Page 1 of The Last of the Dark Lords

Chapter 1

“Are you ready?”

Jelenna gave me a fierce look, her eyes flashing and her dark brown hair pulled back tight, emphasizing the severity of her face. Lean and muscular, my second-in-command could be intimidating when her warrior personality revealed itself.

From the top of the dam, I had a good view of the sea of people, hundreds of the citizens of the city of Greatfalls, bows strapped to their backs. They were the most accomplished archers in all of Fyr, gathered in the morning sun. The first rays of dawn burst over the top of the wall behind them, painting bright stripes over the tops of their heads.

Many had their arms crossed, some worrying at a weapon or a leather tie. I could see the doubt on their faces. They’d heard the rumors. I was here to alleviate their worry.

“Skye?”

I turned back to Jelenna. She smirked at me.

“Want to get started anytime soon?” she asked.

“Shut up.” Jelenna was an old friend and one of the few people I could be unguarded around. I was thankful for it, especially today.

“It will be fine.” Jelenna’s voice took on a comforting tone. “They trust you.”

“Do they? How many of them see me as nothing more than the spoiled grandson of the Prime? A kid who was selected to replace a veteran of five decades at the age of twenty-four because of his family connection. That’s why they’re questioning themselves now.”

Jelenna rolled her eyes at me. “None of them think of you like that. You’ve been Commander for four years. You’ve trained the Archers well.”

I shook my head. That didn’t matter, if I lost their support. Making sure they could fight wasn’t my only job. Their morale was my responsibility.

“None of them have seen combat. Until now, war was only an idea. Hell, how many of them have traveled even fifty leagues away from the city? I haven’t. Our isolation is a strength, but it makes the unknown that much more terrifying.”

“So you’ll show them how confident you are in their abilities. Give them some fire! Convince them of the righteousness of your cause, and they’ll follow you anywhere.” She winked. “Even ifIknow you’re shaking in your boots.”

I chuckled. She loved to take me down a peg, but she’d always had my back. Jelenna wasn’t just an excellent leader and tactician, she was also my best friend. It didn’t matter that I was the youngest son of the Prime Family of Greatfalls, I would have never become Commander of the Archers without her support.

I had been a short, scrawny, tawny-haired kid when I’d joined the Archers, determined but untested. She had helped me growinto the solid commander I was today. Strong in body and spirit. Even if I was still fairly short.

I nodded. “It’s time.”

She turned out to the crowd and gave a high-pitched yell. The conversation among the troops died down to a low murmur.

“Archers of Greatfalls!” I let my voice ring out. It was a half a league from the dam to the outer boundary, and the soldiers filled the space in between.

“You have come to me. You’ve told me of your worry over our uneasy dealings with the capital at Ashfuror. You’ve heard the stories of your great-grandparents, of the lives lost defending Greatfalls from the assault of the Dark Lords. You’ve heard rumors of an army on the move, making its way toward us.”

They stared up at me, some shifting their weight back and forth uneasily. I could see the distrust in so many of their eyes.

“I am here to tell you that those rumors are true.”

The whispering burst into full on conversations as the Archers reacted to my words. There was a tone of arrogant bluster in some of the voices, but most had an undercurrent of fear.

“Commander Skye!”

My eyes went to the source of the yell. It was an older Archer, a scruffy middle-aged man with the weathered skin of someone who’d spent their life in the sun. I wasn’t surprised he was the first to speak. He was never shy about making his opinions known.

“Gyles.” I locked eyes with him.

“Commander, my great-grandfather spoke of the last war.” Gyles’ voice shook with barely-concealed panic. “He lived through it. Greatfalls almost didn't survive, and we had many allies then. There’s no one to come to help us now. If they breach the walls, we will fall.”

“We will not!” The blood rushed to my face. I took a breath. It wouldn’t serve me to lose control.

“We will not fall,” I continued, keeping my voice even. “The Archers of Greatfalls are legendary. Your skill and your fervor keep us safe. No one will breach the walls, because you won’t allow it. You’ll cut down any that dare to come against us.”

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