Ascendants of Ancients Sovereign (Worlds of the Crystal Moon, Book 1) (114 page)

The griffin shifted and looked over his back as he scanned the area. “Order your army to the north to assist your legions. We will deal with the serpents since they have no airborne weapons. I, on the other hand, will fly south and speak with Groth. I’ll convince the bear to fight with us. The Minotaur should stop their attack once they realize I’m fighting at your side.”

Sam pulled back on the reins of his mount. “The Minotaur are angry about their champion. They may not listen.”

“Do as I say, King of Brandor!” Soresym ordered.

Sam nodded. “I’ll do that. But separate the horns from the unicorns and use them against the serpents. The snakes should come to the surface. We planned to smoke them out. The unicorn horns should tip the scales.”

Soresym raised his massive eagle head and called out in a language Sam somewhat understood. Another griffin, flying overhead, responded and departed to relay the orders to gather the horns and fly south.

Sam shouted, “General, take the troops north to join the attack!” He turned his attention back to Soresym. “I’m in your debt. I don’t know how you knew I was in trouble, but you’re a sight for sore eyes.”

“I suggest we speak of this later. There’s a fight upon us.” With that, the griffin launched into the air.

The serpents were making quick work of Dreston’s men as they fled from Seth’s underground city. The snakes, most 30 paces long, out-slithered the running men and delivered their deadly poison. For every serpent to fall, five men perished. Hope was almost gone. With more than 7,200 Brandorian troops ended by the serpents, only 520 soldiers were still standing when relief finally came.

With swords held high and voices raised, they watched as the snakes burst into flames. The griffins and the hippogriffs descended on the serpents with unicorn horns grasped in their talons. With each swooping pass, their slithering bodies disintegrated into piles of ash. The serpents’ retreat was inevitable as they hurried to the safety of their underground lair, only to realize the toxic fumes would not allow it.

Since staying topside was hopeless, Seth called for his army’s surrender.

The Bear King stopped his army when Soresym landed in front of him. The griffin spoke in the bear’s language. “Groth, you will stop your advance! You have been deceived. Brandor isn’t your enemy. We must work together to stop the Minotaur from attacking Brandor’s army. You have no real enemy. Brandor does not plan to attack your kind.”

Groth grunted, “You’re wrong, griffin! I saw the body of the Scorpion King! Brandor attacked his island!”

Soresym thought back to the conversation he had with Mosley. “Yes, Brandor was there, but with good reason. This war isn’t necessary.”

“What reason would justify Brandor’s attack against a group of beasts who live separate from all others?” The bear’s posture shifted as he pointed a claw at the griffin. “If this wasn’t an act of war against all beasts, then what was it?”

“Brandor’s actions were necessary to save our world. A piece of the Crystal Moon was hidden in the Scorpion King’s cave. Brandor went there to save us all. They would not have attacked if the scorpions had peacefully greeted them. On my honor, I assure you this is true. You know I live in the service of the gods. I would not lie. We don’t have the moments necessary to debate. Join me in talking with Horace. Don’t fight this war against Brandor.”

Groth growled as he pondered Soresym’s words. “I trust your service. Take me with you, griffin, and I’ll stand at your side.”

Groth turned to face his army. “Head north to join the Minotaur! Go now!” Facing Soresym, he roared. “Shall we go, griffin?”

Soresym took the bear into his massive talons and carried him off to find the Minotaur King.

Horace and his army were following the southern edge of Lake Zandra when Soresym landed in front of the beast-man. The Minotaur lifted his hand to stop his army and then shouted in his own language. “What is the meaning of this, griffin? Why do you carry Groth? There’s blood to be spilled. He should be with his army.”

Soresym took note that Kepler’s giant cats were no longer traveling with the Minotaur. “Where are they?”

The Minotaur’s brows furrowed. “Where are who, griffin?”

“Kepler’s cats. Where are Kepler’s cats?”

“I know not. They abandoned us only moments ago. They headed east.”

The griffin looked at Groth. “The cats must have seen their kind being dropped in the distance.”

The griffin’s attention was redirected toward the hollow eye sockets of the skeleton commander’s skull. He was standing only paces away from Horace, and the nervous chattering of his teeth gave the griffin pause.

“Why are you here, griffin?” the Minotaur King demanded.

Soresym responded. “You will stop your advance. Brandor is not your enemy.”

Horace raised his head and bellowed. “I will stop nothing! Blood must be spilled.”

The griffin approached the Minotaur King and lowered his beak next to Horace’s ear.

After a fair series of moments, the Minotaur King turned and shouted at his scouts. “Spread word throughout the army! The skeletons are traitors! Wait for my orders to attack! We will—”

Soresym interrupted, “The skeletons cannot perish. A plan is necessary before the order is given.”

Meanwhile, Sam shouted, “General, sound the horn and pull the troops back! Night is coming! We’ll regroup and attack as a single unit in the morning! The barbarians will most likely follow our lead! We’ll attack at first light! Signal the griffins and the hippogriffs to land and rest amongst us!”

“Yes, Sire!”

Once Sam’s orders had been carried out, Michael approached. “The barbarians are regrouping and making camp. They won’t attack in the dark. We have an opportunity to use this to our advantage.”

“How?” Sam inquired. “It’ll be pitch black. What advantage are you referring to?”

“I have spoken with Goss. He’s the brother of Soresym, and he’s a respected leader amongst griffins. I’ve asked him to meet with us.”

“Okay, okay. But how will this give us an advantage?”

Goss landed. “Because, King of Brandor, my kind can see through the darkness. Also, the fastest of our kind will arrive in a matter of moments with your queen. I can’t imagine why you would’ve left her in Brandor.”

Sam’s face tightened. “I left her because she’s pregnant! I don’t want her here, damn it! Whose bright idea was this? I swear, it better not be yours, Michael!”

“No, Sire. Blame the queen.”

“What do you mean? I don’t want the future of our kingdom on this battlefield.”

Goss settled next to the king and folded his wings. “If you fail to obtain victory, there will be no future for Brandor. Your queen is strong. Soresym has informed me of her sorcery.”

“How could Soresym know the full extent of her power? He’s never witnessed it.”

The griffin reached out, and with a single flip of one of his talons, he thumped Sam’s breastplate. After watching the king fall off his horse, he responded. “Calm yourself. Let us agree that Soresym has been informed. ‘How,’ matters not. Your queen will be helpful in this battle. Besides, she was already on her way to join you. She was just south of Angels Village when we found her. Your queen had already ignored your order to stay behind. You should thank Soresym. He was the one who convinced your queen to wait until we had the opportunity to fly her in unharmed.”

Sam picked himself up from the ground. “How could she possibly—”

A screech from above filled the air. Sam watched as a griffin settled down a short distance away. He covered the distance between them to help Shalee from its back. “I asked you to stay home. We can’t risk our baby like this.”

“For heaven’s sake, Sam, take a pill. I missed you, too.” Shalee put her hands on her hips. “Don’t you think that I know I’m pregnant? I’ve gone bonkers while I was sitting in Brandor.”

Sam sighed. “Okay, okay. You know I’m happy to see you. I just don’t want you to get hurt.”

“Me? Get hurt? What about you? Who do you think you’re kidding? From what I’ve heard, you could’ve died. Without the griffins, I wouldn’t have a husband. Don’t you be telling me about danger! You walked into a trap ... a trap that George set, I might add. You’re lucky Soresym decided to make sure you had help.”

“But—”

“But nothing. I’m here, and I don’t care what you say. I’m not leaving. So, you might as well let me use my magic. That’s why I teleported to Angels Village to hitch a ride. I can’t keep crying over Helga and BJ anymore. I need to be here.”

“I’m the king, Shalee. I ordered you to stay home.” Sam turned and looked at Michael. “Get her out of here. I won’t let her risk the baby’s life.”

Shalee’s right brow lifted as she grabbed Sam’s shoulder and forced him to face her. The sorceress leaned in and whispered in his ear. “If you think I’m leaving, you’re crazy. Who do you think you are, telling me what to do? I have half a mind to teleport your sorry ass home and return without you. You just try and play the king card on me, stud. I’ll give you what for. I’m here to help whether you like it or not.”

The queen’s whisper softened. “Sam, please ... I need you to believe in me right now. I can’t go home. I can use my magic to fight from a distance.”

Sam pulled Shalee close and hugged her tight. “Just promise me you’ll teleport someplace safe if you get into trouble. I couldn’t bear the thought of losing you, too. I’ve lost too much already.”

“You have my word.” Shalee followed the promise with a kiss.

“Sire,” Michael interrupted, clearing his throat. “We need to plan.”

Goss interjected, “Yes. Though this is a tender moment, we should be planning. Have your army gather large pieces of lava stone. We’ll fly through the night and drop them. I’ll take your queen on my back and head north. She can rain down her magic from above. This should keep Senchae’s army from resting through the night and give Brandor the advantage in the morning.”

“Sire, this is a good plan,” Michael confirmed as he dismounted. “The queen will be safe while on the griffin’s back. She’ll be hidden within the darkness. Her magic will end many, and she’ll never need to set foot on the ground. If we’re lucky, the barbarians will retreat by morning.”

Sam thought a moment. “General, you fly with the queen. If you feel she’s in danger, I want you to fly to safety. She carries the future of Brandor in her womb. I won’t risk her life.”