The following post is a fictitious news report based on events from The Bow of Destiny, Book One of The Bow of Hart Saga:
The Auguron Wind-Times
Brazen Troll-Attack Near Marston’s Station
Date-line: Marston’s Station, Auguron Forest
By Rowigan Skaulter, Roving Reporter
This evening was disturbed by turmoil around Marston’s Station which roused this reporter from sleep. Reports are coming in this evening of a troll attack when travelers approached this very way-station. Events are unclear at the moment, but trolls becoming so bold as to attack as far as the station are ominous.
While rumors of other attacks much further east have not yet been confirmed with the rangers guarding the roads, this reporter has been able to substantiate these local claims of fighting.
When I descended to the common room, I found the entire number of overnight visitors roused amid a storm of confusion. I saw one young woman brought in by a giant, an unusual sight in these parts, to be sure. The woman seemed wounded as her arm was covered in blood.
What follows is my interview with a dwarf who seemed to have been part of a scuffle, judging by the blood-spatter on his clothing.
Rowigan: “Sir, you look like you’ve been in a fight. Can you tell us your name?”
Dwarf: “Uh, Tordug.”
Rowigan: “Mr. Tordug, do you-”
Tordug: “Just Tordug.”
Rowigan: “Do you mean, Tordug the Just?”
Tordug: “No, Tordug.”
Rowigan: “Oh, I’m so sorry, it’s so loud in the tavern now. The men seem to be celebrating about something. Tell us what happened, Tordug.”
Tordug: “Well, some travelers arrived, shouting about trolls attacking on the road, just east of here. They said the brutes shot arrows at them. Then they said they were missing two of their party. So a bunch of us grabbed our weapons and ran off along the road to help.”
Rowigan: “I see, so there were trolls? What did you find?”
Tordug: “We got there just in time. There was a young woman astride a horse and a young ranger fighting alone against a pack of trolls. The moon rose back east and shined on the woman so she glowed like silver.”
Rowigan: “I heard mention of this woman and saw a human female brought in by a giant. Is that the same person? Was she wounded?”
Tordug: “Well, we fought off the trolls and found she was wounded but the ranger had only a few minor scrapes.”
Rowigan: “So there were trolls who were driven off into the night and one wounded in the fighting. Is that correct, Tordug?”
Tordug: “Yes, we drove them away. But the Withling healed the woman, her name’s Limbreth, I think. But she lost blood so she passed out anyway. Had an arrow-wound.”
Rowigan: “Withling? There’s a Withling in Auguron? Now that’s news, indeed! Can you point her out? I’d like to interview her.”
Tordug: “Uh, I don’t see her around just now. But she was there, I’m certain.”
Rowigan: “So the young woman is this Silver Lady, these men are talking of in all this celebration?”
Tordug: “Yes, it is. My friend and I will be composing a dwarven verse about her bravery on the road. She rode back wounded for the ranger.”
Rowigan: “That’s is a deed worth a song. And this giant, do you know his part in the tale tonight.”
Tordug: “He was with the Withling and the others that got attacked.”
Rowigan: “What? The Withling was attacked too? And this giant was with them? You’re sure of the details?”
Tordug: “Yes, I saw them when they arrived.”
Rowigan: “Well, Tordug, it was fortunate for this Limbreth, and the ranger, that you and your friends responded so quickly. Thank you for sharing your account tonight. Auguron owes you a debt of gratitude for your quick and decisive response to the danger.”
Tordug: “That’s what we dwarves do with trolls.”
And there you have the full account of the attack as this reporter has discovered directly from someone who fought in the altercation not far from Marston’s Station this evening. I’ll work to obtain an interview with this Withling and the blessing of such a rare appearance in Auguron Forest. We’ll have more to report from all across Auguron regarding the rumored, and troubling, incursions further east as we travel west toward Auguron City. Look for more reports in the coming days. Troll attacks can only mean trouble for our elven forestlands. This is Rowigan Skaulter sending by pigeon.
Look for more of these fun reports about the series. If you are interested in The Bow of Destiny, An Arrow Against the Wind or the newly released final edition, The White Arrow, please click the appropriate link for the book-page. Following are direct links to find The Bow of Destiny at Amazon (available in Kindle Unlimited):
About the Author:
P. H. Solomon lives in the greater Birmingham, AL area where he strongly dislikes yard work and sanding the deck rail. However, he performs these duties to maintain a nice home for his loved ones as well as the family’s German Shepherds. In his spare time, P. H. rides herd as a Computer Whisperer on large computers called servers (harmonica not required). Additionally, he enjoys reading, running, most sports and fantasy football. Having a degree in Anthropology, he also has a wide array of more “serious” interests in addition to working regularly to hone his writing. His first novel, The Bow of Destiny was named 2016 Book of the Year by Fantasia Reviews and is the first book of The Bow of Hart Saga. The sequel novel, An Arrow Against the Wind, was released in April of 2017. The third book of the series, The White Arrow, is due to be released during the Fall of 2017. P. H. Solomon also authored the award winning short story, The Black Bag, which won best published short story at SCWC 2012. P. H. is also a member of Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA).
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