by Ian Rodgers
We sat around the same table from last time, with myself sat in a lone chair while the three town leaders took up spots on a bench facing me. Valen took the center, while Sistia and Pallo were on his left and right sides, respectively.
“Things are not looking too good,” Valen began with a morbid tone, Sistia and Pallo nodding in solemn agreement. “A large number of lizardfolk and kobold warriors are marching on New Castella via Xocxotl. Though I’m sure you already knew that.”
“Indeed. Did Rosa mention that they have three dragons aiding them?” I inquired. Another round of stiff-faced nods and I slumped in the rough wooden chair with a grunt on annoyance.
“Alright, what’s the situation with the defense on the human side of things?” I asked next.
“Scrambling to get their forces together,” Valen stated. “The problem is there aren’t many official soldiers here. Town guards, militias, and of course adventurers have been all that was needed for defense beforehand here in Drakon. The actual military is sorely lacking in numbers. Not to mention it will take them a week to mobilize what little forces they can to meet the lizardfolk army, and another week to actually get to the front lines.”
“And how soon will the lizardfolk -I mean zalos- get here?” I asked, dreading the answer.
“Their main forces will take a week to reach the border and this area. But a thousand or so strong vanguard is heading straight for Hole’s Reach in an effort to take the mine, aiming to cut off iron and coal supplies for New Castella,” Valen said darkly. “And it will arrive in two days or so. The defenses on our side there are minimal. And by that, I mean they have, at best, a hundred and fifty armed bodies from a mix of militia and town guard. It won’t last a day in an open fight, and the walls of the town are not suited for a siege like ours are.”
“Condemn this whole situation to the Hells!” I swore. This was not looking good. A thousand zalos could wreak havoc out along the border! Most settlements this far on the outskirts of New Castella were nothing more than a tiny collection of families. No more than a dozen or so people in farmsteads and villages. They had no defenses, no local strongholds or castles to flee to for protection like they might in Orria, and even if they did flee, they’d end up in cramped refugee camps at the coastal settlements.
“We have to stall them,” I declared after thinking it over. I’d come up with a plan while trapped in Xocxotl, and finally had a chance to use it since I was free at last. But it would take time. A week, at best.
After conferring with Tara about my idea, she agreed and urged me to explain it. I did, and everyone grimaced.
“The odds of your plan falling through are quite high. They rely on not an insignificant amount of luck,” Katherine said, stating her opinion.
“Plus, while you do share history with the Roan Family, will they take your request seriously?” Sistia wondered.
“To your question, Sistia, I think contacting the Roans is the best option, since they have an invested interest in New Castella and the various Drakon colonies remaining intact. And as for your point, Katherine, yes, it is risky because of the dependence on the whims of fate and luck, but can you think of a better way to utilizing the meagre resources we have?”
The dwarf looked like she wanted to argue the point but couldn’t, and various emotions warred across her face before she slumped her shoulders in defeat.
“Fine. You got me there,” she admitted.
“Just be safe,” Pallo pleaded. I bobbed up and down.
“Of course. I just got back safely. I don’t plan on worrying you all a second time,” I said kindly.
“Speaking of, how did you escape?” Valen asked. Everyone leaned in to hear my answer.
“Magic,” I said, in the most deadpan tone I could muster. The tone was returned to me in full with the unimpressed looks of my audience.
“Ok, fine, I’ll tell you!” I said, relenting under the terrifying force of their blank expressions. “See, they had trapped me in a prison that was designed to negate any and all Ambient and Occult magic. That is to say, I could not draw energy from my surroundings or myself. But they forgot one type of magic!”
“I see, Divine magic!” Katherine exclaimed after thinking it over. I bobbed in acknowledgement, and everyone looked impressed.
“Got it in one, Katherine! I prayed to Nia, and she helped me escape by crafting me a powerful Teleport spell! I took me right out of Xocxotl and right above Haven! Not entirely happy about how high up I ended, but what can you do?” I said.
Shrugs went around the group, and I hopped out of the chair.
“Alright, I need to go contact Princess Liliana, and then prepare for heading over to Hole’s Reach. If everything goes well, I should depart this place tomorrow morning and make it to the mine before all things go to the Hells in a handbasket.”
“We’ll do what we can to help. We have plenty of extra supplies we won’t be able to take with us when we flee, so you can bring those with you when you go to Hole’s Reach. I’m sure they can make use of them,” Pallo offered and I bobbed thankfully.
“Will do. Now, I assume my bed is still where it was last time?” A row of nodding heads answered my question and I sighed happily. “Great! I used to think I could sleep anywhere, but after a few days in a glass aquarium I have a new-found empathy for fish and an appreciation for soft pillows.”
A round of laughter was the response, and I laughed along with them. It was good to be back!
.
Morning came too quickly for my tastes. I had spent all of yesterday night talking to Liliana and Headmaster Arnolt via my clone. They had agreed with my scheme in theory, but feared actually implementing it would require time and effort. Both of which would be a touch difficult to manage in the necessary timeframe we were working with.
But they would do it. Not just for me, but because it had to be done if New Castella was to remain in human hands.
Rosa and I were flying through the air towards Hole’s Reach, as per the plan. We’d left early, only hanging around Haven long enough to store the various extra supplies the Soul Oozes had generously donated in my Dimensional Pocket.
My flight speed was considerably slower than it had been previously, though. My mana reserves had not fully recharged, and I did not dare take any Mana Replenishment Potions after spending several days in a prison utterly devoid of magic. My body was still trying to get used to having the full amount of mana I normally possessed as a Royal Ooze, and jump-starting mana production via alchemical substances was a good way for a mage to cripple his or her own soul and mana capacity. It would be like filling a frozen glass with boiling hot water. ‘Cracks’ in my soul would appear. I had to recover naturally. And that meant slowly. But I couldn’t afford to waste any time.
Rosa flew at my side, watching me nervously as I panted and strained to keep myself in the air.
(I think we should rest. Just for a bit,) she suggested.
“No, I can keep going. We have a schedule to keep to. If we’re not careful, all our plans would get ruined!” I argued.
(But if you keep going like this, you’ll burn out! And then you won’t be able to help anyone!) she shot back.
I prepared a rebuttal, but Tara interjected her own opinion before I could speak.
~I agree with Rosa. You are pushing yourself too hard. Don’t worry, we can rest for a few minutes. And, while we do so, we can prepare ‘Plan B,’ as it were,~ she said.
After thinking it over, I sighed but lowered my speed and altitude. Soon, I was on the ground, resting under the branches of a tall maple tree. Rosa was sitting on top of me, grinning from ear to ear that I had agreed to take a break.
~Shall we try now?~ Tara asked, and I bobbed up and down, nearly tossing the Ruby Carbuncle off of me.
Ignoring her squawks of protest I reached out with a tendril and began to trace it through the dirt. Slowly, words appeared as I drew on the ground. Then, a few sentences. I looked at what I had wrote with satisfaction and sett
led down to wait for a little while.
And I waited. And waited. I grew nervous as my waiting approached the hour mark. I couldn’t afford much more than an hour to rest and await an answer.
A minute before my time to rest was up, I sagged in relief as a tall man in a flowing black coat appeared in front of me.
“I had a feeling you were watching,” I said to the man as he looked down at me with arms folded over his chest and a raised eyebrow. “Though I am annoyed you waited for so long to show up. Were you testing my resolve or something?”
“Actually, I only just finished tying up loose ends,” Jeris Cowl admitted. “I hadn’t been paying much attention to you after you got captured by the zalos. Glad to see you managed to escape, though.”
Ouch. I winced. For some reason that blunt honesty hurt.
“Well, anyway, I wanted to ask you for your help,” I began, but he stopped me by holding out a hand.
“Wait. Does this favor have anything to do with the hostilities between humans and the lizardy ones?” he inquired.
“Yes.”
“Then I can’t do much. Interfering between matters of nations is not permitted for adventurers. And I am still part of the Guild. Whatever you’re asking me for can’t go beyond our mandate.”
Had I a mouth I would have smirked. “True, but there is a stipulation in the Guild’s rules that allows a minute amount of interference. Are you perhaps aware of the ‘Acts of Cult’ addendum?”
“The one that states that an adventurer of A-rank or higher can act without censure or permission in the pursuit of a confirmed cult? Even going so far as to intervene in matters of national policy if there is enough evidence?” Joris asked, requesting elaboration. Yet I saw the twinkle in his eyes that told me he knew what I had planned.
I bobbed up and down and Joris nodded slowly. “I see. Yes, that can work. But do we have enough evidence of the World Rebellion’s involvement?”
“Why Sir Joris, what on Erafore are you talking about? I never said anything about that cult’s particular presence,” I said slyly, and the X-ranker returned my words with a sly smirk of his own.
“I think we both know who is responsible for this. But, without more tangible proof, all I can do is what you asked for right here,” Joris said in mock sorrow, gesturing towards what I had written in the dirt.
“Ah, well. I suppose I shall have to leave now and fetch permission to interfere a tad longer. Farewell, Jellik! I hope you can survive for another five days or so,” he said cheerily, before vanishing into thin air as if he’d never been there in the first place.
I waited for a beat, then waved my tendril and caused the soil to buck and heave, erasing the note I had scrawled into the ground. Rosa looked at me smugly, and I could feel Tara doing the same via our link. I sighed in defeat.
“Yes, yes. You were both right. I am so very glad I listened to your advice on how to proceed. Yadda yadda, various heaps of praise on both of you. Now, let’s go! We have a mine to get to!”
I bounced into the air and cast Fly on myself. A tiny hint of relief washed over me as I felt less of a strain keeping the spell active and anchored on myself. The hour of rest had done me a world of good.
It was time to deal with an army.
Chapter 20: Preparing for war
I arrived at Hole’s Reach at noon. From the air, I could see a large number of tents and temporary dwellings set up around the stone walls of the mining community. Said walls were being reinforced with large blocks of raw, uncut rocks straight from the mine, as well as lumps of densely packed sod, dirt, and mud.
Men -- and women -- in armor were swarming around like ants, doing all manner of preparations for resisting the zalos vanguard that was coming. But just as Valen had said, they were drastically outnumbered. I counted only a hundred men wearing the colors of New Castella’s army. Over a hundred others were in guard outfits or rag-tag ensembles of armor.
Two hundred or so against two thousand. I did not like those odds.
Before landing I changed into my human disguise, and touched down just outside of the town’s limits. I didn’t want to be shot at if I tried to land in the center of town. With tensions and nerves high, the people on watch or on patrol in the area would be extra jumpy, and probably riddle anything suspicious with arrows and spells, then ask questions later.
I exited the underbrush and came face to face -- in a manner of speaking -- with three spears pointed at me. I quickly showed them my adventurer’s badge.
“Not sure why an adventurer showed up here now of all times,” one of the spearmen said, eyeing me suspiciously.
“I just want to talk to whoever is in charge around here. I don’t want to cause any trouble,” I said, staring nervously at the spears. They couldn’t hurt me, but my disguise would be ruined if they stabbed me and I didn’t bleed.
Hmm. What if I stored some fresh animal’s blood in my Dimensional Pocket? And if I was injured while disguised I could dribble it out to pretend I was bleeding! Something to think about for later.
Oh, wait, I was still being held at spearpoint by a trio of guards, and they were still talking to me. ‘Tara, what did I miss while I was thinking about faking wounds?’
~Not much, just reiterating how they didn’t trust you, etc.,~ the Spirit of Knowledge supplied helpfully.
‘Thanks,’ I said, before returning my attention to the patrol. “Look, I understand you are hesitant to bring a stranger in, but I think my adventurer’s badge should at least prove I’m not here to cause any problems.”
The guards stared at me before grunting in sync and gesturing for me to follow. I was led into the camp of the New Castella garrison, and then into the largest tent in the area after a brief discussion with some other soldiers standing around.
Ushered into what I assumed was the commander’s tent, I was surprised to see a woman clad in knight’s armor sitting behind a desk. Thankfully my illusory face showed none of my surprise and the woman looked up at me, her face showing curiosity mixed with a hint of wariness.
Her full plate armor was polished to a shine, yet it showed signs of wear and repair, evidence she had fought repeatedly in it. The heraldry of New Castella, a golden fish and a golden rooster on a blue and green field, was emblazoned prominently on her chest. Interestingly, her hair was a light shade of pink, not exactly a color humans possessed. Perhaps there was a touch of elf or gnome blood in her ancestry somewhere.
“What’s this? Did you three happen to find and detain another woodsman or hunter passing through?” she asked of the trio who’d brought me in. They shuffled their feet awkwardly before coughing and standing at attention.
“No, ma’am. Actually, we found an adventurer who wanted to speak with you,” the middle of the three explained, stepping aside to reveal me.
“An adventurer,” the commander said dryly, eyeing my pointy hat and robes. “A mage, more like it.”
She leaned forward to examine me, steepling her fingers as she rested her elbows on her desk as she examined me. “What do you want?”
Her tone was snappish, but I did not hold it against her. Instead, I bowed my head politely.
“Greetings, ma’am. I am Jellik, a C-rank adventurer. I’m here to offer what help I can.”
“Help?” she demanded incredulously, her tone mirrored in the looks of the soldiers nearby.
“Yes. I mean, surely you need someone to raise bulwarks and wards, and someone to brew potions,” I said. “Why? What sort of service did you think I was offering?”
Understanding flickered through the commander’s eyes and I made myself smile.
“Of course,” she said slowly, a smile matching my own appearing on her face. “It all makes sense. As long as you don’t actually fight the lizards there’s nothing stopping me from hiring you to do miscellaneous magical things around the camp, is there?”
I nodded, and she barked out a laugh. “Wonderful! Simply wonderful!” she turned stern immediately afterwards, and pierced me
with a glare.
“We have less than one day before the lizardfolk vanguard makes it here. There is another battalion of soldiers making their way here to help us along with other troops they’re picking up along the way, but unless we have real defenses the town will fall. So, what can you offer?”
“My Familiar and I can raise earthworks with which to defend the town,” I offered, Rosa waving at the knightess as I mentioned her, “And I have plenty of potions and some supplies I can give.”
“What sort of supplies?” the commander inquired. I handed her a list the Soul Ooze had prepared, and her eyes widened.
“Bag of Holding,” I explained when she looked around for any crates that might be lying around. She nodded happily.
“Where did these come from?”
“All the items on the list I gave you were donated by the town of Haven.” A murmur went through the tent. Apparently, the name was recognized.
“They have my thanks, and I’ll be sure to note down their contributions in my report,” the commander announced. She stood, and snapped me a salute. “I am Knight-Captain Alexandra Hart, the de facto commander of the frontier defenses. Glad to have your support, Jellik.”
“The pleasure is mine, Knight-Captain. I’m happy to do what I can to help out,” I replied, returning her salute with one of my own. It was sloppy, but the sentiment was appreciated if the grin on her face was any indication.
“Let me show you where I’d like you to set up some magical defenses…”
.
(WEEEEE!) The crystal-clear sound of Rosa’s laughter reverberated across the camp as she flew around along the edges, raising mounds of earth and soil into defensive walls. With every pass she made, the earth swelled and moved beneath her, ridges and hills forming as she moved about this way and that.
Though to an outsider, it may have seemed like Rosa’s paths were nonsensical, each place she went and every lump of soil she shifted was carefully calculated. Too little earth in one place could cause erosion or landslides in the future. Too much piled up in one spot could choke out any potential nutrients in the soil, preventing farming when the land did return to normal. To a being as attuned to the magic of the Earth as a Carbuncle was, such changes were as clear as day.
