"Somethings not right here," Zarin called back to Reno. "Look at the guards on the wall, anything looks strange to you?"
Reno looked down at the wall over Zarin's shoulder. The men on patrol were much taller then he remembered them to be and way overweight. Reno looked closer and noticed they all had a green hue to their skin. These weren't men at all.
"Orcs!" He said surprised. "Those are Orcs on the wall!"
"Gorak!" Zarin said the names as if it were a curse. "He has to be behind this, and he may not be alone in there. If Dack's right, Tabor, and his father may be here too."
[So what do we do?] Tempus asked.
"We go in and find out." Zarin patted Tempus's back. "Remember the house were Craven held you captive? Not too far from it, there's an entrance to the sewers. We can get in that way."
"What about Dack, Trip, and Thalia?" Reno asked.
[And Craven and Zark? They should be on their way back to Winterhaven now]
"Dack knows the way into the city," Zarin told them. "He'll find us. But I think we should go in and see just what the situation is. Insa my be in trouble and need our help."
Banking left, Tempus circled out and around over the city and headed towards the academy. It was surrounded by Orc troops. They were trying to get in past the energy field that rose up from the wall around the school. As they flew over, Reno looked down and watched as the Orc's attacked the gates and the walls unsuccessfully. Then a thought hit him.
"Tempus, can they see us flying up here?"
[No.] He answered. [Not if I don't want them too.]
"There." Zarin pointed to a place beyond the city and its wall. "Land there."
Tempus flew on then dropped down to a small clearing outside of the wall. Zarin and Reno jumped from his back and he shifted back to his human form.
"Which way?" Rese asked them.
"There," Zarin said. "Follow that stream."
Following the stream through the forest, they came to the wall and the small broken gate. Reno grabbed the edge of the iron bars and pulled them up making a bigger hole for them to fit through. Rese winched from the horrible sewers smells but walked on. Zarin conjured an orb of light to give them lightly as they walked. They followed many twists and turns on they're through the sewers relying on Zarin's memory to get them to the right exit place, but finally, they were there, looking out from a sewer entrance near his old house.
"This is it." Zarin turned to face Reno and Rese. "This is your last chance to turn back. You've both been with me a long time and done more than your share. If either of you decides to go back, I won't hold it against you. You'll always be my friend, but I have to warn you that we'll all probably be killed. Not it's your choice."
"Like there's even a chance I'd let you go on without me." Reno smiled. "I'm in."
"I'm a Dragon," Rese said. "It's my duty to protect. I'm in too."
"They're here," Pelic said. He walked across the chamber to where Insa sat at the council table. "He just entered the city."
"Is he alone?" Insa opened his eyes and looked at the cloaked shadow. "Who's with him?"
"A Dragon and a Werewolf." Pelic looked at Insa.
"A Dragon we don't know?"
"He is one of the clan," Insa explained. "His name is Tempus. He hatched the day before Jandar sent Zarin and his friends out to find Shayn and Ono. Can you tell where they are?"
"Just outside of the Academy." He said looking into his cloak. "They're in disguise as Orcs. Very clever. That will make it easier to move around Winterhaven without drawing attention to themselves."
"We have to think of a way to get them here." Insa stood and started pacing the chamber they were trapped in.
"I can't move through shadows." Pelic sat down at the table. "Somehow Tayor has that blocked."
"The ring," Insa explained. "It gives him powers you can't image. Its how he trapped us here. Can your mindspeak reach anyone? Anyone at all?"
"No," Pelic said. "I can't even reach the other Shadows, and I usually have direct contact with Graym and Jayce. What about you and the other Dragons?"
"Rage can't hear me," Insa told him. "Neither can Cutter or any of the others in the Academy."
"What about the Dragon with Zarin?"
Insa stopped and looked back at Pelic. He hadn't thought of that. He had tried Zarin and Reno without any success, but not Rese. Being a Dragon, this just might work.
The city was in total chaos with Orcs running wild everywhere. Shops and homes had been broken into and fires burned all through the city. This night had been worst then the night of Exodus. They had been caught completely by surprise. Morganz had taken a portion of the city guard to Prafa to investigate rumors of an uprising against Sarella's control when Gorak invade with Tayor Larin and the Bloodfalls. Without the proper amount of warriors to defend the city, the council had ordered the remainder of the guards to evacuate the citizens of Winterhaven through secret tunnels to new Keanna the closest place of safety. Insa had objected and fought against the order. He argued that evacuating the city would mean abandoning the Academy. He refused to do that seeing as it had just managed to make its way back to Winterhaven. But the council had been given a report on where it had gone and what had happened. They knew it come back with a Savonti and Pentanthian force that was completely able to protect itself. So the order was given to evacuate.
While the citizens escaped through the tunnels, the cities defenses were again activated to repel invaders. Unfortunately, there was someone with the invaders that was quite familiar with the cities defenses. Someone who had been very active in the planning of those defenses and knew how to get around and cancel certain defensive spells on the cities walls and gates. Tayor Larin the self-proclaimed king of Winterhaven.
With the cities defenses down, Tayor marched the invaders in through the front gate. His first order was to have the Orcs man the city walls, then he ordered a search of the city and with Gorak and Tabor at his side, he went straight to the council building where Insa and Pelic waited for them.
"Aiya old friend." Tayor climbed down from his horse. "I'm pleased to see you still here. It means I don't have to hunt you don't to take my revenge."
"You just don't give up, do you Tayor." Insa stood there with the wind blowing through his gray robes. "When will you learn that Winterhaven does not need or want a king. This is a free city beholding to no king."
"Nothing is free!" Tayor yelled. "Freedom is an illusion, nothing more! The strong lead the weak as it will always be!"
"And which are you?" Pelic asked. "The strong or the weak? A strong man does not need Orcs to back him up. That's more for a weak man."
Tayor was furious. He held up his hand and the ring of Endrin flashed sending a wave of power at Insa and Pelic. As it hit them, his voice boomed out with a thunderous order.
"Get on your knees!"
Both Pelic and Insa fell straining to their knees. Neither could resist the power if the ring of Endrin.
"I could order you to your deaths if I wanted to." Tayor came over and slowly walked around them. "I could force you to kill each other if I want too. But I have something else in mind for you. Lock them in the council chambers. I'll deal with them later."
"Are you sure?" Gorak asked from behinds Tayor. "I don't trust them. I think you should kill them now and be done with it."
"Take them away." Tayor ignored the Orc. "I want into the Academy. Tabor, follow me."
"I knew leaving the city was a bad idea!" Morganz kicked the side of the chariot Athene had been riding in. "I knew something stupid would happen. I felt it deep in my bones."
"Calm yourself Morganz," Marcus said from his place on the cliff the overlooked Winterhaven. "You had to follow orders. Going to Prafa wasn't your idea, but it was your mission. Now we just have to get back in the city."
"How?" The Elf captain asked. "We can't use the tunnels, they were collapsed The Orcs watch the gates. There's no way in."
"There are still ways in," Athene said. "We just have to find them. Have your men search the walls. Look for ways that may have been overlooked."
[We know a way.]
Athene looked up as two ravens came flying out of the forest followed by a tall black panther. Marcus grabbed a crossbow and aimed at the cat. Athene put her hand on his arm to stop him.
"Hold." She said. "I think these are friends coming with information."
Landing on the chariot, Trip and Thalia shifted then stepped up as the panther joined them. Shifting forms, Dack climbed to his feet and stood with his friends.
"Now I see why you guys like shifting so much." He smiled. "That was fun!"
"Dack, Thalia, Trip." Morganz hugged Thaila. "It's good to see you all here safe and sound. Where's Zarin and Reno? They should be here with you."
"Where else?" Dack said looking down at the city.
Morganz followed his gaze, then turned back to them. Where else indeed. But why?
"There's a lot we have to tell you," Thalia explained. "But first, you should know that Tayor and Tabor Larin are back in Winterhaven."
"And they have a weapon of enormous power." Trip added.
"The Ring of Endrin," Athene said. "Insa told me about it, but he said you had it."
Not anymore." Trip looked down at Winterhaven. "Tabor took it from us, and there's one more thing."
"What?" Athene asked afraid to hear what they were about to say. These kids had been through a lot in the past few months. They had grown a lot. She hoped it hadn't done any permanent damage to any of them.
"Tabor killed Lissette Testa." There was a tear in Dack's eye at that memory. "Now Zarin is after him."
"We have to find him and stop him," Athene said. "If he kills Tabor in anger, He will have taken his first step to becoming a dark mage. We can't let that happen."
"Then we have to get down into Winterhaven to stop him." Morganz had a worried look on his face. These kids were like his own. He had watched them grow for years. He didn't what to see anything happen to any of them. "But how do we got into the city?"
"The sewers," Dack told them. "We go through the sewers. That's how we got out of the city. We can show you the way in."
[Not without us!]
"Craven!!" Thalia jumped from the chariot. "Where are you?"
[Look in the bay.] He sent. [See the ships coming in? It's the house of Karnevil, sworn to fight at our side.]
[Can we trust them?] Morganz asked.
[They are my family and clan.] Zark added. [If you trust me, then trust them.]
[We'll wait for you at the bottom of the cliff.] Morganz said grabbing his pack. "Everyone get packed, We move out in ten minutes to take back our city."
On the wall of the Academy, Cutter watched as Orcs used battering ram and trees cut from the forest to try and force their way in. They used siege towers and ladders and anything they could think of to try and breach the walls without success. As he watched. Kalin Ka stepped up beside him.
"Their endeavor is useless," Kalin said. "Nothing they can do can break that spell."
"What about their magic?" Cutter asked. "Orcs do have magic, Pretty strong if I remember correctly."
"No Orc magic can break that spell." Kalin laughed. "We have nothing to worry about."
"Kalin." Cutter turned to him. "There's more then Orc magic out there to worry about. I sense unbelievable power really close by. The power that can break through your spell. We better be ready when they use it."
"We will be my friend." He said as he turned to leave. "Have faith in us."
With one last look, Cutter started down from the wall. He had been really worried all day. He was feeling fear radiating from all around him since the invasion started. The cadets were scared. After all, they had gone through on Pentanthin, they had come home to another war still going on. He had hoped Winterhaven had settled this while they were away, but he guessed that was too much to ask for.
At the bottom of the wall, the cadets were readying different types of defenses in case the Orcs somehow made it through the spell. Crossbows where being loaded and pits were being dug and filled with either spikes or flammable liquids.
As Cutter hurried back to the Academy door, he heard a voice call out to him.
[Brother, Can you hear me?]
[Who calls?] Cutter stopped with his hand on the door. Cutter knew it was a dragon calling, but he didn't recognize the feel of the call.
[I am Tempus.] Came the answer. [I am here to warn you of the danger outside your gates. There is a man there with weapons even a Dragon has no power against.]
[I feel him brother.] Cutter said as he went to the school. [How do I defeat him?]
[You can't but we can.] Tempus sent. [I warn you not to try and fight him. Leave him to us. Aiya brother.]
[WAIT! YOU UNDERESTIMATE HIM! YOU CAN'T DEFEAT HIM ALONE!]
Cutter tried to call him back, but the contact with Tempus was gone. From the contact, he could tell Tempus was a very young dragon. Whatever he had planned, from the feel of the power out there, thew Dragon would have no chance to win. He would need help and from the feel of the enemy, Cutter knew just who to call.
From the sewers, Zarin, Reno, and Rese disguised as Orcs in Bloodfall red made their way through the marketplace. Many shops were on fire. They had been ransacked of all the goods and defiled by the Orc invaders. Zarin wanted to check his home by Reno convinced him there wasn't time. They had to find Tabor and Tayor and see what they were up too.
Since Tayor's manor had been destroyed, Zarin figured they had to be in one of two places. They were either back at the Academy with the invaders trying to get in, or they could be in the council building, the seat of power for the city. Being there were just a few blocks from the Academy, they decided to check there first. Then suddenly, Rese heard someone called out for Tempus.
[Tempus, can you hear me?]
Rese stopped holding out his hand holding Zarin from going any further.
"What is it Rese?"
"Someone's calling me." He said. "It's a Dragon."
"Insa?"
"I think so."
"Find out where he is."
[I hear you Uncle.] Rese answered. [Zarin wants to know where you are. are you safe?]
[I'm being held with Pelic in the council building.] He said. [Tayor has us under the spell of the ring. We're powerless to resist and can't use our magic.]
Rese relays Insa's message to Zarin. Zarin thinks for a minute, then gives Rese a message to send back.
[Uncle.] Rese sent. [We're going to free you and try and get you to the Academy for your protection. We can't counter the ring, but we have the chain and it's magic rivals that of the ring.]
[Be careful young one.] Insa sent. [The Orcs are expecting a rescue attempt. They know there are still a few loyal Winterhaven warriors hiding in the city, they will be waiting for you.]
[We will be there within the hour.] Rese sent. [Be ready to go.]
The council building was two blocks up, Zarin, Reno, and Rese walked slowly trying not to draw any attention from any of the raiding Orcs. It didn't take them long to make their way to an alley across from the towering building. Out front, Orcs fought and argued over different items they had found in the cities shops, Weapons, and armor, jewelry and clothing. Silly thing that was easily replaceable for the shop owners.
"Are you ready?" Zarin asked his companions who shook their heads in readiness. "Try not to talk. Let me do the talking."
With their heads held high, they stepped out and started for the building's entrance in their Orc disguise. They had to walk around a few groups fighting in the street to get to the door. As they approached, an Orc in old rusted armor stepped out from the side of the entrance. He sneered at them barring their way.
"Where are you going?" He asked with his hand on his sword.
"Gorak sent us to watch over the prisoners," Zarin told him. "He thinks they might escape."
"There are guards watching." The Orc said. "We don't need you here."
Reno pushed Zarin out of the way and reached out and grabbed the Orc by the throat and pulled him to face him.
"You trying to get me killed for disobeying orders?" He struck the Orc hard right between his eyes. "I follow orders, you get in my way and I pound you into the mud. Now get out of my way!"
He pushed the Orc aside and went in. Zarin and Rese followed close behind him. The Orc rubbed his throat but didn't move to stop them.
"These are Orcs," Reno said without looking back at his friends. "You don't ask permission, you take what you want by force. You were never going to talk your way past him."
"Lesson learned." Zarin smiled.
They made their way up through the floors passing offices and other meeting rooms. They passed the main council room and found the stairs that led up to Insa's private chamber. There they found four huge Orcs standing guard at the door to his chamber.
"Who are you?" An Orc with a patch over his right eye asked.
"Your relief," Reno said and pulled his club and bashed him over his head. Jumping quickly, he smashed it into the next one's stomach. As he folded over, Reno cracked him in the head and he fell.
As he turned, he saw Zarin's opponent go down and Zarin and Rese were on the last one beating him to the floor.
Moving to the door, Reno heaved his shoulder into it and forced it open. On the other side, Insa and Pelic looked up from their seats at the table.
"Zarin?"
"Yes, it's me." Zarin dropped his disguise and they went into the room. Insa stood and went and hugged them.
"It's good to see you three." He smiled.
"Greetings later," Pelic said. "We should get out of here. Any ideas?"
"I can take us out," Rese said. "And I can get you to the Academy or New Keanna if you want."
"The Academy will do." Insa told him."There's enough room here for you to shift and up above there is a dragon-sized gate we use to escape."
"I can't escape Professor." Zarin looked him in the eyes. "I'm here to end this. Tabor and his father must be stopped today once and for all."
"I understand." Insa said with a hand on Zarin's shoulder. "But you can't do this alone.Tabor, Tayor, Gorak, that's not going to be a one man fight. You will need our help."
"Can we talk about this later?" Reno stepped in. "Tempus is ready."
"Then lets go."
"Father." Tabor looked at him glassy eyed. "They are here."
"Where?" Tayor asked.
"They just freed Insa from his chamber. They are coming here."
"And you said your Orcs could keep Insa imprisoned." Tayor sneered at Gorak. "I should have known better then to trust you."
"They will suffer for their failure." Gorak looked up at him worried. "That I promise you."
"They won't be the only one's to suffer." Tayor turned to Tabor. "I will leave Zarin and his friends to you. Can you take care of them?"
"It will be my pleasure." Tabor smiled and turned to walk off.
"Take Gorak with you. You will need help."
Tabor stared at the Orc with contempt then turned and walked away.
"Kill them all." Tayor warned Gorak. "Or you will deal with me."
Gorak nodded and hurried after Tabor. Once Gorak was gone, Avirex appeared at Tayor's side. Her dark cloak hiding her face and billowing in the wind.
"What do you want?" He asked.
"Only to see how this ends and to get what you promised me."
"You will get nothing if you fail me." He told her. "I will rule here or I will destroy this city."
"I give you what you asked for." She floated closer to him. "I will have what you promised no matter what happens. I don't care if you win or lose. I only want what is my due."
"Be careful." He showed her the ring. "I wear the Ring of Endrin. I control my destiny."
"You are a stupid man." She laughed, "You always were, even when we were married. I will be back for what is mine."
"I'll show you who the stupid one is!!" Tayor leaped from his chair and kicked it over. He yelled for Hamar, son of the chief of the Bloodfalls to be brought to him. He was sick of waiting and wouldn't wait any longer. He would have his city or see it destroyed by his own hand.
Minutes later, Hamar came to answer his call.
"I will have a break in the walls in a few minutes. Have your warriors ready. Show no mercy but nothing is to be taken from the school. Do you understand?"
"Yes Lord Larin." Hamar bowed.
"Good." He stood up and turned to his tent. "Go rally your warriors and remember, this place is mine!"
Tayor walked off to the tent they had erected for him. Once there, he conjured the little pocket dimension and pulled the blue jar from its hiding place. He took it to the table where his maps of Winterhaven had been. Tayor kicked the table aside and uncorked the bottle and sat it on the ground.
"BY RIGHT OF MIGHT AND RIGHT OF POWER I CALL APAS DURAH FORTH FROM THE BOTTLE TO DO HIS MASTERS BIDDING."
Blue smoke billowed out of the bottle and filled the tent. Tayor took a step back as his small tent turned into a huge chamber with high ceilings. As the smoke filled the room, it began to form itself into great dark form of a Djinn. He formed from the waist up into an muscular gray skinned man with his lower parts trailing in smoke to the bottle. He had a thin mustache above his thin lips and a long goatee with a gold ring that kept it secure. From the top of his skull grew a long braid that reached down his back. As he finished forming from the smoke cloud, his eyes openned and he looked down on Tayor with sly evil grin, the burst into a thick laugh that echoed through the air.
"Who holds the bottle of Apas Durah?" The voice thundered through the chamber. "Let him speak now!"
"I hold the bottle." Tayor stepped forward holding the bottle out so it could be seen. "That makes me your master and you must do what I command!!"
"You hold the bottle, that is true little man and I must obey you for now." Apas Durah moved down until he was face to face with Tayor. "But I will have my freedom, so have a care my new master."
"Your wishes mean nothing to me." Tayor shouted. "But mine are what's important."
"What is your wish, my Master?"
"Bring down the gates to the Academy so my warriors can attack."
"Your wish." Apas Durah flared up into a smoke cloud and disappeared. "Is my command."
With Craven, Zark, Morganz and the Karnevil Orcs behind them, Dack led them through the sewers to the exit into Winterhaven. Thalia and Trip in raven form flew over the walls with Athene and made their way to the Academy. As they watched from the dark sewer tunnel, Zark gathered Kellem, Craven, Morganz, Marcus and Dack to his side.
"Kellem." He gripped his brothers shoulder. "You and I will go in first. We will clear and of the Bloodfall scum from the streets out there then the others will follow. Morganz and a small force will take the front gate while Marcus Dante will take the south gate. The rest of us will go straight to the Academy."
"What about us?" Dack asked.
"Find Zarin and do what you can to keep him from taking his revenge on Tabor." Zark looked at Craven and Dack. "Do not let him throw away his soul to darkness."
Working quietly on the sewer grate, Morganz stepped aside as Zark and Kellem slipped into the city, There were five Orcs standing outside the grate. Zark slipped up behind them and ran one through then pulled his blade free and slaged the next through the neck. Kellem with his mace in hand, bashed a third Orc then kicked another in the back of his legs. He crumbled to the ground where Zark quickly beheaded him. As the last Orc tried to run. Kellem threw his mace. It flew straight and true and crashed into the running Orcs head toppling him to the ground.
Looking around to make sure no other Orcs had seen them. Zark signaled the others to move out. With Karnevil warriors quietly pouring out of the sewers, Zark stood at the head of the line.
"You all know your assignments." Zark held his sword high over his head. "We are Orcs and we have sworn our aid to help free this city. For freedom and the honor of Clan Karnevil! Winterhaven shall be free again!"
With a cheer, Clan Karnevil spread out through Winterhaven and fought back the Bloodfalls and the Blackbanes. First Marcus Dante with a band of Karnevil Orcs and Winterhaven city guards struck at the poorly manned south gate. The fighting was quick but furious as the Oggha and his Blackbane's were overwhelmed by superior forces. When it was done, Marcus Dante left a small force there to hold the gate, and he ordered his force to the north gate.
The north gate wasn't as easy or as quick. Drega of the Bloodfalls stood tall in charge of the northern gate. He and his clan was on high alert for any suspicious movement in the city. Having captured a group of Bloodfalls and stolen their arms and armor, Morganz had his Orc warriors switch their armor to disguise themselves as Bloodfalls. With Morganz and his warriors in chains, they led them back to Drega at the gate. Though Drega questioned the warriors, he accepted them and ordered them to be taken in and questioned. Once all of the prisoners were gathered in yard at the gate. Drega came down and had Morganz ppulled aside from the rest. As Morganz stepped out of line, he broke the chains that held him and called his warriors to attack.
With a savage yell the fight was on. The Karnevil warriors ripped away the Bloodfall armor, pulled their weapons and dived into the fight. Morganz with sword in one hand and a dagger in the other fought his way through the ranks of Orcs. He lunged forward stabbing one, then sliced at another and jumped and cross swords and kicked the next into the path of a Karnevil warrior who grabbed him and slammed him to the ground and stomped his head.
Turning to be ready for the next attack, Morganz saw Marcus Dante and his warriors enter the yard to join the battle. As Marcus Dante charged in to attack, Drega leaped in to face the Winterhaven captain. Faced with a much taller foe, Marcus pulled a short sword and stuck out for a death blow at Drega. Swinging his club up, Drega blocked Marcus's strike and swung his club down shattering the guardsman's arm. Marcus stepped back in pain with his arm hanging limp at his side. Seeing his friend in danger, Morganz leaped out and started running to get to Marcus's side before it was to late. With a blank look on his face, Drega raised his club over Marcus's head. Morganz threw his dagger at Drega trying to stop him from smashing it into Marcus and killing him but it was no use. Drega never felt the dagger sink into his shoulder. With a grunt, he slammed the club down onto Marcus crushing his head and shoulders. Morganz screamed as he saw his friend die.
As Drega turned from Marcus's body, Morganz was on him. With his elven speed, Morganz attacked. Drega tried to fight him off but Morganz was furious. His blades danced and cut in an unstoppable storm as he forced Drega back against the gate wall. Drega tried one last swing at Morganz as blood ran from many cuts and slices in his arms, legs, chest and face. As he raised his club to hit the elf, Morganz sank his dagger into Drega's chest piercing his lungs. Blood ran from his mouth as Drega tried to get air into his lung. With one final thrust, Morganz ran his sword through the Orcs heart.
As Drega's body fell to the ground, the Elven captain reached down and grabbed the front of his chain mail and pulled him up to face him.
"That." He said. "Was for my friend Marcus Dante. He died with honor."
Morganz took his cloak from Drega's back then dropped him and walked back to Marcus's body. He spread the cloak over Marcus and said good bye to his friend.
"Aiya my friend." Morganz reached over and placed his hand on Marcus's body then touched his chest in the Elven salute to his friend. "May Lord Nestor welcome you into the Elysian Fields and give you eternal rest."
Gathering a hand full of soil, Morgan sprinkled it over Marcus's body. Then with a final salute, he stood up and turned away.
All the Bloodfalls had been defeated and either lay dead, or had been placed in cells. Morganz ordered fifteen warriors to stay and protect the gate. The rest he ordered to gather all the weapons and move on to the Academy to put an end to this foolishness once and for all.
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