5. Fall of the Windrunners
“It is time, my dear friend, to tell you of the grimmest day of my life. The morning did not tell in any way of the events about to unfold. We were just leave the camp we had set up the previous evening at the edge of Dreamshore forest when an elven runner arrived with a message from Dreamfall. We were to go to Dinendal immediately. We set off for we had a long way to go if we were to reach Dreamfall before nightfall.
Night had already fallen when we arrived but the magic of high-druid Ornor kept the city bright as if it was daytime. We headed straight for Dinendal’s residence. There we were escorted to the same hall we had met two and a half years ago. Maenir started speaking.
“Windrunners of Dreamfall…you have shown great promise in your training but today is the day of your last test before the coming battles. We have prepared a chamber for you in which you will fight an entire magically summoned human army. However, before you go let me tell you something more about your weapons. You have surely found out by now that these are not your usual instruments of death. Shadow, the dagger you hold is called Spellbreaker. It glows in blue whenever it senses the presence of a mage and it causes devastating damage to all who have mastered the art of spell casting. Tiana, your robe has the ability to absorb any spell and reflecting it back to your enemies. Bregir, you hold the mighty Bonecrusher! Its incredible might will imbue you with the strength of heroes past. Malir, your bow was crafted in the distant lands of the dwarves. It will steady your hand and ensure that every arrow is a hit. Sparx, the bracers you were will greatly increase your mental capabilities as well as your spell casting ability. And your most prized possession – the Sacred Blades of Correlon – the creator of the elves! They are easily recognizable by the moon crescent on their handles. Yes, Erina, you hold them in your hands!
Let us not waste any more words! Let the test begin! I wish you all good luck!”
This said, Maenir pointed to a door to his left on which the Tree of Life was carved – symbol of the elves. Behind that door lay an enormous chamber. We could not see from one end to the other!
“Simple magic, really…you just need at least a dozen druids to complete successfully.” Tiana showed her exceptional knowledge of nature magic.
“Shall we figure it out later? The humans are here!” Malir grabbed his bow.
“Malir, provide covering fire! Sparx, destroy those archers! Tiana, concentrate on Bregir! Shadow kill those mages! Bregir, you and I are going hunting!”
All orders given we charged towards the human army. Maenir had prepared a vast army to face us! It was as if the humans had really come to wage war on us. Knights in the front lines, archers and mages behind them and a commander on horseback in the middle of it all. Bregir and I charged right through them. His axe was making short work of the knights and my two blades were much too fast for their shields. After 15 minutes of intensive fighting I, all in blood, looked around to see how the others were doing.
Sparx was bombarding the archers with fire and lightning and Malir was taking care of those who somehow survived. Tiana was doing a splendid job! We had not a scratch on us while the knights all lay dead in our feet. Shadow and Spellbreaker were reaping through the mages like a scythe through wheat. After no more than half an hour, we were standing against the human commander – all alone. Bregir charged but his attack was blocked! He fell to the ground from the might of the blow he had received. Moments later Sparx’ lightning was easily deflected back to us. He nearly killed us all! The human was proving to be a worthy adversary.
Then I saw Shadow sneaking from behind on the human. I charged.
“Tiana, imbue me!” I shouted and felt the power of her spell.
As I stroke the horse’s feet, Shadow jumped on the human sinking his dagger deep into the commander’s back. He fell to the ground and tried to get up only to meet Bonecrusher with his head. His decapitated body fell on its knees and Sparx incinerated it with a might fireball. We were victorious! Erina’s Fist were invincible!
As we left the chamber, Maenir bowed to us. Dinendal was smiling and for the first time I saw hope in his eyes. We had proven ourselves ready to defend our homeland. Our new orders were to set up camp on the borders of Dreamshore forest and watch for human scouts. Dinendal’s visions were getting more powerful and more frequent with every passing day. He feared the worst.
* * *
We had watched over our borders for over a week. Everything was quiet. Nothing could have warned us of the malicious act about to unfold. We were sitting around a campfire as we had done so many times before when Malir noticed that Shadow was gone.
“He’s probably ‘raiding’ another bear for its kill. If I wasn’t so bored I would have gone with him!” Bregir was getting restless.
“We mustn’t let ourselves lose track of what we must do! Dreamfall depends on us!” I tried to restore order.
“We are following some guy’s visions for crying out loud!”
“Hey, back off! We are soldiers! Soldiers follow orders no matter how ridiculous they seem!” Sparx was trying to protect me as usual. Normally by doing so, he would get himself into a whole lot of trouble and I ended up protecting him. This time was no different.
“You wanna piece of me, small fry!?” Bregir stood up with anger burning in his eyes.
“Sit! Sparx, shut up!” They could not dare speak against me. I suspect it was the power of Correlon that they were so afraid of. I wielded his blades after all. Silence befell the camp.
Suddenly Malir grabbed his bow and stood up. He was staring at the bushes behind Tiana. In the blink of an eye Shadow jumped out of the bushes and stabbed Tiana in the back just before Malir’s arrow pierced his hooded head. Spellbreaker’s glow was getting weaker as Tiana lay dying until it glowed no more. I was speechless! Two of us were dead. We were still trying to figure out what had just happened when a human patrol ambushed us! Someone hit me on the back of the head so hard that I fell on the ground. Bregir charging at the enemy was the last thing I remember before I passed out.
I woke up to see Daphne and two other dryads leaning over me. I stood up so suddenly that they all ran and hid behind a tree. I felt a sharp pain in my chest so I lay down again.
“Daphne…” I could not recognize my own voice. “Daphne…the others?”
“I am sorry, Erina. We were too late to save them. There were many human bodies around them. Is something wrong?”
“Very…I must…I must reach Dreamfall! Danger…betrayal…danger…danger…” I must have passed out again for I remember only the fires…the blazing fires and the destruction…
The Windrunners of Dreamfall were no more. Shadow had betrayed us for the hordes of gold the humans possessed. I am glad that he did not have a chance to see them!”
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