by Shawn Sodman
Just north of the city, the Lord of Northwind, Damion, orders his men to halt as they reach the center of the field. The men stop and the archers ready their bows. Not far away, the orcneas ready their shields. Damion orders the men to let their arrows fly, then notices the drakes rapidly approaching. The orcneas take cover from the barrage of arrows, then watch as the drakes move in to attack.
“Watch the skies!” warns Damion.
The men turn their attention to the drakes that are now above them. One of the men says, “Sir, they’re too high for our arrows to hit.”
“Then be ready for them to dive,” replies Damion.
With their enemies distracted by the drakes, the orcnea archers launch theirs arrows at the men in the field. The soldiers call out warnings to each other and the men do their best to protect themselves. Only a few have shields, and dozens are injured or killed by the volley.
Damion looks back up at the sky as the drakes drop small barrels from their claws. The Lord of Northwind recognizes what the drakes have released. “Run!” he yells to his men.
The men begin to scramble as the barrels hit the ground and ignite in fiery explosions. Ten men perish in the inferno, while many more are scorched by the flames. To add to the chaos, the orcneas fire another round of arrows, decimating the men's numbers again.
Damion looks around at his men. With nearly one fourth of his soldiers slain, he decides they can no longer stay and fight. He calls out as loud as he can, “To King River!”
The men make haste while assisting the injured to the river that the city of Sheathelm was founded along. The waters of King River originate from Sapphire Lake, where it flows due south until reaching the hills of Ofarin. There it begins to run southeast until it finally reaches the sea. It is there that the original settlers of the land built the city, on the north side of the flowing waters. They then dug a moat to protect the north side from invaders.
Upriver from the city is a bridge that connects the road heading north from Sheathelm to the road heading west. With the north entrance cut off by the orcnea attack, Damion hopes to lead his men across the bridge so they can enter the city using the west gate.
The orcneas fire another round of arrows as Damion and his troops retreat. A half-dozen more men are killed before they finally get out of reach of the orcnea archers.
In the courtyard of the castle, Captain Belron is preparing to enter battle once again, along with the other four drake riders. Nicari runs to her husband's side. Throwing her arms around him, she says, “Be careful, my love.”
Belron embraces her tightly. “They may be many in numbers, but they do not have our skill or speed. I will return safely, I promise.” He kisses her softly, then climbs onto Nimbus’s back. He says to the other riders, “Be safe up there, and watch out for one another.”
The riders take to the sky on their flying mounts to engage the enemy drakes that have already begun to attack the goblin airships. On board one of the flying ships, Chance throws out a barrage of fireballs at four incoming drakes. Two blue-scaled ice drakes break off their approach while two fire drakes continue to advance.
The goblins set up a crossbow so large it requires three of them to operate. One of the goblins turns a crank on the side that draws the string back while a second goblin loads a small harpoon to be fired. The third goblin aims the mounted weapon at one of the drakes.
The fire drakes open their mouths and jets of flame shoot forward. Using his magic, Chance bends the fire away from the ship. The goblin aiming the crossbow pulls the trigger, and the harpoon is launched. It grazes one of the drake's wings, forcing it to turn back. The other drake continues on toward a different ship.
Chance looks out at three spine drakes approaching. He casts another fireball to throw when Belron flies past the ship on his way to intercept them. The captain of the drake riders holds tightly to the saddle with his left hand while wielding his sword in the other.
Belron takes Nimbus higher than the spine drakes, but all three begin to climb, as well. Chance loses sight of them as the balloon of the ship obstructs his vision. Though the spine drakes try to close the distance between themselves and Belron, Nimbus is much faster. Belron looks down at the enemy drakes, then turns his steed toward them, and says, “Dive, Nimbus.”
The sky drake folds its wings and they begin to descend upon the enemy. The spine drakes flee in different directions. Belron focuses on the center drake as it passes beneath them. With increasing speed, Nimbus turns, and they make a diving pass at the scaly creature. Belron slashes the spine drake's wing with his sword as they fly by. It tries to follow Nimbus momentarily before giving up pursuit and turning back toward the floating fortress.
Belron continues his dive towards the docks below, finally pulling up at the last moment to maximize their speed. He leans back in the saddle and Nimbus begins to climb slowly. They turn and position themselves behind an ice drake as it moves in to attack one of the airships.
On board the ship, one of the goblins says, “Hold your fire or you may hit the drake rider.” Several Amazons of the Silver Moon hold onto their spells and wait as Belron and Nimbus overtake the ice drake. Flying overhead, Nimbus digs his claws into the back and wings of the enemy drake. Belron holds on tightly as they begin to force the ice drake down. It lets out a screech as Nimbus bites down on its neck. Just as they are about to land, Nimbus opens his claws and once again pulls up into the air while the ice drake impacts with the ground.
Elsewhere in the skies, the drakes that had dropped explosive elixirs on Damion's troops have joined in the attack on the three goblin airships. Two of the sky drake riders, Laycor and Toren, put themselves between one of the airships and the fourteen enemy drakes.
Laycor says to Toren, “Maybe we can lure them away from the ships.”
Toren says, “If they don't follow us, we have to get behind them.”
“Agreed,” replies Laycor. “I'll take the ones on the left.”
The riders split up and try to get the orcnea's drakes to follow them. Two begin to pursue Laycor as he gets closer to the group. Laycor begins to lead them around the city, but when he turns back to check on them, he notices that they have resumed their course towards the goblin ship. The goblins on board take aim with their giant crossbows and spells. On top of the balloon, two Amazons of the Silver Moon prepare spells, as well. One of the women casts a fireball and the other summons a sphere of ice. The goblins below attack, forcing several of the drakes to pull away. The Amazons target one of the drakes that has turned and both of their spells strike the beast.
The injured drake falls, but before the two women can cast another spell, a spine drake swoops in and drags its tail along the top of the balloon. The two Amazons are forced to jump from the balloon as the drake passes them. Both transform into eagles and dive toward the ground, and a fire drake begins to follow them.
Toren turns his drake and dives toward the Amazons being followed. They pass underneath him with the fire drake right behind them. Toren's drake slashes at the enemy with its talons, and the fire drake breaks off its pursuit of the Amazons. Toren watches as the red drake, with a gash on its tail, flies back out to sea.
Toren is almost thrown from his flying mount as it tries to avoid colliding with an ice drake. Toren leans back in his saddle to steer his drake higher when a spine drake passes them by. Toren dodges the spine drake's claws, but is stabbed in the side by one of the long spikes of its tail. He clutches his side and says to his steed, “Down, Blue Wing.”
Toren's drake begins to descend towards the castle courtyard while the rest of the drake riders try to defend against the onslaught of so many enemy drakes. With two dozen orcnea drakes still on the attack, the four elves are hopelessly outmatched. One of the goblin ships manages to kill two more spine drakes, but not before sustaining considerable damage to its balloon.
The ship begins to fall as Chance says to the captain, “You are certain this ship will not explode when it lands on the ground?”
“Yes, Mr. Na'Moon,” replies the captain. “We have moved all of the black powder to the lunar gate.”
“Very well,” says Chance. “If you have everything under control, I should go help another ship.”
“I believe it is too late to save our ships, Mr. Na'Moon,” says the captain.
Chance looks out at the other ships. Both are damaged and falling, as well. He watches as one of the drakes begins to chase after Belron. “I have to go now,” Chance says. “Good luck.” Chance transforms and begins to fly back to the castle. He watches Belron dive lower over the city as the archers and spell-casters on the walls aim at the drake following him. Before the enemy drake is within range, it pulls back up into the air. With the airships disabled and descending, Chance notices the orcnea drakes begin to fall back.
Chance lands on the wall between the city and docks close to the gate that was washed away by the tide. Kel'ana, Ja'noa, and Evelena are there. As he changes back to his natural form, Evelena asks, “Where are drakes going now?”
Chance looks up at the fleeing forces, and replies, “It seems their only targets were the airships.”
“We never had a clear shot at them,” says Kel'ana. “They were too high.”
“Just keep shooting any orcnea you see in the city,” says Chance. “If they get onto the docks, they will be one step closer to taking Sheathelm.”
“We understand,” says Evelena.
Ja'noa looks up at the falling ships and asks, “Are they going to explode when they hit the ground, too?”
“No,” answers Chance. “At least, they are not supposed to.”
Chapter 63
Bombardment
Aboard one of the falling goblin airships, a small magic gate has been activated and the last of the goblins retreat from the ship. Only the captain at the wheel and one of the crew remain. The crewman looks over the railing and down below he sees the magic gateway that the orcneas have created. He says to the captain, “Sir, the orcnea gate is dead ahead.”
“Good,” replies the captain. “Let me know when we’re over it. We'll set the ship down on top of them. Then we’ll escape before they board us.”
Down below, the orcneas begin to scatter. Lortec says to Carr, “Make sure that ship does not destroy our gate.”
Carr becomes invisible before teleporting himself to the railing that he can see from the ground. Once on the ship, he looks around and only spots the two remaining goblins. He makes his way to the captain, drawing his sword. While standing behind the captain, Carr looks behind the panel on the wall where the lever that activates the black powder trap is hidden. He sees that the lever is still up. Carr turns his attention back to the captain and impales him with his blade.
The goblin crewman calls out, “We are over it now, sir!” He looks back at his slain captain, then lunges for the rope that releases the hot air from the balloon. Though the ship is already descending, it begins to fall faster as the rope is pulled. The goblin looks at the magic gate used for escape while clutching onto the rope. He waits nervously for the ship to touch down, and as soon as he feels the ship come to a stop, he lets go of the rope and runs for the gate.
He takes only two steps before running into the tip of Carr's blade. The goblin falls as the small gate on deck closes. Carr ends his spell and becomes visible once more. He looks over the rail and finds that the ship has been set down on top of the magic gate created to bring the orcnea forces through.
Carr teleports to where many of the orcneas have fled. “We must move that ship!” He says to them. The soldiers look with concern at the goblin air ship. Carr adds, “It’s not set to explode.”
Though they are still uncertain about their safety, the orcneas head back and begin to push on one side of the ship to move it away from the city walls and off of the gate. General Cron and four other ogres also join in, and soon the ship begins to move. If it were a normal ship, such a task would be much more difficult, but due to the magical enchantments that allow the ship to fly, the ogres and orcneas are able slide it and expose the ground where the magic gate was.
Lortec says, “The gate has been destroyed.”
Carr looks at the ground and picks up one of the runes that he had left behind hours before. He says, “As long as the runes are intact, I can open it again.” He places the rune back on the ground and looks for the other.
Lortec says, “While you reopen the gate, Cron and I will join the battle. It is time to end this.” Lortec straps on his shield and draws his sword. Cron takes a shield from one of the dead orcnea soldiers, then readies his ax. The two generals cross the bridge and enter the city.
In the courtyard of the castle, the drake riders land and Belron dismounts. He begins to make his way towards Toren to check on his condition when he is met by Nicari. “I’m sorry,” she says. “Toren didn't make it.”
Belron stops to collect his thoughts. He looks over to the three other remaining riders, who are gathered around their fallen friend. Belron resumes walking towards them. Ashden spots him and asks, “Captain, the drakes have fled to the floating fortress. What should we do now?”
“We take as many fire elixirs as we can, and drop them on that gate of theirs,” replies Belron.
The riders prepare to take flight while, up on the walls surrounding the castle grounds, Ya'leigh is with Gelana and Rehma. The three of them are crouched behind the ramparts of the wall. Ya'leigh draws back the bowstring of Incendia, then takes aim over the wall's edge at an orcnea. She releases the magical arrow before ducking back down to safety.
Rehma and Gelana are also armed with bows. “I don't like using these,” complains Rehma.
“I don't either,” replies Gelana. “But it would be foolish to fight in the streets when there’s a perfectly good wall to attack from.”
“We should be defending the breach at the docks,” says Rehma.
Gelana stands up and shoots an arrow. “We’re not equipped for that,” she says as she takes cover once again.
“You are,” says Rehma. “Your shield is superior to anything the royal guards have.”
“That may be,” replies Gelana. “But I don't want us to get separated.”
“You're right,” says Rehma as she stands up to take her shot. Rehma looks for an orcnea when she spots Lortec and Cron. Lortec's scale-mail makes him stand out from the rest of the orcnea forces, most of which are only protected by leather. Rehma takes aim and releases her arrow, but Lortec blocks it with his shield. “I think that one is important,” says Rehma.
“Who is?” asks Gelana as she peeks over the wall.
“The one with scale armor,” replies Rehma. “Ya'leigh, can you hit him?”
Ya'leigh looks over the wall and sees the general standing stoically in the middle of the street as other orcneas rush about. “I think I can,” says Ya'leigh. She draws back a fiery arrow and takes aim when she is struck by an arrow from an orcnea archer. Ya'leigh falls back as her arrow flies off aimlessly and hits the side of a building.
Gelana and Rehma quickly check on her and find an arrow lodged in her left shoulder. Rehma asks, “Ya'leigh, are you all right?”
Ya'leigh groans. “Yes, other than the arrow in my shoulder.”
“We have to get her to the healers,” says Gelana.
“Put your good arm around me,” says Rehma. “I'll help you down the stairs to the courtyard.”
Several paces away, an Amazon of the Silver Moon is also hit by an arrow. Gelana says, “I'll get her.”
While Rehma and Gelana begin to help the wounded reach the healers, down below in the courtyard, Yentroc and Namos are busy casting their healing spells. Kristieana is also there with Princess Kianna. Isen approaches them, carrying a soldier in his arms. The man is not moving and Isen lays him down on the ground before calling for help.
Kristieana comes over as Isen says, “He was impaled by a spear.”
Kristieana, still recovering from her own injury, places her hand on the man's chest. She sa
ys, “His heart still beats, but his wound is deep.” Kristieana calls Namos, who is busy helping Yentroc.
Namos rushes over and asks, “How can I help?”
Kristieana replies, “This man is badly wounded, and I am too weak to help him.”
“I can heal him so that he won’t die,” says Namos. “But he won’t be able to return to battle for some time.”
“Do what you can,” says Isen. Namos prepares to heal the soldier as Isen looks around at all the wounded. Despite the number of healers, they are having a difficult time keeping up with all the injuries, and no matter how talented the spell-casters are, many of the wounds are too severe to be completely healed. Dozens of men and women lay about the castle grounds, unable to fight.
Rehma helps Ya'leigh over to Kianna, who is visibly unnerved by the sight of an arrow jutting from her close friend. “Are you all right?” Kianna inquires.
“I wish you people would stop asking me that and just get this arrow out,” replies Ya'leigh.
Isen joins them and says, “Kianna, I thought you and Ya'leigh were supposed to stay in the castle.”
“We are in the castle,” replies Kianna.
“You are only on the castle grounds,” says Isen. “You know full well that you are to stay within the keep itself.”
“What good could we do from there?” argues Ya'leigh.
“I’m not worried about how much you can help,” says Isen. “My only concern is that the two of you are safe. Now, come with me and we'll get you inside.”
“I must stay and help heal these people,” says Kianna.
Rehma says to Ya'leigh, “Brace yourself while I pull the arrow out.”
Ya'leigh clenches her right hand and closes her eyes as Rehma pulls the arrow free from her shoulder. Isen watches as Kianna channels a healing spell and repairs the damage to Ya'leigh's arm.
“I am not going inside so long as I can help them,” says Kianna.
“Very well,” Isen relents. “Just don't wander away from me.”
