I own nothing but Fyorn, Iniquity, and my story plot. Paws off.
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The flatlands were filled with people. Literally hundreds of them, all camped in an area of the Veltlands, waiting for the Maligorian army. Rion wove his way between the tents that were everywhere, looking for Seth. A moment later, the dark-haired leader came into view.
"Hey, Seth!"
Seth turned from to two Gata-shin monks in front of him as Rion approached, holding up a folded piece of paper.
"Message just came in from Alnar," the blond Defender said, holding it out. Seth took it, reading it through quickly, before looking back up at Rion.
"Find the others, get them together at the tactical centre. I'll meet you there."
Rion nodded grimly, then headed off.
Erik and Kara were the last to arrive in the tactical centre, following Rion. A large holographic table took up most of the floor space, seven coordinators standing around it, watching the position of the army.
"Seth, what's going on?" Kara asked as they joined Seth, Mel, and Adam at the back of the centre. "Rion said that you needed to meet with all of us."
Seth nodded. "Alnar just sent a message: the Maligorians have entered the Amat Pass. They'll be here in three hours."
Erik's eyes widened. "Three hours? We can't be ready in three hours! It's impossible!"
"It's almost all arranged," Seth assured him. "But the six of us need to decide where we'll be during the fight."
"Your positions are ready, you need only take command," a voice said from the group's left. Ailaena, High Priestess of Amos-Yan approached, the end of her staff thudding slightly against the ground.
"Rion, you'll be in the communications tent, relaying messages between the groups. Kara: there are several Howlers that recently arrived. You'll be leading them."
"What are Howlers?" Erik asked, puzzled. Adam grinned.
"Big, intelligent lizards. They make this high-pitched howling sound, that, if it's directed at you, can deafen you within three seconds."
"Adam, the Thieves' Guild has offered their alliance to us, you'll be in charge of making sure the military and outlaws don't kill each other."
Adam swallowed hard, nodding.
"Erik: you'll be in here, in the tactical centre, keeping an eye on the battle, and relaying information to Rion, who relays it to Seth."
"Seth; Melosa: You'll be out front, directly where the action is. Each of you will have a personal communication module to receive information. Use balanced shield strength, reinforced with Wizard power. The Defenders cannot afford to lose either of you, but we need someone on the front lines."
Seth and Mel exchanged glances, nodded, before Seth spoke up. "We'll do it." A horn call sounded, the note falling across the encampment. Ailaena looked at the tactical centre's entrance.
"It's time to get into position. Good luck, Defenders."
Rion checked the five panels in front of him, speaking into the microphone near his mouth. "Everyone ready?" Five answers came back from the other Defenders.
"Okay, we've got the enemy tracked at 15 by 35. Seth; Mel; they should be in visual range in the next five minutes."
"We can see a dustcloud near the end of the Pass," Mel's voice answered. "It'll be more like ten minutes before they start showing up."
"All right. Kara; is your group in position?" Rion turned to the display second from the left. A blinking green light showed Kara's position on a map of the area.
"I'm all set. Once the army's through, we'll block off the Pass, make sure they're stuck here."
And be careful Rion thought to himself. "Adam; everyone behaving on your end?"
Adam was currently standing between a RaDosian militiaman and another thief, who were intent on knocking each other's block off.
"I'm kinda busy, Rion. Leave a message," he said from between clenched teeth.
Someone else jerked on of the fighters back, leaving Adam to restrain the soldier, looking back over his shoulder, he saw a familiar face holding back the thief.
"Reya. Wasn't expecting to see you here."
Reya glanced back at him, flashing a smile. "What? You expect me to sit out of a fight? No chance, Heart Thief."
"I thought we agreed you wouldn't call me that."
"Times change."
Erik braced both hands against the edge of the table, watching the shapeless blob that was the Maligorian army slither down the path, past the green light that marked Kara. The edge of the blob oozed out the end of the Pass, and stopped.
"Rion? Enemy stopped just outside the Pass."
The blond glanced at the tactical display, then turned to the comm panels. "Seth? Mel? You see anything?"
"Not . . . wait. Yeah. Yeah, they're just stopped for now. Looks like the person leading them tripped or something." Seth paused, then spoke again, his voice tight. "Mel, take a look at the guy they're helping up. Tell me that's not who I think it is."
Another pause. "Oh my Di-Gata . . . ."
Rion frowned, putting one hand to the right ear of his headset, listening. "What is it?"
"You're never going to believe this. We have an old friend leading the Maligorian army. Bo."
On the cliffs above the Pass, Kara's eyebrows lifted. "Bo? Are you sure?"
"You're closer than I am. See for yourself." Mel's voice answered.
Leaning over the edge of the cliff, Kara looked down to where 'Bo' was being pulled to his feet. It was him all right.
"Yeah, that's him," she confirmed, frowning. "I don't get it. Do the Maligorians want to lose?"
Below, the Maligorians started forward again, spreading out across from the RaDosian army.
Mel's eyebrows lifted. "Wow. They've got some serious muscle on their side."
Seth glanced sideways at her. "We've got determination. Every one of the people on our side has something to lose if this army gets through. We're going to give all we've got, and make sure nothing is lost."
"You're one for the pep talks, aren't you," Mel answered dryly, turning back to face the opposing army.
"Are you two lovebirds done making me gag yet?" Rion's voice asked.
"Rion!!"
"Okay, guys, get ready," the blond Defenders said, becoming serious again. "Maligorians are starting to increased activity in sectors 3, 5, and 9."
Seth curled the fingers of his right hand around his Warrior stone. "Let's get this party started."
(Several hours later)
Seth, Mel, Kara, and Adam walked in to the tactical centre, covered in dirt and exhausted. Erik looked up from the tactical display, did a double-take: Kara was leaning against Mel, favouring her left foot.
"Kara? Are you okay?"
Kara winced. He'd noticed. "Yeah, I'm fine."
Rion slipped off his headset, setting it down on the comm boards. "Liar. The way you're walking, you probably sprained it. Come on. You're going to the med tent."
Kara glared at him. "Says who?"
"Says me, because I'm older."
"By five days!" She sighed. "But I guess you're right." Together, the two youngest Defenders headed out of the centre, nearly being bowled over by Reya as she bolted inside.
"Adam, can you give me a hand?" she said, slightly out of breath. "Those two that were fighting earlier are at it again, hammer and tongs."
Adam rolled his eyes, caught Mel's wrist, and started out of the centre, pulling her with him. "C'mon, if there's one person these guys'll listen to, it's a Wizard."
Mel had time for one puzzled glance at Seth before she was pulled out the entrance.
Mel turned away from the two men in front of her to face Adam. "You're telling me," she said, voice low, "That you dragged me out here to settle a dispute over a weapon?"
Adam shrugged. "The guy's a thief," he said simply.
"Right . . . ." She turned back to the two culprits. "If I hear anything about the two of you fighting while we're here, you'll both be ice cubes until next summer. Am I clear?"
Two 'yes ma'ams' later, she turned back toward the tactical centre. A high-pitched whistling filled the air, followed closely by a shout of "Hit the dirt!" from Adam.
Mel dove to the ground, covering her ears as an explosion vibrated the air around her. Coughing on the dust now swirling around, she pushed herself upright, looking ahead. Shouts began to echo through the air. One in particular was repeated.
"Tactical centre got hit dead on!" With growing dread, Mel broke into a run, heading for the centre.
It was flattened. The canvas structure was totalled, bits of fabric everywhere. Adam stopped beside Mel, eyes taking in the wreckage.
"You find Erik," the Wizard said anxiously. "I'll look for Seth." Adam nodded, and they split up, moving across the mess.
Adam lifted a stretch of torn canvas, exposing Erik, who was lying on his side. Kneeling down, Adam touched to fingers to the side of the redhead's throat. "Come on, buddy . . . " Thud . . . .Thud . . . . Pulse.
"Mel? Erik's okay! I've got him." He motioned to two medics who'd arrived, and they began loading the injured Defender onto a stretcher.
Adam stood, and looked around for Mel. She was about twenty meters away, staring at something in front of her. Frowning, he started in her direction.
She was knelt next to Seth when he reached her.
Adam swallowed hard. "He's not . . . ."
"No. He's alive." Her voice caught. "But I don't know for how long." Kara and Rion came up, looking down worriedly. Adam tilted his head in the other direction. It was best to leave Mel alone for now.