I thought he would serve me for life. That we would lead hand in hand our people to greater glory. But now I see that something or someone else has taken his mind. He strives for something he will not tell me, and…. It hurts to know that.

Despite that, I will do as I have always done, and lead my lead my people to survival. Dephoni, I think, will make an excellent fallback point for me. Its strategic significance cannot be understated. I will use it to mount my defenses.

-From The Last King of Elneshe’s 10th Note.

Rain pelted the entire group as they flew over the battlefield. Smoke rose up in plumes from the ground, fire lances laying used alongside torches that were dimming. Soldiers fought each other under the cover of the dark, lighting up only when one of them fired a lance at the other.

The only motes of colour on the entire battlefield were the hallowmancers. Green circles, blue beacons and red starts were present in every corner, making themselves targets for attack.

Galeon looked at the scene and paled. He let out a breath unexpectedly, the air steaming in front of his mouth. A moment later, a voice chimed into his head.

Galeon, is that you up there? Lambre asked him. the Duke himself was on the ground far away, surrounded by soldiers that was engaged in battle.

Yes, Duke Lambre.

Good, then. I need you over by the right flank. They’ve got elephants there I need you to lead away, The Duke ordered him immediately. The urgency in his voice was palpable.

But-

No ‘but’s this time, Afteburnrer. Get yourself onto the field right now.

Galeon darted his eyes between the girl in his arms and the elephants rampaging through the field. He could hear the trumpeting noises the animals emitted, and the screams that followed soon after.

“Sorry about this, Raya, but…” he handed her the girl. She nodded solemnly at him.

“Get her and Emile back to the camp, please,” Galeon asked.

Raya took off without another word, blasting away from the group and back towards their tents. Ninel and Isildan went towards the ground, and Galeon looked at the war elephants for only a moment before shooting off towards them.

He rushed past other Afteburners in the sky, engaged in duels of their own. He almost reached the right flank too, until someone popped up in front of him.

Even in the red Afterburner glow, Galeon could identify him as Ravenishtani. He had the look about him to be one.

“I can’t deal with you right now!” He shouted at the Ravenishtani, but the man didn’t budge. He must not have understood what Galeon said, bringing out a talwar in response.

Galeon, tiredly, brought out his dagger and the two Afterburners came at each other. The Ravenishtani went for an upwards swing, but Galeon dodged to the side. He cut him on the arm to make him drop the talwar, but the Ravenishtani backhanded him.

Galeon fell backwards in the air, licking his lips and finding it cracked. He freed a bit of bewl to heal the injury, warding off the Ravenishtani with his knife. Rain still pelted the both of them, and the cold seeped into their bones as they reengaged.

****

Dolish Venastian had taken too long to come back. It was bad enough that he’d almost been spotted by those Phasgorian Afteburrners, but now he could see they were absolutely losing this affair.

He’d failed his Form by letting it get this far. A talwar was supposed to defend whoever held it, yet they were barely pushing them away. The sheer number of Phasgorian troops boggled Dolish’s mind, though he should’ve expected it.

“Borne. We need to arrive at Latren quickly; Take me up,” Dolish ordered him. Borne began to place his jets as Dolish spoke to the others.

“Get to Latren as quickly as you can. If you can’t make it, try to hide near the forests to avoid the Phasgorians. Those notes are more important than anything we’ve gotten yet, so protect them with your lives. Understood?” Dolish said to the rest of his members. Raisha saluted him and shouted an affirmation, splitting off and leaving Borne and him along.

Borne raised Dolish into the air slowly. The both of them were drenched from head to toe, making flight much harder.

“As fast as you can make it, Borne! I don’t care for comfort!” Dolish shouted over the sounds of trampling elephants, soldiers shouting and metal clanging.

“This is as fast as I can go!” Borne shouted back.

Dolish could barely see at the speed that Borne was travelling, his eyes shutting at the sheer force of wind. He resolved to keep them closed, at least until they made it to the Stronghold. When they began to slow down, Dolish was glad to see it again.

The Stronghold had suffered massive damage. One of the spires on its corners was demolished, there were cracks running along the walls and ladders lined up in rows. Even as he descended, Dolish could see the soldiers mad at work, pushing off the ladders and pushing away the invaders.

Dolish landed on the stone wall with a thud, cushioning his fall by cycling bewl through his body. He stood up and immediately flared his Commander field, the light shocking the troops there.

For a moment they looked ready to attack, until they noticed the figure at the centre of the field.

“General Venastian has returned!” One soldier shouted, and a chorus of reinvigorated screams followed soon after. Vaness rushed up to Dolish, sporting a cut on her cheek and tired looking eyes.

“General…” She said weakly.

“Are you well, Vaness?” Dolish asked her.

“As much as I could manage. I tried to keep the troops organized but… I suppose that’s why I’m not in the army,” Vaness admonished herself.

“You did an admirable job, soldier. Let me take care of it from here.”

Dolish stepped past his assistant and further inside the fortress. He took a clear picture of the entire Stronghold and every spirit that he could recognize, then began to speak with each and every one of them.

Bring the Afterburners closer to the Stronghold. We’ve got virtually no air support here, He shot the order at one of the only remaining Afterburners there, who saluted and took off within the second.

All soldiers inside of Latren. Line yourselves up against the wall. Don’t give the Bladeborn any space to land.

Even those injured among the troops began to rush up the stairs, placing themselves in formations all along the length of the walls.

Planars, focus on carrying soldiers back. Devourers, I need you inside and on the ground, in case the enemy Bladeborn jump directly into the empty field.

Both regiments of Bladeborn took up their spots inside of the stronghold. In a moment, portals began to open up along the platforms near the walls, soldiers pouring in from them. Devourers stood inside the ground and waited for Bladeborn to arrive. Whenever they’d try to land, Devourers would run them off.

Aftebrurners were dangerous. Often, they’d use hit and run tactics. Come close and blast the soldiers with a fire lance, before flying off. That stopped soon after Dolish’s own Afterburners arrived.

****

Galeon flew through the air on borrowed wings, his bewl running low. He’d taken care of the Ravenishtani who’d challenged him, leaving him sleeping soundly on the forest floor.

Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

Now, he landed in front of the herd of elephants, soldiers sat upon their backs in little carriages. The creatures had long trunks and longer ears, but Galeon thought they looked almost cute because of it.

He raised a hand with a jet on it to scare away the beasts, but they didn’t listen. The elephants tried to trample him, failing only when he flew into the air. Behind him, soldiers were still retreating. He just had to keep the elephants preoccupied enough that they couldn’t kill anyone.

This should be easy, Galeon considered, before soldiers popped out of the top of the elephants and began to pelt him with tar grenades. Dodging them was an annoyance, but Galeon did it. He caught one of the grenades in his hand, sending it back in the elephant’s face and watching it thrash around because of it.

Galeon jumped into one of the other carriages, finding two men sitting inside of it. He quickly punched both of them out, slapping the elephant and jumping off. That one also went into a frenzy, which in turn hurt the rest of them.

When the entire herd tried to rush past, Galeon flew in front of them and guided them away from Phasgorians, scaring them in the direction he wanted with his jets. He would blast a harmless pulse, then the elephants would run away.

It was a bit ironic to think creatures that large feared him, but Galeon accepted it. He’d be afraid of a fly with hallowmancy as well.

One of the elephants in particular didn’t listen, however. This one was covered in scars and ornaments of green, looking more like a decoration than a creature of war. When all the other elephants ran, that one stuck behind and kept pushing. Galeon pulsed his jets, but it didn’t seem to scare the monster. It kept rushing towards the Phasgorian back ranks.

If it’s not going to listen, I’ll make it move! Galeon thought as flew over to the beast’s side. He placed both hands against the beast’s belly, freeing his bewl to his feet and pushing it. But it didn’t budge. Galeon’s eyes widened, thinking it some mistake. He pushed again, but it was like trying to move a wall, even for him.

Galeon grunted, flying up and into its carriage, finding two more soldiers inside of it. He grabbed the both of them and threw them off of the beast. He watched them fall, but they rose back into the air.

Afterburners.

He didn’t have time for them. The elephant crashed into one of their catapults, tearing it apart without stopping for a second. He hated doing it, but Galeon placed both hands against the beast, and this time he blasted it with the thrust. It let out a peal, but refused to stop. When Galeon removed his hands, he was surprised to find that the skin was knitting itself back together.

Wait… It’s…. It’s a hallowmancer! Galeon thought. He had heard only stories about animals with hallowmancy. But to think it was real! Before he could change the beast’s course, he was knocked out of the carriage by the twin Afterburners.

They pushed him off and onto the ground, placing jets on his arms as they did. Galeon fell onto the grass and tried to get up, but they activated their jets. The thrust pinned him to the ground, and the Ravenishtanis smiled cruelly at him.

Galeon struggled, but instead of flying off, he levelled his jets horizontally and pushed. He began to slide against the ground, looking up to avoid any obstacles. The Ravenishtanis shouted at him, but he kept running from them all the while.

Twisting left and right on the ground, the back of his head scraping against the grass, he led them on. When Galeon finally got out of range, he was glad as the jets disappeared off of his body. He let himself slow to a stop, sitting up to find himself in an unfamiliar area.

His bewl wrung completely dry, Galeon reached for his pockets. Even there, the bewllan crystals were almost spent. He drank what little he could, standing up and looking far ahead. Lightning crackled and Galeon heard the sound of a trumpeting animal.

He sighed, tired and drenched as he was, but still walked forward to where he needed to. Into the path of the charging beast, Galeon stood. He shook his fists and loosened his muscles, internally dreading his next actions.

One chance. Just one… Rain kept pelting him but Galeon kept calm. The elephant started charging, faster than any animal that size Galeon had ever seen. Closer and closer, it came every moment. Every moment, Galeon’s death became more of a reality.

When it was about halfway to him, Galeon wondered if he should jump out of its path. But there were other soldiers behind him. If he didn’t take the monster down now, it’d trample over every one of them without a second thought.

It got closer, almost atop him now. Its feet dug into the ground; its tusks ready to maul him. Just as they were about to gore him, Galeon jumped. Bewl enhancement took him to the skies, right next to the beast’s face.

A single fist, ready to deliver a punch, landed on the elephant’s face. Galeon put everything into that punch, creating a jet the size of his head on the beast. And then, he freed all of his bewl into it.

A flame flickered and rose to life, sizzling as it impacted the rain. The thrust twisted the elephant’s head to the side, changing its balance. It changed course all too quickly, tripping over itself in the damp weather. It crashed onto the ground, raising up dirt and debris as it came to a halt. Bones crunched and it let out a weak trumpet. When it finally stopped, only Galeon stood behind it, utterly drained and ready to go home.

****

Soon enough, Latren became unbreachable. The concentrated force gathered at the fortress prevented entry. They’d lined up cannons on each side of the fortress, blasting away at the Phasgorians who approached or tried to mount a counter-offensive, Dolish’s eyes were bloodshot, and he had to blink away a few tears in the midst of the fight.

When he thought he could spare a moment of rest, he let his Commander field drop. His head throbbed with pain, adrenaline barely numbing it.

“General, are you okay?” Borne asked him, placing a hand on his shoulder.

“Yes… Yes, I’ll be fine. We just need to survive the assault. Then we can go and gather the war elephants back up,” Dolish replied, rubbing his eyes and face.

“We’ll have it done as you want, Dolish,” Borne replied.

He was about to move away, when the sound of an explosion blasted from below them. The fortress shook and Dolish collapsed to his knees.

“What was that!” He shouted out to his troops. They rushed to the edge of the wall and looked inside Latren.

“T-The gate! They’ve breached it!” Vaness shouted at Dolish.

He ground his teeth. With that open, they’ll… No, Vartel wouldn’t let this get in his way.

He tapped into the spirit of his soldiers, dulling their terror and enhancing their resolve.

Soldiers! This will not stop us! Keep to your missions, and we’ll send them back running!

Dolish sighed, standing up. That seemed to snap his troops out of their reverie, as they doubled the effort they were putting in. Dolish ran towards the wall and placed his hands on it, his Commander field a blue beacon for all.

General, they’re coming in for a full frontal assault! One of his scouts shouted into his mind.

Dolish looked at the approaching army. Some of the soldiers lost their wills to fight, looking at the large wall of Bladeborn and soldiers about to trample them.

“Fire the cannons!” Dolish shouted, forgetting his hallowmancy. Soldiers reloaded the cannons, placing iron balls inside the barrels and trying to light the fuse. The sounds of cannon blast left them temporarily deaf,

The cannonballs flew over the enemy Afterburners, hitting their front lines and dividing them. But that didn’t mean they could rest.

“Reload!” Dolish ordered again and the soldiers set to it. Dolish himself helped load the cannonballs, lining up the aim even as the soldiers kept approaching. Phasgorian Afterburners finally landed on the walls of Latren, and Dolish was forced to disengage.

The Afterburners took out fire lances and fired, scattering the ranks atop the walls. Dolish was saved by a soldier who threw himself in front of him. The Afterburner attacking him looked stunned, but flew off before Dolish could get his hands on him.

The army was right atop of Latren, then, so Dolish had to act fast.

Bring out the grenades! They’re grouped up, so hit them with every single one we have! Dolish ordered.

The Phasgorians didn’t expect the assault. It was a simple trick, but they fell for it despite the fact. The cannonballs would distract them while Dolish gathered their remaining supply of grenades.

Jars of hot tar fell on the Phasgorians, who screamed in pain as it burnt them. Their Bladeborn were weighed down by the soldiers clinging to them, unable to separate and attack Latren.

The only Bladeborn free enough to attack were the Afterburners, who kept shooting fire lances at the soldiers. By now, the top of the wall was littered with Ravenishtani soldiers, pelted with stones and groaning.

“The Ravenfire grenades, NOW!” Dolish shouted. But it was for naught. A large, burst of flame came from their storage. Dolish had to shield his eyes from the light, before he could take a look at them.

An entire section of the wall had collapsed, embers smouldering in the wreckage. DAMN YOU, Dolish’s mind raced.

All around him, spirits were disappearing from his vision. Soldiers were falling, his Bladeborn growing too tired. The Phasgorians were beginning to separate from the tar. The Ravenfire grenades were supposed to be their trump card. But now, without it, they were surrounded by an enemy that was only slightly inhibited.

Dolish tried to think of a stratagem to win. What Vartel would do in the situation. He fought with a Devourer, a man who he sent tumbling off the roof, realizing only then the answer. Vartel would run. Just like he’d run after the barbarians from South Gejsa had invaded them.

Just like he’d taught Dolish to do when hopes were lost. Rain streaked down onto the stones of Latren, and Dolish knew he would have to abandon it. So, he began preparations.

Planars, set up a line of retreat points. Afterburners, keep the Bladeborn from breaching our walls as much as you can. Devouerers, incapacitate the enemy Planars. Soldiers, retreat!

With those commands, the entire battlefield changed. No longer did the soldiers engage in fights they couldn’t win. They abandoned their posts and ran as fast as they could. Portals were set up inside of Latren, on either side of each wall. People trampled over each other, carried each other, pushed past each other to reach the portals.

Devourers did what they were ordered to. They slashed out the eyes of the enemy Planars, preventing a chase. Afterburners did everything they could to keep the enemy at bay, flying stalwart against the enemy.

And Dolish stumbled, Borne and Vaness at his side as he admitted defeat. Soldiers surrounded him, defending him from Bladeborn seeking glory through his death. Dolish walked through the portal slowly, taking one look at the Stronghold as left it.

So close to the answers. Why? Why did it have to happen now? Dolish asked himself as the portal winked out behind him, clenching his fists. But he couldn’t brood by himself.

Soldiers stood on the other side of the portals, awaiting orders from him. We march, as fast as you can manage. If you’re injured, let Bladeborn carry you.

Dolish issued the order, embarrassed to have to even consider it. But what else could he do? The Armon would have his head for this, Dolish knew. But he marched onwards anyways, because he knew that His Sharpness would not be unfair in his judgement.