CHAPTER TWENTY

Keltorilax and Durge led an army of vermin towards the city of elves. The armies were massive in size. Centipedes, scorpions, and spiders of all sizes followed their lead. The forest did not slow their pace. They were creatures of the night and marched through the night hours. The sun had only just set and they had already been marching for two days.

"We will reach the city by sunrise," Keltorilax shouted. Durge grinned.

"I plan on eating elf meat for the next few years." Durge chuckled. The Vermin Trinity appeared before the massive army.

"Return home! Our war has been postponed." The Vermin Trinity said in unity.

"But we are so close to the city!" Durge scoffed.

"Obey, and the women are yours!" Durge silenced and grinned wryly.

"Lords, why do we retreat before the war has begun?" Keltorilax dared to ask.

"The rise of the gods has begun! The many have awakened. Their council demands peace at the moment. We must obey if we are to survive. Until, that is we deem that things have changed." The Vermin Trinity replied before teleporting away. The army was left confused.

"I want my revenge!" Keltorilax roared and took flight. Durge watched as the dragon defied their gods and flew towards the elven city.

"Farewell, foolish dragon," Durge said before turning around and leading the army back home.

*****

The city mourned the loss of their king, finally. Even as a vampire, King Solaris had kept his honor intact. The clergy honored their king as they would have before his transformation. They respected the queen in her current condition and stopped revolting against their royal family. The funeral was performed at night so that the queen could attend the ceremony and honor her husband's sacrifice. The high priest stepped beside the sarcophagus of the king and rested a gentle hand upon it.

"We turned our back on our king out of fear of what he and the queen had become. We have only ever experienced the dark side of such creatures. Never before have we ever witnessed honor among them. Our king honored us in his second life as a vampire just as he did in his first life. Let us never forget the sacrifices he has made or the love he has shown us all!" The high priest said before lowering his head in a silent prayer and then stepping away. Eleanor stepped up next. Her eyes were flooded with tears. She seemed as though she could barely hold herself together.

"We are not perfect! Even as elves we are faulted just like man, just like the dwarves, just like any other living thing in this world! My father made some poor choices." Eleanor looked to her mother before continuing. "He did them out of love for his family. That kind of love blinds us to the outside world and how our deeds affect them. He wanted his family whole again. For a brief moment he had that. Because he had that, he sacrificed himself to save a friend of mine. He redeemed his soul in a matter of speaking by channeling the positive energy through his negative energy filled body and healed Captain Fellis. So, for all of you who still question his soul, he atoned." Eleanor stepped down and sobbed. The queen stepped up reluctantly.

"I know you all must think me evil. I do not blame you. I am thankful that you honor Solaris. You do not need to do the same for me. I am announcing my abdication of the throne. My daughter, Eleanor will take up the mantle as queen and rule in my absence. You do not need me as a distraction during these trying times. War is upon us. Scouts have reported that an army marches towards our city. We need to prepare for this as soon as we finish this ritual. We do not have time to mourn yet. Rally, and fight for your survival!" The queen ended with a roar. All were left in shock but none more than Eleanor.

"Mother, I am not ready for this! We did not speak about such things." Eleanor gasped. The queen ignored her as she left the funeral. The elven armies were already amassing near the gates to fortify their defenses. The funeral had concluded faster than it had begun. Eleanor chased after her mother. The queen took off in a blur leaving Eleanor alone. Eleanor looked up to the sky.

"I'm not ready for this, Enamor, hear my plea for your aid. I have yet to witness any divine authority aside from mysticisms and magics. Please, help me on this dark night." Eleanor prayed. The night sky lit up with daylight.

"I am here! I have awaken!" A voice replied to her and her alone. No one else saw what she had seen. It was her vision, but it was real to her.

"Enamor," Eleanor gasped in awe.

"The war that you fear is on hold for now. The gods have a more critical matter to attend to. The forces of the Vermin Trinity remain a threat. One foe did not listen and is in flight, heading for your city at this very moment. The dragon, Keltorilax comes to destroy the elves. Defend yourselves!" The vision faded and Enamor was gone. Eleanor looked about the sky. It had an eerie breeze sweeping in.

"A dragon! But we killed it. Someone resurrected it, most likely the Vermin Trinity. Which means it is mutated and more fierce than ever and after Fauna." Eleanor gasped. She knew that she had to let her mother go. The responsibility of the elven city now rested on her shoulders. Would her people even listen to her? Would they believe her that she had spoken to Enamor through a personal vision? They would think her mad! She heard the shriek of the green dragon high in the sky.

It was near and would begin its descent any moment and begin devouring the elves. Eleanor ran to warn her people of the coming danger. The generals and soldiers were gathering at the walls, preparing for war. They were not prepared to face a dragon in flight.