“We are being strangled to death here. Have the forces at Cres- mond Peak retreat as well. We have lost this fight.” Ulmash rose up on his legs.
“But War Leader—”
“Dena is too strong of an opponent. We cannot win on this world anymore.”
Our options are limited, but if we return to our homelands then we at least have a chance. We have opportunities there. Here we can only die.
“Send my orders.” “But War Leader.”
“Send my orders or I will find someone else to!”
“You may kill me, but war leader, the Guardians are already here!” Ija said before Ulmash could interrupt.
Ulmash looked towards the entrances into the Basin. He could see a purple haze in the direction on the path to Shiversin.
Horns called out to the East as Beast Legions marched through the small paths linking to the Beast kin Lands.
Drums and trumpets from the East guided the Human forces.
Spells burned through his eyes, leaving lines and dots, striking the defenses and conversion towers.
“Raise the barriers, protect the queens!” Ulmash yelled. A con- version tower was struck by a spell. Its side was torn apart, causing the tower’s peak to shatter, dropping away and landing on the Drafeng below.
Ulmash turned to the Shiversin entrance with hate in his eyes.
Undead guardians, tore holes in the Drafeng lines. Guardian flames covered their weapons, purifying the Drafeng.
The Drafeng closed in the northern basin were kindling to the purple flame.
Queens tried to escape in a panic, trampling Drafeng and smash- ing into the conversion towers they were held in.
The lumbering beasts were all rushing to the portals now. Chaotic power ran down Ulmash’s arms, creating weapons. “We will buy the queens time.”
“Yes War leader,” Ija said.
Ulmash grabbed the ground as his body transformed, his hooves extending and his body becoming humanoid as more arms stretched out from his back, carrying weapons.
His transformation finished, appearing a giant kneeling on the ground.
Ulmash stood, his footsteps shaking the ground around him.
Other Drafeng transformed into their close combat fighting forms.
“For the Drafeng!” Ulmash waved his weapons forward, his feet pounding on the ground as he picked up speed.
Drafeng moved to the side, creating a path.
Guardians called out to one another, consolidating their forces and slowing their advance.
Ulmash picked a group of Guardians trying to pull to- gether.
I’ll destroy you first, bring the attention of the guardians on me in- stead of the queens. If we lose the queens then the Drafeng will fall. Ulmash attacked, his weapons blurred as the group fought to-
gether to try and stave off his attack.
Each of Ulmash’s blows caused their weapons to shift and falter. “Forward! Take them!” Ulmash’s Drafeng were like a tide, rush-
ing around him and the Guardians, they pushed through their own Drafeng force.
Fighting was wild and chaotic as the lines were broken, devolv- ing to groups fighting against one another. One might win a fight to be torn down from behind. Chaos reigned.
Ulmash swung a hammer, a Guardian was torn apart, their bones scattering across the ground.
He raised a shield and stabbed out with his spear at the same time. His shield rang as a Warhammer struck, his spear went through the Guardian’s armor and pierced through their chest.
Ulmash threw them to the side.
They crashed into the ground, coming apart in a spray of bones. He roared, moving his arms to the side, releasing a power- ful chaotic beam that crashed into several Guardians, washing
them
away.
Ulmash was slow to stand up straight.
This is my purpose, this is what I was raised for, this was what I fought for. To find new lands for our people. We walked a bloody path, having to kill our own Kin. We did it all for the future. Now, is it re- ally cut off from us?
He gripped his weapons, something solid compared to his feel- ings of helplessness, of despair.
The ground lurched with spell impacts behind him. Queen’s guards threw themselves into the path of the spells, igniting their own power to cancel out the spell. Defending the life-blood of their race.
Ulmash cried out in surprise more than pain as a spear struck him.
On the battlefield one’s attention must not wander!
He tore the spear out of his side, guardian flames were stifled with chaotic power as Ulmash looked at the spear thrower.
Didn’t I smash them apart with my hammer?
Ulmash felt a chill rise as he once more moved towards battle. Each arm moved in support of one another, his wide eyes capturing all.
He swung a blade at a Guardian, she braced with her longsword. Ulmash smirked, the blade in his hand turned into a spear as he re- leased.
It passed the long sword user, hitting a mage behind her.
She was shocked as Ulmash used two other hands to fire a bow, his real attack!
Thrown off balance her guard was down, the arrow threw her backward.
Ulmash stomped on her armor, crushing her breastplate. She yelled out, bony hands wrapped around Ulmash’s leg.
Shaking to get his foot free Ulmash saw the mage. Purple threads pulling his bones back into place.
A hammer struck Ulmash in the back, he staggered, nearly falling because of his captured leg.
They aren’t dying, just reforming and coming back. As we die, they only get stronger. What are these demons!
Ulmash released a blast of chaotic power, covering the area around him in shifting light. Guardians were tossed away, bones scat- tered the battle ground.
Breathing heavily Ulmash saw the first queen make it through the portal.
A weight fell from his shoulders as he roared.
He threw himself into the fighting, wounds started to steadily appear on his body as he his attacks tore skeletons apart, dispersing them over the ground.
At some point he passed Ija’s body that was burning with pur- ple guardians flames. His own body showed deep gouges and bloody lines leaking chaotic power, stained with purple.
Rest well Ija. We weren’t able to find a new place for our people. We completed our second mission. With so few Drafeng left the sur- vivors have a chance to rebuild. With less people needing chaotic pow- er, a small population can survive. Allow the planet to recover. Maybe our future generations can recover. It’s a chance. Either way, we will not be able to win here anymore. Dena and its people are too strong. I can no longer stave off the Guardian flames. If I were to return then I would be part of the problem.
Ulmash stood taller, drawing the chaotic power from the sur- rounding area.
A fine way to die, A warrior’s death.
Guardians reformed their bodies, grasping their weapons. “Come on, let us fight one last time Guardians!” Ulmash yelled,
he felt relief, excitement even.
They surged towards him as he drew chaotic power from his fall- en comrades.
“A fine day to die!” He saw another queen make it through the portals. Drafeng and chaotic beasts sold their lives to stop the in- com- ing spells. Their numbers too low as attacks struck the portals.
Ulmash destroyed dozens of guardians, they kept rising up again and charging.
It was futile, he knew that, though their eyes were the same, re- spect for an enemy trying to do what they hoped was the best for their people.
Ulmash’s body accumulated wound after wound, losing arms and limbs. He was hacked down to his knees, one of the last re- maining Drafeng.
He could see the last blow coming.
“For the Drafeng!” He turned his body and smiled. It was a per- fect blow.
The Guardian looked at him in shock.
Ulmash was smiling as he closed his eyes, feeling his power draining from his body.
<
br /> The last portal was destroyed. Sealing the Drafeng to their own realm.
***
Word reached the fleet moving through the sky toward the North- ern Basin that the Drafeng had fled from Dena.
“Well, where do we go now?” Anthony had recovered his cap- tain’s hat and stood in the middle of the command center.
“Ascen?” Claire asked.
Anthony’s eyes moved to Tommie. “We need to stop off in Deepwood first.”
Tommie gripped his fist tight. His father’s fate was still un- known.
“Well, I guess that we should check over Dena,” Claire said. “The other ones should return to Ascen.”
Aila patted the rock wall. “You hear that?”
The wall glowed brighter for a second and the platform changed its direction. They headed southeast, passing Skalafell. They saw the line in the distance—the camps empty and forgotten, the fortresses
without a soul to defend or attack them. The other platform went west, heading for Ascen.
The platforms took their time, stopping at each of the cities and villages, checking on the people there, helping them out where they could. Guardians and mages left here and there as they were close to their homes or people needed their help.
They met with Ubi, Jun, and Mai of the Black Scarves, met with Camp Leader Jaclu, Lord Dion Lemar, and his daughter Keze.
They flew over Laisa. People came out of the village to stare at the crystal platform.
Tommie was greeted by his friends. They helped out, clearing more of the forest and helping to build Wemtic’s greenhouses.
“Thank you for your help,” he said to Aila as they shared a cold drink.
“Happy to help. With the fighting over, there are a lot of fields that were destroyed in the fighting. People are going to need food and I expect that your greenhouses will be seen across Dena to grow food for people across Dena. You’ve already taken in a fair amount of people.” Aila looked at the village.
“Other villages and towns were attacked. Luckily, we missed most of the big attacks. People were sent here because the area is safe and we had a Guardian Flame. Gained a few more neighbors from Selenus and the Deepwood.” Wemtic smiled. “Who would’ve thought that the races would have come to my little Laisa Village? You know, most of them are talking about staying.” Wemtic laughed and drank from his glass.
“You and the people of Laisa have set an example for the rest of Dena to follow,” Aila said.
“I don’t know about that.” Wemtic rubbed the back of his neck with a towel and showed his free wrist, where the Guardian chains were located.
“People can change. I’m a firm believer of that.” Aila drank from her glass and then stood, commanding her golems once again, re- forming. “Back to work?”
***
Anthony found a woman caring for children. She was working with the children but unable to speak as she tried to organize them. There were children of all races, each of them raising their own kind of hell. The beast kin woman turned around. She
seemed to notice An- thony’s gaze. Looking at him, she froze. “Hello, Sacha,” Anthony said.
She was trembling, a babe in the crook of her arm. Tears ap- peared at the corners of her eyes.
Anthony smiled.
“Keep up the good work.” With that, he pinched the cheek of the elven babe in her arms.
They reached out for his finger, trying to grab him. Anthony chuckled and left.
Sacha fell to her knees and bowed her head repeatedly. “Thank you.” She held her neck, stunned as she was able to speak once more. She hurriedly checked her arm and the marking on her wrists. She let out a relieved sigh. She remained beast kin and bound by her punish- ment. She didn’t want to go back to being the woman she had been. She’d been a bad human, but she was doing better as a beast kin.
She hugged the elven child to her chest, a smile on her face as tears ran down her face. Her voice had returned!
Claire found a horse; Damien and Troga found larger beasts of burden. Tairlyn rode a heavyset pony. Aila, Tommie, and Anthony mounted up on Ryan, Rachel, and Ramona.
“Okay, let’s go find Todd.”
***
“Heya Sof, so I heard that the Drafeng all disappeared, fled back through their doorways. Sorry I wasn’t able to come out and see you before.” Gunnar squatted down and touched the gravestone, the sim- ple flower in front.
Emotion welled up in his chest. He let out a breath heavy with memories, emotions, a life of looking out for each other.
“Katrine has turned into a right force of nature, helping out the people in the village. You should see her now, running around as a little boss. She was part of the Deepwood patrols that dealt with the Drafeng doorways. Don’t worry—I was looking out for her. Things are changing. People are working together. There are still tensions be- tween people, but I hope that, well, I don’t know, that people can work together.”
He took a knee, adjusting his stance as he talked to his oldest friend.
“You know that there is a group, those Guardians—the ones with the purple flames and the judges. Like that crazy Anthony. You know, the one we found with Aila. Yeah, they’re recruiting, looking for people to wander around, helping out the people of Dena recov- er. Take care of criminals, stop corruption, help out where we can. I think it might be worth trying out.”
“Gunnar!”
He turned to Katrine, who had called his name.
“We have visitors! Come on!” She fought her way up the hill, looking at the tombstones. “Hey, Sofie,” Katrine said.
“Who are they?”
“You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.” Katrine pulled on his hand.
Gunnar frowned but allowed himself to be pulled along. They went down the hill, the sun falling through the trees upon those who lay in the Deepwood’s shade.
People were gathered in the town already, talking to one anoth- er excitedly.
Gunnar looked over the crowds and found a place to see the gate clearly.
Through it, six men and women walked through the gates. All but one wore the Guardian emblem on their chests. Three rode on large lizards, with two on different horses and the last riding a mas- sive bedar that was chewing on something.
“Anthony?” Gunnar asked, seeing Anthony on his mount like some valiant knight. Aila wore robes, with her daggers on her belt, and Tommie sat on a pile of boxes.
The group looked over as Gunnar and Katrine walked out. “Tommie!” A gnome ran out from the crowd.
Tommie’s head whipped over, seeing Todd running from the crowd. He had a limp but seeing his son, he didn’t care about it, hob- bling forward.
“Da!” Tommie jumped off his mount and ran to his dad. The two of them wrapped each other up in a hug.
Todd pushed back, looking over his boy, making sure that he was okay, and then wrapped him up in another hug. He couldn’t keep back the tears of relief as they embraced.
Tommie didn’t care what they looked like as he hugged his fa- ther back, the two reunited at last.
“Gunnar, Katrine, good to see you,” Anthony said.
“At least this time you’re not standing over an unconscious el- ven maiden,” Katrine said.
“Anthony?” The cloaked woman not wearing a Guardian em- blem turned to him.
“W-wait a minute, Claire! I can explain!”
Chapter: Does the Adventure Ever End?
Claire, Anthony, and Tommie stood on one of the large balconies of the Guardian Tower.
The atmosphere grew heavy as the red sunlight of the lowering sun colored the tower, making it take on a softer red glow, a late sum- mer sun that greeted home the farmers harvesting their crops after long months of work.
“Where will you go now?” Aila’s hands turned into fists as tears filled her eyes. “We still need you!”
“This is not our generation anymore. A new force of Guardians stands with you and behind you, Aila Wranoris,” Claire reassured her.
&n
bsp; “There are others out there who need our help. This is not the end.” Anthony pushed Aila’s chin up. She looked into those burn- ing flames, not flinching away. “This is just the beginning of a new ad- venture.”
He patted Aila on the shoulder and he waved his hand. A gold- en and red light appeared as Penelope and Dave appeared at the top of the Guardian Tower.
“The path is long and hard, but it’s worth it in the end!” An- thony yelled as he turned and walked away.
Aila wanted to chase after them, to join them on their next trial. Tommie patted her back, standing next to her.
“Who knows what a gnome and an elf could do if they put their minds to it. They might just change the fate of the world.” Anthony’s words were soft. Tommie and Aila grit their teeth as water appeared in their eyes. Remembering their journey that had spanned Dena.
548
“Till we see one another,” Tommie said.
“Till then! And you’re buying the beer!” Anthony looked at them both.
“Good luck!” Claire said.
245
“I think I should be the one saying that—you’ve got Anthony!” Aila laughed through her tears.
“Hey!” Anthony complained before smiling. Claire waved good- bye and Anthony gave them a two-finger-salute.
Bruce, Wendy, and Solomon appeared alongside them, all of An- thony’s familiars smiling and waving good-bye.
“Come on. You two going to wait all day? They’re getting ahead of us!” Penelope complained.
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