The Queen, the Fire and the Ice

{{Fiction
 * author=Laura Scott;
 * hasSetting=Larisnar
 * summary=Faiza Nyota and her barbarian army make their final effort to take Baraxton from the Nothrog. But hers is not the only force interested in the city, and so Sceth must be prepared for the arrival of the forbidden totem, Wyvern...
 * storyBody====Baraxton, three months ago===

Men charged full speed, axes and swords flying. The distance to the Nothrog line was short, but full of danger. Every step the men took was another chance to run directly into the path of a ball of fire or volley of arrows from the huge siege machines of Sceth Hellbringer. They no longer cared. This was their last chance. Either Baraxton would be theirs, or the barbarian tribes would die, taking as many green-skins with them as possible.

"Now! Go now!" the Barbarian Queen screamed as she sliced a slow Nothrog in half with her axe. "We have the advantage, use it."

On the far right side of the front line, Uther and his tribe made a dash towards the siege engines. For the first time in two years Faiza had caught Baraxton off guard. Most of the great machines were unmanned. Sceth's legion had been surprised. Only the engines nearest the great city's gates were in Nothrog control. The rest stood empty for the taking… by either side.

"Go, go, go." Vorgurn ordered. "Control the siege engines and Baraxton is ours. The archers will keep the beasts from beating us there. Now run!"

A mad run ensued from both lines; the humans and Nothrog both scrambling at full speed towards half a legion of unmanned machines. Arrows pierced skin and hide alike as both sides tried to keep the other from gaining the advantage.

Spurred on by surprise and desperation, the humans reached the machines first. "Turn them," yelled as he loaded ammunition into the one nearest him. "We want to hit them, not our own."

Cheers came out of the barbarian army as one, then two, then a dozen siege machines moved into range of Baraxton. "We're going to do it," one young warrior said to his companion as they pushed. "Faiza has kept her promise. This will be home at last."

On the edge of the field Uther stood, watching and waiting. The signal would wait until all the engines were in position. One volley would destroy the small amount of Nothrog right outside the gates. They wouldn't recover. Something had already made a mess of their lines. "Just another moment," Uther whispered to himself.

"Fire!" the command rippled through the barbarian army. Archers released their arrows; lines were cut on the machines. The sky grew red and black with the smoke and fire of the ammunition. Uther watched as the destruction arched toward Sceth's line. The Nothrog turned and ran. "They're not as stupid as we think." Uther muttered, shaking his head. "No matter, we'll destroy them all.

Uther braced himself for the sound he knew was coming… but it did not come.

The sky darkened and the smoke dissipated. The barbarians stared towards the city. All their ammunition lay shattered on the plain in front of them. The fires had been extinguished. The balls hit the ground, cold and dead.

Flying just over the walls of Baraxton was a dragon…and it was headed toward the barbarian line, sheets of ice cascading from its mouth.

--

"Stop! Stop you cowards. Fight! The city is ours!" Faiza yelled at the retreating line. "It's a trick, the Nothrog don't control the dragon. Set the engines after him!"

The men ran by, completely ignoring their queen. Their faces were ashen and blue. Those who were not covered in ice ran as fast as they could away from the horror of a frozen death.

Icefall landed in the middle of the battlefield, and lobbed huge balls of ice at the retreating soldiers, treating it like a game, roaring every time he hit a barbarian in the back.

Faiza jumped on one of the few horsed on the battlefield and rode straight at the dragon – hatchets swinging.

"Baraxton is mine beast, you won't take my victory from me!" she taunted, riding straight between the monsters huge claws.

"I think not." Icefall growled, backhanding the queen – tossing her across the battlefield.

Icefall howled in pain as a fireball landed on his back. He immediately took to the air, to see who dared attack him.

Sceth, the fire giant, stood next to one of his siege engines. Smiling.

Icefall opened his mouth and released a stream of ice, completely covering all the machines, and the Nothrog too slow to run. Flying toward the giant, he blew again, covering Sceth from head to toe.

"Attack me will you? Baraxton would be doomed if not for me. Remember that fire-fiend. Remember that I could kill you where you stand, but for now… think on how I saved your skin."

A thunderous roar was heard throughout the city as Icefall flew away.

Baraxton, a week later
"This better not be more bad news," Sceth hollered over the din of noise all around him.

Ar'tek clamped his hand against the giant's forearm and whispered "Sorry friend."

"Yes you big bumbling idiot. It is not as bad as you having your entire legion encased in ice by a dragon, but I think even you can handle this."

"Ar'tek!" Sceth growled, strolling away towards a quieter, emptier hall.

"Didn't you hear me up there you big brute? Wait. I have some menial task for you to do." Ar'tek followed Sceth, while yelling more insults.

Having reached his destination, Sceth sunk down to the stone floor, waiting for his comrade in arms to catch up. "Dare I ask?"

"I figured it out. You remember Vakeros?"

Sceth nodded. "Krun tossed him in the bottom of some guarded tower, for trying to turn his officers against him."

"Right. I think that's why Krun left. Vakeros succeeded, in a way. He managed to convince Padrig that Krun was the wrong choice of a leader…and Padrig convinced Vakeros to summon Wyvern."

"What!" Sceth said, trying to keep his voice under control.

"Vakeros summoned Wyvern, went completely insane and killed himself," Ar'tek continued. "Padrig is now in control of that totem…and he marches on Baraxton to confront Krun."

"Who, of course, isn't here."

Ar'tek nodded.

"Leaving us to defend the city from an insane spirit."

Ar'tek nodded again.

"Any ideas?" Sceth questioned.

"Actually, I have one Sceth," came a voice from the shadows. "Padrig controls Wyvern, not the other way around. If I get to him, Wyvern will have no connection."

"Rress!"

The former nightwalker smiled. "Gotta do my part after all. Just make sure you supply the distraction"

"And the barbarians?" Sceth questioned.

"Once this is done, I'll go after them." Ar'tek said.

Silence reigned over the darkened city. No lights could be seen from outside the walls. Siege engines stood quiet as their operators hid in the darkness. The air was thick, charged with magic, surreal.

Moments later, a slight sound could be heard. Nothrog marching. With every passing second, the noise increased, almost as if a surprise was not intended.

Sceth looked over to his commanders, they were all shaking. "Listen," he whispered. "You have fought tough battles before. This army has no organization. Wyvern is the biggest threat. Just fire until there is nothing left to hit them with. Ignore Wyvern and attack the troops. None of them are sane. Kill them before they reach you. Blow them to bits. They will not stop until you are dead…or they are. Remember, they're not right anymore." Sceth finished, tapping a finger on the side of his head.

On the other side of the line Ar'tek watched Wyvern's legion grow closer. "Hit as hard as you can. Avoid being surrounded. It's your only hope."

Bloodcurdling screams were heard everywhere. Berserked Nothrog fought against the Elite Krun Guard. Crude weapons struck strong armor, hitting with the force of ten greater than expected. Guardsmen fell to the ground, immediately jumped on by their former kinsman. Teeth and claw ripped skin from bone. No one was safe. A barrage of fire fell onto the fighters. Allies and enemies alike bounced into the air, returning to the ground in little pieces. Wyvern swooped between the ammunition, attacking the siege engines directly. It was not a coordinated effort, it just flew straight at whichever engine it saw next, dodging everything fired at him. The battle was suicide for all.

Rress ignored the battle, going around it instead of through it. He encountered no resistance. "Idiot." Rress thought. "Not even the foresight to keep yourself safe."

Behind Wyvern's line stood Padrig, alone and unguarded. All his concentration directed on controlling Wyvern and destroying Baraxton.

Rress walked behind him, dagger drawn. "My master may agree with you that Krun is a threat, but you've made yourself the bigger one. What possessed you to summon Wyvern Padrig?"

Padrig did not even respond as Rress sunk the dagger into his back.

With a screech Wyvern turned on his own army, and Ar'tek's ran to get out of the way.

"Where's Sceth?" Ar'tek growled, looking around for his friend, as he watched the totem decimate what remained of its own army. "I haven't seen him since the battle began."

"He's gone." Varin answered.

Ar'tek tried not to reveal his surprise. "Well, regroup and make plans. In two weeks we go to decimate the barbarians. Sceth has had two years. Better left to me."

Barbarian Camp, six weeks ago
"Naomi," Vorgurn said softly. "We cannot go on like this. Something has to be done. I'll see her now."

Vorgurn pushed her aside, barging into the queen's tent. He spat disgustedly at the floor. "This is what has become of our savior?" he sneered, pointing at the cot in the corner.

Faiza sat on her bed, her arms curled around her knees, rocking. Her hair still matted with blood on the right side on her forehead. "We had them," she said laughing. "Baraxton is mine, just look at this glorious room," she ranted, extending her arms and motioning at the bare tent walls. "See this glorious tapestry? Even the Nothrog have some taste." Faiza stood up and walked to the tent's entrance, pulling the flaps aside. "See the courtyard? It's full of beautiful flowers. What a wonderful place for a home Vorgurn. Don't you agree?"

"Come Faiza," Naomi interrupted. "You need your rest."

The queen nodded and crawled into bed, like a little child.

Naomi ushered Vorgurn out of the tent. "Happy now?" she questioned.

"No Naomi. Without Faiza we are lost. Look around you. Nothing has changed in the last two years. We are still living in tents. Still fighting a war we don't want to fight. Children still scream for food, mothers still weep for dead sons. We have gain nothing and lost almost everything. We never should have left the Free Kingdoms."

Vorgurn walked away, leaving Naomi speechless.

Barbarian Camp, four weeks ago
"They're just over the hill." Arrag said. "They're defenseless. Icefall killed most of their fighting men.

"So they're no threat?"

"No. Sceth did finish the job it seems."

"Back to Baraxton then." Ar'tek ordered. "There are more important matters to deal with then a group of rag-tag barbarians."

Barbarian Camp, also four weeks ago
"Are they gone Farrell?"

"Yes, Volda"

"Ok, let's ride on."

They entered the camp, to the cheers of the remaining men and women. Volda dismounted and looked around for her friend.

"Vorgurn," she cried, half running towards him.

He lifted her into a bear hug. "You have no idea how good it is to see you. We made a terrible mistake. We never should have followed Faiza. Look at the once proud tribes now."

Volda glanced over the meager camp and nodded.

"Will the Free Kingdoms take us back?" Vorgurn asked, obviously pained.

"Come. All of you come! We will go see the new king and he will give you land and a purpose again. It is time for all to heal."

"What of Faiza, our Queen?" a young man asked sheepishly.

"She is queen no more," Naomi said, walking out of her tent. "Her mind is gone," she said to Volda.

Naomi turned to Vorgurn. "You supported her, you supported this and failed as well. Never forget that."

"Take them back, Volda. There's nothing else to be done now."

A cave, now
"Giant."

"Dragon."

"Let's get this over with," they both growled. }}