The Adventures of Draco Zandros

Chapter 6

Serra was already waiting for Draco at the main gate, her wolf laying at her feet. "We've got orders from Sir Tydus, he's dispatching groups to investigate reports of Charr on this side of the wall and wants us to check out an area near Fort Ranik."
"Did he give any details?" Asked Draco, it was obvious this was serious and he didn't want to go unprepared.
"He didn't seem to know that much himself and was in a hurry to join Prince Rurik and another group heading out from the Academy."
"Okay, it might be a good idea if we asked Marthan to come along, any idea where he is?"
"I'm one step ahead of you, I asked a few of the guards and they can remember him heading to Fort Ranik this morning to deliver a message, he hasn't returned yet."
"Okay, we'll see if we can catch him there. If your up to dodging Skale I think we should take the route over the lake and past the Devourer cave entrance."
Serra agreed to Draco's proposed route and together with their pets they headed off at a slow jog. Dodging the Skale Tad's wasn't a problem, they were simple creatures and not aggressive unless provoked. The Skale Broodcallers on the other hand were aggressive and could prove deadly in large numbers to an unprepared adventurer.
They made it to the bridge that separated Lakeside County from Regent Valley without trouble, the two Skale Broodcallers they had seen were easy to avoid. However, the journey through Regent Valley was slower going, Skale and bandits swarmed the area attacking any traveller that came near.
"Is it just me or does this area seem more popular than normal?" Asked Draco as he dispatched another bandit intent on leaving them as a twitching corpse.
"No, they are definitely more of them than normal." Replied Serra as she doged a blast form a Skale Broodcaller that had just joined the fight.
Their pets had formed a shield before them, allowing the two rangers to pick their opponents off, but it didn't stop the spells the Skale was firing off at them. Draco watched as one of the bandits tried to stab fluffy but had his arm ripped off instead as the bear brought his claws down the bandits shoulder blade. It was obvious the pets were fairing better than the two rangers who ever so often got caught by one of the blasts from the Skale, singing their hair and scorching their armour.
"This is no good, we're not doing enough damage. Cover me for a sec, I'm gonna modify my arrows." Draco said as he strapped small bundles of explosives to his arrows, he passed a few to Serra then proceeded to light and fire towards the Skale.
The difference in damage was immediately apparent, the arrows embedded themselves in their targets then exploded spreading burning shrapnel to anything close by. The Skale causalities quickly began to build lessening the threat on the two rangers. As the numbers dropped Serra changed target to the bandits attacking their pets while Draco continued to spread death and destruction through the Skale ranks, within minutes it was all over.
"Looks like Ivor Trueshot will finally be happy with you." Smiled Serra.
"I told you I only needed rest, although sleep would have been better." Said Draco retuning her smile. "Lets get going before the noise draws more trouble."
They continued on their journey carefully, dispatching anything that challenged them, the remainder of the journey didn't cause any more serious problems but it was taking longer than Draco would have liked.

"Finally, Fort Ranik!" Said Draco as they walked over the drawbridge. " hope Marthan is still here."
"He is, look over there." Said Serra indicating towards the keep. "Talking to that lass."
"MARTHAN!" Shouted Draco. "MARTHAN! COME HERE!"
"What is it!" Stormed Marthan as he marched angrily towards Draco.
"Sorry Bro, no time to chat up the locals we have a job to do."
"A job you say? From who?" He was still angry but was looking forward to a good fight.
"From Sir Tydus, we're to check reports of Charr near the wall." Replied Serra.
"About time we was given a proper job, one minute." He ran back to the young women he had been talking to, gave her a kiss and ran back.
"Ready, lets go."
"Who's that?" Asked Draco.
"Never you mind." Laughed Marthan leading them back out.
They headed slightly south from Fort Ranik then east over a bridge into an area known as Pockmark Flats, an area mostly covered by water with lots of wildlife. It didn't take long before the group found the Charr but they wasn't the first. A detachment of Ascalon Guards was making short work of the small number of Charr, the sounds of steal ringing and energy blasts could be heard as the fight came into view.
"Dratz, why do they guards always have to spoil my fun." Said Marthan with obvious disappointment.
"Well, look at it this way, we'll be able to get back to a tavern sooner." Pointed out Draco.
"Aye, that's true." Smiled Marthan. "Lets get down there and make sure this is the group we're looking for."
They headed down towards the fight but before they arrived the last Charr was dispatched and the guards began the process of ensuring the wounded enemies were slain and their own casualties seen to.
One of the guards noticed the group and a call went out, three of the guards started walking towards them, weapons sheaved.
"Greetings, what brings you here?" Asked the officer.
"We was sent by Sir Tydus to locate a group of Charr this side of the wall, looks like you beat us to them." Replied Marthan, giving John a nod.
"So you took my advice then." Grinned John.
"They'll be time for idle chit chat later soldier, right now I want to know what the Charr have been up to." Snapped the Officer.
"Apart from a few more sightings than normal the Charr have been quiet sir." Said Draco giving the officer a salute.
"Very well, my detachment will be heading back to Ascalon as soon as we've done here, you can tag along if you desire." Said the officer.
Draco agreed to the officers suggestion and together with Marthan helped to deal with the enemy carcasses while Serra helped tend the wounded. By the time the detachment was ready to march the sun was already descending and the officer decided that they would stay overnight at Fort Ranik. Rather than risk travelling through bandit country while dark Draco, Marthan and Serra decided to stay with the detachment and continue travelling with them at first light.
As the sun started to set the Ascalon guard finalised their sleeping arrangements and got out instruments and drinks, within minutes Fort Ranik took on a party atmosphere as the soldiers enjoyed a moment to relax within the safety of the walls of the fort after the weeks they had spent out in the wilds with constant danger always surrounding them.
Despite the current threat of full scale war, Draco couldn't remember a time when he had been able to relax more, even the threat of the Charr didn't seem as dangerous as the constant skirmishes of the Guild Wars that had ended so recently. Even though the Charr managed to get past the walls every now and again it was only in small numbers, the majority of the Charr army was rebounded by the walls and its defences like waves off a cliff. Rumours of a Charr super weapon was just that, rumours, nothing substantial had been found and Draco couldn't see how the Charr could penetrate the walls except by a prolonged siege. Times were good and trade between lands had increased, it was with these thoughts Draco dropped to sleep laying next to Serra.

The trek back to Lakeside was uneventful, only a few Skale attacked and while they did find fresh traces from the bandits they were nowhere to be seen, Draco found this unsurprising considering they were marching along with a sizeable force.
As they passed near Ashford Marthan excused himself saying he had some things to do at home before he continued his training, Draco continued with the soldiers, escorting Serra back to Ascalon City.
"What's that?" Asked one of the soldiers pointing into the sky.
On a projectile arc was a large reflective object covered in flames, falling rapidly towards Ascalon. Draco and the soldiers watched as other similar objects lifted into the sky before beginning their descent towards the city, they appeared to be coming from Charr The Northlands.
With an almighty bang the first object hit the city, shaking the ground and sending debris and smoke up into the air. The soldiers watched in stunned silence as projectile after projectile hit the city, walls that had stood for hundreds of years collapsed, buildings flattened and bodies flug into the air like rag dolls.
"TO ARMS!" Came a cry from the city. "THE CHARR ARE CHARGING THE WALL, DEFEND THE BREACH'S!"
"Drop anything you don't need and prepare to defend the city!" Called the detachments officer as he through down his backpack, drew his sword and ran to defend his home. His men following suit along with Draco and Serra.
"TAKE COVER!" Shouted one of the soldiers as he tried to both point at one of the projectiles falling towards them at the same time as dive behind a rock.
Draco tried running towards the river, soldiers scattering ever which way. As the thought crossed his mind he might just make it the projectile hit the ground, the shock wave lifted Draco off his feet and flung him across the water as if he weighed no more than a feather. He landed with a bone jarring crunch, fire burned in his chest and pain lanced his body, looking to his left he managed to make out the mangled remains of Serra before the darkness took him and he knew no more.

- Written by Draco Zandros