Chapter 26: Tainted Light
Of all the great works of the Dwarves, there was none more revered then the Royal Fortress of Arackbardin. The stronghold was ancient, dating back to the founding of the Golden Hills nation. The most any none dwarf usually saw was its eight walls, ringed like a octagon and so wide and thick that a baby golem could lay down on the top of one. At the points where the walls met, large stone towers jutted out to the sky. At the top of each one was a newer creation, the Dwavern Catapult. The squat, square weapons each fired two projectiles at once and could send them far. The stone of the walls was later layed over three times in tempered steel. The fortress was a challenge to even reach, the only safe way was a bridge that ran over a deep chasm and up to the walls solid steel doors. Inside the courtyard was the Palace of the King. The Palace of a pyramid in shape, and solid rock. In that Palace, on his throne, Goldo Goldminer listened to all the reports coming in. The Overlord's advance was halting at the fortress of Krixak, its catapults being enough to match the rock golem. The soldiers would sooner burn their beards then lose the fortress, it guarded the tunnels that many of their families called home. Another messenger told him that they were on their own. Sora couldnt move any troops out of Paladin lands without Ruborians attacking, added to the fact those Red demons never let the fires in Evernight go out. Solostran was on his island and Golden Hills was landlocked. The hall was filled with grim muttering when Goldo stood up and slammed the hilt of his axe, Diamondshatter, on the floor. The room went silent.
"Tell me now, what am I king of? Dwarves? No. No dwarf worth his pint would mutter to eachother! So what am I king of? King of Ninnies!"
The assembled dwarves stroked their beards at that. To affront the manhood of a dwarf was a vile insult on them.
"Who as this Overlord crushed? Humans, elves, halflings! Bah! Will we sit here muttering in fear over the slayer of HALFLINGS!"
The dwarves spoke their denial at that. Goldo asked them again. The roar of the dwarves echoed on the ancient stone.
"Then hear your King! We will muster as many as we can spare here and march to Krixak! The force will aid in holding off the Overlord while we evacuate the cave homes. The civilians will take refuge here in Arackbardin. Then the troops will fall back into the caves and give the human a surprize! We will be as strong and lasting as the stone we carve, and as great and honored as the gold we mine!"
Hours later Goldo saw off the two hundred dwarves as the began the march to the battlefield.
In Heaven's Peak, Sora sat alone in the throne room. The kings of elf and dwarf were gone, the Overlord's threat requiring their full attendance at the homefront. And that is what he wants, Sora was sure. Let the dwarves fight with dwarven troops, elves with elven archers. Zechs had divided them in fear. Once Sora had told them about the events at Merquise and the rebirth of Soul Eater, the two leaders swore never to leave their lands until they fought off the Minions. But never attack. No one had actually attacked Zech's occupied lands. It was always the same, the Overlord and his Minions swarmed the lands, fighting the enemy into a corner. And now Sora was left with her human armies, not enough to reach Nordberg in one piece. No, the High Paladin had another plan in mind. She was mulling over the finer details when a Paladin strode in, his face pale.
"My Lady, I bring word from King Solostran in Everlight."
Sora nodded, waiting as the Paladin began.
"The Elf King demands you lead troops to Everlight at once."
Sora raised an eyebrow at that, "He demands? What caused the usually respectful Solostran to demand humans in Everlight"
The Paladin gulped, "His scouts found something in the jungle, Lady. Tracks."
A cold pit opened up in Sora's stomach. No, not there.
"What kind of tracks?"
The warrior bowed his head," Little tracks, my Lady, leading to a local animal. Slain with a weapon nothing our size can use."
"...Minion weapons, you mean."
"Yes."
Sora stood up, Lightbringer shining in her hands.
"I want Paladins ready to march NOW! I done care how many Raiders watch the roads to port, we WILL sail within the week!"
Solostran stomped down the hallway, the light shining on fine art and marble statues. The elf had his eyes on one thing, the doors to his son's room. Reaching it, he tried to open it but found it locked. The two Royal Guards on either side of him kicked the door down, Solostran walked right in.
Prothos stood up from his desk with a look of outrage. Solostran cut him off.
"Sit down. Now."
Glaring, the prince sat down, eyeing the group with a look of outrage edged in nervousness. THis did nothing to relive the king as he took out the half sized sword and stabbed it into the desk.
"Explain."
The elf prince looked solely at the weapon, he wouldnt even meet Solostran's eyes.
"It looks like a sword, my father. Though its a rather crude look for the King of the Elves."
"Thats because, its not mine. This...thing...was found in the jungle, along with tracks. Small, two legged tracks."
Prothos sat back, his eyes now on the window, the sea and jungle before him.
"Some young elves perhaps, Im sure the little ones are caught up in this affair with the Overlord to try to reen..."
"Where were you when you vanished, Prothos?"
The words were calm, steady, and laced in a growing fury. The elf frowned, but never looked at his father," I was in the jungle, working off my frustrations on the wildlife. Why?"
Solostran bent down, resting his hands on the desk as his men shifted in their silver armor, "Im an old man, Prothos. You equat that to foolishness, but iv lived a long time. I have gone from some child with two elven bloods in me, to King of a united race. And I did that by thinking. First you vanish into the jungle. Then you return smelling of sulfer. Then the ships I sent to the south are ambushed by Minions. And now the younger elves cry out your name and the cause of isolationism. Now my son. What. Did. You. DO!"
Anger on his face, Prothos slammed his fists on the desk, glaring at his father with fury, "I did what needed to be done. You would send elven lived to fight and die with humans and dwarves on the mainland! I would keep us safe here, on an island who's seas we control! I made a deal that will bring us to a new age, with ME as King!"
Solostran drew a dagger as his men drew their swords. A moment later, Brown Minions burst out from their hiding spots and leapt on the desk, armored and armed. Solostran looked at his son with sorrow before lunging. The king and his men managed to kill the Minions, but lost on guard. The king looked around for his son, only to see him jump out of a window, land on a rooftop and run toward the jungle. Solostran snapped orders to put the island on full alert and to pull all elves out of the jungles. Evil had come to Everlight, and it had been festering right under his nose.
In the tavern outside of Krixak he had made his base, Zechs looked over a map of the area. Outside, the fires of villages burning lit up the night for all of the dwarves to see.
Whooo im a bit proud of this one. Also new chaps are on hold (like i havent had that for several months) to revamp old ones. Sorry but looking back i see many errors or half done works that just bug me. Still deciding on the never Overlord story, but i really like the pirate one first. Review, Overlord commands it.