The Three Kingdoms [under edit]

Delvón

"How come you never said anything?" Galvin questioned.

"I didn't want it to get in the way of us being friends."

"How so?"

"I didn't want you to treat me like some...old geezer, or oddity...or hero...i don't know.  I see us as equals."

"So do I."

The three of them walked down the dark stone corridors until they came out into a wide open field.

"The walls are high enough here that it blocks out the cold winds.  It stays pretty warm out here, we're not in the center of a castle as you might have thought, but in the center of an enormous city." Darien told them.  The courtyard spanned about 300 feet in the opposite direction, the edges of the grass never meet the walls, instead there was a wide gap that descended down several hundred feet with winding stairwells and various other structures that Galvin could not identify.  The center of the courtyard was a large square shaft that went down to the bottom.

"Down there are the armies.  I have tried to amass forces over the years, had some success, but we are only around a hundred thousand strong." Darien explained.

"One hundred thousand?!" Galvin gasped. "I was barely able to get a hundred."

"Yes, a hundred thousand, no match for the fallen king.  Though it is an army of many races, this may be the land of the dragons, but it is home to many more."

Galvin and Caper looked down to see hundreds of beings training in the levels below.

"It is a shame my prophet died.  We will have to figure the rest out ourselves.  I have forces posted in Delvón, your friend Connor will need them.  As for the rest of your small party, I have sent for them and they will be arriving here shortly."

"How do you get them here so fast?"

"There are many methods of transportation that have been lost through the ages."

Galvin looked around and noticed that Caper had wandered off elsewhere.

"He will be alright." Darien said as if he could read his thoughts.

"Did you send him?"

"Who? the Prophet?"

"No, Caper.  Did you send him to find me?"

"No, but I strongly suggested it.  I thought he'd like you."

"I think there is more than that."

"Quite right.  He is your chance at winning the war.  He has to do it willingly though."

"What about you?"

Darien laughed. "I am too old.  I cannot fight in combat anymore."

"So it's all down to me?"

"Don't underestimate your abilities."

"I'm practically a delinquent!" Galvin raged.  "I never bothered to learn anything useful!"

"You can do more than you think.  You have an undying passion for good."

"That won't get me very far."

"A long time ago dragons were known for their magical abilities."

"what does this have to do with anything?"

Darien took him over to a small bucket of water.  "I want you to move this water without touching it.  No questions.  I will be back later."

Galvin fumed silently and stared at the water as Darien walked away.  He wanted with all his heart to kick the bucket over, but he didn't.  He turned and he walked away in search of Caper.  As he left, the bucket behind him tipped over and spilt its contents on the ground.

    Caper walked down the narrow streets.  He didn't like this city too much.  The walls were too high and it felt much too confining.  The city itself was a lot like KaVét.  The streets buzzed with activity and races of many different kinds gathered together.  He rather liked it, except for the gnomes.  Galvin turned around and saw Caper hurrying towards him.

"It wasn't that hard to find you, you're the only wolf here."

"Yes...The children are trying to pet me.  I'm not particularly fond of them."

"I think Darien has lost his mind.  He expected me to move the water in a bucket without touching it."

"I have seen it done...only by dragons."

"Impossible."

"It's true, here comes Darien now."

"Congratulations Galvin," Darien said as he came near. "You have moved the bucket, I watched you.  Now we have no more time to discuss, your friends are here and are spewing out death threats."

Darien and Caper turned and began walking leaving Galvin behind speechless and confused.

Galvin and Caper made their way through the dungeon and were immediately greeted by the sound of Caden vehemently cursing.

"Let me out of here you daft cow...You bloody slag.  ugh, what a tosser."

"I'm sorry sir, but we have orders."

"Piss-off you dodgy git." He muttered.

"Caden! So nice to see you." Caper called out.

"Ge me out of this hellhole...and away from these gormless guards."

"What's gotten you in such a foul mood?"

"Oh I don't know...try being thrown in a sack and teleported a over a thousand miles away."

"Well at least you weren't thrown in a snowdrift."

"Well you weren't in a bag with a ton of daft birds!"

"Alright." Sage cut in. "I think we've all had enough."

Galvin ordered the guards to let the the wolves out.

"Where are the others?"

"We left them back in Delvón." Sage responded.  "Darwin is the only one who came with."

"She's talking about the 'daft bird' over here." Darwin spoke up.

"We lost a few." Sage continued.  "We're sorry Caper.  We did our best to defend the pack...the family."

"It's war.  It happens." He replied softly.  "How many are left?"

"Four besides us."

"Any less depressing news?" Galvin asked.

Sage opened her mouth to speak but hesitated.

"Do go on." Caper grinned.

"I'm pregnant." she said.

"Come on sis...that's gross, when did you two do that?" Caper groaned.

"You of all, should congratulate me!"

"Right...lets celebrate, my sister got down and-"

"Alright we get the point!" Galvin cut in. "This got awkward fast."

By the time they had finished catching up, the group had reached the ground level of the city.  Darien was waiting for them.  He lead them into a small room high above the courtyard.

"Alright," he said.  "This is where the real war begins."

"I hate planning"

"Caper, enough.  I see a few thousand years hasn't been enough to mature you.  You may wait in the nursery if you can't be an active participant."

"Old guy's getting tough."

"Don't forget who's really oldest here." Darien reminded him.  "Now I happen to have plotted out a few strategic points.  Take them, we agin the upper hand.  He is drawing out all his forces to the capitol, leaving his smaller cities pitifully underarmed.  We can take them.  We move now or we stay stuck."

"Let's do it." Galvin agreed.

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Happy reading,
Sparkles