In Harmony We Trust by Ryan Matthew Harker (chromebook ebook reader .TXT) 📕

the very bottom of its footings. As he watched the opaque haze over the city flickered and then ceased to shimmer, the shields were gone. Once more Harmony spread his arms wide, uttered one more bass note of a word and brought his hands together again. This time red fire flared from his eyes, leaping to splinter the massive gates in front of him and a thunderclap exploded an instant before a massive bolt of lightning materialized from the cloudless, star studded sky to strike the highest tower of the palace and bring rubble raining down upon the helpless city.
With fiery tendrils retreating back into the orbs of his soulless eyes Harmony lowered his arms and turned to face his generals. “Enter,” was all he said.
The various generals turned from their master and began to coordinate the different factions of his army into concentrated attacks against the city. A grizzle bearded man with filthy blonde hair and spittle spraying from a mouth full of rotten teeth ordered a group of men forward against the splintered gates that were now the only barrier that kept Harmony from the city. They came three score strong and pushed a battering ram carved from the trunk of a tree that had been at least two centuries old. The trunk was decorated its entire length with intricate runes and symbols and was mounted on a cradle that was carried by eight wheels that bumped and rattled only slightly on the nearly smooth ground. Stout poles- presumably fashioned from the limbs of the slaughtered tree and carved in a manner similar to that of the trunk- protruded from each side of the cradle, fifteen to a side with a man straining behind each one.
With a mighty crash the ram shattered the already damaged gates and showered the men with splinters as they abandoned the ram to its momentum. Some of those splinters were long and sharp and drove into the ram drivers, death the only reward for their efforts.
The battering ram continued its journey into the city unimpeded, bouncing erratically along uneven cobble stones that slowed its progress. As it jostled to a halt the runes carved throughout its entire length began to glow with the same fire that had escaped from Harmony’s eyes to splinter the gates. Coming to a complete stop the log burst into an inferno that exploded without warning and blasted a hundred foot circle from the street causing hot cobble and flaming shrapnel to hurtle into a panic stricken populace who were still trying to recover from the devastation of the moon tower.
The city guard appeared amid the screams and cries of confused civilians and quickly converged on the remnants of the gates. Their intent was to plug the gaping wound in their cities defenses and stop any would be intruders but their plan was doomed before it had a chance to begin.
Before the guardsmen got within fifty feet of their destination five packs of gigantic werewolves burst in from the outside and fell upon them with savage fury. Not accomplishing their desired task the guardsmen only succeeded to add their anguished cries to those of the people they had attempted to protect. After they had effectively dealt with the minor difficulty of the city guard the werewolves fell upon the terrified populace, people who were busy scrambling for the safety of their homes and businesses. Lightly mailed pike men followed close on the furred heels of the werewolves and were led by the same general who had ordered the battering ram forward. The pike men surged through the gates as fast as the large portal would allow them and fanned out into the city as goblins began to come over the wall itself.
Under the direction of Snoregg and Neebling, goblin warriors were outside and busy placing scaling ladders against the three hundred foot wall that encircled the city. With spidery limbs they nimbly hauled themselves up the ladders rungs, gained the top the walls and began fighting with the guardsmen stationed there. Their actions provided cover for the dozens more of their brethren that followed, some on the ladders and some transported magically by the many thaumaturgists that Harmony employed. The more goblins on the wall the easier for more goblins to overtake the city.
The guardsmen on the wall had begun firing their rifles at the army below after the gates were destroyed and now had no choice but to turn their attentions to the ladders. Some of them dropped their guns in desperation and drew their swords as they were forced to engage the enemy in hand to hand combat while blood drenched the parapets making the top of the walls slick and the footing dangerous.
With the knowledge that they were going to be overrun one of the guardsmen broke from the fighting and ran for the cover of a watch house, one of many small rooms that were dispersed evenly around the top of the wall. He darted through the small door of the watch house and fell to the left, landing hard on his knees before he groped frantically around the floor. He quickly found what he was looking for, a steel ring attached to a trapdoor in the floor, which he grabbed with both hands and heaved open. With one last look over his shoulder to make sure that no one had followed him the guardsman hurried down the set of stairs that was revealed under the floor. Once he was able he closed the trapdoor and threw a sturdy set of bolts which sealed it from enemy penetration before he made his way down through the interior of the wall.


The members of council were still deep in discussion when the floor shook and sent ripples through the various liquids that filled their cups. Everyone looked around as the walls quaked and more of the already loosened silt drifted to the floor.
“What the hell?” General Kahill cried.
Jeshux looked around in alarm as an aid’s head peeked in from outside. “You there!” he called to the aid.
“Yes sir?”
“Go find out what’s going on and report back to us immediately!” Jeshux commanded.
“Yes sir.” The aid bowed and ducked out of the room.
“What was that?” Absinthe inquired. “It felt like the whole world was coming apart.”
“I don’t know,” McAriicoys growled. “But whatever it was it can’t be good.”
“Nefarious, is there any way you can tell us what happened?” Jeshux asked.
“Of course,” the magician said disdainfully.
“Then do it!” Jeshux snapped.
With a grimace Nefarious closed his eyes and placed both hands palm down on the table before him. His brows furrowed and beads of sweat popped out on his forehead as he exerted his will.
Suddenly his eyes flew open and Nefarious groaned, “Oh no! It’s Harmony, he’s attacking! The gates have been destroyed and the city is being overrun!” He pulled his hands from the table and two red imprints were left to fade into its surface.
Jeshux leapt to his feet at the same time as McAriicoys and Candlelite. Everyone one else was only a second slower. “Damnit, everyone knows what to do, right?” Jeshux asked and everyone around the table nodded affirmative. “Good. Witch Farewethor, I want you in charge of getting everyone where they need to go! Understood?”
“I understand sir!” Farewethor stood up and stepped away from the table. General Kahill and two other men got up and stood next to her as did the four lords Quazetkic, Keriee, Turinoc, and Seuriius. Nefarious looked pale and also stood up to joined the little group.
“Lady, gentlemen, good luck,” Jeshux saluted.
The eight men looked grave as they and the witch disappeared in a flash of purple light with even the dust under their feet being taken along with them.
The aid that Jeshux had sent to discover what had happened burst into the throne room without warning. “Sir, Harmony’s attacking!” he called. “The gate has been breached and the moon tower’s been destroyed!”
Jeshux ran for the door and signaled McAriicoys to follow him. “I want my men ready for battle. The city’s been compromised and Harmony won’t stop until the palace is his.”
“I understand,” McAriicoys said.
“I can help,” the witch Jirseka said as she and the mage Pwami caught up with the two men. “Both of us can.”
“Very well,” Jeshux agreed. “Take McAriicoys and Vohrmint to the barracks.” Jeshux motioned Vohrmint forward from where he followed with the others. “You’re going with McAriicoys to rally the troops. The witch will take you.”
“Great,” Vohrmint growled. “I love to teleport.”
Jirseka vanished with the two warriors in a flash of blue light.
Jeshux turned to the other remaining teleporter and grabbed the old oriental’s shoulder, “Pwami, you come with me.” “I have a feeling the final battle is upon us and I’m going to need a magician I can trust by my side if we’re going to conclude this war in our favor.”
The old man nodded his head and kept quiet as he and the new regent reached two doors set together. Jeshux twisted their ornate gold handles, flung them open and strode purposefully to the railing of the large balcony before him. Gripping the rail with white knuckled hands the mercenary turned planetary ruler looked out across the vast sun dappled city of light.
“Oh-my-God,” Absinthe whispered as she and Candlelite reached Jeshux side.
The city of light was beginning to darken with the shadows of half a dozen fires which had begun to burn outward from where the gates had been located. The wind had picked up and drifted smoke into a brown haze that dirtied the atmosphere and sullied the nostrils of the three people gathered at the balconies edge. Max reach them and the clatter of machine guns echoed throughout the maze of alleys. This music of war following the smoke with faint cries of pain.
“What do we do?” Candlelite asked. A fierce gleam shone in his eyes as the far off sounds of slaughter ignited something feral in his soul.
“We fight,” Jeshux answered. “And we win.”
An explosion rocked the city and a small mushroom cloud rose above the rooftops. The fighting was still a long way off but the black cloud indicated that it was moving closer.
“Max, I want you to stay here,” Jeshux turned from the destruction and addressed the old scientist directly. “You may be immortal but even eternal life isn’t guarantee against death and to be honest,” here Jeshux paused and a grim smile stole over his features. “You’re not much of a fighter.”
Max returned his friend’s smile and his own matched the other’s grimness. “No, I’ve always been more of a lover,” he conceded. “But there has to be something I can do.”
“Actually, there is. I want you to aid our technicians in the war department. With your experience in science I’m sure they can put your brain to good use.” Jeshux turned to Pwami. “Take him now and come right back,” he ordered the old man.
Max blanched at the thought of teleportation. “Is this really necessary?” he sputtered as Pwami grabbed him by the arm. Before anyone had a chance to reply the two men disappeared in a blinding flash.
Jeshux looked at the others and saw on their faces a mixture of anticipation and fear. He knew his own face reflected those of his friends, anticipation of the fight to come and fear that they would not be able to conclude the war to their satisfaction.
“My friends the time has come,” he said. “Let’s get some weapons.”
As they left the balcony and its view of the carnage below Jeshux motioned to the young aid who had loyally waited outside the door. “Go get the queen. Tell her what’s happening and have her meet us in