by Ben Hale
“I do trust him,” Elenyr said, and Tardoq inclined his head to her, a mark of gratitude.
Jeric scowled and looked away. “You seek one who is unlikely to help. The Bonebreaker is an exiled Bloodwall, perhaps the mightiest dakorian to ever live. Even we, the Eternals, have feared asking her aid.”
“Tardoq will succeed,” Mind said.
“I cannot do as you request,” Jeric jerked his head. “The Eternals protect Lumineia from people like him. We cannot trust him.”
Tardoq reached up and slowly drew the greatsword on his back, the weapon of a young rock troll named Kentor. He held it in his hands, his expression reverent. Then he grasped the hilt and placed the sword on the floor.
“I give you my oath as a Bloodwall, sworn on the blade of my protector, I will not betray the people of Lumineia. As of this moment, I renounce my rank in the Krey Empire, and if you will have me, I will join your ranks in protecting this world.”
His words were soft, but they seemed to reverberate in the cavern. Then Shadow shrugged. “Good enough for me. Ready to go?”
“Four paths,” Elenyr said. “Each with the chance to cripple or destroy Draeken and Serak.”
“A sound plan.” Mind swept his hand to the others. “But who goes with whom?”
Senia abruptly laughed, and when all turned to face her, she shrugged apologetically. “Sorry, I saw you talk about that in one of the futures. Something about Welfall.”
Jeric grimaced. “Not a subject I like.”
Elenyr frowned and considered the gathered group, and then directed them into groups. “Water and Fire, you go with Lira and Rynda to Terros. There you can join the alliance and help fight the war.”
They separated themselves and stepped to the side of the room, and Elenyr turned to the remainder. “Light and Willow can go with Senia and Rake to find Lachonus. We know he is integral to stopping Draeken, but not how or why. The oracle can guide you to him.”
She looked to Jeric as she spoke the next group. “Tardoq and Jeric will go to the Empire, and Mind will accompany them.”
Jeric scowled but did not argue as he took his place with Mind and Tardoq. Shadow grinned as he stepped to Elenyr’s side, and Lorica joined him. Sentara and Rune walked to Elenyr’s side and Sentara shrugged.
“Looks like we are going after the generals.”
“We are,” Elenyr said, and surveyed the four groups. “For now, this is our best course, but remember the foe we face. Draeken is smart as well as powerful, and if we are to succeed, we must be ready to adapt.”
She swallowed at the sudden worry in her chest. Her sons were weaker, and now they were fighting an even greater foe. Yet she could not imagine a greater collection of family and friends. She smiled.
“We are a strange group of allies,” she said. “But in this, we stand united. Let us make certain that the world we love remains intact.”
Chapter 3: A Shift in Power
Water embraced Elenyr and bid farewell to the other fragments, unable to shake the strangeness to the parting. Their personalities had altered after the separation with Draeken. Since he was the only one to retain a fragment of Power, he was the only one unchanged by the separation.
Water watched the fragments and wondered where he fit. He was still a fragment, but without his brothers, was he still a part of someone greater? Or was he now whole? Shadow slid up to his flank.
“Don’t die in the war,” Shadow said with a wink.
“I don’t plan to,” Water said.
The feeling of the group had changed since Elenyr had devised their plan of four paths. Water appreciated the hopeful tinge to their words, while Shadow and Light were borderline jovial. Rynda was obviously impatient to depart for combat, while Tardoq alone seemed somber. Elenyr appeared worried, and to her Water smiled.
“They’ll be fine,” he said, stepping to her side and handing her the waterskin he’d filled.
“I hope so.” She smiled as she accepted the skin. “Because I already lost a son. I don’t want to lose one again.”
“Me?” Fire turned, having overheard the comment. He smirked. “No war can stop us now.”
Water chuckled, unable to deny his brother’s amusement. Then he reached for the flow of water trickling down the slope from melting snow and swept it into a circle, the liquid wrapping up and around to form his traveling wheel. A seat rose from the base, and he added three more.
Rynda snorted and jerked her head. “I’m not traveling in that thing.”
“You won’t be able to keep up.”
“You won’t be able to keep up,” she retorted.
“I think she’ll be fine,” Lira said, climbing into the water wheel and claiming the left seat. Fire nodded in agreement and claimed the seat in the back.
Water placed a hand on the center chair but turned back to the group. Senia stood with Light and Willow, the trio mounting Isray, the dragon bonded to Rake. The white dragon made the clearing feel small, and he snorted when Light kept trying to touch his wings. Smoke curled from the dragon’s nostrils.
Mind stood with Tardoq and Jeric, the trio shouldering packs. Mind’s expression was reserved, but there was a trace of excitement about his frame at the prospect of going to the Krey Empire. Their eyes met and Mind spoke into Water’s thoughts.
Keep Fire safe.
Water nodded to the mental words. If you promise to return.
Mind inclined his head and flashed a rare smile. I have to. I can’t trust you fragments to survive without me.
Water chuckled at that, and then noticed Elenyr. The Hauntress had joined her own group, and stood with Shadow, Lorica, Sentara, and Rune. Sentara still didn’t like Elenyr, the animosity visible on her features, but Rune seemed excited at the prospect of their journey.
“Ready?” Lira asked, drawing Water’s attention.
Water glanced to her, the woman he’d come to love. “Of course.”
“Don’t start kissing in front of me,” Fire warned. “Not unless you want to see burning vomit.”
Lira grinned. “No promises.”
Elenyr called to everyone, and the four groups looked to her. A touch of emotion marked her eyes, and for a moment she did not speak. The pride was palpable and Water fought to keep his own emotions in check.
“My sons and friends,” she said, “to look upon you fills me with pride. Draeken and Serak represent everything we abhor. They represent oppression and tyranny, and their plan threatens our lives and our freedom.”
Light burst into a laugh. Everyone stared at him and he stifled his amusement. “Sorry.”
Elenyr smiled at Light and swept a hand to them. “If there was ever a group with which I’d want to go to war, it is you. Be safe in your journeys.”
Water nodded to Elenyr and then climbed into the wheel of swirling liquid. He cast the other groups a lingering look as each departed. The white dragon took to the sky, billowing cold air into the clearing. Tardoq, Jeric, and Mind threaded into the trees, the armored dakorian visible for several seconds until the branches took him from sight. Elenyr and her group re-entered the mine and disappeared into the darkened recess. Then Water sighed and accelerated his wheel, kicking mud into their wake as they sped into the trees. Rynda ran at their side, keeping pace with ease.
Fire leaned forward and spoke in Water’s ear. “You should put her in our dust. Show her how fast you can really go.”
Lira shook her head. “I don’t think angering that woman is a good thing. She’s rather intimidating.”
Water agreed with Lira, and kept the wheel at a pace that would eat up the miles. Rynda did not seem perturbed, her long legs carrying her through the forest as if she’d been born to run. It made Water wonder just how the rock trolls trained to develop such endurance.
They dropped down the slopes of the mountains until they encountered the main highway. Connecting the middle cities back to Terros, the highway wound through valleys and mountain passes on its way west. Villages dotted the region, wit
h a handful of smaller cities. All lay between Xshaltheria and Terros, the path Draeken’s army would take if they invaded.
Patches of snow melted in the gulleys and ravines, and buds blossomed on branches. Deer and foxes flitted about, hunting mice and voles, while badgers sought for new dens. Trappers were out in force, hunting for skin and meat, hoping to stock up for the alliance army that was rumored to be passing in the next few weeks.
“They should be fleeing the region,” Lira said.
“Probably,” Fire said. “But they don’t think Draeken is a threat. To them, he’s just kidnapped their king for a season. How much harm can he be?”
“What will Serak do now that Draeken is his master?” Lira asked.
“He thinks to serve Draeken.” Fire dipped his hand into the spinning wheel of water, kicking mist around his arm. “I’m not sure he knows what he has unleashed.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Water asked, glancing his way.
Rynda drifted closer, her breathing labored but not fatigued. “Serak has spent lifetimes anticipating this moment, but there is no way for him to anticipate how Draeken will really react—especially without the influence of the five fragments.”
“You don’t think he’ll do as Serak intends?” Lira eyebrows pulled down.
“We’ll find out soon enough,” Rynda said. “But Draeken is his own being now, and people rarely do as you expect.”
Water frowned, disliking the idea that Draeken would be unpredictable. If he didn’t follow Serak’s plan, what would he do? Would he still open the Gate? Or would he turn against Serak and stand alone? Was there a chance he would rejoin the fragments and Elenyr?
The questions occupied them as they descended from the higher valleys into the lowlands of western Griffin. Camping only at night, they resumed their journey each day. The road became clogged with riders, many of which were soldiers. They shouted in alarm as Water and Rynda sped by, but their horses could not keep up with his magic and a rock troll queen.
They slowed as they approached Terros. It had been months since Water had seen the city, and when they stepped out of the trees his jaw dropped at the sight. The city and outlying farms had been swallowed by the war camps.
Tents and temporary forts dotted the farmland between the towers of Outer Terros. Hammers echoed from the dwarven camp where engineers built war machines, the metal and wood fashioned into ballistae and catapults. Others labored over large armored wagons, where dwarves could fire crossbows from within. Huge beasts conjured from fire were chained to the war machines, pawing the ground as dwarven fire mages completed the enchantments.
Adjacent to the dwarves, the elven war camp contained rank upon rank of water golems. Treewalkers took their places in a different formation, the large oak trees groaning as they obeyed the orders of the mages controlling them. Elven infantry and archers filled the camp, the twang of bows a soft backdrop to the morning.
Human camps from Erathan and Talinor filled the remainder of the farms. Cavalry from Talinor rode across the earth, the thundering horse hooves reverberating off the city walls. Children from the city lined the sides of training grounds, cheering the steel-armored soldiers. Erathan swordsmen trained on the south side, the clang of swords and shields adding to the din.
Rynda turned to her own camp of rock trolls. Although much smaller in size, the rock troll camp was the most organized. With forty-foot logs around the quickly erected fort, the camp contained a thousand rock trolls, the large warriors almost jovial as they prepared for the impending war.
“Food and water,” Rynda commanded when they stepped through the gates. “And send a messenger to King Justin that we’ve arrived with news.”
“Yes, my queen,” a troll said.
He sheathed the giant sword on his back and sprinted from the camp. Rynda caught the skin of water tossed to her and drank freely, while another troll approached and set his giant maul on the earth.
“Please tell me we didn’t come all this way for nothing.”
“Warshard Dent,” Queen Rynda said, pausing in gulping down water. “Our foes are almost gathered. When does the rest of our army arrive?”
“Tomorrow,” he said. “I just received word.”
“Will we be ready?” Rynda asked.
The troll general swept a hand to the trolls. “Always. When do we march?”
“As soon as King Justin confirms the order,” she said.
Warshard Dent was smaller than Water expected, and stood at just eight feet tall. Despite his smaller stature, he boasted more tattoos on his body than nearly anyone else, the carpet of ink in his Sundering revealing his talent and skill. For a weapon, he carried a large maul bearing spikes on the back side of the head.
“Why do we not assault Xshaltheria on our own?” Warshard Dent said. “Surely we can exterminate the threat without the lesser fools.”
“Not this time, Warshard,” Rynda said. “I’ve seen what Serak is capable of, and now he has Draeken at his side.”
Dent frowned and his eyes flicked to Water and Fire, the look revealing his knowledge that the fragments were part of Draeken. Water struggled with how to explain what had occurred, but Fire shrugged.
“Draeken is no longer part of us,” Fire said.
“So you’re fighting yourself?” Dent asked.
Water grinned. “It’s even stranger than it sounds.”
Dent grunted in agreement. “We have another problem. An assassin is stalking the camps.”
“Gendor,” Rynda said with a nod. “He serves Draeken now.”
“He’s killed over a hundred,” Dent said. “No one has seen him.”
“Any of our people?”
“Seven,” he replied.
“That many?” Water asked, surprised and disturbed.
“The assassin is formidable,” Dent said. “His scythe carries a lethal poison that kills quickly. We have yet to catch him.”
“Who is he killing?”
“Leaders,” Dent said. “He has yet to stalk my path, but I hope he does.”
“We can only hope,” Rynda said. “But watch your back.”
Fire leaned over to Water. “I like the trolls.”
Water stifled a chuckle. “Me too.”
“Are they afraid of anything?” Lira whispered.
“A slow death,” Rynda said, overhearing them.
The rock troll messenger returned through the gate with King Justin at his side. The king rode into the rock troll camp flanked by two young women, both in regal garb. Water recognized Princess Nelia, of Erathan, and Princess Annah, King Justin’s daughter. King Justin dismounted his steed and advanced to Rynda, offering his hand in greeting. Rynda did not accept the gesture, and after a moment the king lowered his hand.
“I came as soon as I heard,” Justin said. “You have word of our foes?”
Rynda motioned to Water, and he briefly related what had occurred in Blackwell Keep. He saw no reason to withhold the truth, so he shared the full details of Draeken and his power. When he was finished, the man nodded and swept a hand to the camps.
“We have two hundred thousand soldiers under my command,” he said.
“Griffin doesn’t have that many soldiers,” Water said, disliking the man’s tone.
“It does now,” Justin said. “With King Porlin revealed as Zoric, Zenif’s son, and King Numen dead, the nobles of the other kingdoms have given me temporary control over their armies.” King Justin absently motioned to Princess Nelia, as if she were an afterthought. “All three human kingdoms are under my reign now.”
“And you agreed to this?” Rynda asked Princess Nelia.
She opened her mouth to speak but King Justin spoke first. “Of course. There is no other feasible option. Erathan and Talinor require strong leadership to deal with this threat.”
“I think the princess is strong enough to lead her own kingdom,” Water said, folding his arms.
Water knew the young woman enough to recognize her strength. She had no
t followed in King Numen’s footsteps, and upon discovering her father was Carn, she’d taken measures against him, and sought the support of the other nobles of Erathan.
“You have my gratitude,” the princess said, inclining her head to Water. “But this alliance is for the good of Lumineia, and will end after the threat is resolved.”
Princess Annah gave a sharp nod at her words, while King Justin’s features darkened a shade. Water realized the man wanted to use the conflict to gain power, but it was obvious the two young women were well aware of his ambitions and were not deceived.
King Justin remounted his horse. “We march in two days. I’ll let you know your orders.”
He rode from the camp, and Dent leaned over to the scowling Queen Rynda. “Are you certain you do not wish to fight Xshaltheria on our own?”
“It’s more tempting than I care to admit,” Queen Rynda said, her metal hand flexing as if she wanted to crush King Justin’s throat. “Begin final preparations. We march in two days.”
Rynda departed with her Warshard, and Lira turned to Water. “It’s disturbing how much King Justin reminds me of krey houses.”
“Indeed,” Water said.
Water watched the man ride away, wondering if a victory for the alliance would lead to a victory for King Justin. Would he seek to claim the other kingdoms? If he had enough support from the other nobles, it seemed plausible. Water grimaced, and recalled a time he’d fallen into the southern sea, and a group of sharks had begun to circle. He’d felt the same in that moment as he did now. He just hoped they could forestall a conflict before the alliance shattered from within.
Chapter 4: Weakened
In the two days following their arrival in Terros, Water tried to smooth tensions between King Justin and Queen Rynda. It didn’t help that Fire thought the rising tensions an amusing display and even sought opportunities to stoke the tension.
“Let them fight it out,” Fire said the night before the army was set to march. “Don’t you want to see Rynda tumble Justin from his pedestal?”
