Delver Magic Book VII: Altered Messages (28 page)

"Done, but I'm going to have to talk to Linda before I go. I want to make sure she leaves with everyone else and knows what my plans are."

"Understood. Just try not to take too long. And before you head out for your next scout, alert the towers and set up a system for any emergency signals."

"Good idea, but when the spiders break through the forest, I'm coming back to town. I have to get ready for the hook hawks, and once we see the spiders, Okyiq we'll have no reason to keep them in the forest. He might send them ahead for a quick strike."

"Fair enough." Sy was ready to address his soldiers, but one quick thought brought out his own curiosity. "Before you go, I have a quick question. You didn't just happen upon Okyiq and his goblins in the woods. You went looking for them. How did you know?"

"There was something the serp said that bothered me. When he told Enin Connel could be destroyed, he talked about earthquakes, floods, and a swarm of monsters. The earthquake could be done by Neltus, the flood by Rivira, but the talk of monsters got me worried. I didn't think the serp would make the threat unless he could pull it off."

Sy understood the rest. He knew Ryson's delver spirit. It would guide him to an answer, demand he go looking for it.

"So you headed off on a fast scout deep into Dark Spruce figuring that's where they might be."

"It wasn't too hard to find them, but they didn't make it easy, either. They have over a dozen hook hawks circling overhead, but they're staying low. They don't want us to see them until they're on top of us, but I was looking for them, and I couldn't miss their scent."

"Well, those senses of yours saved lives again."

"Let's hope so."

#

"There is little we can do," Shantree Wispon confessed to the captain of the elf guard. "Such an army would decimate our own forces. You are certain of their heading?"

Birk Grund had several elf scouts tracking the dark army as well as magic casters utilizing sight spells to watch different sections of the forest.

"They are moving slowly but their intentions seem clear. If they switch directions and begin to pose a threat to our camp, I will know in sufficient time to act."

Shantree reflected upon the information she received. It all seemed so far beyond belief, and yet, she recognized that her forest home had become a haven for dark creatures. They had amassed together to form an astonishing legion, but such actions were not beyond their practice. Elfore was filled with incidents involving goblin hordes. Another formation was hardly unexpected. Still, she was inspired by the captain's stoic acceptance, and pressed him for his reaction to the massive host of goblins marching towards Burbon.

"Does any of this surprise you?"

"Actually, many things," Birk revealed. "My scouts inform me that a large goblin appears to be leading the horde, a horde that consists of bloat spiders, shags, and hook hawks."

"A goblin?" Shantree responded, clearly surprised by the revelation.

"An enormous one, but still a goblin," Birk confirmed. "Shags and hook hawks following the lead of a goblin is unprecedented to my knowledge. I have attempted to determine if the goblin is not only blessed with unnatural size but also skilled in the use of magic. I  have requested several elves to monitor the army. They sense a magical influence, but it is not coming from the goblin."

"So it is possible the large goblin is simply a lieutenant for some magic caster," Shantree supposed.

"It is possible and might explain some of the inconsistencies. I must admit, I am amazed at the discipline of the enemy as a whole. The methodical movement of the legion is extremely unexpected. A goblin horde of that size should be difficult to constrain. They should be racing toward their victims, but the large goblin has them marching with restraint. If a spell caster has found a way to control their inherent violence, that might allow for order within their ranks."

"Any other concerns?"

"Two packs of bloat spiders broke off from the main force, but such a tactic is not truly surprising. I believe the spiders were sent to block any path of retreat and will probably be used to cause terror among the humans. This goblin leader shows surprising talent in utilizing his forces to gain the greatest impact."

Realizing exactly how desperate the situation was becoming for the humans at Burbon, Shantree voiced her desire to offer at least some form of assistance.

"We should warn the town."

"Not necessary," Birk advised. "The Delver Acumen was spotted scouting the positions of the spider packs. He then headed back toward Burbon. He will alert the town before the spiders arrive."

It seemed as if everything that could be done, had been done. The dark creatures were bypassing the elf camp, and Birk was utilizing scouts and sight spells to ensure the horde remained a safe distance away. The humans were most likely aware of their approach. Still, the size of the enemy legion left little reassurances, and Shantree was open to suggestions for further action.

"Based on the enemy's location and apparent intentions, what do you recommend we do?" she asked of the captain.

"I would like to assemble a counterforce of my best archers. It is my intention to keep this force behind the enemy as it stalks through the forest. Once they reach Burbon, the horde will have to move across a clearing to reach the town wall. My archers could remain in the trees and strike from the rear. We could do a great amount of damage to their flanks. If they turn to attack, we can retreat further back into the forest without taking any casualties."

"Based on the size of the horde, it would require a great number of archers to do any significant damage. Am I right?"

"It would indeed, but I believe we can spare them. With so many dark creatures attached to the legion, there cannot be many threats remaining in the forest. We have no reports of river rogues within their ranks, so I would leave behind a contingent of guards for the camp's protection, but it would only require a minimal number."

"Would that not leave the camp somewhat vulnerable to other less obvious threats?"

Birk immediately understood the elder's concerns, but viewed them as somewhat unnecessary.

"You remain concerned about the dwarves?"

"I do."

"I will not be taking any magic casters. They will remain behind to check the integrity of the ground. I will not allow us to fall prey to another tunneling attack, whether it was by rock beetles or dwarves."

"I appreciate that, but dwarves are resistant to magic, and they might not attack in the same manner. Our magic casters would not be a useful defense against a direct assault, and a small contingent of guards left to deal with river rogues might be quickly overrun by determined dwarf warriors."

Birk was not ready to concede that the dwarves of Dunop represented a credible threat. At Shantree's request, he had placed elf scouts near dwarf entrances and they noticed nothing that would indicate dwarf aggression.

"If it was dwarves at all," Birk offered, hoping to ease Shantree's anxieties and allow for his plans to go forward.

Shantree, however, would not allow herself the luxury of false security.

"I cannot say for certain that it was dwarves, but I also cannot say for certain that it was not. Until we have discovered the true cause, we cannot dismiss the dwarves as a possible threat to our safety."

Birk did not wish to argue, but if the elder charged him with protecting the camp against a possible, yet unlikely, dwarf attack, his options would dwindle.

"In order to guard against that threat, I would not be able to send any substantial force against the goblin army."

"And you think that is necessary?" Shantree asked.

"My obligation is the security of this camp. I feel I have already failed once in that regard. I do not wish to do so again. Engaging the dark creatures as they attack Burbon offers us the greatest opportunity to cut significantly into their numbers. Failing to do so might prove to be a fatal mistake. Are you sure you wish to take that stance?"

Shantree did not feel as if Birk was challenging her authority. She realized the captain held to doubts. The elder respected the captain's position, but just as it was his duty to protect the camp, it was her obligation to ensure its future.

"It is a stance that is necessary. You see the dark legion and believe it must be addressed, but I see an army that is marching away from our camp. The large goblin and his minions do not appear interested in us in any way."

"That could change after he takes Burbon."

"You speak as if that is a certainty."

"Based on the size of his army, it is. Once the human town is in his hands, the goblin could turn his attention back to the forest... and us."

Just as Birk was unwilling to accept the dwarves as a threat, Shantree remained hopeful that the humans would not fall so easily to the dark legion. She believed there was another power with a stake in the conflict, one that could change the outcome of any battle.

"Do not be so quick to discount Burbon's chances. Let us remember that Burbon is also important to the human wizard Enin. If anyone can stop this force, it is him. We might actually interfere or create unnecessary casualties by engaging when it is not necessary. Let us keep our focus on our camp and allow the humans to use their defenses in the best way possible."

# 

While Shantree heard reports of Okyiq's movements in Dark Spruce, Queen Therese received similar concerns from dwarf listening posts throughout her underground city. She found the estimated size of the goblin horde alarming, even as the dark creatures ignored tunnels that would lead to Dunop. She ordered dwarf sentries to avoid conflict and only engage if the monsters attempted to gain entry into the tunnels. Not one guard post reported a single skirmish.

Therese confirmed the reports with her counselors.

"Not a single incident?"

"Not one,"  Geg Sedmor responded. "The goblin army is massive and has already crossed directly over two cave openings that lead to secondary tunnels, but they have ignored them completely. They did not even send in goblin scouts to explore. They clearly have no wish to enter our city."

"At least for now," the queen replied. "What of our battalions?"

"On alert and prepared to defend the city."

"And how certain are you of the dark legion's objective?"

"It is almost a certainty. Though the army moves slowly, its path has not wavered. Bloat spiders were sent ahead and they are obviously moving to the eastern boundaries of Dark Spruce."

"Pinesway is not in danger? We have many dwarves engaged in construction projects within the human town."

"It is difficult to say due to its close proximity to Burbon, but it seems unlikely."

'Unlikely' was not enough to satisfy the queen of Dunop and she ordered certain precautions.

"Send one battalion and a tunneling crew to Pinesway. Inform them to be ready to assist in a complete evacuation back to Dunop. Escape tunnels will be dug if it appears the dark army changes course. Allow the humans to retreat into the tunnels as well. I don't wish to take chances."

The advisor nodded and quickly dispatched a messenger to relay the order to one of the battle commanders.

"Now, how do we assist Burbon?" the queen asked of her advisor.

"Burbon?" Geg questioned with obvious surprise.

"That appears to be the target of the horde. We are allies with the humans."

Geg did not wish to contradict Therese, but he saw no other alternative.

"My queen, we do not have a blanket alliance with all humans. We have been selective in our treaties. Burbon does not have any official relations with Dunop. This is not Pinesway or Connel. The dwarves have no interests in this town. It is not our concern."

"Will the citizens of Connel and Pinesway see it in the same fashion?"

"If they call on us to protect Burbon, we would address the matter, but no official request has been made."

"You do not see this as causing potential harm to our relations?"

"Under your order, we will be offering protection and safe passage to the citizens of Pinesway. Connel is under no threat at this moment. I see no potential harm."

"But it is Burbon that is apparently in jeopardy, not Pinesway and not Connel."

"As I said, we have no responsibility to Burbon. In fact, the human town has often aligned itself with the elves of Dark Spruce. While I don't enjoy mentioning it, the elves sided with Burbon when the dwarf separatists attacked the town. Let the elves go to their aid once more."

"And what of Ryson Acumen? Do we forget what we owe the delver?"

"I believe the delver is capable of defending himself. The question you face is how much should you risk of Dunop's forces to save a human town that is allied with the elves?"

"You believe we should stay out of it?"

"Unless the dark army directly attacks our interests, yes, I do."

"I am uncomfortable with this," Therese admitted.

"I believe you are also uncomfortable with Petiole's escape," the advisor brazenly responded.