The Powterosian War (Book 5)
Read The Powterosian War (Book 5) Online
Authors: C. Craig Coleman
The Powterosian War
Book 5
The Neuyokkasinian Arc of Empire Series
By
C. Craig Coleman
Neuyokkasinian Arc of Empire Series
Book 5
The Powterosian War
Copyright
©
2015 C. Craig Coleman
Cover art by artists
Landon Markasky
Map by Cartographer Antonio Frade
Dedication
Dedicated to Author Richard Sutton whose mentoring through the publication of this series has made it possible. We have an obligation to try to make the world a better place. Mr. Sutton lives that philosophy.
Acknowledgements
Special thanks to Karlie DeMarse and Candise Gress, copy editors, whose help made possible the proper publishing of this story.
Thanks to Landon Markasky for the spectacular cover art and Antonio Frade for the splendid maps in this book.
Table of Contents
5: Dreaddrac Fleet Attacks Olnak
7: Great Empire of Powteros Awakens
8: Graushdemheimer the Brink of Collapse
10: Neuyokkasinian Army to the Border
12: Treachery Comes to Neuyokkasin
14: Last Great Battle for Dreaddrac
15: Emperor Saxthor I of the Powterosian Empire
Neuyokkasinian-Powterosian_Dictionary
:
Saxthor sat alone in his camp tent still overwhelmed by the dispatches and urgent messages he’d received earlier in the day. A cup of wine sat untouched. I must keep my wits about me, he thought. He looked again at the map of the peninsula.
The Dark Lord of Dreaddrac has anticipated both our unpreparedness and logical defensive tactics. We’ve all but lost the war before beginning it. He’s already neutralized primary defenses. The evil sorcerer has bypassed Hador and his eastern army is marching down the eastern peninsula meeting next to no resistance. The Graushdem forces are spread too thinly, reacting to attacks all across the kingdom. Graushdemheimer’s defense is now understaffed in the face of General Vylvex’s approaching siege.
Chaos has descended on Heggolstockin. The duke’s son, Lord Amenibus, died trying to break the siege of Feldrik Fortress. The general in the west can’t expel the goblin and his Dreaddrac forces at the Akkin River. I don’t know that my small force can turn that tide either. Feldrik is neutralized under siege by Prince Pindradese. Heggolstockin, the provincial capital, is indefensible. The ancient kingdom of Graushdem is likely to capitulate to Dreaddrac soon.
Sengenwha, too, is all but lost. My lovely Dagmar, now queen, is making her last stand against the most vengeful wraith known. General Tarquak will destroy the last Sengenwhan resistance any day now.
I will be alone to stand against the Dark Lord of Dreaddrac. The situation is bleak at best.
Saxthor suddenly noticed his dragon ring was very warm. When he looked at it, the Celestial Fire Topaz glowed a brilliant blue like the eyes of the dragon Yamma-Mirra Heedra back in his youth. He smiled. I’m not alone and I’ll not giving in to despair. I am the dragon Yamma-Mirra Heedra.
;
Graushdemheimer under Siege
Back in Konnotan, in his tower just south of the city, Memlatec paced about in his study, his brows furrowed. Aleman came to the door, but seeing the old man, he hesitated.
“Put the tray there on the table,” Memlatec said, his voice muted.
“Thought your Excellency might like something to eat and drink. You haven’t eaten all day. Those magic powers of yours are going to poop out if you don’t eat something.” Aleman put the tray down gently.
“I’m not hungry but thank you.” Memlatec didn’t look up.
“Well, just a little bread, cold duck, and that nasty tea you like to drink.”
“That will be all, Aleman.”
“Well don’t blame me if you fall over and die of starvation,” the old man said, wiping his hands on his apron and dragging his feet out the door.
Memlatec looked again at the message Chatra Rakmar had forwarded to him. At the king’s command, Rakmar had written to the king’s brother, Prince Augusteros, to return to the kingdom. His assistance in the management of Neuyokkasin and to be with his people would mean a lot to them as the forces of Dreaddrac closed on the northern borders. Also, he had written to the Neuyokkasinian ambassador at the imperial Powterosian court to plead with the prince to return. Memlatec had written similar letters and included them in the ambassadorial pouch, but no reply had come back and it had been a month. The message from the chatra was from the ambassador’s aide at the Neuyokkasinian embassy, saying the ambassador had left on a mission for the emperor two months before and had not returned as yet.
Why no word from Prince Augusteros? Memlatec wondered. He tapped at the message on the table, spinning it around with his finger. He picked it up and tossed it back down. He paced, then poured some tea but left it on the tray. Where and why would Emperor Engwan send the Neuyokkasinian ambassador that he would be away from court for two months? Augusteros is headstrong. He refused before to return to assume the throne, but he must know in this crisis the whole kingdom is in need of his support. There is more to this than a missing ambassador.
I’ll send Rakmar a message suggesting that he write officially to the emperor requesting his majesty order Augusteros back to Neuyokkasin.
* * *
King Saxthor came out the woodlands of western Graushdem province at Girdane, the commercial center of the northern peninsular. The town was bustling with goods, animals, and people scurrying everywhere. Solemn soldiers marched about preparing to leave for the battle with the goblin general further north. Farmers and merchants hurriedly moved their goods and livestock east to the capital or onto boats sailing south, downriver, fleeing the war. Faces were lined and furrowed, looking down as they rushed. Silently, the women busied themselves preparing their disrupted lives for flight, their families’ preservation utmost on their minds. Silent people amid the harsh hammering and jostling of frantic preparations gave an eerie feel to the town.
Merchants were delighted to sell Saxthor what supplies he needed for his march northwest to the war front. Saxthor found the commander of a cohort preparing to leave for the western front. He joined them and the two forces left the city marching along the road leading to Jardin’s Crossing. On the road, Saxthor got information about the Dreaddrac incursion into Heggolstockin.
“Yes, Your Majesty,” the Heggolstockin major said. “Dreaddrac sent the goblin general across the Akkin at Jardin’s Crossing, apparently to draw attention away from Prince Pindradese’s larger attack on Feldrik Fortress in the north. You know the prince is the puppet of the King of Dreaddrac. Well, before Duke Anton was aware of the attack on Feldrik, he marched his troops west to drive the goblin general back across the Akkin. Before he could force back the goblin’s army, the duke got word about the attack at Feldrik. He left his ablest general in charge of his force fighting with the goblin and raced back to Heggolstockin to prevent his son, Lord Amenibus, from marching the remaining forces to relieve Feldrik.
“Feldrik under attack too,” Saxthor said. His brow furrowed.
“If your majesty hasn’t heard, in Girdane, they killed Lord Amenibus at Feldrik. The duke didn’t arrive back at Heggolstockin before Lord Amenibus left for Feldrik, and before the duke could go after him, word came of Lord Amenibus’ death. When Lord Amenibus’ body arrived at Heggolstockin, it tore the heart out of the duke. The duchess was so distraught she collapsed and no one thought she would survive. When I left there, they said she was drifting in and out of trance with fits of raving grief between. The duke locked himself in a tower room.”
“Who’s running the government, making the decisions, giving the orders for the provincial defense?”
“I hear it’s the daughter, Lady Demonica. She’s always been a very headstrong young lady.”
“What do you know of Feldrik?”
“We don’t know anything beyond the defeat of the relief force. The enemy hadn’t overrun the castilyernov when last we heard. We suppose, as long as it stands, Prince Pindradese can’t move on Heggolstockin; it would leave his supply lines open to attack from Feldrik. But we don’t know how long Feldrik can hold out. So we are hoping to defeat the goblin general that’s rampaging through western Heggolstockin, then move to support Feldrik.”
“I hope we have enough forces to defeat that goblin.”
“Our commander has attempted to engage the goblin but the Dreaddrac army seems more intent on ravaging the countryside than getting into a decisive battle. We suppose now that his mission is to keep forces tied down in the west so they can’t relieve Feldrik.”
“Yes, that would seem to be the plan.” Saxthor looked back over his shoulder at the men marching behind the two leaders. “Do you think we have enough men to defeat the goblin? Do you know how many orcs he has with him now?”
“Well, the duke lost too many men in the first battle. That’s why we’ve been called up from around the Girdane area to reinforce our forces at Jardin’s Crossing. It may be that with your Neuyokkasinians, we can defeat the goblin and free our forces to attack Prince Pindradese.” The young major smiled and bowed to Saxthor. The combined forces marched faster, passing fewer and fewer farmers fleeing east to Girdane driving their flocks and herds and wagons.
*
Some miles from the Akkin River border, a rider found them coming from the duke’s commanding general. After several skirmishes, he had backed the goblin’s army against a deep stream. The orcs were reluctant to cross it under fire. After introductions and bowing to King Saxthor, the excited messenger pleaded with the two leaders.
“Major, the general has finally trapped the orc army; but if you don’t arrive soon, he fears the orcs will escape over the stream in the night. The general heard you were nearby and hopes you will be able to come up behind the orcs on this side of the stream. When you are in place, the general can press the orcs and you can slaughter them as they attempt to cross the stream. He thinks they will once again try to slip away from his trap to keep his force tied up here.”
“You can vouch for this man, Major?” Saxthor asked, staring into the officer’s face. “If he should be the goblin’s agent, we could be led into a trap or away from the real battle.”
“Yes, Majesty, I know this man.”
“Then we must hurry. Send your scouts on ahead on horses to verify the two armies’ positions before we arrive. We want verification before we go into battle.”
The major nodded and called up two men from his force, sending them on ahead. He then told the messenger to lead on and the combined relief force rushed ahead to the battle.
*
When the combined force reached the two armies, it was as the messenger had said. Saxthor could see the Heggolstockin army in formation through the trees. Somewhat disorganized, the orcs scurried through the forest bordering the creek, searching for an escape crossing.
“I can’t see the extent of the goblin’s forces, but there’re still numerous saber-wolves howling. That suggests the force is substantial, a real threat,” Saxthor said. He studied the relative positions of the troops.
“One of the scouts was to notify the general we would be in place before nightfall,” the major said. His horse stamped around, sensing the excitement.
“Lead on, man,” Saxthor said to the messenger. “We must be in position before sunset. Do we know if they have a wizard or a wraith with them?”
“No wizard or wraith indicated so far, Your Majesty,” the messenger said.
The army followed and was in formation opposite the orcs, who were scrambling about in the woodland on the opposite bank.
There was only a quarter moon that night. Saxthor was confident the Heggolstockin general and he were in place and had trapped the enemy beside the stream when darkness fell. Saxthor stationed his men along the forest edge overlooking the water to fire arrows down on the exposed orcs as they crossed. Then, they waited.
“Where are they?” Saxthor asked the major who rode up beside him late in the night. “The general should have pressed the orcs by now, I hear his men at the edge of the wood. There have not been half a dozen orcs to enter the stream. Even the saber-wolves stopped howling after dark, when they should be howling most. Something is wrong.”
“It’s too dark to tell,” The major said. “I sent a man upstream to cross, find the general, and get a status on his progress.”
“Well, there’s nothing to do but be ready and wait until sunrise when we can see what’s going on over there.”
An hour before sunrise, the messenger returned and found the major with Saxthor. “The general is perplexed, major. His men have forced the enemy as deeply into the woods as they can see without shooting each other, but the orcs seem to have disappeared.”
“Disappeared?” Saxthor asked.
When it was light enough to see, the two armies searched both sides of the stream, but the goblin’s army was gone in the night.
“Heggolstockin, the capital,” Saxthor said to the general when they finally met. “They’ve slipped out of the wood and are making for Heggolstockin, now defenseless.”
“Must have doubled up on those saber-wolf monsters and gotten away,” the Heggolstockin general said. “There must be a wizard involved to have muffled the wolves during the escape. That goblin general is no fool. That was a brilliant maneuver last night.”
Well, we must give chase, General,” Saxthor said. “Did I understand that your army is the first line of defense for Heggolstockin after Feldrik?”
“Yes, I received word that Lord Amenibus took the last troops to relieve Feldrik’s siege, but most died there. We are all that stands to confront the Goblin’s army if it attacks Heggolstockin itself. The goblin must have discovered the road to the provincial capital is undefended.”
“Gather your forces, General. We must pursue the goblin as quickly as possible and bring them to battle before they reach the capital.”
Saxthor and the Heggolstockin general were about to lead their combined forces to pursue the goblin’s orc army when a tattered and exhausted messenger arrived from Duke Anton.
“Your Majesty, General,” the messenger said, trying to catch his breath. “There is an orc army riding fast east toward Heggolstockin. I saw them in time from a ridge before they could see me, but they race doubled up on saber-wolves.” The man’s brilliant eyes darted back and forth between the two commanders. He hesitated catching his breath, his eyes still imploring a response.
“Yes, that army eluded us in the night. We were about to go in pursuit of them,” the general said.
“You have news from the duke?” Saxthor asked.
The messenger unbuttoned his coat and took out a sealed scroll from his blouse. He hesitated, then gave it to the general who read it and handed it to Saxthor without a word.
As Saxthor read the message, the despondency came through the status update. He looked at the commander and then glanced at the messenger and back at the general.
“Go get something to eat and report back here immediately after,” the general said to the courier.
The messenger reached inside his blouse and handed Saxthor a message as well. Saxthor noted it was from Bodrin but waited to read it until he read the duke’s message and could deal with that. When the man left, the general motioned for the major to join Saxthor and himself. The three men discussed the news.
“It seems Feldrik is neutralized. Prince Pindradese is holding siege there, while the rest of the Dreaddrac army is now moving on Heggolstockin along with this goblin general and his force here. Nothing stands between the two hostile armies and Heggolstockin, the capital. The duke received confirmation from King Grekenbach that General Vylvex and his army are moving on Graushdemheimer as well. The king cannot offer any assistance to the duke. We seem to be the only force in the west to confront Dreaddrac’s assault. If we fail and Heggolstockin falls, only the forces King Grekenbach can muster will stand against all the forces now moving on the capital. If the two armies converge at Heggolstockin and attack from the west, and Vylvex arrives from the north, Graushdemheimer will be overwhelmed. The kingdom will likely collapse.”
“We must bring the goblin army to battle before it reaches Heggolstockin and merges with the orc army coming from Feldrik,” Saxthor said. “We aren’t likely to defeat that combined army with the forces we have left.”
