CHAPTER 97: SHIELD THAT BURIED MOUNTAINS

"My prince..." Mollis spoke from behind the lion, " It is time. The enemy forces will be upon us before the hour is up. Our troops are in place, as are the orcs. We should get to our positions as well... Whatever you’ve managed to gather, we can only pray it will be enough at this point."

Prince Tyfin turned, dropping his hand from an older orc’s shoulder as he did so. His energy levels were higher than he felt he could hold at that point anyway. He had been drawing what he could from those that wouldn’t be fighting that day to help provide energy for the mage to set the stage, and in order to give Mollis as much firepower as possible for the actual battle after.

The pair had been working endlessly to prepare as much as possible, and it was time to see the fruits of that effort, whichever way the battle went. The rabbit was their only true competent mage on hand and was truly the key to their victory. The prince spoke, feeling a bit jittery from the excess power coursing through him.

"Thank you... You’ve already handled so many preparations. We would have stood no chance without you... I am sorry in a sense, but I am glad you are with us. If we survive and I get my crown back, remind me to make you a high mage."

The rabbit managed a carefree laugh before she replied, despite the looming trouble.

"I’ll hold you to that... In truth, my prince, it was an honor serving the crown more directly... I admit, I had my reservations about your father after the war with my country and the famine that followed... After what forced me to join your ranks in the first place... But when I hear you talk about the future you wish to build? Well... Even a bartered child such as myself sees hope in a world like that..."

The rabbit trailed off a bit but picked back up quickly, changing the subject. "Shall we go? I still need to talk with Aster a little before all of this."

The prince smiled at the rabbit and nodded, happy those two were making up a bit, despite everything. The three would be standing together through this battle, after all.

___

Stahl was sitting behind Aster with her arms wrapped tightly around him, holding on to the last few minutes the pair would have together until the battle was won. Aster didn’t like the idea of not fighting beside his wolf, but Stahl had agreed, the shield needed to stay with the king, and the swords were needed on the front lines.

Aster protested firmly against the separation but finally yielded after the order came from Captain Rix himself. Personal feelings had to be put aside... But that didn’t make it any easier for the human.

Stahl was in the middle of trying to cheer him up and had even managed to do so slightly, despite the enemy nearing their field of vision at the far edge of the horizon. The she-wolf finished her most recent statement enthusiastically.

"You’ve done nothing but improve since we’ve met, Aster. Your shields are only stronger... You can hold them easier, you can stave off hits better than before, AND you even have two of them now, that opens up a world of possibility for their uses. You’re going to be fine, my love." Aster grumbled a bit, pointing out the flaw in that logic.

"Yes, I probably will be fine while I’m completely separated from most of the battle, fighting alongside our biggest cannon in this fight... I worry for your sake. I won’t be able to reach you from over here... What if you need someone to watch your back?" Stahl nuzzled into her mate softly.

"Aster... Yes, something could happen, but this isn’t my first fight against these things. We have a solid plan, and we have the muscle to pull it off. I can’t promise victory, and I can’t promise something won’t get the better of me, but I can promise to give everything I have to make it back to you after all of this. Trust our plan. Trust our king. Trust our comrades to have my back this time."

The human sighed again, knowing there was no answer to truly ease his mind, but grateful his wolf had made the effort. The boy tilted his head back and gave her a kiss. Aster jumped in surprise when a booming voice interrupted the pair.

"YOUR PRIORITIES BEFORE BATTLE NEED WORK. BOTH OF YOU." Captain Rix was walking up to the pair, his heavy axe held easily in his left hand.

Aster and Stahl both started to stand, but was stopped when the bull held up his right hand, and instead took a seat cross-legged in front of them, settling his bulky fist against his leg as he allowed himself to rest for the first brief moment since his return. The captain didn’t have time to waste and said what he needed to say.

"PANTHER SON... I HAD HOPED FOR MORE TIME BEFORE WE GOT TO THIS... DO YOU KNOW MY FATHER’S GREATEST SHAME? HIS MOST THOROUGH DEFEAT?"

Aster was pretty caught off guard by the question. Captain Rix wasn’t exactly prone to discuss his family matters. Aster thought back to his education under Javis but couldn’t think of any real marks against the Rixator name. The bovines were a long and noble line of respected and revered warriors.

The boy gave the bull a puzzled look and shook his head as he answered.

"No, Sir..."

The captain huffed just a bit, feeling a bit annoyed that he had to tell the story.

"IT WAS DURING A BATTLE AROUND TWENTY YEARS AGO. HIS ENTIRE BATTALION WALKED RIGHT INTO AN ENEMY’S TRAP... ABOUT NINETY PERCENT OF HIS FORCES WERE BURIED ALIVE BENEATH EXPLOSIVES WHILE THEY WERE RENDERED HELPLESS TO EVEN MOVE. HE BARELY SURVIVED HIMSELF... THE SHAME MADE HIM WANT TO CHOOSE DEATH, BUT KING ALOCER WOULD NOT ALLOW IT, INSISTING HE HAD DONE HIS DUTY, AND THAT THE WEAPON RESPONSIBLE WAS TO BLAME."

Aster looked on a bit confused. He had never heard of any such battle... His eyes went wide as it registered. Twenty years ago... That was when King Alocer had toppled the last human kingdom, his birth father’s kingdom... One of the few wars, the boy was not allowed to study in his youth... Captain Rix huffed once more as realization flashed across his subordinate’s face before he continued.

"YES... THE WEAPON RESPONSIBLE FOR VICTORY OVER ONE OF ALORA’S GREATEST GENERALS WAS THAT SHIELD. YOUR FATHER BROUGHT MY OWN TO HIS KNEES, AND DROPPED A MOUNTAIN ON TOP OF HIM AS HE KNEELED. HE TOLD ME MUCH OF SUCH POWER, AND I’VE BEEN DOING EVERYTHING I COULD TO GROW IT, AND KEEP IT ON OUR SIDE SINCE I FOUND OUT IT WAS AMONG OUR RANKS... I HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO TRUST YOU WITH THE SECRETS TO YOUR OWN STRENGTH NOW. I NEED YOU ON HIGH GROUND, AND I NEED YOU READY TO END IT IF IT STARTS GOING BADLY. THE PRINCE DOES NOT FALL, AND YOU ARE MY SECRET WEAPON TO ENSURE THAT, EVEN IF I DO... EVEN IF THE REST OF US DO... BUT KNOW THIS, PANTHER SON, IF YOU EVER TURN THIS POWER AGAINST MY KINGDOM, I WILL FIX MY MISTAKE OF TEACHING IT TO YOU SWIFTLY, AND WITHOUT MERCY."

Captain Rix flared his snout and huffed as he gave his one and only warning to the human. Aster felt a chill run down his spine at the thought of ever finding such a mighty beast his enemy. He chose his words carefully.

"My shield serves our prince, my Captain, I want it to be useful for his reign. If it can really stop our enemies, let me learn how."

The bull took in a heavy breath and closed his eyes as he told the boy everything he knew about the technique that once nearly killed his own father, only to be used as a last resort.

***