TBC: Chapter Twenty-Four

Gyan tried to minimize the smiling effects that lingered on his face as he made his way through the front door of the domusé late into the night. He entered his room to find Aderes sitting on his bed, writing. Aderes glanced up briefly as Gyan closed the door.

Gyan stared at his roommate for several moments, feeling the difference between his current mood and the brooding energy that surrounded Aderes.

"Are you ever going to talk about it?" he finally asked quietly.

"There isn't anything to say."

"You've been silent since you spoke to Elder Master Zareb, and considering how close we are or have been, I really don't feel I deserve your cold dismissal of my concern for you."

Aderes stopped writing. "You and I are just on different paths right now. We're not focused on the same things."

"Aderes, you cannot assume that I do not want Lesiana to be rescued or that I don't care about her. I'm just trying to balance my desire to see her free and respect the wisdom of the Council at the same time. I still support you."

"Well, I do not feel supported by the Order, nor do I feel they have Lesiana's best interest in mind."

Gyan sighed, his heightened mood waning. "But, you are acting as if I am betraying you by not pushing against the Council, and I am not."

Aderes put his notebook down and sat up straighter. "It isn't just that Gyan. We need to do something. Others suffer, like my sister, while we stay in Yevani and we pretend, like you—playing in your little bubble of delight with Jalena—"

"Aderes," Gyan said sharply as a surge of defensiveness heated his skin.

Aderes scowled and looked away. "We need to be taking action is all," he mumbled.

"We are preparing—training for what is ahead of us."

"Preparing?" He scoffed. "There is no time, Gyan. There is a crazy star witch on the loose. She needs to be taken care of."

"They would not assign us that task, Aderes. Sir Malik will have to take charge of that. Our spies are gathering more information on Mordán's intentions as we get stronger in our abilities."

"By the time they are organizing their notes and writing out the blueprints, Mordán may be too powerful for us to stop!" Aderes's voice rose in frustration.

Gyan opened his mouth to reply, but a soft knock at the door broke the conversation.

"Hey, you two," Valora said, as Gyan opened the door. She rubbed her hand through her short, messy hair. "Come downstairs."

The two followed her downstairs to find the rest of the warriors gathered in the dining room.

"What is it?" Gyan asked.

Jarek sat in a chair at the table with his head down and his elbows on his knees.

"Jarek had a dream," Hoshi said sleepily.

"What was it, Jarek?" Valora asked.

Jarek wiped the sweat from his brow. "Mordán is merging the armies of Nardan and Androsa. He has gathered troops near the Lundar Mountains to march into Uthar."

"Is the attack happening now?" asked Gyan.

"It isn't," Jarek replied. "I've been noting the difference between the types of visions I have—whether they represent the future or present. If I have a vision of an event happening on the same day, it comes as flashes several hours or so before. Dreams though—dreams mean the event is still several days from now."

"We need to tell the elder masters," Valora said.

Gyan nodded. "They may have received the same information from the spies, but I'll try to reach for Elder Master Syam telepathically to—" He stopped abruptly.

The warriors became quiet as Syam's voice entered their mind. Everyone is to meet at the temple Thesarei for a meeting. If any are asleep, wake them. I will join you there in one hour.

"How does he do that?" Hoshi asked. "It's like he just knows."

"Synchronicity," Valora, Brogan, Danika, and Gyan said all at once.

The others smiled.

Gyan eyes lit up as he held a glowing hand out to Jarek. "Come on, Jarek. Take a little energy."

Jarek grasped Gyan's outstretched hand and breathed in the new boost. He gave Gyan a nod of gratitude.

One hour later, the new masters, dressed in their appropriate robes, sat around the large table in the Temple of Kya's Thesarei along with Syam, Zareb, Jabari, and Jalena.

Only several moments passed before Malik swept into the room followed by a tall, wiry looking man with blonde hair the warriors had never seen before.

"I think we are all here that need to be," Syam said in a tired voice.

The group stood, bowed to each other, and recited their warrior philosophy before seating again.

"We have more information on Akila's latest actions," Malik stated. "Some of you know of my apprentice, Marcile Yeves, already." He nodded in the direction of the tall man. "He resides in the southern regions of the Ceiabré Forest and has been studying under me for many years."

"You're another wizard?" asked Aderes as he raised an eyebrow at Marcile.

"Not like a star wizard, Master Aderes," Marcile stated.

Aderes raised his eyebrows in surprise at hearing Marcile use his name.

"More like a warlock in training," he continued. "A man who has learned to direct energy through the use of spells." He looked around the room. "I am very pleased to meet you all, finally."

"The reason he is here is because he has recently encountered information from one of Mordán's council members," Malik interjected. He gave Marcile a permissive nod to tell his story.

"A man that served on Mordán's Council—Burgis, came to me and asked me to help him escape Androsa. He served on the Kraundor Council from a very young age and became too burdened by Mordán's dealings to continue. He confronted Mordán several days ago and voiced his disapproval.

"We had arranged for him to meet at my father's old cabin in Gawl Forest late into the night, but Akila followed him. I knew that Mordán might have him followed, so I hid in the forest not too far from my father's house. Akila sensed my presence and commanded a Vaznaun soldier that was with her to attack me as she continued on to Burgis." Marcile paused. When he continued, his voice carried a dark tone. "I was injured and succeeded in killing the soldier, but only made it back in time to the cabin seconds before Burgis died.

"I promised Burgis I would relay the warning he had given me when we spoke earlier that day. It is that Mordán plans to send his soldiers into Uthar first. However, I do not know where the attack will begin or the specifics of his plan—only that he has united the Androsan forces with the southern army in Nardan."

"Does Akila know of your association with Sir Malik?" Zareb asked Marcile.

"She did not before, but Akila returned to the cabin and found me—most likely after she could not find my body. I had to use magic to escape her, so I am sure she has made the connection between Sir Malik and I by now."

"The dream I had earlier tonight confirms what Marcile is saying," Jarek said. "I saw the armies gathering together at the northern part of the Lundar Mountains in Kraundor. When my visions come in dreams, the events are anywhere from one to three days out. I am hoping the dreams will eventually become more specific about the timing, but that's all I can tell you as of now."

"This aligns with what Master Jabari and I discovered last night," said Zareb. He stood and waved his hand across the edge of the table. A large holographic image of Elsaria appeared above the table. Zareb placed his hands near the image and moved both hands out to the side so that the image was stretched and flattened, leaving a detailed close-up view of the land. He pointed to a mountain range south of the Grey Forest. "They had set up camp here."

"When I spoke with the soldiers, they still had not received their specific orders from Mordán," Jabari added. "Rumor was that he was not supposed to arrive at the camp until two to three more days."

"Since we remain unaware of details, I think it is best if we split up and investigate to obtain as much information as possible before Mordán moves forward," said Syam. "There are already rumors of the Vaznaun being cited in remote parts of northern Uthar."

Tarak sat up straighter, looking more alert at the mention of the Divakae territory.

"This will allow us to gather information from several areas at once until we learn more from your team, Elder Master Zareb," Syam finished.

"I agree," said Zareb. "I also think it is time to place more members of the Order at the borders of Alsar, especially at the borders extending into the Grey Forest."

"We should alert the protective units in all cities," Jalena added.

Zareb nodded.

"I will call now for the other Elder Masters to join us," Syam said as he turned to the masters, "and I will deliver your assignments in the morning. Be here by first light. Until then, try to get as much rest as you can."

The master warriors stood and bowed to the group before exiting the Thesarei.