“It doesn’t make it right,” Water had argued.
Elenyr had shrugged. “I know. But who can teach them?”
Water lifted his gaze to the volcano, annoyed that Serak’s plan made a sort of twisted sense. He could enforce the rule of law and justice, and the nobles would live in perpetual fear of the fiend army.
One of the dark elves spotted Water and separated herself from the rest of her soldiers. With a small personal guard, Queen Erisay climbed the slope. She waved at her guards, who remained behind as she picked her way up the slope.
“Fire, Mind, Lira,” she said, greeting them each in turn.
“Queen Erisay,” Water offered a bow. “Your soldiers look ready.”
“Don’t patronize me,” Erisay said with a smile. “We all know the alliance hangs by a thread.”
Water sighed and pointed to the camps being erected. “Even against a foe like Serak, the nobles cannot set aside their ambition and greed.”
“The surface races have always been on the brink of turmoil,” she said. “A precipice they will tumble from without those that protect their unity.”
Water met her gaze, and realized she was speaking of them. Elenyr, the fragments, the oracle, all had kept the nobles in check, their actions preventing those in power from falling to their darker impulses.
He frowned and looked to Xshaltheria, wondering what the fragments would do after the war with Serak. And Draeken. Few knew of Draeken’s role yet, but it would not be long before the people understood that Serak was merely a servant.
If they survived, would the former fragments return to their former life? Water doubted that, not without the power that had kept them living such a long life. Water alone retained a piece of Draeken, a piece he was not certain he desired to keep, even if it kept him ageless.
“When will the assault begin?” Lira asked.
“Dawn,” she replied.
Fire chuckled at the answer. “I wager Queen Rynda is the source of that decision.”
“Indeed,” Erisay said. “She insisted there was no reason to wait, and King Justin was forced to agree.”
“Do the other human armies now obey his authority?” Water asked.
“They do,” Erisay replied. “As you know, Princess Nelia ceded temporary command of her army to him.”
Fire cursed and pointed to the bickering soldiers. “Justin isn’t going to give up that authority after the war.”
The dark elf smiled faintly. “Rynda, Dothlore, and I will not give him a choice.”
Erisay’s statement bordered on a proclamation for war, and Water chuckled. Justin desired the other two kingdoms, but could not conquer them if he had to defend against the dwarven, rock troll, and dark elf armies.
“You told him that?” Lira asked.
“That’s why he agreed to attack at dawn,” Erisay said. “He may command the largest army on Lumineia, but he is not immune to fear.”
Fire laughed and pointed to the crafty dark elf. “You and Rynda are a dangerous combination.”
“It is only prudent,” Erisay said with a smile. “If the three human kingdoms become one, my people will be threatened. Talinor and Erathan must remain intact.”
She turned and returned to her guards. Water recalled her ability with sound magic, so he kept his silence until she was far enough down the slope that she would not be able to hear his words. Still, he whispered.
“I’m fervently grateful that she is on our side.”
“Aren’t we all,” Fire said.
“It’s no small wonder that she and Rynda have become friends,” Lira said. “Both are women who care nothing for ambition, and merely wish to serve their people.”
“Dark elf and rock troll,” Fire snorted in amusement. “Who would have thought they would be allies.”
“Certainly not I,” Water said.
He turned and watched the soldiers of Xshaltheria casually prepare for the coming onslaught. Most knew that Serak had manipulated the alliance into coming, but for what purpose? Was it just so the fiends from the Dark Gate could destroy the allied armies? Water shook his head. Serak was a brutal tactician, but he was not wasteful, and killing so many would not serve any purpose. So why bring the army to his door?
“We should return to our place,” Fire said. “I don’t want to miss Rynda’s plan for tomorrow.”
“You just want to charge the gates,” Lira said.
“True,” Fire said with a grin. “It’s been ages since I was part of a good assault, and whatever happens, tomorrow will be a battle of legend.”
“Don’t get too comfortable,” Water warned. “We have yet to understand all that is arrayed against us.”
A distant roar echoed across the valley, stilling the army. Soldiers froze in the midst of erecting tents and sharpening weapons, their eyes turning skyward, searching the fading light for the source of the unmistakable sound.
“Serak must be coming back,” Fire scowled. “This is going to frighten the men.”
“How could it not?” Water asked, searching the skies. “Everyone fears a dragon.”
“Everyone except us,” Fire said.
