Zophina sat atop her black steed waiting patiently for the appointed time. A passerby would have seen her there and thought nothing but a beautiful sculpture rested there. Lord Erick got this impression as he rode to meet his Queen. Surpressing a shudder, Erick announced, "The troops are ready. The enemy is where you want them. We await your signal."
Zophina withdrew a small dagger from her belt. She whispered some words into the pommel and tossed it into the air. The dagger flew upward with the speed of a lightning bolt. At the point it disappeared in the sky, huge, grey clouds billowed out and expanded toward Grunlund.
After watching the spectacle in the sky, Zophina drew her sword and said to Erick, "Have the troops follow my lead."
Whithout waiting for confirmation, the Dark Queen raised her sword over her head and led her personal squadron to the front with an unnatural speed.
King Mikalon watched the spectacle unfold from his hut. He turned to Dame Valareen. "Sound the first phase of our defence!"
She took her bow and lit an arrow. Nocking it, she loosed it over the encampment, where it exploded with a bright flash.
Sir Ludwig personally led the command of those who were to play the decoy troope. Taking a horn from his belt. He sounded the charge for his men and led them to the front.
Karwyn watched the spectacle, awestruck. It had been as if the Queen ignored the powerful enchantment she had placed on her. The Queen should not have been able to activate a magical candle, much less summon a thunderstorm! Sighing, she began to question her own abilities as she turned back to the palace.
Well, she thought to herself, I should at least be able to free the princess. Then, she could replan ensnaring the Queen...
Sir Ludwig rode up to Zophina and made a respectful bow. "What are your orders, Magesty?"
Ludwig looked up and saw into her eyes and could not look away. He blanched in fear as he saw his wife and elflings being stabbed over and over again my skelital warriors, one of which he recognised as his late commander, Sir Jon, the other as himself.
"Insolent fool," stated the Queen, emotionlessly. "Do you think such a trick could win this war for you?" At that instant, the Queen effortlessly pushewd her blade through the full plate of Sir Ludwic and lifted him off the ground. His eyes began to glow green as she brought him close. The light from them flowed into those of Zophina.
Then, turning to the advancing troupe, she lifted the body over her head. It was immediately struck by lightning from the storm clouds. She then threw Sir Ludwig, screaming in a fit that would rival a banchee, his body burning in an eriee green flame, into the center of the troupe from her sword.
The body exploded in a large green ball of flame, engulfing the whole troope. Even those under the Queen's banner were taken aback at the display.
Ignoring her command, Zophina withdrew a small scabbard from her belt and spoke into it. The clouds themselves seemed to boom her words with their thunder and dark lightning. "A trap has been laid by the elves. Take no allies from the village. Slay any who do not bear their Queen's mark."
Zophina then turned to her second, her eyes glowing as Ludwig's had. She said, "There is a flanking army of archers and riders in the forrest to your east. The mages lie beyond protected by the rest of the knights and have prepared magical traps for you. Overwhelm them." The dark knight bowed and led the squadron foward. The queen then began her ride back to her command tent.
Sir Jon was about to take up arms whit his friend Ludwig when he saw him anbout to confront the Queen. He watched the spectacle and choked back tears of rage and defeat. Then, spying an escaped stallion, Jon mounted and rode back to rondevoux with King Mikalon to see if there was any hope left of winning this battle.
"King Mikalon. Sir Jon is here to see you."
The king was in the middle of donning his armor, preparing for his last wave to try to repel the forces of darkness. However, as his pllan had failed, it did not look well.
"Sir Jon? I'm afraid you have been seeing things, Wharton. Sir Jon was assasinated."
"No, sire. He narrowly escaped the attempt and was detained for the evening dealing with capture by the enemy."
"Send him in, then!" exclaimed the king, hopes returning to him once more.
No sooner than Mikalon had commanded, Sir Jon entered the throne room.
"Ah, Sir Jon. I heard reports of your death when you went missing."
"Yes, your Highness. I narrowly escaped the assault that was planned by my soilders. But that is a story for another time. How fares the army?"
"Not well," sighed Mikalon. "The Queen seems to have learned each of our strategies somehow and thwarted each attempt. The only 'successful' attacks have been from the support fire from the Rangers from Sanado, allowing the successful retreat of the mages and some of the flanking soilders."
"King Melchoir sent out the rangers? No wonder Princess Saraya was out in the fray."
"The princess has come to the battlefield? This is news to me," commented the king.
"She was captured and betrayed by her borother, Prince Erick," said Sir Jon, not bothering to hide the anger and scorn in his voice.
"That is dire news indeed. Although I thank the Green Mistress for your safety and return to us, I fear it won't do us much good. The Queen's forces will surely slaughter our smaller number."
"It is worse than you realise. The Queen invaded this land for the Stone of Genia. And, from the news I have heard, she has obtained it."
King Mikalon became whiter than the moon. "She obtained the Stone of Genia! If so, none can stand in her way."
"The pixie guardian of the stone hexed it, although of what nature the hex is, I am unsure. She is attempting to regain the stone. Before we parted company, she cast a spell of some sort on me, claiming it may turn the tide of the war."
Outside, the king and Sir Jon could hear the gasps of awe from the surrounding subjects of the king. Sir Jon and King Mikalon went outside and saw everyone staring at the sky. Shining through the stormclouds was a galaxy of pink and blue stars. The gently floated down to the mansion of King Mikalon.
Suddenly, as the 'stars' decended, Sir Jon's sun glowed a brillient white. The light engulfed him and he morhed back into the pixie form he had worn hours before. The leader of the pixie army approached Sir Jon and said, "High Guardian Karwyn, Grand-Fairy of the Order of Celeste, has ordained you as the Mistress-General of this army to fight the war against Queen Zophina. I, Corporal Lindsaie, Mistress-Commander of the Order of Celeste, place myself and my army at your command."
"What!?" exclaimed Sir Jon, taken aback. "I never agreed to this task. I appreciate your offer, but I am not experienced in your arts."
Smiling gaily, Lidsaie said soothingly, "Fear not, great warrior. Along with the annointment spell came the knowledge of our arts and skills. This form is much more powerful than your previous one and will give you the only chance of defeating the Dark Queen and reobtaining the Stone of Genia from Darkness. Besides, You can retire after this whole event is over and marry your sweetheart, assuming we are all alive to tell the tale, that is," she finished with a giggle.
Before Sir Jon could reply, King Mikalon bowed humbly before Sir Jon. "What a high honour it is to recieve this charge. I place my resources at your disposal."
Sir Jon looked down at her small, cute toes in contemplation. After a moments hesitation, she looked at Lindsaie ans spoke in a voice firm with resolve, "I, Sir Jonathon Escarriot, Lord Capatian-General of the Knights of Sanado, accept the responcibility entrusted to me."
"Very well," responded Lindsaie. "Hensforth, you shall be known as Guardian Jolania, High-General of the Order of Celeste till death takes you, or Celeste relieves you of your burden."
Queen Zophina stood up from her throne as she looked out through her mystic globe over the battlefield and saw the bright glow in the sky. Suddenly, the Queen was enveloped in a dark red aura and fell to her knees. She screamed out in agony as she struggled to pull a green amulet from her neck.
Lord Erick, having just arrived to update his Queen with the results of the day's fight, ran to her side. "Highness! Are you alright?" he asked, his voice filled with fear, and maybe a small sliver of hope. Her body seemed to be fading into this aura and her body was quickly loosing any substance.
Glancing up at him, she savagely tore the dagger from his belt and etched a small rune on the face of the emerald. The emerald became a dark red, then black, buzzing with power as the aura about the Queen returned to normal and her body phased back into existance. She then took the amulet and smashed it on the wall and it exploded with a bright pink flash, leaving a cloud of pixie dust settling to the floor.
"A powerful banishment spell. So the pixies and my bitch of a sister Celeste wish to regain my spoils," said Queen Zophina, watching the dust settle. Lord Erick looked at it as if it were a five-headed wyrm.
Turning to face her general, she said, "There is an intruder. The pixie which probably guarded the stone is probably seeking to dual with me. Find and destroy her." She then removed the Stone of Genia from her evening robes. "And on your way, drop this off with Lady Sillice and have her find out if the pixie had any other surprises awaiting me."
Lord Erik bowed humbly. "Your orders shall be completed before daybreak," he said, then took his leave.
