Chapter 17.

  King Rehsab had to sacrificed a lot over the next few
day’s to give each guest the royal treatment. To keep
each of them happy, they had to be pampered and looked
after in their own separate way’s.
  The meeting was held in Rehsab’s study, each ruler
fighting for a seat at the table.
  There was still tension between them. The several from
the south gathered together and sat at the opposite end
of the table from the king’s of the north. There was a
visible gap that nobody wanted to bridge. 
  ‘What do you mean that they are already here?’ King
Enak of Auwa asked. He was the tallest man. He had black
hair and beady eye’s with an unshaven face. The colour
red, was his fetish.
  ‘Evidently, they’re with in your armies. Haven’t any of
you noticed an increase of men in your forces?’
  They all nodded.
  ‘I thought it was just because of the recent conflict
between the north and the south.’ Anyhc of Brendal
admitted. He was a muscular king of war, with an
oversized jaw and long, dark, brown hair that he liked to
keep in a plat.
  ‘It would have been easy to come to that conclusion.’
Ksid agreed. ‘Maybe that’s why they did it. I hope that
none of you informed your troupes of our original plans
of a strike attack.’
  There was one face in the crowd, suddenly realising 
what he had done. 
  ‘King Kwah?’ Ksid questioned the leader of Sunny.
  Kwah was the youngest king there, baring a crude hair 
cut - a shaved head except for two strips on either side. 
His face was tattooed with different colours, and his
voice was annoyingly raspy.
  ‘Well. Nobody told me that I wasn’t supposed to tell my
men. I was trying to psych them up, trying to get them
ready for battle.’
  ‘No matter.’ Ksid grinned at the foolish sovereign.
‘The plan can’t work if they’re already here.’
  ‘How are we going to tell the difference between the
men?’ Kloba of Salla asked, running his hand through his
long blonde hair.
  ‘Well we can’t exactly go ahead to tell the troupes
that there are traitors within their midst.’ Prolger of
Agliger told them, idly playing with his tiny little
dagger.
  ‘And I can’t exactly point them out too you either,’
Ksid added, ‘or else they’ll realise that we’re on to
them, and they could strike before we’re ready. We’re
basically stuck.
  There was a knock on the door. ‘Introducing King Seth
of Krestia.’ the guard announced.
  The Korutianian rulers rose from their chairs with 
swords draw.
  ‘Who invited this, this - ’Rehsab was so enraged his
words escaped him.
  ‘I invited him.’ Ksid replied, going to Seth’s side.
  ‘How can he be trusted?’ Enak demanded.
  ‘Becauthe it’th the cult that are giving you all your
trouble’th.’ he stood up for himself. ‘Thothe not corrupt
by Thanatos don’t have any qualm’th with the people of
Korutiania. In fact, thome of uth don’t mind you at all.
And thothe not under Thanatoth’th hand, don’t bare hith
mark.’ He raised his unmarked left hand.
  ‘Take your seat’s, gentlemen.’ Ksid then went on to
recap what Seth missed.
  ‘There ith a way to pick out the cult member’th without
them actually knowing it.’ Seth pointed out.
  ‘There’s a way?’ Power spoke up.
  ‘Of coarthe there ith, Power.’ The king slobbered.
‘That ith, if you gentleman withh to here it.’
  ‘Of coarthe - I mean of coarse we want to here it.’
Repins of Leif order. King Repins was a military man at
heart. He had a shaved head and didn’t know the meaning
of speaking quiet.
  Seth smiled, knowing he had control over the group. 
‘All the people that you oppothe thould be cult 
member’th. The Revolution are very patriotic to the god 
Thanatoth, becauthe that’th what they are tranthformed to 
believe. Even though they are marked with Thanatoth’th 
thign, it can eathily be dithcithed. What can’t be 
dithcithed ith the way they act. Gentlemen, what I 
thuggetht that you all do when you gat back to your 
rethpected countrieth, ith gather up all your men, and 
praise the god Thoralluth. Even if you don’t know 
anything about him, jutht make it up. The cult member’th 
won’t know the differenthe. They’ll thpeak in retaliation 
the word of Thanatos. All you have to do then, ith pick 
thethe people out of the crowd and dithpothe of them.’
  ‘Brilliant.’ Lamina of Ediug complimented. Lamina was 
appointed the new ruler of Ediug after the Master’s
reign. They promised to be a more peaceful nation once
the slave market had been fully demolished. This king was
of a different blood line to the Master, a much more
cleaner blood line. He had a crop full of red hair with a 
freckled face and mighty big forearms. His voice was soft
and dramatic.
  Ksid thought about it. ‘Are you sure that if we get rid
of them fast enough, none of them will go back and tell
their leaders?
  ‘They thhoudn’t.’ Seth shrugged. ‘Their mind’th have
been programmed to therve Thanatoth. When the oppothite
of what they’ve been taught ith thaid, their whole body
thhut’th down, and their teaching take’th over. If you
kill them quickly and thwiftly, they won’t even know that
they’ve been killed.’
  ‘They’re bound to have back up forces in their own 
continent, aren’t they?’ Terrol questioned.
  ‘Oh yeth. They’d be abtholute foolth if they didn’t.’
  ‘Gentlemen,’ Ksid announced, ‘and ladies, of course,
even though we can clean up this mess, we still can’t use
our original plan - you know, the illusionary war. Are
there any suggestions to what we may be able to do?’
  ‘Actually, we may still be able to use the old plan.’ 
Iikin said, feeding Kolga as she mothered her new born 
child. ‘Just a little differently. King Seth, what 
countries in Neekkent oppose the Revolution?’
  ‘Along with my nation, Junile and Aththarii - the last 
I heard anyway.’
  Iikin then unravelled a map on the table for the King’s
to see. ‘The Revolution will no doubt come by boat. Also
I’d imagine that there’d be some forces that’d travel
west to strike on the eastern coast, whilst another fleet
sail east to land on our west coast, and then work their
way in until we’re stuck right in the middle of them. So
what I suggest - that is, if the ruler’s of Junile and
Assarii are willing to co - operate - is that we still
have the illusionary battle, and situate it here.’ He
pointed to a place in the Border Line Desert, in Eht.
  ‘What are the advantages of that?’ Relwal, the king of
Eht, asked. He was an old king who really liked to make
fun of people. 
  ‘We have one of the biggest bay’s sitting right in the
middle of this continent. If we can lure them in to the
gap here, then the fleets from Krestia and Assarii can
come in and trap them. With them surrounded, then we can
all close in and defeat them at sea. We may have to move
the people from The Island, but other than that we should
be right.’
  ‘How does this illusionary war actually lure them?’ Ice
asked.
  ‘The Korutianian army will supposedly be in one place. 
I used to lived with Neekkentians, and I understand how 
they think. They’ll travel inside the bay as a group and 
split in all different directions, some heading towards 
the battle to help both sides, and some inland to begin 
their pillaging and plundering.’
  Iren of Olian saw a few flaws. ‘But won’t they realise 
that they’ll be sailing right in the middle of a trap?’
Iren was a skinny man with long blonde - brown hair. He
had a reputation for being a good swimmer. 
  ‘We’ll have to pull a few strings. Tell a few lies,
maybe, plant a few people here and there.’
  ‘They’re cocky when they get the chanthe to be.’ Seth
said. ‘If they believe that the Korutianian rankth are
next to nothing, then they will walk right into the
lion’th den, and write it down for the ageth, ath their
eathietht triumph.’
  Ksid stood. ‘Is everyone okay with that?’
  There were some pretty happy faces.
  ‘I’ll let you know the approximate time to strike. For 
now, rid your forces of our enemies. Keep your forces 
thinking that you’re still having conflicts with the 
other countries. We won’t break the news to them until 
the last moment. Also, I want you to start setting up on
the inland coast - making boats and so forth.’
  ‘What about us?’ Repins asked. ‘Leif and Olian, the two 
furthermost countries away. It’s going to be hard for us 
to reach the battle because of the distance. Besides, 
between the two of us, our forces hardly make a 
difference.
  Ksid looked at the map. ‘We can still use your forces. 
If you travel as close as you can to the Greater Inland 
Sea, then move your boats into Sea itself, you can travel 
down stream to the Great Inland Sea, and wait there in 
case we need back up or reserves. I can even get my men 
to help you with the moving of your ships if you need it. 
Are there any further questions?’
  Everything was settled.
  ‘I’ll keep you informed.’ Then the meeting was
adjourned. 
  The kings stayed a few more nights to get better
aquatinted with each other, then, to the delight of
Rehsab, they left for their respected cities.
  ‘I appreciate you looking after my little girl while
she was gone.’ Yalerkûm was saying to Ksid and the group
the night he was supposed to leave. ‘Arem, say “good -
bye” to your friends. We’re going home.’
  ‘I’m sorry, Father,’ Arem said with unsureness on her
face. ‘but I’m not coming home. Not just yet.’
  ‘Arem, don’t make a scene.’ he hissed into her face.
‘Now go collect your stuff.’
  ‘No.’ She backed up a few steps. ‘I’m not finished here
yet.’
  ‘But princess, your my little girl. I - ’
  ‘I’m not a little girl any more. Obviously you’ve spent
a hell of a lot of time with your job or else you would
have noticed that I’ve grown up. And I used to wonder why
I got kidnapped in the first place.’ She then stormed
away, knocking over chairs, and furniture.
  Yalerkûm watched as she stormed away in distress.
  ‘I’ll go and talk to her.’ Enigma said, going after.
  Chasing after her, Enigma eventually found her sitting 
on the step to the throne in the main hall. It was dark 
inside - the torches had been extinguished. Her face was 
stern, lit up with in the illumination of the moons. 
  Enigma sat down quietly beside her. ‘That’s amazing.’ 
he said, looking up passed the glass panels in the roof,
at the array of stars in the sky. ‘The whole universe
before you, right in your own home.’ He sighed
remorsefully. ‘You know, you shouldn’t blow up in your
father’s face like that. You’ll never know when he won’t
be there for you. Your lucky to even have a father. I
envy you some times. I wish I had a father.’
  Arem leaned back, her eye’s a distant glow. ‘What 
happened to your family?’ 
  ‘They were killed when I was a little boy. I once had a 
mother, father, sister and dog. I remember living in a 
hut by a river, much like the one me and Sly built. My 
parents never used to work, but they alway’s seemed to be 
able to supply us with food and cloths. We were away from 
any civilisation, so it was just us. In summer, I used to 
play with my sister and dog in the river, and on cold 
winter nights, I used to sit with the rest of my family 
in front of a hot fire. We were wrapped in blankets and 
we used to tell stories to each other.’
  ‘Sounds like something out of a dream.’
  ‘More like out of a nightmare.’ Enigma sighed. ‘Some 
men eventually came along looking for slaves. They killed 
my mother, my father and my dog. But every time I think 
of it, I’m not so sure what happened to my little sister. 
Presumably, she was killed too. I just stood there as 
Father’s chopping block was stained with their blood. 
  ‘Years latter, after I’d served more than enough time 
as a slave, Sly came along. We built a house and escaped
the troubles of man for a little while. She was the
closest thing I had to a family for a while. Then she too
was taken away from me. Now I’ve got nothing.’
  ‘You have us.’
  ‘For now. But when this is all over, we’ll most likely
all go our separate way’s. Ksid will once again serve his
master, Power and Ice will go back to the past, Iikin and
Terrol will return to the future, you’ll go ahead to rule
your kingdom, and I’ll be left on my own with no where to
go.’
  ‘Don’t be too sure of that. I was adopted at a very
young age, remember. Leadership isn’t in my blood. I
don’t really want to own a kingdom, anyway. I wouldn’t be
too sure about being on your own though.’
  Enigma’s eyes drifted back into the stars. ‘Even since 
I was a little boy, I’ve alway’s wanted to be able to go 
into space. I know that my friends and family are in the 
heavens. Look, there’s my mother now.’ he pointed to a 
star much brighter than the rest, amongst a cluster of 
other stars. ‘That one star alway’s seems to be there, 
watching over me, the same way my mother was there 
alway’s watching over me in what ever I used to do, 
whether it was play, or sleep. It’s a curse really - 
alway’s wanting to be with the stars. I sometimes want it 
so bad, I feel I can’t bare another day of life without 
it. What I’m trying to say is, don’t shut your father 
out. Cherish your time with him before he’s gone for 
good. You won’t like it when your body’s here on earth, 
but your heart’s in outer space.’
  Arem reflected on Enigma’s words for a long while. Then
eventually, she grasped his hand in thanks, and left the
beauty of the heavens behind.
  Yalerkûm sat in bother at Rehsab’s table in his study.
‘Arem.’ He stood as she entered the room. ‘I - ’
  ‘I’m sorry Father.’ She hugged him tightly. ‘I didn’t 
mean to make a scene like that, but I still can’t go home 
with you, not yet. I’ll be safe with the rest of the
group, and I’ll be home in no time.’ 
  ‘All right.’ the king gave in. ‘But I won’t like it.’
  ‘Thanks father.’
  ‘You just look after yourself.’
  She smiled deviously. ‘Make sure the Reenoco and Orpten 
don’t have to much of a holiday.’
  Seth stayed a little while longer after Yalerkûm left.
  ‘The theige on the mountain worked out in our favour.’
he was saying as the group gathered in Ksid’s room.
  ‘I hope you didn’t loose to many men.’ Ksid replied.
‘We’re going to need them.’
  ‘Without the help of the Barbarianth and Gargoyleth, we
could have lotht a lot more than we did.’ King Seth was
pleased with the way he handled to Korutianian kings. It
was noticeable in his voice, and the way he held himself.
He seemed to be leaking with confidence.
  ‘Where are they now?’
  ‘The Barbarianth and Gargoyleth are helping finithh the 
job. Guardian theemth really happy about thomething. I 
forgot to athk him. I’ll have to do that when I get 
back.’
  ‘Don’t forget to talk to the kings of Assarii and
Junile - and our horses.’ Ksid reminded him.
  ‘I won’t. And if they don’t want to co - operate, we
alway’th have a little bit of an inthentive.’ He grinned
wickedly.
  ‘Our six friends?’ Power asked.
  ‘Who elthe? Thee you all thoon.’
  Ice chuckled as the king left. ‘He seems to have
livened up since the last time we saw him.’
  ‘I’m not surprised.’ Iikin told her. ‘The Korutianian
power has never excepted the Neekkentian kings until
today, no matter who’s side their on. The name “King
Seth” will go down in history as what could possibly be
the end of a long, foolish war.’
  Ksid’s room, like all the other rooms, had walls of
white quartz - a large mass of swirls and patterns. The
floor was mostly carpeted in brown, with tables, beds and
chairs scattered here and there. 
  Kolga and her new born were getting along great. Iikin
refused to name her for reasons of his own.  
  The old man layed back with a moan. 
  ‘What are we going to do about the Platinium Stone?’
Arem asked. Enigma let her keep the tomahawk for a little
while longer. He reasoned that as things got more and
more dangerous, she was going to need it.
  Ksid stared at the ceiling. ‘As much as I don’t like 
it, we’re just going to have to wait for it to turn up. 
We’ve only got a couple of months before the deadline. 
Any longer, then we’ve lost the battle.’
  Enigma took up a chair. ‘How’s that the case.’
  The preceptor closed his eye’s in thought. ‘The 
Platinium Stone contains concentrated power. Lord 
Serenity instilled the stone with enough power to move 
around in time. But the power can only be used once per 
stone. For the power to be worked, it has to be placed
somewhere. That somewhere is the Platinium Rings.
  ‘The Platinium Rings are situated in the heart of 
Sable. They are a rock mass with three holes, all 
precisely placed. The Platinium is an event that only 
happens every five millennium. Because it is so rare, 
there has to be significance to it.’
  ‘Every five millennium?’ Terrol couldn’t believe it.
  ‘That’s right. You’re blessed if you’re lucky enough to
experience one. A lot of weird things happen. There’s a
lot of magic at play in the air when it occurs, and it
only happens one night.
  ‘As the moons line up horizontally, they also shine
through the rings. The light meets up at a certain point.
With the three rings empty, nothing happens. With one
ring filled and two rings empty, that’s when you get your
portal to the past or future.
  ‘The Platinium Stone is like a key. Any ordinary stone 
won’t work. It has to be the Platinium Stone, because 
it’s the only stone with enough power to open the gate 
way. 
  ‘We only get one chance at this and that night is only 
a couple of months away.
  ‘Our objective is to save Lord Serenity. You have to
remember, he’s got unlimited power. Unfortunately, he was
never seen again after he focused his power on the past,
present and future. Whilst we were studying time, we
hadn’t realised how much strength Thanatos had gained
from the people. The person I had put in charge of the
palace betrayed us, and spread a negative word about my
Master. When Lord Serenity opened the hole to Thanatos’s
prison, his younger brother was too strong, and Lord
Serenity couldn’t get away.
  ‘Serenity is captured within Thanatos’s prison. At the
moment Thanatos is very strong and almost unstoppable. To
relinquish his power, we have to delete his followers.
Keep this piece of information in mind.
  ‘One Platinium Stone hasn’t enough power to open up the
door to Thanatos’s imprisonment. Power needs to be
focussed on the past, present and future. One stone only
has enough power to open the gate to it’s particular time
period - being the past, present and future. With one
stone per time era, it should create enough power. 
  ‘It’s not all that simple though. We have to find the 
stones in each time period. We’ve already found the stone 
here in the present - but lost it - though I wouldn’t 
have a clue of it’s wear about’s in the past or future. 
We have to find it. Along the way, we’ll also be trying 
to stop Thanatos’s minions. As his forces deplete, he 
becomes weaker and weaker, and by the time we go in to 
the unknown world and rescue Lord Serenity, Thanatos will 
be to feeble to do anything about it.’
  Terrol gave a wry laugh. ‘Why does it have to be so
complicated?’
  ‘So the wrong people don’t get involved.’ He spoke no 
further of it. ‘We’ll give the kings a little time to 
cleanse their ranks, then we’ll start preparing the hook 
and the bait. In the mean time, try to keep out of 
trouble.’ 
  They were sent off rather abruptly to bed for an early
rest. 
  ‘How come you don’t give Kolga’s new born a name?’
Enigma was asking Iikin on the way back to his quarters.
  ‘I have my reasons.’ Iikin still remained mysterious.
  ‘You know, you’ve never been able to give me a straight
answer.’
  ‘And your not going to get one, either.’ 
  Iikin’s reason was soon revealed during another
personal meeting. 
  ‘Now Enigma.’ Ksid was saying. ‘We know that you’ve
been asking about Kolga’s little brood and the reason we
were keeping it a secret was because she’s a surprise.’
  ‘We?’ Enigma asked, ‘She?’
  ‘That’s right.’ Ksid smiled. ‘We all knew why, and yes,
Kolga has had a baby girl. I’d like you to welcome back
your old friend, Atrebor.’
  He was handed a tiny little rodent with the beginning
of what looked like to be a white coat. 
  ‘She’s your’s to keep.’ Iikin said, ‘That is, after 
she’s learnt to feed her self.’
  He was speechless. A thousand questions ran through his
mind. 
  Ksid rose a finger as Enigma was about to speak. ‘All
your questions shall be answered in time. For now, just
enjoy the moment.’
  For the following days, Ksid was away. As he explained,
he was smoothing out all the bumps and lumps in the plan,
and preparing his own men thoroughly. He also predicted
the arrival of messages from all the kings, stating the
cleansing period was finished and that they were ready to
set themselves up. 
  Each message was delivered by a man in white,
obviously, each one, one of Ksid’s followers from the
underground. They acted as a personal messenger for each
king, cutting the travelling time down to half. As the
messages came, the delivers waited further instructions.
  ‘This one’s from King Seth.’ Iikin murmured, sifting
through the letter. ‘We have full co - operation from
King Edud of Assarri, and from King Evol of Junile.
They’ve also rid their forces of cult members, and are
raring to go. Plus, the Barbarian’s and Gargoyle’s say
“hi”.’
  Ksid soon returned.
  ‘Everything’s set up and ready to go.’ Ksid announced. 
‘How’s everything here?’
  The kings are ready.’ Arem said, handing him the 
messages. ‘And we have the support of Assarii and Junile 
as well.’
  Ksid then summoned his personal messengers. ‘Tell your 
respected kings to start preparing for battle. It won’t 
take them long to get here. They can also begin 
explaining the plot to their soldiers one day from now.’
  ‘Yes Lord Ksid.’ they all said, bowing in unison.
  ‘Now what?’ Power asked as Ksid’s men left.
  ‘All of you can wait here. I’ll be in Eht for a day or
so to get the fake war going. My men will maintain it,
then I’ll come back here. Everything should be
synchronised. Our spies will tell the leaders of the
Revolution about the war one day from now, and hopefully,
they’ll fall right into our trap.’
  ‘You red my mind.’ Enigma said.
  ‘I know.’
  Everything started to move along quickly. Ksid would
come and go, hardly staying for more than a night,
different people visited, all included with the
retaliation. The group was left in the middle, spinning
around in circles with nothing to do. They could only
watch on as all the action was happening else where.
  Ksid was gone longer than expected. A day turned into
several, as the illusionary war took up some time. No one
was going to see it, but yet he wanted to make it as
authentic as possible.
  Messages flowed into the city, explaining current
situations of Neekkentian forces and how they themselves
were doing.
  It’d been only a week before distress had been lodged.
  There was a knock on the door to Enigma’s room. 
‘There’s several people here to see you Enigma.’ Rehsab 
said. There was a wild look in his eyes.
  ‘Guardian, Sentinel, Aegis,’ Enigma didn’t expect them,
‘what are you three doing here?’ 
  ‘Hello Enigma.’ Guardian greeting in his hideous voice.
‘Much has changed since we were last together. I’m afraid
I have some bad news.’
  ‘What could possibly go wrong now?’
  ‘Your teacher toils hard to deceit your enemies, but,
I’m afraid, even now do they deceit you.’
  ‘How?’
  ‘All of the Korutianian forces are inland, there’s
hardly anyone left to protect the rest of the people.
Your enemies have realised this, and are using this
weakness to their advantage.’ 
  ‘Seriously?’
  He nodded. ‘The cult sorcerers have sent out an 
illusionary fleet into your trap to focus your attention 
on. Whilst you are all distracted, they have migrated to 
the north, and are attacking towns and cities in the 
country of Vinmac and Salla. My forces are holding them 
off even now. They are mighty warriors, but even they 
can’t hold back a nation.’
  ‘What do you mean “your forces”?’
  ‘Do you remember Lord Ksid’s riddle? His task that he
set for us?’
  Enigma nodded.
  ‘I finally solved it.’ he laughed gallantly. ‘He wanted 
us to work with people, so he sentenced our lives to 
serve. By doing that, dominance was faded out of our
system, and we learnt to help people - to live with
people. By helping people, I was able to free my race
from the spell. A better and more friendlier gargoyle
nation have returned. Not just those that were cast to
mere stone upon the Cathedral, but, hundreds of thousands
of us all around the world.
  ‘But we need your help. Most of the fighting is being
concentrated at and around the Cathedral. Amongst normal
human enemies, there are several hordes of beast, the
same ones that were thrown at us in the city of Krestia.
We can’t defeat them alone.’
  Enigma quickly got to his feet, and began packing all
that he needed. ‘Can you fly us there?’
  ‘Indeed Enigma, and with much speed.’ 
  ‘How fast?’
  ‘With in the hour.’
  ‘Good. You don’t mind do you.’ He looked at Guardian’s 
other friends. 
  ‘Not at all.’ they replied.
  ‘Splendid. We’ll need to take a side trip though. We
have back up forces waiting for you not to far away.’
  The group were flown, two to a gargoyle. Arem was
amazed with their strength. They were able to endure each
person’s weight without difficulty. 
  Iren and Repins were quick to get their forces into 
position. They sat, awaiting a signal, in the middle of 
the Great Inland Sea. The two kings enjoyed each others 
company on the one boat, sitting out on deck, enjoying 
the sun. 
  ‘Oh my goodness.’ Iren exclaimed as the red beast flew 
in from the sky with Enigma in hand. The two jumped back
out of the way in horror.
  ‘Your highness’s.’ Enigma bowed. ‘There’s no time to
explain. Get your fleet to the west coast of Salla and
head for the Cathedral. We need help there.’
  They stood staring at the repulsive beast before him.
  ‘Come on!’ Guardian shouted at them. ‘There’s no time
to waste.’
  With fear, they ordered their men to move.
  ‘I’m afraid they won’t be able to join you for a couple
of day’s.’ Enigma was explaining once back in the air.
  ‘We can hold out for several more day’s.’ Guardian
replied. ‘But after that, without any help, the battle
will start to sway in the opposite direction.’
  The weather changed very noticeably as they approached 
the battle ground. Previously day time, the sky had 
suddenly become overcast, with unbelievably black clouds, 
blocking out most of the light.
  ‘It’s like an eclipse.’ Arem noted.
  ‘Worse.’ Iikin corrected.
  They landed upon a hill in which they were out of harms 
way, but were able to assess the situation. The Cathedral 
actually sat with in a valley, surrounded by grassy 
knolls and tree infested hills. 
  The cloud bank was directly situated over the ancient 
building. They were still able to see the light shining 
down upon the earth far off in the distance, making the 
shadow seem darker than it really was. The giant mass 
swirled speedily, accumulating higher and higher into the 
atmosphere. 
  The green acres around the sacred land were stained
with thick, red blood, and incarcerated carcasses. The
human soldier’s of the Neekkentian ranks fought boldly,
dressed in ancient armour of the past, whilst bearing the
Thanatos’s mark upon breastplates, shields and flags.
Some of these men bore the twin mark on their faces,
signalling the presence of Sharks. To add to these forces
were all kinds of wicked creatures. There were beasts
that Enigma had run into before - including several Death
Warriors - and there were others beyond his wildest
imagination. Several scaled dragons twisted and turned in
the air, breathing the sigh of destruction upon the their
opponents - hundreds and thousands of gargoyles.
  The gargoyles came in all different shapes, sizes and
colours - mainly the dull ones. They fought with
cunningness, using the sky as their ally. Like the
legends, many gargoyles retreated to the tops of the
Cathedral to regroup, quickly, then diving back down
right into the mouth of death.
  A blue gargoyle eventually joined the group. He puffed 
deeply, wiping down his soiled blade. ‘Master.’ he 
greeted. His voice was rather different to Guardian’s. It 
had human qualities - non raspy or metallic in a very 
rich bass. This creature had deep blue skin and was 
absolutely built for strength. His skin was bare, 
sustaining a few cuts, and he had a wing span bout as big 
as his leaders. His lower torso was covered in the same 
fur. He had the face of a boar, and the eye’s an eagle.
  ‘Friends, this is General Doom.’ Guardian then went on
to introduce the group.
  ‘We seem to be doing good, Master.’ the general
reported. ‘But these forces are much tougher than we’re
used to. Is back up on it’s way?’
  ‘Some. But there’s a lot more to come.’
  ‘Ksid is in the Eht desert, playing with imaginary
people.’ Terrol said. ‘The quicker you find him, the
faster we can relieve more of your men.’
  ‘General, take care of our guests.’ Then Guardian flew
up into the air and shot away.
  Three of their old friends then came plodding up the 
hill.
  ‘Conscripted Boy.’ Animal bowed.
  ‘I didn’t expect to see you three here.’
  ‘We swam across the ocean once we’d finished the job in
Krestia.
  ‘How’ve you been going here?’
  He raised his twisted sword, letting blood run thickly 
off it’s tip. ‘No challenge.’
  ‘No challenge or not, you look after these gargoyles.
They aren’t all immortal like you three.
*  *  *