Chapter
Eight:
Afrin's Command
Afrin and Delagace stood on Nietyp Hill, at the head of the valley. Their host was massed some distance away, near the shores of Frontian.
"We should hold this position for many months," remarked Delagace, who had not seen battle for nearly eight centuries.
"Not if half of what my father says is true," replied Afrin, gazing at the sky.
Delphi-Gladicle's POV:
"Watch it, Cain, you've got one on you!"
"I'm on it! Echo, Caleb, with me!"
"Suligan, watch your left!"
The battle had raged for days upon end. I stood next to General Mastredocil, who was providing a commentary.
"We're away!" yelled Cain, streaking from the ruins of a Cladlen ship.
More explosions followed, and Sulit-Aladan spoke up.
"Everyone, out of there now!"
One lone fighter stayed behind, bringing chaos to the fleet of ships, waiting to swat him like a bug.
"Suligan, get out of there!" yelled Sulit-Aladan.
"That'll give 'em something to think about!" he yelled, flying from the mass of fireballs.
The last remaining capital ship exploded, and the fighters turned to flee.
"Suisane, to me! After them!" cried Suligan, dashing madly after them.
Allen's POV:
I stood there, watching Matt slowly wake.
"You're still here?" he sneered.
"Yep. And I will be for a while."
"You try to frighten me? It's your sword wielding friend who does all your work."
"Maybe it is," I agreed. "But I can act on my own."
He fell silent as lightning flew from my hands.
"Was that really necessary?"
"Maybe. What's it to you, Reno?"
"Traitor," said Matt. Reno quit laughing.
"To whom? I am no traitor to the Order."
"Order? I know nothing about the Order you seem to value."
"Like hell you don't," Reno replied. "Your brother is still one of our best fighters anywhere."
"Jeremy has dishonored us."
Reno laughed again. "And how did he do that?"
"Your Order is a society for the weak, Reno. You know not true power."
"And neither does the one you hold so highly."
In an instant, Matt was up, laughing as he ran out the door, only to be frozen.
"It's not quite that easy," said Brooke.
"Get out of the way!" yelled Reno, as Matt began to melt.
"Matt, you've failed me again! You expect me to put up with your failures? Go! I'll deal with them!"
"I told you long ago not to show your face to me again, Mute!"
"And I replied that I care not for restrictions another sets upon me!" Mute yelled, moving to fight Reno.
Chris's POV:
We walked back to the hideout early, following Mekae's suspicions.
"Do you know what it is you think went wrong?" asked Alex.
"The question is, do we want to know?" said Scott.
"Who's that in the doorway?"
"No idea, Thomas."
I recognized him at once. Long had he sat on my council, spreading whatever lies he felt would deceive us, always biding his time.
"What the...!"
"My thoughts exactly," said Mekae.
"Just what we need," said Cyrus.
"I thought he was dead!"
"No, the council said he wasn't. We can remedy that, however!"
We could hear Reno from inside.
"I could take you here, right now!"
"You vastly underestimate me!"
"Do I?"
The figure on the ground spoke. "Mute, behind you!"
Richard came running out of the bushes, roaring a command. "Zambiandë!"
"Akromanda!"
A strange looking warrior erupted from Mute's sword and erupted a barrage of flames at Richard, who ducked with extraordinary speed.
"Niepdre!"
Reno had summoned the spirit of a falcon, the ancient protector of his Order.
Mute had thrown Matt his sword back, and he joined the fight.
"Alsirandra!"
Out came Alsirandra, a legendary Adept from Grebuldine.
"How did he get our sword?" yelled Scott.
"I remember him. He was sent out to alert the Order of the events at Anegon, but it seems he never reached Elidion."
Mute turned back towards Reno, who leapt forward to fight.
"Hey, I'm over here!" yelled Richard, as Zambiandë slammed into Mute.
Matt tried to sneak behind Richard, but was stopped when a wall of earth came down on him. Mute again turned, this time unleashing fire towards Ryan.
"Niepdre!" The falcon flew towards Mute, letting loose a barrage of elemental forces. I heard one last voice before I froze.
Brooke's POV:
"Ice Missile!" cried the girl behind Chris.
"Kailin!" yelled Matt, getting up, "we could use some help here!"
"You aren't going anywhere!" snarled Ryan, jumping at him.
The girl had ran towards them, only to find Blair blocking her path. Their Psyenergy parried each other. Matt sent a spire of rock flying at Ryan, only to have it sent back at him. Mute now had two swords, and was dancing away from both Richard and Reno. I did the only thing i knew how to.
"Blizzard!" The ice fell everywhere. Matt and Ryan found their swords frozen, while Reno rushed over to defrost Blair. He had left Richard to deal with Mute alone.
"General!"
Sulit-Aladan moved
towards the window. "This can't be good," he said.
Thousands of Cladlen ship blocked their path to Afrin. "Afrin,"
he whispered, "your command is before you. Do not lose it!"
One ship sped past the blockade, drawing the general's attention. Altoda was returning home.
