Chapter Three: Escape from the siege and a dramatic council meeting

The Beloved's army had been on the move through the narrow passageway, which led through a smallish hill and exited onto the dry, hard desert. They were about three or four days walk from the borders of Argate, the empire of the blessed ones, and they needed more supplies.
They had managed to escape from Trergom and without too many more casualties, although there had been Cave-rodents in the passageway. Captain Gunnar recalled it all too vividly. Gunnar had been leading his squad down the corridor, no more than one wide and in front of him was Captain Teriyl's squadron. “Captain! Where does this passageway take us?” Senior squad captain Rienyk asked.
“Out on the desert, behind a small hill. Once we have escaped here, we will be moving to Argate. Hopefully they will be able to help us repel Altran” Gunnar explained quickly to his senior squad captain. “Thank you Ser” Rienyk spoke courteously. “Suck up”, “bet he'll get a promotion soon” and “fraggin' bastard” Gunnar heard from behind them. “Next person I hear will volunteer to go ahead of Captain Teriyl's squad” Gunnar snapped at 3rd squadron. All his men shut up after that and Gunnar had peace and quiet once more. Well not for long anyway. Once Gunnar had thought this, everything had changed within seconds.
Gunnar suddenly heard screaming up ahead and Captain Teriyl and Highlord Gerdamh snapping at 2nd squadron of regiment V. Then he saw the cave-rodents, each about half as high as the mounts that the Beloved's army usually rode. “Squad captain Rienyk, take half of 3rd squadron up ahead and help Captain Teriyl” Gunnar ordered the senior squad captain. Rienyk nodded and pointed at junior squad captain Evenyius to follow with the half squadron. “Not you Evenyius. Stay here with the troops, I'll go with Rienyk” Gunnar told the junior squad captain. “Yes, Ser” Evenyius said, slightly relieved and headed back toward 3rd squadron. Gunnar ran faster in the other direction, following just behind squad captain Rienyk. Once they reached 2nd squadron, Gunnar immediately withdrew his blade and slashed violently at the nearest cave-rodent.
It tried to duck, but Gunnar's long blade caught it right in its midriff and splattered it's guts everywhere. Another leapt through the air and latched onto Gunnar's back. Gunnar tried to turn around and get the rodent off his back, but it had it's claws dug in too tightly and Gunnar couldn't dislodge it.
Suddenly Dragonlord Armonath flew out of nowhere and pulled the wretched creature off his back and threw it against the wall, with a dull, meaty thud. “Thank you Dragonlord Ser” Gunnar said gratefully. “No problem Gunnar” Armonath grinned at him and then disappeared back into the fray.
Gunnar saw one of the last rodents leap at Captain Teriyl, so Gunnar threw his smallish knife at the beast, slicing it's head off in mid-air. Gunnar ran over to the fallen Captain and pulled him up. “You okay?” Gunnar asked, “yes thanks Captain” Teriyl said stiffly and then ran over to the incoming Highlord-Commander to assist him.
Gunnar sighed and decided that he really did not like Captain Teriyl. Once they had cleaned up the dead bodies and organised the troops once more, the Beloved's army started riding through the tunnel again. Once they reached the end of the tunnel, they all halted and waited for orders from the Dragonlord and the Highlord-Commander.
“We will ride out now, and try to get to Argate as fast as possible. Once there we will have enough protection from Altran and we can gather supplies and then head to Counquan from there to get a boat to Trialge in the Dwarven territories. There we will await the Dragonlord to come back from the council on the isle of Skrath” Skayl barked at the troops.
Finally it was time for the battered regiments to move out, and they were led by Highlord-Commander Skayl, who was in front for once, and Commander Hylyr. They marched all day in the searing heat of the Alasian deserts, and a few perished from starvation and dehydration.
“Hurry man, we have to get to Argate before we all die of thirst and heat sickness” Armonath spoke firmly to Commander Hylyr. The Commander-Overlord was lagging behind, with a wound in his leg from one of the cave-rodents. “My leg is killing me” he said as he stopped abruptly, pulling a water-skin from his carry-pack and pouring most of it on his leg. Then he drank the last few precious drops.
“It looks as though it is becoming infected, so you'll need some feather-leaf. I think one of the healers carries some around with her, but we'll need to act quickly, otherwise you'll lose that leg of yours, Ser” Gunnar interjected, hurrying from behind.
“Where did you come from Gunnar, I thought you were with your squadron?” the Dragonlord said questioningly, eyebrow raised. “Just needed to ask you something quickly, Ser. I was wondering where we will end up after getting through Argate?” the young Captain questioned.
Armonath stopped for a moment, an intent look of thoughtfulness on his face; “well, we have to attend a council meeting on the Isle of Skrath. You know what that island is famous for, don't you Gunnar?” the Dragonlord asked, hinting at a touch of rhetoric’s. “Ah... that particular island; it might be interesting to have a council meeting there, particularly if the Stardust Dragon is going to be in attendance” Gunnar replied casually.
Commander Hylyr stared at them both a moment, then spoke suddenly. “Isn't that the God of Wisdom, Jakyro'yah? Doesn't he assume the guise of an elf, so he can play practical jokes on other elves and visitors to Skrath?”
“Actually, yes. He does tend to do that rather often; for the God of Wisdom he certainly has a sense of humour, a warped one at that” Armonath replied rather waspishly. “Oh, so you have been a victim one of his practical jokes, have you?” Gunnar grinned despite himself. “Unfortunately; he a rather rude comment one day in passing, and, since I didn't know it was actually him, I got rather rude back, then he revealed himself.”
The suns began to set in the sky, and Gunnar realised that it was far later than what he had previously thought, though he had to admit that the sunset was beautiful. “Isn't it amazing, Dragonlord?” the Captain spoke rhetorically, not actually expecting an answer from the dragon-hybrid. “Yes, though it seems to me that it reflects the bloodshed of the day and the lives lost; that's all the colour red means to me anymore” Armonath answered Gunnar's question sombrely.
Moments later, Highlord-Commander Skayl halted the advance and ordered them all to start setting up for night and to start preparing their meals before it became too dark.