“I will be above you. Slay the Horde with ease, my friend. If they move to encircle you, flee. I will let you know and clear a path if I have to.” Lord Nova said taking over recon duty for me.
Brad ran back from Donnie to share a report. “They are lobbing grappling hooks now. Only two lines though.”
Nate nodded. “Here is our plan, Brad lay down quick escape lines on the west. Not all the way to the ground. The first shelf is fine, we can slide down the lower cliff. Marcus, I need two javelins. Tammy get me a torch.” Nate said and waved Victor over. The torch was handed off and the tiniest of flames danced. Nate ran to the south end where it was the easiest to see the cannons fired. They had slowed their pace. Someone probably realizing the leaking water was slow to sink ships. The torch was embedded into the ground and then two javelins were placed by closer to where the enemy would ascend the cliff. The dead shaman was propped up facing the fire.
I think I got it. “Lord Nova is on overwatch. He is going to let us know if they catch on and start to encircle us. So Nate… We face the body south, use the flicker of the torch to catch the eye. Then what?” I asked.
“We have to kill them before they realize what we are up to. Keeping only one line working will be key. Find a good ambush spot to the north where we can execute a quick killing blow and then quickly remove the body. The ground will eventually become slick with the blood, but we should get a few before they realize. Who knows how many? Maybe hundreds. Set a few people to remove parts because it will only take you to kill them. Your strength and speed will probably do best at keeping the killing silent.”
I was wanting to call a retreat. Mostly because I felt very isolated on this plateau with limited escape options. I inhaled a determined breath and calmed my anxiety. Lord Nova himself was above us. We could burn a path if needed. Trust in the team was paramount.
“I will find a nice spot, organize the rest.” I went over to the eastern hook and studied the area. A volley of cannon fire lit up the skyline. An orc was halfway up the rope. A first in a chain of Horde climbing eager to reach the top.
I peeled my shield off my back and buried the base into the dirt. I went a few steps down to Donnie and grabbed his shield too. I shimmied his shield beside mine to give my silhouette a nice cover. The first orc crawled over the edge and immediately focused on the light to the south. He never looked north and went to scold the dead shaman. The moment he stepped forward and past my shield cover I swung my sword with a backhanded swing. The body stepped one more foot forward before it fell flat to the earth. The head bounded towards the dead shaman and I swore it blinked in its death roll.
My team was efficient and I was impressed. Tammy raced for the head while Nate and Marcus hauled the body to a point where both Brads carved out vitals. There was little time to watch them work as the next Horde member crested the edge. A troll this time. He was hesitant until the orc behind him spurred him forward. I removed the troll's head and snatched the body before it could fall. The orc behind him was already nearing the edge.
The next orc died like the others and a slow goblin gave us time to regroup. Over the next dozen kills, it was always the hesitant trolls that caused a problem. We still managed to pile the bodies. The Knights of the Frontier were an efficient killing machine. Every few minutes the cannons from our ships would unleash a new torrent of flames and I would get a view of the battle.
More catapults had been dragged to the shoreline. Endless lines of orcs were waiting their turn to be flung at our ships. In the short span, I had to view the foe there were hundreds of catapults. If I were to guess the enemy had amassed at least a million troops.
I sliced another head free. This time it was a shaman and when the body hit the wet gore on the ground I heard a jingle. Loot! I hoped the Brads or someone got those coins. Nate’s flickering distraction was working perfectly. And I had to admit, I probably would have fallen for it too. You crest an edge and look around. The only thing you see is a faint light. You probably are going to approach it. Especially if you have no fear of an enemy around. It gave me a pause in reflection. Never go into the light.
I thought I would never tire or get bored of slaying Horde. Tonight I was proved wrong. We must have mindlessly slaughtered seventy plus foes when Lord Nova alerted me.
“Retreat now I must go! A new foe approaches from the air!” Lord Nova said in a hurry.
While the statement was confusing, the urgency was not. The next troll hesitated at the edge as it stood. I raced through the night and planted a boot into its chest, sending it flying. I swiped down and severed the line full of Horde. They tumbled down the cliff in the darkness.
I never needed to say anything to the troops. Donnie scrambled from his nook and slung his shield over his back. My team condensed to the sacks of body parts. The Brads halted further extractions and picked up spare tools to stuff into bags. Nate sealed the sacks for carrying. I tossed the drenched blood bag over my shoulder when the unthinkable happened.
The ships fired again, revealing the night with light. Lord Nova flew between our fleet and two black dragons. They were in equal size. I never knew the Horde had dragons… dragons, they most certainly were. A torrent of flame raced for Lord Nova, the second dragon belched forth its furious red mixed with orange. The fire wrapped around the mighty griffin, the night alive with light.
I could hear his cackling laughter from the plateau. My team was frozen in awe and fear as the griffin was engulfed in flames. Yet Lord Nova roared in laughter, defying his attackers. I watched his feathers burn and his skin melt. Then I noticed it. The green trickle of healing knitting his horrendous wounds. Nova was a psychotic to endure such torment and laugh.
The enemy dragons were not amused. They were thirty feet long and ten feet wide. Everything about them was meant for a dark night. They were entirely black besides the fire that projected from them. The thin, tightly knitted scales, gleamed with the reflection of the light of their inferno. I could see long strong wings that spanned as long as their bodies were. The talons on the feet were impressive and curved with deadly intent. The exact creature from myth and legend. I watched as they poured on the flames, not comprehending why their foe was not falling to his death.
Out of the darkness a sight that will haunt me forever appeared. Griffins by the hundreds casually revealed themselves. They slowly approached Lord Nova as he scoffed at the enemy's incoming damage. The griffins left behind the darkness to emerge in the illuminating fire that was consuming their lord. This was a terrifying display.
Lord Nova never stopped laughing as he burned and the enemy dragons seethed with rage at his denial of death. That was until the hundreds of griffins behind him were noticed. The flames suddenly stopped and night enveloped all again. They were too late to flee. I knew the griffins were diving in for the kill. We heard brief combat then nothing.
I pushed my team to the western edge ready to descend when the night sky lit up in an inferno of vole fire. I watched as the griffins carried two dead dragons propped up to look alive. A stream of flame arced from griffin paws beside the dragons dangling heads. It was not perfect but you could see the rationale. With the dragons for cover, the Horde’s army was set upon. We only watched the opening inferno. The human fleet in the distance was turning to return home and this was my cue to do the same.
We scaled down the western cliff and made it to the ground safely. The enemy was fleeing north and we let them go. The dozen of us had done a lot and we had a mighty haul to return with. I ordered us west, back to Bavie. The night was bright, as fires raged behind us. The griffins utilized the dead dragons for as long as they could. Finally, only residual fires burned an hour into our march to safety.
I called a pause. “Now that was one for the storybooks or a hell of a ballad,” Janice said as she tossed off her bag.
“Dragons, I never knew…” Markus said as he stretched his limbs. “Seems dumb to unleash them at this point.”
I swal
lowed a few gulps of water. “I think the Horde leadership knew dragons would face a losing fight against the griffins. My guess, those dragons were really for killing ice cats and yetis.” I downed a few more sips.
Suddenly there was twisting pain in my core. It was so sudden, it caused me to spit the water out and onto Donnie. I fell to my knees in pain. My core called to me but not the purple aura. I felt hands stabilize me as I utilized my mind to delve into my inner body. There the yellow contract magic. I sensed angst, anxiety, and terrible fear. My mind swirled with the implications, thinking something had gone wrong with the Rakmar deal when I realized this was Amber’s contract. She was in danger.
I coughed to clear the water and stripped my heavy armor off. The sacks and excess gear tossed to the ground. The Knights were looking to me for answers.
“Amber is in danger, not sure how, but our contract is tearing at me in concern. If you can’t carry this stuff, leave it. I am fairly certain we can get it later. I am going to run as fast as I can to aid them.” I said.
“Wait, my wives are with them,” Fwar said.
“I know, exactly why I am going to burn a lot of aura and make it there in a fraction of time you can. Nate, you are in charge.”
With that said, I was gone. I had two crossbows and my sword with no shield to move quicker. I was without chain link and accepted the thick leather would have to do. I called upon my purple aura to increase my speed.
“Any… Griffin… Overhead…” I said as I bolted between trees.
I was forced to slow down when I shouldered a thin pine. I spun but recovered to keep going.
“Sly above, I see you darting through the woods in the dark. Why the rush, the Horde have broken? Millions burn.” Sly said with glee.
“Emperor Igrad’s estate… Something not right… Light the way please and tell the other griffins to encircle the building.” I gasped for breath as I ran.
I cursed myself for my stupidity. My wives needed guards. Griffins and I couldn’t always protect them. Sly spurt little flames in front of me allowing me to increase my speed again. The ground tore beneath my feet as I poured aura into my legs. I had no idea how fast I was going but it was faster than the horse that hauled me to the troll fight before. Sly was diligent to keep my way well lit. Dozens of griffins joined her in illuminating my path and I added even more speed.
The thin underbrush ended and the thick hard to navigate growth erupted as I parted through it. There was no slowing until I felt the tingle of the barrier shimmy through me. I was on the outskirts of Bavie now and racing down the filthy road. Sly helped me find the estate and I stopped a block away to catch my breath.
Traz landed beside me. “The estate is surrounded by us griffins now. We cannot see the attackers or your wives. We can only hear the four bandits expressing their frustration. Our guess is, your wives are hidden somewhere. The rest of your team's spouses are bound and on the first floor. Two are watching them while two search for Princess Amber. They keep trying to bribe the prisoners downstairs with a partial reward for Amber. Salvoni is offering a hundred thousand gold coins for her head. Probably the exact amount he got from your crown he sold to Virtue.”
I let him explain as I scoured my soul. The contract was still intact. My aura was getting low though, so I would have to act fast. My panting had calmed to a steady loud breath. It would have to do.
“May the creator bless your sword friend!” Traz said and I thanked him.
It was time to move. I jogged to the estate perimeter and leaped the wall. I went to the backside of the four story building and gazed up. I knew which balcony was mine. I grabbed ahold of a pillar’s etch work and yanked myself higher. With a firm footing, I leaped to the second balcony. Then used that to grasp onto the third overhang. Up and over the railing I went as I reached the third story outcropping. My footsteps were silent as I moved into the room. The doors were busted open and the room was a scattered mess.
The bed had been hacked and feathers from the pillows were strewn everywhere. Every tapestry was off the walls and every dresser was knocked over. I heard a commotion a few rooms over and stealthily approached the noise. Torches flickered enough light to see and I decided speed was my friend more than silence. I walked a casual pace as if I were a fellow intruder coming to aid his friends.
“Stevon, I am telling you, there has to be a hidden passageway. These walls dividing the rooms are too thick. Check this section, while I scour this wall.” A gruff voice said.
“No names you idiot. Fine, I will look over here only because I agree and not because you are in charge. We are splitting the hundred thousand four ways.” A squeaky voice replied.
Pure amateurs, they verified there were only four villains to eradicate. Without the need to waste any time I entered the room. My footfalls fast yet quiet. I saw a well built man against the back wall and a bone thin short man to my right. I approached the bigger threat first. He was muttering in frustration when my sword entered his back and pierced his heart. I carried him to the ground and walked to his partner. The thin man never turned. Maybe he thought I was his buddy. Oh well. I swung my sword and removed his head.
These were the easy two. They were distracted and not paying attention. The next two had hostages and would be alert. I slipped out of the bedroom and worked my way along the edge of the wall. I wanted to keep out of the line of sight from where the foyer could observe.
“Give them up! I will not say it again.” An angry voice demanded.
I stole a quick peek over the second floor balcony. Fwar’s six wives and Mina were bound on the ground. A second villain held a dagger to the throat of one of Fwar’s wives. I never did learn their names and now I was in a situation where they were at risk. This was not a time for internal debate, but rather a moment of decisiveness.
I readied the crossbows by clutching them in my hands. A few steps back and my shoulders touched the wall behind me. I sprinted and leapt over the railing. The bandit with no hostage saw me and readied his sword. His counterpart did not. I let myself arc through the air and lined up my shot.
My finger squeeze the trigger gently until I heard a twang. The bolt launched into the side of my target’s head. The wife in his arms screamed in pain as the knife at her throat slid down her neck. It was gruesome but not fatal. I landed. The shock of the ground meeting my feet forced me to roll forward to carry my momentum.
I raised my eyes to the last target who was in a panic unsure if he should rush me or grab a hostage. I leveled my crossbow at him. “Not an inch… In any direction.” I commanded. I then turned to the panicked wives. “Get some pressure on her neck and take her outside. She will be healed by a griffin and her husband will fix her after. All of you outside!”
The women scampered and scuttled to obey me. The last man knew he was in an unwinnable situation. He slowly lowered his weapon and raised his hands in the air. The front door to the estate burst open and the women spilled out. I sensed my contract magic with Amber and no longer felt the pull of desperation.
Sure enough, three heads peaked over the third floor railing. A raven, a brunette, and a firey redhead gazed down at me with the last bad guy in my sights.
“Name?” I asked. I wanted information before I made a decision on what to do.
“Delroy sir, will… will… will… you spare me if I talk?” Delroy stuttered in fright. “There is a large man upstairs, his name is Franklin, sir. He hired me to help him. Something about a girl named Amber. I was told no one would get hurt and the Emperor wanted her. I was informed she was not safe here in this estate and paid a full silver to help.”
I scoffed. The stupid things people did for money. “Anything else you can tell me, anything at all? Hold nothing back.” I said as the girls made it down to the bottom foyer with me.
Delroy stole glances at my wives, then to me. Well, two wives and one servant. “I promise sir, that is all I know.” He kept his hands in the air as Addilyn approached me.
“By the gods, you stink husband… Is he always this gross after battle?” She said turning to Velia while pinching her nose. “Let me hold that weapon for you, Velia needs to fix your sagging trousers.”
I handed Addilyn the crossbow then looked down at my pants.
Twang!
The suddenness of the noise caused me to jolt in surprise. I saw Addilyn spit at Delroy, the man clutching at a bolt in his neck. When he pulled the projectile free, blood spurted across the ground. A few leg twitches later and it was over. The last of the bandits inside Igrad’s estate died. The place was an outright disaster of a mess. Every room had been tossed and there was blood all over.
A desperate scream erupted from outside and I raced to the door. The poor wife of Fwar was spasming on the ground. Traz was stepping back with guilt etched on his face.
“I had to Gryff, she was dying. Go hold her, no one else can restrain her but you.”
I raced down the stairs and slid beside the woman fighting the torment I knew too well. I used my thighs to constrain her legs and arms to lock her upper body. She screamed and then screamed some more. My ears rang from her cries against the pain. Addilyn tried to comfort her until I told her to give us space.
It seemed like hours later but eventually, Fwar himself showed up and placed a hand on her shoulder. “Rest sweet Vivi… Let sleep take you.”
At least that is what I thought I heard. My ears felt as if someone had poured water down them. My team tiredly strolled up to the estate and I untwined myself from Fwar’s wife. When I had a chance to gaze at her face I noticed it was Addilyn’s sister. I would have saved her regardless, but I was certain my wives would feel proud of me for helping a family member.
Nate approached as the team circled around. Donnie raced to Mina and the two clasped in a hug. Tammy went inside the estate and promptly returned.
“How is it?” Nate asked.
Gryff Boxset Page 52