Two Masters (epic progression fantasy)

Chapter 25: War's Truth

Revin dismounted as he entered the camp. When he looked up, Kaiato was running toward him.

"How did it go?" Kaiato said, looking up at Omrai.

Omrai rode to the side, conferring with his generals, so Revin decided to address Kaiato's question.

Revin shook his head. "Not good. Jebuthar had no desire to negotiate."

Starting with the gallimais he had mastered, the saurians grew restless. Soon all the saurians in the camp were shifting, honking, or otherwise acting disturbed. Did they sense something the humans didn't?

So, Revin reached out with his mind to understand what they were so nervous about. The saurians' ears were far better, and through his saurians, he felt a deep rumbling in the earth. Revin's eyes widened as he turned to the direction of the sound. Far in the distance, a handful of round... things floated in the air. Just specks in the distance, but somehow Revin knew they were getting closer.

"Omrai..." Revin said, frowning, "I- I think Jebuthar is coming."

Revin pointed east.

Omrai followed Revin's outstretched arm. His eyes widened, and he turned to his men.

"Soldiers, assemble!" he shouted.

Several of the generals looked at him, bewildered. "But I thought Jebuthar said he would wait?"

"He lied!" Omrai shouted, rage and disbelief in his wide, furious eyes. He looked to his men. "Now, get the refugees out and assemble the men!"

They looked at him, frozen.

"Move out!" he roared.

"Let me help you!" Kaiato said, stepping eagerly forward.

"No," Omrai snapped, "I don't have time to manage the both of you."

"I can manage myself on a battlefield."

"You will stay!" Omrai snapped, he pulled on the reins of his gallimai and moved off with his men. Shouting more orders.

Revin watched the army move. Swarms of men clumped together into squads. Once a squad had its men, it moved east, assembling in the field beyond. Saurian riders organized into ranks and regiments, and many saurians wore great plates of armor.

"Revin," Omrai's voice said in Revin's mind. He realized he had just been standing and watching. "We're moving into a practiced formation; I'll need your help. Come with me."

Revin looked to the east. Omrai was on his gallimai a distance away. He signaled Revin to follow.

Revin painfully mounted his gallimai and trotted to Omrai, watching the army move into formation, like rushing water flowing almost freeform from the camp and organizing into near-perfect blocks of men, all ready to fight. Swords, shields, spears, and muskets ready to kill.

Boy, you haven't seen war. Death yes, but blood and carnage? Agony and suffering? No. Now, you will see and feel more than most. You will feel the death and torment of every dying beast you control. You will suffer death, and death again.

Revin remembered Narazoth's words and looked at Omrai's army. Men riding the three-horned things marched near the center, and squads of tyranno-riders moved at the flanks. Men stood on platforms on the backs of the long necked saurians, guns at the ready.

It was a mighty army. Revin managed a smile.

Bring it on.

✦✦✦

The three enormous somethings floated... just floated, as if the sky were a sea and he were hundreds of feet below the surface. Their shadows grew ever larger as they began to block out the sun. Revin's head swayed as he realized how big those things must truly be. They made the saurians and soldiers below look like ants next to a boot.