Many Mini-Adventures

Change of Tactics

The battle lasted longer than I would have wanted. Longer than any skirmish should ever be. The fact that even one of my comrades was gone was enough to lay down my axe and walk away from this war forever.

Fire blazed the battlefield as I stood amongst the few broken men nearest me but a multitude of corpses beyond. Arrows embedded into both slain bodies and shields. Helmets cracked and tattered lay sprawled throughout the expanse. As far as I could see, I saw only a handful of warriors standing. Others were crawling to the bodies of their fellow man; their weeping drenched the morale I once had.

As a dwarf, it was always a surprise seeing taller species brought down. I should feel proud that our own race has not been annihilated. My leather armor withstood much more than I expected but seeing the other slain dwarfs just made me feel lucky.

Gareth, Balsung. My brothers were on this field somewhere. I should go look for them. They may be alive and unable to move. Or, being extremely hopeful, they walked away back to the camp. If he remembered correctly, they were stationed to the north when the battle started. That was at least three miles away from my current location. I sighed at the thought, my arms and legs aching in response as I slung my axe to my back. My body knew it didn't have the stamina for that.

The camp was under two miles away, so I decided to go there. I walked with the weight of a thousand tons. My axe clanged against my leather armor with each step, which felt like a gentle nudge forward from a friend. An arrow zipped past me but I paid it no mind.

I knew I didn't want to fight anymore, which also meant I wouldn't guard myself either. I would just walk. What energy I had left was simply on movement. Besides, there were too few people around to be seriously injured. I could tell in the distance that more of our forces, as miniscule as they were, was still more than the enemies.

Ah yes, the enemies. The elves. It's a shame given they live considerably longer than us. One would think they were practically immortal seeing them reach adulthood at the same time my kind would've experienced 4 full generations of kin. More reason why my heart ached for the younger elves that lay bare on the battlefield.

The warrior dwarves were all adults but these paladin elves were mere babes in comparison. They truly had hundreds of years ahead of them, but societal and political pressures snuffed that potential dry. It hurt. And I was no better being in the thick of the war.

"Reiker?" a female voice said.

I spun around. "Who goes there?" No one nearest him was moving.

"Reiker? Is this Reiker?" the voice continued in a firm but scared tone.

"Yes. I don't see you, whoever you are. Show yourself! How do you know my name?"

The voice sighed. "I'm speaking directly in your mind. I'm not near you. I'm in the northern territory. I'm...an elf."

That made sense. Somewhat. It's been said that elves could speak directly to each other in their minds. However, I was never told they could speak to us in that manner. I kept walking to camp and decided to think my responses instead. "So, what does a bloody elf want with me?"

"I mean you no harm. I promise you."

"How dare you say that when your people have slaughtered us over minerals you don't even need."

I could feel the voice resonate silently in my mind. It was clear guilt blanketed her. The voice continued. "I have little say over what my people did. What I do know is that I have your brothers here with me."

I gasped. "Alive?"

"Yes, alive though not in the best condition. I'm healing their wounds as we speak."

Well. That was a better outcome than he expected, which begged the question. "You're healing them? Why?"

"Is it really hard to believe that an elf would help a dwarf? Look, I don't like this war. I hate it! And so you know, I'm not doing this by choice."

I tilted my head as I walked. "What do you mean?"

"The other dwarves here at your camp forced my hand. I was a healer for my people on the frontlines, but, as you can see, I've been captured."

"Great. But you still haven't answered my question: what do you want with me?"

"...your brother's told me who you truly are. We may be able to end this war and bring both our people peace."

My eyes widened and then narrowed at the thought. "I would very much want peace, but I have no authority to stop this war."

"You have more power in your hands than you think, shapeshifter."

That made me stop.

"A dwarf who has inherited the River gene. Who can flow in and out of form following the stream of life. The gene is rare in any species and is incredibly valued by all. You've spied on my people. You've pilfered our secrets."

A bead of sweat flowed from my brow. "You must have tricked them into telling you!"

"Actually, no. They told me quite easily on their own accord."

My mind reeled. "But that makes no sense."

"Reiker, they know your heart. Though you spied as one of us, you helped other elves who were in need. I know this because I'm finally putting the pieces together myself. And though others of my kind thought about making peace, I heard of one particular elf putting themselves in the heat of it.

Knowing that our people may not need the minerals for survival but innovation in our technology, this elf tried to find a way to work together with the dwarfs regarding a mutual trade of minerals for technological advancement for the dwarven lands. He brought my people a few minerals, miraculously acquiring them for the most heavily dwarf-guarded mines.

Unfortunately, both our kings still wanted war and you were forced into the fray. Yet, you still found a way to fight peacefully. Your brothers told me about your enchanted axe. Though it is sharp, it can never be swung to kill. You can only disarm and knock out those you attack.

Knowing all of this, I have nothing but the upmost gratitude for you. Believe me when I say I want this all to end. The question is, are you willing to help me?"

I let a smile escape his lips. It was true. It was all true about what he did. And most importantly, because of her mental link to me, somehow I knew she was genuine. I could see she really wanted peace. I sighed as I stopped and sat. "Sure, tell me what you need."

"If you help me escape, I'll get you an audience with the Elven King, Orion. He knows of that elf side of you, but let's show him all of you. He will listen to the people's champion and his wife after all."

I raised an eyebrow. "Her Majesty on the frontlines. You let yourself get captured to try to spy on us as well. The second strongest magic user in the kingdom wouldn't be bested so easily."

I could practically feel the blush rising in the queen's thoughts. "Well, I have my ways of spying and you have yours. What matters is I found out much more than I imagined. I thought of simply slowly showing my own goodwill and appealing to your people, but knowing who you are, we can do some much more."

I stood back up and continued my walk. "I agree. So, when I get there, let's see what we can do."

~~~

Author's Note: I'm really proud of this one. Took me a bit of time but it was really worth it!

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Until next Thursday, have a blessed week!