A growling voice echoed into the night. “I am Arane, and I command the entire vampire army. I will make this simple for you. Lay down your weapons and hand over your dragon to our control and none of you have to die.”
“Commander of the vampire army, you say?” said Vartan. “Aren’t you under Shindar’s command? And I would hardly call this little gathering an army. The dragon – not my dragon – is free from capture and does not bend to anyone’s will. As for letting us all live, I would love to believe you, but history has shown that vampires are not to be trusted.”
Vartan's body twisted as he snapped out his arm, releasing a small dagger, and formed the shape of a claw with his other hand. He cast a spell under his breath, “Impendo quod queritor.”
The dagger split open in mid-air, transforming into four razor-sharp steel claws that mimicked his own fingers, and embedded themselves around Arane’s pale neck.
Vartan grinned as he shouted. “Let Tusdar go, or I’ll close my fist and turn you into dust to fertilise the plants."
Arane snickered as he narrowed his eyes. “You stupid fool! This isn’t a fable and we don’t negotiate! You had your chance, and I will not give you the courtesy of another." He slid his blade across Tusdar’s neck and dropped his body to the cold ground. Tusdar clutched at his open flesh as he choked loudly on his own steaming hot blood.
“No! Tusdar! Arane, you son of a bitch!” growled Vartan.
He closed his fist tightly and his enchanted weapon cut through Arane’s neck. The vampire’s body disintegrated into dust.. Vartan and Leon charged forward furiously with their weapons drawn high. Nymira quickly extended her tail and sliced through the necks of three more assassins in one smooth motion. She snapped her head up and unleashed dragon's breath that engulfed a handful of vampires who had leapt from the roof. Vartan jumped off a pile of hay and brought his sword down to crash through an assassin, slicing its body cleanly in half. The two halves of the vampire’s flesh and bones fell to the ground with a thud before turning into dust. Leon and Vartan turned together with their swords ready to face the remainder of the attackers.
"You sure have grown, my boy!" Leon laughed.
With a gust of wind past their faces, Nymira’s immense body landed behind the vampires. She narrowed her eyes and blew jets of fire into the sky as a warning to the rest of them. Four vampire assassins stood side by side on the roof, unsure of what to do next. They looked at one another, mumbled something out of earshot and nodded. One of them brought a horn to his lips and blew hard, sending a grumbling sound through the forest.
At first, there was no response. Then, one after another, they heard the shrieks echoing from the forest build until they were almost a unified, deafening noise. Hundreds of vampires ran from the surrounding forest and covered the farm like ants, blazing their way towards them at inhuman speed.
“By the gods, son—the entire vampire army is upon us!” cried Leon, nervously swinging his sword and turning in all directions.
Vartan looked up to see a cloud of assassins’ daggers spinning towards them and barely had time to consider his next move.
Chapter 16: A Time to Live, A Time to Die
“What have I done with my whole life? I’ve spent countless years wasting it away with drink and thievery. I think it’s time that I do something worthwhile. What is the good of jewels and treasure when our whole world is covered in darkness?
It is time for me to take a stand and show everybody that I am more than a thief.”
(Tusdar, Master Thief of Greenhaven)
Trisa tucked her hair behind her ears, retrieved a pungent dark green herb from her pack, and gently rubbed it under Helenia’s nose.
“We cannot thank you enough, Trisa,” said Andrielle. “In times like this, an elven healer is indeed difficult to find. We needed all the warriors we could get, so all the healers we have are being trained for war. Perhaps I should reconsider that strategy.”
“I am glad to be of service to you, my new Queen. Thank you for allowing me entry and safety within the walls of Veldrenn. Mind you, I am a bit unsure of my safety here right now.”
Bang…
"I agree with you,” replied Andrielle. “I only wish we had more time to prepare."
Another rumble ran through the ground and rattled the plates and furniture within the house. Helenia stirred to life and turned to stare with clouded eyes at her worried mother seated beside her. Trisa brought a specially brewed steaming cup of tea to the princess’s lips and gestured for her to take it.
“Please, drink up, Princess Helenia,” said Trisa. “This will return your energy. The quickened healing process drained most of your body’s reserves. Mind you, I’ll be honest and tell you that there was not much there to begin with. You might want to save the use of magic for an absolute emergency, or until you learn to master the use of it. Otherwise, it may just be the death of you.”
Helenia drank the tea slowly, rubbing her head with her other hand.
Bang…
Another loud rumble almost sent the tea flying out of her grasp.
“What is that? Are we safe here?” asked Helenia, her voice breaking in panic.
Andrielle clenched her fists and spoke through hardened lips. “Unfortunately, none of us are safe here anymore, but I’ll be damned if I’m going to just sit still in here and wait for any of us to be killed by that foul excuse of a woman, Kassina."
She marched toward her door and yelled, “General Faowind!”
The door almost immediately burst open, and for the first time Helenia laid her eyes on the awaiting elven and human joint army in formation outside of their door.
“Oh my goodness, we are actually ready for war!” exclaimed Helenia.
Faowind bowed. “Your orders, my Queen?”
“General Faowind, are our forces prepared to move out?”
Faowind beamed with pride. “Of course they are, my Queen. Archers are ready with plenty of arrows, our soldiers with the burst shooters are ready, and our knights will accompany us in battle on horseback."
Bang…
A rather large rumble sent dust flying through the room. Helenia returned to her feet and snatched her sword from beside her bed, readying it by her side.
“We have very little time now, Faowind,” said Andrielle, “and I want you to help me with my armour. Are our horses readied?”
Faowind responded as he entered the room dragging a heavy cart covered in a royal silk blanket. “The horses are armoured and waiting outside, and Your Highness’s royal battle armour and cleaned sword are already here.” Faowind started to pull out Andrielle’s armour and quickly dressed his queen, taking care with each piece.
Trisa approached Andrielle with soft steps. She bowed and asked softly, “Great Queen, I may be a healer by trade, but I would serve you well on the battlefield and am handy with any weapon. Please allow me the great honour to ride with you into battle, and I will tend to you and your party in the event that you are wounded."
Andrielle only blinked before answering, “Your request is granted, Trisa. We need all the help we can get. Faowind will bring you one of our few reserve horses and a spare sword. However, we are well and truly out of armour, so I would suggest avoiding battle as much as possible."
Bang…
Another rumble knocked over the cart of royal armour. Helenia helped Faowind lift the cart off the ground and growled, "I can't wait to put a blade through that bitch."
Faowind smiled. “You may just get that chance. They are getting closer."
He gently slid Andrielle’s helm over her head, covering and protecting most of her face, save her eyes. She turned her attention to Helenia and was quite a sight to behold, even for her daughter. The royal battle armour was the prized possession of any elven royal who was privileged enough to wear it. Helenia would inherit her mother’s armour upon her ascension to the throne, but had specially made armour of her own to tide her over. The queen’s armour shone gloriously, and was set with jewel
s imbued with magical power that she could tap into during battle. Her helm connected to golden scales that draped over her shoulders, and the face of a dragon was carved into the shiny metal of her face plate.
“Faowind, if you would please fit my reserve helm onto Helenia?” she asked with a knowing smile.
Helenia suddenly realised that she would finally have her wish granted. Faowind stood close behind her and slid the heavy helm over her head. Andrielle’s reserve helm was identical to her first, but bore the carved face of a hawk.
Helenia stuttered as her face paled. “Thank you, mother. I—I will not let you down."
“I know you wouldn't. But you will stay close to either myself or Faowind. Nothing is for certain when we reach the battlefield. You have to be prepared for anything. Is that clear?” said Andrielle, raising her sword.
“Of course, as clear as crystal waters,” replied Helenia.
Faowind pulled a slightly beaten sword from the cart and handed it to Trisa. They all joined their queen in raising their swords together.
Bang…
Another rumble sent plates crashing to the ground and shattered into tiny pieces. They all swayed with the force of the impact.
Andrielle spoke again. “In the touching of our swords, we become as one. This is our first and last stand. We have nowhere else to run and we will no longer hide. Our forces will combine our strengths and we will win this day on the battlefield, or die trying. Let us touch swords now.”
In a circle, they touched their swords at the tips, the ceiling of the house lighting up with reflections of forged metal.
Andrielle's voice was firm as she continued. “Victory will be had, or death shall be embraced. For all that is pure!”
“For all that is pure!” they chanted.
They sheathed their swords in unison and took a moment to look each other in the eyes. Fear was overtaken by necessity, and necessity finally turned into determination.
“We all know what we have to do, so let’s go and get it done,” said Andrielle with a nod.
They walked out the door together and made their way to their waiting horses. Andrielle’s army was quite a sight to behold, and covered the majority of the city’s grounds. Mounted on horseback, Andrielle, Helenia and Faowind approached the front ranks of their awaiting men and women. The Knights of the Elves made their way behind their queen.
Some of the army’s soldiers were barely in their teens, yet they held swords and other weapons in their growing hands with the same confidence as their elders. Andrielle lifted her face guard to greet her people face to face.
“The great and honourable Elven Queen, Andrielle!” cried Faowind.
The army responded as one, moving to an attentive stance and speaking with an almost deafening unified voice.
“For the queen!” they screamed, stomping their feet into the ground and banging their swords against their shields.
Bang…
A burning tree tore through the canopy, crashing into a now-empty barracks and setting it alight as if it were a wick for a candle. Unaffected by the interruption, Andrielle addressed her waiting army.
“I welcome all of you, brave souls. Some of you have come from faraway lands to join our fight here today, to join the most important fight of our lifetime. We stand here together, unified against the darkness that shadows over us. We stand here to say that we will live in fear no longer! Today, you will not bow to me as your queen, and I ask for no favouritism. On this day, we will shed blood together, standing shoulder to shoulder. And on this day, we shall be triumphant as equals!” said Andrielle.
The mass of soldiers smashed their shields into the ground, while still holding their disciplined stance. Andrielle spun her horse around and faced the direction from which the burning trees were thrown – Kassina’s direction. She turned her face back to her army and continued.
“Kassina and the Dark Army would love for us all to cower in fear until they can pick us off and destroy us all. Our allies, the dragons, have already begun the battle, and we will help them to win the war! We will not bow to her dark wishes. We will take the fight right to that heartless wench’s lips and tell her, as her armies fall to the ground around her, that we are unafraid!"
Andrielle’s army began a rhythmic beat with their weapons and shields, their hearts racing with adrenaline. Andrielle drew her sword, and slammed her face guard into place with its hilt. She pointed forward through the trees that began to part and open a path for the army to enter.
“Onward to victory!” she screamed.
“To victory!” they all began to chant.
The ground trembled with the movement of Andrielle’s army as they began their march towards Kassina’s waiting Forces of Darkness.
Black clouds billowed into the sky and the stench of smoke stained the crisp night air. Flashes from the battle lit up the tear-streaked faces of sniffling children as the mothers who were either too weak to fight, or needed for the safekeeping of the survivors, made their way toward the glow and skyward beam of She’Ma’Ryn, far from the Battle of the Elven Woods. The women carried heavy packs on their backs with supplies and materials for making shelter. A handful of elven warriors accompanied the survivors for protection.
A woman managed a smile as she addressed the large crowd of children. “Come now, we are under the queen’s orders and we will be safe in the woods.”
The children nodded as they held their heads low and continued the long walk without complaint. “Remember, we have the dragons on our side now,” the woman continued. “And when the battle is won, we will return to Veldrenn to rebuild and celebrate.”
Chapter 17: Death from Above
“This is not the first time that the knights have been involved in war, nor will it likely be the last. However, for the first time in my life, I fight not only for my king or kingdom, but for the survival of the world as we know it.
A burden such as this can either provide hope and courage, or weigh one down into hopelessness and despair. I don’t have much time for the latter.”
(Sir Dryden of Veldrenn)
Kassina turned her scowl to her busy catapult crews and viciously spat out an order. “Aim at those damned dragons, or we’ll lose this battle before it has even begun!”
She puffed loudly and collapsed her body into her makeshift throne in annoyance.
Finn dove hard at Kassina’s cart and blew a fiery path towards her position, his eyes narrowing on his target.
“Look out!” exclaimed Aidan from the cart, struggling against the rough ropes to escape. His flesh was torn through and bled into the ropes.
Finn! Be careful, one of our own is beside her, ordered Karven from far above. Watch your fire!
Kassina snapped to her feet and quickly chanted a spell of protection against fire.
“Celatum sit ignem de corpo mei.”
In a series of pulses, a large, transparent, glowing sphere covered her entire cart. The red-hot flames turned to steam as they touched her magical sphere.
"Damn you, witch!" growled the young dragon as he circled around.
Finn! Be careful! Don’t get too close to her, screamed Karven’s voice in his mind.
Foolishly ignoring Karven’s warning, Finn swung as hard as he could with his tail while he flew over Kassina’s head. She responded by sending a potent charge of electricity through the tip of his tail. Finn crash-landed into the ground behind her, his form grinding through the dirt and sending up a large cloud of dust.
“You stupid fool, did you really think I’d be that easy to kill?” laughed Kassina.
Bang…
Bang…
Bang…
Karven's desperate voice burst into Finn’s mind. Finn! Get off the ground, now!
Bang…
Bang…
Bang…
Finn shook his head in confusion and regained his footing when he saw what was coming. The golem, Glaucus, was charging at him with full speed and was closing on him quickly, a lar
ge oak tree in his arms. Finn didn’t have enough time to take flight and could only brace himself for the inevitable impact, shutting his eyes and folding his wings over himself.
Bang…
Bang…
Karven rocketed through the air between them and smashed his tail with shattering force into the gigantic golem. Glaucus flew back a short distance and flattened out over Aidan’s makeshift rack, sending a large spray of dirt, wood and blood into the air around them.
Kassina shot lightning randomly through the air to repel any attackers. Seizing the opportunity, Finn flapped his wings as hard as he could to gain flight as undead knights quickly closed in on him. Putting as much distance between them as possible, Finn climbed high into the dark sky. He glanced back to see the bloody remains of Aidan dangling from the ropes.
That was too close, Finn, said Karven sadly. Choose your kills wisely and try to avoid friendly casualties. That loss may have been avoidable.
Finn banked and plummeted from the sky, vengeance surging through his veins. He sent more flames into the skeleton archers, narrowly dodging arrows aimed at wounding him where he was vulnerable. Shrieks filled the night air when another flaming tree was dropped heavily into the skeleton warriors’ midst. Kassina responded with two well-placed fireballs that hit the delicate wing membrane of another unfortunate attacking dragon.
“No! Althar!” growled Karven as he watched from above.
Althar plummeted to the ground, his heavy form landing gracelessly beside one of the catapults. The dragon growled in pain as he got back to his feet. Seizing the opportunity, Althar inhaled deeply and set the catapult and its team alight with dragon's breath.
“Damn those dragons. Archers, ready your weapons and fire on the wounded one!” ordered Kassina.
With grumbles and shrieks, they responded and turned to the downed Althar, whose wings let off wisps of smoke from the damage.
Finn again dove at their position, blowing fire at the endless stream of archers moving towards Althar. On his ascent, he ripped handfuls of them from the ground in his claws and took them high into the sky before sending them helplessly plummeting to the ground to shatter into pieces.
Legends of Marithia: Book 1 - Prophecies Awakening: Uncut and Extended Second Edition Page 16
