I start hearing new explosions. Flashes of light were almost subtle with the presence of the new sun. I was not able to continue my journey to Hombros, I had to find a way to return to Ignis to fight. I secured Orius to the root of the tree and walked back towards the valley. I had to be careful. There might have been soldiers left on patrol. I deliberately avoided the path and walked through the small wooded areas around the plain. Bypassing the plain took a good part of the day. The grove in the east extended out on the rise of a hill from which the south gate could be seen. At the entrance to the gate there were enemy hordes trying to take down the shield of fire.
Below me, a patrol of soldiers were sitting on a fire. There were at least eight. I couldn't see anything that could help me figure out who they were. The sounds of explosions and battle were distinct. The screams of the fighters could also have been heard. I stood hidden until sunset.
The patrol was still on guard. I was only armed with my wand. It was my training weapon. It couldn't generate powerful spells to knock out an opponent, especially if they were a soldier in heavy armor, but I knew some stun spells and someone I could use as a diversion.
I took a breath as I was about to launch against the first enemy who was separated from the group; an immense explosion blocked me. I looked up. From the council tower,a purple lightning flashed skyward. The shield of fire was dissolved. The patrol soldiers left the outpost and started fighting against the walls. Lightning disappeared in the sky. The earth was shaking. The council tower swayed. A rumble. collapsed in on itself. Red dust rose. The night and the dust blocked the view.
Suddenly a hum came from the sky. A strong purple glow from the sun was spreading over the city. It Blew up. A magical veil grew from the sky, launched towards the ground, where the Red Tower stood. The veil ran in all directions at great speed. The soldiers were escaping from the walls trampling each other. Those who were captured by the veil were dragged into the city.
I realized I wasn't safe. So I left the grove. I ran as fast as I could. I entered the valley to reach Orius as soon as possible and escape. The valley was filled with fleeing soldiers. I was able to hear them behind me. I passed the rocks south of the valley, some soldiers were about to join me. I turned around ready to fight with my wand in hand. But the magical veil sparkled behind them. I stared at them, and I recognized them. They were dark elves.
I swirled my wand and pointed it under my footsteps, a levitation magic. I lifted myself off the ground away from the elves and the magical veil that was sucking them in. Their faces were changing. They were deformed. :Wrinkled, crippled and full of lumps. They were swelled and hunched. To others, the muscles seemed to come out of the body and the slender shoulders were grown larger, transforming them into powerful beings. The magic veil disappeared with them.
I jumped on Orius and galloped non-stop towards Hombros.
Old man! Stop fidgeting and screaming. You disturb the other inmates. "- Ordered the guard from the crack in the cell door.
Chapter I
The reinforcements
-2-
T
he captain's regiment was on its second day of travel to the largest military outpost in the region. The principality's effort to defend the northern border increased every month and the reinforcements sent never seemed to be enough. The attacks from the north, by the orcs, became more and more frequent and with an ever greater attack power. The means available to the principality were finite and the continuous attacks were consuming both men and resources. The caravan consisted of just twenty and five recruits who were doing the hardest work, hauling the supply wagon.
The climb became steep and the tiredness began to affect the young recruits. The wagon was very heavy. There were barrels of wine and beer and baskets full of meat, bread and legumes. Tied to the sides of the wagon were secured the weapons, armor and shields that doubled the weight of the tow on the shoulders of the men.
"Hey, guys! I'm exhausted."– said Teroin, the youngest of the five.
The belts tied to the chest and shoulders were tight and the leather jacket they wore did not always protect them from the pressure of the rope that pressed into the flesh tearing it apart.
"You should eat more meat and get stronger."в€’ Helder, the oldest of the five and physically more powerful and strong, replied.
Everyone laughed. While one of them was thinking elsewhere. He was watching the sides of the path. Even though he was breathing heavily from tiredness, the expression on his face was calm.
“Balt! Always with your head in the clouds, isn't it?"− Serafin, Balt's best friend loved to tease him when he immersed himself in his world and estranged himself from the reality of the world.
“He loves his plants and herbs. He is not suited for a military career. He was forced to enlist. Not like me who volunteered."− Vlad ruled.
"And I'm not even a citizen of Hombros."в€’ replied arrogantly.
Helder shook his head. Every time he heard Vlad speaking, he felt immediately nervous. Balt, on the other hand, seemed absent. He did not open his mouth. He scanned the edges of the grassy path and tried to memorize what he saw. He raised his head to stretch his neck muscles.
"There is smoke."в€’ Balt exclaimed softly.
He was heard by Serafin who smiled at him. The captain gave the order to stop. He nodded to the scouts who went on to study the situation. The path opened into the clearing where the outpost was located. The southern watchtower had collapsed. The black smoke arose from the watchtower to the north, the flames were almost extinguished. The tower was in danger of collapsing. There was no shadow of enemies. The explorers reported the situation to the captain. The caravan set off. It was a few miles from the outpost entrance. The collapsed tower was slowly overcome. The captain stopped his pace by watching the disaster. The soldiers already knew what to do and took their places in the perimeter helping some peasants to extinguish the last outbreak. The sun had now set. The night.
The boys pulled with their last efforts the cart located in front of the entrance door of the mighty fortress; a stately home which over time was enlarged with lookout towers, fortified with a keep and external walls.
Before being called for the unloading service, Helder took off his two belts and left the group. Balt threw off the straps, then he stretched and also slipped out. The others did the same.
The door to the fortress opened and a huge man in heavy iron armor stepped out. The chest was engraved with the coat of arms of Hombros, the golden Sequoia shrouded in mist. He looked at the three recruits then ordered them to empty the wagon.
“Food supplies in the pantry. At the end of the hall, on the left-side, you'll find a third door on the right. The weapons in the armory. Down the hall on the right. The fifth door."− He explained. A moment later, the captain appeared in front of him and greeted the general.
"How much formality brother-in-law."в€’ He stared at the general with an unpleasant tone, trying to keep his voice low so as not to be heard by the newly entered recruits.
"How long have you not been back to a battlefield, Captain Goldeon?"в€’ he said.
The captain ignored the warm welcome and he went straight away to be made aware of the situation. As they entered the three young men were running with their supplies to empty the wagon as soon as possible. They passed the two superiors who entered the control room.
"What happened to General Fortdar?"в€’ The captain asked.
“Do You ask me what happened? you don't see it, perhaps?"− He replied .
“We have been under attack for three days. Today's was more violent than others. And they attacked during the day-light. With the sun at its zenith. Shit."− Grumbled the general.
“How many of you have come for reinforcement? In twenty? any recruits? ... Isn't our prince going to defend the borders? Shit!"− He screamed going around the room.
We are the paladins of Hombros. Damn. We can't stop an orc army. They look immortal.”− He tapped the table .
The spread map jumps. Some of the army placeholders fell. He bent down to pick up the wooden placeholders and placed them on the map.
“These orcs have been attacking us for two years now. And you know where they come from."− Fortdar said angrily.
The captain looked at the map. And he grew gloomy. With his palms resting on the maps he sighed.
"Ignis. The city of fire."в€’ pronounced the captain.
"I had warned the great council that the matter had to be resolved immediately."в€’ He went on, saddened by the memory.
Fortdar lost control in anger. He grabbed the captain by the neck. He shoved it against the wall and dropped a painting.
“Did you warn them about what? It's your fault that my sister died. For your negligence. You've had to protect her. Instead you were warning the great council."− He accused him with his face planted against that of his brother-in-law, forehead to forehead.
Goldeon struggled free from his grip. He threw himself heavily on his brother-in-law and pressed his face against the table. The crumpled maps pressed into his cheeks.
“Do you think I don't feel guilty about it? Every night I have nightmares and I wanted to switch roles. You know very well that I would have died for her."− He said letting go.
"Arguing between us won't bring your sister back to life."в€’ He said as he thought about his wife.
He adjusted the maps and started to think again.
-3-
The three recruits were carrying the latest weapons into the armory. Crossbows, pikes, spears, willow bows, and short swords. They were exhausted, once they finished the last load. They hadn't noticed the screaming and fighting coming from the control room. The fortress had very thick walls and the hall was not adjacent to the corridor through which they passed.
Vlad grabbed a sword and started swinging it in the air. The blowing sound could be heard cutting the air. The two younger comrades admired him for his dexterity in movement.
It's wonderful. The Lunga of Hombros. The body of a two-handed broadsword and the lightness of a dagger. This sword is capable of penetrating any armor. But it is not very resistant to duels of strength."в€’ Vlad explained .
He handed them the sword to feel its weight and to test it.
-4-
On the path northeast of the outpost Helder was patrolling the area. He had left the wagon purposely to take his time. He had never been to the Arx Lupus outpost so he needed to know a little about the area to feel comfortable. The land was uncultivated and there were brambles along the path. Weeds and bushes as tall as men were good hiding places for ambushing. The night with its darkness was not a good ally but the young man was a hunter and he often hunted at night. His eyes were already used to it and eagerly sought whatever was useful to him. A fenced cottage was located not far away from the entrance of a path into the thick of the forest. He moved slowly to the east, bypassing the house. He could hear light, discontinuous rustling. He still didn't know if he was approaching or moving away from something or someone. When he went to the forest, suddenly the rustling became clear footsteps fleeing. Later he felt them distant and he turned back. He knew there was someone watching them. And they weren't orcs, or they would have already attacked him. Helder left the forest knowing they were not alone but controlled by spies.
-5-
On the path to the north, the one that skirted the rock face on which the fortress was built, Balt was hiding among the huts. He had no intention of unloading the wagon, nor came face to face with his father, Captain Goldeon. Their relationship was not one of affection but only professional. His father could not differentiate and had always been cold. He was never at home to build a fatherly bond.
He moved stealthily around the huts and when he noticed herbs and seedlings that might prove useful in some way, he tore them from the root and put them in his saddlebag. Balt also had no problem moving in the dark, he loved walking in the forest at night after the long training of the day. He inspected some shacks that had burnt roofs and nearly collapsed. The air was dirty and he could hardly breathe through a cloth that he held to his mouth and nose. He didn't know what exactly to look for inside those crumbling shacks, he just hoped to find something useful. He saw a sign when he was almost giving up and turning back, which hung by a single creaking chain, had the medical symbol engraved on it. Part of the roof was destroyed and collapsed on one side. He went inside avoiding making noises and causing more collapses. The potions cupboard was overturned and he could see the glass fragments of the ampoules glistening on the floor. In the shelves on the left, where the structure was intact, there were bags with herbs and spices. Balt grabbed as much of them as he could, put them in his saddlebag. Further on he noticed a broken shelf at the foot of which were still intact vials. He grabbed those too quickly. They bore an inscription: "essence of force", "essence of vigor", "essence of mana". He no longer saw anything that might have interested him. Slowly he turned around and walked away. A shelf broke and he felt his ankle grabbed by someone. His heart jumped and he freed himself easily with a kick. lying on the ground half dying behind the counter, the apothecary mumbled to attract the intruder's attention. A broken shelf board was stuck between the man's ribs. He couldn’t breathe any more. Balt quickly pulled out the vial of vigor but he was blocked.
"You can't save me ..."в€’ He whispered breathlessly.
"The or-cs... who ... has .. ... the ...ma...gic ..."в€’ He said.
Balt was shocked for a few moments. He closed the apothecary's eyes and marked his forehead with the symbol of the circle broken in half. It was the symbol of the religion with which his mother had baptized him th, for that reason the young man continued in his practice as a memory He left the body behind and walked out of the building thinking over the apothecary's words.
-6-
The three recruits enjoyed trying all the weapons that were in the armory. The youngest of them, Teroin, grabbed a flail, a massive weapon consisting of an iron ball filled with sharp spikes tied to a chain and a stiff wooden handle. He tried to spin it, but the weight had thrown him off balance causing him to sit on the ground as the iron ball crashed into the stone floor producing a huge noise that spreads throughout the fortress. Teroin blushed. It looked like an earthquake.
"I wasn't the one who did this, right?"в€’ He asked, confused.
It was an explosion. The east wing of the fortress had been hit by a flaming stone.
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