The Veredor Chronicles: Book 03 - The Gate and Beyond Read Online Free PDF Page A

warrior. He gave his life to defend our kingdom. I will always hold the memory of him in my heart.’
    King Edric smiled and hugged his daughter. ‘We will honour the Ecorian by fighting as he fought. We will give our lives as he did.’

CHAPTER FIVE

    An army of fifteen thousand Jeanian tribal warriors filled a wide valley between two large sandy hills deep in the desert of Vastoria. Their banners depicted the white Ecorian unicorn on a purple background and hundreds flew high above their encampment.
    Quade stood with Arthur and Dillon outside the tent of the High Chief of the Jeanians. ‘Do they always make you wait so long?’ he asked Dillon.
    Dillon’s masked face looked across at him. ‘Yes, they believe we gave up the noble ways of the Ecorian Empire. Making us wait is one of their ways of showing their disapproval that we no longer follow the old Ecorian ways. They only regard the Desert Knights as friends because we have fought to protect the Jeanians in the past.’
    After nearly an hour of waiting they were finally called into the tent by the tribesmen. The leather tent was large and several oil lanterns burned and provided a soft light. Three old Jeanian tribesmen sat cross-legged on the ground. They all had thick beards and deeply weathered faces. A haze filled the tent from the large wooden pipes the chiefs were smoking. They looked up at Quade and the two Desert Knights.
    ‘Welcome, Sir Arthur,’ said the oldest of the three tribesmen.
    ‘Greetings, Chief Parco,’ said Arthur.
    ‘Why have you come to our camp?’ asked one of the other tribesmen.
    ‘We have come to ask for your help,’ said Arthur. ‘We have arrived at a very perilous time for the people of Vastoria. The Desert Knights believe it is time for all Vastorians to work together. We spoke with Prince Armida of Ateria. He has brought an army of fifteen thousand men from Ateria. They are in league with the outcasts of the Zyranian Order and are marching north to battle the muckron horde which has invaded Irvaria. The Desert Knights will ride with the Aterians. We have come to ask you to join us.’
    Chief Parco looked up at Arthur and shook his head. ‘I’m sorry to disappoint you, Sir Arthur, but we will only follow the command of the Ecorian.’
    ‘The return of the Ecorian is nothing more than a rumour,’ stated Dillon, annoyed by the response. ‘The rumour is a result of the people hoping for a liberator in such a time of darkness. The hour of need is now. We can’t wait for an extinct line of emperors to return to save us.’
    ‘We realise the danger,’ said Chief Parco in a low voice. ‘Nevertheless, we are not interested in fighting in any war without the Ecorian. The Jeanians have waited for many ages for the return of our emperor. We have seen the signs, and we are prepared to wait.’
    ‘But for how long?’ asked Dillon impatiently.
    ‘For however long it takes,’ replied Chief Parco as he puffed on his pipe. Suddenly a deep horn sounded in the distance and was instantly followed by several others. ‘It seems you are not the only visitors we will have today.’
    Chief Parco stood up and walked out of the tent with the other two tribesmen. Quade, Arthur, and Dillon followed. The Jeanians were gathering and many had drawn their curved Vastorian swords in readiness to fight.
    ‘That horn is a warning,’ said Dillon. ‘Something is coming.’
    They watched the top of the hills in the distance and waited.
    ‘Look,’ said Arthur, pointing to the height of the dune to the south.
    A single rider on a great white horse was traversing a high ridge parallel to the camp. He turned his horse and descended the sandy slope.
    ‘I don’t believe it,’ said Dillon, shaking his head in shock.
    ‘Don’t believe what?’ asked Quade as he stared at the approaching rider.
    ‘That’s not a horse he’s riding; it’s a unicorn.’
    They watched as the rider entered the valley and neared the camp. He was not wearing any armour