Episode 28: Part 2
The next morning, the five knights gathered in the central courtyard of the Winter Palace as the High Lord Sigurd walked outside to meet them. While they waited, the knights took a moment to admire some of the art and decorum of the place grounds. A large frozen fountain sat in the middle of the courtyard garden while pedestals spread out in a radial pattern across the snowy lawn. Like the "immortalized" marble statues in the gardens of Summer, the statues here were a bit more macabre.
The figures upon the pedestals were mostly human, Elven, and other humanoid fey, except they appeared to be living beings who were completely frozen in ice. It was hard to tell from a distance but upon closer inspection, they were in fact frozen people. A palace servant had told Stephen and Laura in passing that the statues were people who had failed Queen Mab and incurred her wrath, so they were made examples of and put on artistic display. Despite the two knights' horror and disgust, it seemed that many of the resident Elves of Winter didn't mind at all and found the statues to be rather interesting instead.
Upon nearing, the taciturn lord of Winter gave a nod and addressed the humans, "Lady Laura, the Winter King and Queen wish you and your companions safe travels home. They will be departing soon with a delegation of Autumn fey to the Court of Stars for the formal talks of a Grand Alliance. It seems your actions and your words must have made quite an impression on them."
"You're too kind Lord Sigurd. Thank you," Laura replied with a respectful bow of the head, "I hope they can find a means to meet the Summer Court halfway and join the fight together. For one thing, I know you and Lord Gwydion had participated in efforts together over the past year."
Sigurd grimaced slightly and sighed, "I've always found Lord Gwydion to be a bit trying as well as too soft of you mortals... but I will grudgingly admit that he does have his redeeming qualities too."
"Well... it's a start," Quinton joked to Connor, "Now all we need to do is get you and Laura to stop arguing and that Alliance is in the bag."
"Ha ha. Very funny Quinton," the Summer Knight mumbled in reply while giving his best friend a mild shove in the arm.
Stephen stepped forward next and gave a bow to Sigurd, "Thank you again for seeing to Sir Tamlin's burial arrangements. I promise once this war is over, I'd like to go visit and pay my respects to him."
"As you wish Sir Stephen. Queen Mab said you would be welcome to come and go safely in the lands Winter at any time."
"Then it looks like it's time for us to go home," Noelle chimed in, "We've gotten the Four Courts to agree to go to the bargaining table. Now it's going to be up to them to hash out their differences and unify."
"Perhaps we may yet go into battle with you five knights," Sigurd said evenly, "For what it's worth, I will wish you luck in your continued defense against the forces of Lord Balor and his war host. I have a feeling you will need it."
The high Elf snapped his fingers and opened a portal back to Somerset Valley in the form of a small swirling vortex of snowy wind. After giving one more round of thanks, the five knights hesitantly entered the vortex and made their way back home, unaware of the hellish calamity that was about to unfold in their absence.
As early morning light crested over the hills that overlooked Somerset Valley, the Fomorian general Seamus Killarny stood at the mouth of one of the portal caves leading into the Underworld. At his back were hordes of spriggan soldiers and lesser Fomorian lieutenants prepared to march forward into the mortal realm. While the vanguard of the attack force sortied out and began forming ranks, Seamus held a small reflective stone imbued with dark magic that he used to speak with Lord Balor.
"The army has been fully assembled Lord Balor. We're ready to launch the attack on your command."
"Good. Before you do, have you heard any word from your dryad assassin that you sent into Summer?"
Seamus grimaced, "I lost contact with her a day ago. I heard a rumor that she almost killed the leaders of Spring, but it hasn't seemed to deter the Summer Court from mobilizing its own forces."
"No matter," Balor said, "If the Spring and Summer Courts wish to fight together we will meet them once we seize our foothold in the mortal world. If Autumn and Winter haven't aligned with them, it should be easier to destroy each kingdom piecemeal. What of the knights?"
"My spy crows have told me that they have yet to return," the redcap answered, "The human town has been left virtually defenseless."
Balor's voice betrayed a predatory smile. "Good. Then go now Seamus! Lead the first wave and do not fail. Once the town falls, we'll finally be able to launch our invasion on the Faerie Realm."
"Right away Lord Balor," Seamus said while putting away the stone and signaling his troops. Several spriggan companies raised their banners, black pennons with the symbol of Balor's fiery red eye. Other soldiers blew notes on their horns and drums sounded as the massive first wave of the Fomorian assault forces began to pour out of the caves and crash down the hills toward the unsuspecting town below.
Meanwhile, Kristen Bloom gave an exhausted sigh as she made her way back into her shop. After an ordeal of sorting out the political chaos of an attempted assassination, she had managed to talk sense into the Summer Court and explain that her knights had been framed and went after the last of the would-be killers. Fortunately, the nobles of Spring had been revived and helped to clear the names of the knights as well. Having quelled the incident, the young Druid was excused and allowed to return home safely.
After changing back into her civilian clothes, Kristen was given a portal to take home and she dropped her travel bag upon entering the familiar safety of her antique store. She was greeted by the sight of Mr. Sean O'Doyle sitting behind the counter reading a newspaper, minding the place while she was away. The young woman also smiled as she saw the store's two pet gargoyles scamper up to greet her. Scratch and Yum-Yum immediately clamped on to her ankles and happily hugged her legs while she walked inside. "Yes, hello boys. I'm very glad to see you too."
As she picked them up in both her arms, she gave a nod to her fellow Druid and old friend, "Thanks for looking after things for me Sean. It's good to be home."
"Had an interesting trip I take it?" the older Druid said as he stood up and put down the newspaper. "The kids haven't come back with you. I hope there wasn't any trouble."
"Trouble is the understatement of the decade," she replied as she put the two jabbering gargoyles down on the countertop. She quickly explained the entire incident in the Summer Realm and gave a tired sigh.
"I don't know where that portal led, but we have to hope that the knights will be able to make contact with us soon."
Mr. O'Doyle gave a kind smile and put a reassuring hand on her shoulder, "Don't worry Kristen. They're not rookies anymore. For now, let's just have some faith that the kids can come through and make it back home on their own."
Kristen bit her lip before finally relenting with a nod, "Yeah… I guess you're right. We've got enough to worry about here, right?"
As she said that, a loud commotion was heard and crowds of people who had been milling about downtown began rushing past the store in a panic. The two Druids stopped and looked to each other in confusion before hurrying to the door. Mr. O'Doyle called out, "What's wrong? Is it another monster attack?"
As Kristen poked her head out and looked down the street, her eyes went wide in horror. Large parts of the downtown were burning and being looted. Amid the fleeing civilians, a massive force of spriggans in fully armed war gear made their way down the street, looting, pillaging, and destroying everything in their wake. She quickly slammed the door and rushed over to the counter. "Not just any attack Sean. This looks like the big one. The place is crawling with spriggan warriors. We've got to get out of town! Now!"
Mr. O'Doyle gave a fearful nod and pulled out a gym bag before quickly stuffing their two gargoyle friends inside. "Sorry you two. We've got to escape so just hold on, okay?"
Kristen grabbed her own staff and a bag full of assorted magic items she kept locked away before rushing to the door, "Let's go Sean! We don't have much time!"
The two Druids ran out of the shop and began to rush down the street, fleeing in the opposite direction of the advancing Fomorian horde. In the chaos and confusion, large scores of civilians had been cut off from the sudden evacuation and had been taken prisoner. Among them were many locals as well as students from the nearby campus. No doubt it would be long before the Fomorian troops spread out and made their way to attack the college as well.
As they continued to run toward the edge of town, O'Doyle gasped, "We have to warn the Juniper Order and get help. There's no way the two of us would be able to fight off an army that size."
"If we can make it to the woods, we might be able to escape and cross over into Spring," Kristen called back as she saw spells from some Fomorian war mages being cast and rain down upon the town. Smoke began to plume high into the air and the fearful cries of people echoed in the wind while sirens of emergency vehicles began to wail. If they hoped to try and check the destructive wake of the Fomorian assault, they were going to be sorely mistaken. The spriggans and the lieutenants commanding them advanced mercilessly using their strength in numbers and the beating sounds of their war drums to spur their aggression.
Both Druids cut down a few sidestreets and sprinted out toward a small park area hoping they could locate a familiar fey crossing they could use to escape through. Had they not been in such a panicked rush, they would have lamented the fact that their shop and tavern was likely going to be destroyed and ransacked by the invading faerie monsters. As they ran up a grassy parkway and swerved toward a thicket of trees, O'Doyle stopped and grabbed Kristen's arm to restrain her. She blinked and fixed him with an incredulous look, "What?"
O'Doyle raised a hand and put a finger to his lip, "Shh! Listen. We're not alone."
Both Druids froze and listened in silence while the din of the Fomorian invasion echoed in the near distance. Kristen tightened the grip on her staff and sucked in a breath just before a figure leapt down from the trees and swept around the grove in a ring of green smoke. The malevolent entity zipped by and separated the two Druids causing them to tumble away before it took on a familiar form. Kristen gasped at the young fey woman before them with fiery red hair and a green Celtic dress, "Leanansidhe!"
"No! Morgana!" O'Doyle corrected her as the witch gave a predatory smirk, "Well... well... what have we here? Two more outcasts fleeing the wrath of the Fomorian horde?"
"Get out of our way Morgana! We don't have time to deal with you right now!" Kristen growled until she felt a strong compulsion enchantment sweep over her and force her to her knees.
Morgana sneered, "Mind your tongue mortal. You will show me respect if you wish to live."
O'Doyle scowled but kept an even tone, "If you're not here to fight the Fomorians, this town isn't going to be safe for long. At the moment, we have a mutual enemy."
"You think I care about Balor and his little army?" Morgana cackled sadistically, "I'm here for you two Druids. Through you is my way to the knights."
"What do you want with them?" Kristen asked, "They aren't here, so you're wasting your time."
Morgana smiled, "Oh I disagree Miss Bloom. With you and the barkeep as my prisoners, the knights will come to me so that I can exact my final revenge."
"Are you freaking nuts? This isn't the time! The entire town is being overrun by Fomorian soldiers!" Kristen exclaimed.
"This is the perfect time!" Morgana shot back furiously, "Those five knights of yours ruined my crystal shard and dealt me an embarrassing defeat. Eliminating them is all I care about now and if it takes you two Druids to do it, then so be it."
The witch paused a moment as the other conscious soul of Leanne McClure fought back in a mental tug of war. "No Morgana! Please don't do this! It's over. You just have to move on."
The superior will of the ancient witch violently subdued that of her young host before taking control again and staring down the Druids, "Now... the two of you are coming with me."
"No chance!" O'Doyle cried as he tumbled sideways and picked up a large tree branch using it as an improvised means to focus his own Druidic powers. A cloud of vines erupted from the tip of the branch and swarmed the witch as Kristen rushed forward with her staff. Morgana raised a hand and took the hit from the vines before blasting them apart with an eldritch burst of her own dark magic. She did so just in time to dodge Kristen's melee attack and weave past several more follow up strikes with the staff weapon.
The younger Druid twirled her staff like a martial artist and swiped again, this time aiming low before turning around to try and catch Morgana in a whirling backstrike. To Kristen's surprise, Morgana caught the end of the staff easily and held it in place firmly. Before Kristen could register what happened, the witch pulled her in and viciously smashed her elbow against the side of the Druid's brow knocking her unconscious.
Morgana slowly turned to the older Druid before springing toward him with a feral shriek. O'Doyle rolled sideways and raised a druidic ward to shield himself as the witch spun sideways with inhuman speed and let loose a barrage of dark energy bolts. Being nowhere near as nimble as the younger Kristen, O'Doyle held on to his shield and took the hits before the last one broke through and knocked him backwards hard into a tree. As the older man slumped over in fading consciousness, he dropped the gym bag containing the two gargoyles and unzipped it. The two creatures scrambled out in fear and looked at the dire situation their two Druid friends were in.
"Go hide... find the knights... get help," O'Doyle slurred as he fell sideways and lost consciousness as well. The two gargoyles gave anguished squawks before catching sight of the fearful witch Morgana. The two little creatures darted off on all fours into the safety of the bushes to hide but Morgana paid them no mind as she loomed over the two defeated Druids.
"You two put up a good fight for mere mortals. Let's hope your five precious knights will give me more entertainment before I kill them."
With that, she took on her smokey form and swept up her two new prisoners into the skies. Now blinded by her pure spite and thirst for revenge, the malicious fey witch would be content to wait for the five knights until they returned, certain that they would be outraged by the disastrous fall of their home as well as the capture of their beloved mentor.
A/N:
All right. With one more confrontation lined up before the end game, it's time to call a brief author time-out. I've still got some revisions to finish up, plus I could use a short breather. I promise I won't pull a Neo Saban type hiatus so I'll get back to this in a week or two and move to start concluding this series. As always, thanks again for staying with me this far everyone!