R U [ I ] N E D

I Meant Your Other Brother, Sweetheart

20 years later

The murmurs of the growing crowd in main square of Gwyr's capital faded away and the group split down the center as if a phantom had floated through them, chilling them to the bone. The current Grand Commander of the army, a mysterious man known only by his family name, je Dellal, walked this path with heaviness in his heart at the impending doom of his great nation. But it was a problem that he needed to address, and address it he would. For as long as Commander je Dellal had been in charge of the Great Gwyran army, no one below the rank of the First Squadron had ever worked with the man, and not even his highest officers had ever seen his face. For his own safety and the safety of those closest to him, he chose to keep his identity a secret. In his mind, that justified his precautions- his hooded robe and masked helm- all necessary to hide him from inquisitive eyes. Enemies could very well be lurking amidst the Gwyrs. It was something he could not leave to chance. With a seemingly calm and composed demeanor, the Commander made his way to the podium that awaited him in front of his people. Young and old had come to see je Dellal and his proclamation in response to the dark sorceress Elieveta's threats. They would be just as affected, if not more, by the woman's sacrilege against their way of life.

The Commander stopped at the head of the small platform and cleared his throat softly, the small sound reigning in the chatter of the townsfolk to meek whispers. "As you all well know, the vault that holds the Seorehan spirits has been defiled by dark magic." Shocked exclamations rang out from the assembly in waves. Many had thought the news to be fool-hearted rumor, yet it had proven to be true. "Elieveta has cursed the Seorehan runes, leaving them ineffective and even harmful to the prestige of our empire's divine protectors."

"Commander, what will become of our nation, our heroes?" a woman called out desperately.

A man followed suit. "Surely a man such as yourself has a plan, don't you?"

"My daughter is a Runeholder. Will she be affected by the witch's magic?" said yet another.

"Silence." A man who looked to be nearing the hill age of 50 scuttled through the crowd, his hand raised to accompany his command. He moved slowly, limping as if each effort were painstaking, and paused near the middle where all could see him. His peppered back hair fell at his shoulders, and his face and arms showed a multitude of old battle scars. "Let the Commander speak."

"Is that him?" voices whispered, "The Great Ellinor?"

The Commander gave the man a curt nod and continue. "My thanks, Commandant."

"That was years ago." Ellinor sighed to himself, but let the younger man continue.

"The sorceress demands that for her to undo the curse and spare us, we must crown her empress of the Gwyr and disband the Great Gwyran army. If her demands are not met by the next new moon, she swears to flatten our empire to rubble."

"But the next new moon is only nine days away! That's hardly enough time to devise an effective counterattack!" The townspeople were restless and growing more so as the meeting continued.

"It is true we don't have much time, but we are a strong and proud people. We cannot bow down to her treachery, and I refuse to do so. We will fight, and we will win." The Commander glanced thoughtfully out over the alarmed expressions of his people, standing straighter, his shoulders pressed back as he exuded determination and dominance. "Now to answer your questions. Gwyrholm will survive. We've faced many threats before as a great war nation and will continue to face great threats. Elieveta underestimates us as we once did her. Our heroes will save us. It has come to my attention that the cursed runes have weakened our Runeholders magical abilities, stifled them even, but these children are legends, much more than just their power. They are our salvation."