The Realm War:Chronicles of Illirian Book 1

Chapter 2:The Golden City

By early evening the next day, they reached Gaenlin, with most of their cargo and a small group of soldiers intact. As they approached the city gate, the guards aimed their sunbeam guns at them.

"You carry the Lidaeri seal, but we can not trust that your intentions are friendly. Identify yourselves" the lead guard ordered. Leor, Aerza and Kilor took off their hoods. "We must deliver the cargo to Commander Orvelios immediately" Leor said. "Alright" the guard said, and motioned for her comrades to let them through. The giant gate was lifted, and they entered the city. They walked through the main street, towering buildings looming over them, all made of gold stone.

They headed for Commander Orvelios's battalion headquarters. Seeing them from her office in the center tower, the commander teleported, and appeared before them. "Looks like you took quite a beating" she said, after looking over them. "Indeed. We were ambushed in the Saar Canyon. One of the cargo ships was destroyed, along with 90 of our soldiers. Vorkas, Kinta, Haelia and Ulzen were there as well. Unfortunately, they teleported just as we were about to capture them. We encountered no difficulties after that, though" Leor nodded. "At least you came out of it alive" the commander said. "Has anything interesting happened?" asked Aerza. "The Rokotai and Kveaita joined forces and sacked a Xoer military base. Our fleet destroyed several major Xoer cities. The Kveaita and Rokotai then crushed one of our battle groups. It seems that they are now in a temporary alliance. Altaarium, Jorkal, Ulmara and Vanraael may soon be sucked in as well" Orvelios replied.

"Perhaps. What about the Rokotai and Kveaita Knights?" asked Kilor. "Ateros, Elantya and Eikyra had a run in with Gelvan and Caltren. Other than that, they maintain a low profile" the commander said. "Alright. Alert us if anything else happens. We will be taking a rest now" said Leor. "Of course."

They made their way to the palace, where the other Lidaeri Knights resided. "Porteo" Aerza said, creating a magical window. They stepped through, and reappeared in another room, where four more Aervel Knights were playing Tyr Xaen, a strategy board game with seven pieces, representing 7 of the many Rumaenoric spells. Currently, the Kalkar piece, Lyran piece and the Aoros piece were still on the board. The air, lightning and earth spells.

As Leor, Kilor and Aerza appeared, the four looked up. "You are back. How was the road?" asked Iltera, as she moved the Kalkar piece three squares to the top left. "We were ambushed in the Saar canyon. Vorkas, Haelia, Ulzen and Kinta were there. We would have captured them, but they managed to escape" Aerza replied. "That is unfortunate. How many soldiers survived?" said Kelja. "13. And three of the cargo ships. We escaped with minor injuries" Kilor replied.

 Suddenly, Aerza's comlink beeped. "A few Alcars just slaughtered a group of citizens and an entire company. They got the square under lockdown" came in Commander Orvelios's voice. "We are en route" Aerza replied. "Looks like its time for action" she said.

"Porteo algre" said Kelja, creating a silver portal, which they stepped through, and then reappeared in the square.

The Alcars were powerful magicians, well versed in the standard Rumaenoric spells, in addition to Alcaric spells, a sub group of spells within the larger Rumaenoric branch, spells that were of an inherently darker nature-poison, spirits, blood, and more sinister mental spells. The Alcars utilized these spells along with the standard Rumaenoric abilities, for torture and murder, and to nurture fear.

At least two dozen Alcars stood all over the square, armed with sinister-looking swords and spears, and a few armed with battle staffs. Over 50 citizens were in the center, tied up with magical vines and gagged. Many lay on the ground, dead, along with a few companies of guards.

"Of course. Aervel Knights sticking their noses where they don't belong" one of the Alcars scoffed. "Oh, that is exactly why we belong here" said Kilor. "You may be more powerful than we are, but face it, you are hopelessly outnumbered. Leave Gaenlin, and your lives shall be spared" the Alcar raised her voice. "And leave the city undefended, for you to harass our citizens? I think not" said Kilor, preparing to wield magic.

"If you don't, then all of them will be killed, and you will have none to blame but yourselves. If you do, you have my word that we will let them go, and that no further harm will come to the city, and we shall leave. If you cooperate, all of us will be happy. What say you?" the Alcar said, a sinister smile on her face. "Compelling, but I have a better idea. How about one of us faces off against you? If we win, you will not resist arrest. If we loose, we will let you go this once" said Skalyr, brandishing his white staff. "Give us room" the Alcar smiled.

His foe attacked, slashing with her sword, while simultaneously sending out a wave of green mist. "Illar" Skalyr said, freezing the mist in ice, and added "Teotaires", drawing its power out of it, rendering it harmless. The Alcar snarled and released a torrent of lightning. "Lyran" Skalyr absorbed the attack, and channeled it into a volley of white energy balls, which she blocked with her sword. He gathered his power, and sent an air blast at her. "Aoros!" she said, bringing up an earth wall, blocking the attack.

Skalyr smiled grimly-by putting up that wall, she blocked her sight of him. As the wall came down, the earth fist he sent out struck her in the gut, and threw her to the ground. She rolled back to her feet, and attacked with her sword. He blocked her attacks with his staff, and as she thrust, he sidestepped and delivered a powerful strike to her temple, and to her sternum. He seized her in an air grip, and locked her in place with earth. She used the fire and ice spells to attack him, but he blocked both attacks with earth walls and electrocuted her.

Suddenly, a fire ball struck him. The other Alcars wielded poison and lightning, trying to overwhelm the Aervel Knights through sheer numbers, but were unsuccessful. Kelja released a lightning storm, that knocked most of them out. Xalas, Iltera, Kilor, Aerza and Leor finished off the rest with earth and ice spells. "I was hoping to do this more... quietly" Leor said.

Commander Orvelios arrived, along with a squad of Rumaenoria wielding police officers. "What took you so long, commander?" asked Leor. "We were attacked by another group of Alcars. We took away their energy flasks and sapped them of any energy. They have been placed under maximum security. A few of us were killed or injured in the process" Orvelios replied. "Alright. Take these away, and do the same with them" said Leor.

The police officers rushed to obey, and the seven Knights returned to their resting place.