FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Alrighty, the first story of my second year on yiffstar. Lets get this thing started off right.

As always, comments are greatly appreciated. Hope you enjoy it.

---

Continued from 'The battle for Freedom..."

A pair of aquamarine eyes opened to the darkness of the house, the pupils spread wide in the dark. Cerule cast about with his hands, searching for his love, but she was not in the bed. He rose so he was sitting up and closed his eyes once more, listening to the silence. And, as a faint sound came to his ears, he frowned. The large tiger rose from his bed, the silken folds of the robe he wore rustling slightly in the night air. He walked from the room, bypassing the stand on which his battle armor and sword rested on instinct. His keen hearing led him out of the back door to the house and along the path to the fence enclosed spring in the small stand of trees. The spring and its surrounds had been a present from Tordek upon their victory in the great battle nearly two months previous and he and Jessica had often sat on its banks in the intervening weeks. It was such a peaceful place that nothing seemed to able to disturb them there. But now, in the middle of the night, he wasn't going seeking peace.

As the crickets chirped in the grass about him, he thought about all that had happened, and he still felt amazement, even after all these days of busy peace. The aftermath of the battle had been long and had occupied the attention of the entire island for many days. The bodies of the fallen had been burned, the ashes scattered. The wounded had been all cared for, healed by the magi whenever wounds were most severe, but the thing that had taken the most time and effort had been dealing with all the recently freed morphs. While most of them had believed to the story of the Scio's hegemonic domination of them via their shaman, some had refused to listen, refused to acknowledge the evidence that was presented to them. So, they remained as prisoners, cloistered in camps on the island. Slowly, as time went by, they were admitting their wrong and joining the freed morphs, but there were still many in the camps. The remaining morphs, the ones that were not part of the allied army of morphs, naga and lizardfolk that had won the day, agreed to return to the mainland, to their settlements, vowing never to fight against morphs again. Soon after they had departed, the council of leaders had met again to discuss what to do next. It had been Chieftain Tiderunner who had suggested the next step in the war plans. He had made the point that while this was the end to one conflict, the greater war, that of the humans and morphs, was still being waged. If they were to have any hope of an end to that war, they would need all the aid they could get.

Even now, small groups of soldiers were massing on the island, laying in supplies for the coming journey. They would be heading out into the mainland, headed for every village and settlement that was not yet free, their mission to kill the shaman and bring the villagers into alliance with Lan'as'atal. Cerule wished that he could be with them out there, fighting to free their people, but his place was on this island. As Champion, he could not leave on such small errands. He was needed where he was to prepare the army for the inevitable next battle. Both Jessica and Cerule had been very busy training their commands for what was sure to be a hard fight. The task had been going well; the soldiers under his command no longer a hastily organized force under improvised leaders. Now, it was becoming a crack, disciplined force. Indecisive and vainglorious leaders had been replaced by those that were competent. The magi too had changed; they were no longer a ragged association of shaman and instinctual magic users. Instead, they were becoming a powerful group of trained spell weavers under the tutelage of Jessica. So much had she accomplished that she had been proclaimed the Archmagus of Lan'as'atal. But despite all the progress being made, something was still bothering Cerule.

He had studied Scio, the master assassin, for some years in secret before he had met him and dealt him that terrible wound that had led to his hunting. After the celebration of victory had ended, Cerule had examined the battle from memory and he had found it to be an uncoordinated and ungraceful mess that had only nearly been a victory for the Scio through sheer numbers. What bothered him so much was that he knew Scio never did anything halfway, and he never enacted a plan without a great deal of forethought. Cerule was sure that the assault on his new home had been only a small part of the assassin's plan, perhaps intended only as a distraction. But he had no proof, and he knew that Tordek and the other leaders wouldn't believe him if he brought them this without evidence to back it up.

The tiger's thoughts were interrupted by the sound of someone being sick up ahead. Taking a breath of the night air, he walked slowly between the trees to the side of the spring and there he found his love, hunched over on all fours over a puddle of vomit, coughing with the after effects of it. Wordlessly, he knelt beside her and gently ran a hand along her spine, seeking to comfort her. She smiled slightly at him, but remained hunched, shivering. He could feel the shivers run through her whole body, though the night was not especially cold. Her skin beneath the sleeping robe she wore was warm, but not feverish, and he could sense something new, a strange vitality in her that had not been present before the battle. She did not seem to be ill, all evidence to the contrary. Jessica drew in a deep breath of the sweet air to quell her stomach, and a sudden suspicion worked its way into his mind. Carefully, he slipped a hand under her robe, drawing it slowly along her chest and abdomen, and then his hand stopped, resting on her belly, just below her navel. There was something different about that spot, something he had not noticed, a slight bulging of her flesh. And there was a spark of energy there, a glowing ember of life within her, the source of the new vitality. And then his eyes grew wide with a sudden onset of realization.

"Jessica, are you...pregnant?" His voice trialed off and his mate looked up at him once more, blue eyes filled with both love and fear. Her only answer was to nod. "When did you know?"

"About a week ago." She replied, sitting back up and wiping her mouth. "I have been trying to find the right words to tell you since then, but they never seemed to come."

"I don't know what to say." Cerule stated, sitting beside her and putting an arm around her. The magus leaned against him, one hand resting against the hand that was on her belly, the other around her strong lover. Tears began to stream down her face. "I don't even know what to think."

"Neither do I." Jessica said, her voice weary. "I am scared Cerule. I don't think that I am ready for this. I don't think I can handle it."

"I think you can." He replied holding her close to him and wiping away her tears with a thumb. "I think you will make a wonderful mother."

"Thank you." She said, smiling at him. She sniffed once, drawing in another breath of the night's air. "But with the world in the state it is, with our people in danger wherever they go... I don't want to bring a child into that. I don't think I can deal with this on top of everything else."

"You won't have to." Cerule replied, rising into a crouch. "Because I will always be there for you." With that, Cerule put one arm beneath her knees, the other under her shoulders, and without apparent effort, he lifted her off the ground. And then he began to carry his love back to the house, their unborn child between them...

***

The news that Jessica was pregnant ran through the island like a thunderbolt. She was constantly besieged wherever she went with well wishers, many of them parents willing to share advice with her. It was a bit overwhelming at first, but when she got used to it, she appreciated all the advice, as much of it was good. After she had gotten used to the idea of being a mother, she found that she liked it. She and her mate would often spend hours cuddled up at night, talking about what it would be like to have children. They thought of many names, and they looked forward eagerly to the day when they would find out whether they had a son or a daughter.

But despite the happy news, all was not well. Cerule found himself sinking into more of a brooding mood every day. He had confided in Jessica his concerns about Scio and she had agreed with his conclusions. She had insisted that he go and talk to Tordek about it, and he had finally done so, but, as he had expected, the bear was not being very helpful. He had waved off the tiger's concerns, and Cerule resolved to keep watch on his own. An entire month passed before anything happened, during which the small groups of soldiers had finally left for the mainland. But they went with a dual purpose. In addition to freeing the villages, Cerule had instructed them to keep their eyes and ears open for newsworthy information about Scio. But then the day came when the idyllic atmosphere of the island was shattered like a pane of glass.

It was about midday when a strange ship was sighted by the lookouts, sailing at great speed and with great purpose, and while it did not head directly for the island, it would pass far too close to be ignored. And, when it came in close, it became clear that it flew no colors, a warning sign to any islander. The ship passed the island without even slowing down, outpacing the ships sent to intercept it. Most thought nothing of the ship after it was gone, but Cerule thought it strange and worrisome and all that day he went everywhere girded for battle. Nothing happened that day, but the champion's obvious agitation caused every soldier worry, and by nightfall, the army was wary, every soldier going to bed with weapons close at hand. The watch was doubled and even the island itself seemed be on guard, the soft noises of the night beasts that once filled the air were gone, replaced by an ominous silence. Late that night, Cerule lay awake. Even though his mate slept peacefully beside him in the bed, the champion lay staring up at the ceiling, his keen ears trained on the silence, straining for any noise out of the ordinary.

He didn't know how many hours had passed, but he was sure it was after midnight. He didn't know why the ship had bothered him so much, but he knew better than to question the instinct that kept sleep from touching him. His mind was racing, searching for anything that could help to explain his worry, but nothing came to mind. And then, gradually, he began to hear things at last. The creak of an eve, the slight flutter of cloth in the wind, the sound of leathers rubbing together. All of these noises were normal in the nights of the island, which was almost an armed fortress now. But something told him that these weren't normal sounds. Taking care not to wake his mate, he rose from the bed and left the room, staying in the shadows...

***

The Scio assassin crouched in the shadows of the roof, smiling to himself. So far, this mission had been easy. He and his partners had slipped ashore from the ship as it had passed the island earlier that day, easy avoiding the ships that had been sent in pursuit. It had been laughably easy to penetrate through the patrolling soldiers and into the island. Less easy had been the task of eliminating the sentries nearest to his target, as they seemed to be doubly wary, but now, they lay dead in the shadows beside their watch fire. He smiled slightly, looking over at his two companions. They were nothing but shadows in the dark, deadly and powerful. They, like him, were waiting patiently for the breeze blowing in from the sea to obscure the little noise they made when they moved. The banner hanging above him from a pole suddenly flapped and snapped with the breeze and he moved, swinging down from the roof suddenly, setting feet to the stone path outside the door. His boots of supple leather made little noise on the stone work and he quickly and silently opened the door to the house.

The assassin darted inside, the two shadows following him with ease. The coals of a fire were glowing dimly in the hearth, casting strange shadows around the trio as they entered the house. The lead assassin grinned beneath his veil; this was too easy. He moved forward quickly and silently, checking the shadows with his eyes. He started to move towards the bedroom door, but he froze suddenly. He had thought he had heard a muffled sound behind him, but he looked and found two shadowed figures behind him, as he had before. Shaking his head, he continued his walk towards the room's closed door. He moved with a practiced slowness, ever so slowly opening the door to the bedroom. The hinges of the door creaked slightly, and he froze again. There was no sound, and he refrained from checking his partners' positions, for they would already be out of sight, checking other rooms. He pushed the door once more until it was open a crack, revealing the moon shrouded form that lay in the bed.

The assassin paused to examine her and smiled to himself. She matched the description that Scio had given him of Cerule's mate. As he pushed open the door more, he couldn't help but think that she was kind of pretty, like the way that some animal pelts caught the eye. The assassin's smile widened and he wondered suddenly if one could use a morph skin for such a purpose. When he got back to the fortress, he would have to remember to try it. And then, in an instant, all thoughts of easy success were driven out of his head. The other side of the bed was empty. The assassin felt a chill run up his spine and he turned, whistling a warning to his partners quietly. The sound was an imitation of one of the night birds that could be found on the island, and he should have heard an answering sound after only a few moments. But only silence answered him. Another chill ran up his spine and then, he felt his blood run cold.

There, in the shadows against the wall, a dark shape moved, a shadow within shadow. It hadn't been there when he had entered the room and he didn't understand how it could have suddenly been there. Two bright points of light appeared within the shape and his eyes were drawn to them. The moment he looked at them, he suddenly felt as if he could not move. The shape moved into the faint light of the coals and the assassin stared, his eyes growing wide. The shape resolved into a large tiger morph, clothed in grey, its exposed silver-white fur reflecting brilliant orange in the light, but there was no mistaking the menace in its eyes; aquamarine orbs that glowed on their own, filled with fire. He couldn't look away from its piercing gaze, to say nothing of moving to attack. And then, the tiger started to walk towards him, and it was silent, more quiet than any assassin he had known. To his growing horror, he recognized the dark fluid dripping from its bared claws as blood, and he knew his partners were dead. It came still closer, within arms reach, and the assassin at last managed to force his body into motion, stabbing swiftly with the poisoned katar he had in his hand. But for all his sudden speed, his hand did not go far before his wrist was seized in one bloody paw of the tiger. Its grip was like a vise clamped to his arm, and all thoughts of escape were put out of his head when he felt something crackle within his arm as the paw tightened.

The tiger's other hand closed about his throat and the assassin struggled, reaching for the curved Kris knife in his belt, but he would never reach it. The tiger squeezed and the assassin felt his air cut off. He couldn't breathe, he couldn't think, and then, he felt an odd scraping sensation in his neck as the tiger continued to squeeze harder. Exquisite pain suddenly exploded in his neck as the grating sensation intensified. His vision began to grow dim, and the assassin's last sight was of those terrible eyes, boring into his soul like a knife. Then he felt something give in his neck and his mission's failure was no longer a problem for him...

***

Cerule waited on one of the beams that spanned the width of the living room, staying motionless as the assassins he knew were coming opened the door to the house. There were three of them and he knew that together, they might have a chance to kill him, so he waited for his moment. The darkly clothed men made their way into the room, then split up, headed for the doors to the other rooms, each out of sight of the others. Cerule smiled; therein lay their mistake. Dropping in silence from the beam, he landed in a crouch directly behind one of them. The assassin was heading for the bathroom, but he wouldn't get much farther. In total silence, Cerule grabbed the assassin, covering his mouth with one hand, the other going to the assassin's throat. He slashed with his claws, opening up the assassin's neck, and held him upright until he stopped quivering.

Carefully, Cerule laid the assassin down onto the spray of red blood he had made when he had died, out of sight from the other two. Smiling grimly, Cerule turned and padded noiselessly up behind the second assassin, the one that stood near to the entrance to the kitchen. This assassin, either more skilled than his counterpart, or by the interference of some luck or instinct, turned at his approach, raising his dagger to strike the tiger down. Cerule struck first, his fist catching the man's wrist. His eyes went wide and he started to cry out as his wrist shattered beneath the blow, but Cerule caught him around the neck, squeezing with both hands. The man's eyes bugged out and he clawed at Cerule's hands, frantically trying to free himself, but the tiger was too strong, his grip hard as stone. When the assassin had at last stopped moving, Cerule turned, ducking into the shadows and creeping up on the third and last assassin.

The man was at the bedroom door, and Cerule heard the hinges squeak as he pushed it open. The man paused at the sound and Cerule slipped closer, confident that he was going unheard. The dark shape of the assassin pushed the door open wider and then he saw the man's skin quiver. A moment later, he turned, whistling a call like a bird into the room. But no answer would come and suddenly, as Cerule stood watching the assassin, he felt anger brewing within him. It was a fierce feeling, a feeling that came to him when he imagined someone threatening his love. And then, in an instant, as he moved forward, the assassin spied him. Tapping into powers long hidden beneath his decent heart, Cerule stared beneath the veil of the man, into the man's eyes and he suddenly went stiff as a board. Cerule smiled inwardly, for that was a trick that Jeno had taught him to use when hunting and it proved just as effective now. He had not needed to use it in a long span of years, for he felt that it was unfair for his prey. But these honorless assassins deserved no such consideration.

He walked forward in silence, never blinking, staring at the assassin's eyes. And then, when the assassin was within arms reach, the man managed to move, one hand darting forward, a blade clasped in it. But Cerule caught his wrist, stopping the motion and squeezing hard. Then he gripped the man's neck with his other hand, lifting him off his feet with that hand. The man tried going for his knife, but Cerule tightened his grip, squeezing ever harder. The man began to quiver, and then, with a satisfying pop, Cerule felt the man's neck break beneath his hand and he released the corpse, letting it fall. Now that the attackers were dead, his first thought was for his love, and he feared that she had been harmed when he had been dealing with the other two men. But his fears were laid to rest a moment later.

"Cerule?" Jessica called sleepily from the bedroom, her voice lifting his spirit instantly. "What is it?"

"Assassins." He replied, pushing open the door so she could see him. "I think I got them all."

"What can we do?" She asked, suddenly wide awake. The tiger got out of bed and hurried over to him. She stopped short and gasped when she saw the blood that covered his arms. "Are you hurt?"

"No, the blood is not mine." He replied, then slipped his sleeping robe off. He then clothed himself quickly in his blue clothing once more and grabbed his sword from the stand. "Come, we must sound the alarm."

"Right." Jessica replied, then she linked her hands before her and her brow furrowed. For a moment, nothing happened, then Cerule noted the glow that surrounded her hands. All at once, the sky outside lit with a bright white and blue light, brighter then any moonlight. "The alarm has been given. Lets go find Tordek."

Cerule nodded and the two tigers left their house, headed out into the night. Moments after leaving, Cerule crouched by the slain sentries at the nearest watch fire and cursed. There were faint marks on the ground were the assassin's boots had passed, but there were more than could reasonably belong to the three assassins he had killed. Who knew what damage they had already done elsewhere on the island. He cursed himself for not thinking of this and then turned, running straight for the headquarters, newly awakened soldiers running with him...

***

By morning, the depth of the night's tragedies became clear. Six more assassins had been found and slain by guards during the night and the whole of the army was out and about searching the island for more. But the deaths of the intruders had not come in time to prevent the damage they had done. Tordek, his wife and their young son had been murdered, their throats cut in their sleep. Tordek's second in command and several other officers, as well as their combined families had been killed as well, bringing the death toll to more than fifty. Cerule had gathered the remaining leaders at noon of that day to speak with them. Cheiftain Tiderunner, who had slept beneath the waves with his folk, had survived, as had Shiktha, the leader of the lizard folk, but with Tordek and his second in command dead, the army was without a leader. A vote had been taken, and Cerule had been chosen to head the army in the stead of the fallen bear.

After the funeral of the fallen, Cerule had tightened security, stationing naga around the island. An attack of this magnitude would never happen again if he could help it. Cerule then dispatched a pair of his best soldiers to the mainland to spy on Scio, to find out what his plan was. Though the journey was normally one of several months, Jessica and some of her magic users had combined their efforts, transporting them well into the mainland in less than a heart beat. The answer would not be long in coming, though the source was singularly unexpected...

***

"Sir, something strange is happening." The runner said, pulling up to a stop before the table where Cerule was standing. He was a young cheetah, rail thin and tall. But he had inherited the speed of his feline cousins, making him and his breathen the best messengers in existence. "In the town sir. Come quickly."

Cerule rose to his feet and ran after the sentry, the guards that Aden, his new second in command, had insisted be assigned to him forming up around him as he moved. The runner led him into the town near to the heart of the island. In the center of the town square, a crowd of soldiers was gathered around something and they parted as he approached. And, as he slowed to a walk, he at last saw what all the commotion was about. A swirling vertical disc of blue magic energy had appeared in the air and it was growing steadily until it was man sized and still it grew larger. The soldiers surrounding it all lifted their weapons warily and Cerule suddenly saw Jessica within the crowd, her grey robe standing out among the armor of the soldiers. She was surrounded by six of her magi, and sparks of magic were already curling about their limbs. And then, a figure stepped out from the portal. It was a male human, just into manhood, with pale skin covered by a familiar grey robe, blonde hair like straw and brown eyes that looked almost perpetually mournful. He looked around when he exited the portal, seemingly surprised by the armed crowd around him, and just when Cerule was about to order him taken, Jessica's voice rang out.

"Jace?!" She exclaimed, pushing forward through the crowd. The man looked around at the sound of his name and, when his eyes met that of Jessica, he spoke in surprise.

"Jessica? Is that you?" He said. Cerule raised his hand and the soldiers lowered their weapons, some of them only reluctantly. The tiger stepped forward through his bodyguards and stood a respectful distance away from the two magi, listening. "What happened to you?"

"I became what I was supposed to be." Jessica answered, clasping forearms with him. "But what are you doing here?"

"Looking for you." He said and then he noticed Cerule. "Cerule, I bring a message to you from Scolor."

"Hold that thought." The tiger said and Jace nodded. Turning to the young runner, Cerule spoke. "Gather the officers, I think they will want to hear to this too."

The lad nodded and sprinted off to his task, puffs of dust kicking up with each swift step. Leading the way to the clearing where the officers met, he spoke again, looking at the two grey robed magi. "So, how do you two know each other?"

"Jace was one of my only friends at the academy, though he was called away before you came by a crisis in his homeland." Jessica explained, looking at her friend with interest.

"I returned to the academy a few days after you left and finished out my training." Jace stated. "But there is no time now for reminiscing, something horrible is brewing."

When they reached the clearing with the large map table, the officers were already assembling, the naga chieftain and the head of the lizard folk with them. It was not long until all the officers were present, the cheetah runner sitting down nearby to await new instructions, panting, the waves of heat rising visibly from his body as he calmed in the aftermath of his run. When all had settled, Cerule nodded to Jace.

"I am Jace, emissary of the Scolor Wizard's academy." He began, "I was directed to come here by Arch magus Scolor, the head of the academy. We have been approached on three occasions within the last month by an alliance of the six largest human nations. Each time, they have asked us to bring every student and every graduate that can be gathered quickly to a coastal city in the north. The first time, we asked them why they wanted us to do that, and the messengers went back to ask. When they returned, they said that the alliance was massing their armies to destroy a great threat to humanity, an army of morphs that has been massing for years. We told them that we would consider their request. We were very suspicious of this, for ever since Cerule came to the academy, we had been secretly harboring morphs within our walls. So, the arch magus scryed within the coastal city and we found a man bearing the symbol of the Scio holding sway over their discussions."

"Did this man happen to be missing his left arm?" Cerule asked and the man nodded. "That is Scio himself."

"That is the conclusion that my master came to as well." He said and then spoke. "The messengers came again and we told them that the academy must remain outside of any alliance. Then, their looks turned cold and they warned us that if we didn't comply, we would be their next target. They have not returned, and we are getting very worried."

When the man had finished speaking, there was silence for a moment, then a riot of voices filled the clearing.

"That is grievous news indeed." Shiktha hissed, anger in his gaze. "It is obvious now what Scio's plan must be."

"Indeed." Tiderunner said. "He intends to use the human armies to crush us in one fell swoop."

"What can we do?" One officer asked. "Do we stand here and wait for them as we did for the morphic army?"

"No." Cerule said, speaking for the first time since hearing the news. "That would be suicide. We must meet them on the mainland somewhere; somewhere were the terrain benefits us." He looked at the map on the table before him, then smiled and tapped the map, his finger on a place just north of the southern coastline. "Send word to every morphic settlement, every town and village. Tell them to bring their soldiers here as quickly as we can. We must move our forces there as soon as we can." The officers nodded and moved to carry out his command. "Jace, I must ask you to do the same thing that the Scio asked, only working for us. Will you do it?"

"I do not think so." He said. "I am sorry Cerule, but we do not have a large army, and Scolor fears that going to war at all will be the end of us, even with all the magi we have."

"If you do not come, I fear you will be destroyed anyway." Cerule replied. Jace nodded, but his face was sad.

"Cerule, I can convince Scolor to come." Jessica said, laying a hand on his arm. Cerule shook his head.

"No Jessica." He said. "I will not risk you or our child on this."

"My love, I am the only one who can convince him to help." She said. "He was like a father to me, and I know he will listen. I cannot let you go into battle without helping you as I can."

Cerule sighed deeply, placing both hands on the table and hanging his head. Then he nodded.

"Go." He said. "But please, be careful."

"I will." She replied and the two magi left to prepare. Cerule stood for a moment in silence, then sighed deeply once more, shaking his head. Aden approached him from the side and laid a hand in his shoulder.

"Cerule, you knew you wouldn't be able to keep her from the fight." The fox said and the tiger nodded slowly.

"Yes, but I hoped it all the same." He replied.

"Why don't you send Ardal and his friends with her?" He asked and Cerule looked over at him in surprise. "He has been itching for something useful to do and he keeps begging me to include him my battalion. If you sent him, Fel and Ferus with her as body guards, you could keep them happy, and keep her safe. All three of them are competent fighters."

"That's an idea." Cerule said, nodding to his friend. "That is certainly an idea..."

***

A few days later, Cerule stood in the town square once more, dressed in his armor. Jessica had agreed to his request that she take the three young warriors with her and they stood nearby, dressed in newly made chainmail and carrying their weapons. Jace was already weaving the spell that would take them back to the academy and the Arch wizard.

"Please be careful my love." Cerule said, embracing her carefully; taking care that his armor did not press against her swollen belly. "I love you."

"And I you." She answered. "If I don't arrive in time, good luck in the battle."

Cerule nodded and she moved to stand beside Jace as the swirling portal appeared again. When she had turned away, Cerule beckoned for Ardal to come over to him.

"Now Ardal, I am trusting you on this." Cerule said and the youth nodded. "I am trusting you to keep her safe. Do you understand?"

"Yes Sir!" Ardal stated fiercely, giving a salute with his spear. "You can count on me sir."

"Good, go on then." Cerule stated. The young fox went over to stand with the two wolves and the magi. Then, when the portal's swirling colors stabilized, he was the first one through it. Cerule smiled and turned towards the shore. Out there, the first shiploads of his army were already on their way south to the location he had chosen for the coming battle. He strode off towards shore, Aden coming up beside him. They would be sailing today with Aden's battalion, and they both had to finish getting everything ready...

***

Two weeks later, the army had assembled where he had ordered, along with thousands of warriors from the villages and towns nearest the battlefield. Cerule was standing with the naga chieftain and Shiktha on a small rise, looking out over the space before them. Scouts had brought word that the enemy army was marching south, headed unerringly towards the place where their forces were waiting, gathering their strength.

"How best to deploy our forces Cerule?" Tiderunner asked, turning so he was looking back towards shore.

"We will deploy our ally's forces to the woods on the left and the hills on the right; have them dig in tight." Cerule said, still gazing out towards the north. "Our army will be in the center. Deploy the magi behind our lines, and have them be ready for combat. I want breastworks up as soon as possible in front of all our forces."

"Why not deploy the volunteers behind our forces, and have our troops in front of all?" Shiktha stated, looking at the terrain. "That way, our forces will be equally strong all along the line."

"No. If I know Scio, he will have a plan for breaking through such positions. We have to out think him. Off to the left, beyond the forest, there is a ravine, carved in the land by the river. The enemy cannot flank us in that direction. To the right, the hills become much more rocky beyond that ridge there." Cerule answered, turning and pointing. "Now, our allies are not nearly as well trained or equipped as us, so we will post them on the terrain that is best to use. The trees will break up the enemy's lines when they come in, giving the forces posted there an advantage, so we will place the people from the forests there. Everyone else will go on the hills. Our forces' armor will serve as our advantage in the center."

"As you wish, Champion." Tiderunner said, bowing slightly and then slithering off to organize his people. Shiktha did likewise and Cerule turned back to the north, staring off towards his foe. He could sense that the coming battle would be horrible, but he knew it was also the final fight. Scio knew he was here with the army, so he was coming himself. And Cerule had little doubt that they would meet on the field of battle, and when they did, only one would be walking away. He shivered suddenly, for, carried on the north wind, was the faint echo of war horns, a sound that only he, with his exceptional hearing, had as yet heard.

The enemy was drawing near. The final act was about to begin...