The Heartstone Saga by Archibald Bradford (short novels in english .TXT) 📕

“A dozen or so of the stouter folk took a stand, bought time for the monster girls to get the kids and old-timers out.”

Volka’s eyes closed briefly as she thought on their sacrifice.

But she had a job to do.

“And the Tenebrae are still there?”

“Yup. And with so many of them hunkering down so close to where we was hunkering, we figured it was high time we got somewhere with a proper roof. So you got half the population of two different towns waiting downstairs for someone to tell ‘em what in tarnation is happening.”

There was a bunch of muttering from the other people from the towns in question; they’d mostly let Paul do the talking, seeing as he was their elder in every conceivable way, but their discontent was plain.

Silence gradually fell as the members of the Aegis and the assorted monster girls mulled over the fact that they didn’t have a good answer ready for their concerns.

“Why Wayfelt?” Dawn Morrow broke the deadlock; “We had an outpost there, but it isn’t that populated. So why there?”

“Because I grew up ten miles away.” Nameless spat out bitterly, speaking for the first time.

A number of heads turned towards him, curious, but it was Miranda that replied.

“We don’t know that kid, and even if we did this shit isn’t on you, so don’t even start.” She countered firmly.

He wheeled to face her, his jaw working as he tried to find the words.

But as much as he hated to admit that she was right.

The news from Wayfelt just hit a little too close to home, figuratively and literally.

“I must agree with Aegis Holt.” Alcaia proclaimed, Myrina and a couple of her senior warriors nodding at her side; “You are our Valkyrja-datta, and my daughter’s precious bond-mate. If this place fell to harm as a means to harm you, then you must stand firm against such vile cruelty while we take up arms to end it.”

She’d only very recently learned about Evadne, and she already wasn’t a fan.

Tiana nodded along with the other Amazons before speaking up.

“Our warleader has fallen into the Chimera’s grip, and terrible things has she wrought as a result of it, yet I bear no shame for it. If she is in Wayfelt, then I would end her suffering as well, one way or another.”

Volka spread her wings wide and silenced any further discussion with her aura, making it plain that she intended to speak.

“And I will not allow us to miss our chance to strike. However the Tenebrae came to be there, we have our target. We’ll need scouts in the air for an up-to-date report on Evadne’s forces. Until we have it, prepare everything and everyone that we have to face this threat.”

The meeting began to break apart as Volka’s orders were followed, though Paul stuck around, approaching Booker.

“I hope she’s counting us in that mix.” He said mildly as he filled his pipe; “Because there is only so much suffering folk will take afore they stop waiting around for someone to do something about it. Our lot might not have your training and your fancy lost-tech gizmos, but we’re here to help. And that is with or without your say so.”

Booker’s eye tracked over the determined faces attached to nodding heads in the crowded mess hall and could plainly see the old man wasn’t exaggerating.

“Fair enough, Mister Flet-”

“Paul. If I bite it tomorrow the least you could do is call me Paul. Speaking of which, never did catch your first name.”

Booker smiled thinly.

“Nobody uses it. Not even my bond-mates. Clarence.”

“Yeesh. I can unnerstand why. Yer mammy must have had a difficult labour to punish you with such a moniker. Booker it is. Where do you want us?”

“You’re asking the wrong person. Dominar Volka is in charge now.”

“Huh, smart man. Well, guess I’ll go and make a nuisance of meself to the winged lady.”

Just as Paul said, they wanted to help however they could, and they weren’t the only ones.

The Ogres remained in the city, working to clear the rubble from Evadne’s assault on the bastion. And so Tora and Kriss were hanging around the base of the spire along with the other giants when the people from Kettering came out of it.

The blue skin of Tora’s cheeks darkened slightly in a blush and her eyes hooded as she looked Brandon Dixon over.

“I like shape of that one.”

At her side Kriss looked towards the young man.

“He’s handsome, and the muscles are a plus. But he looks like a dick.”

“I like dick.” Tora replied, mistaking her meaning.

“Don’t we all? But that isn’t-”

The Ogre wasn’t listening, instead she walked over to Brandon, doing her best not to shake the ground too much as she did.

Kriss hissed and rolled her eyes.

“This should end well.”

After an incident in the woods involving a group of hibernating Blomma, Brandon had laid off the skirt-chasing in a big way, focusing his energy into learning everything he could from Magnus.

As such it had been a long time since a woman had flirted with him, and the Ogre wasn’t the least bit subtle about it.

In fact, she was so obvious that it was much akin to getting hit with a ham.

An enormous blue sexy… ham.

Chapter 45:Avalanche

Things proceeded quickly after Paul’s arrival, and soon what seemed like half the population of Garland was on the move.

A sharp screech from above announced the arrival of a Griffon; a hybrid monster girl with the wings and talons of an eagle and the legs of a lion.

They also had pride enough to match a Dragon, but that wasn’t important in the moment.

The flyer landed with a heavy thump at the top of a rise, beyond