Defenders of the Realm

by Dave Willmarth

  Alexander considered for a moment. On the one hand, he’d be risking the lives of his people in such an engagement. Not to mention it might speed the inevitable conflict. On the other hand, he didn’t like the idea of orcs lurking close to his people at the tower. They might attack the defenseless farmers. Or even make it all the way south and drop a big rock on the keep.

  “If our people have a clear advantage in numbers or position, and can kill an orc or two with minimal risk to themselves, they can attack. If we can pick off an individual scout from across the water, or from a hidden position in the trees, then go ahead.”

  With his magic still broken, there was not much Alexander could do to help fortify the mine. Grimble and the rock trolls would have to do the best they could. So he decided to focus his attention on the orcs. He needed a plan, and he needed some input from the others.

  Opening guild chat, he said “I’m calling a meeting to discuss the best way to take out the orcs. I’d like all guild members in the great hall in thirty minutes, please. Lugs, if you and your group are out of range, don’t sweat it.”

  Lainey answered “We’re only about two miles out from the keep. We’ll be there.”

  Alexander was frustrated at not being able to teleport. He’d gotten so used to having the ability to go where he wanted with a thought. He wanted to go check on the caverns, help out at the mine, or go retrieve Lainey’s group from the forest. He should convince Fitz to teach a few of the others teleportation magic.

  Speaking of Fitz, he wondered if the wizard was here in the keep, or back at Stormforge interrogating the baron and the drow. He walked over to the wizard’s tower and shouted up toward the nearest window.

  “Fitz! Fitz are you there?”

  After a full minute, with no response, he turned away. With the phylactery in his possession, and the leverage it gave him over the baron, Fitz was likely spending every moment he could with the undead necromancer.

  Leaving the wizard’s tower behind, he went to Silverbeard’s office. The old dwarf was at his desk, which was covered in three roughly organized piles of parchment. “Master Silverbeard, have you had any experience fighting orcs?”

  “Aye lad. Them beasties ha’ tried many times to take Broken Mountain outposts. I’ve killed more’n me share!”

  “Would you mind sharing some knowledge about them with the rest of us? A few of us have fought them in dungeons or in small groups. But we’ve never gone up against a small army such as we face now. There will be nearly 400 of them.” Alexander asked.

  “O’ course I will. And there be others here who’ve fought them. Grimble, fer sure. Likely Lorian as well. Some o’ the guards. Fitz and Kai, too.”

  Alexander nodded his head. “That’s good to know. I’m sorry to disturb you. I’ll leave you to your work. See you in the great hall for the meeting.”

  He rose and left Silverbeard’s office. Walking down the corridor, he made for Sasha’s lab. He found her there, an array of ingredients and vials in front of her on a workbench. A small flame was heating a beaker full of blue liquid. Alexander asked, “Mana potions?”

  “Yup! Not that they’d do YOU any good, dork. You just HAD to go and push yourself again, didn’t you?” She glared at him like he’d just stolen her last ho-ho at lunchtime.

  “Yeah, speaking of pushing myself. I used up all the common health potions I had, making them into the enchanted ones for the minotaurs. Have you got some more I can reload with? I can get sugar from the kitchen.”

  Sasha’s eyebrows furrowed, and she practically growled at him. “Why? So you can push yourself again? What part of ‘don’t use magic’ do you not understand?”

  Alexander held up his hands in surrender. “Whoa there, sparky. I’m not planning to use them now. I’ll save them for when my mana is fixed. It’s just, we may be real busy for the next few days, and I wanted to reload while I was thinking about it.”

  Sasha looked as if she wanted to argue some more. Instead, she sighed, and said “Fine! There are a few hundred of them over there. I was planning on having you or Lydia enchant them. Take some. But if I catch you trying to enchant them before you’re fixed, I’ll cut your damn head off myself, experience loss or no!”

  Alexander stepped forward and wrapped his arms around the small angry redhead. She resisted for a moment, then hugged him back. “I love you, too.” He whispered in her ear before letting her go. She just rolled her eyes at him and turned back to her work.

  He helped himself to fifty of the common health potions, putting them into one of the slots in his bag. Leaving Sasha’s lab, he went to the kitchen and asked Mattie for sugar cubes. “We don’t have cubes just now. Only loose sugar. But I can make ya some cubes if you can wait till morning.”

  “Morning is just fine. Or the next morning, for that matter.” Alexander smiled at her. He pulled out one of the health potion vials. “Can you make them so they’ll fit in here? Right now I have to cut them in half to get them inside.”

  Mattie took the vial and looked at it. She set it down on a cutting board and used a bit of charcoal to trace around the tube before giving it back. “I’ll make sure they fit. Do they need to be cubes?”

  “Nope. Sugar sticks, balls, I don’t care. As long as they’re solid and they fit inside without overflowing the potion.” Alexander replied.

  “I’ll have them for ya tomorrow.” Mattie promised. Then she shooed him away so she could get back to work.

  Alexander made his way back to the great hall. Either Silverbeard or Lola had been thoughtful enough to have chairs set up, and there were now a dozen rows of chairs facing a table with ten chairs in front. He took a seat at the center of the table and waited for the others to arrive. Brick and Grumpy arrived first, taking seats in the first row. Lola came next with Grimble and Lorian. Silverbeard entered from a side door and joined Alexander at the head table. Sasha and Jules entered together and sat next to Alexander as well. Jules gave him a quick peck on the cheek. Sasha Gibbs-smacked the back of his head.

  They made small-talk while the guild members drifted in. Pollock and his group were among the last to arrive, followed only by Lugs, Helga, Lainey, Benny, and Beatrix.

  Alexander called out “Benny, can you close the doors, please? I think that’s everyone who’s coming.”

  Once they were all seated, he said “In case any of you have missed it, we have an army of nearly 400 orcs camped out in the northern village. They’re commanded by an orc named Borag. Anyone who didn’t get the quest that I shared, raise your hand.” He waited a moment, but no hands went up. “Good! Now, I called this meeting to discuss how we go about eliminating this threat to our kingdom.” Several heads nodded along.

  “The way I figure it, we have three options. We can attack the village. We can ambush them if they move south, maybe as they cross the river. Or we can wait for them to come to us and fight them at the garrison tower.” Alexander paused to let the crowd think this over. There was some murmuring as people consulted each other.

  “Master Silverbeard has some experience fighting large forces of orcs. Grimble, he thought you might have some as well?” When the new minister of mining nodded his head, Alexander said “Please join me up here. Anyone else?”

  Lorian and Kai both approached the table. Surprisingly, so did Thea. When they were all seated, Alexander said “I’ll start with you, master Silverbeard. Which of those three scenarios do you think best? Or do you have an alternate to propose?”

  Silverbeard cleared his throat. “Ye canno’ attack the village. Ye’d be givin them the advantage. Cover to fight from, the chance to bring big numbers ta bear. Ye might win, but it’d cost ye. If’n ye were to ambush them on the bridge, ye’d be able to control em. A line o’ shields across the bridge would mean only ten or twenty ta fight at once. The others’ll be standin around dyin o’ arrows n spells. That’d be me choice.”

  Grimble and the others all nodded their heads.

  Just in case, Alexander asked the group. “Anyon
e disagree?” None did. “Okay, then we’re resolved to fight them at the bridge. Let’s talk strategy.”

  For the next hour, the group up front discussed possible tactics with input from those in the chairs. Plans were made, then backup plans. Then a different plan was made in case the orcs somehow crossed the river and attacked the garrison tower. Nearly everyone in the room offered a suggestion or volunteered for a specific task.

  It was decided that unless the orcs moved, the guild would spend a couple days trying to level themselves a bit more and preparing for the battle. The smiths would need some time at the forge, as would the carpenters. Alexander was hoping to find a way to fix his magic as well.

  As the group disbanded, Lainey reported that she’d flown to Whitehall as requested, and investigated the dungeon there. It had indeed been reoccupied by demons. From the few she’d seen, they were level 30-35. She was going to take Lugs and his group through to help them level a bit. Alexander reminded her to destroy the portal stone if they found one. No point in making it easy for them. And she promised to warn the mayor of Whitehall, so that his people could keep close watch.

  Alexander went to the kitchen and requested a couple of boar carcasses be brought up to the gryphon roost on the wall. Jeeves assigned a stone golem to carry them, and it followed him up the stairs. Reaching the entrance, Alexander called out. He had the golem set the pigs by the door and sent it back to whatever duties Jeeves had for it.

  Braxis emerged from the roost and bowed his head. Alexander returned the gesture, and said “I wanted to thank you and your flock for your help yesterday.” Motioning to the boars, he said “Just a little gift.” Braxis turned to inspect the meat, then let out a squawk. The two female gryphons emerged from the roost, each taking a pig in their beaks and retreating inside. Braxis lowered his head and gently butted Alexander’s chest before turning and following the females. Alexander, who had intended to ask Braxis for a ride back up to see the minotaurs, just shook his head. He accepted the dismissal and retreated back down to the courtyard.

  It being only mid-morning, he decided to visit the eastern tower up on the plateau and investigate the secret room Jeeves had shown him. Without his earth magic, he figured he’d need some assistance, so he went in search of Norval. Climbing the stairs to his quarters, he checked there first. He found Norval and his fellow dwarf inside the lab. They seemed to be working on a mechanism on the interior wall.

  “Good morning, Norval.” Alexander greeted him. “What is that?” he nodded toward the wall opening with gears and rods inside.

  “We figgered it’d be good if ye could let yerself out, when ye was done workin!” the dwarf grinned. “I mean, ye could just melt the wall yerself. But if her ladyship were ta wander in here, ye’d not want her trapped, would ye?”

  Alexander pretended to think it over. “Well….”

  This earned bellowing laughs from both dwarves. When it subsided, he said “Norval I was thinking of investigating that room in the east tower up top. Any interest in coming with me?”

  The dwarf took a moment to confer with his colleague “Aye, Norin here can finish yer door. Let’s be goin.”

  Norval then followed Alexander downstairs. As soon as they approached the teleportation mirror, Captain Taylor appeared seemingly out of nowhere with his squad. “Pardon, Alexander, but you weren’t thinking of leaving the keep without us. Were you?”

  “Holy crap, Taylor!” Alexander jumped. “How the hell… have you been following me this whole time?” He looked over his shoulder as if expecting men in dark glasses with earpieces.

  “No, sir. But I have men monitoring every exit. Since you can’t teleport, it’s pretty easy to keep track of you.” He grinned and shrugged his shoulders. Alexander shook his head. “Well, to tell you the truth, I was going to leave without you. Not on purpose. I just didn’t consider it. My apologies.”

  They used the mirror to get to the garrison tower, then walked to Bodine and Regina’s quarters. Alexander called out to Bodine. “Feel like taking a walk to the east tower?

  Bodine emerged with Regina and the monkeys. “Certainly. Though I’m afraid all the wolves are out patrolling, along with the bears and tiger.”

  Alexander smiled, summoning Tigger. “Well, here’s a tiger.” Then he motioned to Taylor and his squad. “And I brought my own wolves.”

  “Dragons, sir.” Taylor corrected him.

  “What?” Alexander turned to look at the squad. “Dragons?”

  “Yes, sir. Your entire guard force. We are the Elysian Dragons, sir.” He pointed to the dragon pin on his chest. Then snapped to attention and saluted with fist to chest. His guards copied the gesture.

  “I stand corrected, Bodine. I brought a whole squad of dragons with me.” He grinned.

  Regina laughed and smiled at Taylor. “Right pretty dragons, too. All shiny and fierce.” Taylor remained at attention but winked at her.

  Alexander said “At ease, Captain Taylor. We’re headed to the east tower. We’ve been there before, and expect to run across some very large wolves. They were friendly enough last time we met, but be prepared. And there may be dire wolves in the area.”

  Taylor looked around. “Any chance you’d be willing to take a few more along, sir?”

  Alexander thought about it for a moment. “I don’t want to move too many of our guards from the keep. Give me a moment.” He opened guild chat. “Pollock? Any chance you and your guys are on the plateau? We’re going to the east tower. Thought you might want to take the chance to make friends with those big wolves…”

  “We were just heading up there to hunt some more. Max is with us. Be there in five.”

  Alexander said “I suggest you each bring some meat. In case you have need of bribes.”

  Alexander informed Taylor, who was a citizen but not a guild member. Now that he thought about it, Alexander didn’t see why. So he sent guild invites to Taylor and the other three captains. All four accepted immediately. Taylor bowed his head in thanks as messages of welcome flowed across the guild chat.

  While they waited, Jake and Bobby took their places atop Tigger’s back. Bodine made a whistling sound and a small hawk flew out of the barn to land on his arm. He communicated with it for a moment, and it took flight headed east. “Peregrine will scout for us.”

  Regina and Bodine went back inside to grab some gear, and Alexander equipped a bow and quiver. When Taylor looked at him with raised eyebrows, he said, “I’m an elf. I was born with some skill with the bow. But, I am by no means talented. I thought I might get a little practice in.”

  Taylor nodded and grabbed a hay bale near the barn. He trotted toward the wall and set the bale on its end about a hundred feet away. Then he produced a melon of some kind and set it on top. Stepping away, he motioned for Alexander to shoot away.

  Taking a deep breath, Alexander drew an arrow from his quiver and nocked it. He really hadn’t fired a bow since his earliest days as a noob on Io. His proficiency hadn’t been high then. He doubted it was any better now. Still, he sighted down the arrow shaft, raised the bow a bit, and loosed.

  The arrow leapt from his bow and thudded into the bale about a foot below the melon. A few chuckles sounded from the guards behind him, but Taylor carefully maintained a poker face. Alexander drew another arrow and sighted again. This time he raised the bow a bit higher, and drew the string further. When he loosed, he could feel the difference. He knew immediately he would hit the target, and he did. It wasn’t dead center. His arrow sort of skimmed the top of the melon as it passed by, rolling it off the bale. Still, he got a sort of golf clap applause from his guards, and a slow-clap from Max, who had joined them while Alexander was distracted.

  “Nice shootin, Tex” Max congratulated him. “You tryin to take my job?”

  Alexander rolled his eyes. “Yeah. Didn’t anybody tell you? We’re swapping. You’re gonna be king, I’m gonna be a slacker creeping thru the woods sneaking up on bunnies and squirrels.”

  “Squirrels
are harder to sneak up on than you think. As for bunnies… I ain’t Lugs.” Both men shivered slightly before laughing. Alexander said, “I’m just trying to be useful without my magic.”

  Taylor approached and handed Alexander his two arrows. “Orcs and wolves are larger than melons. You should be fine.” He deadpanned. Max guffawed. So did Norval.

  Regina and Bodine returned, and the group headed out the gate. They made their way east without incident. Though at one point Max hissed at Alexander and pointed to a fuzzy bunny a short distance away. Alexander scowled at him and mimed shooting at Max instead.

  When they arrived at the tower, they found the door closed this time. As they approached, Alexander said “Jeeves is there anyone inside the east garrison tower?”

  “No Alexander. It has remained closed since your last visit, and I sense nothing living inside.”

  “Thank you Jeeves. Please open the door for us, and let me know if you sense anyone other than our party within your range.”

  The door opened, and one of Taylor’s men moved inside. Alexander waited for the ‘all-clear’ before stepping inside himself. Taylor stationed two of his men to guard the door. Alexander motioned to Norval.

  “You remember where it is?”

  “Hah! I be a dwarf. Ye can’t show me a secret room n expect I’ll ever forget it!” Norval stepped toward the store room under the stairs where there had been a trap door in the garrison tower. He opened the door.

  Alexander said “Jeeves, lights please.” A ceiling light in the store room turned on. Norval nodded his thanks, then knelt to place a hand on the floor. He closed his eyes and used the earth magic inherent to most dwarves. After nearly a minute, he stood and moved to the back wall of the room. A quick search with his hands, and he pushed on a bit of stone that looked no different than any other.

  A section of the floor slab slid aside to reveal a stairway leading down. Before Alexander could ask, a series of lights on the wall activated. “Thank you, Jeeves.” Alexander said. He motioned at Norval, who drew a hammer and shield and led the way. Two of Taylor’s men went next, followed by Alexander and the others. Tigger and the monkeys stayed up top. Bobby actually seemed to be asleep.