The Destroyer Book 4 by Michael-Scott Earle

able to speak to either of them.
    There were arrow slits on both sides of the stone gate house and I looked toward the inner courtyard. I didn’t see any movement or hear any noise besides the wind, so I opened the heavy door and descended a staircase to the courtyard.
    The sun was setting quickly, what little red light made its way past the towers and mountains was stretched so thin that it did little to illuminate the entirety of the castle. My vision was good even in darkness and I took a few moments to analyze the layout of the fortress, its towers, walls and various structures. I had little experience with defensible fortresses. The wars I fought were in the open wilderness, or attacks on their roughly defended estates. None of the Elven homes or structures were close to the size and greatness of the stone fortresses of Nia. The most impressive Elven estate would have been an average sized house in Nia or Brilla. Either humans had naturally advanced in their understanding of architecture and engineering in the thousands of years I had slept, or the humans of this planet had always possessed greater skill than the Elvens on my home world.
    I had spent enough time in Castle Nia to guess where the main living areas should be. I crept toward the nearest one but kept my senses alert for any noise other than the wind. The path curved like a snake through various untended gardens, rock sculptures, and training grounds, across stairs and over ledges. From every angle there were beautiful views of the green valley below, or the sheer, dramatic walls of the Teeth. As the sun continued its death, the rocky slopes were awash with a golden sparkle. I looked upon the splendor through Nadea’s eyes as I thought of the way she had described her love for her home.
    Finally, I made it to the largest of the stone structures and opened the iron wrapped pine door. I had guessed correctly, this was the main hall of the keep. Unfortunately, I had also guessed correctly about the inhabitants of the outpost. There was no one there, not even rats or other pests that tended to overtake such places when the humans left. It was still and cool inside. The air had not been stirred in some time.
    I walked through the keep’s innards for a quarter of an hour to be sure I had missed no traces of recent occupation. It was empty now, but it had been looted. Where tapestries and paintings had hung, the walls were bare, with the faintest outline of soot-stained stone indicating the shape and scope of the former décor. Chandeliers lay smashed on the floor, their skeletons picked clean of any valuable crystal or scrap metal. There were no candelabras or urns, no weapons or shields, no crests or banners. The kitchen was free of all traces of food or scents of cooking, which explained the lack of vermin. I came upon what had clearly been an impressive library and my heart broke for my friend as I saw what had been done. The shelves were emptied, what books remained were piled on the floor, torn, water damaged, in disarray.
    By the time I circled back to the main doorway the light from the glass windows above had turned a dark purple. I sat at the foot of the tower’s staircase and pondered my next steps. Nadea’s army never made it to the keep. There were no signs of struggle here, no blood or bodies. The hordes had arrived unimpeded, taken what they wanted, and left with their bounty.
    The plan had been ridiculous. How could we have expected them to escape the Elvens? The empress’s army was large and powerful and they were nothing but a few weak humans. I ground my teeth together in frustration. My hubris had overcome my judgment again. I may have been a great general, but I was only one man now, one man alone here against tens of thousands of powerful Elvens. Elvens with magic and skill that rivaled their O’Baarni contemporaries. I could change Nadea’s soldiers, but it would take years for them to learn enough to be a formidable force against the