Chapter Twenty-Two:

The Floodgates Break

"General Descantes, incoming!"

"Hold your positions!"

"General, a message!"

"Unless it's Akula, I'm busy!"

The aide nodded, and rushed back to the command center. A few seconds of uneasy silence passed, and then a string of loud curses was heard from inside the building. Descantes looked at his commanders, and ran into the room. Cando was on the other end, screaming at Descantes's aides.

"By the High Elder, Cando," yelled Descantes, "is it possible to be any louder?"

Cando was furious. "If you would answer, and not give me this 'busy' line, I wouldn't have to!"

"I'm sorry, but I have a problem!"

"The Renegades? If you had responded a while back, we could've warned you!"

"What! You knew, and you didn't tell me?"

"You wouldn't answer!"

"Patriarch," called an aide, "You're needed!"

"You'll have help, of course," added Cando. "I'm almost there."

"We never got a chance to finish the defenses."

"We'll have to make do without them. I bring five hundred more troops."

"Good. Descantes, out."

He walked away, and turned to the aides. "Next time, alert me immediately!"

"But sir, you said…"

"Immediately!"

The confused aides shrugged as Descantes left the room.

"Major Rilo! Prepare the troops!"

"Yes, sir."

"Cando is coming. It'll be a hard battle, but we shall emerge victorious. Akiz Elder Higenti!"

----------

"On your guard, Suisane!" warned Suligan. "We're coming in hot!"

Suligan led his squadron over the valley of Chilaquand, and was dismayed at what he saw. Altoda had come, but it looked to be too late. Akula and Afrin's defensive positions were holding for the moment, but they looked ready to break at any second. Only one small strip of land was unassailed. It connected the Indosyne encampment to the shores of Talabad Lake. In the lake were two small islands. They, unlike the rest of Akula's camp, were not under attack, and it was there that Suligan landed. As he disembarked, he saw Afrin waiting for him.

"Suligan, why are you down here? Your fleet is needed up there."

"You look swamped, Afrin," Suligan replied. "Besides, Altoda is up there, with a few million Istean, and he told me to come down."

"So he has arrived. Suligan, all is in place for our victory!"

"It doesn't look like it to me, but I will trust you, my friend."

"Come, Suligan. The transports await us."

"Let's go. If we're going to win this, I want to see it happen."

"All right. Now you're showing some hope!"

Suligan laughed, and motioned his herd forward.

----------

The Company of Anegon was in trouble. Many of its' members lay dead on the plains of Chilaquand. From Elidion, Brandon and Jeremy had died, the last fighting heroically. Indeed, those that saw Jeremy's last stand said that he died among the bodies of over two dozen Renegades, including Matt, his brother. Other Adepts lost included Chris and Alex of Hydrolonia, both killed by Mute, Scott and Thomas of Grebuldine, Kaiyt, hailing from Imil, and Carter of Contigo. Neither Reno nor Mute appeared to be dead, but out of commission due to their fight.

In Mute's stead, Kailin was leading the Renegades. She made her way up Geormen Hill, but the elite vanguard of Elidion provided a fierce resistance. Her thrust had left the unguarded flanks of Sulit-Aladan and Delphi-Gladicle exposed. Into these ranks, many Adepts were firing Psyenergy, which took a heavy toll on the Dreg.

This was noticed by General Falcane, who ordered his squadrons into action.

"Ok guys, let's take 'em down!"

The Renegade positions fell under attack as Sulit-Aladan took command of the Dreg flanks. Under his cover from above, he attacked. The Adepts, though their anti-air defense was located on the other side of Chilaquand, tried to retaliate.

They were too late. What had been a triumphant march up Geormen Hill became a defiant stand on its' slopes. The Dreg let loose the fury they had apparently been carrying since Balecroft, and it took a toll on the Adepts.

"Not what Askinqua led you to believe is it?" asked Sulit-Aladan. "He expected no fight from Elephande. He did not expect the allies."

"You're a traitor, Dreg, you know that?" replied Kailin. "You once held the same goal I hold. You held it; you grasped it, and let it slip away. You're a traitor and a failure."

"I am also intelligent, knowledgeable, and not foolish. Elephande's strength lies not in numbers. While your hero Askinqua uses brute force to get the job done, Elephande uses skill and tactics."

"Hiding in a ship? Great tactic. He could do one better, and just run away."

"I wouldn't speak that way of Elephande if I were you. You don't know him like I do."

This was a new voice. Kailin turned, and saw a wizened figure behind her.

"And you are?" she asked.

"The Derógger Korla-Matriarch-Zela. Speak not of what you don't know, young one. Now, go, and leave my home!"

"This is your home? You mean something actually lived here?" Kailin laughed. "Make me leave."

Zela shrugged, and an attack came from behind her. The Renegades turned, and found themselves face-to-face with another forgotten monarch.

"Need some help, my friend?" asked Asender-Patriarch-Erandel.

"No, but I welcome it the same."

Zela charged now, and the two leaders caused chaos in the Renegade ranks. In the chaos, Erandel found an unconscious Kailin, and proceeded to take her to Elephande for further instructions.

----------

Richard stood waiting for the transports bearing Afrin and Suligan across the lake. As they disembarked, he greeted both of them.

"Patriarch, a word?"

"General? What is it?"

"The forgotten herds of Frontain have returned home."

"I knew that," replied Afrin.

"The what?" asked Suligan.

"The herds lost in Dwindler's War, Suligan," said Afrin.

"Yes. Elephande says it is time. If the task is to be done, it needs to be done now."

Afrin nodded. "And the signal?"

At this, Richard gazed back at him. "It's ready."

"Very well," sighed Afrin. "Tell my father. He'll take care of the rest."

Richard nodded, and walked off. Suligan looked at Afrin.

"What was that about?"

"Some things are better left unsaid, Suligan."

"Ahh, I see," he replied, returning to his troops.

Afrin stood, and thought about this turn of events. 'Well,' he thought, 'somebody has to do it, I guess.' What had his father told him about this cycle? Every Strife required at least one sacrifice, in order to move forward. Maybe luck would be with them, as it had been at the end of the First Strife. Nobody had really sacrificed his or her lives there, only honor. The honor of Istean was sacrificed at Graupia. Chilaquand would restore it, if the signal were truly ready.

----------

"Are you sure you want to follow through with this, my friend?" asked Elephande.

Richard nodded. "I must. We can't allow our civilizations to fade here."

"I agree. Be careful, and may Elder Higenti guide you."

"I'll need all the help I can get," said Richard, walking away.

For the first time, Elephande acknowledged his captive. "Go tell Askinqua something," Elephande growled at Kailin, bringing her back to consciousness. "Go tell him he has a challenger waiting."

Kailin nodded uneasily, and took advantage of her ability to teleport away.

Zambiandë looked at his brother. "I hope he knows what he's doing."

"We all do, Elephade. We all do."

----------

Cando and Descantes gazed at each other. Neither could bring himself to describe what they had just seen. One second, a highly agitated group of Renegade Adepts stood, waiting for any excuse to attack Ali-en-Vasa. The next instant, they were gone, leaving the two Relendiac generals with no idea where they had gone.

"We'll need transports, of course," muttered a still furious Cando.

"Yes, but we also need to know where they went."

An aide interrupted their conversation. "Sirs? Priority message from Anegon."

"I guess that answers our question," said Descantes.

Again, Cando was furious. "Get me Afrin, Akula, and Goraban," he growled. "Now!"

----------

Descantes's POV:

The face was hauntingly familiar. Though eight years had passed since the battle in Anegon, the face of Xavier – 'Reno' as he was then known – was still very clear in my memory.

All five of us present for Afrin's Test were watching a viewscreen: Akula, Afrin and Suligan watched from Chilaquand, Goraban from Relenda, and Cando and I from Ali-en-Vasa.

Xavier spoke. "I see my fame precedes me. Even Indosyne knows me."

Askinqua seems to be desperate enough to clone every fool that could be of any little use for him, doesn't he?"

"You see this as the desperate move of a fool? This is the calculated strike at a hotbed of unrest!"

"Unrest only towards you and Mute, if I remember correctly," replied the General as he left Akula's tent in Chilaquand.

Xavier laughed. "Please tell me you're sending him. I would love the chance to fight him again."

"Laugh it up. He'll send who he chooses, and it'll be your end when they come!" replied Goraban.

Xavier laughed again, and his screen went blank. Akula looked from officer to officer, and spoke.

"Descantes, you know the lay of Anegon. You and Cando shall lead the forces of Indosyne there."

I looked at Cando rather sharply, and replied, "Sir, Cando wasn't with us at Anegon."

"I know that. You, however, were at Anegon, and thus, you know quite well how to handle Adepts. Wait for Richard's group, or whoever he picks, and get to Anegon."

"That'll take too long," interjected Cando. "We're a couple hundred parsecs away, they can't make it here quick enough."

"Yes, but the can teleport directly to Relenda, and from there it's only a few hours to Ali-en-Vasa," explained Descantes.

Cando looked thoroughly confused.

"We don't get it either, General. We just don't ask," replied Afrin.

"I see."

Akula continued. "Goraban, you'll need to replace them in Ali-en-Vasa, of course."

"Indeed. I'll get Ranti on it immediately."

"Good. I think that's everything. Patriarch Afrin, do you have anything to add?"

"No. Go en Elder Higenti, friends!"

One by one, the viewscreens went blank. I turned to an aide.

"Until Ranti gets here, have the troops work on finishing the defenses. He'll probably need them."

----------

Richard gathered the still-living members of the Company of Anegon in an empty tent. They all looked the worse for wear. Allen and Cyrus had numerous cuts and abrasions from the mêlée, and the rest of the Company looked about the same. Reno was by far the worst, still lying half-conscious on a cot in the corner. After hearing Anegon's predicament, they all looked both shocked and furious.

"We can't spare all of us, so I was wondering if there are four or fiver willing to go," said Richard.

Cyrus nodded immediately. "You know I'm there."

"I agree," said Allen, "on one condition. Are you sure that everything Reno kills stays dead?"

The Company groaned. Reno looking a bit amused, replied.

"Except for Mute and Xavier, yes, I am sure. And in fact, I'll go help."

"Not like that, you won't, I think," replied Brooke.

"I'm fine," countered Reno, agitated. "Look," he said, trying to stand.

"You're needed here, Reno," said Rachel.

Reno, looking resigned but still agitated, shook his head. "Fine."

"Somebody has to uphold Elidion's charge," said Richard.

"I'll do it," Billy said.

Rachel nodded. "I can give you only a few warriors, but I think Afrin will add to our number."

"He will," agreed Richard. "I have his word."

Brooke thought for a second, and spoke.

"I'll do it," she replied. It was implied that Blair would too, of course.

"Alright then, that's five to go to Anegon. The rest of us will stay here and fight the main Renegade army."

At that point, a siren was heard. "That'll be Afrin. I must go," said Richard.

He walked out without a word from anyone else. After he left, the rest of the Company said their goodbyes and walked out of the tent, Reno supported by some of his troops. Outside, Billy was waiting for them.

"Afrin's promised a few hundred troops waiting on Indosyne. We'll teleport to Relenda, and take a transport to Port Ali-en-Vasa, where the troops await us."

"Please tell me they found a competent commander. Someone who's been to Weyard," replied Cyrus.

"The commander's names are Relendiac-General-Cando and Relendiac-General-Descantes."

"Descantes I can live with. He was with Afrin. Never met Cando."

Billy shrugged. "I was told his contingent is already with Descantes, and that's why he's coming. He'll add about three hundred troops to our count though."

Rachel walked back up. "Here's the position of Ali-en-Vasa. You are to teleport straight there."

"Understood, Elidiocan."

"Also, your troops are on the hilltop."

"Thank you," said Billy.

----------

Richard walked inside Afrin's tent, but Afrin was nowhere to be found. Elephande and Suliantig were present, and a suit of armor was on the long table.

"Your challenge was accepted, General," said Elephande.

"Great. Remind me again why I'm doing this, Elephande?"

"Civilization. Peace. Victory, among other things. You can take your pick."

"I have one," offered Suliantig. "Freedom. The ability to do what you choose and not what someone else imposes on you."

Richard smiled. "How about all of them, Elephande? The civilizations we'll save, not just these now, but all those that shall come later, will be built on foundations such as these."

"That will work," agreed Elephande.

"Now, before you go, we have made something ready for you," said Suliantig, pointing to the armor. "Each part of this armor was crafted by a different one of us. There are eleven pieces in all, including that sword and the shirt Altoda gave you. We can't promise a miracle out of it, but you will be surprised at what it can do."

"I stopped doubting your craftsmanship years ago, when Altoda gave me this shirt. I trust it can do more that you are revealing."

Suliantig laughed. "You are indeed wise beyond your years. You'll just have to wait to uncover everything this armor can do."

Richard looked over each piece of armor. The breastplate clearly, made by Suliantig, shined brilliant silver and displayed his insignia, the Mark, on it. He didn't recognize which member of the Ten had made the other parts, but it seemed something was missing.

"Wait. There's only eight pieces here."

Elephande smiled. "And so there is. My contribution to this is missing, of course."

"I thought you had made something," said Suliantig. "I saw it a second ago."

Elephande held out a small item, and Richard took it. It appeared to be a small dagger, maybe six inches in length. However, despite the short length, the dagger radiated energy.

"I put a good amount of my energy and power in there," Elephande explained. "You'll understand later, when you're fighting him."

Richard nodded, and started to put the armor on. He took off his old, worn armor, and looked at it briefly. It was the same set that had saved his life on numerous accounts, even before he met Afrin, and had been repaired many times by an astounded group of Intyde, with the results being that each time it was remade, it was actually stronger than ever. The only thing he left on was Altoda's Gift, that seemingly fragile shirt that had been all that remained after a well-timed strike by Mute. Each of the eleven pieces of this set seemed to be an exact match to every other piece in the set. It fit perfectly, and Altoda's Bane strapped easily around him.

Strangely enough, and perhaps because of its' crafters, this armor barely limited mobility. Indeed, it was almost like he wasn't even wearing armor. He stood, faced Elephande and Suliantig, and spoke.

"Thank you for everything. Altoda will come, correct."

"He will come, General," assured Elephande.

"It is by honor that he is held," said Suliantig, "and we Istean, yes I was once part of that herd, take our honor and bonds of honor very seriously. He will come at exactly the right time."

"That is what I was hoping to hear. I must meet him now."

"Go en Elder Higenti, General!" cried Suliantig.

"I'll need all the help I can get."

"You will get it, my friend."

Richard nodded. "Until next time, Elephande."

----------

The Adepts sat on a transport. They had been joined by Generals Descantes and Cando, and were approaching Weyard. Below them, they could see the vast expanses of sea, and ahead, a small speck of land. As they got nearer, the land was revealed to be bare, except for a walled city. The forests of Anegon had been burned by the Renegades when Mute attacked the city.

Cando stared at the desolation, a look of fury on his face. "Who would do this to such a beautiful forest? I heard countless tales of the forests of Anegon, and they are gone!"

"You met who did this, Cando. We let him go."

"I hope he meets a painful death, then."

"That is to be hoped."

"You said that this was a clone of the dead Xavier?" asked Brooke.

"Yes, but I think he will have his old memories, the ones from before his death," explained Descantes.

"He has enough to make this move," said Allen. "He never liked the fact that he couldn't beat Anegon."

"Then it's revenge?" asked Cando.

"Yes. Revenge is the motive for all this," said Blair quietly. "Not just for Xavier, but Askinqua and Mute as well. They all have losses to atone fore, as they see it."

One of the pilots came back to the area where they sat.

"Generals, we'll be arriving soon."

"Excellent," replied Descantes. "Cando? Ready the troops."

"With pleasure," said Cando, leaving the room.

As Cando left, the city of Anegon began to fill the windows. The stone towers, one the Tower of the Wind, guarding the way to Jupiter's elemental lighthouse, and the other, smaller one, the memorial tower, stood like silent guardians. It appeared that Xavier hadn't harmed the city yet. What he had been doing, however, was a mystery, but one that became apparent as they landed.

Vast earthen breastworks surrounded the city. Though they were feeble, theses defenses would serve well against an army that wasn't meant for a siege. The troops Elephande had sent numbered only a thousand, or close to that mark. Unfortunately, Xavier's true count was unknown, and the Adepts could only hope that it wasn't much more than that.

Silently, the army of Indosyne marched towards Anegon. They stopped just out of range of the defenses, and Descantes spoke to the Renegades.

"You would be wise to leave this place, I believe."

"Don't try to intimidate us, you fool," laughed Xavier. "I would have thought Elephande valued this city more, and sent more than he did. This should be easy!"

"Overconfident little bastard, isn't he?" murmured Cando.

"He always was," replied Cyrus. "He had the talk, but not the skills to back it up well."

The look on Cyrus's face was grave. For him, as well as Allen, the fight had been brought home to Anegon.