Chapter Nine:
Chilaquand

Elephande's POV:

They had arrived. Hundreds of transports carrying millions of Cladlen.

"Delagace? Were you at Frontian?"

"When the Five appeared? Of course I was!"

"And here, last time?"

"Yes, but why?"

"Those were just the warm-ups. This is the title fight!"

A loud voice rang down from a hill across the river.

"Is this all you bring against me, Elephande?"

Afrin responded. "Elephande? I am not he, and you see only a small portion of what shall be your downfall, Askinqua."

Askinqua laughed. "Elephande a sends a child as his champion? Where is the aged imbecile?"

Afrin erupted in fury. "Child? I do believe am the elder of you!"

"Judging by that response, you must be Afrin."

"And if I am?"

"You are extremely foolish to be here. You may indeed be my elder, but what do you know of war?"

"More than you think."

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Reno's POV:

"Give it up," I said. "You can't win here!"

"Oh? And who says that?"

"I do!" yelled Ryan. "Meteor Shower!"

"Protæus!" replied Mute, causing the meteors to deflect harmlessly against him. Your turn. Akromanda!"

"Niepdre!" The falcon grabbed the sword from the warrior and threw it away from the fight.

"Zambiandë!"

This caused a cry to escape Matt, who dove out of the way of the shadows. Three of them slammed into Mute, who collapsed to the ground.

"We're leaving!" yelled Kailin. She and Matt grabbed Mute and teleported away.

I dropped my sword to the ground, and turned to the others.

"That wasn't that bad," gasped Blair, right before she collapsed.

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Sulit-Aladan's POV

"I believe the phrase our friends use is 'By the High Elder!'" I said.

Suliantig's squadron appeared, and Suliantig himself started cursing.

Cain laughed. "That sounds about right."

A deck officer walked up. "They're hailing us."

Delphi-Gladicle spoke. "Of course they are! If large fleet appeared out of nowhere, what would you do?"

"I'm on it," said Cain. "Will? What can you do here?"

Will spoke. "This is the captain of the Delagate. We are returning from a classified mission."

"Do you expect them to believe that? Our identifier will show them different."

The bridges of our ships came alive then. In one second, our identifiers had changed to support the claim. The blockade spoke.

"You may proceed. Ground Command wishes us to inform you that airspace over the valley of Frontian is restricted. Doing some sort of testing over there."

"We'll keep that in mind."

The fleet dropped in on an approach.

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"You aren't welcome here, Askinqua. I banished you from our realm many years ago."

"Ahh, Elephande..." Askinqua started.

Elephande looked down, listening to Chief Algoshire.

"Sulit-Aladan will be here shortly. Suligan and Falcane are with him."

Askinqua had continued. "...I was hoping you hadn't died in one of your 'idealistic wars' before we met again. This is a moment I've waited 200 years for, and we can just let this last now, can't we? I mean, you don't seem to be going anywhere soon, do you?"

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Cain spoke up. "Sulit-Aladan! I have my shot!"

"Take it!"

The heavy artillery around Askinqua erupted in flames.

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Down below, Askinqua was beside himself.

"Is that your answer? The attack of these worthless Dreg?"

"That is their own response. They're not under my control."

"Very well, I guess two can play this game!" He roared a command to his troops.

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"Fire!" cried Delphi-Gladicle. "Take out as many as you can!" He moved to a tactical display, watching as Elephande's defensive positions fell under attack.

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Elephande surveyed the scene from the islands in Talabad Lake.

"Well, Afrin, we shall wait."

"I can handle a siege. I handled Mastredocil's on Balecroft for six months."

Delagace strode up. "I never though I'd see this day."

Afrin spoke. "The end of an age? That comes afterwards, to those who triumph here."

"And we may not see that day, Delagace," said Elephande. "For now, we shall fight!"