LORD ESCHIN: Part Five

You leave in twenty four hours. Talaan here will guide you through the outlying woodland and cover your insertion. After that you will be on your own. I suggest that both of you get some rest. Dismiss'.



Eschin and the Captain stood to their feet and saluted before turning stiffly around and leaving the office.

The captain hurredly parted company in search of a warm bath and strong drink. Eshcin was left to walk the mile back to his quarters in something of a daze.

It was time to put on the swords once more. Brushing aside enquiries from the family, he retired to his rooms and began his preparations for the field again.

Squatting by the bed, he reached into the darkness underneath untill his questing fingers met the fine wood of his weapons case.

Dragging the six foot box clear, he placed it atop the bed ,running a cloth over it's surface before carefully undoing the three brass catches. The well oiled hinges made no sound as he lifted the lid and the aromas of oiled steel and silk rose to greet him. Unwrapping the swords always stirred the old excitement in his blood. Ebony sheathes were eased out of another compartment of the case and the two and a half foot blades slid home with a dull click.

As always, his mind swam back to the early days of his training with Galaan all those many years ago.





"Galaan has said that you are to be trained at the sword", his mother had announced one morning. Eschin had been around ten years old and the comment had surprised him as he had been having lessons with his fathers friend for around two years already.

He stood whilst his mother fussed over him, brushing crumbs from his tunic. They tumbled to the ground, looking like fairy dust in the early morning sunlight which streamed through the balcony door.

His mother was elegant as ever in a long red velvet gown. Her perfect hair flowed past slim shoulders and was twined around with rare silks and wildflowers.

From the halls balcony, it was posable to survay almost all of the Eschin lands. The nearby towns and villages nestling between rolling green hills. The many people that looked to the family for support and protection.

Within this little world he had known his place in life. It was his home and he wanted no other.

" I already have training at arms with the captain of the guard", he reminded his mother. " Galaan teaches me dancing and heraldry and the lute".

Being a normal aristocratic child, Sozo had been expected to train in all aspects of a the noble life before following his father into the responsibilities encumbant upon landed gentry.



"Galaan feels that you may prove apt to be instructed in the blade" his mother continued, as if having not heard his previous comments. " He has trained no one for many years it is no light thing to be offered instruction by such a master"

Sozo frowned, "was father not trained then?".

" Your father did not prove apt, despite being of part elven blood. , nevertheless, Galaan has been studying your reactions and abilities during his other classes with you and says that you show promise".

"What of my other studies?", he had asked.

" You will cease to report to the master of arms for your training and will instead go to Galaan at his woodland lodge. You wil be required to train each morning from the hour of five until seven. This will leave enough time for you to compleate your other studies. There will likely need to be extra time put aside as your studies continue if you are to master the techniques that Galaan will show you".



The young Sozo's heart had sunk. He had been hoping to spend the summer hunting and fishing and running with the other children of his age but it seemed that this would be impossable.

The future stretched out ahead of him as an endless round of cold mornings and long evenings, having to practice who knew what excersises whilst his friends had all the fun.

" Must I attend the practice", he asked. His mother held his eye and spolke sharply for the first time that morning.

" You are the son of your noble father and you will obey the word of his mouth as must we all. Do not fail to attend Galaan or I will be sure to hear of it. Any excersices he gives you will seem to you a mercy compared with my displeasure".

The hall echoed with her voice but the moment passed and she sighed and gently stroked his unkempt hair.

" Oh small boy, how quickly you do grow up". He had smiled and kissed her forehead before making the most of his last day without extra tutoring.

LORD ESCHIN: Part Four

‘There’s something rotten on the other side of the forest’.

Barely two weeks had passed and Eschin found himself once more seated across the table from Prince Tasaam.

In a constantly changing world, the Princes room seemed to be caught in a timeless unchanging moment. The same aides came in and out with a seemingly endless assortment of Ledgers and dockets which required the Princes attention. The Chrystal decanter on the mahogany desk was never empty, and new visitors were often disappointed to discover that the Prince drank only water, when offered a glass.

The long case clock still ticked above the desk in a sedate manner, giving those called to the room the sense that the prince had all the time in the world.

Eschin had been woken an hour earlier with the news that Prince Tasaam was awaiting his pleasure. He had hurriedly washed and shaved before accompanying the flustered messenger to the palace. Now he eyed the rooms other occupants.



The Prince, as always, appeared crisply dressed and calm. He seemed for all the world like a man who had slept extremely well and now had nothing more taxing to consider than which suit of clothing would best suit his mood.

Eschin privately wondered how he was managing. Rumour in the army was that the Prince had only two hours sleep a night and it was common knowledge that his spotless office was constantly peopled by Berkham’s civic leaders who appeared always to be a gnats wing away from breaking their support of the army.

The Prince had to be part politician, part accountant, part aristocrat and part warrior.

Tasked with keeping order between the myriad opposing factions that comprised the allied force in Berkham.

Despite this, the Prince appeared always as he was this morning. He rarely lost his temper and appeared possessed of a boundless energy.

He was currently concerned with the rooms other occupant. A man in his late forties, dressed in well weathered brown leathers which stank of wood smoke and blood. Like Eschin two weeks previously, he had clearly just arrived back from the field and had been introduced to the swordsman as ‘Captain Talaan; one of our more successful spies’.

The man had a beard which was obviously in need of trimming dark brown eyes that brooded beneath bushy black eyebrows. His hair was long to cover a widows peak but there were no signs of grey and he appeared fit and vital despite carrying more years than many of the captains in the allied force.

He sat easily before the great desk and his face reflected the dry humour that Eschin had come to recognise as the mark of many veteran soldiers.



‘There’s something rotten out there I’m sure of it’ he continued, glady accepting a glass from the decanter on the desk, only to pause in surprise as he realised the true nature of the contents.

‘Every damn troll the the patrols have lost, every enemy soldier, every damn chaotic wretch that crawls out from under a stone is heading through to the other side, but it’s far too well defended to risk us following. Those woods are an ambushers paradise’.

‘How many men have you lost’ enquired the Prince.

‘Tweny one’ replied the captain, ‘although three of them are wounded rather than outright dead’

The prince made and indecipherable mark on the ledger in front of him before closing the covers with a heavy snap and adding it to the growing pile on one side of the desk.

'So, it would appear that they are massing for the next assault'. He sighed and settled back into the leather comfort of his chair, closing his eyes and steepling elegant fingers as he continued to speak to the two officers.

' The next stage of the war is coming gentlemen. Everyone feels it. Whether this month or the next I do not have the power to say. But without a doubt, the enemy has found some new champion and all the dregs of the earth are flocking to his banner.

We may find the strenth to face him but we cannot afford the risk that this force may combine with what remains of the southern army that we routed last year'.



Talaan appeared to consider the princes comments before answering; 'But how are we to prevent them unifying when any force that is sent into the forest will quickly be cut to pieces by ambush. Our own scouting force is returning at less than half strength I am sorry to say'.

'There is no need for apology my dear captain. I am sure that the losses are not due to poor leadership on your part. Air cover from our friends at the magical colleges is a wonderful thing, but it's dammned difficult to see anything from above that canopy until it's already been shot at you. The mages have yet to discover an adequate defence against a five foot bolt with a spike at the end'.



Finally he turned to Eschin, as if only now becoming aware of his presence in the room.

'My Lord Eschin, what would be your council on this matter?'

Eschin looked briefly from one man to the other, clearing his throat as he considered the question.

'Clearly our forces cannot journey around the forest to attack, the terrain is against us all the way. Nevertheless, it would seem unwise to lay any plans without first seeking to learn more of this new champion and what strength they have. Whatever we do, it must be done quickly though for it would seem that our time runs short'.

'Indeed you are correct Eschin, and it is for that reason that I have requested your presence at this meeting. You are probably the only man in this army with speed and skill enough to gain such intelligence in time for it to be put to any use'.

The Prince slid open one of the many drawers in the desk and removed a sealed paper, handing it to the swordsman before continuing.

'Your orders are within, as well as the usual codes and and a warrant for another shadow wings capable steed. I need you to find out all you can of this new threat. There is no chance for subtlety or subterfuge or I would be sending Talaan back into the woods. I need you to do what you seem to do best. Kill your way in and out in one piece and bring me back somthing that I can use. If you have not reported back within fifteen days then I will assume you dead. I must say that I will be extreemely surprised if that turns out to be the case however' .

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