The Crystal Palace:
"This is why you call us back?," Skeksa glared at the Emperor.
The Mariner was not usually this aggressive towards the Emperor, but it had been a few trine since their last encounter and she was not impressed with the sudden beckoning back to the castle. The Mariner had been traveling across the Silver Sea in her ship when the call came blasting across the waves, she had docked quickly and rushed to the mainland with Skekli following behind her.
"You call us back for a fight with Gelfling?"
Skekung was standing beside the Mariner, he let out a loud mocking laugh and Skekli followed. Skeksa's beak twisted in a grin as well, the council before her seemed so weak and afraid of what? She had been with Gelfling for many a trine and never could she not handle them.
"Fight with Gelfling!," Skekli managed to spit as he continued to howl.
"SILENCE!," the Emperor bellowed and the room fell silent.
"Gelfling now think they are greater than Skeksis!," Skekzok, the Ritual Master, tried to persuade the three.
"They started this!," Skekshod growled.
"And we must end it," Skeksil hummed, turning to the Emperor. "Emperor has plan!"
The group clamored with excitement at the idea of a plan to end the Gelfling. Skekung looked at the fellow Skeksis in the room and noticed that Skekvar was absent along with Skekmal. He wondered if perhaps the Emperor had special task for the Hunter given his skill set and vicious appetite for the thrill of the chase.
"Why would we end Gelfling? They have no significance," Skekli, the Satirist, was still not convinced of the cause of the council.
"For the sweet taste of essence," Skekect swooned at the idea.
"Essence?," Skekli stepped forward curiously.
"Once you try it, you will not question to end the Gelfling," Skeksil played with their curiosity.
"Essence will make us young forever!," Skekok laughed.
"Bring some. I will try," Skekung puffed out his chest
"The essence is gone!," The Emperor swatted him back as he walked past the row of new arrivals. "That is why we must attack tonight."
"We will battle Gelfling tonight?," Skeksa had not expected such a quick time table.
"No need to battle," Skekayek grunted.
"Yes, we will use the Garthim!," Skektek cheered the use of his own creation.
"Garthim?," Skekung was confused.
"GARHTIM!," The Emperor summoned his army with a loud call.
The creatures filed into the room, scurrying on their large tentacles to await their next command.
Skekung marveled at the Garthim," How magnificent," he circled on to fully observe it.
"These will defeat the Gelfling?," Skekli turned back to the Emperor.
"Yes," the Emperor was certain.
Skeksa scoffed," Skeksis send out these crabs instead of forging armor? Much has changed since I was here last."
"How rude," Skekect grumbled.
"We brought you back not only for protection, but because of the loss of Skeklach and Skekvar in battle."
"Also of Skekmal," Skekok added.
"Skekmal?," Skeksa was now thoroughly captivated.
"Impossible!," Skekung shouted. "Skeksis cannot die!"
"The Gelfling did this?," Skekli couldn't believe it.
"We tried to revive Skekmal, but in the end it was Aughra that took his life."
"She stole it!"
"Aughra?," Skekli was struggling to understand it all. "The mother of the land? She's been traveling the stars, when did she get back?"
"She came back and demanded the crystal," Skeksil told them.
"She fights with the Gelfling then?"
"As do the Arathim," Skekok added.
"How could you let this happen?," Skeksa looked at the council.
"The Gelfling refuse to bow to us now, this is inevitable," Skeksil growled.
"All I see trembling cowards afraid to fight," she growled.
"They have power! Unknown power," Skekshod argued.
"What power could a Gelfling possibly have you half-wit," she snarled.
"The power of the Darkening!"
"Darkening?"
"What is the plan then to exterminate the vermin?," Skekung asked now he was aware of his fellow Skeksis' death and that his own life was at risk,
The Emperor turned and sat on his throne, looking down at his followers, he fell silent. Skekso did not like the fact that Gelfing knew that he could die, the only thing he loathed more was now knowing himself that Skeksis could die.
"We send out the Garthim to attack Gelfling, they have no knowledge of our army and are unsuspecting."
"You wish to wipe them out all at once," Skekung thought over the plan. "It would be smart to catch them off guard."
"Especially if they now have the power to kill Skeksis!," Skekli agreed.
"Gelfling are weak and will be easy to exterminate," gleamed Skekzok.
"Yes," The Emperor nodded. "We also must act on the topic of replacing the Collector and the General."
"I am the treasurer, I should gain the title of the Collector," Skekshod submitted his name for consideration.
"I should be made Collector, I would only collect the most beautiful things," Skekect challenged him.
"Will there be a fight," Skekayuk giggled giddily.
Skekshod growled at Skekect who looked down at her claws, unamused by the trivial idea of fighting and breaking one of her precious talons.
"Fine, give it to the Treasurer, he needs it more and I," she waved her had to dismiss Skekshod entirely.
"It's settled, Skekshod is the new Collector."
"Make him collect beetle dung in Sami Thicket," snickered Skekayuk.
The Skeksis of court did not seem impressed at Skekshod's new title and Skekzok's clap on his back was the only sign of good spirit. Skekung was lost in his own thought, he believed he would make a good General, but did not know who all in court would support him since he had been gone so long.
"Emperor," Skekung kneeled before his ruler. "I believe it should be I to replace Skekvar as General and with that title, I will win us this victory against the Gelfling and make the essence flow forever."
"Yes! Essence!," cheered Skekok and Skektek.
"Yes, you shall be the new General and we will destroy the Gelfling!"
"What is your plan, General?," Skeksa turned to Skekung.
"The Emperor's plan is solid."
"Where do you want to send the Garthim?"
"I have only had time to procure twelve of them," Skektek interjected.
"We will send them to Stonewood, it is the closest clan, yes?"
"But Stonewood is where the Gelfling army is," the Chamberlain tore into Skekung's plan with delight. The Chamberlain saw Skekung as a new threat to his position by the Emperor's side because in time of war a General is of high importance to the Emperor and Skeksil knew he had to take every chance to make Skekung look lesser than him.
"Ha!," cackled Skezok. "One hundred Gelfling are not match for one Skeksis."
"Pathetic," Skekect spat with disgust. "Gelfling army," she grumbled with disdain.
Skekung glared at Skeksil before asking," What idea do you have, Mariner?"
Skeksa walked over the wall where there was a map of Thra, she scanned the mainland looking for a strategy. "What of the Spriton clan? They are weak and have no military experience?"
"Yes, it is mostly farmers."
"We should send the Garthim there, get rid of the source of food for the Gelfling."
"Very wise," the Emperor noted. "What say you, General?"
"I agree with the Mariner. We send the Garthim to Spriton plains."
At Stone-in-the wood:
"Dirty Drenchen," a Sifan Gelfling jumped onto the back of a Drenchen clan member.
The two scuffled on the ground until Gurjin was able to break them up.
"That's enough! What happened?"
"That Sifan has lost his mind at sea," the Drenchen, known as Tijar, pointed his finger at the Gelfling who attacked him.
"You stole from me!"
"Stole what?!"
"Enough! Stop!," Gurjin stood in between them.
"Well those shifty Sifan can't be trusted!"
"Gurjin is right," Rian entered the circle. "We must stop fighting against each other."
"Just keep his kind away from me!," Tijar spat in the dirt.
"Tijar!," Gurjin gawked at the display, but Tijar just glared at the Sifan as he walked away.
Rian sighed and as the spectacle was over, the crowd began to disperse. Gurjin and him shared the same look, it felt like they had been defeated already. Rian had tried his best to train the clans with Gurjin's help and the help of Maudra Yre, but some were still resistant to working together. All other Maudras had returned to their domains to look over the rest of their people but made promise to return when battle was imminent. Squabbles had been breaking out more and more of trivial things, it felt like some were losing sight of the bigger picture. Some clans had never been away from their homeland, it seemed especially hard for the Sifan to be on the land for so long and many Dousans were struggling with the cooler climate.
"I just don't get it," Rian admitted to Gurjin. "I've never seen a major difference in the clans."
"Well it was different at the castle, we were just soldiers there and nothing more. To the Skeksis' the clans have no significance."
"That was Skeksis doing. They don't care about clans because they don't care about us."
"The Skeksis are getting exactly what they want, if we stand divided I worry for us all," Gurjin was worried.
"I suppose it was naïve to think we had all united so quickly," Rian bowed his head.
"Perhaps we all need a reminder of what we're fighting for," Rek'yr plunged into the discussion.
"Any ideas?," Gurjin was welcome to the help and stepped back for Rek'yr to join the circle.
"Many here have not seen what you have, they only have heard of scattered rumors of the Skeksis killing Gelfling."
"But many here saw what the Emperor did, how he tried to kill us with the Darkening."
"So I have heard," Rek'yr looked between them. "What else I hear from many, is that Deet is the weapon that we will use and there is no need for this training. I'm only suggesting you remind all those who are here why we must come together to defeat the Skeksis, or be left to be picked off to be drained one by one."
"You're right," Rian concurred with Rek'yr. "Gurjin, gather everyone in the village square as soon as possible. I have to go tell Maudra Yre."
"I'll spread the word," Gurjin left to fulfill the task.
Rian was still wary of Rek'yr, he wasn't sure where the intuition came from as Rek'yr had been nothing but helpful since their first encounter. Perhaps he did have a small bias against the Dousan and their love of death.
"You seem troubled, Rian," Rek'yr arched his brow, when he caught Rian glancing at him. "I hear that much of this war has been laid at your feet."
Rek'yr was right, Rian was not hiding his distress about his whole situation well, but Rian was cautious to confide in Rek'yr.
"I am worried," Rian sighed. "I'm worried about the Skeksis, the crystal, the war..."
"And also about your missing friend?"
Rek'yr seemed to be able to read Rian's thoughts like they were written in front of him despite his attempts of vigilance.
"Yes," he said softly.
"Her Podling friend also shares your concerns," Rek'yr turned to look past Rian where Hup was sitting alone.
Rian looked over his shoulder at the disgruntled Podling," He was her first friends after she left the caves. They've been together through all of what's happened," Rian noticed that Gelfling were filing into the square and he straightened his shoulders. "I should go," he excused himself.
He wove through the Gelfling and strode into the main hall to where Maudra Yre was examining maps of the terrain.
"Maudra Yre," he called her attention. "I've come to make a request."
"Of course," she set down her map and gave Rian her full attention.
"I think the whole of the army needs to be addressed. There have been many brawls between the clans here and it is hindering the process of training."
Maudra Yre nodded," I have had to put a few in holding hole, mostly drunk."
"I am already gathering the clans."
Maudra Yre nodded with approval," Good, I'm glad you work quickly, Rian," she gave a small smile before shifting her eyes downward.
It was unlike Maudra Yre to look away from anyone, she had this inherit quality to keep eye contact even in awkward scenarios.
"Is everything alright?," Rian was too curious to not ask.
She lifted her eyes and met Rian's, holding his stare for a moment before speaking. "The scouts that are watching the Crystal Castle report movement. Three Skeksis have returned to join the court."
"How many more will follow?"
"None," Maudra Yre stated sternly. "There are only 13 now that two have perished and from what you say there is one hiding in the desert."
"Yes."
"Do you believe he would be an ally to us?"
"He is an ally to our cause, he is the one who told us of the dual glaive."
Maudra Yre remained silent before standing from the table. "You should get out there," she changed the subject.
Rian agreed and left without asking any more questions. He was met with the large swarm of all the Gelfing camping in Stonewood, the swell of the combination of voices and mixed chattering filled the air. From what Rian could see, the mass was mostly segregated by clan, which he had expected. He stood before them all waiting for the conversations to die down and woods to be quiet once more.
"As I look out at everyone here," he called out to get everyone's attention. "I see our sperate clans. I see the variations between us and the differences that make us all unique. But what I feel," he raised his hand to his heart. " is our unity. I look out at all of you and see what we can accomplish together. I see how our future will be forever changed by what we have started. For thousands of trines we have been slaves to Skeksis- made to protect them, serve them, treat them like they are the true lords of the crystal."
The crowd was started to shout out it's agreements with what Rian was saying, they were sick of being victims of the Skeksis. Not only due to the recent mindless killings of Gelfling, but from giving tributes and following the Skeksis' laws.
"Now even that is not enough for their greedy claws. Now they want us to serve them with our lives."
"NO!," voices cried from the mob before him.
"I want to tell you all about a friend of mine. Her name was Mira and we were castle guards together, she left her family and clan to live at the Crystal Palace, but the Skeksis never cared. Instead they strapped her to a chair and drained her of her life as she begged to be let go. They murdered her for one reason, to drink her essence and keep themselves young."
The swarm of Gelfling had fell silent, all were listening intensely to the truth of their once "rulers". Many had heard the rumors of what the Skeksis had done, but never heard the specifics; most had also heard the rumor that it was Rian who had killed Mira.
"We may be different but we cannot see ourselves as divided! To Skeksis we are all the same and they have killed many of us since Mira and they will continue to drain us if we don't put a stop to it! We may be different in where we live but we all are from the same place- Thra! The Skeksis are not from our world and now they are here trying to take it for themselves- while they do that, they hurt the very source of life, the Crystal of Truth! They are killing our world and now they are killing us! Thra calls to us to protect it!"
The crowd started to applaud.
"We no longer serve Skeksis! We serve Thra!"
The sea of Gelfling erupted with cheers and whistles.
"Very wise words, Rian," Maudra Yre joined him before looking out at the clans gathered. "Rian speaks true to our cause. We not only fight for ourselves, we fight for the all living things on Thra who cannot defend themselves to the Skeksis. To win against the Skeksis, we must fight as one!"
In the Northern Mountains- Ha'rar:
Naia and Kylan made their way through Ha'rar to get to the entrance of the mountainside castle of the Vaprans. Naia had woken up the morning after sleeping beside Kylan and felt a deep warmth in her core as she lay curled up next to him. She was thankful that when they both woke up that nothing in their dynamic had changed, Kylan was still himself and it made her feel relaxed. Kylan had a similar realization when he woke to see Naia sleeping softly beside him, a smile spread across his face and he leaned down to place a small kiss on her forehead. He was able to joke with her and be happy with himself for not overthinking his decision, he was happy he took a risk and he would do it again if time was rewound.
"Please, we must see Princess Brea," Kylan stepped up to the Paladin guarding the entrance.
"And who are you?," the Paladin looked him up an down.
"Tell her it is Kylan and Naia, we must talk about the Skeksis."
The Paladin leaned and whispered into another's ear who went off into the Vapran castle. He was only gone for a few moments before coming back and relaying a message to his superior.
"Princess Brea is not here at the moment, you'll have to come back another time."
"Not here!?," Naia now stood in front of the Paladin. "Where is she?"
"Kylan?," A sweet voice caught their attention.
Both Kylan and Naia turned to see Brea walking towards them.
"Brea!," Kylan happily hugged his friend. "It is good to see you!"
"Yes," Naia smiled. "I feel like it's been ages."
Brea chuckled," Time does seem to be moving faster."
"Exactly."
"What are you two doing here? Is everything alright?," Brea's cheer turned to worry.
"For now, but we need to talk to you," Kylan urged.
"Yes, come right in," Brea guided them past the gate where the Paladin had refused them entry and into the Har'ar palace.
Naia couldn't wait until they had made to wherever Brea was taking them.
"Brea, we need the crystal shard."
Brea stopped walking and turned back, alarmed by the sudden request.
"What for?"
"We need it to make the Skeksis powerless," Naia gave the brief explanation.
"How?," Brea asked.
"We believe if we replace the crystal shard, the Skeksis will no longer have the power of the Darkening and Thra will be healed," Kylan caught Brea up.
Brea nodded," I thought the same thing and that's why Skekgra told us about the dual glaive."
"Good," Naia nodded," then give us the shard so we can fix this mess."
"Wait? You plan to go to Crystal Palace alone?"
Kylan shook his head," No, we were going to Stonewood. Rian-..."
"Does Rian plan to attack the Skeksis?!," Brea interrupted then apologized for her outburst," Sorry."
"No, Rian and Maudra Yre believe the Skeksis will make the first move."
"Those lizards can't stay in their castle forever," grumbled Naia.
Brea guided Kylan and Naia into the council room to avoid the ears of the Paladins, afraid of what they would report back to Seladon.
"We shouldn't wait," Brea told them once they were alone.
"I agree!," Naia endorsed the notion immediately.
"Wait what?," Kylan looked between the two confused.
"We should head the Crystal Palace," Naia tired to persuade him. "There is no time for waiting, Kylan. If we want to win against the Skeksis we need to level the playing field," she sighed," I was going to talk to you about it once we had the shard."
"You want to go the palace without telling Rian?"
"We will tell him... when we get back. This way when we fight the Skeksis they will have no more power than us and defeat should be swift as how we outnumber them."
"I want to come," Brea agreed with the idea.
"Brea? You can't be serious," Kylan couldn't believe what he was hearing. This was abrupt and he didn't like the idea about going against his promise to Rian to return to Stonewood once they had possession of the crystal shard.
"Kylan this is for the greater good. We would be doing this to prevent more Gelfling deaths, this could tip the balance of battle in our favor," Naia tried harder to sway his stance.
"The All-Maudra will have us banished if anything happened to her last sister, even if we do defeat the Skeksis," Kylan fought.
Naia sighed," He has a point, Brea. Seladon would be furious if we took you."
"You aren't taking me anywhere," Brea lifted her head. "I am going to the Crystal Palace for my own answers, I need into the Skeksis library to understand the Sanctuary Tree and what powers it has."
"For Deet?," Kylan asked.
Brea nodded," They've been stealing our knowledge right under our noses for who knows how long. If we want any chance of helping Deet, I need to get into the castle and figure out what else they are hiding from us."
Naia looked between the pair," Sounds to me like we're headed to the Crystal Palace."
"The Skeksis will be on high alert, how do you suggest we sneak in?," Kylan asked.
"We can use the Arathim tunnels."
"No, they'll be expecting that," Brea was considering all the possibilities. "The Arathim fight by our side, the Skeksis will have blocked all entrances into the castle."
"But they have no guards," Kylan mentioned. "All they are is themselves now, hiding in a massive castle."
"Kylan's right, there must be a way in," Naia was also going over all the options.
"We could fly," Brea looked to Naia.
"But not him," Naia nodded to Kylan.
"Guys, I'm right here."
"One of us could carry him. It would be the least suspecting for us to come from above."
"None of us have experience inside the castle, how will find the crystal in such a big place without being detected," Naia was finding holes in her own plan.
"I have experience," Brea remembered her time in Skektek's lab.
Kylan and Naia shared a quick look but asked no questions about what Brea meant by her statement.
"So we head to the Crystal Palace?," Naia looked between them for confirmation.
"Yes," Brea nodded firmly.
Kylan was quiet before reluctantly agreeing," To the Crystal Palace."