After reading Lady Carliss and the Waters of Moorue, It seemed to me as though one of the elements of the story needed fleshing out. As there doesn't seem to be many Knights of Arrethtrae books, I don't really expect a lot of attention to become directed at this short read, but that's totally understandable.
There is a bit of brief combat, but nothing overly descriptive. No blood etc. Of course, if you can't handle combat, don't read this.
Note: This story is simply an offshoot of Chuck Black's Knights of Arrethtrae book Lady Carliss and the Waters of Moorue. This short is indeed a fan fiction, thus the story does not belong to me. All rights go to Chuck Black.
Anywho, enjoy your read!
* "You must, Carliss. Trust me and go."
Avoiding the torment in Carliss's eyes, he turned and readied his rod of iron just as the first Shadow Warrior attacked. *
The warrior's sword was slicing an arc to his head before he was able to bring the rod up to deflect the blow, so Ganoaf simply allowed his wounded leg to collapse beneath him, effectively dropping below the sword's trajectory path.
Thrown off balance by what he'd obviously believed to be a sure hit, the Shadow Warrior struggled to lift his sword as Ganoaf lunged to his feet and thrust his rod into the warrior's abdomen. Even with the man's armor, Ganoaf managed to strike a sensitive spot. The man gave a half-strangled cry that was abruptly cut off by the force of Ganoaf's blow. He was thrown onto his back and was instantly beset upon by a slew of shrieking Esca Lizards.
Horrified, the man screamed and held his hands up in front of his face, but the weak protection his arms afforded were no match for the tearing claws and poisonous antennae of the lizards.
Gasping hoarsely, Gonoaf averted his eyes from the detestable sight. His ribs ached, and the quick movement that had been made necessary by the attack of the Shadow Warrior had opened up partially healed wounds. The Life Spice within his veins was working, but it did nothing for the pain.
Suddenly, a lizard lunged from the mutilated body of Ganoaf's opponent and latched hold of his leg, sinking its fangs into his flesh. Before Ganoaf could react, another lunged from behind and bit into his neck. He yelled hoarsely and, reaching down, flung the lizard at his feet into a nearby branch.
The violence of his movement dislodged the other from his back and he managed to grab it before it disappeared into the trees. The lizard flopped violently in his hands, attempting to sink its antennae into his flesh, but before it could do so, Ganoaf bashed it against the ground.
Glancing up, he stared around. The maddening shrieking had halted. He glanced toward the fallen Shadow Warrior. Besides the few clinging to the warrior, all the Esca Lizards had fallen in pursuit of Carliss.
Carliss.
Ganoaf bowed his head. My Prince, protect her. Please. I can do nothing for her now.
Instantly, the peace of the Prince flooded through him.
Good. She would be safe, she would not be injured.
Lifting his head, he smiled.
His mission was done.
Now, he must report and receive another. He doubted his next would be as exciting, yet as emotionally strickening and physically trying as this.
He paused in his thought process to glance back in the direction Carliss had fled.
Carliss was a good knight. A true follower of the Prince.
They needed more like her.
Turning in the opposite direction of Carliss's flight path, he began his travel through the swamp.
He had accomplished what he'd come to do.
* Both the sentences between the two asterisk are taken directly from the book, although the second sentence has been slightly altered (indicated by the bold text).