I am posting pages from my latest book, available at the Book Shelf on Mission Street in Mt. Pleasant. If you want more information click HERE.



At once, the Myrmidon cavalry charged to the left and right of the marching men, bypassed the wall, and moved into the forest, sending flares into the trees. It being almost autumn, the leaves were dusty dry, and the braches were as brittle as kindling. Each tree burst into a ball of flame, encapsulating the defending archers with withering heat and fire. The Centralian cavalry sprang forward, led by Prince Blendenpeal Owltufts, Garrulous’s courageous son, to engage the enemy.

There beneath a sky of flame and falling branches, the foes entwined as two deadly snakes. Ringing this battle, the foot soldiers and archers of both forces surrounded the molten core of combat, running and striking at what they could. The trees dropped burnt offerings, indifferent as to who might be struck. Round and round the attackers and defenders swirled, like a great wheel, in a clockwise direction. Would they run so fast as to turn into butter?

Not unless butter is blood red.

Only Fugal held back on the wall, contemplating the scene before him, infatuated with the fury and balance of it all. Allium joined him. “SEND IN THE RESERVES!” the king blared. Ten thousand had been stationed south of the wall. They went left, right, and over the berm, surrounding the turning wheel.

On command, they thrust their spears into the rim of the rotating mass of warriors, not caring who were struck. The wheel slowed and fell apart. And so it was that the army of Centralia was overcome. By nightfall, each side offered up their corpses in two blazing pyres, designating the end of battle.

King Garrulous was dead among his men, sword still in hand. When all the niceties of the two armies cremating their dead and the flourishes of the opposing ministers were done, the treaty was harsh. Fugal took the central provinces to become part of Sudlandt. What remained, the mountains and valleys of the west, became West Centralia. Fugal might have taken that portion as well, but Garrulous had the foresight to withhold his reserves to create a strong, fresh line of defense blocking access in that direction. The splendid course he took saved the western portion of Centralia. Fugal’s forces were too weak to attack again.


The Broken Kingdom

And thus it was that Prince Owltufts became King Drosophila III and was good to his loving family, his efficient administrators, his dedicated army; and most importantly, he was good to the fine people of West Centralia. The remainder of Garrulous’s army acknowledged Drosophila’s sovereignty over them as did the citizens. The tin and zinc mines still provided a steady income because everyone in the world needed it. In the valleys, the farmers turned to growing grapes to make exquisite wines, which soon became a major export.

As soon as he and his army had returned to Gaingull, the capital of Sudlandt, Fugal sent his spies to snoop among the farmers, villagers, and ministers of West Centralia. In the autumn of 949 AST, he sent for Marshal Allium and his advisor, Abbot Bryllyg Millitus. Fugal tasked them to develop a plan to absorb West Centralia. He wanted the tin and zinc mines, and they would be his!

Allium assured him that the legions would be back to full strength in the spring. He and Millitus studied the terrain maps for the best routes to West Centralia and the spies’ reports of the disposition of King Drosophila’s forces. They drew up lists of lies the spies would spread to deceive the king and his ministers.

Drosophila was not a fool nor did he tolerate fools when they were caught. His police captured six of the spies and interrogated them somewhat insistently.

They quickly revealed their task. Five were sent to a distant prison and kept in solitary confinement. The sixth was one Shellson Carapace who would do anything if the price were right. They gave him a false report to deliver to Allium, indicating that the plan was working beautifully and that Drosophila was oblivious to any danger. Carapace received a small bag of coins for his effort. When he had carried out his mission, he would obtain evidence that he had done so. He then would travel to a monastery in Nordlandt and seek out the librarian there who would give him a much larger sack of coins and another mission. He was assured that he could make a small fortune if he remembered who employed him. As a further incentive, he was told that he would be watched, even in Fugal’s palace; and should he decide to reveal to the enemy this charade, he would die in a truly disgusting manner.


Flight to Dolphene

King Drosophila knew he did not have a large enough army to fight the Myrmidon. He sent his chief minister Thurgood Maelstrom, on a secret mission. He was to travel to Dolphene, the capital of Nordlandt, with a vital proposal. The minister and a small band of bodyguards left Pierian Spring in the darkest time of the night on the last train north. Winter was now middle-aged but could be fierce if it was offended.

Maelstrom was a faithful and very wise counselor. Tall, lanky, and quick, he and the rest of his party were among Centralia’s best diplomats. They had the last car all to themselves, specially built for the purpose; there was a separate bathroom and berths for the guards who took turns on duty, and an ample separate bedroom for the minister.

For earlier pages click MORE.