by Roy Huff
A consensus was beginning to form. Ahead of the Alarians’ arrival, the armies of Them had already begun to take offensive positions in the border realms. Them had amassed large contingents of soldiers near the entrance to the portals. The possessed soldiers, however, would not be able to pass through the portals without creating a breach through Everville or being allowed to pass by The Keepers.
Once the element had been cut off, the portals would not be useable until the final collector was constructed in Brackenbone behind the walls of Vermogen. If the armies of Them were to pass through the portals, they would have to strike an alliance.
However, Them would be able to travel in non-corporeal form to the land of the giants by way of The Valley of Darkness. Them decided it was time to seek an alliance with The Keepers. Before the portals had been cut off and before the arrival of the Alarians, the possessed creature Samil appeared to The Keeper, Carwyn.
“Keeper,” Samil spoke.
“Who are you, and what do you want? We are busy here,” The Keeper replied.
“I am Them. I am Samil,” he replied.
“Samil. I thought it might be you. Now tell me what you want,” The Keeper added skeptically.
“We have decided that we want to form a temporary alliance with the armies of the giants and of Everville. It serves our interest to defeat the Alarians since they are responsible for the genocide of our people,” Samil stated.
“And what would you want from us in this temporary alliance?” The Keeper asked.
“We need a passage through the portals in the surrounding realms of Everville and in the monoliths. We also need unimpeded access to the land of the giants by way of The Valley of Darkness. In return, we will pledge you our armies as well as those unaligned, including the Mountain Dwellers and the Fwaylan. We will lay in wait until after they attack. When they are lulled into a false sense of security then we will strike,” Samil replied.
“There is one more thing,” Samil said.
“What’s that,” The Keeper asked.
“Being connected to the Alarians allows us not only the ability to read their thoughts, but we also possess the ability to prevent them from shape shifting once they choose their form. We will need to be in close proximity in order to be able to force them to hold their form, and we will wait until the moment of our choosing,” Samil replied.
“I will present your proposal to the other Keepers. If we agree, there may be some modification that we will need to make if you go along with your alliance,” The Keeper responded.
“Understood,” Samil replied.
After Them had contacted The Keeper by way of Samil and before the portal had been cut off, The Keeper called another meeting with the other Keepers. Time was running out, and The Keeper would need to make a decision soon.
“Them have approached me through a creature possessed by Samil. Them have proposed a temporary alliance in order to defeat the Alarians. Them have asked for an access to our portals and to the monoliths in the land of the giants. Them would also need free access to the land of the giants by way of passage through The Valley of Darkness,” The Keeper said.
One of the other Keepers spoke up. “How can we trust that Them and the armies of Them will leave once we have defeated the Alarians? The portals are the only thing that prevents the evil in Them’s heart from invading our lands. Once Them have a foothold, what motive do Them have to leave? Have we not forgotten that Them became evil through a noble end? It was not their end but rather their means by which there were transformed”
A few other Keepers spoke up in agreement.
“Yes, I agree,” said one.
“Me, too,” said yet another.
The Keeper, formerly known as Carwyn, interjected. “Listen, our means are not evil. Forming an alliance with an enemy is not evil so long as you hold true to what is right and just. More importantly, if we reject the notion that working with someone that has done evil in the past is itself evil, then what about redemption? Any evil deed can be forgiven. While it may not be forgotten, the deed is not the doer, and we must be willing to forgive, else we risk exposing ourselves to the same evil.
“We must be willing to accept the possibility that Them may still change in the future. Even though darkness permeates Them’s essence, there is still a remote possibility that the light will eventually break through the darkness.
“Let us not forget that Them were once much more amenable to good. I am not suggesting that we move forward with a blind eye. Them have certainly not earned our trust, but if we ensure that measures are taken for every eventuality, then this alliance may yet prove fruitful,” The Keeper said.
“I have a suggestion,” a third Keeper added. “If we allow Them access only to Brackenbone and the land of the giants we can limit the potential spread of their evil should Them betray us. We will not grant Them access to Everville and the land of the Fron or any of the other surrounding realms except for Brackenbone. We can protect Everville and The Land of The Fron, but we cannot protect the land of the giants,” the third Keeper stated.
“If we are to defeat the Alarians, a limited and temporary alliance with Them is the only possible solution. Further, Them possess the ability to prevent the Alarians from shape shifting when Them are in close proximity. That is the only way they can be held off. As it stands, we have no choice if we are to be victorious. Even then, the Alarians can only be defeated if Owen Sage is successful in finding The Third Pillar of Truth, thereby eliminating the element that exists inside the dragon. Until then, we must hold the line and prevent them from destroying us,” said The Keeper.
Several of them began nodding in agreement.
“We should find agreement with both the Ubaloo and General Varrick. If we are to allow the armies of Them to enter their land, we all should be in agreement,” The Keeper continued.
“Agreed,” said several Keepers simultaneously.
A short time later, The Keeper made contact with General Varrick to discuss the meeting and the alliance.
“General, I have a matter of deep importance that we need to discuss, and you may not like what I have to say.”
“What is it Keeper?” General Varrick asked with trepidation.
“The Keepers have been approached by Them with the possibility of a limited and temporary alliance. I know that Them are very much responsible for scores of your dead soldiers, but I fear that if we fail to reach this temporary alliance, the Alarians will wipe out our realm in its entirety,” The Keeper said.
General Varrick fell into his seat, shaken by the magnitude of what The Keeper was asking.
“Keeper, I have never known you to utter something that was unwise, but this comes as close as I can remember. What possible reason could Them have to form an alliance other than to betray us at the last moment and join with the Alarians in our destruction?” the General asked.
“General, the Alarians are responsible for the eradication of those who became Them. The Alarians nearly wiped out Them’s entire race in the seeding of the worms. It was the actions of the Alarians that led to the great chasm that now separates all our kind.
“Them have very much a vested interest in aligning with us to stop the Alarians, if only for their revenge. More than that, though, it is my hope that this alliance and defeating the Alarians will lead to a change in the heart of Them. While I understand your emotion and I agree that the loss of your men can never be forgotten, we must search for the best course of action for our people and we must not let our anger keep us from doing what is best,” The Keeper replied.
After thinking quietly for many moments, the General spoke.
“Alright, Keeper. I see the logic in what you speak, but this will be the most difficult choice I have ever had to make, and I think my soldiers will feel the same. Nevertheless, if what you say is true, then let’s move forward with this alliance and destroy the invading army of the Alarians,” General Varrick finished.
The Keeper then discussed the situ
ation with the Ubaloo, who were also reluctant but willing to move forward with the alliance.
Both the Ubaloo and the giants started working on plans to allow entry by the armies of Them. Them’s armies would be held back until the first few waves of attack. General Varrick hoped that it would be better if the armies of Them could be sacrificed before his soldiers, but to ensure maximum destruction of the Alarians, they would need to be drawn in by a false sense of security.
The Ubaloo would hide the soldiers of Them from behind the walls of Vermogen. The giants would have the armies of Them fight on two fronts. The first would be hidden within the monoliths. The second would be from behind by way of The Valley of Darkness. The Mountain Dwellers and the Fwaylan would then join the armies of Them on the front coming from The Valley of Darkness.
Back at Easton Falls University, the time had run out for the other six of the nine members of the Echo Club to show up. Avery had just filed police reports on all of them.
“Avery, do you really think it’s best to continue waiting now that the other members are officially missing? Maybe it’s time we take a closer look at Jacob’s place,” Anika said.
“Yeah. Maybe we should pay Jacob a visit, or what about the artifacts?” Dante replied
“Yeah, what about the artifacts? We’ve used them before, why don’t we use them again. If they might give use a clue as to the whereabouts of the other members, I think it would be worth it,” Anika added.
“Before we start using any of the artifacts or objects, I want to talk it over with Cleophas. You heard what he said regarding the eventual impact of the objects and artifacts on those that use them. If he agrees, then we can give it a try. In the meantime, let’s just continue what we’ve been doing,” Avery finished.
At Zee’s estate, Zee and Drusilla discussed the best course of action regarding Jacob and their belief that he had stolen the jar with the liquid element.
“Drusilla. I’m done with this crap. I’m done with Jacob. I’m taking my bo staff, and I’m going over his house to find the jar the of the element. I also suspect that he somehow has a hand in the missing members of the Echo Club. Since you’re already on probation, I suggest you stay here. Jacob is going to regret the day that he messed with us.”
“Are you sure that’s such a good idea, Zee?” Drusilla asked.
“If I’m not going to stop him, who will?” Zee asked.
A short time later, Zee arrived at Jacob’s home. The butler answered the door.
“Listen, if you don’t leave now, I’m going to call the cops,” the butler said refusing to let Zee pass.
Zee started walking away, pretending he was getting ready to leave, but when the butler had turned back around and was preparing to go back inside the house, Zee quickly did an about face and pushed himself through the door.
“Hey, I’m calling the cops now. You going to regret that you did that!” the butler shouted.
Zee ignored the butler and ran up the stairs to Jacob’s room. He thrust the door open and saw Jacob standing in the center of the room, stroking the artifact that was around his neck.
“I know you stole my jar, the jar of the element that my father left me,” Zee said angrily.
“Why, I haven’t the slightest idea about what you’re talking about,” Jacob said in a sarcastic and taunting tone.
“Give it back to me now. If you don’t, I swear, you’ll regret it,” Zee shot back.
“What you are going to do? Kill me? You don’t have the stones!” Jacob said as he started laughing, taunting Zee even more.
“You know, Zee, you really shouldn’t have come here. I used to kind of like you. I used to think we were kind of alike. Now though, I see that you’re pathetic and weak. You’ve been hanging around those losers Dante, Anika, and Owen. Now you’re just as stupid and just as lame.” Zee approached Jacob with his bo staff as was about to hit Jacob in the head with it.
“Nice try,” Jacob said, just before the bo staff made contact.
Jacob rubbed the artifact. The artifact that contained the element had given Jacob a lot of power. Now Jacob was going to use it.
“Now you are going to join the rest of them,” Jacob added.
Before Zee had a chance to respond or the bo staff had time to make contact, Jacob extended his arm towards Zee, making a fist. Instantly Zee vanished.
Zee had gone to the same place as the other members of the Echo Club, and it wasn’t entirely clear if any of them were ever coming back.
CHAPTER 16
THE ATTACK
Back in the land of the giants, the Alarians made their move. Near the central monolith, Governor Jahal expelled a torrent of fire from the massive jaws that protruded out of his monstrous dragonhead. The soldiers directly in the line of fire lifted their shields in an attempt to cover their bodies and prevent incineration. The fire scorched the metal, forcing the soldiers to drop their shields. Their hands were scorched and so were portions of their bodies that were not covered behind their shields. Several soldiers lay dead, already having succumb to the intense heat.
“Attack!” shouted Borak.
The archers stepped forward and pulled back their bows, releasing spears tipped with tar and fire. Volley after volley, the spears launched into the air.
Once the fire tipped spears reached the Alarians’ position, they passed right through them. The Alarians simply shape shifted, and Them were not yet close enough to force the Alarians to maintain a solid form.
Eventually the archers retreated and the giants stepped forward. The giants propelled large boulders toward the dragons, but like the spears before them, the boulders simply passed right through them without making contact.
The Alarians flew by for a second pass, breathing flames that torched all the soldiers in their path. Hundreds more soldiers died. At the current pace, the armies of Everville and the armies of the giants would be decimated within only a few hours.
“Retreat!” shouted Borak.
The armies fell back to a defensive position closing in on the monoliths. The monoliths were solidly constructed and would provide shelter against some of the fire from the dragons. Until then, the largest of the giants grabbed more large shields, hoping to stop most of the fire from torching more of the soldiers.
“Here they come again! Duck!” Borak shouted.
When all the soldiers squatted down near the ground and covered themselves with the shields, the posturing was effective.
After watching Borak’s contingent of soldiers successfully defend against the fire of the dragons, the rest of the soldiers followed suit.
Eventually, the fire from the Alarians was no longer effective. It was time for a different strategy.
Governor Jahal communicated with his old soldiers that with each successive approach, they would change their form to include an appendage shaped like a razor sharp spear. They made their first pass with the new form and then continuously repeated it.
The giants continued to take the brunt of the casualties. The smaller Fron, tiny marmooks, and miniature Ubaloo were spared from the stabbing of the appendages.
Once again, the Alarians decided to adapt their form, seeing that many of the smaller creatures were going unscathed. The next time they passed, they would make thousands of smaller protrusions that were equally as sharp but small enough to maximize causalities.
The next pass was brutal and effective. Hundreds of Fron, Marmooks, Ubaloo, along with the giants were strewn across the battlefield. In the land of the giants, the casualties were quickly piling up. General Varrick was about ready to release the first wave of the armies of Them that were hidden in the monoliths and have them prevent the Alarians from being able to shift.
In the land of the Fron, above the catacombs of Everville, The Keepers were holding the line. Their staves and other artifacts had prevented the Alarians from making any real progress.
Hundreds of thousands of Alarians transformed into dragons. The first wave dove towards The Keepers, the Fr
on, and the marmooks who stayed back to protect their land from the onslaught. Collectively, The Keepers united their staves and created a shield that covered most of the land surrounding them.
On the outside of the shield, fire from the dragons’ flames torched the ground and vegetation, but it was only the outskirts of the land of the Fron. The underground catacombs, The Workshop of The Keepers, and everything else below remained unscathed. The villages and homes of the Fron were also safe.
The Alarian councilman that was in charge of the battle in Everville instructed his people to shift, this time into the form of wind. It was his hope The Keepers would release the shield, but The Keepers remained on guard.
The Alarians then tried to burrow underground, but the shield created by The Keepers went below ground as well. For now, any attempt to harm those in Everville or the minerals, portals, and artifacts was thwarted.
The Alarians continued to try different forms to pierce the shield. Everything they tried failed. The Keepers, and those who stood with them, did not have to lift a finger to protect their land; they merely stood guard and watched as the Alarians continued to expend their precious energy. It was a bright spot in the three front war against the Alarians.
While the Alarians were making great progress in the land of the giants, there was a real concern that if The Keepers could not be destroyed, then they would continue to prevent the flow of the element, which would eventually result in the demise of the Alarians. Worse yet, there was a concern that such an expenditure of the element in the futile battle would deplete the Alarian’s energy before they had a chance to succeed.
In Brackenbone, the walls of Vermogen provided an initial protection from the Alarians. Soon though, just as in the land of the giants, they quickly changed shape to create large spikes that protruded from their dragon bodies. The spikes extended from the claws of the dragons, which changed shape to match the size of soldiers they were attacking. The charge killed countless Ubaloo soldiers along with others.