Chronicles Of Zefaria: The Plight Of The Free Peoples (7) "Prailee, after all the years we've known each other, how come you've never taken me to Galtigor?" "You never asked," said Prailee. Tonomoli was more than a little surprised to hear that response. "I suppose I could've brought it up but how was I suppose to know that you were even interested?" "'Interested?' To see the Dwarves? Of course I'd be interested! I'd be interested to see the great diamond mines, or the colossal Dwarven structures. There would be plenty to see." "There is a healthy amount to see," agreed Prailee. "I'm curious," said Edith. "How did you two first meet?" Tonomoli then told Edith how, in the begining, Tonomoli saw Prailee being ambushed by a band of Orcs in Foster Forest, and how he rescued him. "That was nearly five years ago," said Prailee. "The two of us hit it off so well that I decided to pack up and move to Archmide." "That's a typical story of how to meet people these days," said Nefandus. "That's how I was introduced to this pair as well." "Really?" said Edith. "You were attacked by Orcs, and they rescued you?" "Yes, I was," said Nefandus. "And they did. I'd hardly be here today if it weren't for Tonomoli and Prailee. For certain I would've been the victim of those Orcs." Now the company had made it to the foot of the Pass of Bravada and a great majority of them stopped at the foot and looked upwards. "We're here at last," said Tonomoli. "Now we just have to navigate the Pass," said Seth. So the company took to navigating the Pass. It didn't prove too difficult. They didn't have any horses and buggies or anything, as they were just going in single file. Seth led the way, followed by Tonomoli, Edith, Farimar, Nefandus, Prailee, Le'on, Jebzian, and Master Fenfarah. They climbed up and up and on and on. The path wound inextricably upwards. The company could not see all of where the path lead, as it went up past some clouds, causing a loss of visibility. But they continued on just the same. A great deal of the company was becoming fatigued due to the steepness of the path and the fact that they had to carry their packs. Prailee voiced his discomfort. "Does this path have to be so steep?" he said. "I'm becoming gravely exhausted. Couldn't we rest for one moment?" "Come now!" said Jebzian. "I'm an old man and you don't see me complaining. Besides it's not that much farther." ���� "How do you know?" said Prailee. "Have you trekked on this path before?" "No. I haven't," said Jebzian. "It's just a feeling." "Well, for my back's sake I sure hope you're right." Jebzian was right. There really wasn't that much further that they had to go. Finally they made it into the clouded area of the Pass. "Whoa," said Tonomoli. "We climbed all the way up here." He looked at how far they had trekked and the view was really quite spectacular. "I sure hope no one falls," said Prailee. "Don't worry," said Nefandus. "As long as everyone stays on the path everyone will be all right. At least I hope." "No one should fall," broke in Seth. Now the alliance was making its way downwards. The road turned and went just as wildly downwards as it wound upwards, but at least the company didn't have to put up with climbing upwards which caused a strain on their backs. They were actually moving a little faster going downhill. Seth noticed this and decided to share it. "Notice how we're going faster downhill as opposed to uphill," he said. "At this rate we'll be in Galtigor a little earlier than first anticipated." "I hope so," said Tonomoli. "After we exit the Pass do you think we could eat something?" "I'm ready to eat as well," said Edith. "Come now, brother, we've fasted long enough." "Fine," said Seth. "As soon as we leave the Pass we'll stop for a bite to eat." Just the promise of food made things a little easier for Tonomoli. And so he endeavored to navigate the pass with much speed. This aggravated Seth a little, as he was constantly on his heels, trying to speed things up. Finally Seth said something about it. "We'll get there when we'll get there," said Seth. "And rushing me won't get us there any faster. So there's no need for you to be stepping on my heels." "I apologize," said Tonomoli. "But it's just the deal with the food. Couldn't we go a little faster?" "I'm going as fast as I can," said Seth. "Navigating this road isn't the easiest of things, you know." "Again, I apologize. It won't happen again." The company was about fifteen minutes until they'd make it to Galtigor. Tonomoli could see the bottom of the Pass. "I can see the bottom of the Pass!" he said. "We're almost there." A great deal of knights and some of the alliance all breathed a sigh of relief. Everyone was very much anxious to make it to Galtigor, where they could rest and eat. Master Fenfarah moved up the line to ask Seth how much longer they had until they'd reach the bottom. "We don't have much longer now," said Seth. "Good," said Master Fenfarah. "I could use the rest." Finally, after much traveling, the great company made it to the bottom of the Pass. "We're in Galtigor at last," said Seth. "Now we can rest and eat." And rest and eat they did. Not too far from the foot of the hills the whole company found grassland to rest and eat in. Tonomoli went back to Master Fenfarah for some slices of meat. Prailee thought about going but later thought better of it, feeling that he might be infringing on Master Fenfarah. Tonomoli had to talk him into it. "Just go ahead and ask him," said Tonomoli. "He'll take heed to your request." "All right," said Prailee. "I'll do just that." Master Fenfarah didn't mind. He had plenty of meat left over. So the alliance ate a most anticipated lunch. It took them about fifteen minutes to finish eating, and when they finally did finish eating Seth granted them a small rest period, then it was time to head out on the road once more. "All right everyone, it's time," said Seth. There was some groaning and moaning. "Come now," said Seth, "we don't have that much more further to go, then you can get all the rest you want, once we reach Fort Evner." So the company set out once more. Suddenly a thought came to Tonomoli and he wanted to share it. "I thought we were going to be greeted with cheers and applause?" said Tonomoli to Seth. "I don't see any applause, and I definitely don't hear any cheers. What's the deal?" "The 'deal,' said Seth, "is that we haven't made it to any towns or cities yet. Once we make it to Fort Evner then you'll see the applause and hear the cheers." ��� He was right. They were indeed in Galtigor territory but they just hadn't made it to any towns yet. But in terms of the whole scale of things they were making good time. It was eleven forty-five and they were already in Galtigor, as opposed to their original estimated time of arriving in Galtigor at twelve noon. Finally, after much traveling, the alliance made its way to Fort Evner, and the reception was as expected. There was a great many Dwarves who had already heard the news standing out and cheering while others who had yet to figure out what was going on stood looking on curiously. A general of the Dwarven army approached the company, asking who their leader was. His name was General Oarth. Seth identified himself and the Dwarven general turned everything over to him. "We've been told to turn everything over to you," said General Oarth. "In order to ensure a smooth operation, of course. We realize how important that is." "It is quite important," said Seth. "So, has there been any word from Osmadaania?" "Yes there has," said General Oarth. "Osmadaania wishes to have a council with us." Seth was visibly stunned, as was the rest of the alliance. "You mean to tell me that they're going to go along with our demands?" "I suppose so," said General Oarth. "All I know is that they want to have a council with the leader of the alliance." "Did they set a timetable?" asked Seth. "No, no they didn't." "It's already seven o'clock, we can't have one now," said Seth. He was really talking to himself. "Tomorrow. We'll head toward Aundar tomorrow. I don't suppose they said where they wanted to have the council did they?" said Seth. "No," said General Oarth. "They most certainly didn't." "Tomorrow then. We'll head out tomorrow." The alliance set up camp at Fort Evner. It had by now been nine o'clock. Tonomoli was resting, along with the rest of the alliance. Suddenly, the sound of a trumpet rang throughout the camp. Fort Evner was under attack. The Battle for Fort Evner "What's going on?" said Tonomoli. "Why are they blowing trumpets?" "Because we're under attack," said Seth. "They tricked us. Everyone, to battle!" It took a little while for everyone to adjust from resting to battle, but they had to do it just the same. The soldiers from Galtigor were already engaged in battle, as they weren't as inactive as the Chisolites. It was almost night, as the sun hadn't set completely, so the alliance could still see the enemy. There was a swarm of Orcs being led by both Dakaroth and Saunssussen. "For Osmadaania!" said Saunssussen to the Orcs. "For Osmadaania," they replied hoarsely. The battle was a fierce one, it being the first battle of the now for sure war. Tonomoli rushed to get into battle. "Here's one Coasha monk that the enemy will dread to see," he said. "Come," said Edith. "Let's show them a thing or two about the arts." The two engaged in battle, Edith using her rod and Tonomoli his Coasha Blade. Both moved with lightning speeds and the Orcs were dumbfounded as to how to deal with them. But there wasn't just Orcs that the alliance had to deal with, there was also a good deal of warped Men and Elves. An Orc saw Tonomoli and rushed at him. Tonomoli flipped high into the air, right over him even. He then came back to the ground and engaged in a sword fight with the Orc. The Orc was brutish, and had it not been for Tonomoli's instruction in the art of Coasha, he would've been hardpressed to dispose of him. Finally Tonomoli parried an attack from the Orc and sent him to his death. Le'on was holding his own in battle. Though he'd not been trained in any arts he was also a knight back home to go along with his prince hood. He didn't have on any armour so he had to be extremely careful. The same could be said about all of the alliance, with the exception of the Chisolites. Le'on wrestled with a lone Orc. Like the one who fought with Tonomoli, he was brutish and intimidating, but Le'on looked not to be shaken. "Die, puny man!" said the Orc hoarsely. "My death will come another day." said Le'on. And he was right. It took him a little bit longer to dispose of him than what Tonomoli was accustomed to, but he disposed of him nonetheless. After that he went to his next task, a warped Elf. Nefandus had disposed of a couple of Orcs before he met a warped man. But what he didn't know was that the warped man was Dakaroth, leader of the Osmadaanian province of Thangoon. "Death to the weak," he said. "Dakaroth commands you." The two engaged in battle. Nefandus didn't know any of the arts, but he was still a very fine warrior, as he told Tonomoli and Prailee. The two battled for a healthy minute, sparks flying from their blades from intense strikes. Finally Dakaroth had Nefandus on the ground with his sword a great deal away from him as Dakaroth had knocked it away. Dakaroth was prepared to end his life when a lone Chisolite came to the rescue of Nefandus, fighting off Dakaroth. The Chisolite fought bravely but ultimately his intervention led to his death. Nefandus finally found his sword amidst chaos, but when he returned he couldn't find Dakaroth. "Coward," he said to himself. Farimar was fighting off many an Orc until he finally came to a warped Elf. Suddenly he felt the need to address him. "Look what serving Lord Osmadaan has done to you," he said. "By some foul craft he's warped your Elf hood and you no longer look to be a member of the Elves." "Lord Osmadaan rules over all," said the warped Elf. "Finlaiven and Harwrintholien are just lands waiting to be swallowed." Farimar, being from Finalaiven, took offense to this. And so he charged at the warped Elf. Farimar was a warrior from Finlaiven, and it showed in his combat skills. Always he had the warped Elf on his heels. It wasn't long before he finally finished the task and ended the warped Elf's life. "May Far Finlaiven take to you," he said. The wizards, Master Fenfarah and Jebzian, were really a source for victories. They could have easily killed the Orcs, but they showed compassion, choosing to just electrocute them a little bit with their powers. A whole host of Orcs retreated because of this. Finally Saunssussen, the leader of the Osmadaanian province of Makerva, confronted the wizardly pair. The catch being that he was also a wizard. "You have attacked the last of your Orcs," said Saunssussen. "Now you have met your match." "We shall see about that," said Jebzian. Saunssussen's arms began to light up as he held them at his sides then two beams of electricity flowed from his hands right at the pair. Jebzian produced a shield from his hand, while Master Fenfarah retaliated. Saunssussen put up a shield also, and Master Fenfarah's attack went flying wildly into the air. Suddenly, Saunssussen held out his hand and drew Master Fenfarah to him. He had him by his clothes and punched him in his breast and as he did so an electric shock ran throughout Master Fenfarah's body, sending him crashing a good distance away. Jebzian went to Master Fenfarah's aid. "Are you OK," he said. "I am--just get him back for me." Jebzian stood up and there was determination in his face. He threw electric shock after electric shock as he made his way toward Saunssussen, all of which Saunssussen shielded himself against. Finally Jebzian grabbed him by his shoulders and shocked him. Saunssussen was visibly disgusted. "You'll pay for that, foolish wizard," he said. "Attack the wizard! Attack the wizard!" Saunssussen's screams were heard and answered by a plethora of Orcs whom were in the vicinity. Jebzian took to them as best he could, until Master Fenfarah came back to his aid, and then the two went right back to doing what they did best. Prailee and his axe were proving more than a match for Orcs and warped Men and Elves. Suddenly two Orcs converged on Prailee. "Aye, come," he said. "Come and taste the blade of this here axe." They rushed him but he proved more than capable of taking care of them. After much fighting he finally got rid of them. "Who's next?" he said, as he went looking for more enemies. Seth was fighting off three Orcs at one time. His speed and reflexes was remarkable, as he was also trained in the Toran with his sister Edith. At one point the Orcs thought they had him, but Seth proved adept at getting out of hot spots. One by one he took down the Orcs, until the last one stood before him. He growled at him, but he was ultimately too much of a coward as he ran away before Seth could engage in combat with him. � In terms of how the whole company was doing, it wasn't that good. They had lost a good deal of Dwarves and Men, and they were losing them still. The surprise attack was more of a surprise than the alliance had first anticipated and they had yet to fully arouse themselves for battle. Seth's sister, Edith, came to his side. "How are we doing?" she said. "I'm doing fine," said Seth. "But if you mean how are we doing as a group I couldn't tell you." Prailee was near the vicinity of the twins and he overheard their conversation. "We've lost a lot of Dwarves and Men. I think we should retreat before it becomes a complete slaughter." Seth wrestled with the decsion to retreat in between fights with Orcs. He didn't want to give Fort Evner to the enemy, but they had lost a whole host of soldiers. Finally he came to the conclusion that the combined forces of Makerva and Thangoon was just too much for them and he decided to call for a retreat. "Retreat! Retreat!" The order was heard by some and was immediately broadcast by way of screaming to the entire combined forces of Chisolom and the Fort Evner Galtigorians. "We can't abandon Fort Evner," said General Oarth to Seth. "It is Galtigor's long standing fort of endurance."
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