Chapter Twelve:
Elidion's Order

Ryan's POV:

"Reno?" I asked. "Is there something you forgot to tell us?"

"Elidion's Army, the group Richard spoke of, is a lesser known name," said Reno.

Richard continued for him. "The group is better known as the Order of the Hidden."

"We safeguard Weyard's secret cities, such as Prox, Vesuvia, Grebuldine, and Anegon."

"So why are you living in Elidion?" asked Scott.

Andrea answered him. "Because Elidion is known as the place where all great Adepts used to meet."

Brooke laughed. "Somehow, I get the feeling Reno isn't the only member we have here."

"You're right," said Richard. "My father got in about twenty years ago, but left me in Anegon while he rushed to Prox seven years ago."

Mekae stared. "Prox? To the lighthouse?"

Reno nodded. "I was there as well. We had to make sure the legend wasn't true."

Andrea laughed. "The destruction of Weyard. Very popular prophecy, but yet so untrue."

"Still though," said Mekae. "What could you have done?"

"Not much," admitted Reno, "but we could have evacuated the areas, if possible."

Altoda stepped into he room. "We're coming in on Elidion."

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"Well, we can easily last to the middle of April, even if our calls went unheeded," said Elephande.

Zambiandë burst in. "Where in the name of the High Elder is Altoda? We could use his skill right now."

Delagace stood up. "April? I don't think I can hold up much longer."

At this, Defoc and Elephate stood up, angry at his admission of weakness, for they had done so much more with so much less.

Defoc spoke, his voice icy. "Has my bloodline become so tainted that you speak these words? Elephate, are you sure he is your grandson?"

"Not now, I'm not."

Elder Afrin appeared in the room.

"Ahh," said Zambiandë, "perhaps you know where Altoda ran off to."

Elder Afrin spoke to Elephande. "The message has been delivered."

"Message?"

"Elephande, what message?"

"Don't interrupt him."

"Gather the forgotten monarchs of Frontain. Thirteen and Twelve shall unite with Twelve, and fight with the Eldest. Unicely, Cónserver y Derógger! Children of the Second Strife, teach those of the Third how to fight, but learn from those who were before you. Just as the First and Second brought in the Third, so shall all three create the Fourth. These are the words of Elder Higenti."

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Carter's POV:

Elidion. The very name sent chills through my body. Countless legends were told about it, and a fear surrounded it. I always said I would never go there, and yet I was. Fate is strange.

As we drew closer, I began to notice a faint outline. One harbor provided entry to the city, and it was guarded by a single tower, a single eye, always watching. Altoda had joined us in Reno's boat, which was larger than any ever to pass through a port.

We passed under the tower, and only Reno kept his eyes forward. A figure, about my height, stood at a dock, guiding us to safety. Reno shouted at him.

"Billy, what's up?"

"Same as always, Reno. Who's all this?"

"The Company of Anegon."

Billy recognized Richard's face. "My, it has been a while! Years have passed since your family left us."

"Yes it has. Is Jeremy around?"

"Somewhere, but what's all this I hear about his brother?"

"Matt?" Reno laughed. "I took care of him. The Order shall not be his haven any longer."

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Elephande's POV:

"Hold fast!" yelled Dilan, patriarch of Asindir.

Thousands of our troops formed a single line, bracing against the onslaught.

"Take them down!" yelled Askinqua's son, Delanate. The Cladlen broke into a run, bringing their weapons to aim at us.

"Now!" I yelled.

The effect was immediate. Hundreds of Cladlen fell in a few seconds.

"Take cover!"

Fighters roared overhead, pursued by Cain and his ships. Enemy fire hit and killed Elronid, patriarch of Defoci. Shuddering, his daughter, Elrodac, took over his command.

Others had come, but where was Altoda?

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"Is it just me, or is everything really short?" At fifteen feet tall, Altoda could barely make his way through Elidion, and had to wait outside the building where Billy led them.

As they entered, another boy walked up. "Welcome back, Reno!"

"I see they've given you a commission, Brandon."

"New general means new commanders, my friend. You shouldn't be surprised to know that."

"And where is she?"

"In the Inner Chamber, waiting for you."

Reno went in, and came out half an hour later, speaking softly to a girl, about Reno's height, in a full black uniform, completely solid, save for a red star on one side.

"And these people, as you may have guessed, are the Company of Anegon," said Reno, much like a tour guide.

"I had presumed that," she laughed, turning to them. "My name is Rachel, general of Elidion's Army, as you may have guessed." She smiled as she caught Richard's eye. "Welcome back, old friend. I see that Reno can at least do some of the tasks that are set out for him. But he did find you before that idiot protégé of his destroyed your haven."

"Haven?" Richard laughed. "Anegon was hardly a haven for me."

"True. Perhaps you would have been better off with your sister then."

"What? I have no sister!" exclaimed Richard.

"Then we hid her well," laughed Reno.

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Delagace's POV:

I watched the Cladlen assault Suliantig and Sulit-Aladan, trying to cross Chilaquand. It was easier to defend those two small positions, so we could very well hold on for a while.

I then heard fighters overhead, a sound that was never native to this valley. My people downed two dozen of them before they fell under fire.

Elephande was right. None of the other battles I had fought here could prepare me for this. I found myself drifting back to my first battle...

Flashback, from The Dwindlers:

I heard voices, over at Fates Circle, in Elephande's territory. Elephate, my grandfather and patriarch of Defond, also heard them. He led a few of us to investigate the sounds. Then we saw Zambiandë fleeing the sounds. Naturally, we gave chase, knowing that it was he who had caused this.

Patriarch Elephande also followed him. "Take up the cry!" I heard him yell. After we had been told what to say, our voices split the night air.

"Death to the enemies of the Mark!"

Zambiandë waited for us at the Fords of Chilaquand. With that action, the madness later known as Dwindler's War had begun.

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Rachel gazed at Altoda. "So Elephande needs us again?" she asked.

"Yes, and as quickly as possible."

She turned to Brandon. "Sound the alarm. We leave in two hours!"

Brandon ran off to gather the troops.

"Billy, find Jeremy for me. You're going elsewhere."

Billy also ran off quickly, winding through the streets.

"Jeremy, Billy, and Brandon shall join you. Adepts of Elidion, as you have seen, are formidable foes indeed." She turned to Richard. "Reno shall take you to Caitlin. As your sister, and an Adept trained here, she will also be of great help."
Next she turned to Mekae. "You always were silent. Do I not look familiar?"

Mekae nodded. "I vaguely remember some family, and all of you, but not much more."

Reno spread his arms. "Well then, would it interest you to know that one of your cousins is among us right now?"