Echoes of War, Ch 9: Ancient Defenses (Patreon)

On the Peak of Sun’s Rest

A line of red-armored royal soldiers was visible in the distance as they marched up the road to the valley. They were still half a day away, their steps slowed by the steep slope and the snow. Jeric stood on the edge of the First Layer and looked out across the mountains as he watched them. There were at least 10,000 of them. Perhaps more.

The king had decided to come in force.

They were still on the lower slopes, but their forms were distinct against the surrounding mountains, highlighted against the snow and the slender blades of grass that poked through it here and there. Only the valley had warmer weather, its meadows rich with summer breezes. The soldiers were mostly human, but there was a flight of giant hawks accompanying them, as well as large war beasts that resembled oxen, their heads armored to hammer at fortifications.

His attention was pulled to a small group at the front of the army that radiated a threatening presence. The commanders were there, four of them with levels past 300. Only one was dressed in the colors of the royal army. The other three had more unique apparel, each different from the others, but they weren’t something he recognized. They were more richly dressed than the rest of the army.

“Fools.” The word was a growl as he shook his head and looked at Aemilia, who was standing next to him. “Are the sylphs and dwarves ready?”

“They are,” Aemilia agreed as she looked at the oncoming troops with a frown. “The ice drakes, griffins, and giant tribes as well. Their strength is only in the First or Second Evolution, but they are old allies of the Ice Sylphs and these mountains are their home. It is hard to believe the king would be so foolish. It’s been a long time since this valley went to war and the kingdom has forgotten its strength.”

“Aye, it’s going to be an unpleasant awakening for them,” Jeric agreed. “I just hope that it’s enough.”

Siwaha and the Ice Sylphs had been preparing for weeks now, checking on their ancient wards and awakening old enchantments. They had shaken their heads in disbelief when they heard the news and then began to work harder than ever to raise their levels. Something more mysterious was happening around their village as well. The currents of mana flowing through the valley had begun to change, taking on a sense of green and glowing life as if something was awakening.

The dwarves from Highfold were hard at work too. Their clan had helped to build the valley’s defenses when the city was first constructed, including the golems that slept along the outer wall. They weren’t as strong as the Sky Guard, but they were formidable in their own right.

Elsanar and the other ice drakes had been swiftly growing in strength as they hunted the monsters from the Flaws alongside the Ice Sylphs. The griffins and the Ice Giant tribes had also been defending their territory in recent months and had made some gains. It had been centuries since they fought alongside the Ice Sylphs, but they remembered the old pacts and they didn’t take kindly to enemies near their territory. When the dwellers of the high reaches gathered together, they were a formidable foe. The king’s army would discover that soon.

There was a reason they had never conquered the mountains.

“They haven’t reached the valley’s outer wall yet,” Aemilia said as she studied the army. Her eyes glowed with moonlight. “That’s the first line of defense here. I still remember when we came up that road ourselves and how narrow it is. It barely allows a couple of carts to pass by before it swings in around the shoulder of Sky Guard toward the main gate.”

“The Ice Sylphs could collapse the road there, but it would close down all trade until it was rebuilt,” Jeric agreed as he looked toward the edge of the valley. Sky Guard was the mountain that defended the entrance on the far side, its sides steep and daunting with barely enough room for the road to wind around it as it led to the gate. “Siwaha is keeping an eye on it, but it seems she doesn’t want to go that far yet.”

“She has always been calm and reasonable,” Aemilia said with a shake of her head, “but even she’s becoming angry. The Ice Sylphs have many secrets in their history, things that I have only seen hints of after all this time. Her level has been rising even faster than the hunting team’s and she seems to be growing younger by the day. She’s only around Level 230, but if the king truly angers her, I have the feeling his army will not be able to bear the consequences. Every time I mention this army, she just says to trust in the ancient wards.”

“I remember how she made the entire valley shake the night she announced her support for Sam,” Jeric said as he thought back. The wards across the mountainsides had glowed with bright mana and illuminated the valley from end to end, making the entire area tremble like there was an earthquake. “That gives me some confidence here. The Sky Guard won’t be enough to oppose this army. We’ll do what we can, but the real defenses are her wards and the relic itself. We can only rely on the relic’s shields up here on the first three layers. The rest aren’t repaired.

“If it comes down to it, we can retreat up here with everyone and wait them out. The relic’s shield should last for ages and we could continue repairing it from the inside, but it means abandoning the valley and I doubt the sylphs will do that.”

“They won’t,” Aemilia agreed with a shake of her head. “They’ll never leave their home like that, not for more than an instant. The Flaws would also continue to increase around us if no one closes them and that will doom the area. I don’t know if the army would pay attention to them. The church has been doing most of that in recent years. The king’s priorities are in the wrong place.”

“He’s blind, it seems,” Jeric said.” “The church hasn’t responded to my messages, so I don’t know what their stance is, but perhaps they will step up if needed.”

He rubbed his beard as he continued to study the army. They were moving slowly, but he doubted they’d shown their full strength yet. Who knew how many mages they’d brought to try and force the valley to their will?

As the Commander of the Frozen Peak, he had some control over Ice and Earth, especially here on Sun’s Rest, and he could turn the mountain slopes against the army, but that control was more limited outside of his territory. The valley was the sylph’s domain, not his. He would be at his strongest defending the mountain, but he had no intention of leaving his allies to fight alone.

“It’s about time to head down,” he said with a growl as he watched the army wind its way along the mountain road. “The dwarves are preparing the outer wall and have asked us to attend. It’s time for the valley to awaken.”

*****

“Sound the war drums!” Belanos Frosthold called out to his people who were standing ready as Jeric and Aemilia watched from the side in a position for honored guests. The Dwarven Cavern Master was the oldest of the dwarven council of Highfold and the one who had welcomed their family the last time they’d met. He was also a friend.

As his command rang out, the dwarves standing by the treasured clan drums raised massive hammers, each of them glowing with contained mana. There were nine of them, one for each branch of the clan, just like there were nine elders on the council. The hammers struck the drums in a measured sequence, one after the other, sending a rolling wave of thunder through the cavern tunnel that opened above the valley wall.

Below them, the outer wall of the valley’s defenses were visible, their surfaces glowing with a bright yellow radiance that hadn’t been there a few weeks before. Normally, these stone walls slumbered beneath a blanket of snow at the edge of the valley since this area wasn’t covered by the weather enchantment. Even then, it was hard to hide the thickness of the walls and the emplacements that held dwarven war golems.

As the first drum beat sounded, the walls trembled and a dusting of snow fell away, revealing the sturdy ramparts. When the second drum sounded, the tremor grew more pronounced as snow and ice began to fall off, sliding away from the enchanted stones. With the following drum beats, the mana flowing through the walls intensified and they began to glow more brightly, shaking free from their weather-worn cloak until the stones were shining like topaz.

By the fifth drum beat, the walls were clear of snow and dry, offering firm footing to a defending army, and by the sixth drum beat, the golems in their sheltered nooks began to hum. Slowly, their eyes began to fill with yellow Earth mana and runic lines across their bodies began to light up, tracing complex patterns across their stone bodies.

With the seventh drum beat, the lines shone like liquid fire, and at the eighth beat, the golems’ heads rose and their arms shook as they raised the hammers and axes in their hands. On the ninth and final beat, the golems slammed the butts of their weapons on the ground and straightened up, their bodies flowing with yellow mana as they reached their full activation. Behind them, the wall was rippling with enchantment as runes burned brightly against the surface.

The dwarves by the drums looked exhausted as they lowered the heavy mallets and handed them off to their fellows. All of their mana and that of others’ that was gathered in the mallets had poured into the drums, but as they stepped away, their eyes were shining as brightly as the wall below. Their clan had built this wall hundreds of years before and it had only been activated a few times. To see it now brought pride to their hearts as they prepared for this day to go down in history.

“Form the battle lines!” Belanos’s voice rang out as he called to the dwarven war leaders below. The stomp of thousands of armored dwarven feet answered him, making the wall echo with thunder as his clan manned the ramparts. There were only twelve hundred dwarves, but they were wearing heavy full plate from head to toe, the edges of the armor ornately decorated with clan designs. Interlocking runic patterns glowed across the surface from dense enchantments.

The mouth of the valley was narrow here, only about a quarter of a mile long, and as the dwarves came to a stop, they were arranged in ranks four deep, shoulder to shoulder along the line. Their weapons were raised and their shields slammed down onto the stone at a slant as they looked at the road forty feet below.

Ever since Sam forged an agreement with the dwarves, Belanos had led the initiative to support repairs on the relic, channeling craftsmen and materials to them. His help was a main factor in why the Third Layer was nearly complete now, at least in the key areas. He was a wise dwarf, his eyes clear and bright. He lived for trade and he’d seen a great opportunity in helping with the relic. As a result, his clan had profited greatly.

Sam had given them priceless enchantment patterns with tiers from Basic to Epic and Aemilia had granted them access to many of the crafting manuals that were stored in Amaris’s library. The crafters they’d sent had been able to swiftly gain levels in their professions, something that delighted them to no end. Their crafts had advanced steadily over the past year.

The dwarves were stronger than they’d ever been before. Their levels were only in the middle of the First Evolution, roughly a match for the king’s main troops, but they were equipped to fight above their level.

After the dwarves, the fighting force of the relic appeared, taking their place on the wall. The dwarves had a unique defensive line, so these troops were gathered just behind them. They were equipped for long-range attacks. Most of them were adventurers and recruits who had joined Jeric and Aemilia to rebuild the relic, making it their new home. There were just under a thousand of them. The rest of the relic’s population was a non-fighting force, either family and children or crafting classes that were better suited elsewhere.

Jeric glanced upward to where the 120 black crystalline golems of the Sky Guard hovered, their forms translucent as they blended into the sky and clouds. He couldn’t see them, but he could feel they were there through his connection to the relic.

“Even with this, we’ll be outnumbered five to one,” Jeric said grimly as he looked at the dwarves. His position was near the edge of the wall where it met the mountainside and it gave him a clear view along the fortification as it stretched to the far side of the valley’s entrance. Behind him, the snow-covered slope stretched upward in a nearly vertical line. “Those Third Evolution commanders and any powerful tricks they’re hiding will be the real challenge. Hopefully, we’ll be able to hold on. Otherwise, we’ll have to retreat to the relic and abandon the valley.”

“Trust in the valley.” The voice echoed across Jeric’s mind like a soft breeze, the words calm and steady. At that moment, a flurry of snow flew into the air from the mountainside beside Jeric and began to spiral like a whirlwind. It swiftly gathered together, the center condensing as the winds pulled in more snow, and then all of it fell away, leaving Siwaha standing there with a long wooden staff in her hand. There was a small smile on her face as she nodded at Jeric and Aemilia.

The Ice Sylph alchemist and Speaker of the Snows had been elderly when they first met, her face lines with wrinkles and her hair long and white, but the past year had completely changed her. She’d always had a sense of mysterious power around her, whether it was something of her own or an ancestral heritage of the sylphs, but now that power radiated around her, outlining her in swirling breezes like spring and winter were meeting and parting.

Her features were pure and smooth, the lines that used to be there barely present, her white hair was mixed with a deep glacial blue, and her eyes were intense sapphires that shone with clarity. The hand that held the staff looked like that of a young woman, with barely a wrinkle to her skin. Her entire body radiated the vitality of spring grass blooming through the snow. Jeric couldn’t help but Analyze her, his astonishment too great to hold back.

Siwaha. Ice Sylph. Level 258. Ice Alchemist-The Speaker of the Snows.

Her level was higher than any of the other sylphs, past the middle of the Second Evolution, but her class and subclass were almost the same as the first time he’d seen her. The only difference was the addition of “Ice” at the beginning of her Alchemist class, but he had the feeling that it didn’t contain the full measure of her strength. Her subclass was unique, a title for the leader of the Ice Sylphs, and he had no idea what it did.

She had been the one to grant them all the Ice affinity that let them live comfortably with the snow here, and from all that he’d heard throughout his life, that simply shouldn’t have been so easy. It was beyond his understanding and added to the mystique around her. It almost felt like her level was rising as needed, as if she had always been holding herself back to keep her village peaceful and quiet. Only now, as danger approached, did the full extent of her power start to appear. Even if it wasn’t true, her presence now was reassuring.

According to the legends of the Ice Sylphs, they were born from the tears of a goddess on Winter’s Peak, and they had waged a vast war across the land to suppress evil until they suddenly withdrew one day and disappeared from history, the only remnant of their people this valley and the small village that Siwaha called home with a couple of hundred Ice Sylphs.

There was no way that was the full story, but he didn’t have any information as to what else was hiding. There was only Siwaha’s new appearance and the calmness around her that covered the area like a warm blanket.

Siwaha looked around, her attention skimming past the troops marching up the road, the defenders on the wall, and the Sky Guard in the air, picking them all out with ease. Then she turned toward Jeric and Aemilia.

“Hello, dear ones,” she said with a smile that made her look even younger, almost like a young woman. There was an ageless grace and beauty to it that was old and young at the same time. A bit of humor sparkled in her eyes as she turned toward the approaching army.

“I see Heren has given in to his old ambitions. He’s always wanted to conquer the mountains. I’ve been ignoring his letters for hundreds of years now.” She shook her head, her white and blue hair flowing in the wind that blew from the slopes. Tiny snowflakes clung to her, swirling into the air as she moved.

“It was foolish of him to send an army here,” she added. “He should have learned better from his ancestors. Their kingdom is a child among giants. Runekeld holds the northern reaches and shows more outward strength, but it seems he’s forgotten why these peaks have always been the more dangerous land.” She tipped her staff from side to side and hummed in thought, her eyes narrowed. Then she nodded.

“He hasn’t broken the treaty yet, but this is nearly there. The sacred bonds are fraying, and it is a good time to gather old allies and shake off the dust.” Her staff tapped on the ground, giving rise to an echo that was far louder than it should have been, as if the slender wood held power far beyond its size. “When we withdrew all those years ago, it was to give the younger races a chance to flourish. The Mother commanded it, since she thought our strength was too overbearing. A sapling cannot grow straight in the shade. But that doesn’t mean we disappeared. Much has crumbled under the weight of time, but a few things remain. It is time to give his army a warning.”

A shining, crystalline light gathered around Siwaha’s staff as she raised it in the air. Spiraling bands of translucent ice rotated around it, moving like twining currents of wind. The intensity increased, making her hair and cloak stream back from her shoulders, and then she brought the staff down, slamming the butt into the mountain below. The blow rolled outward in a vast wave, making the valley tremble.

The wall below their feet shook and the grass in the fields bent down with the force as the wards across the valley came to life. Vast blue and white arcs of mana gathered across the slopes, shining from beneath the layer of snow and ice that quickly began to melt. A rolling thunder appeared as vast lines of mana from the higher mountains shifted, pouring toward the runes. Power flowed toward the valley like a waterfall, rushing to fill the runes.

Moments later, the symbols burned free from their covering, releasing brilliant arcs of light into the sky that shot across the valley as they wove a web from one side to the other. Dense bands of mana ten feet thick filled the air as power resonated along them. It was similar to the night Siwaha had demonstrated her support for Sam and made it shine from end to end, but far stronger.

The valley below shook as it came to life. The web of enchantment warped into new runes in the air and across the ground as it continued to intensify and the mountains surrounding the valley began to shake as well, shuddering in time with the pulse. Runes came to life across Sky Guard and its brethren, the line of mountains that defended the valley’s entrance and the sides, including across Winter’s Peak and Sky’s Descent at the far end.

A translucent mist rose up all across the mountains, flowing along the lines of the runes as it swiftly began to build higher. At first, it was just a current a foot tall, but within moments it rose upward, pouring toward the sky until it formed walls forty feet high and a dozen feet thick that ran along all of the mountain slopes around the valley. The mist turned from a pale blue to an intense cerulean frost, its interior a translucent shimmer of white and blue. Then it changed again as it began to solidify.

Within moments, where there had been walls of mist, there were now shining walls of ice. They were towering and majestic, their lines following the curve of the mountains and the runes as they traced out battlements across the peaks, defining defenses that were a hundred times more grand and complex than the dwarven wall guarding the entrance to the valley.

As soon as the walls were complete, sinuous flying creatures took to the air from the surrounding slopes and then dived, their wings flaring as they landed atop them. More joined them, creatures with lion bodies and eagle wings, their eyes fierce and wings glowing a golden brown. There were hundreds of ice drakes and griffins that took up positions on top of the shining towers and at key points, their ice-scaled forms shining in the sun.

From one of the central towers, Elsanar the ice drake lifted his enormous head and let out a roar that echoed through the valley. After him, hundreds of drakes and griffins joined him in roaring, voicing their anger at the invaders who dared to come into their territory. Their wings mantled as their claws dug into the ice of the battlements.

What had been a peaceful mountain valley had transformed into a vast fortress, its walls rising from the mountain sides in sheets of sparkling ice. From side to side, the mountains were covered in defenses, the walls manned by drakes and griffins.  Here and there, the slender forms of the Ice Sylphs were also visible, manning their own positions. The runes across the mountains were now woven into the defenses, glowing from within the walls and the towers, as well as the ground below. The valley at the center looked like nothing more than a staging area, the bailey of a great ice castle that was protected between the walls.

The towers that pierced the sky began to glow with offensive enchantments as mana from the runes poured into them, turning into crackling balls of icy energy that hovered there. Arcs of power sizzled across the surface as they waited to be unleashed.

The blue ice spires of the Frost Palace at the center of Highfold looked like a child’s toy at the center of the valley as the walls of the icy defenses shone above them.

“This...what is this?” Jeric looked across the frozen fortress that the valley had become in astonishment, his jaw nearly scraping the floor.

He’d known the Ice Sylphs had a powerful history, but he hadn’t expected this. It made Siwaha’s previous activation of the wards look like child’s play. Now, it was clear that what she’d done that night was just a basic activation of this fortress, while this was on a much grander scale.

It seemed like the weather wards covering the valley were really part of this ancient fortress’s defenses, controlling the temperature inside to give the inhabitants a pleasant experience.

“This is our ancient home,” Siwaha said calmly as she stepped up beside him and Aemilia, placing a gentle hand on his shoulder. Her touch radiated with soothing energy. “I know you have been worried about the king’s attack, but he doesn’t understand what he is playing with. It will take more than a few troops to storm these walls. He may have a larger army, but not even his capital at Veritan has the power of this valley.

“The mana of the peaks is strong, gathering where stone and sky meet, and it powers this place like an endless spring. This is where we were born and it remains our strongest shelter. While the runes remain, the fortress will be continually reborn. Its nature as ice enhances our racial abilities, and the same will be true for you, since you have the Blessing of Ice.

“It has been many centuries since these walls last saw the sky. The Ice Sylphs are few in number now, but with the dwarves and your people, and our old allies of the sky, we will hold this valley.”

*****

A short while later, as if in challenge to the massive display in front of them, the four commanders of the army flew forward, leaving their troops behind on the road as they approached the entrance of the valley. They looked carefully at the massive ice fortress that the valley had become, but they didn’t turn around.

Instead, they came to a stop just in front of the wall, hovering in the air on the same level as the defenders, their clothing humming with flight enchantments. Energy of various attunements flared around them, pressing on the surroundings with a heavy weight. Given the style of dress of the three next to the commander, it looked like the king had been recruiting from the noble families, ones that were probably paid extremely well to assist his army.

Ilias Grosbek. Human. High Commander-King’s Magistrate. Level 362.

Jura Sessel. Human. Ice Elementalist-Royal Siege Mage. Level 341.

Poren Feiras. Human. Earth Manipulator-Royal Siege Mage. Level 322.

Jimret Noore. Human. Weather Ward-Mage of the Winds. Level 315.

The classes of the three mages explained how the army had dared to brave the weather up to the peaks. Perhaps it was their Siege Mage subclasses that gave them the confidence to approach the defenses. At the Third Evolution, their mana fields were much stronger than any enemies Jeric had encountered before. He could feel them emanating a crushing presence beyond the wall.

When those energies met the dwarven enchantments, however, they disintegrated against the wards. He wasn’t even at the Second Evolution himself yet, so he couldn’t channel his own to resist. That would be a problem if they were able to break through.

“The city of Highfold and surrounding lands have trespassed against the authority of the Kingdom of Aethra!” The commander was at the front of the group and he stepped forward, his voice loud enough to be heard clearly across the wall. “Surrender your claim to this territory and step forward to accept your rightful punishment and the king’s mercy will shine upon you!”

Jeric snorted as he heard the bombast the man was pouring out. It was a clear attempt to take over the area. He hadn’t expected much, but this was scraping the bottom of the barrel. He was surprised the commander was able to get it out with a straight face.

Mutters of anger spread quickly along the wall, until Belanos slammed his shield down on the stones at his feet, releasing a loud echo that brought swift silence. The dwarves’ faces turned stony and expressionless as their discipline took over. Siwaha was only watching with a slight smile on her face as she saw the commander blustering, so the initial conversation fell into Belanos’s hands.

“There are beggars and bandits with more claim to these lands than the king,” Belanos growled across the wall, his voice carrying easily. “As for the king’s supposed authority, it has no grasp here, nor do any of us believe your drivel. This is an independent city. If you try to cross into this valley, you will suffer the same defeat as every other enemy who’s dared to assault these walls. The only mercy from us will be the blade of an ax on your neck. But tell me anyway, since my curiosity as an honest dwarf demands it, what are these supposed charges from your king?

“Your refusal to cooperate is noted.” The commander’s face was expressionless as he pulled out a scroll and unfurled it. It held a magical signature that was obvious from a distance, marking it as an official decree. His subclass as a magistrate came to the fore as he examined the document and then looked up imperiously. “You are the commander of these lands? Where is the one called Jeric, the commander who received the king’s messenger?”

“I’m right here!” Jeric growled as he stepped forward, moving to the front of the wall. Aemilia and Siwaha were beside him, their support giving him confidence. His voice rang out like frozen stones crashing against one another, clear and vibrant in the air. “And I’ll repeat what my friend has said. You have no place here. What are these fake charges you’ve brought to these lands?”

He’d been willing to let Belanos take the lead, since Highfold was the home of his clan, but if this fellow was after him, he was more than happy to meet him.

“You were once a citizen of the kingdom of Aethra,” the commander announced grandly as he fixed his attention on Jeric and swiftly Analyzed him to confirm his identity, “but you descended to live with bandits on the Storm Plains! Now, you’ve brought your illegal activities to this city, spreading corruption and rebellion with you.” His voice rose as he gathered steam, apparently putting on a show for the troops behind him.

“Your crimes are this! You have raised a rebellious force against the king and denied his authority, seized lands and artifacts that rightfully belong to the king, and spread dissent across the kingdom through books that slander the throne.”  With a snap of parchment, he furled the scroll again and held it high in his hand as he stared at the defenders. “Do you wish to say anything else in your defense before I pass judgment upon you?”

“Drivel and nonsense from a fool,” Jeric swore at him as he folded his arms. Ice crackled around him as stones trembled in the air, punctuating his words with a shudder of elemental force. “But I’ll respond to them point by point, which is more than you deserve, in the interest of preserving lives. Your troops’ lives, mostly.”

It was clear that the commander had traced his history and knew where he’d lived on the Storm Plains, but he hadn’t used his last name as a Hastern, even though a quick Analyze would show that. It meant that the king didn’t want to pull his old family into this. There were too many potential reasons for him to pay attention to that right now, however. Instead, he focused on the commander’s charges.

“First, I renounce any claim to citizenship in the Kingdom of Aethra,” Jeric announced. “Your king lost my belief in him as a fair leader a long time ago. Second, those supposedly rebellious forces here are the local guards and refugees in a sovereign city, and it’s not your king’s business to interfere with them. Your attempt to do so is a direct assault on our independence. Third, the lands and artifacts here were never the king’s and he has no claim to them. His greed is all that’s reaching this way. Finally, those books only tell about ancient legends, so I’m curious why your king finds them so offensive. Does he have something against accurate histories?”

Jeric was particularly irritated at that charge, since Aemilia had put a lot of work into writing the books. The experience she got from them was proof enough of their accuracy.

“Your defense is noted, as is your refusal to acknowledge the king’s decree,” the commander replied blandly, holding the parchment as he looked at Jeric and then across the rest of the defenders. His expression was guarded, but there was a hidden delight in it that leaked out in his voice. “A fourth charge is now laid against you and all citizens of the kingdom currently within this territory, such as traveling merchants. By hiding behind these defenses, you have refused to acknowledge the king’s decree. For this, you are subject to royal punishment. Additionally, the forces standing in the way of the king’s justice prevent his jurisdiction over his citizens, which violates the magical treaty between Highfold and Veritan. This constitutes legal grounds for war.”

The scroll in the commander’s hand suddenly combusted, dissolving into a swirl of magical light as flames consumed it. The commander had been watching it carefully and as soon as he saw that, a dark smile suddenly burst across his lips. His words had clearly been aimed at finding a loophole in whatever old treaties the king had with the city, so that the kingdom wouldn’t suffer a backlash from the magic in the contracts.

It seemed he’d found one.

“As for those books,” the commander added as he looked pleased with himself, “they claim that the king is not able to provide for his kingdom. They lure away loyal peasants with false promises of riches and ancient myths. This weakens the kingdom and is a direct assault on the king’s authority.” With that, the commander was done explaining. Instead, he turned to the troops behind him, raising his voice so that everyone could hear.

“By decree of the King of Aethra, among other charges, the denizens of Highfold and surrounding lands have blocked the king’s justice, interfered with his authority over his citizens, and sheltered a rebellious army! They are to be arrested as traitors and to serve out their sentence under hard labor until their crimes are forgiven. All lands and artifacts discovered in this location are to be seized as recompense! If they resist, kill them!”

A roar of anger rolled through the troops on the road at the commander’s words. They drew their weapons, slamming them against their shields to create a driving beat as they worked themselves up for an attack.

Magical siege engines began to appear, quickly coming together as hundreds of soldiers pulled pieces from their dimensional storage. Behind them, mages took up their position in organized ranks, spells flaring at their fingertips as they began to craft group spells.

At the front of the army, the commander turned back to look at Jeric and then across the ranks of the dwarves, his smile growing. His next words were quiet, intended to reach only Jeric’s ears, but at a gesture from Siwaha, a quiet breeze swirling past brought them to everyone’s.

“Getting around contract terms is always difficult, but they all have loopholes,” he whispered. “I appreciate that you made it easy. This city should have sworn fealty long ago. I’m looking forward to hanging your corpses on the walls in the name of the king.”