Beers and Beards-Chapter 76Book 4, : The Battle of Three Armies

Book 4, Chapter 76: The Battle of Three Armies

“Stay calm, and nobody do anything threatening,” Conrad ground out as the army from Grandia approached our position.

“You gonna tell that to all the folks back there?” Balin asked, as fresh cries rose from the thousands of beastfolk huddled behind us. Hundreds of them had bows out, and were standing at the ready. 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

“I’ll try and keep them calm.” I cleared my throat, then yelled out with [Project Voice]. “STAY CALM AND NOBODY DO ANYTHIN’ TILL WE SAY SO! WE’LL HANDLE IT! MY MINIONS WILL PROTECT YOU! [FETCH MONSTER]!”

With a flash of light, Deathbringer appeared beside me. He was holding a massive axe that we’d commissioned for him, and was decked out in some surprisingly expensive brigandine leather armour; it took a lot of metal and leather to outfit a giant beaver.

The axe doubled as a wood chopper, and was more efficient than him using his teeth for cutting trees.

He’d been told to be at the ready – we didn’t want him arriving in a hair net and towel again – and he arrived bristling and legs at full extension. He loomed over our squad, and let out a beaver-bellow, which came out more like a high-pitched and terribly cute squeak. Decidedly non-threatening; we’d need to work on that. I cleared my throat, and continued. “DEATHBRINGER! I COMMAND YOU TO PROTECT THESE PEOPLE WITH YOUR LIFE AGAINST YON EVIL-DOERS!”

Deathbringer looked around at all the refugees, then paused when he spotted the approaching army.

“Sacrement, I hope you don’t think I can fight that many adventurers on my own,” He hoarsely whispered down at me. At the same time he lifted his axe into the air and gave a hearty wave at the people behind us. “Ach, look at all those frightened kits. I wasn’t sure about all this at first, but I think you were correct in your choices. Just as you worked hard to save us, I will work hard to save them. Is the queen already ‘ere?”

“Aye. Hidin’ in one of the tents and ready ta come out when we call.”

“Then I too shall stand at the ready.” He patted me on the shoulder and wandered down to the refugee line. He took his axe and planted it on the ground, facing the approaching army and looking as imposing as possible. Beastfolk scrambled to get out of his way, though a few curious children darted forward to pat his fur before being pulled back by their terrified parents.

The approaching calvary was mostly made of rag-tag giant adventurers, though there were quite a few Grandian flags dotted here and there throughout. They wore an eclectic mix of armors, along with a few clearly delineated groups wearing the regalia of adventuring teams. There were even emblems that I recognized from regulars to the Thirsty Goat and Cascadia.

“Ach, I know some of ‘em!” Balin said, pointing. “Those’re tha’ Red Dragon Adventurers!”

“And I think that’s the Wolf Brigade!” Aishablue said, waving at a group of grey-cloaked gnomes. They didn’t wave back, instead staring forward, grim-faced and determined.

“But what are they doing here?” Conrad said, his finger nervously tapping on Mystic Isen’s commstone.

“Maybe they’re here to help?” Starshine said, hesitantly.

“I think we’re about to find out,” I said, as a group of horses broke out of the general mass and headed straight for us. It was a total of five people, all giants, and wearing heavy plate armor. The one in the lead had a greatsword on his back, and some serious gilt on his fancy armor.

“Evil doers? That’s a little harsh.” The man at the lead of the army snorted as he approached, his baritone voice echoing through his visor. He had the Cascadian tones of a native Grandian. His horse came alongside us, and I gulped as I realized that this was possibly the biggest giant I’d ever met. He would’ve towered over Kirk! Gods, he must’ve been at least seven or eight feet tall! Add the height of the horse and it felt like standing in front of Goliath.

“What do you call yourselves if not?” Conrad snapped. “You’ve come from Grandia, but Grandia was quite clear that they wouldn’t help us!”

“Oy! That’s not – “ one of the other plate-armoured men began, but was cut off by his leader.

“Grandia cannot help, because it would not be in the best interest of Grandia to help right now,” he explained calmly. “But that does not mean that Grandian’s cannot help. These are all fine adventurers of the free city that have come to show that being the free city of adventurers is more than just a name.”

The man grandly gestured at the last, his voice growing louder and projecting so everyone could hear. The gathering adventurers cheered, raising their weapons. “These are all those that were capable of riding, and willing to come to your aid.”

“Why…” I said, suspicious.

The man chuckled. “Some lovely lass has been showering my–our city with pamphlets and little books expounding on the plight of the plainsfolk. It has shifted the political winds subtly, but powerfully.”

My eyes widened. Mirelda?

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

“So many…” Conrad whispered hoarsely. “Have you truly come to help?”

“Of course!” The giant laughed. “My scouts tell me there’s a contingent of cavalry heading for your position. We’ll cut them off, and cut them down. You stay here and continue as you’ve been doing. Let us do what should’ve been done from the start.”

He then turned and faced the makeshift army, raising his greatsword above his head. I could feel him activate some kind of rallying Ability, as he shouted, “FREE FOLK OF GRANDIA! DO YOU FEEL THE SEA BREEZE AT YOUR BACK? DO YOU FEEL YOUR BLOOD BOIL? CAN YOU HEAR THE CALL OF ADVENTURE!?”

“YES!” They roared back. Many raised their weapons as well, though most were distracted trying to keep their horses under control.

“THEN FOLLOW ME! AND MAY YOUR ONLY REGRETS BE FOR THOSE FOOLS WHO CHOSE TO STAY BEHIND! FOR THE FREE FOLK OF ERD! CHAARRRGGEE!!”

He turned and flipped his visor up long enough to give me a wink. “And you stay safely here, Mister Ambassador. The Duke will be quite upset at me if something happens to you.”

So saying, he flipped his visor back down, and sped away on his horse, followed by a couple hundred hooting and hollering adventurers.

“Did you know ‘im?” Balin asked in confusion as they disappeared over the rise.

“No?” I said, my eyebrows drawn in consternation. I threw my last [Flash of Insight] at it, and my eyes widened in shock. I did know him, but only from paintings Duke Schist had shown me. “Oy! That was the Grand Archon of Grandia!”

“What? Like, their leader?” Starshine asked, frowning. “But I thought he voted against helping?”

“Maybe… he wanted to help, but thought it was best for Grandia if it wasn’t official?” Aishablue said, hesitantly.

“Politics,” Flowerpott muttered.

“Who cares??” Conrad said, his face the picture of joy. He grabbed his Commstone. “Mystic Isen! Mystic Isen! Reinforcements are on the way from Grandia!”

We waited for a reply.

But none came.

—

Flowerpott kept us updated with a play by play sent on high by his glassflies.

The Grandian irregulars, secretly led by Grand Archon Erik, met with the Alliance calvary far too close to our camp for comfort, at a distance of roughly two grassy knolls.

The Alliance outriders, clearly confused by this army carrying Gradian and other colours, were slow to react, and the irregulars hit them hard in the flank, driving a wedge into the enemy formation. From there it became a vicious melee, as the more organized and better equipped Kingdom army fought against the more numerous, but unconventional and mix-matched Grandians.

The battle ebbed and flowed, with both sides trying to avoid too many casualties. It seemed like the archon was trying to force them to retreat rather than actively slaughter them – a tactic that made sense when you considered that he probably didn’t want to escalate this into a full-fledged war with the Western Alliance.

We continued to get no communication from Mystic Isen, though if it was because he was too busy to respond or was being jammed was impossible to tell. Flowerpott sent some of his glassflies towards the distant battlefield, but it would take a while, and he wasn’t sure that he’d be able to see that far anyways.

And then the tide turned, as the gryphons we’d driven off returned and began peppering the irregulars with spells and arrows from above.

“Damn!” Flowerpott suddenly screeched, pulling back. “They took my glassflies out!”

We all looked around with worried gazes, and I stole a glance back at where Deathbringer was currently being climbed over by a dozen ‘fawn’ing little beast children. He was doing his best to look stern and intimidating, but it wasn’t working.

“What will we do?” Starshine asked Conrad, hefting her mace and looking murderous. “Should we go join the fray too?”

“I’m not sure we’re the same kind of force multiplier that those gryphons are…” Conrad replied, chewing on his lips. “But maybe if we bring in the Queen and whatever that thing with the axe is as a vanguard, and hit them with our strongest spells?”

“I’m not sure we’re meant ta be ‘goin in’. This may be tha’ time fer us ta start movin’ folk into the inn?” Balin said sternly. “We’re here fer defense.”

“Offense is the best defense,” Starshine muttered darkly, also looking back at where the children were now braiding Deathbringer’s long leg hairs. He tried to shoe one away, but they all just giggled and dodged.

I was inclined to agree, but I really didn’t like that we were clueless as to what was going on with Mystic Isen. And… we really weren’t a part of the army. We weren’t supposed to be fighting on the front lines. And I really, really, didn’t want to.

But… I remembered that promise. Those pleading little eyes.

So, I did the only thing I could. The only thing I had that could definitely turn the tide. With Grandia actively involved, there was a chance that the Coalition would be able to push back into the plains, and maybe buy enough time to make more [Shamans] and properly outfit their army.

Sure, it was my one time trump xar save my life. But If I didn’t use it now, and those kids ended up as slaves? I’d never forgive myself.

So I held my hands together, closed my eyes, and silently prayed. “Barck. It’s Pete. I know I’ve never really prayed before, but I need ya’ now. I know ‘yer watching, ya peeping tom, so help us out. I got an IOU, and I’m not afraid ta use it. [Deific Intervention].”

I waited a tick.

Nothing happened.

I peeked with one eye. Balin and Starshine were still arguing, and Conrad was shouting orders, but otherwise nothing had happened. No lightning from space smiting two knolls yonder. No God appearing in the sky to wreak vengeance.

“Oy, Barck, what the fu –” I began.

*Bing!*

A notification interrupted me mid blasphemy, its text in the now-familiar ‘go kill someone important like an idiot’ font.

Very few people have ever slain a dragon!

Can you?

Dragons Slain: 0/1

Rewards: [Dragonslayer]

I paused, my mouth hanging open.

Confusion ruled my thoughts. Dragon? What?? Where’s my deific intervention!?!

Then the screaming started. “DRAGONS!”

I looked up just in time to see a flash of black and silver before the sky was blotted out by wings and my eardrums nearly broke as roaring – Deathbringer should take notes – shattered the noonday sky.

Hundreds of dragons flew overhead in the direction of the battlefield, in every colour of the rainbow. I gawped as beasts of legend spun in the air above us, their scales scintillating in the sun, their wings beating strong enough to whip up whirlwinds.

There was chaos in the camps.

But all I had eyes for one was one dragon descending on white wings, its long and wicked horns the colour of silver. It had transformed into a humanoid shape, though it was still larger than even the Archon of Grandia. It wore a flowing white robe that somehow managed to look majestic even in the whipping winds, a long white tail snaking out the back. It descended towards the camp with slow and stately flaps of its scaly wings while holding something in its arms.

“Is that dragon… Princess carrying Valarianne?” I stuttered.