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| Alliance Part 3 By Jadell NightSong |
| Aleutin watched and listened as Jadell quickly told their story to WarLeader HammerHand, StormBlade and SilverAxe. The lack of emotion with which she told the tale spoke greatly of the storm that raged within her old friend. Jadell had always held her greatest emotions deep within, never letting them rage out of control for anyone to see. The more emotionless she appeared on the outside, the greater the storm that raged within. She was at her deadliest when she gave the appearance of utter disinterest. When in the presence of only one person had she ever felt safe enough to unleash that rage within her......and he was not present. SilverAxe exchanged knowing glances with Aleutin, she too knew Jadell well enough to know what was going on within her friend. She almost pitied the next enemy that crossed Jadell's path....almost. "So Bane is outlawed within his own empire?" StormBlade muttered as he began to pace. "This is not a good thing. For he is also outlawed within ours and every other realm. I do not understand what he hopes to gain by releasing Skarlon and slaughtering his own people. Yee say that yee do not believe that he has gone insane but why then would he break his own laws and incur the wrath of all our realms?" "I do not for even one blink of an eye believe that Bane has slaughtered and piked the heads of his own people. Would he kill them? Yes, if they threatened him in someway, but only if there was no other way. But pike their heads? No, not even the most evilest of traitors has ever been treated in that respect." Jade paused and took a deep breath. "However I think I have figured out what he's up to and what we are fighting...if I am right...Skarlon may indeed be a necessary risk. For we will need his people to join the alliance that we are trying to forge. We will need every race on this world that we can persuade, bribe or threaten to join this alliance, weather they be good, evil or neutral." Jadell watched her three companions silently as they each made a valiant effort to wrap their agile minds and feelings around the idea that she had so carelessly tossed in their direction. SilverAxe found her voice first. "By all the gods, Jadell, are yee insane? What in all the levels of hell could be so terrible as to convince evil and good to ally?" "Something that wants to destroy this world and every living creature on it down to the lowest life form. Something that would remake this world into a haven for every evil creature you could possibly imagine...with the exception of those that already exist on this world. Something that hates this world, its inhabitants, its various gods, its very existence with every fiber of its being. Something that has tried several times to gain a place in this world ...tried and failed everytime. Something almost as old as the gods themselves and far more evil then any creature or demon that has every entered this world. Something that has no name that is spoken on this world. Something Bane crossed paths with once long ago before I entered his life." "Bah! Such a creature does not exist." StormBlade scoffed loudly. More to convince himself then to convince the others. "Actually it does." SilverAxe and Aleutin spoke together. "You know of what I speak?" Jadell frowned. "Yes." Aleutin answered, her voice trembling slightly. "Shortly before you arrived at the School of Magic, SilverAxe, BrightFlame, Rose and I were sneaking around in the forbidden section of the library. This is where we first heard of the cave you and I found later. In the first chapter that I only had time to briefly peruse there was a legend. It was worded almost exactly has you just told it, almost as if you had written the legend yourself.” “Yee found the cave?” SilverAxe’s startled voice interrupted. “Yes but that is a tale for another time.” “We need to get another look at that book.” Jadell stated flatly her eyes starring intently at her friend. “We can not. Two days after we first found the book I went back alone. I needed to read that Legend again, though I did not understand why. The book was gone. As far as I know it has never been returned. I looked every time I entered the library until we left the school.” “That is why you needed so badly to find that cave.” Jadell mused. “Yes. I know that now though I do not understand why.” “I do.” SilverAxe grinned impishly. “It’s the premonition thing yee do from time to time. I keep telling yee that yee need to train that talent of yeers.” “You could well be right. Now I know why I did not put up much of fight when Jadell suggested this alliance. Though past attempts at such have always failed. Though the thought of just the three of us trying that cave again does not fill me with much confidence.” “It will not be just the three of us. There will be, Lycan, Elf, Dwarf, Human, Gnome and one other though of which race I know not.” Jadell said softly WarLeader HammerHand had been quietly listening to the conversation. His respect for his sister was legendary amongst his peoples. She was in many ways his most trusted confidant and adviser. He would have trusted Jadell for this reason alone had he not already been well acquainted with her reputation for honor and clear thinking. She was not known for panic or wild trips into fantasy. “Yee have perhaps a talent for premonition yeerself, Lady Jadell?” HammerHand asked. “Some yes though I do not feel as though this was a premonition. It simply feels right. I half planned a return trip when we failed to gain entrance to the inner cave the last time. There was simply no reason to return back then.” “The Dwarves of Kanguran, will join yeer alliance Emporess Jadell.” HammerHand swore solemnly. “Where do yee need our forces sent?” “Thank you WarLeader HammerHand.” Jadell bowed formally. “Both the Elven and Lycan Realms are currently under attack, the Dragons are decimated. I only hope that somewhere there are a few left to rebuild, it would be a tragedy beyond words to completely loose them from this world and enormous victory for our enemy. However I do not wish you to leave you own Realm undefended. It is folly to assume that you will remain unthreatened for very long. Especially once it is known that you have allied your self with us.” “The Dwarves of Kanguran are more numerous then most might believe. I will split my forces in three. StormBlade yee will lead one unit to aid the Lycan Realm. IceSaber will lead another to aid the Elven Realm, I will remain here with the third and prepare our own realm for attack.” “StormBlade is a good choice for unit headed to Emmani, SilverAxe was greatly prized at the Lycan court as your Ambassador, her nephew will be well received.” Jadell smiled at StormBlade. “Though I am quite sure he will soon be valued for his own contributions.” “IceSaber is an excellent choice for the unit to aid my Realm.” Aleutin informed Jadell. “He is well known within the Elven Court and a long time friend of Faelin “Lady Jadell, Lady Aleutin if the two of yee will write missives of introductions to yeer courts we will send them on their way.” HammerHand requested. “WarLeader HammerHand if you will have a large silver bowl of clear water brought here I can do a bit better then that, although we will certainly do that as well, I think. It would be well if both StormBlade and IceSaber were here to be introduced their counterparts.” Jadell mused. HammerHand gave a brief nod to StormBlade who quickly exited the room and returned a short while later with another dwarf and the requested bowl of water. * * * “No! Tamra, I will not be returning quite yet. I have other work that demands my attention. I have another part to play in this war and my place is not sitting on my hands in the Lycan Court waiting for Bane or anyone else to rescue our Realm and this world. You are more then capable of handling the Lycan Court you have done so since you were old enough to talk. Erix, Mystice, Toul, Drax and many others are there to help you should it be required. I myself am not alone so you can rest easier knowing that, should you really regard me as helpless.” Jadell smiled through the Waters of Revelation at her stepdaughter. “StormBlade and his force are of course welcome, Jadell, there is no question of that but with Bane gone and apparently outlawed by his own laws we need our Empress here at court.” Tamra answered. “Tamra, as heir to the Lycan Throne, I am here by placing the Lycan Realm and all its resources in your hands. This is witnessed by no less then four of our highest counselors on your side and an equal number of Dwarven officials on this side. Use the power as you see fit. I have no doubt you will do so wisely and capably. You must keep the Lycan Realm as safe as you can under the circumstances. Do not let these evil spawn wipe out our people as they did the Dragons.” Jadell took a deep breath. “As for Bane…I have one suggestion. Issue an order that if he is found he is to be brought before the Lycan Court ‘ALIVE’, the one that brings him in dead will be found just as dead a very short time later at my hands. We will hear his story and then decide if he has indeed outlawed himself.” “You know something your not telling me.” Tamra hissed; her eyes narrowed. Jadell grinned. “Tamra dear, I know a great many things I have not told you about any number of different subjects. I will tell you more when I can. Take care beloved daughter.” Jadell abruptly dismissed the spell that had allowed them to communicate both visually and verbally with both Lycan and Elven Courts. She sat back in her chair and closed her eyes briefly. That had not been an easy thing to do, the orders given not the spell. HammerHand let her be until she opened her eyes once more. “Where do you go next Lady Jadell?” Jadell considered her answer briefly. “If Rose, were still alive I would go next to her, alas humans do not live as long as dwarves, Lycans or Elves and she has long since passed over. We will have to consider carefully which human should join us in the mean time I think we will go next.. “ SilverAxe interrupted with a sly smile. “Rose is no longer with us but her Great-Granddaughter is very much alive and from what I understand is every bit as strong in magic as her Great-grandmother. Amber, her grandmother has kept in touch with me over the years and I just received an invitation to the girl’s graduation from the School of Magic. She is graduating with higher honors then her Great-grandmother…and guess what her parents named her?” “Rose!” Jadell and Aleutin both grinned widely. “Aye, although the graduation is tomorrow and there is no way we can travel a weeks distance in one day, even if left without delay. So we…” “I will need a couple of hours rest before I can cast that particular spell for the second time in one day but yes we can be present at Rose’s graduation.” Jade winked at Aleutin. SilverAxe stared in astonishment at Jadell. “That spell should literally wipe you out.” She turned to Aleutin. “When did she cast that spell last?” “This morning. I stood in my own garden just before sun rise today.” “That’s more then…..Yee have grown into yeer magic quite nicely I would say.” SilverAxe, understated the situation deliberately. HammerHand laughed deep in his throat. Anyone that could set his sisters nose slightly out of joint was a power to be reckoned with indeed. “Sister I think yee should show our guests to a sleeping chamber and let her rest while yee make yeerself ready to leave.” He paused briefly for effect. “I presume yee be going with these fine ladies?” “Yee just try and stop me!” SilverAxe hissed at her brother through clenched teeth and motioned Jadell and Aleutin to follow her. Elf and Lycan grinned at each other and tried not to snicker to loudly as they followed their old friend. “SilverAxe has not changed……” “You know Tamra may very well disobey your orders and come find you?” “She might. But I think it far more likely that she will send Mystice or Crystel. Either might be a good idea depending….” To be continued. |