As Trela slipped away into the swamp, Zarin and his friends came limping up out of the lair. No one spoke and there was a look of defeat on their faces, They were exhausted and in pain. Zarin's shoulder still bleed from stab wounds and Reno and Azeal were bruised from head to toe. Thalia leaned heavily on Reno as they existed the lair.
"What now?" Reno asked settling Thalia down on a log. "Do you have any idea where he went?"
"Yes." Zarin said. "He went home. Back to Keanna and his father."
"With the ring?" Azeal asked. "Tell me that wasn't the ring in his hand."
"It was. He got it."
"And we're still trapped here on Pentanthin." Craven threw his hands up in frustration. "What are we supposed to do now?"
"We go after him!" Zarin shouted. "We're going home to bring him down. We are the only ones that can do it. The ring has no effect on use. We have no choice."
"And how do we do that?" Thalia asked. "We're stuck here on Pentanthin."
[No we're not.] Rese said in their minds. As everyone looked up, Tempus circled in and roared to announce his arrival [I think I can get us back home.]
From the ground they could see two people riding on his back. That had to be Trip and Dack. As everyone one cheered, Rese dropped down and came in to land. With Dack and Trip off his back, Tempus made the shift back to Rese and ran in to join them,
"What are you doing here?" Zarin asked.
"I saw everything!" Rese smiled anxiously. "When you got here and the Savonti came out to attack.
I saw that snake lady fighting Thalia and I saw you go into the throne room after Tabor. I know he got away with the ring and I think I can get us home if you want."
"How?" Zarin asked. "We don't even know where home is."
"I do." Rese smiled. "Well, Tempus knows his way home. That's one of his abilities. He always knows where he is and if he knows where he is, he can get home."
"Are you sure?" Dack asked.
"Positive. I can get us home,"
"Then what are we waiting for?" Dack smiled. "Let's go!"
"Wait!" Azeal stood up. "What about the Academy? What about Shayn and Ono and Tanis? I can't just leave here without Tanis."
"They you should go back." Zarin stepped up to Azeal and reached out and shook his hand. "Tell them what happened here and that we went home after Tabor. Tell my father I'll be at home waiting for him."
"And tell Luke and Tored we said Nazun." Thalia hugged Azeal and kissed him on his cheek. She turned and went over to Rese. Next came Craven.
"Tell our parents we're ok and we love them."
"Wish them good luck for us." Reno waved as he joined the others. "Tell Gabor Good bye."
Then Rese shifted and Tempus helped his friends onto his back and took off into the night sky.
[Aiya my friends.] Azeal waved. [I'll see you when we get home.]
As Tempus circled faster and faster he became a blur. Then in a sudden fast of light, he was gone.
Back on the plains, the Savonti attacked. With Daru merged with the Chadaka, he charged down on the fighting clansmen and their Nevac and Red garbed Savonti allies. Like a demon out of the night, Blink swooped down to confront the first Chadaka. With a roar he attacked batting at the beast with his wings. With two of its six arms the Chadaka reached out trying to grab Blink. But Blink was fast. Like a shadow he would blink in and out of shadow beating at the beast. He moved with so much speed, the Chadaka could barely land a blow. Howling its rage it beat blindly at the darkness all around it usually missing its mark but sometimes landing a solid blow. After being hit in his head, Blink tried to back away to catch his breath but that chadaka grabbed onto him. Casting shadow behind him, Blink dragged the beast back into his shadow world. As the Chadaka was dragged into the darkness, the absolute cold of the shadow world took a hold of the cold blooded animal and in seconds it was completely paralyzed. With a kick, Blink sent it off with a feeble whimper tumbling away into the darkness and death.
As the second Chadaka charged in it crushed clansmen and Savonti in its rage. It grabbed Nevac and smashed them into the ground. Then out of the sky a stream of fire blasted down scorching the ground in front of it. As the beast looked up, Valor streaked down with smoke flowing from his nostrils. Reaching to its side, the Chadaka grabbed a boulder and launched it at the dragon. Being the dragon of the four element, all it took was a thought and he sent the boulder right back at the six armed monster. As the missile crashed down on the Chadaka, it spun around and swatted the boulder from the sky with its tail. Amazed, Valor narrowed his winged and went head first into the chest of the beast. Grabbing on, Valor sent a stream of steam into the face of the beast. Howling, the Chadaka beat down it Valor as they rolled across the ground wrestling. Drawing his legs up, Valor kicked out sending the beast rolling away from him. Getting up on his hind legs, Valor sneered and waited for the Chadaka to attack. As the Chadaka stood up it stared into Valor's eyes.
[You are Xan son of Lesu.]
[I am.] Valor answered. [And I am Valor, the first dragon of Pentanthin.]
[The first you say. Then there will be more of your kind?]
[Yes.] The dragon sent. [In time there will be. And we will protect Pentanthin from all threats and that includes my own kind. I will fight for the Humans, the Savonti and the Nevac. I will fight for peace.]
[I cannot allow that. Only I can be the master of Pentanthin, so you and all your allies must die!!]
As the beast roared and beat its chest, it charged and grabbed for Valor. With hammering fist it beat at Valor's face. Raising his arms, Valor covered himself then blasted the chadaka dead in the face with a blast of fire. Howling it backed away ribbing at its eyes. Knowing this was his chance, Valor charged in and grabbed him by the throat and squeezed with all his strength. Putting his hands to his chest, Valor sent a final charge of electricity into the beast stopping its heart. With the chadaka dead, Valor roared and tossed the beast aside.
On the field of battle the fighting had become fierce. Redu with Weru and Buku at his side had finally made it to face three of the lords that stood between him and Daru. With his club in hand, Redu stood facing Cofu, Guku and Petu.
"You are in my way." Redu hefted his club to his shoulder. "Move so I can get to my revenge."
"Why do you fight us Redu?" Cofu took a step out to confront the ex-lord. "You were once one of us. A proud lord who ruled his house with a strong hand. Why do you side with these things? Are you mad?"
"Because the things as you call them live with honor." Redu said. "I trust them more then I ever could trust your lord. Why you do trust him? You think you are anything more then something he can use and throw away when he is done? Do you really think Daru will reward you for anything you do, ever? If that is what you think then, you are the mad one."
"And you are my enemy." Cofu said as he and the other two lords readied themselves to fight. "You will die as Daru commands."
"Come and kill me then little juinti." Redu raised his hand and waved Cofu on. "We are here waiting for our punishment."
With a wave of his hand, Cofu sent several pulses of vibrations at Redu. Raising his club, Redu batted them away inching his way forward towards the lord. Siding at his side, Buku reached out with his telekinesis and knocked Petu down just as he fired a burst of sound at them. With the sound burst screaming at them, Weru absorbed it and sent it back slamming down on Guku before he could move out of the way. As Guku fell, Weru leaped forward and engaged Buku with his sword.
"Your sound will not work on me." Weru said stabbing forward slamming his sword into Petu. "I can just force it right back at you in my own way."
Gritting his teeth, Petu and Weru set about their duel. Their swords flashed and sparked as they searched for an opening in each other's defenses. Petu stabbed then spun and sliced at Weru's head. Weru ducked and brought his sword up and blocked the slice. Spinning his sword around, he hacked down and cut into Petu's thigh. Petu screamed and backed away out of Weru's reach. As Weru watched, Petu's collar began to glow. Daru was about to do something. Buku took a deep breath.
"Do not do it! You are to close!"
Petu screamed and sent a sonic blast it Weru. Without even thinking, Weru raised his hands and absorbed the blast and returned it with one hundred times more power. As the blast hit Petu, he flew back and smashed against the cliff wall. His body exploded with the force from the blast as he hit the wall. Pieces of him rained down all around them. Relieved but not out of danger, Weru turned to see if he could be of any help to his companions. Redu stood tall standing over Cofu while Buku held Guku down by the throat.
"What do we do with him?" Buku asked. Guku struggled to get up. "Use you hate on me and I will crush your head,"
"I care nothing for this pathetic fool! Taste his hate!"
Redu reached down and ripped the collar from his neck. As Redu crushed it in his hands, Guku's eyes cleared. He was no longer in Daru's control.
"Where am I?" He asked looking up at Redu.
"In the middle of battle." Redu told him. "I do not have time for this. You were under the mind lords control. We just freed you. Join us and fight Daru or run now for the forest. Make your decision now."
"I remember Daru. He took my house. I will join you."
"Good." Redu reached down and helped him up." Stay with Weru and Buku. Fight at their side and you may live through this but be warned. Betray us and I will kill you."
"Where are you going?" Weru asked.
"To face Daru. He has to pay." Redu turned and looked out on the battle field. A golden dragon was fighting another of the chadaka's blasting it with lightning. On the other side, Ozmun in the form of a Tark fought beside a human girl as she used some strange ability to make her enemies explode. As Redu looked around, he saw the Nevac fighting side by side with both humans and Savonti in the colors of the house of Lesu. In the distance, Redu saw the last and biggest of the Chadaka. He had seen Daru merge with the beast and knew that was what he would now have to fight. It was big, bigger then anything he had ever seen before. But if that was what he had to fight to have his revenge, so be it.
Starting out across the field, Redu beat down any opposition that came near him. His club was blue with the blood of many warriors when suddenly something crashed to the ground behind him knocking him off his feet. As he jumped up he turned to see who had attack. There on the ground behind him was the smashed body of a warrior. Standing over him was the ten foot tall Lord Pulu.
"Careful brother." Pulu leaned on his club. "This one almost blasted your head off. I do not think you will do well without a head,"
"My thanks brother." Redu was glad to see his brother in red. That meant they were fighting on the same side. "It is good to see you free of the mind lord's influence and on the right side."
"Yes." Pulu nodded. "Never again will he be in my head. Never will I be shamed by him again."
"Then our enemy is there." Redu pointed to the chadaka in battle. It's mighty tail swept out smashing Clansmen and Savonti alike. It's hands reached out and grabbed for victims and ripping and tearing them apart.
Pulu looked down at his brother. There was so much anger in his eyes. He wanted nothing more then the chance to get his hands on Daru so he could beat him until he was dead. Pulu knew that would be impossible. Of course Redu was strong enough. They both had enough strength to kill the mind lord. But Redu's anger would be his undoing. Daru had the power to easily turn that hate into something he could use. Something he could manipulate and turn to his side. But that wouldn't work now on Pulu. Though once Daru did have power over Pulu, he now had something that would keep him in control over his own mind. Like Lesu, Maru and Xan, Shayn had placed in his throat, a small bit of the salvation stone. That would protect him from Daru's mind invasion, but it wouldn't stop Redu from throwing away his life in trying to kill Daru. There had to be a way.
[There is a way.] Cutter sent to the giant lord. [But it would mean deceiving him with a lie and that might destroy what little trust he has in us. I really don't want to do that.]
[Then think of something else!]
Suddenly from behind there was a pained roar. Pulu and Redu looked back and saw a group of Daru's warriors attacking Ozmun and Magda. Magda was down and Ozmun stood over her bleeding fighting the Savonti. Ozmun fought like a demon but he was heavily outnumbered. Without help, he would fall and they would both be killed. In Redu's head, Ozmun screamed for help from anyone that could hear his call.
Redu looked at Daru, then back at Ozmun. A warrior fired and sent his charge into the Tark knocking if from it's feet. With the decision made, Redu leaped high in the air covering the distance to Ozmun in one jump and attacked the warriors.
Knowing this would be his only chance, Pulu grew himself to the same size as the Chadaka, grabbed his club and went in to attack Daru.
[So the big one would face his master.] Daru roared as he stepped up to Pulu. [You think you can defeat me, come little lord."
Raising his club, Pulu slammed it down at the Chadaka. Stepping to the side, the beast spun around and slammed its tail into Pulu sweeping him off his feet. As it dived in to attack, Pulu raised his club and thrust it up pushing the Chadaka back. Snapping down at Pulu, the beast raked down trying to claw and scratch at Pulu's body. Pulu kicked up again and again at the beast lower body trying to force it back off of his body. With a final kick, the Chadaka rolled away and scrambled to get back on its feet.
As Pulu stood up, he faced and wiped the drool from his face. The Chadaka snarled, Pulu swung high for its head. Raising one of its many arms, the Chadaka caught the club then stared intently into Pulu's eyes
[Something bars me from you mind Pulu.] It sent. [But I can still do this.]
Lunging forward, the beast bashed its head into Pulu's chest sending him crashing to the ground. As Pulu tried to get ti his feet, Daru jumped on him holding him down with four arms while strangling him with the last pair. Pulu fought back struggling to breathe. He kicked and punched at the Chadaka as the beast roared and bite down into his chest. Blue Savonti blood sprayed everywhere as Pulu's fighting weakened. With his last ounce of strength, Pulu called out to his brother.
[Forgive me brother. I have failed. But you live. Take care of my house and bring honor in both our names. Nazun Redu. Follow the Humans to victory.]
[NO PULU!]
Raising Pulu's body in his mouth, Daru tossed him aside roared into the night sky. He charged further out on to the plain in front of all the fighting and cast his thoughts out for everyone to hear.
[Pulu the strongest of you is dead.] He sent. [Soon all of you will be under my power. You cannot resist me forever and I will always be right on the edge of your minds waiting to take control. Give yourselves over to me now. The prophesy is false. I am as strong as any staz the humans can send against me. Give yourselves up and I will show mercy.]
[He lies!] Lesu told them. [If we give in to him we will be in collars and he will use us until we are of no use to him.]
[Lesu speaks the truth.] Ozmun said. [He will use us in his wars and his games like playthings. We humans will stay the source of the Savonti diet and nothing will have changed. I have fought to long to give up now.]
[He is right.] Shayn said. [Too many have died here. Either we fight or we never go home and it's our responsibility to get our cadets home as soon as possible.]
[Then we fight.] Ono said. [We end this here and now! Dragons, Nevac, Savonti brothers, we attack and fight for our freedom! ATTACK!!]
In a wave the academy forces surged forward at Daru and his overwhelming odds. Savonti in red attacked Daru's warriors in black. The Nevac streaked down and stabbed and sliced at the black armored warriors while Daru's lord used all their powers against their enemies. Cofu cast waves of vibrations out knocked down walls and hammering into both Savonti and human alike while Tibu shot short blasts of frigid cold at anything not of Daru's uniform color. Guku lurked from place to place using his hate to drive everyone crazy. He laughed as he watched clansmen attacking each other than falling to their death screaming in pain.
As Ono fought at Redu's side, he watched as Daru approached Shayn in his white dragon form. His back was turns as he fought off a large group or warriors in black. As the chadaka made his way closer to Shayn, Ono screamed and dived in to intercept the six armed beast. In second as he ran he shifted from his were from to Battle and launched himself at Daru's back and dragged him away from the white dragon.
[You wanted the white and grey!] He sent. [Well now you have me! Face me Daru and let's finish this!]
As Daru faced Battle his eyes blazed with the power of his mind. With a sudden flare, Daru sent a mind bolt blasting at Battle's head. As it hit, Battle felt a little dizzy but the pain was mild. He leaped in and sent a punch at the Chadaka's jaw then spun around and struck out bashing at him with his tail. Daru staggered back dazed for a second then rushed in grabbing with all six arms. Jumping high, Battle avoided his reach and came down swinging. Battle fought like a werewolf biting and slashing at Daru. He fought with a crazed frenzy unlike anything on Pentanthin. Unfortunately, Daru in the Chadaka had almost the same kind of wild instincts. The Chadaka was strong and almost as fast at Battle and he had tow advantages Battle didn't have. The Chadaka had six arms with a much longer reach and being possessed by Daru, it had his mind powers.
All while they fought, Daru projected bolt after bolt at Battle. Because of his salvation stone the blast weren't strong enough to knock him out, but as they kept coming, the pain was getting stronger and stronger. It wasn't long before the pain would start to slow him down. They with one single miss step, Battle could find himself in trouble.
With four of his arms gripping Battle's hands over his head, Daru battered Battle's chest with his last pair of fist. Suddenly Daru sent a quick upper cut into Battles jaw knocking him a bit senseless and forcing him back. Daru's eyes went to the salvation stone set in his neck. He guessed that could be the reason his mind blast were so ineffectual. Reaching out Daru grabbed at it and ripped it from Battles neck. Suddenly the shields that kept Battles mind closed were down.
[So this is your secret.] Daru sent out laughing. [Now nothing can keep me out of your mind. You are mine now!]
As Daru reached in and started to twist Battles mind to something he could control. Ono screamed out in pain and fought as hard as he could to get himself in control. He knew at that moment what Daru would do if he gained control. he would send him after Shayn to kill him.
[NO!] Battle yelled in his mind. [I will never let you hurt him! NEVER, NEVER, NEVER!!]
[Too late.] Daru sent. [Your mind is mine!]
Hearing Ono's cry through their shared link, Shayn reached out to his mate and caressed his mind with his warm and soothing thoughts. He sent strength and power to his mate. Mate that flowed and filled Battle with his love and confidence.
[Ono, relax.] Shayn sent calmly. [He's strong, but as long as we're together, there's nothing on Pentanthin or Keanna that can hurt us. Fight him with me my love. Fight back.]
Feeling Shayn's strength and love pouring into him, Battle relaxed and grabbed onto Shayn with his mind and let him guide him in the battle.
[Brothers.] Shayn called to the other Dragons and allies. [Help us!]
As Daru dug into Battles mind for control, he found the control center of Battles power. He laughed in triumph and reached to take hold. As he reached in, suddenly he felt like he wasn't alone. One by one the minds of all their allies started slipping into Battles mind and adding their strength into one enormous glowing orb. Lila Kordova was there, then Cutter and Blink. Then Gabor, Bella, Yaru, Lesu, Redu and the Nevac. Suddenly there were so many in there and orb was so big, Daru felt himself surrounded and overwhelmed. Hands came out of the orb and grabbed at Daru and beat at his mind taking control over the Chadaka.
[STOP!] Daru struggled to free himself from all the minds that held him. [I AM DARU THE MIND LORD! I CONTROL PENTANTHIN! YOU CANNOT STOP ME! I AM THE OVERLORD!]
[Not anymore.] Thundered in his mind. [The war ends here. You have lost. Either surrender to us now or die! And that goes for all of your forces. Cofu, Tibu, Guku, It ends now.]
[I WILL NEVER SURRENDER!} Daru struggled to send out one last power blast at the orb. It hit the glowing power and was completely absorbed. Daru screamed his rage. [THIS IS NOT OVER! I WILL RETURN TO KILL YOU ALL!!]
[No.] Echoed through their minds. [You will never again have the power to invade another mind. Hear me Dar. From this dray on you will no longer be a lord of Pentanthin. You will never hear or be able to touch or affect another mind Human or Savonti. We banish your powers from you for now and forever. You will live the rest of your life as a lowly warrior alone belonging to no house. No one will ever allow you more then two drays rest in there house. You are Armaurk now to all the Savonti.]
[No!] Daru screamed as he fell from the body of the chadaka. [You do not have the power to do that! Only I have that power.]
[Your wrong.] Came the answer. [All your powers will now be in the control of one person. A human. The Lady Lilia Kordova. Furthermore, never again will the Nevac or the Humans be hunted on Pentanthin under penalty of death. That will be sworn by every warrior and lord in every house. So it will be written in every house and clan.]
As Daru stood up and looked out at the plain. All the fighting had stopped. The chadaka were making their way back into the forest away from the caves. All around, Savonti, clansmen and Nevac looking at each other exhausted and tired. Dressed in white and grey, two men hugged each other and shook hands with warriors, lords and Nevac just a few feet in front of him. Unable to accept the ruling, Dar grabbed a staff weapon and ran for the white and grey. He raised it to his shoulder and put his finger to the trigger.
[DO NOT FIRE!]
Dar froze as a elderly woman wearing a veil stepped of from behind Lords Lesu and Paru. She walked out to where Dar stood alone with Ozmun and took the staff from his paralyzed hands and handed it to the bald clansmen. Ozmun took it and looked hard at the ex- lord. Lilia could read easily what was in Ozmun's mind.
"It is over Ozmun." She patted his hand. "He cannot hurt anyone ever again. Let him live with his banishment."
"How do we know?" Ozmun asked. "How do we know he will not go on killing? It is all he knows."
"I hear his every thought." She smiled. "No matter where he goes, I will be listening. I will always know where he is and what he is thinking. Is that not punishment enough for a ex-lord?"
Ozmun looked at the paralyzed Savonti.
"Never let me see you anywhere near Gekkol ever again." He took Lilia's hand and walked her back to where Shayn, Ono, Gabor and Lesu stood.
"Gekkol!" Gabor smiled. "We have a home now. No more running."
"No more running." Lesu put a hand on Gabor's shoulder. "We will have Memu's people out of your house in a few drays and you and your people can have it back. I guess many of the houses of the dead lords can be made habitable by some of the other clans as well."
"We did it!" Bella hugged Gabor then Tanis. "The prophesy came true. The white and grey saved us!"
"Yes." Lesu said. "They saved us all.]
"No we didn't. " Ono said. "You saved yourselves."
"That's not true." Drake said as he joined them. "If you hadn't come to Pentanthin, nothing would have changed. Lesu wouldn't have changed. Xan would never have become Valor. It probably would have gotten worse and Daru would've won had you not been here. This was your destiny."
"I guess." Shayn said. "But there's still one more thing."
"What's that?" Cutter asked.
"How do you get home?" Xan asked.
For a second no one said a word. They were all just so relieved that the fighting was over. The wounded had to be cared for and the misplaced lords had to find new homes. Guku, Cofu and Tibu had to be sworn into the alliance and the Nevac had to get use to being on the surface. It might take agens but Pentanthin would finally start in its way to healing to heavy wounds. But what if the Academy? Were they to be trapped here on Pentanthin for the rest of their lives. Neither Shayn nor Ono knew the answer to that question, But there was someone who did.
Two days later at the gates of the Academy, Lilia stood with Shayn, Ono, Magda and Lesu as the clansmen filed out. They were all loaded down with their packs and wagons of supply's. Gabor and Bella had said their good byes and promised to visit soon. Drake and Bandt had asked to go alone with Gabor. They wanted to spend sometime in the forest and jungles of Gekkol. Ono had said it would be fine since he knew how much his father loved the forest. Lesu and Paru's warriors had left the day before and were settling back in their own houses. The only Savonti warriors still left at the Academy were Yaru and Maru and their band full of warriors.
"Ozmun and I are going back to my clan." Magda kissed and hugged Shayn before climbing on their tracker. "Lesu will be helping us build our own house in the mountains. We hope you will both visit."
"We will as soon as we can get the cadets settled back into classes and we have time." Ono hugged her. "There's still a lot of Pentanthin that we would like to see."
"I am afraid that will not be possible." Lilia said as Lesu helped her onto the back of a tracker.
"Why not?" Shayn asked.
"Fate." Lilia smiled and leaned down and kissed them both. "Nazun my friends and thank you for all you have done.
As Lesu, Magda and Ozmun rode off, Shayn and Ono watched confused. What did she mean? Why wouldn't they be able to see the rest of Pentanthin. With a shrug, the two walked arm in arm back into the academy gates. As they walked into the Academy doors, the whole compound shimmered and faded away and was gone from Pentanthin.
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