Chapter 4

She wasn’t sure if it was the yelling that first woke her or the banging of the door against the wall. Either way, all remnants of sleep evaporated as Chayyoth barged into the barracks, yelling for them to wake up. She sprang up in bed, disoriented for a moment, not knowing exactly where she was. The oil lamps were turned up to full brightness.

“I’m sorry princess, did I disturb your beauty sleep!” a Chayya yelled, his face inches from her own and the smell of a fish breakfast fresh on his breath.

Suddenly, there was another Chayya beside the first. “You will answer ‘Yes, sir’ or ‘No, sir’ when a flight instructor addresses you! Is that clear, recruit?”

“Yes, sir,” she said.

“I can’t hear you!”

“Yes sir!” she yelled, letting her anger at being woken up in such a way show.

“Well, recruit? Are you going to stay in bed all day?”

“No, sir!” She jumped out of bed.

“Did I tell you to move, recruit?” the first Chayya asked, trading his yelling tone for one of incredulity.

“No, sir!” she yelled, not knowing if she should get back in bed or not since she had already moved.

“Get back in bed!”

“Yes, sir!”

She climbed back in. The Chayya moved, and Neviah could see Victoria, Enya, and Corban standing at the foot of their beds, straight and at attention. Another flight instructor was walking back and forth, yelling at them, too.

The Chayya who’d been addressing Neviah turned to the room. “It appears as if this recruit hasn’t gotten enough rest! Get in the pushup position!” Victoria got down on her hands after squeaking a “yes, sir.” The Chayya beside her yelled at her to speak up several times before Victoria managed a response loud enough to satisfy him.

“Now, the three of you will do pushups until her highness has had enough sleep.”

“I’m fine,” Neviah said. As if by magic, three Chayyoth faces were yelling at her, spittle flying all over her face as they shouted. She didn’t catch everything they said, but the gist of it was not to speak unless spoken to. When they were done yelling, Neviah had to lay in bed and watch for several minutes while the others did pushups. Victoria was the first to tire, unable to push herself up anymore. This attracted the instructors. Next, Enya couldn’t do anymore. Corban, however, was a pushup machine. He cranked them out as if he started every morning with a hundred pushups. None of the instructors approached or addressed him directly.

“Are you finished sleeping in, recruit?”

“Yes, sir!” Neviah yelled as loud as she could.

“Stand in front of your rack, you lazy excuse for a recruit!”

“Yes, sir!” In seconds, they were all standing in front of their beds again.

“I don’t know what kind of latrine hole you crawled from,” the Chayya yelled, addressing all of them, “but at the School of Flight, we make our racks in the morning!”

Neviah wanted to say that they hadn’t told them to make their beds yet but knew there was no winning the argument. She had been yelled at before in her life, but she never thought she would have someone yell the words, “And make sure that pillow is fluffed!” while she smoothed the wrinkles out of a pillow. Corban remained at attention the entire time. His bed was already perfectly made, just the way it had been the night before. He must have woken early to make it, knowing what was coming.

Even after Victoria’s and Neviah’s beds were perfectly made, Enya was still struggling to make hers. She lacked the dexterity of the humans.

Victoria was the next target of their attention. “Are you going to stand there while your companion struggles? You make me sick! Are you just going to leave her to die in combat? You would, wouldn’t you? You would tuck tail and run and leave her to die!”

“No, sir!” Victoria yelled louder than Neviah thought possible for the other girl.

“Then, help your companion!” After quickly following orders, she and Enya were soon back at attention.

“I want you all dressed and outside in five minutes!” One instructor yelled as they left the barracks. When the door banged closed behind them, Neviah just glared. It was going to be a long year.

“That was fun,” Enya said with a laugh. The Chayya was actually bubbly!

“You’d best get dressed,” Corban said as he left.

The clothes fit snuggly. The girls decided it was best to leave their backpacks in the chest at the end of their bed, along with their weapons. Neviah hesitated at the door, looking back to where she left the book of prophecies. After carrying it around for the better part of a year, it felt odd leaving it behind.

The other recruits were coming outside into the darkness just as the girls and their companions were. The Chayyoth eyes reflected the blue light of Colossus, almost as if they were glowing. Three human instructors, who were likely the companions of the three Chayyoth, were yelling at the males. The instructors formed them all into two lines. One with the human recruits. The other with the Chayyoth recruits.

“Double time, march!” one Chayya instructor yelled. Neviah soon found out what that meant. They broke into a steady run as the sun’s rays just began to peak over the horizon of the world below. A wave of dizziness came upon Neviah for a moment, but she reminded herself she was not hanging upside down over the world. She was right side up.

The run took them through a wide path snaking through the woods. After the first mile of the run, they were still headed away from camp. The instructors stopped them several times to do calisthenics. Several miles later, they found themselves standing in the courtyard in front of the barracks. A few recruits, man and Chayyoth, retched to the side of the formation. Most were doubled over and gulping air.

Victoria and Neviah were the only humans largely unaffected by the run. Aside from the way Asa stood to keep weight off his injured knee, he seemed otherwise unbothered by the run as well. Running wasn’t so hard when nothing was chasing them. It seemed like there was always something chasing them.

Corban and Enya stood at attention behind them. Corban breathed normally as if he had just taken a stroll through the forest. Enya was breathing hard but stood at attention, doing her best not to show weakness. Like a pack of wolves, the instructors descended upon the other recruits until they were all standing at attention.

With big toothy grins, the flight instructors promised to see them again soon. As they walked away, a tall, lean man with short-cropped hair approached. He had the darkest skin Neviah had ever seen, and she was pretty dark herself.

“To your rear are the showers. To your right is the chow hall.” The man paused, looking at the females, then at Corban. Corban made a scissors motion with his right paw. The man nodded. “The females will shower first. When they are done, the males will shower. Food will be served in fifteen minutes. Understood?”

Everyone yelled, “Yes, sir!”

“Good. Dismissed.”

The water was cold, which encouraged everyone to be quick. Corban waited for the boys’ turn, which was the only time she was separated from him. Fifteen minutes later found all the recruits seated, the Chayyoth on the floor in front of the massive table, and the humans seated across from their companions. The meal was fish, bread, and something that looked like potatoes but tasted like carrots. It wouldn’t have been Neviah’s first choice for breakfast.

She was the first to break the silence that blanketed their meal. “This water is delicious! I’ve never had anything like it.”

“That is water from the Life Spring here on Alya,” Corban responded from across the table.

“I drank some while I was back on Moriah,” she said. “It was good, but it didn’t taste this good.”

“It wasn’t fresh,” Corban said. “This was drawn from the spring this morning.”

“It is the only water the Chayyoth can drink,” Rafal said.

“How do you venture away from home then? I’ve seen Chayyoth far to the north of here.” She was referring to the battle at Samgar-Nebo.

“A Chayya can go nearly a week without a drink,” Rafal said. “We also carry canteens. Beyond that, we can dehydrate just as humans can without normal water.”

“You guys are like camels,” Neviah said.

“What’s a camel?” another recruit asked from across the table.

She shoved a piece of fish in her mouth to give her time to think.

“Are all the flight instructors so mean?” Asa asked Corban to save her from having to answer the question. Everyone perked up, eager to hear this answer instead.

Corban smiled at their eager faces. “You will see.”

A Chayya came in and stood at the edge of the tables. “Form up outside,” he said simply.

Everyone rushed outside, the humans lining up beside their companions.

“Follow me,” he said once they were assembled.

They were led to a small building, barely large enough to hold them all. Inside were chairs and mats for everyone to take a seat.

“Before we begin your first lesson, I would like to go over your training schedule.” This Chayya was far more laid back than the others. “Every other day, starting today, you will begin the day with physical training. This will be followed by the communication class, flight training, and tactics. The days between will be combat training. Are there any questions?”

No one said anything.

“Then, I will turn over your first communication course to my companion, Har.”

A middle-aged man wearing solid-colored light blue pants and a tunic walked to the front of the class. As he spoke, he made motions with his hands. “Hello. My name is Har. This is the hand motions that correspond with saying ‘my name is.’” He made the hand motion again. “Now, I want everyone to introduce themselves.”

Why were they having a class on sign language? Everyone took turns saying their names, making awkward hand motions. The Chayyoth had a very difficult time making any semblance of the motion.

“What did you notice during your introductions?” Har asked, continually talking with his hands.

“We have a hard time doing the motions,” one of the Chayyoth said.

“That is correct,” the man said. “A Chayya can, at best, do a select few of the signs. Only humans have the dexterity to master all of them.” He sat on the edge of the desk at the front of the class. “I bet you are wondering why I’m teaching sign language to all of you when only the humans can perform it.”

Neviah was wondering about the purpose of learning sign language, period.

“When you are flying with the wind rushing in your ears, it is difficult to hear speech. Companions can speak with one another, but if you want to communicate with someone further away, you must use sign.”

Neviah had never thought about not being able to hear when flying. She remembered how hard it was to hear when she was riding in a car with her head out the window. Sign language actually did make sense.

They spent the rest of the class going over basic signs. When the class was over, her hands and eyes were tired, and she had a slight headache. Another Chayya instructor and his companion led them from that class at a jog to a green field a mile or so away. This was where their flight training would take place. The first thing the instructor did was have the humans mount up.

More than a few glances were spared for Neviah, mounted upon her flightless Chayya. She pretended not to notice.

“I know you are excited about flying,” the Chayya instructor said, “but aside from your first flight yesterday, you will remain grounded for the first month of instruction.” A wave of complaints moved through the recruits. The expression on the flight instructor’s face soured, quieting everyone. His anger disappeared, and he smiled. “Soon enough, younglings.”

The instructor’s companion mounted up. “Note how my companion sits,” the Chayya said, turning sideways so they could all see. “His feet fit perfectly in the crevice above my shoulders.”

Neviah pulled her feet up above Corban’s shoulders. This brought her knees up to rest on the back of his neck. “That doesn’t hurt, does it?” she asked. He looked back at her and shook his head.

“Now, grab a handful of your Chayya’s mane,” the instructor continued.

Neviah grabbed her companion’s mane lightly.

“You cannot hurt me, Neviah,” Corban said over his shoulder. “If you pulled with all your might, I would barely feel it,” he assured her. She held more firmly. Looking over at Victoria. The other girl didn’t know what to do. Her Chayya didn’t have a mane. The other recruits snickered.

The instructor approached Victoria and Enya. After experimenting, they determined that Enya’s fur was long enough and Victoria’s hands small enough that the girl could hold onto the fur instead.

“Now, we are going to play a game,” the instructor said. “Without leaving the ground, I want you, Chayyoth, to try and make your companions fall off. I also want the humans to try to stay on as long as possible. If there is one human that has not been dismounted by the end of the exercise, the Chayyoth will run an extra mile tomorrow. If all the humans have been knocked off, they will run the extra mile instead.”

The faces of humans and Chayyoth alike were quickly set in grim determination.

“Go!” the instructor called out.

Suddenly, Corban reared up onto his hind legs. Neviah barely tightened her grip in time to keep from falling backward. He put his front legs down and simultaneously bucked his back legs. Neviah found herself unseated and flipping over her Chayya’s head. She held on tight, twisting the mane of hair in her hands. Corban grimaced in pain, so she let go and fell to the ground. Then, he smiled.

“Wait. You weren’t really in pain!” she said, shaking her fist at him.

“I told you I wouldn’t feel any pain, no matter how hard you pulled,” he said with a grin.

Neviah looked around. She was the first human unseated, though a boy was tossed to the ground shortly after. Soon, another followed. Then, there were six still mounted. In a few seconds more, all the humans were thrown to the ground except for Victoria. She had put her head next to Enya’s and had her arms wrapped halfway around her neck. The humans were all cheering for Victoria, the Chayyoth for Enya. It was a beautiful sight.

Enya opened her wings and shrugged with them, knocking Victoria sideways. “Hold on!” Neviah yelled with a laugh.

Victoria’s legs swung around, almost striking the ground, but she managed to pull them up and wrap them around Enya’s neck. Firmly attached, there wasn’t much the exhausted Enya could do to dislodge her.

“Time!” the instructor said.

Cheers went up for Victoria as she dropped to the ground. Some of the companions rough-housed over the results until the instructor called them to attention. They were put through a few more basic riding techniques before being taken to lunch and then to their last class of the day. It was in the same room as before but a different Chayya and human taught.

“This will be your favorite class until you are allowed to fly,” the human assured them. “Here, we will teach you how to think and give you the skills necessary to be the wind warriors you are meant to be.”

He walked over to a stack of scrolls and picked one off the top. After walking back to the front of the class, he hung it on a nail, allowing the scroll to unroll to the floor. There was a life-sized painting of a Shedim.

“This is the enemy you are most likely to face in the sky. It is a Shedim, the enemy of all that is good. They are dragon servants, carrying out their will. Who has a guess as to the easiest way to kill a Shedim in aerial combat?”

One of the humans said, “A sword through the heart.”

The instructor shook his head. “Shedim have naturally scaly skin that they cover with hardened leather armor. Piercing their heart is possible but far from the simplest way.”

“By biting their head off,” said the largest Chayya recruit, Biyn, grinning with his razor-sharp teeth. Everyone laughed.

“While that is an effective method, it requires that the Shedim be first disarmed or distracted. Otherwise, young one, you will receive a blade to your throat for the effort.”

The thought made Neviah shudder. She looked over at Corban and his battle scars. She instantly knew the answer. “By disabling their wings,” she said.

The instructor gave her a slight nod. “Precisely. No matter how armed or armored a Shedim is, their wings are their most vulnerable assets. It is also the most vulnerable part of a Chayya,” he said, making it a point not to look at Corban. “In the weeks to come, we will show the riders how to protect this vulnerability.”

After that, the man went through the basic strengths and weaknesses of many other creatures. According to the instructor, one of the greatest weaknesses of humans was that they couldn’t see in the dark. Chayyoth, on the other hand, could see quite well in the dark when they chose to. He showed the class a painting of an all too familiar rock monster, stocky hairy creatures, giant spiders, and a few other creatures that looked like monsters out of nightmares. He showed one picture of what appeared to be a man but seven feet tall with lightning covering his skin and fire in his eyes. The face was elongated like a dog’s.

“This was a Gibborim, the most dangerous land enemy the Chayyoth or man ever faced. It would usually cost the lives of hundreds of men to kill one, so fierce were they in combat. Some people think the reason the bow was invented was to deal with these formidable warriors. Be thankful you will not have to face one of them.”

“What happened to them?” one of the humans asked.

“Thankfully, they dueled themselves into non-existence,” the instructor said. “The Gibborim believed they gained the strength and speed of their opponent when they defeated them in honorable combat. They also believed the only way they could be at peace in the afterlife was to be defeated by a superior warrior.

“Legend has it there is only one left alive, the greatest warrior the Gibborim ever produced. Siarl, known as the Imprisoned One, is bound by the very chain which holds Alya at its place in the heavens.”

The human recruits were leaning forward in their seats upon hearing the tale. Corban had mentioned something to Neviah about the chained creature the day before. She wondered if it was true but figured it was only a tale meant to excite them.

The instructors spent the remainder of the class touching on a few more enemy types. “And that is the basics concerning each of the more common races,” the Chayya instructor said. “More detailed classes will be taught on each creature, their combat strategies, beliefs, and more. Are there any questions?”

Neviah knew that people always hated it when someone asked a question when it was time to leave but she had one that was burning in her. She raised her hand.

“Yes, Recruit…”

“Neviah,” she said.

“Ask away, Recruit Neviah.”

“Umm, I was wondering what the best way to fight a dragon was?”

The instructor smiled. “It is impossible to kill a dragon. The best way to fight one is to run.”

“It is possible to kill a dragon,” Neviah countered. “Asa killed the dragon Nebo.”

Everyone was looking at her and Asa in disbelief. A few openly rolled their eyes. They wanted to be done for the day.

“Then, you should ask him,” the instructor said, amused.

Asa spoke up. “When we were fleeing the fortress of Ba’mah, we were able to trap Nebo in the tunnels and kill him.”

“It is true,” Corban said, wiping away the skeptical looks on the faces of those gathered. “When King Hayrik’s son, Rafal, was returned, I had a vision that convinced the king to lead a small party north. The dragon never showed.”

“I knew of the expedition,” the instructor responded. “But the slaying of a dragon? Why hasn’t this been sung in the streets?”

“The king saw it fit not to compromise the search for the Sword of Re’u. Their fame would have made them targets, and there is still much they have left to do.”

Neviah realized she may have overstepped by revealing the death of the dragon. But secret mission or not, she’d definitely heard people whispering “Dragon Slayer” in the streets.

“If it is the will of the king, then this knowledge will not leave this room,” the instructor assured Corban. He looked around the room at each recruit until they all nodded in agreement. To Asa, the instructor said, “Next class, however, I would like you to give a detailed account of how you accomplished such a feat. If there is a way to defeat them, I would like to know it.”

“Yes, sir,” Asa said, giving Neviah a playful scowl that said she’d embarrassed him.

They were given the rest of the evening to do what they wanted.

“We should go find Adhira,” Asa suggested.

To Corban, Neviah said, “We were thinking about going to see our friend. Would you like to come?”

“Wherever we go, it must be together,” Corban said.

“Would you accompany me to go see Adhira?” Neviah asked a little more formally.

“Yes, we can visit your friend, but I have business on Alya later this evening.”

Victoria and Asa asked Rafal and Enya if they wanted to go, and they both agreed. The ride down the lift wasn’t as bad for Neviah. She still didn’t open her eyes but was able to suppress the urge to scream when it turned upside down. Victoria and Enya actually giggled when they flipped between gravities. With their feet firmly on the ground again, Neviah was able to slow her pulse.

“Do you know where Adhira is being trained?” Neviah asked when they were at the bottom, or was it top, since coming from Alya.

For some reason, Corban smiled. “Yes, I do.” He walked off toward the western side of the city.

There were many people out. Conversations were abuzz concerning a strange messenger who’d ridden into the city.

Corban was troubled. “When we have seen your friend, Neviah, it is necessary that I speak with the king. Is that acceptable?”

“Of course,” Neviah said, embarrassed that the venerable Chayya needed her permission. The whole companion thing was going to take some getting used to.

They continued on. Enya and Rafal hung back, still intimidated by Corban. There was still a good bit of light in the sky when they came to an extremely congested intersection. Neviah immediately saw why.

Standing on a pole on one foot, high above the crowd, was Adhira. He was balanced on the ball of his right foot with a wooden sword held out straight in each hand. Sweat glistened on his tanned chest and back.

A group of giggling girls sat watching the Indian, the muscles on his arms flexed with the strain of holding up the practice weapons. Neviah wondered at the sudden feeling of anger she felt toward the girls. They had just as much right to watch her friend as anyone else did.

Asa opened his mouth to yell something, but Adhira’s head spun toward them first. With the help of their three Chayyoth, they were able to push to the front of the crowd.

“What are you doing up there?” Asa asked.

“Mordeth said I lacked grace,” Adhira called down. “This is supposed to teach me balance.” His leg was shaking uncontrollably. It was a wonder he hadn’t fallen yet. “Is it too late to fly instead?”

“What did you expect becoming the best swordsman in the world to be like?” Asa taunted.

“Honestly, I thought I would be waxing cars or painting fences.”

“This isn’t a movie,” Neviah laughed. Corban looked at her sideways. Oh, yeah, no one in this world would know what a movie or a car was. They had to be more careful. “What happens if you fall?” she asked.

“Then, I have to do the next exercise.”

“What’s the next one?”

“I don’t know, but they’ve gotten progressively worse, so I don’t want to fall.”

“Don’t you do it!” Adhira called down. Neviah had been thinking about shaking the pole.

“You would shake it if I was the one trying to balance,” she said with a wide grin.

“But you’re nicer than me,” he pleaded.

“Whatever made you think that?” she asked as she pushed on the pole. It was firmly attached to a large platform, but it did sway slightly. He waved his arms and kept his balance, pleading with her to stop. The more she pushed, the more the pole swayed until it was wobbling back and forth. His leg buckled, and he fell, landing in a seated position atop the pole.

A shadow unfolded and rose from where it had been leaning against a wall. The crowd gasped in surprise. It was Sword Master Mordeth.

“Adhira, drink water and speak with your friends. I will be waiting for you in the training yard. You don’t want me to have to wait long.” He moved through the crowd, which parted for his passage.

Adhira climbed down and took a long draw from a water skin. When he’d put it down, he gave Neviah an evil smile. “I’ve missed you so much!” he said as he picked her up and crushed her in a very sweaty hug. His sweat slicked the side of her face and dampened her clothes.

“Gross!” she yelled, though the feel of his arms around her sent her heart racing. “Corban, help me!” The Chayya just laughed. When Adhira was satisfied his vengeance was done, he let her go.

“What are you guys up to?” he asked, stepping out of Neviah’s immediate reach.

“We wanted to see if you were free to hang,” Asa said.

“I will be free in the evenings in a week or two. Mordeth feels the need to break me in this week.”

“That bites,” Asa said. “Will you teach us what you learn when you’re free?”

“Do you mean, do I want to use my time away from sword training to do more sword training?” he asked with a raised brow. “Maybe. But you have to convince Rafal to let me fly a few times.”

“We aren’t allowed to fly for the first month.”

“That’s great,” Adhira said with a laugh. “I’m learning how to swordfight even though we haven’t done any swordfighting, and you guys are in a flight school that doesn’t allow you to fly. This all makes perfect sense.”

“Shouldn’t you get to your training session?” Neviah asked.

“Can I have another hug before I go?”

“I’ll have my companion bite your arms off,” she said.

“Maybe later then. Bye, guys.” He moved off the way Mordeth had gone.

“We must be off to see the king,” Corban said.

“Can we come?” Asa asked.

Corban looked at the teens, then the two Chayyoth. Rafal was King Hayrik’s son, so he had a right to be practically anywhere. As his companion, Asa would be allowed, too, but Victoria and Enya were not royalty.

Corban nodded. “I see no harm in it.”

Enya and Victoria lit up with excitement. Rafal seemed indifferent. He had seen the king many times in his life. A short walk brought them to the lifts that connected to Alya. Even in the fading sunlight, the enormous silver chain connecting to the strange planet shined brilliantly.

Corban asked the man with the clipboard if King Hayrik was on Moriah or Alya. Though the king flew, and so didn’t need the lift, his human servants and advisors did. The man quickly confirmed that the king was on Moriah. Corban was sure where the king would be and led them through the city again.

They eventually came to stand before an enormous building with pillars several feet in diameter and rising several stories to support the outer entrance. Large, darkly stained wooden doors stood open wide enough that a dragon could pass through. There was a crowd of people in the courtyard outside, eagerly awaiting news. After pushing through the crowd, which wasn’t so hard with Corban leading, they made it to large side doors.

Guards nodded at Corban as he passed through the line with the five youths in tow. No one bothered to ask him any questions. They found their way to a side staircase with wide stairs. Each step was a little high for the humans but perfect for a Chayya.

The polished gray stone floor at the top was free of anyone else aside from the occasional human guard as the party moved down the wide hallway. They eventually arrived at a pair of large wooden doors.

“You two must wait here,” Corban said to Victoria and Enya. “You come with me,” he directed at Neviah and the male companions.” Her companion paused and looked back at her. “I apologize. I am accustomed to giving orders. Will you accompany me?”

“Yes,” she said.

They walked through the door and into an auditorium large enough to hold several hundred people. Neviah stood with Corban and two other Chayyoth on a balcony. She recognized one of them as King Hayrik.

“Good evening, young ones,” the king said with a smile.

Neviah offered him a deep curtsy. “It is good to see you again, King Hayrik,” Neviah said. He looked the same as he did that day she met him at the base of Nebo’s mountain.

“Who are they?” Asa asked, looking over the rail at a large group of Moriahns gathered below.

“Those are the Patriarchate,” Corban said. “The rulers of Moriah, chosen by the people.”

Neviah counted seventy men, mostly elderly, seated like a choir in a choir box, so those further back were higher than those in the front. All seventy of them, as well as everyone else gathered, were staring down at a large figure that stood at the center of the great hall. It was a Shedim.

The creature wore shining armor with the emblem of a red horseman painted on the front and back, the seal of Tanas. Its gray wings were folded across its back. The Shedim was addressing the gathered.

“It is a most gracious offer,” he said.

“You dare to threaten us with war?” one of the seventy said, rising briefly to speak before sitting again.

“If war was desired, I would not be here. High King Tanas wishes you as allies, not enemies. When the nations of man were assembled to face Ba’altose and his army of the dead, we received not one soldier from Moriah. I mention this only to say that had you been there, you would have seen the wisdom of following the king. There are many forces in the world that would see an end to the kingdoms of man and Shedim. Only united can we endure.”

Another of the Patriarchate stood. “And what will your king do if we refuse this alliance?”

The Shedim froze for a moment and snapped his head high to his right, where Neviah stood. She thought he was looking at her until she realized Asa was by her side. The Shedim was looking directly at him. How had the creature known he was there?

The Shedim smiled and turned back to the seventy elders. “Tanas will not allow any to remain neutral in these dark times.”

“You claim this alliance is for the safety of mankind, yet your king thinks killing men will save them?” This brought about a stream of agreement from many of the gathered and more than a few curses against the Shedim.

“A horse,” the Shedim said, unaffected by the mood of the room, “must be broken before it can be made strong. Since you obviously prefer bluntness, I will be blunt. There will be an alliance between all the kingdoms of man, whether willingly or not. I will return in one month for your decision. If your answer is no, then the next time you see me will be at the head of an army.”

The crowd erupted in angry shouts and yelling. The Shedim remained where he stood, seeming to revel in everyone’s hate. Raising his hand, he waited several minutes before it quieted enough for him to be heard.

“One last thing,” he said with a triumphant smile. “Not only do men and Shedim serve High King Tanas,” he paused to make sure everyone heard his next words. “He also has command over the dragons.” The Shedim spun on his heel and marched from the room amidst utter pandemonium.

Asa looked at Neviah. “I saw that Shedim before, in Samgar Nebo, when we were prisoners,” he said. “And again, when we defeated Ba’altose. I have no doubt his threats are true.”

King Hayrik and Corban were in deep conversation while the rest of the room was full of heated discussions, some fearful, some angry. Not everyone, Neviah noticed. Many of the Patriarchate sat in silence, apparently weighing the Shedim’s words.

“What happens now?” Neviah asked Corban as he turned away from his conversation.

“The rulers must return to their provinces and speak with their towns and cities. After that, they will vote to decide whether to fight or submit.”

“What will the Chayyoth do?”

Corban looked at her as if the question were absurd. “We will fight.”

“What if the Moriahns don’t?”

“Then, we still fight. There can be no peace with the likes of Tanas. This, you know.”

Neviah nodded as any sense of security faded away. In a month, they would be at war.