A Fallen Hero
The adventures of Jule Shannara, part 4
As the day drew to an end, a battle was being waged between the band of travelers known as the Brotherhood
of War along with the Ascalonian Prince Rurik and his men against a large troop of Charr warriors. Bodies
lay scattered on the dry earth and the sand became soaked with blood.
"Jule stay back!" screamed Cyprus of Nod, "You are not a tank, you're a ranger!!"
"I am strong enough against this band of Charr!" replied the elf known as Jule Shannara.
Then a Charr arrow tipped with fire pierced the elves slim shoulder knocking him to the ground with the
shaft sticking out of his light ranger armor.
"Jule, are you okay?" asked the freakish necromancer who had run to his aide.
"Yes Natas, I will be fine. It is just a flesh wound but I could use the assistance of a healer if
you could find one." Said Jule as he propped himself up against a small boulder.
"I'll go find one as quick as I can!" said the Ranger known as X Scout X, "Cyprus, you two
stay with Jule while I find help, Panel boy come with me!"
As Scout ran off with the multi-colored warrior Jule slipped into unconciousness and slept. It was dusk
when he awoke, lying in a tent he did not recognize. As he sat up a female voice startled him.
"I see you have finally decided to return to the world of the living Jule Shannara" said the
woman whom he now saw wore healers clothing. "You should be fine now. I have stemmed the bleeding and
stitched you up good as new."
"How do you know my name?" asked the elf a little groggily.
"Your friend Scout told it to me when he asked for my assistance" replied the healer. "It
seems there is much need for a healer in these parts since the searing."
"So, You are one of the Ascalonian refugees traveling with Prince Rurik then. Could I at least have
your name so I can thank you for you help properly?" asked Jule.
"Firstly, I am not traveling with Rurik though I know him. Secondly, I am not a refugee but like you,
but was traveling in the same direction with a few of my sisters and we chose to join the company for a
part of our journey." replied the healer "My name is Katrine Yomama and I only wish I could have
been of more help. Maybe so many would not have had to die this day!" she said with a touch of
sadness in her voice.
"None the less, I thank you for healing me Katrine. I am in your debt." Said Jule, "Should
the need ever arise, please feel free to call on me for aid in return. And now, though the garments you
have supplied are quite comfortable, I would like to don my armor and join my friends."
"Yes I am sure you would my friend." Stated Prince Rurik as he walked into the healers quarters.
"Unfortunately your armor was damaged beyond repair by that Charr arrow you took in the shoulder. As
a token of my appreciation for your help in defending my Ascalonian brethren I would like you to have
these." He placed what looked to be priceless armor next to Jule and bowed deeply to the elven
prince. "This is a set of Primeval Armor I had my armorer construct for you in Burgundy in white. I
hope you will accept it, along with my thanks."
"I don't know what to say. I will wear it with honor and pride." Said Jule.
Rurik and Katrine excused themselves so that he could dress. As he slid the armor on he found it to be not
only a perfect fit, but to have enough storage to hold both his bows and his quivers of arrows with ease.
He finished dressing and walked out into the night. It was unusually quiet after the battle, except for
the wails of the women and children who had lost their loved ones in the battle.
"It is a sad, sad night Jule Shannara. Many men have given their lives so that their families my find
sanctuary in Kryta, and the journey is not yet complete." Rurik said as he stared out at the burning
lands. "Go find your friends and get something to eat. I will see you later at the burning."
"The burning? What is that?" asked Jule.
"We have not the time to bury our dead properly. So we shall build a pyre and burn them. Better that
they should burn for the Gods then let the Charr desecrate their bodies. It is not as Dwayna would want,
yet I believe Grenth shall in the least be pleased. You shall find your friends on the eastern edge of
camp." Said the Prince as he turned and walked away.
As Jule approached the camp he could see that Cyprus was cooking a stew, while Natas looked on. Scout and
Panel Boy were nowhere to be seen.
"Smells good Cyprus, when do we eat?" Jule shouted as he approached.
"It will be ready soon. Here have a glass of ale and a seat." Said the large warrior a little too
glumly for Jules liking.
"What has happened to make you so glum Cyprus? Where are Scout and Panel Boy?" asked the elven
leader as he took the tankard of ale.
"I am right here." Said the ranger Scout, "But Panel Boy shall journey with us no more, Jule.
He is dead. I have just finished covering the body. I could not bear to see him burn so Cyprus and Natas dug
the hole and I have buried him."
"Tell me how it happened." Said Jule as he sat on a log near the fire.
"There's really not much to tell." replied Scout "After you were shot he and I went in search
of a healer. It seems Ascalon has a serious lack of healers around here. Anyways, we were told of a group of
sisters traveling with Rurik to Lions Arch and that one of them was a skilled healer. After much searching
we were told she was at the front dealing with wounded so we ran to find her. As soon as we reached the
front there was an explosion nearby. A chunk of rock caught me in the side, I have a couple broken ribs to
atone for myself. As I went down Panel Boy was attacked by several Charr, I tried to help, but they had a
Shaman with them who protected them just enough to allow them to take down Panel Boy. By the time I got to
him he had been pierced with at least a dozen Charr arrows and his back had been sliced open by an axe. There
was nothing that could be done at that point, he had lost too much blood." Said Scout solemnly. "He
did speak before he died though Jule. A message for you. He said do not stray, that the journeys end will
find the peace we desire. And he asked to be buried in his armor."
"He would" said the green haired Natas as he raised his glass. "Here's to Panel Boy of Shrink!
May the Gods smile on him!"
"Here here! To Panel Boy" said Cyprus of Nod as he drained his tankard of ale.
"You will be missed my friend." Said the elven leader "and you shall never be forgotten."
And so the group of men known as the Brotherhood of War became four as the rainbow clad warrior known as Panel
boy of shrink joined so many others in the mist and Jule Shannara wondered if any of them would live to see
the end of the journey.
"The burning begins my friends." He said to the band of men " Let us go pay our respects to the
dead. For Panel Boy!"
As they approacehed the burning pyre of bodies Prince Rurik approached.
"I am sorry for your loss Jule. He was a brave man." Said the Prince.
"Yes Rurik, he was. And he shall be avenged!" exclaimed Jule "When my journey is complete, I
shall return. For I shall find no peace until vengeance is served."
"Perhaps we shall return together. For I too seek atonement from the Charr for the loss of a loved
one." stated the Prince of Ascalon "But that is a story for another day. Tonight we mourn the deaths
of our friends and family, and celebrate the life we still share!"
Jule wondered what he meant, but was resolved to mourn in his own way. He silently left the burning plains and
found his way to the burial site of his friend where he stuck the sword of Panel Boy into the ground.
"Sleep well my friend, we shall meet again one day!" And with that he walked the grounds alone until
he could walk no longer and retired to his chamber to sleep. Tomorrow they would be leaving the heat of Ascalon
for Travelers Vale and the much colder Upper Shiverpeak Mountains. They would need their rest if they were to
make it to Kryta and beyond!
