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  Bolivar’s Sword

  Book Two of The Weapon Takers Saga

  Jamie Edmundson

  Bolivar’s Sword

  Book Two of The Weapon Takers Saga

  Copyright © 2018 by Jamie Edmundson.

  All rights reserved.

  First Edition: 2018

  Author website jamieedmundson.com

  Author newsletter

  Cover: Streetlight Graphics

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  For Mum

  Contents

  Dramatis Personae

  Map

  Prologue

  1. Strangers

  2. Pursuit

  3. To Protect and Serve

  4. The Waves at the Shore

  5. Of Wives and War

  6. Two Towers

  7. Friends and Enemies

  8. Dogs and Dragons

  9. In Arioc’s Chambers

  10. Atop Burkhard Castle

  11. Prisons

  12. A Blessing

  13. A Great Moot

  14. A Cloth of Gold

  15. In The Presence of Royalty

  16. Gustav the Hawk

  17. The Battle of Lindhafen

  18. The Second Disciple

  19. Siege

  20. The Rock Walkers

  21. Pentas the Wizard

  22. Bolivar’s Sword

  23. Samir Durg

  24. The Tower of Diis

  25. The Kill

  26. Last Stand

  Acknowledgments

  The Jalakh Bow

  Prologue

  Also by Jamie Edmundson

  Dramatis Personae

  South Magnians

  Soren, a wizard

  Belwynn, Soren’s sister

  Herin, a mercenary

  Clarin, Herin’s brother

  Farred, a nobleman of Middian descent

  Gyrmund, Farred’s friend, an explorer

  Edgar, Prince of South Magnia

  Leofwin, Edgar’s bodyguard

  Brictwin, Edgar’s bodyguard

  Ealdnoth, Edgar’s court wizard

  Wilchard, Edgar’s chief steward

  Burstan, a captain in the army

  Anulf, a soldier

  Morlin, a soldier

  Ulf, a smith

  Ragulf, a standard bearer

  North Magnians

  Elana, a priestess of Madria

  Cerdda, Prince of North Magnia

  Ashere, Cerdda’s younger brother

  Mette, Cerdda’s mother

  Elfled, Cerdda’s sister

  Irmgard, Cerdda’s wife

  Middians

  Brock, a tribal chief

  Frayne, a tribal chief

  Cordentines

  Glanna, King of Cordence

  Rosmont, a Cordentine ambassador

  Barissians

  Dirk, a priest of Madria

  Emeric, Duke of Barissia

  Gervase Salvinus, a mercenary leader

  Curtis, a soldier

  Kellish

  Moneva, a mercenary

  Baldwin, Duke of Kelland, Emperor of Brasingia

  Hannelore, Empress of Brasingia

  Walter, Baldwin’s younger brother, Marshal of the Empire

  Rainer, Baldwin’s chamberlain

  Decker, Archbishop of Kelland

  Gustav the Hawk, Archmage of the Empire

  Lord Kass, a nobleman

  Rotelegen

  Jeremias, Duke of Rotelegen

  Adalheid, Duchess of Rotelegen, his mother

  Veit, a scout

  Rudy, a prisoner in Samir Durg

  Jurgen, a prisoner in Samir Durg

  Other Brasingians

  Arne, Duke of Luderia

  Godfrey, Archbishop of Gotbeck

  Coen, Duke of Thesse

  Lord Emmett, a Thessian nobleman

  Guivergnais

  Nicolas, King of Guivergne

  Bastien, Duke of Morbaine

  Russell, Bastien’s man

  Kalinthians

  Theron, Count of Erisina, Knight of Kalinth

  Evander, Theron’s squire

  Sebastian, Count of Melion, Knight of Kalinth

  Alpin, Sebastian’s squire

  Galenos, Grand Master of the Knights of Kalinth

  Tycho, Knight of Kalinth, Theron’s friend

  Remigius, Knight of Kalinth, Sebastian’s friend

  Euthymius, Knight of Kalinth

  Philon, Knight of Kalinth

  Leontios, Knight of Kalinth

  Nestor, a smith

  Jonas, King of Kalinth

  Irina, Queen of Kalinth

  Straton, eldest son of Jonas

  Dorian, second son of Jonas

  Diodorus, Count of Korenandi

  Haskans

  Shira, Queen of Haskany, member of the Council of Seven

  Koren, Shira’s uncle

  Persaleians

  Pentas, a wizard

  Cyprian, a prisoner in Samir Durg

  Zared, a prisoner in Samir Durg

  Krykkers

  Kaved, a mercenary

  Rabigar, an exile

  Torinac, a chief

  Maragin, a chief

  Guremar, a chief

  Hakonin, a chief

  Stenk, a young warrior

  Porimin, an historian

  Caladri

  Dorjan, King of the Shadow Caladri

  Isharites

  Erkindrix, Lord of Ishari

  Arioc, King of Haskany, member of the Council of Seven

  Siavash, High Priest of Ishari, member of the Council of Seven

  Nexodore, a wizard, member of the Council of Seven

  Ardashir, a wizard, member of the Council of Seven

  Tirano, a wizard, serving Emeric of Barissia

  Roshanak, a wizard, lieutenant of Shira

  Mehrab, a wizard, lieutenant of Shira

  Babak, Arioc’s servant

  Other

  Vamak, a Dog-man

  Tamir, a Barbarian chieftain

  Prologue

  SIAVASH PAUSED OUTSIDE THE PRIVATE CHAMBERS of Lord Erkindrix, a thrill of anticipation coursing through his body.

  To be invited here was a rare honour, even for him. Ordinarily, Erkindrix only held meetings in his Throne Room, or the Council Chamber. The private chambers were only accessed by those servants who tended to his physical needs. They were nameless, nugatory creatures, who no doubt saw him at his most vulnerable and repulsive. Siavash didn’t dwell on that.

  No. Siavash, High Priest of the Order of Diis, member of the Council of Seven, didn’t thrill at the thought of sharing an enclosed space with Erkindrix and his decaying, putrid body. He craved proximity with a God. For Diis himself, the mightiest deity of all, inhabited the body of Erkindrix. His eyes rolled beneath the Lord of Ishari’s. His words could, at times, be heard through the reedy voice of his vessel.

  Siavash entered the room. The stink of Erkindrix knifed through the cloying perfumes which were used to mask it. The Lord of Ishari lay prone on his bed. He had yet to regain strength enough to stand since the attack on Edeleny. Ishari had won a great victory against the Grand Caladri, but at a price. Scores of their magi lay dead, scores more had been pushed into madness by the confrontation.

  ‘What news?’ asked Erkindrix through a gargle of saliva.

  Siavash approached the bed. He felt the presence of Diis—powerful, malevolent. It was as if his God, crushed inside the tiny, wizened frame of an old
man, cast a shadow the size of a mountain. Siavash felt the primeval fear of encountering such a being; he felt the ecstasy of proximity to such power. Instinctively, he dropped to his knees.

  ‘I can report that most of the lands of the Caladri are being taken with no resistance. The only exception is to the south, where a faction has organised a military defence, supported by some surviving magi. It is not a significant threat, but they are able to use the terrain to their advantage.’

  ‘Good.’

  Siavash prepared to deliver the bad news. He would enjoy the telling, but he had to be careful not to let Erkindrix see it. The Lord of Ishari’s relationship with Arioc was a close one, and Siavash knew that he always had to tread carefully on such territory.

  ‘Unfortunately, when our forces reached Onella’s Temple, Her Staff was missing.’

  ‘Missing?’ Erkindrix spluttered.

  ‘I should say, taken. It is unclear by whom, or where. But King Arioc has captured some prisoners whom he believes can reveal that information.’

  ‘Inept,’ Erkindrix barked, ‘to allow such a thing.’

  Siavash smiled inwardly.

  ‘What other news?’

  ‘Queen Shira’s force has crossed into the Empire. Given her victory over the Rotelegen army, she should not take long to complete the conquest.’

  Calling Arioc’s bitch a Queen never fails to stick in my throat, he added to himself.

  Erkindrix grunted. With what looked like some effort, he pushed himself up into a sitting position. ‘The weapons,’ he hissed. ‘The threat from these weapons should not be underestimated. Nexodore has failed to deliver them, now Arioc fails me.’

  Siavash almost volunteered then. To gain these weapons would be a trifling task, and yet give him success where the dread Nexodore and Arioc had both failed. But to leave Samir Durg, to leave his Master and his God, when he enjoyed such unrivalled proximity; that could be a dangerous mistake.

  ‘Send Pentas,’ said Erkindrix. ‘He must retrieve them.’

  Siavash’s lip curled up into a sneer at the mention of the name.

  ‘What?’ demanded Erkindrix.

  ‘A human? He can’t be trusted with such a task,’ he replied with distaste.

  ‘Then who?’

  Me? No. I must play a cautious game. My place is here, at the centre; at the very heart of power.

  ‘You are right, My Lord. I will instruct Pentas. I will make sure that he understands the importance of these weapons.’

  Strangers

  I

  THE LIGHT OF MORNING FORCED BELWYNN to open her eyes. Her mind gradually returned the events of yesterday to her consciousness. Splitting up from her brother Soren and the others, Belwynn had joined Elana, Dirk and Rabigar in a search for Onella’s Staff. They had found it in the Temple, Elana seemingly guided to its location. The wizard Pentas had then teleported them away from danger. They had travelled a long distance under his spell, and once they had stopped, felt exhausted and ill. They had fallen asleep pretty much where Pentas’ magic had dropped them, too tired to prepare a fire or even to eat a cold supper.

  Belwynn pushed herself up into a sitting position, rubbing her head which banged with pain. She looked around. Pentas had seemingly dropped them halfway up a hill. The trees which had surrounded them in the forest of the Grand Caladri were sparser here, while the ground beneath them was rocky; large chunks of stone littered the landscape about them.

  Elana and Dirk were still asleep a few yards away. Rabigar wasn’t there. Belwynn supposed that he had gone to collect firewood or search for food. Her stomach grumbled at the thought.

  So, Soren and the others had not made it. Perhaps Pentas had failed to reach them in time? They could be dead. A feeling of dread stabbed at Belwynn’s insides. She tried to reach her brother.

  Soren. Soren?

  A few moments of silence passed, but then there was a response.

  Belwynn? Is that you?

  It was Soren and he was alive. It was not easy to pick up what he was saying though. There was some kind of interference—more than the distance that separated them.

  Yes, it’s me, Belwynn replied. Where are you?

  Captured...must be careful. We defended the entrance to the Temple but Arioc himself came for us. We’re all alive, but they caught us. They’re taking us north, to Ishari or Haskany. They’ve got wizards monitoring me...must be careful.

  There was a pause. Soren’s voice was thin, and Belwynn’s ability to pick up what he was saying varied, as if he were putting his hand over his mouth and taking it away again. Belwynn had experienced something similar once before, when her brother was with Delyth, the marsh witch.

  Where are you? Soren continued. Did you get the staff?

  Yes, we’ve got it. Pentas, the wizard with the red eyes, found us in the Temple. He told us we had to escape. He teleported us away. I don’t know where we are, but we’re safe. He said he would look for you—

  Thank Toric you’re safe. It must have been too late for him to get to us. You must get the weapons to safety. Contact me again tomorrow when you’ve found out where you are. But we’ll have to keep it brief. It’s dangerous. Goodbye Belwynn.

  Bye Soren, Belwynn answered.

  She wanted to cry. Her brother and the others had been captured by Arioc and the Isharites. There was no way of knowing what would happen to them and she had no way to help—she didn’t even know where she was. She suddenly felt tired and alone. Gripping her head in her hands, she wiped away a tear that had started to fall with her palm. She had to control herself. She was in charge now. She would have to be strong.

  A noise to her left made her turn sharply. It was Rabigar. He marched over and opened his arms, a pile of tree branches dropping on to the floor. He yanked at his belt and held up a brace of squirrels.

  ‘Breakfast,’ he declared.

  Belwynn forced a smile. ‘Thank you, Rabigar. I’ve just spoken to Soren. He and the others were captured by Arioc. He said that they’re all alive and being transported northwards.’

  Rabigar nodded. ‘I think that’s about the best we could hope for. If they’re being transported north, it means that Arioc wants them alive. He would have killed them otherwise. I’m sorry if that’s not much comfort.’

  ‘No, it’s fine. I know it could have been much worse. It’s just that the prospect of rescuing them is so daunting—we don’t even know where we are!’

  ‘Not entirely true,’ replied Rabigar. ‘I got a clear look at the stars last night. Pentas sent us in a north-westerly direction. I reckon we’re on the border between the Grand Caladri and Kalinth. Now, we’ll have to be careful. By all accounts the King of Kalinth is nothing more than a puppet of Erkindrix these days. But we’re not far from my homeland. If we make it there, the weapons will be safe. Then we can work out what to do about your brother and the others.’

  That Rabigar had a plan, even if somewhat vague, was something for Belwynn to hang on to for now. He was taking the initiative, and Belwynn was grateful for that.

  ‘First things first, though,’ Rabigar continued. ‘We’ll get breakfast ready and try to wake those two up.’

  They did not get far that day. The exhaustion caused by the events in Edeleny had not left their bodies. Dirk, in particular, was not well. He walked on in grim silence, as if all his concentration and energy were needed just to put one foot in front of the other. Belwynn gave him Onella’s Staff to lean on across the difficult terrain. Although Rabigar seemed to think that they were in Kalinth, the landscape in this region seemed to be a combination of the forests of the Grand Caladri, and the hilly country of the Krykkers. When Belwynn complained about this, Rabigar would point to the distant mountains to the south-west and claim that they were real hills, not these. Occasionally, when they crested a hill, they would get a glimpse of the Plain of Kalinth stretching away to the north, and though Belwynn disagreed with the Krykker that such a view made the climb worthwhile, she had to admit that it was a fine sight.
r />   What they really missed were horses. On various mounts, they had travelled over half the length of Dalriya in the past two weeks. By comparison, walking pace seemed slow and laborious. Belwynn suspected that they had barely covered ten miles when they stopped to make their camp for the night.

  When she woke the next morning, Rabigar had again been the first up. A small fire was already burning and chestnuts were being slowly cooked.

  ‘Are those edible?’ asked Belwynn suspiciously.

  ‘Yes. Sweet chestnuts. Horse chestnuts are the poisonous ones. Here,’ he said, pointing at them. ‘They have a little tail on the bottom. That’s how you tell you’ve got the right kind.’

  He sounded more than a little pleased with himself.

  I’ve been thinking about our position,’ Rabigar informed her as she sat up. ‘There is a trading town called Korkis, it should be about five miles west of here. I know it quite well. It picks up trade between Kalinth, the Krykkers, and occasionally the Grand Caladri as well. We could do with picking up some supplies and utensils. If I’m right, we should get there by lunchtime.’