It was getting dark by the time Zarin and the others reached the Nevac cave they had found earlier. Outside they met Dack and Reno carrying the water and food they had hunted. Rese led Luke, Tored and his sisters to the entrance while Zarin led the rest. "Not to us." Thalia said walking pass him. "But it's dark in there. Some of us don't have night vision, we better get wood for a fire and torches.
"Let Tored and I do that." Luke said. "We know what wood to use that won't attract any notice and bring the Savonti here."
"Fine." Zarin nodded as Luke and his brother started off. He looked out at all his friends looking to him for leadership. "The rest of you stay close. Craven you and Zark are on watch, take Reno and Dack with you. Rese watch the girls while Thalia and I got in and check the cave."
"Let me go with Thalia." Eheren said as he saw the look of fear on Thalia's face. "As she said, I see better in the dark then you. You stay with Rese and the girls, they're still scared."
"Fine." He said. "Trip, we need to talk about the Savonti you saw."
As Thalia and Eheren walked into the cave Thalia turned to Eheren and smiled.
"Thank you." She said. "That could have been awkward."
"Not if you tell Zarin what he needs to know." Eheren told her. "He needs this information. This Sacar could be important."
"I know." Thalia said. "I'll tell them all, I promise. After we get done."
"Good."
Together the two walked in deeper into the cave. It took the a few minutes but soon they had made it down into The Nevac city and Eheren saw all the elaborate designs and beauty of the buildings. The high roofs and tall buildings that surrounded them. It wasn't like anything he had ever seen on Keanna. I wasn't like the gleaming elven cities or Winterhaven or on enchanted cities of the faire. This was different. The buildings were all designed in a earthy way. More like they were craved right out of the cave sides. The caves here must be honeycombed with tunnels and pathways that only a Nevac would knew. He could see windows in the high walls and walkways alone walls. The ground wasn't paved but Eheren could see this was more then just a cave floor. It was to smooth to be natural. With his night vision he could see the array of colors all around him. Shades of green and brown with some reds and violets.
"Beautiful isn't it?"
"Indeed." Eheren answered. "These Nevac must have been very artistic."
[WE WERE.]
Eheren jumped and looked around for the source of the message but seeing nothing but the vacant city. Through his magic senses he could feel something all around him but he couldn't quite pin point where it was coming from.
[HAVE NO FEAR OF ME FRIEND.] Eheren heard in his head. [I WILL NOT HARM YOU OR ANY OF YOUR FRIENDS.]
"You would be Sacar." Eheren called out his voice echoing through the tunnel. " Aiya."
[NAZUN THALIA. I SEE YOU HAVE RETURNED WITH YOUR FRIENDS.]
"Yes." She called out. "We have need of somewhere safe to stay for now. The Savonti are everywhere."
[YOU ARE WELCOME HERE UNDER ONE CONDITION.]
Thalia's heart sank when she heard Sacar's words. She had a feeling she knew what condition would be. She looked over to Cutter and frowned.
"What would that be my friend?" Eheren asked the voice on the winds.
[I AM A SECRET.] He said. [NO ONE OTHER THEN THE TWO OF YOU SHOULD KNOW OF MY EXISTENCE. IT WOULD BE DANGEROUS FOR ALL OF YOU IF YOU DO.]
Cutter didn't understand Sacar's request at all. Surely they would be a great help to him in his quest for revenge against his enemy the Savonti. Why must he be so secretive?
[MY PEOPLE STILL LIVE IN THESE TUNNELS.] He told them. [AND MANY AROUND PENTANTHIN. I HAVE SEEN YOUR MIND DRAGON. IT IS VERY POWERFUL AND I FEEL YOUR STRENGTH. BUT THE OTHERS WITH YOU ARE NOT SO STRONG. IF ANY OF THEM ARE CAPTURED THEY'RE MINDS COULD BE PROBED AND THE HUNTS FOR MY PEOPLE WILL BEGIN AGAIN. WE ARE A DYING RACE. WE ARE FEW. THE SAVONTI MUST NOT KNOW WE STILL LIVE. I MUST HAVE BOTH OF YOUR PROMISES THAT NO ONE WILL KNOW I AM HERE.]
"I understand Sacar." Eheren walked out into the darkness hoping he might get a sense of where Sacar might be, but none of his senses told him anything. The Nevac hid themselves well. "We dragon's were once a great race that filled the skies, land and waters of our planet. But wars, time and fear have diminished our numbers. Ours is one of the last clans on Keanna as far as we know so I understand your wish to remain hidden. But you can't hide forever."
[I KNOW THIS FRIEND.] Sacar's voice echoed from wall to wall sending vibrations through both Eheren and Thalia. For the first time since they arrived on Pentanthin, Thalia felt fear. She wasn't sure what she was scared of. Maybe it was Eheren picking up a sense of those that once lived in this underground city.
"Then help the humans end their suffering." Thalia told her new friend. Eheren reached over and took her hand with an approving smile. "You both have the same enemy, why not combine your strengths."
"Yes." Eheren agreed. "The humans have numbers and you can give them weapons and advice. You've studied the Savonti for years, century's even. You know they're weaknesses, ways to get around each of the lords powers. With your help Pentanthin could be free."
Silence filled the chamber as Eheren and Thalia waited for Sacar's answer. Then there was a rumbling to their left. Eheren quickly turned to see something streak by just out of his sight. He wonder if it could have been Sacar he had seen. Then his voice rang out again in his mind.
[THERE IS SOMETHING I WILL DO FOR YOU.]
"What?" Thalia asked.
[YOU WILL SEE VERY SOON. FOR NOW,BRING YOUR FRIENDS IN. MY HOME IS SAFE. USE IT AS LONG AS YOU WANT. I WILL BE AWAY FOR A WHILE. NAZUN FRIENDS.]
Suddenly the feeling Eheren had of Sacar's presence was gone. The cave almost had an empty abandoned feeling to it. Thalia sighed missing her new friends presence. Eheren
put a hand on her shoulder.
"I guess you were right." He said. "Keeping Sacar's presence to yourself was the right thing to do."
"Yes." She nodded. "We'll try and keep everyone out of the Nevac city and stay in the front chambers. That will honor his request."
"I agree." Together they turned back to make their way out of the ancient city."Let's bring the other in, they could all use some rest."
Deep in the bowels of Pentanthin, Sacar moved like a ghost through the tunnels and passage ways of the dead cities. He could feel others of his kind there but they were all to afraid to come out and talk with him. Frustrated he stopped in the center of one of their largest cities and sat down to rest. Sacar thought about what it would have been like to see the city busy and full of life without the hate and fear that had bought it to such ruin. If only they had been more bold, more courageous not so timid a people. If only they had saw what was to be the future of the Nevac. Maybe they would have fought for their way of life. But it wasn't to late. The Nevac knew now what hate was and that it had to be fought like a disease. Sacar was ready now to fight, he only hoped the rest his people were to. He stood and looked around feeling the hidden eyes on him.
[I KNOW YOUR THERE.] He sent out. [I CAN FEEL YOU WATCHING. WELL LISTEN TO THIS. THE GREY AND WHITE HAVE COME. THE PROPHESY IS AT HAND. NOW WE ARE AN ALMOST DEAD RACE KILLED BY OUR GREAT ENEMY. BUT WE THE NEVAC STILL HAVE CHOICES. WE CAN STAY IN HIDING AND WATCH THE SAVONTI DO WITH THE HUMANS WHAT THEY DID TO US OR WE CAN HELP THE HUMANS AND FIGHT BACK. ME, I'M SICK OF THE HIDING AND HATING IN OUR TUNNELS AND I WILL FIGHT THEM. BUT WHAT OF YOU? WILL YOU HELP THE ENEMY BY STAYING IN YOUR HOLES OR WILL YOU JOIN ME AND GET REVENGE FOR ALL THE GHOST THAT SCREAM FOR VENGEANCE AND RETRIBUTION? THE NEVAC FUTURE IS UP TO YOU. THROW OFF YOU FEAR AND FIGHT WITH ME. IT IS OUR TIME NOW.]
All round him Sacar heard the sound of movement in the dark tunnels but still no one stepped out to join him. Fine, they had made their choice. It was up to him now and him alone. He would take the fight to the Savonti for the Nevac himself. He would help the humans anyway he could and finding Thalia's friends would be his first task. That and finding out what the accursed enemy planned to do next. With a deep breath Sacar took off for the surface armed with a weapon he had forged himself to fight with. The time for the Nevac's revenge had come. Sacar turned to leave when suddenly a voice rang out in him mind,
[WHAT EXACTLY WOULD YOU HAVE US DO?]
Sacar stopped glad to have finally gotten a reply. It seemed another Nevac felt just as he did at last.
[I WOULD HAVE YOU AT MY SIDE IN THIS FIGHT.] He answered. [THERE IS MUCH TO DO.]
[YOU WISH ME TO FIGHT?] Sacar could feel the fear in the mindspeak. Whoever it was still felt the fear of the Savonti.
[YES BROTHER.] Sacar sent. [I WOULD HAVE YOU FIGHT WITH ME. FIGHT FOR ALL OF OUR DEAD. THEY DESERVE IT DON'T YOU THINK?]
[THAT WAS LONG AGO.] The voice said. [I SHOULD DIE FOR THOSE THAT WENT LONG BEFORE ME?]
Sacar couldn't believe what he was hearing. He was afraid to but this was more then fear. This sounded more like cowardice. Is that what the Nevac had become? A race of cowards? Well no more, not him. he would do this alone if he had to.
[IS THAT HOW YOU WISH TO HONOR YOUR GRANDFATHERS AND COUSINS MEMORY?] Sacar raged out. [WITH COWARDICE? I TO FEAR THE SAVONTI BUT I WILL NOT LET THAT FEAR RULE MY LIFE FOR ONE MORE MOMENT. OUR PEOPLE WERE PACIFICE THEY DIED WITH INNOCENCE AND HONOR AND SOME FEAR BUT NEVER COWARDICE. IS THIS HOW YOU WILL LIVE OUT YOUR DAYS? HIDING IN THESE TUNNELS UNTIL THEY RETURN AND HUNT THE LAST OF US DOWN? I SAY NEVER!!! NO MORE WILL I HIDE, NO MORE FEAR. NEVER AGAIN WILL I LET THEM HUNT US. I WILL HUNT THEM!!]
Silence filled the chamber as Sacar's words sank in and the other thought about what Sacar had said. He remembered the stories he had been told of the glory of the Nevac. The wonderful life his people once had. A life all the people of Pentanthin was being denied because of the Savonti. Bravery had never been a trait of the Nevac, but neither was fear until the hunting began. Then everything changed. Maybe it was time again for a change. Maybe the Nevac could learn from these humans and stop the fear forever.
[YOU SPEAK STRONG WORDS COUSIN AND I HEAR THEM. YOU ARE RIGHT, FEAR HAS BECOME OUR ENEMY TO. I WILL FIGHT WITH YOU. WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE ME DO?]
[I WANT YOU TO FIND SOME STRANGER.] Sacar sent images and the sense of power he had felt from Eheren for him to recognize. He was relieved he had found a way to reach his cousin. [THEY ARE OUR ALLIES. I NEED YOU TO FIND THEM AND HELP THEM. OUR FUTURE DEPENDS ON THESE HUMANS AND THE STRANGERS WITH THEM.]
[STRANGER?]
[YES.] Sacar sent. [YOU KNOW OF THE OLD PROPHESY. THE WHITE AND GREY. THEY HAVE FINALLY COME BUT THEY NEED OUR HELP IF THEY ARE TO SUCCEED.]
[WHAT OF YOU?]
[I WILL FIND THE ENEMY AND SEE WHAT THEY ARE PLANNING.] Sacar answered.
[YOU WALK A DANGEROUS PATH COUSIN. BUT CAREFUL AND SAFE.]
[I AM CALLED SACAR. WHAT ARE YOU CALLED?] Sacar asked with curiosity. [I WOULD KNOW MY COUSINS NAME.]
[I AM MADRI.] He sent back to Sacar. [AND I AM NOT ALONE. HAVE NO FEAR. WE WILL FIND THESE STRANGERS YOU SEEK AND DO ALL WE CAN TO HELP THEM. NAZUN FOR NOW COUSIN SACAR.]
[NAZUN MADRI. TAKE CAREFUL STEPS AND THE WHITE AND GREY, THEY ARE OUR LAST HOPE.]
Relieved Sacar turned and like the wind he was gone. He had kept for himself the most dangerous of the two tasks he had planned. He had to find the Savonti and infiltrate their lair without being caught and spy on them. His was probably a suicide mission but he was determined and he would succeed. He prayed to his ancestors for all the help he could get. With luck they would answer his prayers and he would live to see the end of the great enemy.
In the dark of night Madri and the others with him spread out over the land quickly and quietly going from one land to the next in search of anyone that fit the description Sacar had passed on to them. They found many humans hiding in various places from the Savonti. Madri looked at them and couldn't help but see their fear. Is this what we were like hiding away he wondered. To afraid to move from our caves in case the enemy saw us? Then he moved on and saw many different clans armed in fortified camps ready to fight back against the Savonti. They looked fierce and so brave. He stopped and watched as they practiced with their blades and staffs. So this is how they fought. As he watched his fear began to diminish. Why hadn't the Nevac done that from the beginning? If they had there would still be cities filled with his people and not just empty buildings. Anger began to fill his soul for what had been done to them and for all those years of fear and hiding. These humans were a brave lot. They would fight for their right to live in peace, and from now on, so would Madri.
Dragons he thought. He would find them and learn all he could and fight the enemy. Death to any that tried to stop them from now on.
From Resul to Lesul they searched with no success. They slipped into Magul and found Magu's stack torn down and in rubble on the plains. A great battle had taken place there they knew. Some thought it had to have been between two warring lord. None of them would have ever guessed that it was the prophesy that had brought the stack down. They stopped and listened invisibly at clan campfires and heard tales of clans fighting back. They heard of the fall of Fedru and all about his death at the hands of Gabor Gekko. A human had raided and slain a Savonti lord. That had to be one brave man. Then they heard of the fate of Lords Resu and Yoru and a few others that had disappeared at the hand of Lord Daru. It seemed Daru was on a quest to conquer all of Pentanthin and make himself master of all. A few lords had givin in to his demands and become his ally, that is until he decided he didn't needs them and then they would go the same way of Resu.
But the brave human that killed Fedru seemed to be the most interesting talk of all. There was talk of two strange beast like none that had ever seen before on Pentanthin that draw Madri's attention. They would have to be the dragons Sacar had spoke of. But where could they be now? Madri thought about that and pondered their whereabouts until it hit him. They had to still be somewhere in Fedrul in some hidden place. The Savonti would be looking for them, they would be gathering strength getting ready for a big battle.
Madri called all his cousins together and told them to search Fedrul and all the lands in between. The ones they searched for had to be there somewhere. Maybe even the White and Grey. Sacar was right, the prophesy was at hand.
Not far from the Gekkol in Serul Gekkol's neighbor, tired and cold Ono walked across the small island he shared with Shayn and Magda as they waited for Gabor to return from scouting Seru's lair. She had built her manse in a hidden underground cave underneath her swamp, so hidden that without Lilia, they never would have found it. Gabor wanted to be sure she didn't get away from them during the raid he planned. He had his men spread all across the swamp cutting off all her escape routes while Lilia probed her lair to make sure she was there. Deep in her caves Lilia found her in her slave pens at work divulging in any sin her warped mind could conceive of. Unlike most Savonti lords, Seru kept no women slaves. There were only men in her pens. Men she kept strong to work in her mines and use in her lustful ways. Seru it seemed had a way of charming human males to an almost irresistible level. No slave of Seru ever escaped from her spell, but a few had been traded and passed on to other lords then escaped. That was how Gabor learned of the whereabouts of her lair.
From out of the steamy mist Ozmun walked leading Lilia. Her job done, Lilia had found the mistress of hate and gave Gabor her advice. She was being sent to a safe place where she could monitor the attack as it progressed. Guiding her carefully, she was sat her down with Shayn and Magda.
"You found her?" Magda asked passing her a water skin.
"Yes." Lilia answered after a sip. "She was doing unspeakable things to her slaves. Things I would rather forget."
"Well." Shayn hugged the blind woman. "She's been found. Your job here is done. Let us finish this, you just rest."
"My job will never be done until Pentanthin is free." Lilia told them. "I still have to stay with you all in my mind as they go below to make sure things go as planned."
"What could go wrong?" Magda asked arrogantly. "This Seru will be no match for us."
Everyone turned to stared at Magda. None of them could believe what she had just said. Lilia shook her head in disbelief.
"Careful Magda." Shayn warned her. "We are powerful, but over confidence could be the end to us all."
"Those are just the words my brother would use." Ono agreed. "Even the weakest of enemies can bring you down if your not careful. Always respect you enemy cause you never know what could happen."
Magda shrugged off their warnings not worried at all about the Savonti queen. "Where is Gabor?" She asked. "I want to get this over with."
"I'm here." They heard from behind them. They all turned as Gabor and Tanis came walking out of the thick night mist with one of his men. "Is everyone ready?"
Nods from all around assured him they were.
"Good." He said. "Alek here will stay and keep Lilia safe. The rest of you, we have a lord to bring down. Let's go."
"Wait!" Lilia stopped them. "Do any of you know what it is that makes Seru so dangerous to humans?"
"She's a Savonti lord." Gabor shrugged. "Is that not enough?"
"Is that what the great Petar Gekko taught you Gabor?" They all could hear the disappointment in her voice. "Or did he always tell you to know your enemy and what they can bring into battle?"
"What are you trying to tell us Lady Kordova?" Shayn asked.
"Knowledge." She told them. "Without knowledge your doomed to fail."
"What am I missing?" Gabor sat down next to Lilia. She reached up and brushed the hair back from his handsome face. He so looked like the Petar Gekko she remembered from the old days when she could still see.
"Do you know what's down there?" She asked. "In her lair? Have you any idea?"
"Yes I do." Gabor stood up anger at the delay. He wanted to get in bring Seru out and give her what she deserved for all the people she had killed in her reign of horror. "She sits down there with her warriors and feast on us! That's what's down there. I say we go and end it now!"
"Seru only has five other Savonti down there with her, young Gekko!"
Gabor stopped and turned to stare at Lilia not understanding what she was saying. Magda, Shayn and Ono looked confused at both of them.
"Then what?"
"Her army is human Gabor." Lilia stood and walked to Gabor to face him. "Humans. And they will defend her with their lives at all cost. Don't you understand, she can control men and get them to do whatever she wants them to do. That's her power, her secret."
No one said a word. They were all speechless trying to digest what she had just told them. A Savonti lord with a human army that she used and fed off of. How could they fight that? Gabor looked around at everyone around him hoping someone had and idea, an answer to their dilemma.
"Thoughts anyone?" He asked. They all had blank faces and nothing to say. Gabor sat down feeling defeated for the moment. What was he to do?
"I have an idea." Azeal's voice came out of the thick fog. Gabor turned and watched as Azeal and Tanis with glowing eyes came walking over to join them. "Send us in. Me and Tanis, Shayn and Ono. We're not human and we have this to protect us."
Azeal pulled open his shirt to show him the Salvation stone blazing at his neck a bright blue.
"Of course!" Shayn smiled at them. "This will work!"
"Are you sure?" Lilia asked Shayn worried. "We can't sacrifice either of you. Your to important to Pentanthin to risk."
"Is there any other way?" Shayn asked everyone gather on the island. No one spoke up. They had their answer. The strangers to Pentanthin would go down and bring the Savonti queen out. With luck their magic stone would be all they needed to protect them. But there was another answer, and it was listening to them in the mist.
Deep in the bowels of her lair Seru sat and watched as five slaves fought to the death for her amusement. She had trained them to fight in her own sadistic games which she held to amuse herself and other visiting lords. With folded arms she watched bright eyed eager for the kill as they fought with staffs and swords. One man swung his blade high as his opponent came in fast with his staff and sent it's full charge directly into his side. The man screamed and looked with adoring eyes at Seru pleading as a sword came down and hacked into his neck. Blood splashed all over the battle pit as the man died and his opponent moved on to find his next target.
Seru sat back on her throne pleased and reached for a tasty tidbit off a plate held by another of her naked slaves. He bowed and held out his plate of sweet breads as she popped one after the other into her mouth. In the pit in front of her the fighting continued. Blood was splattered all over the walls from previous fights making the stench over powering. But to Seru, it was the scent of power for the smell represented how far her slaves would go for her attention. She watched as the fighting grew intense. Another man had fallen and now there were three. Three large muscular men with weapons and no armor beat at each other until another man tripped and the two standing leaped on him and beat him to death. Squaring off the last two faced each other holding their weapons ready as they circled. One charged bring his staff around quickly trying to beat his foe back against the wall. Armed with a sword and a dagger the man jumped to the side avoiding the staff and swung out with his sword. Razor sharp the blade sliced in to the mans arm making him drop the staff as he howled in pain. With a triumphant grin the swordsman came in for the kill. He leaped in sword ready to decapitate the unarmed and ran straight into his fist striking him in the jaw. Stunned he fall to the side blood and broken teeth flying from his mouth. Seru sat up eagerly anticipating the last kill. Grabbing for his staff, the last man with a wild look in his eyes beat his opponent again and again smashing his head in, then howled out his victory. Seru stood clapping and congratulated the gore cover slave.
"Congratulation." She smiled. "You have earned the right to be my dinner tonight."
"Thank you my queen." He bowed pleased with himself.
"Take him to the kitchen." She told two savonti waiting at the door as she got up and walked down from her throne. "Tonight we can make his greatest wish come true. Clean up in here. I'll be in my study, send a slave to attend me there."
"Mistress?" Seru stopped and looked back annoyed.
"What is it Gru?"
"Your pardon mistress." He bowed low. "But Lord Daru sent a message. He says it's urgent."
"For the Mind lord everything seems to be urgent." Seru waved her hand dismissing him. "He worry's to much for a Savonti lord. He needs to relax and enjoy being a lord and not think so much. Call me when my dinner is ready."
"Yes my queen."
With that done, Seru left her fighting arena and walked through her lair inspecting her slaves. She moves from one cell block to the next sending her mesmerizing scent burning through the minds of all her slaves. Caged and behind bars they all sat prostate dreaming of the day each out of them would get their chance to please the master. Seru chuckled at their simple minds. They were all so ready to give there lives for whatever she wanted, ever to be her dinner.
Once back in her study she sat down behind her desk to go over the reports of the weeks mining and slave scouting reports. The scouts had found a few clans she could raid with a lot of able bodied men. She smiled and folded her arms. This could turn out to be a very prosperous pass.
[It could.] she heard in her mind feeling the slimy touch of Daru's mind. [But maybe not for you.]
Her hate flared at his intrusion into her thoughts, almost strong enough to cast him out. Daru fought hard to keep his anchor in her mind dismissing as much of the pain as he could caused by her hate.
[Your hates become stronger Seru.]
[Not strong enough to bar your disgusting touch.] She spit the horrid taste from her mouth wishing it was that easy to be rid of him.
[Careful fool.] He sent. [I'm here to warn you of danger.]
[What could threaten me?] She laughed. [I rule supreme here.]
[Supreme you say?] Daru's mad laughter echoed through her mind. [We shall see about that supreme one. You should know there are humans at your door about to invade your lair.]
[Impossible!] The Savonti queen shouted in shock and disbelief. [My slaves would have warned me. You lie Mind thief! Besides, no human male can deny me what I want.]
[Your slaves are so bent on pleasing you, they can't see their nose in front of their face. If you doubt my words, send one of your warriors out into your swamps. Or ignore me and see what happens. I don't care. But if you would live another day, heed my words and prepare your house for attack.]
[We shall see Lord Daru.] Seru stood and pushed back her chair knocking it over. "Gru! I have a task for you!"
Outside in the mist, four shadowy figures listened as Gabor and the others argued and planned their next move. From where they stood they reached out with their Nevac senses and probed each of the humans and found something strange and alien about some of them. Some were not exactly human, they were very special with very strong power emanations. Four in particular seemed to be just what Madri had said they should search for. They weren't of Pentanthin. They could tell from the feel of their essence. No one on Pentanthin had such an alien feel to their mind. Theses had to be the strangers they searched for. Madri had said the strangers should be protected at all cost.
[WHAT SHOULD WE DO?] Oathes asked his companions. [THESE STRANGERS WILL ALL FALL UNDER SERU'S CHARMS IF THEY GO BELOW.]
[YES.] Avres nodded. [BUT HER CHARMS HAVE NO AFFECT ON US.]
The two Nevac looked at Avres unsure of what he had in mind and a little scared.
[YOU BOTH HEARD WHAT MADRI ASKED OF US.] Avres continued. [THESE HUMANS ARE TO BE PROTECTED. THEY ARE IMPORTANT TO THE NEVAC FUTURE AND ALL OF PENTANTHIN. WE CAN NOT ALLOW THEM TO FACE SERU. WE GO DOWN FIRST AND RID PENTANTHIN OF ANOTHER SAVONTI LORD WHILE THE HUMANS ARGUE. IT IS THE ONLY WAY.]
[ARE YOU SURE THIS IS RIGHT FOR US COUSIN?] One of his companions asked nervously.
[YES.] Avres nodded, [IT IS TIME WE STOP HIDING AND FIGHT BACK. SACAR AND MADRI ARE RIGHT. THE NEVAC HAVE SUFFERED ENOUGH. IT IS TIME OUR YOUNG AGAIN WALK FREE AND THE HUMANS ARE THE ANSWER. WE FIGHT WITH THEM AND FOR OURSELVES. THE SAVONTI'S TIME IS OVER. NO MORE FEAR FOR ANY OF US. IT IS TIME THE NEVAC RISE AND FIGHT!]
Avres watched his cousins as they contemplated his words. They knew he was right and he knew they would agree, but they would have to hurry or the humans would move before they could stop them. As he waited he saw their heads nodding in agreement.
[WE WILL FOLLOW AND FIGHT.] Heca said. [WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO?]
[THE HUMANS CAN NOT GO DOWN TO FACE SERU.] Avres told them. [ONE OF US WILL STAY HERE AND SING THEM TO SLEEP. WATCH OVER THEM UNTIL WE RETURN. SHE MAY SEND WARRIORS OR SLAVES OUT TO LOOK FOR THEM. BOKUS, YOU STAY HERE. BE CAREFUL. THE REST QUICKLY, WE MUST HURRY.]
Back in the camp, Gabor and the others made themselves ready for the assault. They sharpened their blades and readied the staff weapons they had taken from Fedru's arsenal. Shayn, Ono, Azeal and Tanis discussed how they would make their entrance into a Savonti lair without raising any alarm. They knew this would be a difficult raid and there was a chance some of them might not make it back alive. Azeal looked over at Tanis sitting by the fire. The glow of the flames making his handsome features shine in the light, burning feeling in his heart. Azeal knew he had to tell him how he felt. He couldn't let the end come without letting Tanis know how much he loved him.
Gathering his courage Azeal walked over to the fire and sat next to Tanis. The heat of the fire warming his cold form.
"Tanis." He said. "Can we talk a moment?"
"Of course." He smiled as he looked into Azeals eyes. "Your worried about the raid?"
"No, it's not that." Azeal cleared his throat suddenly unsure of what to say. "I'm not really worried about the fight. Lilia says there should only be a hand full of Savonti down there. It's the humans I worry about. They're innocent. They're under her spell and can't help what they do for her. But that's not what I wanted to say."
"Then what is it?"
Azeal looked into Tanis's brown eyes his love almost overwhelming him. Suddenly the sounds of the night grew loud and filled his ears. Azeal opened his mouth to confess his love when out of the corner of his eye he saw one of Gabor's men collapse and fall to the ground.
"What?"
Tanis stood as men began to fall all around them, he reached to his side for his weapon. They were under attack. Seru must have somehow caught on and found them. Quickly Tanis looked down at Azeal to warn him. His eyes were drooping close, then he fell over asleep. He gripped his shoulders and shook him trying to wake him. But it was no use, he was deep in some kind of sleeping spell. He knew he had to get someone that could counter the spell. That meant either Lilia or Shayn. Quickly he looked over to where Lilia was being guarded and saw her and her guard passed out. She would be no help. Tanis took two steps toward where Shayn and Ono lay next to each other. If anyone could help, Tanis thought at would be Shayn. He had to get to him and wake him. Step by step he trudged toward them as the sounds grew louder and echoed through the camp. Tanis felt his eyes getting heavier. He tried as hard as he could to reach Shayn but his steps became harder and harder with each moment until he couldn't move anymore and he fell at Shayn's feet. Tanis was the last one to fall. Once he was sleep, Bokus stopped his song and walked into the camp. He looked down at the noble humans sleeping his part done. Now his was just a job of protection.
[SLEEP WELL FRIENDS. WHEN YOU WAKE, ONE MORE THREAT TO PENTANTHIN WILL BE GONE.]
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