A Reign of Steel Read Free Page A

Today, of
all days, on Pilgrimage Day, King’s Court was being overrun.
    Conven
and O’Connor burst into action, shouting out to the recruits to stop what they
were doing, and rounding them up.
    The
recruits hurried over, and Elden stepped forward beside Conven and O’Connor, as
they all quieted and stood at attention, awaiting orders.
    “Men,”
Elden boomed. “King’s Court has been attacked!”
    There
came a surprised and agitated murmur from the crowd of boys.
    “You
are not yet Legion, and you are certainly not Silver or hardened warriors that
would be expected to go up against a professional army. Those men invading
there are invading to kill, and if you go up against them, you may very well
lose your lives. Conven, O’Connor, and I are duty bound to protect our city,
and we must leave now for war. I do not expect any of you to join us; in fact,
I would discourage it. Yet if any of you wish to, step forward now, knowing you
may very well die on the field of battle today.”
    There
came a few moments of silence, then suddenly, every single boy standing before
them stepped forward, all brave, noble. Elden’s heart swelled with pride at the
sight.
    “You
have all become men today.”
    Elden
mounted his horse and the others followed, all of them letting out a great
cheer as they charged forward as one, as men, to risk their lives for their
people.
    *
    Elden,
Conven, and O’Connor led the way, a hundred recruits behind them, all galloping,
weapons drawn, as they raced toward King’s Court. As they neared, Elden looked
out and was shocked to see several thousand McCloud soldiers storming the
gates, a well-coordinated army clearly taking advantage of Pilgrimage Day to
ambush King’s Court. They were outnumbered ten to one.
    Conven
smiled, riding out in front.
    “Just
the kind of odds I like!” he shouted, taking off with a great cry, charging out
in front of everyone, wanting to be the first to advance. Conven raised his battle-ax
high, and Elden watched with admiration and concern as Conven recklessly attacked
the rear of the McCloud army by himself.
    The
McClouds had little time to react as Conven swung his ax down like a madman and
took out two of them at a time. Charging into the thick of the soldiers, he
then dove from his horse and went flying through the air, tackling three
soldiers and bringing them tumbling off their horse to the ground.
    Elden
and the others were right behind him. They clashed with the rest of the
McClouds, who were too slow to react, not expecting an attack on their flank. Elden
wielded his sword with wrath and dexterity, showing the Legion recruits how it
was done, using his great might to take down one after the other.
    The
battle became thick and hand-to-hand, as their small fighting force forced the
McClouds to change direction and defend. All the Legion recruits joined the
fray, riding fearlessly into battle and clashing with the McClouds. Elden noticed
the boys fighting out of the corner of his eyes and he was proud to see none of
them hesitating. They were all in battle, fighting like real men, outnumbered
hundreds to one, and none of them caring. McClouds fell left and right, caught
off guard.
    But
the momentum soon turned, as the bulk of the McCloud men reinforced, and the
Legion encountered professional soldiers. Some of the Legion began to fall.
Merek and Ario took blows from a sword, but remained on their horses, fighting
back and knocking their opponents down. But then they were hit by swinging
flails, and knocked off their horses. O’Connor, riding beside Merek, got off
several shots with his bow, taking out soldiers all around them—before being
struck in the side with a shield and knocked off his horse. Elden, completely
surrounded, finally lost the element of surprise, and he took a mighty blow to
his ribs from a hammer, and a sword slash on his forearm. He turned and knocked
the men off their horses—yet as he did, four more men appeared. Conven, on the
ground,