Chapter 17 -- Byte the Arrow

I could hear the Air whisleing around the Great Air temple here atop Snow moutain. The songs of the fairies singing praises, along with a tumbling of a rock now and then. I could smell the cold crisp breaze blowing around me while I gathered strength. It reminded me of an old song the fairies used to sing called Silent Night. It gave me comfort and Joy. I slowly reliazed that I could not see. I felt a hand ajust the bandages on my eyes. the hand felt like sandpaper and rock. Who? What? Be still my Lord i heard the voice say and imeadantly reconized it as Chuck. Chuck how fare thee and our faithfull followers? It worked my Lord responded Chuck. I was able to get behind the Fire rock thowers and take them out. Lady of Magic was superb as she was all over the place. For some reason she Decided to capture one of the riders although. Ahh I responded I have a good idea as to why, I told her she could try as she has no thief or stealth skills but only after we were sure of the battles outcome. How did she fare. Well my Lord responded Chuck Her wings are burnt and she broke a finger nail trying to capture that rider. made her mad and she knocked him out with one punch. She will be ok. Ah What of Lady D. She rushed to your side replied Chuck .When you fell she feared the worse and a rider got her from behind. She got off two rocks before the rider broke her wing. That gave me and Lady of Magic enought time to get to him. Hes been deleted. I heard Laughfter. I could tell it was Lady D and Lady of Magic. I wonder what they were laughing about? Well one thing I have learned in my old age is dont ask. Chuck any Ideas if I will be able to see again. Yes my lord it is fire burns and should be soon. Again Laughfter from the ladys. Chuck??? Well my Lord Lady d got a wound and is going to have a nasty scar.But they wont tell me where. I gathered all the strenght I could and got up and with chucks help made it to the Anti room. Lady D gave me a big hug and then I could feel the heat from her blush. I felt something being pressed into my hand. What is it I asked? Lady of Magic responded with It is a Greater artifact I took off the rider. He was keeping it for his next lord. Seems some young boy killed his Lord and wounded many before fleeing. Did You find news of Wind Walker I asked. Yes He is being held captive with Bear at the mysterious keep just NE of here. I also found out that Balkoth has attacked Lord ReisZ of Order. So he is not far away. Oh were is my Archiever Jr. I need him now. I have Balky to my SSW and can only hope Lord Reisz sends him packing. I have Orkus The WrydAxe to my north. I never know what he will do. Chaos is a chaotic group but this Lord is a Smart one. If I could find the Lord of Earth I would fell much better. I can only Hope that Lord Daeme Azzhirrs of fire is Keeping both of them busy. I need to get in touch with Lord Coventina of Water and Lord Gilgamesh of Life. If I cant get a truce with them and Lord Reisz I will never be able to free Wind Rider so We can take back our Capitol. Lady of Magic I need you to go to the Thiefs guild and the Warrior Barracks and hire some Mercenaries. As soon as my Eyes heal we are heading to the Mysterious Keep to reacue the Lord of Air Wind Rider and the Hula Bear. Keep a Look out for Archiever Jr. I need him now. Ah now this artifact. Tunderclap I wander if it is a good as my one balkoth broke before I killed him in the old days. Old Windy Warrior Air Follower and stand in Lord of air.


Chapter 18 -- To Deal With Death, Part II

"Welcome to my Court, Ronatih Fezli. I am glad you decided to follow protocal this time. Please be aware that if you break protocol again I shall have you and your entire company of dark elves executed. Your heads will be sent to Balkoth as my diplomatic reply." I watched the interchange as it occurred. Within Azzhirr's eyes I saw wrath burning; humiliation. Apparantly, the dark elf did also. Silence. A raspy voice replies, "Strong words, my lady. I apologize for my abrupt exit earlier. It shall not happen again." The dark elf bowed in respect. "I have granted you audience, dark elf." "My Lady, as promised, Balkoth presents you with three fine divisions of dark elves for your service. They are still under my command...until I walk out of this courtroom." There was stirring in the courtroom. Ronatih Fezli had shown up at Caer Kallizsha with six hundred troops. Balkoth was again up to something. "Additionally, I bring with me two fine champions of the dark. May I present Uflun of the Assassin's Guild and Ryn-Tageth of the Zin-Kshih Warrior clan. Two dark elves stepped forward and bowed low to the Great Daeme. I watched them with interest. Azzhirr had given me the task to test the bounds of loyalty of these two men. We had just the plan. Azzhirr gestured at the two to come stand at her side. The first test. I was ready. Fezli, watched with glittering eyes, his two companions walk up the dais. Ronatih Fezli continued,"I trust you will derive much use out of these gifts. Now, before we conclude, my Master requests a favor from the Great Daeme." Azzhirr leaned forward, a threat in her eyes. "Ryn-Tageth! Return to the dark elf army and detach our units. Bring them inside!" Ryn-Tageth started at this. He looked at Ronatih Fezli. "My lady, I told you. I still command...," said Ronatih. Azzhirr raised her right hand and made a backhand motion at the ambassador of death. A whiplash of flame struck out and hurled the dark elf off his feet. "YOU...TELL...ME...NOTHING IN KALLIZSHA! RYN-TAGETH! What IS the penalty of disobedience among the dark elves?" The elven warrior glowered at her. "Death,"replied the warrior. He corrected himself and bowed low,"...my liege." I watched him leave. Good, a man who knows his true position. With quick strides the unholy paladin left the courtroom, his footsteps echoing in the silence. Azzhirr's attack had stunned the humans and fire giants in attendence. The Great Daeme stood up and stepped down the dais towards the prone ambassador writhing in pain. With her shining black boots, she kicked his head, his blood splattering the floor as his head was thrown back. "WHAT does Balkoth REQUEST now?!" sarcasm dripped from Azzhirr's voice. The dark elf face was contorted with rage. He wiped blood from his lips. "Very well!" he snarled. "Balkoth demands...DEMANDS the right to move armies through Kallizsha!" "Good. Very good. Be just as straightforward with me in the future and you will save yourself from punsishment. Permission denied." "You and your land will be in flames by the year end!"yelled the dark elf. Azzhirr threw her head back and laughed. "If THAT is the case, my dark elf friend. YOU will not walk out of here alive." she answered quietly. I smiled, Azzhirr was a quick learner. The dark elf made a visible effort to control himself. He closed his eyes. "Very well. Balkoth requests that you grant myself and a small company of dark elves passage to Primavera for ambassadorial purposes." Azzhirr leaned forward. "Granted," she said with a smile,"You may not take more than one mage and one hundred with you. Now leave. I have more important business to attend to." Ronatih Fezli gave Azzhirr a look...a promise. He left. Azzhirr raised her voice,"Everyone leave! No, not you Assassin." The Assassin...Uflun...stopped. He met her gaze. When the room was empty, she asked,"Tell me, Uflun, is this really an ambassadorial mission or one of assassination?" Uflun shrugged,"What is the difference? I do know this, my lord. You may be sure there are more groups than this one passing through Kallizsha. The Guild always sends at least three groups on any diplomatic mission. The first will parley. The second will watch and see if any ...lets say, unpassable opportunities show up. The third is a wild card and may have secondary objectives of espionage and theft. It will also act in reserve for the other two." Azzhirr responded,"You answer my questions directly, dark elf. I like that trait in my champions." Uflun shrugged again,"I simply wish to avoid punsishment." He smirked, "May I take leave, Master." Azzhirr waved her hand,"Go." The Assassin vanished. After a few moments, Azzhirr let out a huge breath. I walked up to her and placed my hand on her shoulder,"That went splendidly."


Chapter 19 -- Separation and Conquest

THROUGH THE EYES OF AZZHIRR Dha'Kol. The name left a bad taste in my mouth. No, I will NEVER forget or forgive that humiliation. I'll show Balkoth. I will show them all! My eyes go to Wildezword. He is buckling that accursed sword he wears. I will also show HIM. Yes, I must do this...myself. A flame berserker approaches me. "Great Daeme, the army stands ready." A week after Fezli's arrival, the combined armies of the dark elves and flame warriors stood assembled before me ready for my next campaign. A thousand men ready to do my bidding. Just two weeks prior, two thousand had appeared at the Great Temple to swear their lives and children to me. My army will be a vast one! But I must act quickly! Wildezword walks up to me. "Shall we take the lead?" "No,"I reply. He stops in his stride. His face doesn't change. I hand him a scroll. "These are your new instructions. Take the dark elves...all of them" He is too polite to argue with me in front of the men. He takes the scroll. He doesn't read it. "You have never done this to me before." he said in low tones quietly,"we have always discussed everything. Since when do you command me...IN WRITING?" My eyes glow with near anger. He is about to embarrass me in front of my men. Please, Wildezword! Trust me! He looks at my eyes. "Very well."he says. He is angry. He will understand...eventually. I watch him as he walks away and shouts new orders to the body of men; he has even dropped the pretense of being my bard. My plan was mine own. The war machine of Kallizsha was built and sustained on conquest. This was unacceptabe. For, in any protracted conflict, our war effort would collapse after only a few months. Instead, I planned to remake all of Caer Kallizsha to a new design. I will abolish all the old ways, bureaucrats, the nobles! Finally, when my grand vision is complete, all of Kallizsha shall be a sleek economic engine capable of sustaining a war of attrition; which is the war now erupting over Urak. And when all the pieces on the game board have spent themselves fighting each other, the warriors of Fire will erupt over the land of Urak. Ah, but how to gain the resources to remake the land? Wildezword's ways are not mine. Whatever he argues, this army is still reliant on conquest. I know this. Therefore, it is my firm resolve to take what I need from my neighbors.. Originally, Wildezword and I planned to conquer a small elven city to the north of Kallizsha. With an army a thousand strong, it was assumed Gilgamesh would let us have our way. MY plan is to charge east and loot the Barbarian lands on our eastern front. From there I will turn Northwest and take the elven city with Barbarian auxiliaries. After three weeks of forced marching, the barbarian village came into view. In their own language, it was called Rayaat Tokar. My eyes traced its pathetic wooden pallisade, the stone temples to their long dead god Orkus stood high in prominence to the rest of their stone buildings. It will be a rich haul, indeed. From the top of my bluff, I signaled my army of 700 to form a long line. I never was much of strategist. A simple charge will do nicely...after I incinerate the pallisades, of course. The line was formed. I signaled the pace at a walk. As we approached, I saw the gates open. I smiled. This would be too easy. I will destroy their entire army in that narrow opening! I raised my staff to release the Fury Fire. I looked at the gate. My mouth dropped open in astonishment. I quickly signaled a halt. These were not warriors! They were children! Out of the opening of the village poured waves and waves of smiling, laughing children. My fire warriors looked to each other with unease. They must be wondering if I'll order the attack. Was this a trick? A little boy ran up to my horse and tugged at my boot. "Azurr!" he exclaimeed with delight, his accent thick. My name was repeated with delight by the crowd of children in a confused murmur. Grown women joined the crowd now. They were no less happy than the children! WHAT is going on? They seperated my horse from my men and were leading me into the village. I turned back and yelled for 10 of my men to follow. My horse was guided by a sea of people into the village. A cheer erupted from the crowd. "Azzurr!" "Azzurr!" The people tried to crowd me, touch me, get a glimpse of me. Women raised their children and men raised their women to get a glimpse of me. Their mouths lipping my name in the deafening cheer. I felt very ashamed at what I came here to do. The procession ended at the town square. One of their shamans ran out of a small stone structure; a religious building? Wildly, she leapt upon a platform in the center of the square. "Behold! Our saviour, Great Daeme Azzhirr! She has come!" "WHAT!? ARE YOU CRAZY, OLD WOMAN!?" My voice was lost in the cheers. "Long ago did Orkus come to me! His Greatness told me that the saviour of our village would come on the Day of the Phoenix and shelter us until the true Lord of the Barbarians comes to claim the world! And lo! She has come! All hail to Orkus!" The crowd repeated the name with great zeal. "Orkus!" All fell silent, even the shaman, heads bowed low. What a strange people! Another woman, quite pretty, leaps onto stage wearing leather armor and a chakram. She walks up to me and runs her hands through her hair. "Greetings, O' Great Daeme, your glory spreads like the rising sun over the land. I'm Pai." She takes my right hand into hers and shakes it. What IS she doing? "My husband is skirmishing a vast army of undead. In the absence of my husband, the chieftain, we swear the allegiance of our village to you." The crowd erupts in cheers. "You are now Chieftain," finishes Pai. My head is dizzy. My plans! What of my plans! So, I was chieftain, huh. Very well. I could use this all the same. I raised my hand for silence and I received it immediately. "You cannot be protected here! You will ALL move to Caer Kallizsha. I will give you new homes," Yes, I thought this could work out quite well. "New lands. Your warriors shall fight by the side of my battalions against the Dark!" That should please them. A great cheer arose from the crowd. "I must leave now! To battle the elves! I will return for you!" I walked off the platform, the shaman caught my arm. "The ways of Orkus are strange. I know you don't care about us." It was a statement. My eyes met hers. She was an old woman. I flicked her hold on me away and continued back to my army. The elven village of Pasifan gave me quite a differet welcome. Waiting for me within a grove of trees were 300 elves, 50 on horse, 150 staffmen and one hundred archers. They were waiting in a well chosen spot also. Nor would they budge to my manuevering. My scouts reported that there was an elven magic-user among their ranks. I had faced elven mages before. The first mage to reveal their location in this battle would die. Both of us have spells capable of killing the other in this crowd. I would have to be careful. My eyes flowed over their army again, which was situated across from mine. The elves were leaving me no choice. Attack them as they were or leave. I must force the mage to use her magic. I wished Wildezword was here. It doesn't matter. He is NOT here. We will have to charge. I nod at my acting commander. The air is filled with the thunder of my heavy horse brigade. The flame berserkers and rock hurlers charging after them. The elven archers began shooting hard into the mass of men slowing them as much as possible. I sighed, there would be many casualties. The armies collided raising a cloud of dust. Staves and swords twirled in the air. The elves had fallen away like wet paper. I smiled. My men would cut into the archers soon. Suddenly, I saw a flash of white light and the eyes of all elves began to glow with invigoration. The staves twirled twice as fast and twice as powerful. I watched my acting commander slice an archer in two only to be caught blindsided by a twirling staff. His head was crushed like a mellon. No matter. I know where the mage is now. I signaled a retreat. I raised my staff and rapid bolts of fire raced towards the mage. Elves and their body parts were hurled in every direction. Almost immediately, bolts of light began to answer back, but I had the initiative. Hers bolts coruscated off the shield I wove around my self. By the time she knocked it down, she would be dead. Suddenly, a hundred fresh riders and staffmen appeared out of nowhere. Half charged my retreating men and half charged...me! I saw also the archers were coming into range! I cursed and let up my attack on the elf mage. I was going to be dead in 30 seconds. I hastily flung the Fury Fire, catching a number of my own men, but scattering the troops that charged me. The elven mage took her chance to disappear. Fury Fire again at the archers. The whirlwinds created a gale wind. The line of archers had dropped to their knees to release, but it was too late. The fiery cyclone hurled a gale in its path and the elf archers had to avert their eyes to avoid the stinging winds and dust...then they died in flames. Both cyclones plowed deeply into the ground. The sky was filled with dusty confusion. Flame was all around. My men were confused. The elves were confused. The battle had become a giant free-for-all. Desperately, I swung my staff to protect myself against the elves all around me. A staff hits the back of my knee. I buckle and fall to the ground. An elf leaps to stand in front of me, his face contorted in battle rage, a killing blow aimed at my neck. A hear a great roar of a tiger. A great black form leaps into view from behind me and tackles the elf to the ground. More black forms appear all around me. The elves begin to run in dribbles then en masse. The clouds of dust began to settle. I am disoriented. My men were scattered across the battlefield. A great figure on a tiger stood in front of me prancing around in circles, rallying the men. "WE ARE HEEERRREEEE! GREAT DAEME, WE JOIN YOU FOR COMBAT!" He rode in wide circles, the men began to gather around him. "WAAAAAAAAHHH..." It was a continuous cry that was raised by the barbarians. My own men joined in. He waved his great axe above his head in circles. All the men raised their weapons above their head. "WAAAAAAAAAAHHH..." In the distance, an elven warrior on a great...uh...beast raised his staff in answer and his elves joined in. Battlelust had consumed everybody. The tiger warrior ended his circle by point at the heart of the elven host. "OOORRRRKUSSS!" The men charged. The invigorated elves charged. The elven mage and myself blasting away at each others army as they collided... THROUGH THE EYES OF WILDEZWORD After two weeks on the road with these dark elves, I began to think that Azzhirr had not come out so badly from Dha'Kol. They were skilled, competant, organized, and most importantly...obedient. I had assumed Balkoth would give us his worst. Ryn-Tageth and Uflun both displayed the skill and grace of cobra-vipers. Both of them, would raise the quality of troops in Kallizsha to new levels. It was to Balkoth's credit that he made sure Azzhirr didn't come out too badly in that deal. I had to admit that I was developing a grudging respect for that great being of death. In his game moves, I recognized the skill and patience of an old hand. As expected, before the three weeks was over, we discovered that a large death army at taken that ill-fated village and garrisoned it. Also, an army had been stationed at Dha'Kol, uncomfortably close to our main supply routes. The play was genius. Anyhow, that is long past. I am on a new assignment; two of them actually. I was to take the dark elves west and sack a small archon township and carry the booty back to Kallizsha. Azzhirr wanted it to look like Balkoth had done it. Azzhirr was tempting fate by defying Balkoth's warning about moving west, but after careful consideration, I decided that Azzhirr was right. This had to be done. Maybe not for the same reasons, but it had to be done. I looked down at the Archon town from a high cliff in the roughs. Dark elves hide themselves incredibly well. The town was unaware of our presence. The name of the town was Alador. I was born here. Azzhirr had been unaware of this fact when she ordered me to sack it. I steeled myself for what would be a hard day. One by one, I took my emotions and placed them in a little black box inside of me. I locked it tight. I was passionless. "Begin the attack," I instructed Ryn-Tageth. It was morning. The sun was not yet approaching the horizon. Uflun led a score of elves. They hid around the town gate. With deft skill, the Assassin scaled the walls. A few minutes later, the gates were opened...by Uflun; the guards murdered. In groups of five or ten the dark elf javeliners spread themselves around the city. Targeting key areas, the elves took out one by one each group of Archons that might have been a threat. The hundred dark horsemen stood ready to charge the gates if an alarm was raised. They were not needed. By morning, the city awoke to find itself occupied. The people were rounded up. All men of military age were executed. The women and children were gathered to be sold as slaves or used as diplomatic gifts by Azzhirr to other rulers. We forced them to pack their own valuables in a train of wagons. By nightfall, we had set fire to the buildings. The fire spread and brought down everything. The dark elves did not pause to destroy the buildings little by little, but pulled them all down together. The crashing grew louder and louder and many stones fell among the dead. Some were even buried alive, especially elderly people and young children who had hid themselves in the secret nooks of their homes. Others were burned or fell from great heights as the buildings came down. The loss of life was extraordinary and the elves worked with precision. Still, others had their bodies torn asunder into all kinds of awful shapes, crushed and mangled. Then, the dark elves had to clear the streets for the wagon trains. Using axes and mattocks they swept away all the debris including the living and dead; sweeping them into holes like sticks and stones. Human beings, dead and alive, were used to fill up ditches. Some were thrown in head first while their legs writhed above the ground for a long time. Others fell in feet first with their heads remaining above ground. Horses and wagons galloped over them, crushing their faces and skulls, not purposefully on the part of the riders, but as a result of their frantic haste; the press of war making everybody heedless. For six days and nights this slaughter continued, for much remained that had to be destroyed. Finally, on the 7th day, I ordered the very foundations of Alador to be razed and flooded with water so that nothing could ever be built on this site again. The women cried in despair and the children, whose young age rendered them only partly aware of their misery, had expressions of hopelessness. Finally, it was done. That night, I sent away the dark elves to Kallizsha, and the wagons, and the slaves... That night, I was alone in my tent. I had hung a mirror from the central post support. I looked at myself in the mirror. My refletion looked back at me. Reaching inside of myself, I unlocked that tiny black box. I screamed. I cried out. I tore at my hair. I wanted to tear my heart out of my chest. My reflection stared back at me with loathing. I fell to my knees. My head in my hands. What have I done, I cried out to the heavens. What have I done...The tears flowed unhindered down my face. How long was I here? A voice comes from behind. "My lord, the next part of our journey remains." Uflun. him! all elves! everyone. "I will be with you shortly, Uflun."


Chapter 20 -- A Few Victories, But Impending Doom

"So the dwarves wish an alliance with our people?" Reisz asked as they rode towards the people. "Yes...We know the faiths of Order and Earth have not always been friendly, but troubled times call for different measures." Earnest said. "Agreed," said Reisz, nodding his head. "We shall speak more of this in my own court." "Of course Reisz." Earnest said agreeably. Reisz sighed and thought to himself. The dwarves seem to be truthful...but I simply cannnot trust them fully yet. Perhaps...yes! They will be part of the scouting party to find Lord Gilgamesh's messanger, as he has had reports that it had never made it back. "Lord Reisz!" someone exclaimed ahead of him. Of course, he thought to himself. We have made it back. "Well called sir...," he said, then whispered to the guard. "Please recover your prior expression, we have GUESTS." "Of course m'lord." the guard said, nodding. The guard and his partner stood at the gate, now more watchful of the dwarves. Yes, this will be fun..., Reisz thought. Sean raised his staff and mumbled a few words, a bolt of righteous lightning emerging and flew towards the assassin. The latter few to the ground in surprised pain. "What are you doing here, follower of Death???" he asked in rage. "WHY ARE YOU HERE?" the calm Death assassin asked. "Curse you leech...I shall end your life forthwith." Sean said, catching a good blade thrown to him from his own units. He stood back in a battle position taught to him by Reisz and waited for the man to stand. The assassin did and that was his last mistake. His head was severed perfectly just above the shoulders. "Men, this is what I want you to do at the first sight of Death units. Understand?" Sean said, turning back to his troops. As several ayes and yes' rang out, he sent them to explore to tower. There was a small yelp and a small (even for them) half-ling was dragged to Sean. "Why are you here, Earthen one? We have no quarrel with you." Sean asked. "I....I was spying...." the dwarf said in fear for his life. "Answer truthfully and you will be spared." said Sean. "I was spying on Death...we have heard they were invading your lands and were considering heading for ours." the half-ling said, his face showing visible relief. "All right...does Earth wish an alliance with Order?" Sean said, with a look that could make Balkoth look like the Cadbury bunny. The half-ling would have no choice either way. Sean would find later that he might have made a mistake. Krystin looked over her shoulder at the troops following her. She had the current best of Order's ranks and they had been very efficient. The few renegades left from Randolph the *Magnificent's* rogue kingdom had tried to take over the barracks, and they had put an end to that. But this brought new news. It seems that Fire had been busy a few weeks before. This news would surprise Lord Reisz. She had thought few other faiths than Life, Air, and Chaos were moving, but it seems there are more. "We approach the stronghold Lady Krystin." her forward exclaimed. "Excellent good sir...after we make it inside you are all dismissed from this service." Krystin said. She looked around, then approached one of the advisors. "What's going on?" she commanded. "Lord Reisz has returned but I have more urgent news. Balkoth himself and several of his forces have turned AWAY from our capitol and headed south...towards Earth." the advisor said. She just didn't know how much that'd effect her soon, as she opened the doors to Reisz's audience chamber.

On to Part 6