by R A Oakes
“How do you know this? And who are Jewel and Flame?”
“They’re two of Glenitant’s old cohorts who serve Chen, being that she’s master of Crystal Castle now, instead of her aunt.”
“What are you going to do about them? How can you combat someone who’s made of fire and flies around like a comet?”
“Now’s the time to issue that new armor your craftsmen developed. It’s supposed to be lightweight and fireproof. A properly outfitted warrior, you said, could run through a burning building without even getting singed.”
“General, we don’t have as many complete suits of new armor as I led some to believe.”
“In that case, only outfit our best warriors. When Flame touches down, our warriors could get close enough to douse her with buckets of water.”
“They’d be fried to a crisp if they tried that,” Swarenth said.
“Not while wearing the new armor. How many suits of it do we have?”
“Very few.”
“We have to act quickly. Where are they stored?”
“The location’s a secret.”
“A secret to others, but certainly not to you,” General Takanar said.
“I’m afraid so.”
“That surprises me. You’ve always insisted on being kept informed on the most minute aspects of daily life here at the castle, my lord.”
“True, but I still don’t know.”
“Who would? Did you see those tigers out there? Our warriors are going to need all the protection they can get. And what about the new long-range bows? We could use them as well.”
“I don’t know where they are either.”
General Takanar felt sick to his stomach. “But my lord, the new armor and bows are integral to our strategy for defending Dominion Castle in the event of an attack.”
“Yes, general, I’m aware of that.”
“We must locate them and do so quickly.”
“Well, in reality, there aren’t any.”
General Takanar looked at Swarenth as if seeing him for the first time. “My lord, the art of deception is an important part of warfare. But spreading lies among your own officers, especially lying to me, cripples your army’s ability to defend you.”
“After all these years, I didn’t actually expect anyone to attack.”
“Well, they did.”
“A miscalculation on my part,” Swarenth said coldly.
“We have to alter our battle strategy. I need to assemble my captains.”
“Don’t do that.”
“Why not?”
“I don’t want them knowing that I lied to them.”
“What do we tell our troops?” General Takanar asked.
“Tell our warriors on the north wall that all the new equipment went to the warriors on the south wall. Then, tell the warriors on the south wall that everything went to our troops on the north wall.”
“Warriors count on armaments for their very lives. We can’t lie about such fundamental basics, my lord.”
“Oh, yes we can.”
“Our warriors deserve better, my lord.”
“They’ll make do with the weapons they have and like it. Kill all those who flinch from their sworn duty to defend this castle. Murder a couple hundred of our own troops, and the rest will get the idea.”
General Takanar remained silent.
“You have one habit that’s particularly annoying,” Swarenth said completely changing the subject. “You always refer to me as, ‘my lord.’ Why don’t you refer to me as king? Don’t you see me as your king?”
“Of course I do.”
“General Zarkahn refers to me as his king. You don’t. Why is that?”
“I’m sorry, Swarenth. I’ll be more careful in the future.”
“Maybe you won’t have much of a future since you disagree with how I should handle my troops, and you don’t show me proper respect.”
“I’ve always respected you, sire.”
“Maybe I should make General Zarkahn my top general.”
“I doubt his loyalty, sire. He’s human.”
“Just do what I told you to do. Tell the troops on the north wall that the warriors on the south wall have the new equipment and vice versa.”
“Yes, my king,” General Takanar said scornfully, turning abruptly and walking away.
Swarenth’s eyes flared in anger over the rebuke. Taking a spear from a nearby guard, the warlord threw it, striking General Takanar squarely in the center of his back, cutting through his spine and killing him instantly.
The guards in the great hall were shocked. After all, General Takanar had been in charge of the army for as long as any of them could remember. Most thought it was he, not Swarenth, who was responsible for gargoyles conquering Dominion Castle. Now he was dead.
“Tell General Zarkahn I want to see him immediately,” the warlord stormed at his guards.
“That will be a little difficult to do,” Balzekior said coming up behind him.
Swarenth whipped around snarling, “Our front gate’s being overrun as we speak, and it’s your fault.”
“General Zarkahn won’t be able to help you.”
“He’s my Champion. He’ll come to my rescue.”
“I don’t think so.”
“Why not?” Swarenth asked venom dripping from his voice.
“He’s dead.”
The gargoyle warlord was stunned. “But the fighting’s at the front entrance, and General Zarkahn’s stationed at a fortification along the trail. He can’t be dead.”
“He is.”
“How?”
“Lord Pensgraft and several thousand warriors wearing Kardimont green tunics have crossed the bridge at the base of the mountain and are assaulting the first fortification.”
“Are you certain the general’s dead?”
“I felt him die.”
“Did he die well?”
“He died happy.”
“In the service of his warlord, yes?” Swarenth said proudly.
“Not exactly.”
“What do you mean?”
“Nothing, but maybe you should have waited to kill Takanar until you were sure Zarkahn was still alive,” Balzekior said feeling discouraged.
“What’s done is done.”
Give me patience, she thought. But Swarenth wasn’t her only problem. With a hint of fear in her voice, Balzekior said, “Aerylln’s out front.”
“The one they call White Angel?”
“Yes,” the old crone said wearily.
“There must be at least a dozen angels outside. Which one is she?”
“There are 11 White Angels to be exact, all of whom are Aerylln.”
“Go out there and kill them,” Swarenth growled.
“Go out and kill them yourself.”
“Do what you’re told,” Swarenth threatened.
“Or what?”
At first, Swarenth didn’t know what to say, and then he snarled, “This is my castle.”
“Yes, but what would happen if I stopped supporting you?”
“You wouldn’t dare. Where else can you go? Who wants a dried-up, old prune like you, huh? You’re worthless.”
Depression began swamping Balzekior for Swarenth had stuck his finger into the old crone’s nerve center. She suffered from low self-esteem.
“Oh, I’m sure there are plenty of places that would take a broken-down old wreck like you,” he laughed. “Maybe you could live with the rats in the gutters.”
“Stop it.”
“Why? It’s true. Without me, you’re nothing. Not a single gargoyle here will obey you. You’re just a worn-out old hag.”
Balzekior began to feel sick. He’s right, she thought, who else would want me?
Looking at her, seeing her shoulders droop and the vacant, hollow eyes, Swarenth knew that he had won the argument. The warlord felt more confident, more powerful and more whole. “I only say mean things because you enjoy being degraded and humiliated, don’t you? You must enjoy it, otherwise
you wouldn’t provoke me. If you behaved, I wouldn’t have to treat you like this.”
“It’s my fault,” she said hoping to please him.
“Yes, it is.”
“I’m sorry.”
“I accept your apology. I just wish you wouldn’t make me mad so often.”
“I’ll try harder. I’ll do better.”
“All right,” he said. “But what are we going to do about White Angel, all 11 of them?”
Balzekior cringed, frightened that she’d provoke him again, but said, “I’m a lot weaker than I was before. When Aerylln destroyed the lake of lava deep below the castle, my strength went with it.”
“So, you’re useless,” Swarenth sneered. “Just like I always knew you were.”
“Please, you have to understand, she beat me once before at Firecrest Castle. And, prior to that, I was imprisoned by the College of Wizards deep in Firecrest Castle’s dungeon for an entire year. I don’t know how much more of this I can take.”
“Then get out of my sight!” Swarenth screamed, giving her a rough shove. “Get out!”
“Please, I’m not saying I won’t try to help. I’m just asking for a little understanding.”
Looking at her with disgust, Swarenth slapped her. “I understand you all too well. You’re only out for yourself. You never think of me.”
“That’s not true.”
“Yes, it is. Get out!”
“Things will get better, I promise. I’ll make you happy somehow.”
“Save this castle. If you do that, I’ll be happy.”
“But you have 10,000 gargoyle warriors. Surely you can repel an invasion with them.”
“I want you to do it.”
“Why?”
“Because you don’t want to.”
“Aerylln scares me. I’m weaker, and I won’t allow myself to be captured and put into prison again.”
“Help out or get out!” Swarenth shouted enraged.
Balzekior walked over to a window and saw White Angel 19 astride Zorya and standing in the breach where the front gates had once been. Now there was only melted rock and burnt wood. Suddenly, Zorya reared up on her hind legs, and the youngest White Angel waved Baelfire over her head and shouted, “In the name of the king, I hereby reclaim this entrance!”
Looking at her young, blond nemesis, Balzekior shuddered. Then the demon woman recalled a prophecy she had heard long ago but had put out of her mind. To herself, she whispered, “Her name will be White Angel, and she will lead the king’s army to victory.”
Looking over at Swarenth and seeing the hatred in his eyes, she knew he despised her. At that moment, she created a prophecy about herself whispering it to the nighttime sky.
“My name is Balzekior, and I’m getting the heck out of here!”
Chapter 26
Near the base of the mountain, heading towards the second fortification.
“I’ve never seen anyone retreat as quickly as these winged apes,” Captain Jeriana said, watching hundreds of gargoyle warriors running up the mountain trail.
“Neither have I,” Lt. Nantaric agreed. “It must have been devastating when our catapults began raining smoke and fire down upon the walls. Then, when our warriors launched a surprise attack from inside the fortification, the gargoyles were really confused.”
“Yes, the winged apes had no idea how we ended up behind them attacking from the rear,” Lord Pensgraft said smiling grimly knowing he’d soon be using this same effective strategy against the second fortification.
“At that point, my lord, we had the gargoyles sandwiched between our warriors and the fortification’s front wall with nowhere to run. But after trapping them, my lord, why did you decide to let them go? We had them right where we wanted them, didn’t we?” Captain Jeriana asked feeling a little confused herself.
“No, I don’t think so. Fighting a caged wild animal or a trapped enemy is extremely dangerous. Backing warriors into a corner makes them feel they’re on ‘death ground.’ Once believing they have no hope of surviving, an enemy can go berserk.”
“Even so, we’d still have won,” Captain Jeriana said with determination and conviction.
“But at what cost?”
“Our side would have experienced casualties, my lord, but the gargoyles would have suffered far greater losses.”
“Swarenth can afford serious losses, we can’t. He could lose two soldiers to every one of ours and still win. If we hope to do any good, we must reach the castle with our army intact.”
“But we’ll face the retreating gargoyles again at the second fortification, my lord, and it’s bigger and stronger than the first.”
“I realize that. I also realize that this time, with General Zarkahn dead, no one will be opening the front gates for us,” Lord Pensgraft said.
“I must admit, General Zarkahn died bravely,” Lt. Nantaric observed.
“True, but he was still a traitor,” Lord Pensgraft said.
“Do you think he redeemed himself at all?” Captain Jeriana asked.
“Yes, I suppose he did, at least a little.”
“By the time we reached him, General Zarkahn was dead. But if he’d still been alive, what would you have done?” Captain Jeriana asked.
“I’d have killed him myself. After all, he did kidnap my daughter, Dylancia. And even though we got her back safely, I couldn’t forgive that.”
“At least he died well. I’ve never seen anyone take so many sword thrusts before finally falling down.”
“His strength and skill as a warrior were unquestioned. But his sanity, or lack of it, was a serious problem. After Lord Stallington died, General Zarkahn’s inner turmoil overwhelmed him. However, there’s no excuse for touching someone else’s family.”
“So what’s our strategy for attacking the second fortification?” Captain Jeriana asked.
“This time, we’ll rely more heavily on bombarding the fortification with large crockery pots full of smudge-pot oil. We’ll turn the entire fortress into an inferno.”
“What if they retreat again, running for fortification number three?”
“We’ll keep rolling up the mountain trail behind them, I guess. The more they run, the less ground we’ll have to fight for.”
“You don’t like sacrificing the lives of our warriors, do you, Lord Pensgraft?” Lt. Nantaric asked.
“Of course not, what a thing to ask. However, without King Ulray’s battle plans and advance preparations, our casualties could have been enormous.”
“We owe King Ulray a lot,” Captain Jeriana said.
“We owe him our lives,” Lt. Nantaric added.
“There are five more fortifications to go, so it’s a little early to think about watching the sun come up. It’s still possible many of us won’t live to see that sunrise.”
“What about all those retreating gargoyles? Wasn’t that strange?” Captain Jeriana asked. “I mean, yes, we gave them a chance to escape, but I’m surprised they all jumped at the opportunity. You’d figure that some would have stood their ground and fought anyway. I would have.”
“That’s a good observation, but be careful. If they find their courage when we least expect it, they could surprise us again,” Lord Pensgraft said.
Falling silent, the warriors listened to the creaking wheels of the catapults being pulled up the trail with thick ropes attached to muscular horses. Rounding one bend, the imposing edifice of the second fortification was suddenly looming before them.
“Who’s going first?” Lt. Nantaric asked, itching to get at the enemy once more.
“Don’t make me fight you to be first in line,” Captain Jeriana said, and she wasn’t kidding.
“If your women go first this time, then my warriors get to go first at the next fortification.”
“At the next fornication?”
“Fortification.”
“Oh, I thought you were saying my women could keep attacking first if we sweeten the deal.”
“Not likely.”<
br />
“Don’t your boys like sex?”
“Sex is fine, thank you, but we’re here for fortification not the other.”
“You must be getting old.”
“Better old than stupid.”
“What if you’re both?”
“What if you focus on attacking the enemy instead of me?”
“Sure, once I get what I want.”
“Okay, you can go first. But, god have mercy, do you always pester people like this?”
“Only when I want something badly.”
“Take it. It’s yours.”
“You’re so thoughtful.”
“Thank you, and what a relief. Lord Pensgraft, do they do this to you?”
“All the time.”
“How do you stand it?”
“I don’t have much choice. They’re sort of my in-laws. It’s a package deal. They came with my wife.”
“Oh, admit it, you know you love us,” Captain Jeriana said smiling sweetly.
“Of course I do,” Lord Pensgraft said tactfully.
“You really love insistent women who always want their own way?” Lt. Nantaric asked smiling awkwardly, unsure of what to think about that.
“If I go along with them, my life’s a whole lot easier.”
“As compared to what?”
“The other 100 warrior women who ride with my wife are even worse.”
“But they all respect you,” Captain Jeriana said seriously.
“Well, they certainly don’t bother professing love for me.”
“That’s their loss, but we care about you,” Captain Jeriana said nodding with mock gravity.
Lord Pensgraft heaved a sigh and said, “Makes me look forward to meeting my enemy in battle.”
“How can you say that?” Captain Jeriana asked pouting.
“The enemy just wants to kill me, but you women enjoy torturing me.”
“Oh, that’s not true. We might torment you a little, but we wouldn’t torture you.”
“That’s good to hear.”
Once within range of the second fortification, Captain Jeriana looked at her warrior women and said, “Put the catapults into position. Let’s give those gargoyles something to warm their hearts.”
After using ordinary boulders to calculate distance and making necessary adjustments, the women turned the task of loading and firing the catapults over to General Tark’s warriors. Next, Captain Jeriana and her warrior women prepared to make a mad dash towards the other brilliant piece of King Ulray’s battle plan that had worked so well on the previous fortification.
