Men in blue robes trudged through the woods, their pointed Elf ears extending from silver helmets, and carrying ornate swords and spears. The army of Ulferling finished crossing a wooden bridge as one of the elves, lit an arrow and sent it across to a pile of clay pots, engulfing the bridge in flames. His younger squire looked in confusion.

“You do not understand, do you?” We burn the bridges so our enemies cannot cross them to our home.”

“But how will we return then, if the bridges are gone?”

“We ride to meet the red army of Dravenguard, ten thousand strong and trained hard. Most of us will not survive, those who do will scatter and return other ways. The main road must be impassable to force them through the deep woods, where we can kill them like rabbits. Ulferling is impenetrable, the woods nothing but death for them, but we will most likely all die in order to protect the city. It is our destiny.” He said, as if making peace with it. The men staying behind in the woods will handle the rest.

Gizzy peered over the hill at the wave of red armor snaking through the fields and shaking the ground.

“You see a dragon?” She asked Vinn, as he and Dee lay prone to be unnoticed by the passing army.

“Looks like they didn’t bring it. You’d think if you were going to war, you’d bring your dragon.” Dee pondered.

“Not if another dragon was perched outside your home city gates, waiting for an opening. Guess they were right about two dragons in Dravenguard. Tempting to just hit them both, but we can barely handle one dragon and Vinn doesn’t have a shield yet. It’s half a day out of the way to Forgeton, two days ride to Dravenguard.”

“If we kill the king, the dragon dies, supposedly.” Shrugged Vinn. “You don’t think we might be better off sniping his ass down that hill and letting it just die?”

“Yea, and piss off an army that doesn’t know we’re here at the moment, or they don’t care. If one dragon dies, the other one will hit the city and probably just leave before we get there. We’d never find it again.”

“Still…that’s one dragon dead.” he shrugged.

“One dead, one missing, and 10,000 men chasing us to Forgeton while a whole populated city burns. You wanna let a whole city die and then lead an army to another one for one dead dragon, or do you wanna hope that king is marching to his death in battle, and hope we get the shield and get back to Dravenguard? Take down the other one…and we just have one left.”

“Damnit. That’s a slightly less shitty plan.” Vinn sighed. "Shame, I could probably hit him from here.”

“Assuming that’s even the king and not a decoy. Come on, forget the giant wave of fire ants and let's go to Forgeton.” Gizzy said. Dee looked at the map and felt silly.

“You know, I’mma be honest. I thought it was forget-ton for like half this trip. Like the town nobody remembered.”

“Really?” Vinn asked.

“Hey, nobody pronounced it aloud for a while, Forgeton…forget-ton.”

“Never dawned on you that a town of dwarves blacksmiths might name a place Forge-town?” Gizzy asked.

“I didn’t grow up hammering bronze like you, hon. I spent most of my life in a server tower, not a battle tower.” Dee scolded.

Nicole stood on the bow of a ship, rushing its way through the open lake and towards the rivers leading to Ulferling. One of the Satyr men approached her as she sketched the terrain on paper.

“Goddess of war, and goddess of map making. What strange ways you have chosen.” He smiled.

“Oh, no I just played a lot of D and D. I always drew the maps. I wonder why nobody ever tried this before…taking Ulferling by water?” she pondered.

“Nobody in Dyrecove had the balls to wage war with a kingdom, let alone with one with a dragon. You know what a dragon can do to a ship at sea?”

“Oh the dragon won’t be a problem. It’s far away, and so is their army. They left it wide open, thinking they were covering the greater threats.”

“With their witches and their blood magic, I would have assumed they would have predicted this.”

“Oh, I have my own cold-blooded magic.” She smiled. "They never predicted me, or that I’d be the biggest threat."

“Well, if you think we can take them out, perhaps we can. I only hope when we arrive, they have not called the blue dragon back to defend it. Do you really think you can slay a dragon alone?”

“Oh I’m not killing the king’s dragon. I’m claiming it. You’re about to have some aerial assault power on your side. She’s mine.” Nicole said with a blue glow deep within in her black eyes.

“These dragons are loyal to the kings till death. They have shared the bones of the gods, bonded their souls to them. If you kill the king, you kill the dragon.”

“Oh ye of little faith.” She sighed. “There’s always an alternative to death. Everyone thinks the rout to power is killing everything, but the rout to power is all about leverage and bending the rules.” She finished.

Willow grabbed her crossbow, arming it and heading to the rickety wooden watchtower to see what army came to test their swords against Thievenbridge. She stood silently as Thaddeus watched calmly.

“They’re not marching here, they’re just buying supplies.” He said.

“You mean stealing supplies. Black armor and flags of the crescent moon. Gravestead doesn’t buy our supplies, they just take what they need and give us whatever they decide is fair. Just enough to keep us poor and desperate. I could probably kill the king with this bow.”

“Or get killed and lose the bow. Get the city destroyed. Sis, just let them do their looting and leave. That’s an army ready for war and bloodshed against another kingdom. We’re nothing to them. They must be marching on Spirecrest.”

“Isn’t everyone?” Willow sighed. “I hope the golden shore is worth dying over because I hope they all die there and rid us of their damned rule.”

“Just be happy knowing they’re all marching to war. Any dead Elf is a blessing, Any dead Elf king is a dead dragon, and this prophesy will be over soon.”

“Which one? There are so many of them to choose from? Do any of them ring true?” she asked.

“One of them must. Most of them tell of the fall of the kings, and the details are not important. We are just ants on a hill, waiting to see how fate decides it must be. Let them all fight and die over their greed. Don’t get yourself killed over some lost profits and goods, a few broken windows and shouted words. Let them loot and run, for they may be enjoying their final meals.” He toasted.

“To the gods.” She said, tipping her flask and placing down the bow.

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Nicole stepped into the cool waters, gazing at the high castle on the rocks of Ulferling, suspended on pillars and mounds of earth and rock.

“Behold, Ulferling, Wave of the woods. The waters are too shallow for a boat from here, and by now we have certainly been spotted by someone."

“Good…” Nicole grinned. “Now your job is to distract them. Tell them you are lost and on your way to the sea for fishing.”

“And what is your plan to take down a kingdom with ten soldiers pretending to be fishermen?” he asked.

“You just wait for the chaos and clean up the mess.” She said, diving into the water and swimming like a fish to the lower arches of the castle as the men stood and watched.

“IS she really a god, or is she just insane?” asked one of the younger satyrs, scratching his head.

“Well, if she is insane, she’ll die, and we’ll just retrieve the robes, and then go back home. If she’s a god, then this dystopian era I at an end.”

She glided through the water, breathing casually as she closed her eyes and listened to the water and how it flowed, trying to hear where it drained from the castle. She swam to the dark holes in the bottom, locating a set of iron bars. She grabbed them and gave a light tug, her robes glowing and the symbols turning and changing. The water began to boil and heat up as flames engulfed the robes. She held on tightly as the flow of water intensified and the heat of the chaos in her grip suddenly stopped, and her eyes went from black to frosty white. The satyr stood whittling some wood in boredom as a shutter shook the ground and a section of the castle foundation turned white with frost, a crack forming up the wall as water flowed from it.

“Whatever she’s doing, she’s doing it.” he said as they all began to pay attention.

Nicole swam past the shattered stone and broken bars, rocketing up the stone water pipe and emerging in a lush garden at the top of the castle border. She flickered with flame, drying off her robes as she brushed her hair from her face, a large streak of it now pale white and shimmering like silk, free from her braids.

“Interesting.” She said as she stepped from the water like a faerie from a wishing well, several guards rushing in and releasing arrows that bounced before reaching her as she casually yawned and waved her staff. She strolled through the halls, thrusting her staff and knocking over guards and sets of gilded armor on display, as if taking a casual destruction walk for the hell of it. The doors flew open as she entered the main hall, King Ulferling on his throne in dismay, rushing for his sword.

“Don’t bother. You look like you could break a hip just attempting it.” Nicole chuckled.

“Has Spirecrest sent their witch to kill me?” he asked, his old hands gripping the sword shakily.

“Not exactly. I don't answer to Spirecrest. I'm freelance. I just like your home and decided to make it mine.”

“I will have men to this very hall in moments." he barked.

“No you won’t. The gates are open, your army is gone, and your guards were a joke.” She giggled.

“I will call the great dragon Azure to destroy your army.”

“It’s actually just me and a handful of goats, but by all means, please summon the dragon. In fact, if you don’t, I’ll have to hurt you. The dragon is kind of the whole point.” She muttered, as Satyr in armor strolled into the main hall and fanned out. “This is my kingdom now, sweetie.”

“How DARE you!” King Ulferling said, strutting in her direction. “You enter MY kingdom, and MY castle, proclaiming yourself-” he started as she struck him with the staff, more as an insult and to silence than to injure.

“What, old man? I’m unkillable, your men did nothing, your gates did nothing, you are alone and without your army and your pet. So listen up… You’re my prisoner now. We can make this unpleasant or really unpleasant, I don’t wanna waste your time villain monologueing, I got shit to do, this place needs redecorating, and your foundations are terrible. Call her back. Call the dragon back. She’s mine now.” Nicole said.

“You foolish girl. Through all your power and determination, you failed to understand what you’ve done. If you kill me, you kill your dragon. Azure answers to ONLY the king. Blood of a king, not papers or a castle, BLOOD! Proclaim yourself King tiny one, write it in the scrolls and have your men shout it. It means nothing. Azure keeps me strong even in my frail age, and we are bonded through blood magic. I control the wave of the woods, and I alone. Taking my life loses your prize, taking that throne will seal your death when my army returns, and you are nothing compared to a dragon, so I shall call Azure to the woods, and you shall have what you ask for…and regret it.”

“Oh shut up, grampa.” She rolled her eyes, whacking him again and motioning the satyr guards to restrain him.

Gizzy’s eyes opened to the sound of wings flapping. She grabbed her sword and kicked Vinn to roust him as Dee grabbed her bow.

“We got air travel.” Gizzy said grabbing her spyglass and noticing the color of it. “The blue one…it’s not headed our direction, it’s headed north.”

“Isn’t that the blue elf kingdom’s direction?” Dee asked, "Uberlane or whatever?"

“It’s been summoned back home. Either that or the red army just pissed off the King, and they’re about to take it in the ass from overhead. Why the hell would he call the dragon back? This guy’s moves make no sense. He strikes another kingdom, lands his dragon at their gates to hold them there, and then just…retreats?” Gizzy pondered. “Some weird shit happening up North. Dee, lower the bow, it’s out of range and not our problem. If the red one follows, we may have to turn back. Son of a bitch, I was hoping they would face off. Not only would that be badass to watch from the mountains, but we’d have one dead dragon and one wounded dragon in the same night.

“Balls. Well there went that plan, Forgeton and the shield I guess?” Vinn shrugged.

“I wish I knew what the hell these kings are doing, it’s like schizophrenic chess, and we’re slower than the pieces, so they just keep moving. Fuck it. We get the shield, we go get Nicole and Nathan, and with all 4 items we just pick a kingdom and bulldoze it. Wipe the kings out, dragons fall. Nobody has the upper hand. Delaying the inevitable. Move out.” She ordered.

The red army cheered and waved swords in the air as the blue dragon got smaller in the distance.

“Ulferling you old fool…” King Hafth puzzled. “Cower in your castle and summon your beast to guard you.”

“My lord…send The Rose to burn down his army while his back is turned.

“No. We play a game of hearts and backs to stab. Let The Rose guard the city we hold dear, let his icy beast protect his icy soul. He is only taunting us. His army is nothing to our might but deep in the woods under the cover of the forest, even the fire of the Rose cannot burn them all. He will sit safely in his castle like a coward as we ravage his army and march on Ulferling. THEN we release The Rose.”

Nicole paced the dungeon looking annoyed.

“UGH!” she grunted, “Why does nobody just cooperate or listen to me, Nathan?” she said as he sat in shackles in a wooden chair in the King’s chambers.

“You really want my responses, or are you just venting?” He asked, looking exhausted.

“I don’t understand. I said restrain the guards, they killed them. That’s not my fault! They didn’t listen. It’s not my fault the only army I have are a bunch of goat-fucks. DAMNIT!!! UUUGh. Sorry, I’m not yelling at you, I’m just yelling. And I shouldn’t say that about goats. Goats are adorable. I love goats. I just hate people who can’t follow instructions. Whatever, we got the castle. The dragon’s gonna be here any minute, it’s FINE, it’s just not IDEAL. And you’re welcome Nathan…thanks Nicole, thank you for healing my foot even though I’ll totally try and run away now. I don’t even know if you were faking the pain or not, so bravo.”

“I had a broken ankle, of course I wasn’t faking the pain. It’s a fucking broken ankle.” He barked.

“Not anymore. No Thanks Nicole? No? No gratitude? I thought we were friends.” she snipped.

“You hit me with a staff and threw me in a prison cell, drug my ass to wherever this place is…doesn’t sound like something a friend does.”

“I didn’t throw you in a prison cell, I had you gently placed in a holding room with food and beer and I said sorry for hitting you, You weren’t DRAGGED here, you came by boat and carriage, that’s how kings travel. Nathan, I’m trying to do something amazing here. I always wanted a dragon, I’m gonna get a dragon of my own. That’s pretty fucking cool. I’m gonna get the other chaos items and then nobody will screw with me. I’m gonna create law and order, peace through intimidation.”

“What do you know about laws and order?”

“Okay I’m not gonna…I’m gonna hire people to do that, that’s what kings do, you hire experts to do your bidding, and I’m gonna bid some cool shit. We’re gonna have no wars, no kingdoms, no corruption, everyone will have a puppy, and food, and a house, and everyone’s gonna love me and be happy.”

“Who’s gonna rebuild everything? The Elf slaves?”

“No slaves, I told you no slaves. We pay people with gold. There’s a ton of gold to spread around.”

“You think after you dethrone the Elf kings, everyone is just gonna stop holding grudges and be friends with the other Elves? The kings and politicians are dicks, I say kill them, but those cities have families and people too. Elf families and kids, just born into wealth and they have no control over this. You think they’re gonna just bow to you and love you after this? You think hate crimes and prejudice won’t flair up and wars and fights won’t start because you told them it’s illegal? That’s how revolutions start.”

“I’m a god, Nathan, what are they gonna do…hang me? Burn me as a witch?” she said, bursting into flames. “Drown me? That could take ages. Nathan, I just need to make them like me, and they’ll see that this is better. Or else WRATH!!!” she roared, breathing frost across the stained-glass window.

“You don’t even kill people.”

“I could start…or fake it. I could fake a bunch of deaths, get the fear going, obedience, and then lull them back down with presents and shit. The god in the bible murdered the whole world in a flood, and they love that guy, he just promised them gold and fancy houses and eternal life. I can actually give them gold and fancy houses and then bring the fake dead people back from fake death, so we got mercy, we got stuff, bribery, puppies, general fear AND I’m cute. You can’t be mad at cute forever. What I really need, is a hype team. Invent social media, get some stories in print about some miracles I did, I can steal shit from Earth mythology. Come on, we’re from the future, we’re basically cheating this. Green energy, hydroelectric stuff, medicine. And baby goats. Literally what god did all that? Name one.”

“Nicole, you’re not a god. You just have a damn god complex. That never ends well."

“Semantics, man. God, demigod, overlord, overpowered alien hybrid. Whatever. It’s all just titles. Where is that damn dragon, I thought they were fast as fuck boys?” she stomped.