The Lengthening Shadow

Everyone felt a pang of fear when facing the hill far in the distance. Even the strongest of them, Vi’lle and the Verdancers, still felt their skin tingle as they got ever closer to the Bluff. Samuel looked into the distance and saw something in the sky. A shadow was emanating from the hill. Its dark image covered the sky, blotting out the sun. Everyone stopped dead. Something was coming through the shadowy cloud. It was a Wyrm, mounted by a Destromancer.

Iolargh stepped off the giant snake thirty feet from the army. He spread his arms wide. “I bring news, woodlanders! Turn back. If you do not heed my warning, you shall all meet your own destruction. Now, my message is that… Oh in the name of all the Deeps of Doom!” His gaze had stopped short as he scanned the head of the force. “So, your death will come sooner than you think. You all have no idea what is among you at this very moment. Very well then. If you, badger, have not found it yet, you are an old, foolish dotard! It will come in time. You have been warned. Turn back or die!” With that parting shot, he swung up into the saddle again and flew off.

Bernie looked with unhidden fear. “Maybe we should turn back.” he said to Samuel.

“Nonsense! When did you get so frightened? Oh, I’m not serious. But still, we are going on. Nothing and nobeast in Certaria will stop us from rescuing our king!”

Bernie shuffled back into the crowd as Thayder stepped into line beside Samuel. The otter called a command to the ranks. “March, on the double! Hup, two, three, four! That’s the pace, Kondurt!” He turned to Samuel.

“This is a good force. It reminds me of long ago, when I was just simple Thayder Hakkton of the river Nailúmó. I was a small otter livin’ in King’s Hill when the Sorcerer Wars came. I had a wife, Janeth Longstream, and a liddle son. It was the year 1120 Wizardform when I was called to duty in the North, urgent business. The Verdancers were assembling an army, and I had been asked to be in it. My first mission was with Captain Torstram and the Arvander ship Retribution. He was a hard captain, the grimmest snow leopard I ever met. Torstram had assigned me to go with his ship up through the Lar-Reftawle Strait, and right past the northern tip of Karkna Isle for an invasion of Thazanc. However, the Thazancian force of Colonel Neams was waiting. I fought by the side of Torstram as he took on Neams. The only thing that stopped him was a simple Thazancian. Menâkk, I think his name was. Torstram killed him dead. But in that battle with Menâkk, Torstram lost the lower half of ’is right leg. He now carries a huge grudge against all Thazancians under Neams, and Neams most of all. Any’ow, when we had fought off those Thazancians, we marched right up to the walls of Thazanc. We besieged ’em for three days, but in the end we had to retreat. I swear, those walls! We threw boulders the size of grendanas at ‘em, but it made nary a dent. Well, at the end of it, we heard news that Ra’vok was blown ta bits by Vi’lle, but there was still a tragedy. Janeth and my son Deener were both dead. The Bluff had sent out many soldiers. They were killed in an ambush. After the war ended, I went to Fernwood and got hired on as an experienced soldier and war veteran. I’ve kept up a correspondence with Torstram, learned that he has a mechanical leg now, metal an’ gears. He’s cheered up a lot, but still has some of that grim stuff that made him such a good soldier and Captain. I’m gonna go see him at Arvand as soon as the Bluff thing is over. I’ve written him a letter that’s in my pocket. Gonna send it when we win. He has a sister, another snow leopard named Selana, Captain of the Glacier. They’re both still sailin’ for Arvand, commanding two of the toughest ships in the fleet. You should come with me, Sam, see Arvand in its glory. All of this once the Bluff is gone forever. That’s what we’re gonna do. End this nightmare. Deadbeast Bluff will be no more.”

They all marched on. The two hundred marchers all determined to put a stop to the hill and its caves and cliffs. Samuel and the Company of Light at the head of the force, driving it on with thousands of aspirations to glory and triumph. However, there was still the clicking. The Scorpionguard were ready to be unleashed. Vi’lle was still pondering Iolargh’s warning. What could he not see? Who was waiting to betray them all, in the very heart of the Company?

Iolargh flew back to the Bluff with the news. All of them cheered at the news of who was in the ranks of the Company. Iolargh also told them something else. The Sorcerer was coming! Jake listened in despair. Suddenly, he heard the name of the betrayer. He gasped. If that really was true, the Company was doomed. Samuel would not be expecting it in the least. Suddenly, he looked out the small window in his cell. It was noon. There was twelve hours left. Twelve hours until he would be killed. Jake paced around 10QL9, thinking his predicament over and over in his mind. The only thing that could be done was to wait for the Company and their army to arrive and rescue him.

At 2 in the afternoon, Vurgal shook the Maow awake. “Wake up, yew lousy cat! I’m ‘ere ta take yew ta the lower levels. We’re preparing. Get up and come wid me. We’re goin’ now. Get out and down to the main cave.” The two walked down and into the sacrifice chamber in the center of the giant pit that made up the main cave. Up, it went to the top of the hill. Down, it went into fiery depths filled with flame, iron, and bedrock. The holes beneath housed blast furnaces, mills, machines, all manner of evil technology. About three hundred feet above where Jake was, there was a black line lacing around the central cave’s circuit, marking the level at which the ground was. Around that area was the entrance to the hall that led to the Gate.

Everywhere the cat looked, there were Thazancians and Destromancers milling around and preparing. News had spread fast of the army rapidly approaching. However, the Sorcerer was getting ever closer. The ones in command were Iolargh, Fangedeye, and Vurgal. Those three had completely readied the Bluff for attack. Along with Rivenhand and the rat Heingg, they had formed sort of a southern Command Quintet. There was easily, including Rivenhand’s force, a thousand Thazancians at the Bluff. There was no way that anyone was coming to aid the Fernwooders.

Alrack Bloodfen spotted the army in the distance and cursed. He had been traveling hard, and now these idiots had to come. He recognized the one at their head. It was that stupid mouse again! Turning to Waveclaw, he barked several commands intermingled with heavy swearing.

“Wyrm’s blood! In the name of Mist, get the crew ready! Hellgates, if that mouse tries to take victory again I’ll… I’ll… I’ll rip his livin’ guts out and throw ’em ta the sharks ter feast on! Riflebeasts, forward! Damn that mouse!”

Waveclaw covered his ears at Alrack’s language. The rat turned and shouted the commands to the crew, minus the profanity. The pirates quickly turned into position. The mouse seemed to have spotted them and was now moving closer with a small escort. Alrack drew his sword and stepped out to meet him. “Well, mouse, we meet again.”

“Aye, weasel. We wish to talk.”

“Then talk, mouse! I ’aven’t got all day!”

Samuel drew himself up proud and high. “We both need the Thazancians gone from Deadbeast Bluff. We need to join forces!”

“That’s idiot talk. Why should I join with you?”

“Because we share a common goal. We would stand a much better chance against the Thazancians with your pirates at our side. In return, I will let you go free if you swear an oath of peace.”

“What about the Bluff?”

“You can take up residence there if you will keep it free of Glimroft’s servants.”

“I accept your terms, on one condition.”

“And that is…?”

“That we can still sail upon the ocean. We’re pirates, not landlubbers!”

“I agree. We both accept the terms. Let’s shake on it.”

Samuel and Alrack, mortal enemies, shook on the deal. The pirates marched and mingled with the ranks of Fernwood to attack the Bluff. The army of now three hundred continued on. Alrack called Waveclaw over while marching. “Even though we are wid these soft fools, make sure that my crew still answers ta me, got it?”

“Yes, Cap’n!”

“Then go and spread the word. This is only a temporary alliance.”

The Bluff and its shadow loomed up black and menacing, drawing ever closer. What no one noticed was behind them, far off, a lengthening shadow in the North, that of Thazanc.

Gasher and Penrue, two ferret Thazancians, ran down to where Fangedeye was resting. “Sergeant Fangedeye, sir!” yelled Gasher, “Penrue an’ Lorndal ’ave spotted sumfink in the north!” The officer was immediately on his feet. “What is it?”

“The army they’ve all been talkin’ about!”

The stoat Sergeant grabbed a Speedle from a rack on the wall. He ordered Gasher to run up to the upper levels and give the alarm. The ferret sounded a large iron gong that sent echoes through the whole of the Bluff’s caves. Fangedeye and Lorndal the rat joined Shredface and Dolrin, a stoat and a fox, at one of the swinging catwalks. The four ran to tell Iolargh the news. He ordered the weasels Hangtooth and Revlent to join them in preparing the Bluff for the attack of Alrack and Samuel.

“Revlent, Dolrin, get to the lower barracks and forges. Tell them to arm all personnel. Hangtooth, tell Verband that we need all available soldiers off patrol and in the Bluff. Gasher, get the watch to ready the artillery. We’re not going down without a fight!”

Fangedeye met Rivenhand and Vurgal on the stairs of an upper level. The stoat told them the news, to be met with no surprise in the least. Vurgal sent the warning through the caves again. Several Thazancians ran out and saluted the trio. Rivenhand grabbed a rat by the shoulders.

“What news, oaf?”

The rat tried to break free. “Sir, we’re all prepared. All soldiers in the Bluff, including Verband’s patrols, are armed and ready for battle.”

“Who are you?”

“Burnfang, sir.”

Rivenhand let him go. “Burnfang, eh? Well, Burnfang, you’re promoted to Captain. Don’t question why. I am Rivenhand, you listen to my orders and do not contradict them. Understand?” The newly promoted Captain Burnfang saluted and dashed off into the main cave. Another Thazancian, called by Vurgal, stepped up and gave his piece. “Seartooth reporting, sirs. My fellow martens on guard duty have sighted the army ten miles away and moving fast. They’ve gained more soldiers, upping the total to approximately three hundred enemies. They’ll be here within three hours. You’d do best to prepare for immediate battle. They’re not friendly; I know that much.”

The three officers drew weapons. Rivenhand shouted to the marten “Draw your weapon! Tell everybeast you pass to do the same! Vurgal, fetch Iolargh and Heingg! Get the Bluff ready!” The normally quiet place of evil was suddenly awakened by the clanging of alarms and the rushing about of countless soldiers. They were determined to not go down under good.

Uldrich sat down on the deck of the Bane. It was the day after they had put to sea, and Crowblood’s gang were increasingly restless. Uldrich surmised that it was because they had never been on a ship before. The marten chief consulted the fox on their position. “Uldrich, where are we?”

Uldrich looked first out the window and then at his maps. “I’d estimate that we’re just off the coast of Norsän-Ran. If we keep on this course…” He stopped short as something that felt like a wave hit the ship. The captain ran out onto the deck. Sailing alongside his vessel was a gray ship, the name Retribution appearing on its side. He clapped a paw to his head. “Crowblood me old matey, I’ve heard that name before. Its from Arvand, commanded by Captain Torstram the snow leopard.”

“Hellgates! We’re dead!”

Another cannon rang out, drowning the rest of Crowblood’s tirade. Torstram appeared on the deck, a cane in his hand. He yanked off the shaft, revealing that it was a swordcane. Uldrich yelled to his crew. “Get the leopard! Kill him!” Torstram dodged a bullet before flipping some levers on his leg, switching it to an appendage. Uldrich dashed up the rigging and jumped down onto the deck of the Retribution. The snow leopard switched his leg to its other function: a blade. He swung it up and it connected with the fox’s sword. Uldrich, baffled, attacked again. Torstram showed no signs of tiring. “Give up, fox. I will win and you will lose. You made a mistake taking on the Retribution with your puny vessel.”

Even Uldrich Onefang, the legendary pirate, could not stand for long against Torstram. The Bane was hit from the other side by a cannonball. Crowblood got up from where he had been blasted and looked. It was a white ship, commanded by another snow leopard. The Glacier, under command of Torstram’s sister Selana. She jumped up on the deck, white cape flashing. The two Arvander warships kept slamming metal spheres into the sides of the Bane, smoke billowing from cannon barrels on the snow leopards’ ships. Torstram motioned to Selana, and she boarded the Bane, drawing steel.

Crowblood leaped to confront the new threat. Selana swung at his head, the marten ducking quickly and jumping up again, wielding Gra’zoth. The bronze sickle sliced through thin air, always missing the Arvander captain. Selana slid forward and chopped through Crowblood’s leg, cutting it to the bone. The marten fell and scrambled off into the lower decks. Uldrich turned, saw Crowblood defeated, and was run through by Torstram. The fox, badly wounded, retreated back onto the Bane. The two warships sailed off, leaving the corsair vessel to sink. Sawtooth the jackal ran up from the hold. “Uldrich, sir, we’re leaking! We’ll sink if we don’t make landfall!” The fox called up to the steersbeast, Bluebone the rat. “Turn us to Norsän-Ran! Full speed; all sails up and away from the wind! Get us to land!”

Torstram and Selana sailed along side by side back to where they would meet more ships. The first to join them was the schooner Angler and Captain Quinbly. The three chatted as they sailed along into the coast off the Acar Poltesra. Selana looked out at the mountains and saw something strange. It looked like… a fort filled with Thazancians! “Torstram! Quinbly! There’s a Thazancian outpost on that mountain! I see a harbor as well! They’re sending out ships to combat us!” The force of now five Arvander ships, Varlin’s Hurricane warship and Tinzer’s Goldenrod scout ship now alongside, turned to confront the fleet of black shapes. Torstram yelled to Varlin. “Open fire!” Two hundred guns blew the Thazancians to bits. All the Arvanders were surprised at how easily they had won.

Selana talked to the five commanders. “I think that was a diversion. If they really wanted to destroy us, they’d’ve been stronger. I think that was just to slow us down, maybe weaken our ammunition for their next attack. Let’s get back to Arvand.” The fleet turned into the headwind and were off to the Grey City.

Samuel turned to his army. Thayder and Bernie silenced the forces, even the pirates, who did not normally listen to the Fernwooders. Samuel jumped up on a rock and cleared his throat.

“Listen to me, my army! I know that you are all afraid. I am too. But we must conquer that fear! I am afraid of nothing, as long as I can fight. And I will always fight as long as there is something to fight for. The Bluff stands before us, the symbol and fortress of that great evil that is Thazanc. If we can destroy this, then Thazanc stands no chance. Pirates, Fernwooders, my Company of Light. Do not tremble as you stand there! Hold your heads high and your weapons bright. Tonight, we will do battle with the greatest evil in Greenbloom. And we… will… win!”

Cheering broke out and stopped as Alrack spoke. “I knows yer very inspired. I am too. Me pirates, we will fight wid these woodlanders. We will use our blades against the Bluff. That is me piece.” More cheering. Thayder drew his sword, followed by the entire army. Samuel wielded his blade in the setting sun. With a battle cry, they all charged, full speed, towards the Bluff. The only rest they took was after an hour. The army stopped about half a mile from the Gate. The Company of Light sat aside to talk plans.

Aidan was skeptical of their strength. “We are three hundred against, I estimate, two thousand. Samuel, I know you’re confident, but is victory realistic?”

“Remember, Aidan, I killed three hundred alone. If I can, you can too.”

Grace spoke up. “We’re not you, Samuel. You have strength and power far beyond ours.”

“I’m a woodlander like you. The Verdancers are far more powerful than me.”

Crackwillow, who had been listening, declined the compliment. “Samuel, I sense something in you. You’re wrong. Us Verdancers might have thousands of spells at our command, but you are far stronger. I don’t know how, but you are. You just happen to be. You may not know it, but you are the strongest, most powerful creature in Certaria. Far above Vi’lle, far above even Ra’vok. We will win, if you lead us. Venakar hendave delona.”

Samuel tilted his head quizzically to one side. “What was that?”

“Something I felt would be fitting for our company. A motto, if you will. It translates to In the smallest, there is power.”

The Company looked at each other with pride. Crackwillow waved his wand once, and small patches appeared on the Company’s shoulders. They were badges, each bearing the motto and a crossed sword and tree limb, along with each member’s name. Then, after everyone had eaten and rested for about half an hour, they continued on.

Heingg and Penrue dashed into the main cave and met with Fangedeye and Iolargh. “Sirs,” panted the ferret, leaning on Heingg’s shoulder, “We have news of the enemy. It is ten o’clock now, two hours left. They are moving fast, arriving in half an hour. We have no time left if we are not prepared.”

“We are,” replied Fangedeye and Iolargh simultaneously. The Destromancer continued. “All soldiers are in the Bluff. Every balcony and catwalk outside is manned. The Gate is secure.” Vurgal ran in and met the four. “The army is now nearly at the Gate! We need to get ready for battle any minute now! Rivenhand is bracing the gate, but it might not hold for long. The army has a large tree as a battering ram. Even worse, Vi’lle is with them!”

The exhausted Penrue fainted on the spot. Iolargh’s jaw dropped. The red alert signal was spread. All of the Destromancers grabbed wands and magical weapons. Even so, Iolargh knew that they stood a chance with the Sorcerer, but not without him. Without him, the Bluff would certainly be destroyed completely. Everybeast held their breath. The caves were completely silent. The silence was almost overwhelming.

At three minutes to eleven, there came a huge blast on the gate. The blackplate shivered and buckled in some places. There was another blast, followed by a bang. Light shone through the cracks on the door. At eleven o’clock on the nose, the gate was shook by a tremendous explosion. There were cries and gunshots from outside, punctuated occasionally by the twanging of crossbows. The Gate suddenly was, by some huge force, smashed flat, allowing the army to storm in.

Rivenhand grabbed his force together and fought fiercely. The officer ran as soon as it became clear that he could not hold the hall without reinforcements. Vurgal led a hundred up to aid him. Chaos reigned in the upper levels as Samuel’s army attacked. The Battle of Deadbeast Bluff had begun.