Larasta, Red Raven's Base

  About the Same Time Sin is Accepting Gifts in Queen Felicity's Courtyard

  "-What I want to know is why we are just sitting here." Growled a very angry dwarf as he tugged on his beard and ground his teeth. Dural was usually a patient man, but even he was not one to sit about and wait for others to do the fighting.

  Rift sighed. He had already had this talk three or four times that day but knew his man meant well. If he was honest with himself, Rift also wanted to be in the field and aiding the heroes and the other Captains who were out fighting. But there was a reason the Red Ravens were not mobilized to this battle. Several of them in fact, and he had told the others them often enough already.

  "Dural, enough." Gripped Sandra. She had taken to pacing in front of the bar, her lavender witch's hat a little askew and her heels nearly wearing a groove in the stone floor. "You know full well that we would be lending aid if we could or if we were needed."

  "The fact of the matter is that we would not make it to the battlefield in time even if we wanted to be there." Said Vale, arms crossed and back holding up the wall as he coldly glared around the room. Everyone showed their stress differently, and Vale was the type to brood. He was not in a good mood as it was, and when the news came in several hours ago that the heroes had been deployed to the Kingdom of Harrow to fight a battle against the minions of the Demon King, he was plunged into an even sourer mood. "Harrow is nearly on the other side of the country. And we do not have a mage capable of teleportation in our ranks. It would take us weeks to get there on horse back."

  Dural let out a stream of curses in dwarfish and took to pacing a path on the other side of the room. It was hard for them all to just sit around and wait, even if they all knew that there was no way to lend aid. It was the first battle against the Demon King's forces in the last three hundred years. They had been told that it was not a large incursion, but the people of Larasta were not used to fighting the dark and corrupted forces of the Demon King anymore, their skills now three centuries rusty. But at least they had the heroes to help. Sometimes the heroes were not summoned till the Demon King already attacked and then the losses were always tragically large.

  "Where is the attack happening again?" Aske Zach. He was sitting on the couch that Sin usually occupied. He sat there often these days, his nose in a book. Reading was not odd for the resident Enchanter but being out of his laboratory was strange. He had taken the loss of Sin to the Demon Realm hard, and sitting in her spot was a way to be close to her. Right now, he sat with his knees pulled up like a child, and his boyish face pale.

  "On the outskirts of a small town called Rosa's Pass. Its mainly a farming village and we were told via messenger that the people were evacuated with no casualties." Said Rift. The monotonous tone revealing just how many times he had had to repeat the facts for his anxious squad. Most people tried not to get angry at the tinkerer though. He was kind of the kid brother of the squad, and they all knew how sensitive he was.

  "I do not like that we haven't heard a word from the battlefield in so long." Worried Leon, the powerful, but usually terrified, healer. He was truly gifted in the arts of healing magic but the poor elf was known to jump at his own shadow from time to time. "Has Honey still not sent word from the capital?"

  "No" Replied Rift for perhaps the sixth time. He really did try for patients with his people. "She would have contacted us if she could. I assume the battle is still on going."

  Honey, the vice captain of the Red Ravens and a rather charismatic wolf beastmen, was currently the only Red Raven on sight. She had been sent to the capital after Rift and Vale had returned to the base, a week ago. She was supposed to be helping with some preparations for the coming Summer Selection, a test held to help squad captains choose new members, but was barely there a day when the call was made to alert the capitol that the Demon King had launched his first attack. Honey was a berserker and was more then capable to take care of herself and others. But they all still worried.

  Not all squads were as close to one another as the Ravens, but most were bigger than their rag tag group of misfits. At only seven members they were impressively small. Most squads had dozens of members. Partially, it was because that the goal of the Red Ravens was not so much to be the best, but simply be who they were and still be of use to the kingdom and country. Rift had been hoping to add the Demon woman, Sin, to their ranks, bringing their total to eight people strong.

  Rift had liked the fiery and obstinate demon woman, even if she had any number of secrets. Though, oddly enough, he did believe that not all the secrets she herself even knew. The fact that she was a demon queen for one thing... they had all been shocked to learn of her status at the last meeting at the capital a week ago. All but Rift, who's unique eyes were able to see her status chart. Though he had no clue the ramifications of what 'demon queen' truly meant, the consensus of the captains was that she simply hid what she was from everyone for her own reasons. Yet, Rift believed other wise. He really did think that she had no clue as to what she was in the eyes of the demons. He wasn't sure how that was possible, but he had learned to trust his instincts.

  A fizzing sound had all conversation and pacing come to a stop, and everyone fixed their eyes on the crystal cube set in the center of the table. It was a communications crystal and they had been anxiously awaiting word from their vice captain to come through for hours now. It was no surprise to hear the sighs of relief from the gathered Ravens when Honey's perfect face with her blonde curls came into view. She looked awful, but they were all to relived to comment on it, happy she was still alive.

  "Honey!" Said Rift, hands on the table and leaning forward, the only true show of concern he had allowed himself that day, for fear of discouraging his men. "Are you hurt? What is the news?"

  The wolf beastmen coughed and the image wavered slightly before her tired eyes came back into focus. "I am well enough." She wheezed, brushing her once immaculate hair out of her face. They all knew that her horse voice meant that she had to use her berserker skills. If she had to resort to that then the battle had to of been rough, after all, Honey did not like relying on the skill that made her essentially turn into a wild animal. "We made it out with no fatalities, and even managed to protect the village." She sighed.

  "Was the force bigger than expected?" Sandra asked, looking concerned and anxious. It was an odd sight for a woman so commonly projecting an air of not giving a care.

  Honey shook her head, the image flickering again. "No, it wasn't that large at all... And that made it even more frightening." She took a deep breath and locked eyes with Rift. "I know we all heard stories and even read up on what the Demon King's forces are like but-"She trailed off, rubbing the back of her neck with a filthy hand. "I thought I was prepared for it, Captain, I really did. But there is no preparing for this."

  "You mean the phenomenon that the tales speak of?" Asked Zach, his thirst for knowledge over shadowing his concern for a moment. "Where those that set their eyes on the Demon King's forces freeze up in fear, then get cut down before they come to their senses?"

  "Yes Zach..." Honey drawled, a smile briefly touching her lips upon seeing him acting true to form. "We got lucky. If the heroes Markus and Kayden were not present, we would have seen many more injuries and even deaths."

  "Those stories are true as well then, that the heroes are unaffected by the Call?" Asked Rift, sitting back in his seat and running a large hand down his face. He was as relived as the rest of the Squad that not only Honey was safe, but there were no other deaths, either.

  The Call was the name of the supposed spell that the armies of the Demon King use to freeze their enemies in their tracks. It is said that it is something that soldiers can get used to, that the more you fight the evil armies the more accustom you get to resisting the Call. This spell alone had the ability to result in the deaths of countless soldiers. They had all thought if they just mentally prepared for it, made sure they expected its effects, then they could avoid it all together. Apparently not.

  This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

  "The heroes were able to hold off the enemy long enough for the rest of the army to come to its senses. They were amazing in all honesty. I would hate to see our chances against these foes if we had not summoned them. Still, I wish Lady Kassidy had been with us. Many men and women were gravely injured this day and I am sure at least some would be able to make full recoveries had she been able to join us on the battlefield. As it stands now, I fear some will be going home and not returning to the field of battle again..."

  "I understand that, like us, the other heroes were to far out to help, but did the capital not send out any healers at all?" whispered Leon, looking sad as he often did when learning of people being hurt and not being able to help them.

  "That seems like a major oversight." Growled Dural.

  "No, of course there were healers." Said Honey. "But they could only do so much. Lady Kassidy is just so gifted at wide area healing spells. Not to mention her power alone may have been enough to reattach some limbs..." She did not elaborate further, and Sandra reached out a hand to grasp Leon's shoulder as the healer grew pale. Despite his chosen field of work Leon really did have a week constitution.

  "Are you coming back?" Asked Rift, his face stoney now. "Is there a teleportation mage at the ready there or not?"

  Again, Honey shook her head with a frown. "No there is none here. King Farkus of Harrow is sending aid already and a few mages gifted in the art of teleportation. I am here for the next few days at least. I hope we manage to get us a good teleporter at the next selection." She sighed with a week smile, an attempt to add humor where little could be found. "What about you guys? How are you holding up?"

  "We have just been sitting around." Huffed Sandra, trying to right her large lavender witch's hat. "Unlike you we were not risking our lives."

  "I really hope we are able to get more notice before the next attack." Stated Zach, rubbing his eyes. Now that Honey was proven to be safe, he was beginning to feel the strain of the day. "With less than two days notice we barely had time to get anyone out there. We got lucky that the two heroes that were at the battle were on hand when the incursion was announced."

  "According to Markus, Queen Seraphina is ordering that more patrols be sent out to keep an eye out for the kataracts. Which is good, as we can ill afford to go into another fight so unprepared again. I suspect there will be some announcements made in the coming days in regards to the kataracts, and the enemy, once the Queen and her council had been briefed on the happenings here."

  "Yes, alright." Said Rift Kindly. "Thank you for getting in touch so soon after the fight, but go rest now. I expect you in good health when you make it back here."

  Honey chuckled. "As you say, sir."

  "Get some rest Lovely." Smiled Sandra at the cube where Honey's pale face wavered. "You look terrible."

  "I can always count on you to point out the things most people would let lie..." Sighed the vice captain with a weak smirk. "Alright, I will eat and then get some sleep. Just so you know though, you all look ragged. At least I have an adequate excuse."

  And with that the cube returned to its glass like state, and the spell was terminated. The squad all looked relived and tired. The day was still young, but it was doubtful that the group would get much done now. At least they knew the results of the battle, and the fate of their friend.

  "Dural, please get us some food on the go, would you?" Sighed Rift, leaning back and slumping his shoulders. "We all need a meal. I am sure I am not the only one who hasn't eaten today."

  The dwarf chuckled. "Eye, I can do that Cap'. Could use a bite to eat myself."

  He had just turned to head for the kitchen when the cube on the table fizzled once again.

  "What?" Sighed Rift.

  "Did she forget to tell us something?" Laughed Sandra as the group leaned into the crystal again.

  But it was not Honey's wore out face that appeared before them. This time it was an older human male with white hair and a beard. He had a stern face, and it was currently set in a firm frown as he looked out at the gathered Squad.

  "August." Said Rift, surprised. "To what do we owe the pleasure?"

  August was the Captain of the Golden Dragons; the greatest of the Royal Squadrons and the one in charge of guarding the queen and the capital. He was a stern man but a good and honest one as well, always putting the good of the kingdom before all else.

  "Nothing good I am afraid." He sighed, stroking his beard, and looking as worn out as Rift felt. "Have you had word from Harrow?"

  Rift nodded. "My Vice captain just contacted me. She was the only one of our squads to participate. She says the battle was hard but won all the same."

  August nodded. "Yes, I have just heard much the same. It was mainly the Stags that were out there on the field of battle today. Their base is out that way after all. Heig was here, however, and has his vice captain leading the charge with the heroes."

  "How did his men fare?"

  "Not amazingly." Admitted August with a frown. "We were too underprepared. Heig, says he has several men laid up for a month or more. At least there were no lives lost."

  "Not that I am not honored that the captain of the Golden Dragons has decided to check in on me but... was this the real reason for your call?"

  The older man chuckled. "No, it is not. As I said, I bear some unfortunate news. Her Majesty bade that I contact you immediately, so that is what I am doing." He sighed and gave his beard a tug, smile fading. "We just received word from the scouting party that was sent out from Bellana: it looks like there is a Kataract to the southwest of the city. A large one."

  Dural and Rift cursed, almost simultaneously, while Sandra groaned and sat in a chair. Zach merely stared wide eyed at the crystal, and Leon closed his eyes, looking pained. Vale glared at the projected image of the Dragon's captain, as if that would somehow change the news they had just received.

  "How close?" Asked Rift angerly.

  "Too close. Less than a quarter hour outside the city walls. And as I said, it's a large one. The only bit of good news is that the men sent to look for the Kataracts literally saw it forming before their eyes. And one that size will take longer to spit out the enemy. Still, I'd say that we have two weeks, tops, before we have the biggest battle this country has seen in nearly three hundred years."

  Captain rift cursed again, messing his hair with a battle scared hand. "Two weeks huh? Not much time, but perhaps the best we could hope for, given the circumstances."

  "Indeed. At least we have time to mobilize our forces and send them your way. Queen Seraphina has called back all the heroes as well. You should have all hands-on-deck, as they say. Still, I do not like this at all."

  "Yes... A large Kataract so soon. It doesn't bode well."

  Both men fell silent for a short time, thinking, when August broke the silence. "Any word from your demon?"

  Rift started in surprise, not expecting the man to bring up Sin really. Yes, it was a thing to be concerned about, but they seemed to have more pressing issues at the moment. "Nothing yet. Why do you ask?"

  August shook his head, hand still on his white beard. "Gelzrieg seems convinced that she will not let the insult of being banished stand. But if this Demon Queen of yours does feel as fond of you as you seem to believe, then, perhaps, she can help. If she returns in time that is. My man seems to think that she could be here by then, if his calculations are correct about the time frames. He seems to have supreme confidence that having a demon queen on our side would be nearly as momentous as having a sixth hero. At least that's how he makes it sound. Mind you-"He added looking annoyed. "He seems half convinced that she just may be angry enough over what the High Priest did that she might just join with the Demon King, simply out of spite."

  "Sin can be pretty spiteful." Agreed Vale, speaking up at last. "But I do not think she would join the Demon King's forces. Especially if it is Bellana that they are attacking."

  "Sin loves this city." Agreed Zach. "And at the very least she would want to see it safe, even if she refused to assist the rest of the nation. And she loves our base..."

  It seemed a lame reason, but the others knew it to be true. Even the base, as magical and some what sentient as it was, seemed to be missing her since she had been gone. There was a sense of melancholy about the massive building over the few weeks. Zach seemed convinced that it was because the base itself wished for Sin to return. She had not been with them long, but they all felt her absence.

  "Well, if you hear tell of her, please let the capital know right away." Sighed the other captain. "At the very least I want Gelzrieg off my back about it. I swear the demon seems more afraid of these demon queens than he is of the Demon King him self. I may never understand these demons."

  Rift laughed softly. "I can understand that. I can't say I have as much exposure to the race as some others, but the woman, Sin, has been a handful since the moment she first saved our Zachariah's life."

  "I can't say she ever showed any of the terrifying power your man claimed the demon queens have." Said Vale reaching up and tapping the sleeping red dragon around his neck. The damned lizard was still acting as a second skin to him. Even the storm wolf Vendaval had been keeping close to the different members off the squad most of the time. None of them could understand his strange growling language as Sin could but he seemed to be trying to make himself useful. "But she is a whirlwind of attitude and determination at the very least."

  Zach laughed. "Yes! I hope she comes home soon." He reached down and patted the stone floor as if to comfort the base itself.

  "I will send word if we hear anything on the demon front. Please make sure we are kept up to date on the coming attack. I will head out to look at the Kataract myself in the morning." Rift said to the other captain.

  August nodded once, then his face faded the same as Honey's had. The brief burst of relief that had filled the base at the end of Honey's call had faded, and was once again replaced with anxiety. They were on the cusp of a truly massive battle, and the outcome was far from certain. It was doubtful that any of them would get much rest after all.