By the Sword - By Sara Flower Page 0,74

from them and unsheathed his sword.

Ittonifer met him with the powerful swing of his sword.

“Edandir, we meet again. You’re just in time for the grand finale.”

The general slashed away his enemy’s blade.

Ittonifer laughed hollowly.

“Impressive isn’t it?” Ittonifer said. “Pity you’re on the wrong side.”

Jalarn stood rigid. Edandir barely recognized the young man. There was vulnerability in his deep green eyes where there had once only been hatred. Something in him had changed.

“What are you doing here?” asked Ittonifer.

“I came to repay the man that saved my daughter’s life.”

Jalarn’s eyes widened at the mention of Talya.

“Then you wish for death.”

Edandir swung at Ittonifer’s head, but his opponent blocked him and gave him a swift kick in the gut. Edandir stumbled back, regained his footing, and then stopped what would have been a fatal stab to his chest.

Out of the corner of his eye, the general noticed someone else approaching them. He turned to face whoever it was, but all he saw was a black gauntlet slamming into his face.

*****

Tanel had never fought so hard in all of his life. The soldiers of Sanctus were completely surrounded by the massive imperial army, and only one of the reptilian beasts that God had turned back against the Malinorians remained. A group of Malinorian knights surrounded it now and stabbed at it until it fell with a loud roar. Because of Ittonifer, ten beasts had been uprooted from their safe home and had been killed in a foreign, evil place. Now they were gone forever.

The ten giants took on several enemy knights at a time, but not without suffering large gashes on their limbs. They were starting to wear down.

“Help me!” Atalsa screamed nearby.

She had run out of arrows. Eight enemy soldiers already encircled her.

Tasar was running toward her, but he wasn’t going to make it in time. His heart thundering, Tanel shot three of the men that were coming at the girl. He went to shoot another arrow, but there were too many Malinorians blocking his view.

Tanel fought back tears of frustration as he shot as many of the oncoming enemy as he possibly could. No matter how many he slew, several more came. They were like ravenous flies on an animal carcass.

“I trust in you, Lord. I know You will deliver us out of the evil one’s hand. I can’t do this alone. Please help me. And help Atalsa and the other knights.”

As he felt for another arrow, Tanel noticed that there were only five left.

I will have to make them count.

He fired at the closest men, dropped his bow, and then unsheathed the sword at his side.

Chapter Nineteen

Queen Roselyn had lain praying on the floor of Sanctus City’s chapel for hours. Thunder roared in the distance. She slowly got up and looked out of the church’s window. Rain splattered against it as lightning flashed nearby. She imagined the general and his army fighting in the slippery mud and flinched.

She paced back and forth, worry enveloping her once again.

No. God will not let the devil win. Sanctus will conquer Malinor. There is nothing to worry about. He has heard my prayers.

She went down on her knees and returned to praying.

“Lord, as Your Word says, ‘He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them which hated me: for they were too strong for me.’ I ask that you give my general, soldiers and knights the same protection that You gave King David in his time of need.”

The heavy wooden door flew open and Roselyn nearly jumped.

It was Uittan.

She relaxed, but her heart still raced.

“Your Majesty, I apologize for the intrusion, but I need you to come with me at once.”

Without a word, Roselyn placed the hood of her violet cloak over her head and followed the prophet out into the pouring rain.

*****

Tanel grasped the hilt of his sword with both hands as he blocked countless more attacks.

“Give me strength, Lord. I can’t do this alone.”

He stabbed at an enemy knight, but missed. All he could do was deflect blows as the fully armored Malinorians came at him.

“I’m here, Tanel,” said a familiar, booming voice.

Endil was at his side – mace in one hand and sword in the other. He knocked out the next ten knights that came charging at them with ease, but twenty more came.

He glanced at Tanel.

“Follow me, lad.”

Tanel ran alongside the formidable man with their enemy in close pursuit. Chrissa joined them, matching their pace.

There was a small hill ahead where several others readied themselves for another influx of