Finding Redemption

Tara'li

Outside I see what I didn't expect yet. The Dwarves have arrived. They got a massive string of carts, some larger than others. I run to the edge of the encampment to see the large carts, drawn by calm boars, slowly ride into the encampment. I don't see any of the towers between the carts, however when standing next to some of the largest carts I feel like an ant. Then I hear a voice. 'Ah, queen Tara'li. You still are as beautiful as the day I met you.'

I turn and see the Dwarves King walk towards me in his armor and with his Warhammer on his back. I smile. 'Ah, sir king. I didn't expect you would be showing up so soon, and with so much...'

One of the huge carts then turns towards me and I have to dash to not be trampled by the big boars. I hear the king yell at the driver in some Dwarves tongue before walking around the big and bulky cart. The king smiles. 'We couldn't get fully prepared in Cher'kan without risking that yer armies would be wiped out in battle with the Demons. Also I did notice ye still hadn't armored up yer dragons.'

I point to Rashter. 'We did armor up some now after the Emerald City got attacked again and he stupidly walked straight into a spear. But not all of them yet...'

The Dwarves King laughs heartily. 'Leave that to me, my wee queen. Yer Guard will be armored before the end of the week.'

The king motions to the driver of the giant cart and some metallic clicking can be heard. Then a lot of rattling as the walls of the cart are lowered like a drawbridge. As the king pulls me to the side I see what it reveals. An entire forge is inside the cart with furnace and all. On the second layer huge containers sit, I suspect with coal and ores. My mouth drops open. 'You... brought all of the Forges? To forge here?'

The king laughs. 'We brought more than just the forges. Our workshops, a tavern... we got all we need to have a fully functional settlement...'

I look around. 'We are just missing our defenses still. And the siege towers...'

The king smiles still. 'The siege towers are inside the workshops. We were a couple of boars short so we had to disassemble most of the machinery.'

Some distance away another large cart opens up, here the flaps opening up to show some kind of rails on the top with a wooden and steel gantry crane and a bunch of panels and wheels on the floor. I shake my head. 'Back in Cher'kan I was already astounded about how much precision was used to carve everything out. But now... this is amazing your majesty...'

He starts directing all the carts himself which gives me the impression I'm no longer needed here. I go back to the command tent where Sha'iva is waiting. As I walk in she seems worried. 'What was that all about?'

I sit down and start carving a figurine for the Dwarves. 'The Dwarves have arrives... with a city on wheels.'

Sha'iva looks at the carving with some distaste but when I say the words city on wheels her mouth drops open to. Then I hear a commotion outside the tent. Looking out I see the guards at the entrance not letting the king in. 'You cannot come in, sir. The queen only lets people in here on her orders.'

I smack him on the head with the half carved figurine. 'That's the king of the Dwarves you half brain. Let him in or your next guard duty is at the latrines.'

Behind me I hear Sha'iva giggle, while the king walks past the guards into the tent. There he looks at the table. 'I see you haven't done a lot in troop movements?'

I turn to the table and point at several positions. 'So far I kept my army back and have done raids with my squad. We almost wiped three legions with Commanders and all. Sadly no sign of Tresh'ta.'

The king sees me carving the figurine. 'Why are you doing that? Using such a badly crafted knife to make figurines?'

I point at the table. 'Those are the only ones I could find. These models help me keep an eye on the state of our forces at any point. We lack models for the Demon legions as well but with the work of my squad we don't have to worry about that to much...'

The king walks out of the tent and barks a couple of orders. Then he returns with a chest. When he opens it, I see row upon row of intricately carves wooden figures. 'Lets use mine. They are more pleasing to the eye.'

As I stow away each of my own figures one by one the king places his own in their positions. Soon all are there and I look at the table. 'All right. So we decimated legions of the Demons here, here and here.' I point to the positions as I speak. 'The Demon big boss knows we did it, that much I made sure off. However it troubles me that they don't seem organized... at all. No Commander knew where Tresh'ta is or knew I had killed any other Commander. That did make the hunt quite a bit more boring...'

The Dwarven king nods. 'Your squad to me sounds like a weapon of fear. You could strike in a single place and yet your strike would cause so many ripples that the entire legion would fall apart. In a war of this size, morale can be your biggest ally...'

Several weeks after the Dwarves arrived the centaurs arrive as well. I do instantly notice that the morale boost the Dwarves gave is way more prominent than the one the centaurs give. They are still welcomed, though not as much. The last to arrive are the humans, who are hardly even noticed with how small a force they come. I even dare bet that there are more Dragon Riders in Celaris than there are humans in the joined camp of the races. Pathetic. With the four leaders gathered I start making up battle plans. 'We first need our defenses to be on par. I know that the Demon Commander with the name Tresh'ta is on her way here with what must be a large legion. The last time we fought her... we had some difficulty taking her legions out.'

King Richard just strokes his beard when looking at the map. 'We don't have much in our resource pile when it comes to defenses, do we?'

The Dwarven king, whose name I discovered is king Derkley, leans on his hammer. 'We could attempt to assemble the towers now, however they would then have to be pushed to the front lines as they only fit in the assembly shops in pieces and ye know, taking 'em apart all the time ain't good for 'em.'

I sigh. 'I guess it is now up to me to find the Demon legion positions once more. Time for another night without sleep while scouting ahead. We don't need defenses if we can strike at them first. However we still need to protect all the soldiers.'

Tera'shi, still holding her staff but in her brand new Elven armor that covers her entire body, starts pointing at positions. 'Maybe put some scouts on these positions. To look out and see if anyone approaches.'

I nod. 'Good point. We definitely need some eagle eyed scouts looking out. Now I do have one issue to talk about with all of you. The Dragon Guard is still a wild card. When I left Celaris they did say they would come, but they couldn't give me a timeframe or even send me a single squad. Their dragon forges are stone cold and out of use. None know how to work them. The leader claims none can go into combat without the dragons armored up.'

King Derkley slams his hammer on the ground. 'Of course that Forge Master of the Dragon Guard forgot about the magnificent creations of his people. Ye can't light the Dragon Forges without a dragons flame. With the flame of a dragon, the hottest fire known to any kind, the forge will be lit. The Forge Master ain't no kin of us to forget such a detail.'

Again I sigh. 'With that cleared up... the people around this table are the leaders of the factions we have at our disposal. Though I am the council member of the Dragon Guard besides the queen of the Elves, I cannot claim they will be coming. For now our task is to survive. To draw out our time here. The longer we stay alive, the more time the Dragon Guard has to forge armor and come here. However the enemy has longer to gather to so we cannot wait for to long.'

All around me I see the others agree. Then I nod. 'We will wait until the Demon legions found our position. If the Dragon Guard hasn't shown up by then, then we go to war without them.'

King Derkley raises his hammer. 'Aye. It is time we show 'em what we can do without 'em.'

Both king Richard and Tera'shi walk out of the tent. Then I put one single dragon figurine on the map. 'This is all we have now. One squad. One squad lead by a person who has to be everywhere at once. I'm not a leader who can do that...'

Derkley uses his hammer to tap on my shield. 'Ye don't need to be everywhere at once, if ye let the heroes of the races lead. Don't lead the armies as a queen but like yer leading yer squad. Look how ye made them. They wouldn't follow anyone but ye.'

I look at the shield now to and put my hand on the symbol. 'King Derkley, you are a genius. To combine all the races into mixed legions... all I have to do is make sure the Orks only attack the Demons and then we are golden...'

King Derkley steps towards the entrance. 'I'll request an army roster for ye to split up my army. I suggest ye ask the others to.'

I nod and then turn to the table once more. The battle is coming. We only have a short time to turn all the armies we got into split legions, each lead by their own king and with their own heroes. The task ahead now dawns upon me. This isn't just a no nights rest for me for one night, but no nights rest until the battle itself...

Sitting on top of Rashter I look once more to the skies behind me. No sign of the Dragon Guard. We are alone this battle. So be it. I draw my sword. 'Do not fear them, nor fear death. This battle is but a stepping stone to victory. Those who die today will be remembered for millennia to come. Long after the Dragon Guard is no more, our names will be sung in legends! Forward for our homes and our people!'

I hear people behind me yell the same war cry. Then Rashter gets up and I turn my attention to the line of red before me. Do not fear them. There is but one to fear and I will kill her. Behind me I hear the flapping of wings as the others of my squad take to the air. I put my sword away and grab my spear and shield, which Rashter sees as a signal to take to the air. From my vantage point I see the three leaders and their legions move forward. Together with the squad we fly over all of the legions to boost the morale before turning to the line of Demons. For a moment I regret not grabbing my bow and pelting the Demons with arrows, though soon I put that thought aside. My task isn't to kill Demons, it is to kill their leader.

With Rashter leading the wing we fly ahead of the army. As agreed we aren't engaging just yet, mostly trying to draw out the Demons. Surprisingly the Demon lines stay where they are. Curious. As the legions of my side reach the predetermined positions they set up their shield lines and as agreed the Elves start pelting the Demon lines with arrows.

Tresh'ta

From the rear lines I look over the battlefield. My Demons are standing in the line, ready to close the trap on Tara'li. There she is, on the massive dragon. Come on, little girl. Attack the lines. I know you want to.... Wait what? Where is the hyper aggressive Elven queen I recognize? She knows I'm here. She wants to kill me. But she isn't attacking yet. Instead her armies move up and start shooting us with arrows. This is nothing like her. Why would she risk so many lives instead of going in herself?

Something else bothers me to. The banner of the Tree is gone. Instead now all the banners I see, and I see a lot of them, show an Elven sword crossed with some kind of hammer. Why would she do that? And how does she even have so many? Her armies rival mine in size and when I see the many Demons fall to volley after volley of arrows... they definitely got the better marksmen. This is feeling off. I have to do something now. 'All legions, go forwards. Drop the trap, it won't work. She is to smart. To sneaky. Get all the Demons into this battle.'

As the Demons move in I go towards front lines. I have to lead from the front now. All my plans are going wrong and I don't even care about capturing her now. Weird... didn't the Demon Lord order that? Well, he can sit on a pain chair for all I care, I have to fight this battle myself. If he has issues with my tactics he can bring his fat rear end over here and fight himself. I doubt he would be having as much luck as I'm having.

Tara'li

The Demons are moving in. Rashter signals for the archers to retreat and the combination of Orks and Dwarves with shields to take the front lines over. The armies clash, however now they clash on my terms. With the Orks slashing over the heads of the Dwarves not a single Demon will survive a charge. Then the Dwarven lines part to let the Orks fully charge in, a green tide pushing into the wave of red that are the Demon armies. Now I see what Treknal and Flashee are so proud off...

I shake my head to return to the now. 'Rashter, do you see her yet? Or any of those damned Commanders? I'm itching to fight something myself.'

Rashter is looking over the Demon armies himself as well. 'I'm not seeing anything myself yet. But do watch out, Tara'li. You could become a green skin like those down there if you don't. You even behave like them already.'

There is his humor again. I tap him on the back. 'Come on Rashter. You know I've been waiting for this moment for months. I can't wait to redeem mom right now... and the waiting is killing me...'

Rashter seems to focus for a moment. 'I think I found her. She is moving to the middle legions front lines. Right there.'

I smile. 'Lets show her what mistakes she has made. Time to join the battle.'

I signal for a combat landing on Tresh'ta's location and immediately my squad dives down, punching a hole right around Tresh'ta. Then the second wave clears the area around her letting me land right in front of her. As my squad engages the Demons around us I dismount Rashter and jump down in front of her. 'Tresh'ta. As promised I came to fight you. We have a score to settle.'

She seems not afraid, though she isn't as... solid footed as before. I miss her steely determination. I put away my spear and shield and draw both swords, ready to engage her. Tresh'ta looks at me with a studying face. 'Tara'li. You surprised me. You planned out the battle better than me. Smart move, to draw me out... you almost had me. Then the isolating of me, first class move. But now you have to face me and I will not falter.'

As I circle her with my two swords drawn I raise moms sword. 'You recognize this, don't you? The sword she held? It has killed four of your friends already. Every Commander I kill is killed with this blade, in her honor. In her name I've slaughtered entire legions. You killed mom in an attempt to make me weak. Make me falter. But I stood strong. With my sword I lead and with vengeance I cleanse myself of your demonic deeds.'

Tresh'ta stares at moms sword. 'I can see the souls you took. You may have killed more than I have in my entire life already and yet... it doesn't bother you. Your mind is a fortress I dare not siege. How things have changed...'

I take a couple of careful steps towards her, staying out of the reach of her blade. 'When you first showed yourself I was weak. However your sister made me strong. You were to late to claim your daughter, Tresh'ta. And now you will die for your sins.'

I then charge in and use every bit of speed I got to attack her. I notice the Glider isn't helping me yet. Its probably sleeping or something but it doesn't seem to care. With her enhanced speed Tresh'ta blocks all my attacks but doesn't attack back. She seems to be in a fight with herself as I press the attack. Then she does strike back. I cross both blades in an X to take the full force and then push the blade aside with my own blade as I lash out with moms. Tresh'ta barely blocks it in time and seems to falter even more.

Tresh'ta releases a grunt and suddenly takes over the offensive. Time and time again I barely block in time. Then she kicks my own sword out of my hand. I want to dive after it but Tresh'ta is forcing me so well into the defense I don't even have time to grab my shield. I'm dead. That is all I can think. I cannot beat her back like this. Even if my Glider now interrupts and gives me that boost I don't have the strength left to beat her. However something seems to push in the back of my mind. A thunderous beating. Tresh'ta steps back and for an instant I think about diving after my sword and retrieving it. I put that thought out of my mind as I see Tresh'ta standing between me and my sword. I then hear Sha'nok calling from the back of Rashter. 'Tara'li, catch!'

I think fast and spin around, grabbing in a single move. Then I see what she tossed me. Her sword. The sword of poison. Tresh'ta once again faces me. 'Your Dragon Guard showed up. So you managed to get them into this battle. Not that it will save you. Today you will fall or die. Your faith has been set in stone by the Demon Lord.'

I grab the poison blade better with my left hand and get into combat stance. With how fine the poison ducts are I doubt Tresh'ta sees the blade is poisoned. She engages me but now I push my luck. I don't try to get a lethal blow, just a scratch is enough. With all my speed I push the offensive. Opening there? No. I lash out time and time again, making her think I just want to kill her. Then I see an opportunity. I slash downwards with moms sword, and as she blocks I slash her hand with Sha'nok's sword. As she jumps back I see another change in her. Fear seems to be in her eyes. I smile. 'Funny how the tables have turned, isn't it? Mom didn't just give me a full set of armor. She gave Sha'nok, my apprentice, quite a special sword. You may have noticed it already...'

Tresh'ta looks at her right hand. 'What kind of wizardry is this? It burns... how can this be? I should be invulnerable to poison...'

I smile. 'I've been in your position before. Poisoned by a Lamia. This stuff is potent. It nearly killed me. I'm curious how long it takes for you to die...'

I rush in again and start attacking rapidly. I now notice Tresh'ta is getting slower, however not slow enough. In her self defense she manages to slip past my guard, stabbing me in my stomach. I feel the pain as her blade goes through my armor and into my stomach, however it doesn't go as deep as I expected and I have a chance to step back. Tresh'ta lets her mouth drop open. 'How... my sword... it should have... killed you...'

Now I realize what my glider has done. It has layered my protection. The sword has gone through my armor and scales but the bones stopped it. This is my chance. 'You aren't the only one who is enhanced, Tresh'ta. So am I...'

Then I spread my wings and run towards her. As I jump for the strike with spread wings Tresh'ta drops her sword and her mouth falls open. Then I dive at her using my wings to speed my descent and moms blade stabs her in the stomach, right where in my visions she held her hand. Where she stabbed mom. As Tresh'ta falls, so do I. 'My name has been redeemed, mom. Now I am a worthy queen. Now you can Rest In Peace, knowing you have been avenged...'

Then I sit on my knees and just look at the impaled Tresh'ta