Head for the Kalion camp

You had enough trouble with the two or three flying demons that ambushed you near the Citadel, there is no way you can fight through the swarm ahead and so instead of flying to the United Armies command center you bank to the right and race towards the encampment of the far side of the river. Swiftwing seems to agree with your decision and his powerful wings beat with an even greater frequency as you streak through the rapidly falling dusk.

The protective wings that fly cover over the Kalion camp are all slowly descending and by the time you get across the river you have a shadow of four Riders above you. These Riders seem to know what they're doing and you wonder if that is because their king is a Rider too and knows what is needed to control the skies. By the time Swiftwing backwings gracefully to a stop near the outskirts of the camp you see a small squad of armored men waiting for you. Perfect - if you are lucky they will take you to their Rider-King without too much bullshit.

"What business do you have here, Rider?" The officer is a middle-aged man and although his challenge is firm you sense more curiosity than hostility in his tone.

"I came to warn you, Athenapolis is under attack!" When you see the man's skeptical reaction you realize how stupid you must sound. Athenapolis has been under attack for the past month, but that is not what you mean. "Not that! There are bat-winged demons swarming from the Citadel, I've never seen anything like them but trust me, if they have their way, there won't be a city left for you to plunder." More than anything, you wish you had been able to drag one of these flying beasts here with you. If you had some kind of proof this would be a lot easier.

To your surprise, the officer nods slowly and motions for you to follow.

"I can't take you to his Majesty, but I'll get you to someone who can." Two minutes later you are standing in front of a slender red-haired woman who looks more like a pleasure **** than anyone of import, but her tent is large and near the center of the camp, so when she starts questioning you, you describe in as much detail as you can what you saw. It doesn't take long before she comes to some kind of conclusion because she rises gracefully to her feet and gestures to the flap of her tent.

"BRUCE!" Her surprisingly loud voice cuts through the hubbub of the camp and even before she gets to the large tent in the center of the camp, she is met by a tall man with a mane of white hair coming out of his tent.

"What is it?" The man, who must be Bruce Kalion, the oddball king of the mountain nation, looks almost like a real-life mockup of the tales you've heard about him.

"This Rider says there are demons swarming from the Citadel, just like you said would happen - but they're ahead of schedule."

"How many?" The strange warrior-king's question is directed at you, and it takes you a second or two to understand that not only do these Northerners believe you, but they have been preparing for this exact situation.

"Hundreds, your Majesty. I'm not sure exactly, but there were far too many of them to count, and as far as I could tell there were many more still leaping from the great tower.

"Sound the muster!" A mop-haired teen sprints for the Drake tower at his king's command, "I want our wings in the air in ten minutes." There is no hesitation in his orders, but by now it is completely dark, and you know for a fact that Drakes will not fly into the night sky.

"But how?" If you had more experience with royalty, or if this striking man acted more like a normal ruler, you might not have questioned him, but instead of being chastised or ignored, the Rider-king smiles and pats the hilts of his matched blades.

"I am the light-bringer, Rider," His stride lengthens so you have to trot to keep up with him, "Get to your Drake, I will drive back the night." Sure enough, in response to the blaring trumpets, Riders are swarming to the lofts and a well-orchestrated hoard of men and women are bringing out saddles, nets and spears for to prepare for the night-time foray.