Chapter Twelve

It was a short journey to the small pass outside of Thunderhead Keep. Siuil watched as Selena met with King Jalis, "We came as soon as we heard."

"Aye, lass, that you did, and I thank ye," he sighed. "I heard about the rout at Moladune. It does my heart good to hear that those White Mantle were forced out of the mines. Very good, indeed. And the Stone Summit as well?"

"Also taken care of," pointed out Grast. "They may try to gain a foothold again, but we left men there to send us a message if they do. No, today, we rout them out of your capital. What are we looking at, your Majesty?"

"Well, they've managed to overrun us all the way out of the city and part of the passes in between here and Thunderhead Keep. Dagnar Stonepate himself now sits on my throne," Jalis growled. "If I'd stay'd I'd've showed that cowardly cur just what this old battleaxe could do."

"With the Mursaat backing them up, you would have died," Selena turned to Devona. "Devona, I need you to go with Barradin and Grast. Make sure the port of Ember Light Camp is clear. If Glint is right, that will be our next place to go once we break the backs of the Stone Summit and push the White Mantle from this continent, once and for all."

"Are you sure, my lady?" asked Devona, surprised. "At least take Mhenlo with you…"

"I have Akruan Soulblesser and let's not forget about my own abilities to heal," with a smile Selena took the bite. "Besides, you'll need his healing if there is too much resistance met on the Island."

Devona bowed shortly, and said, "I will do as you ask."

"Orion, Alesia, Claude, you will follow us and clean out the ones that run. Make a clear message—we will take no more of this from anyone," Selena turned to Little Thom. "You go with them and take Stephan and Reyna with you. Dunham will be your interrupt and back up hex breaker."

"As you will, my Lady," bowed Little Thom.

Barradin lifted a brow, "My, such a far cry from the timid Rosa we all knew back in Old Ascalon."

"But so much like the Selena La Rune from Ashford," pointed out Devona as she followed the slight woman with her eyes.

"I can see she made a stop at either Marhan's or the Granite Citadel," Aidan whistled. "If she was not clearly someone else's, I'd be tempted…"

"Down, Aidan," Cynn punched his arm. "She's Rurik's, and she's so not over him."

Aidan eyed the expensive, and lacy, Bonelace armor that was still the silver blue and white she preferred since the Desert. For a necromancer, she all but melted into the background as it worked as a sort of camouflage although it had not been the point of it. She continued to organize and issue orders until she reached her own group that would be fighting with the King of the Deldrimor. "Now, do we all understand the plan of attack?" she asked finally.

"Clearly," answered Siuil.

Jalis nodded once and then opened the first gate. "Now is the time to repay that which you owe the Deldrimor dwarves, Ascalons."

When the one gate opened, there was a short run down a path and a bridge in the distance. Instead of small patrols, there were large clumps of Stone Summit. Siuil muttered, "Well, at least it isn't Mursaat yet."

Devona waved, and she and her group, together with Grast and Barradin, moved off in the opposite direction.

"We are now on our own," said Selena. "Take them when they break apart. When one patrol moves off on its own, it is vulnerable. Take the one on the large dolyak first, then the ones on the beasts. I will even the odds."

They waited and Akara set the Dolyak Rider on fire with Immolate and then they ran in, now seeing the Dolyak clearly marked out as their main target. The patrol, surprised, momentarily lost the moment of reaction time, and the Dolyak and its rider fell before they could retaliate. As it fell, four headless, but double tailed, minions rose from the corpses and began to join in the fray, harassing the Stone Summit on foot, distracting spell casters enough that they could not cast their spells. Lynn cast Meteor Swarm, accidentally alerting another patrol, but he cast another right after on them to slow them down.

The Beast master fell under their weapons, and more minions rose to join the slowly burgeoning army of undead that would also fight for them. "Protect King Jalis Ironhammer," Selena ordered four of her minions, and they began to follow Jalis.

"Lass… um… oh never mind," Jalis did not say anything, but he clearly eyed the undead with a bit of trepidation.

The rest backed up the living, and as more Stone Summit fell, Selena raised more minions until there was literally an army of them. "Now, advance," said Selena. "I can't keep them alive for long."

They ran across the bridge, and Selena sent the minions ahead to lure the other patrols to the bridge as Terrence and Terryann laid traps on the bridge, then backed off, their bows at the ready. Siuil stood beside Selena, their Fiery Dragon Swords glowing and waiting. The Stone Summit ran after the undead that retreated back to them. Although some undead fell to the Stone Summit the rest managed to run through the traps without setting them off. When the Stone Summit came onto the bridge, however, they were caught unprepared by the traps as they went off.

"Attack them now!" shouted Selena. "There is no point in stealth!"

Siuil and his group moved forward as well as what remained of Selena's undead minions.

Khilbron listened to the fray above as he materialized under the bridge. He looked over to his 'companion' and they both heard Selena's clear cry of attack. Khilbron rubbed his bearded chin, running his fingers through the hair. "Quite the spitfire, she is. She led those Ascalons through the Northern Pass, and to Kryta. Then, when the White Mantle betrayed them, she led them to New Ascalon… an island chain in between our continent of Tyria and Cantha. No one has managed to betray them or attack them there. And now here she is, fulfilling the Prophecy like a Chosen, and Ascended, she is. I bet you had no idea, eh?"

The lich beside him, a lesser one, said nothing, but then again, he couldn't. He was firmly under Khilbron's control. Or he would not. Sometimes he had made halfhearted sarcastic jabs, threats, and other comments meant to make Khilbron lose control or lose heart. Lately though, and ever since seeing Siuil alive and well, he had been strangely silent. Although there was no expression on the skeletal face, Khilbron could feel the hate and anger on his back. Abruptly the battlefield went quiet as heavy thuds of armored men and animals hitting the bridge deck finished. Khilbron could feel the necromantic power used, and he said, "Ah, she's a Necromancer, that one. Curious lady, isn't she, this Rosa? I knew she could heal but this surprises me. Not many have taken to that path. I wonder if she started as the Necromancer or the Monk, eh?"

"It matters little," said his companion finally. "So long as she kills you."

"Ah, but you realize that to kill me she has to go through you, and can you imagine what the poor little dears reaction will be once she sees you? Besides, what she has is false power. With this staff," Khilbron tapped the Staff of Orr. "I could steal her minions from her and make her own power her greatest weakness. There is nothing that can be done."

"I can't wait until she makes you eat those words, Lich Lord," said the Lesser Lich as Khilbron momentarily lost his temper and transformed into the Lich Lord, looming over the Lesser Lich.

"You dare defy me, even with words, worm, it will she that destroys you, you know that? And in so doing, destroys herself!" Khilbron calmed and the human vizier reappeared, clenching the staff in his thin hands. "Be silent. I grow bored of this."

The other simply went back to glaring.

The hill path abruptly went downward and Jalis looked out over his city, pointing out where the defenses were and where the Stone Summit left them open and waiting to be taken advantage of. They ran down the ridge, where Selena sent her minion army ahead. Compared to Selena's gradually increasingly powerful army, the Stone Summit outside the city gates melted to their might. Siuil whistled in appreciation, "Nice job, Selena."

"No, this is a nice job…" she said as she raised even more.

Jalis had given up even counting how many there were, and Akruan had as well. Now he simply kept Selena healed because to maintain her army she had to constantly sacrifice a bit of her health… cris-crossing her arms already was a fine network of scars from constantly using a silver dagger against her arm. Jalis opened the gates and they fought the first group.

Although, with Selena's army, they could have simply wiped them all out, Arya said, "Take them out group by group. It's a little easier and they will all fall and Selena can raise her minions. We'll wipe them out before they realize what happened."

Group after group fell before them, and then Selena said, "I didn't think I could raise and maintain this many."

Claude tersely replied, "You're not. I'm helping with the maintenance of some of them. Alesia is healing them the best she can, as well. You're not alone in this."

"Thank you," said Selena, noting a few horrors mixed in the groups as well. "Hey, these are not all mine."

Akara waved from the center of her own group. "You're not the only one that likes this shit, chicky, I can raise them as well as you can. C'mon, can we please get this over with?"

Selena nodded and they ran up and around to the entrance of the inner keep. The few dwarves that stood in their way either fell before them, or ran as their morale broke. Jalis said, "Let them run. They may return to us later as Deldrimor. Won't be the first time it happened."

Lynn twitched, but said nothing as they came around one last turn. Selena stopped dead in her tracks as she looked down in the courtyard below where she could clearly see Dagnar Stonepate on his drake. Jalis also looked down, "That be my throne, and there is the traitor himself… lass? Are you all right?"

Selena's eyes narrowed. "Lynn, Meteor Swarm his back up when we get close enough. Trap the bastard in here."

"As you wish," Lynn said as she sent her minions down the path before them.

Following them, the group was not surprised to find most of the Stone Summit already dead, although some minions lay on the ground as well. Siuil attacked the few Stone Summit that remained, his sword searing as it cut through their mundane steel armor like a hot knife through butter. Selena raised more minions and sent them on ahead and they cleared the path for them. The pattern continued until Selena stepped into the courtyard, backed up by her father, Terryann, Terrence, Arya, Lynn, Akara and Akruan. She ordered, "Protect the King."

The others followed Jalis to his throne, and the sound of the fight to it could be heard.

Orion cast Chain Lightning, smirking as it bounced from metal clad dwarf to metal clad dwarf, stunning them while killing the first one he'd hit with it. Little Thom went in swinging, his massive hammer crushed the skull of one dwarf, while he sent another flying over the wall with the force of it. Meanwhile, Stephan, who preferred swords, went after the spell casters who favored lighter armor that his sword could cut into. Jalis also killed his fair share of the Stone Summit.

Khilbron watched from the cliff above, with a smile on his face, "Brave, brave fools. What a piece of work, this Lady Rosa is…"

The other smiled inwardly, surprised at the change in the formerly timid woman but proud of her at the same time.

Selena's voice rang out clearly, "Dagnar Stonepate!"

The leader of the Stone Summit turned to face her. "What do you want, human?"

"I want revenge! I want justice for the defenseless you and your men slaughtered!" she shouted at him. "I also want your blood."

Jalis looked down as they all heard her, even over the din of the battle. "What? No, don't talk to him… that will give the Mursaat time to get here. Protect me, and I will reclaim what is mine."
The lesser lich would have lifted a brow at her words had he a brow to raise, but nothing would compare to what was said next.
"And who are you to demand that of me?" chortled Dagnar. "You're just a little human woman, not even a warrior although you carry that fancy sword. You think that will protect you?"

"I have my family to protect me," she said. "I am Selena La Rune, daughter of Siuil and wife of Prince Rurik of Ascalon, whom you murdered in cold blood!"

With that she took one step back. Siuil and Arya closed the gap between them, blocking her from any attack, and from the back, Terrence and Terryann let their arrows fly, hitting the drake in the rear and back legs. The drake screamed, and fell half on the ground, crippled and surprised by the magical pain that flowed through it. Dagnar whipped it until it stood back up, "You will die, little human! Like your pathetic husband did!"

Up on the cliff, Khilbron sucked in a surprised gasp and laughed nervously, "Well, well. This explains all of it now."

He looked at his companion, almost sensing the confusion and surprise in him. "And you didn't even know that your little spitfire was who she was? Bah. It still matters little. As strong as she is, and for all her brave talk, she will fall like the rest. Maybe I can raise her for you?"

The eyes in the lesser lich took on a strange light as they looked at Khilbron. He could almost sense them thinning in anger, and it took one shaky step towards the Lich Lord. Khilbron raised the Staff of Orr and the lesser lich had no choice but to back down. "I will have to keep a closer eye on you, then, won't I?"

Siuil ran in, Arya close behind him. Arya harassed the drake by slashing at it's legs and tail, keeping always turning around to prevent it from targeting Selena or the spell casters like Dagnar would have wanted it to. She also attempted to get it to throw its rider. C'mon, turn around; thrash a little more than that…

Finally, her own strategy paid off, and Dagnar fell from his saddle. Somehow, cursing while getting up, he managed to avoid being trampled. Unfortunately, now that he was up, he ran straight for a waiting Selena, who used this opportunity to raise more minions from the small clump of dead dwarves around her. Arya could not help for as soon as she would do so, the Drake would also close on Selena.

Siuil ran as fast as he could, and caught up with Dagnar just as Dagnar was within striking distance of Selena. Terryann stopped him with arrows as Terrence was also trying to kill the Drake or blind it by shooting it in the eyes. With a gasp, Dagnar was surprised as Selena neatly ducked, crouched, and avoided his axe.

Siuil had to come to a short and sudden stop as through the short dwarf's back was the end of Selena's fiery dragon sword. Dagnar screamed in pain as he rolled and Selena yanked it out through his side. "Kill the drake," shouted Selena as Siuil checked on her. "I'm fine."

He turned and ran back to aid Arya. Akruan cast Bane and the drake fell to the side again. With one neat slash of her sword, Arya finished the drake. They all blinked as they realized that they had just broken the spine and the leadership of the Stone Summit. Jalis shouted down, "There's still Mursaat and White Mantle on their way. Shortly we're gonna have a siege!"

At that moment, Vizier Khilbron appeared. "Well done, Ascended. You are definitely the ones in the Prophecy. Lady… Selena… you have surprised me. Now, take these as aid."

Eight Smoke Phantoms materialized and four went to each entrance. "The White Mantle will also break over your knee the minute you defeat the leadership that has come here. They will scatter to the four winds. After you defeat the siege, I will tell you what you must do next."

With that he teleported out.

Selena shouted up to Little Thom's group, "Stay with the King!"

"Aye!" came Thom's voice.

She turned to the rest. "Arya, you take Akara and Lynn to the West entrance. Father, you and I will guard the East. Terryann, you stand on the wall above the West, Uncle Terrence, you stand on the wall above the East. Shoot any that come near. Reyna!"

"Yes, my Lady?" called Reyna.

"Shoot anything that comes by you on the outside."

"As you wish!"

As the White Mantle drew in, Selena sent her minions outside to overwhelm them. The shouts from the White Mantle were of surprise and it became clear that they had expected to meet with the Stone Summit, not be attacked by the undead raised from the corpses of the dead dwarven Summit army. Jalis said, "Light the beacons and lure the rest from the villages and save those trapped in them."

Orion threw a fireball into each beacon and they lit almost immediately. Selena watches as the Mantle began to charge down to the walls. The three archers immediately began to fire their bows, and the mages cast their magic on the heads of the White Mantle and Mursaat. Wave after wave attacked until Selena saw a familiar face. "Here comes their leader…" she called. "Stand your ground!"

Confessor Dorian stopped short as he recognized the former heroes of Kryta. He shook his head in disappointment. He had hoped the seekers and the scouts had been wrong in that the Ascalons had turned on them and that they had not had anything to do with Hablion's murder, but it appeared that he'd been in the wrong.

Even more surprising was that he could see their leader, Lady Rosa of New Ascalon, leading the heroes. He called out, "And this is how you repay us? With betrayal!"

"You lied to us!" shouted back Selena. "You told us that if we guided the Chosen to Loamhurst, that they would be trained, not murdered on the Bloodstone of Maguuma. What would you do to us, now that we have Ascended and know you all for what you truly are?"

He stopped, looking at the ones on the wall, seeing in their eyes the truth. Every last one of them was Chosen, and judging by the glow that could barely be seen, also Ascended. Even Rosa. "Lady Rosa…" he soothed. "You must understand."

"You have no right to that name, only one did, and he is dead. Forced into it by a situation caused by all of you! It was you who caused the war between Ascalon and the Charr! If not for you, there would have been no Searing, if not for the Searing, we would not have had to leave Ascalon… if not for that, my beloved Rurik would still be alive!" she shouted back. "My name is Selena La Rune! I am the daughter of Siuil La Rune, and I will have my revenge, and I will bring vengeance on you for all the fallen in Ascalon! For all the fallen even for the Charr! And…" the last was whispered on the wind, "for Rurik."

Dorian sighed, and then shouted back, "Very well! If it is war you want, it is a war you will have!"

With that, he motioned for the Perfected Jade Armors to attack, and Justicars also ran to the gates. Siuil and Arya met them with swords and hammer. Little Thom ran down to aid them, his war hammer and a cry, "For Ascalon!"

The humans who still stood against the White Mantle took up the cry.

One watched the battle play out, and while he could not smile at the bravery shown, he felt pride, even as he felt, emotionally, his heart break at Selena's rallying cry. But the battle was joined. The two healers worked double time to keep with the healing, and Selena helped as best as she could, but she was clearly more concerned with minions.

The other two Necromancers either would act as some sort of 'battery', keeping the spell casters at the top of their form, or also raise what minions she could as she rained fire down on the White Mantle. The Mesmer in black also rained fire on the White Mantle, but his spells were far more powerful, cast quicker and once or twice he stole the magic from the Mursaat and used it against them.

On the field of battle, they were beginning to feel the first dulling edge of fatigue when Arya, tired of the bandying back and forth, burst out and ran straight for Dorian. Dorian turned to run, and did run a good distance, but an arrow in the back of his leg crippled him, and Arya's sword neatly separated head from body.

The White Mantle, upon seeing Dorian's head in Arya's hands as she ran back through them, broke and ran. Terrence, Terryann, and Reyna picked off many with their arrows.

With disgust, Arya dropped Dorian's head to the ground as King Jalis said, "Well done, you have broken the backs of the White Mantle and the Stone Summit, and all in one day. They will not come back to the Shiverpeaks."

"Indeed, the White Mantle are retreating back to Kryta… however, the Lion Guard will give them a surprisingly chilly welcome," Vizier Khilbron said from behind them. "Now that the Krytans know the truth, the White Mantle is not welcome there or anywhere. Well done, but nothing less could be expected from those who successfully Ascended in Augury Rock. Lady Selena… your presence I did not expect, nor did I expect the strength you possess. I am sure that Prince Rurik, where ever he is, is so proud of how his wife has grown and returned to her full strength."

"Kind words," said Selena. "But clearly you have something to tell us."

"And straight to the point as well," Khilbron sighed and opened a portal. "Your way lays to the South and West… to the Fire Ring Islands. This portal will take you to the Ember Light Camp. I have also sent provisions and some back up ahead. Now, go, the Door of Komalie and the last of the White Mantle and Mursaat wait. Now that you have broken their back, strike them in their hearts and finish them."

Selena nodded to the others, and when all others entered, including Brechnar Ironhammer, she turned to Khilbron, "I am guessing that you will be there as well?"

"Eventually, yes, I will, child. Now go."

She entered the portal and then, once Jalis was also out of sight, he turned into the Lich Lord and called the Lesser Lich, which he had animated from the corpse of Rurik, he said, "It all proceeds according to plan… soon… they will take me to the Door of Komalie and I will have all the power I need. And you can have her, if you wish. She is a necromancer, after all, I am sure she will be rather open-minded."

A glare was his only response. "Come, slave, you will aid me in killing them once their use is done."

The two entered the portal as well and disappeared from sight.