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Memoirs of Dragora

By Arogard

Chapter 4: The War Sets In

They followed the army on the edge of the horizon for fear of them noticing they have persuers. Just as they feared, the army was headed toward the battle, but the larger force split off into two, with one going straight and center into the battle, the other flanking off to directly attack the Scathen palace, and the earlier flank catching up to directly attack the Skrith palace. The trio knew all they could do was watch as the battle went on. Upon seeing their lords threatened, the armies pulled back and drove the pincers into the center of the 2 armies, effectively surrounding the dark mass. The battle at this point became much more fast-paced, with the devoted soldiers hacking away at the shadows, reducing the size of their enemies more and more by the minute, until the shadows were no more. The armies rejoiced and retreated back to the nobles' sprawling abodes to report the results of the battle.

"That's strange, the bodies of the shadows are disappearing...and the are no casualties from either family either." Dragora pointed out, scouting over the battlefield intently.

"Now that's a book I remember reading, the forces that got bested must be the shadow army of Krjn, but no casualties from either family stuns and piques my curiosity." Slypnir preached to the other two.

"That would be my department, and based on how quickly those soldiers took out their foes but not each other implies that they are the fabled ever-fighting Renrijra and Yukinro armies. They are 2 side of the same army really, But they were so experienced in battle one could never call himself better, resulting in them fighting until a man from either side falls, for whatever purpose calls them to aid. In this case, each side of the army was hired by the different aristocrats to fight in the stead of their servants." Zerion said out in one long-winded explanation.

"So if we resolve the family feud, the army will be willing to fight anyone? So why don't we ask them to lay siege to Krjn, and make the part of the world safer for everyone?" Dragora asked thinking about the relieved tension on merchant cargo traveling around.

"That sounds good to me, let's go!" Slypnir replied eagerly, thinking about cheaper reagents for his potions.

"I just hope they recognize their own armor.. I really hope I won't have to take the cannon test..." Zerion muttered to himself.

As the pulled into the field between the estates, they discussed about how to have the lords meet with the other and discuss what the feud was all about. They decided that it was best to set up a circle of chairs with enough seats to accomodate the rulers and their guards that will no doubt be present. After this was done, They agreed that Slypnir would stay in the middle to be a guaranteed mediator while Dragora would talk to lord Scathen and Zerion would talk to lord Skrith. They both set out believing in the other's diplomatic skills and concentrating on perfecting their speeches. Sitting there for what seemed to be hours, Slypnir got up and started harvesting nearby alchemy reagents, surprised at how untouched they were on this battlefield. By the time Slypnir filled his entire coat with ingredients, Both Dragora and Zerion came out of the nobles' homes with 5 other men accompanying each, and Slypnir quickly set up more chairs to support the whole group.

"My daughter was kidnapped, and I have proof of it being done by their servants' hands!" fumed lord Skrith, laying out a shoe and sleave of a Scathen uniform.

"I can support you servants' hands my daughter's disappearance as well!" flared lord Scathen, pulling out a glove and hat of a Skrith uniform.

"Well that just makes things confusing..." Slypnir blurted out, looking at the even amount of evidence on both sides. "when did it happen?"

"The 70th of Starslight." both of the aristocrats said at the same time, looking at each other oddly.

"Do you think you could have spies in both houses? This was obviously planned out, and you were both set up." Dragora reasoned.

"That seems possible...if not definite." lord Scathen said and was finished by lord Skrith.

"Well the common enemy you both have is the Krjn, which seems to be more aggressive towards you two of late." Zerion sighed, stretching.

"Well if what you say is true, then we shall both send our armies to assault that ill-omened patch of stone, provided you three lead the army, naturally." both the patriarchs said in agreement with the other.

"We would be honored to!" Dragora exclaimed at the thought of fighting beside legends.

As the meeting came to an end, the nobles sent one of their guards to run ahead and tell the armies they were to accompany the three travellers to assault Krjn. While the trio was packing up their supplies, they discussed which path they should take to lay siege on the banshee's haven of a citadel and eventually came to an agreement of using the road that traversed through the Waerfyr jungle, where the path was the widest. As they met up with the already prepared armies, they told them of the route and seemed to be in agreement, so they set off. When they reached the edge of the jungle, however, Dragora started feeling lightheaded and drained. The further they went into the jungle, the more intense the feelings were, but he kept ignoring them until he passed out, behind the armies and noticed by no one.

He opened his eyes to the sound of a storm at it's fullest, only to see blue skies above him. Getting up carefully, he instantly came to the conclusion he was on a ship and walked over to the side to get his bearings. To his surprise as of yet the thunderstorm he heard was below him and the ship, with many others behind it, was sailing in the sky, toward what seemed to be a harbor as much floating as the very ship he was on. As he backed up startled by the sight of being so high, he accidentaly nudged into the captain of the ship; a large, fierce looking man who only snarled at him and walked into his cabin. While he started looking around, the doors to the sleeping cabin of the great frigate swung open. 20 battle ready pirates poured out with the captain coming out of his quarters with a large toothed cutlass, obviously used for torture, in his left hand. Dragora began dodging the flailing menaces the best he could, only to be met by more and eventually picked up off of his feet by the captain, who seemed to be amused by his nuisance's agility. Before he could actually react, they chained and cuffed him to a wall in the brig of the grand ship, leaving him there all alone in the heavy, musky air of that dark place.

"Surely you can feel the power to escape in your blood? Lightning cannot be bound, but travels freely everywhere. Feel the air around you, even in this dark place, the sporadic pulse of an element never bound to one side, and affecting all with it's wrath to those who attempt to concentrate without it's consent." A voice whispered, but this voice was different the the first one, this one being light-hearted and young.

"Who are you? Can you help me out of these cuffs at least?" Dragora asked anxiously, wondering who this voice belonged to.

"I am what one would call the heart of lightning. and you don't need your hands to harness your mind, just your thoughts." The voice replied, fading away.

Taking in the advice, Dragora began to meditate. Indeed there was a powerful charge in the air, enough he figured to call upon the element to split chains the chains that bound him. The incantation came to him and he repeated it in his mind, the last word creating a large, crackling sound followed by a bellowing sound of thunder and the chains shattering from the pure energy. 12 nearby pirates hearing thunder from the hull came to investigate the brig, only to be greeted by a single arc of lightning, jumping between all of the would-be aggressors, all of them stumbling to the ground, not being able to handle a charge of that magnitude into their systems. As Dragora walked out of the door, he came to on the ground where he fell, still forgotten by his friends who thought he was right behind the armies.

"That's just dandy, they march on ahead of me." he shouted, getting up and dusting himself off. "I hated this place as a child, and I hate now, and the moon isn't even showing itself..." he muttered storming off along the path to make up ground to his caravan.