[Lieutenant] Gershal of Vaunt was an unhappy man. He was not an important man, which factored into his present unhappiness. He was a low-level officer from a small city north of Invrisil. He commanded a group of disciplined but fairly low-level [Archers] and [Swordsmen], and he liked to think of himself as a decent soldier, albeit one who hadn\u2019t fought in any wars.<\/p>\n
He and his men fought monsters, patrolled, kept the peace, and occasionally went to aid other cities, usually in suppressing a Goblin tribe or dealing with a monster infestation. They had never been levied for one of the annual battles against the Drakes, and Gershal hoped they never would be. When he\u2019d heard about the Goblin Lord he\u2019d been concerned for the other cities of course, but he\u2019d assumed the Goblin threat would be taken care of long before they got close to his city.<\/p>\n
What he\u2019d never expected was to be part<\/em> of the solution. When the levy request had come from Lady Magnolia Reinhart to Vaunt, the city [Mayor] had panicked. When another request came hours later from Lord Tyrion Veltras, Gershal had known there would be trouble. When two important nobles wanted the same thing, appeasing one and not the other could have terrible consequences, and yet, both requests had demanded a large force be sent, making appeasing both an impossibility.<\/p>\n Vaunt had made the logical choice. They\u2019d sent four hundred [Soldiers] to Lord Tyrion Veltras, who, after all, was known as a battle-ready [Lord] and who would probably return most of the soldiers in one piece. They\u2019d sent Gershal with two hundred of his men to Lady Magnolia.<\/p>\n The sacrificial lamb. Gershal strode about the camp he\u2019d been assigned to, nervously tightening his sword belt and eyeing the other soldiers and officers milling about. Lines of orderly tents ran in every direction, each one inhabited by an officer from a different Human city.<\/p>\n \u201cDead gods, what a hodgepodge collection of units this is. Lady Reinhart wants to stop the Goblin Lord with this?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n Gershal groused to himself as he walked past a group of officers dicing and drinking wine together. His throat cried out for a taste, but the [Lieutenant] moved past them. Drinking on duty? That wasn\u2019t a custom in his<\/em> army.<\/p>\n And that was the thing. Magnolia\u2019s requests had drawn in so many disparate groups of soldiers from across the continent. Gershal was amazed their arrival to the camp just outside of Invrisil hadn\u2019t been a disaster with them all arriving at once. Somehow he\u2019d found there was a space ready for his soldiers to camp and a personal tent. That was something at least. But now he was waiting for orders and impatient with it. So Gershal walked through the camp, looking for anyone he might recognize.<\/p>\n As luck had it, he was recognized first.<\/p>\n \u201cGershal!\u201d<\/p>\n A woman\u2019s voice made Gershal turn. He saw a woman in armor striding up to him. She raised a fist and Gershal, knowing what was coming, winced as he put up his own.<\/p>\n The sound of two gauntleted fists colliding made several officers look up. Gershal shook out his stinging knuckles and looked at the other officer who\u2019d given him her city\u2019s unique greeting.<\/p>\n \u201cLieutenant Salvia. I should have known you\u2019d be assigned here. Who did you offend to get this duty?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s [Captain] Salvia, you dour oaf! I specifically requested to come here\u2014might as well be first to fight the Goblin Lord, eh? How\u2019s Vaunt? Still making cheeses all year? How many soldiers did you send? Two hundred? Three?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTwo. Half [Archers] and half [Swordsmen].\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat, you mean those Level 5 [Farmers] who\u2019ve barely trained with a bow more than a month? Poor show!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBetter than a bunch of [Riders] who spend all their time looking after a bunch of flea-ridden nags all day.\u201d<\/p>\n Gershal and Salvia stared at each other for a second, and then she laughed and clapped him on the shoulder.<\/p>\n \u201cYou don\u2019t change, do you? Come on, let\u2019s have a drink!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI shouldn\u2019t. We are<\/em> on duty\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t be like that! There\u2019s no commander about and unless Magnolia Reinhart graces us with her presence in person, we\u2019ve nothing to do but talk. I have a bottle of wine in my tent. Let\u2019s take it out and drink something. Pshaw! This weather\u2019s not warming fast enough for my taste!\u201d<\/p>\n In short order, Gershal found himself sitting with Salvia at a table, drinking cheap wine from equally cheap tin cups. It wasn\u2019t what Gershal would have preferred, but he was too polite to say otherwise.<\/p>\n Besides, he knew Salvia. Her city, Nonelmar, was close to his and they\u2019d gotten to know each other over the years. Nonelmar was more prosperous owing to its richer soil which provided it with grazing pastures and bountiful fields alike, but Vaunt could pride itself on producing some of the best cheeses on the continent. In fact, Gershal had some of his city\u2019s famous cheese with him and soon he and Salvia were sharing slices of the spicy cheese known as Peppermort, exceptionally fragrant and long-lasting. It also went well with wine, even cheap wine.<\/p>\n \u201cGood stuff! I can\u2019t tell you how much I miss your city\u2019s cheeses. I tried to buy some in Invrisil as soon as my soldiers settled in, but you wouldn\u2019t believe the prices!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThey are high right before spring. You\u2019re lucky you met me\u2014I hear some of our cheeses are going for eight silver pieces per pound at the moment.\u201d<\/p>\n Salvia swore and Gershal smiled, although he was slightly jealous. He hadn\u2019t even contemplated a trip into Invrisil, for all it was a few miles away from the officer\u2019s camp. Vaunt couldn\u2019t afford to pay its [Lieutenants] that much, and a [Captain]\u2019s salary allowed for far more luxuries.<\/p>\n Rather than ask how Salvia had gotten her promotion, which wouldn\u2019t be polite, Gershal looked around the camp.<\/p>\n \u201cYou say your soldiers got here yesterday? We only arrived this morning. Do you think we\u2019ll be waiting long to see what Lady Reinhart does with us?\u201d<\/p>\n Salvia bit into a slice of cheese and sipped some wine, shrugging.<\/p>\n \u201cCan\u2019t say. Your group is one of the last to arrive or so it seems. We\u2019re nearly full in the camps, and the soldiers are restless. Could be we\u2019ll just sit here until the Goblin Lord arrives and if he attacks, we\u2019ll do our bits. Otherwise\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n Gershal frowned, worried. He leaned forwards over the low wooden table towards Salvia.<\/p>\n \u201cShe won\u2019t order us into battle, would she? Lady Reinhart has to know that a force like this won\u2019t stand up to a regular army\u2014even a Goblin Lord\u2019s. Without a commander of some sort\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShe might have one. Invrisil has a few [Strategists] and it\u2019s not like she couldn\u2019t send for a [Commander] from one of the larger cities.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBe reasonable Salvia. A local [Commander] is no match for a Goblin Lord. If it comes to a battle, I could see our groups holding the line in the city with adventurers. But an offensive is suicide! Lord Tyrion is gathering an army of his own, and it\u2019s going to be twice as large as this one. Let him take care of the Goblin Lord. Not Lady Reinhart, who is, with all respect, not<\/em> a general.\u201d<\/p>\n Gershal looked around as he said this. It wasn\u2019t wise to badmouth Lady Magnolia, but he had to state his opinions, which were close to fact in this case. Salvia made a face.<\/p>\n \u201cI know. I know. I have orders not to participate in any assaults on the Goblin Lord unless I\u2019m sure I can pull my boys out safely. And I\u2019ll bet half the officers here won\u2019t commit to an assault either. You\u2019re not alone Gershal\u2014just don\u2019t say it anywhere Lady Reinhart\u2019s people might hear.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019re not here, are they?\u201d<\/p>\n The [Lieutenant] looked around, worried. Salvia shook her head and pointed to a pair of [Knights] in pinkish-red armor who were striding through the camp.<\/p>\n \u201cNot her people exactly, but see those two? They\u2019re [Knights] in service to Lady Bethal.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh.\u201d<\/p>\n Gershal knew that Lady Bethal Walcha\u00eds and her house were strongly aligned with the Reinhart family. Still, the two [Knights] did little to strike fear into his heart.<\/p>\n \u201cAren\u2019t those the Knights of the Flower or something? I\u2019ve heard about them. Arrogant hotheads or so I\u2019ve been led to believe. All the more reason why this army lacks cohesion. If I have to fight with those eyesores\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n Salvia kicked Gershal under the table, making him wince and clutch at his leg. She glared at him, tin cup held tensely in her hand.<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t say that within earshot, you fool! The Knights of the Petal take any insult against their [Lady] or their order to heart. They\u2019ve thrashed officers who\u2019ve laughed at them and they\u2019ll break bones if you insult Lady Bethal.\u201d<\/p>\n Gershal shut up. Salvia put down her cup and reached for the wine bottle to refill it.<\/p>\n \u201cThey might dress like pink flowers, but they\u2019re the real deal on the battlefield, Gershal. I hear their armor is all custom-made Dwarf work, enchanted by Wistram mages. They\u2019re nigh-invincible against mundane arms and they all have magical weapons. If there\u2019s any group I\u2019d want to be charging into the Goblin Lord\u2019s ranks, it\u2019s them.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh.\u201d<\/p>\n Instantly Gershal reevaluated his opinion of the two Rose Knights. Dwarf-made armor? His armor was iron, and not exactly top-rate iron at that. He\u2019d be grateful for some high-quality steel, let alone a piece of armor from the Dwarf forges of Terandria. Yet the presence of Lady Bethal\u2019s knights still didn\u2019t assuage his concerns.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s one elite group. But I don\u2019t see any other notable force. By all accounts Lord Veltras has gathered a far larger army\u2014he called for six thousand<\/em> horse from the Terland family and they sent it! At least a quarter were [Knights], whereas I can count the number of crests here in the hundreds.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, yes. I get what you\u2019re saying Gershal. But we were called here to protect Invrisil from the Goblin Lord.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI have no problems with that. But doing it alone\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n Gershal broke off, knowing he was belaboring the point. His heart ached for the villages and towns that had already been destroyed by the Goblin Lord. But he was, if nothing else, a pragmatist. Without a true leader\u2014or twice as many soldiers\u2014he feared that any attempt to do battle with the Goblin Lord would only level up his Goblins and create more undead.<\/p>\n He was worried and unhappy, and unfortunately, the alcohol only made his mood worse. Gershal and Salvia had finished half the bottle and were sharing his cheese and her wine with some other officers they\u2019d met when they heard a horn blowing to the east of camp. Everyone looked up.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s odd. They haven\u2019t announced anyone since Lady Bethal and her escort rode in.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMight be a small [Lord] leading his soldiers personally. Poor fellow if he is\u2014I doubt he\u2019ll see much battle on defensive duty.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHang on\u2014listen. There are more horns. This is no local lord.\u201d<\/p>\n Indeed, more horns were blowing, heralding the arrival of someone important. Gershal rose to his feet and saw a man on horseback riding through the camp.<\/p>\n \u201cAll officers! Assemble at the center of camp! Lady Magnolia Reinhart has arrived in person! She will be discussing the coming battle against the Goblin Lord!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh, dead gods.\u201d<\/p>\n Salvia paled and Gershal felt his heart jump in his chest. Coming battle? He looked around at the other officers. They were all looking uneasy.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ll\u2014just have to see what she says. Perhaps she intends to hold the city.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo problems there. But he said \u2018coming battle\u2019. If she wants us to attack\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ll just have to tell her it\u2019s not feasible. There\u2019s a few [Captains] and some [Lords] among us\u2014they can say it to her face.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNot I.\u201d<\/p>\n Salvia looked pale at the idea, and the officer who\u2019d suggested it paused.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, we\u2019ll just have to say it together. She can\u2019t object to all of us stating the truth.\u201d<\/p>\n Silence followed his words. Gershal stopped himself from pointing out that Lady Magnolia Reinhart could do what she very well pleased. If she grew angry at all of the officers present\u2026he sighed.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019d better see what she wants.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTrue.\u201d<\/p>\n The officers began moving in a mass towards the center of the camp, where a wooden stage had been placed. Gershal had wondered what it was for\u2014now he realized it was for the Lady Reinhart. He prayed she wouldn\u2019t make the wrong decision.<\/p>\n \u201cSomeone has to destroy the Goblin Lord.\u201d<\/p>\n Salvia muttered to Gershal as they walked. Gershal nodded. He\u2019d wrapped his cheese carefully in wax paper and was tucking it into his armor. Cheese. It was a local superstition among his city. A cheese had once stopped an arrow that had gone through a [Soldier]\u2019s armor. Now all of the young men and women who left Vaunt carried cheese when they went into battle. It was a good field ration and it reminded them of home.<\/p>\n He wondered what the traditions of the villages and cities around Invrisil were like. Gershal felt a pang as he imagined the Goblin Lord\u2019s army laying waste to them. Someone had to stop the Goblin Lord, indeed. But\u2014<\/p>\n Not this army. Not them. They were too small. Gershal closed his eyes. And then he heard a susurration, saw the ranks of men and women parting, and knew Lady Magnolia Reinhart was approaching. He had never met her before in his life, but Gershal knew the rumors surrounding her. She was cunning, deadly, manipulative, and, it was said, cold-hearted as the snow itself. But she had never been called a fool.<\/p>\n He hoped that today wouldn\u2019t prove the rumors wrong.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u2014-<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cLady Reinhart? General Shivertail? We have arrived.\u201d<\/p>\n Reynold\u2019s voice came from the front of the carriage, slightly muffled. He guided the pink magical carriage to a stop as the camp full of officers came into view. It was the smaller camp to the sprawling campgrounds next to it, where the soldiers from each unit were waiting.<\/p>\n The ground was cleared, and the melted snow had revealed wet but sturdy earth. The growing plant life had been trampled by thousands of boots. Now it was muddy, and Ressa wrinkled her nose as she stepped out into the mud.<\/p>\n \u201cYou shouldn\u2019t have brought a dress.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNonsense! How will they know it\u2019s me if I don\u2019t wear a dress? Besides, aren\u2019t these enchanted to resist stains?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYour legs aren\u2019t. Step carefully and try not to fall on your face.\u201d<\/p>\n Lady Magnolia scoffed and exited the carriage carefully. She took one step into the mud, grimaced, and turned to Ressa.<\/p>\n \u201cAh. Perhaps the high heels were a mistake. However, we shall endure. General Shivertail, are you ready? I believe the officers have assembled; once we reach the stage it will truly begin in earnest.\u201d<\/p>\n Zel Shivertail sat in Lady Magnolia\u2019s coach and felt his scales tingling. He looked up, and saw Reynold fussing with the carriage. He looked to one side and saw Lady Magnolia Reinhart standing in the mud, peering up at him.<\/p>\n It felt like he was dreaming. Only, as he ducked his head and stepped from the carriage, he knew he wasn\u2019t. He could see Humans in the distance, hundreds of them. All gathered around a wooden platform. They\u2019d seen Lady Magnolia\u2019s carriage of course, and now their faces were turned to him.<\/p>\n Humans. And here he was, a Drake [General], about to lead them. Of course, Zel knew that was the plan. It had been the plan ever since Magnolia had sent him a letter suggesting just that weeks ago. But though he\u2019d replied, though he\u2019d thought of the Necromancer and the Goblin Lord and thought about the need for a Drake-Human alliance\u2026<\/p>\n It still felt like he was dreaming.<\/p>\n \u201cAre you alright, General Shivertail?\u201d<\/p>\n Magnolia might have had a Skill, or else she could see his unease on his face. Zel straightened and felt at his armor. It was light as a feather, yet the fiery-gold metal shone as if internally ablaze. The Heartflame Breastplate made Zel feel warm in the chill air. A relic of his people and he was wearing it.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m fine, Reinhart. Let\u2019s do this.\u201d<\/p>\n She nodded. They began to walk towards the center of the camp, Ressa and Reynold following a few steps behind. Zel scrutinized the closest Humans to him. They looked like officers, sure enough. Soldiers were the same the world over. But this?<\/p>\n It wouldn\u2019t be the first time a Drake had gone north. There were quite a few Drakes who\u2019d decided to live in Human lands, for all they were actively discouraged from doing so by the Drake cities. But while they hadn\u2019t invaded each other in decades, the Humans and Drakes were still nominally at war.<\/p>\n If a Drake [General] led his soldiers past Liscor or a Human [Lord] moved past the Blood Fields, it might be war again. And yet here he was. And already, the Humans had begun to notice him. Some were pointing, others turning.<\/p>\n Zel strode forwards with Lady Magnolia at his side. He spoke to her as he walked, still feeling as though someone else was taking every step. The world felt like it was\u2026echoing\u2026around him. It was a dream.<\/p>\n But it was real, too. Zel\u2019s heart beat faster than it had in years.<\/p>\n \u201cIt feels surreal.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh? What part?\u201d<\/p>\n Magnolia looked up towards Zel. Her face was composed as she walked across the muddy ground. Many eyes were on her too. Waiting. She had to feel the momentous nature of what was occurring. But she looked calm. Zel hoped he did, too.<\/p>\n \u201cAll of it. You know that my people won\u2019t accept this. And yours will probably riot as well. The continent could change from this.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOf course it will. That is the point, General.\u201d<\/p>\n Zel shivered but kept his head high. Now all the Humans were turning and some had recognized him. He heard muffled exclamations in the crowd. His heart was beating too fast.<\/p>\n \u201cTwo days ago I was in a small inn outside of Liscor. I ate, I drank\u2026it was peaceful. I could forget I was a [General], then. Here\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes?\u201d<\/p>\n Magnolia looked sideways at Zel as they approached the stage in the center of the camp. The Drake was silent for a moment.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat will happen after I speak, I wonder?\u201d<\/p>\n She shrugged, smilingly slightly.<\/p>\n \u201cI believe I will find out. Spies and so forth. But it depends on what you say. They are waiting for you, General. Are you ready?\u201d<\/p>\n Now all the Humans were looking at him. Zel put his foot on the first wooden step. The wooden stage was simple, but solidly built. Good. That was all he needed. He looked at Magnolia and thought he saw her hands tremble. Just for a second. But then it was gone. She looked him in the eye, fearless. He grinned then, and felt the dream break.<\/p>\n This was reality. Zel offered Magnolia a claw and she took it. They ascended to the top of the stage together. Zel looked over a sea of faces. Human faces. He thought of a young woman named Erin Solstice, of a [Barmaid] named Lyonette. Of an inn. Of a girl named Ryoka Griffin. Of the Necromancer. Zel\u2019s tail curled slightly and then straightened. He nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cNothing will be the same. Good. Let\u2019s do this.\u201d<\/p>\n This is what the officers saw. Lady Magnolia and a tall Drake wearing shining armor stood on the stage, flanked by a [Maid] and a [Butler]. It was Lady Magnolia Reinhart who spoke first. She took a step forwards and spoke in a loud, cheerful voice.<\/p>\n \u201cGood evening.\u201d<\/p>\n Her words were amplified by a spell she carried, or a Skill because they were clearly audible even in the back of the crowd. The officers waited, some seeing her for the first time.<\/p>\n Magnolia Reinhart was neither tall nor thin and lithe. She was not, by her own admission, a dashing beauty, although she was quite pretty. But she did have a presence that eclipsed her body. When she spoke, every eye was on her.<\/p>\n \u201cI am Magnolia Reinhart. No doubt you all know why you have been called here from your respective cities. A Goblin Lord threatens the north. He marches towards Invrisil as we speak, with an army of tens of thousands. Worse, he raises the undead from each city he destroys. He has slaughtered our people, my<\/em> people for too long. He must be stopped.\u201d<\/p>\n A sound ran through the crowd. No one dared speak, but there was a sighing, a sense of unease. Stop the Goblin Lord? Magnolia gazed from face to face, hers betraying no fear.<\/p>\n \u201cYes, Lord Tyrion Veltras is assembling his own forces elsewhere. Yes, the Goblin Lord\u2019s army is considerable. It has destroyed two Drake armies already. However, Invrisil is no plum ripe for the picking. Its people will not be prey to Goblin swords, nor shall it come under attack while I live. That is why you are here. You will repulse the Goblin Lord and destroy his army.\u201d<\/p>\n Now there were voices of dissent. Murmurs\u2014those speaking feared to do more than groan aloud. Ressa shifted in place, her gaze finding those who made noise and piercing them with her glare. Magnolia raised her hand and there was silence.<\/p>\n \u201cI realize many of you have reservations. Only naturally. The army assembled here is, alas, smaller than I had hoped. You all hail from different cities; it is only natural you would feel concern about going into battle against another army without leadership. I am aware of the problem.\u201d<\/p>\n Magnolia paused and Zel waited. His heart had grown calm in his chest\u2014either that, or he could no longer hear it. He waited, knowing what was to come.<\/p>\n \u201cTo that end I have asked a suitable [General] to lead this army against the Goblin Lord. He stands before you now. I present to you your commander who will lead you against the Goblin Lord.\u201d<\/p>\n Lady Magnolia stepped to one side. She gestured simply at Zel. He stood, waiting. For a second there was shock, then silence. And then someone began to shout.<\/p>\n \u201cA Drake?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n Faces paled, turned red, or changed into expressions of fury as the officers realized what Magnolia was implying. One, a huge man got to his feet. He was shaking as he pointed at Lady Magnolia.<\/p>\n \u201cYou asked for a Drake <\/em>to lead us? Have you no shame!? Outrageous! How dare\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n He was cut off as his friends dragged him down. But the discontent was evident in the faces of the soldiers and officers alike. Magnolia concealed her inner emotions as she smiled graciously and nodded to Zel. She raised her voice again, cutting over the shouting from the crowd.<\/p>\n \u201cI will let the General speak for himself. And I will have silence<\/em> until he finishes speaking, is that clear?\u201d<\/p>\n This time her request was not honored. There were still voices sounding off. Magnolia frowned and clapped her hands. The sound her hands made was soft and suddenly there was silence. No one could speak. They stared up at Magnolia. She looked around, eyes glittering dangerously. Then she smiled.<\/p>\n \u201cThank you. Now, General, I cede the floor to you.\u201d<\/p>\n She bowed ever so slightly, making the Humans blink and shift in surprise. Zel took two steps forwards and took a breath. This was it. He realized now, dimly, that he hadn\u2019t really prepared a speech. Oh well. He knew what to say. He looked over the ranks of outraged, confused, and skeptical Humans and began.<\/p>\n \u201cMany of you may not recognize who I am. I realize all Drakes look alike to most Humans. However, I am no ordinary Drake. I am a [General]. And as Lady Magnolia has said, I am here to lead you against the Goblin Lord.\u201d<\/p>\n The crowd shifted. Zel could see they were resistant, hostile even. He went on, his voice raised. He needed no Skills or spells to speak to the crowd. He had addressed larger armies, shouted over the roar of the battlefield. This? This was easy.<\/p>\n \u201cTo those of you who do not know me: I fought in the First Antinium War and the Second, side by side with Human armies, with Gnoll tribes, and pushed the Antinium back into their Hives. I battled the Goblin King\u2019s armies. I have fought longer than some of you have been alive. Perhaps my history means little to you, but you may know me for one of my deeds. I fought the Necromancer at Liscor. I slew him.\u201d<\/p>\n He thought he had. Zel remembered grabbing Az\u2019kerash, remembered the sensation of tearing him apart\u2014a lie. But of all his feats, this was the one Humans recognized. The one the world had recognized him for. Now all the eyes on him were filled with comprehension. He could hear murmurs, despite Magnolia\u2019s invocation of silence. Yes, they knew him.<\/p>\n \u201cMy name is Zel Shivertail.\u201d<\/p>\n A gasp ran through the crowd. And a cry went up, short and sudden. Some of the officers took a step back, others looked around in disbelief. Some appeared stunned. They had heard his name before, yes, but few had expected to ever meet him. He was a figure from history, someone whose name had been shouted from the rooftops during the first and second Antinium Wars. Zel heard the name shouted again and closed his eyes.<\/p>\n Tidebreaker.<\/em> The Drake [General] who had broken the Antinium advance. Zel Shivertail, the hero of the Antinium Wars. Here, on Human lands.<\/p>\n Now there was true silence, as everyone stared at Zel, wondering what he would say next. Zel looked across the ranks of faces and nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cI am here at Lady Magnolia Reinhart\u2019s request. To do battle against the Goblin Lord.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n The shout came almost at once. Zel saw a man in poor armor shouting up at him. Of course. He was a Human and Zel was a Drake general, an enemy [General]. It didn\u2019t matter that he was a low-level officer. Humans had their pride, like Drakes. They wouldn\u2019t suffer an enemy [General] leading them, even if Magnolia ordered them. It was Zel\u2019s job to convince them otherwise.<\/p>\n So Zel answered the man simply.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Goblin Lord is here. He is coming. Perhaps not for your city, sir, but for Invrisil. He has destroyed villages and towns and cities already. His army grows. You have heard that he defeated two Drake armies? Well, we sent two armies against him, both led by high-level [Generals]. Both were destroyed down to the last [Soldier].\u201d<\/p>\n Silence. Zel looked around.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t have to tell you all what that means. An army grows from its victories, and the Goblin Lord has only won his battles. He also has an army of the undead that has grown with every slaughter. And he is coming<\/em>. Why am I here? Because he must be stopped.\u201d<\/p>\n Now Zel\u2019s voice rose. He walked down the wooden stage, looking from face to face.<\/p>\n \u201cI am a Drake. You are Humans. I understand that. But when I looked north, after the Goblin Lord had passed Liscor, I saw no Humans rushing to destroy him. I hear Lord Tyrion Veltras is forming a grand army. If so, that is commendable. But he is too late. And he is too far. He is not here<\/em>. In a day or two, the Goblin Lord\u2019s army will be upon Invrisil. Will Lord Tyrion wait and watch another Human city destroyed? Will he allow tens, no, hundreds<\/em> of thousands of civilians to be slaughtered?\u201d<\/p>\n No one responded. Of course, that was what would happen if they didn\u2019t defeat the Goblin Lord here. Invrisil was Magnolia\u2019s holding. If it was attacked she would lose influence and Tyrion would gain. That was politics. And it was shameful. Zel put all the scorn he could into his voice.<\/p>\n \u201cThat is not right. It is not acceptable. Drakes defend their own when they are attacked. So do Humans. And when Lady Reinhart asked me to lead the defense of her city, I agreed. Not because I am abandoning my people, or because I will be paid. No. Because it is the right thing to do. This is Human land, yes. But this is my continent. This is our home<\/em>. And I will defend it to my death.\u201d<\/p>\n Face to face. Zel looked into eyes and saw they were like Drake eyes. Different, yes, but his words struck some chord in his audience. He went on.<\/p>\n \u201cDrakes do not run. That was a\u2026favorite saying of a friend of mine. It seems it\u2019s become the expression that defines my people. But from what I\u2019ve seen, Humans don\u2019t run either. When the Goblin King landed on your shores, you didn\u2019t flee his armies. Over a million Goblins invaded Izril and still, your people refused to run. You fought. And you were not alone. From every continent, other nations, other people sent their armies to fight. You fought shoulder-to-shoulder with Gnolls, Drakes, half-Elves, Dwarves\u2026together. And when we fought together<\/em>, Izril was undefeatable! I should know. I saw it all. I was there.\u201d<\/p>\n Memory. The Second Antinium War. Burning skies filled with smoke and flame. Goblins, the undead, the Antinium marching from every corner of the continent. Some of the men and women below had lived through those times, or had grown up in them. He saw them shudder, and then saw the burning in their eyes. Yes, that was what he wanted. Zel stopped and pointed at them. He roared across the crowd, his voice thunder.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is your home! This city may not be yours, but every city here was built by Humans. You claimed these lands. You spilled blood for them and held them against Drakes, Goblins, the Antinium, and every other threat that sought to claim them for thousands of years. Now the Goblin Lord marches north, his armies growing with every victory. Will you give him another city, the lives of your people? The Humans I know would not do that! The Humans I know would drive his army into the sea and fight till their dying breaths before they gave ground to their enemy!\u201d<\/p>\n There was a growing momentum in the crowd, a shifting. Backs straightened, eyes locked on Zel\u2019s. He looked at them. Soldiers. That was all. They were all the same.<\/p>\n \u201cDrakes squabble. The Human nobility argue. But [Soldiers] fight. We do our duty and then we go home. Well, I am no [Lord]. My own people think I\u2019m troublesome because I think we shouldn\u2019t be at war with your people. I\u2019m no politician; I\u2019m a soldier like you all. And I see the enemy. Now, I don\u2019t know what you think of me, but there\u2019s no Tyrion Veltras here. No other [Lord] or [General]. Just me. And I won\u2019t retreat until the Goblin Lord\u2019s army is shattered and his undead are buried in the ground again! I will fight!<\/em> But I cannot do it alone! Will you do the same?\u201d<\/p>\n Zel raised one fist and stared across the sea of Humans. He waited. He had given them no grand speech, no rousing promise of victory. He had spoken to them like soldiers and now he waited. What if they said nothing? What if they refused? Would it all fail? Were they too alike? What if\u2014<\/p>\n A voice rose in the crowd. At the back, Zel saw a man in battered iron armor raise his voice. He shouted as heads turned, his eyes blazing with emotion.<\/p>\n \u201cI am [Lieutenant] Gershal of Vaunt! I will fight with you, General Shivertail! We do not run from Goblins! I will protect Invrisil with my men if you will lead us!\u201d<\/p>\n His voice rang out in the silence, proud and alone. It was what Zel had been waiting for. Because on the heels of his declaration came another voice. A woman, standing next to him raised her fists.<\/p>\n \u201cMy cavalry will ride with any man, Drake, or Gnoll against a common foe! I pledge my unit to your command!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd I!\u201d<\/p>\n An officer next to her unsheathed his sword, nearly cutting the man beside him. More Humans spoke up. A [Lord] stood and shouted.<\/p>\n \u201cFor Invrisil! I will fight to defend the city! I pledge my warriors to Lady Reinhart\u2019s army!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI will follow any [General], Drake or Human, to defeat the Goblin Lord!\u201d<\/p>\n And then the voices became a shout. Zel waited, standing atop the podium, as the officers and soldiers gathered began to shout his name.<\/p>\n \u201cShivertail! Shivertail!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTidebreaker!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n And last, but most importantly, a word. Not his name, not a word that represented Zel or Magnolia. The word Zel had been waiting for.<\/p>\n \u201cIzril!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIzril! The Dragonlands! The unconquered!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIzril!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n And then there was cheering. Officers shouted, swept up in a fury to defend their homes. Zel stood on the platform, absorbing their energy. This was the key. They had been disunited before. Now they had a common enemy. They were an army, however disparate. He waited until the cheering had settled and then gave orders.<\/p>\n \u201cPrepare for battle. We will engage the Goblin Lord if he comes any closer to the city. If he goes around, we will pursue and drive him into a corner. But I promise you this: he will burn no more villages, despoil no more lands. This army will be his end. Officers, I will begin assembling you into groups within the hour. Prepare yourselves; I will assign commands based on rank and level. When we go into battle, it will be as one united force.\u201d<\/p>\n Zel turned as the cheering began again. That didn\u2019t matter. The fact that they\u2019d accepted his command, that they\u2019d agreed to be led by him was all that mattered. He could sort the rest out later. Now\u2026<\/p>\n He walked towards Magnolia, Ressa, and Reynold. They were applauding him with the others. Zel glanced at Magnolia and she descended the wooden platform with him. They walked through ranks of officers, Zel exchanging words with them, reassuring, standing tall, showing them he was worthy of being followed, until they had a moment to speak.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll stay here. I\u2019m leading this army now; I\u2019ll stay in the camp.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI thought you\u2019d say that. There is a tent waiting and I believe Reynold has a number of lists for you. I will retire to my estate for a while to let you sort things out. Well done, General. Did you use a Skill to impress the crowd so?\u201d<\/p>\n Magnolia paused as she got into her carriage with Ressa driving. Zel shook his head.<\/p>\n \u201cI did not. A Skill might let me drag the army blindly into battle, but it won\u2019t last. I need an army willing to fight, not a bunch of unwilling soldiers.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHm. Interesting. Well, it was quite a rousing speech you gave. Lord Tyrion is not here<\/em>. I would quite like to see his face when he hears that.\u201d<\/p>\n Magnolia chuckled. Then she paused.<\/p>\n \u201cStill, I do think you could have given a more rousing speech. All the quiet moments and the pauses\u2014I should have liked a bit more vim <\/em>to it all. A bit of shouting perhaps? What do you think, Ressa? I give it six points.\u201d<\/p>\n Zel stared at Magnolia as she turned to her maid. Ressa tilted her head, thinking. She nodded at Zel as she replied.<\/p>\n \u201cFour out of five. Not the sort of speech you give on the precipice of a battle, but stirring enough.\u201d<\/p>\n Both women looked at Reynold. The [Butler] flushed and stroked his mustache furiously.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019d ah, give it a hundred points out of a hundred, milady, Miss Ressa.\u201d<\/p>\n He avoided their accusatory looks with his eyes and bowed slightly to Zel, speaking to the Drake [General].<\/p>\n \u201cYou said what they needed to hear. None of the soldiers here want to risk their lives for glory or believe in noble causes. But defending home and family? They understand that. I felt\u2026inspired myself.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTypical. I suppose I\u2019d have to be a [Soldier] to appreciate a speech like that. Come on Ressa, let\u2019s leave General Shivertail to his work. I will speak to you tonight, General.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll look forward to it.\u201d<\/p>\n Zel lied as he watched the carriage drive away. He turned and saw Reynold waiting for him, as well as a number of officers.<\/p>\n \u201cI never expected to be cheered. I hoped I wouldn\u2019t be shouted off the stage. If this was a Drake army, I\u2019d have been wary about being dragged off were I a Human.\u201d<\/p>\n Reynold smiled at Zel.<\/p>\n \u201cWe Humans are a bit more impressed by titles, sir. And you are<\/em> a hero. When I was younger, I heard of the Tidebreaker slaying the Necromancer in battle. There were celebrations in the streets when it was announced. We remember, sir.\u201d<\/p>\n He coughed, turning a bit red and Zel smiled. Then his smile faded. The Necromancer. The Drake shook his head.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll try to live up to expectations, Reynold. Now, let\u2019s meet these officers. We have a lot of work to do.\u201d<\/p>\n He strode forwards. And the Humans came to meet him. And even as Magnolia\u2019s coach drove away, rumors were already flying by [Message] spell and people running towards the city. There was a Drake [General] leading Humans. And not just any Drake.<\/p>\n Zel Shivertail, the Tidebreaker.<\/p>\n The world might never be the same.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u2014-<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Lady Magnolia sat in her carriage, scraping mud off her high heels onto a cushion. Ressa, sitting in the driver\u2019s seat, frowned over her shoulder.<\/p>\n \u201cStop that. Maids will have to clean all that up.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI hate mud, Ressa.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t make me come back there.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFine.<\/em> What did you think of General Shivertail\u2019s speech, Ressa? Truly?\u201d<\/p>\n The [Maid] turned back to the road and twitched the reins. The carriage dodged around a convoy of wagons as the [Wagon Driver] in front screamed and raised his hand as if that could stop the oncoming impact.<\/p>\n \u201cJust what I said. It wasn\u2019t a flashy speech, but it did the job.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMm. I still prefer his famous \u2018Defiance on the Roshharn Plains\u2019 speech, or the \u2018Liscorian Address\u2019. \u201d<\/p>\n Magnolia was unconvinced. She grumbled to herself as she settled back into her seat. But then she brightened as she glanced over her shoulder.<\/p>\n \u201cI say, there\u2019s a woman on horseback racing towards Invrisil. Do you think they\u2019re already starting to gossip?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI imagine so. I saw several using artifacts. Word is probably already spreading about Zel Shivertail\u2019s speech.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh good. I do so love an enthusiastic audience. Speaking of which\u2026you have the recording?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOn the cushion. The spell caught most of his words perfectly, although the angle was slightly off.\u201d<\/p>\n Magnolia found the small crystal Ressa had mentioned and touched it. Instantly, a projection of Zel sprang into life, and his voice echoed throughout the carriage. She stopped the magical memory with a finger and sighed happily.<\/p>\n \u201cI think I\u2019ll put this one in my personal collection. After we copy the spell and sell it of course. How much do you think I should tell my agents to charge for it? A thousand gold pieces for each copy?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe first one will earn the most.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMm. I wonder who pays most for this sort of information? Ah, well, I suppose any worthwhile [Informant] would sell to multiple sides at once. Hurry up now, Ressa; I want to be the first to sell the information about Zel!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m hurrying. I can\u2019t control this thing as well as Reynold, though. I nearly killed that man on the road just there.\u201d<\/p>\n The coach drove onwards. Magnolia settled back into her seat, already plotting how to disseminate the information about this new alliance in ways that would profit her. But she broke off from her calculations and looked out the window back towards the camp.<\/p>\n She smiled.<\/p>\n \u201cA Drake [General] leading a Human army. Isn\u2019t that something? It\u2019s like a story. Or a dream, I suppose.\u201d<\/p>\n Ressa\u2019s voice was muffled from her position in the front, but it still conveyed a bit of emotion in her words.<\/p>\n \u201cYes. You did it, Magnolia.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAt last. We finally took a step. At last.\u201d<\/p>\n Magnolia smiled with genuine happiness. Then she laughed.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd what will<\/em> they say about it? Oh Ressa, the world is changing.\u201d<\/p>\n And within the hour, word was spreading by spell and bird and foot. And the world took notice.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u2014-<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Important events were subjective across the world. Obviously news like the return of the King of Destruction was worthy of worldwide reporting, but even then, the news of his return was not nearly so vital in Rhir as it was in Chandrar. Thus, gossip about the latest marriage between royals or wars won or magical artifacts unearthed travelled at varying speeds depending on how useful it was.<\/p>\n But in certain circles any news of political value was transmitted instantly from nation to nation. The latest developments on the world stage could be worth hundreds or thousands<\/em> of gold pieces\u2014but of course, such news decreased exponentially in value every minute. And again, few individuals in Baleros were willing to pay for news about Terandrian politics, however dramatic.<\/p>\n But news about a Drake allying with a Human? Much less a Drake whose name was known around the world and a Human woman who could boast the same? That<\/em> was news worth thousands of gold pieces to some. And Magnolia Reinhart\u2019s informants earned a lion\u2019s share in the hours after Zel had addressed his army.<\/p>\n And as luck would have it, one of those informants spread word to Olesm. Of course he couldn\u2019t afford to pay in gold for the news; he could only afford silver. But he still got the news by [Message] spell, and within ten minutes he\u2019d called an emergency meeting of Liscor\u2019s council.<\/p>\n Watch Captain Zevara strode into the room at the same time as Wall Lord Ilvriss. Olesm was already there, having beaten them by about a minute. He was panting, his eyes wide, and when he turned to them both Drakes knew the news was serious.<\/p>\n \u201cOut with it.\u201d<\/p>\n Ilvriss didn\u2019t wait for the rest of the Council to assemble. He was dressed in armor and looking more alert than Olesm had seen him in days, if slightly hung over. Olesm was grateful for that. The Drake nervously lifted the folded bit of parchment and read out loud from it.<\/p>\n \u201cT-this is the news I just received from Invrisil. It came by one of my informants\u2014I\u2019m sure it\u2019s trustworthy. Here\u2019s what it says. Zel Shivertail, the famous Lineholder General, the Tidebreaker and hero of two Antinium Wars\u2026has formed an alliance with Lady Magnolia Reinhart. He has assumed command of a Human army gathered around Invrisil and is preparing to destroy the Goblin Lord\u2019s army\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n Olesm choked on his words. Ilvriss gaped at him. Zevara went to go sit down and missed her chair. She landed with a crash on the ground. Olesm winced as the Watch Captain stared at him. Then Zevara shouted.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s what it says!\u201d<\/p>\n Olesm flinched as Zevara leapt to her feet. The Watch Captain grabbed the parchment and read it herself. Ilvriss didn\u2019t come over. Instead, he stared at Olesm with a pale face. He seemed almost\u2026calm, which put him at odds with Olesm\u2019s state of near-panic.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re sure of this?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI can\u2019t imagine my informant would lie or exaggerate something like this. They\u2019d never be trusted again\u2014the news is everywhere, Wall Lord! That\u2019s what General Shivertail meant when he left\u2014what do we do?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDo? He\u2019s gone to the Humans! There\u2019s nothing to do Olesm, he\u2014he\u2019s allied with Magnolia Reinhart? Why would he\u2014just for the Goblin Lord?\u201d<\/p>\n Zevara crumpled the parchment with her fist, looking confused and distraught. Ilvriss looked at her, and then at the first Drakes filing into the room.<\/p>\n \u201cThis situation is serious. Olesm, brief the other council members. I am returning to my inn. I need to retrieve a magical artifact.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhy? Uh, I mean, why, sir?\u201d<\/p>\n Ilvriss paused, his claw already on the doorframe.<\/p>\n \u201cThis requires direct consultation with my peers. And I think, the rest of the continent. Prepare yourself and get me every map and piece of information you can on the Goblin Lord and Reinhart\u2019s forces. This will be a long meeting.\u201d<\/p>\n Then he disappeared out the door. Olesm looked at Zevara, and then he ran for his office.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u2014-<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThis is Ilvriss. Do you hear me?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe hear you\u2026Wall Lord. We have an image of you, but it is unstable. The spell seems to be working, however. Proceed.\u201d<\/p>\n Ten minutes later, Wall Lord Ilvriss was standing in the meeting room, speaking into a crystal orb the size of his fist that had been placed on the table. Olesm stood against the wall clutching rolls of parchment. He stared into the orb with wide eyes. The magical ball was reflecting another room, a grand chamber that kept wavering in and out of focus. But what it showed was clear enough.<\/p>\n A room full of sixty or so Drakes were all seated in a round chamber, on benches arranged into a semi-circle. They were all dressed in rich clothing or armor, and each one of them was looking towards Ilvriss. Olesm was scared to even breathe. These were the nobility of Salazsar, the ruling elite of the Walled City. Each one was a Lord of the Wall or a Lady of the Wall, and they were all staring at him.<\/em> Well, not at him, but at Ilvriss, but the pressure alone was making Olesm nervous.<\/p>\n Ilvriss seemed at ease talking with his peers. Indeed, his voice was the only calm one in the room at the moment. He walked back and forth in front of the orb, speaking loudly.<\/p>\n \u201cThere isn\u2019t much else I can elaborate on. Zel Shivertail is gone<\/em>. I mentioned as much by [Message] spell, and you received the news about his alliance with Magnolia Reinhart before me.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut you were with him two days ago, Ilvriss! You have to know why<\/em> he changed sides!\u201d<\/p>\n The voice that came through the orb was angry, but distorted. Ilvriss grimaced and shifted the orb and the voice warped and warbled. Olesm looked at him and Ilvriss shook his head. Zevara muttered into his ear.<\/p>\n \u201cBad connection. Looks like the magic spells are faded or there\u2019s some interference. This is as good as we\u2019ll get.\u201d<\/p>\n Magical communication was very tricky. [Message] spells were common, true, but actual real-time conferences were extremely difficult to organize. And while Wistram could devise any number of complex spells to facilitate conversations, everyone else had to get inventive.<\/p>\n The way Ilvriss spoke to the other Lords and Ladies of the Wall in his city of Salazsar was by using a scrying orb. It gave him a view of their conference room while they did the same to him. Both orbs were extremely expensive and, it had to be said, annoying to use. Ilvriss already had a headache as he stared into the small orb and saw a distorted, fish-eye view of a room full of Drake nobility staring back at him.<\/p>\n \u201cI can\u2019t speak to Shivertail\u2019s thoughts. You know he came north pursuing information about the Goblin Lord. And he was delayed in Liscor due to the Antinium\u2026situation.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAh yes. Was his departure related to that, do you think?\u201d<\/p>\n Ilvriss paused before he replied. Another issue was that the use of two scrying spells meant that their conversations were completely public if anyone wanted to listen in. Ilvriss kept his replies as devoid of confidential information as possible.<\/p>\n \u201cOur findings with the Antinium were unusual and troubling\u2026but not unduly so. Whatever threat they might pose, it\u2019s clear that General Shivertail thought the Goblin Lord was a far more important threat.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI see. But then why<\/em> would he ally with Humans? And with her<\/em> of all people?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know. But it seems futile to speculate. These are the facts, Wall Lord Menoss. What we should be focusing on is what will happen next.\u201d<\/p>\n Ilvriss gritted his teeth and kept his tail from lashing. Zel Shivertail\u2019s alliance with Lady Magnolia wasn\u2019t an issue solely important to the Drakes in Salazsar of course. No doubt every Walled City was in a panic right now. And for good reason!<\/p>\n \u201cHe really went over to Magnolia Reinhart\u2019s side? This isn\u2019t some\u2014some ruse of hers, is it?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAll indications are that it is not. Zel Shivertail has decided to ally himself with Humans. He has defected, Wall Lady Rizzia.\u201d<\/p>\n There was a pause from the other end. Ilvriss subtly adjusted the orb and a few Drake faces swam into focus. One spoke up, looking worried.<\/p>\n \u201cHe can\u2019t do that. Shivertail\u2019s always been an agitator, but this? We must have him back.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHave him back? That traitor?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, he is<\/em> a [General]. He\u2019s one of ours, he can\u2019t just\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s not ours<\/em>. He\u2019s part of the Trisstral Alliance. I wonder what those cities think of this. If they authorized his departure, they\u2019ll have another thing coming\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n The other Drakes were arguing amongst themselves. Ilvriss ground his teeth together. They were missing the point! He slapped a claw on the table and there was a sudden silence.<\/p>\n \u201cLords and Ladies, please! Forget about the reasons. Instead of thinking of Zel Shivertail\u2019s actions as a matter of dissent, look at it another way. The highest-level Drake [General] in the entire world<\/em> has just gone over to the Humans\u2019 side.\u201d<\/p>\n The room\u2014both rooms\u2014fell silent. Ilvriss stared around at the suddenly grey faces and nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cZel Shivertail has never gotten himself involved in politics. He\u2019s a career soldier and one of the reasons why we can afford to fight amongst ourselves. If he starts leading Human armies or worse, participates in battles on their side\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe wouldn\u2019t do that.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWouldn\u2019t he? Why not? He has nothing to lose here! We\u2019ve refused to hear him more times than I can count. What\u2019s stopping him from joining with Humans who will give him an army and backing? Face the facts! We have just lost<\/em> our best [General]! We shouldn\u2019t be arguing over the politics, but looking to our safety!\u201d<\/p>\n Ilvriss\u2019 words caused a hush. Olesm held his breath, thinking of all the ramifications. True, no one [General] was influential enough to define the Drake cities or weaken them too much in their absence, but on the other hand\u2026if the Antinium attacked or another nation invaded, it was widely assumed Zel Shivertail would be the first to lead Drake armies in defense. More than that, he was a symbol. People felt reassured\u2014he had beaten the Antinium in two wars after all! If he was gone\u2026<\/p>\n Ilvriss was speaking. Olesm wrenched himself back into listening mode. The Wall Lord was the voice of reason today, which was surprising. Had he really changed that much from his time at Erin\u2019s inn?<\/p>\n \u201cWell if anyone could do it, it would be Erin.\u201d<\/p>\n Olesm mumbled to himself and got a jab from Zevara for speaking. Ilvriss went on.<\/p>\n \u201cI suggest we first contact the other Walled Cities to hear their reaction. And then we reach out to General Shivertail. Otherwise he may decide to stay in the north after he\u2019s finished crushing the Goblin Lord.\u201d<\/p>\n There was a pause as the nobles in Salazsar considered his words and then one of the Wall Lords closest to the orb spoke.<\/p>\n \u201cWe shall reach out to the other cities and attempt to begin a larger discussion. Wall Lord Ilvriss, please hold.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI will do so.\u201d<\/p>\n The orb went dark and Ilvriss sighed. There was an audible exhalation of breath around the room and Ilvriss looked at Liscor\u2019s city council. They were [Merchants] and low-level officials, and they looked, to Olesm, like they were going to be sick. Discussions of this level were several grades above them. However, Ilvriss seemed to regard Olesm and Zevara as worthy sources of input. He turned to them.<\/p>\n \u201cShivertail\u2019s absence is panicking my people. No doubt it will cause trouble elsewhere, but the question is how much damage it will do abroad. Thoughts?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo one\u2019s going to invade Izril just because Zel Shivertail is gone. We\u2019re most at risk of trouble coming from the Humans. However, we might be pressured by foreign powers. We need a united front.\u201d<\/p>\n Zevara replied first and Olesm nodded. Ilvriss nodded absently as well and Olesm dared ask the question that was probably bubbling at the top of everyone\u2019s minds.<\/p>\n \u201cDo you<\/em> know why General Shivertail would work with the Humans, Wall Lord?\u201d<\/p>\n Ilvriss blinked, looked up, and shrugged.<\/p>\n \u201cWhy not? That idiot has talked for years about the need for an army to fight the Antinium, for a united front with the Humans. It shouldn\u2019t surprise you that he\u2019d do this.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut the Humans\u2014he\u2019ll be called a traitor! And he\u2019s a hero! I just can\u2019t see why\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n Olesm trailed off. Ilvriss looked at the young [Tactician] and shook his head.<\/p>\n \u201cA hero. I forget I\u2019m in Liscor. The facts aren\u2019t so straightforward, young Swifttail. True, Zel Shivertail is a hero of the Antinium Wars. No one denies that. But as to his influence among our people\u2026he\u2019s been the target of a number of smear campaigns among the Walled Cities over the years. He\u2019s been called a rabble-rouser, a traitor for opposing the war with the Humans, and more. Not in Liscor; your city would probably hang anyone who spoke a word against him. But he\u2019s been a target for years by politicians.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut that\u2019s just\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n Olesm broke off before he said something that could get him in trouble. Ilvriss smiled bitterly, sensing what Olesm was going to say.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s funny. After all these years, he may be more popular among Humans than he is among Drakes. And now, having lost him, every city in the south is looking over their tails nervously.\u201d<\/p>\n He shook his head and looked back towards the orb. He muttered under his breath, loud enough for Olesm and Zevara to hear.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat a mess. Periss was right. We can\u2019t keep doing this.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSorry, sir?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNothing.\u201d<\/p>\n Ilvriss looked up, and he was all business again. He nodded to the orb.<\/p>\n \u201cShivertail\u2019s out of touch for now. I doubt he\u2019ll respond to any [Message] spells at the moment\u2026what we can do is work on things from our own end. Getting idiots to do what we want is a good start. Fear and paranoia move politics far faster than anything else, Swifttail. Give them a few more minutes to stew before you open the communication spell again.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes sir.\u201d<\/p>\n Olesm busied himself with laying out maps on the table, just in case. Ilvriss sighed, reached for a goblet full of wine, and stopped himself at the last moment. He looked around, found a cup full of water and picked it up. He stared gloomily into it and then turned as the orb flickered into life. He bared his teeth as Olesm backed away from the orb.<\/p>\n \u201cTime to get to work, Swifttail. There\u2019s no room for error or weakness here. The world is watching.\u201d<\/p>\n And indeed, the world was paying attention. Although how each group reacted was a separate matter entirely.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u2014-<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n In Rhir, the news of Zel Shivertail\u2019s alliance with Lady Magnolia hit the court of the Blighted King just past lunch. Most of the diners were in the banquet hall and received the news from the [Herald] with polite amazement or frowns. But a group of Drake [Soldiers] sitting at a table reacted explosively to the news.<\/p>\n \u201cHe did what?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n One of the Drake [Commanders] leapt up from his table, ignoring the eyes on him. He roared in outrage as the trembling [Herald] repeated the announcement.<\/p>\n \u201cThat traitor! He\u2019d ally with Humans? And for what? To stop a Goblin Lord? Let the Humans take care of it! That tailless, backstabbing\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShut up you newt!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n A fist smacked the first Drake in the face as another Drake rose. He knocked the first Drake down with a punch and raised his voice.<\/p>\n \u201cGeneral Shivertail\u2019s a hero! If the Tidebreaker\u2019s a traitor then your entire damned Walled City is full of backstabbing worms! Zel Shivertail is doing what he\u2019s always done\u2014protecting our home!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cProtecting it by siding with the Humans!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes! Yes! <\/em>This is what I\u2019ve been saying all along! We need to fight together! The Humans aren\u2019t a threat! If we work together, we can eradicate the Antinium. And a Goblin Lord? Ancestors, does anyone want another Goblin King? Huh? No! Shivertail\u2019s working with Magnolia Reinhart\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat traitorous Human can\u2019t be trusted!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBetter her than the infighting idiots of your city!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou take that back!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMake me! I\u2019m with the Tidebreaker all the way! He\u2019s got my support!\u201d<\/p>\n The Drake spun and grabbed one of the banners at his table that marked his delegation. He started shouting as he got up on the table and began waving the banner.<\/p>\n \u201cShivertail! Shivertail! Izril, the greatest continent in the world!\u201d<\/p>\n The rest of the diners in the room stared at the Drake. At the same table Cirille covered her face with her claws.<\/p>\n Across the room, Richard and most of the Humans who\u2019d been summoned to this world sat at a table with some of Rhir\u2019s nobility. They were confused, but the Rhir nobles around them were mainly contemptuous. One [Lord] shook his head as the Drakes shouted across the banquet hall.<\/p>\n \u201cDrakes. They\u2019re so noisy.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIzril!\u201d<\/p>\n The Drakes argued and fought until they were ejected from the banquet hall. They were all commanders and over two thirds supported Zel Shivertail. As for the rest of Rhir, the news wasn\u2019t as important. Drakes? Humans? They were on another continent. If it meant more aid to Rhir, all the better. Otherwise, it mattered little. On Baleros, however, the opinion was sharply different. At least, for one Fraerling.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u2014-<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cPlay it again.\u201d<\/p>\n Niers Astoragon was still in his night clothes, but the messenger had dragged both him and Foliana out of their beds. He scrubbed at his face, willing the fatigue to vanish as he listened to the recording of Zel speaking.<\/p>\n \u201cDead gods. And this is going out across the world? It will upset the entire balance in Izril. What is that Reinhart woman thinking?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMm. Probably that this is a good idea. Tidebreaker vs Goblins. Bad for Goblin Lord. Good for her.\u201d<\/p>\n Foliana perched on a couch, staring at the image of Zel Shivertail. Niers stared too.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Tidebreaker. A [General] like that allied with someone with the Reinhart fortune behind her\u2026that\u2019s a dangerous combination.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOnly if they do bad things.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s practically a given, isn\u2019t it? Magnolia Reinhart isn\u2019t known for mercy. But Zel Shivertail agreed to help her? Maybe that means he\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n Niers broke off. He stared around. They were in his room and he was sitting on his desk. Unbidden, his eyes went to the gold-encrusted letter that Magnolia had sent him. Foliana noticed the look.<\/p>\n \u201cMagnolia Reinhart sends me letters every month. Mm. Yesterday she sent me a letter and a muffin.\u201d<\/p>\n The Fraerling [Strategist] looked up sharply.<\/p>\n \u201cYou didn\u2019t eat it, did you?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMm\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFoliana! <\/em>There are more spells and poisons than we can test for\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt had blueberries in it. And lots of sugar. And she sends you letters too.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, and I don\u2019t eat<\/em> my letters!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSo? You read them. Which is worse?\u201d<\/p>\n Niers choked but couldn\u2019t reply. He stared at the letter and listened to Zel speaking in silence.<\/p>\n \u201cDefending home, huh? Doing the right thing. I\u2019d never expect to hear someone allied with Magnolia Reinhart saying that\u2014no, I suppose that\u2019s exactly what she\u2019d say. Only I believe it, coming from him.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cReinhart defends her home. Did it in the last Antinium War.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, but that was\u2014she\u2019s not the same as him.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo. But they both fight for their home. You did, too.\u201d<\/p>\n Foliana turned vaguely accusing eyes to Niers and he looked away.<\/p>\n \u201cCuriosity. That was all, Foliana.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMm. Well, maybe he was curious.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWho?\u201d<\/p>\n Foliana pointed at the tiny Drake standing in the magical crystal on the table.<\/p>\n \u201cHim. Maybe he was curious.\u201d<\/p>\n Niers fell silent. He didn\u2019t see Foliana leaving, but he knew she was gone after a while. The Titan sat on his table, replaying the image of Zel speaking again and again, late into the night.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u2014-<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n On Chandrar, various individuals took note of the politics in Izril, but only a few were in any position to care. One, the Emperor of the Sands, considered that the move was unfortunate for his nation since it had the potential to strengthen Izril.<\/p>\n The other, the King of Destruction, was mainly confused.<\/p>\n \u201cWho?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe Tidebreaker, my King.\u201d<\/p>\n Orthenon spoke in front of Flos\u2019 throne. The King of Destruction frowned.<\/p>\n \u201cTidebreaker? The title seems vaguely familiar, but I cannot place it. This Tidebreaker is a Drake [General]?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, a famous one. You may not recognize him because he rose to prominence after your slumber, my liege. He defeated the Antinium during two wars and fought the Goblin King and the Necromancer himself. He is considered to be the highest-level [General] the Drakes possess.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cInteresting.\u201d<\/p>\n Flos\u2019 eyes lit up and a smile crossed his face.<\/p>\n \u201cHe sounds fascinating. I suppose this alliance bodes well for Izril, does it?\u201d<\/p>\n Orthenon paused.<\/p>\n \u201cIt could. On the other hand, it could result in turmoil if the Drakes and Humans enter conflict over his switching allegiances. Either way, I do not think this is fortunate news for us. A [General] of his level allied with Magnolia Reinhart is a considerable threat.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI am aware. It seems this Goblin Lord is outmatched. A pity. I always wanted to meet a Goblin King.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDo not jest please, Your Majesty.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWho says I\u2019m jesting? Ah, come now Orthenon. I missed the Goblin King and they only appear every few centuries! What a disappointment. Come to think of it\u2026be sure to instruct Trey and Teres about the Goblin King, would you? That is an important battle to remember.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI shall, Your Majesty. Now, while the news is important, I do not predict it will affect the situation locally in any significant way. If General Shivertail strengthens his alliance with Magnolia Reinhart we may run into trouble when coming into conflict with Izril, but that is far enough away to be safely ignored for now. For more pressing concerns, we seem to have rats in one of the granaries. I would not trouble you with the news, but it seems these rats can teleport, so I would request\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n Flos sighed as he leaned back on his throne. Chandrar was safe. The other continents listened to the news from Izril, but with no real alarm. Only interest and sometimes scorn.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u2014-<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cIt would be one of the Reinharts that would agree to such an alliance.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIndeed. Allying with a Drake against Goblins? Has she no shame?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThen again, the Reinharts have always been a meddlesome family.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIndeed. Indeed.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI suppose the news is important, however obliquely. I would rather see the Veltras family succeed than the Reinhart house. They at least object to the presence of Drakes.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTrue. An embargo may be called for. Tariffs at the least to express our discontent.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt will be a matter for debate. Let us see what the other kingdoms do first.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHm. I suppose.\u201d<\/p>\n In Terandria, scorn was everywhere. Not that it was particularly informed scorn; it was more of a neighborly disdain for everything they regarded as inferior. Teriarch sighed as he cut short the conversation between two Terandrian nobles with a wave of his claw.<\/p>\n It wasn\u2019t hard for the Dragon to intercept communications between mages and magical artifacts, even the encrypted ones. That was the problem with mages of today. They were so, so\u2026complacent. Every spell was the same, which meant all the flaws were the same too.<\/p>\n The Dragon sighed. If he tried, he could actually hear<\/em> the reports about Zel Shivertail\u2019s alliance with Magnolia passing across the world. So much news and over so little! All he\u2019d done was ally with her. It wasn\u2019t the first time Humans and Drakes had worked together.<\/p>\n \u201cBut perhaps it is significant for this age. When was the last time they formed an alliance? A hundred years ago? No. Four hundred? Wait, there was that marriage\u2014hrm. Hmf. I suppose it is<\/em> important. No wonder Reinhart is bothering me so.\u201d<\/p>\n Teriarch flicked a claw, dismissing the [Message] spells he\u2019d received from Magnolia. He sighed again and curled up a bit more in his cave.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat was it she said? A [General], a [Strategist], and me? Pah. That hatchling\u2019s barely a [General]. I suppose he\u2019s of a decent level, but as for his speeches, I\u2019ll pass. Good speeches have more fire to them. When I<\/em> was young, I heard some good ones. How did the one with the Human in purple armor go again? Something about eating the tails of their foes? Or did the Gnoll say that? Hm\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n The Dragon trailed off blankly and curled up in his cave. Another [Message] spell appeared and he flicked it away with a twitch of his tail.<\/p>\n \u201cNot yet, girl. Not yet. One isn\u2019t two and besides, I promised nothing. You think you can order Dragons around? We\u2019re\u2026very noble species\u2026unacceptable. Going outside is\u2026quite dull\u2026anyways.\u201d<\/p>\n His voice grew lower and sleepier as Teriarch drifted into a nap. He slept, as the world panicked. He had seen it all before and would see it all again. There were no surprises for immortals. Not for those beyond death.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u2014-<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n Az\u2019kerash froze, one hand outstretched over the heap of flesh and bones. Ijvani shuffled her feet, disliking the surprise she saw written over her master\u2019s face.<\/p>\n \u201cZel Shivertail has taken command of an army formed by Magnolia Reinhart, Master. He is preparing to defend Invrisil from the Goblin Lord\u2019s attack or pursue his army should the Goblin Lord avoid the city.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShivertail? Ally with a Human? Impossible. How can that\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n Az\u2019kerash abandoned the grisly remains on the table and began to pace back and forth. He was visibly shaken by the information, but as he paced, his agitation disappeared and a calculating look passed over his face instead. The black skeleton was relieved to see that. She waited while the Necromancer mused out loud.<\/p>\n \u201cIs this an opportunity or a trap? No\u2014if Shivertail has given me this opportunity, I must seize it no matter how remote the chances of success are. Thank you, Ijvani. Now\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n He flicked a hand and muttered a spell. The air opened up and Ijvani saw Az\u2019kerash speaking to the air.<\/p>\n \u201cMy apprentice. Heed my words now.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u2014-<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Across the world, the news of Zel\u2019s alliance was heard, but it could be argued it mattered little to most. In Izril, the news sent Lord Tyrion Veltras into a rage and confused a certain blind [Emperor] until the politics of Drakes and Humans were explained to him by a certain Lady Rie Valerund. It reached the ears of Erin Solstice and made her rub them for a while. But the magnitude of what had happened was only understood by a few.<\/p>\n Klbkch of the Antinium and his Queen were silent at the news. They debated what might occur in hushed tones and thought of the past and the future. Ilvriss convinced his people to avoid denouncing Zel Shivertail outright, and to approach him carefully as well.<\/p>\n But that was all politics and it really didn\u2019t matter. For instance, neither Rags and her tribe nor Garen Redfang and Tremborag had any idea of what had occurred. Neither would they have cared, largely. Alliances were all very well, but it was battle that mattered. If an angry Drake [General] was coming their way, no sane Goblin would fight him. They\u2019d just run.<\/p>\n So perhaps the news mattered only to two individuals. A Necromancer and his apprentice. Because as Osthia Blackwing watched the Goblin Lord argue and then kneel in agony to his master, she felt the world change. And as he rose, bitter and furious and tore the map apart, she knew one thing before he turned and spoke.<\/p>\n \u201cWe attack Invrisil. We go to slay the one named Zel Shivertail.\u201d<\/p>\n The Goblin Lord spat the words, turning to his lieutenants. The other Goblins stared at him, and Osthia felt her stomach lurch. She spoke and every head turned towards her.<\/p>\n \u201cYou won\u2019t defeat him. Not General Shivertail.\u201d<\/p>\n The Goblin Lord looked at her, his black eyes and white pupils dilated with rage. His voice shook\u2014the first real display of emotion she\u2019d seen out of him.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are ordered. So we will. Or die.\u201d<\/p>\n And so the world turned. Gossip and rumors floated about, but there was only one certainty. Zel Shivertail sat in his tent and felt the certainty just like the Goblin Lord. He turned his head and the Goblin Lord turned his. Across many miles their gazes locked. And there was only one word on the lips of both.<\/p>\n \u201cDeath.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Previous Chapter<\/a> Next Chapter<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" [Lieutenant] Gershal of Vaunt was an unhappy man. He was not an important man, which factored into his present unhappiness. He was a low-level officer from a small city north of Invrisil. He commanded a group of disciplined but fairly low-level [Archers] and [Swordsmen], and he liked to think of himself as a decent soldier, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":52856846,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_searchwp_excluded":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"patreon-level":0,"patreon_level":0,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[11693084,349],"tags":[7224,250708,4330244,4472517,11693079],"twi_volume":[11693133],"twi_collection":[],"class_list":["post-4486","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-volume-4","category-writing","tag-fantasy","tag-inn","tag-web-novel","tag-web-serial","tag-writing"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
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