Blood Stone (11) (The Underground Kingdom)

by Steve Elliott

  “Yes, it was masterly,” Bon congratulated, her eyes twinkling. She turned to Nix. “Why didn’t you think of it?”

  “Who do you think gave him the idea in the first place?” Nix glibly answered. “Stephen would be lost without me. I provide the brains and the brawn and he provides the …… um, the ……. actually, I don’t know what he provides.” Then he snapped his fingers. “Ah yes, now I remember! He provides that sexy succubus of his, Arugohumna.” He pulled Bon to his side and whispered, “Well, she’s not all that sexy, to be frank. We only say that to stop her from beating us up. We have to cover up all the mirrors in her house, you know, otherwise she’d be shrieking in horror every time she saw her reflection. It’s sad, but true.”

  “You’re a horrible, horrible individual!” Bon told him, punching his arm in protest. “How can you say such things about Arugohumna? She’s beautiful and brave and why she puts up with you, I’ll never know.”

  “Hah, you poor, innocent, deluded thing!” Nix replied. “You don’t know her the way I do. She’s cunning and devious and twisted. The externals may be deceptive, but deep down there’s a bubbling morass of deceit and sheer ugliness. She’s lucky to have me as a friend. If I was an enemy, I’d be saying all sorts of nasty things about her.”

  “Give me an enemy anytime,” Thorn muttered, with a grimace. “There be less insults, for one thing. And the scenery would be less hideous also,” she added.

  “See, she loves me,” Nix proclaimed to Bon, taking her hand. “I hope you won’t be jealous.” Bon couldn’t restrain yourself anymore and she burst out laughing.

  “You’re impossible!” she gasped, between giggles. “You’re both mad!”

  “It’s all Stephen’s fault,” Nix told her. “We were totally sane before we met him. Now look at us!”

  Chapter 23

  After resting for a little longer, we continued our trek back to the settlement. Fortunately, no further disruptions occurred. Either the Knarls had lost our trail or they were still too disorientated to follow. We presented ourselves before the Council Elders to outline our adventures. They had called a general meeting to discuss the situation and the chamber was packed with spectators. We related our story to the general dismay of everyone present.

  “Just how many of these ….. Knarl things were there?” one of the Elders asked.

  “Thousands,” I answered, grimly. “And, from what I saw, they were definitely on a war footing.”

  “Terrible news indeed,” the Elder remarked. “We can’t possibly hope to match their numbers. I fear the worst.”

  “But at least the laser machine is destroyed,” Nix reminded them. “That’s one good thing.”

  “Yes, but will it be enough?” another Elder asked. “They can still overrun us by sheer force. And they still have those fire lizards.”

  “There was only five of them,” Bon reminded everyone.

  “Even one of them would be a problem,” an Elder morosely declared. “Excuse us for a minute while we confer.” They huddled together and whispered, accompanied by a multitude of gesticulations. Finally, they broke back into separate units and resume their places.

  “The situation is extremely grave,” an Elder began. “We do not have sufficient resources to withstand the Knarl onslaught. In fact, even if we could match them, we have no experience in fighting such a war. However, we have already alerted the borgulessa, the sommubant and the cogdommina. They have agreed to send all the forces they can muster. For the first time in our history, all of our races will bind together into one army.” He suddenly pointed the finger at me. “Therefore, it is our consensus that you, Stephen, take charge of such forces as we have. You are the only one with sufficient knowledge to lead our army against this overwhelming peril.”

  My mind was reeling by this stage. The elves, the goblins, the dwarfs and the fairies all together? And they wanted me to lead them? That was the very last thing I wanted to do.

  “Are you quite sure about this?” I questioned, plaintively. “I’ve never been a soldier in my life. In fact, I loathe war and everything that it represents. What makes you even think that I can make a positive contribution?”

  “The human race seems to know nothing else but fighting,” the Elder explained, “whereas we know absolutely nothing about what to do. All of us in the underground kingdoms have lived without war for generations. Surely you know a little about warfare tactics?”

  “I suppose,” I grudgingly admitted. “I have read books on the subject. But still …… Having to send others in to die on my command makes me almost physically ill. I’m not at all sure I could do that. And people are going to die. There’s no two ways about it.”

  “You have to take command, beloved,” Thorn beseeched me, gripping my hand, “otherwise everything we have is doomed. There’s no one here who can do it as well as you. Win or lose, you have to try.”

  I looked at her pleading face and knew I couldn’t refute her logic. What else could I do? If the Knarl weren’t stopped, then everybody I knew would either be killed or enslaved and I couldn’t bear the thought of either scenario. Damn and blast! I sighed in defeated resignation.

  “Very well,” I conceded. “As it so happens, I do have a few ideas about what to do.”

  “I knew it!” Nix crowed. “The one thing you never run out of is ideas. What’s your plan?”

  “I remember reading about a certain British warrior queen and a famous Roman victory against similar overwhelming odds,” I began thoughtfully, “and the major contributing factor was the surroundings. What we need is a funnel shaped piece of terrain where the Knarls will be forced to come at us in small numbers.” I turned to Trix. “Can you recall anything like that?”

  “I think so,” she replied, her face screwed up in a ferocious scowl. Then she brightened. “In fact I believe I know the very place you want.”

  “Great!” I enthused. “Take Nix and Rosewing with you and show them where it is. I want a detailed drawing on the area. Thorn, gather every fighter you can and check their weapons. We’re going to use you and your colleagues as an airborne army. Gather some supplies together too, if you don’t mind. When Trix returns, we’ll start to plan the whole campaign, but for now I have to get home – my human home, that is. I’ve been away for far too much time as it is.”

  “Don’t be too long,” the Elders warned. “The Knarl won’t wait and we have to be ready to meet them.”

  Chapter 24

  The Elder’s counsel wasn’t wasted on me. I knew we didn’t have much time to prepare, but I also knew that my human body needed assistance. Unfortunately, I realised that I couldn’t spend much time with it because every second of the pre-war counted, so I hastened home, gave Tracey a perfunctory hug and then settled down with my bedside transfer machine. I activated it and awoke as a human. Immediately I realised the situation was worse than I had previously believed. My physical condition had deteriorated noticeably since my last visit. There was no major problem as yet, but I became distinctly uneasy about how I felt. Of all the times for this to happen! I simply couldn’t spare the time to do anything about it so I made myself as comfortable as possible and hoped for the best. I salved my conscience by promising myself to return as quickly as I could and to do a thorough health check at the nearest medical establishment when all the excitement had finished. Feeling somewhat better about things, I quickly returned to my clone body. Trix had returned by this time and had a map ready for me. I surveyed the sketched area with satisfaction. It appeared to be a perfect location for what I had in mind. I sent Nix out to gather the goblin army, instructing him to meet us at the rendezvous point. Then I directed Thorn and Rosewing to fly to the dwarf encampment and to lead their soldiers to meet up with Nix. Trix was delegated to show the elves and fairies where to go. I, (Thorn’s Stephen), went with Trix. Everyone sped off on their appointed missions and I was left alone with Tracey.

  “What you want me to do?” she asked. She looked resolute, but a slight trembling
of her lower lip betrayed her qualms.

  “You’ll have to organise the handling of the wounded,” I told her. “I’m afraid the hospital might be unable to cope with the numbers. Organise the neighbours to set up makeshift beds wherever you can and start making bandages – lots of them.”

  “Of course,” she said in a low voice. “Yes, lots of bandages.” Her voice ended in a shudder. I moved to her side and embraced her. I could feel her trembling against me.

  “Oh, Stephen,” she whispered, “does it really have to come to this?”

  “We have no choice, my dearest,” I announced, holding her tightly. “The alternative is unthinkable.”

  “But you could die!” she wailed. “You could all die!”

  “That is a possibility,” I conceded, “but it hasn’t happened yet. And it may not happen at all. I know a few tricks that are probably new to the Knarl. Be brave, light of my life. The show isn’t over until the fat lady sings.”

  “What?” she exclaimed, half laughing and half crying. “What on earth does that mean?”

  “Forget about it,” I advised, tilting up her chin and wiping away a few stray tears from the corners of her eyes. “The main thing is that we’ll always be together, regardless of what happens.”

  “I understand,” she murmured, pressing herself against me. “Look after our daughter, won’t you? Please don’t let anything happen to her.”

  “I’ll try my very best, you know that,” I promised. “But now I have to go. They’ll be needing every single person.”

  “Stay safe, beloved,” she quavered. “Come back to me. Please.”

  “I’d be mad not to,” I quipped, causing Tracey to award me with a sad little smile. I framed her almost-too-beautiful face with my hands and kissed her, all the time wondering if perhaps this might be the last time I’d ever be able to perform such an action. Just in case, I tried to put every single atom of passion and love I felt for her into that kiss. I wanted the memory of it to sustain us both because, well, who knew what the future would hold.

  Tracey waved me a final tearful goodbye at the door and her dejected figure tore at my heartstrings.

  I flew to our meeting place in a sombre mood. I had no idea how all of this would end, or how many of us would survive it. Those depressing sorts of thoughts cast a pall over my outlook and I became more and more pessimistic about the upcoming battle. How could we possibly win? There were thousands and thousands of Knarl coming against us. I’d lectured everyone previously about dying needlessly for no gain, so was I going against my own words here? What did we hope to achieve with all of this? Was there even a remote chance that we could win? It seemed extremely unlikely, but what else could we do? Surrender? Out of the question! We’d end up as slaves for sure. But at least we’d be alive. Was that the final choice? Death or slavery. Which one would be better? Judging from the condition we’d first found Bon in, the Knarl would be cruel masters. Anyway, it wasn’t my decision to make. Everyone had a choice. I was simply the leader. And that proposed another problem. How could I send people out to die? And they were going to die on my orders. There was no other way. What a mess! I’d never have a peaceful night’s sleep ever again.

  Chapter 25

  My pessimistic outlook persisted until I arrived at the meeting place where I found three things to lift my spirits. The first one was the sight of a large contingent of Night Things – the subterranean dwelling, monkey-like individuals we had restored to sanity on a previous adventure by destroying their mechanical God.* I alighted next to them and their leader approached me.

  “Well met, friend,” he greeted me in a friendly manner.

  “The same to you,” I told him enthusiastically. “What are you doing here?”

  “Sommubant King tell us of spiders,” he explained in his clipped, breathy voice. “Bad. Want help fight them. Overrun everything. No one safe. So, we here.”

  “And very welcome you are, too,” I told him sincerely. “Thank you.”

  “Is nothing,” he shrugged. “Must be stopped. No other way.”

  “I’ll see you later,” I told him.

  “We be here,” he promised.

  I turned away, my initial black mood brightening a touch. Then I saw something which made it a whole lot lighter. Unless my eyes are very much mistaken, I saw Liz, the telepathic lizard, crouching immobile on a nearby rock. I went over to her. She nodded at me and held out her front claw. I gently grasped it and began our conversation.

  ‘Liz, it’s nice to see you again!’

  Likewise. Your presence fills me with joy.

  ‘What are you doing here? Well, I know what you’re doing here, but why?’

  The sommubant King told us of the Knarls and what they intend. It must not be allowed to happen. We cannot fight, but would it be an advantage to you to have instant communication between the various forces under your command? One of my race could be situated with each section to communicate your commands.

  ‘That would be fantastic!’ I enthused. ‘The biggest stumbling block in any battle is the lack of communication. Liz, you’re a lifesaver! Thank you for coming.’

  It is my pleasure. The Knarl have no place in our peaceful world.

  ‘Amen to that,’ I told her with conviction. ‘I’ll talk to you later.’

  I moved away, much heartened by our talk. Instant communication. What a boon! Things were looking up. I moved past varying groups of elves, goblins, dwarves and fairies, all milling about, busily polishing weapons and adjusting armor, and came across the most surprising aspect of them all. There, nose to nose with his progeny, was Zenith, Zen’s biological father. Trix rushed over to meet me.

  “It’s Zenith!” she squealed ecstatically. “And he’s brought his wolf pack! At least a hundred of them!”

  That information stopped in my tracks and I suddenly began to feel a lot more optimistic about our chances. A hundred snarling, ravening wolves would wreak undeniable havoc among the enemy. But how did Zenith even know? Okay, he might be one super smart wolf, but still ……S haking my head, I went over to meet him. Zenith had been Trix’s beloved pet before he took command of the Wolf Clan and his unprecedented gesture of handing over Zen to take his place with Trix still amazed me.** Zenith was much older now. His muzzle was white with age and his fur coat not so youthfully glossy, but his eyes still burned with the same intelligence and awareness they always had. He gave a welcoming woof as he saw me and I dropped to my knees to gave him a grateful hug. It was marvellous to see him again. He’d been so much a part of our lives that he still counted as one of the family.

  “Isn’t it fantastic!” Trix enthused. “Zenith! Who would have thought?”

  “Who indeed?” I asked, still wondering at his appearance. “But then again, this is Zenith we’re talking about here. Anything is possible with him.” I stood up and everyone looked at me expectantly.

  “Call all the leaders together, would you please?” I asked. “I’d like to go over my plans.”

  “At once, Magnanimous Manager,” Nix grinned. “You have only to utter a word for us to spring to instant action.”

  “Stop being so silly,” Bon chided.

  “At last, the voice of reason,” Thorn said thankfully. Then she smirked at Nix. “I think your days of acting like a complete idiot may be over,” she gleefully remarked.

  “You may be right,” he said, feigning sorrow. “But on the other hand,” he added, grinning maliciously, “with a bit of proper training, there may be two of us to torment you.”

  “I didn’t think of that,” Thorn remarked thoughtfully. “Hmmm, yes, my celebrations may have been a little hasty.”

  * See ‘Night Things (10)’

  ** See ‘The Vile (6)’

  Chapter 26

  I waited until all the leaders had gathered before talking.

  “Thank you for coming,” I began. “We’ll jump straight into it. First of all, I have a plan that may give us a chance of victory. Mind you, it’s only a chance, not
a certainty. But whatever happens, I’ll be proud to fight beside you all. Now, we can’t face the Knarl in open battle. It’d be suicide. They outnumber us nearly five to one and that’s why we’re here in this bottleneck formation of rocks. We’ll stay in the bottom half, and to reach our lines, the Knarl will have to come through the narrow gap in front of us. That way we’ll face only a small number of them at any one time. The other advantage is that they’ll be packed together when they come through the funnel neck so they won’t be able to manoeuvre very well. Our archers will be in front for the first bit of the action. Once they can’t shoot any more, they can make their way to the back. We’ll rotate our forces so the Knarl will always be facing fresh troops. That’s the second part of the plan. We’ll keep in touch by using Liz and the Rogul.”

  “What’s the first part?” Rosewing piped up.

  “Later, sweetie,” I told her. “Let’s sort out the other battle strategies first. Now,” I continued, “what I had in mind was a third part to the plan. We’ll have the goblins in the centre, because that’s where we need to be the strongest.”

  “Goblins?” various leaders asked.

  “He means borgulessa,” Thorn deciphered.

  “Oh.”

  “Yes, them,” I maintained. “Anyway, they’ll be in the middle but, at a prearranged signal, I want them to fall back and retreat. Not too far, mind you, but just enough to draw Knarl further in.”

  “And what’s the point of that?” Nix questioned. “I don’t like the idea of retreating, even if it is only pretending.”

  “As I’ve said,” I patiently explained, “it’s a ploy to entice Knarl further into the canyon. Once they’re in there, we can hit them from all sides at once. Then we can push our line back again to where it was.”

  “Okay, I can see where you’re going with this,” Nix told me. “Not bad. Not bad at all.”

  “The Night Things and the dwarfs will be on either wing,” I carried on, only to be interrupted by puzzled whispers of ‘dwarfs?’