Forgotten Guardians

“Will you stop scratching?” Frathe snarled.

“It itches. I think this bear had fleas,” Grimmly said as he furiously scratched at his bear skin.

The two walked through the horde encampment with an easy pace. They had easily infiltrated the camp, but hadn’t really heard anything of real value. The only thing that they had found out was that the leader of the horde was an ogre named Rancor. Then something caught Frathe eye. A lone cloaked figure walked towards the ogre leader’s tent. Frathe nudged Grimmly and nodded his head to the cloaked figure. They slowly made their way towards the tent. As they made their way a group of goblin guards jumped in their path blocking their way. The lead goblin started grunting in the goblin tongue as he eyed the two suspiciously.

“What’s he saying?” Grimmly asked softly.

“He wants to know why I am walking with a giant.” Frathe whispered back.

Frathe crossed his arms and stood straight and spoke in the grunting form of the goblin language. The group of goblin eyes widened in awe as Frathe continued. Their spears lowered and wide smiles crossed their lips. The leader laughed out loud and walked off, patting Frathe on the shoulder, the rest of the goblins wandered off laughing and smirking at Grimmly.

“What did you tell them?” Grimmly asked a little flustered.

“I told them that I beat you up and now you are my slave,” Frathe said with a smirk as he looked up at his big friend. Grimmly scowled back as Frathe shrugged his shoulders and started for the tent. They crouched down beside the tent and pretended to play a crude game of dice as they listened to the voices in the tent. Most of the conversation seemed to deal with supplies and weapons, but just as Grimmly and Frathe were about to move on the conversation changed.

“I need more troops. The elves have killed many and I don’t have enough to take this land from the fairy folk.” an ogre voice roared.

“That is what General Vander wishes. He will pass along five hundred extra troops to help purge this land.” a dark melodic voice said.

Grimmly and Frathe both looked at each other in shock. They both knew that name ‘Vander’. Josan would want to know about this right away.

“We need to get back and tell Josan about this,” Grimmly whispered as Frathe shook his with agreement.

The elven council was seated around a half moon table again in the Council’s Chamber back in the city. Each explained the horde situation as they saw it. Josan and the others sat to the side, listening as the council members spoke of what must be done. Mourn and Baile sat along the other wall as the ambassadors for the dwarves. Lady Maylen sat in the center listening to each council member in turn as Raimon leaned against the far wall never taking his eyes from her.

“We must do something. They outnumber us three to one. We loose ground to the horde ever day, soon they will push us out of the forest all together. We must fight back,” Raven spoke from his chair.

“That is ridiculous. We must continue as we are, sooner or later they will give up due to depleted forces,” another council member from the other side answered.

“Please, friends. Let us not make any decision until we have learned what Master Frathe and Master Grimmly learned while they were in the camp,” Lady Maylen said trying to quell their tempers.

Grimmly stood and walked to the center of the curved table, once again dressed in his fine clodies which looked not a day worn. He straightened himself than began to speak, “As we know, this horde, at the borders is but a small fraction of what waits at the borders of the Arlon Kingdom.

“Do you know if they are planning a full assault against us?” one of the council members asked.

“I do not believe that was the intention at the begining. From what I can decipher, this group was merely to keep you distracted. But I believe that has changed for some reason or another. The horde will be receiving additional troops any day now. Though after they have attacked the Arlon kingdom they might turn their full force on you,” Grimmly said in his baritone voice.

“What of their leader, or do they even have a leader?” another of the council asked.

“Yes they do, an ogre named Rancor. A brute of sorts, but highly intelligent for an ogre. But he is the leader of only this horde, the leader of the Army of the Light is the true keeper,” Grimmly explained.

“So the Army of the Light and the horde are as one as we expected,” Lady Maylen said out loud as she pondered the connections.

“Why would a army who allies itself with the Light, fight side by side of goblins and orcs?” one of the council members blurted out, then wished he hadn’t as he locked eyes with Frathe.

“The more important issue is who is the leader for the Army of Light?” Lady Maylen asked as she still looked lost in thought.

Grimmly cleared his throat and shot a look to Josan, “The leader’s name is Vander.”

Josanshot out of his chair as if lighting had hit him. “What?”

The council seemed shocked for a moment as Josan tried to visibly control his rage. Even Raimon stood a little more rigid. The rage and voices pounded in Josan’s head wanting to be released. He pushed them away and focused his body to calm. Miranda gently grasped his hand and spoke soft words to calm him

“Do you know this Vander?” Lady Maylen asked from her chair, looking collected as ever.

“Yes, I know him,” Josan said with more spite then he could help. “Do not underestimate him, he will shake your hand in friendship with one hand and stab you in the back with the other.”

“I see,” was all Lady Maylen said. “Do you think that he will move against us after he has taken the kingdom?”

“I don’t know. He’s a lunatic,” Josan said as his knuckles turned white from clenching the table.

“That he may be, but the horde that is here now will destroy us if we do not do something,” a council member spoke.

“Yes, you are correct. We must deal with this horde for the present,” Lady Maylen said coolly. “Baile, what is the dwarves state?”

Baile stood from his chair, “Every dwarf not fighting is in the forge making weapons. I received news this morning; another two units are headed down the mountain with supplies and men. They should reach us in a few days,” Baile said trying his best not bellow.

“I still feel that it will not be enough, especially if the horde keeps pushing as it is,” a council member at the end of the table said.

“Yes, we are greatly out numbered,” Lady Maylen sighed.

Miranda stood up and dry washed her hands, “If... if the council will...”

“What is it child? You have every right to speak, we value your opinion,” Lady Maylen said as the rest of the council nodded their agreement.

“What...what if you asked the sea villages for help? They dislike this horde as much as you,” Miranda spoke trying to keep her voice firm.

“Impossible, we need no help from humans. What of the after math? They would believe they would have the right to could come in and out of the forest taking whatever they wanted whenever they pleased.” Raven spat.

Lady Maylen leveled a stare at Raven which could bore a hole through solid rock, before she turned her attention back to Miranda, “I fear Raven may be correct, if not a little harsh. We keep a distance from the villagers, for fear they would take advantage of the forest.”

“Have they taken advantage of it so far?” Miranda asked.

“Only because we give them no chance to,” Raven growled.

“They are fishermen, nothing more. They have always respected your borders and your privacy,” Miranda said as she stared back at Raven, not backing down an inch.

“Your idea will be considered, Miranda, Thank you,” Lady Maylen said smoothly.

Josan stalked around the hallways after the meeting, not even knowing where he was heading. He just needed time to sort through the swirl of thoughts which engulfed his mind. The dark voices still pounded in his skull, screaming for release. Many people stayed clear of him as he passed, sensing his foul mood. After night had fallen he found himself in his room. He knew what he had to do. He packed up the few belongings he had and prepared to leave the elven city. As he turned to leave, he found Raimon standing in the doorway.

“Are we planning a trip?” Raimon asked humorously.

“Not now, Raimon, I’m not in the mood,” Josan said as he moved to the door.

“So you are just going to leave without a word to anyone? What will they think?” Raimon asked calmly with none of the humor in his voice from before.

“I don’t care,” Josan answered.

“Oh, I think you do,” Raimon said.

“I’m not running. If I stay and Vander founds out I’m here he might send his entire army against you. I’m leaving to protect your people,” Josan said trying to control his tone.

“Then what will you do? Spend years just wandering through the world?” Raimon asked mockingly.

“No. I will go to finish what I was sent off to do a long time ago,” Josan answered coldly.

“Don’t let vengeance blind you to your true path Josan. It will kill you quicker than any blade,” Raimon said.

“You do not understand,” Josan said as he tried to push past Raimon.

In a flash Raimon grabbed Josan’s collar and pushed him against the door frame. Cold blue eyes stared at Josan. “I don’t understand! Bellfast might have been your teacher, but he was my brother and my friend. You want your revenge, as do I, but you must think first. You are not just going against him; you are going up against an entire army. Not even you can defeat such a force alone.”

“Then what do you propose?” Josan asked ripping himself from Raimon’s grip.

“I came here to inform you the council has decided to form an alliance with the kingdom of Arlon. They want you and the rest of the Guardians to go along with the diplomats to announce our intentions to the king,” Raimon said.

“Why us?” Josan asked as he straightens his shirt.

“You are the Guardians, why else? Even the King cannot overlook such a fact,” Raimon stated as if the answer was plain to see.

“Humans sometimes cannot see things that are placed right in front of them,” Josan said.

Raimon shrugged his shoulders, “Even so, they need our help as much as we need theirs. Miranda and the others are being informed as we speak. You are to leave immediately.”

The council sent them off with their diplomats, which included one of the council members named Treavin, an elegant elf with long blond hair and ancient eyes. He spoke little, but often showed his approval over how the journey was progressing. Baile and Moum also accompanied the group as representatives of the dwarves. Aielia was charged to escort the council members to the nearest human keep and to await further orders. Two young elves attended her, no older than fourteen summers each, but with hardness of battle already creeping into their eyes. They had seen bloodshed and lived through it

Three days of traveling showed little excitement, only a few goblin scouting parties were found. The sun was high as they crested a hilltop, which revealed and a large stone keep with a small village surrounded the massive structure. Colorful banners flew from the turrets as many people ran about the ground. They looked as if mey were preparing for something like a celebration.

“From what I remember, this land is owned by some fellow named Lord Tylin,” Baile announced as they started down to the village.

“What are they doing? It looks like they are preparing for a party rather than a war,” Miranda said as she studied what the people in the village below.

“It is the Festival of the spring equinox. We would celebrate it too, except for the horde,” Treavin said coolly.

“Well, sitting here gawking all day won’t get us there any faster,” Aielia said as she quickened the pace.