Champions of the Apocalypse Read Free Page B

turning to the youngster.
    “If you listened half as much as you talked you would know the answer. A decision can only called for after a minimum of ten years or if the leader of any of the League members retires,” he said.
    “Or dies,” added Synne.
    “I still don’t understand though. What difference does it make who wins the Contest?” asked the young man.
    “What difference?” exclaimed Ulric with alarming volume.
    “Listen, the winner chooses the leader of for the alliance of the League and the Brotherhood from its own faction as well as the Captain of the combined armed forces of the Alliance. Basically the winner will lead until the next Contest is called. Imagine what it would be like if a clan or House like the Brotherhood ever won. They would lead and control the military,” explained Ulric.
    “Is that a bad thing?” replied the man to the annoyance of both Ulric and Synne.
    The door opened and in ran two teenagers.
    “Have you heard the news?” shouted the first whilst the second pushed ahead.
    “What is it?” asked Ulric.
    “Raiders have attacked the flatlands in the North. Lord Galan has ordered the Alliance’s warriors to drive them back. The Brotherhood is already sending men as required and four more cities in the League are sending their men,” said the second boy.
    A murmur rushed around the inn as those present realised the enormity of the situation. In the past, attacks by Raiders had been anything from a dozen men to a coordinated attack by almost a hundred. Raids were usually launched to steal food and supplies, but they could also continue with land grabbing or even kidnapping. The arrival of slavers was a threat few wanted to even consider.
    “I must go, sister,” said Ulric.
    He stood and made for the door, the young student close behind him. As he reached it, he turned back to Synne.
    “Keep your weapons close, just in case.”

    * * *

    Ulric and his group of warriors dismounted from their horses and made their way to the gathering of warriors.
    There were groups from various Houses and each wore distinctive clothing and armour of their lands. A small but rough looking contingent moved ahead to meet Ulric. The group stood next to a pair of parallel metal tracks that led off into the mist. Some said that the track had been part of the old transport system, though how sets of metal lines could help move people or goods was anybody’s guess.
    One group, wearing the distinctive back mounted banners of the Blood Pack stood off to the side. Their armour was slick with red dye and each carried their favoured spears. They were from a small mountainous territory off to the west of Haven but had been loyal friends for decades and a strong member of the League. On top of this, they were the sworn enemies of the Brotherhood. They took their name from their ancestors who had hunted with wolves in their homelands. Though they now occupied the area with small towns and villages, their warriors still clung to the traditions of wearing wolf pelts and decorating their armour with the blood of their kills. Ulric nodded to them as he moved to the rest of the gathered warriors.
    The contingent from the Brotherhood approached, their armour was blackened with fire, in theory to protect the metal from rust, but more likely to look more menacing. Each of the men carried well-crafted and modified armour as well as swords, axes and knives. They looked like a mixture of a wild barbarian and an ancient armoured soldier. As Ulric and his men continued forward they were met by Master Lar of the Brotherhood. He was the tallest and strongest looking of the group. His head was shaved bare and on his shoulder he carried a prized and extremely rare weapon that Synne was convinced had the name of musket. Ulric had only ever seen one before, and in the hands of a trader who wanted more wealth that he had ever seen to buy the item. Apparently, they used a special explosive powder that could be bought in only a few