Aila took a seat, looking out over the cavern and looking at the rows of Guardians.
Claire used her necromancy powers and was able to revive every- one here. Would I be able to? Though I would lose my position as a Guardian, isn’t it for the best if I can do that to help all of Dena?
A day or two went by as Claire finished up checking all of the en- chantments.
“I’m sorry I snapped earlier. All of the enchantments should be working, but—” Claire sighed in frustration, deflating.
“If I was to—”
“Don’t think about it, Aila Wranoris. There are still more op- tions,” Claire snapped, seeing through her.
“As a last resort,” Aila said.
Claire let out a breath through her nose and held her words. “Come, there is a dwarven outpost not far from here. It was made
to protect the Guardians as they rested. It has been manned for all this time.”
“We’re going to leave?”
“We have tried one thing. We can make more attempts in the fu- ture. In the meantime, we need to get Dena organized instead of wast- ing our time down here.” Claire turned and started to walk out of the temple.
“You need to contact your clan and get their help with defend- ing Dena. We will first head to see the dwarves, create a Guardian Flame, and see what is happening within Dena.”
Aila felt a mix of feelings as Claire talked about her home. She followed behind, out to Ramona, Rachel, and Ryan.
Aila had been taking care of them and they had been foraging the last few days.
They secured their gear and mounted up, once again heading out into the cutting winds. It was green and lush in the plains be- low, but up here in the mountains, they were still a season behind.
Claire led the way as they climbed across the mountainous and bar- ren region.
They dropped down onto a snow and ice-covered road that weaved through the mountains. Aila saw a road in the distance that went to the east; the road they were on went to the west.
It stopped at a squat mountain.
Aila studied the mountain in greater detail. It was rough in places and smooth in other places.
“Is that—?”
“Welcome to Shivernsin Keep, the northern stronghold built to cut off the northern lands from the rest of Dena and to protect the Guardians. It was only a small stronghold when I was last here. Now it has become a true city built for war.” Claire rode her beast forward as Aila stared at the massive creation.
There were several levels to the keep. The mountain that had once been there had been turned into a blocky home that faced the north, east, and west.
Only a little smoke rose from it, making one think it was an aban- doned city.
They reached the gates to find dwarves looking at them with cross- bows and rifles.
“Hey, hey! Aila W-something—you were with that guy that fell down a cliff.” A voice came from the parapet.
Aila looked up, frowning as she tried to see who was talking. “The—you mean you were one of the dwarves in that caravan?”
“Yeah! Oh, wait a minute! Put your weapons down.” The gruff voice came from inside and the weapons were pointed in a different di- rection.
It wasn’t long until the great doors creaked open to reveal sev- eral dwarves.
“Krosem?” Aila asked.
“Remembered my name—who is this?” Krosem asked.
Aila looked to Claire, who had hidden her face in her cloak. “Show him your emblem,” Claire said to Aila. “We’re here to see
the stronghold leader.”
Aila moved her cloak to the side and showed her Guardian em- blem.
Krosem’s face turned serious when he saw the emblem.
“Tell him that the Guardians are back and we are in need of his ser- vices,” Claire said.
“Please come in. I will send a message to him.” He looked to one of the people with him. They hurried off and they entered the stronghold. The area behind the main gate was open with covered bridges reach- ing overhead to connect the outer wall to the blocky pyramid-looking stronghold.
Krosem got onto a boar and led the way. “So, where is that knight?” Krosem asked.
“He should be to the south right now, looking for our friend’s fa- ther,” Aila said.
“The south is chaotic right now—talks of Guardian Flames ap- pear- ing all over the place, the beast kin have apparently invaded, there are doorways to the Drafeng opening. We have war bands out destroying the doorways we can find.” Krosem hesitated for a sec- ond. “With the humans blowing up the passages in the north, it has blocked us off from the northern plains, where the Drafeng main attack came from. We are clearing passages into the land to destroy any doorways that might be there.”
“It has created a natural barrier?” Claire asked. “Yes, ma’am.”
“I would bet that they are up there. Smart—using the humans to create a blockade and defenses for them,” Claire said.
“Still, while we are blocked off, if they want to enter Selenus or Radal, then they will need to come through us. Still, we haven’t con- firmed it, though,” Krosem said.
They entered through massive wooden gates, entering the strong- hold.
It was warm inside. The heat here was trapped inside, warming the entire stronghold. She looked up, seeing the bridges that ran across the different floors. It made the inside feel open, but without losing its homely and rough feeling that made one feel as if nothing could ever stop the stronghold.
They headed deeper into the stronghold. There were four open ar- eas at each corner, with a large inner stronghold and supporting walls.
As they entered the inner stronghold, Aila saw open areas that led into the depths.
“Dwarves might build homes on the surface, but their strength is underground. One-fifth of their building might appear above the land. It is why no one should underestimate a dwarven hold or keep,” Claire said. “If needed, the battlefield and the surrounding area can be de- stroyed, then the complete Shivernsin Keep can be revealed.”
“You seem to know a lot about our keep,” Krosem said.
“Well, I helped to build and design it. I know that there were a number of your dwarves who went to the islands for training to be judges. How are they doing?”
Krosem looked at Claire in alarm, unable to see through her hood. “They have kept and maintained the peace of Shivernsin for genera- tions.”
“I heard that you recently had a group of gnomes join you. Gnomes, goblins, dwarves, and even some humans, beast kin and dark elves,” Claire said with approval.
Krosem cleared his throat.
“You see, they don’t want to tell anyone else about the races that live here. The Church of Light hate them already, but the de- fenses here are too strong to assault. The beast kin don’t care; it is
one less place they have to fight to defend or attack. Though if there were beast kin here, then they might lead a crusade to make sure that they weren’t
slaves. Even if people came out and said that they were not slaves, they wouldn’t stop till they won.”
“I knew that there were dark elves who would travel to the south to trade with dwarves. I guess you are one of those groups?” Aila asked.
“Yes.” Krosem dismounted. “Your mounts will be cared for.
Follow me.”
They left Ramona and her pups behind. They reached a wood- en platform. The platform started to go higher and Claire and Aila looked around.
“I don’t sense any magic,” Aila said.
“Technology? Pure technology?” Claire turned the statement into a question as she looked over to Krosem, who had a pleased smile on his face.
“Well, when we were going to the south, the princess made friends with a group of gnomes. They were technick types. They had created something called a steam engine. We agreed to house them here, sup- port their research, and they have been making these engines. With the heat of Shivernsin, we boil water, and the
hot water pushes gears and machines, giving them life. We just need heated stones, which are easy enough to enchant, and we can cre- ate a lot of power. We are adapting it to everything. I heard that there are even steam-augmented weapons.” Krosem’s eyes shone as he talked.
“Tommie would love this place,” Aila said wistfully. “What is this called?” Claire asked.
“This is an elevator—uses counterweights and a steam engine to raise and lower us. There are several on different floors now. Ex-
per- imentation with the steam engines has exploded to every area. The dwarves have entered the age of steam!”
Their ride came to an end and they stepped off the ele- vator.
Aila was still intrigued by it as they passed through the center of the higher floor. There was a large hall with a familiar flame.
“Guardian Flame,” Aila said.
“You kept it alive?”
“A week or so ago, fires on the different floors ignited and we start- ed to get information from them,” Krosem said.
Aila stepped up. As her emblem was recognized, messages started to appear.
Anthony appeared in the flames.
“Aila, Claire—we were ambushed as we were heading to Laisa. Watch out—it looks like there are some Agents of Chaos still work- ing against us. The Drafeng must have got out word to some of their peo- ple. Don’t know if there are still Drafeng out in the world, or just their transformed Agents of Chaos carrying out their bidding. Tommie’s fa- ther fled to the south. The elves there are de- stroying the doorways. Look after yourselves.”
Watcher Cecilia appeared. “Calling all Guardians. The door- ways have started to open. We need to work quickly.”
Tamarra appeared with another Guardian. “The Drafeng have emerged in Yelling Atoll. We are currently fighting them there and we are clearing the islands of all other doorways. Our military will move to support the elves in the Deepwood, forming up a United Army that will advance toward the north, clearing through the hu- man and beast kin lands. We were able to do a sensing spell. They have appeared on Cheon, as well as their northern stronghold once again. Stay safe, all of you.”
Anthony appeared again. “We moved through the cities and the camps, judging them and starting to create Guardian Flames. It was not enough. Bruce, Damien, and Penelope are heading off to Bracegar. It seems that the clan spirits have been restricted. They are going to re- move these restrictions. Their secondary objective is to reach the line general on the beast kin side. Tommie and I will get the general on the human side. We will work our way north. Wake up the Guardians. We need them now more than ever.”
Anthony was replaced by Tommie in his Gnominator. He looked tired but defiant. Aila felt that he had gone through a ground-shaking change in just the last few weeks.
“Anthony is now in command of both leaders. Bruce, Penelope, and Damien are racing toward Bracegar. Anthony has brought the hu- mans and the beast kin out of their fortresses and is going to start train- ing them together and sending them out to destroy the doorways across Dena. Anthony is pushing himself to the limit. We have created sever- al new Guardians. Watcher Cecilia is sending a United Army up to as- sist us in training and pulling the forces to- gether. They’re more likely to kill one another than they are to fight the enemy. Also, guess I’m a Guardian now. Stay safe.”
“We have a lot of work to be done and a war to fight.” Claire stepped forward.
Everyone around the flame was quiet as they heard the reports from the different figures in the flames.
Krosem jogged forward as they reached a large door. It opened to reveal a room filled with people from different races arguing with one another and a tired-looking dwarf sitting in his chair be- hind them all.
Aila followed behind. The people in the room turned their blazing eyes on the door, ready to tear apart whoever disturbed their talks.
Claire pulled back her hood, getting gasps of shock from peo- ple in the room as they looked at the lich standing in front of them. “You must be Stronghold Keeper Logan. The Guardians have
need of your services. It is time to fulfill your family oath.”
The tired-looking dwarf looked at Claire and then to Aila, see- ing the purple emblem on her chest and then the purple flame be- hind her. He pulled out a truly ancient hammer carved from stone. Enchant- ments covered the hammer. He placed it on the
table and the weight
made the wood ring out.
“I, Logan Icearm, descendent of Tairlyn Stone Hammer, take up the call. Stronghold Shivernsin stands with the Guardians. Claire, Bat-
tle Magess, leader of the Guardians, I offer you my hammer and pledge my loyalty.” He dropped to a knee and tilted his head to them.
“Looks like I am not the only one who is well informed. I am no longer a Guardian, but this is Aila Wranoris, of the Dark Elves in the North, Princess to the Dark Throne, first Guardian of the new genera- tion. We have much to discuss, Logan.”
***
Admiral Raye looked at the shores of Yelling Atoll. Still the yells and screams sounded. He hid the shiver that ran through his bones and he closed his eyes.
Behind his eyes, he saw the scenes: the rush to Yelling Atoll, the four-day bloody battle that had ensued.
They had pincered the location the Drafeng controlled. They had hidden in the multiple uninhabited caves along the coast from the Yelling Atoll port.
The port had been raided and many of the people killed. Few had survived, leaving in ships. Using their cannons, they had brought down the cave system, opening it up for the army to use long-range magic and attacks on the Drafeng. The Drafeng used the caves to launch an attack on the army, boiling out of the ground right into the United Army’s ranks. The Guardians, champions, and other powerful figures clashed with them. The chaotic beasts were powerful in ranged and close com- bat, strong enough to re- quire a group of regular soldiers working to- gether to defeat them.
They had been repelled but with five percent casualties and many wounded or affected by the chaotic power.
It was the first true battle they had with the Drafeng and it shook them; the chaotic beasts had used their power to destroy themselves just to inflict greater casualties.
They had forged on, having to make their way into the ruins of caves, paying for their advance in blood. The courts were called down,
using buffs on the friendly forces. Their offensive power was minimal and in the area of chaotic power, their strength would rapidly wane.
With the buffs, the army advanced, reinforced by the navy marines. They took the caves and set up batteries that fired through the door- ways without stop as mages attacked the doorways relent- lessly.
Guardians and champions sped up the process.
The open doorways were much more stable than the forming door- ways. It took a half-day just to destroy the doorways. Guns were turned to slag, tossed to the side as new ones were pushed out. They would fire out chaotic power, killing gunners and those at- tacking the doorway.
It was a bloody fight. The proud navy and army had been at- tacked on their home soil and lost nearly ten percent of their strength. It was a cold blow and it taught them to not underesti- mate their opponent: these were not humans or beast kin.
“New orders from the chief justice,” one of the Guardians of the fleet reported, pulling Admiral Raye out of his reverie. “We are to head to the Deepwood. We will meet up with the forces there, combining our strength and heading through Selenus.”
“Cheon?”
“The northern fleets have been dispatched to deal with the threat there. The army has worked with the Guardians and the judges to clear the doorways and remove Agents of Chaos that cre- ated the different anchor points. Thirty percent of the army will act as a protection force, with the fifth and sixth fleet to patrol Epan and Ilsal.”
“Seems that you have started to read my mind, Guardian Thun- der- wing.” Admiral Raye smiled at the rare elemental Guardian. It had the appearance of a bird, formed f
rom golden lightning and clouds. A pur- ple flame burned within him and a purple Guardian symbol appeared on his chest.
“Just accustomed to it,” Thunderwing said.
Admiral Raye smiled and then turned to his messengers. “Send the word to the rest of the fleet. We head for the Deepwood.”
***
Anthony stood in front of the Guardian Flame, drawing power in- to himself. He had drained so much in the last few days. He took Fysher and Gheta, flying from camp to camp, having them give or- ders as he used Guardian’s Judgement to clean up the ranks.
What he had heard and what he had seen had left him disgust- ed, angered, and feeling defeated.
He sat down and looked at the flickering purple flames, getting lost in their motion. “I can hear you a mile away.” Anthony tilted his head to the side but didn’t take his eyes off the flame.
“Yeah, need to tweak a few things still,” Tommie said as he walked up and then sat down next to the flame, staring at it as well.
Anthony could feel that Tommie was waiting; he knew what he was waiting for. He just didn’t know what to say.
“Is it all a waste? We did this once before and then look at what happened? Will anything be different this time? Will we survive? Do we deserve to? The things that the people of Dena did to one another, with just a little push?” Anthony fell into silence, not sure where it had come from, but feeling all his words rang true.
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