Staff of Shigmar: Chapter 14, Part 2

16 June 2026

We return to the battle near the Crossing of Rema in the serialization of the second book of our epic fantasy, Staff of Shigmar, as Marilee, with Delgart, learns what it means to be chosen of the One. . . . (11 May 2015) We remind all readers that this book, Staff of Shigmar, as also the first book, is free for download from Smashwords! Glossary links: Book 2, Book 1

Chapter 14, Part 2

“Have you seen?” the captain asked as they gathered around her. The captain of the Eighth Company was a tall wetha with a regal face beneath her straight, black, and short-bobbed hair.

They nodded. “We could cut our way through,” the tall, thin, dark-haired leader of the first squad noted, “but it would take many days, and I do not think Shigmar can hold out that long.”

The stocky, brown-haired leader of the second squad spoke next. “We would suffer huge losses in the attempt,” she said, “and I fear we would not have the strength to repel the enemy attacking the kailum.”

The youngest leader, of the tenth squad, a female of medium height and golden hair, looking too pretty to be a warrior, asked: “Is there no other way to approach the city?”

“There is a trail through the mountains to the west and north, on the other side of the river,” the captain noted, “but we would still have to cross the last part of the pass, just southeast of Shigmar, and that would place us in the middle of two armies, I fear,” she finished, looking to the north.

“Captain,” Marilee heard herself saying, “there is another way into Shigmar.”

All the leaders eyes fell on her.

“What way?” the captain asked.

“It is a closely kept secret of the kailu masters,” she went on, “but there is an entrance into the sewers beneath the city.”

“Surely not,” objected the first squad leader, “that is only a legend.”

“Two days ago,” Marilee said, “when I was in Shigmar, I walked out of that legend and looked on the head of the falls of the Krystal River. My newest shield, Delgart, was with me and can vouch for me.”

The captain looked down at her messenger. “Go to the eighth squad and bring Shield Delgart to us.”

The messenger scurried off, returning half-a-minute later with Delgart in tow.

“Can you vouch for your squad leader’s claim of an entrance into the sewers of Shigmar near the falls of the Krystal River?” the captain asked Delgart.

Delgart nodded, using the nod as an opportunity to shoot a glance at Marilee.

“What were you doing in the sewers?” the leader of the second squad asked, looking first at Delgart, then at Marilee.

Delgart could not cover the glance that he and Marilee exchanged, but he could tell that Marilee was at a loss to explain their presence in the sewers. The truth would force them to reveal what had happened to them, especially the marks upon their faces. Having experienced firsthand the response of the kailum to the ways they had been marked, and the way it had been glossed over by their seklesem leaders, he knew he must alter the facts to keep the true reason for their presence in the sewers hidden. He lowered his voice. “The kailu Headmaster, Myron, was trying to smuggle us out of the city. Are you aware, captain, of the illness that afflicted both of us?”

His words touched something in their captain; she nodded.

“There were questions about both our illness and the manner of our healing,” Delgart went on, “that the Headmaster wanted to keep secret, believing the time not right for their general revelation. I can only say that we were healed by a special elixir that was only in the possession of the first kortexi, Sir Karble, but has re-emerged in the hands of a new kortexi, who also carries the original sword of Sir Karble.”

Several of the older squad leaders, including the captain, recognized what Delgart was telling them, and their eyes widened.

“That was how we were able,” Delgart continued, “to travel so quickly from Shigmar to Holvar, although we stood looking at the waterfall this side of Shigmar the day before yesterday.”

Marilee glanced once at Delgart, thinking he had gone too far. “There is a problem with this entrance,” she said, trying to divert them back to their immediate problem, “there was a narrow trail along the face of the cliff, but part of it has fallen away, so we would either have to bridge that section somehow, or maybe build scaling ladders to climb the face of the cliff to the ledge that leads into the sewers. There is a locked gate, but I think we could get past that, if we can get up to it.”

“I will pass this information onto our legion commander,” the captain said, cutting off further discussion, “in the meantime we should fight our way toward the center below; the vanguard has been pushed back into the legion surrounding the Fereghen by a company of wedaterem along with a squad each of megatrem and krugle. They must be dealt with before any other plans can be made.”

The captain waved her arm dismissing them, turned, then raised her arm and signaled the squads to get ready to move. Marilee turned and jogged back to her squad, not speaking to Delgart for fear of being overheard. Delgart did not speak until they neared their squad.

“That was some story,” Marilee whispered, slowing to a walk.

“Why did you tell them about the sewer entrance?” Delgart asked. “Didn’t you realize that it would lead to the awkward questions they asked?”

“I did,” Marilee said, “and I have no idea why I told them about it. Something took over at that point and spoke the words before I could stop myself.”

Delgart looked at her for a moment before speaking and smiled. “Then I guess you now understand why I attacked the aperum.”

“I . . . ,” she began, her mouth falling open, but she could not say anything.

“Being chosen,” he whispered more softly than before, “is more problematic than we thought. Wasn’t there something in the prophecy about this,” he asked, “that we would cause things to happen, merely by being present?”

Marilee could not answer, as they had reached their squad. “Ready?” she asked Rellik as Delgart moved back to his position.

“Ready,” Rellik replied, moving back to his place.

Marilee raised her hand in a fist, signaling the captain her squad’s readiness; a few moments later, the captain signaled they move, and after they started forward, signaled that the archers prepare to loose on the purem just below and ahead of them. Several other companies from their legion, the Third, were already engaged below and to Marilee’s left. Their captain signaled the archers loose arrows at will, and Marilee issued the command. Fewer of the purem ahead crumbled, compared to the ghelem they had just scattered, being better protected, but their arrow storm had the effect of turning the nearest company of purem to face them and offer its own volley.

Come back Thursday for more of this battle where we will see Marilee and her squad move to rescue the Fereghen. Until then, get a full ebook copy from Smashwords for free! If you prefer print, purchase your copy from the link provided. Good reading!