He snapped out of his revelry and started toward the council chambers to meet with his leaders. He could sense a measure of anxiety from the captains as they approached the hall. He would have to dispel their fear and give them enough information so that they would do what was necessary. He would need to explain how Kana was backing them and how she was going to ally them with the ores, rock trolls, and goblins. They would not be thrilled about her choices, but when they understood the big picture, they would welcome the support.
By the time he reached the hall, the captains had already taken their seats, and Commander Tenanden stood at the head of the table awaiting the arrival of Lord Aellenas. When he entered the room, everyone stood up and bowed before their leader. Once Diikker had taken his seat, everyone took theirs and looked intently at the warlock. They did not know what to expect, but they had a hopeful look in their eyes. They knew that he was stronger and more powerful than Queen Kishi, so they were expecting great things from this mystical high elf.
"Captains, I thank you for coming together again so that we can firm up our plans. I have met with Mistress Kana just now, and we have come up with the following plan," began Aellenas. "Commander Tenanden will lead a special force of soldiers in three days' time to Alanderas to retake the city. He will experience no resistance because Yukio will empty the city and follow after our queen right before we attack the capital."
"How do you know this, my lord?" asked one of the captains tentatively.
"I have foreseen it," he explained as he opened the same map he had shown the commander previously. This time the map showed them all the kingdoms of men, dwarves, and elves. It was clear from the movements on the map that the races of men and dwarves were preparing for war. The elves did not appear to be doing anything. Then one of the captains noticed the giants at the foot of Mount Quang.
"What are the giants doing?" asked another captain. He was shaking slightly with fear at the apparent prospect that the giants would ally themselves with General Yukio.
"You need not worry about them. I have been asked by Kana to deal with them personally. I will make sure that they do not interfere in our affairs," he said boldly. As he said this, the map changed. It appeared to show future events now instead of the present. A miniature Aellenas was seen wiping out the giants who were near Mount Quang. Queen Kishi was clearly attacking the people of Nairi on what looked like the notorious white wolf, Rolon. A massive number of ores were lining up at the southern end of the Black Forest. The people of Aran and of Landen were sending messengers back and forth. Their armies were organizing and preparing their defenses. The dwarves were doing the same … except for King Edric in the north. His defenses were light, and his people seemed to be unconcerned about what was taking place elsewhere.
The captains sat there speechless as the map continued to morph and change. They were in awe of what they were seeing. Diikker could sense that their fears were subsiding and that they were gaining the necessary confidence to do what would be needed. Then the map changed once more to show an army of high elves and spiders assembling at the foot of Mount Konane. After a time, the ores on the south end of the forest attacked, and then their army attacked from the north. Then the map went black, and the warlock rolled it up slowly and took it in his hands. As he held it firmly in his grip, it vanished.
"Now, dear friends, our guardian leader will join us in our battle with the elves when our army meets the army of ores," he said coolly. "Then you will know for sure that you are on the right side. You all know that the Elementals have only taken the side of good throughout the known history of Tuwa. She has offered to join us in our fight as a token of her true intent." He smiled slightly as he felt the emotions of the captains soar at this news. They would do whatever was necessary now because they knew that they were on the side of the gods.
"Who will be in charge of the guard here in Tiranidrol?" asked Commander Harley.
"Captain Belos, you are now the commander of the home guard ofTiranidrol. You will need to ensure that this city is protected and that the structures are completed by the time we have finished with the elves. You will also need to have the third of the host of Queen Kira return to their home once the Alanderas is retaken," Diikker instructed firmly.
"Yes, my lord. I will not let you or the people down," he replied boldly. Belos was a fierce warrior and great leader. He was not someone to be trifled with, and his troops were very loyal to him. He would protect the city and the people better than anyone else. I will prove to Lord Diikker that I am equal to the task and that his faith in me is well placed.
"I will set up a series of special protections around the outer wall. I will also create a magical barrier around the inner wall so that no one aside from those you accompany will be able to enter. Now, I believe we all need some rest. I leave tonight to carry out my errand, so you will need to be prepared to carry out the tasks and duties assigned to you. Take this time to inform the guard about our plans and then explain to the citizens what they will need to do," finished Dtikker. He stood up and left the table without another word.
"Commander Harley, what equipment, if any, will you need to take with you?" asked Commander Belos.
"I will need a fourth of the archers and a fourth of the swordsmen," he replied.
"Then I will leave you to your charges. I will go and speak with the remainder of the home guard. I will explain what our plans are to the people in the morning. Three days should be plenty of time for them to prepare for departure," Belos thought aloud as he stood up to leave.
As the group filed out of the chambers, clouds had darkened the sky as far as the eye could see to the west. The temperature had dropped several degrees in the time that they had been in their meeting, and the wind had picked up slightly as the storm that had been assailing Mount Quang moved their direction. There was no thunder or lightning in the clouds, so they knew that it was a typical storm and not the magically created one. The air became thick with moisture as lower rain clouds approached the city. People were heading for their homes at the signs of an impending done pour. As the commanders and captains looked over at Mount Quang, flashes of lightning could still be seen, but the booming thunder could not be heard any more over the sounds of the approaching gale.
CHAPTER 15
The advocate
The guardian rushed to his secluded meditation chamber located on his private island in the eastern sea. He had always enjoyed riding the watery currents to his personal escape, but this visit was much too urgent to take in the beauty around him. He was going to meet with his master about the current crisis in Tuwa. He had not met with this all-powerful god for many centuries. As he climbed out of the icy waters onto the sandy beach, he felt an immense amount of pressure bearing down on his shoulders. This meeting is pivotal to the fate of the western lands. Hopefully this time things will be different.
As he walked toward the trees that grew a short distance from the water's edge, he dried his body with a warm breeze he conjured. There were a few puffy white clouds overhead that periodically blocked the bright midday sun. As he entered the green canopy of the dense forest, the temperature dropped significantly as he continued his trek to the meeting place. He was the only one who had ever seen the god of this world in person. The transformation that was required of him in order to speak with his master was not only painful, but it left him drained of all energy for almost a day after their meeting.
After hiking through the woods for several hours, he reached a clearing that opened into a wide meadow. At the far end of a grassy field were the beginnings of an enormous mountain. It raised high above the ancient forest and disappeared into the cloudy sky above. At the base, there was a small stream that was fed by an impossibly tall water fall that started so far up that its birth could not be seen from his position. As he stood there in the clearing, he felt his body go suddenly rigid as an unseen force gripped him. He began the forced transformation that always occurred right before his master's arrival. His bod
y shook violently as this invisible power coursed through him. After a few more moments of pain, the change was complete. Life around him seemed to stop or cease to exist. Time did not matter anymore. A glowing figure appeared out of nowhere and approached him from the shadows of the forest. He was actually floating in the air as he approached the translucent guardian.
"Lord Adair, it is good to see you again. It has been entirely too long since we last met. What is it that I can do for you?" asked the shimmering being. His voice had a deep, soothing tone to it. He was so bright that is was hard to tell if he was made of flesh and bone or if he was merely a spirit.
"I have come to seek your guidance and counsel, almighty Kedem," Adair said with a bow. His feet were touching the ground while his master floated above the ground in front of him. He felt the powerful being enter his mind and probe his thoughts and feelings. He did not fight this intrusion and allowed Kedem access to everything he knew or felt. This lasted for only a few moments, and then Adair was inundated with vital information. Images flashed through his mind in rapid succession. I must… hold… on. Then his mind was free from external control, and his body lurched back at the abrupt end to the forced contact. He ached from his head down to his feet as a result of the additional drain on his person.
"I understand what must be done. I will first meet with Master Mahdi about his role in the war and also about what his kind must do before the end. I will then call on the bears and the druids to aid us in the fight. I will instruct Lord Keb that he must protect the knowledge of the orb at all costs. I will have Mistress Khalida track Kana's movements while I garner further support," replied Adair weakly. I do not think it is wise to call the druids to reform their council; they will work against us out of mere spite. They may consider all the Elementals to be enemies since one of our own is attacking the races that the druids have stewardship over.
"It is well," said Kedem as he began to rise steadily into the air. "Do not concern yourself with the druids; they will fulfill their purpose before the end of these dark days. They will help balance the awesome power of the Elementals so that the peoples of Tuwa will have a fighting chance."
As Adair watched his master depart, the island around him began to disappear. He was losing consciousness as his strength was finally giving out. Kedem slowly rose into the air higher and higher as he headed toward the clouds that shrouded the invisible mountain peak. The guardian's meeting with his master did not last very long, but the after affects stayed with him for days. He always felt reassured and more driven after speaking with Kedem. Even though he had created the world, Adair was still not as powerful as his maker. The lord of the Elementals had been given the means by which he created the world, and now he had to protect the inhabitants of Tuwa from themselves. He would not fail, but it would not be easy. Then, everything went dark.
Mount Lamont towered over the northwestern corner of Tuwa as though it was a guardian of sorts. The mountainsides were covered with huge trees and thick foliage. There were massive boulders near the snowline that were just too big to fit in with their surroundings. The air was cold as ice even though it was very warm in the valleys and plains below. None of the races made their home on or near the mysterious heights. Everyone believed that it was a cursed place and that anyone who traversed its slopes would never be seen again. They had good reason to believe that this was the case. Anyone who had set foot on the snowline had never returned. People fled before the shadow of its peak as it stretched across the lands. It was believed that even its shadow was deadly to the touch.
The mountain was actually very beautiful to look at, and that was why so many travelers had fallen prey to its treacherous slopes over the years. Many dwarves had tried to mine Lamont, but they were all killed in mysterious landslides or earthquakes. Men had learned very early on to leave the cursed place alone. As a result of this wicked reputation, the people of Landen never had to defend the northwestern entrance to their lands. Rock trolls would go nowhere near the place because they believed that an ancient evil from the ancient races lived there. They believed that it was guarded by powerful magic that could destroy even an Elemental.
The sky over Mount Lamont on this day was clear, and the air was especially crisp. A bright ball of fire was seen in the east heading directly toward the mountaintop. It looked like a fiery missile, which was heading directly at the snow line. An instant later, the ball of fire hit the ground but did not explode. The people of Landen who saw the projectile expected a loud boom or at the very least a landslide. The people who had witnessed the collision merely shrugged their shoulders and went about their business. Weird things always happened around the cursed mountain, and they accepted that this unexpected event was one of those instances.
Adair transformed into his human form as he stood near the snow line. He looked around as if searching out something or someone. After a few minutes, he began to walk toward the snow and then turned along the line toward the east. After a long time, he came across one of the legendary boulders that seemed so out of place. He closed his eyes and began to slowly float above the ground. He changed into his ethereal form as he hovered above the section of land he had walked to. He began to glow an eerie green color as his essence began to swirl.
Master Mahdi, I must speak with you.
Lord Adair, I am here. Please tell me why you are here and what you desire. The voice was deep and penetrating. It had a ponderous quality to it and could only be heard in the mind of the guardian. There was a rough edge to the tone as the mysterious creature spoke to Adair's mind.
I have need of you and your kind. I have a very special task for you in particular. Will you hear me out?
Speak. I will do as you command, my lord.
Thank you, my faithful friend. I wish we had time to just talk, but there is a war brewing in the land. I need you to guard the border between Tuwa and the east. Do not stop anyone from crossing the line; merely notify me when someone does cross it.
I will personally see to it that you know everything as soon as someone or something crosses the barrier.
I require the rest of your kind to spread out over the lands of Tuwa so that I can have eyes and ears everywhere. This war will involve all of the races, and even the guardians cannot avoid becoming involved. One of our own has betrayed us, and only with your help will we be able to defeat this traitor.
I understand what you have said and what you have not. I will make sure that we are vigilant in our watch. Know this: we will destroy any who defile the earth or any of our kind. Make sure you warn those you choose to support. We will not tolerate any abuses even during a time of war.
I will warn our allies. Imustgo now to attend to other matters. You can reach me through the usual way. I will probably not see you again until these dark times have passed. Good luck to you, my friend.
I will make you proud… Father.
After Adair had said all that he had to say, he began to rise slowly into the air. As he rose higher and higher over the peaks of the mountains, he turned slightly in order to see Mount Lamont. Without warning, he sent a flash of bright light at the snow-capped portion of the mountain. There was a loud boom and a resulting quake that had not been felt throughout the land of Tuwa since the beginning. Eventually the guardian stopped his sudden attack, and the quaking stopped abruptly. The wind began to pick up around the mountain. As the winds swirled, he continued his ascent until he disappeared into the clear blue sky.
The wind became increasingly fierce and unrelenting as soon as Adair disappeared. Foul voices and whisperings could be heard in the air. There was a feeling of dread that swept through the lands. As the gusts continued, the source appeared to be coming directly from the forbidden east lands. Dark clouds appeared on the horizon and grew larger as they moved closer to the High Plains of Landen. An unexplainable feeling of despair and fear developed in the stomachs of the different races of Tuwa on this day. Nothing would ever be the same. War was coming.
Somewhere in
the snowy regions of the north land Adair stood patiently outside an eerie-looking cave. He made a series of weird grunting noises as he peered inside the dark opening. There was an answer to his unusual call, which was followed by some growls that were immediately followed by something massive moving his way. He stood back a few paces to allow whatever it was to come out into the open. A huge white outline could be seen in the darkness of the icy cave. Just out of the light, the creature made some more peculiar noises. Adair nodded his head as a sign that he understood what the beast had said to him. A gigantic white bear stuck its head out of his home to look around the clearing that the Elemental was standing in. It was obvious that he wanted to be cautious.
"There is no one else here; come on out," said the guardian with a warm smile.
The bear looked at him for a moment longer and then entered the open. He was so huge that it was clear that he was the largest of his kind. His eyes were crystal blue and had a hypnotic effect on those that looked into them. There was also an edge in his gaze that would freeze the very heart of a lesser being, but Adair did not seem to be affected in any way by this monstrous beast.
"What do you want, my lord?" the beast asked plainly. The bear could speak like the peoples of the different races.
"You look like you have put on some weight, my old friend," he cajoled the bear. He smiled slyly as he said this, knowing full well that the weight was in muscle and not fat. He liked to give his faithful companion grief.
"You look like you have aged finally," replied the bear with a snort.
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