Chapter 11
For having such a short amount of time to do much of anything, the Lunari were making good time.
Their extensive library had been packed up for transport to the other enclaves in only a few hours. Food that could handle a long journey was distributed accordingly, and bottles were filled. The civilians packed only what they would need, leaving behind all but their most treasured possessions.
As for the Runic Stone, the Elder surprised everyone when she asked the Solari to find a way to conceal it before joining Lyra. They had figured she would want her people to do that. (Granted, they were all busy with the evacuation, which might have influenced her decision.) Luckily, Dorius already had an idea of how to do just that.
"A broach?" Leona repeated, disbelieving. "You want us to treat a sacred relic like another common gem?"
"Exactly." Completely confident in his assertion, Dorius continued his reasoning while grabbing some of the mines. "We need to do more than simply hide it. We have to do it in plain sight while keeping it close. And what better way to do it than to pass it off as a jewel you can buy at a kiosk?"
Jenaline nodded in agreement, having gone over it in her head. She was always good at determining whether or not a plan was effective. "It's not a bad idea. There's just one problem. We don't have a broach we can use, and I don't think the Lunari have any laying around. Also, I doubt we have time to make one before Phenketon arrives."
That was the rub. Where did they find one that would fit the stone? Did they even have time to look?
The Radiant Dawn thought for a second, before snapping her fingers. It was a long shot, but considering her capabilities and what little she said about it… "I'm going to go check the Lunari kilns," she suggested. "You two go and help Lyra with the mines."
"Why the kilns?" Jenaline asked, hoisting another bag over her shoulder.
"Because if I'm right, young Serena may have created exactly what we need."
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After Sek had given the Solari their marching orders, Leona had asked Aidonel to help the Lunari pack up the Archives. He wasn't entirely sure why she thought he could help them, but it beat standing around, doing nothing.
As it turned out, his efforts were appreciated. Most of the analytics and economic reports, as well as anything dubbed unnecessary would be left behind. But their entire historical and religious sections had to be saved, and every pair of hands was needed. Luckily, the Lunari appeared to run drills where they had to remove all vital documents quickly. Their record was under forty minutes. With his and Phenos' help, they were shaving slightly more off.
He finally got the last book from his stack in its trunk, closing and locking the lid. "Okay, this one is done!" Two Lunari scribes grabbed the trunk and quickly left the Archives.
Speaking of Phenos, the Solari Elder sighed as he sat down at long last, shaking his arms. "I have forgotten how difficult it is to pack many tomes," he noted, "and I am not a young man anymore."
"You still read circles around the bulk of the young ones. At least, that's the story I keep hearing."
"Of course. One must trade youth and energy with knowledge at some point." He looked around. "It's a shame. All this information, and the Solari would destroy it just out of spite."
The young Rakkor looked around as well. While he wasn't an avid reader like Leona, he did understand the need to keep records of the past. If one didn't know their past, they would inevitably be doomed to repeat it. A shame the Solari didn't know that. "You know," he mused, "ever since I met Lyra, I've been wondering something."
"Oh? What is that?"
"Well… how could the Solari believe that that Lunari are evil? Why, instead of just talking to them, did they decide to try to destroy them? A cracked Runic Stone can only explain so much. What excuse is there to condone such blind fanaticism?"
Phenos nodded. "That is an excellent question, young Aidonel. It is something I have been asking myself for nearly forty years without ever realizing that I was. Unfortunately, since the Elders destroyed everything that could have given me an answer, I had set it aside as mere curiosity. Now that I have learned the Lunari's perspective and the Ruination, I have an answer. Power."
"Power?" Aidonel repeated in surprise. It was such a… simple answer.
"Yes, Power." The Elder leaned back. "The Solari had enjoyed an unprecedented period as the dominant force on Mount Targon. It began almost fifty years before the Ruination, and stayed that way ever since. Now that the Moon is becoming ascendant once, the Solari Elders are becoming frightened that their influence will begin to wane."
"Yeah, I doubt they'll have to worry about that."
"They will always have to worry about that, Aidonel. So long as the Lunari exist, and those who preach peace with the Lunari live, their power will always be threatened. That is why they push their message so hard and often; to limit that as much as possible."
"And then Diana arrived and refused to fall in line," Aidonel finished, sighing. He grinned. "She and Leona are made for each other."
"That is true." Phenos smiled as an observation came to him. "I suspect much of the same for you and Lyra."
"Whoa, Lyra and I are just friends, Sir."
"For now."
"Is there anything else to pack up?"
A Lunari Elder looked around, noting Aidonel's desperation to get out of the conversation before it could begin. "I don't think so," he replied. "Whatever's left, we can take care of it. I appreciate your help, Aidonel."
"You're welcome. I'm going to find Leona. Bye!" The young Rakkor quickly left the Archives, ignoring the two Elder's laughter. "I am so going to get you back for this, Leo," he swore, beet-red.
LOL
Diana was finally forced to concede defeat. Sabotaging the door would be next to impossible.
She and Korra had painstakingly gone over the wall, trying in vain to find a hidden switch they could use. Unfortunately, this escape route was just that: an escape route. The ancient builders weren't expecting to use this place to return to the main shrine.
"I think the builders of the Shrine forgot a major detail," Korra stated after a moment. "Making sure you could come back through here instead of walking for several hours just to get to the Rakkor settlements."
Diana slapped the wall hard, feeling the sting through her glove as she hit uncompromising brick. If there was one thing they had been good at, it was building very thick walls. "I'm going to guess that breaking this is impossible without some serious demolition tools," she noted.
"Definitely… not." The Solari looked around for a second. "I'm not even sure we could without knowing where the framework is."
"so, what do we do?"
"Hmm… hey, how many corridors does this place have?"
It didn't take long for Diana to catch on, and she nodded in understanding. While the first part of their job was impossible to accomplish, the second part was significantly more doable. In fact… "I think I noted at least four or five. We'll have to find some way to lure them down them, however." She grinned. "Perhaps we can make it seem like Lunari are hiding here with false lights and noises."
"And set some explosives at the exit point," Korra added. "It might not fully collapse it, but it will buy us more time and thin out the herd, so to speak." It was a bold move. It could even work, unless the Solari anticipated it.
There was just one little problem that had to be addressed. An obvious one that they both already knew.
"We would be attacking our own people," Diana reminded her gently. "Fellow Solari that don't know any better. People who are innocent of the crimes the Elders have committed."
Korra nodded. "People we've sat in classes with, have trained alongside with for years, and have gossiped with on every subject known to us." She sighed. "It's something we can't avoid, either. Until the Elders are removed from power, we are the enemy they must destroy. And as much as I don't want to think about it… they are our enemy."
It was a terrible thought to have, but one that was full of truth.
"...Okay. So… what will we need to set the trap?"
LOL
"I was right!" Leona crowed, holding up her prize like she had found a holy grail. "That was exactly what she did!" After a second, she realized what she was doing and lowered her hand, looking around sheepishly. She was a dork, no matter where she was. So, trying to save face (even though there was no one there to witness it,) she took a closer look at the brooch.
It was a rather well-designed accessory, a heart shape made entirely of gold. There were small depressions, which Leona assumed were where decorations would be set. And right there, once she opened it, in the center, was a spot the right size for the Runic Stone to be set. It was clear that the brooch still needed some work, but it would serve the purpose they needed it to serve.
Still, seeing this skill level from someone who was just an apprentice… was mind-boggling. Leona spent years learning sunforging, and it had taken her that long to achieve this level of care. 'If this is what Serena can do as an apprentice, I can't wait to see what she can do once she's a master,' she noted.
For now, she needed to find the kids, since they were keeping the Stone close.
LOL
"You want us to treat the Runic Stone like it was just another jewel," Darien repeated, staring at the Solari in disbelief after she had explained her idea. "What do we do? Carry it around in a bag or something?"
"Precisely." She showed him the brooch. "But it won't be visible… not really. It'll be in this."
"My brooch?" Serena looked it over, then looked at the stone in her hand. Her gaze grew thoughtful. "You know… it just might work. It's not finished, but it is the right size and shape for this. Weird." Taking the item from Leona, she set the gem inside, dropping the guard on top before closing and shaking it. "It's secure, alright."
Leona grinned. "Good to see we have the same idea. Now, on to another topic. How's the trap laying going?"
Darien looked around. "It's going pretty good," he replied. "Kes does know how to set up a net. And Amy is adept at setting up tripwires," he explained.
"How good are they?"
"You're half a step from finding out."
Looking down, Leona caught sight of a nigh-invisible line almost touching her ankle. She would have been flat on her face if she had been a centimeter closer. Looking around, she caught sight of several other such lines set up in strategic locations, some of which were attached to various other traps. She noticed them because she knew to look for them.
She whistled, impressed. "You better not lose her," she stated. "She's got the makings of a master tactician, that one."
Serena preened. "I know, and I am not planning on it."
"Neither am I," Darien added. "It's just a feeling, but I think we would find each other even if we were separated for years."
At that moment, for reasons she didn't know, Leona felt that his statement was far more true than he realized. Knowing that the three of them would have each other's backs, no matter the situation, brought her a degree of comfort.
As it would eventually show, she was right.
LOL
Lyra observed her fellow shade stalkers as they finished setting up their defenses, nodding to herself. Everything was proceeding on schedule. It wouldn't stop the Solari advance but would slow them down, which was the whole point.
So why was she so uneasy?
Perhaps it was because they were on a tight timetable. It was a safe bet that the Solari were already on their way, with a good chunk of Rakkor reinforcement. And the Black Mists were an ever-present danger. Thankfully, the Harrowing wouldn't happen for a few more months, but that didn't matter too much in the long run. All in all, a rather rough day.
It was hard to believe that they had finally reached this point. Despite their constant danger, she had always assumed they would never be found. To now know that they had known they were the entire time and had just been readying themselves for the coming battle… was rather unsettling.
"You look pensive."
She turned to look at Elder Sek, who was busy poring over the Lunar maps. He and their Commander had decided to combine their collective experience into a suitable strategy. Children traps would only go so far, after all.
Sighing, the young lady joined him. "I'm just thinking about the past, present, future… and everything in between. Mostly that we're missing something."
"You are most likely right. But, as we cannot properly investigate, we will have to operate with the information we have and hope it's enough."
"True." Still, the feeling persisted.
"How did you and Aidonel meet, by the way?" Sek suddenly asked out of the blue. "I doubt it was at the Festival of the Nightless Eve."
At that. Lyra grinned. "Well, we technically met on the battlefield," she admitted. "I was on a reconnaissance mission, my first, trying to locate a possible Lunari pilgrim, when I found myself surrounded by a group of those Creatures. I was able to elude them and even took out a few of them, but they soon overwhelmed me. But just as they were about to finish me off, they were set upon by a Rakkor patrol unit." She smiled. "They fought honorably and well. I can only hope their village was proud of them. And despite being outnumbered, they were able to overcome them, though they were wiped out as well.
"I was going to leave once I was sure everyone was all dead when one of the Rakkor stirred, trying to sit up. It was Aidonel who proved to be as stubborn as his sister." She shrugged. "I couldn't leave him to die, not after he saved my life, so I got him away from the scene, patched him up as best I could, and stayed with him until he regained consciousness. After that, I managed to get him back to his village, leaving after I was sure his people would be able to care for him." She smiled. "The rest is history, as they say."
Sek smiled. Lyra certainly was someone who would never leave someone to die. "You did what any good person would have done," he told her. "I have had times where I've disciplined the Ra-Horak commanders for their lack of empathy and callousness to their own men. And yet, nothing changed afterward." He sighed, looking away from the map, with even the Lunari Commander listening to him. "I had to fight tooth and nail to restructure the Ra-Horak into a more efficient unit, and it was all for nothing. Our Elders made sure to put those who followed their beliefs in all of the right places. And now that new efficient force is marching this way."
Lyra nodded. Corruption had permeated the entire Solari faith. The Ruination merely jump-started it. It would have always happened if not for as long as it did. It could have happened to the Lunari. But instead of being drunk with power, they would have been filled with vengeance. Perhaps that was where her unease was coming from. She was finally understanding just how close they could have become just like the Solari if circumstances had been different.
"Now, onto a lighter topic," Sek continued. "How long have you had feelings for Leona's brother?"
She was sure that her expression was more than worth the squawk that she was certain nearly burst his eardrums.
LOL
Down the mountain path, they marched.
Two thousand Ra-Horak, about half of their force, were approaching the cave system that housed the Lunari Enclave, light burning in their hearts. They knew that on this day, the righteousness of their Cause would see them through to victory on this day.
After all, Elder Phenketon was leading them, even if he was leading a different force. That victory was all but assured.
Despite his age, Phenketon was still in prime fighting condition despite his age, cutting an imposing figure even now. And despite the fact that he hadn't seen actual combat in about thirty years (his various hunting trips notwithstanding), it was safe to say that he hadn't lost his edge.
Phenketon, of course, believed in his Cause, but he knew better. Once he and Thalaia entered the enclave, they would most likely be crossing blades with something they had never faced before in battle; a Chosen. Correction; two Chosen.
Leona was the Radiant Dawn, the very center of their faith. Despite her religious leanings, the Heretic was the Moon's Chosen. They wielded powers that put them above all others. They inspired others to take up arms against them.
But they believed in their Cause. They would die for their Cause. They would kill for their Cause. But they were not idiots. So Thalia had brought some insurance with her. Several insurances that would bring them victory, in fact.
One, she had a platoon of Rakkor Regiment soldiers with her, following under the belief that they were rescuing two of their own from the Lunari. (It was very easy to tell them that Leona's siblings had been kidnapped, letting it be known that the enemy tribe had somehow managed to hide from them all. They practically jumped at the chance to mount a rescue.)
Two, she had 'asked' two people to accompany her on this venture. They had to be convinced, but that was relatively easy.
Three, she had a device that would be useful for clearing out the rabble. A little something that they had been saving for a rainy day. If one failed, the other would be successful.
These were her thoughts as they reached their destination, taking in the dead-end they were in. She stepped forward, looking around. "Ah, so that's where it is," she murmured, locating the loose rock and pushing on it. They had spent so much time trying to figure out how to get to them, and they had only had to look for the door opener.
The rock face before them slid away, revealing the corridor within.
The Elder turned to her men. "Forward," she ordered. "And remember, the enemy is cunning. They will most likely have set up traps to thin us out. Keep your eyes open, your shields up, and your weapons ready. We will withstand it all." She turned back, crossing the threshold.
Forming rows of two, the Ra-Horak followed her in, the Rakkor Regiment following suit.
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Phenketon stood ready. His strike force was right behind him, waiting patiently for the moment to strike.
The plan was indeed twofold. Thalaia was leading the larger force to the Lunari Enclave and engaging them directly. While they were preoccupied, his would slip through this entrance and strike from behind. This was a simple and solid plan, and under most circumstances, it could work without any complications.
But Thalaia was no fool, and neither was Phenketon. Elder Sek had disappeared, meaning he had joined with the heretics. And despite their viewpoint of Diana, they knew she was no idiot. Leona was a battle-hardened veteran with knowledge of their tactics. Among them, they likely devised a means of whittling their numbers down. The moment to strike would have to be precise.
A light tingle occurred in his armor, making him smile. Thalaia had entered the catacombs. "Start the countdown," he ordered. "Our wait is almost over."
LOL
Korra nodded to Diana. Everything was set. There was nothing more they could do here. Diana nodded, jerking her thumb toward the exit. They had to get back to the others before the fighting started. Elder Pheneketon would be a challenging opponent, even for a Chosen. But they also wanted to avoid being in range when the traps were set off.
When they moved, Phenketon and his group would be in for a nasty shock. That was for sure.
LOL
Thalaia was understandably confused.
So far, they had encountered no resistance as they moved through the caverns. At the very least, she had expected at least a few snipers to greet them along the way.
Perhaps they didn't have the manpower necessary for such an action. Instead, they most likely set up a defense line at the entrance to their enclave, where they could defend themselves more effectively. Of course, there were also the little details of the traps they would have set. But what were the traps? Where would they be set? And how would they be triggered?
One of the Rakkor soldiers found out the hard way, his foot landing in the center of a rope. Three seconds later, he was hanging upside down, cursing a storm. A few dozen more landed on or near mines, detonating and taking out themselves. Numerous soldiers also found themselves tripping over wires, getting caught in giant nets, and scrambling to avoid being hit by falling rocks. It would have been a comedy act if not for the mines and actual injuries.
They all knew better, of course. The trip wires, trap ropes, and nets were children's pranks being put to good use to slow them down. The mines, meanwhile, were there to thin their ranks out.
The Elder had to admit that they were doing a bang-up job of doing that.
"You!" she pointed to a Rakkor Commander, remembering to keep her voice civil. The last thing she wanted to do was antagonize the larger armed force. "Would you kindly collect the injured and have the Healers care for them?" She pointed to a Ra-Horak. "Your platoon will free those who have run foul of the traps. The rest of you will continue onward. There will be no more delays." Both commanders saluted and went to their tasks.
Thalaia pulled out her rainy-day surprise, preparing it. The Lunari had shown how skilled they were in their capabilities, and she would have to reward them for that.
But, as they were preoccupied with their tasks, no one noticed as four small forms slipped away, giggling quietly among themselves.
But then again, those four small forms didn't notice the object in Thalaia's hand.
LOL
Leona caught sight of the kids as they finally showed up, giving her a thumbs-up. Sighing in relief, she nodded at Aidonel, who had joined her. "How are we doing?" she asked.
"They're moving," he replied. "The Archives have been emptied, and the civilians are heading for the escape tunnel. The other Elders have returned to their enclaves and are collapsing the entrances connecting them to here." He hesitated. "I also think Elder Phenos will not be coming with us."
She nodded, not surprised. Phenos wouldn't survive the trip across the Shurima desert any more than he would survive the Solari's 'mercy,' but it didn't make it any easier to think about. Elder Phenos had been one of the most important presences in her and Diana's lives. And she probably wouldn't even get the chance to say goodbye to him. A lone tear slid down her cheek. Sometimes, life just wasn't fair.
Steeling herself, she looked at her attack force of about six hundred. Though dwarfed by the size of the force coming for them, they were very well trained. Their archers were elevated, ready to rain arrows down upon the Ra-Horak once they entered the area. The shadestalkers were set up in a formation that would fully use their speed. Even if they fell (which was a very real possibility), they would be able to inflict quite a bit of damage.
And, of course, Jenaline and Dorius were standing on either side of her, ready for battle. They would serve as the central shield as they were the only ones who trained in Solari tactics. While her friends weren't in armor, they were able to acquire shields from the armory for use. They were old and rather dusty but were still useful.
She quickly turned around and saw Diana and Korra joining them, both of them looking rather smug. "I'm guessing that the Solari there are in for a world of hurt when they finally attack," she guessed.
Diana nodded. "Indeed," she replied. "If nothing else, we'll make the Elders regret not letting me be involved in Oratory."
Korra rolled her eyes, grinning. Clearly, Diana did not take kindly to being muzzled. Leona understood that only too well. Hopefully, one day, she would be allowed to debate to her heart's content.
As she thought this, a loud bang rocked the cavern, followed by the approaching roar of something.
"Uh, were your mines supposed to sound like that?" Diana asked Amy, a little startled.
Amy shook her head. "Not that I am aware of," she replied. "In fact, they're not to make any noise at all, from what I understand!"
It didn't take long for the Solari to connect the dots, and they were filled with dread.
"Sun Bomb!" Dorius shouted. "Phenketon detonated a Sun Bomb! And here it comes!" And as if to inform him, 'Yeah, no shit!' a wall of pure energy was approaching them, made more potent by the narrow corridor it was in.
Leona didn't even hesitate. Her shield came up as she moved toward the entry point, placing herself between it and the Lunari. "Step back and cover your eyes!" she shouted. "Whatever you do, don't look at it!" Following her own advice, she closed her eyes tight, bracing herself.
She was a shield. She would not bend. She would not break. She would succeed.
This was her mantra as the energy struck.
LOL
Now, the Sun Bomb was literally just that: a bomb filled with the Sun's energy. The Solari had found a way to collect the Sun's glorious rays and trap them in a specially designed sphere. Due to the design, it was possible to carry it without consequence. But once the runes on it were deactivated, it would release the energy in a massive burst. It was an enormous burst that would have devastating consequences for everyone in the blast radius.
In an open battlefield, this energy would have been enough to blind an entire attack force, rendering them helpless as their eyes were literally seared. But in a contained place like a corridor, it would do far more than that—it would completely annihilate the target.
The Lunari took several steps back, crouching and closing their eyes. Aidonel and Kespina raised their shields, though they wouldn't really do anything if they were struck. Diana raised her Pale Cascade, though she was unsure if it could hold.
And then… nothing. A few seconds later, the light faded. Everyone opened their eyes, taking in a most impossible sight.
Leona stood tall, her shield still up. Both it and her armor were glowing, as if they had become pure sunlight.
"By both the Sun and Moon," Lyra breathed out. "She absorbed the full force of the bomb!"
"Uh-huh," Diana responded intelligibly. Her mind was focusing on other things at that moment.
Leona finally brought her shield down, relaxing a little. "Well… that was different." She grinned. "I like it."
"We do, too," Korra pipped up, giving Diana a little smack to bring her back to the here and now. She looked like she wanted to jump her fellow Chosen right there and then. It would have been funny if not for the rather serious circumstances they were in currently.
Leona brought her sword up as she heard the sound of marching. It was a safe bet that the remaining traps and mines had been destroyed by that, meaning they now had a clear shot at the Lunari. "Here they come," she whispered as the Lunari reformed their ranks.
The wait was finally over.
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