Legends of Amacia The Caverias Rebellion

Within minutes, they topped the ridge and Hanna turned to Muriel and Morpheus, saying, “Lo, see your prison from the outside for the first time.” Gulez stood there in complete awe of the megalithic city.

Muriel and Morpheus stood in silence, looking at the city from the outside. Muriel moved close to Morpheus and he put an arm around her, saying, “It was a long time coming. But it’s true. We are finally free, Muriel.”

Muriel turned her gaze to Hanna as she scanned the sky for Argus, saying with great emotion and gratitude, “What can we do or say to repay your kindness, milady? It wasn’t until this moment that we finally felt that we were truly free.”

“Feels good, doesn’t it?” Hanna replied with a warm smile. “As the scriptures say, he whom the son frees is free indeed. You are just beginning to taste that freedom. Breathe the free air, my friends.”

“How can we ever repay this kindness?” Morpheus returned.

Hanna motioned for him to be still and not speak as she looked from horizon to horizon. “Argus!” she shouted to the sky. “Argus!” Hanna watched the sky intensely as she said to Morpheus, “There is no need to repay this kindness. It was the will of God. Doing His will is reward enough.”

“You surely are a strange woman,” Muriel stated. “You do things for people with no thought of reward when you do it.”

“My reward, like I said, is doing the will of my God,” Hanna replied as she scanned the horizon. “He always does right, but I always get a sense of satisfaction when I see what I do help others. I spent so much of my life in the pursuit of selfish vengeful gain that did nothing to make me happy. I’m just trying to right a lifetime of evil wrought at my hand.” Suddenly, she turned to the west, seeing a dot approaching. Hanna strained to see the dot and after a few moments, said, “Lo, Argus is on approach. He will be here in about ten minutes.” She then walked to where the ridge started to slope off toward the wall of the city and sat down. “Have a seat,” she offered, gesturing beside her. Muriel and Morpheus sat down beside Hanna, leaving Gulez standing by himself. “Come, Ramone. Take a load off. It may be the last time we can just sit for some time,” Hanna ordered. Gulez came forward and consented to sit next to her, but not too close.

They watched in silence as the crowds of people slowly filtered out of the cyclopean gates of Acheron. Approximately twelve minutes later, Argus circled Hanna’s position. He saw the people pouring out of the city bearing everything they came to the city with and wondered what was going on. Upon sighting Hanna with three strangers on the ridge, he came in for a landing on top of the ridge. Hanna rose to her feet with Muriel, Morpheus, and Gulez at her side, waiting as Argus touched down.

Argus immediately saw Muriel and Morpheus and was puzzled as to who they were, so he watched them carefully as he slowly approached Hanna. He immediately noticed Hanna’s ghoulish appearance and asked with some concern, “Are you all right, Hanna? It looks like you were on the losing end of a fight with a volcano.”

Hanna nodded with a smile, saying, “Yes. I am now, though you’re not too far off as to why I look like a burnt piece of meat.”

Argus looked Hanna in the eye and noticed something different about her. He saw great confidence and power in her, much more so than was present when she returned from Antilla. “What do you want, little sister?” he asked Hanna as Morpheus and Muriel looked on with amazement. Gulez was utterly taken aback by Argus, scared to death, so he stayed back a good distance.

“Need you ask that?” Hanna replied pleasantly. “But still, it is only proper to do this in this manner. What have you seen, my draken friend? Have you spied the army yet?”

Argus nodded grimly, saying, “Yes. I have seen the army. It is far bigger and more powerful than that which took Kaal Bek.”

“I know,” Hanna replied. “I’ve seen it too. How many are there and how far out are they?”

Argus shook his head, saying, “In all my long life, I have not seen an army like this since the days of the Kragonar. There are at least five hundred thousand with thousands more pouring out of the Blister Fields and Tartarus every hour. The Rakshasar are with them too, leading them here. They should be here within three days.”

Hanna grunted as she looked back at Gulez. She held out her hand to Gulez, saying, “Ah, vindication General. Come and meet your vindicator.”

Argus looked at Gulez, seeing the fear. “Ah, the madman outlander that followed you here. I see the madness is gone. Come here, little man. I do not bite my friends,” he rumbled.

Gulez shook his head no with great fear. Hanna saw the terror and she barked an order to test his allegiance. “You heard the draken. Come over here now,” she snapped, “Remember where you came from.” Gulez slowly moved forward in obedience to the order. When he got within reach of Hanna, she reached out and took him by the hand, saying, “Let go of this fear, Ramone. It’ll destroy you. You are witness to the true history of our world. Drakens are real. The fairy tales were not just stories. They had grains of truth in them. Step up and conquer your fear. You must if you will come with us.” This statement caused Argus to react with a bit of surprise. Hanna physically pushed Gulez to the face of the draken and ordered, “Touch him. Prove yourself to me, and these people. If you have somehow managed to deceive us, it will not escape his notice. Now touch him.” Argus knew what Hanna was doing so he remained motionless. Gulez hesitated as Argus stared him down. “Do it!” Hanna barked. Gulez’s hand started to rise slowly. “We do not have time for this,” Hanna growled as she grabbed Gulez’s arm and pushed his hand up to Argus’ head, touching him on the snout. Fear raced through Gulez as Hanna moved his hand forward. The moment his hand touched Argus, Gulez’s fear dissipated as it did for Hannibal’s team when they first met Argus. A wave of relief flooded his face as Argus touched him telepathically, laying to rest his fears. Argus searched for any treachery in him and found none.

“Be at peace, Ramone Garcia Gulez,” Argus said in an even voice. “You have nothing to fear. I see no treachery in you.”

Gulez felt the draken scale and wondered. “Only in my nightmares have I dreamed of such a beast,” Gulez stated softly. “You are nothing like the ones of my dreams. I live to serve Beowulf. I hope that I can make amends for my past.”

Argus grinned slightly, saying, “You will, General. That you will. You are the eleventh. Hannibal came with celestial mate and ten of his own, pursued by an enemy that was not his enemy. You are the enemy who wasn’t his enemy. The prophecy is fulfilled. The Eleven are accomplished. You shall be of great value to us.”

“I hope so,” Gulez stated humbly. “The Emperor must be stopped at all costs. That demon must not be allowed to leave this place or the world is doomed.”

Argus looked at Hanna, saying, “That is why she is here. Yet have you surprised me again, my friend. You dared penetrate the citadel to its very heart, didn’t you? I didn’t think you had it in you to face the Old Ones and the guardians lurking in there.”

Hanna smiled wryly, saying, “Neither did I, my friend. But I was driven into the Citadel and found powerful allies deep in the heart of that evil edifice. From that darkness did I emancipate many prisoners, including some that would surprise you.”

“What do you mean?” Argus asked pointedly, knowing that Hanna was hiding some information.

“I know that with your great age, you know of Muriel and Morpheus here,” Hanna declared.

Argus nodded, saying, “Muriel I knew of, but only heard of Morpheus.”

Hanna stepped up to the draken, saying with a smile, “There was a tremendous secret hid in the darkness of that cavern, one even you didn’t know about.”

Argus’ interest was perked as Hanna reached into her charred coat, pulled out the seal of Caverias showing it to Argus. Argus was shocked. “The seal of Caverias! How?” he asked.

“By the mercy and power of the Almighty is how. But that wasn’t all,” Hanna replied as she put the seal away and unslung the sword, unsheathing it, and presenting it to Argus. “This was with it,” she said humbly to Argus.

Argus looked at her with shock and awe. “How?” was all he could ask.

“Surely you can see how,” Hanna said plainly. “Just look at me. Look at my ghoulish appearance. I cannot tell you. You must see it for yourself. Lord Baal did not play nice at all.” Hanna sheathed the sword, slung it, and then placed her hand on Argus’ head, saying, “See for yourself; see what marvels and terrors I survived in the chasm of Acheron by the mercy of the Lord God Ancient of Days.” Argus invaded Hanna’s mind and saw that her mind had become the most powerful mind he’d ever encountered. He looked into Hanna’s memories and saw the events that occurred in the darkness of the citadel, from the discovery of Aeolus and Morpheus, to her fall and battle with Baal the Belrock, the Devourer, and Dagos on the isle of the Devourers to her discovery of the sword and seal of Caverias, and her escape from the pit. He saw what Hanna saw: Morpheus and his people as well as Aeolus, Tethys, and their offspring in the lit cavern behind the sealed doors. Argus followed Hanna’s memories into the labyrinth and the subsequent rescue of Muriel, and then to the evacuation of all of them to Antilla. Argus was stunned by what Hanna had endured and accomplished.

“Now you know why I needed to talk with you,” Hanna said. “I have held nothing back from you. You are not the last draken. Your sister lives as mate to the guardian of Amacia. They have perpetuated the species.” Argus remained silent as it slowly began to sink in on him that he wasn’t really the last draken. “Argus,” Hanna said softly, “I sent them to Antilla because I thought it the safest place, which brings me to the point. Enoch was not too thrilled with the idea, but he consented when faced with the indisputable facts of the situation. The Emperor is coming here to destroy this place and every living thing in it just as he attempted to do in Arionath. I made you a promise that I would not tell anyone where Antilla was or what was there unless there was no other option. I ask you now, as a friend. You have seen the might the Emperor means to unleash against us and how quickly he is coming. I ask you to relieve me of my promise. I wish to take these people to safety in Antilla. We will use the portal generator in the Red Tower to move the people there. They will not see how to get there, thus, the promise of keeping its location a secret can be kept. I have no other options at this point. If these people are to survive, we must take them to Antilla. I hope to make it only a temporary stop.”

Argus looked Hanna in the eye, asking, “What do you mean a temporary stop?”

“This is the way I see it unfolding,” Hanna replied. “We get the people away from here while I go back in the citadel with Morpheus and Muriel to find the machines and destroy them. I plan to overload the machines, thus destroying the citadel and sealing the devourers and the basilisks in there for all time. They must not ever be allowed to escape. Once the citadel is destroyed, we use Antilla as a rest stop where the newcomers we found in the citadel can get to know these people. From there, I plan to use the portal generator to return to the Black Fortress where I first reverse this mutation, and then rescue my wife and the remnant of Amacia. After we get them out of there, we send scouts to Srandi with the portal to scout the fortress. Ultimately, we must be at Srandi. It will be the only safe place in the Rising.”

Argus sighed deeply, saying, “I’m glad that you came to me before sending these people to Antilla. I see no flaw in your logic. Antilla is the perfect sanctuary for now. But there is something you must be aware of.”

“What is that, Argus?” Hanna replied.

“The Emperor will find Antilla eventually,” Argus declared, “The magnetic fields that have kept the ancient machines from working are quickly degrading. I can feel it. When the field totally dissipates, the Red Tower will not keep the Emperor’s eye from seeing it. He will come for it and us.”

“I know,” Hanna replied. “That is why we must flee to Srandi. If we have to destroy the Red Tower to keep it out of the hands of the Emperor, we will do so. It is my objective to lure the Emperor to Srandi. He is already moving out of fear. He will act irrationally and stupidly. They will be forced to cross the wastelands to reach us. We will force him to fight on our terms, not his.”

Argus began to smile, saying, “The Queen you were meant to be is showing through now. I remember when you first came to us. You were humble, meek, and inquisitive with no thought for yourself. You came with no thought of ever becoming the leader I see before me now.”

“It is the Lord that has done this,” Hanna said plainly. “There is no way I could have done this in my own strength. Anyone who knows what I went through in that pit in Amacia knows that. Even now, I would gladly step down if I could. He brought me down in the dungeons of the Black Fortress and mutated me to prove a point about my rebellion, and now exalts me to this position. May He get all the glory. So, my friend, do you agree with my recommendation to take the people to Antilla?”

Argus nodded, saying, “Yes. The army I saw has one purpose and one alone: to destroy the world of men. The people are no longer safe here. Not moving them when we have the means and location to do so would be folly, especially knowing that the Emperor is coming.”

“I couldn’t agree more,” Hanna replied. At that, she reached into her burned coat and pulled the communicator out. She keyed the keypad and said into it “Elias, is everything ready?”

“Yes, ma’am, little sister,” Elias answered through the communicator. “We are ready on this end.”

“Good,” Hanna chimed. “Open the portal on these coordinates. Remember, just like the last time. Are the others out of sight?”

“Yes. Everything is as you requested,” Elias stated.

Hannibal smiled, saying, “Good. Have Enoch and the rest of the team meet the people as they come through.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Elias responded as the glowing ball of fire abruptly appeared fifty feet away. “Oh, make it large enough for Argus to use it,” Hanna added and the ball of fire increased in diameter from eight feet to seventy feet. The ball of fire was seen by all, causing a commotion in the crowd as they pointed in awe and fear at the ball of fire behind Argus and Hanna on the ridge. In seconds, the portal was open with the other side open outside the Red Tower with the team that had gone into the citadel with Hanna waiting on the other side.

Amelia came through and approached Hanna, asking, “What’s taking so long?”

“We had some things to take care of,” Hanna reported. “We have gotten one more on our side. The crazy general I spoke of is now with us.”

Hanna pointed to Gulez as he bowed, saying, “Ma’am. I hope that I can prove myself useful to you all.”

“Really?” Amelia asked. “What does Argus say about him?”

“Argus has okayed him,” Hanna reported. “But until he is proven in battle, we must watch him.”

Amelia nodded, looking at Gulez suspiciously as she asked, “Where is my husband? Have you seen him?”

Hanna shook his head, saying, “No. I haven’t seen him since I came back from Antilla. I was wondering about that myself. Do you know where he might have went?”

A noise attracted Argus’ attention to the northeast of the city. “Someone’s coming. I can hear them. They are horseback and on foot. There are a fair number of them,” he announced.

Hanna turned to the northeast as Joshua, Harry, Kahn, Corso, Joel, Liu, and Thomas walked up with some of the Elders. Hanna unslung the sword and pulled it, throwing the harness on the ground. “What’s the matter?” Joshua asked as they approached.

“We have company,” Hanna replied sternly. “Joshua, go on and start taking the people through the portal to Antilla. Argus and I will see who this is.” Hanna began to move forward when a large horse and rider topped a rise and stopped three hundred yards away. Hanna stopped as Argus moved around the portal to her side.

The horseman drew his sword as he sat on the horse, turning around a couple of times. The horse then reared up as the horseman lifted his sword in salute, shouting, “Long live the Queen!”

Amelia rushed forward with the harness for Hanna’s sword. Morpheus and Muriel came to stand with Hanna as the barbarian waved his sword in a saluted. “It’s Xavier,” Amelia said relieved to see him.

Hanna lowered her bladed and put it away after retrieving the harness from Amelia, slinging it over her shoulder as Xavier rode up. About the time he reached Hanna, a crowd of people started spilling over the hill from the direction Xavier had come from.

They were poor folk carrying all they had on horses, mules, and oxen. Xavier stopped in front of Hanna and gawked at her ghoulish appearance. “By the gods, little sister, what happened to you? You look like you’ve been battling demons,” he asked with great concern.

Hanna smiled, saying “You don’t know how true that is, Xavier. Where have you been?”

Xavier sheathed his sword and dismounted, saying, “I went to check on my people. Surely, you can understand that. This is our land, you know.”

Hanna nodded as Xavier continued, “And it was a good thing I did. In my absence, the Murians went on a widespread rampage. We lost many in the raids. I convinced those that were left that we would be safer with you and these people. The thing about it is the Murians are not acting as they usually do. They are acting as if something were controlling them. They attacked in numbers that were much larger than normal and with tactics we’ve never seen them use before.”

Hanna listened intently as Xavier explained what he found. “Sounds like the same thing that happened with the Zarukar in Kasa Bek,” Hanna replied. “The Emperor must have his claws in them now. You are right to bring them here now. We too are going to have to flee. The Emperor is coming here as I speak. We cannot be around when he arrives.”

“You’re kidding,” Xavier gasped in amazement.

“I wish I were. The Emperor’s army tops five hundred thousand at least,” Hanna replied grimly. “They come to kill every living thing in Cimmeria. How many do you have?”

Xavier shook his head in disbelief. “Five hundred thousand! I cannot even comprehend that number,” Xavier breathed.

“It is an army built for one purpose: to wipe out the world of men,” Argus said grimly.

“How many of your people are there?” Hanna asked pointedly, trying to get Xavier to focus. “About eighteen hundred,” Xavier stated. “The Murians attacked the other clans, forcing them to flee their respective villages and come to our main hall for protection. Only a remnant of the clans ever made it to the main hall. The rest were butchered. When I got there, the Murians had withdrawn, taking the dead with them. The fortifications were breached, but the defenses held. When I found out what had happened, and the extent of the slaughter, I told them that you could insure their safety. After what had happened, they consented to come even to this cursed place.” As he finished speaking, the leading edge of Xavier’s people had reached Hanna. Xavier turned to the crowd and said as Joshua began to send his people though the portal, “My friends, see the great Queen I spoke of. She shall keep us safe.”

Hanna looked at the people, seeing fright and terror on their faces, along with weariness and hopelessness. Xavier hadn’t seen Morpheus or Muriel when he rode up. When he finally did, his hand went to his sword with the exclamation, “What are they doing here? They are Murians!”

Hanna immediately got between Xavier and Muriel, saying, “Put your sword away, Xavier. They are not Murians, neither of them. They have been prisoners in the heart of the citadel and remained untouched by the Chimera virus that created the Murians. Granted, they are the handiwork of the Cadre, but they were considered failures in their experiments for some reason or another. I rescued them from the heart of darkness at great peril to myself. I didn’t smite the ruin of Lord Baal the Belrock, the Devourer, Dagos, or the guardian basilisks in that darkness just to bring them out here to die at your hands. No, they are my friends and under my protection. But I can assure you, they are not Murians.” Muriel cowered, hiding behind Argus somewhat.

“I knew this would be the reaction,” Morpheus said as he stood in a defensive posture with his staff. By the very fact that Morpheus spoke clearly and intelligibly, it shocked Xavier, causing him to hesitate.

“Yes. This is what I feared, milady. People take one look on me and think I’m a monster because of the way I look,” Muriel called out in genuine fear.

By now, a large portion of Xavier’s people was starting to gather around, wondering what was going on. Some saw Muriel and Morpheus and were revolted at their appearance, thinking like Xavier that they were Murians. However, when Morpheus and Muriel spoke clearly and intelligibly, minds suddenly began to hesitate because Murians had never been known to speak, only to growl, hiss, and roar like wild animals. “Do not fear, dear Muriel,” Hanna called to her. “No one will hurt you.”

Xavier slowly began to back off his sword as he looked at both of them in a different light. “You can speak?” he asked in a puzzled manner, not knowing what to make of them. Xavier’s people grew quiet as the encounter unfolded with only whispers racing through the crowd telling what was going on.

“Yes. We can,” Morpheus said carefully, “All our lives. We don’t live on the flesh of humans like the Murians. They are an abomination to all that is good and decent. In fact, this is the first time we have ever been out of the citadel. Neither my people nor Muriel have ever done anything to you or your people. For many generations we have been imprisoned in the dark beneath the citadel. Now thanks to this woman, this precious mutated sister, we are free and stand with her against the Emperor and the Cadre that did this to us.”

By now, Xavier had realized that he’d made a mistake by jumping to conclusions. “I am truly sorry,” he said in sincere apology to them as his hand left his sword. “Because of your strange appearance, I presumed you a Murian. However, when you spoke with intelligence that you both seem to have an abundance of, I realized my error. Murians don’t talk intelligibly. Forgive me and my people.” Turning to his people, who had finished gathering, he called out, “My friends, these strange ones here are not our enemy. They are not Murians, but friends of the Queen. Do not fear them.”

Hanna stepped forward, putting a hand on Xavier’s shoulder, saying, “Friends. You are welcome in my camp. But there is one thing that you must know. These two strange ones as Xavier has called them are not the only ones. There are three hundred and fifty more in a secure location where we are going shortly. I ask you not to fear anything or anyone that you meet there.”

A rumble ran through the crowd as a voice asked, “Where would that might be?”

Hanna motioned for those behind her to move aside so Xavier’s people could see the portal clearly and the people of Arionath going through it. Gasps of horror and astonishment raced through the crowd. Whispers of Hanna being a sorceress raced through the crowd and Argus heard it.

“Friends of Xavier,” Argus called out. “What you see before you is not the work of witchcraft or sorcery. This woman you see before you is no witch or sorceress either, but a master of the ancient machines. What you see before you is a doorway to the fabled isle of Antilla, a place where the Emperor’s influence cannot reach. This woman has control over the ancient machines that created this gateway. Look at the people of Arionath. They do not fear it as they go through it to safety.”

“I thought this was going to be a safe place,” another voice shouted out.

“It was until a few days ago when the Dark Riders swooped in and spirited away our precious Nicodemus,” Hanna replied. “As I speak, an army the likes of which you cannot imagine is moving in this direction. It will destroy this place and all that are here. This is why we are moving the people to the isle of Antilla. It is the safest place for now.”

“Why should we believe you, outlander bitch!” yet another warrior’s voice shouted out with contempt.

Xavier started to speak up and Hanna motioned for him to be still. “Who are you, lad?” Hanna called out with authority.

A large bull of a man pushed to the forefront of the crowd, confronting Hanna. He stood seven feet tall with black hair and beard, dark bronzed skinned, and a build that would make a football player envious. He wore skins and had a large double-bladed axe on his back. Hanna stepped forward to size up the man. “Well? May I at least have your name son, please?”

The man looked at Hanna with contempt, saying, “I am not your son.”

Hanna nodded, saying, “You’re right. And I can’t command you to do anything. I can also see that you have been through much, and don’t trust anyone, especially outlanders like me. Do you know who I really am or where I really come from?”

The man shook his head no saying venomously, “Outlanders are outlanders, especially when they disregard the fact that this very ground we stand on is cursed by the gods themselves. Only someone that is insane would have come here to begin with.”

“Ah, so we come to the real reason you don’t trust me.” Hanna replied evenly. “It is because I dared to tread the cursed Earth of Acheron under my boot. Look at me, son.”

He refused to look at Hanna because she had nailed the reason down for the man’s unbelief. “Look at me!” Hanna barked with great authority. The man’s eyes flashed with anger as he looked at Hanna. She saw his hand trembling and inching toward the axe. “Please don’t do that, son. What do you see before you?”

The man hissed, “I see a she-devil from the pits of hell trying to lead us to our doom!” In an instant, he pulled the axe, attacking Hanna. Quicker than a blink of the eye, Hanna pulled the Caverias sword and blocked the axe, cutting the head clean off the handle. In less than a second, Hanna used a foot sweep on the giant, knocking him down and pouncing on top of him like a tiger, putting her sword to the man’s throat. Her speed and power caught the man so off guard that he was powerless against Hanna. She straddled the man, holding the sword to his throat, saying, “I told you not to do that, son.”

“Go on, finish me, demon bitch!” the man cried out in fearful anger.

Hanna looked the man dead in the eye, saying, “I’d rather destroy a priceless work of art than kill you. You have great courage and strength to think that you could tangle with me. I have survived the pits of Amacia and being mutated into a woman by the Emperor. Beyond that, I have survived the demoniac Old Ones in the chasm of Acheron, smiting their ruin in fire and darkness on the cursed isle of the Devourers deep beneath the citadel. I killed the fire demon lord Baal in that fucking pit. That’s why I have such a ghoulish appearance. I haven’t had time to clean up from my fight with them. Now before I let you up, may I have the pleasure of your name?”

“Tyr,” the man replied, suddenly realizing Hanna wasn’t what he thought she was.

“Well, Tyr. I’m going to let you up now,” Hanna said, slowly backing away, and then offering her hand to Tyr. “Now it is up to you to decide whether I am friend or foe.” Tyr grabbed Hanna’s hand and she heaved him to his feet. “There you go, Tyr,” Hanna said in a disarming tone after helping him to his feet. “Can I show you something?”

Dazed by his encounter and almost instant defeat by Hanna, he answered, “Sure.”

Hanna held the Caverias sword in both hands, showing it to Tyr, saying, “Do you know what this is?” Tyr shook his head no and Hanna said, “This is the sword of Thoth Caverias himself. This is one of the reasons I dared to tread the cursed earth of Acheron beneath my feet; this and these two beautiful people here.” She motioned to Muriel and Morpheus.

Tyr looked at the sword with awe and surprise. “Surely, this isn’t real. The sword of Thoth Caverias is supposed to be a myth,” Tyr stated.

“I assure you, it’s real. Just look at the hilt. It has the Caverias seal on it just like the ring.” Hanna said as she showed the ring to Tyr, who looked at it, then the sword, then back to the ring.

“Do you know who I really am?” Hanna asked.

Tyr shook his head as he tried to fathom what he was being presented with. “As I said a few moments ago, I used to be a man before the Emperor cursed me with this mutation,” Hanna declared, “But beyond that, I am apparently the heir to the Caverias throne. I am the Last Caverias your prophecies foretold.”

Tyr’s eyes flashed with puzzlement as he asked, “How can that be?”

Hanna put her sword away, and then reached into her shirt, pulled out the locket, and opened it. “Look for yourself, Tyr. This is a holographic picture of Thoth Caverias, Ariel and their family.”

Tyr looked at the picture and his mouth wagged open. “By the gods! It’s you, sort of!” he cried out.

“And you want to know something else?” Hanna asked with a growing smile “You see Ariel?” Tyr nodded and Hanna said, “My wife looks just like her.” Hanna saw Tyr’s puzzled reaction and added, “I married her before I was mutated by the Emperor, while I was still a man. But my precious Selina looks just like Ariel there.”

Tyr was astounded at it as he asked, “Where is she?”

Hanna closed the locket and put it back in her shirt as she said grimly, “Prisoner of the Emperor, locked in the Tower. That’s one of the reasons we have to abandon this location. You see, she and I were taken while rescuing the people of Cushar from the Seventh Division. I managed to escape, even though I was mutated. She didn’t. That’s why the Emperor is in such a rage to destroy me. He knows that I will come for her. He wants her for himself, just like he wanted Ariel in the days of the coup. And believe me, I plan to go back there, reverse this mutation, and get her and anyone else who wants to come out of that terrible place.”

Tyr recoiled at Hanna’s seriousness, especially when she said he was going back for Selina. “You’re mad! No one has ever breached the Black Fortress,” Tyr declared.

“And no one has supposedly ever escaped from it either, have they?” Hanna retorted. “But I did, and so did Amelia. What you may not know is that I have people inside the Emperor’s domain that are working for me. They helped me escape and they will help me get my wife back and hopefully, return me to my original form. I am coming for her whether anyone wants to help me or not.”

“That is madness!” Tyr again said. “He’ll catch and kill you.”

Hanna laughed at the Emperor, saying, “He has tried repeatedly to kill me and has not. I do not fear the Emperor just as long as I can keep the big, ugly bastard in front of me. Besides, I have the edge. He thinks I’m dead. That is why the Dark Riders came here: to find me, or rather my remains. But I wasn’t around when they showed up, so they took Nicodemus as a secondary prize. Understand something, my friend. The Emperor is weakest inside his own house. I learned that as his prisoner. And that’s where we will strike. I will take from him the very thing he wants and treasures most, the same thing he seeks to take from me: my wife. Yes, you could say that it’s insane to do what I’m suggesting. But it is the one thing that he won’t expect. He is sending all of his forces here to destroy us. He will be practically defenseless when we make our raid.” Hanna’s confidence began to impress Tyr. She looked down and saw the broken axe. Hanna stooped down and picked up the pieces, saying, “I am sorry about your axe. I see that you get another one with a better handle.”

Tyr took the broken axe and looked at Hanna with still some puzzlement. “Why didn’t you kill me?” he asked bluntly. “I challenged you authority. You should have slain me. It is the way of the highlands: by storm, famine, and war: survival of the fittest.”

Hanna looked the barbarian in the eye, saying loud enough for all to hear, “Well at least you recognize that I have the authority. That’s a start. But to answer your question, I didn’t kill you because I serve a different code. I value life. I will not kill without a very, very good reason and only in the defense of my life or the lives of my friends and family. Understand something. I know the code you speak of very well because for a good portion of my life I followed that code until my God rescued me from the blackness of my own heart and soul and showed me a better way to live. Culling the weak from the strong is not the best way to live. The strong should protect the weak, not rule over them. Everyone...whether they are strong or weak, king, queen, or peasant, leader, or follower, has a place in the Almighty Ancient of Day’s eye, and He would see them in their place to their mutual benefit. I am not queen by my own hand, but by the hand of the Almighty Ancient of Days. It is a position that I never wanted, and if I could somehow get out of it, I would. But that would not be the will of my God. I live to serve His good pleasure. He made me queen, so I am queen. I know that you all may not believe my words. But be sure of this one thing. I am not your enemy. I will use all my skill and power to insure that the Emperor does not get his slimy claws on you. All I ask is just a little trust and some faith in our God that He will see that things are done right.” Xavier was taken aback by the little speech, as was Tyr.

The crowd of Xavier’s people rumbled and whispered. “I don’t understand,” Tyr murmured, “But because you spared my life, I will give you a chance to prove yourself.”

Suddenly, a foul chorus of voices drifted in from the south, so faint it was no more than whispers on the wind. Argus heard it immediately, as did Muriel and Morpheus. Their heads snapped to the south, getting the attention of all. “What is it?” Hanna asked. Even before she could finish asking the question, she heard and felt the low chanting inside her skull as it throbbed and pulsed like a heartbeat, just barely perceptible. Xavier and Tyr became concerned at the strange behavior they were witnessing in the four who heard the chant.

Argus growled deeply and viciously as they saw a solitary dark cloud form on the horizon far to the south. Muriel’s fear rose tenfold. She clamped on to Hanna’s arm as she pointed crying, “It’s them! The Cadre; they are unleashing a tempest! We must flee!”

Morpheus’ face fell as he saw the cloud, saying, “This is not good.”

“It’s beginning just like the last time,” Argus growled. “Remember Kaal Bek and the storm.”

Hanna swore under her breath, replying, “Yes, I remember that tragedy.”

Xavier touched Hanna on the shoulder as he looked to the south at the cloud that was building in size and growing darker by the minute. “What is it?” he asked Hanna.

Hanna turned to him with her battle hardened warrior face, saying, “We are under attack by the Cadre. Do you see that yon cloud there? It’s a storm brewed by the sorcery and machines of the Cadre. They mean to hit us with it to destroy as many of us as possible before the army gets here. It’s a weapon we have no defense against. The day of decision is now. Decide now what you and your people will do. There are only two choices now. Come with us, you and your people, or leave now and flee for your lives into the hills far away from this place for the storm will surely slaughter all in its path. You saw the results of the last storm the Cadre unleashed on us. Choose now.”

The cloud grew as they watched, filling the southern sky. It turned an inky black with flashes of red lightning in the cloud, giving it a surreal, almost magical look. The storm captivated Xavier as he stared at it. Amelia tugged on his arm, saying urgently, “We must flee with Hanna. It is our only chance. Please, trust her!”

Hanna saw that Xavier was spellbound with the storm so she motioned for Argus to lie down so she could have a platform from which to speak. Argus laid down and Hanna climbed on his back, looking out over the crowd of Xavier’s people, saying, “Decision time, my friends. Each of you must make the choice for yourself. The black storm yonder that is coming will consume all that is in its path. Your mountains will not keep you safe anymore. The Cadre has also taken control of the Murians from what I can gather. Now they send the storm and the army. All three will cover this land in darkness and kill every living thing here. I beg of you. I would not see even one of you perish in that onslaught. At least with me, you can have a chance of survival. Please, come with me. Choose life, please!” She knelt on Argus’ back in a humbling gesture to show that she was not above what they wanted. “Of course, if you decide not to come, it is your choice and I pray for your safe escape. I am not going to force you to come. This is a decision that must be made by you and you alone.” The crowd was stunned by the gesture and they murmured amongst themselves for a few moment. “I’ll make it easy for you,” Hanna called out. “Any who don’t want to....” A deafening crash of thunder echoed and rolled in from the south as Hanna spoke, shaking the people to fear. As it subsided, Hanna continued, “Any who don’t want to take their chances with me should leave now and not look back. Flee to the east or west as far and fast as you can for in a few hours, this place is not going to be a fit place for man or beast.” Hanna slid off Argus’ back, thanking him. She watched with concern to the south as the people murmured and spoke amongst themselves.

A voice cried out from the crowd, “What does Xavier have to say? I will go where Xavier goes.”

Xavier finally snapped out of his fascination with the storm with the help of Amelia. He turned and addressed the people, saying, “Friends, family...I stand with Hanna, the Queen. My clan will go with her and I suggest that you all do likewise. I have learned one thing about this man who became a woman by the Emperor’s rage since I first laid eyes on her. She will not lie. As a human, she is capable of lying, but will not. She has always been honest and truthful to me. You heard her words. Those who don’t want to come don’t have to. But know this. In this day, the Emperor is the strong, and we are the weak. As I understand it, he comes to destroy all that won’t bow. He is not coming for a raid this time to take slaves or despoil our resources. He is coming for our very souls. Alone, we cannot possibly survive. Only together can we be strong. Only together with these people can we hope to survive. I stand with my friend.” He stepped behind Hanna and placed his hands firmly on her shoulder and arm. Yet, even as he made his declaration, his flesh crawled at touching Hanna because of her ghoulish appearance.

It started with one voice, saying, “We have trusted you this far, Xavier. We will not back away now. Lead on.” In seconds, there was a chant erupting from the crowd, chanting Xavier’s name.

“It looks like they’re with us,” Hanna told Xavier. He nodded and Hanna said, “Wait here a minute.” She sprinted over to where Joshua, Harry, and several of her original team, and some Elders stood guiding the people through the portal. “Joshua, we have some more,” she said.

“I figured as much from what I just saw,” Joshua replied. “What do you want to do?”

“How’s the evacuation going?” Hanna queried.

“Very well actually,” Joshua replied. “It is not taking nearly as long to do it this time. Most of the supplies were still packed up, and the people believe in you fully. We have most of the women and children through already.”

Hanna looked to the south, seeing the storm closing on them faster than she had anticipated. “I want you to start letting the Cimmerian clans through too,” she ordered, “But make sure Xavier, Amelia, Kahn, and Carver are on the other side to keep order between the people. We have no time for them to get used to each other.”

Hanna glanced again at the storm and Joshua noticed her concern. “What’s wrong?” he asked, “Is that storm bothering you?”

Hanna didn’t flinch when she said, “Yes. It’s just like the last one at Kaal Bek, except I believe it may be worse this time.”

Joshua suddenly realized her concern and said, “Oh. Maybe we should hurry the people along then.”

Hanna nodded, saying, “Just get the people through as quickly as possible. I will tell the Cimmerians not to be afraid of our people and more importantly, not to fight with our people. We have to remain friends in order for this to work.”

“Well said,” Joshua replied. “I’ll do what I can.”

Hanna smiled, saying, “Good.” She turned to Harry, asking, “Where is the scepter, Harry?”

“Back in the Tower with Elias,” Harry reported.

Hanna patted Harry on the shoulder saying, “Good man.” She turned and went back to Xavier, Amelia, Argus, Muriel, Morpheus, and the Cimmerian people. “Xavier, I have talked with Joshua,” Hanna stated, “You coordinate with him in getting your people through. I suggest that Kahn and Amelia go ahead and be ready to meet your people on the other side to make sure there are no misunderstandings between our people and your people. Carver should still be there, so he can help them keep the peace.”

Xavier nodded knowingly, saying, “Yes. That would be wise. Some of my people tend to be somewhat temperamental and hardheaded. However, they respect Kahn, Carver, and Amelia immensely, so that should help.”

“Please explain to them that we want no violence,” Hanna said plainly. “If you must, segregate them from the others until I come back.”

Xavier looked at his people and said, “I don’t think that is going to be a problem. You see, the Murian attacks have taken much out of them. In fact, there are a fair number of wounded with us.”

This gave Hanna an idea. “Oh, this is perfect,” she chimed with delight. “How could the Lord do any better? I will speak again with Joshua. I’ll tell our people to help with your wounded in any way we can. Just let your people know that we mean to help with their wounded.” Xavier nodded and turned to his people as Hanna scurried back to Joshua, informing him of the new information regarding the state of the Cimmerian people, mainly that there was a fair number of wounded with them. Joshua understood and word was dispatched immediately down the lines of the people of Arionath on both sides of the portal to welcome the Cimmerians warmly as friends and to help them in any manner they could. Hanna went back to Xavier, saying, “All set. There should be no problems. Now then, I have a job to do.” She pulled out the communicator as Xavier ordered his people forward toward the portal. They began to move by Hanna, Muriel, Morpheus, and Argus as Hanna spoke into the device. “Elias? Are you there?” she called.

“Yes,” Elias replied. “What can I do for you, little sister?”

“Is the scepter there?” Hanna asked. Again, Elias answered in the affirmative. “Where is Elle? I think we will need her with this little job,” Hanna said.

“She’s here with me, George, Ben, Kida, and Electra,” Elias replied. “For some reason, they decided that the Lynxians shouldn’t be seen by the people before you come.”

“Who made that decision?” Hanna asked.

“Enoch,” Elias said. “Everyone else is out there directing the people.”

“Enoch was probably right for doing that,” Hanna stated. “Listen, we have the remnant of Xavier’s people coming through. Make sure that nothing goes wrong, okay?”

“Sure,” Elias answered. “There are enough of us out there to keep things straight.”

Hanna sighed, saying, “Good. Good. Now this is what I need you to do for me. Give the scepter to Elle. Make sure she does not touch it without its sheath and harness or without wearing a glove. Give it to her and tell her to come here. I’ll be waiting for her. Our time is running out. The Cadre has launched another storm attack against us. It will be here in a couple of hours if it remains constant in its movement towards us. We have to get these people away and the citadel demolished before it gets here.”

Elias immediately checked the portal hologram and saw the killer storm moving across the plains of Elar. He swore and said, “You got it, sis. Elle heard what you said and is getting the scepter right now.”

“Good; I’ll keep this channel open. We may need a quick escape when we overload the machines,” Hanna replied.

“Very well; I’ll be listening for you,” Elias replied. “Elle just left with the scepter. Do you need anyone else? I heard Hunter was going with you to destroy the machines. Do you need him too?”

“Where is Hunter?” Hanna asked.

“He’s helping outside,” Elias reported. “Should I send him to you?”

“No,” Hanna answered. “He’ll be of more use there than with me. Besides, Elle can take his place on the team.”

“Very well,” Elias stated. “We’ll keep this channel open in case you need anything.”

Hanna smiled, saying, “Good man. Talk to you later.” She tweaked the controls, leaving the link open, and then pocketed the communicator. Turning to Muriel, Morpheus, Gulez and Argus, she said, “We have a fortress to destroy. Argus, please keep watch. Make sure everyone gets through, you included.”

Argus rose up, saying, “That I will.” He moved off and once away from the people, he took flight, circling and watching everything carefully from the air.

“Now, one last time shall we face the darkness of the citadel, this time to destroy it,” Hanna said confidently. Muriel looked at her with fear and she noticed it. “Do not fear, sister. Our God shall be our deliverance,” she told her confidently.

“I certainly hope so,” Muriel replied with fear on her voice. “We shall surely need it.”

Hanna looked them over and abruptly turned to Gulez, who had been unusually quiet in the interim while everything was going on. “Ramone, you need to go to Antilla with everyone else. You have valuable intelligence we cannot endanger. Come with me,” Hanna ordered, starting over to Joshua with Gulez in tow. Harry was there with Joshua and several others guiding the people through. “Joshua, Harry,” Hanna called out as they walked up.

“Yes, Hanna?” Joshua asked as he and Harry turned to them. Harry still didn’t trust Gulez completely, so he eyed him suspiciously.

“I need you to hang on to Ramone for me. Make sure he doesn’t get into trouble, all right?” Hanna ordered.

Harry grinned, saying, “You bet. We’ll see that he doesn’t.”

Hanna pushed up to Harry and ordered bluntly, “Do not let him be mistreated. He has valuable information. I don’t want anyone to cause him a problem. Do I make myself clear?”

Harry looked a little deflated as he asked, “But what if he causes the problem?”

Hanna glanced at Gulez, asking frankly, “You are not going to give anyone a problem, are you?”

“No ma’am,” Gulez replied humbly. “I have more than enough trouble all ready. I don’t want to give anyone any trouble. If anything, I want to help.”

Hanna turned to Joshua, saying, “See that he is kept out of trouble, all right. Maybe you can find something for him to do while I’m gone.”

Joshua nodded, saying, “Sure. I think I’ll let him help me for a while. That way there will be no temptations to misbehave.”

Hanna slapped Joshua on the arm in a friendly manner saying, “Good. The time of proving begins. Ramone...do as he says.” Gulez nodded and Hanna said, “I’ll try to be as quick as possible.” Harry stopped her as she turned to leave. Hanna looked at him with her hardened warrior look. They looked at each other for a moment, and then Hanna grinned saying gruffly, “Don’t worry. I’ll be back.”

Harry had to chuckle and they hugged. “Don’t get yourself killed, sweetheart,” Harry said as they let go. “I won’t be there to bail your pretty ass out this time.”

Hanna smiled, playfully punching Harry in the shoulder. “You know me,” Hannibal said pleasantly with a mischievous grin.

“I know. That’s why I said it,” Harry retorted. “Besides, Selina would never forgive me if I hadn’t warned you.” Hanna’s smile had an air of confidence and Harry watched as she went back to Muriel and Morpheus to wait for Elle.