Emerali: A War Song Tapestry

Chapter 19

The assembled legion saw the fireworks blazing in the dark sky.

"There's the signal!" cried Emerali. "Move out!"

The unit charged ahead, wings beating hard as they dove in toward the enemy. In less than a minute, they had converged with the Scouts and were falling heavily upon the Asmodian alliance. The initial attack had worked: the enemy ranks had been reduced. Some were dying; others had already died and disappeared from the battlefield. Those would not trouble Elysea for a very long time.

Still, the alliance's numbers were vast, and it wasn't easy to control the situation. They fought hard even as the Assassins struck out, continuously inflicting the detrimental Vile Death upon many of them. The few healers of Aethereal Radiance struggled to keep their comrades alive in the face of the alarming onslaught, and the Warriors bore the brunt of the assault.

As she hewed down a clear path through the battlefield, Emerali wondered where Bakren was. He evidently wasn't among the alliance now. She looked up at the towering fortress. Perhaps he was in there waiting for the opportunity to vanquish incoming foes.

"Those who can, follow me to the fortress!" Emerali commanded.

Everyone was in the thick of the battle now. Precious few legionaries had clearance to join their general. Emerali did not wait for reinforcement; she charged toward the fortress, uttering a silent prayer in her heart.

The doors to the fortress were wide open, and the interior was dark. The din outside seemed to fall very distantly to Emerali. Her heart hammered against her ribs so hard, she didn't doubt it could be heard. Within that fortress, it was as silent as a tomb.

The sound of slow applause shattered the deathlike hush of the room. Emerali looked up and saw a tall, imposing figure step into view. Suddenly several braziers burst into brilliant flames, revealing the shadowy Daeva. Emerali knew instinctively that this was Bakren himself. He was dressed in a robe of black and deep violet with a runic emblem that glowed an angry crimson upon his chest.

"I suppose congratulations are in order," he said in a bass tone. "You managed to turn years of hard work and meticulous planning into the demise of my entire alliance. Bravo, Emerali."

"Bakren..."

"So you know me. But I gather not from memory. I doubt you've managed to recover from our last little encounter. I promise you; however, you will not recover from this one."

At that moment, several other legionaries entered, led by Cullis and Devaen.

"Well, look here," Bakren said. "Your playmates have arrived. Devaen! This is a surprise. You've acquired a spine since the last time we met."

Devaen glowered at Bakren. "Bakren! How could you betray us--your friends, your people? Now you've devised a genocidal war. Why?!"

"Because the Elyos are pitiful! Light and Faith--bah! You're all nothing but weak, pathetic, self-satisfied insects. True power lies in the Shadows, and that is what I crave. Now you will all witness this display of true, absolute power; there will be nothing left of your meager legion. Perhaps you can take comfort in the knowledge that you will join your fallen comrades in the flow of Aether!"

The assault began.

Bakren struck hard at Aethereal Radiance. Their attacks seemed nearly ineffective against him. Arrows, daggers, spells and bullets now coming at Bakren in increasing numbers as the legionaries began arriving to the fortress, appeared to be vain. For every effective blow, Bakren felled two or three legionaries. Resurrecting the fallen was a high priority that was becoming increasingly difficult.