The Invasion Of The Sombers. Jordi Villalobos

let a few seconds go by to dilute the anger of her progenitor.

      “You'll have them, Father. Even if it's the last thing I do, I'll bring them to you alive," said the princess. “I will not disappoint you again," she concluded with determination.

      “I hope so, my daughter, I have high expectations for you, and we've got a lot at stake. Don't fail me again," replied the somber monarch a little more calmly, but keeping the tone of harshness in his words.

      A dismissive gesture from Nigriel's hand brought the interview to an end. Elenir lowered her head and turned around and left the room, hurt, angry and already making plans for her next steps.

      Urkaroth was almost halfway between the border with Delfia and the border with Barvian, and was almost bathed by the Kalidor River to the west, which flowed into a lake of the same name. It was also very well protected to the north by The Rock, an enormous mountain mass of several hundred kilometers where there were no fissures of several mountains, but rather, it was like a unique and huge rock emerging from the depths of the earth.

      Urkaroth occupied a vast expanse almost in the central part of Teberion. At first glance, two main parts of the extensive city differed: a very dark one, built with black stones and adorned with threatening gargoyles and awful beasts that had contemplated the sinister first era of the violent and bellicose orcs; and another more luminous part, built with grey and white marbles, full of statues and beautiful motifs, less aggressive than their brothers in the dark zone, and who saw the rebirth of the new orc era culminating during the reign of their present king Gulrath, proud to endow his city with new buildings closer to the culture of the elves and humans than to that of the ancient orcs.

      In the heart of the most luminous area of Urkaroth was the palace of Gargaran, the residence of the kings of Teberion. Seven watchtowers stood out, rising majestically towards the sky. Six of them were built with beautiful greyish marble, but the great central tower, the residence of the kings, highlighted for the whiteness provided by the snowy marble with which they had built it. The rest were used for military purposes, for surveillance, training of new recruits and for dungeons. A high solid wall, also of greyish marble, surrounded the entire main citadel.

      Gulrath and Baldia returned to Urkaroth without setbacks. The king smiled broadly as he entered his private quarters and saw a small hawk and a crow waiting for him, each with a note tied to its leg.

      He darkened his face as he read the missives, but at the conclusion, his countenance became more satisfied, though also worried.

      Before the king's gesture, which indicated that there would be no answer, the birds disappeared through the window at full speed to starve with the numerous doves flying over the enormous palace. No wonder they did, after several days waiting for the arrival of the king without even going out to eat.

      On the other side of the palace wing, at that very moment, Queen Baldia looked attentively at a silver mirror, which reflected a face much younger than hers.

      “Daughter," she said, "our plans are going just as we planned," said the pleased queen.

      “Yes, although my father is a stumbling block in them and we'll have to finish him off," replied the mirror image.

      “Patience, my dear, all in good time. Your father can still be useful to us, don't be hasty. Now you take care of those dragons, who can help us a lot in our mission.”

      “All right Mother, I will," said the young woman.

      Baldia saw the image of the young princess disappear, to appear her own, while she drew a horrible smile.

      Syriel entered Lirieth's room as she brushed her hair in front of a mirror.

      “Haven't you been taught to knock before entering a lady's bedroom, prince?" asked the princess, pretending to feel offended.

      “I'm sorry, I haven't noticed. It won't happen again," replied the prince, embarrassed. “I was just coming to see how you were doing," Syriel added.

      “I'm fine, a little tired, but fine. Thank you very much," thanked Lirieth with a bright smile.

      “This mission is getting more complicated, and perhaps it will be much more dangerous than one might think at first. Perhaps it would be better if you returned to Teberion," said the prince with concern.

      “I'm flattered that you care about me, Syriel, but you know we have to do this together. Maybe only I can dominate those dragons. Besides, I am not a delicate little princess who needs constant protection, not only am I able to defend myself, but I take pity on anyone who dares to stand in my way," roguish Lirieth joked.

      “I know, I know, even though I would never forgive myself if I hid something from you," replied Syriel with a loving gaze.

      “Nothing will happen to me. And now, let this lady get ready for bed," almost ordered the princess. “Alone," added Lirieth sharply, but also gratified at the prince's sly grin.

      With a fleeting kiss on her lips, Syriel wished the princess good night, who watched with a semblance of deep concern as the prince disappeared through the door, as if she wanted to tell him something, something she would never not be able to reveal to anyone, not even him.

      A trapped giant

      Frienia, year 1815 of the second era.

      When the company which was enlarged by Garin and a hundred of dwarfs went through the fateful tunnel and the remains of Kasariviel again, they saw how a large group of dwarfs collaborated in collecting the meat of the reptile, which, undoubtedly would be an abundant food for the snowy season.

      It took five long days of march to reach the exit from the Badlands, with hardly any incidents. The Peaks Pass extended westwards, without being possible to see its opposite end, as it lengthened almost to the end of the Slanted Mountains, with several hundred kilometers long, connecting all the dwarf cities carved into those mountains.

      After an arduous descent that took almost a whole day, they finally set foot in the dangerous soil of the Badlands.

      The first region they encountered was a vast plain with sparse vegetation that also did not appear to have too much fauna. They only came across some voracious mosquitoes, some of considerable size that would not stop biting producing some rather annoying urticaria. Garin informed them that in that region there were no living creatures entailing excessive danger, although during the following day they would arrive at a more rugged and forested area inhabited by harpies, which were like médium winged ones, with some knowledge of magic, astute, fast and above all evil, which turned them into dangerous enemies. However, they would not dare to attack such a large and well-armed group.

      They also found on the way unmistakable signs of the passage of the sombers, who had managed to escape through the Peaks Pass about five days ago.

      Syriel and Lirieth continued in their role of showing how well they got along, even when no one could see them, and it was becoming evident that a relationship was being born between them that began to go beyond the mere friendship agreed upon. Baldrich continued to look at the princess with a certain suspicion, but he did not argue with her again, nor did he say anything about his protégé. They also stopped giving magic classes, because with the mastery that Lirieth achieved before the snake, the princess demonstrated that she would be able to subdue any beast, since few should exist greater than Kasariviel.

      The next day, as Garin had already told them, they entered a more rugged area with slight depressions, small mounds and numerous groups of trees which, although they did not manage to form forests, some of them had a considerable extension. And the environment was impregnated with a slight aroma of vegetation.

      Garin also warned them that it was inhabited by a snake not very large, but very poisonous which petrified the whole body in a matter of seconds. And as if it had been a premonition, a few minutes later, one of the warring orcs complained of a bite in his hand. Garin ran toward him and, with incredible speed, cut off his hand with an axe just in