Altars were boring. Instead, the structure Blend prayed before and everything surrounding the sailor began to disappear. As if the walls around Blend had melted away, eventually Tempesturo's faithful was washed in a bright, hot light. This light, as Blend would focus on his new landscape, was none other than the sun. The presence of the sun was accompanied by the setting of a beach. Blend would find himself located on a long stretch of sand, the ocean waves gently lapping in and out and the sky a comforting shade of blue dotted with wispy white clouds. If Blend gazed out into the ocean, he would notice something strange. The Itorian that had accompanied Blend once and Ternal, the sea dragon, were out in the ocean taking what seemed to be a leisurely swim.

As Blend would look about and survey this new landscape, he would notice that the God of Summer, Tempesturo was behind him, only the chaotic deity Blend has prayed to was lounging back in a beach chair, his legs stretched out and was drinking what was some sort of fruity frozen margarita. Instead of the torn and stained clothing he usually wore, Tempesturo was donning orange and red striped swim trunks and a pair of black sunglasses. Tempesturo's forearms, feet and the lower portions of his legs were still engulfed in flickering flames, yet strangely enough they did not burn a hole through his chair. When Blend would notice the God of Summer, Tempesturo lifted his glass is if in a toast and then gestured to an empty beach chair that was next to his own.

"Blend, my friend! Please, have a seat," Tempesturo said with a smile. As Blend would sit and join Tempesturo, Aleris' Summer deity lifted the black sunglasses and propped them on the top of his head, pinning back dark brown colored hair. "You shouldn't worry so much about how you pray to me. Trust me, I've heard far worse."

Tempesturo snapped his fingers then and out of nowhere, a waitress in a cerulean hued bikini appeared with a drink in her hand. The woman dipped forward and gave the margarita to Blend. As the sailor would take the offering, Tempesturo nodded his thanks to the waitress and she disappeared in another poof of smoke; a small popping sound could be heard as a result.

"So, you have some concerns about this army that's rampaging through Aleris like a bunch of fools, hm?" Tempesturo said. "I'm aware you had some hand in all of this and that for some time you were working closely trying to lead the Aliscowri. Guess that plan didn't turn out how you wanted, eh? Here's the thing, Blend. I am the God of Summer as you know. I thrive on the ideas of fire, chaos and the brave souls that would face those dangers. But there's a difference between the chaos that I so much adore versus the chaos that this Deanna is spreading. One is more natural, the other is not. I might even say you were misguided by following them. But that's okay - I forgive you."

The God of Summer paused briefly and offered Blend a serene smile despite the conversation about the destruction taking place throughout Aleris.

"Chaos, unfortunately, exists too much on the side of Deanna's army. Did you ever hear of my brother, Galenous, the God of Autumn? He's mostly the opposite of me. He likes order and when there's too much chaos floating about, it's not good for him. It's not good for me. So, I believe like you said, that we need to tip the scales so to speak. When one side is so thick with the idea of chaos and destruction, we need to create chaos on the other side to stir things up. Make things unexpected for the other team. I would have you go and fight against Deanna's army. Chaos can exist in good as well as in evil and it seems like those miscreants have forgotten that. What do you say, Blend? Would you be my Champion?"

Before Blend could answer, Tempesturo winked and then pushed his sunglasses back down over his eyes, turning his head to stare directly into the sun that shone over the ocean.

"Oh and by the way, that Goddess I banged a millennium ago, had the nicest set of legs and thighs to ever grace my ethereal world."

The Dark Queen did not sleep. She lay by the fire, her eyes closed as her slim fingers stroked the dragon scale she wore around her neck. The Goddess was disturbed by something, or rather someone who managed to invade her mind even for the briefest of moments. Still, it was enough to concern her deeply, for such an invasion would awaken the entity of the host whose body she inhabited. This could not happen. Ever.

For the time being, the being was silent and contained, trapped in a very small recess in her being, but that meant nothing. For the life of her, the Goddess could not understand how Blend managed to access the internal workings of her mind, and knew that faint brush against her subconscious could potentially ruin everything the Goddess had spent many long years in preparation. Shortly after her precious Delorah had come to her, beaming in pride as she laid her hands upon her ever growing belly and informing her Mistress of the conception, The Dark Mother had felt the invading presence. As quickly as it came, the Goddess immediately forced it away, hopefully before it could detect the truth.

Determined not to worry about something she believed was so inconsequential, she sat up slowly as her features and body language betrayed nothing of her concerns. She rose with languid movements and met Elijah’s steady gaze. The Goddess offered her wolf a slow smile as she took those few steps toward him. The rest of her army of therianthropes, Aliscowri and Guluwrath were lounging around several fires, some sleeping or talking quietly amongst themselves. Those who were awake looked to their Queen as she rose, peering at her with adoring eyes. The Goddess did not turn a blind eye to them and she swept her gaze across each and every one of them with great love and pride. This was her family, her children, hers and Elijah’s.

The undead werewolf did not rise for his Mistress, instead held out a large clawed hand for his Lady to take, and the Goddess situated herself on a log next to Elijah. The moon was large and full, occasionally obscured by the passing cloud, but offered enough silvery light to bathe the Goddess and her army in luminous glow. Her hand rested upon Elijah’s muscular forearm, and she need not question the undead Bluefield to know he was content enough, yet bothered. Annoyed was more accurate. The Goddess briefly touched the werewolf’s mind, a slight brush to confirm what she had suspected. If Elijah was aware of her minor intrusion, he did not let on nor did he shield his mind against her. She turned to face him; deep pools of glittering onyx studied him for a moment.

Her fingers once more plucked at the obsidian scale that dangled between her breasts. “I chose you, remember? Chaos chose you for me. This,” she tapped at the scale, “changes nothing my wolf.” Tilting her head to the side, lush waves of dark auburn spilled over a bare shoulder. “Do you think so little of me, Elijah to believe I would abandon you in favor of another?” A finely arched brow rose as the Goddess rose in one graceful movement to her feet, shifting so that she stood before him.

“I know what it is to be betrayed, Elijah, to be forgotten,” She spoke softly. “I would not do that to you, my wolf.” She gauged Elijah’s reaction carefully. It was her face he studied. It was to her that pledged his allegiance to, not the Goddess she truly was. She sighed then and turned away, leaving him to consider her words as she sought out Delorah.

The Dead Seed woman sat cross-legged amongst other Aliscowri women around their own fire. The aging pregnant woman beamed a radiant smile to her Goddess as she took her seat near Delorah. The Dark Queen brushed a grey strand of hair from Delorah’s forehead, a gentle smile caressing her lips. “You glow with pride for your future offspring, Delorah, as you should.” Tears prickled at Delorah’s eyes as she reached for her Mistress’ hand and held it to her wrinkled cheek, murmuring her thanks, adoration written plainly on her face.

The Dark Mother did not pull her hand away instead she stroked Delorah’s hair as the Dead Seed woman inched closer, as her Mother placed a loving arm around her shoulder much to the envy of the other Aliscowri females. “I had a daughter like you once,” the Goddess began suddenly, without thinking. “She was beautiful and brave and strong. She was a fierce one, my child was, proud and determined and loyal.” There was a note of sadness in that last word, and the Dark Mother stared absently into the fire, the orange flames casting an eerie glow in those fey onyx orbs of hers. Enraptured by the unexpected tale, Delorah and the Aliscowri women, some with babes at their breasts leaned closer to listen. “She loved me, you know, as if I were truly her mother. I know she loved me.”

“What happened to her, Mother?” Delorah asked quietly. “The woman who was your daughter.”

The Aliscowri women could not help their soft gasps of surprise as a silvery streak ran down their Mistress’ cheek. “She disobeyed me. She chose to cast aside my love, my protection, my guidance. After all I did for her. After choosing her above all others to be mine, my beloved. She spurned me.”

All went silent for a moment. Finally, Delorah lifted her head from where it lay against her Mother’s shoulder. “Where is she now, Mother?”

The Goddess stood abruptly, a hand swiped at the tear in anger, those onyx orbs hardened to stony slabs of blackened granite.

“She died. She died alone and bitter and without purpose in life, and then she faded away into oblivion. She faded away because I willed it so.” Sharay, Goddess of Death and Chaos lowered her icy gaze to stare at Delorah, who in turn shrunk away and crawled back to the safety of the other Aliscowri women. “She was forsworn to me. She broke her vows to obey me, to love me, to worship me. She broke her vows to me, as if I was nothing!” Her eyes flashed dark rage and indigo flames sprouted in the palms of her hands. The women huddled closer together, frightened for the first time of their Mother. The Dread Queen shook her head, snapping out of her reverie. She curled her hands into loose fists until the fire of Chaos was extinguished. At the stunned silence that followed, she smiled apologetically. “Forgive me, my children. It pains me greatly when I think of her,” and with that, she turned on her heel and headed back to Elijah when the sound of an unfamiliar lycan’s howl was heard.

The group rose as a collective unit, all suddenly alert and prepared for battle. Elijah had trained them well, she thought as her wolf appeared instantly at her side. The Goddess was not without her own talents as she closed her eyes and mentally scanned the area. Her eyes opened in a flash and she pushed through her army, until finally she found the toddler with the wisdom of ages in her intelligent brown eyes. The Goddess crouched before the girl and laid her hands upon small shoulders. “Tell me, sweetling, what is happening.” And the child did so, explaining Gethe’s location along with around a dozen newly born Dead Seed. Not far off in the distance, cries and shouts could be heard, as well as a blast of sound that soon followed. It was an obvious invasion, but by whom was unknown. Perhaps the Grand City army had detected their whereabouts regardless of careful planning and decided on a sneak attack only to be thwarted by Gethe and the children. The Dark Mother was pleased at the very idea of Gethe training the special sorcery-infused children with his own blend of dark magics. Elijah had inquired whether they should send in some of their own to assist the demon and the offspring. She considered for a moment then shook her head, an odd smile touching her lips. “No, my wolf. I wish to see how the demon and the children handle themselves; though I have every confidence they will be successful. Let them play.”

She turned then to address her brood. “My children, it would seem that the Grand City and their pitiful forces attempted to attack our magnificent army, for which they shall be easily outmaneuvered by Gethe and the younglings.” Her voice rose then to carry her message loud and clear to her army. “This, my children, is what we do. We fight together as a unit, as servants of Chaos.” Fists were thrust in the air and the shouts of individuals rang in the night. Elijah and the Goddess Sharay masquerading in the body of her former servant Deanna stood proudly side by side. “We shall wait no longer to attack and overthrow the Grand City’s army. It begins tonight!” There was no hesitation as her brood quickly began gathering their belongings in preparations for the assault on the Grand City and its people.

The Goddess turned to Elijah and began giving instructions as to how their attack will play out. “When Gethe returns with the younglings inform him that he shall lead the Guluwrath and the therianthropes to the gates of the City. I want the perimeter secured. No one enters or exits. I think the Gulwraths should suffice for the job, but I shall leave the decision up to Gethe. The rest will breach the castle grounds to attack the Grand City soldiers, for which there are few after the last global devastation that took place. Their army is weak and low in number, and I highly suspect that they will surrender willingly and without hesitation. Those who wish to surrender and bow down before me, acknowledging my rule over Aleris may live. Those who think to defy me and have a death wish to fight against my army are expendable. Leave the civilians to the Aliscowri. Inform them the same. Those who are loyal shall live, the rest I care not what my children do with. Have the survivors rounded up and held at the East Gate. I will inform the refugees of my plans for them when all is said and done, but I want them unharmed.”

She paused for a moment before continuing. “I fully expect Verial Akilara to join in the fight. I want him taken alive Elijah. I have need of him.” She looked to Elijah who scowled then and had to laugh. “Easy my wolf,” she lay a hand against his maw. “I said I needed him alive. I did not specify what condition he need be in.” Her devious grin was matched by Elijah’s. “All I ask is that once he is located, you detain him for me in his quarters until I arrive. Oh and Elijah, see that he remains conscious for me, would you?” Her laughter grew then, rich and sultry.

“Verial Akilara may be King for now, but I believe this realm would be much better off with a Queen to rule instead. Someone to make the realm and its people strong. A Goddess Queen who does not abandon her people during time of crisis, who does not simply accept their sacrifice and losses as commonplace. The people of Aleris will soon come to realize, if they have not already, that these gods are useless pathetic beings who care not for those who pray to them, who serve them without fail. Soon the people will realize that it is I who will care for them. It is I will who lead them to rise from their miserable existence to become great once again.” She offered Elijah a slow smile, savoring this moment.

“And they will love and worship me for it. All of them.”

Blend gawked at Tempesturo for a moment. In truth, the sailor was beginning to suspect he'd never hear from the elusive god. That didn't bother him much. In a kingdom, men and women follow a leader that few ever see, yet they still learn of their deeds from afar and devote respect and loyalty. Such was the aspect of Blend's attention on Tempesturo - until now, it had been a distant thing, fickle and abstract.

But this... this is a god he could worship! Tempesturo reclined comfortably on a beach chair, his eyes hidden behind a pair of shades. If one were to overlook the eternal fire that licked at Tempesturo's ankles, the man could've been any person in the world. An old friend on the beach, perhaps, waiting patiently for his companion.

Now the god sat with Blend, discussing the destructive army led by Deanna with an air of indifference. Blend sipped on the margarita as he listened to his god speak.

"So, you have some concerns about this army that's rampaging through Aleris like a bunch of fools, hm? I'm aware you had some hand in all of this and that for some time you were working closely trying to lead the Aliscowri. Guess that plan didn't turn out how you wanted, eh? Here's the thing, Blend. I am the God of Summer as you know. I thrive on the ideas of fire, chaos and the brave souls that would face those dangers. But there's a difference between the chaos that I so much adore versus the chaos that this Deanna is spreading. One is more natural, the other is not. I might even say you were misguided by following them. But that's okay - I forgive you."

It was as he suspected, the same suspicion he shared with Verial and the others when he visited the castle earlier. Deanna was corrupted by something worse than Chaos, something without a respect for the required balance.

"So, I believe like you said, that we need to tip the scales so to speak. When one side is so thick with the idea of chaos and destruction, we need to create chaos on the other side to stir things up. Make things unexpected for the other team. I would have you go and fight against Deanna's army. Chaos can exist in good as well as in evil and it seems like those miscreants have forgotten that. What do you say, Blend? Would you be my Champion?"

Opening his mouth to respond, Blend was cut off as Tempesturo continued.

"Oh and by the way, that Goddess I banged a millennium ago, had the nicest set of legs and thighs to ever grace my ethereal world."

Blend grinned at the god, taking another drink from his margarita before responding. "You'll have to introduce her to me sometime!" Still smiling, he looked out towards the ocean, staring at Ternal and the Iltorian as they swam through the water. He could stay here forever, but there was problems that needed solving and they both knew it.

The question, then. Will he be Tempesturo's Champion? Blend thought briefly to what Fingers had said earlier about his previous life.. The atrocities he committed as a slave to another god. He didn't want to become another puppet. Yet he suspected that Tempesturo's request was fundamentally different. After all, when had Tempesturo outright demanded he do anything? In truth, the god treated Blend more like an equal than most mortals did, and in this regard Blend felt a growing respect for the chaotic deity.

According to those unspoken terms, Tempesturo was asking Blend for service. Hiring him for a job, so to speak. It was something Blend could appreciate. In this way, he retained his freedom as a man unto himself, no strings dangling from his limbs to be pulled by unseen puppeteers.

"Tempesturo, I would be honored to be your champion. I'll see what I can do about Deanna's army. I should warn you, though.. if you ask me to do anything crazy like swimming in the sun, there better be a naked goddess thrown in the deal." Blend finished the last of the margarita in a deep swallow, then stood up. "Now I should probably check on those pesky Almeddans.. You'll know where to find me."

--

The Almeddans were sunburned to a crisp. Blend's skeleton walked up to the group and grunted towards the overweight Venefican Tarc. "What in the hell happened to you guys?"

"Ohh, you're back finally, huh? How'd your chat with Tempesturo go? Hey, next time you talk to the God of the Summer, warn us, ok?" Tarc spat angrily. His face was red as a lobster and his blue eyes stared daggers at Blend's corpse.

"Well, sorry, I didn't expect.. Hey, cheer up. That red skin is growing on me, you remind me of an angry tomato in a blue cloak.."

"You were glowing like the sun for five minutes.. I think Kisser over there is blind." Tarc pointed towards an Almeddan with a fat finger. The poor guy was walking with another Evincan, his hand on the others shoulder as his feet shuffled cautiously through the dirt.

"Hrmph. Why does everyone look half dead? I didn't sunburn you that much, I hope?"

"Ohh.. yeah.. We were going to ambush Deanna's army, but we were trapped. Seventeen people dead. The Second Squad was decimated. We had to retreat. Now we march for the Grand City, while Deanna's forces march behind us. The whole time, your pretty little corpse has been dragged along like a dead weight, slowin' us down, givin' us skin cancer."

"Hey, sorry. Gods, you're in a sour mood. More venom than a water moccasin. Where's Cherin?"

"Cherin's dead." Tarc scowled at Blend.

"Guess I'm stuck with that blind guy over there.." Blend sauntered off.

--

I have a name. Sssisselekss. It rolls off my forked tongue, and I like the flavor. It pleases me, like the flavor of a mouse, but so much smoother and infinitely more subtle.

My name means awakening. I don't know how, or why.. this is the meaning I have given it. I give many things meaning, now. This rock is dead. That tree is alive. The sky is blue. This, like my name, is new and I relish it. So many things have changed. I was once so simple. Crawling on my belly through sludge, hunting prey mindlessly with a hunger insatiable. There had been only one object with meaning then.. Prey was prey. Even that word has changed. Now prey is order.

I like this place. Chaos is so beautiful. But here there is nothing to hunt. I must find order. I must feed.

--

"Gods that's a big snake," Fingers cried, pointing towards the treeline where a massive black serpent was emerging. At his side was Agatha, the bespectacled old crone peering towards Finger's target with unseeing eyes.

"A water moccasin, yes?"

"Cottonmouths don't get that big, no."

"If it's here in Chaos, then it can be anything. Any size. You know this, buffoon."

"It's coming this way.."

Agatha shrugged, sitting back down in her rocking chair even as the massive serpent approached them. The creature was growing well beyond its species, stretching twenty feet long and nearly three feet wide at its center. Beautiful red and black scales created an intricate swirling pattern on its back. The creature lifted its head to strike and Fingers cried out, jumping in front of Agatha and waving his arms in what he hoped was an aggressive and frightening gesture.

The beast did not strike. Instead it hissed. "Sssisselekss.."

"Agatha, go inside.. get the sword!"

"Shut up, you fool. It's talking to us."

"Sssisselekss. Asssiensiskless.. Sssisess.. Sssesimisss"

"He went thatta way."

The snake studied Agatha's pointed finger and then slithered away, vanishing into a rift to Aleris. Fingers stared at the old woman, his mouth agape.

--

The Grand City towered above the Almeddans as they approached the gate. Jasker led the group on his destrier, a white flag hoisted on a spear. The moon was bright and piercing overhead, a full moon, a bad omen considering the lycanthropic army approaching the city.

The gate opened and a troop of city guards marched out. Jasker gave the command to halt then rode ahead to speak with them.

Blend glanced over to his new friend, Kisser. The man wasn't blind - not really, as he explained to Blend after they made quick friends. "Me and Resk over there have a runnin' bet. Resk says that Veneficans can always tell when yer messin' with them. I said, hey, I been messin' with Tarc for weeks now and ain't he noticed a thing. So Resk said ohh? I said yessir, he still thinks my name's Kisser. So Resk was like damnit, I betchoo ten silver an' this fancy ring that you won't be able to trick Tarc to thinkin' yer blind for one hour. Then you started glowin' like a lightbug and I was like hey sounds good."

Blend was 'helping him' along, guiding the man while Kisser tried his best not to look at the ground under his feet. "Hour's almost up, eh? Here, see the watch?"

"Yeh, yer right.. Ohh, hey damnit! Tarc almost saw me!! Yer tryin' to foul me up!" Kisser let go of Blend's skeletal arm and shuffled away, arms waving out blindly. "Someone help me!!! I caint see a damned thing!"

Even in the midst of bloodshed and chaos, soldiers somehow managed to find a way to enjoy themselves. Perhaps this was the only way they could stay sane, Blend mused as he watched Jasker speaking with the city guard. After a few moments of intense discussion, the Almeddans were admitted to the city itself. The gate groaned shut behind them.

It seems like every time I come here, the city is about to get destroyed. Blend's skeleton attempted to frown and failed miserably. Not this time, it won't.

Madrin was checking over his paperwork for accepting Darius Redmont into the royal guard, when there was a knock at his door. He told the soldier to enter after the guard announced himself. "Commander Kir there is a small group of men bearing a white flag begging entry to Grand city." The warrior bowed respectfully after reporting awaiting his decision on the matter.

"Can the mages verify the soldiers aren't lycanthropes man." Madrin commanded the guard to raise his eyes before speaking again.

"Aye sir, they are sure unless the enemy figured out a way to disguise them, which they doubt." The man met the Lord Commander of Eiler's unsettling ice blue gaze with fear and respect mixed.

Madrin was on edge due to the army of monsters unknown location. However, he knew this small army could have a report on the enemy given their battered condition. "Be on your way guardsman and tell the Gate officer to let them in I will be along shortly." The man was away at a good pace with the news.

Madrin made a point of stopping by the infirmary on his way to enlist the aid of available healers. He felt a fool parading around in the gold trimmed white uniform of Grand city but, it got the attention of those he passed quickly. He had to admit such timely responses made his job much easier. He reached the west gate with a dozen skilled mystic healers in tow and sent them to work. His uniform spoke for itself but, Madrin's rank and name was give to all as he weaved thru the small crowd. After a few questions he found the Almeddan leader and prodded him gently with his reason for coming to Grand city so late at night. Jasker was very forthcoming with his reasons, like a good soldier it was well detailed.

"So it's time at last, well met commander your news has given us an edge, I thank you." Jasker was given respectful bow as a fellow leader of men. Madrin raised his voice so that all could hear and obey. "To arms men the army of darkness is coming let's show them the strength of Grand city." A great cheer went up as soldiers went to sound the bell waking the city for battle. Thanks to these brave Almeddan soldiers the whole army would be ready when the enemy comes. Normally muster would take a solid two hours so an early start was advantageous.

Madrin went himself to rouse Verial for the incoming forces. Earlier he had been told of Darius' new position and the oath he gave. Madrin informed him fully of the progress of his orders. He found the man with his mother clearly grieved by something. Despite that Verial seemed in full command of his mind. The pair of Angelics were unique he would give them that.

Madrin knocked and announced himself with the entirety of the royal bodyguard at his back. His job in battle was to head them as well as giving orders to the army. "Lord Akilara I know you heard the bell the enemy has not arrived yet but, we received word of their advance from warriors of another realm who arrived battered after attempting to ambush them. Apart from the walking skeleton who claims his name is Blend, whom has a mark from Tempesturo I trust their word. In a way I cannot explain, I sense the dark army approaching." A verdant green glow surrounds Madrin as he speaks starting from the mark on his forehead. He knew it was a warning from Aurora but, he was unsure if others would believe it. his bow was respectful and brief. "Lord Akilara I await your orders."

"What happened? What did you see?"

She stood small before him, staring with an expression of sorrow and anxiety, up into her son's beautiful odd eyes. To see the pair of them together, mother and son, was not a sight one might easily shrug at. The creatures were like White candle sticks lit with dark flames that danced when their wings stirred the air around them. The blood of Angels are strong, even when diluted.

"I -.... can see that you do not yet know..." she began. The Angel reached her hands out to grasp Verial's arms.

"She...It..came to me again, just as It did when It told me of Psalm's death." Her voice cracked then, like a jagged line that ran across her heart. She had not rehearsed this. There was no way kind or gentle enough to say what the message implied.

"It said to me..the third generation of my blood has been destroyed. That is...Kyrian." Tears spilled from her eyes as her head and the rise of her wings dropped with the weight of emotion.

"Where is our Kyrian, Verial??"

But she knew better than anyone, if Kyrian had been sleeping safe and warm in his bed, she could find him in the dreaming. She wished now she had kept Kyrian back in the valley, that she had never let him go.

A little over twenty Almeddans fidgeted and paced, bickered and scowled, argued and laughed as the nervous anticipation of battle hung over them all. Destruction was marching ever closer to the city, perhaps already upon them..

"I have an idea," Jasker spoke up finally. His stalwart frame was hunched over a drawing he'd made in the dirt, a crude sketch of the castle and the city walls. "Look, if they get inside the city gates - which doesn't seem too difficult - then there's a spot right here.. Nothing but buildings, most of them ruined already from the tidal wave. They'll have to pass it on the way to the castle gates, assuming they want to assault the fortress. We'll trap them by knocking over that tower, see? It'll block the road, probably crush a good half of them.. If we angle the tower right, it'll land in front of the gate, they'll have to move out the rubble rock by rock. Drastic, aye, but.."

"I have a better plan." Blend approached the Evincan captain. Jasker scowled towards the skeleton, but said nothing, his green eyes curious. "Divide and conquer."

Jasker studied him. "The Aliscowri?"

Blend shrugged. "There is several faces in Deanna's army. Several competing wills. The Aliscowri, the lycanthrope slaves, the demon Gethe.. Elijah Bluefield.. Then of course, Deanna. The Aliscowri may in fact be the easiest to change, due to their worship of Tempesturo. You see, he doesn't care much for Deanna's uprising. However, the lycanthropes also surely have a motive. They're chained by fear, right? Slaves, after all. When I first saw them they were humans, brutally subdued by Gethe. But now they have more freedom - yes? Thus, Deanna gives them freedom and they give her loyalty.. But not enough."

"What are you getting at?"

"I'm working on it. The third face of Deanna's army, Gethe, also has his own motives. The guy is a ruthless killer. It's plain as day he wants to become the most powerful person he can, by clawing his way into such positions by brute force. Thus, he wants to supersede Deanna..

"The final face, Deanna herself, is in fact a puppet. Like I once was.. This means, you see, there is not a single person in Deanna's army that serves her with absolute loyalty... except perhaps Elijah. I never was good at understanding evil undead werewolves."

"You propose we incite turmoil within Deanna's army somehow. Supposing you could get close enough to talk to them, you'd get killed instantly. Besides, they'll just ignore your suggestions. It's a bad plan. As I was saying about the tower.."

"There is another way. I can reach them with my mind. They'll have to listen. They'll have no choice. I'll scream if I have to."

--

Inside of Chaos, Blend closed his eyes and concentrated on the threads that connected them all. It wasn't much different than riding a bike, and Blend comfortably slid into the serene mind-scape. Like an intricate web, it expanded before him, showing him the countless worshipers of Chaos. From these threads, others stretched, connecting them to the great expanse of all existence. There was one he was looking for, and Blend reached out, touching the arraki Soul's mind.

This time, the connection wasn't fraught with tension and confusion. After all, Blend had felt Soul's presence in his own body several times. There was in fact something calming about the cool logic of Soul's mind as they shared ideals.

"We could save the slaves," Blend suggested. "Well, technically, you and your 'brothers' could save them. My hands are full enough! The poor souls are captives of fear and brutality. They didn't sign up for this. They can be reclaimed."

They can always be reclaimed.

--

After speaking with Soul, Blend reached out and nervously clutched the most disturbing thread, plunging into the mind of Deanna and her raging Goddess. There was no oblivion to be found here, no serene stillness. The mind was aflame with vicious anger, an anger directed at Blend. Like a whirling hurricane it pummeled into Blend's spirit, gouging him and seeking to drive him back.

"I spoke with Tempesturo," he screamed into the mental storm, his voice a distant whisper by the time it reached the woman buried in its heart. The goddess within Deanna was working to deafen his efforts. "Let me show you!"

Gethe smiled when he was ordered to begin the assault on Grand city. Such a position indicates a decent amount of trust. How little the dread mother realized about the demon of darkness. He knew she was waiting for him to twist a knife in her back but, he would show her she was right to put him in charge. Trust was nothing to Gethe beyond a tool to ensnare his opponent. However, power was different it was the only truth in existence. His power had ended the weaklings futile attempts at freedom. He merely had to curve their desire to rise against their current master. He learned millennia ago most mortals eventually accept domination if they get use to it as normal. However, chaos was a tricky thing it often swayed the actions of people more than they realized. There were always those that resisted but, he preyed on the darkness in their hearts and minds. An evil beings greatest concern is the preservation of their lives so attaching his strings was easy. All Gethe had to do was establish his power and let them think obedience meant life. The dread mother was a great help in proving they only had one choice if they wanted to live.

The dark lord could feel the belief he was stirring among the aliscowri they were not far from offering their souls to him. Unfortunately, they were influenced more by the dark mistress, Gethe was sure more would chose her if the two sinister forces turn on each other. However, the human heart is a fragile thing loyalty was easily swayed if you know where to push. He had many more tools at his disposal but, he would need to separate the aliscowri from the cursed woman's influence first.

The battle with the Almeddan forces had given him plenty of blood to do as his mistress commanded. He was glad the dark army would be attacking at night so that Gethe could employ greater power, the sun would have been an annoyance. He transformed once again into a ten foot tall black winged humanoid. He regretted showing he could maintain his more powerful form until sunrise but, to cloak the army in darkness it was necessary. Disguising the sound of the army was beyond him however, the guards on the wall would see nothing until it was too late. His dark aura would bring fear to the weak willed. Gethe's puppets would know their way thanks to his power but, pitch darkness would blind their eyes as well as the guards. The demon usually took flight in this form he liked the terror it inspired when the sky blackened.

Gethe led the therianthropes and Galuwrath to the gates of Grand city as ordered. He could see the noise had certainly caused confusion since his own aura was no hindrance to his sight. His feline children took up position along with Donovan a few feet behind him with orders to cut down any who flee. After that he blew the massive gates of Grand city apart with a wave of his hands and laughed loudly as he rose in the air. He deflected over a hundred arrows with a magical barrier as the soldiers found a moving target.

The bestial army began attacking as Gethe delivered the cities ultimatum. "The dark queen commands you all to surrender immediately, if you want to live, otherwise your true goddess will show no mercy." More arrows were shot at him as he spoke, with no effect. However some stupid humans decided to use siege weapons on the demon. The first catapult briefly knocked him from the sky, those idiots were dead not ten seconds later in a spray of blood as he regained his position.

"Your false goddess can suck my cock, if she thinks we will abandon the four in favor of her!" the man shattered into six pieces of meat, before he continued speaking as tendrils of shadow tore him apart, that came from Gethe's pointer finger. The demon enjoyed employing the power to destroy cities on weak sacks of flesh it was always artful.

"So be it mortals, you have ended your short lives with foolish defiance!" The screams pleased Gethe greatly as he set to destroying the siege engines and their operators.

"It said to me... the third generation of my blood has been destroyed. That is... Kyrian."

Truly the last thing Verial had wanted to hear on what would be the day before Grand City was attacked by Deanna's army was that his son was no more. Though she had not visibly seen Kyrian's body, Verial did not doubt Sorvynia's words, her feelings, or whatever visions she might have had about Kyrian's death. Sorvynia's tears were testament enough that Verial's only kin was no longer among the living.

Sorvynia held onto Verial's arms as if to steady herself. Verial could feel the weight of her heart and her arms on his as she leaned onto him for support. She cried, tears steadily flowing from her eyes. All the while, amazingly Verial's feet held firm onto the ground; he did not falter though he was eerily quiet before he said anything or answered her question as to Kyrian's whereabouts.

"Kyrian was at the castle for some time after the Undead War. He assisted in healing the wounded here and then when he was finished, he said he wished to travel across Eiler," Verial said. "I let him go."

Despite the weight that was tugging on Verial's heart, the feeling of utter dread in the pit of his stomach, he spoke in a very calm tone. Unfortunately, outside in the castle courtyard was not the best time to fall to pieces no matter what the news was. After all, there were a great number of soldiers already trying to be brave while fearful of what was to come. To witness the king falling in an emotional state of trauma would have shaken the resolve of many. So Verial held as steady as he could, reminding himself to breathe normally, despite the overwhelming urge to cry out in anguish.

"I let him out of my sight," Verial said. For a brief moment, he lowered his head as if ashamed, raven hair framing his face. After a few quick seconds of faltering, Verial looked up and regarded Sorvynia with his odd colored eyes, his face a blank mask. "I'm sorry. Really, I am, but you can't be here in the city right now. You need to go back to the Villa, please. There's a battle on its way to Grand City and the last place I want you is in harm's way. I will be fine." Somehow he managed a gentle, reassuring smile for her.

Sorvynia, as Verial was aware, could be as stubborn as him. Verial knew more than anything that with this bit of news unveiled that she would want to stay with him. There was no way that Verial was going to allow her to stay at the castle when more death was looming so heavily around the corner. As it was, he had accepted the position of Protector Regent and if it was to be, Verial would give his life to protect and guard the people of Grand City. But it was never written anywhere that it was Sorvynia's duty to do such a thing. Before Verial could get out another word, Madrin appeared not far off in the distance, his feet headed in their direction. Verial lifted his fingers to Sorvynia's eyes and wiped the tears from the corners of her pale, blue eyes before the Lord Commander of Eiler reached them.

After Madrin gave his report noting that the bell tolled to signal the approach of Deanna's army, Verial nodded. Actually, the sound of the bell was but a very muffled sound in his ears - a distant memory at best - in comparison to how he was feeling right now. Still, he managed to rouse a serious expression for Madrin, nodding to Eiler's trusted commander.

"I hope they are being properly taken care of and that their wounds are dressed. If the battle is on its way like you said, then we will likely need their assistance and need them in as best of a condition as they can be," Verial said. When Madrin mentioned the name Blend, a brow rose in question. "Blend, you said? I know that name... and if you say he is aligned with Tempesturo, it may be the same person I'm thinking of. Only, I did not expect him to come back as a skeleton." Verial shook his head. "I trust if he's aligned with Tempesturo then hopefully it's in his interest to help keep this city safe. Make sure his men have the weapons they need. We should have plenty of silver-inlaid arms to go around. As for our men, double the watch; everyone needs to be on guard and alert. Make sure every wall where there is a wall has an archer stationed. The catapults need to be ready. You know what to do. I'll be joining you, but for now, there is something I must attend to."

With that, Verial turned from Madrin offering the Commander a bow. He placed a hand on Sorvynia's back who was standing by his side and led her further down the castle's courtyard. During this time, Verial was silent, not speaking until he got to another guard. Verial wondered if his mother thought him dismissive towards his son's death or non-responsive. On the other hand, he knew that she could feel that his passiveness on the situation was merely a way for him to appear strong and fine in the eyes of the others who kept a careful eye on their city's protector.

"Captain Cyrus Rose, correct?" Verial asked the guard.

"Yes sir, Protector Regent."

"I have a mission for you," Verial began and then gestured to Sorvynia. "This is my mother, Sorvynia Dreamer."

"My lady," Cyrus said dipping into a bow.

"I would have you escort her back home," Verial said to Cyrus as the man straightened.

"B-but sir, I hear the battle is going to start soon. Aren't I needed here?"

"I've heard reports you're one of our best captains and that's why I need you on this mission. With the army advancing on Grand City, I want you to make sure my mother makes it out of Grand City and returns to her home safely. This of the utmost importance to me," Verial said. "Understood?"

"Yes, sir. I would be honored to be Lady Sorvynia's escort then. I will protect her life as if she were my own wife," Cyrus said with a firm nod of his head.

With that, Cyrus ran off to ready the horses that would be used to take Sorvynia back to the Villa. Verial took her hands in his and then moved his palms to frame her face in his hands. The look in his eyes was both pleading and serious.

"Please, you must go back home to the Villa. I know you wish to stay, but I cannot bear the thought of your safety being compromised right now. Forgive me for sending you away when I told you that you may come visit whenever you wish. Now is not the time. I can make it through this... on my own," Verial said. After a brief pause, Verial dropped his hands away from her face and let his arms hang at his sides, his hands laced behind his back. "Oh, and I would not tell Ita yet... With the threat of death wandering about Aleris, the last thing we need is an emotional fairy going off to seek justice." Verial leaned forward, kissed her cheek and then embraced Sorvynia tightly. He took a step away as Cyrus came back with two horses. "I love you. Put your faith in Cyrus and your trust will guide you back home."

Turning away, Verial hoped by the time he looked back she would be gone. As he headed back to the castle, however, he thought it was best that he didn't look over his shoulder. More than anything, Soryvnia would be tempted to defy his wishes and stay behind, even if it meant punching Cyrus in the face or whatever. Verial prayed that this time, she would return to the Villa. There were plenty of instances where Verial was sure he was going to die, but now was not one of them. He would make it through this, if nothing else, to see that his son wherever his body was, was buried and put to rest properly.

Verial returned to his chambers and locked the door behind him. It was dark save for the flickering of a single candle. His armor, a lighter plate armor that he preferred, had been set out by an attendant earlier. Verial did not dress in it yet and instead he gathered his sword and the bow he had bought several months ago. The sword, previously owned by King Alerion, had been laced with silver as many of their weapons had been to protect against the threat of the therianthropes. Holding the hilt in his hand, Verial felt odd. Truthfully, he did not imagine it would come to this. During his short reign as Protector Regent, he was already being thrust into another war.

Placing the sword on a table, Verial went to one of the chairs in his room and sat down. There he leaned forward and with his head buried against his knees, breathed in more deeply than he had before. It was a frustrated, wounded breath that he had been holding in, one that he did not allow to surface until he was on his own. Raven feathered wings folded over his sides and his arms wrapped about his legs. It was unnoticed even by himself, but as his fingers pressed against his legs, his nails digging almost angrily past cloth to seek skin, a layer of obsidian colored scales flickered across Verial's forearms. He bit his lower lip hard, drawing a small amount of blood and only released it until he was breathing normally again.

"I should have protected you first."

He knew it before, but the realization began to hit him even harder now. The only link Verial had left to Necia Akilara had been severed. It should not have been this soon. Never. His first born and only child was gone and there was not a damn thing he could do about it.


Early morning...

The soldiers should have been resting, but unfortunately there was no time. Though it was morning, the sky was strangely black and as such, the Grand City army was shrouded in the darkness of the night. Torches lined the walls, casting illumination all about the city and castle. This helped the soldiers see several miles out, but when the shadow of Gethe embraced the city, the army was enveloped in a darkness that they could not see past. Verial was standing on one of Grand City's walls keeping watch alongside Madrin when this happened.

By some magical force, the city gates flew from their hinges, the heavy wooden barriers breaking through a few houses as they went. A line of soldiers were leveled in the gate's flight and shortly afterwards, screams erupted in the night air. No one could see what was going on thanks to Gethe's shadows. It was clear, however, that the sound of unrestrained therianthropes and Aliscowri were rampaging through the city now, protected by any magic that Gethe was casting. Arrows were bouncing off of the demon; even catapults seemed to have no effect.

Verial narrowed his eyes and turned on his feet moving away from Madrin's side to run back to the nearest catapult. He waved his hands to stop the soldier before the man wasted another shot from blindness. Due to his lineage, his father being a drow, Verial could see a bit better than most. While Gethe was completely obscured from other's vision, Verial could at least see an outline of the demon and in the direction it was going.

"Aim when I tell you to, okay?!" Verial shouted over the sound of war. "We need to knock him out from behind!"

Once Verial had a clear shot that Gethe's back was turned, he gave the soldier the signal. As the demon was too busy wrapping dark tendrils around one of Grand City's soldiers, the ammo in the catapult flew through the air and smacked into the back of the demon knocking him clear out of the sky. Gethe's magic ceased, the torches illuminating the city showered light on their foes and the Grand City army was now able to more effectively attack. A barrage of arrows and silver inlaid weapons met the onrush of Deanna's army, successfully stopping a number of them in their tracks and making the score a little more even now.

"Looks like your training paid off!" Verial shouted to Madrin as swords clashed below them. Verial then ducked as some magic from an Aliscowri flew over-head across the wall.

Verial, I am going to sleep, his dragon said suddenly from within. I cannot be out here. Just in case... we cannot afford another Oneiro.

I understand. I'll be fine. Go.

Lifting his head after a few seconds, Verial looked over the wall to the rest of Deanna's army who was trying to filter their way through the city gates. He scanned the crowed quickly and when he found Deanna next to Elijah Bluefield, he momentarily locked gazes with his apparent enemy. Verial wasn't sure if Deanna had seen him then but in those brief few seconds, he noticed something. Deanna - or whoever was controlling Deanna - now had onyx, coal-like pools for eyes that were devoid of any white instead of the warm amber colored eyes that Verial had been familiar with. Verial concluded two things: one being that this was not Deanna and two that it looked like this Dark Mistress was having some sort of internal struggle, as if someone was trying to control her.

This was not enough to keep him poised to the wall though. Stepping away, he saw that Madrin had disappeared to join the fray and Verial drew his own sword in response. Verial descended the stair case that was alongside the castle's wall, fighting and weaving his way through a crowd of his own soldiers, Aliscowri and therianthrope. All around him, Verial could smell death on either side of the armies. The ground was splattered with blood once more. Something told Verial that this was going to get worse before it got better. He shrugged this feeling away though. Right now, he needed to focus on getting to Deanna and detaining her somehow before anyone else tried to kill her first.

Currently Verial had all twenty of the royal bodyguard protecting him, so Madrin decided to see to the command of the army and left him in their capable hands. He headed for the downed demon by cutting a path thru the Lycanthrope horde. They learned very quickly how dangerous the Lord Commander of Eiler was in a fight. The beast were falling all around him as the silver inlayed swords of the soldiers did their work. He could see the progress of the obsessive training program in every attack he was glad to see such improvement.

"Remember soldiers take out the twisted creatures that hide in the skin of children they are the most dangerous." He delivered this command after lopping of the head of a small girl in a spurt of blood, who had just burned two of his guards to dust. Madrin was glad the torchlight from the castle walls put all the combatants on a more equal footing. The blasted demon children were starting to fall at an increased rate. He was pleased that several of the soldiers in Grand city had been blooded on the undead army a little over a month ago because, few things could compare to that kind of fear. Unfortunately, the members of this dark army had better training and the ability to think, which made them far more deadly.

Madrin fought his way to the west gate with thirty soldiers following his path of slaughter. He had entered battle rage so he couldn't give orders to warriors behind him. However, he had enough sense to notice the Galuwrath had torn apart several armored soldiers whom took the first wave of the bestial army and, managed to make it thru the gate. Their armor was like paper to the unnatural spawn of Gerthluo his birth father. These were a good two feet taller and stronger than any Galuwrath he had seen before. Clearly they had been improved, which meant these had to be a fresh breed from Nirdor. However, he knew their greatest weakness they needed to be controlled.

Madrin saw the slave commander at the same time Donovan spotted him. The massive blond warrior had just slain three of Madrin's fighters. He had just finished slicing the pack beta of the Galuwrath into two pieces of meat shoulder to upper thigh. The beast had left a deep parting gift on him as it died, a massive claw rake to the left side of Madrin's face. The wound bled constantly at a slow trickle partially diminishing his vision. His guards were taking on the rest in small groups leaving the two Commanders to face each other.

Reason was gone when they clashed steel, two-handed sword versus a pair of long swords. The dance of death was impressive to witness, as his stronger foe had to deal with Madrin's greater speed. His chainmail saved him from several fatal wounds though it was short several rings due to the furious melee. In the end Donovan's spine was severed clean thru but, the muscle tissue held his body together in the front. The Galuwrath immediately went insane making them far easier to kill. The soldiers of Eiler with boosted morale finished of the rest of the Galuwrath. However, they had been reduced to eight warriors due to the creatures.

Next, Madrin saw the demon he sought smiling sinisterly as the break in the battlefield gave him eye contact. Their ice blue orbs that were exactly alike, caused fear to rise in his mind. Madrin had heard this man described in a thousand stories his mother had told him about his evil father. It sickened Madrin to realize how much they look alike. It seemed impossible to believe, the shock brought him out of his rage. With a clear mind Madrin faced the Dark lord Gethe full of conviction, in a battle of will.