by JD Cole
~
Boss stood inside the ruined wall, watching everything via drone feed. There hadn’t been much activity at the wall since they’d blown it to hell, but now the enemy was starting to use their magic cheat codes. “Uh, Popper,” he clicked his radio on. “Are you guys seeing this?”
“We see it, Boss, standby.”
Boss switched his channel over to his local support. “Greenbay, this is Boss.”
“Go ahead, Boss,” came the reply. The squad leader for the ValianT drivers, Greenbay and two of his men were stationed in the woods both to defend the snipers and to provide light artillery support. The other five ValianTs had been transferred to Boss’s direct command during the whiplash planning sessions.
“Do you see that magic teleport thing letting in all those enemy troops?” Boss asked.
“Bastards are too lazy to fast-rope in, if you ask me.”
“Get a solution on that grid. If the General orders a strike on those reinforcements, I want it launched immediately.”
“Roger that, Boss, Pieman and Matrix are dialing it in now. Hi-Ex or the fuel-airs?”
“Hi-Ex for now, we might need the bigger booms later.”
Pieman and Matrix each had HEXSR launchers mounted on their ValianTs like everyone else, but they also had light-artillery systems mounted on their left shoulders. The boxy module contained seven auto-loading mortars with a range up to eight miles. Both ValianTs had four high-explosive mortars each, with Pieman also carrying a thermobaric and a pair of white-phosphorous smoke shells, while Matrix carried one each of smoke, illumination, and thermobaric shells. Their mule drone was carrying a few reloads for each of them. The two soldiers knelt their ValianTs in the grass, using clamps in the feet, knees and one hand to steady the machine for more accurate launching as their mortars lifted into position with the computer’s calculations.
“Boss,” Popper called, “go ahead and drop some pain on the monsters coming through that portal, then drop a smoke between them and the evacuees at the wall.”
“Roger,” Boss answered, switching back to Greenbay. “Greenbay, execute your solutions now, then a smoke round to cover the evacuees.”
He received a double-click in reply, immediately followed by an overlay in everyone’s HUD from the artillery team depicting the expected lethal zones of their attacks.
“Popper, are we cleared at the wall to engage?” Boss asked.
“Boss, you are cleared to do whatever you need to keep that evacuation route open, but the General wants you to retreat if it gets too hairy.”
“Greenbay,” Boss called his support once more, “do what you can to thin their ranks for us, but save at least a couple smokes to cover our retreat.”
~
It was an ellh slave who saw the large ethergate first, and she screamed as evil murderous creatures came streaming out from it.
“The Goblin King is here!” one of the elf soldiers shouted. Panic spread like wildfire, and it wasn’t just the slaves who were terrified. More goblins than could be counted were racing across the courtyard toward the wall that was hemorrhaging slaves like a fatal wound. At least fifteen armored minotaur could be seen behind them all, towering like hellbeasts with their fearsome warhammers. Almost as large as them were the score of trolls that ambled among the goblins, each carrying cleavers that weighed more than an irenak. Hundreds of wolves and vampyres were spread out among the goblins and irenaks, many of them sorcerers who threw fire and lightning spells out ahead of the goblins. Dozens of elves and dwarves perished in the fires that consumed them.
Suddenly, a screaming whistle from above grew louder and louder until a massive explosion erupted in the midst of the goblins. Almost immediately after, the second mortar hit. Howls ensued, but then a smaller explosion rocked the ground closer to the slaves, unleashing a massive white river of smoke that obscured the oncoming hordes. “Come on!” Boss waved everyone through the wall. “Move move move!” Most of the faeries running his way did not have the benefit of the language spell, but they understood his universal gestures anyway. He opened a channel to his ValianTs. “Let’s get out in front, troops. Be careful what you aim at, but if its coming from the direction of the gate, it’s an enemy, got it?”
“HOO-AH!” came the reply. Everyone had their thermal filters on to see through the smoke, and it confused them as they spied the goblins out in front; some were elves, others were irenaks or vampyres, but all of them registered as ambient temperature. All of the other monstrous faeries behind them appeared to have normal heat readings. Boss began ignoring the goblins after the three he’d obviously killed got right back up to continue their charge. “They really are friggin zombies,” he shook his head. “Crash, all of you ValianTs focus on the goblins, rip them to pieces so they stop getting back up!”
Another pair of mortars whistled overhead, decimating over fifty goblins and killing one of the trolls. The ValianTs tore into the goblins with plasma rifles and machine guns. The plasma rounds simultaneously obliterated bodies while burning the remains to a crisp, usually dozens at a time as the rounds passed through several rows of enemies. The machine guns built into many of the ValianTs’ forearms, firing the same ammunition as Samantha’s VEC-9 pistols, were no less effective keeping the enemy advance in check. Crash’s ValianT carried a plasma rifle, but instead of the forearm guns his platform had a 7.62mm rotary canon mounted on his left shoulder. The gun tracked with his helmet, destroying whatever he looked at. And he looked at a lot of bad faeries.
Another mortar came screaming in, but this one detonated harmlessly against a magic shield.
~
“They are adapting to your attack,” Khun said, watching the video feed. “Their sorcerers will be shielding against your long range attacks now.”
“Does that shield cover them entirely, or…?” Sean asked.
“That would require several different shields,” Khun replied. “Only the most skilled sorcerer can shield in all directions at once, but not from attacks as powerful as yours.”
Beside them, Popper radioed the mortar team to hold their fire and not waste ammunition.
“And sorcerers can’t attack while they’re defending?” Sean asked.
“At this level of power?” Khun shook his head. “No. Those shields are requiring the focus of many sorcerers working together.”
“Which ones are the sorcerers?” Sean zoomed in on the hordes.
Khun scanned the feed. “I cannot tell. But the sorcerers will mainly be among the vampyre and wolf ranks. Irenaks are weak with magic, and the minotaur and trolls I see are garbed as warriors, not mages.”
“Good enough,” Sean said, nodding at Popper.
“Boss,” Popper radioed, “your targets are gonna be the gray vampires and the big hairy dogs, apparently some of them are sorcerers who can block light artillery.” He clicked the radio off and shook his head, mumbling at how ludicrous all of this was. “I’m living Warhammer 40k.”
“And now,” Khun said, strapping his dueling sword to his hip and his claymore to his back, “it is time for me to join the battle.” He looked at Meshra. “Pembruh, you will command in my absence. Work with General Vox on keeping the way clear for our troops to retreat with the slaves.”
The vampyre Pembruh saluted. “Good hunting, General Rhee.”
Khun Rhee grasped Sean’s forearm. “We are indebted to you, General Vox. We might have been able to win through to victory without you, but it would have cost us so much more in blood. When this is over, we will celebrate together at Windham.”
“I look forward to it,” Sean said.
One of Khun’s attendants brought his armored gherat. When he had mounted, the General of the Sprite Armies trotted his warbeast around to address his advisers and allies. “As you know, I have been holding many enchantments and wards in place over the battlefield for these many weeks. It has taken most of my focus and energy to maintain these to give us a fighting chance against the necromancers’ many advantages. But th
e battle is drawing an end, and the Goblin King is here to slaughter our people. Even now the rescued slaves are making their way to our camps… we will not fail them!” he roared with righteous conviction. “I am releasing my defenses now, because I will need every ounce of my strength to confront the King and give our troops time to finish the evacuation.
“I have been honored to command such loyal, courageous troops in service to the Crown. When we return victorious, my friends, you will learn that there was so much more to this fight, so many important things happening in the background, that could only happen because of your sacrifices here.” He drew his dueling sword and held it high. “Long live the Queen!”
Many in the group looked at each other, confused. Meshra smiled, raising his own sword in salute. With that, Khun Rhee turned his mount and opened an ethergate into Matari, riding through. When he was gone, Meshra shouted to the gathered servants and advisers, “The birthright is reborn, fae! And tonight, we are bringing the new queen’s subjects home!”
~ ~ ~ ~
“There are some things we do not know for certain yet,” Dufangen said. “But the Queen will live. Even now, the last remnants of Ercianodhon’s curse are being burned from her spirit.”
“So, what does that mean?” Vanessa asked. “She’s going to live, but is she going to be alright? Are there going to be effects? And what about Tom?”
Devon, Kim, and Zaiyensa had joined Sorvir and Vanessa in the living quarters’ common room, near the room where Kelli was sleeping. Dufangen arrived to inform them all of her condition.
“Your daughter is an amazingly clever and resourceful child,” Dufangen answered. “She managed to use a Lifishi’un spell to trick the Goblin King into directing most of his dark magic at a figment of his imagination. He still damaged her severely, but if he had managed to weave his curse the way he intended to, she would already be dead.”
“But, what kind of damage?” Vanessa pressed.
Dufangen paused. “There are a few injuries we can pinpoint, but I will share them only with the Queen when she awakes. She can then share this information with whoever she wishes.”
Vanessa closed her eyes, trying to force down her fear of the unknown. But she understood Dufangen’s reasoning for secrecy. Kelli wasn’t a helpless little girl anymore, wasn’t even just an adult; she was The Queen. “Okay. And, about Tom?”
“The rescue team is at the castle now, searching for him. You must realize, Mrs. Ingram, how amazing their effort is. No one has ever assaulted Ercianodhon’s home. And never before have faeries and humans worked together as allies like this.”
“You said the Hood is leading them?” Devon asked. The mystic nodded. “He’s not some comic-book lunatic, Aunty Vanessa,” Devon said. “I’ve seen him in action plenty times. That guy is for real. If me or Ben cannot be there, he’s the next best hope to get Uncle Tom back. He rescued Kelli like how many times from that Chek’than?”
“Twice,” came the answer from the doorway. Everyone turned to see the Sprite Queen leaning against the frame, tired but smiling.
“Kelli!” Vanessa jumped from her seat to hug her daughter. “Are you okay? How are you feeling? Should you be out of bed like this?”
“I’m okay, mom, really. I’m still healing, but I’m gonna be okay. Well, mostly okay.” Kelli looked at Dufangen, grimacing. “I did a little bit of self-diagnosis when I woke up.”
Dufangen bowed her head. “I am sorry, Highness. Some things were corrupted beyond our means to correct.”
“What is she talking about, Kelli?”
Kelli sighed, allowing her mother to help her to one of the chairs. “Ercianodhon created a curse that was meant to tear apart my spirit, since he couldn’t get to me physically. The damage he did ended up harming parts of me that are strongly tied to blood element. My vital organs, like my heart and my brain, things like that. I’m… probably not going to live out the expected life-span of a sprite.”
“What?” Devon lurched forward. “How long do you have? I gotta be able to-”
“Relax, Devon. I have at least another thousand years in me.” She forced a smile. “That’s alot for us as humans, but it won’t sit well with the faeries. It’ll be like their queen is dying in her thirties to them. Also, I think maybe I might be more vulnerable to magic and curses now. I wasn’t quite able to understand what I found looking at my spirit, or my lifeforce, or whatever.” She looked at Dufangen.
Kelli’s little adviser nodded sadly. “Your body will yield to harmful magic much quicker and more easily than before. More concerning, your healing abilities are not what they have been since you manifested the birthright. Your injuries do not mend immediately on their own anymore… and that might be permanent. We will need to triple our efforts in protecting you from now on.”
There was silence for the next several moments, but it was clear Kelli hadn’t told them everything yet.
Kel,” Vanessa said. “Honey, there’s something else, isn’t there?”
Dufangen bowed her head, letting out a deep breath. Kelli scratched her brow, her eyes watering but her expression confused. “Yeah, I’m…” she shook her head. “It’s not important, it’s nothing dangerous.” She wiped her eyes before any tears could fall, and looked at Dufangen. “Where are we at with getting my dad back?”
“The Hood and his team are in the castle now. We have no way to communicate with them.”
Kelli thought for a moment. “And Matari? What’s happening there?”
“There, at least, I can report some good news. Your armies and their allies are in the process of evacuating the slave population. Ercianodhon has not shown him… self…” Dufangen closed her eyes for several heartbeats. “I spoke too soon. One of our advisers at Matari informs me the Goblin King has just arrived. General Khun Rhee has gone into the city to confront him.”
Kelli took a deep breath. “I need my strength, Dufangen. Whatever can be done to get me back to normal, just for a little while, and I need the birthright unlocked for me again, like at Boston. I need to go to Matari.”
Sorvir stood. “That is madness, my Queen! You need to stay here and recover-”
“Yes, I am the Queen,” Kelli stood and somehow managed to seem taller than him, at least in presence. “This is not about me playing childish games or losing my temper. Ercianodhon already knows I exist, obviously. He also thinks I’m dead, and he’ll eventually try to kill me again. My people are out there dying for me, and I know if he’s there now, he’s probably going to overwhelm them, and I am not going to allow those slaves to die or be recaptured!” She walked over to Dufangen, pulling in deep breaths, forcing herself to exert the righteous inner strength she now felt. “I am going to announce myself to the people by calling out Ercianodhon in his own city. If I can’t defeat him, I am at least going to do whatever I can to give my armies the chance they need to free all of those slaves.
“Yes, unlocking the magic is going to be a risk for me now, riskier than it was before. But I refuse to be hidden away while you stuff these hallways full of guards to protect me.” She closed her eyes for just a moment, seeming to think her words through. “I do not believe I am the best person to lead this kingdom, but I’m the one with the responsibility, and so help me I am going to lead it, Sorvir, and that means I need to get out there where they need me most! Now, are you going to help me, or do I need to walk there myself?”
Dufangen tapped the bottom of her staff against the stone floor. “It will be as you command, my Queen.” She opened an ethergate to one of the lower levels. “I will take you to a rejuvenation bath, and gather others to help craft the potions and spells you will need while you soak.”
Kelli nodded to her, then turned back to Sorvir. “I’m grateful for your concern. I really am.” He bowed low, and she reached up to touch his face. Their eyes met, and Kelli saw his deep sadness. She realized she felt some of it herself… remembering their many years together in shi’un, and even their time spent together here in the castle, re
covering after Boston. They had developed a strong affection for each other, but always her heart yearned for Bennett, and only Bennett.
Sorvir nodded subtly; she knew his feelings, but could not share them. She and Ben had always belonged to each other, and always would. He stood up straight, gazing forward with reverence and respect. “You are my Queen, I am forever loyal and will not question you again.”
Kelli smiled sadly. “I don’t doubt you, and I never will. Mom, come with me,” Kelli waved, her temporary boost of energy now depleting. “And Devon, I’ll see you guys later. If you can help us, I’d appreciate it, but I totally understand your situation. It’s okay.” She disappeared into the ethergate with her mother and Dufangen.
Devon turned to Zaiyensa, attempting to mindspeak by thinking at her. “ZAIYENSA, WE GOTTA HELP TOO”
Zaiyensa winced, Devon’s mindspeak hitting her like a meteor. “Not so loud, you oaf! What exactly do you propose we do?”
“I DUNNO”
Zaiyensa clapped her hands to her temples, scowling at Devon. She stood and gestured him toward the balcony. “Would you come here!” she hissed.
“What’s up?” he asked when they got outside.
“Do not mindspeak at anyone again until you learn how to actually do it. Do you realize if you’d shouted like that at Kim’s mind you would likely have killed her?”
“For real?” he looked back at his girlfriend, who was chatting with Sorvir. “Frick, I never know, I’m sorry!”
“Just don’t do it again. Now I repeat my question, what exactly do you propose we do?”
Devon paced, murmuring to himself. “Cannot influence Kings. Cannot influence Queens. No can influence wars. No can influence society… what would Uncle Krin do… ancient Greece, messing with people… Ey, when you guys was Greek gods, did you mess with things indirectly? Like trick regular people into influencing kings, or starting wars or whatever?”
Zaiyensa grinned like the Cheshire Cat. “Have you never heard of Perseus, Hercules, Helen, or Achilles?”
