“I hate to be rude, but we will be leaving now,” Kyrie ended his mockery with Herrog and quickly raised a shield to protect them. It was just a half moment before Herrog could challenge them. Erol led the charge toward the trolls who fell back only slightly before the angry ogre. Kyrie flew overhead, with the swarming Tolltier attacking him. Though he was ready for the fight, the Tolltier weakened Kyrie with every blow they were able to deliver. Cergon fired arrows into the trolls and Tolltier, but with too many of the enemy to fight, he ran low. Erol ran just ahead of the shield, still trampling the trolls and goblins, taking more arrows with each stride. Each of their injuries was small, but as they added up the pain mounted quick. Bryon rode just behind Erol and Cergon, stabbing trolls with his eager sword and guarding their backside. The chance of success already seemed a dim possibility.
“Go!” Kyrie ordered, as he stopped and turned to fight the Tolltier. He masterfully wielded his magic to hold the winged demons at bay. He was the mightiest of warriors and killed countless enemy of all kinds through his skill and sorcery. But as they knew when they first laid eyes on the wicked army, there were far too many of them to break through. The ruthless Tolltier gleefully attacked the gargoyle king, slapping, stinging, biting and clawing every piece of Kyrie. Many fell to the gargoyle warrior, as they carried no regard for their own lives. Their only charge to take the gargoyle king down. Their numbers, however, were unbeatable.
Cergon let loose his bow and pulled his sword as Erol paused to help Kyrie. He yelled to the ogre, “No, we must push to get out! We must get to Tegan, or this is for naught!” Cergon showed his strength as he skillfully darted past Erol and through the enemy, stabbing and leaping his foes. His hooves crushed many skulls that tried to stay him. The shrieks of the dead enemy filled the woods, echoing into eternity.
Bryon followed the centaur, skewering many a troll and goblin in his path. Erol last saw Kyrie, drawing the swarming Tolltier to him to help them escape. He turned to join Cergon and Bryon only to see many trolls standing between him and his companions. Erol was struggling, taking many wounds. Cergon was almost to open space when Gulac halted him, “Erol is failing! We can’t leave him!” Though Erol was taking many arrows, Gulac noticed a good number missing their target. He felt thankful for that and hoped they could get Erol free.
Herrog saw the escaping centaur stop. He laughed to himself as he took a bow from the troll closest to him and notched the fateful arrow.
“Fly true and find your target,” Herrog hissed to the wooden dart. Long ago, sinister hands whittled the evil arrow, which Herrog saved until its most vital moment of need.
Herrog let loose the evil arrow and as soon as it was gone, he turned and handed the bow back to the troll. He then began the long walk back to his castle, not needing to wait to see if it hit its mark. “He will die soon,” he informed the troll.
“What about the others?” the troll asked.
“The damage is done, they matter not,” he answered.
As instructed, the arrow flew straight and true. It covered the battle field, passed the warriors, both good and evil, and found its target. Even through a veil of magic, it passed unscathed and unaltered.
As Gulac witnessed Kyrie fall to the ground and Erol struggle to break through the last of the trolls, he winced in agony as the arrow buried itself deep within his back. He let loose his grip and fell to the snow as Cergon jumped to escape the battle, leaving the injured dwarf behind, sprawling helplessly in the snow.
Swarming goblins charged the centaur, not allowing him to get back to Gulac. Bryon leapt from his horse to fend off the many trolls trying to get to the dwarf. Erol saw the arrow strike Gulac and screamed to Cergon, “Escape! Let them know!”
Cergon saw the carnage that littered the valley floor, the snow stained red by the blood of many and he jolted to top speed as he galloped away along the hillside and through the valley, escaping the fray.
Erol charged for Gulac, who still lay on the snow with only Bryon keeping the enemy away. The arrow protruded from Gulac’s side, delivering its poison to his friend. Gulac tried to reach the arrow, tried to pull it from its place, but he could not get ahold of it. Erol busted through the last line of trolls and scooped up Gulac as he continued to fight for his own escape. Bryon quickly mounted his horse, who also sported several wounds from the fight.
A last line of goblins stood before him, defying him his path. Erol stood exhausted, his legs weak from the battle, huffing hard. Suddenly, from above, leaping from high off a rock ledge came Cergon, who circled around to aid his friends.
The centaur landed with sword drawn, this time it was his turn to plow a path through the stunned goblins. Bryon, on his angry horse, aided the desperate charge. He quickly caught up with Cergon, fighting side by side. Erol regrouped for the last charge and made it past the line, stepping on several goblins on his way out. After rounding the corner, he placed the wounded Gulac on Cergon’s back and they continued out of the valley, unfollowed by the enemy that laughed them off.
Erol found it much easier to go without carrying Gulac, who was severely injured. “We escaped,” he puffed, trying to keep up with the speedy centaur and Bryon. His own injuries slowed him. Erol began to slowly fall back.
Cergon looked behind, seeing none of the enemy chasing them. “No, we didn’t. We were allowed to leave.”
Herrog spent every moment of the last five years preparing for this. He knew they were coming back. He expected Tegan and Telon to lead the total force of Lemuria against him. He hoped to massacre them, to end their existence forever. Herrog was ready.
Chapter 24: A Mother’s Love
Skyler spent the sleepless night lying next to Ambrosia. The light of the fire pranced across her face, as the fancy little gusts of breeze picked up small curls of her hair for a moments dance. He studied every outline of her face, every contour and dimple. A part of him hated her presence and the distraction he was dealing with by having her with him. The other part was elated beyond measure, an awakened lion that equaled his passion for fighting and all things having to do with battle.
He fully understood the love between Tegan and Milan, and how having Ambrosia away from him would tear him apart. He could not contemplate her being the one imprisoned. As he lay there, on the brink of sleep, holding Ambrosia tightly under the dark of night with only the stars high above to witness, he promised to always love and care for Ambrosia. He would protect her at all costs and commit all he could to ensure her happiness in life. The kind of love he was experiencing was the strongest emotion of which living creatures were capable. It was the kind of love that moved mountains. This kind of love started wars.
As the dimmest light of the cool morning grew in the sky and with the fire almost out, the four got ready for the next leg of their journey. Taylor was more than a little jealous in seeing Skyler and Ambrosia huddled together. “Nice pick up,” he muttered to Skyler as he put out the last of the fire.
Skyler smiled back, “Beats sleeping next to Kylee.” Taylor nodded his agreement.
Without notice or hint of their arrival, a troop of dwarf soldiers from the Dragon Glades ran from the forest and surrounded the four.
“My father’s troops!” Ambrosia gasped, stepping close to Skyler. “Please, don’t let them take me back!”
Skyler did not answer. He was fully aware he might not be able to stop them. The troops did not pull their weapons but kept their hands ready on them.
“I’m not going back!” Ambrosia protested. She quickly looked around the circle of soldiers, expecting her father to step forth.
“That remains to be decided,” a soft voice floated across the meadow. It was not the one Skyler thought to be eminent. It was Ambrosia’s mother, the queen.
“Mother!” Ambrosia exclaimed, running to her. “What are you doing here?”
“I came to take you home,” she answered, taking a moment to look to Skyler. He brushed past the guards of the queen and stood next to Ambrosia, taking h
er hand. He direly wanted to protest, to confess his love for Ambrosia to get her to stay, but he couldn’t. He, more than anything, wanted her safe. Even if that meant staying away from him.
“Skyler, this is my mother, Nanilla.”
Skyler stepped forward and bowed before her, taking her offered hand, “It is nice to meet you. Ambrosia needs little aid but know at all times I have tried to keep her safe.”
“I do not doubt that, Skyler. Thank you.” Nanilla was growing fond of Skyler, seeing what her daughter saw in him. “But, I still intend to take my daughter back with me.” She saw the expected pain in her daughter’s face and the building tears. She also noticed something unexpected altogether, which was the same pain in Skyler’s face.
“No! I will not be with Trent and I don’t want to return there!” Ambrosia pleaded with her mother, but Skyler interrupted her.
“You should return, despite how it pains me. This journey will be very dangerous. I know you can take care of yourself, but I would never be able to live knowing you were lost because I was too selfish to keep you safe. Many will die before this is over, you cannot be one of them. Please, go with your mother. When this is done, should I live, I will come to see you, if I have permission.” At the last, he looked to Nanilla, who said no words but nodded her blessing. She had not heard a sincerer request in many years. It was her turn to shed a few tears.
“You will be welcome, and I suspect Ambrosia will wait for you. Her father called off the arrangement to Trent, much to his displeasure. We do need you to return though, we should go now.”
Nanilla then saw her daughter hold Skyler, her heart going back to every similar feeling she ever had and especially to when she met Darrow. Ambrosia buried her crying eyes in Skyler’s neck, unwilling to let go.
“Guards, we are leaving,” Nanilla ordered. The guards quickly ran to her. Two reached for Ambrosia, ready to take her.
“Do not lay a hand on her,” she ordered again. “She is already in the safest hands she could be in.” Skyler and Ambrosia both looked to Nanilla, hoping that what they suspected would come true.
Ambrosia released her hold on Skyler and asked hopefully, “Mother?”
Nanilla’s voice was weak but she said, “I see how happy you are and the feelings between you both. I will not separate that.” She stepped forward and hugged her daughter, “I love you. Please be careful and come back to me!”
“I will, I promise,” Ambrosia answered back, her voice shaky.
Nanilla let Ambrosia go and turned to Skyler, “I am trusting you with my daughter’s life. Do you accept that gift and promise that above all, you will keep her safe?”
“Yes, she will be my first and last thought, as she ever has been since I first saw her.”
Nanilla took Skyler in her arms. He never knew his own mother and never before received such a touch. His appreciation of the gesture was beyond words. “Before we entered the glade, I watched you hold my daughter by the fire. I know your feelings for her. I pray everyone has that feeling for someone. If they do, we will not lose this war.”
Nanilla then stepped back from Skyler and said to both of them, “Well then, I will need to explain this to your father.” She hugged Ambrosia once more and held Skyler’s hands for a moment. She then turned and walked back toward the Dragon Glades, surrounded by her troops.
Ambrosia leaned on Skyler as they both watched Nanilla leave.
“I can’t believe your mother left you with me,” Skyler astonishingly acknowledged.
“She trusts you as much as I do,” Ambrosia said as she took Skyler’s hand. “I think my father sent her to do the one thing he would never be able to do.”
“What’s that?”
“Let me go.” Ambrosia said as she started to cry again.
Skyler gave her a quick hug before turning to Taylor and Kylee, “Let’s get ready, we have to leave also.”
“We have no troops, what are we going to do?” Taylor asked with a hint of despair.
“The best we can. That is what we are always supposed to do,” Skyler calmly stated. “We need to worry about now and let Tegan worry about tomorrow. My life has greatly changed in the last two days. A lot can happen in a short time. Often times it can be quite unexpected!” At the last, he smiled, as fate had shined on him as of late.
They gathered their things, ready to ride north. As they walked to their stallions, Kylee first went to Ambrosia’s horse, standing there awkwardly with her and Skyler.
“What are you doing,” Skyler asked, trying not to sound rude.
“I plan to ride this horse with Ambrosia,” Kylee stated in a matter of fact way. “It would only make sense to me that, as the leader of this group, you would desire your own horse.” Then he pulled Skyler to the side, “I don’t mean to make you look bad in front of the lady, but don’t you think it would be awkward for you to ride this large horse by yourself and make me and Ambrosia ride together on one of the smaller ponies?’
“Ambrosia and I will be riding the larger horse, you will still ride your pony,” Skyler explained, speaking very slowly so as not to confuse his friend. Kylee gave Skyler a sideways look and then gave the same queer look to Ambrosia, who smiled and nodded. She thought Kylee to be very innocent. Dumb, but innocent.
Kylee then turned around, “Taylor, you and I will be riding our ponies, while Skyler and Ambrosia will ride the horse, understand?” Taylor grimaced at his ignorant friend.
Kylee began walking back but then stopped to ask Ambrosia, who was startled by Kylee sort of lurching at her. “Taylor and I were wondering something. Do you have any sisters?” Ambrosia giggled and began to answer but Skyler cut her short.
“Mount your pony, we depart at once,” Skyler ordered. The diversion of Ambrosia was something he would need to get used to, but it was one he greatly welcomed.
Chapter 25: Traitor
Gulac struggled to hold on, both to the galloping ride and his consciousness. His precious blood continued to drain from the arrow wound, running down Cergon’s flank, as the poison from the arrow attacked him from the inside. It, combined with Cergon’s blood from his own wounds, stained the fine hide of the muscular centaur who had not the time to stop or slow from his urgent pace.
Cergon raced to get back to Tegan in time, ignoring his own pains as he rode. His heart pounded through his chest as his lungs struggled to take deep breaths of the frigid air. Bryon was directly behind Cergon, but Erol’s injuries kept him farther behind. Gulac’s life was in the balance and there was no time to delay. Several dwarf lookouts saw their two friends galloping back, sending urgent word for help to be ready. It was not a good sign that Erol and Kyrie weren’t with them.
Tegan and Telon ran out, hearing of the possible injured returning. It was tough for Tegan to see only Cergon and Bryon, and he grew more concerned seeing the wounded Gulac as they came closer.
“What happened?” Tegan asked as Cergon rode up. Cergon needed to regain his breath before speaking, huffing hard as he slowed to a stop. He helped hand Gulac from his back, his heart almost bursting through his chest in protest of the quick stop.
Bryon was not far behind, riding up within moments of Cergon. His horse stammered as it came to a halt, barely standing after the long ride.
Telon helped carry Gulac’s listless body to his tent. Cergon looked to Tegan, still huffing and holding his side, “They were waiting for us. We found the entrance, which is a cavern leading under a mountain to Herrog’s fortress. But when we emerged from the tunnel to come back, Herrog and his forces were waiting for us.”
“Where are Kyrie and Erol?” Tegan asked, fearing the worst.
“There is Erol,” Cergon said, pointing to the horizon where he had just come. Erol was slowly coming to camp, limping hard on one leg and protecting an injured arm. “He is badly injured. Kyrie fell to the winged Tolltier. Though he killed many, the numbers of the enemy were too great,” Bryon’s sorrow was immense, and he knew full well what awaited them. His horse was huf
fing as hard as Cergon, both trying to regain their normal breath. “We were just able to escape. Herrog will be ready for our return.”
Tegan was incensed, boiling over with rage, “Then he will get us! Ready the troops!” he ordered his men.
Fiji urged caution, “Tegan, please stay your anger. Our troop’s lives depend on it.”
Dorir agreed, “We will be marching into a trap. We need to think this through!”
“We know the location and that he has Milan, what more do you want? Are you not ready to free your own daughter?” Tegan could not believe the words coming from Dorir’s mouth.
“Do not question my love for Milan, nor my interest in freeing her again,” Dorir demanded of Tegan. “I must think of our soldiers too and the many lives under my charge.”
Tegan rethought his words, “You are right. Send word for the leaders, we need to meet quickly.” Tegan turned to leave, but saw Erol limping into camp. He turned and ran to his friend, only beaten there by Gile and Belgin. Erol leaned hard on his father and the dragon, and then sat down with hard, too exhausted to go further. The many dwarf soldiers struggled with the sight of the injured ogre, fearing what could happen to them before the might of such a force.
Tegan rushed to his aid and quickly began working on Erol’s injuries. Erol looked to him, “The enemy is great in number and strength. I don’t know how we can get to her.” He winced in pain as Tegan looked at his many cuts. For the first time, doubt entered Erol’s mind over the impending mission.
Tegan paused and caught Erol’s eye, “We will find a way. We have to.” Erol nodded to Tegan but inside knew it was a tall mountain to climb.
Telon held his father’s hand as he lay still on the floor of the tent. Gulac opened his eyes, looking on his son for the last time. “So much has happened, both good and bad. I am so happy that you know the truth before the end.” He struggled between breaths for each word. The old dwarf lay still. To Telon, he looked so like Moro before he passed. The thought of both his fathers tugged at his heart.
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