Telon lifted Timo to his back, and said to the remaining dwarves, “lead us out!”
As they left the chamber, they heard another group of goblins pursuing them. They hurried up the hall with several dwarves slowing the advance of the goblins.
The gargoyles advanced without fear, taking heavy losses as they moved forward. Getting closer every moment, one by one, Telon’s rescue party was getting smaller as they worked their way up the tunnel toward the entrance and freedom. They ran as fast as they could until they reached a fork in the hall.
Ligo heard the whizzing sound of a spear and pushed Telon out of the way. Telon hit the wall and turned to see Ligo skewered with the spear, and Leevite holding his father. All stood quiet for a moment as Ligo whispered his last words into his son’s ear, and passed.
The roof over the tunnel began to shatter, and it came down on the rest of the advancing gargoyles. They were safe, for now.
Leevite sadly laid his father down and went to Telon, “I am Levite, Ligo’s son. He made me promise that I would not leave here without you. I will see you out.”
Telon reached for Levite’s hand, “If Ligo’s death is to mean anything, we must get Timo out of here. We need to go.”
Levite looked up, there were only three other dwarves left, “Let’s go then!” He led them up the hallway where they heard the gargoyles pursuing again. Arrows again were springing past them. An arrow caught one of the other dwarves in the back, dropping him dead. They were coming up on the spot where Telon had entered the Demon’s Chamber.
“Grab a shovel,” Telon yelled, as he dropped the still unconscious Timo to the ground, and started shoveling the coal down the hall. Levite and the other dwarf joined him. The hallway floor was soon covered with several inches of coal, and none too soon, as the gargoyles reached them. The dwarves hid along the sides of the hall, and then Telon took his shovel and waited until the first gargoyles were walking through the coal. Telon reached into the fire, filling his shovel with burning coal. He then turned and launched it as best he could onto the other coal, instantly igniting it and the gargoyles on it. The only thing escaping the fire was the horrid screams of the dying enemy.
“Quickly, do the same in the other direction,” Telon directed, and soon fire was roaring in both parts of the halls.
“Now what?” asked Leevite, knowing they just cut off their escape?
Telon had effectively blocked out the gargoyles, but also had blocked him and the other dwarves in. In doing so, he had also removed most of the fire from the fireplace to the hallway.
“We will get out the same way I got in,” Telon said, again picking up Timo and walking to the mostly empty fireplace. He carefully worked around the small remaining fire and found his vent again. He managed to get himself, and Timo, into the hole. The vent was covered in soot from the recent fire, and it was far more slippery than before. “Be careful, watch your footing,” Telon said, but there was no reply. He looked down to see neither of the other two dwarves following. They had taken a different path.
Telon could not wait, crawling long and hard. He went little by little, first moving Timo and then himself. He had to get Timo back to the camp. He eventually saw the glow of light ahead, and then he was finally able to poke his head out the nasty vent and see light again. It blinded him as the light stung his eyes. He never had anything sting so good in his life.
Chapter 26: The Time Has Come
Tegan led his stout-hearted army to the last turn before the gates. He was very somber, feeling as though all he had was lost. Try as he might, he could not see hope for his own dim future. For him, this fight was purely for vengeance. He hoped that many of his men would live on to have happy and rewarding lives, a hope he did not hold or want for himself.
As they cleared the end of the forest the glow of the fires covering the mountainside ahead greeted them. The moon acted as a dim lantern, hanging directly over the battlefield. The air was heavy, the nervousness and the anticipation of the battle crowding the warriors on both sides. All were eager to enter the fray, their appetites for death thoroughly wetted. Kyrie marched up front, several strides beyond the leaders. He was keeping his thoughts to himself, ready for his personal battle with Sain.
The enemy was ready for the waves of soldiers that were soon to come, the sound of them banging their shields with swords rang through the cold late-night air. Hearing the call of battle, Erol rode up on Gile to Tegan, “Where do you want us?”
Tegan answered without looking, “You will be making the first charge with me and our best men. We seek to soften them up, then we will pull back to allow Kyrie to draw out Sain.”
“What if he doesn’t come?” Erol asked.
“Then we are going to kill as many as we can and attempt to reach the entrance to the mountain,” Tegan snarled.
As they rode a little further, the vastness of the upcoming battle was evident. Before them and directly in front of the mountain, waited Sain’s army. There were legions of goblins on both sides of the band of Tolltier. Their number was far larger than the group that attacked Tunder Bin. Behind the goblins and Tolltier, perched at the base of the mountain, were thousands of gargoyles ready to defend their home.
The entrance to the underground stronghold of the gargoyles was large enough to march out fifty wide. More continued spewing forth, ready for the fight. There were great iron gates on each side of the entrance that, when the battle began, would be shut to seal off the attacking army from reaching inside the mountain. Stairs went up either side of the entrance to a large throne that overlooked the valley below. There, in a seat carved right into the rock of the mountain, sat Sain, Lord of the Gargoyles. On both sides of him rose spouts of fire from some unseen furnace. The scene looked intimidating to the approaching army.
The four kings of the dwarves came to a stop, along with Kyrie, Erol and Gile, Tangela, Quelna, and Bryon. All the good races were present for the final fight. Should this battle fail, there would be little to stop Herrog from ruling all of Lemuria.
Tegan rode a few more steps and turned, “The four kings of the dwarves will ride forth to speak with the enemy. The rest of you should prepare for the battle.” The four rode forth up the rocky mountain path to within a hundred paces of the enemy, and within earshot of the great Sain. They stopped there and waited. They could see Kilgore and his dwarves, the traitors looked somewhat squeamish. Kilgore held strong of his resolve and did not seem to acknowledge his old friends.
Soon a group proceeded from the mountain, marching out to speak with the dwarves. The lead was a goblin, guarded by several large gargoyles that hovered behind him. The wings were twice as long as they were high, making them very intimidating. Kilgore joined them as they drew close, but only the goblin came all the way. He hobbled on a gimp leg.
“Why’ve ya come ‘ere? Whyn’t wait fer yer death, ‘stead of racin’ to it?” he mockingly spouted to his counterparts.
“Death will come today to many, but only death knows who it will choose. We are here to retrieve our friends that you have taken captive, and to rid our land of your filth! If you choose to leave peacefully, we will allow it,” Tegan’s replied as a final offer.
The goblin laughed, “You’d allow da dwarves wit us to go?”
“That offer was to you. We will deal with them according to our custom for dealing with traitors.” Tegan would not make eye contact with Kilgore, but the other kings would look at no one else. Kings Fiji and Dorir felt betrayed the most, having known him the longest.
Kilgore came forward to plead with Tegan, “Do not be foolish! You see the army, and trust me, this is but a small piece of it. Inside the mountain sits a far stronger power. You can’t win, join us now. There is still time!”
Tegan still would not acknowledge Kilgore, saying to the goblin, “Tell your rat to prepare for the fight, and that he will be given no favor by our warriors. Do you accept my offer to leave or seek peace?”
“No, prepare to be destroyed! Deyanira said
yer were too arrogant ta take our offer!” the goblin said, trying to trick Tegan into an early fight.
Tegan paused and then replied, “Deyanira knows me well. She knows I am too stubborn to stop now,” he said with a slight grin, recalling long-past memories of better times. He then turned and yelled to the traitor dwarf army. “In case any of you are rethinking your position, drop your weapons now and join us. If you do not, you will have the same fate as the goblins and gargoyles.” None moved, although many shifted nervously in their stances.
“You will have no luck there,” said Kilgore. Tegan ignored him, but instead directed his attention to Sain.
“Tell Sain,” Tegan said to the goblin, but speaking loud enough that he knew Sain could hear him, “that we welcome him to the field of battle. We have someone who is looking forward to meeting him!” Then he turned, and his group went back to their army.
They had taken only a few steps back to their forces when they heard a ruckus behind them. They turned back to the mountain to see dwarves streaming out of the entrance. They were few, and had little chance for survival. There were close to ten thousand of the enemy between them and freedom, but they were frantically fighting to get out.
Gargoyles began swooping down, picking of the fighters one by one. They tossed the dwarves into the air from gargoyle to gargoyle, toying with them. The goblins formed a large ring around the entrance to stop the dwarves from getting away, but left the prey and game to the gargoyles.
This drove the dwarf army mad and Tegan could not hold them back, what started as a trickle quickly turned into a flood as the dwarves stormed the enemy.
“We won’t get there in time!” Dorir yelled to Tegan, joining the attack.
Tangela came up suddenly, and said as she scooped up Tegan, “We can get you there quick!”
“Take us!” Tegan demanded, ready to get this last battle underway.
Tangela motioned to her troops and several hundred harpies flew up and each picked up a dwarf. They flew them over the Tolltier, right up to the entrance, and dropped the armed dwarves off in the ring of goblins. The harpies then attacked the gargoyles, using their spears against the tritons of their foe. The dwarves that were dropped by the harpies engaged the enemy on the ground, while the harpies locked them through the air. The battle for the Demon’s Chamber had begun, but not at all in the way Tegan had planned.
Tegan and Dorir’s dwarves where trying their best to protect, and when possible, arm the dwarves that were pouring out of the mountain. They had fought hard to free themselves from the evil in the mountain, but many who did so had died after reaching the outer gate. The circle of dwarves was under attack from all directions. Despite the help from the harpies and their excellent marksmanship with their spears, the dwarves’ number was dwindling all too fast. They were completely outnumbered, and had no place to hide or from which to regroup.
Fiji, Darrow, and Bryon were attacking from behind the outer layer of goblins, and making progress, but not nearly fast enough. The vast enemy of the Sain had the upper hand. Whether by design or naught, they had divided the limited strength of the Tegan’s army.
Erol saw the events and knew what he must do. He compelled his steed, Gile, directly into the fray. They smashed themselves deep into the line of Tolltier who were providing the most resistance to Fiji’s crew. Gile spewed fire into the Tolltier line, igniting their hair under the heat. The beasts did not run though, even under flame, and only gave way when arrow, spear, and most often the weight of Gile brought them down. Gile trampled many on his way and like a giant sword, cut deep and swiftly though the enemy lines. Gile opened a huge gap for which Fiji and his crew could easily advance. This allowed Erol and his followers to reach Tegan’s group while many still lived.
Countless of those that were trying to escape had been killed, but a good number had been saved. They were not out of danger yet though, for as they turned to get back, their exit was cut off. Standing defiantly between them and the rest of their army was King Kilgore and the traitor dwarves. They stopped Fiji’s dwarves from entering. As the fight still raged behind him, with Erol and Gile providing most of the protection, Tegan walked out to see Kilgore defying him his path.
“Dwarves form up!” Tegan bellowed in a thundering voice, causing all within range to shudder. Sain himself rose to watch the dwarf battle that was soon to entertain him.
“Traitors stand between us and our escape! Show no mercy! Take no prisoners!” Tegan began to advance toward Kilgore, who was up to the challenge. The dwarf battle begun. Despite the resolve of their leader, the hearts of the dwarves of Kilgore were less than stout. The battle was hideous, with both sides guilty of actions that could never be rectified. Sain found the theater glorious.
Tegan and Dorir lead the attack that had little to do with escaping. Gaining ground was not the goal, gaining revenge on the turncoats was the prize! The ground grew muddy from the flood of blood that drenched it. Many body parts littered the ground as footing became treacherous. Dorir took on Kilgore himself, two old masterful warriors fighting to the death.
“Come with us, or you will die,” Kilgore pleaded as he gave ground to the wrathful Dorir.
“No! Never!” Dorir growled in-between massive swings of his axe, each one driving Kilgore back. “Death is a quick reward compared to what I would do to you if I had time!”
Kilgore stepped into a pool of blood, and slipped, falling with a splash onto his back. Blood from the dead covered his body, he looked across the field to witness the hundreds of dead, many of which he once called friends. In that moment his clarity returned, the error of his ways and destruction he caused fully revealed. The full story of the initial seduction by Sain, his insatiable lust for power and Deyanira, and the folly that occurred due to all of it raced through his mind. He lay his head back into a muddy puddle of blood he lay in. He agreed death was too easy an out for his betrayal of his people, and eagerly waited for the death Dorir was ever so willing to deliver.
“I am sorry,” Kilgore uttered to Dorir, “Your daughter yet lives, I pray you may save her.” The roar of the battle muffled his words, and Dorir carried out Tegan’s promise at the outset as he severed the head of Kilgore. Sain clapped in approval, he could not be more pleased at the devastation.
With Kilgore’s death, most of the stoutness out of his army dissipated. Many tried to surrender or escape, but as Tegan stated, their time to choose sides had already passed. None were spared and all of Kilgore’s dwarves that stood on the field were slain during this battle. The goblins wanted nothing to do with this fight until all of Kilgore’s dwarves were dead.
The men of Calonia, led by Bryon, attacked again from the plains. Their strength opened a path for the dwarves clearing the battle. The men allowed many of Tegan's dwarves to get away as they aided the wounded that escaped the mountain. They were saved to fight again. While all of Kilgore’s dwarves were thought to be killed, and many of the Tolltier (thanks to Erol and Gile), barely a dent was made into the total army of Sain. He sat again on his perch as if he was watching a play, quite happy with wreckage he had wrought. He was especially pleased at the civil strife he had caused the dwarves. He still had the advantage by several thousand over the Tegan’s army, and not the slightest worry for the outcome.
The dwarves were busy trying to provide help to their injured, both from the battle, and those hurt by the captivity of Sain. Bryon and his men stood as a shield before the might of Sain, but for now the battle had ceased. The first round was a draw, with both sides losing about the same number of bodies. The problem was Sain had far more bodies to lose. This body for a body fight could not continue.
Tegan was congratulating Dorir on his victory over Kilgore when Kyrie came up to him, “My time is now. I will challenge Sain, stand down in the hope he will answer me alone.”
Tegan looked into Kyrie’s eyes. “This moment has awaited you for a long time. You are ready! What would you have us do?”
“Be prepared, whether
I succeed or fail. The battle afterward will be the fiercest. It will decide this war.”
“We will be ready,” Tegan replied, preparing to form his troops again.
Kyrie then marched forward on his own, quickly covering the length of the battlefield with his long and confident strides. He was on a mission he had spent many years preparing for, and he was indeed ready. Kyrie immediately drew the attention of Sain and many of the gargoyles who recognized him. Kyrie was fearlessly staring at him and walked proudly toward the king of the gargoyles. He had once challenged Sain, and lost, with many of the gargoyles believing him to be dead. The sight of him caused a stir among the other gargoyles, as Sain himself propagated the rumor of Kyrie’s death. Kyrie’s mere presence drew Sain’s ire.
Kyrie stopped and thundered, “Sain, I come to challenge you! I dare you to fight me, Kyrie, whom you have spent your life attempting to ruin with your crooked lies. Serpent, come forth!”
Sain stood and eyed his challenger, knowing all eyes were on him. “You should have stayed dead!” Sain answered in a voice that shook the mountain. The gargoyles close to him bowed their heads, afraid of what Sain might do if he caught any of their doubting eyes. “You are not worthy to spar with me, as half of my warriors would best you. Bring back the dwarves! It was at least enjoyable to watch them murder one another!” Sain was not easily swayed to come down from his perch, and Herrog warned him not to.
“What warriors? Let them come forward,” Kyrie again challenged. Before Sain could answer, Bail, one of Sain’s mightiest gargoyles, flew down to Kyrie. Bail landed hard, “You dare challenge Sain?” Bail came at Kyrie, who never even acknowledged his presence. Kyrie was bigger than Bail, and reaching out, grasped Bail’s throat in one hand. He stared at Sain and squeezed his hand as it clutched Bail’s throat, until Bail dropped lifelessly to the ground. It was Sain’s best warrior, and he was dead in seconds.
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