Chapter Twenty-One

Captain Devlyn was weary.

The battle at Chulakh may have been small as battles go, but any battle was wearying to the body and spirit. Being a sworn Black Knight meant that he was willing and ready to engage in such battles, to defend the realm, but it did not lessen the physical and emotional toll fighting had upon all men.

His Company – minus the fourteen good Knights he’d lost to the Goblins and those cursed flying things – was the first to be ordered back to the Hall of Champions. Captain Ellard, the Knight commanding the forces sent to Chulakh, had taken charge of the cleanup and aid, with more than enough remaining Knights for the job. Two Companies, along with the survivors of the fourth that had been sent to Chulakh. Ellard was anxious to get word back to the First Commander that the battle had been won. A messenger bird had been dispatched, but Devlyn and his men could provide important details to the Commander.

In truth, Devlyn was glad to be returning to the Hall. It was