“Then it’s time for us to end this war.”
Chapter 29: A Tale of Brothers
The Gate glowed to life, silver liquid shimmering into place and turning solid, illuminating the dark chamber. Two figures stepped through, and Mind breathed a sigh of relief as he returned to Lumineia.
“You did not care for the Empire?” Ero asked.
“I have little taste for the darkness in krey souls,” he said.
“It is disheartening to witness the depravation of my kind,” Ero said, and touched the amulet on his neck, altering his flesh back to Jeric. The now-elf gave a wry smile. “Can you fault me for wanting to spend time on a free world?”
“I suppose not,” Mind said, and then motioned to the Gate. “Do you think she will really come?”
“I believe she will,” Jeric said. “My previous doubts aside, Tardoq is committed, and he has convinced her of our cause. Belrisa desires the downfall of the Empire as much as I do, and she sees the merit of protecting Lumineia.”
Mind recalled their conversation, and the demonstration of magic he’d provided. She’d been impressed, but also wary. Mind wasn’t sure if she liked the idea of mankind possessing such power. She’d promised to come when needed, and Ero had given her a set of keys that would connect to Lumineia, allowing two individuals passage. Ero had further warned her that in using the keys, he would know of her presence.
“You’re as paranoid as I am,” Belrisa had said.
“I’ll take that as a compliment,” Ero had said.
She’d inclined her head in respect, and then departed with Tardoq. Mind and Ero had departed another way, slipping out of the main Gates of the Bone Crucible before the guards discovered their presence. They exited the basement from beneath the fort in Orinfall. The moment they set foot in the street, it was obvious something had occurred.
Men and women rushed about, loading wagons with supplies. Children cried, and sheep bleated. Caravan leaders shouted as the people departed Orinfall in a steady stream. Mind frowned as he picked the truth from the panicked minds of the commoners.
The Alliance failed at Xshaltheria . . .
Thousands are dead because of Draeken. Who is next?
What will we do without King Justin? Surely his daughter is too young to hold the throne . . .
“Who ordered the evacuation?” Jeric asked.
“His daughter, Annah,” Mind replied. “It appears she has ascended to the throne, and with the support of the other monarchs, has ordered the entire kingdom to evacuate north or south.”
“A bold strategy,” Jeric said. “They must fear the arrival of more fiends.”
Mind spotted a captain barking orders, and he reached into the man’s consciousness. “Someone destroyed the Dark Gate,” he said. “But it’s only a matter of time until it’s rebuilt.”
They joined the throng and pushed their way south. Jeric glanced his way, his next words unspoken. I’m surprised the people obeyed the order to flee.
Don’t be, Mind replied in kind. All four of Draeken’s generals are abroad, spreading disease, famine, and death. The people flee out of fear.
Mind wrestled to control the flood of fear from the commoners, their thoughts piercing his own like shouts in his ears. A mysterious disease in the eastern villages. Thousands dead by famine in the south. Food stores turning moldy in seconds, and large men withering away to bones and skin.
“Death rides the surface of the earth,” a woman wailed. “He is the reaper of souls, and will come for you as he came for my husband!” Her family sought to quiet her and load her into a wagon, but she resisted. “You cannot escape the coming calamity!”
“Sit, woman,” an older man said, exasperated.
As the village evacuated, many mounted horses and gathered armor and swords, the soldiers threading through the gates of the Orinfall. They were headed north, to protect the refugees on their way out of Griffin. Most of the soldiers had already departed to join the final stand at Ilumidora, and the remainder were the young and the old.
“At least we are not too late,” Jeric said.
“We should hasten,” Mind said. “It won’t take long for Draeken and Serak to repair the Dark Gate.”
“It might already be open,” Jeric said.
He found himself gripped by a need to find his brothers. They’d been fighting for weeks, and he had no way of knowing if they had succeeded, or if they’d been killed. His worry mounted as they sought for a pair of steeds. Most were being used by the forces moving south, a herdsman saddling every available mount to the soldiers. Mind and Jeric managed to acquire two and rode ahead, where Mind set a blistering pace.
The road was packed with soldiers heading south and people heading north. All of Griffin was being evacuated, and the people hastened to flee before Draeken’s army descended upon Griffin.
“Mind,” Jeric said, his voice labored from the ride. “We cannot reach Ilumidora in a single day.”
“You want to slow down?” Mind shot over his shoulder. “Be my guest.”
“Your horse cannot keep this pace,” he said.
Mind looked down to find his horse lathered in sweat, his breathing labored. He reluctantly pulled on the reins, allowing the horse to slow to a walk. Jeric caught up and then pulled on his reins.
“I know you’re worried about your brothers and Elenyr,” Jeric said. “But sometimes you just have to be patient.”
“This is my family,” he said. “I’m not going to let them die, not by Draeken.”
“How do you intend to stop him?” Jeric challenged. “He’s more powerful than all of the fragments combined.”
