Ruinous Return

Ben got out of the house, stretching as he looked out over the fields. Trisha had been dealing with the baby, and he had been doing all of the usual stuff – cooking, cleaning…everything. Thankfully, some of Trisha's students volunteered to help around the house in addition to their usual duties, so he finally got a breather.

But as a dad, there was never really a breather. He chuckled as Eli ran over. "Dad! There's a big, scary man riding here!"

Following behind him was Lyndra on Epona, and Lawry was holding tight onto the saddle-horn. "He's got a big hammer!" Lyndra shouted.

Ben frowned, What's Kory doing all the way up here? His job was to protect the Valley of the Volcano from intruders and keep any lingering Demonic Dragon forces at bay. "Go inside, kids. Eli, take Epona, go get Jeremy and as many of the brawling students you can. Tell them 'Code 4'."

Lyndra picked up on the gravity of the situation near-instantly and Ben helped her dismount before pulling Lawry off. He hoisted Eli onto the mount and his eldest son rode off, down the small hill to the complex where the warriors Ben trained resided.

Ben went to the shed and opened it, running his hands along the heavy, massive suit of full plate. Not enough time to equip it, probably. Instead, he grabbed the large, spiked tower shield, and the mace that slotted into the back of it. Just in case.

Ben hadn't seen Kory in several years. But he had reservations about having a single person protect the Valley of the Volcano, insisting that the heroes set up a rotation, or a joint defense force. But Cecily convinced the rest of them with her charisma and force of personality to allow Kory the job. Who knows how fucked up he's gotten.

He walked out to the trail that led to the South of his estate, and set the tower shield down, leaning over the top of it, waiting. He was not waiting for long, as Kory and another slim man came riding up the road. They slowed down as they approached. "Ben! I need your wife!" Kory shouted.

"Good to see you, Kory. What do you need Trisha for?"

"Fucke-"

"Language! I have kids around." Ben smirked to himself.

There was silence for a moment as Kory rode closer, slowing his mount. "Sorry. I forgot you have those. I still haven't met them."

"And you won't if I have anything to say about it," Ben replied. He had nothing against Kory as a person; but he didn't want his kids to see or pick up on anything this man could represent or suggest.

The man riding next to Kory bowed his head, "I am Jacobson, healer for Kory's Killers."

Ben looked at Kory and raised a judging eyebrow, "Really? That's what you named your mercenaries?"

Kory grumbled, "It's a good description." The man was obviously cowed by Ben's presence, and knew that the father could easily beat him in his current state.

Jacobson continued, "I have heard of your wife, Trisha Baxter, the Healer hero. We seek her aid. Kory has suffered a grievous wound."

As they rode closer Ben hefted the shield onto his forearm with ease. The scent hit him almost instantly. Rot. Gangrene. He knew that Trisha would have to amputate, and Kory would be pissed off at that. There was only so much she could do. "Ride down the hill, I'll bring Trisha to you."

Kory looked at Ben, and then past him to the main house, "But she's up there!"

"Yes, with my newborn, Ginavieve. I'll send her down to see you."

Kory's face went white as a sheet. "You named her Gina?"

Ben nodded, "All of our kids are named after the heroes who fell. Gina, Lawrence, Lyn, Elias." He gestured with the shield to the small slope, "Go on, go to the big, white building. It's state-of-the-art for this world. They'll prep you for Trisha. Lots of good healers in training there."

Jacobson bowed, "My thanks, Lord Baxter." He nudged Kory, and the Berserker hero sullenly followed the man.

Ben slung his shield on his back and walked back to the house. He knew why Kory was so upset. Gina was his girlfriend, the Oracle hero, and the first one to die on Ghomar. Not from combat, no. She committed suicide. Being the Oracle meant she had visions of the future, and the future she saw drove her to that point. Her death kicked off his descent into debauchery and lechery. Poor bastard.

He got to the main house and went inside. Eli was already in there, and there were twenty burly, strong men dressed in armor and wielding spiked or bladed knuckles – ready to fight for their teacher's wife and defend the household. Ben walked past them with appreciative nods, going into Trisha's bedroom. She was sitting in the rocking chair, nursing their youngest, with a few of her healing trainees helping to tidy up the room. "Hey honey, what's going on? All of your apprentices showed up-"

"Kory is here. And he's messed up. I sent him down the hill to the hospital."

Trisha sat up straighter and gulped. Her last meeting with Kory was not a pleasant one. He had cursed at her violently when she had to remove a finger that was beyond saving. "How bad is it?"

Ben shook his head, "Bad. I could smell it from ten feet away. That leg's probably going to have to go."

Trisha handed their newborn to one of her apprentices, and the baby began to cry, which the middle-age woman now holding the child soothed away with gentle rocking. Trisha fixed her attire and stood up. "You'll be next to me?"

Ben nodded, "The whole time." He looked back to his kids and the trainees. "Half of you, stay here with the kids. The other half, you're coming with us. Kory might be injured, but when he learns we have to remove that leg…he might react poorly. Get the hammer away from him, but remember, it's got some type of thread that wraps around his wrist."

Trisha followed up as she led the way out, "I'll try to get him under anesthesia as soon as I can."

The Newen traveled fast, but Lyn was easily able to keep up with them. They made a rapid pace through the night, and by dawn arrived at a large clearing at the edge of the forest, near the mountainside. A series of log cabins were erected, as well as a longhouse, with small tracks of smoke swirling up from the buildings. Lyn saw what she expected to see; Newen families, men, women, children, living their lives. But all those lives paused when she strode into sight. Duskari were not a new sight to Newen living in the Valley of the Volcano.

But Lyn did not look like any other Duskari. The draconic features covering her form were indicative enough, and many of the Newen fell to their torso in supplication. She followed the Strike Commander into the longhouse and felt at ease. They were burning an herb – something akin to rosemary mixed with lavender – that filled the air with a pungent, soothing scent. At the far end of the chamber was a female Newen, whose skin was a vibrant blue with purple splotches. The lack of a frill was the defining feature to discern male or female.

She peered at Lyn before moving out of her seat and falling to her knees in reverence. "Mighty one, you return!"

Lyn walked forward and extended a clawed hand, "Stand, and tell me your name."

The woman stood and bowed her sinuous head. "I am called Rela."

"Lady Rivers, Destroyer reborn," Lyn replied as she walked past the woman and sat on her throne. A power play, but one that Lyn knew she had to make. Leaning forward she stared at the arrayed Newen – some of whom had followed from the outside. "I seek to reforge the old alliances. You once served my prior form. Well, as you can see, I am no longer in that form. But make no mistake, I am the Destroyer – the Demonic Dragon – returned. And I intend to not just remain in this Valley." She smiled, "I will rule this world."

The Newen's jaws dropped. Lyn had expected that reaction – the Demonic Dragon never left the Valley of the Volcano. And before then, there wasn't any record Thomas told the heroes about where the predecessor to the Demonic Dragon – Raevan – left either. She was breaking new ground with the declaration. Rela tilted her head in a gesture of honor – similar to a head bob. "Your mightiness, the Newen are forever at your service."

Lyn stood up, "Good. Send out your scouts. I want every Newen clan to be notified of my return. Have them come to Lynhold – the dread fortress – and we will begin preparations." Looking at Slanosh, she grinned, "And I want you, Strike Commander, to accompany me back to the fortress today."

"My Lady!" Rela replied. "Let us present a feast! It's the least we can do."

Lyn chuckled slightly, "You know what? It has been over a day since my last meal. Very well, let us celebrate my return."

Vael walked through the forest alongside her brother. These lands were familiar to them. But the new understanding of the world, and their place in what it would be, left them both solemnly wandering back home. "What do you think?" she asked softly.

Gael grunted – possibly from pain. "What do I think about what?"

"Lyn. The Destroyer."

"She's fun to plow into the mattress or furs."

Vael slapped her brother on the shoulder – right on one of the bandaged wounds. He let out a gasp of pain and glared at her. "You know what I meant."

Gael frowned and faced forward, "That she was once the Scout hero? The one who slew the Demonic Dragon?" Vael made an affirmative noise, and he continued. "I believe her tale. It explains much, including the lack of knowledge of the Duskari when we found her." He shook his head and looked at his sister, "I will serve her faithfully. This world she wishes to forge…sounds good."

Vael sighed, "I…" she stopped, contemplating. "I…I agree. Except-"

"Except you don't like the idea of other races being equal to the Duskari," Gael said, finishing her sentence. "I don't like the idea, either. But even she said it would not be true equality. The Duskari will be elevated higher than the rest by virtue of our devotion and longevity."

Vael nodded, "That's what I'm afraid of. What if she decrees we are all equal?"

Gael went silent at that before shaking his head. "She must maintain order somehow. Rule with an iron fist, from what she said. Who do you think will enforce that will? Her most loyal, obviously."

"Then her vision is impossible to achieve. There is no chance for true equality as she desires, in that case."

Gael looked forward to the trees. "The Destroyer desires a world where children do not hunger and the people in power do not abuse their position. She will need strong leaders and Advisors. She cannot be everywhere at once."

Vael nodded, "We must get stronger, to help protect her…and enforce her will."

Gael chuckled, "You just want to impress her so she will take you to bed more."

Vael lightly punched him – making sure to avoid his wounds this time – and giggled. "Yes. She is fun to tumble with."

Gael nodded and put an arm around his sister, "We serve the Destroyer, as our kind has always done. Our faith will be rewarded." He tapped his armor with his spear haft, "As it has been thus far."

Vael pushed him off, "You're right. Don't tell her about my doubts."

"I wouldn't dream of it."

The feast was excellent for a group of forest-dwelling serpent-people. Mostly meat based; squirrel stew, roasted birds, a nut-paste. It was a simple fare, but Lyn wanted to get back to her fortress. But she had one more errand to do and was only a half day away. After the festivities concluded, she took Slanosh with her, and they followed the mountains South.

"Your mightiness," he said reverently. "Why choose me?"

"You had the resolve to approach me in the clearing. That shows initiative. I have a Marshal – a woman named Remora – who oversees my military. However, I doubt she is familiar with Newen battle tactics and how you best operate. You, however, are familiar with that. I will be placing you under her command, to act as the Advisor for all Newen forces that come under my organization."

Slanosh stopped and fell to his face, groveling. "Your mightiness! I am not worthy of this hono-"

"Oh, knock it off," Lyn replied. "Come on, we have a ways to go."

Slanosh got up and resumed his trek alongside her, "Are you sur-"

"Are you questioning the Destroyer?"

"N-No! Forgive me!"

"You are forgiven. Now, tell me about how the Newen best functions in a military group. I rarely left the fortress in my past incarnation. I have not seen your kind in the field."

Slanosh went into a lengthy diatribe, but the main points Lyn gleaned from his discussion is that they traveled in groups of fifty and were lightly armed and armored. I still don't have any good front line combatants, she thought. Her Duskari squads were going to be her professional strike forces, and these Newen tactics would make them great at ambushes, flanking maneuvers, and sorties from a defensive position. What I really need are some Sloren. The Sloren, as James described them, were dwarves. They were sturdy folk who lived atop cliffs and had a nomadic lifestyle similar to the Mongols on Earth. They rode enormous rams instead of horses, however. I could use them as heavy cavalry.

Slanosh continued his explanation as the day continued, and by the next nightfall they had arrived at the mountain pass leading out of the Valley of the Volcano. It was a two-mile gap, and it was battle-scarred. Lyn felt shivers down her spine, recalling their first attempted foray into the Demonic Dragon's lands in their second year of summoning. This was the battlefield where they learned that they were very underprepared, and would need allies. It was this place where Elias fell. The memories flooded back to her.

"Guys! I need backup!" he had shouted as several Newen led by a Duskari descended on him. Raising his scythe, the Revenant hero turned into a ghostly version of himself that non-mana empowered attacks passed harmlessly through. But not spells. The Duskari used one – the first time the heroes had seen one of that race – and Elias screamed; a terrifying, screeching wail as his incorporeal body was set alight and he floated up into the sky, burning to death and unable to disable his wraith form. If he had, he would have fallen – and none of the heroes had any way to arrest his fall. Eventually, he did die, and his body fell with a sickening thud to the battlefield below.

Lyn shook her head clear of the memory. She was never close to Elias, and his death was only one of several she had seen by then. It wasn't etched as deeply into her psyche, and she mostly relied on her allies' descriptions of the incident, as she was engaged in her own battle.

"My Lady?" Slanosh asked. "Forgive me, but why are we here?"

"This is the entrance to what will eventually be the heartlands of my empire," Lyn replied. "It must be fortified. Come, to the center of the battlefield."

The duo walked out into the no-mans land. Far off on the horizon, she could see the dim lights and spires of a town. "What is that place?" she asked.

"Fort Watch, your mightiness. The Kingdom of Khrelardia erected it to keep a watch on the Valley."

"It's not a very inventive name," she quipped.

"That, I believe, my Lady, was the Berserker hero's idea. He took up residence with a group of mercenaries. We can't leave the Valley without being slaughtered."

Lyn stared off at the lights. So, Kory is there. I wouldn't mind punching him in the fucking face. She had expected him to stay in the chamber and fight the Demonic Dragon – he was the hungriest for battle. But he ran like the rest after the Destroyer dropped its humanoid form and became the more monstrous true dragon it was. She smirked as they reached the center of the battlefield, equidistant between the two mountain ranges on either side. This is going to be one hell of a show.

The mana core within her, though tamed by her resolve and the armor, was completely full. As was the mana-battery like amulet. She willed her mana channels to open to their widest and planted both hands on the ground. "Slanosh…stay right next to me. This will require concentration. I won't be defenseless, but I would hate to have to start over."

He nodded and pulled out a sharp axe and shield. "Of course, my Lady."

Lyn had been thinking of the proper phrasing since she had left Vael and Gael to split off on this side-journey. It was going to possibly be one of the most complex spells she had ever used. And…she had no clue how large of an area she could actually affect.

"En ethiel an le / thalion min / an adhano na nin ir / a ambaro i adwen enni / aglatho gaear en heledh / na dôr i bartho pân nin govadhrim e-bann / a bartho nin gohain / grotho han na gond / a masado sich erin thûr / a bartho govadhrim ú-harthol nin garan / trîwain i amarth / a aglaro rath an gwanath na taid an hênui-írm / talath erin thôr an padad panui / a gwanno i echad hên / an i ennas / na i minath e-erudh / dôr, ú-wathol / a echado naid nad dhîn / erin thûr / a bartho nin govadhrim adwen."

It was a very complicated, multi-verse spell, and Lyn felt her prodigious mana stored in the battery-amulet drain away within a few minutes. The surge of mana coursed down her channels and into the ground. The ground shook heavily, as much as a magnitude eight earthquake. Slanosh had to drop to all fours to prevent being tossed off balance.

The entire two-mile span between the mountains shook as the earth split apart. Enormous, thirty-foot deep and one-hundred foot high walls ascended from the ground. Large stairs were set into the structure on the back side, and the crenellations atop the wall facing the exterior were dotted with arrow slits. From the wording of the spell, she knew that the front of the wall was layered with razor-sharp spikes, and the equivalent of earthen cavalry spikes extended for hundreds of feet from the exterior of the wall. A large hole where a twenty-foot by twenty-foot gate could fit was in the center of the span.

And then, the wall shifted from earth and dirt, becoming a single, solid piece of stone.

Lyn felt her mana completely drained, and fell back on her butt, panting as the earth ceased its shaking.

"My Lady …"

Lyn chuckled as she laid back on the ground, "That…should be…much easier…to defend…"