“We have a problem,” Nameless stated.

The knight was leaning over a map laid out on the round wooden table in Milandra’s home.

“Huh?” Karl asked.

“The Glade of the Heavens is north of us. We will need to cross the river,” the knight replied.

“That is a very wide river,” Karl observed as he squinted out the window.

The massive river could be seen even from Milandra’s home several town blocks in.

“I can get us a fishing boat,” Milandra offered.

“How exactly would that stop pirates?” Zel asked with a snort.

Elora poked the necromancer in the ribs.

“Maybe we can try under cover of darkness?” Milandra offered.

“Too risky,” Nameless replied.

“What can we do then? Zaverick’s army will be here soon,” Karl growled.

“We can fight the pirates and use their ship to head north,” Elora offered.

Zel laughed, and Karl shook his head.

“What? We defeated them once!” Exclaimed Elora.

“They will be more prepared the second time,” Nameless said.

“Yea, so will we,” Elora retorted.

Nameless nodded his great helm.

“Wait, we can’t be serious,” Zel said, rising to their feet.

“There are no other options,” said Nameless.

“The halflings will aid us. They were most unhappy with the recent invasion,” Milandra added.

“Oh, yea? What can they offer us?” Zel asked hands on their hips.

“The Slingers from the Rolling Hills were fierce in my day,” Nameless said.

“I know firsthand not to underestimate the small folk,” Elora stated. Her guild mistress was a very dangerous halfling.

“Very well, I’ll get my tools and start enchanting,” grumbled Karl. The Ooraki left the home and headed toward their wagon.

“I agreed to join you to gain power. Not to die in a suicidal battle!” Zel cried.

“We will need zombies to aid us,” Nameless stated.

“Oh?” Zel asked as they lowered their hands.

“There are still a few pirate corpses,” Milandra added.

“And what better way to showcase the benefits of necromancy than defending a halfling town against pirates?” Elora asked.

Zel nodded their head enthusiastically, “let it be known! Necromancy saved a village of wee folk against an army of vile pirates!”

“That would be convincing,” Milandra said with a sparkle in their eye.

“It would! I will get started at once!” Zel rolled up their sleeves and marched out of the home.

“Are we going to regret this?” Asked Elora.

“Most likely,” Nameless grumbled.

THE PIRATE SHIP

“My queen, the scouts report that they have not left the town,” Sevren said with a bow.

They were on a ship with its sails folded and floating in the middle of the Dragon River. The Pirate Queen nodded silently. She was tall with a slender build and long pointed ears, marking her as an elf. Sevren had heard rumors that she was a pure elf. A rarity, unlike most elves in the realm whose bloodlines were mixed with humans. The Pirate Queen’s skin was as pale as clouds, and her eyes were as green as emeralds that felt like they could pierce another’s soul. She glanced at Sevren, and the pirate averted his eyes to avoid her penetrating gaze.

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“Ready the boats. We attack at dusk,” the Pirate Queen ordered.

Her voice is surprisingly deep for one with such a slender frame. Still, Sevren knew not to underestimate her delicate appearance. She was fast and graceful with the sword and dagger, but it was her ruthlessness that inspired fear. Her brutality had cemented her position as the Pirate Queen, and no one knew her real name. No one was brave enough to ask or alive to share the information.

“At once, my queen,” Sevren replied.

“And Sevren, this time, I will lead the attack,” she added without looking at him.

The pirate shivered as he felt a cold wash over him. His eyes still on the ground, Sevren responded, “I will make the preparations.”

ROLLING HILLS

“We have to assume that the Pirate Queen is a cleric of Viaiter,” Nameless said.

The knight stood in the middle of the town, talking to Elora, Zel, and Milandra. Karl was gathering mana crystals and preparing his enchantment rituals.

“So we should expect trickery and illusions,” Elora stated.

“Can you negate the queen’s powers?” Asked Nameless.

Elora squinted her eyes and glanced around. “I think I can, for the illusions. I will need a good vantage point.”

“Go find one and report back,” ordered Nameless.

The elf nodded and ran off.

“Zel, you wouldn’t happen to be able to raise an army of undead, could you?” Asked Nameless.

Zel snorted and laughed. “Don’t be absurd. For starters, there are not enough corpses. Secondly, that is beyond my ability.”

“What can you do?” Nameless crossed his arms.

“I have Ghoul One and Ghoul Two. They are extremely capable,” Zel began.

“Time is limited, and we are about to face an untold number of pirates. Please be serious,” growled Nameless.

“Fine! Sheesh. I can animate maybe two dozen zombies, but they won’t last long.”

“How long will they fight?”

“Ten minutes and that is pushing it,” answered the necromancer.

“Gather what you need and meet me back here.”

Zel nodded and was off. The knight turned to Milandra and asked, “can you introduce me to the Halflings?”

Milandra smiled. “Follow me.”

Nameless walked with the Gifted One. Plans were underway, and the knight hoped it would be enough because if they were successful here, they would need to prepare themselves to face off against Zaverick and his army of demons. The work was never done!

THE SECOND PIRATE ATTACK

The Rolling Hills town was dark and quiet. Too quiet, thought Sevren. He and dozens of other pirates crept under cover of darkness with eyes that glowed a faint amber from a blessing from their Queen. This allowed the pirates to see in the dark, but it was still challenging to make out details. They only saw faint outlines and shapes, which was much better than complete inky black.

Sevren had lost sight of his Queen, but he sensed her presence was near, which fueled his confidence. They were at the edge of town along the dirt road and before several squat buildings. Buildings that they had set ablaze just days earlier. The river was to their north, and they had snuck on land from the east. He motioned a squad of ten pirates armed with shields and axes to advance into the town. His goal was to trigger the town’s defenses and start the fight, and he succeeded.

Runes along the edges of the road, and the buildings, lit up in a bright silvery light dispelling the darkness. The advancing pirates stood in shock and exposed in the open.

“Raise your shields!” Sevren cried.

The slower pirates twitched and crumbled as they were struck soundly by hard metal balls from the slingers. The others formed a shield wall and retreated back. Of the ten, only six made it back.

“Crossbows!” Sevren shouted and pointed toward the buildings where shadowy figures were darting back and forth.

The ground kicked up dirt, and the clamor of steel on wooden shields rang out around the pirates as a hail of metal spheres rained down on them. The pirates returned fire and the wooden beams along the buildings splintered as bolts tore into the wood. Sevren felt a gentle hand on his shoulder from his Queen.

“Have your men fall back and circle around,” she said in a voice just above a whisper.

Nodding and recognizing the need for silence, Sevren motioned for the pirates to fade back away from the glaring light. The Pirate Queen raised her hands, and images sprang from the shadows that rushed the town as a screaming horde. The details were nearly perfect, with the jingle of armor, the clomp of boots on the ground, and the kicking up of a dust cloud. It would have been a perfect ruse to draw the enemy’s attention as the pirate force snuck around to attack from the defender’s flanks. Except the illusionary force shimmered and faded from view.

“The practitioner of Shadow Magic is more skilled than I thought,” the Pirate Queen snarled as she searched the rooftops for the sound of chanting.

Screams of alarm came from the pirates that tried to flank the slinger’s location as zombies sprung from the ground and halted their approach. Distracted by the undead, the pirates could not use their shields to protect them from the hail of spheres that thudded painfully into them and zombies alike.

The Pirate Queen’s lips curled into a sneer. The defenders have played most of their cards, and this should be over soon. She nodded to her captain.

“Push forward!” Sevren cried.

Despite their recent losses, the pirates still held the advantage of numbers. Fueled by the blessing from their Queen, they roared as they surged into the town. Dozens of loud twangs from the heavy crossbows and the rooftops were peppered with steel bolts. The halfling defenders were forced to scramble back, and it looked like the pirates would take the town. Until the explosions happened.

“NO!!!” Screamed the Pirate Queen.