By the Sword

chapter Eighteen



Riding on one of Sanctus’ dragons, Uittan saw General Edandir just leaving the military camp on his firedrake. The prophet clicked his tongue and his steed flew toward the general.

Talya had completed her mission, but at a high price. God had been right about her when Uittan had had his own doubts in the beginning.

Edandir noticed Uittan then.

“Uittan!” he called.

“General, I have come to deliver a message. God wants you to go back to Ittonifer’s castle before returning to battle.”

“Will she make it?” Edandir asked.

“I do not know. I’m sorry,” the prophet said.

The general lowered his head and closed his eyes.

“Edandir, I need to speak with you about Jalarn.”

“What about him? My daughter could die and yet you speak of Ittonifer’s sadistic nephew?”

“Edandir, do you realize that he saved Talya’s life?”

Edandir stared at him.

“Jalarn rescued her from Ittonifer’s sword. His heart is open to God right now, but you don’t have much time.”

“So… it’s true?”

“Yes!”

“Talya was trying to tell me something about going back for Jalarn, but I thought that she was just lightheaded from the blood loss. Jalarn, second in command to Ittonifer, saved my daughter’s life?”

The prophet nodded.

“Why would he do that? He has already almost killed her twice,” said the general.

“Ride swiftly, General. You haven’t much time. But remember that the Lord is with Talya, no matter what happens. She is going to be taken care of.”

Edandir gave him a scornful look before kicking his dragon into rapid flight.


Tanel shot at two Malinorian knights that were just about to send another fiery boulder on his people. Atalsa took care of the pair next to them. The rest were taken down by the other bowmen.

“We did it!” cried Atalsa.

Although her friend Tasar liked to brag about his abilities, it was Atalsa that should have done the bragging. She had a better eye than Tanel or even Wenyn.

“The battle isn’t over yet,” said Tanel.

Tanel caught sight of Tasar and a wave of relief swept over him. The cocky knight’s skill had deepened since he had sparred with Talya only a week ago. He fought off several men at a time with his strong frame and quick movements.

Atalsa noticed Tasar, too, and ran to his side.

A larger group of Malinorian knights was approaching them from behind. Tanel took care of five of them while Atalsa picked off the rest. Tasar swung her around twice, and they hugged for longer than necessary.

Tanel shook his head.

“Hey! This is a battlefield.”

The youthful couple broke their embrace and disappeared together into the sea of fighting soldiers, clearing a path. They certainly made a lethal pair when they put their minds to it.

Malinor’s numbers were considerably smaller now. The warriors of Sanctus had all but decimated the devil-worshipping army with the help of the giants and the monsters that had suddenly turned on the empire. It was clear that God had His hand on the battle. Only God would have been able to influence the beasts like that.

Endil’s deep battle cry could be heard echoing over the raging battlefield. With renewed vigor, Tanel charged into the thick of the battle. He left his sword in its sheath as he took down several more enemies with short-range archery.

There were only three of the great monsters remaining, but the animals tore through sections of Ittonifer’s army as though the men were as light as air. Every single one of the ten giants prevailed and valiantly fought five or six enemies at a time.

They had not won yet, but they were so close.

A badly wounded enemy knight nearly stumbled into Tanel. He fell to his knees and drove his sword into the dirt. He looked even younger than Tanel.

Tanel swallowed as he scanned his surroundings to make sure that no one else was coming at him, but what he saw surprised him. All around them, Malinor’s men were kneeling and setting down their swords. They were surrendering.

Tanel raised his arms and cheered at the top of his lungs along with others as relief swept over him. A tear streamed down his cheek.

It’s finally over.

Endil caught his attention because he was just standing there. The man looked troubled instead of happy.

Tanel strode over to the formidable man.

“Endil, what’s wrong?” he asked.

The knight didn’t answer. Instead, he stared straight ahead. Tanel followed his gaze.

It can’t be.

In the distance, like a horrific plague of black locusts, was another army of black armored warriors, larger than any force that Tanel had ever seen. The battle was far from over. It had just begun.


Jalarn and Ittonifer dueled back and forth within the prison. Thankfully, Ittonifer’s back had been turned when General Edandir had taken Talya. Now that she was away from Ittonifer’s harm, Jalarn could concentrate better.

So far, his uncle was unbeatable. The older man had lost neither his power nor his skill at nearly sixty years of age. He seemed to always be one step ahead of Jalarn, but Jalarn would catch him off guard. He had to.

“Just look at you,” Ittonifer said. “Your life is worthless now. You went against everything I taught you, and now you’re going to die. I can’t believe that I had once promised you my throne.”

“You didn’t do anything for me until after you starved my mother to death!”

“Jalarn, Jalarn, why didn’t I just kill you that day when you came to me begging for that loaf of bread? I should have seen that you would turn into an idealistic weakling like her.”

Jalarn came at his uncle with an even greater fury, bent on severing the man’s head from his neck.

Ittonifer backhanded Jalarn in the face and swung for his throat. Jalarn blocked Ittonifer’s sword just in time. That was too close.

It amazed Jalarn that he had felt so invincible, so powerful mere days ago. Now, he stood up against his uncle, and he was barely staying alive. He thought he had everything he wanted. What a fool he had been.

Talya had told him that God would forgive him no matter what, but was it really true? He had hated God and anything to do with Him ever since his mother died. The devil’s way used to make so much sense, but what Talya said was true. The prince’s way was selfish and lonely. Even most of the magical spells that Jalarn had studied only served to hurt others or make them do what the magician wanted them to do.

This is something I will have to think about later. If I survive.

Pushing the thoughts aside, Jalarn brought all of his attention back to the duel. He unleashed a series of aggressive strikes at Ittonifer, but the man was ready for every single one of them.

With a great roar, the Malinorian ruler lifted his sword above his head and jumped. He crashed his blade into Jalarn’s. The sword flew out of Jalarn’s hands.

Ittonifer held his blade at his throat. It was over.

“Killing you like this would take away the fun,” said Ittonifer.

Jalarn knew what that meant.

“Get up. Your death will be witnessed by all of Malinor and Sanctus today. You will see the largest army that the continent has ever known, and you will die knowing that you threw it all away. I was right in not telling you about my backup plan.”

Ittonifer pressed the point of his sword into Jalarn’s back.

“Move!”

They walked out of the prison, down the dark hallway, and out of the castle.

Thousands of men in Malinorian armor approached the battlefield. A mere two thousand or so knights from Sanctus stood gaping at the army that was about to bring its devilish fury upon them.

“How did you do it?” asked Jalarn.

“You will never know.”


The thundering rhythm of the massive army’s battle drums combined with its deliberate marching made the ground vibrate. Only moments ago, Tanel and his fellow warriors had been elated at their victory. Now, fear and defeat laced the air.

The surrendered Malinorian knights shifted nervously where they knelt.

“I should have known that it was too good to be true!” cried Atalsa nearby.

“Retreat!” cried one of the commanders.

Tanel wished that they could, but it was not an option. Every innocent civilian in Sanctus would die if they did. Malinor would infiltrate the city shortly after them. It was better to fight.

Chrissa jogged up a hill and lifted her voice.

“Listen, warriors of Sanctus!” she shouted.

Some people stopped to listen, while others paid her no mind.

“Don’t you see? The devil is doing this to drive the faith and hope out of us. As a former servant of his, I know his wicked ways. This is our chance to stand up to his force and show him that our God is so much more powerful than a few Malinorian knights. And even if we die today, we still win.”

Most of the soldiers and knights near Tanel scoffed and shook their heads.

“She’s crazy! Look at all of them!” shouted Tasar.

“Her new faith is clouding the reality that is before us,” said Timlin.

An older knight elbowed Tanel and shook his head.

“To stay would be sheer madness. Queen Roselyn would have no army left. The Malinorians will destroy our families.”

“No, Chrissa is right,” said Tanel.

He ran up the hill and stood at Chrissa’s side.

He was met with an audience of both angry and fear-ridden faces.

“God has brought us this far. He turned those monsters against our enemy. Remember what we have been taught since our youth – that He lives in us! Who can we fear with God in our hearts?”

There was a great murmuring from the crowds. Many soldiers turned to leave.

“Cowards!” shouted Endil as he joined Tanel and Chrissa on the hill.

“You call yourselves soldiers?” shouted Chrissa.

Below, Pori chased after Timlin. He grabbed him by the arm. The two brothers began to fight. Tasar and Atalsa argued with a group of soldiers. Soon, the air filled with loud shouts and accusations.

“I can’t believe this!” cried Chrissa.

Sweat poured down Tanel’s face. There was a great army coming toward them, but their army was in disarray.

“Silence!” shouted Commander Sanere.

He was standing on another rise close by.

The fighting and arguing ceased. Everyone froze and stared at the commander.

“If you run, Ittonifer will find you. He won’t stop until we’re all dead. Do you want your innocent loved ones on the run, too? We gave the queen our word that we would protect her and her people. Please, stay and fight. General Edandir would have said the same thing if he were here. What would he think of us if we quit now?”

“And where is he?” shouted a knight from the crowd.

Several shouted their agreement.

Sanere ignored them.

“This is your calling, people. If God is with us, then who can be against us?”

“Remember who it is that you are fighting for!” said Endil.

A surrendered Malinorian knight stood then. Many gasped when they saw that he was only a boy of fourteen or fifteen. He was the same one that had surrendered to Tanel.

He approached General Sanere.

“I will fight with you,” he said.

The army fell silent. They stared at the young Malinorian. He looked around and then spoke.

“You spared my life when I would have taken yours. Malinor has no respect for enemies. I’ve seen what your God can do. He protected you from the beasts.”

“If you mean it, then get out of that armor,” said Sanere.

The boy complied.

“Thank you for your bravery, son,” said the commander.

Dressed only in a thin tunic and pants, the new recruit stood bravely next to Sanere. Tanel removed his breastplate and ran down the hill, making his way over to the one that they stood on.

“Take this. You may need it more than I,” said Tanel.

He fastened the armor on the boy.

“Thank you,” the lad said.

Tanel prayed that the lad would survive the day. He had more courage than many of the young warriors that were twice his age.

Five more of the kneeling Malinorian soldiers rose and removed their armor, taking their place next to Sanere. Tanel breathed a prayer of thanks to God as even more came, stripping themselves of their past allegiance and joining with the righteous army. More than that, they were taking a step toward God without any consideration of their own gain.

Many of the retreaters stopped in their tracks and watched the moving display of loyalty.

“Will you not stay?” Commander Sanere called. “Ittonifer’s surrendered men have agreed to join us in the face of adversity.”

Some returned.

The great enemy army drew nearer, but Tanel’s faith in God’s deliverance had deepened so much that he craved to charge into battle. They had come so far. He was not going to throw it all away now.

“Archers, rejoin with Sir Tanel and fire on my command!” said Commander Sanere.

Chrissa smiled at Tanel as she walked by him.

“See you down there, Commander,” she said.

She was acting as though the whole thing was a game.

“Be careful, Chrissa.”

The archers raced up the hill to stand with Tanel. He was too nervous to be happy about his new responsibility. Tanel’s bowmen formed two lines parallel to one another, waiting for the command to release their swift arrows on the enemy. The opposing army was close now.

Several moments passed, but Commander Sanere had not ordered them to fire yet. The mass of Malinorian soldiers was getting too close. Tanel would have fired at them several moments ago.

“Steady, soldiers,” said Commander Sanere.

Tanel’s heart thudded rapidly. He could now see the whites of his enemies’ eyes. In moments, their armies would collide.

“Fire!” the commander shouted at last.

Hundreds of arrows whistled through the air and rained down on the unshielded Malinorians. From where he stood, Tanel could see that several hundred men had fallen, but it had barely made a dent in the numbers. He drew another arrow.

“Fire!”

Another series of arrows speared into their enemy, but the Malinorians were running faster. The sword fighters of Sanctus charged into the formidable army. The battle had begun once again.


General Edandir’s heart raced as he directed his firedrake over the battling soldiers. Where in the realm did all of those Malinorians come from? Ittonifer had outdone himself this time.

The general ached to go down there and aid his soldiers, but he had to complete some crazy mission first – a mission that involved rescuing Jalarn, no less. He could barely believe what Uittan had told him to do, but he also knew that the prophet would never tell a lie.

He landed his dragon on the roof of the castle and climbed down the thick vines that covered the side of it. With the intention of entering through another open window, Edandir heard Ittonifer’s thick voice just below. He and Jalarn were standing by the castle entrance.

Edandir jumped down just a few paces away 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.