Swords with Souls
A Medieval Fantasy Fiction Story
(Adult Content)
By Dan Watt
(Author of the Children of the Myth Machine series)
(Author of the Plagueborn series)
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“Likely, Sir Ganbold has escaped. Sir Oisin was to find him. Perhaps he’s too busy collecting wives,” Sir Olaf says half under his breath.
“What of Sir Afamefuna?” he asks. Sir Afamefuna was the one royal guard he considered a friend, if not akin to family.
“Gone! He and his entire family fled to the sea. I’m not sure if he was upset about losing some of his land to Sir Emil or just decided to join the traitor, Ganbold.”
He found in that moment that he still respected Sir Ganbold. “You think Sir Ganbold will return with an army?”
“Considering Sir Emil was found dead along with other elite soldiers–.” Sir Olaf bangs his fists onto the table. “With Sir Ganbold’s crest carved into him, I suspect some of Ganbold’s people are still here. It’s possible they started the fire in the prince’s room.”
He remembers Ellis telling him the giants and dwarves might not bring war to the kingdom if he becomes king. His entire being feels like it’s draining out of him. “If Sir Ganbold returns with an army, we won’t have enough to defeat them. Even if we train every woman, child, and elder.”
“That’s why I need you to go to the land of the giants and dwarves. Tell them their kingdom needs them and to send as many men as they have. I also need them to help dig the moat for the palace and change the direction of the Tyne.
He wonders how redirecting the Tyne would affect his and other farmlands. “What about the quarter moons?”
“They might need to protect the north.”
“From whom?”
“Never mind,” Sir Olaf’s voice carries a finality to it. “When you bring the giants and dwarves, I’ll have a pledge ceremony to the queen and kingdom. That will bring the people together. I’ll have the magistrates include a speech about the betrayal of Sir Ganbold and Sir Afamefuna. They will be stripped of their titles and a bounty put on their head. Unless Sir Oisin resurfaces Sir Ganbold’s head,” Sir Olaf says in a tired tone, “it’s just you and I are who loyal to the kingdom.” Looking up at him with sunken eyes surrounded by dark, sleepless circles Sir Olaf says, “Leave today to the land of the giants and dwarves and bring all the males of age back.”
“May the kingdom always thrive,” he says and leaves the room. He has the dreadful feeling Dampwind is about to be attacked on two fronts.
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