“You think that they will win?”
“It is not about them winning or not—it is about knowing your enemy. They sent people over here centuries ago to weaken us and learn about Dena. They threw us into chaos to make it easier for them to invade. It has been almost a month since they have arrived, and they have taken over Cheon, the Northern Basin, and have destroyed cities and villages. Their actions look to strike at our weaknesses, targeting our harbors and supply points across Dena. Their actions might look random but they have planned out their actions in detail. Although this might look like a waste of troops to you and me, there should be another reason for it. Why have they not sent out any true Drafeng in these random attacks? They’re holding their core strength back, weakening us, and reducing our supplies.” Axion’s expression darkened.
“I fear just what they’re trying to hide from us in the north of Cheon. They must have a large force there to keep on pushing this many chaotic beasts forward, though they have not gone all out; they sent a force that should be able to dislodge us. They are taking their time to weaken us. Is this because they don’t have the force, or because they don’t want us to see them as a true opponent and take them seriously?”
“What could that mean?”
“Have you played cards, Colonel?” Axion looked to Margrave.
“Yes sir.”
“You know when you have a good set of cards, instead of betting everything right away, you bet at medium and small amounts, looking to increase the pot slowly as to not gain attention, right? Keep people focused on the money and not on the cards you hold close to your chest.”
The cannons continued to fire and the mages started to cast their spells.
A pillar of light descended from the heavens. Portals opened and fiends and demons walked out. The stones of Cheon pulled together into golems and spikes, or melted into quagmires.
The chaotic beasts were slowed, breaking their ankles on the small pits and holes in the ground, unable to stop themselves from being impaled on the spikes that rose from the ground.
Holes were torn through the charging chaotic beast lines as they rushed the isle’s castle.
“Archers!” Axion called out. A new horn cut through the rain and thunder heard over the cannons.
Archers who stood in the rain, water running down their armor and helmets, grabbed their arrows, laying them along their bows.
Axion watched the enemy getting closer. “Now.”
The archers pulled back their arrows and released them. Their arrowheads glistened in the light of magical attacks, cannon fire, exploding shells, and the heavens’ thunder. It seemed the battle had ignited the fighting power of the heavens as well; bolts of lightning crashed into the ground.
The people called down their own lightning, controlling forces that had been left to the gods before.
Axion stood there in the rain, watching as the arrows struck the chaotic beasts. They cried out and twisted, falling to the ground as cannon shells exploded among the enemy ranks.
There was a noise that came from deep in the Drafeng ranks. The chaotic beasts turned and started to flee back the way that they had come.
“Reduce the weight of fire. Conserve the cannons’ ammunition,” Axion said.
Horns called out again as Axion looked at the battlefield. It was another twenty minutes until the cannons went silent. The chaotic beasts were so spread out there was no guarantee that a cannonball would do more than injure a few of them.
Axion looked over the battlefield, at the new destruction. Then he looked past Colonel Margrave and at the forces on the wall.
“Go to half strength.” He saw the archers slumping as they covered their quivers with cloth once again. The cannon crews were cleaning their guns, their faces covered in grime and their backs slick with sweat from the heat and the heavy labor.
“How are we looking on ammunition stores?” he asked Margrave.
“We have the arrows, but for cannons and powder, we have at most an hours’ worth of ammunition if we were to go for four cannons sounding off one another,” Margrave said.
“So enough for one more of their attacks.” Axion let out a breath through his nose as he looked out at the Drafeng defenses.
We need to get off this beach and push inward. For that, we need people; we need ammunition and reinforcements. We don’t have the strength here to push forward.
“Sails!” someone called out.
Axion turned and looked away from the wall. He looked for the person who had called out. “Where?”
“Over there, General.” The man pointed out into the darkness, among the rain and thunder.
Axion pulled out his telescope and looked where the man was looking. Thunder cracked overhead, lighting up the seas as he saw them. Second Fleet had returned; they drove through the raging waters, braving the storm and the thunder. With them was the merchant fleet.
He couldn’t help but feel emotional as he saw the flags upon the ship. “Looks like the Seventh and Third Army didn’t want to be left out!”
He had been teetering on the edge; they were running at the end of their strength. Now he felt a new power fill him—knowing that his brothers and sisters of the Island Alliance had come, that they wouldn’t leave them alone to their own fate.
He felt a pride deep in his bones. The risks they must’ve taken to go through this weather. He could only click his tongue as he studied the fleet. They were moving quickly, even against the wind.
Then he saw it: the white woman. Her features were indistinct but she seemed to be formed from white swirling winds.
“A wind elemental,” Axion said in shock, his voice a bare whisper.
“A what?” Margrave asked, stunned.
Axion’s eyes moved to First Fleet’s flagship where Thunderwing remained, their backup and final support. He knew that the creature was powerful, but they were made from power. All the strength they used, they had to gather again over time. He had only heard of the power that they could display in legends.
Thunderwing had been keeping a low profile; they didn’t want to reveal his presence if they didn’t need to.
Axion saw a flash of light darting across the waters. It appeared over the ships. A thunderbolt landed, letting out a blast of noise. But it didn’t strike any of the ships.
“With this, we can carry out our advancement plan.” Axion put his telescope away. “Tell the army that their brothers and sisters have arrived. Make sure that they get some sleep while they can. We need to be prepared for the enemy to take advantage of the landing and hit us as the armies are getting ashore.”
“Yes, General,” Margrave said.
“Send a signal to the fleet. Ammunition first, then followed by archers for disembarkation.”
“Yes, General.” A signal officer turned to a runner, talking into their rear. They ran off to the signal hut, sending out light signals to the fleet to pass on his orders.
***
Lord Dion Lemar looked at the man in front of him and then to Jaclu beside him.
The two of them shared a look before they looked back to the man, who tapped his hammer on each foot and then looked out at the Drafeng.
“So, the other armies are going to attack the Drafeng from behind and force them out to the east toward Cresmond Peak?” Lemar said.
“The Drafeng are smart people. If we pin them down in all directions, then they’ll fight with everything that they have. If we are able to give them a way out, then they will take it and look to escape the battlefield. If we are to pin them all here against the walls, then they might get through the wall. We don’t have the people or the strength here to keep them all out if they all come at us as one. So we will have the Guardians help to bolster your people. Then we become the rocks; they crash against us, lose some of their number and flee to the east. Relieves pressure on us here and then crams them into a corner. We have heard that there are Drafeng at Cresmond Peak already. It’s harder to assault there, but if we can bottle them
up, then they are competing with one another to gather and consume the power of Dena,” Damien said.
There was a knock at the door. It opened to reveal Mai, the reptilian leader of the Black Scarves. Ubi and Jun had taken over fighting; Mai had taken over organizing the rear lines.
“The Guardians are with the wounded. Thank you, Guardian.” Mai tapped his chest and raised his hand to Damien, offering his deepest thanks.
“Ah, we are all in this together,” Damien said, squirming from the compliments.
“I have to ask, are you Kin?” Jaclu asked, unable to hold herself back.
“I am slightly. You have an acute nose there, Commander Jaclu,” Damien said.
“Kin, but you’re human?” Dion said.
“Some things can be both,” Damien said. “You’ll see soon.” He looked out of the window at the sun.
“The attack will start at dawn tomorrow. The armies will weaken and hit the enemy from behind all tonight. If they’re worrying about their rear, they shouldn’t care about attacking Skalafell. The Guardians can take on the majority of the watch. Get your people rested. Tomorrow will ask a lot from them.” Damien looked to the three people in the room.
He nodded and then left the room.
Jaclu and Dion let out a breath.
“He’s strong,” Jaclu said.
Dion’s clan spirit appeared over his shoulder.
“He is the Guardian who went to Bracegar and freed all of the clan spirits. He is a werewolf kin, with a human form but able to become a werewolf with a thought. Three of his clan spirits have chosen him.”
“Three of them—what kind of power?” Jaclu said.
“He is a simple and humble man. It has allowed him to control the power and not be controlled by it. The beast kin and the humans hunted down the rest of his family due to their ability to be one or the other race. He is one of the few who remains. There are only legends of surviving werewolves. Even with that loss and anger, he looks at people with equal eyes, judging each based upon their actions and theirdeeds.”
“You sound like you respect him?” Dion said.
“I respect many people, but Damien—I look up to him. He is an example that I hope to follow one day. People, spirits—we are not perfect, but there are examples and people who quietly, or unknowingly, shift the balance of the world. It is the small actions and the way that people act and interact with others that will change Dena and the people. Fighting beside one another has united the people of Dena. But if we make it through this battle, then we will have to answer the next question: how do we grow in what unites us instead of what divides?”
They fell silent at the clan spirit’s words.
The air filled with noise as the three armies outside of Skalafell started their attacks. The elves used their magics, the humans used their familiars, the beast kin their massive bows and siege weapons. The gnomes used their war machines, the goblins their grenades and their shamanic magics. Dwarves were covered in smoke as smoke covered their firearms.
The most destruction came from the United Army’s weapons.
Dion trembled, scared, excited, terrified.
What can stand in the way of that?
Dion felt that he was watching armies of ancient lore rising up. Slumbering dragons that had played meek now raising their heads and gathering their breath.
The instruments coordinating the forces reached a crescendo.
The sleeping armies weren’t silent anymore.
Sion saw the rumble of Dwarven mortars. They stabbed into the ground, pushing back mud and dirt, rolling black smoke covering their ranks.
Their Elven enchantments glowed within those dark clouds, flashing as they fired again.
Screams came from the air as the mortars made home in the Drafeng ranks. Flashes of Goblin explosives tore through crystal, beast and ground with disregard.
Attack spells stretched overhead. Landing among the grim destruction.
Elven mages weaved their mana, creating spell formations. Human’s and their familiars worked; two parts of a whole joined in purpose.
They chanted but their words couldn’t be heard. Nothing could be heard under the weight of the attacks.
The beast kin and goblin shamans laid down curses on the ballistas that were fired by elven gunners.
Units marched forward, melee in front, archers and ranged behind them.
They didn’t look like people, they looked like an iron vice closing around the Drafeng.
“I never thought that we could be this strong,” Mai said.
Dion looked at the battlefield. The other armies were all looking over at the United Army’s strength that was there for all to see.
What did we lose fighting among one another. Was it worth it?
***
Cecilia looked up at the skies. A fog had rolled in the night and dew covered the ground.
The sounds of fighting had tapered off in the night. The three armies had advanced closer to the Drafeng, who had grown their crystal walls to create some kind of defense against the powerful bombardment.
Her eyes glowed as she used a spell to her vision, allowing her to see the Skalafell wall. It had been marred and broken. The stone was melted in places from the chaotic power; scratch markings from where the beasts and Drafeng had charged; roots and trees, dirt and stone replaced the stone wall, filling in the breaches.
People wore mismatched and well-worn armor and weapons on the wall. Guards, shopkeepers, laborers—the people of Skalafell had risen to the call to defend their home and the people they cared about.
Her eyes caught on a man resting on the battlements. His armor stood out against the others, a massive hammer on his back.
The walls were in better condition and those on the wall looked alert. Even in a few hours, they were able to enhance their defenses and position.
Cecilia looked at the battlefield. To the north and the south, the armies had been able to advance and the United Army to the east had pushed in, turning the U-shape from before into an angled W-shape.
She looked over the people of the United Army. The mixed units and formations lined up, facing forward: The beast kin with their massive shields and spears. Dwarven sharpshooters in their firing squads, with large gnome-piloted Mechaniks. Hob-run goblin parties of grenadiers. The humans with their swords and shields, mounted upon their familiars. Each broke into their own ordered formation that created their army.
The mages remained at the rear with the siege crews.
The human and beast kin armies were formed up. They stood there quietly, rank upon rank. Dew formed drops of water on their armor that dripped off their helmets and shields, creating water veins on their spears.
“Commander?” Someone looked to her.
“Sound the advance,” Cecilia said.
An oxen beast kin raised his horn to his lips.
Douuuuuuurn.
The braying horn rolled across the foggy battlefield covered in dew and to the walls. Even on the walls, one could feel the horn within their chest.
Lighter horns followed up behind it. Following its call, drums rumbled to life and people shifted their shields and weapons, checking them one last time.
Commanders and leaders called out orders and feet moved as one. The formation rumbled to life like a sleeping dragon, pushing their way forward.
Chaotic beasts used their claws, getting to the top of the crystal walls, like wolves upon a mountain looking at their prey.
Archers opened their quivers and drew arrows on their bows.
Shamans and mages called down buffs on the armies, increasing their combat strength.
Drafeng, in their ranged form, sent out chaotic beam attacks.
Shields were brought forward, rippling across the armies as they covered themselves from the attacks. Mages hidden among the ranks created mana barriers, taking the impact of the spells. Mages started to cast their spells, working in groups to share the load. They created a rolling barrage of attacks ahead of the ad
vancing armies, canceling out the chaotic attacks from the Drafeng army, covering the advance and forcing the Drafeng back.
“Chaotic beasts seen exiting from the north and south to attack the flanks!” a human aide said.
“Continue the advance. If the flanks cannot advance, they will hold position and the center will push forward,” Cecilia said.
“Understood.” The aide used messaging spells to pass on her orders.
The chaotic beasts raced out. Many were killed and wounded by the mages, before being greeted by the human and the beast kin armies’ ranged attackers, using bows, javelins, shamanic arts, and their familiars’ ranged attacks.
Those remaining were greeted by the steel shield walls of both forces.
The beast kins’ clan tattoos blazed with power and the humans’ eyes changed colors, ’channeling the power of their familiars.
These were battle-tested men and women who had fought countless battles. The rhythm of war had been branded into their bones.
The wall took the impacts but they didn’t fold. They held strong. The power of the buffs ran through them as beast kin spears and human blades cut, stabbed, and sliced into the enemy.
Drums and horns became their language as the two armies called out to one another.
“Rah!” The beast kin shields, as big as a man, rose up and slammed forwards as one. “Sha!” The second line stabbed out their spears and stepped forward, becoming the new first line as their shields snapped back into place, a new iron wall to greet the Drafeng.
“Hou!” The humans called out and their swords slashed out, shining in the early morning light. Blood colored the ground as Drafeng fell.
“Ha!” The first line turned to the side and the second line pushed forward with their shields, their blades slicing outward.
Hearing the two lines made one’s blood boil. The beast kin and humans on the United Army’s front lines held their shields ready and marched forward. The Iron Guard, an elite unit made up of the strongest shield bearers, were the point on the arrowhead formation of the United Army.
As they advanced, the trailing edges moved up the armies to the north and south. The soldiers there turned from their positions and ran around the rear of the army, going from the west side to the east side, much like one would move logs underneath a massive object they were moving.
A Lich's Love (Death Knight Series Book 5) Page 12