“Soldiers, there stand the gates of Keley,” said Rassler to his troops. He'd almost called them “men,” but given that half were women and most of the orc women could rip him in half, Rassler went with “soldiers.”

“We are almost there! My city will welcome us, and we will dine like kings this evening!”

A cheer went up from the orcs, goblins, and buggebears, while the wolves barked approval. They were all tired, and eager to take the city and get some rest.

Greymil looked more hopeful than he had since they’d left Keley two months before, fleeing for their lives. Rassler vowed to make the young man a landed knight should his plan actually work.

After the battle, Rassler had led his cavalry south, across the border and into the March of Flai Drary, Count Rassler’s old fiefdom. The fiefdom he had decided to reclaim, with the six hundred creatures of his command.

They’d pursued fleeing Vatharian soldiers. Some they took prisoner, turning them over to the patrolling Pelsan infantry. Other groups they just harassed, encouraging them to flee faster and farther. Rassler wanted as much of the Vatharian army out of Flai Drary as he could manage.

Rassler had been looking in particular for Vatharian squads made up of members of the Keley City Guard. But either the Keley guardsmen were dead or hiding, or they’d been among the first to flee and were still ahead.

“Look sharp, and form lines. We should look serious as we get to the gates,” said Greymil, trying out a commanding tone.

Rassler expected that the city would be either undefended, or only lightly defended. He was going to make a try to take the city, either way.

“Dragon sir!” yelled one of the orcs on horseback. “It’s one of ours, I think.”

A red dragon was circling above the group. After a couple of minutes, it began its descent. Rassler recognized the dragon.

Scarlett landed a few yards in front of him. On her back were Myla and Anikga, who undid their great scarves and hopped down.

“Um, guys, what are you doing? We've been looking for you all over,” said Scarlett as her riders dismounted.

Count Rassler rode forward to the dragon. “We are liberating territory. Like our king said to do in his speech this morning.”

“Well, I missed that speech. But haven’t you gone a bit far? I'm pretty sure my father didn't mean for you to go all the way to Keley,” said Princess Myla.

“You are going to conquer Keley, aren’t you?” asked Anikga.

Rassler shook his head. “It isn’t conquering. It’s already my city. We are liberating it!”

Myla turned to a random goblin. “You,” she pointed. “Why are you following him and helping conquer human cities?”

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

“Well, he is our commander,” said the randomly selected goblin.

“Was that really it?” asked Myla, looking the goblin in the eye.

“Okay, it was gold, Your Highness,” said the goblin. “Gold. Lieutenant Rassler said he'd pay us gold from the Keley city treasury if we help liberate it.”

Then Myla saw a buggebear she knew.

“You too Dorchy? You’ve joined this adventure?”

“Your Highness,” explained Dorchy, “I always enjoy visiting the humans, and liberating them sounded like a good thing to do, and he said there’d be money involved.”

Rassler started to explain, but Myla pointed her finger and a vine from a nearby tree detached from the trunk and wrapped around Rassler’s mouth, silencing him. The vine continued and pulled him off his mount and bound the count to a tree. Spike, surprised at the loss of his rider, tried to claw at the vines, but Myla ordered him down, saying “Spike, you stop that and let me hold him, or I’m going to tell your father!”

Spike backed down, but made a long, low growl in reply.

“Oh, I am so going to tell Shadow you said that!” scolded a scandalized Scarlett. “My word, but I do not even believe my ears!”

Myla ignored the mouthy giant wolf and spoke again to the soldiers. “Orcs, goblins, buggebears, wolves! Loyal creatures of Pelsa! What has gotten into you? Must I remind you that we are supposed to be the good guys! We don't do things just for gold!”

This was news to the orcs and goblins. It set off a wave of debate in the ranks.

Rassler had managed to pry the vine away from his mouth.

“You know, Your Highness, and Lady Scarlett: If we take Keley, that would open up all of the March of Flai Drary as a market for SFAC,” he said.

The dragon licked her lips at the thought.

“I mean, Myla, we could help him,” Scarlett said. I'm sure our parents won't mind. Maybe your father did say we should take some territory.”

“Could I speak with you two in private for a moment?” Myla asked

Myla, Scarlett and Anikga stepped away from the group and conferred. Rassler couldn’t hear all of what they were saying, but there was something about serfs, something about profits and something about market size. Rassler figured the discussion was going his way.

Myla walked back to the group. “Ok, we will help you. But then understand that this is an official Kingdom of Pelsa thing. You can rule the city and the March of Flai Drary, but you work for my parents.”

“Understood, Your Highness, and thank you. I’d always planned it that way, of course.”

“Of course,” Myla smiled.

Again on the move, the column approached the city. They saw that the drawbridge was raised. There didn’t seem to be any guards on the city walls, but Rassler did see a few heads peeking out of the slits in the guard tower next to the bridge.

He called out, “I am Count Rassler of Flai Drary. I am the rightful ruler of the land and this city. I order you to lower the drawbridge and allow us entry. No harm will come to you or the city.”

“Go away. We have half the army here and will fight to the death,” yelled a voice. “I’m going to go wake up the dragons now.”

Scarlett flew up and circled the tower. She then landed on the roof and looked into the windows of the tower. “Oh, stop,” she said. “There are no soldiers on the walls and the tower is almost empty.”

“Just lower the bridge,” shouted Rassler again. “Don’t make this hard.”

“Don’t make me blast the tower,” shouted Myla, trying to help. “I will totally blast that tower!”

It did rather help.

The drawbridge started lowering. At the other end they could see Sergeant Cloyd and Private Kemble walking out. Dorchy and Maalik ran over to meet them.

Dorchy grabbed Cloyd and gave him a big buggebear hug.

As the others crossed into the city, Myla stood on the drawbridge next to Count Rassler. Her arms were crossed, and she looked very satisfied with herself.

“Good,” she said. “Now we can free the humans from serfdom and their evil overlords!”

“Wait, what? You are going to do what?” asked Rassler.

Myla didn’t respond, but began walking across the bridge to the city.

“Does this mean you are going to remove me?” asked Rassler, trying again to ascertain his fate.

“No, my sister and I think you are probably okay. Work to be fair and just. And make sure you do everything we say. There are going to be a number of changes around here,” answered the princess as she entered the City of Keley.