The Gods' War

Chapter 22

             HER ARMY WAS gathering in the plains of Libalel, as they were known. There, Mother Shadra, Father Hektar and Father Kaz’ak of the Homes would address the mass of their army. But it was her army; Master Soulgiver would announce it to them there. It was a gift from Him. Besides, she was the most powerful, the most favoured... were these her thoughts, or thoughts He had implanted? Was she the most powerful? Yes, she was, she had always known that – as had Kaz’ak.

             And Erebus had always favoured her; He sent her to the Home after her mother died, He let her walk through His House. He was even teaching her necromancy... but she didn’t want to defy the unspoken laws – surely that would only bring death – was that really a favour to her?

             Laura was born to rule. This was her army. She was Death’s Ambassador. All trembled before her. Or was that true? She was so confused lately, her brain could not make sense of things. Was this the punishment for defying the universe? No, she was merely tired, that was all. She did not get enough sleep with necromantic training in the night time. But it made her more powerful, it did, it was good she was learning necromancy... wasn’t it?

             Each Home had been evacuated and many protective and warding spells had been placed upon them. But they had received disturbing news, hadn’t they? Something about the Non-Kingdom... and Dynnlel? They were captured – no, they had been freed. Laura wondered how. The Kingdom of Dynnlel had no trained warriors, but enough of them together could pose a threat to the rule of the New Order. But the Non-Kingdom? They were traders, merchants – not fighters. They even feared magic. How could they withstand the forces of the New Order? It was very strange.

            Her army would soon lay siege to Arnone. The Wall was filled with so little a number of wizards, mages and witches, and those that were there were weak. Spies had reported that many wizards, witches and mages had been evacuating The Wall even though they were not New Order forces. They were afraid... weren’t they?

             After they had slaughtered Arnone, they would move to invade the Witch Kingdom. Fighting in the forest would be harder than in open land, and they needed to end the war quickly.

            “Who knows?” Laura thought to herself, “They may even surrender to me.”

             “No, we must crush them,” she reminded herself.

            “Why? If it ends the war quicker, then we save more lives. Is that not what we want?

             “No! We fight till we are supreme. We will crush them, and slaughter them. Then we will grind their bones to dust.

             “Why? Why do we hate them so much? They are also people, surely. They do not realize their sins, that is their only problem. We can convince them! They are doing what they think is right... surely we cannot blame them for that? They have been misled.

             “They are evil!” she argued with herself, “They fear Death! Death is eternal! We must destroy them and then all life!

            “All life?” were those her thoughts? “Why do we need to destroy all life?”

             Her other thoughts did not answer.

             Laura had to get her thoughts straight. She would not allow herself to be so confused all the time. It was unhealthy.

             When Laura and the last people – including Jesse –from the First Home to evacuate reached the edge of the Splitting Forrest, they found that a platform had been built across the river near a lone willow, and the army of the New Order was loafing about it. Kaz’ak led the company of twenty to the platform, and there he, Hektar and Shadra would speak with the army. Then their master would send a message.