Chapter 6
Hello Father
The morning sun streamed through the mayor's study window, casting long shadows on the worn wooden floor. Preacher, leaning against the table, watched Princess Seraphina as she meticulously traced a finger along the map, her brow furrowed with worry. Despite the calming presence of the tea he'd brought, her exhaustion was obvious. Dark circles underscored her normally radiant eyes, and the air around her seemed to crackle with suppressed tension. She was still wearing her armor from the battle from the night before.
"Five days," she said, her voice strained, "five days before the main force arrives."
Preacher knew she was right. Every minute counted. He had already surveyed the southern pass, the choke point they needed to defend. It was a narrow sliver of land, hemmed in by towering mountains, the perfect place to bottleneck the ogre army.
"We'll be ready, Princess," he assured her, his voice firm. "I've got a plan."
He gestured to the map, his finger tracing a line along the narrowest point. "First, we build a wall. A huge, impenetrable wall, using my earth magic." He then drew two more lines, fanning out from the base of the wall. "Then, we create battlement towers, flanking the wall. These will give us a vantage point to rain down hellfire on the ogres. But that's not all."
He paused, his eyes meeting hers. "We need to make sure they can't get around the wall. So, I'll level the mountainside, create a sheer cliff face. No ogre can climb that, not even the giants."
Princess Seraphina's eyes widened. "That's brilliant, Preacher. But even with those fortifications..."
"There's one last step," he interrupted, drawing two arches on the map leading down from the city to the edge of the mountains. "We build walls leading down from the city to the mountains, creating a funnel. If the ogres somehow manage to break through the initial defenses, they'll be funneled into this kill zone. Our knights will be waiting, ready to pick them off."
She stared at the map, her lips parted in awe. "Preacher, you're a genius. It's a perfect trap. We'll crush them." Her enthusiasm got the better of her, and she impulsively grabbed Preacher in a hug, holding on a little longer than was perhaps appropriate.
"We will, Princess," he said, a spark of confidence in his voice. "We will."
He watched as she released him and backed away, a deep blush creeping up her face. "Yes… well… carry on." She said awkwardly, before squaring her shoulders and restoring her regal composure. The Princess was back, and with her, a glimmer of hope for the city, a hope fueled by Preacher's plan. The clock was ticking, but they weren't going down without a fight. Preacher would use his magic, his strength, and his cunning to protect the city as the King had asked, and to ensure that the ogre army was vanquished once and for all
At the break of dawn, as the sun cast its golden rays on the city of Elvenwood, Preacher and Princess Seraphina stood side by side on the wall, their hearts pounding with a mix of trepidation and anticipation. Five arduous days had passed. But the fortifications were complete. Preacher's plan had sparked a fire within Princess Seraphina, a flicker of hope amidst the encroaching darkness. With each step of its execution, their resolve solidified.
. Preacher, with his mastery of earth magic, had raised a formidable granite wall at the southern pass, its height of thirty meters made it an imposing structure and an impenetrable surface defying the might of even the largest ogres. Upon it, he had conjured battlement towers, granting the defenders a vantage point from which to launch their fiery assault.
To prevent the ogres from circumventing the wall, Preacher had reshaped the mountainside, with earth magic, carving a sheer cliff face that would challenge the most skilled climbers.
But their fortifications were only half the battle. Recognizing the possibility of a breach, Preacher had devised an ingenious route, a labyrinthine network of walls funneling the ogres towards a designated kill zone. The knights stood ready within its confines, their swords glistening in anticipation.
As the final preparations were made, Princess Seraphina approached Preacher, her eyes filled with a mixture of gratitude and admiration. "Preacher, your brilliance has given us a fighting chance against an overwhelming foe," she whispered.
The moment of truth arrived with alarming swiftness. As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting an ominous glow upon the battlefield, the ogre army assembled in front of the wall. Behind them and within their ranks were siege ladders and four siege engines.
Preacher was prepared for this eventuality. Inside the tower battlements and on top, Preacher had placed archers to attack the ogres operating the siege engines. Along the top of the wall were archers, knights with polearms to repel any ladder assault and swordsmen to kill any ogres that happen to make it on top of the wall. In the ranks of the Ogre army, Preacher saw a lone female figure. "Is that Anya?" Preacher asked. The Princess took a minute to look where Preacher was pointing. Princess Seraphina looked out over the battlefield. As she looked, she saw her old friend Anya, but she looked different. Not the daughter of one of her handmaids whom she used to play with as a child but a warrior, her hair tied back in a ponytail on top of the back of her head and wielding a large, curved sword. "That's her," Princess Seraphina said regretfully. "She was lost in the Whispering Woods years ago and we thought her dead. No one goes into Whispering Woods because of its name. The woods actually whisper, and the woods have been known to drive men insane. We were sure she had perished there. We couldn't mount a rescue attempt for her because anyone going into the whispering woods are driven mad."
The wind whipped Anya's auburn hair across her face as she surveyed the scene before her. A wall of solid granite, erected by Preacher, separated her army of ogres from they're objective of destroying the city. Their battle cry echoed across the battlefield, a taunting challenge.
At her direction, the ogres started hitting their shields with their swords, a steady drumbeat meant to gather their courage and intimidate their enemy. This went on for several minutes, a symphony of steel against metal, then suddenly it stopped. Anya was gathering her magic, channeling the raw power that pulsed through her veins. She was forming a large fireball, a sphere of pure energy that grew in size and intensity with each passing second.
When she had gathered enough magic, she unleashed the fireball directly at the wall. A massive explosion rocked the battlefield, the air crackling with heat and energy. A gaping hole, jagged and smoking, appeared in the wall Preacher had erected.
Princess Seraphina went out on the wall and stood there. She took out her sword and pointed it right at Anya. Anya saw the Princess and held up her sword to her face then dropped it to her side acknowledging the Princess and that she was calling her out for a one-on-one duel.
Anya roared, her curved sword flashing in the air. The two women, former companions, now bound by a destiny of blood and sorrow, charged towards each other. Their clash was a dance of pain and desperation, a battle waged on two fronts – against the enemy before them and the darkness that threatened to consume them both.
With each parry, each thrust, each desperate block, Seraphina saw the flicker of Anya's old self in the fire of her rage. It was a ghost, a phantom, a whisper lost in the storm, but it was there. And Seraphina clung to it, to the hope that the real Anya, the kind, courageous girl she once knew, was still there, but sadly no, now she was only the monster she had become.
Their fight was a tragedy played out in the moonlight, there was only one outcome for this battle. As their swords clashed, both women knew that their battle was for the kingdom, one wanted to save it and one to destroy it.
The wind whipped Anya's hair into a frenzy, echoing the storm raging within her. Her curved sword, a symbol of her revenge. Seraphina, her former friend, mirrored her rage, her own blade, a silver flash in the moonlit sky. Their clash was a tempestuous ballet, a symphony of steel. With each parry, each thrust, Seraphina felt the weight of their shattered friendship. Anya's movements were brutal, fueled by an untamable fury. Their fight was a tragedy in slow motion, played out beneath the indifferent gaze of the moon. In the throes of the battle, Anya paused, a sliver of vulnerability momentarily piercing through her armor of rage. Her eyes burned with a desolate emptiness that froze Seraphina's blood. In that moment Seraphina saw her opening, she surged forward at Anya, with a deft swift move and feint Princess Seraphina cut her old friend down. The Princess looked down on her old friend as she lay dying. "I'm sorry Anya." Was all she said.
The ogres marched forward, the defenders in the towers and on the wall waited until they were in archery range, then they unleashed a rain of arrows on the ogres. Many ogres fell in the first volley. The Ogres, also prepared for this, took their shields and held them up on either side to avoid the rain of arrows coming down on them but that left them vulnerable to the archers on the wall. The Ogres then made a mad rush for the hole in the wall that Anya had opened for them, their massive bodies surged towards the wall like one massive beast, their eyes glinting with bloodlust.
Preacher watched from the top of the wall as the ogres collided against it, Preacher had been able to repair the damage done by Anya with his earth magic sealing up the hole just in time. Their front lines were crushed as their blunt force shattered upon its surface. Arrows and lightning rained down from above, mowing down the ogres in droves.
The ogres then started erecting the siege ladders in order to reach the top of the wall and get their soldiers in position to stop the defenders and overtake the wall. He yelled, his voice echoing above the din of battle, "To the archers! Prepare to fire! Target the ladder bases!". The archers, their faces grim, adjusted their aim, their arrows aimed at the vulnerable legs of the ogres erecting the ladders. "Fire!" he roared, his voice echoing across the battlefield, a challenge to the enemy. The archers unleashed their volley, a storm of arrows raining down on the monsters, their shafts finding their targets in the flesh of their enemy, sending them tumbling to the ground.
Preacher was not idle during this time, while directing the knights to knock down the ladders to keep the enemy off the wall, he was also using his magic and sword, battling for his life and the lives of the knights
Wave after wave of ogres surged forward, their determination seemingly inexhaustible. Preacher surged his magic into the wall, reinforcing its defenses against the attacks of the siege engines, and launched a barrage of earth spells to decimate the enemy ranks sending up earthen spikes from the ground to skewer the enemy from below.
The battle reached its crescendo as the ogres, their numbers thinning, were forced into the deadly funnel. Knights, their armor glistening in the early morning light of the rising sun, stood ready to unleash a final, devastating blow. Swords clashed against flesh, the screams of the ogres drowned out by the roar of Preachers magic, earth magic, fire, and lightning, Preacher wasn't holding back.
. Finally, with the last of the ogres slain, the battlefield fell silent. The air was thick with the stench of death and the acrid smell of battle, but Preacher and Princess Seraphina stood victorious amidst the carnage.
As the sun rose above the ravaged battlefield, the people of the city emerged from their hiding places. They marveled at the sight of the defeated ogre army and hailed Preacher and Princess Seraphina as their saviors.
The walls stood tall, and the kill zone served as a grim reminder of the horrors that had been averted. And through it all, a bond between Preacher and Princess Seraphina had developed, one of respect and shared sacrifice, a flicker of something unspoken stirred amidst the chaos in the Princess's heart.
In the midst of the chaos and bloodshed, she had witnessed Preacher's unwavering courage and compassion. She had seen him fight not only for victory but for the lives of the innocent. Beneath his gruff exterior lay a heart as gentle as the morning breeze.
After several days rest and reorganization of city hall, the appointment of the lieutenant mayor to the mayor's position and the cleanup of the ogre bodies, the final count was ten thousand,
As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows across the ravaged city, Preacher and Princess Seraphina stood at the edge of the road, their respective retinues trailing behind them. With the ogre horde vanquished and the city secure, it was time for them to return to the royal capital.
"We'll be back in the capital in a couple of days, Princess," Preacher assured her.
Seraphina turned to him, her eyes glimmering in the twilight. "It's ok if we take an extra couple of days to get back," she said softly. "After all, the only reason we rushed down here was to stop the horde that threatened the city. There's no need to rush right back, and with your earth magic, you can make us shelters along the road for us to sleep in."
Preacher felt a strange stirring within him. The Princess's voice had taken on an almost husky tone, and her gaze seemed to bore into his soul. He didn't want to delve into the implications of what he thought he was hearing, but his wife, Iris, who had been listening to the conversation via telepathy, couldn't contain her amusement.
"So, you've been wooing the Princess, have you?" Iris teased, her voice rippling through Preacher's mind.
"What...no...not even," Preacher protested, his cheeks flushing.
"It's ok, my love," Iris smirked. "If you can afford it, you can have as many wives as you want. It's common here in this world."
"But how would you feel about it?" Preacher asked.
"As long as I remain the Alpha, I don't care how many wives you have," Iris replied. "Besides, you can't get back to your world anyway, so you might as well embrace your new life here." She giggled again. "Oh, by the way, I have a surprise for you when you get back."
Preacher's mind raced as he contemplated Iris's words. He was more shaken by what she had said than by her promise of a surprise. In his world, monogamy was the norm, but customs seemed to be different here. He had a lot to think about on the journey back to the capital.
As they embarked on their journey, Preacher couldn't help but be drawn to Seraphina. She possessed a quiet strength and wisdom that belied her youthful appearance. He had initially dismissed her as a mere pawn in the machinations of her father, the King, but the more time he spent with her, the more he realized there was more to her than met the eye.
Days turned into nights as they traveled along the road together, their bond growing stronger with each passing mile. Preacher found himself confiding in Seraphina, sharing about his life and his world. In turn, she listened intently, offering words of support and encouragement.
One evening, as they rested at a makeshift campsite, Preacher summoned his earth magic to create a small hut for them to shelter in. As they settled down for the night, Seraphina approached him.
"Preacher," she said, her voice trembling slightly, "I have something I want to ask you."
Preacher's heart skipped a beat. "What is it, Princess?"
Seraphina took a deep breath. "Would you...would you consent to be my husband?"
Preacher stared at her in shock and surprise. He had never considered marrying anyone other than Iris, but in that moment, everything changed. He looked into Seraphina's eyes and saw not only a bond of friendship but also the promise of a love that could last a lifetime.
"Yes, Princess," he said, his voice filled with emotion. "I would be honored to marry you." Iris, listening telepathically, got almost giddy with excitement.
Seraphina, her voice trembling with both fear and awe, "I, Seraphina, take thee, Preacher, to be my eternal companion."
A radiant blue light engulfed her, making her gasp as the power coursed through her veins. Her golden hair shimmered with a celestial glow, and her eyes, usually so warm, now burned with an unearthly fire.
Preacher, his eyes meeting hers, "And I, Preacher, take thee, Seraphina, to be my eternal companion."
The same blue flame erupted from him, mirroring Seraphina's. The two flames intertwined, forming a shimmering bridge, a luminous portal that connected their souls. The air hummed with energy, the forest itself resonating with the power of their bond.
Iris, her voice echoing telepathically in both their minds, a mixture of amusement and awe, "Oh, you two are quite the spectacle. I never thought I'd see a day where someone else could handle Preacher's magic, let alone be bound to him by such a powerful flame."
Seraphina, her voice regaining its strength, infused with the power of the Blue Flame, "Preacher... I feel... different. Stronger. I'm changing. The magic within me... it's awakened."
A wave of energy surged through her, the Blue Ethereal Flame awakening the dormant magic within her. Celestial runes, glowing with power, appeared on her skin, a testament to the transformation taking place.
Preacher, his hand finding hers, providing both comfort and guidance. "Embrace it, Seraphina. The Blue Ethereal Flame is a gift, a power that will serve you both in this life and beyond. It will guide you, protect you, and shape you into something even greater."
Iris chuckling through the telepathic connection "Don't worry, sis. He's a bit of a softie when it comes to his women, even if he doesn't always show it. You'll learn to navigate his gruff exterior."
A genuine smile formed on Seraphina's mouth "Thank you, sister. It's a lot to take in..."
Preacher his gaze never leaving Seraphina's, "We will face this together, Seraphina. Together, we will reshape this world, together we will stand against the darkness. For you are not just my companion, you are my partner, my equal, my strength."
The Blue Ethereal Flame danced around them, a symphony of power. It consumed them, then retreated, leaving them bathed in a celestial glow, their eyes blazing with newfound power. The ceremony was complete, their bond forged in the heart of the ancient forest, a bond that transcended the mortal realm, a bond that promised a future filled with hope and change.
Iris, her voice filled with pride and affection. "From this day forward, you are not just a princess, Seraphina. You are a warrior, a protector, a leader. We are one pack, united by the Blue Ethereal Flame."
Seraphina's eyes meeting Preacher's, a spark of understanding passing between them "We are one." she repeated.
From that day onward, the bond between the three of them grew even stronger, tempered by the crucible of adversity and fueled by the unwavering love that bound them together. They stood as a beacon of hope, a testament to the power of love, a symbol of unity in a world consumed by darkness. Preacher, blessed with two soulmates, knew he was not alone. He had found not only a companion but a beacon of light, a power that would help them reshape the world to come.
However, for Preacher, the journey had just begun. As he and Seraphina rode back towards the capital, he knew he was no longer alone. He was protected, loved, and guided by the two women who had chosen to share his life, his journey, his destiny. And in that knowledge, in that love, he found strength, a strength that would carry them all forward, into the unknown, into a future fueled by the power of the Blue Ethereal Flame, the weight of their future responsibilities settled upon him. He had a lot to think about, a lot to do, and Miles To Go Before He Sleeps.