A Lich in Time: Liches Get Stitches 5 by HJ Tolson

Author:HJ Tolson [Tolson, HJ]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-06-04T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 24

Organic Free Range Paladins!

Keeping in mind my arrangement with the Wavewalker, I make sure my army leaves alone any villagers or non-military settlements we pass. Not that many of them are populated. His clerics seem to have done their work well. Only a few choose to remain, or are unable to leave. I pretend not to see the handfuls of quaking villagers hidden in the bushes, or under beds, or in basements breathing deeply. We simply pass by.

One of the advantages of being queen of an undead horde is that I have absolute control over my troops. There are no ‘accidental’ war crimes. Every village is left as it is found… apart from one particularly nice town that seemed to be the home to various silk weavers. I ransacked that place from top to bottom. But then I felt guilty, so I sent back a team of draugrs to fix all their gutters and repaint their peeling paintwork. Oh, and I left some gold as well, and a note to contact me for future orders. Because the silk really is very nice even if the colours are a bit vibrant for my tastes.

Anyway, the bulk of my forces arrive within spiritual spitting distance of the Golden Temple just after moonrise and without too much trouble. The temple complex is, I suppose, quite impressive, if you like pomp, ceremonial glitz, gold-plating and architecture that is designed to make humans feel insignificant. Of course, the paladins of the Bright One don’t have to worry about heating the place. Not with this climate. Even so, there are firepits everywhere. The darling dimwits probably think they can scare me off with a little bit of light.

The main temple is an enormous golden ziggurat, complete with layered steps and stairs leading up to a gold-columned platform at the top. Is it real gold or gold paint? I can’t tell from this distance. On the top platform resides a fire pit of gigantic proportions. The beacon creates a flame so big, it can be seen from miles around. It shines like a gaudy lighthouse, and I’m sure the Bright One and all his faithful minions are very impressed with it. It is guarded by a score of very pretty ceremonial gold-clad knights, which stand around it in a circle. It’s unlikely they can see anything in the surrounding dark, so bright is the flame behind them.

I anchor my fleet a goodly distance away, splitting my troops and leading the bulk of them over the ocean floor. The siege towers and catapults will be shipped in once our cover is well and truly blown, and all the paladins guarding the watchtowers have been dealt with. More paladins are always useful.

I recruit a few dozen night birds and send them out to spy (trying to wage war like a local seems ecologically sound). Once I am sure of the lay of the land, I adjust my orders accordingly and relay my instructions. All is now ready.

I send out my dead to raise havoc.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.