I wake up the next morning impatient to be gone. Calling out to Wayne, I start getting dressed. As soon as I can get out of the house, I'm off to Pandemonium. "Wayne!" "Wayne!" Well, where has he got too. Flinging open the bedroom door I stride out to the living room. It's very dark in here. The snow must have covered the windows. I walk over to the front door and yank it open. Several feet of snow fall into the house and onto me. "Damn it," I mutter. "Wayne!" Where the hell is he? Grabbing up the broom we keep next to the door for just such emergencies I sweep the offending snow back out onto the stoop.
I search the house but find no sign of Wayne anywhere. Where the hell could he have gone to? Shugos can't fly, so I know he didn't leave that way. It's puzzling, but I won't let it deter me from my mission. I grabbed some bread from the pantry and went to leave him a note. Pulling open the weapons closet I look over my collection. I decide to take the swords today, along with my knives in wrist sheaths. Slipping a pair of daggers into my calf holsters, I feel ready for anything.
Grabbing up my cube, I pull the front door open again, only to have more snow cascade down on me. Damn it. This day is not starting well. Grabbing the broom, I fling the snow out and slam the door behind me. Taking to the air I notice a few other daevas at work clearing the snow. It's good to see people again. I wave at them and head to Pernon.
The air is crisp and clean and one can see for miles. I see a few smokestacks going and more people out cleaning off the snow. It feels good to be able to fly, and I take my time getting to Pernon. Once there I head over to my favorite eating place for a bite to eat. I inquire about the teleport and am happy to learn that it is working. Thank the gods. I'm not sure that I could fly all the way to pandemonium. In fact I'm not even sure anyone ever has. I know that several have flown down from Pandemonium, actually they mostly glided. Herrel has done it, well he more likely fell, but that's another story.
A secret meeting of all the fortress generals has been called. Our spies report that the Verteron Fortress gate has been breached. Verteron has been ransacked and our spies report hundreds of Balaur roaming about the land killing where they will.
"I have called you all here for this meeting to discuss what we are going to do about the Elyos plight." A voice calls out, "why do we care Governor?" "Let the Elyos die!" "Then Atreia will be ours!" Vidar slams his hand down on the table for silence. "We care because it could just as easily happen to us." Vidar continues, "The only reason that the Balaur haven't over run us is because they are fighting enemies on two fronts." "We have many enemies on this planet other than the Balaur." "If the Elyos should fall, who is to stop all the smaller factions who hate us banding together?" "Many of them are trying to ally themselves with the Balaur." "It's only a matter of time before some sort of alliance is made, if only temporarily."
There are mummers of ascent around the room. "This is what I want you to do," Vidar continues. "I want each of you to round up every last fighting Daeva we have." "I want the guard on all our abyss gates doubled." He continues to issue instructions. The discussion continues for about an hour, with plans tweaked a bit, some added, some deleted. It was decided to round up all of the remaining Siels Legion warriors to make up the contingent to rift over to Eltnen. It was thought that seeing some familiar faces might make accepting the offer of aid more palatable.
"Are there any more questions then?" Vidar asks. "No?" "Good, then move out."
The notices soon went out calling up all available Daeva's to help defend Asmodae. Herrel and Jaisea heard about it as they were coming out of the clinic. "Oh Herrel, what is going on?" Jaisea turns to her husband in concern. "I don't know love, but we'd better find out."
In the central square daevas are gathering to find out the news. Herrel and Jaisea arrive just as the Commander in charge began his speech again. Herrel pulls his wife tight against him. He knows he'll have to leave her to participate in the defense. Just now is the worst possible time. The baby Jaisea is carrying is too big and Eva thinks she may have to have the baby early.
Just then Madrion slides up next to them. He gives Jaisea a kiss on the head. "Can you believe this?" he asks. Herrel shakes his head. "It's unbelievable that they breached a gate." "I thought those were impenetrable," Herrel says. "Apparently not," Madrion replies. They listen for a few more minutes then move off for the next batch of citizens to hear the story.
Jaisea says, "I'm going back to the clinic." "If there's fighting going on, they'll need healers." "Eva told you to rest," Herrel says. "I can rest just as easily at the clinic as at home," Jaisea retorts. "Don't worry love, I'll be careful." "Is everything ok?" Madrion inquires, looking from Jaisea to Herrel. Jaisea laughs. "The baby wants to come early," she says. "Here, feel this." She takes Madrion's hand and places it on her belly. "Can you feel the kicks?" "He's saying, let me out." She laughs again, but Madrion notices the look of tension around her eyes.
Madrion glances over at Herrel who shakes his head very slightly in the negative. Jaisea catches their looks and says, "Now don't you two start being worry warts!" "I'm perfectly fine."
Standing behind the trio and hidden by a few other people Julia smiles. This is perfect. It couldn't go any better if I'd planned it myself. She'll be at the clinic. It will be child's play to take her from there. She giggles to herself. As the trio begin to walk back towards the clinic Julia follows. She stays far enough behind to not be seen. She can't afford to be careless at this point. The assassin, Madrion, might just notice her and she's not ready for him quite yet. She licks her lips. But soon….
