The Chronicles of Geyron, Chapter 28: The Last Night
When last we left off, Laura had been ensnared by the Urt forces as Kalann pressed onward to the source of the evil. Now, Geyron holds its breath before the battle the dawn will bring, as the adventure continues!
(If youâre just tuning in, The Chronicles of Geyron is a fantasy novel Iâve been writing and revising for the better part of a decade. Iâll be posting a chapter a day to this blog, so follow along and let me know what you think! You can follow my updates in chronological order here.)
* * *
Night descended over Wethelnar, but the city remained awake. Â Crowds of people milled about the streets, carrying baskets overflowing with trinkets from their homes. Â Soldiers of Sword Flash held flickering candles to keep the dark roads lit. Â Soft murmurs passed along the people as they shuffled down the street, making their way to the palace.
The queen had ordered the population to evacuate and head for the inner city, where they would be safe from the Urtish assault. Â Meanwhile, all able-bodied men and women were camped behind the city wall, watching the plains in shifts. Â Food rations were being carted to the palace, where the queen was waiting to distribute them. And somewhere out in the plains, the Urts marched ever closer.
Sparks watched the procession from the palaceâs highest tower, where the great horn stood. Â The stars were hidden behind thick grey clouds, but the moonâs light still shone through, if only barely. Â Night wind whipped through his robes, chilling him. He shivered. Â He wasnât one for fortune-telling or reading the future, but this night seemed fraught with warning.
Tirius stood by the horn, rubbing his temples. Â The two of them were keeping high watch; they could see far across the land from atop the tower. Â But with no visible starlight, noticing movement in the night would be difficult. Sparks sent out a silent prayer that the Urts would wait for morning.
âI donât like this,â Tirius muttered. Â âI should be with my people.â
Sparks sighed. Heâd volunteered for the post; after all, with his new powers, he could deal serious damage to the Urtish forces from above. Â But Tirius had been ordered by the queen, to keep him out of harmâs way. Â It was a wise move, considering that Tirius had no experience with war, but the mayor could be insufferable. Â âI guess youâre not used to taking orders,â he said.
âI should never have agreed to this.â Â Tirius wasnât listening. Â âWeâd be safer back at Sword Flash. Â What if the Urts double back and we arenât there to protect them? Â What if I die here and they lose their mayor?â
âYouâre standing on the tallest tower in all of Geyron, killing you will take some time.â
âWhat ifââ
Sparks grabbed Tirius by the shoulders. Â âListen to me!â he said sharply. Â âIf Wethelnar falls, Geyron falls with it. Â This is bigger than your city. Â Your duty is here. Â Can you understand that?â
Tirius shoved Sparks off him and stumbled back. Â âDonât touch me!â he snarled.
Gritting his teeth, Sparks turned away. Â âFine. Just stay focused.â
âI will.â
Sparks let out a long breath. Â Tirius was a politician. Â Heâd lived in Sword Flash all his life. Â He wasnât used to this kind of stress. Â Best not to worry about it, he decided.
The plains were still. Sparks watched them silently, clenching his staff tight. Â Within the next day, Geyronâs future may well be decided. Â How long had it been since he left Pailan? Â A few weeks? Â It felt like ages. Â His quiet life in a desert village seemed almost comical now. Â Now the fate of the land rested on his shoulders.
Well, not exactly true. Kalann and Laura, wherever they were, would have to deliver the finishing blow.
Keep strong, my friends. Â The end isnât far now.
* * *
Standing on the city wall, watching the silent plains for some sign of movement, Evartan noted that it was cold in the north.
Evartan had lived most his life in Geyronâs southern reaches, where the temperature only dropped to pleasantly chilly. Â Up in Wethelnar, it was a different story. Â The night winds blowing down from the mountains seeped through every pore in his skin and chilled him to the core. Â He prayed the sun would thaw his bones.
Once again, he cast his gaze across the hills, wondering where his brother was. Â When the armies of Sword Flash had arrived at Wethelnar, the battle plan was devised. Â Wethenlarâs guard would face the Urts at the city. Â Sword Flash, meanwhile, would carve their force in half. Â The first half would join the battle at Wethelnar. The second would wait in the plains overnight with the refugees from the Lerian. Â Once the invasion passed by, they would circle around to draw the dragonâs attention. Â Makuran had volunteered to join themâalone.
When Evartan protested, Makuran whispered to him, âI cannot stay here. Â Not now.â Â His brother was still isolated from the torture he went through. Â If he needed time to find his balance again, Evartan couldnât force it into him.
Not for the first time, he wondered if he was ready for the coming battle. Â Age was fast catching up to him, though he hated to admit it, and his old joints were stiff in the cold. Â He rubbed his hands together, desperately trying to warm up. Â His tendons felt frayed, stretched. Â Even with the fate of the world on the line, his body was still its usual weary self.
Someone tapped him on the shoulder. Â A soldier. âTime to change watch,â he said.
Sighing, Evartan drew his gaze away from the plains. Â He wasnât going to see Makuran in the darkness; besides, Sword Flashâs army was camped out of sight, closer to the Lerian. Â Better to get some rest while he still had the chance. Â âThank you,â he croaked.
As he made for the stairs, the soldier caught his arm. Â âKeep strong,â he said. Â âThis warâs not over yet.â Â So saying, he let go and turned his attention to the hilly plains.
Evartan stared at him for a second, then turned and began descending the marble staircase. He hadnât felt this tired in a long time.
* * *
The palace was alive with people. Â Wailing children, wizened elders, crippled warriors, expecting mothers, all clustered throughout the stately chambers. Â The library had been set up as a mass bedroom, while the kitchen was stacked with rations and sealed off by the queen. Â The great hall became an infirmary, where the physicians and healers waited for the casualties of battle to start flowing in. Â Guards waited by the doors as more and more people stumbled across the threshold. Â For all the confusion, though, the conversation was eerily muted, as if someone had pressed a muffler down over the populace.
Selia stood just outside the infirmary, guiding the old and weak to a place to rest. Â All the best beds went to the hospital; everyone else would have to make do with the older, rattier ones. Â It was lucky the great hall was so grand; Selia suspected theyâd need as much room as they could muster when the battle started.
The old man Selia was helping along stumbled, and she caught him before he fell. Â âEasy. Â You must be exhausted.â
The man snorted. âExhausted? Â I should be fighting.â
âRight now, the best thing you can do is rest.â Â Selia walked him over to a mattress beside the wall, a good distance away from everyone else. Â Hopefully, he could get some peace and quiet.
âMy sons are out there,â he murmured, lying back on the mattress. Â âI must join them.â Â He was already nodding off.
âGet some rest,â Selia said, forcing a smile. Â âMaybe you can join them when youâre awake.â
He mumbled something incoherent and closed his eyes. Â Soon, he was fast asleep.
Selia wiped her brow. Sheâd be better here than on the front lines, she knew that. Â But her nerves were starting to creep up on her. Â By the end of the day, the room would be full of moaning soldiers with broken bones, bloody gashes, crushed skulls, and the stench of death. Assuming they werenât overrun, of course. Â So much pain was about to come pouring out.
She recalled her conversation with Tenno in the Lerian. Â How did the young rebel put it? Â No use crying. Â That was it. Â Blood would flow and people would die, and there was nothing to do but breathe out, plunge in headfirst, and help however you could. Â You can help, she told herself. Every person you save counts.
How did she get here? It seemed too surreal to be true; she was standing in Geyronâ palace with a war brewing just over the horizon. What happened to the silent woman living her life unnoticed in some far-off desert village?
That woman was dead. Sheâd died the moment Selia decided to leave Pailan behind and travel to Druidâs Hollow. Â Now Geyronâs destiny was marching down upon her.
And spirits help me, I will see it through.
* * *
Faro was having trouble sleeping. Â Maybe it was the lack of a sheet to keep him warm in the cool night air. Â Maybe it was the towering presence of the cityâs wall looming over him. Â Maybe it was the knot in his stomach as he thought of Selia and everyone else hiding at the palace. Â Or maybe it was just the stringy boar he had for dinner giving him indigestion. Either way, it was not a peaceful night for him.
He got up and stretched, wincing as his shoulders cracked. Â He was with the soldiers of Wethelnar behind the city wall. Â They were spread out along its length in makeshift camps, taking turns watching the plains for signs of the incoming horde. Faroâs shift had come and gone, so the rest of the night was free. Â Of course, heâd rather be sleeping, but that didnât seem to be an option. Â How, then, to pass the time?
As if in answer, a familiar figure came up beside him. Â âYouâre going to be some Urtâs dinner if you donât get some rest,â Tenno said.
Faro cracked a smile. âYou wonât fare much betterâ
âIâve had sleepless nights in the past. Â Iâm used to them.â
Faro sat back down. âMaybe you can help me out, then.â
Tenno knelt down beside him. Â âThen get up. You start relaxing too hard, and youâre out.â
Wincing, Faro got back to his feet. Â âAlright,â he said. Â âSo, keep active?â
âAs much as possible. But donât overdo it. Â Too much activity and it wears you down. Â Just walk around a bit. Â Swing your arms.â Â Tenno demonstrated. Â âKeep your body moving, but only just enough. Â And find things to focus your attention.â
Faro started pacing about. Â âYou ready for tomorrow?â
âI donât think anyone is.â
Faro nodded. Â He realized that he knew very little about her. Between the battle at Darkwood, her capture, and his relief at seeing Selia again, they hadnât had much time to talk. âSo,â he asked. âhow was working with the trees?â
Tenno grinned. âYou should see them in action. Theyâre your kind of people.â
âI imagine they are.â He looked back at the wall. Â âI hope they can stop the dragons before they get here.â
Tenno was silent for a bit. Â Then, she said, âCan I ask you something?â
âSure.â
âYou and Selia. Youâre completely different people. How do you get along so well?â
Faro shrugged.  He hadnât really thought about that much before. âI guess we⌠balance out, or something?â
âMaybe.â Â Tenno glanced at the palace. Â âSheâs pretty incredible.â
âShe is.â
Silence. Â Faro glanced at the sky. Â Still the dead of night. Â By the morning, the battle would certainly come. Â Whether he was more nervous or excited, he couldnât tell. âWell,â he said, âthanks for the advice. If you see me passed out on the street, wake me up, okay?â
Tenno smirked. âSure thing, night owl.â Â Rolling her shoulders back, she walked off into the night.
Faro watched her go, then took a deep breath started pacing again. Â Day could not come fast enough.
* * *
Makuran blinked his eyes open. Â The grass was cool and damp under him. Â The chirping of crickets was starting to fade, and a few lone birds were twittering in the distance. Â The sky was a pale violet, a streak of pink on the horizon. Â Dawn was approaching.
He stretched in the grass, savoring the final moments of fading night. Â All around him, the armies of Sword Flash were stirring as well. They were camped about a half-mile north from the Lerianâs northern tip, some two miles south of Wethelnar. Â A string of rolling hills hid them from view in the west, where the Urts would be marching up. Â And back at the Lerian, the hidden trees waited.
Makuran got to his feet, blinking the sleep out of his eyes. Â It had been a long night, but he felt refreshed. Â Something about sleeping under open sky gave him a sense of rejuvenation after his long struggle. Â And the warriors of Sword Flash were friendly enough. Â He almost felt normal again.
But it wasnât enough. Makuran still remembered Tiriusâ distrust of him, the guardâs hostility at Wethelnar, how he struggled to look his brother in the eye. Â How long would it last? Â The rest of his life? Â Makuran wished he had an answer.
He wished he could explain better to Evartan why he needed to face this threat by himself. But he barely understood it himself. Was it for some twisted sense of redemption? Â Maybe he just wanted to prove his worth to the queen. Â All he knew for sure was that he needed to stand without his friends in the coming battle.
A young man clad in mottled leather armor approached him, carrying a basket. Â âBreakfast,â he said briskly. Â He reached into the basket and tossed Makuran a rusty brown loaf of bread.
Makuran caught it. âThank you.â
âEat quickly.â The man was already walking away. âYouâll need your strength.â
Makuran watched him go, then bit into the bread. Â It was dry and yeasty, but it would carry him through well enough.
Suddenly, a scout cried out from atop the hills. Â âTheyâre coming! Â Theyâre coming!â
The captain was on his feet in an instant. Â âInto formation!â he barked. Â âNow!â
The camp exploded in activity. Â Soldiers hurriedly pulled the last of their armor on and rushed up to the great swell where the hills rose up. Â Firepits were extinguished, pockets emptied, and weapons drawn. Â The army crouched behind the swell of the hills, hidden from sight.
Makuran rushed to join them, blood roaring through his veins. Â This was it, then. Â By the time the sun had set again, Geyronâs fate would be decided. Â And to think that a few weeks ago, Makuran mightâve been on the other side.
Not anymore. Â No more hiding, no more cowardice, no more cringing from a world repulsed by him. He would fightâ and if redemption meant dying, so be it.
It was time to save Geyron.












