Sons of Ironstorm - Book 3: New Alliance

A Thoughtful Pause

The Redeemed captain looked up at the sound of powerful energies working just behind him. Thus he was in the perfect position to watch a now familiar sight: the opening of a sa'anish gateway in the designated space behind the forward lines. The spot had been set aside by the Lord Wielder to avoid an opening gateway doing anyone harm by forming in the spot they too occupied.

As sa'anish gateways go, it wasn't very big, looking only large enough to allow a single person to step through. It continued to iris open, a sideways rotation that turned a vertical line parting space into an oval portal stretching man high from the ground. Once it settled firmly in place, two figures swiftly stepped across the threshold. Twisting to look over a shoulder, they then watched the gateway swing closed behind them.

With the brilliant light of the gateway no longer backlighting their silhouetted figures, they faded to normality, swiftly resolving into familiar forms.

<<My Lord Wielder, Lady Dezinor,>> the captain greeted them with a salute and a smile.

<<Welcome to the Fist of Valdisere, Kada Sorn!>>

<<Thank you, captain,>> Shawn replied with a nod of greeting of his own, which he repeated to other Redeemed standing nearby.

This was the battle's front edge, the Redeemed here anchoring the winding front line facing the battered bulk of an enemy fortress a few lengths distant. Girt in the armor of the Redeemed minus the helmet, today Shawn was a grim figure on a battlefield already filled with determined elves and humans. Beside him, nearly in her beloved's shadow, Dezi was no less grim in Redeemed blue, her breastplate and helmet gleaming in the midmorning sunlight, her dark elf broadsword slung hunter style across her back.

<<My time in the field grows short,>> the powerful human continued, turning his eyes to the distant bulk of Kada Sorn, his eyes narrowing as he looked it over. <<We must strike at this final bastion guarding the remaining underground passage to the Evanor'ef Sylva'Krif while we still have the chance to do so.>>

The captain nodded.

<<Our forces are arrayed, my lord, as you commanded. Just give the word and we'll launch our assault.>>

Shawn smiled in satisfaction.

<<Excellent! Well done, captain. The word will be coming shortly. I go to my tent to prepare.>> With a final nod to the officer and his men, he then stepped by them and strode towards a tight cluster of tents set back from the forward positions.

As always, Dezi was in his shadow, close enough to reach out and touch the powerful human on the hip if she so desired. With the bulk of the fortress, the mist wreathing its ancient walls softening it to bare substantiality, looming to their left in a grim reminder of their purpose there, both found themselves lost in thought as they made their way towards Shawn's tent, erected the day previous some 200 paces from the front line in anticipation of the Lord Wielder personally joining the battle for Kada Sorn.

Only when they had actually reached the low, canvas structure and Shawn was reaching out to pull the door open did Dezi speak, pulling off her helmet as she did so.

<<Are you sure this is a good idea, my Shawn?>> she asked in a low voice, her brilliant blue eyes wide as she looked up at the side of the big human's face. At the sound of her voice he paused and half turned to catch her eye.

<<This hasty assault on a fortress long held by elves, now taken and reinforced by the

enemy?>> she continued on to say, now that she had Shawn's attention.