by C D Muller
Selena thought about it for a moment. She looked to her dragon and smiled.
“Dragonheart.”
The eve of battle was always a deadly silence. The warm, brisk air of summer blew in her face. The sun set over the Mustang Mountains, leaving a trail of vibrant colors in the evening.
Selena looked out her window. She thought of all the training that she and Thor went through in preparation for this. She saw a couple of dragons patrolling the perimeter of Alfheim to watch for the Lich’s massive army that was soon to come.
She thought of her dragon and how he would act in battle. She recalled that he seemed a little enthusiastic, earlier, about being able to take part in real combat. She wished that she felt the same. Selena had never killed anyone and the thought of it made her sick to her stomach.
She then thought of the Lich, which made her feel worse. He was a powerful, along with his legion of the undead. Even though Thor was the Divinity Dragon and could summon any element he wished, he was still inexperienced, like she was.
She quickly glanced over at her sword lying on the floor in front of her bed. Selena was reminded that, eventually, she would have to face the Lich.
She quickly made herself some green tea, her hands shaking uncontrollably. She wanted to go and see Thor. She made her way towards the training grounds in her robes.
Little one, he said after a while, lifting his head to greet her as she walked to him.
She sat down beside his talons.
I am not looking forward to the battle that awaits us.
I am afraid this will be one of many. We have been training for this.
Selena nodded and wiped her tears. It was of no use to keep dwelling on the unavoidable. She took another sip, tasting the hint of honey she added.
The moonlight shone high in the sky, illuminating the kingdom. Armageddon sat in quiet peace. She looked up and noticed that along Alfheim’s wall were catapults, with archers keeping watch for any sign of the Lich’s army.
She had to face him, even though she still did not know where Ragnarok was. Her thoughts raced back to Erik, to her friends and all whom she had met on our journey. She was terrified and might die tomorrow. Failure was not an option.
I don’t want to let the Lich hurt or threaten anyone else ever again. I want to make a difference.
“Liongod.”
She quickly turned around at the sound of her name. Maria gradually walked over to her, holding some pieces of parchment in her hands. At first Selena did not see her. She almost looked like she was concealed by shadows. Thor lifted his head and nodded towards Maria.
“I’ve been looking everywhere for you. I need to talk to you about something important,” she said.
Selena nodded as Maria sat on the ground beside her. Maria handed her the pieces of parchment. Selena grabbed them and sifted through them, her eyes gazing over the small handwriting. Some of it was illegible. However, a few of the scraps looked like letters while others were research notes. One piece, she saw, was written to someone called, ‘My Fair Maiden’ while signed by ‘The Black Fox.’
“What are these? Where did you get them?” Selena asked as she continued to go through the papers.
“I found these a long time ago when I was little,” she said quietly, “my mother kept them hidden in our house. After Rahim told me how you were always interested in reading the works by Gundisalvus, I thought I could give these to you. It took me a while to find them, but I rushed to find you as soon as I could. I was always told that I should be ashamed to say this. My mother dropped our last name for she feared persecution,” Maria carefully said.
Selena was slightly confused, but then realized what she was trying to say. Her eyes widened as she became lost for words.
“You?” she asked, “Y…you’re related to him?”
Maria nodded.
“Don’t tell anyone,” she whispered. “Gundisalvus’ name isn’t welcome in Armageddon.”
“I understand,” Selena began, “But that is incredible! I am truly honored!”
Maria smiled.
Selena looked over at Thor as she said: “There’s… also something that I want to tell you, too.”
No, don’t.
“But you have to swear to me that you won’t tell the Council,” she continued, ignoring Thor’s warning.
“If you haven’t noticed, I despise every single one of those old bastards. I’m sure that whatever it is you want to tell me can’t be any worse than what I’ve told you,” Maria stated.
“What if I told you that I was actually a girl?”
Maria’s eyes widened.
“Well now… that would be a big shock but honestly, I’ve had my suspicions. I didn’t say anything because I knew you were trying to keep a low profile for obvious reasons.”
“You don’t hate me or think ill of me?” she asked.
“Why would I? You’re still the same person as before,” Maria said again. “But I would like to know your real name then.”
Thor snorted and looked around to make sure that no one else was there.
You need to be more careful than just carelessly telling people about who you are.
I trust her.
“Selena. Selena Liongod,” she said.
“It’s nice to meet the real you, Selena,” Maria said with a smile and offered her hand to shake.
“I can’t tell you how much of a relief it is to tell you. I want to tell Niamh too. It was tearing me a part to keep something like that from friends,” she said sadly.
“I get it, I really do. You don’t need to over-explain anything to me, I’m much more understanding than Rahim seems to make me out to be,” she said jokingly. “I wanted to show you all of these are all of his research notes.”
Selena pointed at the nicknames on one of the letters.
“Who is ‘My Fair Maiden?’” she asked.
Maria shrugged.
“He wrote many letters to her, but I don’t have the faintest idea who it could be. But I found this interesting.” She reached in and pulled out one of the scraps of notes Selena held. “I’m sure that you know that a lot of his research was about Ragnarok.”
Selena nodded.
“Yes, I do.” She took another sip from her drink. “I remember that he kept referring to ‘It rests beneath the starry skies.’ I’m still unsure of what that means, but he was probably referring to Ragnarok, no doubt.”
Maria nodded.
“It would only make sense.” She started digging through some more of the papers that she had. “I remember this one in particular discusses one of the abandoned dwarven ruins in the Hinterlands. Rumor has it that there is an ancient device in there that can read the starry skies.”
Selena closed her eyes as she suddenly remembered the ruin she saw when she first arrived at Alfheim.
“I know where it is,” she said, “I saw the entrance before! Ragnarok has to be in there!”
Maria’s eyes widened with amazement.
“Are you sure?”
“It has to be,” Selena whispered as she looked through the notes, “it makes sense.”
She looked between Maria and Thor. “We have to go and get it.”
We cannot go now, not on the eve of battle!
Selena looked at Maria, who nodded in return.
“The decision is left up to you,” she said.
Selena looked up at the night sky.
“We have to get it before the Lich does, during the battle. If he finds it before we do, then there will be nothing left to save anymore.”
Chapter 25:
As soon as she heard the war bell, on top of the Pyre, that signaled the Lich’s army was fast approaching before the crack of dawn, Selena rushed over to her bed where she had her armor laid out, along with Dragonheart. Her hands shook with fear as she put on her breastplate and plate legs. She sheathed her sword and strapped her shield over her back. She then grabbed her helmet before she ran outside the barracks to meet with Thor on
the training field, along with the other dragon riders ready to take flight.
All of the residents of the South District quickly ran over towards the Fire Temple that housed safe bunkers underground. Most of the men came charging down the streets dressed in their armor, led by all of the guards in Alfheim. Selena could barely hear her thoughts from all of the shouting and clashing of metal.
Thor was in front of one of the formations they had practiced earlier, a simple V-shaped arrangement. Right behind Thor was a dragon that was a useful acid-spitter. The acid that the dragon spewed out was incredibly nasty, as it disintegrated flesh and bone.
Her dragon was dressed for war along with his large saddle strapped on. Selena made sure that it was tight enough so that it would not unbuckle whenever Thor made a tight turn in the air, but she also wanted to make sure that he was comfortable.
I am fine, Thor would say, after giving a nod in agreement.
Her hands trembled with fear. She felt a bit sick to her stomach, and every step she took felt heavier than the previous one.
Selena grabbed Thor’s reins and looked him in the eyes.
We may not win today’s war, but we will fight the good fight. If we die, we die in honor.
Selena felt hot tears stream down her face.
To war we come.
She hoisted herself onto her dragon’s back, trying to fight her own internal struggle. She loosened her grip a little, but tightened it again when she felt her dragon move.
Along the top of Alfheim Wall, the archers got into position along with those who operated the catapults. Giant boulders dipped in oil sat in piles beside them.
All was silent again. The glistening morning sun slowly rose above the White Plains. In the distance, Selena saw Azrael and Doragon flying above the Pyre and signaled for the other dragon riders to take to the skies. The second V-formation of dragons came in from behind, following Araneus on his dragon, Arcania, as he shouted out orders for everyone to follow him.
Selena looked down at Thor and nodded. He spread out his wings and took flight, followed by the others. She felt the wind brush against her face, enjoying every moment of being with Thor in this peaceful manner, for she feared that it might be her last.
Thor flew near one of the catapults and tucked in his wings and landed. The rest of the dragon riders did the same, lining themselves up along the perimeter of Alfheim.
Selena placed her hand over her eyes, gazing out towards the empty horizon, her heart pounding hard against her chest.
They’re here, Thor said in a low growl and bared his fangs. Selena was still not able to see anything. However, she heard what sounded as if something were shot into the air. She reached behind her and grabbed the hilt of her sword, preparing herself for the attack.
Watch out!
Selena’s eyes widened with fear as she saw a large fireball appear over the top of the hill, heading in their direction. It flew over and crashed into the Alfheim Wall, destroying one of the catapults near her and Thor. He stumbled but he dug his talons into the marble to steady himself.
The Lich’s Orc army was approaching in large numbers. Stretched for miles across the plains was the outline of his men, consisting of different creatures and beasts. Selena saw five siege towers approaching the wall, each being pushed by six rock golems. A dragon-shaped battering ram, with flames escaping from its eyes and mouth, was being pulled by a large Cerberus. The enemy line moved out of its way to allow it get to the front gate. Two groups of dragons flew above, the first guarding those behind that carried the vessels. One of them opened its mouth and spewed out another large fireball that blasted into the Alfheim Wall.
Take to the skies!
She snapped the reins. Thor roared and spread out his wings as the other dragons did the same. They led the V-shaped formation with four other soldiers following behind on either side. Selena pulled out Dragonheart and her shield.
One of the red dragons shot another fireball, but this time in Selena’s direction. She was not quite sure of what to do, except to pull hard on Thor’s reins. He dove down below to avoid the attack as well as the rest of their formation, but the fireblast was followed by another.
Cover me!
Selena stood up on Thor’s saddle and ran along his neck and jumped into the air. She spun around and extended her right leg outward towards the fireball. She repelled the attack by kicking a large blast of fire that made the fireball explode. It dissipated into the air and Thor flew underneath to catch her back in his saddle.
Selena grabbed the reins once she situated herself again. She pointed to one of the siege towers.
Lead our formation there! We need to take them down before they reach the city!
Thor quickly dove in towards their first target with his wings tucked in. The other dragon riders dove in as well, following him. Selena held on tightly to the reins and pulled on them hard as Thor reached the top of the tower and passed over an Orc with five men dressed in cloaks.
Drop me down there, she ordered. As he got closer, Selena jumped off and thrust her sword deep into the monster’s chest. Its dying screams and wailing filled the inside of her head. She pulled it out and fought with the others. The other flyers from her formation did what they could to stop the siege tower from advancing any further by attacking the golems from below.
Immediately after blocking his attack, Selena used her shield to fend off one of her enemies. He lost his footing and fell off the tower to his death. Her other opponent picked up one of the chains and began swinging them around. She blocked off some of his attacks with her sword and shield, but she was soon disarmed and found herself being wrapped up by the chains. She struggled, but looked up when Thor flew down to her aid with his talons extended outward to push everyone off the top of the tower. With one quick slash, he freed her from the bond.
Thank you.
She mounted her dragon once more. She felt the tower jerk a little and it began to sway back and forth; the other soldiers destroyed its base and it start toppling over.
Thor flew high back into the air and Selena’s expression changed as she saw more of the enemy’s army charging forth. They stretched for miles as they marched in rhythmic motion towards them. More siege towers appeared, carrying about twenty men with catapults ready riding on top. Other dragon riders from Alfheim went to try to take them down one by one, some using magic and pistols.
What in the Divine’s name?
Numbers do not win a battle, Thor said and flew in towards the next siege tower with their team.
No, but they sure help.
The sun steadily reached toward the other side of the sky, heading towards the Mustang Mountains as the battle wore on. A couple of siege towers made it to the wall and opened up their large doors, the Lich’s army pouring out like a flood by the hundreds. The archers and the spell casters fought against them in an attempt to keep them from making it to the other side. The dragons that carried the vessels flew closer. The ranged attackers aimed at the dragons’ wings to shoot them down.
Maria hid herself within the shadows with her longbow and her dagger hidden underneath her black cloak. She used magic to cover herself in the shadows and quickly darted across the ground and up the wall to help fight.
Rahim ran from the cottage with Niamh following closely behind him. He had two swords strapped on his back and a few throwing knives at his belt. Niamh had a longbow strapped over her back with a quiver filled with arrows that contained Marcupo venom.
“Ashur told us to stay inside,” Rahim said in a panicked tone, “he wanted to leave this battle to him and the Empress’s army!”
“We have to help,” Niamh said, running towards the ladders that leaned up against the wall. She grabbed it and began to climb.
Rahim nervously looked up at the fighting scene above and swallowed hard. Niamh looked down below her and rolled her eyes.
“Come on!” she yelled at him. Rahim nervously grabbed the ladder and slowly climbed it to the top.
> Niamh got to the top and pulled out her longbow with three arrows and aimed them up at the dragons that carried the vessels. She closed one eye and focused her attention on the one that was closest, aiming at the wings. The three arrows shot through the air and pierced through the membrane. The dragon cried out and was knocked out of the sky, dropping the vessel down below as more of the archers shot arrows at its wings.
Maria emerged from the shadows behind Niamh, who quickly pulled out a dagger and held it in front of Maria’s face, but Maria quickly used her dagger to block Niamh’s attack. Niamh felt relieved to see when it was her and a nervous smile appeared on her face.
Maria then turned around and saw Selena and Thor off in the distance, slowly but successfully taking down some of the siege towers that were advancing closer. Rahim came up from behind Niamh, his body shaking with fear at the sight of the battering ram.
“If that thing gets to the main gate, there’s no stopping them from taking over the city,” Rahim announced.
“Exactly how do we do that, genius?” Maria asked.
“There!” he shouted as he pointed towards what appeared to be an opening in the back of the ram, “it looks like if we aim one of the catapults there, we can shoot directly at it and effectively destroy it from the inside!”
Niamh looked around signaled to Selena and Thor to meet them.
Thor dropped down on Selena’s orders.
“I have an idea on how to stop the ram!” Rahim exclaimed excitedly, “but we will need yours and Thor’s help! You see those oiled rocks? See if you and Thor can grab one and drop it in that opening and set it on fire! It might be enough to either stop or slow it down to give us a better fighting chance!”
“That may work; good idea, Rahim,” Selena said with a nod.
“I’ll go with you!” he yelled as he ran over to climb aboard.
“Be safe, Selena!” Maria called out but stopped as she turned between Niamh and Rahim.
“Selena?” Niamh called out and looked at her. “You’re a girl?”
Selena swallowed hard and ordered her dragon to follow through with Rahim’s plan. Thor quickly spun around and took off once again.