The Dreaddrac Onslaught (Book 4) (48 page)

“Well, we’ll trust to you and the wizard then to take out the battering ram tower.” Dagmar glanced at Bodrin, whose slight twinkle confirmed her suspicions about the general’s feeling of triumph. “If that’s all gentlemen, I think we should retire for the evening and get some rest. Tomorrow will be a long, trying day.”

*

Next morning, Bodrin slipped out from the city and across the misty river before dawn’s light would reveal their movement. They rowed across the current, careful to lift the oars gently to keep down the ripples, oar knocking, and splashing. Reaching the far shore, they rowed up the small creek where Saxthor’s band had hidden on their quest adventure downriver what seemed like a lifetime before.

They crossed the creek and moved hidden through the low grounds just above the river north to the marshes where another creek entered the river.

“This is it, men,” Bodrin said, looking down on the log jam in the creek. “Good thing Saxthor anticipated the need for a log jam and sent a force from Hoya to confine some logs from the jams and hold them in this creek. It must have been the log jam above Hoya and that attack on the city that gave him the idea. I remembered this cache when we sailed past yesterday. Prepare to release it on my command.”

The men checked the logs to be sure they could free them at a moment’s notice. Two pilings held back the timbers in the creek bed with more logs stacked on the creek slopes, again with logs holding them back for quick release. The forest there was thick, and the creek entered the river at an angle, hiding the jam from the river’s view.

“Most of you men position yourselves with bows and arrows in trees overhanging the river. The men I selected earlier, go stand along tie ropes to the restraining poles. Release the logs into the Nhy at my command.” The Neuyokkasinians waited, hidden in the morning mist that swirled up from the river.

As anticipated, the boats came down river overloaded with orcs, their hands fidgeting with swords for the attack. As Bodrin watched, two of the boats collided and one sank. The orcs grasped for the surviving boat, nearly capsizing it. The orcs in the boat smashed the hands of those in the river grabbing at it. The other boats veered around the watery struggle, abandoning their comrades to drown.

“That saves us the trouble of killing that bunch,” Bodrin’s second in command whispered. The two men grinned at each other. Bodrin noted the man’s finger tapped his bow. Looking back to the river, he saw an orc flailing in the river. Then the orc saw one of the men in the trees and began pointing at them in the branches. Bodrin’s heart sank. If many orcs discovered them up in the limbs and rowed for shore, they could kill his men before they could climb down and escape.

“Should we sound retreat?” his aide whispered.

“Wait,” Bodrin said, not taking his eyes off the struggle in the river. “They think he’s just struggling to stay afloat. The others don’t realize he’s pointing, He’s drowning, and they’re deliberately ignoring him.”

A moment more and the orc sank in the dark water. The boats swung back and forth in the current, the orcs clearly unfamiliar with them and fearful of water. The mist began to dissipate. Bodrin looked up, and one of his men gave him a signal. They could now see the orcs clearly. Bodrin judged the time right and gave the signal for the men on the log jam to release the flotilla. Four great muscled men pulled back on the ropes they’d attached to the posts holding back the jam. Their faces turned red, teeth showed, their muscles strained, and the logs began to fall over. The logs popped up from the muck, falling back into the creek. The rest of the timbers pressed forward. With a little help from the men, the jam moved out into the river followed by the logs released on the hillside. The jam spread out before the oncoming boats like oil dropped on the surface.

Horrified orcs panicked as, unable to stop the boats, they slammed one after the other into the floating timbers. Some overturned on impact; others hit, throwing the orcs onto the logs or in the river. As the chaos spread, the frantic mass flowed past the men in the trees, who shot the orcs, one after another, until the entire force was annihilated.

“Back to Botahar, men,” Bodrin shouted. The men scurried down the trees, all moving back through Talok’s low grounds to the boats hidden earlier. They crossed the river back into Botahar just as the main Dreaddrac army began their attack on the city.

“Were you successful?” Dagmar asked Bodrin in the governor’s palace tower. “I saw a commotion on the river, but it was too far upstream for me to make out how it went.” She fidgeted with her dagger and looked out over the balcony to the city walls, where defenders scurried around on the battlements.

“Totally, Majesty,” Bodrin responded. “Tarquak fell for the idea of using the boats. He is arrogant and too self-assured. His need for revenge overruled his sense of caution. We wiped out three cohorts maybe four to an orc.”

“Well, that’s more of the enemy that won’t attack the city. We must move to the walls now. The attack is beginning there.”

“Majesty, you mustn’t go to the walls; it’s too dangerous.”

“Nonsense,” Dagmar said. “My people must see me with them. This is our last stand, and I must be among my people.” She started for the door, attired in her ceremonial armor.

Bodrin gently restrained her arm. “Dagmar, forgive me for my impertinence, but your people can see you from the balcony here. You must not endanger yourself for their sakes. They are fighting for themselves, their homes, and their queen. If you were to fall, it would destroy their morale and all would be lost. Besides, Saxthor would flay me if anything happened to you.” He smiled gently and released her arm.

Dagmar seemed to slump and acquiesce. She looked down, then out the balcony doors to the city walls, and back at Bodrin. “He sent you to look out for me, didn’t he?”

“Well, not in so many words,” Bodrin said. He looked away and out the window so she couldn’t see his face in the lie.

“He is all right, isn’t he Bodrin?”

“Your city is under attack, and you ask if he is all right?” Bodrin asked with a laugh that relieved the tension. They looked at each other. She put her hand on his arm and patted it.

“You need to look out for our Saxthor. I have those gruff old generals looking out for me,” Dagmar said, nodding toward the door and the general just departed. “But I thank you for burning the enemy supplies and destroying them on the river so our forces aren’t divided today.”

“Will you remain here on the balcony, Majesty?”

“Yes, I’ll remain here so long as I’m not needed on the walls. Now take your force to the battlements if you will; you are needed there most.” She took his hand, squeezed it firmly, then patted the top with her other hand. Her eyes looked into his, her uncertainty showing for but a moment. Then she looked out to the enemy marching down to the gate.

Bodrin bowed and left the queen on the balcony. He and his force reached the walls just as the first of the enemy ladders slammed against them. Orcs climbed over their dead comrades to climb up. Now the enemy numbers seemed less daunting, but then Bodrin saw the massive shield-covered battering ram rolling ponderously toward the main gate amid a flurry of arrows.

* * *

At the head of his legion, Saxthor emerged from thick forests onto the Heggolstockin plain, marching to assist Duke Anton in the battle on the Akkin River. Memlatec’s courier with dispatches caught up with him there. Reading them in his camp tent, he suddenly felt overwhelmed. He dropped his head in his hands, fingers sliding through his hair.

Have I made a horrendous mistake coming here? He wondered. My own Neuyokkasinian people assume I will keep this war far from them. Yet how can I?

Too long the peninsula’s southern kingdoms have relied on known tactics and defenses. The Dark Lord of Dreaddrac has anticipated that, and in the opening rounds of the war, he’s already neutralized those defenses. The evil sorcerer has bypassed Hador, that impregnable fortress that defended the eastern peninsula through the Third Wizard War. The road to Graushdemheimer is open. Vylvex marches south to lay siege to it. This report says Vylvex has new monsters, whingtangs, with his army. Can Grekenbach stop him?

A scout rode up, interrupting Saxthor’s analysis. “Majesty, Duke Heggolstockin is despondent. He’s left his army with a general and returned to the capital. Lord Amenibus died trying to break the siege of Feldrik Fortress. The general up ahead is unable to repel the goblin general and his Dreaddrac forces at the Akkin River. You must hurry.”

“Any news of Feldrik?”

“It’s now under heavy blockade from Prince Pindradese and more Dreaddrac contingents.”

If Feldrik falls, so falls Heggolstockin, thought Saxthor. There are no defenses between Feldrik and the provincial capital. King Grekenbach’s army is divided. Legions tied up in the west on the Akkin, more lost or locked up in Feldrik. He hasn’t enough men to confront Vylvex in the field at the capital. If Graushdemheimer falls, the Dark Lord controls all Graushdem. It’s out of the war. My garrison at Tossledorn can hardly withstand the eastern Dreaddrac army, victorious after sacking Graushdemheimer. If it falls, the road to Konnotan is open.

He dismissed the messenger and opened the next report from Bodrin.

Saxthor, not much time to write. General Tarquak’s legions are massed around Botahar. We were successful in wiping out one legion and burning their provisions, but two more legions are about to attack the city. They seem determined to take Botahar and desperate to gain the city’s supplies. Wish us luck.

I’m completely surrounded by desperate battlefronts. We’ve spread all our forces too thinly. It appears we’re no match for the enemy in any impending battle. Have I failed my civilization at this historic moment?

The End

Agros
(Ah’ grOs)  Fleet admiral of the Neuyokkasinian kingdom.

Amenibus
  (ah men’ i bus)  Son and heir of duke and duchess of Heggolstockin

Ahkenspec
  (ah’ ken spek)  King of Memtahhamin the remnant of forest elves now isolated and hidden in the western hills above the Morass Desert

Akkin
  (ah’ kin)  River flowing from Edros Swamps of southern Dreaddrac; border between Prertsten and Heggolstockin

Augusteros
  (a gus ter’ Os)  Prince Consort and husband of Queen Eleatsubetsvyertsin of Neuyokkasin; also name of Crown Prince, brother of Saxthor Claremendak

Aleman
  (Al’ man)  Memlatec’s housekeeper

Artrek
(ar’ trec)  Royal wizard of Sengenwhapolis

Belnik
  (Bel’ nic)  Valet to King Saxthor after return from adventure.

Binwan
(Ben’ wan) Sengenwhan general attacking Sengenwhapolis’ southern walls to retake city

Betsoya
  (Bet soy’ a)  Mother of Bodrin Vicksnak; Countess Vickinsoff

Bodrin
  (Bod’ rin)  Bodrin Vicksnak; closest friend and companion of King Saxthor

Bordabrundese
  (Bor’ da brun’ dEs)  King Bordabrundese was king of the sandhill dwarves of Hador.

Botahar
  (BO’ tah har)  Primary inland commercial center of Sengenwha just north of Lake Pundar

Calamidese
  (Cal am’ a dEs)  King Calamidese VII, King of Sengenwha.

Chatra
(Cha’ tra)  Prime minister of a sovereign court

Calimon
  (Cal’ i mon)  Family name of dynasty succeeding first dynasty of Neuyokkasin; Augusteros Calimon, Count de Chatronier and Neuyokkasinian Prince Consort; father of Prince Saxthor Claremendak Calimon de Chatronier

Castilyernov
(Cas’ til yer nov)  Castle or fortress

Chatronier
  (Sha’ tron yea)  Title of Neuyokkasinian Prince Consort Augusteros Calimon

Chowzenshwang
(Chow’ zen shwang)  Living energy creature guarding planetary energy gradient at Helgenstat ruins

Cipefar
(CIp’ far)  River flowing through mountain valley crossing border between Neuyokkasin and Powteros Empire

Claremendak
  (Clair rem’ n dak)  Middle name of Prince Saxthor Claremendak Calimon de Chatronier

Dagmar
  (Dag’ mar)  Princess royal and future Queen of Sengenwha; beloved of Saxthor; sister of King Calamidese

Demonica
  (DE mon’ i cah)  Self-serving daughter of duke and duchess of Heggolstockin

Dreaddrac
  (Dred’ drac)  Kingdom of the Evil One at the northern point of the peninsular of northern Powteros continent

Dreg (Dreg) Grave digger promoted to personal attendant to Earwig

Dregaclese
  (Dreg’ ah clEs) 

Denubia
  (Den U’ bE ah)  Duchess of Heggolstockin

Earwig
  (Ear’ wig)  Upstart, classless woman who sold her soul to the Evil One through witchcraft to overthrow the ruling family of Neuyokkasin;  married to Minnabec III, deposed last ruler of first dynasty of Neuyokkasin;  Irkin Megla, formal name

Earwighof
  (Ear’ wig hof) Fortress home of Irkin/Earwig and Minnabec III outside of Konnotan

Edros
  (ed’ rOs)  Swamps of southern Dreaddrac between east and west mountains on border of southern Dreaddrac

Eleatsubetsvyertsin
  (el eat’ soo bets vyert’ sin)  Eleatsubetsvyertsin Calimon de Chatronier, Queen of Neuyokkasin, daughter of Minnabec II, husband of Augusteros Calimon and mother of Prince Saxthor

Engwan
  (Eng’ wan)  Emperor of Powteros, Engwan IV

Engwaniria
(eng’ won Ear’ iah)  Imperial capital city of Powteros Empire

Favriana
  (Fav rea ah’ n a)  Fortress in Talok-Lemnos guarding southern point of Lake Pundar at source of River Nhy

Feldrik
  (Fel’ drik)  Fortress in Heggolstockin at the mouth of the Akkin River that guarded against incursions from Dreaddrac and Prertsten.

Fortresska
  (For tres’ ka)  Castilyernov at mouth of River Nhy and guarding harbor at Olnak in western Neuyokkasin

Girdane
  (Gir’ dane)  Commercial city of western Graushdem

Graushdem
(Graush’ dem)  Principality between Hador and Talok-Lemnos

Graushdemheimer
  (Graush’ dem hI mer)  Capital of Graushdem

Grekenbach
  (Grek’ en bok)  Kings of Graushdem

Habbernee
  (Hob ber’ nE)  Former friend of Saxthor at court school; ner-do-well who sought to recover fortune in Highback Mountains of Tixos

Hador
  (HA’ dor)  Dukedom between Graushdem and Dreaddrac

Heedra
  (HE’ dra)  Neuyokkasinian commercial center at intersection of Rivers Nhy and Upper Nhy; centrally located on the Vos Plain

Heggolstockin
  (Heg’ Ol stock in)  Primanry province of Graushdem at center of the northern peninsula of continent of Powteros; governed by Duke Heggolstockin and Duchess Denubia

Helgenstat
  (Hel’ gen staht)  Intimidating border fortress built at the end of Occintoc Empire to control eastern provinces; destroyed when tapped into confluence of planetary energy gradients; guarded by the Chowzenshwang

Helshia
  (Hel’ sha)  Island created by Memlatec off western coast of Tixos as hidden refuge for Prince Saxthor

Hendrel
of Hador  (Hen’ drel)  Sorcerer from Hador expelled when the dark presence moved in there; protégé of Memlatec and Court Wizard of Hador eventually

Hepple
(Hep’ el)  Simple Heggolstockin farmer; messenger to duke about invasion

Highback
Mountains
  (HI’ back) Three mountains standing well above surrounding hills in remote northern most Tixos

Hoya
  (Hoi’ ya)  Northwestern most fortress-city of Talok-Lemnos on the Pundar River at border with Graushdem and Sengenwha; residence and estate of crown princes of Neuyokkasin

Hyemka
  (Hyem’ ka)  Commercial Neuyokkasinian city on River Nhy on the western edge of the Vos Plain

Icktak
  (ic’ tak)  Greeter elf from Talok Tak Forest elf kingdom

Irkin
  (Irk’ n)  Upstart witch-wife of Minnabec III of Neuyokkasin, from city of Wodin; usually called Earwig

Jedrac
  (Jed’ rac)  Heggolstockin general who founded Hador as its first duke at the end of the Wizard Wars; carved out his dukedom from Heggolstockin and declared his independence from Graushdem

Keklak
  (Kec’ lac)  Sengenwhan general attacking northern gate of Sengenwhapolis to retake city

Keyock
  (KE’ ah k)  Pigeon king

Kious
  (KI’ us)  King of Tixos

Kieechee
  (KI E’ chE)  Queen of Pigeons

Klekkenska
(Kle kin’ ska)  Grand Duchess of Graushdem; aunt of King Grekenbach

Konnotan
  (Kon’ oh tan)  Capital of Kingdom of Neuyokkasin

Lemnos
  (Lem’ nOs)  Name of region in southern half, and lake in north of Talok-Lemnos former kingdom, now province of Neuyokkasin

Lyttia
  (Lit’ tia) Daughter of Henri Tulak, King of Talok-Lemnos; wife of King Minnabec II; Queen of Neuyokkasin, also last Queen of Talok-Lemnos before absorption into Neuyokkasin

Magwan
(Mah’ gwan)  Evil Dragon in time of the Third Wizard War; mother of dragons Magnosious and Magwaddle; mate to Melnosious

Magnosious
  (Mag nO’ shus)  Dragon conjured from egg by Earwig to destroy ruling family of Neuyokkasin; son of Magwan and Melnosious

Magwaddle
(Mag waddle’) Great bronze dragon nearly destroyed Hador

Meclor
  (Mec’ lor)  Sengenwhan general attacking southern gate of Sengenwhapolis to retake city

Medrax
  (Med’ rax)  Creature conjured by a sorcerer from an animal that combines both animal and man; the creature does the bidding of the sorcerer; invariably evil

Melnosious
  (Mel nO’ shus)  Dragon father of Magnosious from the days of Third Wizard War

Memlatec
  (Mem’ la tec)  Ancient wizard at the Neuyokkasinian court; mentor to Saxthor

Memtahhamin
  (Mem’ tah hah’ min)  Kingdom of forest elves ruled by King Ahkenspec in a forest between Lake Pundar and the Morass Mesas

Mendentak
(Men’ den tak)  King of Talok Tak forest elves  (all members’ names end in ‘tak); son of  late King Peldentak and Queen Merritak

Merritak
  (Mer’ i tak)  Dowager Queen of Talok Tak forest elves, widow of King Peldentak, mother of King Mendentak

Minnabec
  (Min’ ah bec)  Crown name of former kings of Neuyokkasin

Munattahensenhov
  (Mu nah’ ta hen sen hov)  Central mountain and highest peak of the Ice Mountains in Dreaddrac

Neuyokkasin
  (Nua yok’ ka sin)  Kingdom at the neck of the Powterosian peninsular encompassing the River Nhy and the Vos Plain; ruled by Queen Eleatsubetsvyertsin; home of Saxthor Claremendak Calimon

Nhy
  (NI)  Major river of the Powterosian peninsular and heart of the Kingdom of Neuyokkasin;  flows to the western sea at the port of Olnak

Nonee
(NO’ nE)  Crown Princess of Neuyokkasin, sister of Saxthor, daughter of Queen Eleatsubetsvyertsin and Prince Consort Augusteros

Occintoc
  (oc’ n toc )  Ancient empire covering most of the continent before the Wizard Wars;  it collapsed in the first Wizard War leaving the continent to fragment into the early kingdoms; built Helgenstat Castilyernov to intimidate and control eastern provinces.

Occtec
(oc’ tec)  Powterosian Grand Imperial Army senior general

Olnak
  (Ol’ nak)  Second largest Neuyokkasinian city; port for trading with Tixos and harbor at mouth of the River Nhy

Orc
(Orc)  Short, muscled, stupid foot soldiers bred by the Evil One to fight his enemies in battle as armies.

Ormadese
  (Or’ ma dEs)  King Ormadese, King of the Hadorian Mountain Dwarves.

Ornsmak
  (Orn’ smak)  Communications device created by magic with flexible form, able to travel through air, water or on earth with encoded message; can only be recrystalized and played by addressee.

Ossenkosk
  (ah’ sen cosk) Imperial palace of Powteros Empire at Engwaniria

Persnella
  (Per Snel’ la)  Wife of Hendrel the wizard and mother of Meklin and Hendrel jr.

Pindradese
(Pin’ dra dEs)  Pindradese II, Prince of Prertsten

Powteros
  (Pow’ ter’ Os)  Continent of the story; also largest empire and neighboring state to the south of Neuyokkasin; sometimes the continent was referred to as Powteros as well.

Prertsten
  (Prert’ sten)  Principality on western tip of peninsula, south of Dreaddrac and bordering Heggolstockin and Sengenwha on it south; aligned with evil of Dreaddrac against the kingdoms of the southern peninsula

Pundar
  (Pun’ dar)  River and lake of central peninsula serving as border to numerous states.

Rakmar
  (Rac’ mar)  Chatra (prime minister) to King Saxthor in Neuyokkasin

Saxthor
  (Sax’ thor)  Second (spare) son of Neuyokkasinian Queen Eleatsubetsvyertsin and hero in the story; full name Saxthor Claremendak Calimon de Chatronier

Sekkarian
  (Se kar’ E an)  Neuyokkasinian general sent to retake Castilyernov Hoyahof from the Dark Lord’s chatra agent

Sekcmet
  (Sek’ met)  Sekcmet Palace, palace of Kings of Sengenwha in Sengenwhapolis

Smegdor
  (Smeg’ dor)  Reluctant, kidnapped Neuyokkasinian assistant to Dark Lord, King of Dreaddrac

Sengenwha
  (Sen’ jen wha)  Kingdom on west side of peninsular facing Tixos

Sengenwhapolis
  (Sen’ jen wha po lis)  Another name for the capital of the Kingdom of Sengenwha

Socockensmek
  (SO cok’ en smek)  General of Neuyokkasin served under Minnabec I at the end of Wizard Wars, and Minnabec II; retired to Tixos and watched for rise of Dark Lord’s forces; mentor to Saxthor

Sorblade
  (Sor’ blAd)  Wizard forged magical sword with spell runes that glow in the presence of evil

Sorrax
  (Sor’ ax) Cowardly goblin general of Dreaddrac attuned to pain and torture