Authors Note: Well, I couldn't have Dark Nation glaring at me all the time ;) so here it is, chapter six. I realise that I take time between updates, but keep hammering me and I'm sure we'll see the end of this sooner or later. I truly hope this story isn't left unfinished like certain others, as this might be one of the best fics I've written thus far. Hope you enjoy it!

Chapter VI: Seaña

"Come from deep glen and

From mountain so rocky,

The war-pipe and pennon

Are at Inverlochy.

Come every hill-plaid and

True heart that wears one,

Come every steel blade and

Strong hand that bears one."

- Sir Walter Scott, "Pibroch of Donuil Dhu"

Note, regarding names:

Some names and words featured in this chapter and the following ones are to be pronounced as written below, in English. ´ means long vocal while ` means short vocal. Thus "á" is pronounced as in "star" while "à" is pronounced as in "cat". If not stated, the pronunciation is left to the reader's liking.

Graim: [gra-ìm]

Seaña: [sanja]

Ilaina: [ee-lejna]

Rancesca: [rhàn-seska]

Othar: [O-thár]

Tirip: [ti-ripp]

Hisminji: [hiss-mín-jì]

Bælrog: [bell-rog]*

Draug: [draagh]*

Misling: [mizzling]

"Stoft aug Askir!": [stoft og as-kir]*

Thiazi: [ti-azi]*

Disiian: [dis-ian]*

*Not in this chapter.

Will and Kirjava stepped out in a forest at night. High, dark trees surrounded them, trees somewhat reminiscent of pines and somewhat of oaks. A large, white full moon shone down between the branches. Stars they did not know twinkled at them.

"Will, where are we?" Kirjava asked.

"I don't know," Will said. "Any sign of a Spectre?"

"No," Kirjava said. "Seems like the sword doesn't let any Spectres through."

"Great, maybe the angels will let me keep this one," Will said bitterly and resheathed the sword. He fastened the belt to his waist. It fit him pretty well, but the new weight on the hip was somewhat distracting. He guessed he'd get used to it after a while, though.

"Have you noticed that the window we opened is gone now?" he asked his dæmon. "It closed behind us. Perhaps the Knife was just a beta-version?"

Kirjava didn't seem to see the amusing in his remark, for she immediately tensed up. "Something is coming," she said. "Several somethings. Big ones, at that!"

"From where?" Will asked and put his hand on the sword.

"Everywhere," Kirjava whispered, the fur on her back standing on end.

Suddenly large, hulking shapes seemed to emerge from the shadows, as if they were born from them. Golden eyes glimmered in the moonlight, watching their every move.

"This doesn't look good," he said and drew Tirfing. Immediately, the creatures changed their pattern of movement. Now they seemed to circle him and at the same time creeping closer and closer. Will held the sword in front of him, ready for anything.

Now when they were closer, he could see them better. The looked allot like wolves, but much, much larger. They did not move like wolves either. The closest resembling movements Will could recall had to be the ones of mountain gorillas, thought not nearly as clumsily. The powerful legs did not look like they were made for running, as for wolves, and their way of advancing towards him made him suspect that they were not just unintelligent animals.

One of them, a large brown one, stepped forward and growled at him. Immediately a grey one leaped forward and snapped at him.

"Hold!" it said in a remarkably human voice. It lifted a paw and pointed it at Will. Will noticed that they actually had fingers. "Do not attack! Do you not see that he has a dæmon?"

"He does not scare me, Graim," the brown growled back.

"You have not been in combat with wizards before, Gmorg," the grey one said. "I have."

"We are many," Gmorg said. "He is alone, and he is but a boy!"

"Listen to me," Will said. Both of the lupine creatures stopped their argument and glared at him. He felt an urge to run, but suppressed it. If they could talk they were intelligent and if they were intelligent they could be reasoned with. He hoped. "I don't know exactly who you are, but I can assure you that I do not wish you any harm. I just came to these woods, and if I am trespassing on you territory I apologise."

The one named Graim gave off a barking sound that might have been a laugh. "You hear, Gmork. He does not want to fight at all!" He turned to Will. "Have you come to fight in the war, boy?"

"I don't know of any war," Will answered. "I am on a journey to find someone who was lost to me."

"If you have never heard of the insurrection you must truly have travelled from far away," Graim said. "Tell me your name."

"William Parry," Will answered. He made a gesture towards his dæmon. "This is Kirjava."

"Well met, William Parry and Kirjava," the creature said. "I am the werewolf Graim Hillpaw, Alpha of this pack."

"I still do not trust him," Gmork said, almost grumpily.

"His smell is sincere," Graim said. "Have you begun to doubt even your nose now, Gmork?" This caused random chuckles within the ranks of the werewolves. Gmork growled and backed off to his comrades, as a sign that he surrendered to the authority of the Alpha. Graim turned again to Will. "You can put your weapon away, William Parry. I assure you that non of my warriors will threaten you."

"Thank you," Will said and resheathed Tirfing. "I need to find someone who can tell me about this land. Do you know where I can find one?"

"If you need to speak to another human, I suggest the cities," Graim said. "However, most cities in this part of the land is still in the hands of the enemy. I would not be pleased to meet you on the field of battle after getting to know you here. But we are on our way to the camp of Princess Ilaina and her rebel army. Ilaina is very wise and she has many powerful Wild Wizards within her ranks to counsel her. If anyone can aid you in your quest, it is her."

"Will you let me follow you, then?" Will asked.

"We will," Graim said. "The camp is not far from here. We will rest now and at dawn tomorrow we will reach them. We are in no hurry so even a human should be able to keep our pace."

"Sounds like we have a deal, Graim Hillpaw," Will smiled.

"We do indeed, William Parry."

That night Will slept among the werewolves under a large tree, on soft moss and with Kirjava in his arms. He was so tired he fell asleep immediately, even though he was among huge beasts in a unfamiliar world. In the morning he was awakened by Graim himself who gently nudged him.

"Awaken, William Parry," the werewolf said. "It is dawn."

The night had been warm and even though Will awoke with dew in his hair he was not terribly cold. He yawned and Kirjava slowly stretched her body by bending her back.

"Today we will reach the camp," Graim continued. "Soon you will meet with Princess Ilaina."

The rest of the werewolves were already awake and they soon broke up. The large creatures moved through the terrain as unhampered as if they were humans taking a stroll in the park. Will and Kirjava had a little harder time keeping up with them, as the werewolves were both larger and moved on all fours, but Graim kept his promise and though Will got himself a good exercise he kept pace with them.

Soon the trees were growing more sparse and soon Will could see a collection of large tents that had been set up in a wide open area. People in different sorts of armours, armed with swords and pikes were moving between the tents.

"Ah, the army of Ilaina Teromane," Graim said. "They shall be our brothers and sisters in arms from here on."

When they got closer, Will got a better look at this army. There were both male and female soldiers. Most wore chainmail or plate armours, but there were also those who wore more exotic armours looking like golden scales or thick reptile skin. If he was to place them historically in the timeline of his own world his best guess would have been the middle of the 1500:s, but he didn't see any firearms. He noticed that some of the soldiers were dressed in long robes instead of armour. Some of them were shorter then the others, but very stout. These also had huge beards and seemed to be armed mostly with axes or broadswords. He also spotted small, furry creatures quickly running around on two legs, but after seeing the enormous army of Lord Asriel nothing of this really impressed him.

A officer and a small group of soldiers greeted them.

"Declare yourself and state your intentions," the officer demanded.

"I am Graim Hillpaw, Alpha of the Ascending Mountain pack," Graim responded. "Me and my warriors have come to swear obedience to your mistress, Ilaina, and aid you in your battle against the tyrant Rancesca."

The officer nodded. "You are awaited, Graim of the Ascending Mountain. Her highness Princess Ilaina will greet you in her tent. This way."

Graim turned to his warriors and barked some orders that Will didn't understand. "Come with me," he then said to Will. "Come, William Parry. I am sure Princess Ilaina will not mind if I bring you as well."

They were taken to the largest tent in the camp. It was green, just as all the others, someone had painted a heraldic standard on it, depicting a white bird, probably a hawk, against a golden background. Will had already seen that hawk on several banners since they entered the camp. Inside, the tent was obviously well equipped, so that the princess could have at least a bit of luxury even when in battle. Will noticed that someone had even bothered to hang a chandelier from the roof. Inside were five women. Four of them looked like ordinary soldiers, and seemed to be the bodyguards of the fifth, who was obviously the princess.

Princess Ilaina was sitting on a large wooden chair, almost a throne, leaning herself against the round table in front of her. She seemed to be around 25 years old and was quite beautiful. Her eyes were blue and clear as the sky itself. A white bandanna tied up her golden hair and Will thought that she looked a bit tired. She was dressed in a light, silvery scalemail and on the back of the chair a silver sword hung loosely in a belt.

"Princess Ilaina," Graim said and bowed his head. "I have brought the finest warriors of my people to fight for you. Our lives are yours now."

"There now, Graim," Ilaina said and stood up. "No need to be so formal. We need any warrior we can get, and you werewolves are renowned for your fighting abilities. I am overjoyed to have your support in this war. Many of us had our doubts that you would side with us at all."

"It is true that we like to stay out of human conflicts if possible," Graim said. "But Rancesca is our common enemy. Only together can we oppose her."

"Well spoken," Ilaina said. She turned towards Will. "And who is this?"

"We met him in the forest not far from here," Graim said. "His name is William Parry, and I thought he might interest you."

"Very well," the princess said. "You may return to your pack, Graim. You will be informed when we are ready to march."

Graim bent his head one again and left the tent. Ilaina turned back to Will. "So, your name was William Parry?"

"Yes, your highness," Will said. He was uncertain to what to do, but since she was a princess he felt that he ought to bow, and bent forward slightly. Ilaina looked at him as if he was a new horse she was thinking of buying. "Are you a warrior?" she asked.

"No, your highness. I have fought my share of battles, but only when I had no other choice," Will answered.

Ilaina's eyes fell on Kirjava. "Is that your dæmon?"

Will hesitated, but decided the best thing to do was to answer her truthfully. "Yes, your highness."

"So you are a wizard, then?" she asked.

"No, your highness."

"No? I was under the impression that only wizards and witches had dæmons."

"Not at all," Will said. "Everybody has one, but for you they are on the inside."

"But not for you," Ilaina said and raise her eyebrow. "What does that make you then, if you are not a wizard?"

"It's a very long and complicated story," Will said. "And I fear that you would never believe me if I told it to you. Right now I can only say that I am a traveller, searching for someone."

"Then why have you come to me?" Ilaina asked.

"I was told that you were a wise person who could help me in my search," Will said.

"Perhaps I can," Ilaina said. "But right now I have a war to win." Her eyes fell on Tirfing. "Can you use that sword?"

"Well enough, I guess," Will said and shrugged his shoulders. He really had no actual training but figured he just as well give them the impression that he knew what he was doing.

"Do you mind a test of skill against one of my bodyguards?" Ilaina asked with a gesture towards one of the girls. "I like to know how my soldiers fair in combat."

"I am not one of your soldiers yet," Will said. Ilaina didn't answer and Will realised that she expected a better response. He was about to turn her offer down, but then he noticed a small voice in his head, telling him to accept. "With Tirfing you can win easily," it seemed to say. "Let's show them what you are made of!"

"Very well then," he said.

"Vevila," Ilaina commanded with a gesture. One of the girls took a step forward. She was about the same height as Will, with very dark, almost black hair. She was dressed in a light leather mail over a dark blue tunic and drew a long, light sword from her side. She seemed to be just a few years older then Will and seemed to be very confident.

She positioned herself in front of Will and took an en guard position. Will calmly drew Tirfing out of its sheet. "I hope you are not too attached to that sword," he said.

"Don't worry about me, boy," she said. Will frowned. He didn't like it when people called him "boy", especially when they were not much older then him. Without really giving his actions much thought, he turned sideways having his right foot pointing towards his opponent and his left pointing forwards. He tried to relax his shoulders while turning his upper body towards Vivela and bent his knees slightly.

"Ready?" Ilaina asked. Both Will and Vivela nodded. "Fight!"

Will knew that he should feel a bit nervous, this being his first swordfight and all, but instead he felt strangely agitated. The girl in front of him took a step forward with her right foot and stretched her sword out in front of her to thrust it at him. Will didn't move. He had anticipated the thrust and made a circular movement with his wrist. With a usual sword this would have resulted in a more or less successful parry, but the edge of the Tirfing immediately severed the other blade. Vivela was shocked to see her opponent's sword cut straight through hers with such ease. Will knew that he now had the chance to strike. Before he could stop himself he had turned the parry into a riposte, aimed for the girl herself.

"What the hell am I doing?" he thought in the last minute and froze. The deadly blade stopped mere inches from Vivela, who was still staring at the broken sword in her hand.

It was quiet in the tent for a couple of seconds. The Ilaina spoke.

"You carry a very powerful weapon, William Parry," she said. "Indeed, a more powerful weapon then I have never seen before. And yet you claim not to be a wizard?"

Will didn't answer. He was still trying to figure out what had been going in his mind just moments ago. He had been fully prepared to strike the defenceless girl down. He couldn't believe he actually almost killed her.

"Vivela, go to the bladesmith and have your weapon repaired," Ilaina continued. "The rest of you can join her. I wish to speak to Master William alone."

"But you highness!" one of the girls said. "What if…"

"That is an order, Bereca," Ilaina said calmly. "I am sure I am quite safe for now. Go."

The bodyguards obeyed their mistress and left the tent. Before she left, Vivela reached her hand out to Will. "Well fought, I stand bested."

"Thank you," Will mumbled and took her hand. A part of him he didn't knew he had felt deeply ashamed to have been wanting to kill such a honourable woman.

Vivela exited the tent and left Will alone with the princess. Ilaina stood up from the chair and looked at him. He realised that he still held the sword in his hand and quickly resheathed it.

"As I said, that is a powerful weapon," Ilaina said. "I could use a sword like that fighting on my side, and a strong hand to wield it. Are you certain that you would not join my army?"

"I… I am not a warrior," Will said.

"Your way of moving tells me otherwise," Ilaina said. "That stance you took was interesting, where did you learn it?"

"I don't know," Will said and felt extremely awkward. "It just felt natural."

Ilaina nodded silently. She then turned back to her chair sat down.

"I believe I might want to hear that long and complicated story now," she said. "Sit down, you have all the time you need."

Will understood that she would not accept no for an answer and sat down on a nearby chair that had previously been occupied by one of the bodyguards. He knew he was not as good a storyteller as Lyra so he decided to tell the truth, no matter how fantastic it may sound. Kirjava jumped up in his lap and he felt more sure of himself when he place his hand on her soft fur. He began telling the princess the story of his life. How he discovered the opening leading to another world, how he met Lyra, how he won the Knife and how he lost some of his fingers while doing so. He told her about the war against Heaven and how they had entered the realm of Death, about how him and Lyra came to love each other and how they were separated from each other. Finally he told her how he found Tirfing and made his way to her world. Of course, he kept it toned down and he skipped certain parts he didn't feel like telling her about.

"And that is why I am here," Will finished. "With the knife, I could sense the difference between the world, but the Tirfing doesn't seem to work like that at all. I think I need help to find the right world."

"I see," Ilaina said. "And all of this to find this girl, Lyra?"

"You don't believe me?" Will asked.

"Of course I do," Ilaina said and laughed. "I don't think anyone can make such a story up."

She stood up and took her own sword from its place behind her. Then she turned towards him and slowly drew the sword out of its sheath. The blade was silvery and polished like mirror. Will could see that it had small runes carved into it.

"This sword is very special as well," she said and held the silvery blade in front of her. "Let me tell you the legend surrounding it. It is called Fuerza, the Sword of Force. It has a sister, Leyanda, the Sword of Legends. A long time ago two brothers fought over the kingdom of their dead father, King Teromane. One of their battles was so even and so fierce, that soon only the two princes themselves were still alive, along with a few warriors. One of them, Edmin, had the upper hand. The other brother, Peitres, only saw two alternatives, to run or die, and he favoured neither of them. But then something happened. A burning star fell from the sky and hit the Earth right in the middle of Edmin's troop, killing most of his men. Edmin was forced to retreat and Peitres won the battle. Afterwards Prince Peitres sent his men to retrieve the star, for he believed it to be a token from God. They found that it had broken in two by the impact, and that it was made from a metal of a kind they had never seen or heard of before. The prince ordered that the finest swordsmith in the land was to create a weapon out of them, and so the broken star was taken to the master smith Hagir, an ancient dwarf. Hagir accepted the job and got to work. He worked hard for an entire month, but when Prince Peitres arrived he found two swords, not one. When he asked the dwarf what the meaning of it was, Hagir told him to give one of the swords to his brother and keep one for himself.

Prince Peitres was angered, and wondered why he was to surrender one blade to his enemy. Hagir told him that he had to make a choice, a choice to which sword he wanted to keep and which one he wanted his brother to have. The choice would determine the outcome of the war, and if Peitres kept both blades for himself, he was sure to lose. The dwarf was old and wise, so Peitres heeded his advice. He thought long and hard, examined both swords and compared them to each other, but could find nothing to tell them apart by, except for the names written on their blades. Finally, he surrendered Leyenda to Edmin, keeping Fuerza for himself. Soon the tide turned, and Peitres won the throne. But in the process he lost his right hand, his family and most of his men, and he spent the rest of his life rebuilding his razed kingdom.

My sister Rancesca and I are the two last descendants of King Peitres, now that both our parents are dead. Ever since his days the Sword of Legends and the Sword of Force has been the possession of the house of Teromane. In every war, the ruler has been forced to make a choice, to wear one of them into battle. Just like for Peitres, the choice decided the outcome of the war. Fuerza may lead you to victory, but to a terrible prize. Leyenda gives power, but power that is as easily lost as it is won. When I challenged my sister I too made a choice, and I chose Fuerza. I was young then, and I hated my cold and calculative sister with passion. I believed that no prize was too much to pay in order to seize the throne from Rancesca, but now, after all this fighting and all this death, I wonder if I was wrong."

She made a pause and looked at him for the first time since she began her story, as if she had forgot about him. Then she gave him a tired smile. "You made a choice when you first picked that sword up, didn't you? I know you did, for I see it in your eyes. Tell me, young William, do you believe it was worth it?"

"If it helps me get Lyra back, I will pay whatever the prize is," Will asked.

"Even if it turns out to be your life? Or your soul?" Ilaina's intense gaze burrowed into him, but her face was calm and not unfriendly. Only questioning. Will's eyes met hers.

"I will cross that bridge when I reach it," he said.

Iliana look at him without saying a word. Then she returned Fuerza to its sheath.

"I have a proposition," she said. "Join my army, and fight on my side. Then, when we have won, I promise to use all of my power to locate your loved one. Though not as skilled in magic as my sister, I know many secrets of the Art and have many skilled wizards serving me. I am sure that together we can find a solution. So, what do you say?"

Will felt unsure of what to do. He wasn't all that keen to fight in a war he had no part in, but he didn't know how he was supposed to find Lyra without Ilaina's help.

"Very well, on one condition," he finally said. "If I figure out how to properly use Tirfing before the war is over, I can leave whenever I want."

"I don't see how I could possibly stop you," Ilaina said. "So, we have a deal then?"

"We have," Will nodded.

"Excellent," the princess said and picked up a bell that she had kept on the table next to her. She gave it a ring and almost immediately a servant entered the tent.

"Yes, your highness?" he said.

"Go fetch Othar for me," she said. "I have a job for him."

"Yes, you highness," the servant said and left. Soon he was back with a rather strange character following him.

The newcomer looked like a human male but was very short, standing approximately one and a half meter tall. What he lost is height he took back in stoutness, though. Will had never seen anyone with so broad shoulders before, he looked strong as an ox. He was dressed in leather armour and was armed with a heavy battleaxe. He also had a huge brown beard that had started to turn slightly grey.

"Will, this is Othar Redrock, one of the Dwarven captains under my command," Ilaina said. "Othar, this is the newest member of our army, William Parry. I want you to give him a tour around the camp, show him how it works. He will be instrumental for our campaign, so see to it that he is treated with respect."

"As you command, your highness," the dwarf said and turned to Will. "Come along then, lad."

Will followed the dwarf, throwing a last glance towards Ilaina. The servant also left, leaving the princess seemingly alone in the tent.

"Hisminji, Tirip, you two can show yourselves now," she said.

Suddenly the air in one of the tent's corners started to move, as above a fire, and suddenly a male figure appeared, seemingly out of thin air. He was thin with a pale complexion and had bright blond, almost white hair tied up in a ponytail. He was dressed in a simple grey tunic and a short robe. He wore a medallion around his neck in the form of a moon that was both full and new.

At the same time a small furry ball that had been almost invisible in its place on the chandelier unfurled into a humanoid creature. The creature grabbed the end of the chandelier and swung around in the air, landing gently in front of Iliana and the pale man. The being was small, about a meter long and slimly built. It was covered with brown fur and mostly resembled a giant, humanoid mouse. It stretched its long muscular arms and legs.

"Ahh, it's feels good to move again," it said in a surprisingly human voice.

"Hisminji," Ilaina said and turned to the pale man. "You are the greatest of my Wild Wizards. What do you say about the boy?"

"He is telling the truth, for what I can tell," the wizard said. "I couldn't feel any magic inside him, but I sensed something else. The boy has some kind of power, but I have no idea what it might be. It is possible not even he does."

"I see," Ilaina said.

"Of course, I may be mistaken," Hisminji confessed. "If he really is a powerful wizard, he might have weaved a spell around him to prevent me of observing the truth, though I doubt it."

"If you ask me, the lad seems trustworthy," the mouse-creature said. "But you should keep an eye on him never the less."

"That will be your job, Tirip of the Guild Sqip," Ilaina said with a smile on her lips. "You mislings have a nack for befriending people, and if there is anyone who can gain his trust, it is you."

"You flatter me, you highness," the misling said and bowed. "I shall do my very best." He then turned around and left the tent.

"I hope you are right to put your trust in this boy," Hisminji said.

"Do you sense something?" she asked. "Something amiss?"

"I am not sure," Hisminji confessed. "Perhaps I am just being paranoid."

"I hope so," Ilaina said. "For when your wizard's sense speaks of danger, it usually turns out true."

Well, there you have it! Next up we will leave Will for a while to see how Lyra is faring in the House of a Thousand Doors! Stay tuned!

Ps. To any Spanish speaking people who might read this; Yes, I am aware that Fuerza and Leyanda is "Force" and "Legend" respectivly in Spanish. I just thought it sounded cool, so sue me.