Chapter 10: Riverview
The western hold of Riverview stood as the head of the region of Arendelle known as 'the Troll's Pine'. It was small, containing a fairly diminutive population compared to other holds yet it was more than capable of 'pulling its weight' as it was responsible for a share of the kingdom's supply of timber as well as some hunting and fishing goods. In some respects, it was more of a small fort than a hold, with a twelve-foot wooden wall surrounding it as the only defense. It was located to the far west, making it the hold farthest from the capital, it could take up to a week to reach Arendelle city by foot. Quiet, picturesque, where not much ever happened, like most of the kingdom until recently. The sun would be setting soon and the populace were all preparing to retire for the night, while guardsmen patrolled the paths between buildings in the waning hours.
Barec: a local guardsman with dishwater blond hair, one green eye and the other scarred and whited out, sat on a bench next to the main hall with his arms folded and his head leaned back. He had abstained himself from a mandatory meeting of the guardsmen in the barracks, he'd likely receive a good talking to from his boss, the leader of the guards in Riverview, Nedolf, or as they referred to him 'Ned'. He opened his mouth and a yawn emerged but was abruptly interrupted by a hard hand on his shoulder. He turned to see a smirking face, identical to him other than the fact that he had both eyes, his twin brother Derad. "Excited?"
Barec shrugged his shoulders. "About?"
Derad sat next to him and rolled his eyes. "Oh that's right, you weren't there." Barec shook his head lazily, his brother sighed. "You're gonna catch hel from Ned later on you know."
"That's if he finds me before the nights over." Barec winked.
Derad frowned. "I wish you'd take this job more seriously; I know it's not what you would have chosen but it means a lot that you decided to join."
Barec grinned. "It's not that I don't take the job seriously, I just don't like how seriously Ned takes it."
"Ah that's just because you've never seen a war before brother, Ned has... The Ramdon Rebellion. After all this is where it ended, this is where king Agnarr struck the final blow to the traitorous house Ramdon-"
"For someone who spends so much time talking about the war, you don't know very much about it."
Derad nudged him. "Yeah? And what do you know?"
Barec smiled. "Erik Ramdon wasn't defeated here, his son Oddvard was killed here when he was ordered to remain and defend it while Erik fled north to Ashla's Pike. When the royal army laid siege to The Pike, it was the king's Master of War that led the charge and killed Erik, not the king himself."
"Well-I knew that, I was just...seeing if you knew it...how'd you know that?" He asked curiously, giving away his ignorance.
Barec yawned. "Ned never shuts up about it and believe it or not, I am awake when he's talking...most the time-sometimes. But I doubt he saw much of it...still he could stand to loosen up a bit, don't you think?"
"No argument there, still you missed a pretty thrilling bedtime story."
"Mm why don't you do a recap for me...that always puts me right to sleep." he said closing his eyes and leaning back.
Derad's eyes lit up "I thought you'd never ask."
Derad began with a hint of thespian dramatization as he arched his hand to emphasize "War is coming and all of us must prepare, the queen is sending reinforcements to all the keeps of the kingdom: Hammerhel, Hadenville, Ashla's Pike and yes! Even our out of the way hold of Riverview. And we: The noble defenders of Arendelle must make ready to-"
Barec interjected. "He didn't say it like that."
His brother raised an eyebrow. "Yeah and how would you know, Mr. no show?"
"I've heard enough of Ned's speeches to know he didn't say it like that, that's way too much character for him."
They both laughed, though not too loudly. "True enough but that's the news, apparently someone has declared war on the kingdom..."
"Well if that's the case, all that 'defenders of Arendelle' nonsense you're talking might just come true for you, brother. Might even earn a rank if you-"
Barec's sarcastic rant was interrupted by the sound of a horn sounding from the wall. They both stood and Derad breathed shakily. "That horns never been blown..."
Other guardsmen were already running to all the outer walls in every direction with sword and bow in hand, the two brothers ran to join them. Both drew their swords and as they approached the wall and their ears were met with screaming as they both looked up to see a guardsmen fall to the ground. He clutched his chest as smoke rose from his singed uniform and flesh.
Running down the stairs from the battlements was a middle aged man brown hair, light beard and intense green eyes: Nedolf, he knelt beside the wounded guard and called for someone to help. Now brought out of their momentary shock they ran to aid him. Looking up to the wall they could see guardsmen firing bows down on an attacking foe and heard a loud whizzing noise followed by a guard clutching his shoulder and falling backwards, another was grazed across the neck by a bright, red, pulsating projectile that burned his skin. More of the vicious bolts flew up at the wall forcing the soldiers to take cover in between their shots.
Ned looked up at the brothers as they approached. "Barec, Derad good."
He pointed past them upward at a tall watchtower in the center of the village. "We won't be able to hold them long, I need you two to light the beacon at the tower. If we are going to fall, the kingdom has to be warned." The two brothers looked back to their leader who drew his sword as another guard came and lifted the wounded man. "Go! We'll buy you as much time as we can." and with those words Ned ran back to the battlements.
With their orders they turned and ran to the center of Riverview, Nedolf's voice could be heard shouting orders to the men on the walls that were inevitably drowned out by the sounds of battle. They weaved their way through the houses and buildings, villagers ran to their homes while other guards ran past them with spears and bows in hand to join the defense on the walls. They reached the tower entrance and ran up the stairs leading to the top, the pair halted when they heard a loud explosion. Looking out a window they saw the gate erupt in red, crackling energy and more of the red bolts flying through the smoke into the hold. They looked to each other grimly before continuing upwards, no matter what they had to light the beacon...it was their only hope.
Arriving at the top Barec ran ahead to reach the beacon but before he could reach the top he heard his brother grunt in pain. He turned to see his brother on his hands and knees, a dark, violet aura of sorcery bearing down on him from above. Behind him he could see a warrior in red and black steel armor with a helm and faceplate in the visage of a viper, its seemingly empty eye holes staring him down. In one hand they held a gleaming fanged longsword with dark magic whipping and crackling randomly from their raised hand which appeared to be conjuring the magical field.
Barec took his sword in both hands, shouting and ran to attack, but the warrior simply held up its sword hand, the index, thumb and little fingers stretched out and a wave of force hit him and knocked him back. He groaned in pain and rolled onto his side but a black mist blinded him, when it cleared he looked up to see another invader standing over him from behind. They ignored him and instead turned towards the beacon, swiping their hands sideways, a wave of force erupted from their palms that sent the wood bowl flying from the tower, effectively removing any hope of lighting the beacon. Barec readied himself once more as his enemy turned back to him, swinging his sword with all his might but the opposing blade met it and parried it out of his hands.
The sorcerer's hand lunged out, gripping his throat tightly, choking him and forcing him to his knees. The sorcerer drew his sword and aimed to run Barec thru, the Arendellian's eyes widened at his inevitable death. But the strike was stopped by the other shouting in its own tongue, "Chan eil! Sorvec tha iad gan iarraidh beo! (No! Sorvec wants them alive!)"
The other serpent growled and threw Barec to the floor, Barec coughed and his lungs took in air again. He winced as he felt the rough metal gloves cut into the back of his neck. The invader lifted him and forced him to walk and he could see the other in front of him doing the same to his brother as they were both escorted back down the stairs of the tower.
Escorted back the direction they came from; they saw more of the invaders moving throughout the hold. They arrived near the gate that had now been broken apart and burned by the red energy. Every man, woman and child were on their knees in the open space before the gate, along with the surviving guardsmen who were kept under a heavier guard facing the gate. All around them stood even more of the enemy soldiers but these wore solid red armor of hard, layered iron plates with the same snake like visage making out the face plate of their helm. Some carried a weapon that at first glance resembled a crossbow but lacked the bow, two metal barrels stacked vertically on each other, with hammer cocked towards the base that led into wooden stock with a trigger. Most brandished blades, spears and maces of foreign design; some forged into wicked, deadly curves or harsh, cruel angles.
Barec and Derad were forced to their knees next to their fellow guardsmen, the two dark warriors stood behind them. Walking in from the gate was another warrior similar to the others with two soldiers flanking him, but his armor was slenderer and carried more adornments and uniqueness. Two swords, the top edges lined with curved teeth, were sheathed at his sides. He stood at the front of the group, then began pacing down the line overlooking all of the captives. No one dared to hardly breathe, whilst they awaited whatever fate awaited them at the hands of their captors.
The leader halted his pacing, reaching to his side he pulled out a small metallic object with a red crystalline surface in the middle. Pouring out from the sides was a black, fibrous substance that manifested into the shape of another viper's helm. A deep, rough voice emanated from the shape, "Commander Sorvec. Have you captured Riverview?"
Commander Sorvec replied in a shrewd, cunning voice that held a slight accent. "Yes general Tarn, the fortress has been taken."
"And the inhabitants?"
"In our care." Sorvec replied with a sinister slur.
Tarn nodded, "Good, I have begun my assault on Hadenville, continue your offensive to the rest of the surrounding villages in the region, take all the citizens back to the hold and make sure that the queen of Arendelle knows of our victory here. Regroup with us for the attack on Hammerhel when you are ready. "
Sorvec nodded, "As you command, General."
The black substance seeped back into the disk and the commander slipped it back into his belt. He looked back to the crowd and Barec's heart began beating faster when his eyes locked dead center with his. The commander pointed towards Barec and Derad, "Thoir leat iad! (Bring Them!)"
Barec grunted as he and his brother were pulled to their feet and pushed towards the gate, with small escort of soldiers accompanying the commander and two sorcerers. The commander then gave orders to rest of his soldiers, "Cum iad sa phriomh talla! (Keep them in the main hall!)"
As they were pushed towards the gate he could see the enemy soldiers respond to his command: forcing the towns folk to their feet and making them march towards the center of town. A few moments later, and several yards later, they were led past the shattered gate and stopped at the edge of the Troll's Pine Woods. Barec was shoved forward several feet, pushing himself off the ground he rose to his feet turned back to see his brother on his knees.
Barec didn't understand why they were letting him go, he could only stand there in horror that they still kept his brother. The dark warrior that had captured him earlier now drew his blade, grabbing Derad's hair and pulling his head back, holding the blade at his throat. He now understood the choice offered to him: flee...or watch his brother die. He looked to his brother who could only mouth silently to him, "Go..."
Barec breathed shakily and hesitated, he then looked back at the sorcerer holding his brother hostage and glared hatefully at the monster whose only response was, "Hmph."
With no other choice Barec turned and ran, as fast as he could, looking back only once before disappearing into the woods and making his way east towards the capital. In the skies he could see the light of the stars in the farthest distance, the only welcoming colors of this dark and evil night...
OoO
The warrior removed the blade from Derad's throat as commander Sorvec put his hand on his shoulder, "See to it that he finds his way back."
The naga warrior nodded and both sorcerers took the form of orbs of black mist that ascended into the sky and snaked through the air in the same direction that the Barec had fled. Sorvec turned back to Derad who was on his hands and knees breathing heavily, the human looked fearfully up at the commander who only chuckled, "Have no fear...you are destined for great things."
Derad grimaced and swallowed, "Somehow...I doubt that."
"Most tend say something along those lines...at first." Sorvec whipped his finger in the air and a naga trooper rammed the wooden stock of their rifle into the back of Derad's head, knocking him unconscious. With two troopers carrying the unconscious guardsman, the commander led his troops back to the hold to tend to their...'hosts'...
In old Norse, hell is spelled Hel, hence why it is spelled that way here.
