CHAPTER 7.5: UNNEEDED HERO

***The crusader camps, a few weeks ago…***

The news of what happened to the storehouses spread like wildfire throughout the crusader camps, especially the ones where the dwarves from the first wave stayed. The dwarf lords and their subordinates were shocked; their warriors pressed them to return home. There were those who agreed, yet there were others who stubbornly clung to the hope that they could turn things around.

And so that panic ended on the first day…

“There are dead fishes in the water!”

The next day, the dwarves that went foraging the countryside saw the dead schools of fish floating nearby the shores. And then, from their own cities, came the calls from their families and fellow guild members of their livestock dying all of sudden, without sign of anything wrong.

“The Black God has cursed us!” came the cries of desperation from the crusader camps. “The Black God has called upon death on our people for going against him!”

“Have you seen the giant behind him? He’ll send those evil creatures against our cities!”

“We got to protect our families!”

“The mountains will open up and swallow our people!”

That did it for all the rest of the warriors. Without waiting for the orders of their lords, they broke camp, and retreated to their ships. Many simply packed their things and sailed home. Some nobles had ordered for their boats to be burned, only to be rebuffed by their subordinates, who demanded they return. The airship crews mutinied against their commanders and turned their dirigibles around. The pilots of the fighter squadrons had it the easiest; they got to their planes and flew off, much to the envy of their fellow soldiers.

“…”

Amidst all the ruckus, Farah watched as the mighty crusader army she assembled melted before her, afraid and desperate of what was going on in their home cities. The laughing face of the Dwarf Saint, the Lady Helgath, flashed through her mind, as if mocking her at the sudden disintegration of her forces.

“You cowards!” she bellowed against the retreating columns of crusaders. “Is this how you show your devotion to the Golden Hammer? The battle is in the opposite direction!”

Yet, the dwarf warriors paid no heed to her words. They continued to march back to the sea, to their boats, or tried to swim from the beaches to the nearest mountain on sight. Attempting to stem the deserters, she reached for her weapon—only to realized, it was destroyed by the Dwarf Saint yesterday, when she visited her tent. So Farah used her hands in vain, pushing everyone back and exhorting them to continue the war for the glory of the Golden Hammer.

But…

“It’s already lost, Miss,” one of the nobles came to her. “Everyone lost their will to fight.”

Still, not wishing to give up, Farah ignored the dwarf lord’s words. She kept on her desperate plea, even as when the warriors crashed on her. Bruised yet unyielding, she continued doing that until the last dwarf column disappeared from the main camp.

“…” There were still a few crusaders who remained, though these were the officers who were ‘dropped’ by their command for refusing to break camp and return. As they lost hope that their venture would result to anything significant, they gathered at their overall commander as she picked and dust herself.

“Miss Koh, the dwarves have spoken,” one of them told her. “They are more afraid of losing their families, than suffer the wrath of the Golden Hammer for having failed him.”

“Ingrates…that’s what they are,” the dwarf lady said in between her raging breaths. “Ingrates!”

“So, what are we going to do now, Miss?”

Farah picked up a nearby battle axe, abandoned by its original wielder after the retreat. “We have no future here,” she admitted. “If you wish to come with me, you may freely do so. I will go east; my battle against the heretic Black God isn’t over just yet.”

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***The city of Hemelin, present day…***

“And what does the disgraced captain of the Golden Hammer’s guards want to talk about?” the leader one of the criminal gangs in Hemelin asked when Farah contacted him. “Your lot kicked us out, right? So why come to us now?”

The former dwarf commander headed straight to the point of their talk. “You are fighting against the Black God, right?”

“Hmm? What’s that?” the crime lord rose from his lofty chair, made from the gold trims of the abandoned inn where his group stayed. “Why is the Black God in this conversation? Isn’t that the new religion from Montserrant?”

“And they are trying to take control of your territories here,” Farah added.

“Hey, hey, easy on your words, miss!” the criminal chuckled. “What makes you think that because we are enemies of that Black God bullshit, whatever it is, we’ll automatically side with you? We haven’t forgiven your dwarves for meddling in our business before, see?”

“I’m sure you’ll find working together with me will be profitable,” she replied. “For one, as I was the former captain of the Golden Hammer’s security, I know where the valuables of the Church are hidden. And second, don’t you think you’ll want to keep the status quo? From what I can see, your group had established itself in this area.”

“Hoh…that sure is a tempting offer, miss,” the crime lord admitted. “But…there’s a little problem about giving you our full cooperation.”

“That is?”

“Miss Farah Koh, is it? Yes, I remember your name now,” his lips drew a nasty smirk. “Don’t underestimate my network of spies. I’ve been told that a few weeks ago, your ‘crusade’ suffered a defeat, thus, you’ve been thrown away by your erstwhile allies. Now, are you trying to drag us into your war against Montserrant?”

The former dwarf captain was silence. She didn’t expect that from the criminal leader.

“It’s true, is it? You want us to fight against the Black God.”

Farah nodded, though she quickly followed that with, “I won’t force you to join me. But, I’ll make sure I’ll destroy your puny gang of cutthroats once I gathered people on my side.”

“Oh?” the dwarf certainly didn’t like her bravado. “Destroy me? How?”

“With this!” At that point, Farah pulled a gun from her bag and shot the criminal at his head. As the dwarf expired, his stunned subordinates tried to pin her down, only to realize, they’ve been outwitted by her. The few dwarf followers she had from the crusader camps held them hostage.

Farah’s triumphant smile was all over her face. “I’ll give you one more chance to consider your answer, vipers. Resist, and you’ll suffer the worst death possible.”