“The dragon is coming!” One of the dwarves yelled as he ran into the tunnel.
“Focus the ballistae on the earth dragon, everyone else thin out the drakes!” Wrotan yelled as he sprinted back to his spear.
He sheathed his sword and picked up the spear. The dragon let out a massive roar as it burst into the tunnel. Wrotan launched his spear at the dragon. It flew through the air and slammed into the creature’s leg. Ballista bolts rained down on the beast as the hunter drew his sword and rushed toward the dragon. He nodded to Mariah and she slid down to one knee and braced her shield against the ground. Wrotan used the shield as a ramp, but still wasn’t able to reach the dragon’s head. He rolled to the side as the beast attempted to slam him with a claw. The hunter pulled his knife and dug it into one of the dragon’s legs. He used it to pull himself higher and dig his sword further up. The creature shook off the attack and spun to deal a death blow.
“I’ll send you to your grave, foul beast!” Wrotan yelled as he rolled away from the oncoming claw.
The hunter grabbed his knife from the dragon’s leg and ran underneath the creature’s belly. He dug the dagger into the beast’s gut before rushing out from underneath. One of nearby dwarves threw his axe to the hunter. He brought the axe up behind his head and swung at the dragon’s leg as though it were a tree to be felled. His arms repeated the motion several times as the beast bellowed in pain. It limped backward and let out a roar. Wrotan let out a battle cry as he rushed the wounded dragon. The axe dug into the creature’s front leg just as the back of the dragon’s other paw collided with the hunter. He struggled to his feet as the dragon lurched toward him. The hunter dove to the side, narrowly missing being crushed by the beast.
*
“Reload the ballistae, aim at the dragon’s leg!” Mariah yelled as she watched the dragon turn and charge Wrotan.
She ran toward the beast as more dwarven ballista bolts bounced off of the dragon’s hide. The former guardswoman grabbed hold of one of the bolts. She lunged at the beast and dug the bolt into the wound in the dragon’s leg. The beast roared as it pulled back the wounded leg. Mariah backpedaled as the creature turned to face her. Several dwarves rushed to her side, ready to give their lives to assist her. The dwarves’ willingness to work as a team gave her an idea on how to defeat the dragon. She ordered them to break up into four groups. Each group focused on attack one of the beast’s legs. They attacked whenever the creature was distracted by another group. Wrotan joined in on the attack and before long the dragon’s legs gave out. The massive beast crashed to the floor with a loud roar.
“Take the axe and aim for the neck!” The hunter yelled as he tossed her his weapon.
Mariah caught the axe and dodged to the side as the dragon whipped its head toward her. Wrotan rushed forward and rammed into the fallen beast. He continued assaulting the creature to create an opening for his companion. She slipped in behind the dragon’s head and raised the axe as high as she could. It took several tries, but she was able to break through the thick hide and deal a blow that not even a dragon would be able to survive. The dwarves ordered everyone to back away from the beast, but Mariah was stuck behind the thrashing creature’s head. Wrotan climbed atop the dragon and slid down to where she was. He helped her to slide free and they both ran out of the creature’s reach.
“We’ve done it!” One of the dwarves yelled.
Wrotan ordered everyone to gather together and tend to the wounded. The others obeyed as the remaining drakes retreated back out of the caverns. Hadrin, Alandra, and Amber did what they could to help the healing of those who had been injured in the battle. Lamont and Bertram led their small party of paladins after the drakes to ensure that they didn’t attack again. Mariah approached the fallen dragon with a sense of awe. She ran her fingers along the hide as she walked beside the beast’s body. Even after having been attacked by the vicious creature, she couldn’t help but have some measure of respect for the dragon.
“It is a shame that the creatures are not willing to listen to reason,” Wrotan said as he approached.
“Perhaps, in the future, people will learn to live with such beasts. They are not like other lesser animals that can be tamed and they are far too dangerous to exterminate, even if such a drastic measure were necessary,” she said.
“We can always hope. Unfortunately, they are trying to exterminate us. That doesn’t give us much choice in the matter.”
“How will we be able to defeat multiple dragons? This one didn’t even breathe fire or fly. What kind of army will we need to face our enemies?”
“Earth dragons are known to be the toughest to kill. Yes, the others will be more likely to damage our forces, but they will fall easier.”
“How can you be certain?” Mariah asked.
“I may not have faced the dragons, but I’ve learned of them. There are tomes and tomes on fighting the beasts. We will have a decent array of knowledge should be forced to face more of them.”
“I had always thought that dragons had scales.”
“They do. An earth dragon’s scales are underneath the hide, though not in every section. Their weaker parts, like the neck and underbelly, have no scales. Other dragons are even weaker in those areas.”
“Can we truly hope to defeat the elves and their dragons? What about the four kingdoms?”
“We will find a way. Hopefully this victory will help us in that. The dwarves should be able to craft armor from the remains of the dragon.”
*
Obrin stepped through the portal and waved a greeting to Queen Ophelia and King Lothrin. The sea and forest elf armies were camped out on the massive plain. It was an impressive sight, even for one used to dealing with dragons. The night elf King made his way over to the other two royals. They were already discussing their part in the coming invasion. Their dragons, though weaker than the night, shadow, and sun dragons, were an integral part of keeping the human armies contained. Obrin held back a chuckle as he listened to the two talking about how each would bring far more honor to their people than any other battalion. He cleared his throat as he approached the war table. The other two turned their attention to him.
“It is good to see a united elven alliance. The humans are tough, but we will be victorious,” Obrin said.
“Can you be so certain?” Lothrin asked.
“The shadow dragons have given me what we need to defeat even an army larger than our own. Our shadow portals will allow us to strike at them at will. We will be able to attack before they can marshal their defenses.”
“What of their dragon slayers?” Ophelia asked.
“We have secret weapon in that fight. Even if he does not stay on as long as the dragons hope, he has already dealt a devastating blow to the four kingdoms,” Obrin replied.
“What are you speaking of?”
“The shadows have taken control of a young man’s mind. They used him to commandeer a group of Knights to destroy the kingdoms from within. He seems to be slipping from their grip, but a good portion of the damage has already been done.”
“Your shadow dragons are too reckless. They do not understand the intricacies of war,” Lothrin said.
“There is some merit to your outrage, but we cannot question Ungaroth and his kin. They have provided us with more than what we need to defeat the humans. Prepare your troops, we leave as soon as the portals are functioning,” Obrin said.
The night elf King left the table and turned toward the countryside where the armies were located. He spread his arms out in front of him. A small portal opened in front of the armies. It began to expand to be able to account for large portions of troops entering. Obrin motioned toward the portal and waited for his fellow royals to order their troops through. Lothrin and Ophelia joined him and they all waited as the two massive armies traveled through the portal. The forest King and the sea Queen entered first, leaving Obrin to observe his handiwork. He took a deep breath before stepping through the portal. The others were waiting for hi
m when he arrived on the other side.
“Where you have taken us?” Ophelia asked.
“North of Reddington. We leave the borderlands and the wildlands alone. They are not our concern yet,” Obrin replied.
“This is the dragon’s plan?” Lothrin asked.
“It is, for now. Once we’ve taken the four kingdoms, the dragons will give us our next assignment. Not even they know what lies beyond the human kingdoms. Perhaps they will have us clean up the rest of the area or they might have us move on to better things. As for you, they may or may not ask for you to accompany us after the fall of the humans.”
*
Hadrin watched as Lamont and Bertram huddled together. He approached them, but they held up their hand so he would know to stop. Wrotan, Alandra, Amber, and Mariah joined the Prince. The spirit monk and the paladin finished their conversation before turning to the others. They stepped forward and Lamont looked to Bertram once again. The paladin nodded to him and motioned toward the others.
“Bertram has convinced me that it is best that I inform all of you that I have been in contact with Cristoph. We can use the spirit world to communicate with one another,” Lamont said.
“Why didn’t you tell us before?” Hadrin asked.
“I was not certain that I could trust you. Bertram told me of his dealings with you and changed my mind about it. Cristoph is pleased that we were able to help out the dwarves. He informed me that you need to know how to enter another’s mind. While it is true that I know the secrets of magic, the ability to enter one’s mind is beyond me. You will need to seek the expertise of the arcane academy.”
“As unfortunate as that is, we always knew that might be the case. We best leave as soon as possible,” Wrotan said.
“The dwarves have requested that we stay for another week and help them destroy the nest of drakes. After that, we are free to return to the spirit monastery. From there, you can head south past the borderlands to the arcane academy. That is a trek that you will be forced to make alone. Lamont and I are not welcome at the academy,” Bertram said.
“Will the spirit monks be willing to join the battle against the elves and humans if necessary?”
“The paladins will be glad to join in that task, as will some of our allies. However, the majority of the spirit monks have sworn not to take up the sword.”
“We are thankful for whatever assistance you can provide. I understand that it is not your place to fight our battles, but these two forces will stop at nothing to ensure that the world in under their thumb.”
“True as that may be, not all the monks will see it that way.”
*
Kade looked back at his troops. A strange sense of unease had overcome even his toughest Knights. He frantically searched his mind to find out when and how it started. The days since the attempt on his life had gone by quickly. Their path was much clearer now that the elves had brought forth the brunt of their army. The young leader’s inner struggle had only intensified since his strange dream about the dragon and the humanoid. A part of him knew that the source of the men’s unease came from his own inability to fully control his rage. His mind felt as though it were not his own and it caused him both anger and confusion. The men needed a leader that didn’t need to worry about such things.
“Attos, after the coming battle, you will take charge of the Knights for a time,” he said.
“Is that wise?” His second-in-command asked.
“The men are loyal to you, and I seek an answer to a question that I have yet to figure out.”
“What would you have us do?”
“You and the men deserve some time off. Enjoy the local taverns, but do not wander too far.”
“I’ve seen that sort of talk before. How bad will the next battle be?”
“There is no real way of knowing yet. It shouldn’t be too much longer until we reach their position. I do expect casualties.”
Attos nodded as he sat up taller in his saddle. The young Knight always did his best to look intimidating on the outside, but Kade could sense his fear. It was a strange feeling, being able to know another’s emotions just by looking at them. The connection with the dragons had first brought about his knowledge of the ability. He honed his skills and was now able to tell what complete strangers were feeling. It came as an advantage on the field of battle. Kade placed his hand on Attos’ shoulder and returned the nod. He withdrew his hand before spurring his horse forward. The dragon hunters would see his full power before engaging the Knights. He rode up over the hill and nearly fell out of his saddle. The dragon hunters and dragon Knights had amassed an army in the valley below. By his estimation, they had more than twenty thousand troops.
“Company halt!” He yelled as he brought his horse to a stop.
“We can’t possibly hope to overcome that many,” one of the Knights said.
“Nor do I expect you to. We are done doing the dragon’s dirty work. Come, let us make haste before they decide to give chase.”
“Won’t the dragons be furious?” Attos asked as he pulled his horse alongside Kade’s.
“I’m not even certain that the dragons can overcome this force. They may not all be dragon hunters, but those that are will be trained specifically to kill dragons. Whichever side is the victor, the inhabitants of the land will lose,” Kade replied.
“Which side do we join?”
“Neither. The people need us more than anyone else.”
Kade spurred his horse forward and motioned for the others to follow. The dragons would know of his treachery before too long and the last thing his men needed was for him to draw the attention of the dragon hunter’s army. His inner battle was being waged between the dragon and the humanoid, but he felt as though his true self was missing from the ordeal. Memories of his old life were distant and fleeting, but there was no time for him to determine the cause. He and his men were about to be on the run from both the humans and the elves. The thought sent a shiver down his spine. No matter the victor, the Knights of Ardevale and their new leader would be branded as outlaws.
*
Cristoph nodded to the two guards before closing the door. They knew the importance of keeping others out of the room when he was visiting the spirit world. While there was no inherent danger in being in the same room as a person who was in the other world, there was a slight chance of the others being drawn in with him. It only seemed to happen to those who had visited the spirit world before. He had convinced the others that it was something to be researched in the future when the world was not quite so tumultuous. The truth was that he was afraid of the spirit world in many ways and felt that, if he could limit the amount of people visiting, he could also keep from drawing too much attention from whatever unknown entities had access to the world. None of that mattered now, though. Lamont had agreed to meet with him on a weekly basis and it was important to keep the line of communication open. The monk took a deep breath as he sunk back into the chair.
“Brother Cristoph, you’ve arrived,” Lamont said.
“Indeed, I have. How are the dwarves faring?” Cristoph asked.
“Quite well, we’ve run the drakes out of the mountains and are preparing to head south to the arcane academy.”
“That is excellent news, but I am afraid you will have a difficult time getting there. The elves have armies to the north and south of Reddington.”
“It has already begun?”
“They’ve engaged some of the borderlanders, but not the four kingdoms.”
“Good, we still have time. If the east is blocked, do we dare go west?” Lamont asked.
“The four kingdoms have their focus on the elves in the east. A small party should be able to slip through the countryside without too much trouble.”
“I will suggest that. Bertram will return with some of the others while I continue on with Wrotan, Amber, and Mariah.”
“Is it wise to leave the elves out of it?”
“You know the arcane academy as well
as I do. They’ll see that the elves are on the offensive and think that any elf traveling in their lands is a spy. We cannot risk them turning us aside. I know that the others want to save their friend, but I will be looking for allies in the coming war.”
“Be safe, my friend. You know as well as I that the Arcane Academy is not a safe place for spirit monks,” Cristoph said as he began his return to his study.
The other monk’s words left him troubled. There were few times in history that the spirit monks had embraced war and none of them had ended well. He wasn’t about to stop anyone from volunteering to join the war on either side, but the spirit monks’ official stance would be to denounce the war. Cristoph let out a sigh as he stood up from his chair. There was much work to be done. The monastery needed to be prepared in case of an attack. Beyond that, the spirit monks would be flooded with refugees from all sides of the war. He pushed open the door and motioned for the guards to follow him.
“We need to inspect the monastery for weaknesses. Send for the stonemasons and the carpenters. Even if our home is sound, we need it to be impenetrable. I want a small contingent of paladins sent into the caves to clear them of any dangerous beasts. We will need the area in case we are flooded with refugees,” Cristoph said as several monks approached him.
*
“We are eternally thankful for your assistance against those wretched beasts,” Hrimgur, spokesman for the dwarven King, said.
“The upcoming war will sow chaos in the world. Our friendship will go far in ensuring that there are safe havens in the world,” Bertram said.
“We can do one better. Our armies, or what is left of them, will fight at your side should the need arise. Safe travels, friend Bertram.”
“You have my thanks. I will inform Cristoph of the situation. Thank you again for the mounts.”