The rain stopped and work in the quarry resumed once the ground was dry enough. It was unfortunate that no one bothered to check up on Baldra, but it was a good thing Foresna visited the quarry that day. He looked up and goggled in horror. \u201cBaldra\u2019s moving!\u201d he called.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDon\u2019t be so silly!\u201d replied Velmar. \u201cIt can\u2019t!\u201d But it could\u2026and it did! The boulder came tumbling down onto the track! The workers quickly got out of the way, but the machinery was crushed under Baldra\u2019s weight. \u201c\u2026Sweet Steam Pipes!\u201d gulped Velmar. \u201cThat was close!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cCome on, we gotta raise the alarm!\u201d urged Foresna. Velmar, her crew, and Foresna quickly made it to the signal box and told the signalwoman the situation. A warning was sent down the line, halting all traffic until the boulder could be moved. The signalwoman then got a bit of bad news concerning the repair crews and approached Foresna\u2019s group.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cGuess who are laid up with their own problems in the Western District?\u201d she grumbled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI don\u2019t believe it!\u201d complained Velmar\u2019s firewoman. \u201cYou mean help won\u2019t be coming?!\u201d The driver tapped her chin in thought.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026Tell you what, we\u2019ll make a battering ram,\u201d she said. \u201cWe load a train of freight cars up to their maximum weight tolerance and use them as a battering ram. That should knock Baldra aside.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOr knock us silly!\u201d argued the firewoman.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDo you have a better idea?\u201d asked Velmar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYes, we wait for the proper authorities to deal with this mess!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe can\u2019t afford to wait,\u201d replied Foresna.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMr. Falshenda\u2019s right,\u201d agreed the signalwoman. \u201cWe don\u2019t know when or if the authorities will arrive. The longer we wait, the longer the Plan is halted. We have to get Baldra out of the way.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Velmar got a train that was the heaviest she could push at high speeds. Normally, it would be too dangerous, but she only needed a few seconds to go fast. She got into position behind the train and was backed up to get a good run. \u201cAll right,\u201d she said, \u201cwhenever we\u2019re ready!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThree!\u201d counted Foresna. \u201cTwo! One! CHARGE!\u201d Velmar dug her wheels into the rails and charged the train at Baldra. The results\u2026were disappointing. The freight cars and their contents were smashed, and their remains were scattered all over the tracks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDepths-fire and save matches!\u201d fumed Velmar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWell, we had to try something,\u201d remarked Foresna. Just then, Kelofel came up to them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat\u2019s going on here?\u201d she asked. \u201cI heard Baldra landed on the tracks and is blocking the quarry.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou heard right,\u201d said Velmar. \u201cWe tried to knock it aside, but only succeeded in smashing up freight cars.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWell, that\u2019s why I\u2019m here,\u201d chuckled Kelofel. \u201cI had express permission from the Emperor himself to clear it in\u2026\u2018my preferred manner\u2019, I believe he said.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat I did,\u201d replied Galnyar\u2019s voice as he came up to the group.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHer preferred-?\u201d The driver then realized what he and Kelofel were proposing! \u201cNo! Not explosives! My Lord, please reconsider it!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI initially did on the way here, then reconsidered it all over again when I heard about your battering ram incident. Good in theory, but it didn\u2019t do so well in practice. Much as I hate to rob the Eastern District of their good luck charm, we have to blow Baldra up. Kelofel, get to it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kelofel set the explosives near Baldra and wired them up to a fuse. \u201cThere we go!\u201d she said once she was done. \u201cOne match strike and Baldra will be blown sky high!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSky high is TOO high for my liking,\u201d grumbled Foresna.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAll right, let\u2019s light this sucker!\u201d cheered Kelofel. She struck a match and lit the fuse, then joined the group while counting. She made it to six when she joined them. \u201cFive! Four! Three! Two! One! FIRE!\u201d The explosives went off. Baldra disappeared in a cloud of smoke and rubble. Once the aftershock passed, Kelofel motioned that it was okay to look. The cloud was still there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026Did\u2026did it work?\u201d asked Foresna.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026my sleep\u2026\u201d whispered a voice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhose sleep?\u201d asked Galnyar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat wasn\u2019t me!\u201d gulped Foresna.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026my sleep!\u201d repeated the whisper in a harsher tone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWell, it\u2019s definitely a man\u2019s voice!\u201d gulped Kelofel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou\u2026disturbed\u2026MY SLEEP!\u201d The cloud suddenly vanished, revealing that Baldra was still standing, but it had a man\u2019s face on it, contorted in rage! The face disappeared, then Baldra started moving!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSWEET HEIGHTS! RUN!\u201d shouted Galnyar. Velmar threw everyone into her cab and quickly reversed, putting some distance between her and the runaway boulder! She could still see it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSweet Merciful Mordek! IT\u2019S STILL ON THE LINE!\u201d she wailed as she raced along the tracks. She rounded a bend and lost sight of Baldra. \u201c\u2026Okay!\u201d she shuddered. \u201cThat was a-!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHOW DID IT GET BEHIND US?!\u201d cried her driver. Velmar shot forward with Baldra in pursuit! She then saw a set of points with one path leading uphill. The signalman saw the danger and changed Velmar\u2019s path to the uphill line. Baldra thundered down the other line. Velmar was relieved that she and her crew and passengers survived. The signalman called to her from his signal box.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI already sounded the alarm!\u201d he said. \u201cGet after that thing!\u201d She went back over the points and took off in pursuit, pouring every ounce of steam into her cylinders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A team of ants pulled a carriage alongside the rail line, carrying Arsha and Lardeth to the quarry. It was a nice, sunny day and it felt perfect for a carriage ride. Arsha\u2019s ears then flicked as she heard rumbling. \u201c\u2026Earthquake?\u201d she muttered. She and Lardeth then looked out to see Baldra leave the tracks and roll down their road!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYIKES!\u201d shrieked Lardeth as the ants were turned around and urged to go at top speed. These were the fastest silver ants around and they easily pulled the carriage ahead of the boulder. The carriage driver saw an uphill road and got the ants to go up it. The road ran alongside the track. Once they stopped at a safe distance, Baldra continued on its path down the hill. Velmar rushed past them as Foresna explained the situation as quick as he could.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAlarm\u2019s already sounded! We\u2019re after it!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cGo get \u2018em!\u201d cheered Arsha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cArsha, the port\u2019s down there!\u201d yelped Lardeth. \u201cMy parents are supposed to be arriving there!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAnd Falnii\u2019s supposed to meet them!\u201d realized Arsha. \u201cQuickly! After that boulder!\u201d The carriage driver wasted no time in urging the ants on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Rellmeer and Felfar were on an open-topped automatic coach as it coasted along the rail line. That section was up a hill, a hill that Baldra crested once it rounded the bend up on top. \u201cIs that Baldra?!\u201d gulped Felfar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt is! And it\u2019s running loose!\u201d Rellmeer quickly reversed the coach, but the speed wasn\u2019t enough to outrun the boulder, just enough the maintain the gap. The coach then suddenly went on an upline. Baldra rolled by and smashed a water tower. Rellmeer released a breath. \u201cRather a smash than a squash.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat thing\u2019s heading to the port!\u201d gulped Felfar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou take the coach after it!\u201d directed Rellmeer. \u201cI\u2019ll fly overhead!\u201d Rellmeer flew out of the coach as Felfar took the controls, the pair of them chasing after it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Falnii greeted all of Lardeth\u2019s parents and was leading them out of the port when they heard rumbling. \u201cThis isn\u2019t a tectonically active area,\u201d muttered Endram.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cRunaway boulder!\u201d warned Ufnamfa. Baldra\u2019s rampage couldn\u2019t be stopped!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt\u2019s heading right for us!\u201d warned Falnii.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cGET OUT OF HERE!\u201d shouted Emfam as she, Jeefef, and Olmarfa tackled everyone out of the way. Baldra then crashed into the port, smashing the buildings and ships. Fires sprang up everywhere. The uninjured people quickly cast fire extinguishing spells and fought the fires as the fire crews arrived. Once everything was put out, everyone could see the damage Baldra had caused. There, standing in the center of the ruined port, was an undamaged Baldra. More of its brown coating had fallen off and revealed an orb of obsidian with ruby ore flowing like lava through it. \u201c\u2026Baldra, your stones have caused enough damage at the end of the First Age of Unity!\u201d hissed Emfam.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The rain stopped and work in the quarry resumed once the ground was dry enough. It was unfortunate that no one bothered to check up on Baldra, but it was a good thing Foresna visited the quarry that day. He looked up and goggled in horror. \u201cBaldra\u2019s moving!\u201d he called. \u201cDon\u2019t be so silly!\u201d replied […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1445,"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":[97,239],"tags":[482],"class_list":["post-5435","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-three-realms","category-the-three-realms-book-6-the-eternal-age-of-unity","tag-fantasy"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5435","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=5435"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5435\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5436,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5435\/revisions\/5436"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1445"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5435"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5435"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5435"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}