Eight Intertwined

159 - Resolve

As the travelers arrived outside of the guard station, H'aanit frowned and reached for her bow. "Lizardmen... I liken them not," she muttered crossly. 

"You know these creatures?" Olberic asked, though he immediately kicked himself for posing the question. Of course H'aanit knew about lizardmen. If there was anyone he could trust to know everything about the creatures of Orsterra, it would be H'aanit. 

"Aye," H'aanit confirmed with a nod, not at all bothered by the question. "At least their water-dwelling cousins. These lizardmen aren adapted for the sands, but they still needen water to liven."

"Then this oasis is as essential to their survival as it is to the people here," Olberic realized. He cast a glance over at the water, and it stared back at him innocently, completely unaware of the scuffle it was already causing just by being there. 

"Indeed," H'aanit confirmed. "They aren wary, mistrustful creatures. They attacken all whom wanderen into their domain. As long as they claimen dominion over this oasis, conflict is inevitable. It mattereth not how long the people of Wellspring have been here; they willen be targeted regardless."

"I see," Olberic frowned. His grip tightened on his sword's hilt. "The sword I bear makes me duty bound to protect the people of this town." Stating that as his present purpose rang hollow, Olberic had to admit, but it was as fine a reason to fight as any. The people of Wellspring needed him, and Olberic would not neglect them. This wasn't about Erhardt, at least not at the moment. Olberic needed to defend those in danger, and he would not forget his vows of knighthood regardless of how long ago they had been spoken. 

"'Tis a just cause," H'aanit agreed. She created an arrow of lightning magic, and Linde snarled from beside her feet like she was excited for the battle to come. "I shall standen by thy side through it all."

"We must proceed with caution," Cyrus declared. "I imagine the lizardmen will be particularly weak to ice magic. They have adapted to sustain themselves in the heat, and a sudden blast of cold will likely catch them by surprise just enough for us to claim the upper hand."

"Understood," Ophilia nodded. She glanced out over the rest of the travelers, ignoring the way her hands shook along the way. "Let's see what we can do to aid the people of Wellspring then. There's not a moment to lose."

Olberic led the charge out of town and toward the sands leading out of the western exit of Wellspring. Olberic could immediately see why the road on this side of town was so widely ignored; a massive cave marked the horizon, and he knew it had to be the domain of the lizardmen. Any caravans that tried to push through to the other entrance of Wellspring would be attacked before they realized what was happening. The eastern path into town was much safer. Olberic hoped he would be able to aid those who needed to come from the west, but he wouldn't know for certain until the end of the battle if his contributions would be enough to change everything for the better. He would simply have to wait and see. 

Bale was already ordering his men about the area, his voice sharp yet distant. The air was clear, and Olberic was lucky enough to not have to battle sandy winds as he approached the captain of the guard. "See that no harm befalls the town," Bale declared to a trio of his men. The guards nodded before slipping into defensive positions, their blades poised at the ready. Bale turned to address the travelers directly, to give them any sense of direction as to what they should do next, but before he had the chance to speak, an inhuman scream pierced the air. 

Olberic yanked his sword free in an instant. The lizardmen scurried across the sand quickly, their snarls only growing louder as they approached Wellspring. Bale swore under his breath at the sight of them. "They're here already?! To arms, men!"