WAR: The saga continues....

          Magnus rubs his face, partly to wake himself up and partly to make sure he is in control of his own body.

          He looks up at Torana and croaks out in a dry voice, "What was that thing that possessed me? I had no power to resist."

          "It appears the one of the orcs had the fortune or misfortune to get hold of an rather intelligent magical sword. Charon's currently studying it, as it can do nothing to him. But judging from our brief encounter, the sword has the power to use runes of lighting and annihilation globes. Any warrior equipped with that sword would be a terror as none could trust him. He could be an inspirational leader, but what he would be leading his followers to would be different than what his follower expect. An exceptional warrior of uncommon intelligence could with time subdue the sword and become its master. In which case one would have to be very sneaky to stop him. It also seem to possess some sort of projective empathy, not quite full telepathy. Before you touched it did it speak to you in any way?"

          Magnus shakes his head and immediately regrets having done so as the world quickly spins around.

          "Hmmm..." Torana cocks his head to one side and looks at the wall just above the bed. His eyes focusing on something far away. "You'll probably have a headache for a bit, but I doubt there will be any permanent damage."

          Magnus asks, "What happened to the chest?"

          Torana thinks for a second, "Oh, the one with all the ice around it? It got caught in that globe of annihilation aimed at me. Luckily I had on those boots we found a couple of months ago and escaped quite easily. The chest however was destroyed. Though I take it since it was surrounded by the ice, the chest wasn't exactly what it seemed to be either."

          Magnus says, "I believe it may be a good idea to destroy that sword, for no good could come of that evil thing."

          Torana laughs, "Easier said than done. Every mage in this tower has found out about it and wants to know everything on it. Besides we might still have a use for it. But I will make sure it doesn't fall into the hands of any of those soldiers. We have enough problems as it is."

          He pauses for a moment then says, "Tell me exactly what happened down there."

          Magnus relates the story beginning with the vanishing weapons, through the chest chasing the sword, right up until the end when Charon snatched the sword from his hand.

          Torana says, "Interesting...Charon will want to know about this. Though I wonder what it thought you were lying about? If at anytime in the next few days you hear strange voices with no source, have any odd dreams, or even feel the urge or compulsion to find the sword, come to me immediately."

          Magnus asks, "What day is it?"

          Torana says, "You've been out for almost a full day. That carpenter you hired showed up around the time Parawn got blasted off the steps. I was told he made a rather hasty exit. Actually I'm surprised he came back. I wonder does the army pay that poorly?"

          Magnus slowly rolls out of the bed and swings his feet over the side to get into a sitting position.

          Torana looks at his apprentice, a brief look of concern flickers across his face and asks, "Are you sure you're okay? I'm told these kinds of possessions can play havoc with your mind and body."

          He stares intently into the eyes of his apprentice so long that Magnus has to resist the urge to squirm around. Finally the mage relents and says lightly as a smile returns to his lips, "Well at least you're not growling like a wild animal anymore."

          The young apprentice takes a few moments to get his bearings and let his head clear. He asks his master, " How are things progressing with the portals? Has there been any suitable ones found?"

          A slow smile slips across Torana's face. "You know funny you should mention that..."

          Magnus gets knot in the pit of his stomach as he recognizes that tone in his voice. It usually means his masters about to spring some experiment on him...

          Oddly enough, that is all Torana says on the matter. Changing subjects he continues, "Anyway, Nahabedian says we're having a visitor later today. When he gets here we're all going on a little trip. So when you're up to it, there are about six backpacks near the pantry. We will need provisions for about a week. Don't worry about tents and stuff like that I've already got that covered."

          When Magnus asks who the visitor is, Torana replies, "I don't think Nahabedian even knows who it is. He just says he's coming today. Probably something he saw in one of this divinations."

          Magnus asks, "does it appear as if the orcs are getting any closer to destroying the barrier?"

          "Actually, no. Oddly enough they are due to try again today, but their camp is strangely silent. It's too much to hope for that they've been demoralized already."

          "I hope that the troops are coming up with suitable strategies to counter any breach in the barrier." Magnus muses, "I would hope that if a large break is formed, the rest of the barrier will hold so that we may be able to contain the orcs until it reforms. However we should keep contingencies open for if the entire barrier crumbles once it has sustained enough damage."

          Torana nods, "I would hope so as well. Unfortunately only the gods know if it will be destroyed all at once or crumble in one place and repair itself. Last time I checked they were planning for both contingencies. If the orcs have pierced the barrier somewhere else. Hopefully our scouts can get back and warn the main group....." He pauses as a sound reaches his ears from outside.

          The sounds are of the two armies lining up on each side of the barrier and preparing again for the orcs latest challenge. Torana and Magnus move to the window to take a look at the scene below.

          In a scene that looks like part ceremony part friendly rivalry, as before both armies line up cheering and jeering the other side. The respective commanders look on standing confidently at the heads of their armies.

          Each time the attack is something different, this time five orcs walk near the barrier. One points at the barrier, he concentrates and begins to draw a rune in the air. As is typical of the orc runes it has the characteristic blotches that have puzzled many magi. Others have written them off as clumsiness or poor discipline.

          Magnus picks out a negative flow and an energy flow, but function of the rune escapes him. Torana leans forward as he watches the rune. Suddenly he says, "Get your staff, don't bother with magic, it's about to become useless". As he turns and runs out of the room in a blur, you hear him shout, "Everyone get downstairs now."

          Magnus moves a little sluggishly as he reaches for his staff. He glances out the window and sees the second mage drawing the same rune over the first rune.

          Magnus reaches the front door. Parawn and Charon are already there along with several other magi each clumped in groups discussing the orc runes in some detail. Magnus gravitates toward Charon and Parawn.

          Charon says, "Things are about to get nasty."

          Parawn looks at the runes greedily, copying the rune down as fast as possible.

          Charon looks over at him and frowns. Under his breath he mutters, "It's a simple rune and he doesn't have it?" He shakes his head.

          After a few minutes they are joined by the magi: Nahabedian, Torakas, Torana, Jadir, and Linthrem.

          Torakas looks at Torana and says, "Well..."

          Torana looks at the runes. His face betraying nothing, "I don't know."

          The last orc magi finishes his rune. The allied forces continue to jeer the orc army as confidence seems high. None notice the group of magi where the atmosphere is tense.

          An elf runs up to the group and promptly trips on his robe and tumbles the last few feet. Vel 'im, Jadir's apprentice, picks himself up dusts himself off looking around noticing all the grim face he turns looks at the rune and begins shivering.

          The magi begin chanting the rune and as they near the end of the rune, their voices rise in a fevered pitch. The first rune flashes and magi begin chanting the rune again.

          Nahabedian says, "I suppose there was no reason to believe they didn't know about that technique."

          Charon says, "Especially since they apparently have regimented magic classes, instead of apprenticeships. It would naturally lead to either great competitiveness between their magi or concentrating on teamwork."

          Linthrem asks, "How long before we can use magic again?"

          Torana says, "No way of knowing how powerful the magi that created the original rune was. It could be several seconds to a few hours."

          Charon mutters under his breath to Torana, "If we can keep most of them on that side of the barrier until nightfall, we have chance to have them cut off as the barrier regenerates."

          The final rune flashes and vanishes and then there is silence. Even the very air seems dead. Once again a lone arrow streaks upward toward the barrier. It reaches the point where the barrier should be...and it keeps on going. The arrow comes down and lands at the feet of the Commander of the Allied army. For a moment there is absolute silence over the entire battlefield.

          Then a feral yell erupts from the orc army as the orcs begin their charge.

          Orders are shouted on the Allied side as they begin to prepare for a charge.

          They don't have long to wait as the first horse-born orcs charge across the barrier line...or rather their horses cross the line. The orcs stop dead in the air at the line. Others who were following pull up short. For a second time absolute silence reigns over the battlefield as they watch with agonizing slowness as the seven orcs that were at the point slowly fall to the ground. The seven horses that reach the Allied side are quickly captured.

          Another lone arrow streaks from the orc camp. It is watched by both sides, nearly everyone holding their breath waiting to see the fate of the arrow. Again it passes through the barrier. A second later a streamer of fire launches outward from orc army. The streamer slams into the barrier and explodes in a brilliant ball of flame.

          The Commanders on both sides prove their worth as they instantly determine what this means.

          Orders are given and the orc archers begin moving forward into position before opening fire upon the allied army. Orders are given and soon shields are raised blocking the incoming barrage and lowered again as the Allied archers begin to return fire to be blocked by orc shields. The rest of the soldiers quickly retreat out of the range of fire.

          The battle is short but intense. At times the sky is darkened by the shear number of arrows flying through the sky. Many arrows do not complete their journey due to collisions with other arrows coming from the other direction. The sun is only a little lower in the sky before arrows can no longer pierce the barrier.

          Torakas, who more than anyone in the army (with Nahabedian a close second) resembles an ogre, in his deep rumbling voice says, "They will try the same runes again tomorrow. Likely they will attempt to double up on the power. We must be prepared."

          "Why it still won't do them any good?" says a new voice from behind.

          Everyone turns to find a tall old stringy human man standing off to one side. Many guess correctly that due to the lack of pupils in his eyes he is blind.

          Nahabedian says prophetically, "The stranger has come. Now the journey can begin."

          The stranger sniffs for a second cocks his head to one side and says, "Magnus Kane...is that you boy?"

          The other magi turn and one to face the apprentice, who looks at confusion at the stranger.

          The Commander of the Allied forces storms up, "Why didn't you tell me that your stupid barrier was about to fail!!! I could have setup better traps. And what happened to our magical support! We've got a dozen magi here and none of you did a thing!!!"

          Magnus ignores the Allied Commanders rant as he walks up to the stranger searching the strangers face for something that might spark a memory. His mind quickly tries to place the man But his memory fails him as the mans features are unfamiliar. "Greetings sir, do I know you?"

          "Well, yes we've met under slightly different circumstances...", the old man hesitates.

          Inspiration strikes as Magnus asks, "Did you enjoy that ice missile rune that I gave you?"

          "Yes, actually. A rather simple modification of the rune. Simple now that I've seen..." His nostrils as he inhales deeply, "I see you're still keeping the same company. Is your invisible friend still staying silent?"

          Charon laughs as he realizes who the old man is and says, "No...there is no need this time...Professor."

          The Professor smiles and says, "Ah, I at least made a memorable impression."

          "How can we not remember you, if it weren't for your convincing performance we might not be standing here today", Charon says.

          Torana interrupts, "Are you telling me this is one of those teachers you were telling me about on your little misadventure with Charon a month ago?"

          Magnus nods.

          Parawn moves closer to the old man and says, "Oh I think we will have much to talk about."

          Nahabedian says, "I think we should continue this conversation indoors away from prying ears."

          As one everyone turns to the fuming Commander, who is taken aback at sudden attention. "What's going on here? I want answers. You all knew that was going to happen! That's why you were all here! Isn't it! Tell me why didn't you do anything and who is that old man?"

          Parawn escorts the Professor into the tower and the others follow.

          Torana stares silently at the Commander for several minutes before saying, "Be prepared for a full-scale battle tomorrow. I recommend you start shooting when the last rune vanishes." His feet moving so fast he seems to float he moves backwards through the door. His eyes never leaving the Commanders.

          Magnus closes the door as the Commander turns back to his troops.

          Once the door is closed Torana says, "Get the packs ready then meet us in the meeting room on the top floor."

          Magnus makes his way to the pantry and as promised were the backpacks.

*****

          Magnus returns back to the pantry to finish up the packing before heading to the meeting room.

          No one says a thing until everyone is seated around the table.

          Torana says, "For those of you not familiar with the tale I shall give you a brief overview. Little over a month ago I sent my apprentice to find Charon to help me in identifying a few objects. Somewhere along their little trip they managed to find themselves deep in orc lands. In fact they ended up in one of their places of learning."***

          "With the help of the esteemed Professor here. They were able to get free with no detection and to the relative safety of a battlefield", he finishes wryly.

          There is a sound at the door and Gwydeon pokes his head in. Charon crooks his finger and gestures for the elf to take a seat, which he quietly does.

          Professor says, "Unfortunately a subsequent chrono-probe into the incident revealed the students true nature. I was branded a..." He pauses looking slightly embarrassed, "No offense intended...a primitive-loving traitor, since this was my second such offense. The other instructors were given severe reprimands. If they had any more punishment I do not know. While they could not put me to death, as much as they liked. The alternative punishment was banishment to primitive lands without defensive or ceremonial armaments. Which in most cases is as good as death. What they didn't know is that I know a rune similar to the one used on your comrades here. Once they dropped me off I used the rune to transform myself, hopefully into a human. Then I made my way across the lands here. I didn't know the army was only a day or two behind me. Later I found out about the barrier and tried to cross. Oddly enough I had no problem crossing back and forth. I'm assuming that the spell applies only to orcs therefore until they decide to polymorph themselves, which is impractical on such a large scale. They won't be able to cross the barrier."

          Torana frowns and says, "I believe the exact wording was `invading force' I'm fairly sure I didn't mention orcs. So another reason you may have been able to cross the barrier is that you have no hostile intent..."

          The words hang in the air for a moment, before the silence is broken by the Professor, "Yes that is true I have no hostile intent towards your people."

          Parawn says, "You said that when you helped Charon and Magnus, it was your second offense...pray tell what was the first." He leans closer listening eagerly to what the Professor has to say.

          "Well it actually happened just before your forces invaded our lands. It was the proverbial straw that broke the Tracara's back. If you're people hadn't invaded first we would have attacked within a few months. But it was all just a misunderstanding." He pauses and scratches his balding head. "There was a magi of some power, I cannot tell if he was human or orc. But his intent was clear. He wanted this war. He convinced many of your fighters, priests and magi to attack what he called an `advanced invasion force'*. His so-called `advanced invasion force' was merely school of learning for our older children. You're forces quickly realized there mistake, but by the time they did it was too late to do anything about it. In the end they surrendered to whom we thought were the authorities. The authorities turned out to be the magi and his cronies. The aborted strike against the school was enough to inflame passions against your kind, so he no longer had need for the others and tried to kill them as well as myself. In the end, death itself was not a barrier for him as he became a spirit that temporarily possessed my body. But that was only temporary as an Elemental priest got close enough to dispel his possession. Whether or not the magi is still around I do not know. But when I knew the entire situation I helped them to escape. Even though the whole story came out, few believed it. It was an awesome scandal that they are still talking about in the capital. Since I had tenure I was allowed to resign gracefully and because I had friends everywhere I found another position quickly. Although the stigma of the event followed me and most people branded me a traitor. With this second incident the government had no choice but to take action."

          Magnus asks, "I wonder if this wizard has anything to do with the Outsiders who invaded Telor a while back? A full out war between the orcs and us would definitely be the diversion they need to get themselves established in the valley."

          Gwydeon asks Charon a question and he whispers and answer back.

          Torana nods, "They may have learned from their last attempt. This may be something much more subtle. If we kill ourselves off then it won't trouble them much to pick off the survivors, especially since they won't be bound by the peaceful force of the valley."

          The professor says, "Who are these Outsiders?"

Magnus gives a much shortened tale of the appearance of the outsiders attempt to take over Telor and the resistance efforts.**

          The Professor leans back and says, "Hmmm interesting.....how very, very odd. These outsiders tried to destroy the Harmony temple?"

          Magnus says, "Yes."

          "I can't image why. Were they wearing any religious symbols?"

          After thinking about it Magnus, Torana, and Gwydeon say, "No."

          "We'll that's good at least it isn't a holy war. We'd really be in trouble if it came to that."

          "I wonder." Nahabedian says, "Why was your coming foretold and what part do you play in the trip we are about to take?"

          "I have no idea how to answer you. What is this trip you are talking about?" The old man asks.