A/N: Sorry for the cliffie!!!! I always love those kinds of chaps!! Anyway, I hope this chap is as good as the last.
Disclaimer: see old chaps.
Tower of the Stars
After hearing about Sables defeat, his armies disbanded. The elves took out as meany as possible but most got away. The armies fled, not knowing where they were going. Disorder dominated Sables territory for days until the elves finally continued on to Silvanesti.
The troops headed into the Plaines of Dust. Gilthas guessed the trip would take days and many of his commanders agreed.
Mirror stood upon a rock overlooking the desert. He surveyed the land with his one good eye. Ryan walked up, as always in her dragon form. She glared at Mirror jealously, she longed to posses the power to shift into a more human form.
"What are you thinking?" Ryan asked looking out to the ocean of sand.
"I'm trying to estimate how long it will take us to cross this," he waved his hand at the sand, "wasteland. And I'm wondering why we have not heard from our scout we sent to Silvanesti for weeks now."
Ryan cocked her head to the side, "You think there are problems in the other elven kingdom?"
"Considering the rumors..yes. But not outside problems, internal. I have been led to believe that Silvanesti has been conquered."
"Really..?" she asked curious, "But the shield.."
"Has fallen, or so the rumor goes." Mirror mused.
"What power could lower it? No mage is strong enough to do such a thing these days."
"That's another problem presented to us. I am still baffled on how their power is failing."
"Could be the absents of the Gods.." Ryan suggested.
"That's always a possibility." Mirror agreed.
Keryl and Gilthas approached, "Ready to move out?" the King asked.
Mirror nodded, "Yes, we wont get any where by sitting here." Mirror nodded to Ryan and headed back to the troops with the King.
Keryl watched them go then turned to Ryan, "It will be a long trip. Be sure to drink a lot before we go." he advised.
Ryan didn't respond, she only stared out at the sea of sand.
"Ryan?"
"There must be another way.."
"Too..?"
"Cross this." she waved a clawed paw at the desert, "It will take days..we don't have time! Silvanesti could be in ruins by the time we get there..if Mirror's theory is true."
Keryl sighed, smiling at her. "A certain someone might be of help." Both of them turned their gaze to a sleeping Sable.
"Are you sure this will work?" Gilthas asked Mirror.
"No." he responded honestly.
Sable stood before the large expanse of desert, his coal black scales shining in the sun. He looked around taking it all in. He glanced back at Ryan who nodded, her own golden scales reflecting the sun.
Sable began to speak in the guttural language of the dragons.
"Can we even trust him?" Gilthas asked nervously.
"Remember the bond. He can not break it, besides I think he likes it with us. Mirror shifted back to his dragon form. The troops had been gathered and were told to be ready to leave. Everyone now stood behind Sable who was facing the desert, chanting.
Everyone stood and watched, transfixed. The air around Sable became electrified with power and his chanting began to echo. Ryan began to mutter the spell with him, aiding him as much as she dared. She was still weaker then usual since the fight with Beryl.
A massive wave of energy blew out from Sable knocking the closest people over. A small dot of light floated in the air before Sable. With a single word the dot began to grow, expanding. The edge of the now growing circle remained bright but the inside was dark and forbidding.
"A protal.." Keryl whispered as Sable stepped back so all could see his work. Looking closer Keryl could see a small dot of light in the distance. He squinted and saw that it was the Tower of the Stars! "It leads to the very heart of Silvanesti! Good work Sable."
The black dragon bowed proudly, "We should go, it is rapidly draining me." he warned.
Keryl nodded and turned to the troops, "Forward march!" he yelled. The troops hesitated glancing at Sable, but obeyed after getting a nod from Ryan and Mirror.
"How will the portal help? It looks just as far.." Gilthas said obviously not trusting Sables magic.
"You will see when we get in there." Ryan said striding past and entering the portal, Sable followed more slowly.
Gilthas sighed, if the Gold trusted him then he saw little reason not to either. Once everyone was in, the portal opening behind them closed and the ground beneath them began to move. Several people fell, not use to moving forward and not walking on their own.
They were surrounded by a black abyss with streaks of purple and blue flashing past them as they picked up speed. Most people sat, feeling dizzy and disoriented, others looked around fascinated.
"Truly impressive." Gilthas said as he gazed at the black space around them. In what seemed like only minutes (and probably were) they reached the end.
"Quickly! Exit it..I can barley hold it anymore.." Sable hissed obviously straining.
The troops filed out. Sable was the last to leave as the portal behind him collapsed. Taking in a shuddering sigh Sable sank to the mud covered ground.
"We made it.." Gilthas muttered quietly.
"Yes...but where..?" Mirror whispered.
Around them the trees held little life, many of their leaves were already on the ground. Ryan looked around, the Tower was a short distance away. "You there." she pointed to a young soldier, "Scout ahead." The soldier nodded and departed.
"What has happened to this place?" Gilthas asked, more to himself then anybody.
"The shield.." Mirror suggested.
"No...red hair...golden eyes..." Ryan muttered stiffly, "Someone's here we can not trust."
"I have heard of a woman by your description. I think she is called Mina..she claims she serves the One God."
"'One God' my ass." Ryan hissed seething, "She serves darkness! Do-not-trust-her!" Ryan brought her head down to the Kings level, smoke seeping through he teeth, "No matter what she does! Understood?!"
The king nodded in shock.
Mirror agreed they could trust no one. "Lets go to the city."
It didn't take long considering they met no resistence. They entered the city which also seemed abandoned.
"Is everyone dead?!" Keryl yelled to the empty town. His voice echoed.
"Keryl!" Ryan snapped in annoyance, "You act like a child!"
"We wish to find someone, do we not?" he responded confused at her anger.
"Yes but not tell the world we're here!" Mirror snapped with his own annoyance.
They suddenly heard cheering.
"Sounds like a celebration." Mirror said relieved, "Maybe there is nothing to worry about."
"I beg to differ." Ryan growled.
They neared the tower wondering what awaited them.
A/N: SORRY ABOUT THE ENDING!!! I completely forgot what was going to happen!!!!!!! crawls into corner crying
