Dragon Alliance: Rise Against Shadow (42 page)

“Then who will be our reserve?” Daddonan asked.

“Sir, Gallanth and my council will be your reserve. If any chromatics are called, they will be focused on Strikenth and Talonth, and should not see Gallanth. We will then attack them from the rear in a surprise that hopefully will break them, for they will soon realize who and what they are dealing with,” Mkel added.

“Sounds good, Dragonrider, but I will keep a troop of cavalry back for a mobile reserve,” Daddonan added with a wink. “Colonel Sheer, what were your casualties today, and what damage did we inflict on the enemy?”

“Sir, among the relief forces, we had seven men killed, fourteen seriously injured, and twenty-nine with minor wounds. We lost two hippogriffs and four horses. Only one land dragon suffered significant injuries, but he is expected to recover. Our garrison company here at Handsdown suffered much greater. They had over twenty-four killed, and almost all of the remainder of their numbers wounded. If you hadn’t sent the bulk of their company here at the warning from Gallanth, the platoon that was on watch would have been decimated to the man. There are also a total of twelve soldiers officially missing.

“We killed—actually, Gallanth and Mkel killed—three chromatic dragons and two of those new talon dragons,” Sheer continued. “Our forces eliminated another of those new types, almost a battalion of orcs, a company of cavalry that was human and orc mixed, a wing of manticores, twenty-nine drow with spider mounts, and roughly twenty of those dragon spawn creatures. They were particularly tough but not invincible.”

“Today held a number of firsts: chromatic dragons with increased power, a new dragon species, a new unholy hybrid of a chromatic and a man, as well as an unusual assassination of a drow priestess by a Shidanese assassin. I am no oracle or elf, but I sense something larger brewing here; why was a little trading town that just came under our protection so important to them?” General Daddonan asked rhetorically.

“The information that we pulled out of the drow priestess lends to even more questions,” Jodem added.

“Even more puzzling was an immediate request from several ranking Enlightened senators that the drow be turned over to them before either the Wizard’s Council or the elves,” the general added. “This interest, as with most of what the POEs say, was almost bordering on the fanatic, as was their response to accusations that this attack was of Morgathian origin.”

“They never care much about the military unless they are trying to divert funds away from it, or have it do their bidding, and never do they react this quickly to any event,” Colonel Sheer said with irritation. “But why would they be so intent on not asking, blaming, or even inquiring whether this attack was Morgathian orchestrated?”

“It is all puzzling,” General Daddonan said, “but we will not solve it here. Colonel, gentleman, dragonriders, as long as all the crystals are synchronized, we must finalize preparations for tomorrow and still get our soldiers enough rest. Let us work one more run through the plan with all commanders moving their forces on the crystal image field.”

Immediately, all the officers present made sure that their seeing crystals touched Colonel Sheer’s so they would all have the same information, and their unit symbol appeared in the three-dimensional terrain representation that emanated from all the crystals. The general’s chief of staff, Colonel Sykes, oversaw the turns that each unit commander took in moving his piece to synchronize the legion’s plan and operation.

Colonel Sheer, Colonel Magallan, the infantry battalion commanders, Colonel Ronson (the land dragon battalion commander), and Colonel Dansar (the hippogriff commander) were all confident and competent battle leaders. As they
finished the exercise on the crystal projected map field, General Daddonan turned to Colonel Tomslan, the support corps battalion commander, and asked him if he could support this battle. The support corps commander told the general that he had a steady stream of supplies moving toward Handsdown on a day and night basis. The method of support that logistics officers in the Alliance conduct resupply operations was amazing. The bottom line was that an army could only move so far on an empty stomach, with no arrows and broken swords.

All the commanders again touched their crystals to ensure that all information captured was shared. Seeing crystals were impressive devices. They could not only give instant communication to other crystals, they could also project images of what both it and its blood bonded owner had seen; they could even manipulate and add to those images. This capability was due to the melding of a small amount of dragon blood and the blood of the crystal’s owner. Much of the Alliance military doctrine and operations now depended on using these devices, which were derived in much the same way as a dragonstone but much simpler. The owner of a seeing crystal was the only one who could operate it, which made it a very secure means of communication. This bonding between the owner and the crystal was accomplished with a drop of the owner’s blood at the time of purchase.

After the officers present acknowledged that they had the information, they all rendered the general a salute, which he returned and wished them all luck. Mkel gestured to Captain Decray to come with him as he walked back to where Gallanth, his council members, and the two silver dragons were staying. “Just wanted you to meet the group you are going into battle with tomorrow, Ranger Captain,” Mkel told Decray, who in turn gave a greeting to all of the Keystone Council and then looked up at Gallanth and saluted him.

“Not necessary but the sentiment is appreciated, Captain Decray,” Gallanth replied to the ranger’s salute.

“It will be an honor to fight beside you tomorrow, mighty Gallanth. I saw what you and your rider did in battle today against the chromatics and their minions, and it was an awe-inspiring sight. Without you, your rider Captain Mkel, and Master Wizard
Jodem, the tide of this fight would have gone against us,” Decray said with reverence to Gallanth.

“You do not give your land dragons enough credit, my good ranger,”
Gallanth said back to him.

“They are indeed a tough lot and have seen us to victory on many an occasion, but only against a single chromatic dragon or an enemy army, not the combined force you faced today,” Decray explained.

“Then let us pray that our luck holds for tomorrow. You have a good soul, Ranger Captain, and are an honorable man, now raise your swords.”
Captain Decray looked puzzled but Mkel nodded for him to comply.

“Gifts from dragons are to be just accepted and not questioned my friend,” Mkel whispered to Decray. He drew the two short swords he preferred to fight with.

“Cross your swords,”
Gallanth ordered as Decray touched the points of the two swords together. Gallanth raised his massive foot, and with his four-foot-plus-long front claws, he deftly and ever so slightly punctured the thick hide of one of his own toes and placed a single drop of his greenish blue blood on the sword points. The blood immediately absorbed into the low mithril alloy blades, which made them almost hum with energy. Decray could barely hold on to them, and then suddenly the vibrations subsided.

“They will not have the power of a dragonstone weapon, but you will find they strike harder and faster and cooperate in battle better now,”
Gallanth said. “Ordin, the next two stones we find of quality are now earmarked,” Gallanth told the dwarf.

“As you wish, Master Dragon,” Ordin quickly replied. Decray was deeply and visibly touched by Gallanth’s generosity and acknowledgment, as the expression on his hardened face was almost childlike.

“No words need be said, Captain, just continue to fight the good fight and watch over your men,” Gallanth quickly spoke up.

“Now that we are done with all the pleasantries, I would like to get our plan synchronized so we can rescue those soldiers tomorrow,” Mkel spoke up as he put his hand on Decray’s shoulder. “Gather around,” he continued as he drew Kershan and stuck the gleaming pure mithril blade upright into the hard earth. He spoke a command in Draconic to the dragonstone, and the image of the enemy encampment emanated from the glowing red gemstone.

“This is the present look of the enemy encampment,” Mkel began. “You’ll see the gathering forces in front of this series of large tents at the base of the hills. There are several battalions of orcs, humans, gnolls, and grummish, with a scattering of drow. These new creatures are the behirs, like the one that Lupek and Deless killed, along with several common giants. We are not worried about them, however, but are focusing on this tent in the center, where the Battle Point rangers think the prisoners are. Captain Decray, correct me if I get anything wrong. The legion will perform a frontal attack to draw all their forces out onto the plain. Strikenth and Talonth will teleport them here, then they will march toward the camp. Jodem will accompany them to deal with any Morgathian or drow wizards, as well as the beholders. If any chromatics appear, the two silvers will engage them first, with Gallanth and I weighing in only if necessary.

“We will teleport here, in this slight depression,” Mkel continued, “to keep Gallanth as hidden as possible. Captain Decray’s rangers will circle around to this location, and the Weir group will go here. When we are in position and the main attack begins, we will move closer to the camp. Dekeen, Tegent, and I will take out any guards with arrow fire. We all will then rush the tents, secure the Battle Point soldiers, and move them to the mounts. From there the Weir group will support the main effort of the legion in destroying their supplies at this camp and defeating any reinforcements that arrive. Gallanth and I will join Talonth and Strikenth if any chromatics arrive in force or provide support to the legion in the main fight. All signals and communication will be performed with seeing crystals, with a flaming arrow as a backup signal for the assault. Watterseth, Beckann, I would like for you to accompany the support corps trains to provide them magical power in case any dragons or other threats get through, but be ready to reinforce us in case things go bad. The depression we teleport into will be our rally point in case something goes terribly wrong. Let us make them think about who they dare to fight. Any questions?”

“No, the plan looks sound, Captain, but what if we run into heavier resistance at the camp?” Toderan asked.

“Then we will hold them off while the rangers take the prisoners back to their mounts to get them to safety. Worst case scenario, I will call Gallanth up, but we want to keep him out of the fight unless the chromatics appear. I have confidence in our council’s ability to hold its own,” Mkel said with a smile, which Dekeen and Ordin echoed. Mkel could tell Ordin was itching for a fight.

“Just point me toward the giants,” the dwarf stated with a large grin.

“You will get your chance, my friend, but it must be coordinated. We can handle a lot but not a whole army,” Mkel said to his dwarvish companion. “Once the prisoners are clear and we eliminate their reserve, we will join the general fight and squeeze those vermin like a grape between two anvils.”

“Sounds like an agreeable arrangement,” Dekeen spoke up.

“Then we shall meet in the morning, Dragonrider,” Decray asked.

“Yes, we will depart after a quick breakfast at first light, for the Battle Point legion will not strike until midmorning. I know Lordan and Padonan will try to get them out in one teleport jump, but it could take them several trips. Then they have to form and march over a mile to the enemy encampment,” Mkel replied.

“Understandable. I am honored to be fighting beside you all,” Decray finished with a hand salute, which Mkel returned with the others echoed or nodded in acknowledgment. He then walked back to the keep to make further preparations.

“All right, gentlemen, let’s grab something to eat and drink and settle into our deluxe accommodations,” Mkel said as he walked over to the satchel bags on Gallanth’s flying gear. He always packed five gallons of the Weir’s spring water, wine, ale, and enough food for a week, just in case. The others walked to their mounts and returned with portions of rations and drink. Dekeen brought a couple of scrap logs, which he placed in front of Gallanth’s massive head, as Mkel was setting down the ale tankard from the saddle gear.

“Master Gold Dragon Gallanth, if you would be so kind,” the elf courteously asked the dragon in elvish. He opened his huge jaw and blew a small jet of flame onto the logs, which immediately caused them to burst into flames. “Thank you, my large friend,” Dekeen added.

As they all gathered around the fire and started to eat their various rations of salted and dried meats and breads, the ale was passed around, and Ordin took his normal generous portions. Just as well, for dwarves could always fight better a little drunk.

“Captain, how tough was the fight today, really?” Toderan asked.

“To put it truthfully, if Gallanth, myself, and Jodem were not visiting Battle Point when we were, this village would have been razed and the relief force would have walked into a trap. We were lucky, but tomorrow we have surprise and audacity on our side, and we will use it,” Mkel answered.

“So many drow and then a high priestess slain; this is very convoluted. You say Jodem killed a drow wizard of power?” Dekeen asked.

“Yes, he fought him while we were busy with the chromatics,” answered Mkel.

“There is some sort ill wind here. An attack of chromatics here in the plains, on the edge of our area of influence, also led by drow, but no Morgathian standards. In addition, a gathering of many more along our southeastern border, also without banners. Too much organization to be independent endeavors,” Tegent spoke out loud.