The twin suns of Pentanthin burned high as madness reigned in the land of Darul. All slaves and workers of Lord Daru were busy preparing for his coming conference of Savonti Lords. Daru wanted his house cleaned to perfection. He wanted to impress all the other lord showing his house to be greatest of all houses. His mines and armories were to be guarded from intrusion by any lord. His slave were also to be cleaned and and presented as the strongest. His warriors had been ordered to clean and polish all armor and weaponry. He wanted nothing left out of place for the lords to judge him harshly on since it was his plan to make Darul the capital of the Savonti people. Even if it mean turning all the other lords into one of his slaves.
As Daru walked about inspecting the work in the meeting hall, Lord Magu came flying in to land at his side.
"I'm impressed." Magu said folding his wings back and looking around. "It looks almost as great as my stack."
"Almost?" Daru huffed at the thought. "You petty house was nothing compared to mine."
"Whatever you say." Magu smiled slyly reaching into a small cage on the table and grabbing a small rodent snack. "I expect the feast will be better then this."
Set on the table was a number of cages holding a variety of animals for the hungry lords to snack on while they talked. There was also strong blood wine and a bread made from a mixture of grain and bone. A delicacy prized by the Savonti.
"Feeding these fools is not why they come. But there will be sufficient refreshments."
"Good because you guest are arriving." Magu pointed out the window to five Tracker beast with riders as they approached the gates of the house of Daru. Pushing back the curtains Daru watched as Lord Paru and his warriors rode in through the gates. They were met by one of Lord Daru's house staff who bowed and pointed the way to one of the outer building were Lord Paru would be housed during his visit.
"Where are they being sent?" Magu asked.
"There are a number of buildings prepared for the visiting Lord." Daru told Magu as they watched Paru ride off. "I don't mind them on my land where I can watch them. But not under my roof."
"Who do you trust?" Magu laughed before pushed the scared furry creature into his mouth and swallowing it alive.
"I trust no one." Daru dropped the curtains closed and walked to his seat at the head of the long table. "If your smart, you won't either."
Chuckling Magu flexed his wings and shook them out. He turned and walked to the balcony to leave.
"Let me know when each lord approaches my gate. Especially Lesu, him I would greet myself."
"Of course." Magu bowed and opened the curtain to take off when Lord Daru called him back.
"Magu." He called. [Don't forget I hear every thought for miles. Betray me with even a thought and you will suffer the same fate as the ex lord Resu. Remember that.]
"You have my loyalty Mind lord." Magu nodded then opened his wings and launched himself into the sky and was gone.
With Magu gone Daru closed his eyes and called out to his queen Trela in her apartment. In her hot sands she lay naked reading the lines of magic of the future.
[Trela.]
[Yes my lord.]
[Have you any news of the enemy?]
[There are many Daru.] She answered. [Of which do you speak?]
[I would have news of them all.]
[Then I must warn you that enemies approach even now. Beware of these so called allied lords that will soon be here.]
[Have no fear my queen. I watching them at all time, even in their sleep. If any threaten us I can crush most of them in a si. My worry is the strangers. What of them?]
[Ahhhh!! The white and grey.] The words purred in his mind. [They are powerful. But they are not the only powerful ones out there. Heed my advice Daru. All humans are dangerous in these days whether they have power or not. Remember it was a weak powerless human that killed Fedru and he was very powerful. Do not underestimate them My lord, for it could mean our end.]
[I fear no human.] He sent to her. [Human's fear me. Find the white and grey. I want to know where they are. I need to know now.]
[As you wish My lord.]
Daru opened his eyes and thought about what Trela had said. He knew so was right but without the white and grey, no human could be a threat to the powerful Lord Daru. Not on Pentanthin. Not at this time or any other as long as he was a lord.
[Daru.] Magu interrupted his thoughts. [Lesu comes and others follow.]
[Good.] Daru's mouth curved into an evil smile. [Show them to the hall. I will be there shortly.]
Daru's lair was an underground group of caves that went down many levels. On the top level was housed the slave and worker quarters. Daru's overseers rooms and the stables where his Trackers were housed. The next five levels housed his staff and work areas were all his weapons were made. Below that housed Daru's minor queens and his children. Also on that level to show contempt was his Meeting halls. There he would sit in judgement over all those in his house and the minor Savonti that lived on his lands in smaller cave holds. On this level Daru would be greeting his guest. He had had a huge chamber heated and set with comfortable couches and sand pits for his guest. Cloth of the deepest black, Daru's house color covered the furniture while his walls were all painted blood red. Food live and cooked was set on his magnificent tables made of brightly polished gems and stones. There were small caged nagats and grey and brown fanged mugits. Fruits and vegetables sliced and placed in bowls of a brown spiced liquid that could only be blood. Against the wall there were larger cages containing the main course. Young men and women Daru himself picked to be served for his guest dinner.
Heat and steam from the lava tubes that ran through the whole lair filled the chamber making it comfortable for the lords as Magu lead the first group in. Walking next to the sky lord was the red eyed always anger Lesu in deep red robes. his mind was not on the meeting with Daru. He thoughts were on his two renegade sons and where they could be found. He had put a large bounty on their heads but only one Savonti lord had found them, and it seemed they were to strong for even the mighty Magu to hold on to. They had destroyed Magu's stalagmite lair and escaped before Lesu could arrive. Now his hope was on the hunter Loc to find them. And he better succeed fast. Behind Lesu came Paru the fire lord in yellow with smoke seeping from his nostrils as he followed them. Paru from the far south had come a long way like Lesu for the second time to hear what Daru had to say. Along with Ketu in gold they were all tired and in a very agitated mood. It wasn't wise to have all these lords in one place. Wars were started this way. Lesu thought this was probably just what Daru was hoping for, an easy way to rid himself of his enemies.
[Relax Lesu.] Daru's mind touched Lesu's. [They'll be no fighting in my home. We have all signed the temporary truce. We have more important enemies to discuss here.]
Lesu grumbled and stepped into the hall and looked around at Daru's lavish setting. He was not impressed at all.
"Will you all take a seat and make yourself comfortable." Magu waved them in. "Food and recreation is available ti you all. Daru provides whatever you need for your stay."
"I will not be staying long." Paru stepped to the table and picked through the caged of muguts for a plump one. He opened his mouth and pushed it squealing in and swallowed. "I am not comfortable here. It's cold."
"Daru will be here soon once everyone has arrived." Magu explained. "Until then, I suggest you make yourself comfortable. If you wish to rest, commendations have been made."
"Daru thinks me stupid if he thinks I would sleep in his lair." Lesu folded his arms and moved to the window.
"Suit yourself." Magu flexed his wings. "But you have your own men to guard you and Daru has given his word. For this night you are safe in Darul. Your choice.
As Magu talked the giant statue of Pulu ducked and stepped into the chamber. He was dressed in brown armor with no weapon at his side. They had all been forbidden to enter the lair with weapons. Not that it matter. These were powerful lords and none of them needed weapons to defend themselves. Behind Pulu came Guku and Dicu, brothers followed by the Memu the wild lord that roamed the north.
"Where is Seru?" Guku asked looking around.
"Yes, where is that lovely harlot." Dicu smiled his tongue slid across his lips. "I was hoping to be entertained by her tonight."
"Detained." Came a voice from the north side of the chamber as Daru stepped out. "Unfortunately she wouldn't listen to my warning and her house is being invaded as we speak."
"What?" Guku rushed pass the enormous Pulu and moved to face Daru. "And you did nothing to help her?"
"She refused my help. All of you have a seat so we can talk." Daru walked down pasted him in his black robes and sat at the head of the table. As he watched his guest took their places. "Question is will you go the same way? Will any of you, or will we fight to rid ourselves of this new enemy."
"This white and grey myth you speak of." Lesu sneered at Daru in disbelief.
"They are real!" Magu slammed his fist into the table. "You think your sons had the power to bring down my entire stack? His either of them ever shown you such power? I had in my cells a human thing that had such power. And he was not alone. He had help, powerful help. Believe my words Lesu, this white and grey are powerful enough to destroy us all."
"His words are true." Daru sat up looking at them all. "But we are Savonti lords and a power in our own. together we can defeat the new comers if we work together. Now it's all up to you. Do we stand or do we fall?"
Silence filled the room as they all took in what was said. Daru could see the fear in some of their eyes and the disbelief in others. Magu was known to be Daru's lap dog and would follow his lead. Memu would probably also follow suit. This Lesu knew from the first meeting. But Pulu and Paru would side with him and so would Resu if he had shown up. Lesu wondered what had happened to the lord of strength. None if the messages he had sent him had been answered and the goods Lesu had expected from him had never shown. Could it be the white and grey had already paid him a visit, or was Daru responsible. Either way Lesu would have to be very careful from here on. This white and grey was probably not the only threat he had to worry about. He would have a talk with Guku and and his brother, he just may need a few allies Daru didn't know about. For now he would go along with Daru and his plans. But he would keep his deadly eyes open and his spies on alert.
"I will follow you for now lord Daru." Lesu stood and pushed back his chair. "But know this, I am watching."
Daru smiled and stood, his plans were coming together just as Trela foretold. Now all he had to do was find the white and grey and deal with them. Of course during the fight there would be casualties, some of these lords would fall and their lands would be open to be taken over. Daru would make sure of that. Soon he would rule all of the Savonti and none of them could stop him.
"Then we have much to discuss." Daru sat back looking pleased. "There are many things we need to do if we want to stay masters of Pentanthin."
"And I assume you have it all planned out?" Paru reached into the cage in the center of the table and grabbed a fat mugit. It screeched as the heat began to radiate cooking it in his hand. He popped it into his mouth and swallowed. "What would you have us do?"
"I want the humans running in fear." Daru told them. "I want them all rounded up and put in stables in all of our lands. The days of humans running free are over. I want them all under control from now on."
"That won't be easy." Memu said. "There are quite a lot of them. And some with abilities too. They will fight back."
"Does that scare you Memu?"
"I fear no human Mind lord." Memu stared at Daru intensely.
"Good." Daru nodded. "Since you have no set home in your lands I want you and your warriors to drive them to Redul. I give you permission to enter my lands under the watchful eyes of my warriors of course. I expect the others will to."
"Magu." He turned to the winged Sky lord. "You and your warriors will do the same from the air. Lesu, I know you have many finely trained hunters in your lands. We can use them. I want you all to do the same. It will be like the great Nevac hunts of old. I will be focusing on the powerful humans, they need to be under our control. Any questions?"
Daru looked around at each of them. Some looked suspicious, some looked eager or afraid, but none of them spoke up. That was good. They would all be occupied leaving him free to do as he pleased. His only problem would be Lesu. He knew Lesu and his spies would be watching. He'll deal with them at the right time.
"Now we eat." Rubbing his hands together Daru turned to the cages against the wall. As they saw the Savonti looking at them hungrily the men and women began to scream.
High in the dark ceiling above the torches gleaming eyes watched as Daru and the other Lords took pleasure in torturing and feeding on their victims. As much as he wanted to there was no way Sacar could help or save the poor men and women screaming for their lives so he turned his gaze away from the horrors below him. Flashes of the hunt tore threw him as he held himself in place in the rafters. The screams reminded him so much of those days of slaughter.
[This has to end.] He thought to himself. [They must be stopped. Maybe it's time I meet the white and grey myself.]
Creeping quietly through the swamp Avres, Oathes and Heca approached the entrance to Seru's den. The trap door entrance was closed and there was no way they could pry to open and get in without being noticed even though they were invisible to the naked eye. Someone from inside would have to open the door to allow them in. That didn't seem likely to the Nevac standing at the door. They would have to think of a way to draw them out. As they stood there waiting the sounds of the swamp grew louder. Smells of decay and rot wafted through the night air. Avres sensed movement just beyond the trees and signaled the others to get back and hide. As they watched a creature much like an alligator only furred came slowly creeping out of the mud and shook the moisture from its fur. It was a Corjo. A dangerous slow moving creature highly prized on Pentanthin for it's delicious meat. Corjo's were very slow on land but in the water they moved with unbelievable speed. Savonti and human hunted them very carefully for their sight in the dark and in water was acute. They hunted with all senses including vibrations in the water and smell on land. Though creatures of water the mated and gave birth only on land with was usually the only time they were vulnerable to be hunted.
As the Nevac watched a group of six came slowly crawling past. There noses in the air for the scent of enemies. Watching them past Avres heard a creaking sound. He looked back to the entrance to Seru's den and saw the door was opening and men were coming out to hunt.
[HURRY!] Avres sent as he leaped up and sprinted for the entrance. Invisible, they quietly subdued the men and bound them to trees near Gabor's camp where they could be kept safe and quiet. Then they slipped in and found two men waiting gearing up to join the hunt. Silently Bokus and Oathes crept forward without alerting the men. With quiet strikes the men were knocked out,tied up and put safely with the others.
[HOW MANY HUMANS ARE DOWN THERE?] Bokus asked. [WE CAN'T FIGHT THEM ALL, SOMEONE WILL DIE IF WE MOVE ON HER.]
[THEN SING COUSINS.] Avres told them. [PUT ALL THE HUMANS TO SLEEP AND WE'LL ONLY HAVE THE SAVONTI TO FIGHT.]
Several levels down the lady on the house lay and watched as naked slaves fought in their arena cage for her pleasure. She loved the sight of their muscles flexing as they fought. The blood on the sands, the final kill. Sometimes she would have up to ten battles a night to entertain her with the survivor winning her ultimate prize. A night of wild sex then death, and a place on her dinner table.
As the cold lady of the house watched on the edge of her seat, the fighting began to slow down. The to men fighting looked exhausted. Like they could barely stand of lift their blades to fight. Seru jumped to her feet and looked around. Men began dropping to the ground one after the other. She looked back to the battle to find her gladiators laying prone in the sands.
"What is this?" She yelled stepping down from her viewing box. "Kan! What is the meaning of this?"
A Savonti warrior dressed in the purple tunic of her house stepped out from out of the tunnels to her slave pits.
"They are all like this Lady Seru." He shouted. "They all sleep. I don't understand."
"I do." Seru reached over a picked up her staff. "We are under attack. Daru comes to take my house from me. Well if he wants war, he shall have it. Arm yourself and the others. Send messages to Dicu and Guku that I am under attack. one of those two fools will send help. Now hurry. Daru can't be far off. There's not much time."
Slamming his fist to his chest in salute, Kan hurried off to follow her orders. Seru flexed her claws to form a drop of poison at the tip.
"Daru thinks me weak cause I don't have many Savonti warriors." She smiled. "He'll see how wrong he is."
Laughing she hurried off to let loose he secret weapon. A weapon she was sure would be enough to protect her until the others arrived. Then the arrogant lord would see who the weak one was.
The halls of the house of Seru were very quiet. No slaves roamed the halls out to please their mistress. There didn't seem to be much here alive. But Avres and his cousins knew better. The smell of Savonti was strong in the air and another strange scent none of them could identify. From what the human woman said there weren't many here, but Seru would have strong lieutenants, there was no doubt of that. And who knew what else that evil bitch might have down there.
Quietly Avres and his cousins moved through the stagnant smelling moss covered caves. Oathes hated it here So did the others. They were use to a clean environment, not the filth that some of the Savonti lived with. Bones littered the cave floor. Those of human and animals that they caught. Seru it seemed didn't care how clean her home was. Her only real care was the number of slaves and what she held as trade to other lords. She had no mines to mine and no fields for her slaves to tend. What she did have was a strong breeding stock of humans. It was known among the Savonti that Seru's slaves were the strongest and most fit of any of the lords. Good for food, work and games of many different types and the Savonti loved there games. Physical and sexual.
Though there were no humans wake, strange sounds could be heard all through the tunnels. Grunting noises, sometimes strange growls. Avres wondered what Seru had down here other then Savonti and humans. He figured they would find out soon enough since to in two more levels they would be in her personnel apartment. Sending Oathes and Heca down towards the kitchen and the slave pens, Avres moved on to the stairs the would lead them down to Seru's quarters. It was time to put and end to the poisonous Lady of Serul. It was time for the Nevac to have some revenge at last.
With staff in hand and a Savonti sword at their side, two Savonti warriors made their way through the slave pens. It was very quiet here accept for and occasional growl that echoed through the halls. Neither of the two warriors had spotted and of Daru's warriors yet, but they knew something had made it into the lair. The tied up humans had been found at the cave entrance. It was strange they thought that the humans were still alive. Surely Daru's warriors would have killed them and taken the bodies away. Savonti never wasted food and these were to heavily muscled strong men, enough to feed at least five warriors for a day.
Torches placed every six feet burned spaced along the walls. Carefully the Serul warriors made their way through the pen area watching for the slightest movement. Claws were ready and even though there were only a few, Seru's warriors would fight fiercely for her.
A sudden noise to the left made one of the warriors send a blast from his staff at a shadow between a row of cages. Naguts came running out of the shadows scattering to escape. Relaxing they moved on thinking this was all just a false alarm. Maybe Seru's hold on her human's was finally slipping and some had escaped tying the others up to keep them from revealing their escape plan.
Suddenly out of no where, something hit one of the warriors knocking him to the floor. Holding his staff out ready to blast anything that moved, the standing warrior scanned all around looking for whoever had hit his companion. There was nothing there. As the warrior climbed to his feet and reached for his weapon, he was hit again in the back of his head sending him flat lace down.
"WHAT GOES ON HERE?" He yelled on his knees. "Who fights us?"
"I see nothing!!" Frantically he stared blasting randomly. "Get up and help me!"
A blow cracked the warrior in his face knocking him on to his back sending his staff rolling across the floor. As the warriors watched, the staffs lifted off the floor and pointed at them. Wide eyes they stared at the blast end of two staff as they powered up ready to be fired.
"Mercy!!" The warriors cried. "Please Lord Daru, we can help you take Lady Seru. Just grant us mercy!!"
"You people never granted us any mercy when you hunted to down." A voice said in a strange tone. "So we return the favor."
"NOOOOO!!!!!"
Blast after blast ripped into the two warriors killing them and tearing them apart. As the smoke cleared nothing was left of them except two staffs and scattered body parts of two Savonti warriors.
[OUR REVENGE BEGINS.] Oathes said proudly as he kicked the head of a warrior. [DEATH TO THE SAVONTI!!]
In the dimly lit halls of Serul, Avres carefully made his way into Seru's private rooms. Unlike the rest of her lair, her rooms were immaculate. Not only was it clean but it was the most brightly lit area in the lair. Torches blazed brightly fed by fats soaked onto them that kept them lit and bright. Prepared to fight, Avres looked around for his enemy. Seru's rooms unlike the rest of her lair was very lavishly furnished with racked of silks in different shades of purple, from lavender to violet. The furniture was of the most elaborate design with chairs and tables with scenes of Savonti battles of old carved into oak and maple like woods. On the walls hung tapestries with horrid scenes. Avres stepped closer for a look and was shocked at what he saw. On two of the wall hangings there were scenes of the hunt. He saw his own people the Nevac being slaughtered and chased down. Male and females, woman and children all being killed by the Savonti. Avres remember the legend of the hunt. The survivors taught the children that came after what had happened.
It was said the Savonti came in peace baring fruit and vegetables from the forest to feed the Nevac after a long hard winter. The deal was the the Nevac would trade the precious Pentanthium for enough food to feed the young and teach them the ways to forge the metal. All seemed to be going good until a vicious Lord decided there was another way. Kill all the Nevac take what they wanted from the defenseless people. And so it was done. The Savonti came by the droves and killed millions almost destroying a whole race. But some escaped to the lowest of the underground caves. There they hid in the dark and raised their children afraid to return to their once proud and beautiful cities. There they learned the secrets of their ability to hide themselves from others senses, to become invisible.
Rage filled Avres as he tore the hangings down and threw them into the lava pits to burn. Avres howled out his anger as Seru ran into her apartment and saw him standing there. Avres turned to her brimming with anger.
"Who and what are you?" She asked gripping her staff tightly. Behind her a terrible howl rang through the tunnels. Whatever it was is sounded close. "One of Daru's beast no doubt. Well he is about to learn that the Lady of Serul will not die so easy!"
[WE ARE NOT NOR WILL WE EVER HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH YOUR KIND.] Avres took a step forward toward Seru who stood glaring at them. [DO YOU NOT RECOGNIZE ME? YOU SO BOLDLY DISPLAY OUR DEMISE HERE ON YOUR WALLS. ARE YOU PROUD OF WHAT YOUR GREEDY ANCESTORS DID TO US?]
Seru looked closer at Avres then thought of the tapestry that once decorated her rooms and she knew who faced her. How can it be that any of them lived?
"Nevac!!" Seru called out. "So the dead have risen. It doesn't matter, not even one of your kind can stand against me. Not against a Repuxa!"
Suddenly threw the wall crashed a six legged monster with gleaming multi faceted eyes and long scythe like sharp appendages. It was as large as a small hut and as strong as twenty Tracker beast. The Repuxa had sharp looking snapping mandibles with great cila to grab and feed prey into its mouth. Howling and screaming it barrowed its way in past Seru and came raging at them. Leaping high to get out of the way of it's charge, Avers opened his wings and came straight at the the Repuxa to kick out at it's many eyes. With a swift turn the beast swatted him away and roared as he was knocked away to crash down into the furniture. Climbing back up and turned to see Seru escape from the room. He wanted to give chase but to do the they would have to pass the Repuxa.
Standing calmly out in front the beast, Avres flexed and waited for the beast attack. From the door suddenly he saw someone enter. it was Borkus. But he was suppose to be waiting the humans.As he watched, Bokus couldn't believe what he was seeing. The beast was about to crush Avres with a single blow. Quickly he sent out a thought to his cousin.
[FIGHT IT COUSIN. DO NOT LET IT KILL YOU!]
[BE CALM BOKUS!]
Screaming out it's rage the beast thundered at Avres. Avres lifted his head and one arm and sent it a message.
[PEACE BROTHER. BE CALM. YOUR SAFE WITH US.]
As the thought reached it's brain the Repuxa slowed down and stopped it's howling. It looked at Avres and cocked its head to the side. It understood him. Bokus walked out to stand with Avres and looked at him puzzled.
[YOUR FREE NOW. GO.]
With a whimper the Repuxa turned and moved back through the crashed down wall. It stopped and looked back at them then headed up to the surface and it's freedom.
[WHERE IS SERU?]
Seru now knew no one was coming to her aid. Her humans couldn't help her and she didn't have the warriors to fight with. She had no idea how many Nevac were in her lair so her only course was to escape. Once she found her last two warriors it was time to abandon her lair and find a new place to start over. Moving as fast as they could Seru and her warriors made their way quickly to an escape exit.
[Seru. There is no escape from us.]
As the Lady Seru heard that she moved faster. She was one level away from the exit. She had to find a way to slow down her pursuers. Her only course was to destroy her lair. And there was a way. Most lords had a way to destroy there homes just in case some lord invaded and they could trap them inside. A certain amount of pentanthium placed in a protective case in the lava tubes would cause an eruption that would blow the whole lair up in flames. Seru just had to make it to the exit. There she would find the trigger and have three minutes to escape and get to safety on a waiting Tracker.
Running quickly down the tunnel, Seru followed her two warriors. A sudden noise behind them made her turn. Coming fast behind them in great leaps, two Nevac gave chase.
"Stop them." Seru ordered. "Don't let them follow me."
"Yes my Lady." They saluted and turned to wait for the advancing Nevac.
With the sound of battle coming from behind her, Lady Seru ran. Through her storage rooms and into her stables near the exit. The trigger mechanism was in a hidden cabinet just inside the exist. Quickly Seru saddle a Tracker then went to open the cabinet and release the case of pentanthium.
[THE SAVONTI TIME OF RULE IS OVER.] Avres stepped out of the shadows and stood between her and the cabinet. [NEVER AGAIN WILL YOU FEED OR TORTURE ANOTHER ON PENTANTHIN.]
"So says a cowardly Nevac." Seru laughed and using her commanding tone. "I would never have imagined that any of your kind still live. I guess we didn't do a good enough job at the hunt. STEP ASIDE AND LET ME PASS!" "
[NO. YOUR POWERS WILL NOT WORK ON ME KATALA.] Avres said as they circled each other. [AND YES, WE WERE ONCE COWARDS BUT NOT ANYMORE. WE STILL LIVE AND SINCE THE HUNT WE HAVE LEARNED WHAT IT MEANS TO HATE AND FIGHT THANKS TO YOUR PEOPLE.]
"Hate." She laughed lifting her staff. "Hate is just the beginning of the lesson we taught you. We taught you fear and cowardice and let's not forget to hide. You do that very well. But have you learned to fight?"
[I GUESS WE ARE GOING TO FIND OUT.]
Striking with lightning speed, Seru swung the blade end of her staff out to slash at Avres chest. Quickly he leaped aside avoiding the strike. With a swing of his arm, Avres slashed back using the sharp ridges of his armored arm. Seru ducked and brought her staff around to blast him. With a mighty kick, Avres sent her staff flying.
[STAFF BLAST WON'T HURT ME.] Avres stepped over her staff then kicked it out of her reach. [MY PEOPLE LIVE SURROUNDED BY PENTANTHIN REMEMBER, WE ARE IMMUNE.]
"But your not immune to this." Leaping like a mad Tark Seru attacked. She delivered blow after blow striking ay Avres head and torso forcing him back. Her strength was unbelievable and his armored body took a great beating.
"DIE NEVAC!!" She screamed as she beat at him. With a tremendous push he throw her away from him. But the Savonti were not easy to defeat. Landing on her feet Seru was on him again reaching to use her claws and rip out his gleaming eyes. Bringing his arms up he stabbed at her blindly, slicing into her scaled body, Savonti blood splashed both of them.
"No!!" Seru screamed pulling away and running for the exit. Slowly Avres got up to follow. With a hand on the wall he stumbled climbing up the ramp and out into the swamp. Suddenly a scream rang out and Avres picked up his pace. He was afraid Seru had found the white and grey and they were in trouble. He knew what she would do if she found them and he didn't want to have to fight them under her control.
What Avres found waiting for him at the top of the ramp was justice. Lady Seru, queen of Serul and enemy to all human and Nevac had finally found her end and it was neither the humans or the Nevac that did her in. Lady Seru was being ripped apart by corjo's. She had been killed at last by a beast she hunted for sport. The hunter was killed by the hunted. Now that was justice. Laughing Avres scared the corjo away and dragged Seru's body back to Gabor Gekko's camp and left it there. The Nevac had proved they could do battle and win against a Savonti Lord. The word would be passed and they would fear the Savonti never again. But this was not the end. There were many more to go and the Savonti were a strong enemy. But with the help of the white and grey, the end would come and there would be peace on Pentanthin.
As the first sun climbed over the horizon the sounds of the swamp woke Ono from his deep sleep. He sat up and rubbed the sleep from his eyes. Where am I, he thought. He looked beside him and saw Shayn laying there sleeping soundly. He was relieved to find him here with him safe. But again, where were they? He thought back and remembered the march into the swamp. Gabor had led them here looking for something. No, not something, someone. They were here after a Lord of the Savonti. Quickly Ono got to his feet and woke Shayn.
"Wake up love." He shook him. "We're in trouble."
Opening his eyes Shayn stared up at Ono and smiled. He loved looking into his eyes when he woke up. He stretch then looked around.
"Where are we? What's going on?"
"We're in Serul." He told him as he helped him to his feet. "Last night something happened that put us all to sleep. We have to wake the others. Seru could know we're after her. Come on."
One by one Ono and Shayn moved quietly through the camp waking everyone up. The last to wake was Gabor. And when they found him he was not alone.
"GABOR!!" Shayn shook him. "How in all the gods did you do it?"
"Huh?" Gabor opened his eyes and looked at all their shocked faces. "What are you talking about? How did I do what?"
"That!!" Ono pointed to something beside him.
Gabor sat up and looked to whatever they were pointing at. His eyes flew open and he jumped to his feet when he saw that laying next to him was the dead body of Lady Seru of the Savonti.
"By my fathers ghost!" He stepped back away from the dead Savonti queen. He couldn't believe what he saw. "Who did this? How?"
"We thought you had killed her." Shayn said as Gabor stooped to inspect the body. Seru had been in a fierce fight. There were slab and slash wounds on her body. It looked like something had been gnawing at her body. What could have happened to her? As they all looked on, Gabor reached for her.
"Stop!!"
Gabor turned to see Lilia Kordova being led to them. "Don't touch the filthy beast. Her poisons still live in her blood. Touch her and die."
"Who did this lady?" Gabor asked. "Why is she not below in her lair?"
"Her lair houses only her slaves now. Her spell is broken now and all they wait for is for us to free them."
"But who did this?" Ono asked.
"Hate killed the queen of Serul." Lilia told them. "An ancient hate for all the Savonti."
"Should we be worried?" Gabor pulled his sword free of its scabbard.
Lilia was quiet for a minute then she spoke.
"We have nothing to fear here now. But we shouldn't stay long. Seru is dead, We should get home, we have much to do."
Gabor sent his men down into Seru's lair and freed all the humans down there. They packed up anything they found that could be of use then took her Trackers and were off. Serul was as dead as it's mistress. It was time to get back to the living.
From the trees of the swamp, eyes watch them as they departed. Proud eyes. Eyes that from now on would fight along with the human for freedom of Pentanthin. Freedom for them all.
Treachery was a foot in the halls of the Andrake Academy. Tabor Larin with his ring and a little help from a few misguided student had searched parts of the school and so far found nothing. Could it be that Zarin had had the ring of Endrin somewhere else in Winterhaven? That wasn't possible, he and his friends had searched the entire city and the ring never glowed. It wasn't until he had been on the Academy grounds that the ring his father had given him showed any sign he was near. It had to be here somewhere. He just had to look harder. His problem was that searching the school was becoming more and more difficult. People were beginning to notice his search. That damned Jovan for one. He knew he should have killed that bastard when he failed at keeping the dragons from moving the school. Now the weak idiot was working with them. It was a good thing Tabor was in disguise or he surely would turn him in to Cutter. Another that watched him closely was that big strange boy from the east, Bandit. He had tried putting his spell of him, but the big fool had some kind of resistance that made it useless. Now he watched him and his room mate all the time. Tabor knew something had to be done, but now was not the time.
Now he needed information about where he was. They had told them all that this was not Keanna and one look at the sky confirmed that. Everything here was strange. The animals, the plants, even the sun was all wrong. Cutter had introduced the cadets to a young man named Gabor who had told them about the troubles here on what he called Pentanthin. It seemed there was something here called the Savonti. Gabor said they were enemies to all humans here Pentanthin. The were suppose to be some kind of evil reptilian master race. A race that made slaves of the people and even worst, used them as food. The Dragons had swore to help the people here overthrow the Savonti. But Tabor thought the Savonti sounded like they were the ones in power here and the Dragons new enemy. Any enemy of the dragons could be a friend if he could come to some kind of agreement with them. He had to find some way to contact them. He had to get out of the Academy without anyone knowing he was gone. That's where his control spell could come in handy. All he needed was a few more cadets on his side to help, and that shouldn't be a problem at all.
As Paolo Navare stepped into his room, Rush stood and looked at him with a blank look in his eyes. Tabor knew that look. He had seen it before in Cravens eyes when he put the spell on him. It meant his will was finally bent into something Tabor could use. He wonder if the ring of Endrin would work anything like that only on a grander scale.
"Still no luck?" Rush asked as Tabor came in and took off his cloak.
"No." The now disguised Tabor told him looking at his ring glowing softly. "We need more people to search. It's here somewhere,we just have to find it."
"We've searched all of the cadet rooms." rush sat down on the edge of his bed. "All the lower rooms and most of the outer buildings. "What's next?"
"Class rooms and teachers quarters." Paolo smiled. "Insa's office and his personnel laboratory's. Places Zarin and his friends had access to. I need someone special that has access to those area's. Someone they all trust that can move around without suspicion."
Tabor thought for a moment. There were many that fit that description. A professor or one of the guards or even... Tabor smiled as an idea dawned on him. He knew just the who he could use. They had very limited use or defense against magic and the irony of who they were made it perfect.
"Rush." Tabor smiled at him. "You are able to make a new friends."
It had been a long hot day in the cave and Mera was bored with all the grown ups. No one wanted to play with her. Not even Nysa who was to busy talking to that boy in red. They were all to busy with there stupid stuff. Mera hated it here in the cave. She thought it was creepy. There were to many weird noises and shadows that moved in the corner of your eye. She wanted to go out and play with the animals, gather flowers. Anything but to stay here and do nothing. She thought she would try one more time and get one of her brothers to play.
Smiling Mera skipped over to where Luke was talking to Tored and the older boy named Reno. She reached up and tugged at his sleeve. For a few seconds he ignored her then looked down annoyed.
"What Mera? We're busy here!" Then he went back to his conversation.
"Fine!" She turned pouting and stomped away." I'm going out to play."
Kicking a rock she looked back to see if anyone was paying her any attention. None of them were even looking.
"Nazun." Mad at everyone Mera grabbed her best friend Mif, the doll grandfather had made for her and left the cave and ran off towards the hills. If no one in the cave would play with her, she would find some new friends in the forest to play with.
Out in the fields it was a beautiful day. The smell of blossoms filled the air, small butterflies flitted from flower to flower. Mera laughed and chased after them holding Mif by the arm. She was so happy to be out of that dreary spooky cave. And she was tired of running all the from those bad Savonti. They were so mean to all of them. They had hurt grandfather really bad and now he was gone. She wished he was here. He would play with her if he were. But now he had gone to be with Mamma and Poppa.
Sad, Mera walked down to the stream for a drink for her and Mif. Along the stream Mera found berry bushes. They were nice ripe blueberries her and Mif's favorite. It was time she and Mif had a little party of there own. That would cheer them up. Going from bush to bush Mera gathered a small pile then set them up one a flat boulder at the edge of the stream. Once she had the berries she needed tea for the party. Since she had none water would have to do. Growing alone the stream there was a plant her people called Bellcups. They were pretty blue plants with sturdy cup like blossoms. These blossoms usually caught water and held it to stream along and serve the bed of flower. They were also very strong. Strong enough to pick and drink from. Mera picked two for her and Mif and was all ready for her tea party.
Making plates from leaves she sat down across from Mif and started her tea service.
Unknown to Mera, up stream trouble was on it's way. Out hunting four Savonti warriors were out gathering water for the rogue group they belonged to. These were lord less Savonti's that belonged to no house. Each one expelled for some treasonous reason or running from some crime he had committed. The were hunters that roamed the countryside searching for any lone human caught out alone. It seemed today was their lucky day, or maybe not.
Carrying water jugs they quietly moved down along the stream looking for a deep pool where they could fill the jugs. Suddenly they heard a voice. It was a sweet voice. A young girl. They dropped the jugs and got down to hide amongst the berry bushes. Peeking through the bushes they saw an impossible sight. A small girl sitting by the edge of the stream all alone.
"Look" A warrior pointed licking his lips. "Meat!!"
"I see." Mah, second in command to the nomadic Lord Memu peeked through the bushes. He turned to his three companions. "Wur, take Rol and go back through the brush. Make sure there are no more hiding there. Kol, You stay here, if it runs you can catch it easily. We'll close in and take it once Rol's sure it's alone."
Wur nodded and quietly slipped out of hiding to circle behind and make a quick search of the area. Once they were sure there was no one there, Wur made a sound much like the call of a baebot to signal Mem all was clear. With a return call Memu stood and stepped out into the clearing.
Laughing and enjoying her party, Mera didn't see what was coming at her until it was to late. Then she looked up to see the face of her worst fear staring down at her. Fear took over as she dropped her bellcup and screamed for her brothers. Grabbing her, Yer covered her mouth and laughed.
"Hello little one." He smiled showing his sharp dagger like teeth. "What are you doing out here alone? I wonder if there are more here somewhere?"
Scared to death Mera struggled to free herself. She kicked and bit at the hand covering her mouth as she tried to get away. But the Savonti held her tightly, she could hardly move it all. She looked at Mif lying on the ground and wished she could get up and help her, but there was nothing her friend could do but lay there and watch her being taken away. If only Luke or Tored were here. They would fight and get her free. She wished they were there. In her mind Mera screamed for her brothers help.
[Tored!!! HELP ME!!!!]
Sitting at the fire eating and talking with there new friends Dack and Reno, a bolt of tremendous pain suddenly struck Tored. He dropped his dish and fell to the ground hearing his sister Mera's frantic screams in his head. Less then ten feet away, Nysa saw Tored fall. She threw down her dish and rushed to his side.
"Tored!" She helped him to sit up. "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine." He said looking around. "But where's Mera? Have you seen her?"
"Not since this morning while I was cooking." Nysa looked at her brother strangely. "She wanted to play but I was busy."
"I think somethings wrong. We have to find her now."
Nysa nodded and helped him up. Everyone had gathered around them to see what had happened. Tored asked them all if anyone had seen his youngest sister and no one knew where Mera had gone off to. Quickly they all spread out and searched the cave. They looked inside and all around the grounds outside and through the forest but found nothing.
"Where could she be?" Luke was worried. He had promised his Grandfather he and Tored would keep his sisters safe and find a place for them all. If Mera was gone, then he had already failed.
"Reno is the best tracker I've ever seen." Dack told them. "Wherever she is, he can find her. All we need is a piece of her clothing to get her scent from."
Quickly Nysa rushed and found their packs. She dug around for a second then found what she was looking for. One of Mera's nightshirts. Hurrying back she thrust it out at Reno.
"Will this do?"
Reno took the shirt from her and held it close to smell. The scent of flowers and sweat filled his senses. He had Mera's scent now and could smell her all over the cave.
"Yes." He nodded and gave it back to the worried girl. "I have her scent, it's strong here. She was all over this cave into everything."
"Can you follow her?" Tored asked as everyone gathered around. Thalia and Eheren came over to help. Rese looked worried. He liked the little girl and would do whatever he could to help. Dack and Zarin stood at the cave entrance talking quietly.
"We have a problem." Zarin called waving them over. Together Luke, Tored along with Reno, Craven, Thalia, Nysa and Eheren hurried over to see exactly what the new problem was.
"Look out there beyond the glade." Dack pointed whispering. "What do you see?"
"Nothing." Nysa stared hard. But all she saw was swaying trees. It looked calm and peaceful. But Reno, Thalia and Eheren felt something different. They used more they their eyes to look. Reno and Thalia caught a metallic scent in the air. A scent they had never smelled before. Being a werewolf and a vampire the smell of the living was familiar to both of them. But this was not the smell of human blood. It could only be one thing, the Savonti. Somehow they had found them. Eheren cast out his magic sense and found a large group of reptilian men gathered at the side of the lake. They were armed and talking quietly about a raid they were about to launch.
"I know there's someone out there." Zarin said turning to Tored. "I can feel it with my magic. Trip is in the trees, he says we're about to be attacked by the same kind of things that Rese fought when he found you. Is this the Savonti you spoke of?"
"I'm afraid so." Tored nodded. "I told you they would find us. Now we're all dead."
"But how did they find us?" Rese asked. "I was careful. No one followed us. I would've seen them."
"The campfire." Luke said excited. "We told you their Trackers could follow the scent of the wood. I had hoped it would have been lost in our flight but I guess not. What do we do?"
"We fight." Zark stepped out from behind Craven pulled his twin swords. "How many are out there?"
"There are fifteen armed warriors out there." Reno told them as he shifted to his man/wolf form for battle. "More then we can take without casualties. But we can take them. We have the magic and strength to beat them."
"I think so to." Zarin agreed. "Eheren and Rese can attack from the air while Reno, Zark, Craven and I wade in from below. Thalia ans Dack. I want you to stay here in the cave and protect Tored and his brother and sister. With a little luck and surprise we should be able to take them quickly."
"No!" Thalia stepped up and stopped him. She looked at Eheren then at Zarin. "We should go quickly before they get into the cave."
"What?" Zarin asked with everyone looking surprised at Thalia. "There are only a hand full out there. We can beat them. Why should we run?"
"Because more are on their way." Eheren told them. "Zarin, reach out beyond the lake. Cast your senses out onto the field to the north. I'll guide you."
Eheren took Zarin's hand and together then sent out their senses. Out on the field to the north another twenty warriors rode their Tracker hard in their direction. They would be there in a matter of minutes. If they fought now they would arrive right in the middle of the battle. If they waited ,they would be hopelessly out numbered.
"She's right!" Zarin's eyes snapped open. "We have to go now quietly."
"No!" Thalia shouted. "We can't let them come in here. We have to lead them away!"
"Why?" Zarin asked. "It's an empty cave. We're not leaving anyone behind."
"Do you trust me?" She asked looking deep into Zarin's eyes.
"Yes of course"
"Then just do as I say please!"
Zarin stared into her pleading eyes. There was something she wasn't telling him but right now, answers could wait. They had to go and fast.
"Rese, take Tored and his brother and sister and fly west." He ordered. "We'll lead them south. Everyone stay low on his back and you move as fast as you can. We'll meet you back in the clearing where we first landed. Craven and Zark you ride with Eheren. Get in the sky and make your presence known. Blast them from the sky and get their attention. The rest of us we be following right behind you. Thalia, when we're safe, we're going to talk. Let's go!"
"Wait!" Luke Let go of Nysa and stepped out. "Tored and I can help. We're tired of running from the Savonti."
"They killed Grampa." Tears ran down Nysa's face. Zarin didn't have time to argue but if there was some why they could help, He had to let them try.
"Do what you can." Zarin told him. "Just make sure your all safe. Mera's going to need all of you when we get her back. Rese, take them and get in the air. We don't have much time."
Rese nodded and hurried them to the cave entrance and stopped just inside.
"I'm going to go out and shift to dragon form." Sweat ran down Rese's face as he talked. "There won't be much time. As soon as they see me I think there going to charge in weapons out. You three hurry and get on my back. I'm going to be moving really fast once your on my back so hold on tight."
"Don't worry." Tored grabbed Rese's arm. "They won't see you. We'll hide you from them."
"How?" He asked.
"Your not the only one's with, what did you call it?" Luke asked. "Magic? We have abilities to. They won't see you at all. But the Trackers could catch your scent. You have a strange smell. All of you."
"Just hurry so we can get out of here." With that Rese ran out of the cave. He moved off about twenty yards the shifted to his black and red fearsome dragon form. He knelt and turned back to the cave,
[Hurry! Climb on!!]
In the glade Rese's scent was caught almost immediately by the Trackers and they all began to buck and pull out of fear. The Savonti looked at the cave but saw nothing. But still they all grabbed weapons and started walking slowly toward the cave. A fierce wind blew them all back as Rese took off and climbed high into the Pentanthin sky.
[Zarin.] Rese sent. [We're away safely. But they're coming in fast. Time to get out.]
With a great roar Eheren in his Shine form flew out of the cave. Lightning flashed out from his eyes and mouth as Craven fired bolts of energy again and again. Behind them came Zarin and Thalia in their various bird forms and Reno and Dack as wolf and panther moving with incredible speed. As The Savonti scattered to avoid the attack, suddenly the sky was filled with different dragon like beast. Zarin and the others banked to avoid them not sure what was going on until Rese informed them it was a trick created by Tored and Luke.
Running for their Trackers The Savonti scattered to give chase. But it was a waste of time. None of the Savonti were flyers and they were all to fast to be caught. So off the flew to the south keeping out of reach of the Savonti shock bolts fired from their staff until it was safe to head west and meet up with the others. One good thing did come of their escape. None of the Savonti had made it into the cave. The Nevac were still safe and unknown for now. But not for long.
