Yulduk\u2019s forces held their position in the trench. Arsha smelled a rat. \u201cWe weren\u2019t even fighting at our best,\u201d she remarked to Erodeth, Mordek, and Quenthem as they met. \u201cThey fought harder than that in previous battles.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cPerhaps Mordek\u2019s presence intimidated them,\u201d suggested Quenthem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNo, Dr. Borg\u2019s forces faced even my Black, Gray, and White siblings,\u201d replied Mordek. \u201cThey are not so easily cowed by someone slightly weaker than them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe Robots ARE supposed to be invulnerable,\u201d mused Erodeth. \u201cMaybe destroying them was inconceivable.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNot likely,\u201d muttered Quenthem. \u201cThey fought harder and killed a lot of my Squad-mates. That\u2019s not it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThere\u2019s a tactical reason why they\u2019re just holding position and I wanna know what,\u201d remarked Arsha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMaybe they were testing us,\u201d offered Erodeth. \u201cIt\u2019s more than likely Yulduk is gonna try again.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNormally, I would agree with you,\u201d answered Arsha, \u201cbut this didn\u2019t feel like a test. Their numbers are still the same, according to intel. Yulduk\u2019s craftier than he lets on.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLike you when a chocolate cake\u2019s involved, Pinky?\u201d snarked Quenthem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cScrew you, Tiny,\u201d replied Arsha as she held up her middle, ring, and pinky fingers. Quenthem snorted with a smirk on his face.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c7-2 now,\u201d he teased.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe must press the attack!\u201d urged Mordek. \u201cDestroy them and Realmgate City is safe!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe don\u2019t have the numbers for a counter-attack,\u201d replied Quenthem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIf we don\u2019t, they\u2019ll simply siege us again! It will be a worthwhile sacrifice!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThere IS a thing called sacrificing too much,\u201d countered Erodeth. \u201cMy people are not natural warriors. This war is testing them enough as it is.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cArsha, surely you see the logic in a counter-attack!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLord Mordek, one of Dr. Borg\u2019s victories was because a 100 strong army she sent out took over an Empire<\/em>-class destroyer, the biggest and most advanced we had to date! That\u2019s impossible for a normal 100 strong force, but we\u2019ve all seen that her followers AREN\u2019T normal. They\u2019ll likely take the Endeavor<\/em> to the scrap heap in a quicker time frame and I\u2019m not gonna waste the crew\u2019s lives like that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSo, what, we stay here?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cUntil we get more intel, yes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c\u2026I see.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The decision was made and Arsha returned to the Endeavor<\/em>. She headed to Dalengor\u2019s quarters to check up on her old friend as she reported having a \u201cfeeling\u201d. She saw her sitting in the center of the room, holding a purple object. \u201cDally?\u201d asked Arsha. Dalengor then looked up surprised.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cLittle One, I didn\u2019t hear you come in,\u201d she replied. \u201cWhat can I do for you?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cJust making sure you\u2019re okay.\u201d Arsha then pointed to the purple object. \u201cWhat\u2019s that?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt\u2019s part of my eggshell.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOh. Did the ones who raised you find it and adopt you?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cEr, somewhat. You see\u2026\u201d Dalengor then sighed. \u201cArsha, have you ever wondered why I act like I was there during the Savage Age? Or why Mordek and I are usually on tenterhooks around each other?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c\u2026I will admit, the question DID form in my head a few times.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt\u2019s because I WAS there during the Savage Age. You see, us Shadow Dragons don\u2019t lay eggs when we give birth, we go the mammal route.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c\u2026So, why do you call that part of your eggshell?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt\u2019s not so much an egg, but rather, a hibernation capsule.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHibernation? You mean\u2026?!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cLike I said, I was there during the Savage Age.\u201d Arsha got a look of awe and excitement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cTell me EVERYTHING!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c\u2026I\u2019d rather not, but you need to know. You see, we\u2019re one of Mordek\u2019s creations, but\u2026well, socially speaking, we kind of\u2026abandoned him like a petulant child. He never forgave us for that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAbandoned him? How?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe tried to slay him in Oyed\u2019s name.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c\u2026Pardon?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYeah, we felt stifled and wanted to try our darker passions without any guidance. Because of that, Mordek\u2019s got a bit of regret in making us.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSo, what, he feels as if Shadow Dragons are a failure?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI wouldn\u2019t put it like that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSure feels like it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou don\u2019t know how warlike we were. We once believed ourselves superior to everyone. Our leader, General Lak-tu, was too bloodthirsty. His last-ditch effort was to place us in hibernation eggs across the Under-realm, but only mine survived. He led us to extinction.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIf your hibernation egg survived, then others may have!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cArsha, that\u2019s not something the Under-realm needs! We served Oyed once! I won\u2019t let myself make that mistake again!\u201d The silence between the two friends hung in the air.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou\u2019re\u2026content\u2026with being the last Shadow Dragon?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cArsha, understand that I miss my birth parents. I would give anything to see them again. \u2026But there\u2019s more to this than my desires. I\u2019m sorry, but I lived with being the last for this long, I can last until the day I die.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c\u2026I think, if there ARE survivors, then they should be given the same chance you got. You deserve seeing your parents as much as I do.\u201d Arsha then left the room, giving Dalengor some time to think.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The dig in the trench continued. More eggs and coffins were being uncovered as the work continued. Dr. Borg herself came to see the progress. \u201cOyed was under the belief that there weren\u2019t any left,\u201d she muttered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWell, I hope he doesn\u2019t mind being proven wrong,\u201d replied Yulduk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBelieve me, when he heard the news, he was dancing for joy.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c\u2026You never expect a destroyer to do something happy like that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNo, you really don\u2019t. How many have been uncovered so far?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c102 eggs and 37 coffins.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOnly 37? I thought they were buried with their mounts.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe\u2019re gonna have to dig a little deeper for that to find out.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHow deep and how far out?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAbout a por, according to estimates.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSIR! MA\u2019AM! OVER HERE!\u201d called a Golem. Dr. Borg and Yulduk then followed the voice and arrived by the Golem. He pointed excitedly at the recent discovery. It was a whole cavern of coffins. \u201cWe\u2019ve counted thousands!\u201d reported the Golem. \u201cThey have more eggs!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cA Drow Hibernation Tomb!\u201d breathed Yulduk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat makes it specifically Drow?\u201d asked the Golem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe architecture\u2019s highly distinctive. Old Elf architecture was one of my hobbies back when I was a normal Elf.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI will ask Oyed for the specific number that was lost,\u201d declared Dr. Borg. \u201cWhen I obtain it, we\u2019ll count what we\u2019ve got and check them against that number. Meanwhile, we must work on waking them up. We need the Shadow Dragons and Drows to fill our numbers. Their powers over darkness will be the tipping point in this war.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mordek retired to his own quarters to meditate. He had a few candles lit and a mirror sat in front of him. He breathed deeply, in\u2026out\u2026in\u2026out\u2026in\u2026out\u2026the door chime then sounded. He sighed. \u201cEnter.\u201d Arsha came in. \u201cCaptain. What can I do for you?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019m gonna get straight to the point,\u201d replied Arsha. \u201cYou abandoned the Shadow Dragons as they were going through teenage angst.\u201d Mordek then whirled around to fix Arsha with a glare.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cTHEY abandoned ME, Young One!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDaddy\u2019s people went through a period of using darker passions without using proper sense. Did Galampa abandon humans because of it?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHumans are different that Shadow Dragons!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDalengor\u2019s living proof that they would be the same if they got the same chances as the other races!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThat will do! Arsha Royana, you may be in command in military matters, but do NOT presume to tell me how to govern Divine Affairs!\u201d The two growled at each other for a good minute until Arsha released her breath.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cVery well. Just know this; often, a breach of faith with Gods is because the Gods broke faith with their creations.\u201d Arsha left the room, leaving Mordek to snarl alone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou presume much, Arsha.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Arsha released her breath as she returned to the bridge. She turned to Shalvey. \u201cAnything from Realmfleet?\u201d she asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNo, but a company from the Haldebor Drider Caves is approaching on the southern shores,\u201d reported Shalvey. \u201cFalnimam Lundalii is leading it and is requesting permission to join us. They\u2019re carrying supplies and soldiers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHas Erodeth been notified?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHe\u2019s at the port right now, awaiting their arrival.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThen we may have a solution to a second siege.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Arsha, Erodeth, and Melandra awaited the Haldebor ships as they sailed into port. When they arrived, Driders swooped down as the anchors dropped. They then tied the ships off and then the ramps came down. Falnimam departed from the flagship as soldiers carrying food followed her. \u201cPriestess Falnimam Lundalii, you honor and please us with your presence.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHappy to help where I can,\u201d replied Falnimam. \u201cI trust we\u2019re still in a holding pattern?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYulduk\u2019s forces have been in that trench for at least two days. It\u2019s rather unnerving.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSounds like you\u2019re going through a hair-raising siege yourself.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMy family, my Priestess,\u201d interjected Melandra. \u201cAre they safe?\u201d Falnimam winced.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe non-combatants are in the Deep Caves. Venothal\u2026she\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI heard about Venothal\u2019s death. She was the best fighter of my sisters. The mission was a success?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHer sacrifice saved our home and your remaining sisters and mother.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThen it wasn\u2019t in vain.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cShe received full rites when she was interred.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cShe\u2019d have liked that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNow, we need to prepare for any new attacks.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAgreed,\u201d interjected Erodeth. \u201cIf you would come with us, we will plan our defense.\u201d He led everyone into the city.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Yulduk\u2019s forces held their position in the trench. Arsha smelled a rat. \u201cWe weren\u2019t even fighting at our best,\u201d she remarked to Erodeth, Mordek, and Quenthem as they met. \u201cThey fought harder than that in previous battles.\u201d \u201cPerhaps Mordek\u2019s presence intimidated them,\u201d suggested Quenthem. \u201cNo, Dr. Borg\u2019s forces faced even my Black, Gray, and White […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":3203,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_bbp_topic_count":0,"_bbp_reply_count":0,"_bbp_total_topic_count":0,"_bbp_total_reply_count":0,"_bbp_voice_count":0,"_bbp_anonymous_reply_count":0,"_bbp_topic_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_reply_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_forum_subforum_count":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[97,237],"tags":[482],"class_list":["post-3214","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-three-realms","category-the-three-realms-book-4-trials-of-light-and-dark","tag-fantasy"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3214","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3214"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3214\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3215,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3214\/revisions\/3215"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3203"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3214"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3214"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3214"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
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