Really sorry that it took so long to upload this chapter, but I hope you enjoy it. Review Q below!
Darkest Before the Dawn
Chapter One
He spurred the horse as fast as it could go, speeding through the inches of snow; he was desperately needed in Varrock by sundown. The animal raced at top speeds so that its feet seemed not to touch the ground. Solo was gracious for the animal's endurance, even with him, the weather, and his armor weighing the creature down.
Solo flew to Varrock for one reason - the goblin invasion.
Days ago he had received word in Falador that Varrock was under attack by a legion of goblins. Delaying only so he could get a horse readied, Solo had sped towards the distant city.
Most of the White Knights had left ahead him, already having their horses ready by the time he found one. He had attempted, if briefly, to find Emma or Kook. His team was nowhere to be found, so he could only assume that they had left before him or were off on a mission.
From the report, he gathered that the goblins had managed a three-pronged attack. Pushing aside the fact that most goblins were too stupid for any kind of military strategy, Solo figured that the safest place to mount a counter-attack would be the southern entrance. He knew this because the wall was slightly lower at the southern entrance, and thus could be easily scaled if the bridge had been raised.
He only hoped it wasn't too late to make a difference.
Solo reeled in his horse as he approached Varrock. The sounds of heavy fighting drifted on the wind as he observed his fellow Knights of Falador attempting to fight their way in and recapture the city.
A glance told him that the goblin's attack-and-dash ploy was working; the knights were unable to successfully counter the attacks when their enemies were gone the next second.
He kicked his horse into a run. Galloping at top speed, Solo speared several scattered goblins before he reached the actual battleground.
"Don't let them break through the line!" White Knight General Kahn shouted uselessly, for the goblins had already done just that.
He rode up alongside the general. "What's the situation, General Kahn?"
The general spat. "Not good, Solo. We've been here for just over a day, but try as we might we just can't put up any kind of defense against these things. I've already sent word to the Wizard Tower for them to send someone to help us, but it'll take a few days for them to get here, unless they teleport in."
They were interrupted when a lone and bloodied scout sprinted for them, shouting as he ran. "General Kahn! I have news from the Wizard Tower!"
The general asked, "Are we to receive any mages?"
"Yes," the out of breath scout replied, "but the mages are unable to teleport to Varrock. There's some magical interference blocking them from getting here via teleportation."
The general gnashed his teeth in anger. "Sod it! Not only are we being outsmarted by the absolute dumbest race in all of Gielinor, but it had to happen when the wizards' magic is being interfered with."
"Do you think the goblins have something to do with this?" Solo inquired.
Kahn scoffed. "They may be beating us, but I doubt even they are efficient enough in magic to pull this off."
"Are there no mages in the area?" Solo asked. "Where is Kook?"
"There have been sightings of several fire spells going off in the city. That was hours ago, however. We haven't seen or heard anything else."
Another knight appeared from the battlefield. "Generals, we've been pushed back on the northern side of the city. I'm afraid most of our forces there have been vanquished. It's the snow, sir. The knights are having trouble finding their footing."
"For the love of Saradomin!" Kahn roared. "Send a troop of knights to hold the northern gate until I can send for reinforcements from the neighboring cities."
The knight nodded and rushed off.
"It is worse than I ever imagined," Solo said to himself.
"Knights, push these damn creatures back!" the general roared in frustration as a group of goblins managed to get past a line of knights. "I will not let this city fall to a bunch of green-skinned pests!"
Solo watched as a team of archers lined up and released a volley of arrows that rained down upon the stampeding goblins. Dozens fell, but still they came. It would almost be impressive if they weren't in danger of dying.
Kahn turned to Solo. "Are you the last from Falador?"
"Yes sir."
"It seems we will have to wait for the guards from Lumbridge and Port Sarim to reinforce our defense. If it weren't for the guards of Varrock either being dead or trapped within the city, we could possibly turn this around."
Solo turned a troubled eye on the unfolding battle, watching as his knights fell to the goblins. Part of him wanted to rush in to aid his men, but as general he was more needed in a seat of authority to give commands. With the knights taking heavy losses, it would be up to him and the other White Knight Generals to turn the tides of battle in their favor.
"Where are the generals?" Solo asked Kahn. He needed to form a map of their locations in his mind's eye.
"General Amy was leading our northern line of defense when it fell, so there is no telling if she is alive or not," Kahn spoke grimly. "Our eastern and western defenses are led by the brothers Farou and Taron. Both are taking even heavier losses than my own battalion."
That left him and Kahn, but Solo recalled there being one more. "What of General Razzik? We could use his in-depth knowledge of the goblins. Is it true he lived with them for 20 years?"
Kahn hocked a loogie onto the ground before answering. "That's correct. Razzik Razoredge has spent the last 20 years of his life squatting alongside these filthy creatures, a life I'm not envious of in the least. He has learned as much as one can about goblins. He even went so far as to take a goblin last name, the idiot."
Despite the slight praise, the two generals were intense rivals stretching back to before they had join the knights. Razzik had stolen Kahn's sweetheart, eventually marrying her and having two kids. Kahn, rising past this, went on to become one of the best students the knights ever had, while Razzik spent much of his time with the goblins. Razzik's obsession drove a wedge between him and his wife, which led to their splitting up a few years into the marriage.
Kahn would have been overjoyed, had it not also led to her untimely death at the hands of a crazed goblin who believed she was not good enough for Razzik. This of course spurred the mutual hatred between the two, Kahn blaming Razzik for her death, and Razzik deeply disturbed over the events in question.
It did not help matters that Razzik soon after began having relations with the goblin who had murdered his wife. Some say he did it because he had been driven mad, others believe he wanted his wife dead.
Solo touched the hilt of his sword nervously as he watched the snow turn to red. "Where is he?"
"Hopefully bleeding out somewhere on the battlefield," Kahn said with contempt. He looked at Solo's disapproving glare. "Can't blame me for wishing. More than likely he is on his way to meet with the goblin chief to broker some sort of cease-fire, but I can't see that happening. These blasted things are out for blood."
A cry came from below as several knights fell to a swarm of goblin reinforcements. Tired of waiting on the sidelines, Solo kicked his horse into high gear, brandishing his weapon high as he rode into battle.
"Solo!" Kahn called out after him. "What are you doing? Get back here!"
He leapt from his mount, his sword delivering swift justice in the form of a decapitated goblin head. Rolling onto the ground, he stood up just as four goblins surrounded him.
One of the creatures tried to hit him with their spear, but he raised his shield in time to block it. The spear ricocheted off his shield, momentarily distracting the goblin as it scurried for its fallen weapon. Solo took this moment to slide his sword through the goblin's backside.
Pulling his sword out, he parried the attacks of the second goblin, slicing its head off in one fell swoop.
In a few seconds, Solo stood covered in blood but victorious. He waved in the direction of Kahn and shouted, "I can't just sit by and watch my men die. I need to be on the field with them!"
Kahn shouted over the battle sounds. "No, Solo, wait!"
"If you need to relay orders to me, please send a courier!" Solo shouted as he ran into the thick of battle, his sword gleaming in the setting sun's light.
Having lost count of the exact number of goblins he cut down, Solo slowed down to catch his breath. He used the grass to wipe the blood from his blade, and quickly took in the battlefield.
Even after joining the battle, Solo saw that the knights had barely made a dent in the goblin army. Under ordinary circumstances he wouldn't have thought it were possible for there to be an army of goblins, yet here they were.
The sound of a goblin trying to sneak up on him shook him from his thoughts. Solo spun around, slicing the goblin down. Then his attention turned to the gates of the city.
There was something going on inside.
Review Q: Which White Knight General do you want to see next? What do you think is happening within the city?
InterCom: InterCom is where you ask me, the author, any question you can think of. Go ahead, hit me with your best shot!
Comments: With school out I should be able to get more chapters out on a semi-regular basis. I'm pushing back War for the Sphere to the end of Summer. My apologies for the delays in that story.
May we meet again, adieu!