Free A Crown Of War (Book 4) by Michael Ploof Page B

to the south.”
    Fyrfrost sat, gnawing on a Draggard head, trying to get to the brains. The road stretched on toward the coast between similar fields. Bare road and blue sky dominated the landscape.
    Dirk moved to investigate the cloak, but was stopped by Krentz.
    “ Wait,” she said with a hand to his chest. “He would not leave his cloak behind. Any practitioner of Ralliad or Krundar knows how to shift their effects along with themselves. It is likely a trap.”
    “ Come, Chief,” said Dirk, and then whistled to Fyrfrost.
    “ Men approach from the north, an army it seems,” Krentz told him.
    A hill in that direction obstructed Dirk’s view. “How far?” he asked.
    “ A few miles,” she said as if listening. She bent and once again felt the earth at their feet. “They are many hundreds. With cavalry and wagons.”
    “ Shall we avoid them?” he asked.
    Kr entz shook her head slowly. “We should learn what we might.”
    “ They will not take kindly to a dark elf,” he reminded her.
    “ I can appear however I wish. They will see not a dark elf, but an elf of such beauty they will be compelled to cooperate,” said Krentz.
    “ Chief, stay close, but stay hidden and wait for my word,” said Dirk. It would be much easier on the horses.
    They mounted Fyrfrost, and he flew them over the hill to the north. Large regiments of marching soldiers came into view. A cavalry, two horses wide and at least twenty long, followed. Long lances of silver and blue shone brilliant in the sunlight. Two knights rode ahead and behind the company, each flying large Eldalonian flags on long poles. The army of silver and blue stopped on command as the first cries of “dragon!” began to ring out.
    Between the marching soldiers and cavalry were hundreds of men, women and children: the refugees of Kell-Torey.
    Dirk urged Fyrfrost to land upon the road many hundred yards before the soldiers. He and Krentz dismounted as the company halted, and arrows were nocked by the soldiers as they took a knee. The cavalry split and charged past the soldiers and refugees to form a wide barrier. Dirk raised his empty hands to them and began to walk down the road to meet them. Krentz followed. The arrows did not fly. He considered that a good sign. A flag bearer and two knights on armored horses galloped out to meet them on the road.
    “ Ho!” one shouted as they approached. “Show your hands!” he yelled. The three knights circled them with lances pointed at their chests. The speaker, who was only distinguishable beyond the helmet by his large curled mustache, seemed to be the leader of the group. He eyed them both, but paid particular attention to Krentz.
    “ Drop your weapons and surrender,” he ordered, shooting a wary glance at the dragon-hawk.
    “ We are not enemies of Eldalon,” said Dirk as he tried not to think about the recently deceased Royal family. “Neither will we lay down our arms.”
    The knights tensed and held their spears a bit higher. Dirk stared down the shafts. The two looked to their general for guidance, but the mustached man only continued to take measure of Dirk and Krentz as the knights circled slowly.
    “ You would dare defy an order from an Eldalonian knight?” barked the general.
    “ No need for all this, good sir. We are not enemies to Eldalon, but allies. Our enemies are one and the same: Eadon and his dark elf minions.”
    “ Lay down your arms. This is your last warning,” said the general, unsheathing his sword.
    Dirk opened wide his cloak, and the amazed knights regarded his small armory of weapons in amazement. “To do so would leave me standing before you naked.” He closed his cloak around him once more. “If we were your enemy, we would not be having this conversation. No offense, but my dragon could destroy you all. Luckily, he prefers Draggard blood to human.”
    “ Who are you?” asked the general with all authority, yet sheathing his blade.
    “ I am called Blackthorn, and my companion