“That didn’t quite go as expected,” he said as the others approached.
“There must be an explanation for their willingness to fight,” Amber said.
“I believe that I’ve found something that will explain that,” Bertram said as he approached.
“What is it?” Hadrin asked.
“According to the leader’s journal, they were slavers. More than likely, they thought we were guardsmen for some noble whose son or daughter had been kidnapped and that Wrotan was a champion from the clan they raided a week ago.”
“Where are the slaves?” Amber asked.
“Sold. No more than two days ago,” one of the prisoners said.
“According to the journal, they were headed out on another raid. It seems that the four kingdoms were keeping them well paid and well equipped to ensure that the borderlanders and wilders were kept under control,” Bertram added.
“It is a fairly common practice in the wilds. The smaller tribes get hit the hardest. Chiefs have even begun to authorize retaliatory raids. I had hoped for a friendly caravan, but getting rid of a bunch of slavers isn’t a bad thing,” Wrotan said.
“If we manage to halt the slavery for a time, would the tribes be willing to follow us to war?” Hadrin asked.
“They might. We can look into it for the future, for now we should focus on getting Kade out of his predicament.”
“It won’t be easy taking out the slavers. We were one of the smaller less organized groups. One-eyed Silva, Old Jack, and the Demon are the three main slavers. They each have their own slice of territory. Between the three of them, they keep the dwarven lands, the borderlands, and the wilds from getting to powerful,” the prisoner said.
“Why are you helping us?” Amber asked.
“I’m not proud of what I did. I was in it for the money and it never quite felt right. This isn’t my way of trying to get any of you to spare me. I am simply trying to make up for some of the horrible things I did.”
*
Kade and several of his Knights dismounted from their horses as they neared the inn. According to the locals, the owner was a friend to the dragon hunters. It was a particularly busy night at the inn, meaning more dragon hunters to maim or kill. Ungaroth and his fellow dragons had insisted that they weren’t afraid of the dragon hunters, yet they were open about only needing to injure them. Kade found it amusing that they were so adamant about stopping these groups, yet still claimed to be all-powerful. He pushed open the door to the inn and then made his way to the bar. The innkeeper rushed over to him and asked if he and his men wanted something to drink.
“Nothing for us, thank you. We are here because there are rumors that you support the dragon hunters,” Kade said.
“Absolutely, they’re heroes. We’d have to deal with those deadly beasts if not for them. You here to join?” The bartender asked.
“No, I’m here to send a message. Not just a message to the dragon hunters, but a message to everyone. The dragons are returning and your foolish dragon hunters will be swept away in flames.”
His words riled up the patrons of the inn, but none as much as the dragon hunters. It was just as he had planned. More than a dozen armored patrons stood up from their tables and drew their weapons. Kade drew his own sword and motioned for his men to do the same. He placed his free hand on top of the bar and whispered an incantation. The wood began to splinter as it came to life and pulled itself up. It formed the shape of a large humanoid wielding a club. The young leader of the Knights used his thoughts to order it to attack the dragon hunters. He followed closely behind the wooden automaton and clashed with the first opponent he could find. Small shadowy tendrils seeped out of his free hand and held the man in place as he drove his sword into his opponent’s gut. He flicked his hand to the side and the tendrils sent the man flying.
Kade’s Knights engaged the dragon hunters just as the crowd was beginning to get involved. The majority of the tavern patrons were farmers and villagers, but some of them were competent fighters. They surrounded the Knights of Ardevale and their leader. The wooden construct let out a deep roar as it slammed its club into the gathering field of opponents. Kade grabbed hold of a chair and uttered the same words as before. He continued in that fashion until there were over a dozen wooden creations assaulting the patrons of the inn. His Knights let out a cheer as they led the final charge against the enemy. He raised his sword in the air as the last of the dragon hunters was killed. Much of the inn had been destroyed in the battle, but none of his men were seriously injured.
“Let this be a lesson to the four kingdoms. The dragons are coming and they bring with them,” he said.
“This was a good victory, but the dragon hunters are much greater in number. I fear we may just be driving even more people into their fold,” one of his Knights said.
“Attos, this is not about fighting the easy fight. We are to bring the full brunt of our forces down on these dragon hunters.”
“I understand, sir, but the four kingdoms will surely respond with an army.”
“Yes, that is why it is of the utmost importance that Finrul secures the borderlands. They’ll need to position their armies in such a way that the invasion isn’t too easy for the elves. That should give us a chance to continue our quest. In the meantime, we should make it known that we are hunting these dragon hunters,” Kade said.
“What if they travel with the armies?” Attos asked.
“We must make certain that they will do no such thing. I need to contact the others. Finrul and his men cannot let anyone know he is working with the dragons. The four kingdoms must think this is a separate threat. Get me a scroll, I have much to write.”
War
Finrul took a deep breath as he watched his men begin their march. The borderlanders had sent an army to challenge the elves and this would be the first clash between either side. This army was no match for the one that the elves had brought, but they were unaware of his other battalions. As far as the borderlanders knew, they were facing one army that was slightly larger than their own. The magician had given his Generals specific orders as to how to deal with the situation at hand. He had predicted that they would respond in such a manner and he wanted to send an unmistakable message. The two armies were preparing to meet on the field as he considered whether or not to use his magic to assist his own men.
“Revin, should I tip my hand this early?” He asked as his new head of intelligence approached.
“I’m sure I know what you are talking about,” Revin replied.
“My magic, should I give our enemies a taste of it or should I save it for later?”
“It would make a fine display, but I do not think now is the time. Our force should be able to squash this army without even calling in our other battalions.”
“You seem quite confident. Is there any reason to keep the other battalions back?”
“Perhaps one of them. I have no doubt that we would sustain fewer casualties if we use all three battalions, but what if they decide to run to the four kingdoms for assistance?” Revin asked.
“A question I’ve been pondering for some time. We need to face the four kingdoms at some point, that is for certain. However, when will they make their move? Will they allow us to decide where and when to strike or will they counterattack when possible? There is much that we need to learn about the kingdoms,” Finrul said.
“I shall look into it myself.”
“Good, but not until after the battle. I want you to watch and inform me of how we can improve for the future. Before you say anything, I already know that there are others who are better tacticians. That isn’t what I am looking for at the moment. What I need from you is someone who is willing to give me information that will be helpful. The Generals already know how to fight their battles, what I need is somebody who can look at both sides and figure out where the strengths and weaknesses will come into play.”
“If it helps, sir, there are a few things I’ve already noticed about o
ur men. You see, their confidence is much higher than their actual skill. We are the better army, yes, but foolish mistakes could cost us this battle. They don’t know that you’ll bring in the other battalions, yet they are already planning their celebrations. Confidence is good, but overconfidence is easy to exploit. Our enemy, on the other hand, seems to be gearing for quite a war. They protect their own lands and they will do so with a ferocity that our men cannot match. We need them to feel overwhelmed and helpless. This cannot turn into a last stand type of situation for them. Humans have an ever so strange way of always wanting to be the big hero. Martyrs are not good for our cause. We need to ensure that their heroes die first and brutally.”
Finrul smiled and nodded as he contemplated the elf’s words. He was correct, of course. Revin had a way of seeing things that others would often overlook. To Finrul and his Generals, war was war. Whether attacking or defending, the elves always believed themselves to be doing what was right. They fought as well as they could, but it would be difficult to match the desperation of the humans. The longevity of elves could, on occasion, create issues that other races didn’t need to deal with. Finrul turned his attention toward the two armies. As he had commanded, the frontline troops had halted in preparation for the ranged troops. The first volley caused a panic among the human army. Their soldiers were less inclined to want to fight an enemy that was out of range. However, their spirit served them well. The foot soldiers broke off to the side and allowed the riders a straight shot at the elven frontline.
“How quickly they rush to their deaths,” Finrul said.
“Do not be so certain. I’ve seen them move like this before. The humans are a very crafty people,” Revin said.
The elven foot soldiers readied their weapons and began to head out toward the cavalry. Even though Finrul had expressly told them to allow the enemy to initiate the attacks, his men still were too eager to keep from charging. Out ran the frontline troops. They chased after the horsemen, but quickly found themselves to be outmatched. Finrul watched in frustration as the enemy riders circled around his troops and charged at his archers. His own cavalry began their surge forward, but they were not quick enough to stop the slaughter that ensued. The enemy horsemen descended upon his archers and tore through their ranks before circling back toward their own army. His foot soldiers moved to cut off the cavalry, but had left themselves open to a barrage of arrows from behind. Within a matter minutes, his troops had gone from almost certain victory to almost certain defeat. He signaled for the two banners to be raised.
“It looks like we will be using all three battalions today, Revin,” Finrul said.
“You’ll need to speak with the Generals when this is over. There is no excuse for what just happened. Either our foot soldiers need to be more disciplined or the cavalry needs to be able to react quicker. They massacred our archers and that does not bode well for the future of our campaign,” the elf said.
“I will do what I can to ensure that everyone learns from this mistake. It is hard to believe that we fell for such a move. Have we gone too long without war?”
“Our people will remember, their pride won’t give them any other choice. Not that it was the most dishonorable tactic, but our people are not accustomed to fighting other races anymore. There was a time when we knew the humans tactics as if they were our own, but that is not so anymore. Our people think like elves and that can be dangerous.”
*
“This has been a disgrace,” Finrul said as he addressed his three Generals.
“I agree, sir. The humans are barbaric and dishonorable. It is truly appalling to see such tactics used on the field of battle,” General Kern said.
“I was referring to our own shortcomings. The humans should never get the jump on the elves. We are superior. How did this happen?”
“We were unprepared, sir Finrul,” General Peliras replied.
“And why were we unprepared?” The elven mage asked.
“Overconfidence, I believe. Yes, we are superior, but that does not mean that they are unable to come up with effective tactics. Yes, we are better, but that does not make them worthless. We underestimated them and overestimated ourselves,” General Wellith said.
“You are correct, Wellith. I think it is time that we instate you as High General. Peliras and Kern will obey your orders from here on out. Let us learn from this mistake. We may have the dragons on our side, but that does not mean that we will not need superior tactics to win this war,” Finrul said before dismissing his Generals.
He paced back and forth, contemplating how to explain to the dragons that nearly a third of his archers had been wiped out. They would want someone to blame and he couldn’t afford to choose any of his Generals. He sighed as he accepted that it would be the best course of action to take on the blame himself. His hand trembled as he took up his quill. He took a deep breath and began writing out a letter to explain what had happened. There was little doubt in his mind that the dragons would not be happy with this failure. Despite having won the battle, this many losses was simply unacceptable. The sorcerer wondered if this would be his last letter.
*
Wrotan grimaced as he climbed up onto his horse. The battle against the caravan guards had not come without a cost. Both Bertram and the hunter had been wounded. The leader of the paladins tried his best to show no weaknesses, but everyone could see that he was hurting. Wrotan, on the other hand, made no effort to hide the fact that even a week after the encounter, his injuries still got in the way. Since their encounter with the caravan, they had slowed their pace to speed the recovery of the injured. Two of the paladins had also taken minor wounds in the fight. Nearly everyone involved had come away with at least a few nicks and bruises, but Wrotan and Bertram had taken the brunt of it.
“Don’t we look nice,” Mariah said as she came alongside Wrotan.
“As long as everything heals properly, I don’t mind a few scars,” Wrotan said.
“That was pretty impressive back there. You two must have killed over a dozen each.”
“We got lucky. Bertram’s initial blow shocked most of our opponents. We also must remember that slavers are trained to capture not kill. Their instincts kicked in and they were trying to subdue us. I did everything I could to attack as aggressively as possible. They should have killed me, but they were looking to wear me down instead.”
“It wasn’t luck. I believe Bertram knew what he was doing with that savage counterattack and you knew exactly how to take advantage of your enemy’s main weakness.”
“You make it sound glamorous. We were better prepared, it is as simple as that.”
“That isn’t normal. The average swordsman does not prepare for extreme situations. You have a skill that not many others can master.”
“What exactly should I be doing with this skill?” Wrotan asked.
“Once we are finished here, you could use your skills to defend those who truly need it. I understand that the wilds are your home, but the people there can fend for themselves. You could make a real difference in the city,” Mariah replied.
“I wish it were that simple.”
“Not everyone will see you as an outsider, you will find a place to fit in.”
“It isn’t entirely their fault. I played a part in it as well.”
“What happened?”
“That is a story for another time.”
*
Hadrin covered his nose as the smell wafted toward them. Something was seriously wrong up ahead. Bertram signaled to his paladins and they all spurred their horses on faster. The elf made no move to show up at the scene any quicker. His companions were of the same mind. Their altercation with the caravan had taught them not to rush into situations too quickly. The sight was almost worse than the smell. An entire swath of the forest had been torched, all for the sake of finding a handful of dwarves. The bodies were charred beyond what a normal fire could have done. Alandra held back to ensure that Amber was ok. Hadrin and the others rod
e ahead.
“What could have done this?” The Prince asked as he rode up to the leader of the paladins.
“Only two things can cause this sort of damage. We are looking at either dragons or magicians,” Bertram replied.
“It is likely the earth dragons. They’ve been at odds with the dwarves at times throughout history. The dwarves have been attempting to retake mount Kargon and I have no doubt that the dragons aren’t happy about that,” Wrotan said.
“I don’t think I’ve ever been in a situation where I wanted to add more dragons into the mix. Are we certain that traveling to the dwarven lands is our best course of action?” Mariah asked.
“We really don’t have much choice. Even if we can stop Kade, the four kingdoms and the elves will side against us. If we are able to assist the dwarves, they may help us in return.”
“Good thing we have a hunter with us,” one of the paladins said as he approached with a dragon claw.
“You don’t hunt dragons. They hunt you,” Wrotan said.
“True or not, we have little choice. One of my men found Lamont’s knife. We are on the right track, but it looks like the path leads to dragons. Even if there was no sign of Lamont, this attack was an abomination,” Bertram said.
“These are not your typical dragons. They are earth dragons. Whether or not any of their kin are assisting them remains to be seen. That having been said, the shadow dragons will undoubtedly seek their allegiance.”
“How is an earth dragon different from the ones we saw with my father?” Hadrin asked.
“They’re mainly underground beasts. This does not mean they will not come above ground, but they prefer to burrow. They are significantly less agile and they have no wings. Unfortunately, they are also much hardier,” the hunter replied.