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.