Runt of the Litter - Tales from Alirast

"Good! You're getting better!" Cordaos said with laughter as he reached down to haul his daughter back to her feet.

"Speed really is the key to battle, isn't it?"

Once she was standing, Cordaos grabbed Malor's arm and pulled him up as well. "It is. If you can convince them, get Brutus or Alliyah to teach you some things. Stas is fast because of his magic, Alliyah is a mix, and Brutus is purely physical conditioning. If you can strike first, you can often win a battle."

Trillia sat on a nearby wall, watching the now massive training area. Hundreds of people paired off and learning from one another. The Eternal Fortress had made great strides in preparation. Part of her wondered how they had ever fallen from power.

As Amelia and Malor broke off to meet up with others to train, Cordaos joined Trillia at the wall. "I haven't seen you this happy in a long time, Uncle."

The old minotaur glanced at her, the smile still evident on his face. "I miss this. Military life treated me well. I am also happy that Amelia and Malor have officially decided to tie the knot. They'll make a good pair."

Trillia couldn't hide her own grin. "I'll be an Aunt three times over soon. I still need to actually visit Ba'Shoon and Kismet."

"Once all this is over?" Cordaos said with a slightly sarcastic tone.

"Yeah...when this is all over."

"I want you to promise me something, Fairtrade." Trillia perked up at that, Uncle Cordaos rarely called her by her title.

"You keep them safe. I want your word that you will keep the young people safe. At all costs."

As she moved to speak, he raised a hand. "I don't care who you have to sacrifice. Me, Alliyah, Brutus, Stas, Amara. You keep the kids safe, Fairtrade. You keep the future safe. You let us do our jobs and die if it means others live."

Despite the smile on his face and the general mirth in his demeanor, Trillia was still caught off guard. She slid off the wall and extended a hand. "I'll do everything I can to keep everyone safe, Uncle Cordaos. The same as all of you will. But if it comes to letting the old guard day, or the future generations...I'll prioritize them."

Cordaos grabbed her hand with a firm shake, then pulled her into a big hug. "That includes you, you little shit. Don't die for us. I can't wait to look down from the hereafter and see all the glory that you all manage."

Both knew that was a lie. With the way Dawn's proclamation had been worded, if someone died there wouldn't be a hereafter for them. Neither voiced it though, she just smiled and returned the hug, watching the old minotaur king wander off to teach some new recruits about battle with the same smile on his face.

-=====-

Trillia had all four of her hands wrapped around one of Layla's arms while Frederick and Amelia were trying to hold her other arm.

The Paladin of Ora'sys had become a monster on the battlefield. The troll organs from Geo had radically changed her stats and traits. Her Brawn was getting boosted by her Strength three times and her Vitality five times.

With a roar, she quickly twisted in place and threw all three of them off. "[Lightning Step]!" She shouted.

Malor was thrown back when she appeared in front of him in a burst of lightning.

"Another win for me?" She grinned as she chanted a few words and healed all of them.

Trillia laughed as she stood up. Her little friend was the tallest among them now, clad head to toe in heavily enchanted plate mail that had no less than a dozen monster cores in it. "I think we've officially hit the point where we can't defend our back line from you."

Layla pulled Malor up and helped dust him off. "Nah, if Ialu and Dire were allowed to help, you'd be fine. I will admit being almost immune to debuffs has gone a very long way in helping me come out on top. Paladins rock!"

The group joined in her laughter as they squared up for another exercise. They had recently been drilling to make sure high-priority targets could be wiped out quickly or kept safe on their side.

Trillia had come to realize Hope's actual purpose in the Eternal Fortress. The woman was capable of linking the minds of every single member of the Eternals into one large telepathic network. She had a range of about fifty miles.

It was the most egregious example of Hope's deadly mental prowess. It was also where Trillia learned how she got her title.

The Vanishing of Hope.

Apparently, when the fortress was in its prime, anytime she showed up on a battlefield the enemy would often just surrender in mass, claiming that all hope had vanished from the battlefield.

After a few more exercises, the group agreed to call it quits. In two days' time, they would hold a ceremony for Amelia and Malor to get married. They agreed to rest until the big day.

-=====-

Trillia didn't hate her outfit in the slightest. She had heard some weddings were stuffy events were suits and dresses. Amelia and Malor were not keen on such a ceremony.

Instead, Trillia stood in her new armor, half made of crystal and the other half the silvery gleam of mithril.

A cape made of gryphon feathers and behemoth hide hung at her shoulders.

"How am I more nervous than you?" Trillia said as she looked over her armor again to make sure it was right, before walking over to Amelia's side and fussing over the woman's attire.

Amelia was in a gown.

It was a gift from Grand Alchemist Mort, who had found it stashed away in some of the things that had been retrieved from God's Watch, and it had been her Mother's royal gown for banquets.

Bright green silk with golden embroidery hugged her form while slits up the side made sure she could still dance and maneuver in it. Two small silver chains wrapped around her horns and ended in dangling sapphires enchanted to make it more difficult to look away from her.

They certainly worked.

"Because I am already sure of what I'm doing. I've found the love of my life. We will win this war. Malor and I will reestablish God's Watch. I'll manipulate you and Layla into watching all of my children on a regular basis so that they will never know what fear means." Amelia smiled as she ran her hands down her torso, smoothing out the dress as she looked in the mirror.

"Got it all figured out, eh?" Layla grinned, standing there in full battle regalia. The one exception to her usual armor was a banner that she had attached to the back of her armor, which proudly displayed the symbol for God's Watch.

"Yup! It's going to be great!"

-=====-

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

Layla and Trillia stood side by side at a grand altar that had been constructed outside of the Eternal Fortress. For the first time in years, the leaders of all the many cities that Trillia had visited were gathered to see the Princess of the Minotaurs get married.

Across from them stood Simon and Frederick, both dressed in their finest armor. An incredibly nervous Malor stood next to them in the robes of a high enchanter. He looked every bit like he belonged here.

Trillia's smile widened as the music started. She saw Cordaos walking down the long aisle of people with Amelia's arm wrapped in his. His armor caught the light in its many prisms and splashed the light across the crowd. The dress that hung from Amelia's shoulders seemed to light up with every step she took. Despite the dozens of incredibly powerful people in the audience, not a single eye could stray from her.

They stopped in front of the altar. Cordaos turned to Amelia with wet eyes and the biggest smile Trillia had ever seen. Leaning close and kissing her forehead, he whispered softly. "Your mother looks down with such pride and happiness, little one. We are proud of you."

Malor stepped over, Cordaos took his hand and placed it on Amelia's. "Keep her safe for all of time, may the gods forever keep the wind at your back, son."

Malor did his best not to choke up, managing only a nod as he took Amelia's hand. The two turned to the front, where Alliyah and Mort stood. Alliyah motioned for the minotaur to take the reins.

"I helped bring Amelia into this world twenty winters ago. Queen Maeve had been hoping for a daughter, saying that any son would be so stubborn she wouldn't have been able to tell the difference between him and a rock."

The old minotaur smiled as he looked down at the two minotaurs in front of him. "Today, she stands before me an accomplished adventurer, a deeply beloved friend. But most importantly, she stands before me happy. May you and your children know happiness eternal, Princess Amelia."

Trillia squeezed her hand around her rapier, trying to keep the sniffles at bay.

The ceremony proceeded, they exchanged vows and the crowd roared loud enough that Trillia was positively sure that even the gods could hear it.

-=====-

It had been a few months since the wedding. A large group of people now stood around a circular table. It was only a few months until Trillia would turn seventeen. How quickly time had flown by.

"Why are we gathered here, Lord Ashkru?" The voice came from an unlikely voice. Exardescere and the other dragon heads of clan had been brought to an alliance by the Eternals. Trillia wasn't sure what they had done to convince them, but not a single dragon clan had refused.

"The eldritch is in range. It will be sending its first swarm in the coming months. We are doing everything in our power to make sure it targets the Eternal Fortress with its attack, but you should all know. This is what we've been training for, this is what the past few years have been in preparation for. Geo, bring them out."

For once, the troll didn't look bored. Instead, he was also covered from head to toe in intricate crystal armor, heavily enchanted with layered silk cloths underneath. He disappeared for a few minutes before returning with a large crate. As he slammed it onto the table and pulled the lid off, they were all met with perfect spheres of crystal that were humming with mana.

Ashkru continued. "Each leader will take one and bind to it. Hope will be our nexus of information, we will use these to keep in touch regardless of range and distance. Remember to pass out the potions and artifacts that will alleviate the mana issues."

As each person took one, Trillia took a deep breath, steadying her nerves.

"Remember. The eldritch kill by lowering your maximum mana. After a certain threshold, your current mana far exceeds your maximum mana, causing an explosion of arcane power. Tell your people to keep their mana reserves low and make sure they keep up with the potions that ward off mana sickness."

As the meeting was adjourned, Trillia remained behind. She and the Eternal Fortress leaders shared a look. "What are our chances?"

"I'd say high. Current estimates, with the dragons and leviathans, put us at around six million people capable of fighting. The Eldritch should go down within the first day or two of landfall. The guardian deities for Cradle Worlds are a significant increase, so they should repel the core quickly enough. If not, we will have to deal with a second swarm."

"Losses?"

"Less than a million. The bigger loss of life is going to be after the eldritch has been cleansed. If the [Primordials] turn to hostility and anger, that will need to be addressed."

-=====-

"I will have you flayed and executed!" Alliyah roared into the face of a merchant lord, who shrank back at her wrath.

"You are not to deny trade to any nation that seeks it, nor any guild that requests aid during global emergencies! What the fuck is the meaning of this?!"

One of the older merchants stepped forward. "The Eternal Fortress is not recognized as either. You must understand, Your Majesty. We only seek to follow the law."

As Alliyah swung a fist towards the merchant, it was caught by Amara. "Temper, temper... This is easy to solve."

Less than an hour later, Alliyah and a few hundred others had gathered in the throne room of Kadessa. The trouble-making merchant lords were ushered in with spears pointing at their backs.

Trillia had been commanded by Arlyss to show up. It was one of the very rare times that he actually issued a divine command.

"This is outrageous! We've done nothing wrong!" The old merchant lord said as armed guards surrounded them.

Ashkru, Geo, and Hope stood in the throne room with a bit of confusion on their faces.

Alliyah walked up and smacked a scroll on Ash's chest. "Read this out loud."

"Excu-"

"Read!" She turned and shouted at the serpent man with such fury that even he flinched slightly.

"I, Ashkru Nullscale, joined by Gaius Elios Otavious and Kelly Windrunner, hereby declare a motion to be recognized by the Kadessian empire as the Eternal Guild, operating out of the location formerly known as the Eternal Fortress."

Alliyah stood in front of them, still fuming and glaring at the merchant lords. "As you know, Lord Nullscale, you must be represented by the leaders of three nations, two deities, and a merchant lord to receive full guild benefits."

She took out another scroll and smacked it on Geo's chest. The big troll gave her a worrying look before opening it to read it.

"I, Gaius Elios Otavious, have gathered the required signatories for recognition of a guild. The leaders of nations are as follows. Tormash Demonsbane representing the Orc Coalition of the Shattered Plains, Rubious Hammerstone representing the Dwarven Mountainhome of Anvil Shelter, and Kismet Demonsbane representing the desert kingdom of D'Jamu. The deities are as follows. Trillia Demonsbane Fairtrade, representing Arlyss Ocrey Darktone, a deity of Knowledge and Unity. Layla the Saviour, representing Ora'sys the Divine, a deity of Retribution. The merchant lord who has chosen to represent us is..." Geo paused. As Alliyah turned her death glare from the merchant lords back to him, he continued.

"The merchant lord who has chosen to represent us is Alliyah Ocrey Darktone, representing the Merchant's Guild of Kadessa."

A hand clasped over the mouth of one of the merchant lords, Alliyah stepped forward and handed the last scroll to Hope. "I, Kelly Windrunner, have brought all that which is required for recognition before the grand throne of Kadessa. Our contributions to the Kadessian people and military are well documented..." She also paused briefly.

Trillia listened to her list off dozens of names and noble houses, all of whom had sent people to be trained at the Eternal Fortress.

Alliyah walked past the three stunned Eternals to the room of previously mentioned nobles and leaders. "All in favor of recognizing these three as joint guild masters of the Eternal Guild say, Aye."

The hands wrapped around the merchant lords mouths tightened. Resounding Ayes rose up in the halls.

Alliyah walked over to stand in front of the merchant lords. "As the Queen of Kadessa and Empress of Humanity, I hereby recognize the three individuals, known as Ashkru, Geo, and Hope, as the joint guild masters of the Eternal Guild, which has unilateral control of their members as a military and economic guild operating under the blessing of not only the Kadessa Empire but also the glory of the gods she represents."

The merchant lords were finally let go. Alliyah pulled a dagger and held it under the throat of the older one who had spoken up before. "Do you still refuse to bring them their goods at fair market value?"

The room went silent as all eyes turned to the man. "Of course not...Queen Alliyah. If it is a guild recognized by Kadessa, we will do as we promised in the Merchant accords and sell to them at a fair price." He spoke through gritted teeth.

Once his words had left his lips, Alliyah had them dragged from the throne room as she walked over and poured herself a glass of wine.

Ashkru looked around at the many faces that had shown up. "They don't listen to your orders?"

Alliyah downed the first glass and filled a second. "There are checks and balances to try and alleviate total power and control. Initially, it was to make them feel better about what a tyrant I am. As they just saw, it was almost entirely in name only. Greedy bastards wanted to charge you a three hundred percent markup on minerals and ores that Rubious is sending."

"We could have paid..."

Alliyah spun to look at the serpent, stalking up to him and poking him in the chest. "I will not have those greedy fucks steal from you because of some bullshit loophole. Your people are doing everything they can to pull the full brunt of the eldritch attack directly on top of your fucking heads, saving thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of lives."

Geo and Hope couldn't help but smile as the serpent raised his hands in a calming motion. "Of course, Queen Alliyah. Thank you. Would it be possible to get a book or scroll telling us exactly what we just...signed up for? We wouldn't want to falter on our side."

Alliyah nodded and took another deep drink. "Yeah, I'll have little Thea bring you all the relevant details. By all that is sacred, I can't wait to be done with this shit."

Just as quickly as she had stormed in, she walked away, leaving a mostly stunned throne room that was half full of important people.

Geo chuckled and nudged Stas. "I can see why his Lordship fell in love. What a tempest of righteous fury."

Of course, the little goblin cackled.