Рассказы Геройской Таверны Опции

[Kastore]

В теме нельзя отписываться. Только выкладывать и читать рассказы.

[XEL]

The Queen's Rally

by Kareeah Indaga

It was early, even for an army on the move. She had slept little this night, using the time instead for conversing with her generals and planning the next offensive. Once that was completed, she bade them gather her forces together to prepare for the attack at sunrise. Sunrise was a mere hour away.

Time to rally the troops.

Muffled grumbling echoed down the stone passages of their current encampment, masking the sound of her own passage as she brushed past the narrow stone walls. But it faded swiftly into agitated silence as she stepped out onto the rocky outcropping overlooking her forces. Below her, her army waited, and she smiled appraisingly as she surveyed it; so vast was her host that the farthest licking flames were barely more then pinpricks in the surrounding dark. The newest recruits from AvLee had arrived some weeks ago, and while their numbers were but a fraction of her own, their presence was evidenced by the gold and green scales glittering in the shadows. The anxiety and excitement of the assembly positively roiled beneath her trained senses, manifesting itself in harsh whispers and shifting feet, but it was held firmly beneath powerful, iron control.

Her control.

It was glorious. She was tempted to revel for a moment in the rising feeling of sheer power, but she had not come so far by indulging every petty whim. So that moment, like so many others and much more besides, was sacrificed to more practical considerations.

“My fellows, the day has come!”

A loud cheer rose in answer; creaking armor and dragon roars providing accompaniment.

“It has been many months since we began our campaign, but all who stood against us have been overrun, and their bones now litter their fortresses. Now, only our oldest and most persistent foes stand against us! Today, we begin our most glorious battle to forever wipe their blight from this world!”

Another cheer erupted from the masses, this one carrying a stronger taint of bloodlust; she measured her response carefully and poured commiserating disgust into her next words.

“For too long we have languished outside their borders, while their arrogance remains unchallenged! But now, my fellows,” she purred, her gaze lifting to the scaled forms in the back of the assembly, “Our brothers and sisters from across the sea have joined us, and our own ranks have swelled beyond anything ever known! Together we will cleanse their foul nation of all the filth that dwells within it, and raise our banner over their battlements! Our lands will no longer suffer the mockery of their existence! No longer will their stench foul our coastlines, their arrogance poison our skies! We will throw down their high towers and drive them from the lands that rightfully belong to us! They have threatened our power, our borders, our very way of life for TOO LONG!”

The roar from the crowd was continuous now, and even with her commanding voice she nearly had to bellow to be heard.

“Brothers and sisters, today we fly!”

Roars from the long throats of Gold, Green, Red, and Black dragons shook the cavern in reply, raining down dust and chips of stone while her lesser minions shouted and banged their weapons. She launched herself across the cavern, out of the cave entrance and into the fading night sky, her soldiers pouring out behind her.

The army of Dragon Queen Mutare was on the move.