Free The Black Sword Trilogy: The Poacher by Jeffery VanMeter Page A

barked.  “I am Captain Krall, Commander of the defenders at the North Wall.  According to article seven of the Constitution of Walechia, I am declaring a military state of emergency!”
    “You will do no such thing!” The Mayor spat.
    “Each and every city,” Krall continued, “has an emergency evacuation plan in which every citizen can be evacuated in less than two days.  As military commander, I am ordering you to put that plan into immediate effect.”
    “You have no authority…”
    “Oh yes, he does!” The Chief said, cutting off the mayor.  He then addressed Krall.  “Do I have your permission to activate the reserve guard?”
    “Absolutely!  And I’m leaving you in full command of them.  I want this city completely empty within the next two days.”
    “Where are we evacuating to?” The Chief asked.
    “Post number one is less than twenty miles away and has one thousand soldiers.  Try to get there as fast as you can.”
    “It will be done, sir!”
    “And whatever you do, stay on this side of the river until you get to Post One!”
     
                  As Captain Krall began to leave, the Mayor shouted at him one last time.
    “I’ll see you hang for this Krall!”
    “If I survive the battle that’s coming,” Krall answered.  “You can have me drawn and quartered if you like!”
     
                  As Captain Krall and his escorts crossed back across the bridge, he turned and spoke to the two riders bringing up the rear.
    “Burn the bridge!” He commanded.
     
     
     
    Farrday’s Peace
     
                  The time following the Dark Times and the Great War had become known as “Farraday’s Peace” after King Farraday and the peace he had brought to all four kingdoms, Walechia, Masallah, The Blackwoods and Sheyron.  Walechia and Masallah were the largest of the kingdoms separated by the Blue Mountains which ran like a spine down the center of the known world.  The Blackwoods were to the west and had become a mystery as it had closed itself off to all but necessary trade.  And then there was Sheyron which, on land was only large city, Korsh.  However, Sheyron ruled the seas and had become rich from trade with all of the other kingdoms.
     
                  Farrday’s Peace lasted for nearly four hundred years as the four kingdoms cooperated with one another to keep such peace intact.  However, eventually the old rivalries and grudges began to resurface and as the peoples of the kingdoms began to look to new lands to settle, conflict became inevitable.
     
                  The first challenge to this peace came with the discovery of gold in the badlands to the north of Walechia.  Considered mostly uninhabitable and rumored to be the home of the beastmen who were left over from the Dark Times, they were sparsely populated.  Curving around the north of Walechia and eventually becoming part of the Blue Mountains, for centuries it was the home of nomads and bandits that occasionally raided the northern towns and villages.  To combat this, King Thellos of Walechia built the Northern Wall; a series of military forts and stockades connected by a stone wall that stretched and curved over one hundred miles and made up the northern border of Walechia.  When gold was found in the rocks and crags of the badlands, prospectors ventured therein, braving the dangers in search of wealth.  For years, they stayed mostly in the unclaimed lands, but eventually, they began to venture deeper into the mountains and into the borders of Masallah.
     
                  Trouble first began when King Crennol of Masallah had his armies begin arresting and imprisoning these prospectors.  At first, King Crestor of Walechia paid no heed to these arrests, until the son of a Duke was arrested and his powerful family demanded action.  Crestor appealed directly to Crennol, but like all Masallan Kings, he was stubborn and proud.  Not only would