The World Dragon's Heir

Chapter 437: Alarm Sounded

Despite the many issues that Alexis had anticipated would come from having fifty massive Trolls living in the yard, the next week had been quite pleasant.

They trained first thing in the morning, alongside the veiled maids and the Royal Guards. They helped Millie with the gardens, and they patrolled the walls, waving happily every time someone walked close enough to talk to them.

If the goal was to intimidate anyone, they were failing miserably. But as far as their actual duties, they had turned out to be brilliant.

So Dominic was shocked into nearly smashing his fingers when he heard a siren-like wailing coming from the wail just after lunch that day. It was loud, continuous, and not like any other alarm that they had.

He ran out of the forge with Amie right behind him, the shields that they had been making instantly forgotten.

Alexis’ Royal Guards had their shields now, as did Prince George, but they had just received another batch of magitech orbs from the Duskblade Sect to make them for the departed Cygnia Princes.

One of the Trolls was screaming in the northern corner of the fortification as Dominic ran up the stairs onto the ramparts.

And what he saw was pandemonium.

Portals had opened all over the area, and the armies from both Wistover and Axbridge were under attack by monsters, while the farmers were either running for their lives toward the Manor, or joining the army ranks to fight back.

"TROLLS! I need half of you on the wall to defend the people coming here, the other half are me, and we are going to fight." He shouted.

The Trolls were already on their way, but a glow in the distance caught Dominic’s attention. One of the Barony Manors had lit its emergency beacon. The monsters weren’t only coming to Wistover from one direction.

"Change of plans. Ten trolls on the walls with Amie, twenty Daves to help the armies here, and twenty with me to help the people far away."

Alexis skidded to a stop beside him. "What is happening? Other than the obvious."

"There is an attack at the Baronies. We need to spread out the forces, we’re being attacked from all directions. I will inform Fahad’s men as I pass by. The town guard has already deployed, I can see the Sheriff marshalling people in town as well.

I am taking Trolls to the Baronies. If I recall policy right, the Royal Guard is to remain inside the walls with you and the Nobles."

Alexis nodded. "That is right. Our priority is the diplomats. Did you hear anything from the ritual in the barrier?"

Dominic shook his head. "No. The radio was on in my office, but there was no news from them in the last few hours. The last report of trouble that we got was when the airships had spotted a small group of Ogres this morning."

"The flare is Baron Billy Bob." One of the trolls declared.

Dominic smiled as the troll used the former soldier’s nickname. The former Captain from the Natural Sons’ Regiment was a good man, and a good fighter.

But he didn’t have more than a handful of armed men.

"We need to go. Stay safe, and adjust the deployment as needed. They know the commands."

With that, Dominic was off and running, accompanied by twenty of the Trolls, while twenty more slid down the outside of the wall to save time, headed for the nearest fight.

A middle-aged woman ran up to them as they passed by the edge of town, and Dominic waved for her to keep up if she wanted to talk.

"I’m a Cleric of the Dragon Gods. I can heal. I saw the emergency flare from the Barony." She explained.

"Got it. Dave, give her a lift, she can’t run as fast as we do."

The Priestess grumbled as she was unceremoniously thrown over a Troll’s shoulder, but Dave didn’t hold her there, and let her turn in his grasp to sit more comfortably on his hip with her legs around his waist.

"We’re turning right." The troll carrying the Priestess announced suddenly.

Dominic didn’t know why, but he followed the charge as they made for the farms.

The farmers could protect themselves, or run for town where the soldiers were. But the trolls were insistent.

Then he heard it. The bleating of panicked sheep.

There was a horde of Minotaurs attacking John’s farm, which currently had only the former King’s Man to defend the flock.

"Two of you need to go to the Baron. Defend his family while we rescue the sheep." Dominic shouted.

There was no time to delay if they expected to save the Barony, but the trolls were already in combat, and it would be harder to break free with a large group now that they had found the Minotaurs.

Dominic hefted his new shield, one intended to go to the Royal Guard, and bombarded the creatures with [Arcane Blasts] as he ran into combat.

A returning bombardment of [Firebolt] spells hit his barrier, and Dominic heard the Trolls swearing. Fire was one of the few things that could seriously injure them.

To his right, in the back of the horde, a group of young mages was casting fire spells at the farm buildings with evil smiles while John fought desperately to buy time against the Minotaurs.

The Trolls had been given all the basic Cygnia issued spells, and they had [Area Barrier] up. But they hadn’t been able to level it fully, it was only level two or three.

So, it helped, but they had to keep putting it back up after it was hit.

He would ensure they fixed that after this fight.

Dominic turned his attention to the mages, and three dropped in only a few seconds as his magic tore through their defences.

Acolytes.

This group of Minotaurs was supported by students in unfamiliar robes, and they were completely helpless against Dominic’s attacks when upcast by the shield.