by Eden Redd
Kavan smiled as Kogan led him to the town center, gazes and smiles from townsfolk directed at the dragonkin and orc.
***
The last rays of sunlight winked out behind the horizon. A yellow and orange light flashed across the sky before it cooled like glowing embers. Shadows lengthened as night drifted across this part of the world.
The wind off the Azure Sea pushed at the Misty Forest. Trees and leaves moved and fluttered to nature’s gentle caress.
A vibration touched the air, a buzzing filling the ancient forest.
Animals, creatures, and monsters lifted their heads and ears to the strange buzzing sound. A brief moment later, every living thing in the forest ran or hid for cover.
From the forest, a cloud of buzzing, black bodies rose up over the forest canopy. In the center of the black cloud, a larger menacing version of the creatures took flight. It stared into the distance, seeing the glowing light emanating from a walled town.
A foul rage boiled within unblinking white eyes.
The black cloud began to move. Humanoid insects flew through the air as a chattering pulsed through the cloud. A feast was in the distance and they would feed like never before.
The sky darkened into night as a vicious storm of chitin-covered bodies flew on the wind, a never-ending hunger driving them closer to the feast ahead.
Twenty Three
Colored lanterns swung on the slight breeze. A jovial mood took the crowd in the town center. Drinks were raised and mouths moved to hushed whispers. Eyes watched as the mayor and magistrate took to a small, makeshift stage. It was just a few sturdy crates together, but it was enough for the pair to stand up and look at the gathered town.
A nervous swirl touched Kavan’s stomach as he looked at a small sea of excited and adoring eyes. The townsfolk smiled, causing the swirl to sink a little deeper into his spirit.
“Kavan, are you well?” Viz asked.
It reminds me a little of when I was younger, before the accident. I thought I knew what I was doing and a lot of people looked up to me. I know, under certain conditions, this could all easily go away like it did before, but right now, I’m enjoying this feeling of belonging to something bigger than myself.
“People function better when they work together. It works in almost any society. Coming together to overcome problems and threats is a core to many spirits.”
Kavan nodded.
Moonvale can be so much more. I can see it. I can almost taste it. There is so much potential to grow. I may be a magistrate now, but I won’t stay one forever. Moonvale can grow from a town to a mighty kingdom. We just need a push in the right direction.
Kavan looked out to the crowd.
In all my interactions with the townsfolk, I can feel they all want more. More gold, better protections and to believe in something greater. Once my farm is fully up and running, I can work with the mayor and see if we can make Moonvale the city and kingdom it is meant to be.
“It sounds like you want to bring hope back to Voldor.”
I do. Voldor has languished in fear and apathy since the dragons stormed the higher planes. I believe we can turn Voldor into a better world.
“What do you have in mind?”
We start small. Work on Moonvale first. After that, the surrounding areas. With time and effort, this small town will be the talk of Voldor. After that, we make it and the surrounding areas a true kingdom, one worthy of respect and power.
Kavan looked at the gathered crowd and his heart lifted in his chest.
A place where everyone can worship who they wish and not live in fear any longer.
Mayor Sunaxe cleared his throat, took a deep breath and addressed the crowd. “Family of Moonvale! I am proud to say, the last month has brought a new and welcomed change to our little town.
“I know we are very eager to get on with the celebration, but I just wanted to take a moment for all of us to thank our magistrate, Lord Kavan Cynder for everything he has done for our town and peace of mind.”
Clapping and shouting filled the town center.
Kogan looked over to Kavan with a wide smile. “Anything you want to say to the town, my boy?”
Kavan nodded and addressed the crowd, “Thank you for welcoming me into your town. I know my time here has been short, but I hope we change that for the years to come.
“I want to also give an extra thanks to Durzol and Drayke. The three of us made an excellent team against the xykk.”
Durzol lifted a frothy mug and smiled. Drayke gave a small nod from the crowd.
“I want to thank the mayor for his leadership. I also wish to thank everyone who contributed to the town and each other. We wouldn’t have…” Kavan trailed off.
The dragonkin looked up into the night sky. The moon began to rise, it’s reflected light touching a strange dark cloud approaching from the south of town. Moonlight gleamed off floating forms, the cloud getting bigger and bigger.
Mayor Sunaxe and the town looked at the dragonkin with peculiar gazes. A slight murmur filled the crowd, patiently waiting for Kavan’s next words.
Kavan’s slitted eyes and senses focused. When a distant vibration touched his sensitive senses, his heart nearly froze in his chest.
Kavan looked down at the gathered town, fear bleeding into his eyes. Seeing everyone looking at him sparked a flame. The fear turned into a proactive growing bonfire, purpose and control filling his entire being.
“Listen to me very carefully,” Kavan said darkly to the gathered crowd. “Everyone, move to the church on North Street. Grab any weapons and potions you can from the caches.”
Many in the crowd blinked. Heads turned to each other in confusion.
Mayor Sunaxe looked up to see what Kavan was looking at. When his eyes focused on the dark cloud moving toward the town, a spark touched his own dark eyes.
“Kavan is right. Move in an orderly fashion,” Kogan said firmly.
Kavan reached behind him and pulled his spear from its sheath. He twisted it and the shaft extended. The mithril point gleamed in the lantern light.
“Xykks are coming,” Kavan said darkly before jumping into the crowd.
Gasps rose up as heads turned. Eyes saw just over the edge of the high wall, the first dark forms flying through the night sky. The buzzing reached the town and fear swelled.
“To the church!” Kavan shouted his command.
The entire crowd moved as one. Wide eyes looked around in a panic as the dark cloud moved closer.
The mood shifted from joy into stark terror. Drinks and plates of food were dropped. Hands reached out to help move fellow townsfolk along. Durzol, Kazko and Rujin started moving the crowd. Lorta moved to North Street and began waving everyone along.
Kavan helped by silently directing the town toward Lorta as he glanced over his shoulder to the approaching cloud of xykks. His heart beat like an engine as he called up his stats.
Kavan Cynder
Species: Dragonkin
Health: Normal
Mana: 9/9
Attributes
Strength: 4
Intelligence: 4
Dexterity: 4
Constitution: 4
Willpower: 4
Natural Abilities
Claws
Regeneration
Fire Spit
Spheres
Fire: 3
Body: 2
Life: 1
Skills
Combat: 4
The dragonkin mentally pushed the stats to the corner of his vision to aid him in battle.
“Connecting to your senses,” Viz stated.
Hynrik looked to the approaching cloud and a cold grimness touched his entire face. Spider legs moved as he charged to a nearby, abandoned building. The arachnix reached a door with a small dragon head symbol above it. Hynrik grabbed the old door and ripped it off its hinges. He threw it down, turned and reached in. Hands took hold of a large satchel. The arachnix worked, opening the satchel and pulling out a sheathed swo
rd. He spun the sheathed sword around his shoulder and back, securing it with a tight pull. He then reached in and gathered fire potions and clipped them to the belt across his chest.
Drayke watched the approaching xykks, turned and bolted down West Street.
“Protect the residents!” the dragonkin shouted to the stone statues around the center of town.
Angels, demons, and monster statues nodded. Eight of them turned and took stances, ready to fight.
“Fucking xykks!” Shegga growled.
The short kobold rushed up North Street to a building alcove. She opened a door and pulled out a sack. Scaled hands reached in and took hold of something heavy. The kobold grunted as she pulled out a crossbow with a loaded bolt. She lifted it up and held it at the ready as the rest of the town broke into a quick run up North Street.
Kavan glanced over his shoulder again as he waved everyone north.
“I count over two hundred xykks and the queen,” Viz informed.
“I don’t like those odds,” Kavan whispered as the center of town was nearly empty and everyone was travelling up the street.
Lorta led the charge to the church. It stood like a fortress with stained glass along the sides of it. A large, round stained-glass picture of a silver dragon was above the main entrance to the sturdy church. The weathered stone showed the countless years the structure had stood the test of time. It stood as a beacon to the town, offering safety once again to the residents of Moonvale.
Lorta rushed to the stone steps and waved everyone up. Raine and Misty took flight, launching into the air and landing by the thick, double oak doors. The fae took hold and pulled the doors open as the first residents rushed in.
Kavan and the others hurried the crowd in when the dragonkin noticed a few residents were missing.
“Shit!” Kavan cursed before turning to Lorta, Durzol, Rujin, and Kazko. “Protect everyone inside and get more weapons from the caches! I have to find Onka, Dura, and…. where’s the mayor?”
***
Kogan stepped into his office. The older orc looked to the mantle above and behind his desk. He moved with purpose as he crossed the room and stood before it. A weathered battle axe shined in the lantern light; the edge still sharp.
“Time to defend our town once again,” the orc smiled as he reached up and took hold of it.
The battle axe lifted easily from its pegs. The older orc gave it a swing before holding it up. He turned and faced the rest of his office, sorrow touching his spirit.
“I don’t have many fights left in me, but this one will not be my last,” the orc said and began marching for the front doors.
***
Residents spilled into the church. Misty helped Glem along, the giant ogre babbling in fear. Zellee helped residents in as she looked up to the stained-glass window of the god Drogoss from the inside. Thick iron bars crisscrossed on the inside, to give added protection.
The arachnix nodded to herself as the last of the crowd made it inside. Raising her hands, slits opened in her palms and strands of webbing shot out. They crossed the distance and height, splashing against the bars and taking hold. Zellee pulled and her legs touched the wall. She climbed up until she reached the stained-glass window and bars, thirty feet off the ground. Hands moved, spitting out thick strands of webbing against the bars and glass, binding it all together to make it stronger against the incoming attack.
Ammi huddled on a pew. The dryad looked down with fear in her eyes. Shegga approached the dryad from the side and stood on the pew next to her with a lifted crossbow.
“I’ll protect you for as long as I can, but you may have to fight with us if we are going to survive this,” Shegga said with an understanding tone.
Ammi rocked in her seat, the fear paralyzing her mind.
A troll with an eyepatch walked over and put a hand on Ammi’s shoulder. She had a sword on her hip and looked at the kobold standing on the pew.
“We will all protect each other,” Tezzi said and drew her sword.
“Misty!” Soki shouted to the priestess. “Are there any weapon and potion caches in the church?”
The blonde fae looked at the naga and nodded. Misty took flight, crossed the large chamber and landed by the altar. She reached down and pulled out three heavy bags. Transparent wings fluttered behind her as she pulled the bags along to the middle of the chamber.
Soki rushed to the sacks and the pair opened them. Misty pulled out a short sword and stuffed her robe pockets with fire potions. Soki pulled out healing potions and stuffed them into her robe pockets.
The naga looked at the fae with confident eyes. “We’re going to have wounded. Keep the middle aisle empty. We will need to pull the wounded to the altar to tend to them.”
Misty nodded, picked up another short sword and took flight.
Raine directed the small crowd into the church, instructing them to stay away from the entrance. He glanced to the side to see Misty approaching. Misty flung her second short sword and Raine caught it.
Brother and sister hovered side by side with short swords in their hands.
“Protect the flock,” Raine and Misty said in unison with firm eyes and readied swords.
***
Lorta, Rujin, Kazko, Durzol, and Kavan stood outside the church.
“We need everyone armed with weapons and fire potions,” Kavan said from the middle of the street.
Two figures charged up the street. Heads turned to see Kogan and Hynrik moving along, sacks over their shoulders. The mayor held his battle axe in one hand and sack over his shoulder. Hynrik carried several sacks over his shoulders, the pommel of a sword peeking over his shoulder. Past the pair, a row of statues moved backwards, keeping an eye on the approaching horde.
“What’s everyone’s flavor?” Hynrik said gruffly before he pulled the sacks from over his shoulder and placed them on the street floor.
“Clubs,” Rujin and Kazko said in unison.
“Short spear, or sword,” Lorta said.
Hynrik reached down and pulled out two metal clubs. He tossed them to the Hearth brothers before reaching down again and pulling out a sheathed sword.
“No spears, but we do have some swords,” Hynrik said and tossed it to the troll.
Lorta caught it and wrapped it around her waist. Once it was buckled in, she drew the sword and held it at the ready.
“Grab potions,” Kavan commanded as the buzzing in the air grew louder.
Rujin and Kazko held their clubs, feeling the heft. The two looked at each other and shit-eating grins bloomed.
“Most kills will indicate who has a better inn or tavern,” Kazko chuckled.
“I’ll take that wager,” Rujin grinned and spun his metal club, small spikes covering it.
Kavan’s heart hammered in his chest as the buzzing grew to a deafening roar.
“Onka is still at her place and Dura is still at the library. We have to…” Kavan didn’t finish.
Armored, insect bodies floated over the wall of Moonvale. Round, white eyes peered down like spotlights, searching for flesh to rend and consume. The very air pulsed as transparent wings beat at a rapid pace. A heaviness touched every part of Moonvale, a small band of townsfolk gathered before a church.
Kavan’s slitted eyes narrowed as he knew that they had run out of time.
“Mayor! You and Durzol save Dura. Rujin, Kazko, and Lorta, defend the church. Hynrik, you and I are going for Onka,” Kavan’s voice boomed with authority.
There was no push back or an exchange with words. Lorta, Rujin, and Kazko moved to the steps of the church. Kogan and Durzol broke into a charge up North Street. Kavan and Hynrik turned and faced the incoming horde.
“No one dies tonight,” Kavan shouted as the first wave of xykks shifted their bodies and dived down toward them.
Hynrik drew his sword from over his shoulder. The arachnix looked up at the incoming horde with defiant eyes.
“My old friends,” the arachnix whispered as webbing from his palm touched
the sword pommel in it.
Kavan channeled 2 points of mana into his Body Sphere. His muscles charged with new vitality. Strength and speed filled him with power and he bent his knees.
“For Moonvale!” Kavan shouted and launched into the air.
Jagged chaos bloomed as the dragonkin shot forth like a bullet and drove his spearpoint into a xykk’s chest. Clear blood spurted from the back as claws tried to swipe at him. Kavan and the xykk fell, the dragonkin pulling the spear and parrying a claw. As they fell, the spear spun and sliced across the neck of the falling xykk, sending its pointed head spinning through the air.
Screeches filled the town as xykks bore down with deadly intent. A sword shot through the air with a tight strand of webbing along the pommel. The sword point stabbed into a head, causing it to explode in a shower of clear fluid. Hynrik’s legs moved as he pulled back. The sword shot back to his hand and he swung it hard and let go. The web strand was taut as the sword swung sideways and cut through limbs and chests. Several insect-like arms fell as blood and bodies rained down. The arachnix advanced as his humanoid body moved like a dancer, swinging his sword at the end of a thick strand of webbing.
Kavan hit the street and launched himself skyward again. His spearpoint gleamed as he stabbed into a chest, pulled back and stabbed again. The xykk screeched before the light died in its eyes.
Kavan was falling when two large claws swiped at him. They came in at a slight angle, bashing him from the air, but not clamping down. Kavan regained his balance before landing on the street and launching himself again.
Hynrik charged like an armored tank along the street. The arachnix’s humanoid body moved like a skilled fighter, bending and moving as his sword sliced across xykks with contempt. Hynrik’s free hand reached behind him and into the satchel across his back. He pulled out two fire potions and held them at the ready.
Further ahead of the dragonkin and arachnix, Drayke’s statues leapt up and crashed into the invading force. Angels, demons, and monsters clutched or grabbed at armored legs and let gravity pull them down. Statues shifted and slammed insect bodies to the street with unforgiving force. Carapaces cracked open and foul insides spurted up from the impacts. Statues moved to each new xykk with power and force. They formed a line and continued to fight as a large bulk of the xykks landed on the street and charged.
