Guild Wars: Vengeance

by Ewol Navi

Called out of exile, a lone ranger returns home to the Land of the Golden Sun and finds the continent at war. In her quest to save Elona from evil and tyranny she makes alliances, forges a guild and faces the demons of Torment. Joined by an intrepid elementalist, she must end the ambitions of a mad Warmarshal ... before Nightfall comes. (Novelization of Guild Wars: Nightfall)

19. Chapter 18: The Journey Home

Ch. 18

The Journey Home

As Rakiv predicted, the Warmarshal's response was not long in coming. The outrage of the Kournan governor was felt all throughout her provinces. Occupation forces were positioned in every village, outpost and checkpoint, while heavier taxes were levied against the Kournan people. Many of the garrisons that the guild had cleared were re-staffed, and troop concentrations were increased. In the days and weeks that followed their success at the Dejarin Estate, Dormant Vengeance found its movements more and more restricted as the agents of the Warmarshal hunted them.

The nightly officers meetings were often filled with discussion over the darkening situation that loomed over them. And yet it was also curious that Varesh had refrained from any sort of all out assault. The Dejarin Estate saw the odd Kournan raiding party, but never encountered a full on attack. Similarly the Kournan Military seemed less preoccupied with actually killing guild agents. Many of those in the field told stories of being found and chased, but never once did the soldiers attempt to take their lives. Anicara and Nerashi told a similar tale when they made their report one evening, after an extraction mission to save Rojis.

"So you've been completely compromised?" Rakiv asked with a small sigh as she propped her feet up on the table.

"It was only a matter of time I suppose," the elementalist spy replied to her, "I'm not sure how I was found, but I can say this… they're getting better."

"The whole thing was weird," Anicara put in, "They had rangers with track rats on our tail for at least two days. They almost had us in Poghan too!"

"That was far, far too close," Nerashi shook her head at the memory, "We managed to get lost in the Barbarous Shore but… its very strange that they didn't take us when they had the chance."

Rakiv spent a moment nodding in silent contemplation, and then lifted her gaze to arch an eyebrow in Alendra's direction.

"Tactician Soleer, any thoughts?" she asked.

"Well… Nerashi's previous reports have shown us that troop concentrations are heaviest around Jahai right?" Alendra recapped.

"With more arriving every day," Nerashi confirmed.

"Then… I think she's preparing for something," Alendra nodded, "She's spending just enough manpower to keep us quiet, but she can't afford to spread her troops out. Right now, I think she wants to know where we are… and who's helping us."

"And until then, we're going to have to tread lightly," Rakiv said with a slow nod, and then turned her attention across the table, "Melonni, you said you talked to some earth spirits or something?"

"I performed a communion walk through the Marga Coast," Melonni spoke up from where she sat, "Elder Jonah has been asking me for some time now to speak with the land and the river and discern the nature of this drought. It's gotten worse with the arrival of the summer season but… there's more to it than that."

"What did you find out?" the guildmistress asked.

"The land is greatly tormented, and the Elon itself is in much pain," Melonni sighed, running a hand through her hair, "Along my walk I was attacked several times by the spirits… or what used to be spirits."

"Used to be?" Kydar asked, speaking for the first time since the meeting began.

"Yes," Melonni said, her features etched with worry, "There are a great many spirits that reside in the land, the guardians and protectors of nature. I fought these spirits but they seemed to have been changed, perverted… corrupted. They reeked of evil, and it was not until I reached the Marga Ancestor Tree that I found the demon responsible for this change."

"Demon?" Alendra interrupted, "I thought all the demons held by the Elon were east of here, near Mahnkelon?"

"As did I," Melonni said, "And all the lore agrees. The riverbed near Ronjok is one of the oldest branches of the Elon, and it is natural, not manmade. The only way this could have happened is… if it came from the river itself."

"That can't be!" Tahlkora exclaimed, "The Elon is a holy river. Demons can't come out of it. Are you sure it wasn't sealed there before?"

Melonni placed her hands over her face, grinding her palms into her eyes in silent meditation. Finally she lifted her gaze and gave a slow nod.

"I have felt this evil before… it was from the caged creatures we saw when we took Gidara and rescued Jonah," Melonni said slowly, "It may be that the military has something to do with this."

"So either it was brought there," Rakiv concluded, "Or there's something in the water."

"Either way, it's bad news," Kydar added, "If Varesh is learning to corrupt earth spirits, we could see some serious reinforcements added to her army."

"Melonni stay on this," Rakiv nodded to the other woman, "If something is wrong with the Elon we need to know what. As for the rest of you, spread the word that we're going to keep a low profile for now. Recall our recruiters and get word to the spies to keep their heads down. I know it's getting bad out there, but we can't help anyone if we're compromised again."

"How long are we going to just hide then?" Dunkoro asked, obviously displeased with the turn of events.

"Until we hear from Margrid," Rakiv stated, "Our wounded have suffered for too long as it is. We've stabilized them and made them comfortable over the past couple of months, but I want to get them home. And we can't do that if we keep fighting on multiple fronts. For now we're pulling back until we get those men on ships back to Istan. Any objections?"

The hall was silent, for there were none. With a nod of satisfaction the guildmistress pushed back her chair and rose to her feet.

"Then have your divisions get ready," Rakiv said, "It might be awhile before we get the message, but I want to be ready to leave as soon as it gets here. There's a lot to prepare for to move all these people. Understood?"

Heads nodded all around and Rakiv thumped a fist against the table to end the meeting.

"Dismissed," she ordered.

---

The letter arrived a full week later, and not a moment too soon. The guild had managed to procure a number of large, covered wagons for their trip. Such vehicles were usually meant for transporting trade goods, such as produce or top soil. But the guilds' smiths had added benches, tarps and a number of handles to make it suitable for people to ride in. After reading the guild's rather carefully worded request, Mirza Veldrunner agreed to lend the guild a brigade of his best runners, to act as guards for the caravan and to pull the wagons as well. Much to his chagrin, Zhed was named "Chief Wagon Hauler" and was put in charge of organizing the centaurs and assigning them to their wagons.

Margrid's letter instructed the guild to meet her in two days, on the shores of the northwestern most territory of Kourna, the Sunward Marches. While the guild prepared for the journey, Rakiv sent her Intelligence and Special Ops departments to go ahead of them and scout the Marches. At Rojis' recommendation, it was decided that the caravan would head for the Marches by way of the northern tracks of Turai's Procession. Since the liberation of the Dejarin Estate, these lands were once again firmly under Centaur control, and Mirza promised them safe passage. The caravan would meet with the scouts at the ancestral burial grounds of Venta Cemetary.

By mid-day the caravan was ready to move, and for the most part its passengers were in good spirits. Over the months they'd hid beneath Kourna's soil, the Sunspear remnant had largely recovered to states of general health. It was no question however, that many of the men would never be fit to fight again. Crutches and canes abounded amongst them, while those who were proud strode with barely discernable limps. Several of the soldiers bore their old armaments, and loaded a number of Sunspear shields and spears into the wagons. It had been the consensus among the soldiers that they would return to Istan the same way they had left it, as proud and noble warriors. They would tell the stories of the suffering they had seen, of the cruelty of the Kournan army, and of the evils of the Warmarshal. Rakiv supported this initiative, with the hope that the stories the Sunspears told would corroborate the letter she would send to the Council… a letter that Kydar was even now in the midst of writing.

"How's it coming?" the ranger asked him from the wagon seat.

The pair sat on the bench from which a wagoner would usually drive the livestock. Instead Rakiv leaned against the tarp pole while the centaurs clopped ahead of them, with all the dignity they could muster while wearing a yoke on their backs. Kydar chuckled lightly to the ranger's question, without looking up from his parchment.

"It's lucky for you that I learned to write on the road a long time ago," Kydar answered.

"Well you're an Assisted Protectorial… whatever it is," Rakiv shrugged as she butchered his title, "Don't they teach that in whatever brain tank you came from?"

"Assistant Professorial," the elementalist corrected with a sigh as he looked up at her, "And no, they don't. This comes from experience."

"Oh, well excuse me," Rakiv snickered, "And all this time I thought the fancy title was just for show. Can you do other cool stuff, like read with your eyes closed?"

"Ignoring you now," Kydar replied, and then after a moment's pause he added, "And yes, actually I can do that. The Academy's been introducing a new kind of writing style, to better suit our members who are blind."

"They make everyone learn that?" Rakiv queried with a puzzled frown.

"No… not everyone," Kydar responded and then lifted the parchment from his lap, "Okay, tell me how you like this."

"Esteemed members of the Council. It is my hope that this letter finds you all in good health. What follows is an account of the grave matters that have transpired in my absence from the island of Istan. As you may know by now, the Sunspears are not dead, and all is not well in Kourna. The length of these matters are too great to record here, and so I have attached a copy of my report of the conflict as it has unfolded. You will find that it is written with the highest degree of accuracy attainable by a single scribe, and I have marked it with the Academy seal which guarantees that what is written is the truth. Once you have read the contents of my report, we ask that you send us your answer to these questions. What aid can you send us? What news have you heard from Kourna? And how do you recommend we proceed? We eagerly await your wise and venerable council. Signed, Assistant Professorial Scribe Kydar Raelesin; for her Illustrious Imminence Rakiv Maelstrom, Guildmistress of Dormant Vengeance.""

There was a long moment of silence as Rakiv stared at him, her expression curious and contemplative. Kydar finally gave a sigh as he shook the letter to let the ink dry.

"I know, it's fancy!" he groaned in exasperation, "But bureaucrats like this kind of stuff! And… what on earth are you laughing about!?"

The guildmistress had burst into laughter as the scribe tried to explain himself. After several moments the woman contained herself and merely shook her head.

"Nothing at all," she chuckled, "It sounds good. We'll send that and see what they say."

"Good," Kydar huffed indignantly.

"You are way too easy to mess with," the ranger chuckled as she turned her eyes back to the road ahead of them.

"Are we there yet?" the elementalist grumbled impatiently.

Unfortunately for the scribe, it was another hour and a half before the caravan finally reached the gates of Venta Cemetery. Established as a burial ground for dead soldiers, Venta Cemetery was a place swathed in rumors and superstition. It had been in use since the early conflicts of Varesh's career as Warmarshal, when the Sunstrider pride of centaurs attacked Kournan farmers in the Sunward Marches. Varesh's campaign against these centaurs was a bloody one, and while it ultimately ended in her victory, it came at the cost of many good soldiers. And so these men had been buried here, in a broad cemetery meant to stand as a monument to their sacrifices.

It was often said, however, that the dead did not rest peacefully here. The ensuing conflicts with the other centaur prides had roused the spirits from their slumber, as these brave soldiers attempted to continue their duties even in death. More than once ghostly regiments had been seen performing marching drills amongst the graves, and some nights phantom watchmen could be seen patrolling the wall tops. While most people, including the military, chose to give the place a wide berth, many families who had lost sons in the war chose to make their homes here. It was thus that the Cemetery became a trading post, where centaurs and humans alike came to sell their goods for Kournan silver.

The tiny town was all too happy to allow the Sunspear caravan passage through their gates, once Kydar convinced them they had goods to sell. As the wagons came to a halt, the centaur escort gathered around Mirza as he approached the guild's leader.

"We can go no further with you Rakiv Maelstrom," the centaur chief explained, "My pridesmen and I must return to our lands and protect our dens. I will leave my runners with you, to protect your people and pull your wagons. In this manner, we will repay you for the freedom you gave us."

"Glad to hear it Mirza," Rakiv chuckled up at him, "Though just between you and me, I don't think you really needed my help."

"If my experiences over the last few months have taught me anything, red one," the chieftain chuckled deeply, "It is that we centaur are proud, perhaps too proud. And that pride has been our undoing. It is my hope that from this point forward, you can count on us and we can count on you."

"I like the sound of that," Rakiv replied, offering a hand to shake, "Good luck on the plains."

"And you as well huntress," Mirza replied, shaking the ranger's hand in his large, blue fist, "Wherever your path leads."

With that the centaurs left, leaving behind their pridesmates who were still yoked to the wagons. Rakiv turned to take stock of her situation. The time to send these men home had come at last. They had fought well and worked hard, the guild owed much of its success to their heart and spirit. Now all she had to do was lead a caravan of invalids across the open plains of the Sunward Marches. Hardly a problem.

"Rakiv!" Kydar's voice called from across the town square, "We've got a problem!"

A heavy sigh slipped from the ranger's lips as she made her way across the dusty square, to where the scribe stood with the scouting squad. All four appeared very dusty and out of breath, and were sitting on low benches while drinking deeply from water skins.

"… the only way is if we were compromised," Rojis was saying, "There's no other way."

"No other way, what?" Rakiv asked, her brow furrowing as she stepped up next to Kydar, "What happened?"

"They know," Anicara said, panting lightly before returning to her water skin.

"They know? They know what?" Rakiv demanded.

"The military is aware of our movements," Melonni spoke up, leaning one shoulder against the snathe of her scythe, "The Morzek Garrison is on high alert. The Warmarshal diverted a sizeable troop contingent to this area to provide reinforcements."

"They know we're trying to cross the Sunward Marches," Nerashi put in, "At the moment, it seems they do not know why though. But the situation remains very grave."

"They've got guard towers set up all over the Marches," Anicara chimed in, "Fully staffed and equipped with spotters. They see us, they send up a flare pattern to call shots for the garrison."

"Morzek has been recently outfitted with long range bombards," Rojis sighed, handing the water skin back to Kydar, "They arrived when the reinforcements did. Apparently… they were brought by General Bayel himself."

"Bayel?" Rakiv blinked in surprise, "Bayel is here?"

"Where are you getting this information?" Kydar asked suspiciously.

"We captured the closest outpost," Melonni explained, "Questioned the gaurds who surrendered… why do you ask?" she paused in confusion.

"Because I find it odd that an entire divison of the Kournan army marched up to Morzek and no one in the guild knew about it," Kydar said, stroking his goatee thoughtfully, "Our intel has never failed us before… but now our movements are compromised, a military division slips under our nose, one of Varesh's big three passes through and no one knew about it?"

"Like I said, we were compromised," Rojis said with a shake of his head, "Some of our outlying spies are still unaccounted for. One of them could have been captured."

"Or we could have a mole.." Kydar grumbled lowly.

"Doesn't matter right now, we can clean house later," Rakiv broke in, "Tell me about these guard posts."

"There are twelve of them," Nerashi began her report immediately, "We don't have exact locations but we know that they're spaced for maximum coverage of the Marches."

"These towers were built during the centaur wars," Rojis informed, "So they had to be able to keep centaur raiding parties from getting through. They're quite effective, but they do have one major flaw."

"That is?" Rakiv asked.

"The terrain," Melonni explained, "The Sunward Marches were once a seabed. The waters receeded and we're left with very irregular terrain. There are many small drop offs, hills and rock faces that make absolute surveillance impossible."

"Mmm… I remember that," Rakiv nodded slowly, "Worked in my favor when I was hunting Mahto Sharptooth."

"Well it's something of a double edged sword," Rojis said, "Cause the Kournans are aware of this weakness, and have rolled out a pretty dastardly new weapon."

Anicara reached into her satchel and withdrew what looked like a large iron nail. It was pointed at both ends and roughly ten inches in length. It wasn't crafted to be a precise weapon, and was obviously just scrap iron that had been beaten into a pointed, cylindrical shape. Rakiv reached forward and tested the tip with one gloved finger, raising an eyebrow at how sharp it proved to be.

"It's called a sentry trap, that's one of its darts," Rojis explained, "A wicked device really. The whole thing is big round plate, about two to three feet diameter. The plate is attached to the main device in the center, where it sits on top of a pressure gauge over a charge of spark powder. If you step on the plate, the pressure changes, ignites the powder and the trap is sprung."

"When that happens," Anicara said, holding up the spike horizontally, "This round ball gets shot up out of the ground, spinning real fast. And as it spins, it flings dozens of these little buggers out in all directions."

"One of the guards running from us stepped on one by accident," Melonni said with a grimace, "It did not end well for him."

"They've placed these traps all over the marches, buried under the dirt so you can't see it until you've triggered it," Nerashi said, "And if you're close enough to trigger it, you're too close to get out of range of the spikes in time."

"These things are around every corner," Rojis sighed, "And the terrain just made them easier to hide. If one of our wagons rolls over one of these…"

"I get the picture…" Rakiv muttered, "Ideas for countermeasures?"

"Well they can be disarmed," the spy said, scratching his chin thoughtfully, "There's a pin that you twist and pull to lock the mechanism closed… but you'd have to be quick. Once you've struck the plate you have mere seconds before the trap fires."

"First one we find, you show me how to disarm," Rakiv ordered, "As for the guard posts and the bombards… I think we stand a better chance if we divide their attention."

"Split the caravan?" Kydar guessed.

"Yes," the guildmistress responded with a curt nod, "One group goes north, the other heads south. We'll have assault teams go ahead of each of the caravans to suppress any guard posts in the area. If we take out the guard posts before they can send up flares, the fortress stays blind and can't fire on us."

"There is… one other thing to be aware of," Melonni spoke up, "We think Varesh assigned her final two acolytes to Bayel's command."

"Yes, according to Jin's report," Nerashi put in, "There was one at Elonajok Hold, but it left shortly before we arrived. Unfortunately we don't know what to expect from these two, because so far they've never been deployed in battle."

"Jin can probably tell me more," Rakiv nodded thoughtfully, "In the meantime, let's get organized. Kydar, gather the rest of the officers. I don't want to have to repeat myself."

"Yes ma'am," the scribe replied and trundled off to carry out the order.

The ranger sighed as she selected a carved stump to sit upon. She had hoped that for once, it would be a straightforward mission. All she wanted was to lead a caravan through the desert and be done with it, but even that had to be complicated. She rubbed her palms against her eyes and groaned lightly with displeasure at her state of affairs. The scuffle of shoes and sandals alerted her to the approach of the others and she looked up to find herself looking at her command team. Not bothering to rise she waved a hand to bid them to gather around her while she explained their plan.

"Alright, here's how this is going down," Rakiv said, leaning forward to draw in the dirt, "We have some complications, the intel team will brief you once we're underway. But this is how we're doing this. We're splitting the caravan into two groups, four wagons to each. General Dunkoro, Castellan Soleer?"

"Ahai, Guildmistress," both responded in unison.

"You two are leading the northern caravan," she explained, drawing a line in the dirt, "You'll be taking this route through the bluffs. Use the hills to stay out of sight and out of range of the Morzek Garrison. Nerashi, Melonni, Rojis and Lonai?"

"Yes, Guildmistress?" the four officers leaned forward to look down at the ranger's map in the dirt.

"You four are the suppression team for the north caravan," Rakiv instructed, "Sweep ahead of the caravan and clear out any patrols you come across. Your primary objective is to neutralize these guard outposts," she illustrated by poking dots in the sand, "And you have to do it quickly. Each outpost has to be neutralized before they fire their flares to alert Morzek."

"Understood," Rojis nodded.

"Myself and Scribe Raelesin will lead the southern caravan," she said, drawing another line leading southwest around the fortress, "We'll take this route across the plains. Anicara, Anorah, Sousuke and Koss are our suppression team. Sweep patrols, neutralize guard towers and do not let them signal the fortress."

"Got it," Koss agreed.

"Questions?" Rakiv asked.

"Guildmistress," a voice called from the back of the group.

The officers parted to allow the speaker through. Acolyte Jin, now clad in full Sunspear armor, finished buckling a quiver across her back and held up her bow to her fellow ranger.

"Requesting permission to join the suppression teams," Jin stated militarily.

"Actually Jin," Rakiv raised her head, "I have a special assignment for you. The rest of you, get to your posts. We move out in five minutes."

There was a quick, unified stomp as the officers stood to attention, saluted and turned to do their guildmistress' bidding. Jin's usually severe expression crinkled in confusion as Rakiv smudged out her dirt map and beckoned for the other ranger to follow her. The Canthan archer gave a nod of acknowledgement as she followed Rakiv toward the head of the caravan.

"I need to speak with Yurukaro," Rakiv said, tugging a rolled up parchment out of her pack, "She'll want to know… about Kormir… and I also need a little advice. I need you to get this to her."

"Due respects senpai…" Jin began, still obviously confused, "Why not speak with the General yourself? I'm certain she would be pleased to see you."

"Cause I'm not going with you Jin," Rakiv said with a small sigh, "Me and most of the officers are staying here, to keep the guild and the resistance running. I'm sending Koss back with a letter for Suhl and the council, asking for help and supplies. But we have to keep fighting here, and somebody's got to lead the fight."

"I understand…" Jin nodded and accepted the letter from Rakiv, "But I do not see why I cannot fight. I am a servant of Balthazar. My place is on the front lines."

"Cause you still haven't recovered from what they did to you in prison," Rakiv said, "And I can't afford to lose your talent in the field."

"Guildmistress, I am fit for battle!" Acolyte Jin protested with a frown.

Rakiv stopped and spun on her heel to face the other archer, placing her hands on her hips as she fixed the other woman with a critical stare. Jin returned the gaze with resolute determination, attempting to show her that her will remained strong.

"Draw your bowstring," Rakiv said with a nod to the ranger's weapon.

The Zaishen archer did as commanded and raised her bow as she took her stance. Taking the string by two fingers she pulled back on it, displaying what was (to the untrained eye) a perfect archer's form. Rakiv stepped closer, her eyes narrowing slightly as she examined the other ranger.

"The gash on your shoulder blade still hurts," she surmised, "And your left ankle is still weak."

Jin blinked in slight surprise and half turned her head to look at the other archer.

"How do you…?" she began.

"Your elbow is trembling," Rakiv said, lifting a hand to the other woman's joint to still its vibrations, "And you're leaning in your stance, favoring your right leg for balance. Not only will your accuracy be off, but if you keep firing like this you'll re-open that shoulder wound. You are not ready Jin. I need you elsewhere for now and I need you to recover completely so I can put you back on the front line."

The Zaishen slowly relaxed, allowing the bow string to snap back as she stood upright once more. Rakiv placed a hand on the other archer's shoulder and gave a nod.

"But there's one other way you can help me," Rakiv said, "I need to know everything you saw when you encountered the Acolyte of Dwayna."

"I will… try to remember," Jin scrunched her brow.

"Good," Rakiv nodded, "Take your post at the first wagon. Brief me on the way. We have to get this caravan moving."

"Yes, guildmistress," Jin agreed and moved to follow her orders.

Rakiv gave a small sigh as she turned to survey her caravan. Modified produce wagons drawn by indignant centaurs, hardly the armored convoy she would have liked but it was all she had. As usual her troops were at a disadvantage, and she could only hope they would pull through.

"Alright, let's get this show on the road!" she called out, "Zhed! Move 'em out!"

"All hooves, forward. March!" the centaur snapped to his comrades.

With a heavy creak of wood the western gates to Venta opened wide as the caravan started forward. Rakiv hopped up onto the first wagon and took her place on the bench seat behind Zhed. The centaur clopped through the gates and out into the open fields of the Sunward Marches.

A broad swath of sprawling savanna, the Sunward Marches was one of the most beautiful regions of Kourna. It was also the least inhabited. For as long as the people of Kourna could remember, the Marches had been home to the Sunstrider Pride, one of the most aggressive and brutal of all centaur prides in Elona. Unlike the Redhoofs from the Marga Coast or the Veldrunners of Turai's Procession, the Sunstriders had obstinately refused to allow human settlements on their lands. They had objected even to the settlements near their boarders, such as Dajkah Inlet and old Venta, and displayed their displeasure with regular (and usually bloody) raids. Shortly after being made Warmarshal, Varesh's hand was forced when a particularly savage attack resulted in many deaths at Dajkah.

Thus Varesh had begun her first military campaign, to drive back these centaurs and break their offensives once and for all. The campaign had been dubbed the Sunward March, as it was a clean sweep from the western coast towards the east and the rising sun. In the end Varesh proved her ruthlessness as a commander by executing the pride leader and chopping down the Marches' Ancestor Tree. On the spot where the tree once grew she established the Morzek Garrison and declared that such would be the fate of all who dared threaten her beloved Kourna.

It was this very garrison, a testament to the lengths to which Varesh would go to destroy her enemies, that the members of Dormant Vengeance hoped to sneak past. Situated on the highest ground in the region, the garrison held a commanding view of the marches and its eyes were aided by the many outposts that had been built all across the Marches. Rakiv stood on the wagon bench and squinted against the sunlight that baked the sandy plains. In the distance she could already spot the spires of a Kournan guard post, and her mouth twisted with displeasure. A creak to her right caught her attention and she turned to see Kydar pull himself up into the wagon beside her.

"Well I talked to some of the local merchants," he said, elevating his voice over the clop of hooves and creak of wagon wheels, "Some of the shadier folks said the best way to get past the fortress is to go to the north and follow the crags all the way eastward. It'd keep us out of sight of the fort and the outposts."

"Mmm, if Bayel is half the tactician they say he is, then his patrols will be heaviest there," Rakiv shook her head, "We stand a better chance of silencing the guard posts."

"Mmm, agreed," Kydar nodded slowly and gave a small grumble as he stared out across the savanna at Morzek, "It's a pity we can't rush the garrison with this lot. Assassinating Bayel would seriously weaken Varesh's military."

"There's a good chance Bayel's hoping we'll do just that," Rakiv nodded, "A target as high priority as him is almost too good to pass up."

"You think that's why he brought the acolytes?" Kydar asked, arching an eyebrow up at the red-headed ranger.

"Maybe…" Rakiv said as she chewed her lip thoughtfully and then turned around, "Speaking of acolytes… Jin! Report."

The Zaishen archer looked up from her spot at the back of the wagon and rose to her feet to make her way forward. Rakiv sat down and Jin crouched next to the wagon bench as they rolled forward through the Marches.

"I saw the Acolyte of Dwayna at Elonajok," Jin said, "She was in command of the troops there. She appears to be an ordinary dervish. But from what Anorah told me of the others you've faced, I believe this acolyte is vastly more skilled."

"What do you mean?" Rakiv asked, turning her ear towards Jin in an effort to hear her over the clamor of their progress.

"According to Acolyte Basilisk, the other acolytes you faced could not use their powers without making a complete transformation," Jin said loudly, "This was not so with the Acolyte of Dwayna. I saw her in combat, when a small group of the Kournan soldiers objected to her orders."

"What happened?" Kydar asked curiously.

"She struck them down," Jin said, her brow furrowing as she searched for a means to explain what she had seen, "But it was unlike anything I have ever seen. The men struck at her, but no sooner than their blades left her flesh she had already begun to heal. Try as they did, they could not truly wound her. Once she had slain them I watched her pull a battleaxe out of her shoulder and toss it aside, as though it had merely been an annoyance."

Rakiv frowned with displeasure. A foe that could heal that quickly would not go down easily. She glanced at Kydar who seemed to be engaged in similar thought as he slowly stroked his gotee. A call from further back in the caravan caught her attention and she looked up to where Alendra was waving to her.

"We should split here!" the paragon shouted, "We'll make for that outpost and have the team sweep it!" she called, pointing to the northeast.

"Alright, just be sure to watch out for…" the ranger began.

A heavy thump cut her off as the wagon wheel struck what felt like a pothole. The sound that followed however told her it was no ordinary pothole. A zipping noise, like rope or twine being rapidly dragged over a rough surface reached her ears and she sprang from the wagon immediately. Rojis raced to the wagon wheel and clawed at the sand frantically. His digging uncovered a large metal rung which he gripped with both hands and sharply twisted. A hiss of steel and a snap sounded from somewhere below the ground and the elementalist spy yanked the rung out of the ground. A mere second later a heavy clang caused a spray of dirt and sand to erupt at their feet, and Rakiv turned away to shield her eyes from the debris.

Rojis sputtered and spat as he waved away the dust to look down at his handiwork.A large metal plate had been revealed beneath the ground, though it was now badly misshapen. The spy leaned forward, reinserted the metal key and twisted it the opposite direction. Another metallic snap unlocked the device and Rojis pushed open the hatch, releasing a plume of black smoke from inside the machine. He scrunched his brow as he waved away the smoke and reached inside to draw out a large steel orb filled with holes. Many long spikes spilled out of the orb as Rojis lifted it up and offered it to Rakiv, who accepted it gingerly.

"And that," he panted, wiping his brow on the back of his glove, "Is how you disarm a sentry trap."

"So if you're quick, you can lock the hatch shut," Rakiv nodded slowly as she understood what he had done, "Which keeps this thing inside even once the trap fires."

"Indeed it does," Rojis nodded, rising to his feet, "So we'll have to stay on our toes."

"That's standard procedure these days…" Rakiv said as she turned the orb over and a few of its spikes spilled out at her feet, "But I agree, stay sharp. We'll part ways here. And remember those guard towers. I want no casualties on our side today."

"Yes, guildmistress," Rojis saluted and turned back to his half of the caravan.

"Alendra!" Rakiv called, dropping the metal sphere to the sand, "You ready?"

"Caravan standing by guildmistress!" the paragon called back.

"Move out!" the ranger shouted.

With the whinnies of centaurs and the creak of wooden wheels the caravans separated, each curving along their planned routes to skirt the Kournan garrison. Rakiv jumped into the back of the lead wagon as Zhed turned southwest, and snorted orders to the wagon teams that followed him. The ranger hunkered down for the ride and inspected the personnel in her wagon. As planned the lead wagons contained none of the injured men or women who would be going home today.

Instead the front wagon was the carrier for the suppression team, while the head officers gave directions to the centaurs. This allowed the following wagons to travel on a pre-tread path, effectively making the lead wagon a sort of minesweeper. While this put most of Rakiv's high command in the most dangerous position, the ranger preferred this arrangement. If something went wrong, she would know first and trusted that she and her officers had the strength and skill to do something about it.

"Guard post spotted," Kydar said, keeping his voice low enough not to carry over the dunes, "Bearing south southwest."

"Alright, make this clean," Rakiv instructed, "You have thirty seconds. Clear the post… go!"

All four members of the suppression team dismounted and raced quickly, yet quietly across the dunes. Koss led the way and slowed as he approached the outcropping that overlooked the guard post. The terrain was such that he was nearly level with the spotter's nest atop the post, but the vegetation kept the warrior hidden from sight. He motioned to his comrades, and with flares of magic from Anicara and Sousuke the attack began.

From their vantage point in the wagon, Rakiv, Jin and Kydar watched as the team launched their assault and for a moment disappeared behind the outcropping. Kydar murmured under his breath, counting down the remaining time as Rakiv gave a small sigh and chuckled to Jin.

"Well I see why you wanted to be out there," she said a little wryly, "This is boring."

"Why do you rangers always feel like you have to be in the middle of a fight?" Kydar asked, "Sometimes it's nice to just kick back and let everyone else do the work."

"Not what I wanted to hear from one of my main casters," Rakiv chuckled, "But what can I say? I love the action."

"Aaaaand time!" Kydar said as he stood on the wagon seat and peered at the outpost, "We'd better see flags or we're gonna see flares," he said anxiously.

For a few tense seconds there was nothing. Finally the hooded figure of Anorah appeared from behind the outpost, waving a makeshift flag made out of a bloody garment and her scythe.

"And that's our cue," Rakiv said, "Zhed, move us up."

"Move up!" the centaur snapped and clopped forward towards the outpost.

The caravan headed forward, following in Zhed's wake as they pulled up to the outpost. The suppression team was busy cleaning up from their battle, which had been little more than a short scuffle. Anicara busied herself looting the bodies, while Sousuke followed behind her to sink the corpses into the earth. Koss slid his sword into his sheath and knelt over the body at his feet to wrench his machete out of its chest. The warrior wiped the blade on the dead man's clothes and returned it to his shoulder sheath as he followed Anorah back to the wagons.

"Outpost clear," the dervish woman reported as she climbed up into the wagon.

"Good work," Rakiv nodded to them, "Everyone load up and let's get moving again. I'm not comfortable sitting in one place for too long."

There were murmurs of agreement all around as the troops loaded up and the caravan started forward again. Zhed led the wagon train at a fairly swift pace, obviously eager to be rid of the yoke across his back. Their progress was slowed by a few close calls with hidden sentry traps, but Rakiv's quick reflexes saved the wagons from gruesome spikey doom. The second guard outpost they encountered fell even faster than the first, and as they cleaned up the mess Rakiv's guild emblem came alive with chatter.

"Gold Sun to Lone Ranger," Alendra's voice came through, "You there?"

"What's the problem Alendra?" Rakiv asked, not bothering with the callsigns.

"Rrrrgh! You have to use the codenames!" the castellan protested.

"Soleer do you have info for me or not?" Rakiv chuckled in response.

"Yes, just a quick report," Alendra returned a little grumpily, "Be advised that patrols are much heavier in the valley. We've got a good vantage point from this post we just cleared, and we're looking at four or five medium sized patrol groups moving across your path. If they move to support your next guard post you could be in trouble."

"Copy, Gold Sun," Rakiv said, humoring her officer, "Thanks for the heads up."

The ranger dropped the emblem and stared across the plains, deep in thought. The valley was a large strip that was unguarded by watchposts. This was, in large part, due to the fact that it was in full view of the fortress. It was also due to the hostile wildlife that zealously guarded the stream bed that ran through the valley. Rakiv had meant to move the caravan around the south side of the valley, out of range of the fortress and had planned to fight her way through the notuka and insects if need be. It seemed Bayel had anticipated this move.

"Alright new orders everyone," Rakiv called out as she stood up on the wagon bench, "Supression team, disembark and sweep the next guard post. From there you will not rejoin the caravan, and will instead skirt the valley by following the southern cliffs. Your job is to clear the rest of the outposts on foot until we rejoin you in the foothills on the other side of Morzek."

"Why the change of plans?" Koss asked, turning his head to look at her with his good eye.

"Because according to Alendra the valley is closed to us," Rakiv said, "We can't take the caravan across the southern highground. For one it's too rocky, we'd risk snapping an axel or breaking our wheels. And for two the dust trail we'd kick up up there would bring all the patrols in the valley running to us."

"So where do we go?" Kydar asked as he blinked up at her with concern.

"We're going to skirt the fortress," Rakiv said, as she pointed off towards the north, "The high ground that Morzek is built on has a lot of sheer drop offs see? If we stay close to the rock wall and don't go too far into the valley we should stay out of sight and undetected. While we sneak past the suppression team will have cleared the way for us and it'll be a smooth ride once we're on the other side of the garrison."

"You sure that'll work?" Anicara piped up as she peered at the garrison.

"We can't afford to try and fight our way through Kournan lines in the valley," Rakiv shook her head, "Our best bet is to sneak by. The other option is to draw their fire while the caravan makes a dash for it. Volunteers?"

There were none.

"Right, so we go quiet," Rakiv nodded, "You for head out and get those outposts. Zhed, take us northwest. Once we're close I want silence in these wagons. If we're lucky, we'll make it through without getting shot at. Let's go!"

The two elementalists, the dervish and the warrior left the wagon and followed Koss' pace as he led them to the south. Zhed called out orders and the caravan turned its progress northwest, heading for the large cliffs that surrounded the Morzek Garrison. They were close enough now that they could see the structure, a massive bastion of stone, brick and mortar that rose out of the cliff top like a crown of oppression. Rakiv waved a hand to silence all chatter from the wagons that followed them as Zhed carefully picked his way down the slope and up to the sheer rock face.

The ground here was soft and somewhat grassy, as the earth was fed by the stream that ran through the valley to the south. The passage was surprisingly well hidden. On their right a rock face blocked out all view of the Morzek Garrison while on the left wild acacia trees obscured their view of the valley. Their lack of ability to see the Kournans virtually assured that the Kournans also could not see them.

"I suppose this isn't a bad plan… for a two-legs," Zhed snorted as he clopped his way through the low vegetation that grew along the base of the cliff.

"Shh!" Rakiv hushed him.

Silence ensued and the caravan continued to carefully creep its way forward. From somewhere to their left a shout went up and all eyes turned to the trees. There was some commotion in the valley, though they could not see the cause of it. Rakiv rapped her knuckles on the wagon seat, which caused Butter to raise his head from beneath the bench where he had been napping.

"Go check it out," she whispered, pointing to the foliage that blocked their view.

Though he gave an unappreciative hiss at being disturbed from his doze, the crocodile lifted himself up, shook his scales and dismounted from the caravan. It moments he had disappeared as his green scales made him blend perfectly with the surrounding loam. Rakiv watched him go and drummed her fingers on the bench nervously. If the suppression team got caught now, not only would the mission be in jeopardy but she'd have lost four of her best guildsmen and officers. Somewhere within her it registered she might also lose four friends, but this was not a sentiment she could afford to dwell on. Too many lives were at stake now. She needed a back-up plan, some last ditch effort in case everything suddenly went wrong. It was at that precise moment that everything suddenly did.

The path made a sharp incline and the march of trees to their left was suddenly halted by what appeared to be the remnants of an old landslide. The only passable ground took a sudden, almost ninety degree turn that took them to higher ground but kept the caravan in the shadow of the cliffs. Just as Zhed made the turn the centaur suddenly stopped, and gave a surprised grunt.

"Shadowhoof?" Rakiv asked.

A sudden sense of alarm washed over the wagon's passengers as Zhed found himself staring into the faceplate of an equally startled Kournan Elite guard. A contingent of ten men stood at the guard's back and they stumbled into each other as their patrol came to an unannounced halt. So surprised were they that for a long moment there was silence between both parties, before Zhed suddenly whinnied and reared backwards in an attempt to get out of striking distance. The guard responded with an alarmed shout of his own and re-gathered his wits enough to quickly draw his sword.

His intended blow never fell, as the shrubbery to Zhed's left suddenly came alive. With a deadly snap-hiss the lithe emerald body of a saltwater crocodile sprang from the undergrowth with his jaws open wide. Butter caught the man by his shoulder, and his forward momentum carried the man off the incline and onto the rocks on the other side. As the guard's screams mingled with hideous snaps and sickening crunches the Kournan battalion went on the offensive.

"Shields!" Rakiv shrieked.

Acolyte Jin moved swiftly, and snatched up two Sunspear shields from the back of the caravan and threw them to her guildmistress. Rakiv caught both and sprang from the wagon. She landed in the grass between Zhed and the Kournan battalion and slammed both shields together just in time to block an incoming volley of arrows. The attack knocked the ranger backwards and she hit the ground with a grunt before quickly rolling aside.

"Zhed! Charge!" she cried, as she tossed him one of her arrow riddled shields.

With a wrathful neigh the centaur caught the barrier and brandished it in front of himself as he lowered his horns and pawed the ground with one hoof. The Kournan's quailed, but raised their weapons as their training had taught them.

"Don't stand there fools!" one of the smarter members of the battalion shouted, "Run!"

With that the Kournan brigade turned and fled, their boots pounding the dirt in an attempt to get off the path before the centaur mowed them down. Zhed's hooves churned earth as he roared and charged forward, dragging the wagon along behind him. The other centaur teams released a cry as well and followed their leader's wake and the caravan charged up the path. Rakiv managed to catch a hold of the wagon and swung herself up as it thundered up the path, knocking hapless soldiers aside or crushing those without the good fortune to dodge it in time. Someone in the battalion blew loudly on a horn while the remaining soldiers regrouped on the broader high ground. Zhed managed to catch a soldier with a blow from his shield and was upon the man in a trice. The Kournan tried to fight back but the centaur wasted no time as his hooves quickly stomped the man into the ground.

The caravan pulled up into a broad semi-circle to face off against the remaining soldiers of the battalion. Another sense of alarm caused Rakiv to frown as she surveyed the battlefield. In the distance she could hear the pounding of boots, no doubt the reinforcements that the horn blower had called… but something more urgent pressed at her senses. It was then that she spotted it. A spotter, several yards away from the main battalion of soldiers they faced. He carried some odd device in his hands, a large cylinder which he raised over his head and stuck into the ground. Far too late, Rakiv's eyes widened as she realized what it was.

"No!" the ranger shouted as she rapidly notched an arrow to her bow.

The string sang as the red huntress released her shaft, but it was far too late. The arrow struck the man in the back and he toppled to one side, just as the cylinder gave a loud report and launched a smoking object into the air. The flare reached the apex of its launch and then exploded, releasing a trio of colored fireworks into the air. In horror Rakiv's violet eyes turned to the fortress… as the all too familiar boom of bombards filled the sunny sky. As high pitched whines descended upon them the Kournan soldiers scattered, some jumping from the bluffs while others sprinted in a desperate attempt to get out of range.

"Lyssa's mask…" Kydar breathed.

The first shell hit with a deafening blast that threw shrapnel everywhere. Shell shock paralyzed the caravan, as the centaurs reeled from the near hit while the guildsmen could only quail in mute terror. It was Gandara all over again, Kournan bombards booming in the distance as explosive death rained out of the skies. The next shell was thwarted, however, as it detonated long before it reached its intended mark. Rakiv spun around to see Jin on the ground, already drawing another arrow to her bow and aiming for the next incoming projectile.

"Kei na kai!" the zaishen shouted over the scream of bombs, "Go! Go! Go!"

The archer's inititave brought action back to the guild and new purpose surged through Rakiv. They'd come too far to let it end here. With a grunt the woman delt a kick to the tent poles that held up the tarp that covered their wagon, and knocked the covering away.

"Wagon teams! On your hooves now!" the ranger cried, "Sprint due west! Don't stop till you hit the sea! Get these men out of here, now!"

The centaurs did not wait to be told twice, and their limbs flailed as they scrambled to get the wagons moving. In seconds their hooves were churning dirt and sand as they galloped westward, their wagons bumping along behind.

"Kydar, get Jin in the wagon!" Rakiv shouted, "Zhed! Get moving!"

"Where!?" the centaur cried out.

"There!" the ranger pointed up the mountain, "We're going to buzz that fortress and give the caravan some cover!"

"Have you lost your two-legged mind!?" the centaur shrieked in return, "The bombards are heavier there, you flame-headed biped! We'll never make it in or out alive!"

A scowl crossed Rakiv's face. She had no time for this. The ranger quickly dug into her pack, rummaging quickly through the contents before she found what she wanted. A spare bowstring, one of the many Kydar had salvaged from Freeman's Cove. Unfortunately the one in her hand was an Ebon enchanted string, instead of the Barbed string she'd hoped for. But it would have to do. The ranger wrapped the string around her hand, and brandished the remaining length as she swung it over her head.

"I said move!!" she bellowed and brought the bow string down on the centaur's flank.

With a loud crack the string lashed like a whip, leaving a visible mark beneath the horseman's short fur. Zhed gave a shout, more of surprise than of pain and looked back at the ranger incredulously. Rakiv did not repeat herself and instead swung her makeshift whip again, drawing another stripe across the centaur's broad backside. The second blow made him move, and Zhed flailed his arms at her, screaming curses at the woman as she whipped him again. As the centaur began to run the wagon began to move and Kydar leaned over the side as they passed Acolyte Jin. The elementalist's arms snapped around the petite archer's waist and Jin gave a squeal of surprise as he hauled her bodily into the wagon.

"Yaaah!" Rakiv shouted from the wagon seat as she struck Zhed again with the lash, "Yaah I say!!"

Without Jin's cover the shells began to strike ground, throwing up clouds of dust and columns of earth with every blow. However the bombards appeared to be ignoring Rakiv's wagon, and instead their fire followed the rest of the caravan to the west. With a position locked it was a simple task for the spotters to keep track of the caravan, and Bayel was obviously more interested in the larger target. Rakiv's eyes narrowed, she'd be damned if this general took anymore of her men.

"Kydar, warm up!" she shouted back to him over the scream of shells and the howl of wind, "Once we're in range I want you to open fire on those battlements! Whatever you've got, bring it down on their heads!"

"With pleasure!" the elementalist grinned as he drew his wands from their holsters, "Jin, keep me steady!"

The tall elementalist rose to his full height, standing precariously in the bed of the wagon as it thundered along behind Zhed. Jin braced her feet against the wheel wells and lifted her hands to spot the elementalist. Kydar hummed to himself as he cast his attunement and narrowed his eyes on the fortress as they drew ever closer. Zhed's path began to shy away from the garrison, as he shouted back at Rakiv that he refused to run headlong into his death. The ranger responded only by whipping him again to force him back on course. Morzek loomed ahead of them, its mighty walls seeming to laugh at the very idea that four fighters could hope to even scratch its defenses. As they reached the garrison the ranger resumed lashing the centaur to force him to adjust his course to run alongside the garrison wall to keep Kydar in range.

"O flickering flames of the highest heaven…"Kydar began.

Over the fortress the skies turned red as mystic fires burned on high. From high above the elementalist's counter bombardment fell, blasting the bombards with repeated casts. A new sound filled the sky, the much faster and shorter booms of a different set of bombards, and the whine of their shells was much closer.

"They've got short range up there!" Kydar cried, his wands weaving flames in the air as he pitched a fireball over the battlements, "And I can't reach them from down here!"

"Just hit the long ranges!" Rakiv called back, "Protect the caravan!"

"This is madness!" Zhed shouted over the din.

"Keep running!!" Rakiv retorted, dealing the centaur another lash from her whip.

The shells began to fall, exploding all around them with devastating force. Fortunately the spotters could barely see them. Kydar's constant fire kept the wall top ablaze and with the wagon so close to the wall the Kournan's had difficulty shooting at a moving, unseen target without hitting their own walls. Still they weren't too far off the mark. Several times Kydar was forced to duck to avoid flying shrapnel, but refused to stop casting. As Zhed's path turned to keep up with the curvature of the fortress wall a shell exploded much too close and the concussive wave nearly tipped the wagon over. Kydar toppled and Jin lost her grip on him as the wagon leaned on one wheel. The elementalist's eyes widened as for a moment there was nothing between him and the rushing ground but air.

Suddenly something wrapped around his torso, which ended in a painful slap across his chest. Rakiv's bowstring snapped taught as she pulled with all her might to keep him from falling completely out of the wagon. Thinking quickly, Jin immediately threw herself to the opposite side of the vehicle and her weight caused it to rebalance. With a heavy rattle the wagon settled back onto two wheels once more and Kydar fell backwards back into the bed. The elementalist shook his head to clear the daze and slowly looked up at Rakiv. Before he could waste time thanking her, the ranger pointed a finger insistently at the garrison wall.

"Keep casting!!" she ordered.

Kydar quickly scrambled to his feet to comply with the order and raised his wands, before he paused and furrowed his brow. Aside from the rumble of wagon wheels and the clop of Zhed's hooves, everything had grown quiet… far too quiet.

"They've stopped!" he called over the wind.

Rakiv looked up at the fort, her eyes narrowing as she ran several possible scenarios through her head. Perhaps Bayel was waiting for a better shot? Was he repositioning to open fire on the caravan again? What was he up to? The guild emblem around her neck squawked as Alendra's voice came through.

"Lone Ranger? Come in Lone Ranger?" the paragon requested urgently.

"Ranger here," Rakiv responded as she lifted the emblem to her lips.

"What in Dwayna's name is going on!?" Alendra cried, "We heard the bombards! Is everyone okay?"

"The caravan is fine," Rakiv reported, "Our suppression team might be in trouble but we don't know for sure. I sent the caravan west to the shore at a run, they're unprotected and need support. Move in and cover them if you can."

"Copy that… wait, you sent them? Where are you now?" Alendra exclaimed.

"Running the garrison wall," Rakiv replied, "We took out most of the long range bombards, so you should be clear from here to the shore… but something's up so stay on your toes."

"What do you mean something's up?" Alendra demanded worriedly, "What's going on?"

"Look!" Jin suddenly cried from the wagon bed.

"What the hell is…?" Kydar began.

Rakiv turned and squinted behind them. Two figures stood on the fortress wall, standing perfectly still. The next moment, they jumped. Rakiv watched closely as they fell and crackles of malignant energy began to gather to them. With twin bursts of purple light the figures transformed into much larger humanoid forms. The first figure had suddenly sprouted wings, six great black feathered limbs that it spread to slow its fall. The second appeared to have generated some kind of wide black coat that fanned out behind it like a dark crecent moon. The winged creature caught its companion and the pair changed course, the black wings beating the air as they turned to pursue the wagon.

"That can't be good," Kydar commented as he squinted at the creatures, "What the hell are those?"

"Balthazar's flame…" Jin swore, gritting her teeth with wrath, "Black wings.."

"The Acolyte of Dwayna," Rakiv surmised, recalling Jin's tale of her stay in Elonajok, "Zhed, we need to go faster!"

"I'm running as fast as I can!" The centaur panted.

"Well that's not fast enough!" Kydar shouted, "Here they come!"

Zhed looked over his shoulder long enough to catch a glimpse of what was chasing them. Up close the individuals were much easier to distinguish. The Acolyte of Dwayna bore the visage of a beautiful but tainted holy being. Its skin was blacker than coal, yet bore a burnished sheen. Wraps of tattered purple linen covered its chest and hips while also holding black armor plates in place on its thighs and shoulders. Bangles of iron hung about its feet and ankles and a bronze helm with a design of six eyes on its face adorned the creature's head. Three pairs of wings kept the being aloft, two on its head, two at its back and a final pair on its feet. At present two of its arms were occupied with holding up its comrade, but it possessed two other pairs of arms as well. One pair of arms carried twin wands in either fist, while its dominant pair brandished a shield of bronze and a spear of black iron. Terrible as it was to behold, its companion was even more bizarre.

Hanging below the Acolyte of Dwayna, a very different being locked its eyes upon the officers of Dormant Vengeance. It appeared to wear only jewelry and tattoos across its magnificently sculpted (and obviously female) body, in a hypnotic lattice work of beads, jewels and swirls of ink. The body ended at the shoulders, and where its head ought to have been a purple fire burned upon its neck. Before the fire hung a mask, floating and unattached to the rest of the form by any visible means. The mask was made of glass, which warped and twisted the view of the dark flame behind it, but it too bore a visage with six malevolent eyes. The only real clothing it wore was a broad black coat, the collar of which appeared to bear large bloody teeth, while the rest of it flowed majestically in the wind. Within the coat an endless mirage played tricks upon the guildsmen's vison, as it appeared to portray both the beauty of a night sky and the terror of an endless void. Like the creature above it, it too had six arms, two of which gripped the Acolyte of Dwayna's wrists. Another pair carried an ornate crystal wand and a glowing jeweled chalice, while its dominant pair gripped a massive and wicked looking scythe.

"The Acolyte of Lyssa," Kydar surmised, "Because one of these guys wasn't enough," he snorted.

No sooner than he had spoken than the sound of the long range bombard fire resumed and Rakiv watched as shells went flying overhead.

"Kydar!!" she shrieked

"I'm on it, I'm on it!" the elementalist replied.

"Jin!" Rakiv shouted.

"Guildmistress?" Jin responded.

"Take the bench!" she shouted, throwing the bowstring to the zaishen, "Do not let this mule take us out of range!"

"Yes guildmistress!" Jin shouted.

The rangers switched places and Rakiv caught Kydar by the shoulder of his tunic.

"Back to back!" she ordered as she brandished her bow and drew an arrow from her quiver.

Kydar obeyed and the pair pressed their backs to each other to brace themselves to stay standing in the back of the moving wagon. Kydar murmured his casts, throwing fire across the wall top as Rakiv raised her bow and took aim. The Acolyte of Lyssa opened her mouth and gave a challenging shriek at the guildmistress as the blasphemous duo dove in at the wagon. Rakiv opened fire as the pair bobbed and weaved in the air to avoid her shafts. With a sudden change of course the acolytes swept in at the wagon and the Lyssa swung with her scythe, narrowly missing Rakiv as she leaned back against Kydar, nearly unbalancing him.

"Trying to cast here!" he shouted in protest.

"Staying alive here!" she retorted.

Kydar spun his wands, weaving together a fireball and with a swing of the rods he directed it up and over the battlements where it exploded into the final bombard.

"That's it! They're down!" he shouted.

"Good!" Rakiv called, "Now duck!"

All three humans in the wagon threw their heads down as the Dwayna dive bombed them again, and the Lyssa's scythe whistled over them. Rakiv rose and opened fire again, landing a pair of bolts in the Lyssa's thigh. The creature shrieked in pain and range and directed its wand at the wagon. Arcs of purple energy flashed through the air and narrowly missed the wooden vehicle, causing a nearby boulder to explode.

"Jin, get us out of here!!" Rakiv shouted.

"Kerai a nai!" Jin demanded as she lashed Zhed's flank.

"I don't know what that means!" Zhed shrieked in pain.

Jin paused as she searched for a translation for the Canthan phrase and finally settled on a suitable substitution.

"Giddy up!" she decided.

"I am not a beast of burden to be ordered around!" the centaur shouted obstinately, "I am a warrior of the proud… yaah! Stop that!!"

Jin paid no heed to the centaur's cries, and instead unleashed a flurry of strikes to the horseman's hide to drive him onward. Another boulder exploded as the Lyssa threw a spike of dark energy at them. Rakiv's arrows zipped through the air, and one of them struck the Dwayna's face plate. The dark angelic creature faltered before Rakiv's follow-up arrow knocked it off balance entirely. The acolytes spiraled out of control and would have crashed to the ground were it not for the Lyssa's quick reflexes. As they neared the earth the Lyssa hit the ground running, its arms keeping the Dwayna on its back. The demonic magician raced up a rock outcropping and jumped high as the Dwayna regained its composure and spread its wings to beat them into the air again.

"Okay, that was impressive…" Rakiv admitted with much chagrin, "We're about to be in trouble, my quiver's almost empty!" she shouted as she notched another arrow to the bow.

Kydar's eyes narrowed at the approaching creatures as a plan raced through his mind. He couldn't hit a target as agile as they were, but perhaps there was another way to bring them down. The elementalist's eyes scoured the landscape ahead as purple lightning bolts grazed the wagon in response to Rakiv's fire. A stroke of inspiration surged through him as he caught sight of a target, one that would do exactly what he wanted.

"Jin keep us straight! Everybody get down!" he shouted.

"What the hell for!?" Rakiv asked, reaching for another arrow.

"Get down!" he demanded as he caught her arm and forced her down.

With a cry of surprise the ranger lost her footing as the elementalist pushed her to the floorboards and she only managed to not fall out of the wagon by catching Kydar's pants leg. Her boots scraped against the wood as she tried to push herself up and looked up at Kydar with curiosity and indignation. The elementalist paid her no heed, instead watching Zhed carefully as the acolyte's closed in behind them. The Lyssa gave a screech as it brandished its scythe, preparing for the killing stroke. Still Kydar did not flinch. The centaur's gait was wide, and like most four legged beasts there was a split second in his stride during which he was completely off the ground. It was this space, this miniscule flight time the elementalist was counting on. Ahead of them an odd irregularity marred the otherwise uniform landscape. In their path, a mound of rocky earth had been recently disturbed, and though it had been camouflaged with sand, it did not escape the scribe's eye.

Just as he had planned the centaur sailed clear over the small obstacle, and had she blinked Rakiv was certain she would have missed what followed. As she looked up the elementalist almost seemed to move in slow motion, his wands pointed at the earth mound as they passed over it, the wagon's wheels rolling by on either side of the obstacle. Just as they cleared the mound Kydar opened fire, releasing several flares from the tips of his wands in rapid succession, each of them striking the mound. The ranger raised her eyes as the Acolytes closed in, the mask of the Lyssa blazing furiously as the Dwayna's wings beat like the drums of death in the air. The fireballs blew the mound apart and a rapid zipping noise filled the air. Rakiv exhaled as she understood the elementalist's plan, and saw the dismay on the Acolyte's faces as they realized all too late what had been done.

A metallic snap sounded as the sentry trap activated, its hatch popping open as a large round sphere popped up out of the earth. It hung in the air, spinning directly in the Acolytes' path, and as they approached it released its spikes. The object whistled as dozens of thick, sharpened nails flew from its many orifices. A horrible shriek of pain and agony issued from the blasphemers as they hurtled headlong into the spray of metallic death. As though their cry had broken the spell, time resumed its usual flow and Rakiv was suddenly aware that they too were still in the trap's blast radius. K

ydar's arm slid over the ranger's shoulder and he crouched down over her, pulling her into his torso as raised a discarded shield from the wagon bed. Whistles and heavy thunks followed as the spray of spikes struck the wagon, several of the long nails embedding themselves in the wood of the vehicle and riddling Kydar's shield. A tense moment passed as the last nail struck Kydar's barrier and he finally peeked over the edge of the shield at his handiwork. Behind them the Acolytes rolled in the dust and skid to a halt in the dunes. With a victorious whoop Kydar released Rakiv and threw the shield aside as the wagon came to a stop.

"Yeah!" the scribe cried, "That's how we do it! DV bay-bee!!"

"Clever…" Jin commented from the wagon seat, "Very clever."

For her part Rakiv was somewhat speechless. The whole thing had taken place so fast she'd scarcely been able to keep track of it all. Self-awareness came rushing back when somewhere above her someone called her name.

"Rakiv!"

The ranger looked up, the motion throwing her hair back out of her eyes. Kydar stood over her, a curious yet amused expression playing over his features as he pointed down.

"You can let go of my leg now," he chuckled.

Rakiv blinked and her eyes widened as she understood. The ranger was on her feet almost immediately and she cleared her throat as she adjusted her quiver strap and retrieved her bow from the floorboards.

"Good work Scribe Raelesin," she said with a nod, "And good driving Acolyte Jin."

"I did all the work!!" Zhed fumed, "And you beat me!"

"Well you shouldn't have questioned my orders," Rakiv snorted, "Ask the mage, he knows."

"She tends to get rather violent," Kydar confirmed rubbing one shoulder at the memory of a particularly punishing punch.

"Now, if you please Mr. Shadowhoof," Rakiv requested this time, "Take us to the shore. I'd like to get out of here before those things get up."

At this Zhed snorted and muttered something about drowning the insufferable woman once they reached their destination, but complied with the order and proceeded onwards.

"You think they're still alive?" Kydar blinked as he looked back into the distance, "I mean I think I nailed them… literally!"

Rakiv only glanced to Jin, and arched an eyebrow quizzically at the Zaishen.

"These are not mere creatures of flesh and blood Scribe Raelesin," Jin said lowly, watching the horizon as Morzek shrank in the distance behind them, "I have seen the winged one take many grievous wounds and remain standing. You've managed to stop them, but I fear it only bought us time."

"And by the time they get out here, I want us to be gone," Rakiv stated firmly.

"Hehe, don't worry," Kydar snickered as he sat down in the wagon, "I'll protect you if they come back."

The comment earned him a swift kick to his thigh which caused the scribe to quickly scoot as far away from the ranger as he could. Rakiv would have continued her assault had a great cheer not caught her attention. As the wagon crested the hill they looked down on the sandy beach of Kourna's western shore. A small dock had been made out of several floating piers built into the mainland and large transport ships were anchored in the bay. White sails were tied tightly to their yards while long pennant flags bearing the symbol of a red wing fluttered in the sea breeze. On the shore seven of the covered wagons from the caravan sat idle and their passengers had disembarked. The cheer rose from the guild as they saw their eighth wagon finally rise over the horizon. All were relieved to see that their guildmistress and her escorts were safe. The guild's name was chanted on the breeze as the officers strode forward to greet the wagon.

"I can't believe you attacked the garrison!" Alendra exclaimed, "You could have been killed!!"

"Is everyone okay?" Tahlkora asked with concern, her palms already glowing with healing light.

"I'm not!" Zhed snorted.

"We're fine, we're fine," Rakiv chuckled as she looked her officers over, "How did you guys do Anicara? It sounded like you were in trouble."

"We were for a bit…" the water mage chuckled, "One of the spotters got away from us at the last guard post and brought every patrol in sight running for us. It was lucky that Butter showed up when he did."

"Butter?" Kydar blinked and then gasped with revelation, "Oooh, so that's where he went!"

"Yup! This big guy came out of nowhere," Koss laughed, scratching the crocodile's scales, "Tore up a guard pretty badly then made us follow him through some rocky passes between the cliffs. If it wasn't for him we'd have never found a way out."

"Good job buddy," Rakiv smiled at her partner, who croaked proudly in return.

"I don't want to pressure anyone," Dunkoro spoke up, "But we have to get these men onto ships, and that miscreant friend of yours won't let anyone board without the money you promised."

"Baah, I'll talk to her," Koss grumbled as he rose to his feet.

The group made its way across the beach and down to the docks where a rather smug looking Margrid the Sly stood waiting. The corsair ranger had changed her attire since they'd last seen her. Her outfit now consisted of a wide skirt that looked as though it had been made out of a throw rug of some kind, and a top that appeared to have been crafted from the same material. A light chest plate covered most of her torso, though left her mid-drift bare and she wore fingerless gauntlets on either arm. Mismatched boots covered her feet, one of which was rapidly tapping on the pier as she waited impatiently.

"Margrid! Looking better every day!" Koss smiled brightly.

"A few weeks o' proper food and fresh air can do that fer a girl," Margrid replied with a shrug, "You got my money?"

"Money? Oh c'mon Marg," Koss chuckled, smiling as charmingly as possible, "Isn't the sight of my handsome face payment enough?"

"While I do like a man with a scar," Margrid smirked in reply, "I can't spend handsomeness."

"Well then maybe we could work out something else?" the warrior grinned roguishly.

"Oh yeah? You got somethin' in mind?" the corsair responded with an equally mischevious smile.

"How much are you owed?" Melonni quite suddenly spoke up as she stepped between the ranger and the warrior.

"Didn't you say something about a discount?" Tahlkora put in, moving up next to Melonni.

"Fifty plats," Margrid answered Melonni, "And yes I did. How's ten percent sound?"

"You've got to be joking!" Melonni cried.

"I have a better offer," Tahlkora said, folding her arms in a very business like fashion, "From what I have heard, the Warmarshal's bounty on your head is already almost 80 plats, and the Council's bounty is closer to 90, which means that together, two out of three provinces say that your life is worth 170 plats. We saved your life, so from where I'm standing you owe us your market value. But since we're talking about discounts, why don't we take ten percent of your bounties, and knock that off your boat price?"

There was silence for a moment as the guildmembers looked at one of their youngest officers with mild surprise. Margrid clicked her tongue thoughtfully for a moment and then gave a small chuckle.

"Well now, ain't you the liddle business girl?" the corsair chuckled.

"Do we have a deal or don't we?" Tahlkora asked without batting an eye.

"A'right, a'right," Margrid laughed, holding her hands up in surrender, "33 plats it is then."

"I guess you're not the only merchant around," Alendra chuckled as she nudged Kydar with an elbow.

"Yeah, I guess not," Kydar agreed as the money changed hands.

"Great," Koss spoke up, "Now that that's settled, let's get going everyone! It's a long ride to Istan and the sooner we leave the sooner we get there!"

"Wait, where do you think you're going?" Melonni exclaimed.

"I have to take the guild's message to the council," Koss replied with a touch of confusion, "Someone has to tell them what's happened here and formally ask for help. You know how those council types are. Oh, speaking of which. Scribe Raelesin, you got the letter?"

"Oh, yeah right uh…" Kydar paused as he dug into his pack and retrieved the letter and a small bundle, "Right here."

"Why does that mean you have to go?" Melonni demanded, "Isn't several divisions of injured troops evidence enough?"

"I'm personally sending Koss to see this done," Rakiv intervened, "The Council has to be dealt with directly, or they'll ignore us. I'm sending a well known and proven officer of the Sunspears to speak with them to make sure they'll listen. I'd send you Dunkoro but…"

"I know," the general nodded, "I have more pressing duties here. I do worry that they might brush Koss off though…"

"So do I," Rakiv agreed with a sigh, "Which is why I'm sending Jin to talk to General Yurukaro. Pressure from the Zaishen and the Sunspears should be enough to get the council in gear."

"Besides," Koss said, turning to fix Melonni with a curious stare, "What's it to you anyways? This is a boat ride home, where it's safe. When we left for Gandara you didn't even bat an eye lash."

A very uncomfortable silence followed as a mixture of apprehension, indignation and wrath entered Melonni's eyes. Kydar coughed awkwardly in an attempt to break the silence, and Anicara pretended to sneeze. Finally the Kournan dervish responded by planting her palms against the Sunspear warrior's chestplate and giving him a rough shove backwards.

"Fine!" she snapped, "Go take your letter! I hope your ship is the only one that gets attacked by sea monsters!!"

Ignoring several raised eyebrows the dervish stormed off back to the caravan, leaving Koss scratching his afro. A low whistle came from Margrid who appeared to be somewhat amused by the proceedings, and at Koss's confusion.

"Hmph, Melandru must be early this month," the warrior shrugged as he stuffed the letter and Kydar's records into his pack, "Next time you see her tell her I said bye. And don't you worry, I'll make sure I get the Council off of their collective asses."

"See that you do," Dunkoro nodded sagely.

"A pleasure doing business with you Margrid," Rakiv said, offering a hand to shake the corsair's, "And uh… try not to distract my commander. I kinda need him focused here."

"Hmhm, no promises," the other ranger laughed and then paused, "Lessen you gots some protection money."

"Just get goin'!" Rakiv laughed, pulling back her hand, "I'm sure you'll weasel more funds out of us soon enough."

"I'm sure," Margrid agreed, "Ya'll don' go dyin' now, you hear? I'd hate to lose such excitin' customers."

"We'll do our best," Rakiv said with a wave, "Fair winds in your sails!"

"Straight paths at yer feet, landlubber," Margrid replied as she turned to follow the procession of soldiers loading into her boats.

Rakiv turned away from the shore and made her way up the steep embankment where she could watch her men's progress. It had been a hard few months, but finally they were going home. The ranger accepted the small comfort that because of her determination, at least some families in Istan would have their loved ones back. While sending the soldiers had reduced her guild's population by more than a third, it was worth it to see the relieved smiles on their faces and the quickening in their steps as they made their way to the boats that would take them home.

"You did good you know," Kydar spoke up.

The ranger jumped and turned around to find him leaning against a tree a few feet behind her. Her brow furrowed, he was getting to good at sneaking up on her. She looked down at her feet to where Butter was busy ignoring both humans and she gave a sigh at her crocodile's failure to warn her of an approach.

"Yeah, I guess I did," Rakiv said and then quickly added, "No… we all did."

"You know… I didn't know her really…" Kydar said as he pushed away from the tree and stepped up next to Rakiv to watch the Sunspears make their way down the piers, "But… I think she'd be proud."

The name was never spoken, but Rakiv knew exactly who he was talking about. The ranger looked up and across the sea where the sun was steadily making its way down to the horizon. The light had turned orange and the ocean caught fire as it shifted with hues of red and yellow and gold. Violet eyes shimmered slightly as she stared into the great burning ball that ruled the heavens and then slowly closed her eyes as she released a deep and heavy sigh. The Sunward Marches had taken the Sunspears home, and Rakiv only wished that Kormir had been there to see it done.

"Yeah…" Rakiv said slowly, with a small smile "Yeah I think she is."

---

The setting sun burned across the dunes and grasslands of the Sunward Marches, warming the hard and wrathful features of another pale skinned commander. His hands slowly balled into fists and he held them clasped behind his back as he stared into the setting sun. General Bayel was a hard man, a man of absolute discipline. He had made his reputation in the Kournan army as the man who got things done, and as a peerless and calculating tactician. His Ascalonian heritage had been a burden to him, one he had overcome by sheer will, determination and talent. He was not a man who took failure well. It was for all these reasons that the man behind him stood quaking in his boots.

Captain Chichor had been elated at receiving command of the Morzek Garrison, and all the more pleased when he'd heard that one of the highest ranked commanders in the province would be observing him in action. Over the past few months Chichor had proven himself to be quite adept at hunting down the Sunspear dogs. It was his river patrol that had been only moments too late to catch the miscreants when they raided the Zehlban Garrison in Arkjok Ward, and he had made up for his perceived failure by tracking many Sunspear spies. So it was that even as he and Bayel watched white sails pull away to the horizon, Captain Chichor could not see where his plans had gone wrong. The outposts had been well staffed, he had set his patrols perfectly. His trap had been sprung and the Sunspears should have been destroyed by his bombards…and yet somehow they had slipped through his fingers. It was a failure of the first order, and he could only wonder what horrible sentence Bayel would inflict upon him.

For his part the General was intrigued. These Sunspears continued to prove annoyingly resourceful, and unbelievably tenacious. Every time the Kournan noose closed on Sunspear necks, the impudent dogs seemed to slip away all but unscathed. In truth Bayel had never expected Chichor to succeed where a half-dozen other commanders had failed. He had come for one reason, to see this remnant, this… Dormant Vengeance in action. Not only had they bested Chichor's defenses, but they had even succeeded in bringing down some of Varesh's most powerful servants. Healers stood over the forms of the Acolytes of Dwayna and Lyssa, who had reverted back to their human forms. The sentry traps were apparently even more deadly than Bayel had anticipated. It would likely be some time before these two made a full recovery. He would need some sort of replacement until they were fit to fight again, but for the moment he had other matters to deal with.

"Captain Chichor," he said, his voice causing the man behind him to tremble, "You have just allowed an entire Sunspear army to pass directly under your nose. How do you explain this?"

"I-I-I… I don't understand… It all went as planned!" the captain tried to explain between chattering teeth, "I don't… I don't know… how could they have… we did everything right! I just… just…"

"Peace, Chichor," Bayel said, not turning to face the man, "You did exactly what I had hoped. If our source is reliable, then the Sunspears have merely unloaded dead weight. All those who are a real threat remain here, in Kourna. All that remains now is the question of how to deal with them."

"I-I will not fail you again! I will hunt these mongrels wherever they hide!" Chichor exclaimed, seizing the faint hope he would not be punished.

"No, Chichor," Bayel said, still never moving, "You have played your part. You are hereby relieved of your command. Get out of my military and go to wherever you came from."

Chichor deflated. A dishonorable discharge was worse than a death sentence. Had the General taken his head, Chichor could have at least died honorably, atoning for his failure in service. But now he was stripped of rank and title, and all honor and respect he might have had went with them. A pair of guards stepped up and seized Chichor by either elbow, hauling the captain away as he wept pitifully.

"Lieutenant Kayin," Bayel barked unmovingly.

"Sir! Yes, sir!" Kayin responded, dashing up behind the general and saluting stiffly.

"You've just been promoted, congratulations," Bayel informed.

"Thank you sir. I won't let you down, sir!" Captain Kayin assured.

"Good, then here are your first orders," Bayel commanded, "Find your fastest men. Send word to the Warmarshal."

"Yes sir!" Kayin shouted and then paused in mild confusion, "Er… what should I tell her… sir?"

For a moment Bayel did not answer, only watching as the burning disk sank slowly into the sea. As the last light flared on the horizon the General turned to face Kayin, the sunset flash providing a dramatic back light to the tall and powerfully built Ascalonian

"Tell her to send me…" he said with a small, malicious smirk, "… The Hunger."