The Back Foot

A weak knock on the front door to Windspire Palace caught Lance's attention. Opening the door, the broken and bleeding form of Lyra Blackrose collapsed into his arms.

Lance's cry echoed through the palace. "Zhanna! Help!"

Gunther practically fell into his chair as he put his head in his hands. "Corvinus." he muttered. Lance and Amber bore similar expressions to their general. Corvinus was home to the largest Shadow Crystal mine in the known world, and supplied most of the Human Alliance. Without it the war was lost, as the human defenders could never match the monsters of the Shadow without the magic of the Crystals.

"Yes my Lord." Lyra replied, grateful to be standing. She was on death's door only an hour and a half ago. "And judging by the intelligence we have on Ter… I mean, Kairos' forces, he has almost enough to manage it alone. With Majiya's faction and Logan's clan, he has us at a supreme disadvantage."

"So let me get this straight. We have been led around like dogs on a leash for the better part of the last month, spreading our forces thinner and thinner. All the while a Shadow leader we didn't even know existed has been preparing to take the world's largest Crystal deposit right out from under our noses? And he is ready to do it at this very moment?"

Gunther slammed his fist on the desk, causing the other occupants of the room to jump. "Why are we only finding out about this NOW?!"

Lance frowned. "I have no excuses my Lord, Kairos has been ahead of us the entire time. But if we move now we should be able to reinforce Corvinus. They already have an impressive standing army."

"I'm sending a messenger on ahead to notify Nishaven. He should be there within the next day or two, and hopefully give him enough warning to seal the city. Meanwhile I'll get everyone ready and begin moving to Corvinus. We'll come at them from behind and force them to fight on two fronts." He pointed his finger at Lyra, Lance and Amber. "You three get the fastest horses you can and get moving. I want you there helping to coordinate the defenders."

He stared at the three of them. "Well what are you waiting for? MOVE IT."

Amber was still recovering from her wounds, and riding on a horse did little to help, the jarring motion of the galloping steed sending slivers of pain through her body constantly. Looking over at Lyra, Amber could tell she was experiencing the same thing.

"What I wouldn't give for one of Eladwen's portals." Amber groaned as more pain shot through her back.

Lance, who was riding on ahead, slowed his horse down to bring him in line with the two women. "Me too, but unfortunately she's on another front and none of the mages at Windspire have the necessary knowledge." He frowned. "And I thought it was an easy incantation, because Eladwen tended to throw them around like candy."

"I think our war mages are just not trained in their use." Lyra grunted. "Their knowledge is a little more 'direct'."

"Yeah, face burning." Lance replied. "Doesn't help us right now though does it?" He looked at Amber's face and the expression of pain on it. "Do you need to stop for a bit?"

"There's no time. I'll be fine."

"Lyra? Are you gonna be ok?"

"Just ride." Was the response.

"Ok then."

Two hours later Amber lay down on the cool grass, grateful to have a quick rest. While both her and Lyra were adamant they could continue, Lance had forced them to stop when Lyra had almost fallen off her horse. And although she maintained that tough exterior, it was obvious Lyra wanted a rest as much as Amber did.

Lance got some water out of the carry pouches on his horse and handed them around. "Drink up; we've still got a long way to go."

Guzzling down her ration, Amber looked at Lance as he sat down next to her. "How do you think this one is going to pan out?"

Lance smiled. "We survived the rebirth of an ancient god and the mixing of two realities. We'll be fine."

Amber laughed, though it sounded more like a cough. "Seriously though, this is the battle to determine the war. You know that."

"Yeah. We'll make it; I've not been beaten yet."

"You only have to get beaten once." Lyra interrupted.

Lance shook his head. "You are such a downer Lyra Blackrose."

"Someone has to keep that cheery optimism of yours in check." She replied dryly.

Lance frowned and looked down at his feet. He sighed, looking as though he had aged fifty years in a mere moment. "You've got to be optimistic sometimes; otherwise the world will swallow you whole."

Lyra sighed. "Sorry Lance. I didn't mean…."

Lance smiled and looked up, and that carefree façade had returned. "It's fine. Now, we've got a city to get to and a world to save."

Nishaven stood at the peak of the Collegia Arcanus, looking outward toward the horizon. Behind him lay the Corvinus Mine, the workers toiling day and night to bring enough Shadow Crystals to the front line to keep humanity in the fight. While great heroes like Gunther, Boris Skullcrusher and Gwenneth Truesight fought the enemy face to face, these humble workers kept the cogs of war turning with their blood, sweat and tears. These were the unsung heroes, the ones who kept humanity from being swallowed by the darkness.

But unfortunately the darkness had found Corvinus. In front of him the largest Shadow army he had ever seen had laid siege to the city. Monsters so tall they dominated the landscape, and a near endless sea of smaller creatures, all eager for blood and power. Gunther's warning had reached Nishaven barely twelve hours before the Shadow army had appeared, and that told him that whoever the leader of this army was, he had well and truly outwitted the famed General of Balor. That was a scary thing in and of itself.

At least the warning had been enough for him to close the gates and reinforce the walls. But as the Shadow army began to move forward, he feared it would not be enough...