It was the warm spring morning when the dragon finally reached Eldoras. Soft sunrays, penetrating through a thick layer of azure, fluffy clouds, gently fondled hard walls of the human kingdom's capital. From the bird's view, the city wasn't like itself. In a couple of hours, the precious capital of human civilization had been turned into an impregnable fortress, Tempestwind used to be: towers were crowded with catapults and ballistas, ready to barrage the enemy with sharp arrows instantly on his arrival. It was startling how rapidly the city had been prepared for the siege: a couple of days ago caravans from all over Uniearth had been flocking to its precious gates; now it was festooned with rows of stockade, and its walls were crowded with cauldrons with resin and warriors, ready to hold off the attack any moment. If any stranger came up to Eldoras at that moment, he would be puzzled by the correctness of the route he had followed to reach the city.
When our scaly hero landed near enormous gates, draped in tough pieces of molten metal, he noticed all five towers and the watch-house light with dozens of flamboyant torches and signal fires. All the embrasures got suddenly crowded with longbows, and the cold steel arrowheads sparkled on soft sunrays. In a minute all the long-distance weaponry was aimed at the dragon. After a couple of tense moments, our scaly hero noticed Esrael, who had sidestepped some of the archers to see what the trouble was. He was wearing sparkling solid steel chain-mail, encircled with a thick leather belt. A long two-handed sword was hanging on his belt, the handle of which was covered with a slight layer of shining gold. He was wearing a round steel helmet on his head, which covered his stiff brown hair. On the top of the helmet, there was a tiny rider figurine, which mounted above a tiny snake.
Having shown from an embrasure, Esrael loudly greeted his friend:
—I'm happy to see you, my friend! We've begun getting worried about you,— Esrael addressed to the archers and commanded:—Drop your arrows. Open the gates!
At that moment powerful oaken gates, pulled by enormous chains inside the watch-house, shuddered and started opening to let the dragon inside. Having waited until the passage was free, our hero heavily and unwillingly entered the city. And how surprised he was, when all the citizens of Eldoras appeared before him with all their pitiful swag, staring at him with eyes full of unfading hope. Everyone was staring at him with gimlet-eye as if he was the only one who could become their impeccable monolith of hope in the hour of doom. Nobody cared about alive ice dragon standing before them — the only thing all these people wanted is to hear that the next day they would be able to draw a deep breath of relief and go on with their ordinary house chores. Our hero did not know how to tell all those people that no help was going to come. He did not imagine how cold-blooded and heartless being he needed to be to deprive all those innocent people of hope when they needed it most. What would they tell their children, whose innocent little eyes burnt the last particles of sanity in the dragon's consciousness? Would he dare to let all those soldiers lose their courage, to let their hearts sink in the ocean of doom? No! They do not need to know the truth! Choosing the right words to say, the dragon didn't notice how Esrael came up from behind. —They are waiting for the news. Did anyone agree to help?—he silently wondered. The dragon only gave him a negative nod.
—That's a pity,—Esrael murmured griefly.—But what are you going to tell them? They've been waiting for you all this time, staring at the horizon, hoping to see you.
The tense silence broke in. The crowd began to worry and suspect something odd. At that moment, the dragon whispered to Esrael: "I'll tell them what they want to hear. The truth",—put himself together and exclaimed:
—Citizens of Eldoras! Friends! During my long journey, I've visited many kingdoms, towns, villages, desperately trying to find any help or support. I know that I promised you to bring any help, but I've failed you: none of the monarchs agreed to join us in the fight for the destiny of Uniearth,—he took a little pause. The crowd burst into decadent sighs and chattering: dragon heard children crying and their mothers' whispering.—Our "allies" told me lots of reasons why they didn't intend to enter the war. But there's only one fair reason for their refuses — cowardice. It was this old witch that had poisoned their mind, it was she who prevented them from taking the only correct decision in this situation — the agreement to help us in the upcoming battle against ravaging hoards of our common enemy. I hope that today this sin, they have failed to overcome, will not intervene you to struggle till imminent victory. I know that there will be casualties, but be sure that death each of you will not be vain. We have been retreating for too long, every time feeling the taste of defeat, but today we shall exhibit our true determination to fight to the last. Here, on these walls, the destiny of Uniearth will be at stake. All of you, even those, who can't wield a weapon, must know that all your actions: sword fighting, fire extinguishing, barricading or even ammo resupplying — will play a decisive role in this battle. From now you are not only carpenters, forgers or farmers, but bold defenders of Eldoras, sons of your Fatherland,—people on the streets started exclaiming and listening dragon's speech with pride and unbelievable attentiveness.—I am not going to lie — our enemy is strong. He exceeds us in strength, count, weaponry and siege appliances. But I am sure that their war power, no matter how devastating it is, won't overpower your valor and courage, and this day war will crush its teeth on your courageous spirit! So, warriors, are you ready to break the enemy's bloodlusty teeth to make him remember for the end of his days who he fought with and flee from these walls not less than a thousand miles?
—Ye-e-es!—the loud united gathering cry penetrated through the mighty walls.
—Then get ready for battle and have a good rest, comrades! Today's slaughter is going to be tremendously fierce!—the dragon ended. Having turned away from the crowd and given Esrael a friendly look, who gave him the same face expression, dragon heavily sighed:—Oh my... Maybe I shouldn't have told them the truth, should I?
—Perhaps,—Esrael, having looked upon the wall, replied.—Or perhaps not... You told them what they expected to hear. You encouraged those people, gave them hope, lit the flame of struggle, will to fight, defend their home.
There's nothing they need more.
—Yes, you're right, Esrael,—the dragon chuckled.—Thanks.
—You're always welcome,—his friend replied and clapped on his massive shoulder.
—So... What's the plan?—the dragon asked Esrael.
—First, we have to do everything not to let the enemy inside. If battering rams penetrate the gates and all those hordes enter the city, they will show no mercy. Our defense will rumble like a house of cards. So if things get hairy, someone, if he is still alive, will have to lead everyone to the port and load them on the ships.
—Understood,—Esrael nodded.—Well, my friend,—he thrust his leather gauntlet-dressed hand to the dragon,—I guess that destiny didn't bring us together occasionally today. I think it's an omen of our victory.
—I have no doubt,—the dragon, having accepted his friend's handshake, agreed.—I feel that luck will be on our side.
—And...—hardly had Esrael pronounced, he was interrupted by the deafening roar of the patrol man's horn. Then the loud captain of the guard's announcement followed: "Enemy at the gates! Garrison, to arms!" A sudden haste began among the defenders' army: warriors rushed to the towers and rapidly climbed on the walls, taking the position behind tough stone crenels; the towers began to light with the flames of resin for catapults' stones and ballistas' arrows; the kettles were being filled with hot oil; towers of watchhouse lifted standards and banners of royal dynasty. Having understood that he had to make haste, the dragon gave Esrael a farewell look.
—Well, my friend, it's time to go! Take care!—the dragon said and, having spread his wings, zoomed into the sky and headed towards the city wall. After landing on the western part of the wall between warriors, he spotted Gilroy, who took out his sword and covered himself with a hard rectangular shield. His face showed how nervous he was: sweating, frequent finger-bending, shaking kneels — everything was a sign that he was nervous about the upcoming fight. Nevertheless, he couldn't be blamed for cowardice: everyone was feeling the same, even dragon. It was just a matter of development of self-control.
—Mate, listen,—the dragon addressed to Gilroy. Human distracted from a barrage of anxious thoughts, rose his eyes at his scaly comrade and started listening to him attentively.—If Esrael gets killed, you will be in charge of everything. Hold the lines as much as you can: cheer-up soldiers, help wounded, pour the oil from the cauldrons, bring down the ladders — do everything in your power not to let the enemy on the walls. But if there is nothing left and the enemy busts in, lead everyone to the port. Meet with Esrael, load everyone on the ships and get out of here as fast as you can.
They may have the fleet, patrolling the harbor, as well, so be careful.
—But what about you?—Gilroy wondered puzzlingly.
—The city mustn't get captured by the enemy. At least in the safe-and-sound state. If we lose, their celebration won't be so glorious. Eldoras was founded on a large geyser field. Long before the first houses were built, the first monarch had faced a very picky situation: geysers, fuming with hot sea water, made further safe construction impossible. But he found the way. He aligned the field as best as he could and with the help of dwarven engineers put powerful metal screens over every loophole in the ground. Although they were not supposed to be openable, the king obeyed to make a leaver in order to control these screens: open or close them. If we find this leaver, we would be able to bury all the army under the waves of hot boiling mass. Is that clear?
—Yup,—Gilroy replied.—Just one more thing. Do you really believe that anyone will come to help us?
—Well, things don't stand pretty clear: one part of my brain stubbornly persuades me that it is silly to think that those remorseless monarchs will send anyone for help,—the dragon said.—The other one believes that we'll get lucky and allies will come just in time,—suddenly a short pause interfered into friends' conversation. Gilroy was the first to make silence fall:
—Well, which side do you sympathize?
—The second one, of course!—the dragon chucked.—But I'm not sure my sympathy is sane enough. Anyway, some wise people say that "hope dies last", doesn't it?
—For sure it does,—Gilroy agreed. Their warm conversation was interrupted by a loud roar of a horn, accompanied by loud exclamations of the patrolman: "The enemy is at the horizon! Hold your weapons!" Our heroes understood that the finest our finally came — the hour of the ordeal of their boldness, courage, valor and spirit.
—Well, my friend, this is it!—the dragon, having clapped his friend on the back, said.—Take care.
—You too,—young defender of Eldoras replied with a smile. The dragon spread his wings and hurried to one of the watch house's tower. Having landed between standard bearers and trumpeters, who had wide royal flags waving above them, he began to meticulously examine the horizon. When his sharp eye caught an odd movement, chills ran on his back. He saw a huge black spot, bristled with spears, shields, swords and siege machinery, which slowly marched to the impeccable walls of glorious human capital. Cavalry, infantry, archers, catapults, onagers, harpies, black dragons, siege towers, ladders, battering rams — all this indestructible mass, destroying everything in its path, heavily marched to the walls of Eldoras, trampling precious golden fields. Huge black standards with a symbol of a red staff, wrapped in a purple canvas, wavered above the heads of soldiers, dressed in pure black armor.
The unbearable smell of burnt villages and towns, which brought every defender of the capital into trembling, wavered across the bright and clean sea air. Each of them realized that that disgusting smell was the sign of failed salvation of their wives, mothers, sons, relatives and friends, who did not manage to reach the ark, which glorious Eldoras had become in recent days. Nevertheless, despite all the grief poured into their hearts, they were strongly determined to stand for the only remained stronghold for all those desperate and those who had lost their hope. Each of those who stood on the walls that day thought of the only phrase which poisoned their mind: "There is no way to retreat — only water is behind". And they were absolutely true: no ships were left in the harbor, so no citizen could escape the port. To make matters worse, there was no place for all refugees on the ships that had sailed away in the morning...
All of a sudden, a loud roar of horns sounded from the black armada, which loudly clanged with spears, swords and axes, and shortly after loud orders of commanders made their platoons freeze. Harpies and dark dragons landed. The upper platforms of siege towers began to get crowded with archers. Onagers, which had had their final maintaining works, were supplied with ammo and placed behind infantry in checkerboard disposition in four straight rows. Cavalry was moved to the rearguard. Infantry moved to the front, pushing siege shields.
During all that haste no defender knew what to do. The most chilling feeling scared them out of their wits — the feeling of doom and helplessness. Everyone noticed how stones instantly kindled with bright orange fire. The enemy's army burst into a war cry, which echoed through the abandoned streets of Eldoras. Phobos overwhelmed the defenders. Seconds were left from the disaster: artillery crew was ready to pull the leavers, and all the Arese's might would pour with devastating squall on the grey walls of the precious city on Eldotur. Torturing awaiting for inevitable crawled into souls of everyone...
Finally, a loud order thundered through the air, catapults fired at will, and a large stream of hand-made fire stars, which eclipsed bright azure sky, rushed towards the impeccable walls. The battle for Eldoras began.