Chapter 27 – War

The sun was rising as Callum got into position, the army of monsters doing the same.

General Janai and the army of Lux Aurea stood between two natural boulders, creating a wall of elves to block the path that led to the base of Storm Spire. Queen Aanya of Duren was waiting on the other side of a rise with her cavalry ready.

The dragons, waiting on top of the spire itself, would be used to create chaos among the enemy troops so the forces of Duren could come through undetected.

The plan was to let the monsters draw close, then attack from both sides, hopefully leading to a quick surrender. The prince stood at the back of them all, able to see everything and to be seen by everyone. He glanced at the tower behind him, then sighed deeply, drawing his new blade and holding it steady.

Below, he could see Amaya raise her shield and a group of Sunfire elves stepped forward to create a wall. Each one of their shields linked with the next.

Suddenly, one of the monsters charged out across the field towards them, but then someone on a horse gave a command, and all of them charged forwards. As they got closer, Callum realised how little of their humanity was left. They didn't look anything like humans anymore. Soren was right. They were monsters.

As the army just about reached the wall of elves, the shields dropped, and a wall of golden light radiated from the linked shields to knock many of the creatures back. Some even managed to fall unconscious.

The others didn't even blink at the attack and continued to charge at them. Squeezing his weapon, Callum watched as they met the line and pushed against it. The line held, and from behind it, the elves began to defend. A smile came to his lips. If they held them back, they could-

A bolt of black light came from the other side and collided with the line, exploding against the shields. His smile fell as he felt the Dark Magic crash through the air, and witnessed the line fall apart from the blow. Humans, elves, and monsters alike had been hurt by the blast, and now they had a clear entry to the tower.

He wanted to run down and help, but he knew his place was here. He had a job to do, not just as bait to draw them in, but also as defence. So, he could only watch as a force much stronger than his own attacked his home.

They somehow managed to make a line of shields again, but then one of them, a larger one, broke it once more.

He tensed, watching them carefully before raising his arm to the sky and reflecting sunlight off his blade. The light shone up the mountain to initiate the signal. Above, a roar broke out, and suddenly, twenty dragons dropped down from the clouds. The black and crimson form of Pyrrah led them, Ezran riding on her back.

They roared, then ignited the rear side of the field, bellows of flames charring the grass and army behind the main line. Callum spotted a disturbance in the flames; probably a Dark Magic shield, he reasoned, but he didn't care. The dragons had taken out several hundred of the enemy and terrified the rest.

Just as planned, when they attacked, the forces of Duren came out of hiding and attacked from the rear. They came around to block any retreating forces, forming the second line.

However, as the flames started to die down, Callum realised in horror that the creatures were getting back up. "Oh no," he whispered, watching as the dragons started to land so they could assist the ground troops. As the cavalry of Duren attacked with a volley of arrows, charging into the fight, the prince noticed the ballistas being pointed at the dragons. Dragon bindings quickly pulled down at least six of the dragons while only some made it back up into the safety of the sky.

He looked down at his wrist. "Ezran! Are you alright?"

"Yeah! Soren warned us and we got away. But Cal, the fire…they...they…"

"I know Ez. They…seem unaffected." He glared down at the monsters as they got closer to his position. Even with the calvary pinning them in, they still kept charging forwards despite having no escape route. "Pyrrah must keep you safe! That's her main priority right now! If she can, tell her to shift. She'll draw less attention as a hybrid."

"Okay Callum. You stay safe!"

With their connection broken for the moment, Callum looked over the battle. The front line was breaking in more and more places and their forces were getting fewer with each person killed or injured. Some of the creatures had made it all the way to the spire and were now climbing up the rockface.

Preparing himself, he watched them, then thought of the wind spell, using the gust to break off their unsteady grips, and cast them to the ground. Not a moment later, more were coming up the path.

Fulminis sent them back.

Just as he turned back to the fight, the large one he'd seen break the line so easily came up, a halberd in hand. The prince held out his hand and tried Fulminis again, but this one was clearly stronger and didn't even flinch at the power. He growled, wings spreading as he clutched his sword tight.

The creature attacked, but he blocked the blow and kicked back with his own, the former human stumbling a little. "Bad balance," he realised, mumbling to himself. "That's good to know."

The other roared at him, then charged again, Callum dodging and striking out with each chance he got. He chipped at the beast, but his strikes did little to stop it. He did manage to cleave the halberd in half, but the creature just countered with its claws instead. Callum soon realised that they were far sharper than a dragon's.

As he dodged away, Callum looked for something he could use to protect himself before suddenly, a spear head shot through the creature's chest. As it turned to see who had attacked it, Callum also looked, not knowing who the weapon belonged to.

A familiar face with short horns was at the other side of the Storm Spire, riding a Sandwalker with another spear in hand.

"Ginten!" Callum shouted out.

The Variant clan leader nodded, then raised his arm above his head. A moment later, a loud cry called out. A second cavalry of Sandwalkers came out from a small valley to the side of the battle. A hundred Variant riders with spears and swords charged into the fight. Ginten didn't stay on the spire, his walker jumping down to the fight and joining the others.

The prince smiled as he watched, the Variant force adding just enough to turn the tides of battle.

Shouts of 'for Prince Cadonumis' and 'for King Ezran' met his ears from where he stood. He decided the fight was close enough to victory, so he glided down to join in.

The dragon soon found out that the large one he'd fought was an abnormality. Even though the other monsters were immune to dragon fire, they weren't immune to a blade, and a few strikes had them finished. Finally, after a few more minutes, the opposing force surrendered.

The victors cheered and soon hurried to round up any who were still alive. They saw to the wounded, each race helping out the other. Callum smiled when he saw Soren unchaining a dragon. He'd received a nuzzling from her, even if Pyrrah behind him looked a little sour at the sight.

As Callum searched the battlefield for those in need of help, Amaya and her translator came over with the Golden Knight. The human general signed with a frown on her face. "I'm worried. This is not over until we find Viren."

Callum nodded. "I agree. We need to find him. He can't be allowed to escape. I want the entire battlefield searched for him."

"I will arrange it at once, your Highness," the Sunfire elf said with a bow. "We will find him and capture him. We won't let him get away."

"Be careful," he warned as she turned away to begin. "He's not going to surrender easily. Prepare yourself for any kind of tricks he may have left."

With a nod, she walked off to arrange the search.

"Callum!"

Turning at the shout, Callum smiled as Ezran ran over. "Ez!" He hugged him tight. "I was worried."

"Pyrrah kept me safe."

"But it's still not safe for you down here." He frowned. "We haven't found Viren, and you are as much his target as I am. I want you to get back to where it's safe." He turned and looked over at the approaching blond. "Soren!"

"What is it Scales?"

"I want you to take Ezran up to the spire. Until we find Viren, he isn't safe here."

"Right. Come on Ez," he said, touching his shoulder to encourage him to move.

Ezran hesitated, but his brother just smiled. "I will join you once I've checked the battlegrounds. Go, the Dumb Lump will keep you safe."

With a nod, he walked off, looking around at the devastation caused by the battle, and the scattered weapons and bodies around them. As they walked, Ez suddenly tripped over something, and Soren gasped when he fell. "Ez, you okay?"

"Yeah."

The 'thing' groaned.

"Ah!" Ez yelped, as he looked over a man covered with a blanket. "He's still alive! Here, let me help you." The boy pulled back the blanket with concern.

A familiar man in a white robe rose from the ground, his staff snapping out to a spear. His eyes were filled with menace as he looked down at the young boy, ready to strike him down.

"No!" Soren shouted, tightly gripping the dragon blade in his hand. "Drop the staff Father!" he ordered, ready to strike as he stood beside Ezran. "It's over."

Viren looked between his son and the king, weapon still raised to attack.

Soren also prepared himself. "I am a Crown Guard, and he is the true king. I will do whatever is necessary to protect his life, because now I know what the right thing to do is. Do you hear me?!"

"Soren, wait!" his sister called out as she appeared from behind a rock, a golden staff in her hands. "You're making a mistake!"

Despite his sister's plea and a moment of hesitation, the guard kept his eyes on the high mage. "Lay down your staff and surrender!"

Viren growled and lifted his arms, about to impale Ezran.

Soren struck first.

The red dragon blade moved effortlessly through the fabric and flesh.

The spear fell to the ground, and after a moment, so did Viren.

Claudia gasped as she realised what her brother had done, hand to her mouth as she fought back tears. Soren frowned at the body, but his own horror and shock slowly sank in as his father lay on the ground before him.

His sister stared for a moment longer, then lowered her hand, her eyes set in something Soren couldn't name. "How could you?"

"I had no choice," he said firmly, looking over at her as he clutched the blade. "I-I had to protect what's right."

Ezran slowly stood from where he'd tripped and looked over at the body, sadness in his voice. "Why would he try to hurt me when it's so clear he couldn't win? The battle is over."

Claudia smirked coldly at them. "No, it's not," she scoffed lightly, "The real battle was never down here. All of this was just a distraction."

The boys looked confused, but then the body glowed purple, fading into three moon moths. Soren gasped. "He was just an illusion...Claudia, where is he?!"

She just chuckled humorlessly, then glanced up at the mountain. Ezran gasped. "Oh no!" He turned, running to where he'd seen Callum heading, but when he couldn't spot him, he instead turned to his wrist. "Callum! Where are you?!"

"I'm on my way back up the spire, following you. Where are you?"

"Callum! I'm still on the battleground! Viren! He's on the spire!"

"What?!"

"The battle was a distraction! He's gone for your mother!"

"I'll never make it up in time!"

Ezran turned away and ran up to the red dragoness as she oversaw the wounded. "Pyrrah! You need to head up the spire and find Callum! Take him to the top as fast as you can! Viren is up there!"

"What?!"

"Just go! You're the fastest we know!"

She nodded and hastily took the sky with a beat of her wings. She found the prince as he ran up the stairs and grabbed him in her claw, not sparing the time to stop and let him climb onto her back. He didn't care, her wings saving him invaluable time as he reached the top.

Suddenly, something shot out from a window, breaking the glass and striking the dragoness. She screamed and landed hard on the other side of the bridge, dropping the prince just before she landed.

Callum rolled with his drop and quickly ran over to her. "Pyrrah!"

She groaned, but opened her eyes. "I-I'm alright…but I-I can't move."

"Stay here and rest," he told her, drawing his blade once more. "I'll deal with Viren," he hissed, then ran into the palace, heading towards his mother's sleeping chamber.

~#~

Rayla had no idea how the battle was going. She didn't know if they were winning or losing, or even if it was finished or not. She was too far above the clouds to see, so she just waited inside the palace with a handful of Sunfire guards that had been chosen to protect the building.

She stood at the edge of the queen's sleeping chamber, listening and waiting.

Suddenly, she heard a slightly deeper breath from the queen and hurried to see her. "Queen Zubeia?" she asked hopefully, wondering if she was waking.

The dragoness exhaled and continued to sleep.

Head down, Rayla sighed as she looked over the dragon, then glanced back to make sure she was alone. "Umm…I don't know if you can hear me…while you're asleep and all, but…I wanted to tell you…your son is amazing." She smiled, rubbing her own arm. "I…I've never met anyone like him. He's brave and kind and...and everything you could want in a son. I…I'm lucky to have him as a…a friend."

The queen's breath messed with her hair a little.

Brushing it back into place, the elf sighed to herself. "Well, I say friend but…the truth is…I…I have feelings for him that go beyond friends. I…I really…care about him and…he cares about me. Can you blame us? I've been there for him from the moment I found him…I've seen him at his weakest and I've watched with…with so much pride as he's grown stronger."

Zubeia didn't react to her words, but Rayla kept going. "I…I'm happy I can be with him...I'm so glad I met him. And…if you ever wake up…I hope you can accept what the two of us have. I know it won't be easy…him being a dragon and me an elf but…I don't think I could let him go."

"How touching."

She turned quickly to the voice and saw a human in a white robe at the top of the staircase, a purple creature draped around his neck, and a spear in hand that she'd only seen in a picture. Her heart leapt into her throat. "Viren."

"Have we met?" he asked with a tip of his head. "You do look familiar but…I'm sure I would remember."

Drawing her weapons, she looked over at him. "You captured my parents and tortured my friend!"

He frowned at the words. "Your parents?" he repeated aloud, then blinked as he remembered. "Ah yes…I remember a pair of Moonshadow elves...the last time I was here actually."

Pointing a blade towards him, Rayla glared hard. "Tell me what you did to them!"

Viren smirked, then reached to his side, pulling out a small purse of some sort. "Don't worry, you will be…reunited soon enough."

With that, Rayla charged at him, determined to keep her promise of killing the monster. Viren blocked her blows with his staff before spinning it around, trying to attack her, but Rayla dodged them as fast as they came.

Frowning at her persistence, Viren kicked her back, and before she could get close again, he waved his staff before him and ice encased her legs, chest, and arms.

She gasped at the sudden cold and her inability to move, watching as the mage came towards her.

SL: So…the battle is over…but not the war. The Variants came to the rescue instead of Duren, since they already arrived. And there is one chapter left of the main story! (There will be extras, don't worry) I can't believe how fast this has gone!

Also, don't forget to review!