Told you it would be quick and here it is.

Disclaimer: I own it all!!!! ... No not really :(

FLAWLESS EVIL

To Act in Haste and (Part 1)

Simultaneously, the ice crystals that coated Reece's body shattered and fell, and a patch on the ground some metres away cracked with frost as Kaddison stepped back into life. Reece took only a moment to attire himself in something more than his undergarments before the two of them made their way out into the foyer and out into the town just as the sun rose.

Standing in the centre of the square Reece clapped his hands three times, across the city great thunderclaps echoed through the stone streets in response and high in the tower Mosrael began to ring with vibrant, loud chimes that spread out and echoed back to him from the mountains to the west.

Within minutes the important people were assembled in the square before Reece, some of them were in various states of undress and many of them were looking rather nervous. No doubt Reece's fierce appearance, now stained orange by the dawn sun, did little to assuage and fear they had. Making sure they were each and every one of them paying attention Reece addressed the generals, "Make sure your men are ready, we leave by sunset for war."

Amidst the clamour of questions that immediately erupted Reece simply turned and walked back into the stronghold. The great iron doors clanging shut behind him.

The Abhorsen knew where he was now and he had to act quickly to cripple his enemies before they could come against him. Racing up the stairs to the bell tower he left Kaddison to find and organise all the people within his new order to be in the foyer.

Finally arriving in the bell room he walked straight across to the windows and looked out, yes he was right. All across the hills to the west dead in their hundreds were making their way towards the town, drawn by the ringing of Mosrael earlier. Taking hold of the pull rope with both hands and whispering words of strength Reece yanked with all his might. Saraneth's deep tones rolled out from the town across the hillsides, immediately all the dead stopped in their tracks and then gathered together as was Reece's will. Satisfied he descended the stairs again, never once sparing a thought for the eighth bell still hanging in the tower…

Moments later he stepped into the main foyer again, his pace not having slowed once yet. Here he faced his new order of young people. Out of the many he selected three greens, two blues, three reds, two oranges and one pink The rest he instructed to return to their tasks as usual including the training regime's he had set them, he also told them that now Kaddison had returned he would be instructing the charter users in the more sophisticated uses of the magic. Leif and Knut were instructed to remain behind despite their eagerness to go. Those he had selected stayed with him for the rest of the day as he oversaw the preparations.

Everything was done in haste and by nightfall they were indeed ready to leave. The entire day people had been rushing to and fro, filling packs, preparing carts and beasts of burden, sharpening halberds and axes and oiling the leather armours till they creaked like they were newly made.

With a litany of harsh words Reece cast lights into the sky that drove off the darkness and blotted out the stars, for the area where the army walked, and where it walked to, it was almost as if the sun was indeed risen in the night. He marched them for six hours into the night, his army of living and of dead, before they were allowed to rest and the same for each day after that. Their guiding light always driving an arrow-straight line directly for Belisaere.

***

Two message birds left Sindle bearing messages, one went south towards High Bridge sent to Sameth, and the other went east towards Belisaere directed at King Touchstone. On its way though, the bird flying east was struck down by a hawk… the letter never reached the king. As such the city of Belisaere remained unaware of the white-mancer's location and approach until the lights appeared in the night sky to the west…

Meanwhile Lirael sat on her horse behind Sabriel. The Abhorsen was moving at a punishing pace but despite this Lirael was tired enough to be almost falling asleep in her saddle. Unknowingly they had passed Reece's battle train at a distance of several miles and were now headed straight for Navis where they expected to find the boy and hopefully stop him before things got too far.

Finally they crested the last rise and looked down on the town of Navis. The stone town sprawled below them contained within its walls and in the centre a formidable structure loomed, Lirael's tiredness was forgotten in an instant as she stared shocked at this massive fort-town that she had never known even existed. They rode down to the gates cautiously but it seemed that they had been spotted long ago, as they drew near a boy appeared on top of the walls. Lirael immediately recognised him as the boy that had tackled her in death and said as much to Sabriel.

Sabriel called up to him, "Surrender, we know you're all in there and we know your plans, the army is on its way here now and you will all perish otherwise."

Quietly at first but then louder over time the boy began to laugh, a high child-like laugh that sent goose bumps down Lirael's spine for all its seeming innocence.

"You're too late! The army left days ago," he called, "and we will not surrender… That means you lose." He added to this with a great charter blast of fire that arced out towards Lirael and Sabriel. They had to turn and take their horses away at a gallop.

Lirael didn't need to ask to know where Sabriel was headed, she was exhausted but numbly she just followed behind as Sabriel turned her horse southeast towards Belisaere. In her heart, she knew they were already too late…

Dun dun dun...

Enough said.