by Billy Wong
"It's partly ambivalence about the refugee camp, but I also just have a lot on my mind. Things keep getting more and more complicated, and I don't know when they'll calm down."
He moved his chair closer and put a big, comforting arm around her shoulders. "I'm sorry it's hard on you. It's been hectic for me too, but I'm sure it's worse for you as leader. Sorry I haven't been able to do more to help. Mindy is forging heavier weapons for the guards which we're training to use since power will probably be more valuable than speed against armored monsters, but even with them we won't be strong enough for you to confidently leave the city in our hands. If only we were an adequate defense force in our own right... as is, I feel kind of useless for a head of the guard."
Hearing the shame in his voice, it was her turn to reassure him. "Don't say that, you're not useless. I don't think any of my advisors are useless, just because you can't necessarily fill my role—we all have our own to play. I may not be able to place Galantria solely in your care in these frightful times, but you and your guard certainly make up a significant part of our defense. Besides, I'm just one person. How could I possibly do everything the guards do to keep the city running smoothly? It's impossible."
She noticed her other friends around the table watching, and addressed them all. "Every one of your jobs is vital. How could we survive without our farmers who Gene speaks for, or be prepared for wars without the weapons Mindy's blacksmiths provide? The progress Scott and our engineers bring will be essential to our future... and I hope they finish fixing that imperial weapon we recently found soon. The odd jobs Ruth handles so well I'd entrust to few others, and while Allen may 'only' file paperwork, I think we can all agree someone needs to do that. Besides, you're all my friends, and that alone is important. Even if I don't always show it in my overwhelmed state, I'm eternally grateful to have you. It's your continued support that keeps me strong, and I hope you draw strength from my friendship too. Never think you're useless, because you aren't."
Impressive speech. Just the type of sugar coated drivel I would expect from a childlike girl-woman who thinks she's in a far eastern picture book.
"I do have an oversized weapon and beat up giant monsters," she mumbled under her breath.
"Does that apply to Maximilian Rouge?" Mindy asked. But she was smiling, and Cart-Dragger knew the bonds between them held strong.
"Not so much. But we might be considered temporary allies, and I'll take any allies we can get against this threat whose aim may well be to wipe out humanity altogether."
#
Another couple weeks of stressful waiting passed. Then one morning Cart-Dragger heard loud footsteps from afar, and looked outside to see the King Elemental of Fire finally approaching the city. Though Abaddon looked like a two hundred foot horned demon with metal skin glowing hot in spots, they had been friends ever since they fought and earned one another's respect many years ago. She ran out the gate to meet him and Lars, whose tiny figure sat on his shoulder.
"God Crusher," he greeted her in his flamelike crackle of a voice, "it pleases me to see you again." Her older nickname of course, before she took her current one. He grasped Lars between thumb and forefinger and set him on the ground, looking unnerved from his trip down despite having ridden Abaddon in the past.
She grinned widely. "And I feel the same way about you. Lars has told you about our situation, I assume?"
"So many warlike elementals gathered together is definite cause for concern."
"Yes. With that in mind, I have a favor to ask you. Would you be okay with staying around for a while to help watch over Galantria? I want to go to Athendar to meet the next attack, but would feel a lot better about it with another strong ally here."
"The climate here is not as warm as I prefer." Hearing him say so, Cart-Dragger feared she wouldn't get her way. She hadn't done Abaddon anything in return for his last favor after all, though she'd asked that of him in order to save the world. Then he continued, "But I will do as you wish. Perhaps if I meet more small ones like you, I will find them similarly admirable and make more 'friends' as you call them."
Even considering that, she felt kind of bad asking repeated favors without paying him back. Maybe he didn't want for much she could give him, though. Perhaps like how she thought of her friends, the sense of camaraderie he got from cooperating with her was enough to make him feel less alone in the world. There weren't many like him, in fact he seemed a unique being unless the other, very different looking King Elementals counted as his brethren.
"Thank you, Abaddon. If there's anything in the future I or Galantria can aid you with, you should feel more than welcome to ask." With her gaze downcast, she shook her head. "I want to reiterate how grateful I am that such a mighty King Elemental would humor a mere small person's requests."
His great voice took on a hint of confusion. "While you are physically small, I am unsure if I should remind you you have bested me before. We stand on equal footing, is that not the very basis of our relationship, God Crusher?"
Even so, she always felt tiny before him. It seemed like a violation of the natural order that she could match him, and made her acutely aware of how abnormal she really was. Maybe that helped him, though. It was possible just meeting somebody like her, akin to him in combat prowess if nothing else, soothed him. In that case, she was glad her freakishness could benefit someone else. "I suppose." She extended a hand upward to bump fists with him, her little one many times smaller than a single knuckle that cast its shadow over her. "Comrades now and forever, then!"
After working out the details about how close Abaddon should stay to Galantria to keep an eye on it, Cart-Dragger headed back through the streets. "That was a bit uncharacteristically humble of you," Lars said, also looking confused at her even more hurried than usual pace. "Abaddon noticed it too, since when do you downplay yourself before others so?"
It is a welcome change, Maximilian said, making her clench her jaw.
Shrugging him off, she smiled weakly at Lars. "A lot's been going on since you left. Being physically strong doesn't let you split yourself in ten. So I've been sort of overwhelmed, which makes me feel small. But I just might get to feel big again soon."
"Huh? This must have something to do with the rush you're in, I assume?" He chuckled knowingly. "I think I understand what our beloved duchess is thinking."
I must admit, I as well look forward to experiencing your next move.
Cart-Dragger smile widened as a genuine thrill fired her blood. "Both my friend and my archenemy guess right! Now that Abaddon's here to watch over Galantria, I'm going to Athendar to cook some seafood!"
Chapter 5
Meeting with her advisors, Cart-Dragger told them of her plan. "I'm going to fly on E to Athendar and back Strength and everyone else up!" She hoped it wouldn't be too late when she got there... it wouldn't, she told herself. Humanity wasn't so weak, for a whole city to be unable to hold out this long without her. "The rest of you should stay here, and keep Galantria safe in my absence."
"You're going all alone?" Mindy asked. "I know Strength is already there, but she's been with us less than a year and we can't be certain how reliable she truly is."
Not very, Maximilian said with irritation. The giantess had turned her back on the emperor's heir after meeting a stronger potential employer, after all.
"Don't worry, I'll have Maximilian Rouge with me too," she joked.
Mindy's frown showed she wasn't amused. "You should bring at least one of your trusted friends to watch your back."
She admitted, "Strength and Maximilian being the closest things to old comrades with me isn't the most appealing thought. But which of you can the city spare?"
"I'll go," Lars said. "I just got back from finding Abaddon, so I'm already warmed up for travel, and I do odd jobs anyway without having a specific vital function here."
Ruth grunted. "I was going to make the exact same offer, minus the 'warmed up' part. I haven't had a real fight in a long time, getting an
itch for it you know."
Cart-Dragger raised a hand. "No need to fight, you can both come. I understand the warrior's need to stay in practice. I hope we can find fast enough flying mounts for both of you not to slow me and E down too much, though."
"By the way," Scott asked Lars and Ruth, "either of you want one of the weapons we salvaged from the imperial machines? I know Willow won't because she's all set with her hammer and javelins, but it could help you contribute more."
Lars furrowed his brow. "How many times exactly have those things been tested? It could easily blow up in my face when I try to shoot one, so no thanks."
"Don't trust imperial engineering?" Ruth said. "My country may have made its share of missteps, but its technology was second to none."
"Maybe, but still, at this point those tube things are old. Are you taking one?"
"No, I have a lot more experience with my mace, sword, and bow, so I better not try to switch to a new weapon for a pitched battle without any training in it. Besides, I already 'contribute' plenty enough." Though she didn't admit it, Cart-Dragger wondered if she might have some reservations about the old devices too.
Scott sounded disappointed. "All right, but I hope in the future we won't be afraid of progress. If we find ways to do things better, we should be willing to embrace them."
"True," Cart-Dragger replied, "but only when we know they actually are better and reasonably safe. I do hope your work sees continued success, though. We could definitely use a powerful and reliable new weapon against whatever threats we face."
They set off. It turned out the bird-lizard God Soldiers Scott and Ruth had ridden before could keep up with E's typical traveling speed, if not when she pushed herself. Cart-Dragger recruited the two elementals and they took flight for Athendar. Gazing in wonder down at the landscape as it zoomed by far before, Lars mused, "Never a dull moment adventuring with you, is there?"
She smiled as she savored the caress of the wind tugging at her face and hair. "I'm happy being at my side pleases you, but this isn't an adventure. We're going to war, and I mean to make the race of evil regret ever thinking to mess with humankind!" Despite her bravado, she didn't look forward to witnessing the inevitable casualties in case of another clash. But however many people the monsters managed to kill, she vowed to pay them back at least triple.
Flying instead of walking, the trip that had taken weeks prior only lasted a few days this time before Athendar came into sight. Cart-Dragger thought to meet with Strength and whoever was in charge of the city's defense to coordinate a strategy for the next attack, but that plan fell apart when they got close enough to see what was going on. Ruth pointed at droves of shelled creatures crawling onto the docks. "An attack is already underway!" Others had already made it on land, and swarmed against the wooden barricades set up further from the water as they tried to get deeper into the city. "Where should we land?"
"Go lower so we can get a better view," Cart-Dragger told E. She dipped, and they could make out a giant of a woman cleaving apart a crab that dwarfed even her with her massive glaive. "Take us over there!"
As E neared Strength and the leaders of Athendar and Velinthe who stood by her, Cart-Dragger jumped off to land easily after a fall of twenty feet. The big woman finished the crab attempting to climb over a barricade with an upward cut through the face and turned. "Just in time to get in on the action," she said while Lars and Ruth dismounted behind Cart-Dragger.
"Sorry about taking so long, but at least I didn't have to miss a second battle. How does the city fare?"
"The elemental cores we salvaged from slain beasts have kept the number of injured miraculously low, but they can't bring back the dead. Over two hundred fighters were lost the first time, and with less able-bodied men left, it could get worse."
E hovered over them along with the bird-lizards. "What should we do?"
"You can help fight if you want," Cart-Dragger replied, "but be careful. Maybe fly around to see where the defenders are struggling and could most use you."
"You brought this upon us," Jasper spat, the mayor of Athendar looking pale and short on confidence in a breastplate, gripping a spear with shaky hands. Strength flashed him a dirty look, as if they'd had a disagreement in the past.
Now that the port had been assailed twice without Galantria being targeted in that time, however, she felt it less likely their enemies were motivated by a grudge against her. "I don't live in your city, so what sense would it make for you to keep getting attacked if they were after me specifically? Their wrath could be directed towards the people of Velinthe, but I find it more probable this is a war against humanity."
"So you're saying they won't stop until we're all dead?" Brennan asked, shooting with a bow into the creatures bunched up on the other side of the barrier. He appeared a tad more composed than Jasper, but even so she could tell he wasn't used to this.
Ruth drew her own bow to join him in launching arrows into the crowd, while Lars readied his axe. "Or we stop them," Lars said. "It's sad about those who died and their families, but you needn't worry about a lack of manpower. The legendary duchess is here now."
Strength grinned at Cart-Dragger. "I wasn't taking you into account when I made that comment. Are we going to kill the tentacle thing today?"
"I expect so." She struck a man sized shrimp that made it over the barricade, launching it back through the air to crash down among its fellows.
Brennan snuck up beside her and whispered, "Your friend worked quite hard to keep us in the fight. She was even crying from injuries suffered driving back the tentacles before she got a chance to eat an elemental core."
"Hey, I heard that!" Strength growled as she cleaved a shrimp in two, making him take a step back. "I wasn't crying, just got something in my eye."
"Excuse us for thinking you were crying when you crawled across the ground moaning while leaving a trail of blood behind," Jasper said. "Not so invincible after all, are you famed brutes."
"I still got the monster to retreat! I won that fight."
Cart-Dragger slapped her broad back appreciatively between shrimp kills. Whatever the details, it was clear Strength had given her all in defense of Athendar. "Seems maybe you deserve more trust than some of my friends think." But it also worried her that the monster appeared capable of learning from past fights and improving its tactics, for she wouldn't have expected it to give Strength such a tough time after her relatively easy tussle at Velinthe.
"I'm from the empire too," Ruth added, failing to drop a tortoise bigger than an ox with an arrow in the snout as it stomped towards the barricade. Cart-Dragger jumped atop the structure and, maintaining a precarious balance, brained it from above. Ruth whistled, then continued, "If I can be considered a full member of the team, I don't see why the freakishly tall one can't."
Lars nodded. "Wish we'd been around to see it, since it's slightly hard to picture anyone besides our Cart-Dragger standing up to such a titanic foe. But since Strength did hold her own against the duchess herself, I guess we can put faith in the mayors' words and assume it was an epic battle."
"What reason would there be not to have faith in my words?" Jasper muttered, probably missing the point in his aggravation over the whole situation.
"Somewhat," Strength said, "although it would've been better if it came all the way up so I could finish it."
"No need to get worked up over that, it took me a whole bunch of tries to finish off Maximilian Rouge too." She winked, imagining how angered he must feel to hear that.
He voiced his opinion on the matter not a second later. You just had to add that on top of the sickening praise you all were heaping on the traitor, didn't you? Between my killer and that disloyal whore working side by side, it's becoming a little harder to root for your success.
"By the way Strength, I think Maximilian wants me to tell you for him that you're a dirty traitor."
The former imperial general blinked. "What? How can he want you to tell me anything, when he's dead?"<
br />
"Long story short, his spirit is sharing my body now."
After a pause, Strength replied, "That... will be interesting to hear the explanation for later." She gave an ironic laugh. "But then, the last of the Four Virtues, the heir of the empire, and the woman who killed him are together now in a way? Kind of fitting that we would stand for humanity against the monsters."
She shrugged. "It's not like an annoying voice in my head will be of much use. But I suppose he'll get to watch."
Let me help. If you allow me some access to your body, I can cast spells to aid you.
"Nice try Maximilian, but nope. If I give you any control, how do I know it won't be harder to rein you back in? You just sit back and enjoy the ride." She looked to the others. "You all should have this spot well in hand, so I'm going to run around and see if there are points of defense in greater need of assistance. Stay ali-" As she began away, a loud splash make her gaze towards the sea. Great tentacles had risen from the water, but what was more, touched down on the ground and contracted as to drag something forward—the main body.
"It's coming onto land!" Jasper shouted.
Ruth rolled her eyes. "Thank you for stating the obvious."
"We moved the lines back since last time so it wouldn't be able to reach us from the water," Brennan said. "But I guess it isn't that restricted..."
Cart-Dragger grinned. "This just means we'll have a better chance of killing it before it can retreat!"
The limbs continued to pull, and a large mass broke the surface. The body resembled that of a squid, though it appeared proportionally smaller than a normal squid's would. It was almost like a mass of tentacles with a head attached instead of the other way around. As it dragged itself on land and ponderously across it, Cart-Dragger felt compelled to name it in suitable manner. "You guys take care of the small fry! I'm going after Tentacle Nest!"