Last week in Chapter Ten of the read-through of my Very First Novel, our heroes were traveling to the city of Mirk when they were ambushed by a patrol of the villainous Tara Raiders, from which they were saved by the timely intervention of Dwayne Bushfield, warrior jackrabbit. We continue on the road to the city of Mirk, where our heroes will catch a ride down the Sapphire River in their hopes of finding the Lost Prince…. or will they?
Later that afternoon, as the seven questors continued on, Lucy dropped back a little to where Dwayne was bringing up the rear, keeping an eye on the terrain behind them in case Barty's patrol tried to attack again. Not that anyone really expected them to. As Dwayne said, "Them thar Tara Raiders got scared so bad, Ah don't thank they'll want to come back. Still, if’n y'all thank it's best, Ah'll keep an ah on the rear for ya."
Lucy approached the muscular jackrabbit. "Um, excuse me, Mr. Bushfield, but-”
“Lissen,” Dwayne interrupted, “y’all have gotta quit callin’ meh Mr. Bushfield. Y'all are mah friends, and all mah friends call meh Dwayne. We cleah on that?"
"Sure,” Lucy replied. "I just wanted to ask you, um, were you really going to, you know, um, with that patrol. would you really have…”
"You mean would Ah have kelled `em? Nah, them varmints ain't worth it. Ah wuz jist puttin' on a show s' they'd git scayered and run,” Dwayne explained.
"Oh, good," Lucy said, relieved.
"Mahnd, though, Ah'm not sayin’ that Ah’ll nevah kell vermin. Sometahms, lahk in war, when yer fahtin' an enemah, than ya gotta faht back. Ah'm not sayin' Ah enjoys it, and Ah don't do it readilah, but sometahms, when y've done everahthang y'can to prevent eht, an' ya got no othah option, than ya jist have to do it, ifn’t ya want to protect yer countrah and yer familah. Ya get what Ah'm sayin’?" Dwayne asked.
"Yeah. I do. Thanks, Dwayne," Lucy said.
"Aw, tain't nothin,' jest some little advahce," the jackrabbit shrugged.
And so, the seven questors continued on. 'They traveled on through sunshine and shade, through thunderstorms and fair weather, often dodging, Tara Raiders and the Feline Legions of Cavanessa Montashleigh. The Feline Legions and the Tara Raiders were out in force in the central River Valley region of Sirilan. This was mostly because Lord Taradash, besides sending Rakkla with a picked force of Tara Raiders to hunt the seven down, had also given orders to strengthen the garrisons of Tara Raiders in the area Taradash assumed the seven would most likely go. This made it all the harder for the seven companions to get through to Mirk, but even so, thanks to Dwayne's skillful guidance and Conrad's able leadership, they managed to get through. Fully two weeks and a day since they had left Rocklawn, the seven questors for the Lost Island arrived at the city of Mirk.
The city of Mirk was a fascinating place. It was built on a manmade island in the middle of a large lake that formed where the Diamond River split into the Amethyst and the Sapphire. From the shores of the lake, three high, marble bridges ran out to meet the island in the city of the lake. A low rock wall was built on the edges of the island, except where a cluster of docks and piers formed a busy harbor. The lake was filled with boats, boats of all kinds, colors, shapes, and sizes, sailing here and there, traveling out onto one or other of the three rivers, or simply sailing around the lake.
The city itself was small compared to other cities, but buildings huddled together on almost every square foot of the island. Mirk was practically bursting with activity, people going to and fro about their business, sailors preparing their ships for sailing, merchants busily selling their wares, and Taradash's guards roaming around and generally keeping a watchful eye on everything.
As the seven companions approached the city’s southeastern bridge. Sean noticed that most of the Sirian sailors appeared to be beavers. They were big and husky, with broad, flat tails, big front teeth, and covered with thick brown fur. Sean asked Luther why it was that so many of the Sirian sailors were beavers.
"The Castor canadensis species is very much knowledgeable in all things nautical, in fact, it was the members of this species that first colonized this area on the artificial island at the nucleus of the large body of H2O solution you observe before you. They used a unique style of construction that, while not standard at the time for Sirian architects, was later commonly accepted by Siri- Oof! You fiendish creature! Take heed to where you are promenading, you great inept jackrabbit!”
Luther had been so wrapped up in his lecture to Sean that he had neglected to look ahead of where he was walking. As a result. the owl had blundered straight into Dwayne. The big jackrabbit had stopped on the path and was staring hard at the city. He was nearly knocked over by the owl but managed to catch his balance. Dwayne looked irately at the angry owl. “Ah beg yer pardon, but would ya mahnd lookin’ where yer walkin’? Ah wuz tryin’ to figger out how we’re gonna get into that thar city!”
“Would I mind looking where I am walking? Excuse me for disagreeing with you, but you were the one who ceased walking right on the path without giving me so much as an utterance of forewarning!"
"Ah didn't need to give va warnin’, anah sensible creature with ahs in its hayed would have seen Ah stopped and not crashed into meh lakh ahn idehotic buffoon!”
Luther practically hopped up and down with rage. "A buffoon, am I? I am the most educated vertebrate in this entire company! I am the most educated vertebrate in this entire company' I have far more intelligence than you, you pitiful justification for a moronic maladroit!''
Dwayne's eyes (or should I say ahs) flashed and his ears stood rigidly up. like soldiers at attention. “Awrite, that's it. Nobody calls meh whut you jist did and gits away with it. Now, draw yer slang!”
Luther drew himself up imperiously. "I would not dishonor myself to resort to combat with the likes of you!”
Now the jackrabbit was really angry. "Oh, reallah?” Well, Ah know whah y’ won’t faht meh. Yer jist plain scayered!”
Luther gasped in outrage. "Timorous. am 1? We shall see about that!" The owl turned. took a short run, and leaned into the air. He swooped high above them, then, with a blood-curdling shriek, he dived towards Dwayne.
Sean leaped at Dwayne, shoving him out of the way as Luther plunged downwards. Dwayne tried to scramble up and loose his sling but Sean sat on him, pushing his paws into the dirt. Sean knew he couldn’t keep the brawny jackrabbit down for any longer than a few seconds, but he wanted to keep him from fighting with Luther.
The white owl had dived so fast, that by the time he realized Dwayne had moved from his previous position, he was unable to stop himself. Luther crashed into the hard-packed ground with a thud. He lay there for a minute, then he picked himself up and started towards Dwayne. But then he stopped, for Conrad had leaped between the two combatants. Dwayne pushed Sean off of him and scrambled up, but Sean stood back-to-back with Conrad, preventing Dwayne from getting at the owl.
Conrad decided to take a tone with the jackrabbit and the owl. “Now look, you two, I’ve already had to break up a fight between Sean and Lucy so far this trip, I do not want to have to deal with you two. I know you get on each other’s nerves, but frankly we have more important things to deal with than whose fault it was that Luther bumped into Dwayne. Now, please, can’t we just-”
Conrad’s speech was cut short as a long javelin hissed through the air. The deadly missile was headed straight at Luther! Before anyone could react, Dwayne sprang into action. He gave his sling a quick twirl, and whipped a round river pebble into the air. The sling whizzed up, struck the razor-sharp point of the javelin, and knocked it up into the air, away from the air. The javelin shot high into the sky, described a slow arc, and plunged back towards earth, thudding into the ground on the other side of the road.
Dwayne quickly spun around and shot another rock in the direction in which the javelin had come. There was a startled yelp and a cry. “Oi! They’ve hit Barty agin! That ain’t fair!”
“Come on!” Conrad yelled. “We’ve got to get under cover!” The small band raced off the road and into the shelter of some tall trees. As they went, Shenan snatched the javelin from the ground and hurled it with all his might towards a wooded ridge, on the opposite side of the road, from whence the javelin had come. There was another yelp and a cry. “Ow! Me footpaw! They’ve hit me footpaw!” Another harsh voice answered him! “Aw, shuttup, weasel, yer not slayed, are ya?”
“Excuse me,” Luther called out, “but neither of you have used the correct grammar for your sentences! It is not ‘They’ve hit me footpaw’, the correct way is ‘They’ve hit my footpaw! Any another thing-”
"I do hate to interfere,” Alexan said, "but I don't really think they're interested in a grammar check right now.”
“You are right,” Luther admitted. “There are more important things to do now, like my apology. So saying, the owl turned to Dwayne. “I would like to express my sincerest regrets and apologies for various discourteous and unconscionable remarks that I have made concerning your…”
Dwavne interrupted. “Look, weh’ll be heah all day if you keep on lahk thayat, How ‘bout this: Ah say Ah’m sorrah, you say yer sorrah, an’ we get on with lahf, if’n we survahve this heah faht, that is.” And so they did. Luther said he was sorry, and the jackrabbit said he was sorry, and they went on with it. From that day forward, Luther and Dwayne never had another major argument again.
Conrad had organized the others into a fighting position, with Lucy shooting arrows and Alexan, Shenan, and he using spare slings to fire at the patrol. The Tara Raiders got themselves together and unleashed several hard volleys of slings, arrows, and javelins. As Dwayne joined the others and began slinging at the patrol. Conrad turned to Luther. “Luther, I need you to fly up and see if you can get their location. Also check for any other troops around. We may have to make a break for it if they’re reinforced!”
“And beh cahrful!” Dwayne added as Luther launched into the air. He flew in a wide circle, swooping over the Tara Raider patrol, then turning back and flying down to land beside Conrad.
From the grave expression on Luther’s face, Conrad knew he did not have good news. “I am afraid that I have some rather unfavorable intelligence,” the owl reported. “The complete sentinel force that we encountered earlier is assembled on that crest there, and from what I could gather from my brief reconnaissance, there is a large company of Tara Raiders, about threescore, near the Eastern Bridge, which is exactly three-quarters of a mile west by southwest from here. At the moment, they are guarding the bridge and do not appear to have noticed our diminutive conflict, but I espied a Tara Raider hastening towards them. It appears the patrol will soon be reinforced!”
“Oh, great, now what are we going to do?” Conrad exclaimed hopelessly. Their situation did indeed appear hopeless. They were pinned down by the hard volleys of slingstones, arrows, and javelines from the patrol, and they only had four slingers and one archer to defend themselves, meaning that they were outarmed by four to one. To make matters worse, the patrol would soon be reinforced by sixty Tara Raiders, all fierce fighters and armed to the teeth. Things did not look good.
“Listen,” Conrad whispered desperately to the others, "We have to get rid of that patrol before they're reinforced'! If we charge 'em right now, we may be able to break through. Are you with me?”
Every one of his six companions nodded solemnly. It would be a perilous venture. but they had nothing to lose. As the little band gathered their weapons, Conrad issued quick orders. "Okay, when I give the signal, we'll charge! Luther, you fly up and swoop down on them from behind! Lucy, you move out on the left and fire at them, as fast as you can, until we attack, then grab your dagger and join us! Alexan, Shenan, Sean, you come with me, we’ll attack them head-on! Dwayne, you get out on the right, and sling at `em until we attack, then you team up with the rest of us! Everyone got it?”
The seven companions agreed. "Then let’s do it!” They moved out to take their positions on the side of the road. There was a momentary lull in the fire from the patrol as they waited to see what the seven would do.
When Conrad gave the signal, Luther launched himself into the air, turned, and dived down towards the ridge. Lucy sprinted out on the left and began shooting arrow after arrow into the patrol, and Dwayne wreaked havoc on the right with his two slings. As Conrad, Sean, Shenan, and Alexan charged, they gave vent to a wild war cry, which was picked up by the other three. “Sirilaaaaaaaannn!”
2023 me’s notes:
Yes, Conrad has become the dad of our little group. No, I’m not sure where the rock that Dwayne threw went, since apparently he caught the javelin with his sling (?) and tossed it back. I don’t remember what baby-writer me meant exactly by Conrad’s “able leadership skills”, since they’re strolling out on the road in broad daylight where any fool patrol or enemy force can walk right into them, which obviously one has done.
I don’t exactly remember how I came up with the idea of Mirk; this was two decades before I read the Wheel of Time series, so I assume I was inspired by the city of Tashbaan in The Horse and His Boy. I could be wrong, though. I’m going to give you a small spoiler: I don’t think we visit the city. Good news: our heroes do survive the battle though. (At least, I’m almost positive they do. Most of them.)
Coming soon: beavers! Trenchant observations by Alexan! More able leadership!
Until next time,
Michael
The conflict between Luther and Dwayne got me thinking of my characters. Cerberus, the world's mightiest puppy, is extremely intelligent and somewhat pompous (not unlike Luther), while her nemesis, Dumbell, the Avis to her Hertz, has a Southern American accent (though I'm thinking more Alabama than Texas). The words Luther and Dwayne exchange are words those two could have had!