The swamp ghouls showed no mercy, and neither did the Princess Aine and her followers. She did not fear these savage and terrifying demons; she just wanted to destroy them and bring peace back to the Greenwood kingdom. Behind the swarm of swamp ghouls a hideous figure appeared. It sat aboard an enormous wooden sledge pulled through the snow by dreadful mutated beings that could have been human at one time, before they were tortured and tormented, and turned into grovelling slaves. The hideous figure lashed an enormous whip that cracked above their heads and drove the poor demented creatures on. It seemed to shimmer in sickly hues of putrid plant life that hung from the scales on its monstrous frame. The grotesque face resembled a huge vampire bat with sharp yellow fangs exposed in a blood red mouth, but the diabolical lizard-like eyes were the most alarming feature, and they could see straight through its victims.
"It is him" cried a crazed elf warrior. "Durg-Baulder has come."
All eyes were on the king of the goblins as he stood up, raised his hand and a beam of green light shot from his emerald ring, murdering the defenceless slaves that had been pulling the sledge. Then he lifted his cruel mace with his left hand high into the snow filled air and roared at the elves.
"That is your fate, you scum. Before this day ends you will all be dead or enslaved" and his cruel laugh struck terror into the hearts of his enemies. He took his curved sword in his right hand and left the sledge. As he moved forward the earth quaked, lightning bolts flashed across the sky and both his allies and enemies shook with fear. The armies of the elves on the hills, and the approaching goblins, just stood watching the nightmare unfolding in the valley below. Durg-Baulder had come, with all his power and might to put an end to the Greenwood kingdom and those who dwelt there.
All present were under the black sorcerer's spell; all save one. The Greenwood King strode down from the hill to meet Durg-Baulder on the battle field. The king of the elves spoke so loud and clear that his voice echoed around the white hillsides. "Brennus, my brother, why have you brought your hostile army full of loathsome creatures to my peaceful realm?"
The reply sounded like a roar from the deepest abyss, and it boomed across the valley. "Cadeyrn, you lowlife, do not call me by that name. I am not your brother. Have you forgotten how you exiled me, and sent your spineless warriors across the sea to hunt me down? Well, I am far, far more powerful now. I am Durg-Baulder, the greatest sorcerer that has ever lived. It has only been two days since you attacked my castle when I was not there. That is an act of cowardice. Now I am here to put an end to your reign and take what is rightfully mine. Tigernach and his useless rabble, and
and his riffraff are going to be slaughtered. You are all going to be slaughtered, so run for your lives you vulgar braggarts full of empty boasts. When I have taken the Greenwood realm I am going to lay waste their lands and enslave their people."