Chapter 52: The Return

A week after the battle, General Gadwin and James toured the scarred battlefield together. The dragon’s fury had left its mark everywhere, but the worst of the damage had finally been repaired. The stockpiles of rock spears and rock darts had been replenished, though the ground itself still bore witness to the creature’s terrible power.

“We’ve continued dispersing the supplies and are building an earthen dome over each depot,” Gadwin said, pride evident in his voice as they walked. “I’ve asked Baron Caldswell for the budget to construct proper stone barracks for each squad. The added protection will be worth every coin.”

James nodded, eyes sweeping across the devastated landscape. “After what we saw last week, that seems like an excellent use of the realm’s resources. Even if the dragon never returns, the men deserve solid barracks that can also serve as rally points in an emergency. Did the Baron give you any timeframe for funding?”

“He already has,” Gadwin replied. “The attack shook him to his core. If we hadn’t had three battlemages ready to meet at the landing, the eastern forces would have overrun us completely. The Baron could see his own death staring back at him from those burning wings. That kind of terror has a way of focusing even the most complacent mind.”

“And probably made him change his pants,” James added with a dry laugh.

“More than once, I’d wager,” Gadwin agreed, a rare smile cracking his stern features. “The Baron is an administrator, not a warrior. He prefers ledgers to battlefields.”

James grinned, “I’m just glad I wore my brown pants in the fight.”

The man laughed and nodded.

“As long as he agrees, I’m happy to support the plan,” James said. “Battlemage Aaron mentioned I’ll be meeting with the king soon. That may have helped convince the Baron to move quickly.”

“I don’t care about the politics,” Gadwin said bluntly. “The new construction will protect my men and pay dividends for years to come. Aaron has also requested that I assign a troop of soldiers to escort you to the capital. Are you ready to leave?”

“Yes,” James replied without hesitation. “I can depart anytime.”

An hour later, James rode out with four veteran soldiers, cantering along the road toward the city. He remained quiet, mind turning over unknowns and possibilities. The men, however, were in high spirits, laughing and swapping exaggerated tales of the battle. Their voices carried on the wind — giddiness at having survived mixed with the promise of free drinks in the taverns as they recounted their exploits to wide-eyed listeners.

The corporal leading the escort kept the pace steady. Behind them, the battlefield slowly receded, but its wounds were impossible to ignore.

The dragon had done far more than kill. Where its fiery breath had struck, the ground was fused into blackened glass, cracked and glittering like obsidian under the sun. Entire stretches of meadow had been reduced to scorched earth, the soil baked hard and sterile, nothing growing there for years to come. Trees that had stood for decades were now black stumps, limbs twisted and blackened, some still smoking faintly days later. The smell of burnt wood and scorched flesh lingered in the air, a reminder of how close they had come to disaster.

James glanced back once, taking in the scale of the destruction. “We were lucky,” he murmured.

The corporal beside him nodded grimly. “Luck, and good men. But luck runs out eventually.”

The troop stopped every hour for ten minutes to rest the horses and stretch. The monotonous pattern served to relax James. He could concentrate on the mundane rather than obsess over the unknown waiting for him at the capital.

When they camped for the night, James offered to help. The corporal gently turned him down.

“We are your honor guard. Please let us take care of the camp.”

James nodded and then removed the saddle from his horse. He walked the animal over to a clear spot and let it start cropping the grass. ‘I am not made to just sit idly by. I don’t consider myself upper-class and aloof from hard work.’

But the men were experienced and competent. The camp was quickly ready, and the food was already cooking. James had difficulty falling asleep that night. The change from the buildup to the conflict to this pastoral camp was a huge shift.

The next day, they reached the capital. They were met at the north gate where a new honor guard was waiting. James was taken to Mage Linwood, the head of the Mage Council.

“Come in,” Linwood called out. “Congratulations on your great victory!”

“I was only part of it; this victory had many fathers.”

“That may well be true. But it is simpler to attribute the victory to you than to explain all of the nuances to the masses. You, as the newest battlemage, brought new tactics that contributed to our overwhelming victory.”

“Well, that is partially true. I did suggest some new things that Aaron and the Baron embraced. The rock darts saved my life when the dragon attacked,” James added.

“Protection of the landing is decades of boredom coupled with moments of terror. There may be another attack tomorrow or not while any of us are alive. But eternal vigilance is critical. This has been the pattern for centuries.”

“Have you considered attacking? Perhaps seize some of their territories to add a protective buffer?”

“James, there is no advantage to the Kingdom to do so. The natural chokepoint provided by the bridge is perfect for us. We can hold it with a minimal number of troops. If we had troops on the eastern side, then they would be difficult to support on a daily basis, and especially if they were attacked. If they tried to retreat over the bridge, the bottleneck of the bridge would prevent most from escaping. We looked at this a generation ago and calculated that it would take five times the number of troops to hold a sliver of land on the other side of the bridge.”

“Thank you for the information. I certainly need more experience. But I have only been training for a few months and still have a lot to learn, both about magic and politics.”

“If the king allows, then you can learn much over the next few years by staying in the capital.”

“Mage Linwood, I have responsibilities in Castletown. I never expected a command to come to the capital or participate in a war. I do not want to abandon my role in my home city.”

“You are a subject of the king and must do as he commands.” Linwood reminded him.