Chapter 4

The burning of the west

Pailor halted on his golden brown horse as he looked toward the castle which was burning as he yelled and his voice was heard across the realm as he looked on from the shelter of the trees north of the castle. Pailor became enraged he screamed his sister's name and charged the nearest soldiers to him who had seen him to late. Pailor rode upon them hewing there bodies into the ground with his horse and swiping them with his sword. Many men of the east were in the castle pillaging and burning as they went but it seemed they wanted the castle for there own purposes. More men began to charge toward Pailor who shone bright on the field killing at will and with no remorse as the men began to cower at him. Pertopolis was standing near the castle entrance and turned to notice Pailor as he laughed then climbed his black horse and rode forth with what riders would go with him toward Pailor. Many men surrounded Pailor who still fought on dodging the swords and axes hewed at him. He noticed Pertopolis and rode to meet him as there horses rode to meet each other. Pailor cried aloud lifting his sword high as he swung at Pertopolis who used his mighty shield to block the blow only to be knocked from his horse. Most of the army were now fixed upon Pailor who rode in between them killing at random but he received a fatal blow to his shoulder as he crashed into the mud. Pailor looked up to see Pertopolis looking down at him laughing as he removed his helm and gazed upon Pailor who was tired and couldn't move he felt weary.

"How the roles have changed friend!" he laughed again then placed his heavy boot upon Pailor's shoulder as he screamed in pain "I want him alive chain him and take him with us" men came over to chain Pailor but something seemed to protect him.

A great shining light surrounded Pailor as he could see a vision of his father as Kailor struck his mighty hammer into the earth and all the men about including Pertopolis fell to the ground in pain. Kailor smiled to his son and pointed as Pailor's horse came running toward him as he mounted it and smiled back to his father and rode north away from the field. Suddenly the light was gone and the men stood to there feet in amazement and Pertopolis began to organise a hunting part to hunt the heir to the throne of Linderon.

Pailor now rode north as he fell into a deep sleep clutching his injured shoulder. He awoke and could hear birds singing and a strange noise he lifted his head and noticed a strange creature roaring in front of him.

"What strange creature is this?" he spoke aloud as a strange voice could be heard.

"It is a bear stranger, do not fear it will not harm you if you do not threaten it" the voice was very rugged similar to the moon tribe but much more, deeper and rougher.

Pailor noticed that the land was much greener and it was a woodland area, a figure approached him from his right as he drew his sword aloft ready to engage.

"Do not worry I am no foe, you seem to be severely injured" he smiled and Pailor noticed he was clad in a brown hooded top with green pants and brown boots "I am Luin from the woodland tribe of the north, I see you bear no symbol" he removed his hood and he had brown hair with green eyes and a short beard his face had many scars and he seemed a stern and able man, he was average for the men of the wood in size.

"Greetings Luin forgive me but I have battled much and am weary, I am Pailor son of Kailor and I hail from Linderon" Luin gasped then smiled.

"Well met Pailor we have heard a lot of Linderon but now is not the time I will take you to my village it is not far, I am a woodman and protect the border which you have crossed. We know of what foes have entered the lands but we did not know they reached the moon realm this is indeed worrying times" he took the reigns of the horse as he pulled the horse slowly through the dense wood.

Pailor awoke to the sound of birds and he could smell beautiful flowers and plants as he opened his eyes to see a flower pot on a wooden table in front of him. He turned onto his back and felt a sharp pain in his shoulder and leg. He sat up slowly and noticed he was in a wooden sort of house. The house was entangled with a tree and he could see plants and other flowers growing into the house. Pailor stood up and noticed he was dressed in a green robe and had bandaged which were maid of leaves. He limped toward the door as he opened it and felt a warm air as he looked about. Pailor noticed many men and women doing various tasks such as tending trees and other plants. To Pailor's right was a man clad in similar attire to Luin he smiled and bowed to Pailor who noticed a great tree looming to his right were steps ran all about it. There were other houses and it seemed he could only see trees all about him.

"Good to see you up and well Pailor, you have been asleep for nearly four days" the man had brown hair and brown eyes he also had a brown beard.

Pailor felt his lips were dry as he spoke "Four days, that is indeed to long a time to sleep" he paused and coughed holding his stomach "How I desire water" the man helped Pailor and sat him back in the house onto his bed.

"Let me go and get you some water" the man began to leave as Pailor sat up.

"Where is Luin?" the man turned and smiled to Pailor who was sweating.

"He is battling on the front my friend, there seems to be a great host of evil men trying to push into our realm" he sighed "I doubt we can hold out any longer that is why we have evacuated the children and many women north then east toward our other realms" he then left the room.

Pailor fell back into a deep sleep and was suddenly awakened by drums and a great bell which rang across the land.

"What is that noise" he sat up and shook his head then stumbled toward the door.

He opened the door and it was night now but he could see a great fire which was spreading from the south. Pailor headed slowly down the steps and stood in the centre of the village as the grass felt warm but soggy. It was raining but not too heavy as Pailor looked about as he saw the man who helped him earlier running from where the fire was coming from.

"Pailor they are here take your horse it is in the stable over there" he pointed and Pailor could see a stable were many horses were.

"What is your name friend" Pailor looked to him with worry and dread.

"My name" he paused "My name is Balier, ride north I am sorry we could not have spoken more but the enemy is on our doorstep. The realm of my cousin to the north Lurinien it is called and it is our capital city of the wood there you will find aid, warn them that Balier has sent you and that the southern outpost has fallen" he smiled to Pailer then headed back toward the fire and the battle which was ensuing.

Pailor limped to the stable and his horse recognised him and headed toward him as Pailor opened the gate.

"We meet again my friend, I shall name you Suvati, horse of a thousand hooves" he smiled then mounted the horse as he turned to look at the battle "My heart desires to help these people I have fled enough" he slowly rode toward the fire as he could see many men dead on the ground they were the tree people.

Pailor found no living person he could hear battle and could smell the ash and blood in the air but could not find anyone, the forest was too dense as trotted down a slope and noticed a stream which was filled with blood. After a while he found no one and rode back to the village he noticed that the fire had spread and he could see a great host of the sun tribe marching through the forest toward him. He rode back away from the village north also away from the fire, he rode for a while but found it difficult for the trees were so close together. Pailor managed to find higher ground as he rode up a small hill and rode through an open area where he found many men of the tree people were laying injured.

"Halt who goes there!" Balier smiled as he saw Pailor riding toward them "I thought I told you to head away from here" he frowned.

"They have reached the village they will soon be coming this way" Pailor sighed then looked to the injured men who were in agony.

Balier never spoke a word but began to speak to his men who stood beside him and were not injured.

"Pailor keep riding north of here protect the injured men the rest of my men and I will stay and defend this hill as long as possible" with that Balier left down the slopes of the hill with his men.

Pailor gathered the men together and placed the more injured men upon his horse as he limped along helping who he could. After a while they came to a more open area were Pailor noticed a great open plain in the middle of the wood where a wooden fortress stood it was very wide and reached nearly the top of the trees it was well protected by the thick trees either side of it. Their where flags of the tree tribe hanging above its gates which were also wooden. They marched slowly up the slope and reached the gate but no one answered. There were two great towers at the front of the wooden fortress and they had many slits in them. Pailor walked up to the gate and tried to pear through but he couldn't much, he walked back to the injured men who walked toward the gate. One of the injured men stood beside Pailor and began to play a flute he played a beautiful soothing tune which seemed to speak with the birds. The man stopped playing the flute which was green and made of wood. The gates opened slowly and behind them stood many men clad in green cloaks and brown trousers with black boots. Each of the men had a bow and sword attached to their belt they all had their hoods over their heads as one of the tallest of the men walked forward.

"Pailor son of Kailer, I feared you were killed" the man removed his hood and it was Luin he had a bandaged leg and had a red mark which ran down his right hand cheek he seemed to have been in a battle.

"Hail Luin, I never did thank you for saving me" he paused and sighed "The southern outpost is gone the enemy overrun the position Balier has held the hill south of here with very few men" Pailor looked firmly at Luin now.

"Yes I gathered the outpost would fall" he paused then looked to the injured men "I was fighting near the southern outpost, we had to retreat back to the fortress for the enemy were too great we couldn't hold" he looked back to his men who walked out and helped the injured into the fortress, he then looked to Pailor "Balier is strong among us he will return, come rest for the time being these parts are well protected" they walked inside as Pailor guided his horse as the gates closed behind them.

Pailor stood beside Luin in a courtyard of grass, there was a fountain in the centre where bloody men lay wounded lying next to the fountain. Pailor looked up and could see archers positioned on the walls and in the tower they were well hidden. He also noticed that to the rear was a great gate of gold which was half covered with plants and flowers.

"That my friend is our real home it is Lurinien the great hidden kingdom of the tree tribe. No one has ever found this place we use the wooden fortress as a decoy for it is weak against this enemy who wield fire. Come I will take you and the injured through the gate into our beloved realm but I will have to return here for the enemy will be at our door soon enough" with that Luin helped an injured man to his feet as many men also helped as they walked to the golden gate.

Luin whistled as the gate opened to reveal men clad in beautiful silver armour and they bore great silver spears taller than any man. The men wore great silver helmets shaped like trees their armour also seemed very thick.

"They are the guardians of the gate, the greatest of our warriors" he paused then passed the injured man to the guards, he then looked to Pailor "You see Pailor for years we have watched in the affairs of others planning for the day which is now. Many years ago a figure came to our realm warning of this day, so we prepared ourselves often trading with the nearby mountain tribe who made our armour which are guardians and soldiers as we call them wear" Luin smiled to Pailor and he seemed confident "You see we have a reserve force here in the city which we will use to strike the enemy if they penetrate our realm. But we did not comprehend the sheer size of their forces they have overwhelmed our positions, we received news from a rider from our southern realms who also asked for aid because the enemy have sent another force south led by a Caira" Pailor's eyes glared at Luin his face then went stern.

"Caira was once a goddess of my realm she was exiled with her partner Pertopolis who is leading the army of which you have fought. They are powerful and have been planning this war for some time" Pailor sighed "Luin give me a weapon I can fight" Pailor placed his shoulders firmly back and stood proud now.

"Forgive me my friend but you need rest you are weary with battle I am the captain of my people when I need you I will call on you" he smiled then the gates closed slowly as Pailor quickly shuffled back as Luin waved to him.

The golden gates closed tight as Pailor turned and gazed at the beautiful hidden realm of Lurinien. He could see the gaurds walked down a golden path which was filled with golden stone, the path led down the valley and split in different directions but the main path led right up to the castle which stood atop a great hill. The castle was very tall and had an outer wall which was shaped like a ring, there was no gate only a gap where many people walked in and out of the castle. A mighty tree stood tall inside the castle, the realm seemed to be protected by great golden walls and beyond them mighty trees which were tick. To his right Pailor could see smaller villages and garrisons of soldiers were stationed marching up and down and many were practicing. To his left he could see farms and many small huts were the wounded men were led.

"This way my lord" a guard stood beside Pailor urging him forward.

Pailor nodded as they walked down the golden path, he noticed many crows circling high above in the sky it seemed unusual to Pailor as he carried on walking down the path into the valley. He noticed many soldiers marching at speed from the castle, they were clad in similar attire to the guard's but had different helms and carried swords and shields which were silver. They came up through the valley and marched right past Pailor who stood gazing at them, he noticed they seemed like very young men. The men had a look of fear on their faces as they marched on past him, Pailor noticed that there seemed to be hundreds of soldiers. Pailor finally reached a stony building which had injured men laying outside with women tending to them. The building was very old and had trees and plants growing through it, the building was a sort of ruin most of it had fallen apart and trees had taken over it. The guard nodded and left Pailor who smiled to him then walked past the injured men into the building. The building felt warm and friendly as Pailor walked among the wounded and smiled giving them comfort for they felt enlightened by his presence. Pailor noticed a beautiful women tending to a wounded man he felt strange something he had not yet felt it was love. Pailor walked over to the women who was knelt down under a broken archway he smiled to her as she glanced up and smiled back. Her eyes were grey but shined beautiful she had a mixture of brown and blonde hair and her face was shaped perfectly with beautiful skin.

"I will aid you in due time, please rest for now" she smiled then began tending to the man who was in pain squeezing her hand as she used various weeds and plants to help heal the wound on his chest it seemed to be an arrow wound.

Pailor sat against a wall just under the archway behind the women, he sat for a while and fell into a light sleep. It didn't feel like a long sleep as Pailor thought suddenly awoken by the women who stood over him with a beautiful smile.

"Now I will aid you" she laughed then sat beside him looking at his shoulder first.

"I am Pailor, I am a stranger to these parts as I have travelled far from the lands of the moon tribe to the south" she paused him and smiled.

"Yes I know who you are Luin explained he found you but feared you where dead by now. It seems not so, I am Savannah I am a sort of healer in these parts" she smiled then squeezed his shoulder checking for any signs of puss or infection.

Pailor yelled in pain then suddenly fell into a deep sleep for the pain had been too much for him to bear.