Wrath of Fate
Chapter the Seventeenth
The Revelation of the Stones
Fiora slowly stirred as the warm rays of the sun enveloped her body. She was wrapped in a large white cloth and lying down on an equally large red one. She recognized the white sheet to be her own and figured that the red one was Raven's. She looked around to try and find out where she was.
She was in a cave, near the mouth to be more exact. A few motes of dust wafted through the air as the sun cast its glow upon them. She saw a rope tied to two particularly large stalactites. A few pieces of cloth were hanging on it. Soon, she realized that one of them was her uniform. She hastily lifted the blanket and lowered it just as fast. A bandage had been wrapped around her waist but she had no garments on.
Suddenly, a loud thump came from outside the cave. Raven entered, his sword resting on his shoulder, blood dripping from its edge. He looked at Fiora and smiled. He sat himself down next to the mound of messed up sheets and threw his sword to the ground.
"Did you sleep well?" Raven asked.
Fiora remained silent for a while before nodding her head.
"That's good. Now, this is urgent. I need your answer. We can't remain long in this cave. I killed a few scouts, when they don't get back soldiers will come looking." Raven looked her in the eye. "So what is it? Come with me or let me turn you in..."
Fiora thought hard before finally saying. "I will go with you...if only for now..."
"I'm glad." Raven them turned and began packing his things and wiping his sword and going about other preparations.
Fiora sighed and turned, hoping to get a bit more sleep.
Bethla Garrison, the impregnable fortress
Vinya turned uncomfortably as she woke from another nightmare about her sister. She had been told rumors about prophecies in dream form. She sincerely hoped them false.
Gariland, magic city
Ardrsil hacked at another soldier. His halberd sliced swiftly through the man's scalemail hauberk. Ardrsil looked behind him to make sure Gaile was still there. He sighed in relief when he saw her. Then he continued down the road to the city. There were only a few soldiers, those who had tried to find a less protected back door.
Ardrsil was fast approaching the main battle. It was happening on the other side of the city but the rain of fire and ice accompanied by blades of lightning and clouds of toxic miasma were quite hard to miss. This was Gariland after all.
Gariland, magic city
Zephiel drove his wyvern down with a hard jerk to the reins. He readied his lance and struck a defender from his place on the wall. As soon as his wyverns jaws clamped the man several soldiers began rushing at Zephiel with spears and several more shot their arrows. Zephiel's wyvern was armored and he carried a Delphi shield so it was not much a problem to quickly jump back into the skies even after the arrow shots. All around him, wyvern riders wove in and out of the walls and the arrows and spells, snatching defenders from the walls or impaling soldiers on the ground.
The battle was going well for Biran. The defenders were trapped in their own garrison and they outnumbered them by the hundreds.
Igros Castle, reconstruction
Ramza Beoulve, now known as the Count of Stones, sat at the head of a large table. Seated at the table were most of those who had helped him in the search for truth during the Lion Wars and the battles in the ancient precincts of Murond. They were Rad, Apristina, Agrias, Yumiko, Rat, Alicia and Lavian. Few indeed, but they were the best of the best.
The Stones lay on the table in a small brown bag, glowing faintly through its leather covering. Ramza's hand lay lightly beside it. His swords were sheathed and still at his belt and he wore his full armor. From the nearby villages, several volunteers had come forth to serve as soldiers and carpenters. Many of them with no or very little training. This was a war for heroes, not armies.
"I am pleased to see you here, however few you are." Ramza said.
The group nodded and Ramza continued. "I have before me some of the most powerful weapons known to have existed. The stones that were used to seal Lucavi, thestones that are Lucavi..."
This drew some groans and murmurs and gasps from those seated but Ramza raised his hands for silence. "But," he continued. "they can be wielded for good...You are familiar with how a stone can possess a human and gain a great amount of power over him but...I have tested myself a theory I had... The stones, you see, can possess more than just humans. They can possess almost anything...They can move the dead or animate boulders. This is our great chance...the stones have enough power in them to possess a mountain for well over a week...long enough to end a siege."
This in turn drew some approving nods.
"However, I need to stress the continued importance of repairing the castle and gathering more troops...we are still at a disadvantage. Gariland is under siege and Bethla will soon be engulfed on all sides by multitudes of foes. We are yet another prime target, a structure of power...we could be next. Now, Agrias, I want you to go to Bethla. Take your troops and aid them in preparations. If you are still there when the attack comes, you are to aid them. Rad, take forty riders and get as many troops as you can from the northwest. Alicia, Lavian, you are to remain here and prepare the defenses. Apristina, head east with your scouts and survey the area. Rat, I will need you to continue the defense of the southern front. It seems that Captain Aaron was defeated. Yumiko, I want you and your unit to help in the repairs. Dismissed." Ramza stood and left the room.
The rest of the commanders left to ready themselves and their units for what was to come.
Notes:
This is a relatively short chapter...sorry...I've thought of what COULD happen with the stones. And Rat, Yumiko and Apristina are some of the generic units...Rat is a Knight, Yumiko is an Archer and Apristina is a ninja.