Return to Jorgaldur Volume V: Reunion (2)

Preparations (III)

Gjaki bit her lip. She wanted to bind Chornakish thus not letting him go. While it probably wouldn't be as dangerous as what she was going to face, it was easier for her to put herself in danger than to let her family do it. Of course, she would also need to tie up Dinksa, Coinin, Brurol...

More than half of the mansion's inhabitants were going to the border of the corrupted forest. Besides, they weren't the only ones. In the Blood Kingdom, word had spread that their queen was going to fight there. Quite a few had volunteered.

Although not as exaggerated as the barbarians, many were eager for a good fight, including certain mercenaries that had become counts. While the years of peace were welcome, for some people, it was difficult to completely leave behind the old glory days. With the excuse of supporting their queen, they were sharpening their weapons.

"You can't go! You're the empress!" her husband refused.

"Someone has to be there to give morale to the troops, and you aren't a warrior," Kroquia argued.

"I understand that, but you don't need a shield to give morale! You can organize the troops from behind!" the emperor protested, though he had given in a little.

"We must lead by example! Our reptiles know that I fight on the front lines! How can I ask them to fight with courage if they see me cowed!" she continued arguing.

"I said no, and it is no!" he insisted.

She smiled. Kroquia knew him, so she knew she had won. Getting like this was his last resort, and it had never worked on her.

In fact, the emperor knew that his wife was partly right, and that she was a veteran warrior, but he was also worried.

Perhaps, in other kingdoms and empires, it would have been unthinkable to consider the empress fighting on the front, but this wasn't some other empire. With a warrior tradition, they were proud of their empress. Not seeing her fight on the front lines would be a huge blow to her reputation.

Although it is no less true that the warrior was eager to raise her shield once again. She had barely had a chance to fight seriously in recent years.

She wasn't the only one. A certain imperial mage was eager to try out her new staff. She was impatient to fill the battlefield with lightning, and impress her children. A warrior and an archer, who were delicately cleaning their weapons, were no less impatient.

Perhaps, Kroco, Kroquia's brother, wasn't feeling so enthusiastic. Nonetheless, he wasn't going to let his sister and his friends go there without him. He would make sure that nothing would happen to them.

"Be careful," his wife asked him.

She was a court mage, her battlefield was in another place. She felt anxious and proud at the same time.

"Be careful," Lina asked them.

The snow panther-woman would have wanted to go with her husband and her children, and all the volunteers. However, she was in no condition to fight.

It would take years for the rejuvenation potions to restore her past strength. At least, now, she had enough vitality to see them off.

"We'll be, mom."

"I keep an eye on them," another of her children assured.

"And who watches over you?" his younger sister rebuked him.

"Don't worry, I'll throw a Fireball at the first one who gets too full of themselves," Merlin threatened.

"It's a joke, right? Dad?" one of her daughters asked uncertainly.

In fact, her father had thrown Fireballs at them more than once during training. Of course, those that had gone towards them hadn't been lethal, they only produced a terrible itching. More than one of his children shuddered.

The cat mage smiled menacingly. He didn't fully clarify whether he was bluffing.

Golgo looked at the Aqtlua hopefully. There was a lot of left to complete, but there was now one more piece than a few days ago. The mole-beings had found it under some rubble, and had given it to Eldi. He had passed it to Gjaki, and the vampiress had called the reptilian visitor.

"I guess I'll have to go, I owe them a lot more than that," he said out loud.

"Where?" a voice asked.

It belonged to a reptilian still lying in bed. She had become very angry with Golgo when she had found out what he had tried to do in Engenak. The woman had ended up forgiving him after much effort on his part, and after promising that he would never do it again.

"To support an attack in the corrupted forest. Gjaki asked me," he explained.

"I see. We'll go with you. A little experience will be good for them," she pointed out, without giving a chance to discussion.

She wasn't worried. Her lover would be safe in the distance, as would his disciples, among whom she was. She had met him when he was teaching them, and they had ended up falling in love.

"Oh? Can I punish you if you miss a shot?" he threatened.

She smiled, crawled over to him, and hugged him from behind.

"How do you plan to punish me?" she whispered sensually in his ear.

"More than I expected," Liodon was amazed.

"Dad is really popular," his sister agreed.

The twins had proclaimed that they were going to fight on the border against the corrupted beings. They were going to supporting their father, and had asked if anyone wanted to accompany them. None of them had expected so many volunteers.

There were rebels, soldiers on leave and even nobles. Some wanted to redeem themselves, as they felt guilty for not having done enough in the past. Others had simply heard the name Eldi Hnefa, and had signed up directly, no questions asked. There were those who had grudges against the corrupted beings, but they hadn't gone until now because their people also needed them. Of course, there were other reasons, such as simply gaining experience. Maybe, to brag about having been there.

"And here I thought I could retire," Three Fingers protested. He was one of the staff in charge of organizing the transportation.

"Ha, ha. You'd be bored," Ted mocked.

"Me? Ha, ha. Well, maybe just a little," he acknowledged.

"Have a good trip, we'll see you there," Liodon said goodbye.

"Tsk. Silver-spooned..." he protested.

He knew that Eldi would take his children directly, in part to prepare for the arrival of the rest. Three Fingers also knew that he could have accompanied them if he wanted, but someone had to organize that side. Why deny it? He was quite good at it.

"Are you sure you don't want to recover your missing fingers?" Lidia offered again.

"No way! Do you have any idea how successful I am with some chicks?" he refused.

"Tsk. As perverted as ever. Whatever you want. Let me know if you change your mind," the high human shrugged.

His father had the Miracle spell to achieve it, and he had offered it to anyone who needed it. However, his children didn't want to give him too much work, nor take away it from the church. Although the change of the patriarch for the new matriarch had greatly improved their reputation, they still had a long way to go to redeem themselves.