“Recently?” Marak asked, his interest growing by the minute.
“Within the past two days,” nodded Lyra. “Xavo and Lady Mystic were inside the temple when he was there.”
“They have not gone back to Vand, have they?” asked Marak.
“Of course not,” Lyra shook her head. “I am not sure what they are up to, but they have a hidden room in the temple. They saved Fisher when he almost got caught.”
“Then let’s talk,” Marak said with a hint of enthusiasm. “Can we do it here? I am not ready to greet the others.”
Lyra wove an air tunnel to Bakhai and asked to have the Astor and Fisher sent over. Bakhai came as well.
“Tell me what I need to know, Fisher,” ordered Marak.
“There are five hundred thousand of the skeleton creatures,” Fisher began. “There were six demons before today, and there are thirteen highly skilled mages. They are the best mages from the Island of Darkness. The leader’s name is Pakar. Also, Tzargo’s fifty thousand men have been turned into hellsouls. It is going to be quite a fight to get to Vand.”
“So it would seem,” pondered the Torak. “Where are the hellsouls located?”
“They are camped in and around the temple,” answered the Khadoran spy. “The skeletons were held in the city of Vandegar when I left, but now they are the outer ring of Vand’s defense. The demons normally stay on the roof of the palace, but they do go in to dine with Dobuk. I do not know where the mages are, but I would suspect inside the temple.”
“Okay,” nodded Marak as he stooped and picked up a stick. “Now that we know what is facing us, let’s figure out a way to defeat them. Rejji, did everyone come with you?”
“Of course,” smiled the Astor. “We had many questions regarding our slow pace, but we are ready for whatever you need.”
“Excellent,” grinned the Torak as he began drawing in the dirt. “We have always known that we would have to fight Tzargo’s men, and the only thing that has changed in that regards is the fact that they are hellsouls now. It is the additional five hundred thousand that concerns me right now. We are once again badly outnumbered. We will lose the best part of our forces trying to get through them. That is not acceptable. Get Avalar and Ukaro over here.”
While Bakhai ran for the elf and the Chula shaman, the Torak drew a map in the dirt with his stick. When everyone was present, Marak continued.
“We need to drive a wedge between the skeletons and the hellsouls,” declared Marak. “I will not waste our forces fighting something that is already dead. Bakhai, that is your task. Corral the skeletons and make sure that they do not interrupt our battles with Tzargo’s men.”
“When do you want this done?” asked Bakhai.
“Tonight,” answered Marak. “None of our forces will make any moves to attack until we get the word from you.”
“How can he possibly accomplish that?” asked King Avalar.
“Rejji,” Marak continued, ignoring the question, “you will have to pull your horsemen away, but don’t move them too far. I will need them on short notice.”
“What will you need them to do?” asked the Astor.
“There will be a coordinated charge between the Fakarans and the Khadorans,” explained Marak. “I want the two groups to squeeze Tzargo’s men together, but I want it done in such a way as to leave one side of the temple free of fighters. That means that either the Fakarans or the Khadorans will have to halt and let the other side continue pushing. The Fakarans are more numerous and better skilled for this task so I expect to have the eastern side of the temple cleared of hellsouls. Can you have that coordinated?”
“I will see to it personally,” assured the Astor.
“No, Rejji,” smiled Marak. “Choose someone capable, but you will be with Lyra and me. We need to confront Vand as one.”
“What about the elves?” asked King Avalar.
“The elves,” answered the Torak, “must be ready to assemble on the eastern side of the temple. Your group needs to join up with Princess Alahara’s group and move as one.”
“And the Chula?” asked Ukaro.
“Your people will be with the elves,” answered the Torak. “I am not certain what kind of magic to expect from Vand’s mages, and that bothers me. It is a topic that you, Avalar, and I have to sit down and discuss with Lyra and Rejji. I feel strongly that your forces will be needed at the temple, but until we can determine what will be cast our way, I can’t really come up with a plan.”
“We could do that now if you want,” offered King Avalar.
“Later,” insisted Marak. “Just make the motions to get your people assembled. Lyra and I have something urgent to do right now. When we come back, we will sit down and discuss everything. Any more questions for now?”
There were no questions and the group wandered off leaving Lyra and Marak standing at the edge of the forest.
“What must we do that is urgent?” asked Lyra.
“Can you get us two chokas and the direction that Myka was flying when she died?” he asked.
“She was trying to flee to the east,” answered Lyra. “You are not hoping that she survived? Don’t do this to yourself, Marak.”
“I have no illusions of her immortality,” Marak smiled meekly. “I just want to give her a proper burial. It is the least I can do after failing her.”
“Would you prefer to go alone?” asked Lyra.
“No,” smiled Marak. “I must confess that I will need your skills to create a hole large enough to hold her.”
“And I thought you wanted me along because you enjoyed my company,” Lyra pouted exaggeratedly.
“That too,” grinned the Torak.
Lyra wove an air tunnel to request a pair of chokas. Within moments, StarWind and HawkShadow appeared with four of the large warbirds. Marak looked askance at the two Sakovans, and HawkShadow smiled broadly in return. Marak sighed humorously and shook his head. He was used to having Halman and Gunta follow him everywhere, so he understood that StarWind and HawkShadow would not let the Star of Sakova travel without them. Without a word, the four warriors mounted the chokas and headed east through the forest.
The group worked their way through the forest and onto the plains well away from the skeletons. The steady clicking of the choka claws was the only sound that emanated from the group as the warbirds sped across the dusty ground. The plains were desolate, and the sun sank low in the western sky. Marak had thought that Myka’s body would be easy to find as it was so large, but he had not planned on searching in darkness.
“Maybe this was a poor idea,” he remarked softly as the sun headed for the peaks of the Fortung Mountains. “We will never find her in the dark, and we must get back in time to discuss our plans with Avalar and Ukaro.”
“How far do you think she could have flown?” asked HawkShadow.
“They were fairly high up,” shrugged Lyra, “much higher than when Marak jumped.”
“You jumped?” StarWind asked with surprise. “Why?”
“I don’t want to talk about it,” Marak replied gruffly.
“She was tightly coupled with the demon,” Lyra continued. “They weren’t really flying. It was like watching a shooting star at night. I have no idea how far they could have gotten.”
“We probably are already past where they landed,” sighed Marak. “Let’s turn around.”
“No,” Lyra said adamantly. “This is important to you. I understand that even if you do not. Until you bury her, you will not put the episode out of your mind, and we need your mind to plan our attack.”
“Bury her?” questioned StarWind. “How?”
“That is my task,” replied Lyra.
“Over there,” shouted HawkShadow as he pointed to the south. “There is something large a ways off.”
Everyone abruptly turned to the south and followed HawkShadow. With the chokas kicking out a fast pace, the hulk of the demon came into view before the sun set. It was a grisly sight, a huge black stone-looking grotesque creature. HawkShadow looked around the horizon for Myka, but he could not find her. He continued riding southward, but Marak stopped next to the demon. The Sakovan assassin turned around and rode back.