Free The Sorcerer's Ring: Book 05 - A Vow of Glory by Morgan Rice Page B

distinct came into view.
    At
first, Kendrick blinked. It was something he had never seen in his entire life.
Something which took his breath away—even he, a hardened warrior.
    As he
watched, the entire horizon morphed to black. It looked as if an army of black
ants was slowly covering the globe. It was like all of humanity spilling across
the world. Hundreds of thousands of soldiers, wearing the black of the Empire, spread
across every inch of the horizon, moving like a swarm towards them.
    Andronicus.
    His
million man army had arrived.

 

CHAPTER NINE

 
 
    Gwendolyn
was in awe as she looked up at the soaring gates of Silesia, its ancient scarlet
stone rising into the sky in an arch, its red iron spiked gates sharp and
massive, its meticulously paved red cobblestone road lined with guards in
perfect formation, all at attention, all wearing the scarlet red armor of Silesians.
It was like entering another world.
    Lending
it an even more surreal feel was its backdrop, the Canyon right behind it, the endless
stretch of open sky, the swirling mists. The city was perched right on the edge
of the Canyon, as if balancing on it, half of the city built above ground, and
the other half built below, right into the granite cliffs of the Canyon itself.
It was like two cities in one. It had survived for centuries, had always been
known to be the one insurmountable city in the Ring—and everything Gwen had
ever heard about it still did not do it justice. Seeing it now, as an adult,
dwarfed even her childhood memories.
    Silesia's
stone walls rose a hundred feet, were as thick as ten men, and were replete
with arrow slits every ten feet, behind which stood a score of Silesian
soldiers, bows at the ready. Up top, in the rows of staggered parapets above,
were hundreds more soldiers, armed with spears, small boulders, and manning, every
twenty feet, huge iron cauldrons, filled with boiling tar. There were even
small catapults on the walls, for firing down flaming balls at attackers. This
was a city that had been carefully thought through.
    Gwen
was filled with gratitude that Srog had been loyal to her father all these
years: if not, she honestly wondered if her father’s men, even the Silver, could
take this city. The Silver were the best warriors the world had to offer—yet
even so, whether they could breach these walls was another matter entirely.
    As Gwen
walked through the gates, her heart soared with hope; she felt a surge of
optimism, felt that maybe, just maybe, behind these thick walls, perched here
on the edge of the Canyon, they could withstand an attack here, even from Andronicus’
army. They might not win; but they might be able to hold off just long enough.
Long enough for what, she didn't know. Deep in her heart, she hoped beyond hope
that maybe Thor would return with the Sword and rescue them all.
    "My
lady,” Srog said graciously, walking beside her through the gates and into the
vast courtyard, “my city welcomes you."
    From
all corners of the immense square, people dressed in red rushed forward and showered
Gwendolyn and her men with red rose petals. The people all wore gracious
smiles, approaching Gwen and touching her shoulder, leaning in and kissing her
on the cheek, one after the next. She had never been in any place like this;
she felt as if she were being embraced by all of them.
    "You
would think they had no idea that a war is coming to these gates," Gwen
said, in awe of their carefree and fearless ways.
    "They
know," Srog said. "But the Silesians are famous for not giving in to
fear. My people might feel it—but they never indulge in it. That is their way.
They believe that the person who fears death dies many times, while the one who
does not dies but once.
    “We
are a happy people, content with what life has given us. We don't covet anything
that others have. And we are happy with who we are.”
    More
of the masses spilled out, all smiling at Gwen and her entourage, clasping them
on the back, welcoming