Even Gods Must Fall

by Christian Warren Freed

  They arrived in the Wolfsreik camp without much fanfare. Pickets allowed them access after brief questioning. Aurec and Rolnir were awaiting them. Bahr marveled at the rigid structure of the camp. Tents were erected in orderly rows. Their dull, grey peaks extended further than he could see. The majority of soldiers were asleep, bedded down for what promised to be their final night of rest. Bahr got the sense that they were beyond weary, just as ready to see this through as he was.

  Cook fires carried the aroma of roasting meat across the camp. Bahr began to salivate. He hadn’t had fresh meat in a long time. Men stood in line for a late meal or huddled around the fire pits spread throughout the camp, exchanging stories or thoughts of what they might do once the war finally ended. It was a bond unlike any other in the world. Soldiers were a much tighter knit group than civilians gave them credit for. They laughed, cried, and bled together. Bahr reluctantly felt the attraction of being part of something so large. His own tiny group had fused together in ways his crew on the Dragon’s Bane never had. His gaze swept over the rows of countless tents and his mind began to wander.

  Having abandoned his claims on Delranan long ago, Bahr seldom spent time around the Wolfsreik. Their size and pride was beyond measure. His brother had been a fool to squander such a resource. Few bothered looking at him as his tiny group passed into the center of camp. Most were interested in Krek for they’d never seen a Minotaur. Elves and Dwarves were rare, but many had at least glimpsed one in the course of their service.

  How many knew he was the king’s brother? Probably less than he imagined. Knowing that didn’t prevent Bahr from feeling eyes glaring at him. Their hatred of Badron must surely translate to him. His family had ground Delranan into the ground, breaking the kingdom to the point where it was almost beyond recovery. There was no atonement for such a crime.

  The command group lacked the size he had imagined given the comparisons with the rest of the army. Rolnir and Aurec decided on smaller tents that were practically indiscernible from the others. If not for the double ring of armed and armored guards Bahr might easily have passed right by. He knew a little about the Wolfsreik general and virtually nothing of the boy king. This initial impression sparked a good feeling in him.

  Rolnir was burly with red hair streaked through with silver. His hands were large and calloused from a lifetime of wielding a sword. His eyes were sharp yet tired. Red lines cracked the white. His wolfskin cloak draped over his shoulders gave him a wild and dangerous look. Lines began to accumulate around his face and hands. There was no give in his stance. He knew he was the master of this battlefield. Only in his thirties, Rolnir had been through more than a man twice his age.

  Aurec, in comparison, represented youth. The boy was slender, almost untamed. An unconscionable weight was cast upon his thin shoulders. Bahr could only guess how traumatic it had been to have a crown placed upon his head at such a young age. He too had taken that test around the same age, only Bahr turned and fled. Though youthful, Aurec exuded weariness. He’d lost the most out of any of them and bore it in his eyes.

  “Lord Bahr, welcome,” Rolnir started off, offering his hand.

  Bahr accepted the offer. “Please, just Bahr. I’m not lord.”

  Rolnir’s lips twisted slightly before falling back into place. His secret hope that Bahr had returned to lay claim to the throne and lead Delranan evaporated. “Even so, you are brother to the late king. Allow me to introduce King Aurec of Rogscroft, Cuul Ol of the Pell Darga, and General Vajna.”

  Casting a glance to see if Faeldrin was going to step forward and take charge, Bahr said, “This is Lord Faeldrin of the Aeldruin, King Thord of Drimmen Delf, Ingrid of the rebellion, Anienam Keiss the wizard, and King Krek.”

  “Well met,” Rolnir replied. “This is quite the collection of warriors. I’m told your army has…unique weapons.”

  “Very unique,” Bahr said and went on to explain the gunpowder weapons to the combined army’s leadership. When he finished, their looks were a strange combination of respect and abject horror.

  Rolnir cleared his throat. “We should have no trouble breaking the Goblin lines with weapons like that, but they have a very large force. Close to fifty thousand or so we’ve guessed.”

  “A few less,” Thord grumbled. “We’ve bloodied their noses back in my kingdom. They got a taste of what Dwarven might truly is.”

  “Have you any idea how they arrived in Delranan so fast?” Aurec asked.

  Anienam answered, “Magic.”

  “Excuse me? There is no magic in this part of the world,” Vajna said. His eyes narrowed in mistrust.

  “Magic. There is great evil at work here. Surely you must have felt it lurking behind all Badron did? It is no coincidence that our armies have gathered near Arlevon Gale.”

  “These are just ruins, old one. Arlevon Gale may once have been important but their time has long fallen into decay,” Rolnir said. “What could possibly be so special as to compel so many combatants here and now?”

  “This is the final crossing point for the dark gods,” Anienam said. His voice dropped to a conspiratorial level. “Tomorrow night the agents of evil will attempt to open the path between dimensions and release the dark gods into the world. This, my friends, is the final battle in a war that has stretched since the dawn of the world.”

  “How fortunate,” Rolnir said. “Are there other surprises in store for us? I’m not willing to commit to the attack without knowing more. As it stands now we’re going to lose too many soldiers just trying to break their lines, even with the Dwarf cannons.”

  The word felt awkward, almost unnatural. Rolnir wanted to see the machines in action but dreaded the effects based on Bahr’s testimony. Until now war had been personal with sword or axe, made only slightly less so by the use of catapults and scorpions. He could almost envision there being no need for large-scale armies composed of infantry if the cannons were as effective as Bahr suggested.

  “I assume plenty more we’re not aware of. The least of which are the Dae’shan. Fortunately for us they are only three instead of four. Without a fourth their power is diminished, slightly. I can only assume that they’ve collected the remnants of creations of the dark to protect them during the ritual.”

  “You bear ill tidings, wizard,” Aurec said. His voice was strained, for he secretly dealt with conflicting emotions. Rumor had come to him that Maleela was taken by Bahr and the wizard. Yet they came to his camp with open arms and in friendship. Their actions set his kingdom on a course for war, or so he believed. To have them standing before him now left him feeling raw, anguished.

  “Magic seldom distinguishes between ill and joy. What matters is we have a chance, the slightest chance, of getting to the Dae’shan and destroying the Olagath Stone, thus sealing the dark gods away forever.” Anienam paused to let his words sink in. “This will not be an easy task. The Dae’shan will be most determined to prevent our interference. They will stop at nothing to see us stopped.”

  “Are these the same demons who corrupted Badron?” Rolnir asked, folding his arms.

  “They’ve often sought out soft targets with pliable minds.”

  “Makes sense. Badron was consumed with getting revenge on Rogscroft, though we’ve come to learn he merely needed an excuse to start a war,” Rolnir said with respect to both Aurec and Bahr. He suddenly felt uncomfortable being caught between them. Any unspoken tension only added to the group dynamic. He wondered how well this newly forged alliance was going to hold together in the coming battle.

  “The war was a cleverly crafted diversion from the truth. The Dae’shan have known for millennia this moment was coming and they knew where. We still have much going for us. We know what they intend to do and when. We also know that each time before has resulted in failure for them. This, my friends, is their final attempt.”

  “Making them all the more dangerous,” Ingrid said.

  “Indeed, but we have all endured much danger over the course of the winter,” Aurec told h
er. “Rolnir is right, wizard, we stand to lose many lives.”

  Anienam shrugged. “Some losses are unavoidable. That is the nature of war, young king. Our Dwarven allies will lessen the odds, as will your siege engines.”

  “We’ve all fought Goblins before. The cannons and catapults will test their will, but they won’t break and run,” Thord added. “Not unless we manage to slaughter the majority of their strength. No, Anienam, this is going to be bloody for us all.”

  “How then do we proceed with the assault? If what you say is true, time is against us,” Rolnir said, deciding to change the subject further. “How long will you need to complete your task?”

  “Ha! The task itself is a simple smashing with the Blud Hamr,” Anienam cackled. “Getting to the Olagath Stone is the trick. Some hours I suspect.”

  “Since Bahr and his people are already camped with us I suggest we begin the attack,” Faeldrin said. “Once you hear the signal that the attack is underway you can commit your combined army in the support assault.”

  “What sign? How will we know?” Aurec asked.

  Thord grinned, a savage look. “You’ll know.”

  Aurec paced like a caged mountain lion. He wished he’d never sent Venten home. This was one of those moments where he needed his old friend’s counsel. A moment he long dreaded was drawing ever closer. The battle on the morrow wasn’t even a consideration. His sole concern lay on the brother of the king responsible for murdering his father. For destroying his kingdom and potentially ruining his way of life. Not only that, but Aurec desperately needed word of Maleela. If she was still with Bahr why hadn’t he brought her?

  Thorsson folded back the tent flap and coughed. “Sire, he’s here.”

  His heart sped up. Sweat tickled his brow. Aurec’s mouth went dry. His hands trembled. It took a concentrated effort to make his lips work. “Thank you, Thorsson. Please send him in.”

  The command sergeant major paused, as if determining whether his king was in the proper frame of mind for such a guest. Ultimately, it wasn’t up to him. His job was to follow orders and offer suggestions. He knew, as did the others close to Aurec, that this meeting needed to happen in order for the king to go into battle with any doubts removed.

  “You asked to speak with me?” Bahr said as he entered.

  Aurec turned to face him. They stood for a moment, each staring back at the other. The king of Rogscroft struggled with the desire to strike the older Bahr. Until now he hadn’t hoped to ever confront the one responsible for stealing his love. Aurec gradually got control of his emotions.

  “Yes, Captain, thank you for coming,” he said.

  Bahr saw the turmoil etched on young Aurec’s face. “I’m not my brother.”

  “Excuse me?” Aurec was taken off guard.

  Bahr offered a thin smile. “You’ve been thinking it since we arrived. Badron and I are nothing alike. Nor am I the monster you think I am. Maleela is my niece. I was hired to return her from your…kidnapping effort. We didn’t learn until much later that it was not all it was made out to be.”

  His words, while intended to assuage the anguish Aurec felt, had little impact. He saw Badron when he looked at Bahr. He saw the loss of the love of his life.

  “Where is she?” he asked, the words coming out as a demand.

  Bahr deflated. “She…she’s gone.”

  Aurec felt his heart shatter. Months of repression finally broke free. The tears flowed. Reason and hope abandoned him. He’d kept the hope alive since the moment he’d awakened to find her missing. Death wasn’t possible. She was merely secluded away in Delranan. Bahr’s words shredded that illusion. With Maleela dead, Aurec feared he lacked the resolve to finish the war. He suddenly felt lost.

  Racked with sobs, Aurec choked back his tears. “How did she die?”

  Pain reflected off Bahr’s dark eyes. His mind drifted back to finding Ionascu’s murdered corpse. “I can’t say for certain she did.”

  Aurec stiffened. “What do you mean? You’re not making sense.”

  “We were attacked by a pair of Gnaals in the jungle. Nothol Coll took her to safety but was knocked out from behind. One of our own, who turned out to be a spy for Harnin, clubbed him and, we think, attempted to murder Maleela. Instead we found his body and no trace of her.”

  Frightful images played through Aurec’s mind. He imagined her lying dead from starvation in the middle of a hostile land, dying slowly with no friends or comfort. The thought of being abandoned by those who claimed to love and protect her must have driven her into madness during those final few moments. Aurec’s knees gave out and he collapsed onto his field chair, lowering his head into his hands.

  Bahr shifted uncomfortably. He’d dreaded this confrontation from the moment Faeldrin led him into the Wolfsreik camp. The situation was beyond awkward. Heir to the throne, he was more of an outcast than anyone else in their steadily growing circle. Worse, the longer he stayed around them the more his perceived failures returned to haunt him.

  He looked down on Aurec with immense compassion. Losing everything was no easy thing to endure. He knew. He’d lost his estate, his ship, and now his family. Bahr was alone in the world. No matter how tomorrow ended, his lot in life wasn’t going to change. Accepting this fact was difficult but not impossible. He’d had countless hours on the road or river to ponder the course on which his life bizarrely twisted.

  “How could you do that? You just left her to die,” Aurec accused.

  Bahr frowned, knowing he failed to properly explain the situation. “We have every reason to believe she was kidnapped after she killed Ionascu.”

  Aurec lifted his head slowly. His eyes were red and sore. Tears streaked his face, marring the dirt that had accumulated. “What do you mean? Maleela would never kill anyone. It’s not in her nature.”

  “So I believed as well. My niece is a resilient young lady, however, and quite capable of defending herself. You’ve no idea how difficult it was keeping her from getting into battles. Which is why I fully believe she killed Ionascu and was abducted shortly thereafter. Nothing else makes sense. We found evidence of a struggle. Feathers and such.” Bahr went on to explain their running engagement with the Harpies and Anienam’s theory that the Hags were in league with the Dae’shan. Much of it sounded implausible to Bahr as he spoke it. Then again much of their journey since leaving Delranan seemed farfetched. He certainly wouldn’t believe another if he were being told such tales.

  Aurec reflected the sentiment. “You realize how impossible it all sounds? I’ve spent months locked in a war not of my choosing, all the while hoping against hope that she was alive and safe from harm. For you to stand before me and claim she’s been captured by our enemy drives iron nails through my heart.” He used the back of his sleeves to wipe his eyes. “I want to believe you, Bahr. I do. There has been much animosity between our families.” He held up a hand for silence before Bahr could counter the point. “I know you’ve been a minor player in this foul drama, but that doesn’t change things. I can look beyond your mission to Rogscroft, but not your negligence in keeping Maleela safe.”

  “I accept that, but you need to keep in mind she is my blood. I may not have been there for her when she was growing up but my love for that little girl runs deep. If I could trade places with her I would, gladly,” he told Aurec.

  The king nodded in total agreement. “As would I. Perhaps I was wrong. You are not your brother, Captain Bahr. I see that now. There is honor in you. It reminds me of my father.”

  “Stelskor was a good man,” Bahr said. He’d met the old king twice before and came away impressed each time. Secretly he wished his brother would have aspired to be more like the king of Rogscroft. Delranan would have been a better kingdom.

  “Thank you,” Aurec said.

  They left the conversation at that. Each had said his part. Nothing further needed explaining. Bahr left in friendship. Heading back to Faeldrin and the others, he felt a great weight fall from his shoulders. His heart lighte
ned. Making peace with the king of Rogscroft sealed a portion of the rift between their two families. Bahr didn’t know if it would be enough. Too much bad blood existed, but it was a definite beginning.

  Despite the good feelings coming from his meeting, Bahr couldn’t avoid thinking about Maleela and what had become of his niece. Did she die in the jungle or was her fate much worse? He wasn’t sure why but felt the answer would soon be revealed.

  TWENTY-SIX

  Calm Before the Storm

  Skuld watched the Dwarf army going through preparations for tomorrow’s battle with awe. Once a common street thief, he never dreamed to have witnessed the sights and experiences of his long journey. Wars, monsters, and impossible races stretched his imagination to the limits. There were times when he regretted overhearing Nothol and Dorl talking about the riches in the Murdes Mountains. Times when he wanted nothing more than to retreat back to his hiding spot in Chadra and forget the rest of the world existed. But he also found more times when he could do naught but stand in wonder at all Malweir had to offer.

  His personal development took him through different courtships. Boen was his initial role model for he fancied himself becoming a great and powerful warrior. His own experience in battle left that desire deflated. No one should willingly want to go to war. Next came Anienam’s subtle testing to see if he was right for assuming the mantle of Mage. Skuld didn’t care for magic, though the strength and power of it was certainly alluring. He reluctantly accepted Anienam’s promise that he held latent magical attributes that could be exploited into use but wasn’t sure that was what he wanted from life. Skuld was more confused now than he had ever been in his brief life.

  The rebels were his people. Many were from Chadra and he thought he recognized a few in passing. They were shopkeepers or smiths. Only a handful had ever been professional soldiers. They were nothing like the gruff professionals of Drimmen Delf. Skuld couldn’t pull his gaze. He and a few others hadn’t gotten to witness the Dwarves go to war during their stay in the grand halls. Bahr insisted that Skuld remain with Maleela while he and the others went to the battle of Bode Hill. At the time Skuld resented the decision. He wanted to help, to fight. Now that he saw how dedicated the Dwarves were to warfare his stomach felt unsettled.