The first gnome to pop out of the ground was met with one of Mairwen's arrows. Although she had not had many arrows left after the battle with the pirates, Mairwen had fashioned some with wooden arrowheads that would still hurt considerably when met with flesh.

The arrow hit its mark and the gnome sunk to the ground in pain. Seeing their comrade go down, the gnomes on either side ducked into the earth for protection.

"That way! Archers, lay down some cover!" Devrim ordered while pointing to the gap the princess had made.

The other archers shot from the back of their steeds to try to widen the hole. Although none of them were used to shooting form horseback, most arrows got close enough to scare the gnomes into a momentary retreat. Devrim and Mairwen led the group through the hole over the uneven ground.

As soon as the horses began to file through the gap, the archers could not continue their onslaught. Moments after the arrows stopped, the gnomes reappeared to cut off the fleeing horses. The group of humans were cut in two.

Devrim turned to Eira. "Get the princess out of here!" he ordered. Eira saluted and moved to lead the blue-eyed girl to safety.

Mairwen pulled on her reigns and spun her horse around. "I am staying with you. There is nowhere for me to go that is any safer than here, and I am possibly the best archer you have."

The Princess was not making excuses, merely stating facts, and Devrim knew it. He sighed in resignation.

"Fine. Stay close and stay alert." Devrim tried to remain calm. Fighting the pirates with Mairwen nearby had been hard enough for the Emperor, but at least he knew of what the humans were capable. Gnomes had powers, and he knew nothing of leprechauns beyond their name. He hoped there was only one of those little red creatures.

Meanwhile, Junayd was leading other men to stomp on the gnomes with their horses. He noticed that when the small creatures ducked below the surface, the ground healed enough for the horses to cross outside the circle that had been formed. It was a risky maneuver, and a couple of the horses misstepped, throwing their riders. The gnomes, who had appeared so formidable at first, now seemed like frightened gophers.

"They do not seem very organized," Mairwen observed. She drew her bow and shot at a gnome who was about to pull a horse into the earth with him. The rider and her mount got to freedom just in time.

"Something is not right." Why didn't the gnomes suck them under the ground like they did to Aurora so many years ago? They seemed to be showing extra care with their movements. It was strange. Then he noticed that the horses footsteps were sinking into the ground slightly with each step. The dirt was dry, but also very easily compressed.

The gnomes were now calling to one another in the ancient tongue. Devrim wished he knew what they were saying. The words sounded frantic.

The Emperor noticed that the fort itself was beginning to waver as the ground started to quake. The massive structure, which was so grand it could have easily housed thousands upon thousands of men, was slowly shifting into the earth below. Puffs of dirt filled the air at the Southern Fort sunk into the ground, rattling the earth and the gnomes, horses and humans nearby. The leprechaun seemed to have fled.

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"Your Majesty!" Junayd called as the fort began to dive into the earth.

"I see it! Everyone get as far away as you can!" Devrim yelled frantically. Everyone began to attempt an escape from the hole that was being created by the wooden fortress.

The gnomes came above ground and ran on their legs. It seemed even they did not feel safe below the earth with the wooden monstrosity. Westward all the creatures went, but it quickly became clear that horse and rider were too heavy for the fragile ground. It was as if the entire planet was collapsing and the weight of the horses were hastening the fall.

"We cannot stay on the horses!" Mairwen echoed the Emperor's thoughts.

"You are right," Devrim answered.

"Dismount quickly, before you end up in the ground!" Junayd called.

Most of the group complied quickly and took to running on foot, but one reluctant nobleman was nearly swallowed whole when the ground below him collapsed. It was only the quick reaching hand of Okan that saved him from the early grave.

The people were light enough to skim the surface of the fragile ground, but the gnomes, who were much heavier due to their partially-stone bodies, were not able to keep up. Each step sunk into the ground like walking through thick mud.

"We are gaining ground!" Okan cheered.

"What is up ahead?" Eira could see a change in the landscape. The crusty, cracked ground gave way to mounds of golden sand.

"That is the Drifting Dunes Desert," Junayd answered. "Perhaps we can use it to hide and regroup."

Many of those nearby looked to Devrim for confirmation. His mouth formed a determined line. "You heard the general. To the dunes!"

The race became slower and slower as both groups tried to reach the sand. They were all growing tired. Thankfully the ground seemed to be growing tired as well; it was caving in less and less the further they walked.

Since the gnomes were not sinking as they had been, they were beginning to gain ground.

"We are not going to make it!" One of the noblemen cried in despair.

"Those who are able, draw your weapons. We will hold back the gnomes while the others get to safety." Devrim prepared his weapon as he looked over his shoulder. The closest gnome was only a few steps behind the last human.

The Emperor rushed to protect the weary soldier. His sword clashed with the gnome's shortened blade. A few other troops including Junayd and Okan fought back the closest of the enemy. The other humans were able to gain ground and reach the sand. They rushed to find places to hide among the sand in hopes that the gnomes could not sense them among the grains of the desert.

Those holding the line made a tactical retreat. The gnomes were not good with a blade and more than a few of them fell under the more skilled human soldiers. But the stalky creatures were determined, and one almost made a deadly blow into Devrim's side when the Emperor slipped on the first patch of sand.

Then something strange happened. The gnomes stopped their advance and watched as the humans moved into the desert ground. The looks on the enemies' faces were indescribable while they watched the humans slowly escape.

"Why are they not coming?" Junayd asked the Emperor.

Mairwen ran from her hiding place to her father. "Did we win? Are they afraid of the sand?" Eira chased after the princess and tried to pull her back into hiding, but it was too late.

Devrim held his fighting stance as he backed away slowly. "I am not sure what is going on, but I do not like it. However, our choices are to keep going or to fight. I do not think we have the ability to win even with our superior sword skills. The only reason we are not dead already is that the gnomes realized that the ground was unsteady and could not use their magic how they wanted."

"Could the same be true of the desert?" Eira wondered aloud.

The others shivered at the thought, but they had no time to answer. The last of the surviving gnomes had reached the edge of the desert and was staring at them with malice. Their eyes began to glow. Devrim knew that this happened when a large amount of magic was about to be used. All of their eyes were glowing which meant a ton of magic was about to come their way.

"Get out of hiding! Get out of here!" the Emperor yelled. He sheathed his sword and pulled on Mairwen's hand. Together with the others, the humans used their last store of energy to put space between themselves and the gnomes.

A terrible rumbling filled the air as a wall of sand rose from the ground high into the air behind them. The sand grains, unable to continue their upward motion indefinitely, curled over creating a desert tsunami. If it had not been terrifying, it could have been beautiful.

The wave of sand barreled toward the humans. There was no escape. It caught up everyone in its mighty flow and plunged them into its depth.

The gnomes watched with satisfaction as the magical wave sank over the horizon. They scanned the desert floor for movement. The ground was deathly still.

"Can we go back to our caves in the land of magic?" one of them whined. "This sun is murder on my skin."

"No," another answered, "But I think we can safely go back to the palace. The Southern Fort is destroyed. The humans cannot use use it even if some of them survive. Our work here is done."

"Good," a third chimed in. "I do not like the feel of this unsteady earth nor do I like knowing what lives beneath. And that desert gives me the creeps."

The rest mumbled their agreement. After checking on the wounded and burying their dead, the gnomes marched back toward Valiant.