“I think that it would be wise to mobilize the army now and prepare them for battle. I do not recommend sending the troops into the field, but I do believe that we could lure them into our tunnels which would make it easier to deal with those berserkers.”
“I agree whole heartedly with the general on this Your Majesty. While he is preparing the army, I will position my troops for the defense of Brazen Urben against external and internal attacks. General, what exactly do you think we should do to trick the berserkers?”
“I believe that all we need to do is to position some of our archers behind their rear guard where they can take some well-aimed shots to get their attention. We will use the tunnels that lead to plains to do that part of the plan. The second part of my idea would be to have a larger group of soldiers appear along the edge of the forest. After they had been irritated by our archers, they will want to do whatever it takes to capture and kill our irksome soldiers. They would not be able to resist charging a significant group and would be more likely to pursue them into the tunnels. Once inside, we will spring our trap.” General Magnar gave the other a confident look that made it clear that his plan could not fail.
“In all my years of working with you general, I have never known you to be wrong. I will back your plan. What do you think commander?”
“I am humbled that you ask my opinion Your Majesty” replied Commander Giles with a bow. “I believe that General Magnar and I are on the same page in this matter. Not that we have never had any major differences before. The question I have is what you would have me do in order to ensure the tunnels are secure.”
“Have your troops ready to kill anything that is not a dwarf at the entrance within our walls” replied Magnar simply. He gave his old friends a wry smile as he said this.
“So be it. I trust you to carry out your separate tasks. Please keep me informed of your progress. I have a feeling they will attack during the night, so you have today to prepare. Good luck to us all” said the king with a look of supreme confidence. There was a slight bounce in his step as he strolled away.
The stars began to appear overhead in the cloudless sky as the small giants moved about the open plains diffusing or destroying any traps they encountered. There were several well placed traps that would not have been noticed by an untrained eye. After about an hour of scouring the open land around the entire mountain, the berserkers began to place their explosives to clear the fields of any unseen dangers. The demolition would get the attention of their bearded friends and hopefully cause them to fear. After another hour of laboring, they had completed their preparations. They were waiting for Commander Gar’Dak’s order to unleash their surprise.
“Now!” barked the massive dark figure who stood on a rock positioned a few feet from the eaves of the Black Forest.
Explosions erupted suddenly with such terrific ferocity that even the orcs jumped in spite of themselves. The sky was filled with bright red and white flashes along with rolling booms that shook the entire region. Even after the dust settled, the ground still shook violently as though they had caused an earthquake. Cheers and vile chants filled the air as the orcs celebrated the success of the berserkers. As the ground continued to shake, however, the orc armies began to retreat back into the forest. Even the berserkers turned about and took off toward the woods. Something had gone terribly wrong.
The ground where the explosions had occurred caved in and sent even more violent shock waves rumbling through the earth. It felt like a volcano was about to erupt from under the ground, which seemed rather absurd to the orcs. The generals grabbed Commander Gar’Dak as he ran for the cover of the trees. It took their combined strength to restrain him long enough to get his attention. He was clearly shocked at the destruction he had created inadvertently with his demolition. He tried to steady himself as the ground underneath him shook with increasing ferocity. The two generals tried to balance the much larger berserker as the earth heaved to and fro.
“What…have…you…done?” blasted General Maurizio. He voice shook as he tried to force out his question.
The commander did not reply because the answer became very apparent behind him. The mile wide patch of ground they had set off explosives in was now filling with liquid magma. The heat was so intense that they all ran into the eaves of the forest to escape it. As they turned around, the giant berserker began to laugh uproariously. The generals soon joined in the revelry as they realized that this was a good thing. The dwarves no longer had any underground escape routes. They had their bearded friends completely surrounded with no hope of escape. The other orcs inched toward the edge of the forest to see what their leaders were on about. At the sight of the lava completely surrounding the mountain, they began a loud war chant in their native tongue in celebration of their success.
***
After the rumbling subsided, the king looked out at the mile-wide lava moat that the orcs had created…for him. I may have lost my underground escape routes, but that is of no consequence. Those passages had not been used in centuries, so who knows if they were even safe. He laughed out loud as he continued to think upon his good fortune. His unusual display of jovialness caught his guards’ attention. They thought something was wrong because his laugh sounded more like a violent coughing fit. They rushed into the room to see tears of laughter running down the cheeks of their king.
“My lord, is everything all right?” asked one of the guards tentatively.
“Come over here and look at what the orcs gave us.” The king gestured at the lava moat that now existed a good distance from Mount Adem.
“We have no escape route now; at least they cannot get in,” replied the guard nervously. He did not know how the king really felt about this turn of events.
“You are right, my good fellow. We no longer have tunnels for escape, but if the need should arise, I have another way out. Do not worry yourself about that. Spread this joyous news. The orcs just bought us a great deal of time so that we can be better prepared when they do cross their moat of magma.” The king slapped the guard who had been speaking on the shoulder genuinely and then put his arms around both the guards as he walked them to the door. “Remember, this is a good thing. Announce this good news, and tell the cooks to prepare a feast!”
The Cloud of War
King Leroy Ishrafle sat on his throne taking in the only peace and quiet he had had for several weeks. His country now played host to General Yukio’s army, General Sanjay’s army, and an army of giants. Giants have never set foot on our lands before, and now they are one of our strongest allies. How did this precarious situation come about? His question was rhetorical, but it caused him a great deal of anxiety whenever he had time to think. His people had plenty of food to sustain their army for an indefinite siege, but they simply could not support three additional armies-especially when one of those armies is full of resource-depleting behemoths. In their short stay, they have completely used up the reserves of two of the northern villages.
He was not worried about his people complaining about the supply situation because the giants definitely provided a level of security that even exceeded the natural defenses of Landen. If the king wanted to create a problem, he would point out the negative impact their large defenders were having upon the people of Landen and their livelihoods. It had gotten to the point that many of the farmers merely produced food to sustain King Angus’s soldiers. They could not spare anything for themselves. How am I supposed to feed the armies and my people at the same time? I do not see a way of balancing the two.
“You need not worry yourself about such things,” replied a smooth voice from the shadows of the king’s court. “We will make sure that no one goes without.”
“Mistress Khalida, what brings you here?” queried the king as he stood up abruptly and bowed to the beautiful guardian. Gone were the days when he was surprised by a voice from the shadows. He still had a hard time adjusting to the times when the guardians or the druids would speak to him in his mind.
His own internal voice was troubling enough.
“I have come to reassure you that you need not worry about the particulars of sustaining four armies all at once. I have tasked one of the guardians to assist with the production of food and other supplies gleaned from the earth. Also, I have an update on what has been happening elsewhere in Tuwa.”
“Well, I appreciate your assistance in the area of sustaining the allied armies and for the sustenance for my people. I might be able to sleep now.” He slumped back down in his throne and exhaled slowly as he relaxed.
“Well, we are not out of the woods quite yet, dear Leroy. The clouds of war are gathering overhead as we speak. Every scavenger known to Tuwa is gathering to this place because they can sense eminent battle. We should take advantage of this early warning and make our final preparations for war.”
“I will get the four armies within my borders prepared for anything then.”
“I certainly hope they will be ready for anything. I still need to give you news of what has been taking place below your cliff walls,” Khalida began slowly. At this point, the king tensed up once more in anticipation of bad news.
“What exactly did you find out?”
“Well, there are three orc armies in the south in the land of Nodin along with half of the high elven army. They are led by a powerful high elven necromancer who has learned a great deal about our plans through spying on various secret meetings. They should be attacking within the next few days, so we need to be ready in the south to take on three hundred and fifty thousand troops. Also, many of the high elves are some form of mage, so we will need to make sure that there are some magical barriers along the cliff walls and at South Gate.”
“The southern forces seem to pose the greatest threat right now, so we should probably have my cavalry units prepare to sally forth under the protection of a covering fire.”
“In the north,” continued Khalida as though she had not heard him, “we need to guard against the other half of the high elven army. They are being led by the notorious General Jaali and the ruthless Queen Kishi.”
“Wait. I thought she was supposed to be back in Nairi…”
“Lord Neb flooded the canyons, killing all who remained behind from the high elven army. Lord Marcello has informed me that he dueled with her at the North Gate right before the floods were unleashed. The two main concerns at this point are the high elven magicians and the siege capabilities of the orcs.” She looked at the king finally and gave him a very serious look.
“So there is no one attacking from the east or west?” asked the king reluctantly. Is there any good news?
“Before I answer that question, I have news that throws a kink in the whole works. It appears that Kana has somehow recruited the help of some of the more violent creatures in Tuwa. Just two days ago it was confirmed that wolves had attacked a small number of Aranian warriors who had been sent to protect the vacant city of Tarisdell. Before they could reach their destination, they encountered giant wolves. They were outnumbered and outmatched physically.”
“You mean to tell me that those demons actually exist!” interrupted King Leroy. He did not bother to hide his shock at this revelation.
“Yes, they do, Leroy. Now, please do not interrupt me again. Time is of the utmost importance right now, and I am afraid that it is working against us at the moment.”
“My apologies, malady,” replied the king with a bow. “Please continue.”
“That is quite all right. Now, where was I? Ah yes, the coming of the wolves. Through a bit of luck and sheer nerve, the soldiers were able to reach the eastern outer wall. They were able to pass through the invisible barrier that the elves had left behind as they fled. The wolves disappeared briefly but returned later. Their full strength was in excess of five thousand plus wolves. There were black, gray, red, and white wolves all joined together in the most unlikely partnership. Normally they would tear each other apart, but I believe Kana has used some sort of devilry to force them to work together.”
“So you fear that these brutes will join ranks with the axis of evil just outside our borders? Or, do you think it more likely that they will try to scale the western cliffs?”
“I believe the answer to both of your questions is yes. However, I do not believe that there are merely five thousand wolves. The number is probably ten times that.”
“Well, then we need to get some beasts on our side to deal with those devilish brutes.”
“We have summoned the help of the bears, and they should be arriving in the Black Forest shortly. They will engage the wolves to merely make their presence known and to try and force Kana to rethink her strategy.”
“That does sound like an excellent idea. It lightens the burden on my heart knowing that they will assist us of their own free will and choice.”
“Yes, it will make the situation better, I think, but there is more. It appears that Kana has also recruited the infamous vampire bats and filthy ravens that plague every living thing in Tuwa. They are making their way to Landen as we speak and will blot out all light within a few days. So, the cloud of war is literally upon us.” This declaration had an ominous feel to it.
King Leroy rose from his throne and walked to the bay window that looked out over the west land. He placed his hands behind his back as he observed what appeared to be a black cloud moving toward his country. Khalida stood beside him as he peered out intently at the deadly mass of bats or ravens heading their way. She had a hardened look on her face as she surveyed the landscape. It was like she was able to see things that the king simply could not with his naked eye. A feeling of a heavy burden being placed on his shoulders came over him at that moment. The safety of millions depended upon him and the success of the four armies within Landen. It will probably come down to the aid we received from the bears and the guardians. Only with their help will we be able to fend off these deadly foes.
Bang! The double doors to the king’s court reverberated from the loud knock. Bang! Whoever this is must believe that their presence is of the utmost importance. “Who is there?” asked the king irritably.
“It is I, Zaide Ikofi of the druid order. I come in behalf of King Derek Udrugi and on orders from the high druid Nariko Kromnog. I ask permission to speak to you…alone,” boomed the commanding voice of the druid Zaide. He did not enter at that point and politely waited for a reply. It was clear from his words that he knew Khalida was there and that he did not wish to speak to the king while she was present.
“I will leave now so that you can speak with this druid. He means well, but I fear that the druid order does not trust the guardians because of Kana. I will respect their wishes for a time, but soon this distrust will have to be faced. Now is not the time. I will leave you to council with him; remember what we have discussed. Feel free to share the information with the druid, though I doubt you will need to. Since they have partially restored the order recently, their united powers have made them formidable once more. Beware the secret druid.” She said this last ominous statement and then with a faint pop disappeared.
“You may enter, master druid,” commanded the king coolly. Why are the guardians and druids so dramatic?
The door opened silently, and the impressive druid entered into the king’s court. His steps were measured and purposeful. His eyes bore into King Leroy’s without blinking. Once he was within five feet of the king, he stopped and bowed his head slightly to recognize his authority as the king of Landen. When he lifted his head, his blue eyes locked onto the king’s again with even greater intensity. The king had the unnerving feeling that his mind was being probed. He quickly threw up significant mental barriers against this magical intrusion. I need to have those barriers up all of the time now. I cannot afford to let anyone into my mind. Kana could have been reading my thoughts the past few weeks! Shock raced through his body at this thought. He could not hide his internal concerns from the druid. He could hide his thoughts but not his feelings from this magical probe.
&nbs
p; “You have nothing to fear from me, good king. However, I recommend that you protect your mind at all times from unwanted probing. Even when you are in trusted company, protect your thoughts. I do not believe that the enemy has found out anything useful over the past few weeks, so no harm done.”
“What is it that I could do for you, Master Zaide?” asked the king tersely. He did not enjoy the way druids took their time in getting to the point. It always made him feel uncomfortable.
“As that guardian probably told you, the druid order has been recalled during this time of great need. We have met together and have determined that we should remain united even after this evil has passed. I have been sent to warn you against potential dangers that you may not be aware of.”
“How very considerate…” the king replied dryly.
“Yes, you do not trust us. How ironic. You will listen to the very beings that are responsible for this current situation, but you will distrust those who have never wronged you.” Zaide did not hide his contempt for the guardians or for the blind loyalty that the king and his people showed the Elementals. His face flashed an ugly, disgusted look as he surveyed the king even closer.
“You believe that all of the guardians are responsible? You know that it is Kana who has betrayed them. They have been actively fighting against her and have lent significant support to us already in our fight with her axis of evil. What the hell have you been doing!” blasted the monarch boldly.
The druid’s eyes softened, and his demeanor changed from being rigid to a more calm and collected look. “I understand your frustration for our methodical pace, but we too have come to offer help. We just want to be careful when dealing with the Elementals. It never hurts to be careful.”
“Fine, what is it that you want?”
“I have come to offer the druids services in your fight against the wicked high elves and the orc armies. We will help to heal those who receive injuries, and some of us will fight. We will help the bears face the foul creatures that Kana has called to serve her perverse desires.” After he said this, he made a complicated hand gesture and bowed on one knee with his head toward the ground.
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