Princess Janomi Prologue

The Building of the Wall

This is the story I thought I had about half done, but it seems I only had the prologue and two chapters. Oh, well. Must keep writing, I suppose.

The men grumbled in the trenches. King Alleat stood on the edge of the field beside Cranton. "The battle goes not well," King Alleat said.

"You're winning," Cranton said. "What more d'you want? If you aren't going t'be happy when you win, what's going t'make you happy?"

"We are not winning," King Alleat said. "Cannot you see that? My men are all exhausted. If we were to chase the Northlings any further, we would not even have the strength to fight them if we caught them."

"So you say," Cranton said. "I say you've got them runnin', so go after them. You won't have another chance like this in the war."

"We do not wish another chance," King Alleat said. "All we wish is a time to rest. Friend, it is only a small favor that I ask of you. If you will not do it for myself, then at least do it for the men here, and their families that wait at home."

"You suppose yourself a fancy talker, don't you?" Cranton said. "Don't think you can talk me into anywhere I ain't going. You can plead with me all you want to, but I ain't goin't' do it unless my king himself bid me to."

"I am the king," King Alleat said.

"You ain't my king. I only bow to King Kolair of the Elvontin."

"I shall endeavor to persuade him, then," King Alleat said, "but I should much prefer it if you were to take my side."

"It won't matter which side I take. If you make us do this thing, then you and your family will bear our curse for centuries to come."

"I fear not your curses, old friend."

"You don't fear our curses? If you think eno' of our magic to build you a wall to keep these Northlings out, you should think a little more of our curses."

"I shall talk to your king. But all must be decided soon."

"It should be decided now," Cranton said. "Run after 'em. You have a chance t'beat to pieces this evil in the north. If you tarry, it may never come again."

The king shook his head, and walked back into camp. Cranton stood a while, looking to the north, where the glows of the northern army's fires could just be seen, like the small flickers of embers. "Mortals!" Cranton muttered. "Tell 'em the same thing over and over, and they never listen. You'd think that after I told 'im so many times that he could beat those armies o' the north, it'd finally get through his skull that he might be able to do it."

---

TBC . . .

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