Chapter 1

***

Steel clashed against steel, blood flowed, and the harsh breath of steeds in the midst of battle filled the air.

All around, men lay dying as the battle raged on. The sounds of war sang through the trees and the woodland creatures hid themselves away amidst the brush and brambles.

Birds took to the highest boughs of the trees to keep watch while others soared even higher to carry the message to those who awaited word of the outcome.

It was obvious who had won the day, even though men still swung their swords; some now in vain.

At the center of the melee stood Olric the Conqueror, the man who sought to gain a kingdom this day. It was the third and final day of the fighting which had been bloody from the onset.

With his chest heaving from his efforts, the blood of those he’d dispatched covering his armor, and his sword arm at his side, Olric looked around the field where his men were routing the last of the enemy’s holdouts.

This day had been long in coming, and though he’d never doubted the outcome of his victory, there were days when he’d despaired.

Now all that he’d fought for was his for the taking. He closed his eyes and exhaled as he let his mind travel beyond what the eye could see.

He’d entered the battle a warrior and now stood a king. The reality was sweet and the sense of empowerment strong.

His only thoughts now were of how to govern his people, how to be a worthy king. Someone his ancestors could be proud of.

He looked around one last time at the death and destruction. His rule had come at a hefty price. Lives were lost, some of them his trusted men, but not many.

He watched as the last of the enemy surrendered before the might of his warriors, putting an end to the day’s bloodshed.

With his enemy vanquished, Olric gave the cry of victory, which his men soon picked up.

The sound was almost deafening as they stepped over the strewn bodies of the defeated on their way to more pleasurable pursuits.

 He gave his men a few words as the last echo of their cries faded away. “This is now our country, our land, and these our people. We will treat them as such.”

He turned his attention to the few enemy soldiers who’d survived and were now lined up with the swords of his men at their throats, waiting for the order to dispatch them.

“If any man swears his loyalty to me and renounce the old ways of his past king, then he shall be spared. We will not kill men for defending their king, as was their duty.”

The wounded men who’d been expecting death with their every breath thought this was some new trick of the famed warrior.

Everyone knew of his might, and though his kindness of heart had been rumored far and wide, they’d never put much stock in what they saw as mere fables.

Their past lord had shown no mercy to neither friend nor foe, and so they did not know that such a thing existed.

Now as the swords were withdrawn from their necks, eyes still wide with fear, they fell one by one to their knees and bowed their heads in subjection.

Olric turned to Gapphyr, his second in command, and Myskael his army chief. “See to their needs.”

“Make sure their wounds are tended and they’re fed. From this day forth we will not treat them as enemies for they are now our brothers.”

He then turned to the men who only a short time ago were his enemies. “If you hold true to your oath of loyalty to me, you shall not know want. If you betray me, not only you but your entire family will die.”

He walked away and went a short distance into the trees where no eyes could follow and in the privacy of the dense forest, fell to his knees and gave thanks for all that he had gained this day.

He thought back to his youth and his humble beginnings, and all that had followed, the path he had taken that led him here.

His heart was full to bursting, his senses overflowed with joy at what he had become. There was much to be thankful for and he made a solemn oath there beneath the trees’ canopy never to forget.

Once he was through giving thanks and asking for continued guidance, he made his way back, suddenly tired from the fighting.

His sword arm could do with a rubdown, but other than that he had suffered no wounds, he never does.

As he drew near his tent, his eyes fell on a beacon of red hair that flowed down onto the slender back of one of the camp followers.

All semblance of tiredness disappeared as his mind turned to more pleasurable things.

With his blood up and lust finding its hold, he grabbed the woman around her middle and took her into the privacy of his tent.

With his men’s ribaldry beyond, he barely took a moment to appreciate the soft beauty of her face before ripping open his braies and lifting her skirts.

Their first coupling was swift and rough with none of his usual finesse, but that was just to whet his appetite.

It was always this way after a battle. A way of reaffirming that his life had been spared in the face of danger. That he was still among the living.

He spent a pleasant night between her soft thighs, slating his lust until he was drained and the poor woman beneath him was worn and well used.

In the morning at first light he lit out, never to think of her or the night they’d shared again. He didn’t even remember her name, if he’d even heard it.

***

King Olric grew up in the region of Talmudon, which is in the kingdom of Bassintine, ruled by king Jude and queen Irma.

His father’s name was Joshua and his mother was called Isabelle. Joshua was a sheepherder by trade and both he and his wife were god-fearing folk.

Isabelle bore Joshua five sons and Olric was the youngest of the five and the favorite of both his parents.

He was a fair child from his birth and ever a joy to his parents and all those who knew him as a young spritely youth.

Olric was intelligent and of a goodly nature. As the apple of his parents’ eye he never gave them a moment’s worry, as he followed diligently the teachings of his father who was a just and upright man.

As the youngest, in his early years, he followed his brothers everywhere they went, and took part in all their youthful adventures.

But as he grew older he spent most of his days with a lad whose name was Gapphyr.

Olric and Gapphyr were neighbors and both their parents were good friends.

Since Gapphyr was an only child, his mother was overly protective, but gave the two boys much liberty because Olric was well liked and trusted.

The two were as close as brothers in fact, and had much in common. Though they were the same in age, Gapphyr looked to his friend for guidance, as Olric always seemed to know the way of things.

Even as young lads, they had a bond that was unbreakable in the face of all adversity and was looked upon by many in the village as two who were slated for good things among their peers.

It was because of their close bond and the love showered upon them by the elders of the village that they became the envy of the local upstarts.

These were led by a young man in the region whose name was Nathaniel. He and his two companions often bullied and took what they could from the other children.

Most of the young ones avoided them, and would take different routes, sometimes even longer ones, so as to not to run into the bullies.

When the other young men saw Nathaniel from a distance they more than likely would either run off, or hide in the bushes and wait until he was gone.

Because of their differences in nature and Nathaniel’s jealousy of the much-loved Olric, Nathaniel and Olric often fought.

Olric being a steadfast young man always refused him and would not relinquish anything he possessed.

It was an affront to him even at that young age that such injustice existed, even in his little village where everyone was usually friendly and looked out for their neighbor.

Nathaniel with this need to assert his strength and will over Olric would not let it rest until he beat Olric at something.

So the two would often come to blows until one of the men or women of the village was forced to separate them.

It was a futile effort on Nathaniel’s part. For though he was older and much bigger than Olric, he could never get the better of him, and more often than not was the one left with a bloody nose or a split lip.

Olric for his part avoided the other boy as much as he could, as he wasn’t fond of brawling because it upset his mother no end.

So it was for this reason that when they did meet, he would try to avert confrontation as best he could, to no avail.

He did not know that there was a deep- rooted hatred in Nathaniel for him.

Because the other boy secretly wished to receive the same accolades and adoration from the elders.

It so happened upon a day as Olric and Gapphyr flew their kites in an open field, Olric grew thirsty.

Staking his kite in the earth, he left Gapphyr and ran to a nearby spring that belonged to the man named Timothy.

Timothy owned much land and was a quiet and secretive man. He had little dealings with the people of the village choosing the comfort of his own company, but would allow the children to quench their thirst at his springs and sometimes fish in his ponds and lake.

As Olric bent his knees and was beginning to lap the water, he heard a loud growl followed by faint shrieks, amidst the noise of fallen twigs and leaves as they were trampled underfoot of some wild animal.

Olric quickly left off drinking and hurried toward the sounds, thinking he would be able to spy on a wolf’s battle with a wild boar or, better yet, the formidable honey badger resisting a hunting leopard’s onslaught.

But instead of the imagined clashes, he saw instead Nathaniel against the ground trying in vain to fight off the attack of a lion from the mountains.

Without a second thought, Olric ran forward and with a loud roar grabbed the mountain lion’s tail from behind.

He flung the surprised creature’s body hard against a nearby tree with such force that it whimpered as it fell to the forest floor, dead from a broken skull.

“Are you alright Nathaniel, did he hurt you overly much?” Stunned and still in a daze, Nathaniel felt his body for any pain and knew that he had been torn in places.

Olric picked the other boy up and calling Gapphyr to him, took him home to his mother.

Though Nathaniel was badly injured that day, it wasn’t long before he recovered fully.

Everyone heard the story of how brave Olric had been and it was whispered that not many would’ve even bothered since Nathaniel was such a bad sort.

Olric for his part, did not readily accept the praise but instead turned everyone’s attention to the bravery of Nathaniel who had fought off the fierce beast before he came to his aid.

It was then that Nathaniel, having seemed to have a change of heart after his near death encounter became very close friends with Olric and never again troubled nor lifted his hand against the other boys of the village.

His companions disbanded and he, Olric, and Gapphyr soon became inseparable. Soon no one could hardly remember his days of tyranny, and instead praised him for the young man he had become.

Now Timothy, the owner of the land on which the lion was killed, was extremely pleased because the lion from the mountains had killed many of his animals: of which he had much.

For he was a lover of wildlife and kept all sorts: from the mule and chimpanzee to the warthog and cheetah of the plains.

So he sought Olric because he felt indebted and wished to repay the young man for his courageous act.

After a few weeks had passed, Timothy spotted the three boys with their kites in the field, approached the young gentlemen, and asked which of the three had killed the lion.

After Nathaniel and Gapphyr pointed fingers in Olric’s direction, Timothy thanked him a great deal then he told him to ask for anything his heart desired and it would be granted him.

After first refusing any form or reward, he was then pressed by his two friends and the elder Timothy until he had no choice but to concur with his request.

Not sure of what to ask for since he’d had no thoughts of such a thing occurring, Olric conferred with his companions.

 Gapphyr insisted that he should ask for this, and Nathaniel insisted that he should ask for that.

So Timothy gave the boys this, and he also gave the boys that. But then he suggested that Olric should ask for something else, only this time, without the counsel of his two comrades.

So Olric thought quickly and asked that if it were possible, he desired that both his parents and four brothers be taken to heaven after they died.

This pleased Timothy so much, such virtue in one so young, that he gave him a third wish.

But no matter how hard he tried, Olric could think of nothing else he truly wanted. He’d been taught from a very young age that it was better to be content than to always seek gain, and so it was hard for him to think of anything he wanted that he did not already have.

Therefore, he said to the man, “Sir, there is nothing that comes to mind, you decide what is best for me.”

This delighted Timothy even more, so he told Olric and his friends to meet him at the exact location, and at the same hour the next day.

The boys consented and after much excitement and speculation returned the following day as instructed.

It appeared that Gapphyr and Nathaniel were both more excited than the more reserved Olric who truly hadn’t given his proffered gift much thought.

Timothy greeted them, and taking Olric aside a ways, bid him close his eyes. Olric obeyed, thinking nothing of the strange request.

Timothy then placed both his hands upon the young man’s head and smiled at what he saw in his mind. It was just as he suspected.

It was with great relish that he looked down upon the bent head of the young lad before him and said the words that would change his life forever.

“You, Olric shall rule your entire house and become the head of many houses. Your sword shall put tens of thousands to flight and your heel shall always be at the necks of your enemies.

I bestow on you this day the spirits of truth, honor, love and favor. They will talk with you and they will guide you all the days of your life. You will prosper in all your ways and all that you put your hands to do will succeed.”

And this Timothy did because he was one of Shechem’s favorite servants and was pleased with the words that came from the mouth of Olric, and was delighted with the thoughts and desires that were in his heart.

For Timothy had the power on earth to bestow favor on whomever he chose. And it happened that he took the three boys under his wing and taught them the craft of war and the ways of peace.

Timothy was once a general in Bassantine’s army, but was badly injured in battle, so he retired and was commissioned by king Jude to raise crops and livestock for the region.

Timothy so loved the animals that he forsook the crops and decided to give all his strength to the caring and the rearing of the creatures in the land.

Now when king Jude’s horses or hunting dogs were injured or sick he would send for Timothy to nurse them back to health again.

He also provided the king’s table with meat, for queen Irma would only eat of the animals that were raised on Timothy’s land.

So the boys’ parents gave them consent to learn from Timothy in hopes that it would busy their minds and keep their hands away from the idleness and trappings of youth.

Olric grew in strength and courage, and under the man’s guidance, the three boys quickly mastered the skill of war and the practice of peace.

He also taught them husbandry and how to properly prepare the special meats for the king’s table.

 Since Olric loved husbandry and excelled above his brethren, one day Timothy decided to let him prepare the queen’s meat on his own.

So he gave him a young calf and Olric raised the animal and fed it with dwarf okra and wild rice.

When Timothy questioned the peculiar diet, Olric always laughed and told him that the okra were his hugs, and the rice were his kisses.

After twenty months the cow was slaughtered, and when the queen tasted the hugs and kisses she was so overwhelmed that she came to Talmudon to thank her former general personally.

But Timothy told her that it was Olric’s doing and called him from the field so that she could see him.

The queen immediately took a liking to the young man and invited him, Gapphyr, and Nathaniel to serve as agrarians and cooks in the king’s palace.

The boys served king Jude and queen Irma for four years, and since the king and queen had no children because she was barren, they treated the three boys as their own.