Free Heir to the Sundered Crown by Matthew Olney

get ready to kill!” roared a squat man in plate armour. He was short, but his chest was massive. It exuded physical strength. The troops all turned to the man, questioning looks on their faces.
    “You’re all afraid? You are the sons of Eclin, the wolves of the mountains. Let our foes hear us roar, let them come and die. ROAR WITH ME!”
    With that the man roared his anger and defiance. Men around him joined him, and before long twenty thousand soldiers roared along with him. The sound was like thunder blasting through the canyon and the mountain peaks.
    Woven glanced around him; it seemed his prayer had been answered for now. With that one act the men of Eclin now looked determined and fearless. He just hoped their newfound courage would last. Once more the camp burst into activity as troops assembled and archers mounted the towers and palisades.
    He turned as sound of galloping hooves caught his attention.
    None other than the baron was riding a black stallion, his shoulder length grey hair, and piercing green eyes were covered by a coif of chainmail. As the horse passed through the camp the men bowed their heads or knelt in respect and fealty. The baron stopped in front of the squat man.
    “Hail Sir Grandir. I see your way with words has not lessened since we last met,” Greeted Lido dryly.
    Grandir bowed his head.
    “Niveren will always be there to give courage to those who are lacking my lord. Eclin has always been a stalwart and worthy member of the realm. It is an honour for me and my company to fight beside you my lord.” Replied Grandir icily.
    The baron huffed and rode on to Woven. His face betrayed his annoyance at having the knights of Niveren at his side. Lido among many nobles and regents felt that the Knights had outstayed there welcome, and had become too powerful. Eclin especially resented the order due to the knight’s persecution of those who followed the old ways.
    Long before the Magic War and the founding of Delfinnia, the Golden Empire had ruled the land. They had worshipped forgotten gods and practised inane magical practises.
    Eclin was said to be the land where Danon and his bride the first witch Cliria discovered their power, and it was for this reason that the Order regularly sent crusades into the barony to root out any users of the old ways.
    The barbaric mountain tribes had always raided Eclin so the kings of Delfinnia had allowed the Knights to wage their wars.
    Lido resented having to allow them access to his men and resources, but he disliked Sir Grandir especially. He was the head of the Eclin chapter of the Order and was constantly undermining the baron’s commands, often overruling him with the law of Niveren. Lido knew the knights were fearsome warriors and knew any baron would want them to fight at his side but the knight was infuriating to deal with. 
    “The guards informed me of your return Ranger. What news do you bring me? And where is your comrade?” asked Lido as he looked around at the camp.
    He nodded in satisfaction that everything was in place. Woven took a deep breath and recounted all that he had seen, the death of Carlock and the horde of un-dead.
    The baron stared at the ranger, his eyes hard.
    “Werewolves, Zombies? These are the aspects of the old enemy are they not, how is this possible?” whispered the baron.
    Fear gripped his heart; he had hoped and prayed that the stories were just fantasy. The stories his father had told him flooded his mind, how could he face such a foe by himself? Eclin could not hope to stand against such evil alone.
    “Danon is dead,” Said Grandir certainly. He approached the king and Woven after over hearing the conversation.
    “The bastard had his body thrown into the void. No, this must be the result of meddlers with the dark arts. For too long I’ve tried to get my master to launch a full crusade against these mountains, but he felt the threat from magic had left us. Danon has not returned it’s impossible.” He