Chapter 6

The demise of Figlore and Kronor

Kronor had resided in the lands of the ocean tribe for many days now while he sat on the green fields with his men Pailor was residing in the Lurinien as Aulor his own son reside in a dungeon to the north. Kronor had become friendly with the peoples of this land but he feared them at the same time for they were powerful and could read the minds of weaker men. Day by day the peoples of this land brought back news from the main land telling of how the enemy has spread farther north. Kronor walked into the hall of the king and sat before him with his men who had travelled far and wide with him.

"My lord Figlore what news this day from the main land?" the king was talking to his advisors then turned to Kronor.

"The enemy have been halted for a time they have engaged the wood tribe who have fought bravely but it will be to no avail for the enemy are strong now" he paused and sent his servants away "I see you crave news of your son, but I am afraid we have none only that the enemy are building great weapons in your own castle and great ships. I fear they will begin an invasion of these lands soon enough" the men gasped but Kronor sat thinking to himself.

"My lord I will do what I can to help you" he smiled but Figlore could not read his mind for he was thinking of many things now.

"I am glad to hear that for I will sail forth with my legions of troops, I would gladly have you and your men at my side" he smiled now believing Kronor.

"Of course my lord we know the lands better than anyone" he smiled but it was an evil smile.

That day the men were given great shields and spears and clad in armour, the men boarded great ships of silver which was the king' vessel. A host of many men of the land boarded similar ships as they sailed away from their beloved land leaving only a few men to defend. They sailed for a short while and stopped the ships for they could see the lands of the moon tribe which had been destroyed beyond recognition in such a short time.

"My home!" the men and Kronor cried aloud.

Figlore nodded to his men who dived into the water there were hundreds of them as they swam under the water.

"You say the dock is the best place to attack first?" Figlore looked to Kronor who nodded.

The men noticed that the enemy had built many ships of black and placed catapults about the castle and had built many spikes upon its outer walls and about the ground below it for defence. Their was also a base of a wall which had been built around the farms as a sort of outer wall but it was not yet even started. The woods about the area were burnt to a sunder and many soldiers were moving like ants about the land. Kronor looked north and noticed first blazing in the day light and could see many thousands of men moving about the land. Kronor looked to the dock now and could see the soldiers of the ocean tribe engaging the dock guards and killed them with ease as they dived out of the water and skewered the evil men of the east as they through the bodies into the water. The men whistled back to the ships which were hidden from view as Figlore nodded and sailed forth revealing the ships to the enemy as they opened fire with there great weapons. The weapons on the ships fired great spears which smashed into the enemy's defences and shattered parts of the castle. The enemy reacted by firing many fire balls which shattered many of the ships in only a few hits.

"Prepare to board the invasion ships!" Figlore yelled to his men who boarded smaller ships and began sailing to the land.

Kronor also boarded one of the ships with his men as he looked about and noticed hundreds of smaller ships moving at speed around him to the land. The evil men were firing many flame arrows as many of the ships began to burn and sink. Kronor noticed the men from the dock moving swiftly up the valley and through the burnt wood to the castle. The smaller invasion ships hit the beach beneath the tower as the men charged out of them avoiding the spikes upon the beach as many of the evil men countered them with their mighty spears and heavy armour. Figlore engaged many of the men and led the banner of his people up through the defences onto the field beside the castle were he noticed thousands of soldiers heading back from the north down to their position as he sighed. Figlore noticed his men being pushed back down toward the dock and many still fighting on the beach.

"Form a square!" he quickly formed a square with only a hundred of his men as they used their spears to effect by placing them in the ground in front of them and using there short swords.

Kronor battled on the beach and his men still fighting with him but he noticed archer's positioning to their right on the beach as he quickly scrambled up the beach head. He turned and noticed his loyal men lying on the beach with many arrows in them. He stood for a moment and noticed the entire force was separated all over the place with Figlore and his men guards stranded on the field with the main force still on the beach. He also noticed down the beach toward the dock many men being pushed back to the dock and many of the ships were destroyed. Kronor ran up to the field and noticed Figlore fighting on with his men slowly being surrounded by the great host of men which poured out of the nearby wood area to the north. Kronor smiled then noticed a small ship still on the beach behind him as he quickly ran down the breach slope and avoided the archer's who moved up the beach ready to fire on Figlore and his men. Kronor dived into the ship and began to row quickly away from the beach as he paddled against he strong current and managed to board the king's ship which was filled with servants.

"We must sail quickly!" Kronor was in rage and yelled to the servants who quickly began to run about the ship as it began to move.

Figlore fought on as his men died about him he then noticed many arrows falling upon them as he lifted his mighty shield and blocked many of the arrows. He moved his shield aside and looked to sea were he saw his own flag ship sailing away and he sighed.

"Fight on my brothers" he gave a great roar as he battled the oncoming men.

Figlore fought for a long time and held his ground with only a few men left, he then noticed many riders led by a mighty man upon a black horse heading for their position. Pertopolis rode forth with his many riders as he circled the field and began a charge toward the square of men from the ocean. Figlore gasped as hundreds of riders charged their position and smashed into the mighty spears only to shatter them and break the square. Figlore fell to the ground as he dragged a ride from his horse and stuck his sword into him. He noticed that his formation had been smashed and his men in dismay as they fought on against a great host of men.

"To the dock!" the men nodded as they fought their way through the many men which covered the field now.

Figlore and his men managed to fight their way to the beach and reunite with what men were left upon the beach as they smiled to see their king fighting with them. Figlore knew he only had a few of his men left not even a hundred men were left as they made haste down the beach and toward the dock were their elite company of men fought on to control the dock and destroy what ships they could. Pertopolis saw what Figlore was trying to do and he laughed as he rode along the field rallying his evil men as they all turned their attention to the dock to try and cut Figlore and his men off. Figlore and his men met little resistance as they charged down the beach and could see the dock in their sight with many of the men still fighting on ahead of them at the dock. Figlore looked up the small hill to his left and could feel the vibration as he noticed hundreds of riders all heading for the dock and he frowned and ran even faster to the dock. After a time the men came up from the beach and reached the river which flowed to the dock as they saw the riders killing the men who held the dock. Figlore charged over the river and felt a sharp pain to his back as he turned to see his men falling beside him and he turned to see hundreds of archers standing behind his men laughing. Figlore pulled the arrow from his back and his vision became hazy as he fell to one knee and looked about to see his fellow men being slain. He then noticed a dark figure looming above him he looked up to see Pertopolis laughing at him lifting his mighty axe to strike Figlore. Above many birds flew south as Figlore looked up and smiled as he felt a short pain then felt nothing as he slumped to the ground with Pertopolis' axe in his shoulder. Pertopolis stood over Figlore who lay dead in his own blood with hundreds of his men around him who lay slain, Pertopolis removed his axe and mounted his horse.

"Clean this mess up, I ride north to meet the main army" he rode north with his riders as the remainder of men began to remove the bodies and began to burn them.

Kronor reached land as he quickly headed to the castle followed by the servants from the ships. He entered the castle to the dismay of the remaining men who had staid behind to protect the land. Kronor entered the hall and knelt before the queens who frowned at him.

"I come with ill news" he paused "Your king has been slain and the entire force destroyed" the queens wept "Figlore told me to return and prepare what defences you have and has placed me in charge for the time being" he bowed his head and smiled.

The queens stopped crying and could read his mind as four guards grabbed him and dragged him from the hall.

"What is the meaning of this?" he yelled as they spoke to him through thought and he began to weep like a child.

"You tricked us now go and die like a traitor to your own people and to the people who trusted you" the guard flung him out of the castle and two other guards grabbed him and led him to the docks.

The guards flung him onto a ship and sailed with him for a while then dived off the ship and swam back to the land leaving Kronor alone on the ship which sailed with the current away from the land. Kronor quickly panicked and tried to row the ship but it was in vain as the weather began to change and the waves began to pick up. Kronor wept and fell to the floor of the ship begging the gods to save him, he was never seen again for many say he sailed to the edge of the world alone and a traitor.