“They are choosing loyalty, Nicolai,” Charise said as she motioned toward Hadrin, Alandra, Amber, and Mariah.
“What of our own leader?”
“I owe Wrotan more than I owe Lamont. One of those two fought alongside me against seemingly impossible odds, the other did not,” Bertram replied.
*
Finrul came to a halt when he spotted an elf with one purple eye and one gray eye. He followed after the elf, motioning for Ophelia and Lothrin to follow. They followed until they came to an empty tent. The sorcerer knew there was something familiar about him, but he couldn’t remember what. He steeled himself before entering the tent. The elf with different colored eyes motioned for the others to join him at a small table. They did as he asked, but none of them spoke. Finrul knew that this was either an opportunity or a trap. The strange elf glanced around the tent before talking to the others.
“Finrul, you know me as the sorcerer who tried to slay Melisandre. That was a smoke screen. My real identity is an agent of the Kelimar. You may call me Yarryn. We are the mortal enemies of the shadow dragons. Our goal is to defeat the agents of the shadow. I called you together to give you a chance to join our glorious empire. Fight with us against the shadow dragons and we will accept you into our fold,” he said.
“I think it is time to make our move,” Finrul said as he turned to the others.
“We seem to be in agreement on that. Ophelia?” Lothrin turned to the Queen.
“This is the opportunity that we’ve been looking for,” the Queen said.
*
Wrotan ducked down into the tall grass when he saw people approaching. The darkness shielded him more than anything, but it also made it difficult to see the others. They were expecting reinforcements, but not from that direction. He crept closer as he tried to identify the intruders. They didn’t look like they were prepared to attack, but the hunter knew better than to assume they weren’t there to fight. Zaira drew an arrow as she crouched next to him. He held up his hand and she nodded. They crept a bit closer and she nocked an arrow. The hunter stopped when he saw just how large the group was. By his estimation, there were more than a thousand soldiers heading toward them. He grabbed Zaira’s shoulder and began pulling her back. She slipped under his hand and disappeared into the darkness. The hunter drew his sword, wishing that he had insisted on taking the first watch alone.
“There are dwarves with them,” she said as she reappeared.
“You are certain?” He asked.
“Yes. Is that good or bad?” She asked.
“Good, I hope.”
The hunter stood up from the grass and sheathed his sword. He raised his arm in the air as he headed toward the group. Zaira followed him, but she crept low enough that the grass still hid her from view. Wrotan was glad to see that she was smart enough not to risk the small army seeing both of them. Worst case scenario, she could still raise the alarm if they decided to kill him. He desperately wanted to draw his sword, but he didn’t want to alarm the other group. Even if they were foes, there was a small chance they would spare him if he didn’t show too much aggression. The members of the approaching army began alerting one another when they spotted Wrotan. One of them raised a hand in a sign of peace. The hunter lowered his arm and quickened his pace. Bertram stepped out in front of some of his paladins and waved to Wrotan.
“We come in peace,” the leader of the paladins said.
“I’m glad to hear it. We were wondering when our armies would have a chance to combine,” Wrotan said.
“It is not as simple as it seems. I will explain when we are in camp.”
*
Bertram looked around the command tent with no small measure of apprehension. There were far too many unfamiliar faces for his liking. He wished he could be more like Charise and accept that they were among friends or like Hadrin, Mariah, Amber, and Alandra who were all happy see their friends. That was not his role, nor should it have been. The new arrivals from the Arcane Academy and the Magic Realm were rightly suspicious of each other. Nearly every member of the fragile alliance had something to prove to the others. They fought on the same side out of necessity as opposed to want. That was the nature of the situation they had all been thrown into. Forcing people to accept others as allies wouldn’t help them to trust each other. They needed to resolve whatever larger issues they had with each other if they had any hope of efficiently working together. The paladin hoped that his leadership would allow them to raise those questions and that Wrotan’s leadership would allow them to get through the answers.
“Our coming together is not as joyous as it might otherwise seem. Lamont and some of the others have paired together with a group from the spirit realms known as the Kelimar. We know little about them, but we do know that they are not looking to defeat the dragons for the take of the realms,” Bertram said.
“I’ve some experience with the Kelimar. They are no better than the shadow dragons. Their goal is to rule the known world. We must stop them, just as we must stop the dragons,” Kade said.
“It would be foolish to think that we can set aside our differences and fight side by side against a common enemy. Instead, we must position our army in such a way that the rivalries within our alliance are not at odds with each other. The Arcane Academy and the fairy kingdom are not on the best of terms. As such, they should not be required to fight side by side.”
“We are all here for one of two reasons. Some of us owe Wrotan our lives and others are here to defeat the dragons. These are not things that we take lightly. I do not believe we need to worry about any rivalries within our ranks,” Mordus, the wildlander chief, said.
“This is a life and death situation, we don’t have the luxury of worrying about whatever qualms we have within our alliance. We fight as a unit or we die,” Wrotan said.
The Great Battle
Finrul watched as the night elf army surged forward. The dragons took flight behind them as they headed toward the remnants of the human armies. There was no doubt that Obrin had been the one to direct them toward such a course of action. That left the other ragtag army to face the elves and their new allies. He glanced over at their new target. The army was significantly larger than it had been the day before, but it was still smaller than his own. Ophelia and Lothrin were already decked out in their royal armor and preparing their troops to march on their opponents. The sorcerer was less optimistic than his fellow commanders, but he was eager to take to the battlefield. He called Revin over.
“What do you make of them?” Finrul asked.
“They don’t look nearly as organized as our force,” the scoutmaster replied.
“What do your scouts recommend?”
“We need to strike hard and fast. They’ve got the fairies and the Arcane Academy siding with them. Our army is larger, but we lack the magical power that they can muster. Their main fighting force is made up of the fairy army, an army from the borderlands, an army from the wildlands, and a small contingent of paladins. They have a strong mix. The borderlanders are likely to have a lot of veterans and the wildlanders are some of the most skilled fighters I’ve ever seen. We know next to nothing about the paladins and the fairies, except that the fairies are not at all what we expected.”
“What else can you expect from tiny humanoids with wings?”
“They aren’t small and they don’t have wings.” Revin replied.
“Treat them like you would the humans. This won’t be an easy battle for us. My magic won’t be enough to stop all their wizards.”
“Our people will fight to the end.”
“If this is the end for us, let us hope that it is an end worthy of our people.”
King Lothrin called them over. It was time to march to victory or death. The elves had chosen their allies and now they needed to get rid of the first obstacle before moving on to the main goal. In the event that they were too weak to fight the dragons outright, they would play it off as though they were watching the back of the night elves and the dragons.
It would, at the very least, give them more time to plan an attack on the creatures. Finrul, Revin, Yarryn, Queen Ophelia, and King Lothrin took the lead as they headed into battle. Their opponents began to match forth as well. Soldiers from both sides took off in a sprint toward each other. The two armies met in a clash of steel, staining the field of battle with sweat and blood.
“Neutralize their commanders!” Yarryn yelled as he broke off from the others.
Finrul followed behind as they went after an elf and a human woman. They each had their weapons ready, but they were yelling orders and only engaging in combat when their opponents broke through. The spirit mage used his magic to summon a spear and he threw it at the elf. Finrul followed his lead and shot a bolt of lightning at the woman. Both of their attacks landed, forcing the two enemy commanders to retreat. Several Arcane Academy wizards replaced them and drove off Finrul and Yarryn. They turned their attention back to the center of the battle. Ophelia, Lothrin, and their royal guards were fighting against a well-armed contingent of enemy soldiers. The two sorcerers closed in the distance in an attempt to assist the two royals.
“I remember you. My troops will tear you to piece this time, hunter!” Lothrin yelled as he lunged at his opponent.
Ophelia and her bodyguards were pushed back by one of the paladins that Lamont had warned them about. They continued to battle back and forth until the paladins were able to gain the upper hand. Finrul did what he could with his magic, but the Arcane Academy sorcerers used their magic to nullify his spells. Yarryn rushed in to defend the Queen and managed to hold off the attacking paladins. The elven sorcerer turned his attention to Lothrin, but it was too late. He arrived in time to see the hunter knock aside the King’s sword and then stab him through the chest. The hunter yanked his sword free and joined the paladins in their attack.
“Sound the retreat!” Finrul yelled as he passed Lamont and Cristoph.
“The Queen is dead, our forces are shamed!” A cry went up through the elven warriors.
*
Wrotan jumped back as the tall humanoid warrior pulled his spear out of the Queen’s back. He lunged forward and threw all his might into the attack. The spirit warrior brought up his spear to block and it shattered as the sword connected. He stumbled backward, leaving the hunter an opening. His sword whipped around and severed the humanoid’s head. The surrounding warriors on both sides of the fight stepped back and sheathed their weapons. Cristoph strode forward with a white flag. Lamont and two elves followed behind him as they approached the hunter. Each of them fell down to one knee and their army followed suit.
“We surrender to your superior might, hunter,” the head of the spirit monastery said.
“Treachery within your own ranks is what led to your ultimate downfall. This foul warrior killed the elven Queen,” Wrotan said as he picked up the spirit warrior’s head.
“I bear the brunt of that decision. My only hope is that I can convince the remaining spirit warriors to band together with us to defeat the dragons,” Lamont said.
“It is against my better judgment to allow any of you to fight alongside us, but the need is dire. If any of you decide to betray us before the battle is over, your fate shall be the same as his,” Wrotan raised his voice as he held the head high in the air.
“We have no time to discuss, our mortal enemies approach,” one of the spirit warriors said as he pointed to the skies.
The hunter yelled for his troops to reform their ranks according to how they had been trained. He sheathed his sword and took the spear off his back. The dragons swooped in and began raining down fire on the unorganized army. Arcane Academy sorcerers did their best to protect the troops from the attack, but there was only so much that could be done. Wrotan and the spirit warriors were the first to counterattack. They rushed forward with their spears and let them fly. Several dragons let out cries of pain as the spears tore through their wings, causing a few to crash to the ground. The archers formed up and began opening fire as the next wave of dragons attacked. Lamont and Bertram rallied the spirit monastery troops together and charged the downed dragons.
“With me lad,” King Padraig said as he rushed forward.
Wrotan joined him at the front of the fairy army. They were unfazed by the carnage unfurling before them. The spirit monks, paladins, and spirit warriors were in the thick of the fight and they were not faring well. Kade rushed forward with the Arcane Academy wizards at his back. He unleashed a massive spear of ice that skewered one of the larger dragons. His fellow magicians began launching spells at the dragons to keep them out of the skies. The battle on the ground was fierce as Wrotan and the fairy army rushed in to reinforce the others. Lamont and the spirit warriors were cut off and surrounded by the dragons, forcing the others to focus on saving Bertram and his paladins.
“Get your men out of there!” Wrotan yelled at the paladin as he engaged one of the dragons.
The creature let out a roar as the hunter drove his sword into its neck. It thrashed about, trying to catch him, but he was too quick. He continued attacking and dodging until the dragon was too weak to retaliate. His final sword blow severed the beast’s neck. Padraig and his men pushed back another dragon, creating an opening for Bertram and his paladins. They retreated back into the midst of the fairy army and the dragons pulled back. Wrotan surveyed the battlefield, wondering why the beasts had pulled back. He sheathed his sword and started to backpedal. Something was wrong, but he couldn’t figure out what it was.
“We’ve walked into a trap!” He yelled as the ground began to shake.
Two massive earth dragons burst out of the ground on either side of the fairy army. They came together, crushing the brunt of the army between them. The hunter yelled as he rushed toward the closer of the two dragons. He started hacking at the creature with reckless abandon. It whipped around and knocked him several feet to the side. Kade rushed to his side and used his magic to create a barrier between them and the dragons. The beasts slammed into the magic shield, but were unable to break it. One of the dragons let out a roar and all of the remaining creatures pulled back. The battlefield was strewn with bodies from both sides of the fight. Wrotan slammed his fist against the ground before rising to his feet.
“We need you alive,” Kade said.
“I’ll kill every last one of them!” The hunter yelled.
“My suspicions were correct,” Padraig said as he struggled to sit up.
“Where is Josephine? We need a healer.”
“It is too late for me. The dragons were a more formidable opponent than we realized. You’ve got to hold them together. They’ll lose without your leadership. Treachery on the part of the spirit warriors brought the elves under your command, don’t let them change their mind.”
“Why me?” Wrotan asked.
“Because they believe in you. With good reason, too. Promise me two things, Wrotan. Can I rely on you for that?” Padraig asked.
“I will do what I can.”
“I know you will. First, take my sword and avenge me. Second, ensure my people are safe. Keep them safe, keep my daughter safe.”
“You have my promise,” Wrotan said as he took the sword.
*
Hadrin nodded to Alandra and Mariah as the dragons attacked from another direction. The other portion of the army needed them to hold off these creatures so that they could reform and amass for a counterattack. He knew well that it would likely mean his own death. They ordered the archers to attack as the dragons swooped down. The Arcane Academy wizards continued to minimalize the damage done by the dragon’s fire, but there was nothing they could do to stop the razor sharp claws and crushing jaws of the beasts. Several dragons crashed to the ground as the arrows tore through their wings. The elf raised his sword in the air and shouted as he charged toward the downed dragons. A large contingent of troops followed and battle was joined. He wondered how Wrotan was able to keep a handle on things so well as the battle descended into chaos. The casualties began to pile up on bot
h sides as the elven Prince found himself hacking and dodging with no real rhyme or reason. Alandra and Mariah matched his attacks with a level of precision that surprised him.
“Keep fighting!” He yelled as the dragons began to push back.
The night elf Prince tried to dive out of the way as the dragon tail swung at him. His chest erupted in pain as the attack connected. He flew through the air and felt another flash of pain as he hit the ground. The allied troops rallied around him, but the dragons were too strong and too many. He rose to his knees in time to see one of the creatures drive a claw through Mariah’s stomach. His own chest erupted in pain as another dragon punctured one of his lungs. He gasped for breath as he collapsed to the ground. The pain was unlike anything he had every felt before. He tried to cry out for assistance, but he couldn’t muster the strength. His vision blurred as everything faded around him. I’m sorry, father, he thought as the darkness closed in.
*
Obrin fell to one knee as he grabbed at his chest. It felt as though somebody had crushed his heart. Tears streamed down his face as he pushed himself up. His troops rushed to his side, but he pushed them away. Something terrible had happened and he hoped it was not the worst case scenario. He took a deep breath as he headed for the castle. Ungaroth perched atop the keep as if it were some sort of small roost. The elf King motioned toward the dragon, but the beast ignored him. He used his magic to send a small wave of air at the creature. Ungaroth let out a roar before lifting off into the air. He dove down and landed next to Obrin with such force that it nearly knocked the elf over.
“What is it?” The dragon asked.
“I need to know where he is,” the elf King said.
“With the friends he traveled with, likely dead.”
“You allowed my son to die?”
“Foolish elf, we do not care for the well-being of lesser races. You were allowed to live because the services that you have provided us. Your son chose to fight and die. He is the one to blame.”
The elf King shook with rage. He desperately wanted to kill the dragon, but he knew that the beast was far too powerful to deal with alone. There was only one option left available to him, he only hoped that it was still viable. He used his magic to create a portal back to his army’s camp. His troops bowed as he strode through the portal. They were itching for battle, but he suspected that his plan would give them no small amount of pause. None of that mattered to him, he would see the dragons eliminated with or without his army’s assistance. He called together his Generals.