But his doubts of Vaeludar were the least of his worries; there had been staggering reports of pig-faced, sloth-swaggering Hobgoblins and winged, human-like Harpies throughout his homeland of the west.
Hobgoblins and Harpies attacks are happening everywhere. Normally, there would be less than five Hobgoblins or Happies attacking through a series of years. This time attacks had dramatically increased and dozens of Harpies and Hobgoblins had attacked countless places in a matter of weeks. Attacks grew from three attacks in five years to twelve attacks in three weeks.
Geraldus had his own matters to take care of. He could not travel north to find Vaeludar. With the attacks happening on the west side of the island of Shimabellia, which happened to be his ancestral homeland, Geraldus had to focus his attention on the growing enemies.
Luckily, his soldiers are trained every day to fight in dire situations. He had somewhere between seven and ten thousand men to fight.
Geraldus, as the head of his army and a lookout of the western borders, had to keep his gaze on his homelands, since the majority of his land was occupied by peasants. He needed to protect his people; peasants were needed to care for crops and livestock.
Basically, they were responsible for food for the entire island. If there were no peasants, then people of higher class would die of starvation. And Geraldus had to watch his peasants and make sure they were harvesting the crops and livestock like cows and pigs.
Over the past three weeks, after Vaeludar left and Naìra had disappeared, Geraldus had to give up a few hundred of his soldiers to transport several trade routes that move in and out his homeland. Here and there skirmishes erupted and lives were lost.
Word soon reached his ears that Lusìvar had returned. More rumors began to spread of the rise of four demonic ghosts from the past. In ancient legends, Lusìvar had a group of men that revered him like a god: Shadow Men, cultists doomed to worship the ancient Shadow King for all time to come.
After being cast down by the Crystal Dragon, Lusìvar left behind four men to fight for him and find potential boys with potential talent to become a new Shadow King.
Word began to spread of an ancient Shadow rising from everywhere on the island. The ancient Shadow King and his Shadow Men were believed to be rising again. With an army coming behind them, it seemed hopeless to fight against an evil threat.
However, the last few days, the attacks seemed to have ceased, for the time being, as if the Hobgoblins and Harpies had gone extinct already. The Dragons sent their own patrols across the island of Shimabellia and kept their eyes on every strategic access point that could give the enemy a distinct advantage on Shimabellia.
Geraldus knew one day they would attack again, it would be a matter of time before they attacked in bigger squads.
In the days following the cease of attacks, Geraldus rode toward the capital city of Shimabellia. Geraldus needed to talk with the king and see what problems King Uragiru was facing. They had been friends for many long decades and endured many hardships. They were like brothers in how well they knew each other.
Geraldus rode straight from his homeland to the capital city where King Uragiru was residing. Geraldus took a large battalion of armed soldiers and rode to King Uragiru’s castle. They rode for two weeks long; a few days after the attacks had disappeared. Geraldus thought the road to be perilous, but only sounds of monstrous roars and grunts were heard.
It was a smooth ride to King Uragiru’s castle, aside from the dangerous sounds they heard as they rode all the way from the western region to the castle. As the end of the second week passed, they reached the square, temple-like castle. They saw the main doors opened to all travelers and entered upon seeing it open. Geraldus rode from the entrance all the way to the top of the castle.
Geraldus dismounted from his horse and saw the king sitting on a table, drinking tea. He walked towards the sitting king who seemed to have no worries.
“Geraldus,” greeted the king.
“Your Majesty,” said Geraldus. “Have you heard of these recent attacks happening right on your doorstep?”
“Have no concern, my friend,” said Uragiru. “All is fine now. These attacks are mere small skirmishes.”
“Do you not care what is going on at these borders? Do you not care what was going on weeks ago? We have been attacked by Hobgoblins and Harpies. They have been attacking several livestock and unwary travelers. How can you be so calm in a great crisis?”
“I do care, but this city grows its own crops. Inside these walls, we can survive through the years and withstand great sieges. Have no worry, dear friend. I’ve already sent ravens to every corner of the island. Every duke, earl, and lord knows of these attacks, and their knights will be ready to fight back. The creatures already know of my messages. Sit down.”
King Uragiru offered his friend a cup of tea, which Geraldus couldn’t refuse. “And of Teutates?” asked Geraldus. “Your distant relative? The one descended from that prince who rebelled against his brother? Have you notified him of these resent events?”
“Teutates’s ancestors were exiled from my island,” said Uragiru. “They no longer have the right to live here. Teutates is living on the island of Isla Maeli, and there he serves
