring his plans of empire to destruction.

Asgoleth sighed; he did not relish the heavy weight of responsibility that had been placed upon him. He wished that he was once more just a simple mercenary soldier. Free to throw himself into the bloodlust of battle with responsibility to on one but himself. Free to gamble and jest around a campfire with his comrades. He sighed again. Temporarily at least, those days were behind him now. He had taken on this job and he