Richard Tuttle - Army of the Dead

“Come across the open area one at a time,” instructed the princess. “Check the guard at the front of the temple before exposing yourself. I will wait for you on the roof.”

Princess Alastasia dropped the air tunnel and climbed the vine to the roof of the temple. From her new vantage point, Alastasia was able to gaze over the rooftops of the city. Still the elven archers were hard to spot. She dismissed them from her mind as she turned and dashed to the rooftop entrance to the temple. She stood to one side of the doorway and listened intently. She heard nothing. A few minutes later her small group reassembled on the roof.

“We will take one floor at a time,” explained the princess. “Move swiftly, but silently. I would like to eliminate the mages before the battle begins.”

Everyone in the group nodded their understanding, and Princess Alastasia led the group into the temple. Inside the temple, the group split up into thirteen groups with one warrior accompanying each mage. Galantor grouped with the princess.

There were less than thirteen rooms on the top floor, so Galantor and the princess waited near the top of the stairs for the others to finish their task. Alastasia listened intently for any sound that might alarm the rest of the inhabitants of the temple, but none came. When everyone was reassembled, the princess led the way down the stairs.

Alastasia and Galantor entered the first room near the stairs. They moved silently into the darkness. Two figures rested upon the beds in the room. Princess Alastasia cast freeze balls on each of them. Galantor used his sword to decapitate the frozen mages, and the elven duo left the room. Before they could find another occupied room, the rest of the elven group reassembled. The princess led them down the stairs to the second level.

Again the elves split up in pairs and raided each of the rooms without causing alarm. Although the assassinations were quick, Alastasia knew that time was running out. If she wished to avoid a bloodbath in the Motangan city, she had to move quickly. As she led the group down the stairs to the first level, a soldier happened by. Movement from the stairs caught his attention and he turned to look. His mouth opened to shout an alarm, but Alastasia’s Sakovan star impacted his forehead before he could speak. Galantor pushed past the princess and rushed to the fallen soldier to finish him off, but the Motangan was already dead. He pulled the star from the dead man’s forehead and stared questioningly at it.

“It is a Sakovan star,” the princess said as she moved passed Galantor.

Galantor wiped the blade of the star on the Motangan’s uniform and stuck it in his pouch. He hurried after the princess and the others. Alastasia halted the group in the large atrium.

“Split up and check for anyone on this level,” instructed the princess. “Two of you handle the guards at the rear door. Galantor and I will take the guards out front.”

The elves silently moved on to eliminate the enemy inside the temple. Princess Alastasia led Galantor towards the front door. She halted just inside it.

“Do not kill these two unless it cannot be avoided,” the princess said softly. “I want one of them as a messenger.”

Galantor nodded as Alastasia waved him into a dark corner. She moved cautiously to the door and opened it just a crack. Then she backed into the darkness alongside the elven warrior. One of the guards on the other side of the door stuck his head in and looked around.

“I don’t see anything,” he said softly to his partner before withdrawing to the outside and closing the door.

“Try again,” urged Galantor as he understood what the princess was trying to do.

Alastasia nodded and moved out of the dark corner. Once again she opened the door a crack and quickly hid. This time the door opened abruptly, and a Motangan soldier entered the temple. His eyes scanned the darkness, but he saw nothing. As soon as the soldier moved away from the doorway, Alastasia hit him with a freeze ball. The frozen soldier stood staring, his mouth partially opened in confusion. The soft voice of the other guard could be heard from outside the door. The princess waited patiently. A few moments later, the second guard entered the temple in search of his partner. The princess cast a freeze ball and froze the second guard.

“Peek outside and make sure that these two have not been missed,” Alastasia commanded Galantor as she walked towards the two frozen Motangans.

When Galantor returned, the princess chose one of the guards and placed her hands near the man’s ears. She cast a warming spell and allowed the heat to penetrate the ice so that the man could hear well.

“You have a chance to live,” Princess Alastasia said softly as she moved her hands over the man’s eyes and caused the ice to melt. “To earn your life, you must deliver a message for me. If you do not obey me, Galantor will ensure your slow and painful death. If you understand me, blink your eyes twice.”

The Motangan blinked his eyes, and the princess continued.

“I want you to carry a message to the soldiers in the barracks,” stated the princess. “Will you cooperate without foolishly trying to raise an alarm?”

The man blinked again. Alastasia warmed the man’s head so that he was free to speak. She stood poised to strike out at him if he shouted, but the man merely breathed deeply.

“You are wise,” commented the princess. “The elves have taken over this city. Right now we have the barracks completely surrounded and are quite capable of killing every soldier in the city. I would prefer not to deal with such bloodshed. I want you to enter the barracks and seek out the highest-ranking officer. Explain the situation to him. Tell him that we will accept the peaceful surrender of Sudamar. Will you do that?”

“Will you slaughter them when they come out of the barracks?” asked the soldier.

”I will not,” assured the princess. “If that was my goal, I would merely ignite the barracks with the men still inside. I am trying not to kill your people, if that is possible. Will you carry the message?”

“I will carry it,” the man said after a slight hesitation. “I cannot guarantee what the reply will be.”

“Understood,” nodded the princess as she cast a spell that removed the effects of the freeze ball.

Galantor immediately reached out and grabbed the Motangan’s sword from its sheath. The guard held his hands up submissively as the rest of the elven party started to gather around. The guard stared at the elves in disbelief.

“How did everyone get into this temple?’ he asked.

“Go now,” ordered Princess Alastasia as she ignored his question. “Do your best to save your fellow soldiers.”

The man nodded and moved hesitantly towards the door. Galantor moved with him, and the Motangan realized that he would be escorted to the barracks. The guard looked around warily as he emerged from the temple, but he saw nothing out of the ordinary in the city. He was beginning to doubt the princess’s words as he approached the barracks compound until an elven soldier stepped out of the darkness and stood in his path.

“What is this, Galantor?” asked the soldier. “You were supposed to send a signal to start the attack, not bring a captive to us.”

“Princess Alastasia is offering to accept the humans’ surrender,” replied Galantor. “This man is the messenger to deliver the offer. He will be allowed to enter the barracks. Your men will also allow the humans to exit the barracks if they come out without weapons.”

The Motangan heard murmurs of disapproval from all around him. He turned his head to look for the elven soldiers, but he could not see them.

“And if they come out of the barracks with weapons?’ asked the elven soldier.