Staff of Shigmar: Chapter 14, Part 4

20 June 2026

In this week’s installment from the second book of our epic, Staff of Shigmar, we see Delgart facing a new, larger enemy. (25 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 4

“You’ll need new swords,” Marilee stammered. Her voice grew stronger. “Archers, resupply and reform.” Grelsor walked toward her. “Klarik?” she asked, even though she could see the answer written in the lines of her chief kailu’s face.

“Broken neck,” Grelsor said sadly.

The corners of Marilee’s mouth twitched. “Form up!” she shouted to cover her feelings. She turned to see how the rest of the company fared, and she saw that they were just bringing down the last krugle. Her eyes moved past them to the megatrem and saw the elite guard around the Fereghen falling. To her right, she saw companies of the tall wedaterem turning from the battle with the Fourth Legion to come their way, but the Seventh, Ninth, and Tenth Companies of the Third Legion were moving to protect the Eighth Company’s exposed flank. Up the pass, she saw the companies of nekerpum blocking the pass but not moving forward to attack. This caused her to pause momentarily, wondering why they did not attack. The First through Sixth Companies of the Third Legion were moving to attack the legion of purem driving back the Second Legion. Again, the Eighth Company was left to deal with the megatrem attacking the Fereghen, with their sooty red skin and flaming swords. Her squad formed around her, now four short.

“Let’s go,” she said, casting a glance at Delgart, whirling his two new sabers eagerly. The company quartermaster moved among the other squads, who had just brought down the last of the krugle. Marilee directed her squad to the closest of the three remaining megatrem. “Archers,” she shouted, “get his attention,” she pointed at the nearest of the three.

The archers in her squad directed several volleys at the nearest megatri who turned to see who or what attacked him. He roared with laughter seeing the single squad moving toward him; he strode forward, swinging his flaming sword, long as the height of two wethem. Where the krugle were nearly three times the height of the seklesem, the megatrem were four times as tall; one of them with a sword could cut down an entire squad with a single, well-aimed stroke. Unlike the krugle, the megatrem were accomplished smiths, so each one was heavily armored in sooty black iron plates.

“Spread out!” Marilee shouted. She could hear the shouts of the other squad leaders of her company behind her and moving her way. If they could just keep him occupied and stay out of his way, they just might survive this encounter. Her squad spread out, forming a partial circle around the megatri, just out of reach of his sword. The giant wore a great black helmet with a visor that protected his eyes; he laughed when volley after volley from the archers bounced of his armor and thick skin.

“Fools!” he roared. “Do you not recognize death when you see it?” He smiled wickedly at them. “Soon we will have your Fereghen, and my lord will crush him with his bare hand! Surrender, and we will spare your lives!” He lunged toward them with his sword, and her squad scattered away from the blade. He roared again with laughter. “You scatter like frightened mice!”

Out of the corner of her eye, Marilee saw someone moving. “Delgart! No!” she shouted, but too late, for the megatri had seen him.

“What’s this?” the giant asked.

“You do not frighten me,” Delgart shouted up at the megatri. “You are much like the fire from which you were bred: loud and noisy and nothing but hot air.”

“Have you come to die first, little mouse?” the megatri laughed.

“No, kaiwi,” Delgart retorted. “I have killed already this day an orange and a blue aperum, two of your krugle friends, and scores of purem and ghelem, without breaking into a sweat. I will kill you, too, kaiwi.”

The megatri threw back his head to laugh, which was a ploy to cover his attack: his sword whistled through the air toward Delgart. But the newest seklesi was counting on this action; he rolled forward between the megatri’s legs, coming to his feet and slicing left then right with his swords. The megatri’s greaves fell off with a loud clatter.

“I am too quick for you, kaiwi,” Delgart shouted up at him.

As the megatri turned, Delgart dodged his huge feet, slicing right and left with his swords, cutting the straps of the megatri’s huge leather sandals; the megatri stumbled, his feet tangled in the remains of his sandals, and again, Delgart darted between his legs and behind him. Marilee suddenly saw the wisdom of Delgart’s brash move: the megatri were so tall that the closer one was to the giant, the harder one was, for the sooty, red-skinned monster, to hit. Marilee looked up from Delgart, just as Delgart passed between the megatri’s legs, and she saw the second megatri coming toward them.

“Lookout!” Marilee shouted.

“I see!” Delgart shouted back.

“Archers all!” Marilee shouted to her squad, and heard the other squad leaders echoing her command. “Aim for the joints and the leather straps securing their armor!”

Next week, come back on Tuesday and see how this battle concludes, and what is revealed for all to see. Until then, get a full ebook copy from Smashwords for free! If you prefer print, purchase your copy from the link provided. Good reading!