Authors: Daniel Arenson
The other men cried in fright. Several turned to flee. Several raced toward her, grabbing knives, chairs, and candlesticks. Her wand shot from side to side. Bolts of magic flew. Madrila laughed. She hit the men who ran toward her, and they fell, smoking and twisting. One turned into a python. Another became a great scorpion with a human head. The others grew bat wings, scales, horns, and claws. They hissed and drooled.
"Join us, friends! Join us." She laughed. The monsters crowded around her, bowing. "Serve me, your ruler. Serve me in this war. We will make this town a center of dark magic, a wonder to the world. We will defend it from the Bullies who seek to destroy us."
She left the tavern. She walked through the town, kicking open doors, smashing windows. By afternoon, a hundred monsters followed behind her, grunting and drooling and oozing. By evening, three hundred creatures crawled, scratched, hopped, and flew around her. She laughed in the darkness.
"Climb the walls, friends!" she called, arms raised. Lightning crackled overhead. "Man the posts. Guard the doors. Stand atop every tower and every roof, and wait. Wait for the Bullies. When they arrive, kill them. Kill them all."
The monster army howled and cheered. Madrila smiled thinly.
This is power. This is glory. Do you see, Mother? Do you see, Father? Do you see, my wretched half-siblings? You took everything from me. You made me strong. And now... now you will pay.
Chapter Twenty-Three
It's Only a Model
The Bullies stood among trees, crowding around a model of Burrfield. Their ragtag army of spiderlings, hellhogs, demons, elflings, dragon, and dragonflies stood behind them, awaiting commands.
"Burrfield has two gates," Neev said, pointing at the model. It was built of wood, mud, and stones. "Teasel Gate in the north, near Teasel Forest, and Barley gate in the south, near the fields."
Romy frowned at the model. "Um, Neev? Burrfield doesn't look anything like this! Where's our house?"
Neev pointed at a crude structure of branches atop a pile of mud. "There, Romy. That's Friar Hill and that's our house."
"But where am I?" she demanded, squinting at the model.
Jamie kicked her. "Not now, Romy! Just pretend you're inside the house."
Still squinting, Romy leaned down and lifted the small wooden house. She held it upside down and shook it. "I don't see me. Get out, little Romy! Get out!"
Scruff roared. "Romy, you're stepping on the southern wall!"
Neev tried to pull her back. "Romy, stop it, now you knocked over Fort Rosethorn."
The demon looked from side to side, mouth open. "Where am I? Where's Fort Rosethorn?"
"It was that bunch of branches!" Neev groaned. "You ruined my model."
Romy blinked. "I thought you
wanted
us to attack Fort Rosethorn. Remember? Because Madrila is in there. Hey, wait a minute. Where's little Madrila here?"
Romy began stepping around what remained of the model, knocking over the last buildings, and looking utterly perplexed. The others had to pull her back, but not before she stepped on the last structure.
Neev sighed. "Well, building that was a waste of two days." He shook his head sadly. "I'll just tell you my plan without it."
He turned to face Jamie, his little sister, and his heart softened. Only fifteen, she stared up at him, chin raised, eyes flashing. Her sword was nearly as long as her body, and she was no taller than an elfling, but Neev could think of no better warrior to fight at his side.
When we were kids, I never had to protect you, little sister,
he thought.
You could beat up boys three times your size, then and now.
He put a hand on her shoulder. "Jamie, I'd like you to lead the northern charge. Take the elflings and Grumbledook and break through Teasel Gate. Can you do this?"
She clasped his shoulder too. "We will break through."
Neev held her shoulder for a moment longer, then pulled her into a hug.
"Take care, you little rascal," he whispered.
She nodded, face pressed against his chest. "You too, you scrawny little bookworm."
They pulled apart, blinking moist eyes.
Next Neev turned to Scruff. He stared at his brother, silent for a moment. Scruff stared back, mace in his hands, lips tight. He towered over the others, a good foot taller than Neev, and two feet taller than Jamie.
I've always looked up to you,
Neev thought.
Mostly literally... but figuratively too.
He remembered how, when they were children, he thought Scruff was so strong, so brave, the greatest warrior in the world after Father. Whenever the other children hit Neev, he could call his brother for help.
And now I fight by your side.
"Scruff," he said. "Jamie will need help from above. Take two dozen spiderlings. Ride the dragonflies and fly above Jamie. Grunters will be manning the walls. I want your dragonflies to keep them busy while Jamie breaks the gates." He clutched Scruff's arm. "If anyone can do this, it's you. You're a great warrior. You have the heart of a knight; don't let anyone tell you otherwise. Be careful today."
Scruff nodded, face grim and tough... but suddenly his lip wobbled, his eyes moistened, and he pulled Neev into a crushing bear hug.
"You too, little brother!" he blubbered. "Be careful. Stay safe. I know you can do this."
Neev squirmed in the embrace, unable to breathe. He had to struggle, kick, and slap Scruff before his huge brother released him. He gasped for air and panted for several moments.
Neev cleared his throat and turned toward Cobweb. The spiderling gazed at him, smiling softly, eyes glowing. Moonlight clung to her.
You're my sister now too,
Neev thought.
You're also a Thistle now, and I'm proud that you're part of our clan.
"Cobweb," he said softly, "while Jamie and Scruff attack Teasel Gate, I'll attack Barley Gate. I too will need aerial cover. Take the remaining dragonflies and fly above me."
Cobweb nodded and hugged him. "I'ww pwotect you," she whispered. "We wiww aww meet in Fowt Wosetorn, I pwomise."
"Thank you, Cobweb," he said softly, holding her. Her body was warm against him. "I'm proud to have you and your friends fight with us. You are great warriors."
Finally Neev turned toward Romy. The demon was looking at the remains of the model, scratching her head. She seemed not to have heard any of the conversation.
"Romy," Neev said. "Are you all right?"
"I'm confused!" she said, sounding miserable. "Are we in Burrfield yet?"
"No, Romy. That was only a model. We've been over this, remember?" He took her hands. "Look at me, Romy. Focus. While Jamie and Scruff attack the northern gate, you'll join me in the south. We'll take the hellhogs and break Barley Gate. Okay?"
She bit her lip, thoughtful. "You know, Neev, with all this talk of geography, it would have been much easier if you'd built a model."
"ROMY! I did—" He bit down hard, sighed, and squeezed her hands. "Forget north and south for now. Just follow me with the hellhogs, okay? And when we see monsters, we'll kill them."
She nodded and a grin split her face. "That I understand."
"Good. And Romy...." He cleared his throat. "Be careful out there. Okay?"
She raised an eyebrow. "Why's that, Neev?"
He brushed dirt off his robes. "Well, I wouldn't want you to, uhm... to accidentally hurt yourself or anything."
"Is that it?" she demanded.
"Look, Romy. Just be careful, all right?"
She snorted, blowing back a curl of her hair. "Oh, Neev, just admit it! You looooove me, and you'd just die if anything happened to me." She punched him. "Admit it!" She began hugging and kissing him.
Jamie and Scruff were snickering behind their palms. Neev squirmed in Romy's embrace.
"Not now, Romy!" he whispered.
She pouted. "Come on, Neev! Tell me that you love me. You never want to tell me that. Don't be so shy." She kept pecking his face with kisses.
Neev sighed. Why did she have to keep embarrassing him? He did love the demon, but if he said anything, he knew his siblings would mock him forever. He wriggled out of her embrace, face red, and cleared his throat.
"Is everybody ready?" he asked.
They nodded, one by one. Neev swallowed a lump in his throat. Though he would never admit it, he was scared. He could not bear it if anything happened to his fellow Bullies.
Be strong, Neev
, he told himself.
Be strong and we'll win.
"We'll save our home today," he said. "Now let's go!"
The Bullies roared. Behind them, the spiderlings, elflings, dragon, demons, and hellhogs roared too. They began running through the forest, and the earth trembled.
* * * * *
She ran down the road, sword held high. The elflings ran by her sides, goldencharms glowing and weapons bright—Ellywyn's silver dagger, Rowyn's golden wand, and Noelyn's arrows. Pebbles and mud flew from under their boots, and trees rustled at their sides.
"Come on, Grumbledook!" Jamie called.
The dragon was lagging behind. He ran along the road, puffing and groaning. Sometimes he'd flap his wings, fly a few feet, then run again. Smoke rose from his nostrils and maw, and he shouted between coughs.
"I'm a-coming, little one! The Great Grumbledook is sounding his roar!" The old dragon roared, a raspy sound, and flashes of fire sprayed between his teeth. "Battle again—one last day of glory for the legend!"
Above them, two dozen dragonflies flew, each the size of a horse. Spiderlings rode them, arrows in their bows, their hair streaming. Their battle cries shook the forest. Scruff rode at their lead, swinging his mace. Jamie felt sorry for his dragonfly; the poor beast was hacking and wheezing.
When she saw the walls of Burrfield ahead, Jamie felt her eyes moisten.
Home.
Arrows came flying from those walls, a hundred slivers across the sky.
"Take cover!" Jamie shouted. She leaped to the roadside and knelt behind her shield. Ellywyn crouched beside her and covered her head. The others leaped behind trees. The arrows whistled and peppered the road. A few slammed into trees.
Flying above, the spiderlings shot their own arrows. Their battle cries filled the sky. Monsters scurried atop Burrfield's walls, beasts of scales, horns, fur, and claws; Jamie had never seen such horrors. The creatures shouted and drew bowstrings, and more arrows rained upon the forest.
"Charge!" Jamie cried. "To the gates!"
They ran, arrows flying overhead. One arrow slammed into Jamie's shield. Another scratched Ellywyn, who shouted but kept running. The monsters howled atop the wall ahead, firing more arrows. Scruff and the spiderlings were firing arrows back toward them.
"Grumbledook, break the gate!" she cried.
The dragon trundled down the road, roaring. An arrow jutted out from his tail. The monsters above saw him, pointed, and shouted. The old dragon ran and slammed against the gate. Chips of wood flew, but the gate stood. An arrow pierced Grumbledook's wing, and he roared and blew fire above him. The jet of flame raced up the wall, and the beasts on the parapets howled.
"Can you break the door?" Jamie shouted. She raised her shield overhead as a volley of arrows fell. The elflings huddled around her, hiding under the shield; Rowyn clung to her left side, Ellywyn to her right, and Noelyn between her legs.
"I can break through a mountain!" Grumbledook shouted, ran back, and slammed against the door again. The wood didn't even crack.
Shrieks tore the air, high pitched like a knife scraping a plate. Jamie winced and covered her ears. Shadows covered the land, and when she looked up, she saw dozens of huge bats flying over the walls. Each was large as a wolf, their wings black leather. Their eyes blazed red, and they had human faces. Jamie recognized a few—the town cobbler, an onion farmer, a peasant girl. The creatures flew toward the spiderlings, scratching and biting.
"God!" Jamie said, disgust curdling her belly. "Those are... those are townfolk! Madrila turned them into monsters." She covered her mouth, feeling queasy.
"All fear the mighty Grumbledoo—" the dragon began, then hacked and coughed. An arrow slammed against his scales and snapped. The dragon roared and ran forward. He hit the gates, then fell back, grumbling and shaking his head.
Gritting her teeth, Jamie looked into the sky. She saw Scruff riding his dragonfly over the wall, swinging his mace at the bats. His poor dragonfly's tongue lolled, and its eyes rolled back. Its back was crooked like a U under Scruff's girth.
"Scruff, we need you down here!" Jamie shouted. "Give that poor insect a rest and come knock down the doors!"
He nodded, tugged the reins, and directed his poor dragonfly down to the earth. Arrows flew around him, and his mace knocked back a swooping bat. He landed beside Jamie and leaped off his dragonfly, who groaned appreciatively and flew off.
"The doors!" Jamie cried. More arrows fell, and she held her shield above her head. The arrows slammed into it. One arrow glanced off Scruff's pauldron.
Scruff nodded. "I'll take care of this."
The huge warrior ran and slammed into the doors. It was like a boulder crashing into a twig. The gates shattered, raining chips of wood. Scruff rolled into Burrfield.
Grumbledook snorted. "I weakened them for you."
"You burn the bats!" Jamie shouted at the dragon. "Fly, damn you. You have wings, don't you?"
The dragon grunted, blew a jet of fire at a swooping bat, then walked through the gates. "Huh. Flying. What does she think I am, three-hundred years old again?"
Through the gates, Jamie saw fifty monsters, maybe more. A few were grunters. The others were motley beasts, some scaly, some slimy, some furry, all hideous. They swung swords and howled, spraying drool. Scruff stood among them, swinging Norman in every direction. Bite marks covered his breastplate.
"Scruff!" Jamie screamed. She ran through the gates, sword high. The elflings ran around her. Noelyn shot an arrow, hitting a scaly beast in the chest. Rowyn shot lightning from his wand, breaking apart a crawling slimeball.