Sons of Ironstorm - Book 1: Griffon's Rise

Stratagems of Necessity

Outside, it was a grim group of elves that watched the city spreading from the foot of Palace Hill gout flames as battle erupted in its streets. Even the massive Nazahn Suur and Stormspike were awash in flame as hidden catapults hurled burning pitch up against their walls in an attempt to create a breach.

<<Only a day ago I marveled that such a place could be built by the hands of elves,>> Nagdrasil said quietly from where she stood beside Ciradaan, her tanned face ashen with shock. <<Now my heart aches to see it wreathed in the flames of destruction.>>

<<The streets are a-swarm with dark soldiers,>> Elis reported with a grimace from where he stood on Xanedra's other side. <<It was all we could do to reach Palace Hill without being overrun. As it were, we saw more than a few companies of city guard fall to creatures that look a lot like dark elves, except they had black hair instead of white. The only thing that was giving them any sort of pause was an ever-dwindling knot of dark elves. They were holding the foot of the Yard when we passed through, but barely.>>

<<Those black haired beasts were Tjor'riin,>> Ciradaan supplied. <<We met some back in the council chamber. Dark soldiers of the most monstrous kind. Gerumenum admitted he'd been smuggling them into Elvenfast for moons to fuel a coup against the Elvenfast government.>>

<<If it's a coup the renegade wants, it's what he's getting down there. I give the city guard only a 50% chance of holding the city longer than a day against what we saw arrayed against them,>> The massive Aquilan general rumbled with a taut grimace.

<<Frosty hell,>> Fenoran hissed. <<How are we supposed to reach our companies and make our way out of the city now? Gerumenum will surely have the front gates marked against an attempt.>>

<<No doubt of that, your Majesty,>> Xanedra agreed, stepping around her massive Lithosin comrade to address the gathered leaders directly.

<<However, you only have to worry about escape. We took the liberty of gathering the companies and bringing them with us when we decided to come to the Hill.>> She turned to look at Ciradaan. <<And we brought Ciramax, KeLarion and Deacus with us, sire. Apparently your son didn't like the food at the Healers' complex and checked himself and the others out, returning to the billet in time for us to come here. Our company, along with everyone else, awaits us at the beginning of the Griffon's Yard.>>

Ciradaan gestured at the city in flames beneath them.

<<If that's what awaits us at the Hill's foot, then this is where we stay,>> he said with frustration in his voice before throwing a quick look over at Larengor, and what was left of the council, now joining them at the Rim's edge.

<<Unless you, as master of the council, are aware of a second route down off this hill.>>

Supporting an injured Griflan between himself and Darkfin, the wiry Voice of the Voice shook his head.

<<Perhaps it was originally designed with an escape route of some sort when the high king first constructed the complex on top of the hill, an underground passage to Achana Gorae that he could withdraw to,>>  he said, sounding tired, worn, and not a little angry at the turn of events. <<But we've been unable to discover it. As far as we know, the only way down is along the Yard.>>

<<And into the hands of the Tjor'riin,>> Brax grimly rumbled. <<If I'm reading those fires correctly, they've moved to surround Palace Hill.>>

<<Gerumenum,>> Silverjack pointed out the obvious with a shake of his head. <<It has to be! He moves to prevent us from leaving. As soon as he secures the foot of Palace Hill, he'll send his Tjor'riin up the Yard to take us.>> The blunt assessment made several of the gathered leaders shake their heads and murmur in tones bordering on the fearful.