The Final Storm (Part 3)

Arianna says good-bye to Frostybreath

In Baroke it was a flurry of activity. All night the sounds of metal and steel clashing thrummed throughout the city as the blacksmiths turned aside their normal duties and created swords and armor.  Now even more soldiers were patrolling the wall and messengers on horseback recruited able-bodied men from every corner of the country.

And Lauri? She was way over her head. She had already spoken to the commander in chief of the human forces several times. He didn’t seem to understand how lethal the cats were and it frustrated Lauri to the breaking point. “Why don’t you get it?” she had ended one of their meetings with, “Those creatures will tear our forces to pieces! Each one is worth fifty men! Our best bet is to fight from a distance- more archers. I need you training anyone who has an inkling of an idea how to string an arrow.”

“With all due respect, that is my field,” the commander had said in his annoying superior tone.

“With all due respect, have you ever fought one of them?”  Lauri retorted, “They can change skins at will, have claws longer than longswords! Their tongue alone can rip skin from bone, and they stand at nine feet tall! Do you think a man can stand against them in close combat? I may only be able to control my diminishing Rider forces, but I advise you to use your head or more will be lost.”

            And it was true- her Rider forces had diminished fast. First Ralem, now Daemon. Lauri swore that when he found those two she would put magical borders on them too. After the war they would be severely punished.

            But for now all she could do was prepare. She had sent a couple soldiers to fetch Ralem, and now she sharpened Ryan and Thistle’s skills on defending themselves from cats. It felt like there was no rest for either her or Vali these past few days. And to add to that there was an angry Grundian Queen demanding to know where her daughter had run off to. Lauri had managed to avoid her, but the Baroke King and Queen had been pushed and prodded by the Grundian Queen enough to stay in their rooms most of the day.

            It bothered Lauri too. What had they been thinking- going off on their own? Did they think that ice dragon would be enough to protect them from even one of the Felinus? Jaydon was easily six times larger and he had almost been taken down by two of the creatures! If Lauri lost them too….

            Luckily, Jaydon would be coming back any time now. With a little more training, she was sure that they would be unmatched. She had seen his powers, his massive frame and control over air. There would be nothing to stop them. And with Renaldi and Ezra, they would easily win the war, right?

            Lauri, Vali said soothingly, You are worrying like a schoolgirl over her first test. You needn’t. Things will work out fine. You should spend some more time in prayer- and with me. Swimming always clears our mind.

            I know. And that is what we are doing right now, aren’t we? Lauri patted Vali’s flank. But I don’t understand how you can always be so calm. This is war we are talking about.

            We have fought this one before and know what’s ahead of us. Besides we have developed our powers. It will not be like last time. Vali twisted in the water, her finned fingers fanning out to catch the sluggish lake water. I sense a disturbance above the water. I’m going to check it out.

            Lauri nodded and curled her fingers around the dragoness’ tassels, sinking lower in the saddle. With a light burst of speed, Vali powered towards the shimmering sunlight and burst out of the waves.

            An old woman was smacking the water with a stick on the shoreline, her white hair wild and her clothing ragged and dirty. Vali shook her head and extended her fin-like ears. “It’s the healer.”