Callie's Heroes

PART II - GETTING THERE

Galin dismissed his assembled troops, ordering one of them to return Huvaen’s banner to his saddlebags, which would be with his curvax at the stables. He then sent a second soldier to the training fields to inform everyone the attack warning was a false alarm. From there, the Legate left to see the Scryers, so that a warning could be sent to Meadowglade to not send anything eastwards until the threat was dealt with.

Xera directed Thorn and Vanis, along with the Captain, to their office building where there were maps available and a quieter place for everyone to strategize. Tazrok followed along, asking if he could observe and Thorn, thinking it would be a good experience for him, agreed.

“There is an Ogre Druid here?” Captain Huvaen said quietly to Vanis. “I didn’t know that was possible.”

“Him? Captain, he is likely the least strange thing about this place.” Vanis said with a chuckle. Then he gestured to someone approaching. “As if to make my point,” he said, before quickly adding in firm warning, “Be nothing but polite to her!”

“Vanis? Is everything alright?” Juniper asked, running up to the group as they walked, Loki riding high on her shoulders, face to the wind like a happy dog leaning out a car window. “You rode off so quickly, and then someone said that the long horn sound indicated the camp was under attack. The trainers made everyone stay, but I snuck away.”

“There is no attack,” Vanis replied.

“Ahh, I see,” the Dryad said, noticeably relieved. Then she glanced at the newcomer. “Who is this?”

“This is Captain Huvaen of the Imperial Guard, and he encountered Stone Elementals on his journey here. Captain, this is Juniper, Floramancer-in-training and Warden of this region, and a dear friend.”

“Uh, g-g-good to meet you,” Huvaen replied, his face looking confused.

Juniper fluttered her eyes momentarily. “I sense no Elementals in my domain, only a very small Rift forming in a cave. It is quite small, and I don’t believe it will manifest anything before it heals.”

“This may be outside of your vision, Recruit,” Xera called back. “The rock outcropping where they are located is at least twenty kilometers to the northwest of your tree. Follow along and we’ll look at the maps.”

“Will this be like the Bogwump nest?” the Dryad asked. “If so, I wish to fight this time as well.” Juniper scrunched her face into a defiant look, Loki placing his vine-hands on his hips, also trying to look defiant.

“We will see,” Vanis said coolly, placing his hand on her arm. “But, keep close with us, we may need your advice.”

Vanis looked at the maps laid out on the table. There were two that Kyra had replicated, the first showing the area around the camp for several kilometers, including marks indicating Juniper’s tree. The second map was a different scale, and much less detailed, but showed the winding road between the camp and Meadowglade, with a few landmarks indicated.

“This is where they were,” Huvaen said, pointing at the map where there was a mark indicating the rocky formation.

“We should have gone around it when we marked that road,” Galin said with a chuckle, having just joined everyone after his detour to the Scryers.

“There was a gap through, so there was no need,” Xera replied. “Besides, it would have made the trek at least two or three hours longer for a Korrox team.”

“How do we get people out there?” Vanis asked. “Do we have enough curvax to send a force.”

Galin shook his head. “Only two. We really don’t have much need. We have several korrox, but while they are strong, they are also small and not fast at all. They wouldn’t be much help.”

“What about the wagon?”

“We could use it, but it’s not designed to be fast either, and is pulled by a team of the korrox. Same with the old prisoner wagon.”

“Blast!” Vanis snarled. “The Druids and the Shamans would be the only ones that could make it in a reasonable time.” He looked up at Tazrok. “Perhaps the Druids could carry someone?”

“Hard run with someone on back, if go fast,” Tazrok said, gesturing to the map. “I could do, but not others.”

“Multiple Druids? How many Druids do you have?” Huvaen asked.

“Five,” Vanis said, concentrating as he leaned over the table. “Most are trainees, though. Same with the Shamans.”

“Kyra!” the Commandant called out at the same time they pushed the button under the table, ringing the bell that called their assistant.

“Yes?” the Elf said, appearing in the doorway.

“Send for Rowani and Maugra, if you would.”

“Right away,” Kyra replied, closing the door. She would call on Sprites to deliver the orders.

“You want them?” Galin asked, a little unsure. While it had been nearly two weeks, there was still tension remaining due to the two of them drinking the unicorn blood. While the official word still remained that it was the Army’s decision, nobody really believed that, and everyone knew the demoted Callie was somehow involved. The resulting rumors about what the real story was were generally correct. In turn, attitudes were still quite cold to the two now-young trainers. Callie, on the other hand, had been largely forgiven, owing to her ‘memory loss’ and the belief she didn’t know any better, which in a way, was true.

Xera shrugged. “Maugra has experience with Elementals, and both her and Rowani’s expertise from their Adventuring days is extensive. Rowani also flies faster than Tazrok if we need her to scout. Legate, they may be young now, but they still have a lifetime of knowledge.” Then they added. “We need to move past it. They are an Army resource.”

“Of course,” the Legate replied, almost in a grumble.

“Young now?” Huvaen whispered to Vanis.

“Shhh,” Vanis hushed back.

It took only a few minutes, and soon the loud flapping of wings could be heard settling in for a landing outside, followed shortly by footsteps and Kyra opening the door. “Trainers Rowani and Maugra,” the assistant announced.

“What is the emergency?” Rowani asked, her tail swishing high in nervous excitement as she jogged in, Maugra right behind her..

“She’s just a kid!” Captain Huvaen said to Vanis, his whisper loud enough to carry. “How could she have extensive knowledge on anything?”

“I said ‘quiet’, Captain,” Vanis growled in annoyance.

After being introduced as the mission Sergeant, Vanis quickly brought the two trainers up to speed on the situation. Gesturing to the maps, he specifically reviewed the vexing problem of getting to the location quickly with the two trainers.

“I could handle a rider for maybe ten kilometers at a fast run,” Rowani said, scratching her head in contemplation, “or a small race a little farther. But for travel, the other Druids are all smaller forms, except Tazrok. Melga and Bratig are both Drimlings, and they are barely a meter tall with almost no carrying ability. Wallir is a little larger, but still limited.”

“You’ll need me there,” Maugra added, gesturing to the map. “If these just appeared, then there’s a decently sized Rift of some kind nearby, which I can drain and close. Cheena could do it as well, but I’m more skilled, as I’m sure she’s never done it before. If we don’t close it, though, more Elementals will just continue to spawn until it heals on its own, which will make fighting all the more dangerous. If they were large enough to summon and throw boulders, then that big of a Rift will last for several days, if not over a week. If I can relieve the pressure and seal it, any smaller Elementals should all fall quickly as the magic disperses, and we can eliminate the larger ones. At least, those that remain close to the road.”

There was a long silence as everyone stared at the maps, the problems seeming to compound upon themselves.

“Ideas, people!” Xera snapped, clapping their hand on the table and jolting everyone back to the issue. “I want to get this Rift closed quickly, and I want that road made passable!”

“I guess we just put a group together and do a forced march,” Vanis said, having no other ideas. “We could probably make it close in about four hours, plus time to prepare, but once we arrive, everyone will be exhausted. We can camp close tonight and strike first thing in the morning when we have the light. We’ll need a larger force, though, since they will keep spawning all night.”

“That’s it? That’s the best idea we have?” Xera asked incredulously. “Damn!”

Galin sighed and thumped the table in disappointed resignation. “We can unload the wagon and everyone can ride in it, at least. That will save some walking, although it will take even longer to get there, so you’ll still need to make camp until morning.”

“I can pull in draft form,” Tazrok said, volunteering. “No need for korrox.” Then he added, “But Brontorn pull slow. Won’t arrive in time before dark.”

“There has to be another way,” Thorn said, as disappointed as the Legate.

“I don’t see it,” Vanis said, gesturing helplessly at the maps..

“You need a strategist Gnome, is what you need. They can find crazy solutions for nearly anything,” the Captain said with a laugh. He looked up as all eyes slowly turned to him. “What did I say?”

“We just so happen to have a Gnome,” Vanis said suggestively, raising an eyebrow. “Should we see what she comes up with?” he asked the room.

“Kyra!”

Word had filtered up that the attack signal had been a false alarm, allowing everyone to return to training. Now, Callie was casually shooting down the range as Vonn took a moment to review something one-on-one with Shul’an. As the arrow left her bow, Jesca snapped out her whip, intent on deflecting it in midair. She’d been trying for three days now with almost no success, only managing to hit the projectile twice, likely by luck rather than skill. The Beastmaster was convinced that if she could master such an action, not only would she blow well past Bronze with her new class, but it would significantly improve her whip capabilities. The whip fell limply, having missed the arrow, and Jesca growled in irritation.

A flash of light drew Callie’s attention. It was a Sprite coming in with full magical afterburners, making a beeline for Vonn. He stopped by the Lamia’s head, saying something, before zipping off into the sky with a fading ‘goodbye’.

“I wonder what that’s about?” Callie mumbled to Jesca.

“No idea,” the Catkin replied with a grump as she recoiled her whip.

As if in response, Vonn took her leave from Shul’an and slithered towards Callie.

“Your presenccce hasss been ordered at the Commandant’sss officcce immediately. Go! Now!”

Callie swallowed and stored her bow into the stone in her belly. “Uh, okay?”

“Ooo! Ride Artemis!” Jesca suggested. “She’s been wanting an excuse to run. You’ll get there faster.”

“Are you sure?” Callie asked warily. “Is she sure, I should ask. I know I’m small enough that she can hold me, but we haven’t gone very fast.”

As if on cue, the Unicorn rose from where she was laying in the shelter and walked over to Callie, nuzzling her ear.

“She said she’s ready,” Jesca said, shrugging. “She’ll walk back on her own once you’re there.”

“Okayyyyy,” Callie said warily. She patted the unicorn before putting her foot into the stirrup and pulling herself into the lightweight training saddle. Artemis started forward at a walk, and Callie worked to get herself centered. Before long, the walk turned into a slow trot, Callie bouncing randomly as an inexperienced rider, but getting a few waves and cheers from the other recruits and trainers as she rode past, waving in return.

“Is … Is that a Gnome riding on a tiny unicorn?” Captain Huvaen gasped as he looked out the window a couple minutes later.

Vanis casually glanced out the same window, seeing the sight. “Huh, I guess it is. Callie appears to be an absolutely dreadful rider, though.”

“She is, at that. Quite dreadful,” Xera agreed with a laugh, watching the bouncing Gnome.

Huvaen made a truly boggled expression, looking around the table, unable to understand the nonchalant attitude of the officers and trainers. “A unicorn?”

“It’s the Bonded Companion of our Beastmaster,” Rowani said, staring at the map and making a dismissive wave. Then she looked up at the Captain and grinned. “Just another day around here.”

A half-minute later, Kyra opened the door. “Recruit Callie, as you requested.”

“Hi everyone! I came as fast as Artemis and I dared to go,” Callie said, before grousing under her breath, “although now my butt’s sore.” She then brightened. “What’s up?”

“We need your help to kill some rocks,” Vanis said coolly, with a quirk of a smile on his face.

“Kill rocks?”

“Rocks that throw rocks back at you,” Thorn added.

“Uh …” Callie droned, not quite sure what to make of things.

“Big rocks,” Tazrok added to that, holding his giant hands apart.

“What do you want me to do? Blow them up?”

“Probably,” Thorn said, “but we also need to get there quickly, and that’s where we need your help. Come, help us Callie up a solution.”

“Great, I’m a verb now,” Callie muttered to herself. She looked up. “Sure, fill me in on what’s going on.”