Forgotten Guardians

Josan watched as the council debated their courses of action. He sat at the end of a large moon shaped table, which seemed to grow right out of the floor. Miranda sat next to him with the rest of his companions. Lady Maylen thought it necessary they all attend the council meeting. So far they had only suggested what the council already knew. Josan was amazed at the eives, for a people who condoned violence they certainly knew how to prepare for it. In two days time; defenses were raised throughout the forest. Scouts ran in and out of the chamber with new reports. The hospice stock piled bandages and prepared field kits throughout day and night. Everyone prepared themselves for war. Mourn and Baile sat across from Josan and the others, as the advisors of the dwarven mines. The dwarves backed the elves whole hearledly. They hated orcs and goblins and never missed a chance to sharpen their axes on orcs’ skulls.

“Josan...Josan,” Lady Maylen said as the whole council stared at him.

Josan was so wrapped up in his thoughts he missed what they were talking about. “I’m sorry. I didn’t hear what you said,” he said somewhat embarrassed at his lack of attention.

“About the war machines the dwarves are building, where do you think that we should place them?” one of the ofher council members said a little annoyed.

Josan thought it over and looked down at the maps placed around the table. “I wouldn’t put them too close together and not out in the open. The horde will charge rather than use tactics to fight. So the machines could be easily overrun if they are out in the open, and then turned against us.”

“Good. Baile if the war machines have to be abandoned then they must be able to be destroyed before the horde reaches them,” Lady Maylen said as the council nodded in agreement.

The council was desicussing supply routes when Raven burst in, “The outer perimeter is secure. All defenses have been placed,” he said formally as he went to a knee. He caught sight of Josan and the rest of them. Raven’s face became crimson with rage as he sprang to his feet and pointed his finger in their direction. “What are they doing here? They have no right to be here,” Raven bellowed as fire danced in his eyes.

“Raven, you have no right to tell this council who is permitted into this chamber. You will mind your place,” Lady Maylen said with a stare which would freeze a person’s soul.

Raven turned his attention back to the council and was confronted with their hard stares. His face contorted with rage as they looked upon him as if he was a spoiled child. “If that is all you have to report, then you are excused,” one of ihe council members spoke with irritation. Raven bowed, more rigidly than before and quickly exited the chamber.

As soon as Raven had left the proceedings continued as if nothing had happened. One of the other council members stood and spoke, a slender fellow, even for an elf, with long sun golden hair and piercing lavender eyes. “From what we have learned from our scouts and from the lay of the land, I believe the horde has not discovered our location. The few enemy scouts who have ventured this far have been dealt with.” the council nodded in agreement.

For the rest of the afternoon the council continued to talk about strategy, but they all knew that they could do nothing until the horde made their first move and Josan knew the best lay plans usually went amiss when the first arrow flew. After an hour or so, Josan decided the councilors did not need his advice and began to rise. Miranda and the rest followed his lead with expressions of desperation, all of them wanted to leave. As they rose, one of the council members spoke, “Dear...” he seemed confused on how to address them. “Dear Guardians, we appreciate any advice that you can give us.”

“It seems you have everything in order. I believe we may be able to help with the preperation of the perimiter” Josan said formally. They bowed and headed out of the chamber when another council member spoke.

The council members content with the groups’ purpose, settled back into figuring the best strategies for the battle. As the six headed for the door Uuger took Miranda’s hand and walked by her side.

“Uuger protect pretty lady, no orc come near pretty lady,” he said in a gurgling matter of fact voice.

Miranda nearly froze in mid-step. She hadn’t even thought of taking Uuger into the fray of battle. She looked down at her little green friend. She surely didn’t want see Uuger get hurt or worse. He was good in a fight but in battle he could easily be trampled or captured, but she couldn’t deny his right to come.

Miranda spent the remainder of the day racking her brain on how to keep Uuger from the battle. Fear for her little friend weighed heavily on her shoulders, yet she couldn’t just tell Uuger he couldn’t come. Miranda walked through the halls trying to come up with a logical excuse to keep Uuger here. As she turned the comer she saw Lady Maylen and another councilor walking towards her.

“Is something troubling you my dear?” Lady Maylen asked as she approached Miranda.

At that moment an idea came to Miranda, one which would keep Uuger out of battle and still not wound his pride. She quickly explained her fears and her idea to Lady Maylen who heartily agreed. Miranda found Uuger in her bedchamber, playing with the fairy stone around his neck.

“Uuger, you want to go for a walk?” Miranda asked. Uuger grinned widely and rushed to her side and took her hand. They walked through the open gardens around the great oak tree enjoying the beautiful flowers. As they walked, Lady Maylen found them and gracefully glided over to kneel at Uuger’s side, “Master Uuger, I almost forgot to ask you, I have been told that you were an ‘apprentice’ to a village wizard,” Uuger nodded his head and grinned. “I must ask you a favor then, when the fighting begins there will be many injured and there are few healers here. I ask you to help us in the hospice. Your knowledge of magic and medicines will gratefully be appreciated.”

Uuger looked up to Miranda as if torn between what he should do.

“Uuger, it’s alright. They need you and I will be fine,” Miranda said squeezing his hand.

Uuger looked back up at Miranda then turned his attention back to Lady Maylen and nodded his agreement.

“Thank you, Master Uuger,” Lady Maylen said as she rose. “I am heading to the hospice now, will you join me?” Uuger took her hand slowly. Miranda met Lady Maylen’s eyes and nodded her thanks. Lady Maylen and Uuger started down the hall, and Miranda watched her little friend go. Uuger turned and smiled his tusky grin before disappearing around the bend.

Vander sat in the back of the cramped wagon with Charkic and Parlon. Being in such small quarters with the wizard made Vander’s skin crawl, but he showed no outward sign of his discomfort. The wagon was built especially to Vander’s design. It was a portable command tent. A small table built out of the wall and four chairs bolted to the floor. Maps and ink wells littered the table. Small lamps, hung on hooks on the wall, giving off a dim yellow glow and tainting the air. Charkic sat on other side of the table, his girth taking up most of the room. Parlon sat in the corner by the door looking half asleep. Vander studied the maps before him occasionally lifting his eyes to look at the mage across from him as the smug wizard sipped tea from a fine porcelain cup. The wizard seemed cool and relaxed in the stuffy quarters while Charkic fidgeted trying to find more room.

“How long until we reach the border?” Vander asked without looking up from the maps.

“We should arrive early tonight, as long as the weather holds out,” Charkic said, his booming voice echoing off the walls.

“And the horde?” Vander asked as he eyed Parlon.

“They are setting up camp as we speak. Do not worry about them General, Rancor and his remaining captains have specific order not to engage anything until we arrive,” Parlon said calmly as he took another sip of tea.

“I do not want them ransacking the countryside that I have come to save,” Vander said in an iron tone.

“I have sent some of my...‘agents’ to deal with anyone that gets out of control,” Parlon said with a evil smile.

Those were the exact people Vander was talking about. The dark elves seemed to take orders only from Parlon and no one else, but Vander had no time to deal with that now, he went back to studying the map in front of him.

“What of the other horde stationed at the elven forest?” Vander asked as a side note.

“They are stationed and ready, waiting for your command. General,” Parlon said

’They will stand by, I do not wish for a conflict with the elves or dwarves,” Vander said as he took a drink from his pewter mug.

“But, why general? We could easy defeat the filthy vermin,” Parlon said through clenched teeth.

“The horde has only to stop them from allying with the Arlon, no more. I wish no harm to them,” Vander said without looking up from his mug. He truly didn’t want a fight the elves or dwarves, they hated the evil creatures as much as he did. Only if he could find them maybe they would join with him, but not likely he thought. Elves were content in the forest as dwarves were with in their mines. He would leave them be. He had other matters to attend to.

“I want another messenger sent to the king,” Vander said calmly.

“But General, he has already cursed you and this army. Why waste another soldier?” Parlon said shocked.

Vander almost grinned to himself. He liked keeping the wizard on his toes and wiping that smug smile off his face. “The king might change his mind, once he sees this army,” he said stone faced. He turned to Charkic, “Make certain the messenger explains that I wish no fight only a treaty to hunt down the evil which infests his lands. I wish no harm among his people, but if they fight against us, then they must be servants of the Shadow,” Vander said in a firm tone. Charkic nodded. “Parlon, I want you to ride ahead and start construction of a stronghold. If the king refuses, then we will need a base of operation,” Vander’s tone left no room for argument.

Parlon glared and slowly stood, anger welled up and screamed for release. How dare this human demand him to do something so trivial. Ideas filtered through his mind of ways he could make this man scream out in pain, but a stronger voice in his mind broke through. A voice which he recognized, a voice which turned his bones to ice. “Do not fail me. The time will come, remember the prophecy. Do not fail me,” the voice roared in his head. Parlon’s anger quickly melted away as his mind flashed scenes of what would happen if he failed. He regained his composure and gave a graceful bow to Vander before he swung open the small door and jumped down from the moving wagon.

“The wizard gets stranger by the day,” Charkic said with disgust.

“Do not worry, I have already taken care of him,” Vander said with a smile. Charkic raised a eyebrow in curiosity. “Let’s just say, Parlon will be with the first wave of the attack and most likely, he’ll not make it out,” Vander smiled as Charkic grinned at the pleasant thought.