Battle of lindly, p.21
Battle of Lindly, page 21
The gnome could see through the bluish-white flow and saw the colossal city of Asmadine approaching. It glowed from this distance in a halo of white gold, which Biddy knew to be a ward against teleporting. He saw the multitude of granite-diamond towers and walls. Still, to this day, it marveled him every time he saw it. What an achievement to build such a monstrous city with such beauty. He continued his flight through the slipstream, passing the outer barrier with ease. The arcane pulled him down into the city and buzzed past people without notice. He was in the human quarter of the city, which itself was the size of Lindly. Upon breaching the barrier to the inner sanctum, which held not just the palace but the elven nobles’ homes and all the paladin’s temples as well. He was feeling pretty confident that he would get to Skylighter without even having to deal with the elves. He continued his speedy flight, zipping past the elven paladin’s temples. Being whipped around, he saw the human temples. They stood out from the rest because they were crafted with doric columns and were not as flashy and extravagant as the dwarves, gnomes, and elves. Simple and beautiful.
Seconds before he entered the temple, he was rebuffed and the force of the arcane slipstream slammed him hard into the magically dweomered temple. Biddy was thrown out of the stream onto the ground. Forcing the air from his lungs, he had hit the marbled streets outside the shrines. Catching his breath, he gasped, “Paladins have contingencies too? I have contingencies for those contingencies!” He spasmodically cursed out of frustration with Skylighter’s always-prepared paladins. “Contingency! Contingency! Countenance! Whoopsie! CON-TIN-GENCY!” He sounded out the word one last time as he chuckled, his vexation passing.
Rising from the ground quickly after realizing he had been sitting there far too long to remain inconspicuous. He scanned the area and found nobody. The gnome hastened to take cover behind a line of stationary wagon carts. He thought he could hear chanting and singing echoing around him. “This is good. Perfect timing. They are all in their revelry with the gods.” Snickering, he looked up to a signpost that had posted bounties and then looked back towards the human temple, thinking about just casually strolling up the stairs and entering. But then his head twisted back to the post. He saw many faces he knew posted there. His goblin friend, Puka, was one such warrant poster, he noted. It was magically enchanted to spin a full three hundred and sixty degrees so you could see the outlaw fully. Biddy giggled as Puka’s picture on the warrant parchment spun. The goblin had burned off the backs of his pants, showing his backside fully. The gnome, clearly distracted as he looked at all the other warrants, stumbled upon his own warrant. “Hey! I may be an outlaw but come on, my hair does not look like that.” His hair was spiked and still burning in his spinning pictograph.
Biddy looked around and made certain no one had come out and then flicked his fingers. He released a small torrent of fire and his bounty burned off the warrant board. Smiling, he turned, speaking to himself, “Stupid elves.”
As he began his stroll to the human temple, he heard flames flashing and began looking around. The entire length of the street had warrant boards and recruitment requests, and they all began lighting with golden flames of fire. “Uh-oh. Clever elves.” Every warrant board in the city flickered to life with flame and Biddy saw on the one he set ablaze that it was back and burning. “Uh-oh, big contingency.”
He began to run towards the temple, his short little legs pumping as fast as he could. He heard elven horns bellow, and he knew they were coming. Elven gryphon riders were circling the area and had spotted him. Within seconds, paladins from all races burst through their temples, some wearing full plate, others haphazardly dressing as they came out. An ornate and tall elf saw the gnome first and yelled, “Kill that gnome!” The elves charged towards the human temple. The humans now outside their temple saw the elves charging and confused, they formed lines and braced for an attack. Biddy kept running towards the humans. He was now a mobile beacon as the warrant had placed a small light over his head following him wherever he went. He knew the elves would kill him and then ask questions after.
He screamed, "I need to see SKYLIGHTER! VICTUS! I NEED SKYLIGHTER!"
The humans stood firm on the steps of their temple watching the panicked gnome running screaming. Three gryphons slammed into the ground in front of Biddy, halting his advance. Spears tipped down towards him; they led him from the humans towards the charging high elf paladins who were still trying to scream past the gryphons to the humans.
“HELP ME! LINDLY IS UNDER ATTACK! HELP!"
Some of the paladins began charging down to stop the slaughter. Biddy, frustrated, tried to run around the gryphons but they just kicked him back. Shaking his head he said, "Contingency then." Shrugging, he put his hands up high, "I surrender." Under his lips, his head downcast in defeat he began to cast. In seconds the giant lava creature formed behind him.
The lava giant blinked his eyes as he came into being once again and saw the gryphons and Biddy's hands up. "BIDDY TROUBLE!" He ran past his gnome creator and grabbed the gryphon closest and unfortunate enough not to fly up at the appearance of the monstrous golem. As soon as the bird was in its hand he pulled it back down as it tried to fly away, he wrapped his large arms around the creature melting both rider and mount together in a second. Many of the charging elves slowed their advance at the sight. Others began casting and summoning their own beasts to help. One clever elf summoned a water elemental that charged immediately and slammed into the lava giant, causing the firey beast to groan, "BIDDY, DEY HURTED ME!."
Two other gryphons flew off to get a better vantage while Biddy yelled to this giant lava friend, "Hurt them back!" The fire golem was being slammed with water elementals, slamming into his legs and shrinking the beast. Biddy placed both hands out and began tossing fire streams right into the water elementals which slowed and stopped many from reaching his lava giant. The lava giant began charging the elves, as it got closer Biddy saw the damage done to his creation was not sustainable.
The lava giant smashed his left arm and then his right arm on the ground in a desperate attempt to stave off the magical attacks hitting him. Fire shot from the ground and enveloped one of the elven casters and his contingent of shield bearers. The elves had enough though, they all focused and blasted the lava giant hard with arcane magic, elemental magic, death magic. The lava giant boomed in pain, "BIDDY RUN! TOO MANY!"
The humans reached Biddy and surrounded him in a square formation with shields overlapping and protecting him. They ushered him back towards the temple. The gnome kicked and then bit the hand of the paladin holding him in the square. "Let me go! I need to help him!" Wiggling himself roughly away from the human he pushed himself to the front of the formation, seeing his magnificent creation crushing water elementals with his hands, screaming when he missed one or the elves hit him with the myriad of magical attacks. The giant kept yelling for Biddy to run and it sounded like the creature was crying. "RUN BIDDY!"
Biddy stuck his hands out towards his friend and yelled, "LOGI!" Through his hands fire seared out into his lava giant and the lava giant shrunk into the stream of fire, becoming one with Biddy's fire and disappearing back to his plane to heal.
The elven commander moved from the back of his men and yelled towards the humans huddled in their protection of Biddy. "Where is Arch Skylighter? Does he know his men harbor one of the most dangerous criminals to our way of life?"
None of the humans said a word. They held their formation, and the paladin that had been holding Biddy grabbed him and pulled him back into the center. The elven gryphons returned with back up and Biddy saw the largest one of them all was an elven arch. He was at least seven feet tall and his mount was twice the size of the other gryphons. He spoke to the human paladins with authority. "I am Arch Ashlenil and you will release this gnome over to my soldiers."
Behind the square formation, at the top of the human paladin temple steps appeared another towering figure. His helmet was down and he was clad in full plate, a giant longsword in his belt and shield out in front. He had a non-hostile approach, while remaining defensive because behind him stood at least twenty-five fully plated paladins all of significant rank. Each paladin donned their own flare to their armor save for the white cloaks they all wore. "We will do no such thing," he said.
The elven arch kicked into his gryphon and jumped over the formation of paladins and walked alone up the steps towards the human arch, known as Skylighter. As he approached, Skylighter walked down towards him, grabbing the reins of Ashlenil’s gryphon as they met one another halfway.
"You dare stand against my word, the chosen of Asmolor, Commander of all Paladins. Including you and your humans?" Ashlenil huffed.
Skylighter stared into the elf’s burning white eyes. "This gnome comes with word of the city of Lindly. Our city's sister city. If that city is under attack then I would hear of it. If this fugitive could help us in defending Asmadine from another major invasion then I think it is prudent to hear him out."
Ashlenil could not argue the point so he turned away and faced the square formation. "Let us hear his words. Then we will execute him."
Biddy shook his head, "Even when I am trying to help these idiots they still wanna kill me." One of the paladins around him laughed but quickly stifled it with a cough. The paladins relaxed their stance and spread out so Biddy could be seen by the two Arch Paladins. He walked up a few steps giving a half bow to the two though he only really meant respect for the human arch. "I have come to speak with you, Commander Skylighter."
Skylighter looked him over, his face unforgiving and stoic. "Then speak quickly. I am he."
Biddy shuffled around and pulled out a parchment wrapped and sealed, he walked up the steps towards the two archs, speaking comfortably and confidently to them. "The half-pal...Oh...right. Umm...Sir Commander of Chevaliers, Victus Tiber Andreas, requests immediate aid to the city of Lindly. Dark-elves have overcome the city with subterfuge and they are going to consume all the residents with dark magic. Destroying mind, body, and soul."
Skylighter looked deep into the little gnome's eyes as he reached them. Ashlenil laughed, "That is impossible gnome. The dark-elves have not made any major movements in years. Our spies would have seen such a massive invasion. Under the Pact of Brothers, both Asmolor and Eu'rok have had peace."
Biddy scrunched his face up defiantly, "You're too stupid to see. Hence why this letter is addressed to Arch Commander Johnathan Skylighter and not Arch Commander of the blind elves."
Ashlenil's face darkened red and he reached down to slap the gnome off the temple steps. Biddy saw the swing but Skylighter had grabbed the elves' arm before he could think twice. "I would hear it all before you break his jaw."
Biddy watched the two exchange glares, waved the parchment up towards Skylighter. "In this parchment, Victus has detailed everything that has gone on and includes some details of the investigation you are aware of. It also explains what we know of the device they are going to unleash on the city this very day."
Skylighter looked over the seal and saw that it was above reproach, not tampered with or magically enchanted. He broke the seal and read the detailed report and then passed it over to Ashlenil. "Is this all you have for me?" Skylighter asked.
Biddy lifted off his goggles and looked up at the two archs. "If you don't send aid now you will never make it in time. All in the city will perish. Victus needs your help immediately. Did you see the part about the 'high elven' disguises and no standing army in the city? You must help them."
Ashlenil reached down and picked Biddy off the ground by his shoulders so quickly that Sklighter reached for his sword. "Why would we take the word of a fugitive? A gnome? I know not what brought you back into this city but today justice will be met against you." He tossed Biddy off and over the paladins at the base of the temple.
Biddy soared in the air and he laughed loudly, yelling, "CONTINGENCY!" When he landed, his body split into duplicate versions of himself. There were Biddies everywhere in the marbled courtyard. In one voice they all spoke, "Come and get me. Hehehe!"
At the same time Biddy was flying through the air, Skylighter swung his sword around backward using the hilt of his sword smashing it hard into the Ashlenil's face, crushing his helm and knocking him from his gryphon. "We are paladins. We help all in need."
Ashlenil ripped off his crushed helmet, "I will deal with you later Skylighter." He hopped back on his mount and yelled to all below as he rose in the air. "That trick won't help you escape, mage." He brushed his hand in the air and all the mirror images of Biddy dissipated. The only problem was that the real Biddy was no longer there; he had disappeared with his duplicate images. Cursing he glided back down to Skylighter. "You have allowed this menace to escape!"
Skylighter's attention was on the parchment in his hands. Without even acknowledging Ashlenil he turned to his battle-hardened paladins, "We leave this hour. All gryphon shock troopers take another paladin with you. We will double up to get more of us there to help. The rest wait here for the knights’ thresholds to be open in the city."
All the human knights and paladins saluted at Skylighter’s words and stormed about the area, shouting and preparing themselves. Skylighter looked over to Ashlenil, "Come with or be known as the arch who could not rise past petty race issues to save Asmolor's kingdom."
The seething elf kicked his mount high in the air and flew off. Skylighter walked back into the temple to finish his prayers, whispering to his god Kalisdel and to himself. "We are going to war. We need you. If everything in this letter from Victus is true, Lestar is there and we cannot fight her alone." He heard no response back from his god but he turned and looked in the direction of Lindly and whispered in the air. "Hold fast, Victus! We are coming!"
23
Aris woke Serin up as gently as he left her. “Serin. Serin, we have to get going,” he said softly, patting her arm. She yawned and rolled away from the voice. Her mind resisted waking up due to the delightful dreams she was experiencing. Aris rubbed her arm gently. “I will be back to get you.” Not wishing to delay in getting the others, Aris jogged over to the different tents. Upon checking the first few, he noticed everyone was well on their way to be dressed and ready. Some of the tents were already vacant, or the legionnaires were walking out as he arrived. He left each tent with a brief word before heading to the next. “The commander wishes to speak with everyone before we go.” The legionnaires unfailingly offered a salute and a prompt verbal reply as acknowledgment. “We are heading there now.” Or. “Coming.”
Aris moved in and out of the tents quickly and was upon the last tent. The canvas was the most worn out of all the tents and he knew it was Janus’. He stood outside a moment before saying, “First spear, Janus– sir. My father wishes to speak with us.” Aris thought it odd that he had nothing to add to address Janus besides “Sir.” It was not because the man had not earned his place, far from it. He believed this man should be a commander, general, tribune, something other than just sir.
No response came, and Aris believed the soldier must have already moved out. But before he left, he peeked in and saw Janus on his knees, his armor polished, radiant. His spear, sword, and shield lay to his side, a small candle burned and little humanoid figurines surrounded the candle. He was muttering prayers. Aris tilted his head so he could listen. Janus’s voice was tranquil and soft. “Ancestors, may I honor you in combat. May my life be a testament to the greatness of our long-forgotten home and name. Guide me to be fast and true. If I die this day, may I be embraced in your light and love. Selah.” Janus’s hand pinched the soft candlelight flame, and he turned to acknowledge what Aris had said. “I am on my way.” Saluting from his knees, he rose and placed all the figurines into a small leather pouch he tucked under his armor.
Aris had hastily turned his head away from the soldier’s tent, attempting to appear as though he had not trespassed on the soldier’s intimate moment. But as Aris left Janus’s tent and headed back to his father, he stopped himself. He turned back to see Janus leaving his tent. Upon looking at the man, Aris was struck with the grit and beauty of such an imposing figure. The wear and tear of his armor was apparent, but it was glorious. Aris wondered if he would be able to fight against a foe like him. Could I fight him and win? Likely no. Could my father? Rubbing his forehead in thought, he pushed the thoughts away with, well, at least he is on our side.
The soldier looked over towards Aris, hearing him speak again. Janus asked, “What was that, squire?”
Aris straightened, pulling his arms down to his side. “Nothing. I was just coming back to apologize for disrupting your prayer, sir.”
Janus walked towards the young man and smiled. “Think nothing of it.”
Aris returned his smile and they moved towards his father and the others. The others were already surrounding the table and Victus was speaking. “Jess, Janus, Serin, Aris, and I will be heading through the main city gate. We are to be the distraction for the rest of you.” His gaze met the others and stopped specifically on Titus and Marcella. “You, Marcella, and the rest will sneak into the city from a separate gate. I would recommend the river gate as your chosen entrance. However, as we approach, circumstances may arise where you will need to change that. I leave it in your capable hands. Now you will need to be disguised so make sure all your armor is covered. No shield, no spears visible upon reaching the city. You will have concealed gladius’ only. Once you are in the city, secure the river gate. Scout out the guards you can see and take them down quietly. Marcella, you will be seeking to rally any soldiers dismissed that remain in the city. Start with the Stars Fall Tavern. It’s nearest the gate and will have plenty looking for a fight.”
She acknowledged his order with a nod. “I will see it done.”
