A CHAPTER IN
THE TALE OF SECOND EARTH
THE WAR FOR THE NORTH
ROARS OF WAR
The War for the North: Book Two
SEAN RODDEN
© 2017 Sean Rodden
All rights reserved.
ISBN: 1974648818
ISBN 13: 9781974648818
For my father,
who came to believe.
In Gratitude:
A loving thank you
to my beautiful children
for allowing me
to be their father.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
A gain, there are so many people who have combined to encourage and inspire me in the writing of this chapter in the Tale of Second Earth. I am by nature a forgetful person, and I spend more time in my fantasy world than I do in the real one, so should I fail to mention you here, know that I hold you and all that you have done for me in my heart! Firstly, as always, I want to thank Sandra and the ELFS for being the most loving and supportive family for which a man could ask – you are the stars in my heaven! I also want to express my gratitude to my brother Blaise, and sisters Robin and Rena and their beautiful families (except Bruce… Bruce isn’t beautiful, he’s more ruggedly cute than anything else) for not actually murdering me whenever they get the chance. To Marc Whitaker of MTWdesign for his unmatched genius and patience. To all the crazy folks at GAGFME for blazing the trail to Second Earth. To my friend and fellow author Deborah A. Wolf for her unceasing support and encouragement. And to the wonderful and talented Genevieve Allen, my go-to cowgirl for all things horsey and honkytonk, for her love and laughter!
Special thanks to Alex Zekovich,
my soul’s own brother,
without whose brilliance
this Tale would never have been Told.
THE WAR FOR THE NORTH
BOOK TWO:
ROARS OF WAR
CONTENTS
Acknowledgments
Map
Dramatis Personae
Prologue
Chapter One The Seven Hills
Chapter Two Where Dragons Weep
Chapter Three Doomfall
Chapter Four Ulviathon
Chapter Five Caramel Dark
Chapter Six The Harbinger
Chapter Seven Embers
Chapter Eight The Way of Darkest Night
Chapter Nine The Fires of the Fallen
Chapter Ten Blood and Flame
Chapter Eleven The Hard Hills
Chapter Twelve The Bloodspawn
Chapter Thirteen Ugloch Nur
Chapter Fourteen Blood and Rain
Chapter Fifteen The Lamps of Welcome
Chapter Sixteen The Gods of War
Chapter Seventeen The Blood King
Chapter Eighteen When the Sun Rises in the West
Chapter Nineteen Lament for the Fiannar
Chapter Twenty Esperance
Epilogue
Afterword
DRAMATIS PERSONAE
The Erelians
Axennus Teagh: Commander of the North March Mounted Reserve
Bronnus Teagh: Captain of the North March Mounted Reserve
Runningwolf / Abbawontandontas: Left Tenant of the North March Mounted Reserve, originally from Rheln
Hastiliarius: Right Tenant of the North March Mounted Reserve
Teji Nashi: an Undercaptain of the North March Mounted Reserve, a healer
Regorius: a Decan of the North March Mounted Reserve; Whitey
Maddus: a soldier of the North March Mounted Reserve; Maddy
Riffalo: a soldier of the North March Mounted Reserve; Riff
Rooboong: a soldier of the North March Mounted Reserve; Ruby
Lionnus: a soldier of the North March Mounted Reserve; Lio
Anconas: an Undercaptain of the North March Mounted Reserve
Lacius: a Left Tenant in the North March Mounted Reserve
The Fiannar
Alvarion II: Twelfth Lord of the Fiannar, Master of the House of Defurien
Cerriste: Lady of the Fiannar, Mistress of the House of Defurien, wife of Alvarion II
Caelle: Shield Maiden to Lady Cerriste
Sarrane: Seer to Alvarion II, Mistress of the House of Eccuron, wife of Tulnarron
Eldurion: Marshal of the Grey Watch, Eldest of the Fiannar, father of Caelle, uncle of Alvarion II
Taresse: mother of Caelle, wife of Eldurion, governess to Aranion
Tulnarron: Master of the House of Eccuron, Warden of the East
Accamon: a Fian of the House of Mirmaddon
Albannon: a warder of the Grey Watch
Alysse: a Singer of the Grey Watch; Black Alysse
Aranion: son of Alvarion II and Cerriste, Heir to the Lordship of the Fiannar
Arumarron: son of Tulnarron and Sarrane, Heir to the Mastery of the House of Eccuron
Berradan: Master of the House of Shon Rodain
Chadh: adopted son of Teillerian
Chelyse: a warder of the Green Watch
Collinan: Master of the House of Cilcannan
Darthadain: son of Teillerian, father of Chadh; deceased
Diamine: a Fiann of the House of Mirmaddon
Dragodurn: a warder in Harlastian’s Eye of the Grey Watch
Emanthe: a Watchcaptain of the Green Watch
Ethline: a warder in Harlastian’s Eye of the Grey Watch
Ferraron: a warder in Harlastian’s Eye of the Grey Watch
Gornannon: a Fian of the House of Eccuron
Gostullian: a Fian, a scout of the Grey Watch; Ghost
Harlastian: a Watchcaptain of the Grey Watch
Hyrre: a warder of the Green Watch
Janne: Mistress of the House of Serra-Collean
Lucce: Mistress of the House of Cilcannan
Milutin: a standard bearer of the Fiannar
Noldarion: a young Fian, the Heir to the House of Cilcannan
Radannan: a standard bearer of the Fiannar
Rovanian: a warder in Harlastian’s Eye of the Grey Watch
Sandarre: a Singer of the House of Eccuron, cousin to Tulnarron
Sennadan: Heir to the House of Shon Rodain, son of Berradan
Silmarien: a warder of the Grey Watch; Silly
Spedamon: a warder of the Grey Watch; Speedy
Teillerian: Master of the House of Mirmaddon
Tielle: a young Fiann, Heiress to the House of Mirmaddon
Trimmanon: a Singer of the House of Serra-Collean,
Valerre: a Watchtenant in Harlastian’s Eye of the Grey Watch
Varonin: Marshal of the Grey Watch
The Daradur
Azugar: First Axe commanding the Fifth Army of the Daradur, kulg-Dor of the kanga Kulgum; the Golden One
Brulwar: Earthmaster to the Wandering Guard, First Made of the Firstmade
Dandar: a priest of Maiden Earth assigned to the Fifth Army, urthron of the kanga Kulgum
Drogul: Chieftain of the Wandering Guard, Lord of Doomfall; the Mighty One
Dulgar: a Captain of the Wandering Guard; the Wild One
Gulgrum: a Captain of the Wandering Guard
Jadun: a Captain of the Fifth Army of the Daradur, a kulg-Kor of the kanga Kulgum
Mundar: a Warder of the Wandering Guard
Rundul: a Captain of the Wandering Guard
The Athair
Gavrayel: King of the Athair of the West of First Earth; King of the Athair of Second Earth
Aeline: Queen of the Folk of Gavrayel
Evangael: a Prince of the folk of Gavrayel; a Sun Lord
Thrannien: a Prince of the folk of Gavrayel; a Sun Lord
Yllufarr: a P
rince of the folk of Gavrayel; a Sun Lord
Arymeryl: a Sun Knight; Arymeryl of the Laughing Eyes
Derru Tollir: a Sun Knight; Guardian of the Gith
Lalindel: First Knight of the Sun Knights of Evangael
Lyrrienn: a Sun Knight; Lyrrienn of the Golden Heart
Sammayal: Lord of the Shaddathair, First of the Unforgiven
The Bloodspawn
Kor ben Dor: the Halflord, leader of the Bloodspawn, a general in the Blood King’s army
Ev lin Dar: a Black Shield of the Bloodspawn
Gren del Mor: a Black Shield of the Bloodspawn
Sil kin Hesh: a Black Shield of the Bloodspawn, Liaison to Urchin
Aida dan Char: a Screamer of the Bloodspawn; assassin, sorceress
Umbar’hal: a Graniant, the witchdoctor of the Graniants under Earthfall, shaman of shamans
The Free Nations
Arbamas: Prince and ruler of Ithramis
Holy Shore: an Ithramian soldier
Midnight Sun: First General of the Ithramian Army
Whiskey Kisses: a Captain of the Ithramian Heavy Infantry
White Frost: an Ithramian soldier
Ri Niall (of the Thousand Battles): the High King of Rothanar
Connar: a Rothman, Warthane of the caelroth
Ingvar Dragonsbane: a prince of Nothira, Earl of Invarnoth, son of Eleric Bloodhand; the Mad Earl
Eleric Bloodhand: King of Nothira
Tilbeder: Unchained Celebrant of the Cult of Thyr
The Enemy
Waif: a Leech-possessed child; a sumanam demon
Urchin: a Leech-possessed child; a sumanam demon
Suru-luk: Blood King of the Wraithren; the Red Wraith
Kal-suruk: Skull King of the Wraithren
Umun-dron: Demon King of the Wraithren
Zan-zurak: the Death King, most powerful of the Wraithren
Arn’badt: the animated corpse of the dead King of the Giants
The Drone: war leader of the dwar-Durka, the Solemate to the Queen
Dijin Amora: a Blood Mage, former Master General of the Dragon Emperor’s military
Hundo g’Ulbab: an Unwoman, Chief Daughter of the Grudd Clan
Kh’arsh: a kuarok
k’urth Deen dur Hamma: the Hag of Lies; urthvennim
Mak Lorro: Queen of the Urkroks of the Blackbones
Malal ach Ammut: the leader of the Norian contingent of the Blood King’s army
Sten Hjerte: a prince of Var
Ulviathon: a fallen Hiath, a Demon of First Earth
Others
Arrowwing: an elliam, steed of Thrannien
Eveningwind: an elliam, steed of Yllufarr
Ha-Kame: a chelydra; a dragon turtle
Kuroma: a mor-marran; a black mirarran
Shar’eth: a Graniant, shaman of shamans, deceased
Teraras: the Lord of the warokka
Teller of the Tale: the Creator of the universe; Iu
Thunderlight: an elliam, steed of Evangael
Thyr: Wulfic / Nothiric god of thunder and war
Zalkan: Xiao al Khan, former Imperial Weapons Master, last of the saburau, Swordlord of the Dragon Emperor’s Draconian Guard; the Harbinger
From Antiquity
Alliane: Fourth Lorde of the Fiannar
Alvarion I: Tenth Lord of the Fiannar, ruled during the battle of Mekkoleth on Sark-u-surum
Amarien: Eleventh Lord of the Fiannar, son of Alvarion I, father of Alvarion II
Amhran Aifile: High Bard at the Court of Cara at the time of Ri Connar
Asrayal: King of the Athair of the South of First Earth
Branne: Second Lady of the Fiannar, wife of Vallian, daughter of Eccuron and Yasminne
Catarinne: Sixth Lorde of the Fiannar
Cerristallin: one of the first Fiannar, founder of the House of Cerristallin
Cilcannan: one of the first Fiannar, founder of the House of Cilcannan
Colleanne: one of the first Fiannar, founder of the House of Colleanne
Cothra: the Hiath of War
Dalorion: one of the first Fiannar, founder of the House of Dalorion
Defurien: First Lord of the Fiannar
Eccuron: one of the Fiannar, dear friend to Defurien
Fircuine: wife of Defurien, First Lady of the Fiannar
Hiridion: a Fian, founder of Erellan, the South Kingdom of the Fiannar of Second Earth
Idallion: Third Lord of the Fiannar, son of Vallian
Ilurin / Unluvin: brightest and most beautiful of the Hiathir, fallen Hiath of great power, brought war upon the Athair of First Earth
Iu: Athain name for the Teller of the Tale
Jorjararem: a bard
Majan al Khan: White Mage to the last Turian Emperor
Megane: Ninth Lorde of the Fiannar; Long Megane
Mirmaddon: one of the first Fiannar, founder of the House of Mirmaddon
Noth the Red: eldest bastard son of the last Kyetnik king of Var; first King of Nothira
Palladian: firstborn son of Defurien, twin of Vallian
Rekishiya: Imperial Historian of Tur
Ri Connar: High King of Rothanar during the Fiannar’s second war with the Wraithren
Roidarrin: one of the first Fiannar, founder of the House of Roidarrin
Ruthallane: a Fian of the House of Eccuron; ‘the Red’
Serraline: one of the first Fiannar, founder of the House of Serraline
Shiverlance: a renowned playwright
Shonnahan: one of the first Fiannar, founder of the House of Shonnahan
Thundarron: a Fian of the House of Eccuron
Ulviathon: a fallen Hiath, a demon of First Earth
Vallian: secondborn son of Defurien; twin of Palladian; Second Lord of the Fiannar
Yasminne: the first Mistress of the House of Eccuron and Seer to Lord Defurien
PROLOGUE
“Let the enemy see the risen sword
waver and vacillate in shaking hands,
Let the foe mark the poor position
and ungainly heft of the shield,
Let him note the awkward stance
and the gracelessness of the dance,
Let him witness all weakness before him
even as the dagger plunges into his back –
For all triumph rises from grand deception,
and all defeat comes of dying for the lie.”
Hiridion, A Philosophy of War: Volume One
First Day of Autumn
Year of the Strype 2025
Nothing but the dead.
But among the dead, none of those whom the First Axe of the Fifth Army so fervently sought.
Not one.
First Axe Azugar surveyed the appalling slaughter that had made an unholy abattoir of cavernous Andur-dun under Axar. Beneath his garish golden war-mask, the mighty Darad’s teeth grinded audibly in bunched jaws. He barely refrained from spattering a glob of spit against the underside of the mask. The cantankerous First Axe had never fared well whilst frustrated. He needed something to kill. Desperately.
The vast vaulted ceiling glowed with the inherent light of innumerable diamantine stars, casting the hallowed hall of Andur-dun in a shimmering twilight of shining stone, a subterranean crepuscule of haunted halfdark, now heinously stained with the sheens of blood and fire. Hundreds of hulking warriors of the kanga Kulgum, the fearsome Fifth Army of the Daradur, moved between the titanic crystal pillars of Andur-dun, searching among the heaps of enemy dead, kicking aside corpses, stomping through embers, kneeling to sift amorphous mounds of dust and ash between thick callused fingers.
Different demons left different dead.
Some demonic entities shattered into shards of blood-coloured glass upon being slain; others melted into puddles of luminous green slime or foul black sludge; still others exploded into furious yet fleeting storms of incandescent flame.
Some disintegrated to ash as they dropped, some turned to stone, some simply vanished. A few pseudo-reptilian strains left corporeally intact corpses. But neither the manner of the dying nor the matter of the dead was of any significance to the Stone Lords.
Dead was dead.
Yet among the hundreds – nay, thousands – of demonic dead, not a single dwar-Durk was to be found.
Azugar absently prodded the smouldering remains of a fallen sug’thok demon with the blunt toe of one gold-sheathed boot, inadvertently causing the scorched corpse to emit a gurgle of postmortem borborygmus. The great Darad’s gilded war-axe instantly smashed ever so satisfyingly through the thick saurian plates of the fiend’s abdomen. Something black and viscous and abominably foul splashed over Azugar’s ornate golden greaves. The First Axe barked a vicious curse. He stamped vigourously, shaking the steaming demon shit from his leg, then repeatedly kicked the offending corpse with a passion approaching psychosis.
And that is how Dandar, urthron to the kanga Kulgum, found him.
“Uldwan.”
Azugar whirled about at the sound of the voice. He raised the mask of his gold-plated helm. His eyes burned like heated obsidian.
“Don’t call me that, priest,” growled the First Axe, shaking his head. The strings of gleaming gems and precious stones woven into the braids of his bronzy beard rattled as he did so. “Makes me feel… old.”
“As you wish, kulg-Dor,” responded Dandar laconically, accustomed as he was to his general’s eccentricities. “We have done as you ordered. We do so again even now, for the sake of certainty. We have found no dwar-Durka.”
Azugar shook his head once more. Emeralds, rubies, diamonds jangled.
“Makes no sense, priest. I saw them. They were here. A whole host of them. Ten thousand, maybe.”
“At least. I saw them as well.”
“Did you also see who led them?”
“I did. They were commanded by the Drone.”
Azugar bristled visibly, turned his head, launched a huge globule of sputum onto the smoking remains behind him.
“Had the Dwarks engaged, the enemy would have had us, what, ten to one?”
“More. But the dwar-Durka did not engage, kulg-Dor. And they have not been seen since the third day of battle.”
“Day? What do you mean by ‘day’, priest?”