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maintains that Davoul, the author, was divinely inspired at the time of
the writing. The deliberate archaism of Arendish court speech is a
reflection of the 'high style' affected by this author, and officials of the
Tolnedran Empire should strive to match the elevated speech
mannerisms of the Arends in all dealings with them. To do otherwise would
be to cast disparagement upon the Empire itself in the eyes of this most
troublesome of people.
BOOK SEVEN
THE BATTLE BEFORE
VO MIMBRE
Now it came to pass that on the third day of the great battle before
the gates of Vo Mimbre, the hosts of the Accursed One had gathered
for the final assault upon the city. This, then, was their order of
battle. The Murgos, commanded by their fell King, Ad Rak Cthoros,
held the left flank beside the River Arend to the east of the city.
To the north, the Mallorean Horde under the Accursed Kal-Torak
himself held the center before the gates of the city. To the west the
Nadraks under Yar Lek Thun and the Thulls under Gethel Mardu
held the right flank, encircling the city even again to the river which
flowed out west of the city walls. In the center of the Mallorean
Horde stood the black iron pavilion of the dread Kal-Torak himself,
who had not issued forth during the first two days of the battle.
And on the morning of the third day, a great horn was heard to
blow from the forest to the north of the city' And another great horn
was heard to answer from the hills to the east. And yet another horn
sounded from within the city itself. Only this - nothing more.
Doubts began to assail the Murgos, the Nadraks quailed, and
there was fear in the hearts of the Thulls. None knew the portent of
the horns, and the dark kings were troubled and sought counsel
with Kal-Torak, their over-king and their God, but still he issued not
forth from his iron pavilion. The Malloreans clashed their cruel
spears against their shields and made fierce outcry to hearten their
allies.
Again the horn blew to the north, and again was it answered by a
'peting from the east and by a brazen reply from the city. And
yet was there no movement or sound to reveal the nature of them
that sounded those solitary notes.
Nadrak riders went out from the host to the north. Black and grim
was their armor, and bright were their swords. They came not back,
and the dark forest gave no sound to tell of their fate.
Murgo riders went out from the host to the east. Smokey red were
their mail-shirts, and cruel were the maces and the axes of the
Murgos. They came not back, and the silent hills gave no token of
what had befallen them.
Yet once more the great horn sounded to the north, and yet once
more did the eastern hills and even the city reply. And behold, faint
and far away from across the plain to the west came an answer of
many brazen trumpets, and far out across the plain was there a
glinting as of the sun on many waters.
And it came to pass that Zedar, the sorcerer who sat ever at the
right hand of the Accursed One, did cast an enchanttnent and did
rise up from the host in the form of a raven that he might espy out
the portent of the horns. And he flew unto the east, and behold, a
great owl of snowy whiteness did appear in the sky and struck with
her cruel talons, and wounded hhnhim grievously, and he escaped only