Paladin's Rise - Lich Lord Wars Book 4

Chapter 4

"Are you okay Lord Lich-El, you don't look so well?"

"I will be fine. Once this ends I will be fine. Go take your Bear Riders and attack from the south. And watch ourself. I feel treason in the air."

"Very well my lord, why don't you withdraw to the rear lines. My Knights can handle things for now."

From a cloud of dust and debris, Jerad emerged, his armor battered and his axe dusty from with the remains of the undead. He surveyed the chaos around him: revenant soldiers clawed at the remnants of the city wall, their grotesque fingers grasping for purchase, while far-off shouts of the Kadus knights and their Bear Riders echoed through the air like thunder. Cold sweat beaded on his brow, making each breath feel like he was swallowing ice.

"Lord Gidon is missing, sir!" a young messenger stammered, almost tripping over his words as much as the rubble beneath his feet. "And the south and eastern sides are in danger of falling!"

"Missing?" Jerad's voice was tinged with disbelief, his heart clenching like a fist. The weight of responsibility settled heavily on his shoulders as he took charge of the defense, barking orders to the nearest soldiers. Their eyes flickered with doubt-a feeling that mirrored his own-but they obeyed nonetheless.

"Fall back! Brace for impact! We need a defensive line here, now!" Jerad shouted, his voice strained from exhaustion and fear. As he turned to face the oncoming wave of revenants, he couldn't help but wonder how things had become so dire. It felt like the world itself was conspiring against them, pushing them to the brink of disaster.

The ground shook and trembled, announcing the arrival of a monstrously large dragon that descended upon the battlefield. With a roar that rattled the very core of Jerad's being, the creature landed between his men and the revenants. A single swipe of its colossal tail sent the undead hurtling through the air like ragdolls, their bodies crumbling like old parchment under the force of the blow.

"By the gods..." Jerad breathed, unable to tear his gaze away from the awe-inspiring sight. But before he could fully process what had just happened, the dragon transformed into a familiar elvish woman-Lady Alixia.

"Where is my son?" she demanded, her voice laced with equal parts fury and concern. "Is Ulec alive? Has his curse been lifted?"

"Last I saw him, he was fine," Jerad assured her, raising his voice so it could be heard over the din of battle. "Almas and Cady found a way to lift the curse."

Around them, revenants attempted to regroup, but they were no match for Lady Alixia's wrath. With casual flicks of her wrist, she sent bolts of magical energy hurtling towards the undead, incinerating them in brilliant displays of arcane might. Yet her focus remained solely on Jerad, as if the fate of her son held more weight than the entire city.

"Ulec is strong, my lady," Jerad said, trying to reassure her. "He can handle himself."

"Take me to Ulec!" Lady Alixia demanded, her voice sharp and unwavering.

"Forgive me, my lady," Jerad replied, exasperated. "I don't know where he is right now. In case you haven't noticed, I'm a bit preoccupied with trying to save everyone's lives."

Lady Alixia huffed indignantly, her eyes flashing with irritation. "Fine. I need to teach these Lich Lords a lesson about not attacking my family anyway." She gestured for Jerad to move his forces to the south and east sides of the city while she dealt with the undead attackers on the western front. "Go. I'll handle things here."

With a fluid motion, Lady Alixia transformed into the largest elder dragon Jerad had ever seen. Her scales shimmered like moonlight on water, and the air around her crackled with power. Without wasting another moment, she unleashed a wall of flame that roared across the battlefield, immediately sending the Lich Lord forces on the west into a full retreat.