***

Helias’s hands had gone cold quite early on in the battle but he somehow found himself wincing as he scratched at his chin.

With Queen Berengaria and King Thorgoth on the front lines, command of the army had fallen to him, but unfortunately the battle was going poorly. Where Thorgoth was, deep inside the Erisdalian flank, their army was holding, but he could see enemy reserves and regiments moving to stem their attack. The checkerboard formation that the Erisdalian-Lapanterian-Erlenberg and Lightning Battalion had adopted was allowing for the individual units to respond to one another with their own initiative and provide space for withdrawals and reinforcements.

It was this flexibility that was now allowing for the enemy cavalry columns to pass through and slam into his army’s right and center. Already buckling due to the stalled attack and the dragons that had turned against them, the general knew what was coming next and the sinking feeling in his stomach had faded.

Hard, yet somehow relaxing uncertainty loosened his chest and he let out a deep sigh.

His orc aide-de-camp was looking around frantically, dark eyes wide. “General Helias, maybe we can deploy the infantry reserves to stop—”

“I don’t know if we can stop that with the reserves, Saika,” Helias said. Indeed, he could see the hole that the Lightning Battalion’s cavalry had punched through growing wider and wider. Already, his center regiments were withdrawing as best they could from the frontline. Worse still he could spy individual soldiers just breaking rank to flee on their own.

At the same time, the Alavari right flank was failing from the assault of the Erlenberg and Lapanterian troops. The formations of pikemen flanked by musketeers were breaking down as individual regiments blended together. In contrast, the blue Erlenberg and yellow-clad Lapanterians were unleashing hails of musket volleys at the Alavari regiments that were holding and charging down those that were fleeing.

Saika coughed. “Well if we get the remaining artillery batteries to group up, then we could form a line—”

Helias shook his head. “Glowron requisitioned the artillery reserve and the reserve ammunition just to hold Titania’s forces back. Speaking of which, have we had any word from him?”

“I’ll check, sir,” said Saika. Reaching into his pocket, he took out his hand mirror and started to call Glowron’s aide.

Helias in the meantime glanced back to the raging battle on their left, against the Erisdalian army. The lightning that now encircled the area meant only one thing, that the Stormcaller had arrived and was going all out. King Thorgoth might survive that and he might even win, but their army was on the verge of a rout. Only his artillery batteries on the center and right were slowing the advance of the enemy.

Oh and now he could see the dragons swooping down on the rightmost battery. Biting back a groan, he watched as the almost liquid-like fire splashed all over the group of guns, followed up by bolts of magic from the two mages who had somehow managed to get up and onto two of the dragons backs.

He couldn’t even be angry that Fennokra and Yolandra had betrayed them. It wasn’t like Thorgoth had told them the complete truth about their agreement. Neither had he tried to court their loyalty. It’d been an arrangement of convenience and it was now no longer convenient.

“Sir?”

Helias glanced at Saika and winced at how pale the young orc looked. The hand holding his now shut mirror was shivering.

“That bad?”

Saika nodded. “General Glowron is wounded. He’s still commanding, but they’re pushed to the last line of defense. They prepared significant artillery which battered down our entrenchments. Queen Titania and her Royal Guard are now committing to break their lines. They have an hour at most.”

Helias shut his eyes for a moment. That was worse than he’d feared. The enemy’s plans were now coming to fruition. With King Thorgoth’s last army destroyed or captured, even if he lived and killed all the Otherworlders, he alone could not stop an invasion of his remaining lands.

“And sir, Glowron has a message for you,” said Saika

Arching an eyebrow, but keeping one eye on the battlefield, Helias nodded. “Well, go on.”

Saika straightened and coughed to clear his throat. “My colleague. I’m not getting out of this alive. I place all Alavari forces under your command. Make your choice for your beloved wife and for our soldiers. I’m sorry I didn’t speak up against the king sooner. Signed, Glowron, former Commander-in-chief of the Alavari Army. That… that’s the message. Sir? Are you alright sir?”

The tauroll couldn’t blame his aide. After all, Helias couldn’t stop laughing. He knew how insane he looked. He also knew how utterly ridiculous this situation had become.

“The loyal Glowron, the goblin who spearheaded the king and queen’s war and put it into action, regrets his part in this farce on his deathbed? Fuck me. Were none of us thinking straight when we agreed to all of this?” Helias turned his horse to Saika. Hacking up, he spat out a wad of gunpowder smoke-tinged phlegm onto the ground.

“Sir?” Saika stammered.

“I’m actually feeling quite well, Saika. I feel sane for the first time in what seemed like forever. Now listen carefully, because here are my orders as General Helias, Commander-in-chief of the Kingdom of Alavaria forces under King Thorgoth.”

Saika blinked but nodded and pulled out his notebook.

“All units and formations, surrender to enemy forces and save your lives. Repeat. All units, surrender to the enemy forces and save your lives. Do not fight on. Do not obey orders from King Thorgoth or his fanatics. We have lost this battle and I will not request you fight a battle that cannot be won. Accept whatever terms that will save your lives. Resist only if enemy forces do not offer quarter. Is that clear, Saika?”

He watched his orc aide, and the rest of his escort. He watched the short one-eyed goblin on wolf back, the bearded and scarred ogre on horse, the young female centaur in ill-fitting armor and the gray-haired harpy courier awaiting orders.

He watched as Saika and them exchanged glances and looks. Mouths forming silent unsaid words.

Saika finally turned back to Helias, the panic in his eyes was gone. His voice was level once more. “Yes sir, I believe you have been crystal clear sir.”

“Thank you. You get on that. Delores, can you take a message to my wife? Have her get the camp followers and non combatants together and ready to surrender. If they’re in one clearly identifiable place, they’ll likely be safe.”

The elderly harpy nodded. “Yes, general. Is there anything else you’d like me to say to her?”

Helias pursed his lips, his eyes searching the sky. “Tell her that I cherished our partnership. Tell her that while she and I have never and will not call each other Mataia, that I love her, and being with her was the happiest I’d ever been. Tell her that I know she will raise our daughter well.”

Delores nodded and leapt into the sky. As she did, Saika frowned. “Sir, just because you’re surrendering doesn’t mean—”

“Oh, the humans or Titania’s Alavari aren’t going to kill me, but she will, once she finds out,” said Helias, pointing to the harpies flying high over their army and the crowned harpy at their head. Glancing at Saika, he grimaced. “You best get that message off and get some soldiers here. We’re going to have company.”

***

The howl of Frances’s scream was deafening even to her own ears. A new, burning strength that she hadn’t had before shot through her every limb, searing over her skin and jolting her with new energy and purpose.

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

She’d never summoned so much lightning without the aid of the weather. She knew she was burning through her reserves. Her heart pounded at the danger she’d put herself in. Her mind however, was only dimly aware that she was very nearly in a mage-trance state. A fine thread of self-control let her direct her grief and emotions at the enemy in front of her.

Thorgoth instantly shielded himself, putting layer upon layer of glowing violet barriers on top of him as Frances slammed bolt after bolt of lightning down. Each hit so hard they shattered and scorched earth around the king. Some glancing blows superheated the ground, melting it into glass and sending shards flying.

Yet, the shields held.

And Frances continued to smite the king, driving every lighting strike with an injustice that she, her loved ones and friends had suffered.

How dare Thorgoth hurt Leila and Jessica this way.

How dare Thorgoth bring so much harm to the humans he hated.

How dare that Demon King hurt so many of his own subjects.

How dare he attack Erlenberg and condone the massacre of its civilians.

How dare he hurt Morgan and Renia so much. Separating them for so long. Arranging for the kidnap and experimentation of his own granddaughter.

How dare this wicked, evil demon hurt her love, Timur.

How dare he try to kill her beloved mother, Edana.

How dare he break her arms, leave her helpless, threaten to torture and violate her.

Bolt after bolt. Flash after flash, Frances continued her barrage.

How dare he hurt so many.

“Frances, breathe!” screamed her wand.

“I know, Ivy! I’m just trying to hold it together!” Frances grunted. It was so hard. She had to walk the fine line between holding onto the righteous anger that drove her spellcasting, and losing all control of her emotions. She needed to keep blasting the king and pinning him down.

Because although Thorgoth had gone to one knee and was shivering as she thrashed his defenses again and again, he was still holding his barrier.

***

Elizabeth was ordering her division into the front and the fighting as the counterattack of Aloudin and the first division of the Lightning Battalion was starting to lose momentum. She figured that now was the perfect time to withdraw the Lightning Battalion’s vanguard so the more fresh troops could take up their place.

Before she could issue that order, Epomonia with a squadron of cavalry galloped towards her. Although her arrmor spattered with blood, Elizabeth found herself nonetheless breathing a sigh of relief at the sight of the centaur.

“Epomonia, how’s Aloudin, I’m putting my division into line—”

The centaur waved her hand and slammed her visor up. Wide-eyed Eponimia stammered, “Aloudin and Olgakaren are fine! Thorgoth’s forces are surrendering Elizabeth! Olgakaren is taking them into custody and Aloudin is trying to keep the division moving forward to deal with those not surrendering!”

Elizabeth blinked. “Wha?”

“I know! I can’t believe it either. Especially because their orders come right from General Helias! He said he’s ordering all units to surrender individually and to only resist if we give no quarter,” said Epmonia.

Elizabeth suddenly straightened and seized her communicator. “Morgan! Hattie! Call off the dragons! Call off all dragon attacks! The enemy are surrendering except for Thorgoth’s loyalists!”

“Aye ma’am!” Hattie replied.

Elizabeth glanced skywards, noting the dragons now pulling up and away. “Sorry about that. Thank you for letting me know.”

The centaur waved her off. “No apology necessary. You sure this isn’t a ruse, though?” she asked.

“Given the situation they were in, any sane commander would have surrendered long ago.” The crash of thunder tore Elizabeth’s gaze to the army’s right where lightning continued to strike. Before she could ride there, though, she noticed something out of the corner of her eye.

A group of enemy harpies, which seemed to be led by Queen Berengaria, had flown to the rear of their army where they seemed to be hovering over a number of Alavari banners. If she was right, that was the Alavari command centre.

“Epomonia, can you continue to accept surrenders? I need to investigate that,” said Elizabeth.

“Of course, take the cavalry with you,” said Epomonia, gesturing to the centaurs and horsemen with her.

“Thank you. With me!”

***

Ginger’s arm hurt from a musket ball that had slammed into the armor, but she still was screaming herself hoarse, trying to rally her soldiers. At this point, she was holding onto the blood-slicked wooden pole that held her personal banner. It featured a crown atop broken chain links on a red field.

She was rather proud of the design, which she’d come up with Ayax and Martin. She was not so happy that all those that had born her standard were far too wounded to carry it, or worse.

And neither was she enthused about the horde of Alavari that were trying to kill her and her remaining cavalry escort. The remaining Erisdalians were getting pushed farther and farther away from the battle between Frances and Thorgoth. Only three ragged formations of regiments remained of the vanguard and whilst the second division had pushed up, the Alavari facing them were far too numerous.

She’d already led several cavalry charges to rally the troops and halt their advance, surviving only thanks to Lord Tarquin’s magic.

At this point, it was a melee fight. Both sides were far too disrupted to form a line and use musketry. Pike, halberd and sword clashed with magic and cannonfire flying overhead to tear huge gaps through rows of soldiers.

“Noff, Columbine! Did you make the call for reinforcements?” Ginger yelled, turning to the couple who served as part of her staff and escorts. She winced as she remembered that they were also Jessica’s friends.

“We did, but the Reserve Division already committed!” Columbine yelled.

“What? Where?” Ginger looked around and blinked. There were a lot of allied flags to the left of her army, but they were not where she expected to be. They were far deeper into the enemy line than they had any right to.

A company of knights rode up to Ginger. “Your Majesty, I’m Katia. Your husband sent me to protect you.”

Lord Tarquin let out a sigh. “Lady Bladestorm, am I glad to see you.”

“Thanks, but where did he send the reserve division?” Ginger asked.

“To the center to break the Alavari line. He should be having them turn to flank the enemy about now,” said the scarred woman.

Ginger nodded. “Well that’s good. Just help me rally the 5th regiment over there—Wait, what are they up to now?”

The Alavari were disengaging from the Erisdalians and pulling back. What remained of Thorgoth’s Royal Guard had managed a clean break, keeping their formation and pulling back. The other Alavari soldiers however were just running. Some were even throwing down their arms and falling to the ground.

“The fuck? Don’t kill them! Capture them!” Ginger ordered.

Soldiers marched forward, grabbing the Alavari and quickly taking them captive. In a few minutes, the Queen of Erisdale found herself face to face with a shaking Alavari orc.

“I surrender! The general said we needed to surrender! Please don’t kill me!”

Holding onto the orc’s arm, Katia shook the prisoner “General? Which general?”

“Katia, cool it a little. Kid, what’s your name?” Ginger asked.

“Ishak. Please, I didn’t have a choice. It was the army or just another day on the streets!”

“I hear you Ishak, but you need to tell me, who is ordering the Alavari to surrender?” Ginger asked.

It seemed only then did Ishak notice Ginger’s crown because he started to babble even faster.

“General Helias, Your Majesty! He said that the battle is lost and that we should save our own lives. That we are to resist Thorgoth’s fanatics and just save ourselves!”

“Your Majesty, the Royal Guard are regrouping!” Noff, Columbine’s husband cried out.

Ginger patted the orc’s shoulder, feeling very old suddenly. The orc was just a teen, barely out of childhood. “You did the right thing, Ishak. Take care.” Running back to her horse, she remounted. “How many, Noff?”

“About two thousand left! Some others are rallying, but the other Alavari are in retreat or are surrendering! Their formation’s collapsing!”

Ginger narrowed her eyes. Thorgoth’s guards were moving towards the lightning storm that Frances was somehow still keeping up. She could still see, though, that the king was still shielding himself

“Edana!You and whatever mages we got have to help Frances! Leila!” Ginger spotted Dwynalina and Anriel amongst the new arrivals. “And you two, get over there and kill that demon king. We’ll help you with the Royal Guard.”

Her shoulders heaving slightly, Edana raised her visor and exchanged a glance with Dwynalina and Anriel.

“Ginger, I don’t think we can assist Frances—”

Ginger seized Edana’s arm. “What do you mean you can’t! Frances is keeping that bastard pinned but she can’t do so forever!”

The Dragon of Erisdale wrenched her arm out of the Queen of Erisdale’s arm. Without even glancing at her, she let loose another ball of flames that some mage in the Alavari Royal Guard managed to get a shield up to block.

“We’ll step in, but we can’t do it now. We tried to earlier, but Thorgoth forced us to get in each other’s way. We’ll have to watch when Frances tires and then step in,” said Edana.

“Ah, well then.” Before anybody could stop her, Ginger rode to the front of her battered Erisdalians. Her subjects and soldiers.

“Hey! Soldiers of Erisdale! We’re beating them! They’re surrendering except for that demon bastard and his band of mindless fucks! We kill them, we end this war! Who’s with me!”

She saw a young Erisdalian footsoldier, nursing a bruised leg roar. She saw a bloodied veteran let out a bellow. All around her, her subjects roared and surged forward.

Katia, who’d caught up, laughed. “Holy shit. No wonder Martin fell for you!”

Riding right behind her, Lord Tarquin let out a chuckle. “No fucking wonder! For Erisdale!”

***

“So our newfound allies are winning,” said Fennokra.

Lakadara sighed. “Yes, though, that brings to question what is that storm over there.”

From atop Yolandra, Morgan felt her blood run cold. “That is probably caused by my mother, Frances.”

Yolandra let out what seemed to be an incredulous grunt. “That’s the Stormcaller? Consider me far more glad that I chose to join you. That is a frightening amount of magic.”

“She’s kept that up for how long?” Fennokra asked.

Hattie now hung onto the spines on Fennokra’s back and she too felt a sinking feeling in her stomach. “Too long. Normally, Frances needs a natural storm to summon that much lightning. She must be fueling on emotion. She can’t keep this up for longer.”

“Which must mean Thorgoth is there,” said Lakadara, narrowing her eyes. “I have a score to settle with that monster.”

“So do we, sister,” said Yolandra. She smirked. “Though I find it rather ironic we fly to the Stormcaller’s aide.”

“The winds of fate are turbulent and unexpected,” said Fennokra. “Morgan, Hattie, do what you can to help your mother.”

“We will, but be careful, my grandfather is very dangerous,” said Morgan.

The dragons nodded and began their dive.

***