“A black eyed grey humanoid that could have been made of clay.” Coralia repeated to Mathael.

Mathael looked to Elisif and they exchanged troubled nods. The leadership of the village had convened in the small base built inside an artificial cave hidden in the high cliff face.

“That was Esmit the Herald. He is one of Maiphon’s three true conduits. His destruction if he was truly destroyed will plunge the power structure of Maiphon’s circle into chaos.” Elisif explained. “He is the one that seeks ripe places for the others to plunder. Your miracles last night are a devastating blow to Maiphon himself, and they will be answered with redoubled fury. He can see freely through the eyes of his conduits and he surely knows your face.” The demon knight added with a touch of concern.

“We’ll cross that particular shit river when the time comes.” Our next objective is a push true south now that the invasion has been delayed.

“I suggest we take the underworld.” Hurstag offered. “We ebon dwarves don’t need the sun and stars to hold course and the underworld has no mountains to scale or storms to waylay us. Our forces are now more than equipped to handle any demons or underworld beasts that rise against us.”

“The kobolds agree with Hurstag.” Laz offered from her seated position against a nearby wall, the white fur of her face still blackened with soot from their mission.

“We are cautious to travel the underworld, however we will trust in Coralia to keep the goddess protected.” Mathael spoke up for the demons.

“Then that is our course.” Coralia conceded. “Hurstag, do you believe it is better to excavate one of the places we sealed or seek another entrance from further away?”

“The latter.” Hurstag replied confidently. “A six day march to the southwest will lead to the Black Scaffold. That is the most direct descent to the underworld, and quite near the main trade route from the southern realms. Once we reach that, it is a ten day journey to the surface beyond this range.” Hurstag laid it out in such a way that Coralia breathed a huge sigh of relief after he had finished.

“That easy.” She muttered, thinking of all the years she had toiled and suffered in these lands when the road home was sixteen days away.

She caught the staring rich golden eyes of Belithel watching her, as though the tiny goddess sensed the wrenching emotions in her heart. A smile crossed that cherubic face and all doubt and regret fled Coralia’s soul, chased away by the light of obvious destiny. Something in the universe had held her here to protect something far larger and yet so much smaller than herself. The gratitude of the true being of Belithel brushed her for just a fraction of a second, but it steadied her like nothing ever had before.

A sudden strange warmth coming from a pocket in her doeskin tunic caused Coralia to hop to her feet and reach into the hidden place and pull forth the dragon scale given to her by Dalazog, the ancient red dragon. It was thrumming and heating up with alarming speed.

It was soon too hot to hold even through her channeled mana defenses and she was forced to drop it on the floor.

“Everyone outside!” She ordered, and everyone hopped to their feet to comply.

With everyone anxiously outside behind her, Coralia faced the now glowing scale on the floor with trepidation. Some immense power was building there and she had no idea what it might mean.

The scale suddenly shattered and a ruby red mist formed a small cloud that slowly began to take humanoid shape. A moment later, a tall human man in red and gold trimmed robes stood before her. His skin was copper in color and his eyes were the color of backlit rubies. His short hair was jet black and meticulously groomed along with his brows and goatee. His appearance had certainly changed but his aura was unmistakable. Coralia bowed low and welcomed the mighty red dragon into her camp.

“Great Dalazog, I am pleased to see you once again.” She said, not needing to fake the reverence in her tone.

“Three Last Wish spells with Greater Echo!” The dragon’s voice still carried its booming powerful quality albeit with much less volume. “It is I that should be doing the bowing, never in my very long life have I seen such a feat of beautiful destruction.” The dragon followed its own suggestion and for the first time in known history, a red dragon lowered its head. “I was mistaken, you are no dragon. You are something far more interesting, and Dalazog has decided to accompany you.” The dragon in human form announced with a tone of finality that only a red dragon could produce.

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“I am humbled by your praise and presence. Of course I would not sway your chosen path. There is something you should know if you are to travel with us though.” Coralia said, trying to navigate the bizarre situation.

“What is it?” Prodded Dalazog, moving his head as he spoke as though it were still on a long serpentine neck.

“Our mission is to protect the current incarnation of Belithel from the forces of Maiphon.” Coralia laid it out plainly, understanding that the infinitely intelligent dragon would soon discern it regardless.

“Belithel lives!?” Dalazog blurted. “Where? We must go to her at once! You may ride upon my back if need be.” He stopped his tirade at Coralia’s coy grin.

Behind Dalazog, Belithel herself had tottered into the room as though she understood the situation.

Coralia pointed past the sputtering dragon to the tiny toddler goddess.

Dalazog turned and upon locking eyes with Belithel recognized her immediately.

“It’s true!” Dalazog sat on the dusty cave floor to lower his level to that of Belithel. “A great miracle you have forced into being, beloved goddess. Your most powerful pawns surround you and now protect your growth until the day you may cast down the ugly beast and reclaim your throne.”

With that, Dalazog was introduced to the rest of the group. The kobolds were traditional worshippers of dragonkind and immediately fell to their knees in praise of him, the dwarves however were less than thrilled. The ebon dwarves often competed with the great beasts for space and resources and were a favorite target of dragons for pillaging.

“Why will we crawl through the dirt like dung beetles? I Could simply fly us over these mountains.” Dalazog snorted after the plans were reiterated.

“This mission is twofold.” Coralia answered, having considered that already after Dalazog had joined them. “First is obviously to seek safer territory and alert my allies of the coming invasion, second is to exterminate and scatter any enemies in the underworld, and rescue any other refugees we come across.” Coralia finished her explanation patiently.

“I dislike the tunnels in my old age.” The shapeshifted dragon pouted. “Too cramped for my true form.”

“Please bear with it.” Coralia said with a disarming smile.

“As you wish my walking apocalypse.” Dalazog conceded with his own sharp toothed grin.

“We are prepared to depart my queen.” Hurstag said from the cave mouth.

Coralia nodded and stood, extending a hand to Dalazog who took it and flipped it over, examining it curiously before releasing it and standing on his own.

“I was offering to help you up. It’s a human courtesy.” Coralia explained.

“What a foolish thing, any being incapable of standing should simply be cast aside.” Dalazog snorted.

“That’s not the point. Nevermind.” Coralia sighed as she massaged her temples. An instant dragon sized headache had struck from nowhere.

The caravan of two hundred kobolds, six dwarves, three demons, one human, and a dragon set out to the southwest. Behind them, smoke and steam still dominated the sky over the decimated valley where thousands of demons had been extinguished. Thanks to Coralia’s rune magic, the ten sleds holding hundreds of pounds of goods each could be easily carried by a two kobolds a piece.

They made excellent time and the combined auras of Coralia and Dalazog sent any and all nearby monsters lumbering or scurrying into dark holes to shiver in fear until they passed. Nib and Laz kept their elite forces scattered all around the caravan, on the lookout for any threats or potential allies.

As predicted, on the sixth afternoon Hurstag directed them to the massive cave mouth hidden at the end of a narrow canyon.

“This is near Frexxa’s lair.” Dalazog noted, a sour note in his deep voice.

“Who?” Coralia asked in reply.

“Black dragon.” Hurstag interjected grimly. “She indeed rules these tunnels but hasn’t stirred in many decades.”

“She is a pretty one but her moods are impossible to deal with.” Dalazog confided sagely. “I wonder if any demons were foolish enough to disturb her beauty sleep.”

“I’d like to avoid her if at all possible.” Coralia mused. “One dragon is more than enough.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment to me and not a slight to dragons.” Dalazog retorted, with his sculpted human nose high.

With the stealthy elite kobolds scouting in advance, the caravan entered the underworld. The wide path descended steeply, and after what Coralia estimated to be a mile led to a wide cavern populated with massive floor to ceiling stalagmite mounds.

“Two mana sources in that stalagmite cluster.” Coralia gestured to the left of the entrance as she spoke.

“Your mana sense is keener than mine.” Dalazog noted with a touch of disdain. Red dragons despised to be outdone in any area. “Must be this human form.” He amended quickly.

“Mhmm.” Coralia smirked. She nodded to Nib who scampered silently to investigate.

He returned after only a few minutes.

“Cyclops and cave bear, both sleeping. Dwarf armor and blood scattered about.” He said grimly with a consoling look to Hurstag and the other ebon dwarves.

“They’re mine.” Hurstag’s face settled into a stone faced glare at the monsters’ location.

“Alright, take care then.” Coralia encouraged the powerful dwarven leader.

Hurstag moved to the open area nearby and the others hung back in respect of his wishes and his prowess. Without hesitation Hurstag let out a mighty roar of challenge and smashed his dark steel axe against his large rectangular shield.

A sudden stirring could be heard, and an eighteen foot tall one eyed brute peered around the mound. A second later, a massive brown bear with paws the size wagon wheels and canines like daggers charged ahead of the cyclops, huffing and growling with each great lope.

Hurstag met the bear’s charge, swinging the rim of his great shield to smite the the bear’s thick skull as it lunged in for a crushing bite. Hurstag’s strength was such that the cave bear spun a full one hundred and eighty degrees as it collapsed limp and fully unconscious.

The strike gave the cyclops pause. For the very first time in its existence, its simple brain was forced to think. What manner of little thing could wreak such havoc with a single blow? It then looked about the cavern and finally noticed the small army assembled before it. The desire for survival overrode all bloodlust and the cyclops turned to flee.

An axe hurled with the fury and strength of one thousand dwarves slammed into the fleeing brute’s spine. It pitched forward and scraped face first several feet along the stone floor, its legs paralyzed. It crawled feebly as Hurstag stalked it like the spectre of death. With cold methodical hands, Hurstag yanked the axe free and circled around to the front of the oblivious cyclops. The axe rose and paused for just a second at its peak before it fell with a sharp crack atop the cyclops’ thick skull. The monster went limp, never to rise again.

The cave bear was just beginning to stir, its face shattered by the weight of the shield strike. Coralia’s sword slid into the thick skull like soft cheese and the bear shuddered into death.

“Let’s take a rest here and break this down.” Coralia announced, tapping the dead cave bear with a leather moccasin covered foot.

The kobolds set to work, they were incredibly efficient at processing carcasses. The bear was skinned, gutted, and broken down into quarters within an hour.

Sometime later, as one the bear quarters was roasting whole over a large fire, a deafening voice rocked the cavern.

“The audacity! The Nerve! My so called mate returns after fleeing in my sleep! And he brings a new female!?” Two great eyes, glowing green with venom appeared in the dark.