The Home Stone

As Kirin, Blick and Treymane stopped to camp at the end of the first day, when the dwarf told them of his experience with the Flame Demon that the dragon had sent to destroy Maryton and eventually the entire dwarf army. He recalled the events that took place just several days before the elven army arrived. The elf and the halfling could not imagine what their friend went through, but were happy to see him alive and well after his ordeal.

Kirin had sent most of the Sky Elves with their giant bird’s home keeping only a dozen or so to fly to the different parts of the Hillshire and report back on what they saw. Just as the army set up camp, one of the giant birds returned with the news that a large contingent of enemy soldiers were headed this way and that they would be here by morning. The elf gave orders to set a trap and sent out patrols to see if they moved at night or stayed put.

After midnight the first patrol returned and told Kirin that the enemy was camped just about a mile or two from them and that they were all asleep.

“It looks like they don’t know we’re here,” he said to Blick. “This could work to our advantage.”

“I could have my men in place within the hour and when they come down that road we’ll hit them so hard that they won’t know today from tomorrow,” said Blick.

Kirin agreed and let Blick position his men on both sides of the road ready to pounce on the barbarians as soon as they appeared. He also placed about five hundred archers behind the dwarfs to aid them in their attack, keeping the rest of his army and the remaining men of the fox clan in reserve. With everything and everyone in place, the elf and dwarf settled down for the night with instructions to be awakened as soon as the enemy was on the move.

The two were awakened just before dawn and told that the enemy army had broken camp and was on the way here. With the trap set, the dwarfs and elves faded into the trees and out of sight. An hour or so later, the sound of hard soles of boots pounding on the hard gravel road were heard. The enemy was closing and Blick and Kirin made a final check and then orders were given that no enemy soldier was to be allowed to get past them during the up and coming battle.

The barbarian army, five hundred strong was moving fast and paying no head to what might be waiting for them. They were on their way to re-enforce the men at the bridge. They had no idea that the battle had been lost and the bridge was once more in the hands of the dwarfs. When the barbarians were close enough Blick ordered the trap sprung. Volleys of arrow cut into the ranks of the unsuspecting enemy soldiers, cutting them down one after another. So close were the longbows that the arrows pierces the shields and killed whoever tried to use them for protection. Three volleys were fired one after another and then the dwarfs attacked. First from one side and when the barbarians had their backs turned, Blick ordered his men to attack from the rear. It was over as fast as it had begun. Many lay dead or wounded on the road. Three quarters of the enemy was destroyed and the rest were taken prisoner. Blick left a few dozen men behind to look after the barbarians and then continued towards Haggle Ville.

Kirin also had left about fifty archers behind to help guard the prisoners. Now the next part of this journey would prove to be the hardest. Haggle Ville was a large town and there were many places for the enemy to hide and lay traps for the elves and dwarfs. He called Blick and Vengar to his tent and plan their next action.

“We are going to need your help in this one,” he looked at the Snowlander and pointed to the city on a map that Blick had furnished for him. “We’ll need you and your men to spy on your people and let us know what they are up to and where the officers are.”

“What if some of the men there are from my clan?” he asked.

“If they refuse to fight us, we’ll leave them in peace,” answered the elf, “but if they decide to fight, then I haven’t any choice but to fight back. And you know what the outcome is going to be. We’ll wait in the woods just outside the city until you return.”

Vengar understood his mission and with his men he left the camp and marched on ahead towards the capital of the halflings. When the barbarian was out of sight, Kirin sent a small patrol of scouts after them to see what they would do. It was on Blick’s concern that he still did not trust them. An hour later the armies of the dwarfs and elves moved out and followed the Snowlanders.

A mile or two before reaching Haggle Ville, the scouts returned with news that Vengar had killed the soldiers just outside the city and replaced them with his men. He then went into Haggle Ville to find out where his people were. Pleased with this news, Kirin brought his men up to the barricade that blocked the road leading to the town. There he halted and spoke to the soldier in charge.

“What news do you have?” Kirin asked.

“There is an army just north of the city waiting to march and retake the bridge at Maryton,” he replied. “They are about one thousand in strength. There is one more thing. The king has men positioned within the ranks that are working only for him. If their life force is ended, he will know. That is why these men are on their way there. Your men have killed one of them near the bridge. There are more in the city, but all the soldiers there are from our clan. The king doesn’t trust us enough to fight for him. That is also why he must be replaced by his daughter the Princess Katrina.”

This news was music to his ears Kirin thought. “How many men of yours are in the city?” he asked.

“About two hundred,” replied the guard. “Vengar is there now advising them that your men are coming and help them free some of the generals of Katrina’s personal guard from the dungeons below the castle.”

Kirin explained that his men along with the dwarfs first had to dispense with the army that was camped on the north road, before entering the city. He asked him to send a messenger to Vengar and let him know what the plans were. This was done and soon the elven and dwarf armies were on the move again.