Part 6: Newfound Enemies

"...Shiku, you've been my ally and true friend for as long as I can remember. I need to know what you think. Would you do what is right, or obey orders?"

"I will follow your orders, sire. Whatever you choose-"

"But, what would you do?"

"...I would follow my heart..."

There was a very, very long pause.

"...round everyone up...including the Somahaku..."

After everyone was assembled, each person asked questions to someone close by. Montissiya was first to see Diyuhama emerge.

"What did your messenger tell you?" she asked. "What are the orders from the High Guard?"

"..."

"What is going on?" This was asked by one of the Ciliyo.

The answer he received was simple, and completely to the point: "We head out. Now!" Diyuhama's voice shook as he said these four words.

The crowd was in an uproar. "What?" Montissiya asked. "Where to? We've had no time to rest. What did the High Guard say?"

"I have no idea where we're going; we're fugitives, all of us... The High Guard is somehow in agreement with Kiyu-Su-Lu, and Konowich. We have been ordered to... eliminate you... all of you..." Tears started running down his cheek. Everything he has worked for; all of it, he is throwing away for 22 survivors of a massacred race... Yeah, yeah, he knew it was the right thing, but he also knew he might be throwing his entire life away by disobeying his Master...

No one made a sound for a good 30 seconds... Montissiya was first to speak up: "...and... what do you... think?" She choked out through tears.

"I...I think...no, I know that it's wrong, unfair, and cowardly to eliminate the survivors of the Somahaku... We'll try to escape, and think from there. My group and I will approach other Hilaku, and try to convince them to help our cause, not Sharkon's, our leader. After that, we will confront Sharkon, and work from there... Something isn't right... but I'm not sure what it is..."

They rested for only an hour before setting out. "Elder Montissiya, can we really trust 'em?" This was asked by one of the young Somahaku children. "I mean, they might lead us straight to the High Guard, into an ambush!"

This thought had already occurred to Montissiya; and she had already shaken it off... "...no, Diyuhama wouldn't do that. He was being sincere. I'm... sure of it. Besides, if that were the case, they could take us out now. No, he's right. Something isn't right. Why, all of a sudden, have three races turned on us? We will do our best, and as long as we work together, we will succeed!" It seemed as though she was trying to convince herself just as much as the others...

The Valchior, led by Kiyu-Su-Lu, were almost at the Tarahaki Hills, when a messenger met up with them. "Sire, Fin Del, the traitor, has escaped... We have no idea how or where. We searched the River for hours; there is no way he could have swam or ran faster than us. We suspect he has hidden in the Village, but he was nowhere to be found. What shall we do?" The messenger seemed frightened...

"Ha! Let him go!" Kiyu-Su-Lu chuckled, as he revealed the Master Plan of the Valchior... "Everything has fallen into place just fine! The Hilaku think that the Somahaku and Kontor are scheming to take control of the planet... The Kontor think that I will give them power in my planet... The Somahaku are all gone... There is no way one measly child could ruin it all!!!" Kiyu-Su-Lu seemed so sure of himself... "Tomorrow, we set out for the Land Of the Glekor, people of the Glemock Swamps... to eliminate them... Thus finished, Kontor and Hilaku will nearly destroy eachother, and whoever survives, we will wipe them out with ease... The armies of these people will be gone, and we will rule their commonfolk. Everything will be perfect in the World!!!"