“Everyone get some rest. we still have about twenty hours until the battle and we want to be in our best condition,” Brad said.
Everyone was dismissed and they all went to sleep. David, Borin, and Brad stayed up to discuss some flaws in the plan.
“Now that all the optimistic stuff has been said, it’s time to discuss some problems with our plan. Even though we outnumber Krag’s forces right now, he can still teleport scavengers inside the walls of the town and our cannons would be useless. He could also keep sending reinforcements until our supplies have diminished,” said Brad. “We also have a very low food supply and the town doesn’t have much outside protection.”
“We have a great wizard, named Gulture, who can conjure up these items,” Borin said.
“I can also make gunpowder the same way,” Gulture spoke.
“What are you doing here?” Borin asked.
“I knew that you would discuss the disadvantages now and wanted to know what you thought they were. I can cast a spell that will prohibit teleporting in or out of the town’s walls. Unfortunately, I can only keep this barrier up for a short twenty minutes,” said Gulture.
“And what about reinforcements for Krag?” Brad asked. “Can you help us there?”
“No, I’m sorry. I cannot,” answered Gulture. “However, I don’t think Krag will waste that many troops on one battle. If he did, his forces would be seriously diminished and another army would finish him off for us.”
“True, said David, who was deep in thought.
“I think we are in pretty good condition. So now let’s get some rest. Tomorrow is an important day,” Gulture said.
“I can’t wait till tomorrow when I crush the Army of Peace,” Krag thought to himself.
The Army of Peace awoke and went to their positions with one minute to spare. Gulture put up the force shield and made the gunpowder supply triple. David watched as Krag approached.
“David, what is your answer?” Krag asked.
“WE SURRENDER!!!” David yelled.
Instantly, men, women, and children popped out of hiding places and fired arrows at the scavengers. A few scavengers fell before they had realized that a battle had started. David drew his Power Sword and fired a flame at Krag. Krag waved his hand and the flame vanished. Krag took away all the scavengers’ magic and teleported out saying he wanted the town destroyed. The cannons started firing and scavengers were dropping dead everywhere. However, not a single member of the Army of Peace had so much as a scratch. The scavengers were running frantically. A small handful of scavengers had grouped together and charged the gates, but the doors opened and ten cannons blasted. This wiped out the group of scavengers. About ninety percent of them were dead. The rest ran for safety in the nearby forest. All three hundred of the cannons blasted, leveling the forest’s edge and killing all but one scavenger. The last scavenger was teleported inside the town’s dungeon by Gulture’s magic since the force shield was now gone. The Army of Peace had suffered no casualties and all cheered, having known that they had just won a major battle.
“Great plan,” David said to Brad.
Just then, two more regiments of scavengers on top of dragons appeared.
“Don’t attack us,” one of the scavengers said. “We come in peace. We are to give you this message. Krag wishes to talk of peace and will meet you at the base of Skull Mountain tomorrow at noon. Only your three leaders, David, Borin, and Brad, are to attend. Krag will only bring Tor and Dogar with him. This is not a trick. What is your answer?”
“How do we know it’s not a trick?” Borin asked. “Krag could easily have a couple of regiments of scavengers attack us at the meeting place.”
“You must believe us. You are to bring any prisoners you have and trade them for some of our prisoners. Meet Krag tomorrow,” the scavenger said.
“I’ll be there,” said David.
“As shall Krag,” the scavenger said as all the scavengers vanished.
“David, you know it’s a trick. Why are you going to meet with that monster?” Borin asked.
“Do not fear, for I have a plan,” said David. “Come with me.”
David, Borin, Brad, Gulture, Tricks, and Dawayne all walked to the cell where the scavenger was being held prisoner.
“This is our only prisoner, right?” David asked.
“Yes,” answered Gulture. “I captured him.”
“Well, I’ll put on his armor and go as the prisoner,” said David.
“Yes, but what of us who are to attend?” asked Brad.
“I can make images of the three of you,” said Gulture before David could answer Brad’s question.
“Great,” said David. “Then when we go back to Castle Doom, I free all the prisoners, and Lalindra can use her magic to get us back.”
“I don’t think you should go in the armor,” Borin said to David. “You are too valuable.”
“I agree,” said one of the townspeople.
“Tare, I told you that you were not to eavesdrop on any meetings I’m in,” Brad said.
“I know, but we can argue about that later. Right now, I would like to volunteer to be the one in the armor,” said Tare.
“I agree that someone else should be in the armor,” said Dawayne.
“Fine, but only if Tare is qualified,” said David.
“He is,” Brad said.
“OK, now here is the rest of my plan. Krag kills the images and we are thought to be dead. As soon as Tare leaves, we leave this town and fill it with images of townspeople. When we find a new base, we form our strategy on how to attack Castle Doom. Tare will free the prisoners and they will fight from inside while we attack. In a few days from now we should be free of all Krag’s evil,” said David.
“What if Krag keeps his word?” Dawayne asked.
“Then we get some of our army back and Tare is still able to get inside and free the rest,” answered David.
“That might work,” said Borin.
“I assure you that it will,” David said.
“I will kill the prisoner,” said Dawayne. “I haven’t killed one yet.”
“Go ahead, my violent friend,” said Brad.
Dawayne opened the cell door and stepped inside. He then drew his daggers. The scavenger was on the floor with his armor off. Dawayne stabbed both of his daggers deep into the scavenger’s back. He was shocked when he didn’t hear any shrieks of pain. He flipped the demon over and saw that it had no face or stomach. Dawayne took, his daggers and left the cell.
“It was already dead,” Dawayne stated.
“What do you mean, it?” Tricks asked.
“Scavengers are actually demons,” Dawayne answered.
Everyone present went to look at the scavenger’s body and most came out wanting to be sick.
“Well, at least we still have the armor,” said David. “Gulture, make an image of me. Good. Now Dawayne, since you know me the best, leave the room and try to guess which one is the real me.”
Dawayne left the room and a couple of minutes later came back in. He guessed and was right on who was really David.
“How did you know which one I was?” David asked.
“I just guessed and was right,” replied Dawayne.
“Good. If you couldn’t tell the difference, then Krag definitely won’t be able to,” said David.
“Then we will soon be attacking Krag’s castle?” Dawayne asked.
“Yes, Dawayne. Very soon,” David answered.
“Lord Krag, David has accepted your offer,” a scavenger reported to Krag.
“Good. I will soon crush that rebellion of his. When their leaders are killed, the army will crumble. Then I will rule the world,” Krag said. “Do all the scavengers know what to do?”
“Yes,” the scavenger answered.
“Good, very good. Is Tor back yet?”
“Yes, he is,” answered the scavenger.
“Good. Dismissed,” Krag said to the scavenger.
Tor entered the room.
“Your house was in perfect order,” Tor reported.
“You are lucky. Did you leave any guards to protect it this time?” Krag asked.
“Yes,” Tor answered.
“Good. You are dismissed,” Krag said.
Krag went to his chambers to study some magic.
“I will kill David with this,” Krag said to himself as he read a spell.
The next day, Tare put on the scavenger’s black armor. Gulture made the images and then bound Tare’s hands with cord to make him look like a prisoner. Tare was wished luck by many of his friends. Then, he and the images were teleported to the meeting area.
“So you have taken up teleportation? I think that the horse fits your character a bit better,” Krag said.
The image of David nodded.
“I see that you have one prisoner. How unwise to give him his sword and bind his hands in front of him. As you can see, I have not brought any prisoners. This was a trap and you three will not live to tell your friends about it,” Krag boasted.
The three images began to run and were shot down by plenty of arrows.
“Yes! I won!” Krag shouted. “Leave their bodies here to rot. I will teleport us all back to Castle Doom.”
The scavengers and Tare vanished and then reappeared at Castle Doom. Once there, Tare went to guard the prison cell with two other guards.
“So the much men have finally returned,” said Maria.
Dorris laughed at this, finding it very funny.
“Shut up!” Tare yelled, trying to seem like a scavenger.
Maria just glared at Tare with hatred.
“I have a plan on how to defeat Krag,” Brad said to David.
“Well what is it?” David asked.
“We set up cannons and catapults all around the perimeter of Castle Doom. Then, we blast at the walls with all of our force. The castle will crumble and we will triumph,” Brad said, getting very excited with the thought that the war might end soon.
“I think that your plan is too much like the last one. We should wait a little while until we think of a new plan. Something that Krag would never expect,” said Borin, disagreeing with Brad’s plan.
“Besides, we would kill all of the prisoners inside of Castle Doom along with the scavengers,” David said, reminding Brad.
“Oh yeah. I forgot,” Brad said, sounding like a child who hadn’t done his job of feeding the pigs.
“What are you suggesting then?” Brad asked.
“I don’t know,” David admitted.
“When we move to a different location, we can make a plan,” said Borin.
“You’re right. We should be leaving before Krag comes to finish off the rest of the Army of Peace,” said David. “Gather everyone in a town meeting and I will explain the details of how we will leave.”
chapter 7
Moving Locations
The entire Army of Peace was rounded up for a meeting where David explained what they were to do.
“My friends,” he said. “Krag believes that Borin, Brad, and I are dead. He will probably attack this town soon and kill every last member of the Army of Peace. We must move our army to a new location. We will take all of our supplies with us and leave images behind for Krag to destroy. I expect Krag to attack in about three days. That should be enough time to escape from Krag’s clutches. We need to start immediately. Everyone go home and start packing now.”
“No!!” an old woman shouted. “This is my home and I’m not leaving it!”
“I have a solution for those that want to stay, but be warned. If you stay, you will most likely die,” said David.
After some discussion, about a hundred families wished to stay.
“For those of you that wish to stay, defend yourselves with the weapons I leave you. This way, Krag won’t be as suspicious about why the battle was far easier than the last one,” said David. “Those of you that wish to stay, please see me as soon as this meeting has ended to get your supplies. The rest of you, go pack what you want to take now.”
Those that wanted to leave went to their homes to pack, and those that wished to stay went to get their supplies from David. He gave them five cannons and three catapults. He left them a year’s supply of gunpowder.
“Here is a month’s supply of food to be divided among the families,” David said to the man he left in charge. “You should be able to get your own food by then. If you last a month and Krag hasn’t attacked, then either he won’t or we have already defeated him.”
“David,” said Gulture, walking towards him, “I can’t teleport this many people at one time. I will have to use a new spell called light speed travel. It will get us to our destination faster than teleportation, but it is harder to control and could end with casualties.”
“Can’t you just go back and forth with teleportation?” David asked.
“I could, but it would be more trouble than it’s worth and I wouldn’t be able to take equipment and probably wouldn’t have enough time. Light speed travel is more dangerous, but I can take everyone and all of their equipment at the same time,” said Gulture.
“I guess that is our only good option,” said David.
“OK, organize everyone together and let’s get out of here,” said Gulture.
After several hours, the Army of Peace was ready to use light speed travel to find a new base. Gulture performed the spell and in a blue blur, the army flashed across the countryside. After three minutes of travel, Gulture stopped. Everyone looked around and saw a beautiful mountain spewing out a magnificent waterfall.
“This is perfect, Gulture,” David said.
“Thank you,” said Gulture. “Now, I shall make our base.”
“Where are you going to put it?” Brad asked.
“Why, inside the mountain,” Gulture answered.
“This is a beautiful place,” David commented. “Everyone, move away from the mountain!!”
The people did as they were told. Gulture waved his staff around and chanted some ancient runes.
“I’m finished,” Gulture said to David, very proud of himself.
“It looks like nothing has happened inside the mountain,” said Dawayne.
“Well, let’s see what has happened inside of the mountain,” said David.
Everyone ran inside of the mountain, entering from behind the waterfall. Inside the mountain was just as beautiful as the outside. The walls and floor were made completely out of marble. As people were claiming rooms to live in, David smiled.
“Well done, Gulture. You really out did yourself this time,” he said.
“Thank you. I thought you might like it,” said Gulture.
“OK, now get Borin, Brad, Tricks, Dawayne, and come yourself for I need to talk to you,” said David.
“Tor!!” Krag yelled.
“Yes, my Lord,” Tor answered.
“Now that David is dead, I want you to take five of my best regiments and crush the rest of the Army of Peace. I want every last person in that town dead,” said Krag.
“Yes, my Lord. I shall organize the scavengers now,” Tor said.
Tor got the scavengers and they teleported inside the town of Springwater. The scavengers used their magic to burn the town. Tor watched as the fire burned the town down. Thirty minutes later, it was all over.
“That was too easy,” Tor said to himself.
The scavengers teleported back to the castle.
“Well, what is your report?” Krag asked.
“We burned the town and killed everyone in it. Scavenger casualties were at a minimum,” Tor answered.
“Good. Now we can go back to destroying small defenseless towns,” said Krag. “I’m not so sure. The victory was too easy, considering how they fought last time.”
“Last time, they had David’s leadership and surprise.”
“Yes, but . . .” Tor started.
“Shut up!” Krag yelled, slapping Tor across his helmet with his sword. “The Army of Peace is a past menace and is
no longer in existence. If I hear any more talk that any have survived, I will kill the person who talked. Understand?”
“Yes, my Lord,” said Tor.
chapter 8
The Plan
“Thank you, Gulture, for gathering everybody,” David said. “I know that it is late in the evening, but we need to make a plan to attack Castle Doom. Does anyone have any suggestions?”
The room was silent, as nobody would speak of a plan.
“Tell him your plan,” Tricks said to Borin.
“It might not work,” Borin said.
“Who cares? It is all we have right now,” said Tricks.
“Yes, Borin. Tell us your plan,” agreed David.
“OK, here it is. At night, we use light speed travel to the forest edge near Castle Doom,” Borin started. “I’ve been told by soldiers who have seen Castle Doom that there are vents all around it. David, Dawayne, and Tricks will sneak inside the castle and wait until morning. Gulture will use a spell to let Tare know that we are attacking in the morning. Then he will teleport outside of Castle Doom. Everyone else will stay outside the castle in the forest and prepare for the assault. We will set up cannons to take out one wall of Castle Doom. In the morning, Gulture will make many images of strong soldiers who will be heavily armed. This will make the size of our army seem bigger. We will act as a new army ready to defeat the scavengers. While we keep Krag busy with small talk, Gulture will teleport inside the castle and signal for both David and Tare to have their teams attack from the inside of the castle. Then, Gulture will use his magic to lower the drawbridge and let the rest of our army enter the base. Krag will be very surprised and we will already be attacking from all over.”
“Not bad,” said Tricks. “Not bad at all.”
“I liked it myself,” said David. “How about the rest of you? Do you think we should go along with this plan?”
Everyone present liked the plan and they all agreed that they should put it into action the next night.
“OK, everyone go to sleep,” David said.
Everyone did as they were told without any complaints.
“I am here to tell you all that David and the rest of your pathetic Army of Peace have been killed,” Krag said to his prisoners. “Now do any of you wish to become scavengers?”
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