“How did we win?” One man mumbled.

Nina walked up to the sailor and merely stood next to him, her usually angry eyes, mellow, she was awestruck by Roderic. Talida likewise stood next to the short woman, wiry looking, thin features, she was suspicious of the victory, she was the only one who bothered to look if they had truly won; everyone else cheered, some even got alcohol out, Roderic did not demand discipline, Talida’s air elementals fanned out in various directions checking for an attacker. Talida did not find any enemy vessels, but still she tutted and hissed at the lack of proper vigilance.

“Amateurs…” she whispered.

Roderic looked at his lieutenant.

“Anything?”

Talida stumbled a little bit backwards, surprised at the sudden turn around in manners.

“They can celebrate, it was a feat,” he said, “I was checking too, you can never be too sure.”

“I suppose it was,” she mumbled, “I’m glad admiral.”

“It won’t be long and we’ll be at Suno. I pray it hasn’t fallen yet,” he said, his voice quivering and his fists clenching.

Talida stayed silent and pushed the ship along with her elementals, the wind catching the sails as they glided along the waves; Roderic did much the same with his water elementals, the fleet racing through the ocean and with full stability.

Roderic had arrived that evening, Nina’s gryphons assisted the defence immediately even slightly before he fully arrived. The morale was restored and aerial attackers bested, the ground defenders assisted. The squawking of said birds, drowned out the confused Demons, the humans were awed by the reinforcements, staring at the flapping wings and sound of the large birds. The Third fleet noticed a distinct absence of enemy vessel ships, not sure if a ruse or simply the effectiveness of their operations against Cahov, they nonetheless approached the harbour cautiously. Roderic’s fleet docked in, the regular troops joined the garrison, and the summoners not only repelled but obliterated the Cahov Demon attackers after a short battle. Demon infantry littered the various stairs up to the governors palace, the battlements ran red with blood, the stench was palpable, there was a quiet as soldiers and citizens waited. Roderic was near the city walls made of cobblestone; charred and chipped, creaking wooden buildings, half destroyed, some completely charred, dead on the wall, outside the wall and inside the city, the dead of both sides. Roderic shook his head, a peaceful city that he had been garrisoned in, subject to such ruthless carnage. He clenched his hand unconsciously; the air was still, blood and smoke could be smelt, what were once dry patches of dirt, now wet with blood. Roderic’s water elementals were still summoned, awaiting a surprise attack of any sort, like an unsheathed sword it was ready to strike. A man was running up to Roderic, and Roderic breathed in.

“Damn bastards,” the commander of the garrison said, cautiously wandering up to Roderic, “admiral Roderic!” He exclaimed his face lighting up with hope in his eyes as he said it.

The man outright hugged the short stocky admiral. He would have kissed him, but Roderic merely patted the man on the back. Roderic could understand the friendliness, even if he wasn’t entirely comfortable. Roderic smiled bemused at the garrison commander, and the cheers of his soldiers. The garrison commander was old and haggard, but he was not hiding his happiness. Some soldiers were outright crying in the background.

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“I thought we were going to die,” one man said collapsing on his knees, “I thought we were goners.”

“Is his name Roderic?” One soldier on the ramparts asked another.

“Yes it is.”

“Glory to Admiral Roderic! Glory to Roderic! Roderic! Roderic!”

The whole battlements, practically the entire city was screaming his name. The cries for the Admiral started as a smoulder and were soon so loud they silenced anything else. Roderic took in the scene, he looked bewildered and broke into a smile. There was still a sadness about Roderic.

I was too late, we could have avoided this. Well I had my orders I suppose. Find a dark sorcerer, was it a conspiracy? Did someone deliberately put me off course and out of the way to do an invasion? No high command probably had their reasons. I hope.

Roderic nodded, and then said:

“Glad I could help.”

Roderic laughed nervously. He did not know what to think, and just concentrated on the present.

“Help? You did more than help lad. You saved the city!” The garrison commander said adamantly.

“Nina?!” Roderic shouted.

“Already on it,” she said, bringing him the communication crystal.

The stench of blood, Demon and Human was quite something, but at least Suno had been secured. The city was still elated at his presence, blue flags with white dots, the flag of Sumar were hoisted on the roofs of houses, many flags had holes in them from the Demonic flames, they fluttered slowly, as the air was near still.

“Excuse me HQ! HQ!” Roderic said frantically.

The communication crystal on the other end turned on and a growl was heard followed by a terrified scream as a man was blatantly butchered. The splat of blood audible from the other side, Roderic winced at the sound. He closed his eyes, and scratched his head.

“Your pathetic Kingdom has been conquered! The royal family has been slaughtered, surrender or die!” The growling voice said.

Do you think he would spare us even if we did surrender? Somehow I doubt it. Roderic thought soberly.

Roderic turned it off slowly, looking at his lieutenants with a mixture of negative emotions. The garrison commander fell to his knees, looking up at Roderic, his face drooped and full despair had set in.

“We are doomed…” he muttered.

“Enough!” Roderic said, “I am admiral of the third fleet, I will Marshall Suno’s resources to continue the war effort, do you understand me? Sumar lives. Sumar is not some king, it is its people. I will fight. Will you?” He trembled, exhaled, and shook his fist to make the point, “even if it is only me. I will fight…” he said quietly, but the words produced tears in those who heard it.

The sailors and marines all looked at him first, the words were their own kind of magic, they looked with such hope which soon turned to pure elation, they all looked with inspired eyes and ready hearts. Roderic full of righteous fury, bellowed at his troops fully and without hesitation. He stamped on the ground with his feet.

“Our kingdom has been invaded! We must kill all these Demons and send them a clear message! Suno has not been conquered! Sumar lives! I live and will fight! What will you do?”

“We will fight!” One immediately said, followed by five others, followed by everyone.

The sailors, marines and soldiers were all cheering, chanting, and lifting their swords, and spears in the air as they psyched themselves up. Roderic took the moment in, the air trembled with the cries of so many, Roderic wiped a tear from his eye. Roderic tried to find other summoners. Then he received a call from his communication crystal.

“Yes what is it?”

“This is Elana of the fourth fleet, the Cahov Demons have surprised us to the extent that the royal family have been killed. Sumar city is in their control as is much of the countryside. I have dutifully held Fortus from capture, slaughtering many foes. I do not require assistance.”

“Really?” Roderic said, “I am Roderic of the third fleet, It is a honour to defend. No. Retake Sumar.”

“Yes it is,” Elana said, seriously without getting emotional.

“I hold Suno,” Roderic explained, “we should rendezvous and discuss strategy for the kingdom.”

“As you wish,” she said quietly and sternly.

The call ended, but the Kingdom hadn’t.