CHAPTER 30: THE BATTLE OF REDMERE

As Norrin and Nassima crested the cliff overlooking the main road to Citadel Firstview, the sounds of a commotion filled the air.

“Do you hear that? What is all the noise?” Nassima asked.

“Usually, the main road has a bunch of caravans and convoys of shipping crawlers making their way in and out of the Citadel,” Norrin explained. “The traffic gets congested when you get closer to the gates, because travel papers have to be verified and approved. It is a tedious process that naturally causes the traveler’s stress levels to rise, especially if there are any creature sightings. People get worried that they won’t make it into the gates and start complaining.”

“I also think they’ve been expecting the special caravan of High Governors’ Emissaries. So, the Citadel Guardians probably locked down the road to all other travelers. Causing a whole other set of headaches for folks trying to make their way into Firstview.” Norrin said dismissing the noise as the frustrated jeers of disrupted commuters.

But Norrin paused in his tracks when he surveyed the road below and realized how wrong he was. Instead of a congested roadway, a frantic battle was taking place between the Citadel Guardians, and what appeared to be a horde of lizardmen. But this lizardmen horde was different from any he had ever seen before. They were hundreds strong, and even more shocking, wearing the armor and the colors of the Emerald Nation.

“What in the cold hell…?” Norrin said with his eyes wide in disbelief. The lizardmen were some of the most fearsome creatures in the land, and a horde this size was the stuff of nightmares. They had the bodies of men with oblong lizard-like heads and shiny black eyes with golden slits. Their large mouths were filled with rows of small sharp teeth and a thin pointed tongue. Their bodies rippled with tight defined muscles, which were covered in jewel like scales that varied from shades of dark brown to deep forest green, and patterns including spots, stripes or jagged geometrical shapes. They had four clawed fingers on each hand and large web-toed feet. They were tenacious hunters and viscous fighters, also known to be adept with simple weapons and small tools.

“Are those Lizardmen?” Nassima asked also perplexed. “Those twisted creatures were trouble from the day Amaliel concocted them into existence. But how are they organized into military formations? Lizardmen are intelligent enough to work together in small packs. But, they are still wild and unpredictable beasts, too savage to be organized into a full army.”

“Would Amaliel align herself with the Emerald Nation, and teach them how to control the Lizardmen?”

“No, she would never let her creations be exploited in such a way. There is something or someone else in control of these lizardmen and directing their movements.” Nassima answered as Norrin expected. He believed Amaliel did not care enough about anything to get entangled in human politics. Besides that, the Emerald Nation leadership denied the existence of the Azuri. So, how the Emerald Nation were able to command such a force was a mystery to be solved at a later moment.
The battle was a scene of complete pandemonium. The Citadel Guardians entrenched themselves in a defensive barricade about 900 meters away from the main gate to protect against the ferocious lizardmen’s advance. The lizardmen in turn were attempting to flank the Guardians’ position. The two factions fought each other with a desperate intensity, claws and teeth clashing against swords and shields. Arrows and fire-bolts fired from the bulwarks of the Citadel rained down on to the combatants, and the sounds of war and screams of men and beast dying were deafening. Smoke and blood wafted through the air in a fine mist and darkened the sky.

Norrin gazed in horror of the melee. He had seen men fighting and dying during the Second Conflicts, but it didn’t match the feral attacks of the lizardmen. They were ruthless and merciless not only using swords and pikes but also gnashing with their teeth and slashing with their claws. They were a terrible force of nature when organized and weaponized.

“The Guardians can’t hold out much longer, they need reinforcements. But the Citadel is barely sending anyone.” Norrin said desponded.

“They are putting up a good fight,” Nassima assured him. “See there, the lizardmen cannot break the defense.”

“Yes, and I see why!”

In the middle of the conflict, Norrin spotted the motivation for the Guardians resilience. In a valiant display, fighting with only seven men by his side, was Captain Reynold Graykeeper. He stood tall even though he was clearly injured and bloodied, earning his reputation of an elite soldier and swordsman. He withstood the rush of lizardmen, wielding two swords which he used to carve a gap in the beastly army’s formation. He refused to give up ground as he slashed and twirled, parried attacks, and hacked away at every enemy crossing his sight. It was because of the Captain’s incredible and daring effort that the lizardmen were unable to execute a proper flanking move on the Citadel Guardians.

“That’s Graykeeper! I have to help him!” Norrin said as he dashed down the cliffs to the main road. Once he hit steady ground, he called forth Light’s Reach in his right hand, and began a run up, holding the spear high above his shoulder. After a few steps, he grounded his left leg deep into the dirt and pushed off with his other leg, transferring his weight forward. He thrust his arm up and forward, launching Light’s Reach high into the air.

The spear transformed mid-air into a brilliant thunderbolt of pure magical energy. Which caused a slight pause in the battle as men and beast looked up to see the blazing light in the sky. The bolt struck the ground with an immense explosion that obliterated a third of the lizardmen army in an instant, and left a smoking crater surrounded by scattered bodies. Before the lizardmen could recover, Norrin recalled Light’s Reach and let loose another bolt, delivering the same devastating effect to the attacking army. He then dashed into the fray slicing and striking away at the now hapless beasts with his lightning quick attacks.

The few lizardmen left alive let their wilder survival instincts kick in and override whatever control had been place upon them. They broke formation and began to scatter back into the woods. The Citadel Guardians cheered in victory and gratitude for their lives at the sight of the fleeing beasts. Norrin picked off a few of the stragglers, as he made his way towards the Captain. When he reached his position, instead of gratitude and happiness Graykeeper met him with a look of shock and fear. A look he did not have even when facing the army of lizardmen.

“You! You’re alive!?” were the only words Graykeeper could muster up at the sight of Norrin. It seemed that Graykeeper was too astonished by what he had witnessed; a common Chaser wielding the power of a god. An arrogant smile crept on Norrin’s face. Yeah, not bad for a rabbit, huh? He thought to himself.

“How can this be? The blue griffon…”

“Almost killed me,” Norrin interrupted, “But I wasn’t ready to die.”

Norrin knew Graykeeper would not accept a perfunctory explanation of the events surrounding his return. He witnessed the Chaser call on lightning itself to dismantle the Lizardmen horde. Then watched him secure the victory using a weapon that only appeared in legend. The weapon was now nowhere in sight, and Norrin appeared as ordinary as any other Chaser. But Norrin knew Graykeeper had a good sense for things and could tell there was something different about him. An air of the supernatural surrounded Norrin that the Captain picked up on. Norrin tried to play it cool while Graykeeper eyed him as if he knew the Chaser was hiding something from him, and the Captain did not like it at all.

“I don’t understand why, but it seems The Azuri gods have favored you, Chaser Norrin.” Graykeeper said as he looked Norrin up and down, trying to figure out his secret. “I will find out what is going on soon enough, but now other matters needed attending.”

The Citadel Guardians started to gather around them, in order to get a glimpse of the man that helped saved their lives. Pride welled up in Norrin’s chest as he basked in the soldier’s adoration. Graykeeper sensed their wonderment and wanted to remind everyone that he was the one that was still in charge.

“Soldiers listen up! The Emerald Nation have attempted to perverse the natural order! They have gone against the will of the Azuri! But the Gods have delivered us and smile upon our victory!” Graykeeper exclaimed, to the cheers and roars of the crowd.

Norrin cringed at Graykeeper’s proclamation and slowly walked away. He looked over his shoulder to see Nassima still oddly drifting besides the Captain.

“You need to ask him about the chest.” She reminded Norrin.

Norrin wasn’t sure she heard what Graykeeper said about Azuri gods, or if she even cared. However, he could not help but notice Nassima eyeing the Captain. He felt through her that there was a sense of familiarity, that she could not quite place. Something about him that brought back some unpleasant memories for Nassima. He didn’t even register her words because he was distracted by her curiosity.

“The chest Norrin, ask him about the chest,” Nassima repeated her instruction to Norrin as she floated to catch up with him.

“I don’t think this is the right time. There is a lot going on.” Norrin whispered back.

This only made Nassima’s impatience grow. “This is our only time! We must retrieve the chest before he figures out its importance and power. You just showcased my powers in this battle, the powers of an Azuri. But our rules say Azuri are not supposed to get involved in the conflicts between humans!”

“Even if it involves using savage beasts that the Azuri created for soldiers?” Norrin questioned.

“Yes, even then, because the Azuri are above your petty squabbles! If we showed favor to one faction of humans over another it would imbalance this world completely. You may have completely jeopardized our mission now.”

“I needed to do something, I could not just stand back and watch them get slaughtered!”

“That is not what I am saying, there could have been another way to end the battle and retrieve the chest besides using my powers openly. Now, I am worried about the fact that people know you possess these special abilities. It puts a target on your back. You stated before that you wanted to stay inconspicuous, but now that option is off the table.”

Norrin conceded that Nassima was correct. “Okay I will ask Graykeeper about the chest, hopefully he is too busy to be worried about why I am asking for it.”

“I doubt this, something about this Captain is bothering me” Nassima replied. “Not his personage per se, but something about him conjured up something from my past.”

“Your past? That can’t be possible.” Norrin said.

“Yes, I know. He is not old enough to have been around in the times before my imprisonment. But his name – Graykeeper – has been ringing in my mind since you first mentioned him in the Temple.”

Norrin let Nassima ponder on her connection with the Graykeeper, while he rushed to rejoin the Captain in front of the Citadel Guardians’ makeshift barricade. Graykeeper was busy going about the task of seeing to his soldiers and making sure the wounded were cared for. He gave Norrin and irritated look for interrupting him again, but Norrin didn’t care.

“Graykeeper, where are the Emissaries? The ones transporting the chest? We, uh, I need to speak with them now.” Norrin asked, purposely addressing him in an informal matter. He did just save his life after all.

“The Emissaries are most likely dead,” Graykeeper said with a cold bluntness and an annoyed look on his face. “The lizardmen ambushed us from all sides, and they were separated from the group.”

“Dead? What happened to the chest?”

“It may be somewhere out on the battlefield, or it may be lost. I do not know.”

“You don’t know? It was your duty to protect the Emissaries and deliver the chest!”

“Do not talk to me of my duty, Rabbit!” Graykeeper turned on Norrin and approached him with a fiery look in his eyes. “I have lost most of my best men doing my duty! I care not about some trinket of the High Governors! Why are you even asking me about the chest? What has it to do with you?”

Norrin did not respond. He stared past Graykeeper to Nassima who seemed to have the same revelation. The Captain just confirmed that he did not know what the chest held or why it was important. He revealed that he was also a mere pawn of the High Governors. The highly revered Highborn soldier was nothing more than a deliveryman to them.

The High Governors knew the chest was holding something dangerous that would attract a lot of attention. Norrin deduced. That is why they set up a special convoy to transport it.
It was also apparent to him the High Governors knew many men would die in the attempt to deliver it to Citadel Firstview. Norrin knew this mission was too good to be true. Those bastards offered ten times the pay because they assumed they would not have to pay it. Norrin had enough of the High Governor’s plots and wanted nothing more to do with them.

“I will search the battlefield for signs of the Emissaries, if I find the chest I will see it safely to where it belongs," He announced to Graykeeper. But it was statement meant to inform Nassima of their new plan of action. He had no intention of bringing the chest to Firstview. Damn the High Governors and their schemes, for he had a far more important mission to complete.

Before he could walk away, Norrin and the Captain were alerted by the sudden appearance of a column of Blue Wardens, the personal military detail of the High Governors of Firtstview. Their navy and gold armor emblazoned with a golden triangle on the chest, navy helmets topped with gold plumes, and their asymmetrically cut gold cloaks differentiated them from regular Citadel Guardians. They quickly pushed their way past Graykeeper and his soldiers and encircled Norrin. Lifting their long full body shields up into a defensive position, with the deadly points of their golden tipped spears aimed towards him. Norrin growled and braced himself for another fight.

“No wait, do not bring any more attention to yourself. It is not worth it” Nassima told Norrin as he began to call Light’s Reach. She did not want to give further cause for him to be feared. Norrin heeded Nassima’s words and resigned himself, but a part of him was disappointed to miss the opportunity for another fight, to his surprise. Still, he reluctantly put his hands up to show he was not a threat.

“What is the meaning of this!” bellowed Graykeeper as he stepped forward to take on the Blue Wardens, unintimidated by their imposing presence.

The stern-faced commander of the Blue Wardens met him. “Sir Reynold Graykeeper, you and this Chaser are to come with us by order of the honorable High Governor Blackhelm.” He announced.

“And if we refuse?” Norrin asked defiant of the show of force, and staring down the commander. Norrin had made up his mind about the High Governors and was not inclined to follow an order from them. The commander did not answer back and only glared at the Chaser he was sent to fetch.

“We need to go with them. This is our chance” Nassima said to Norrin.

“What, why?” Norrin whispered back. Hoping no one would see or hear him questioning the air. “What about the chest?”

“If someone finds it before we do, they will bring it directly to the Governors. We can take it from them if we have to. The Governors know what is inside the chest. So, we need to know why it is important to them. Also, I need to see this Blackhelm. The name holds the same familiar ring as the name ‘Graykeeper’ to me, but I cannot remember why I am familiar with these names. I am hoping that maybe some questions about what happened to me can be answered by meeting with this High Governor.” She replied.

Norrin shrugged as he relaxed his threatening stare and sighed, “Fine, I am humbled by his Honor’s request to meet and will go in peace.”

Graykeeper cut his eyes at Norrin with suspicion. However, the commander, oblivious to Norrin’s sarcastic tone, was pleased with this statement. He gave a nod to his soldiers, who took up formation towards the gates. Flanked by the column of Blue Wardens, Graykeeper and Norrin were marched to Citadel Firstview, and a meeting with High Governor Blackhelm.