“I must speak to the Emperor at once!” Vardin yelled at the Royal Guard whom were currently barring his entrance.

“What business do you have with the Emperor, Mage Vardin? We’ve been instructed to allow entrance in the most extreme circumstances.” One stated in a very rehearsed tone.

“I bring news from Commander Gray, it is dire. Move aside Guard.” He held the letter in front of the soldiers.

One soldier stood aside while the other knocked on the door. “Emperor, Mage Vardin brings word from the Commander, he says it’s urgent and must speak with you.”

A voice faintly spoke up from the room. “Allow him in soldier. No others are to come through that door. Do you understand?”

“Yes Emperor.” He turned to Vardin, “You may proceed.”

Vardin stepped through the doorway, he already knew what the Emperor would be occupied with and grabbed a cloak from the rack near the door. “Sir, please grant me a private audience, this matter is too sensitive for your mistress.”

Without speaking a word, the beautiful woman rose from the bed and marched out of the room stark naked.

“Vardin, what has you so alarmed? I’ve never even seen you bat an eye in battles.” Growing concern easily seen on the Emperor’s face.

Vardin read the letter from Raylek out loud to him, the real words.

Emperor R. Pallis,

(A code name for The Three due to adding the first initial, the messengers of the Order knew this code and used it often to relay missives between The Three)

I, Raylek Odin Salfis, send you this letter in urgency.

(This is a coded letter created under duress)

Findings from location A-1202001 are dire.

(The First Temple was destroyed)

The Destroyer has awakened, broken and rotten, fire and brimstone travel alternate routes.

(The Destroyer has awakened, massive destruction, unparalleled death follows, not caused by subject mentioned first)

All but myself and Commander Silvus Grey are dead.

(Silvus was a false name, meaning it was an impersonator)

Commander Silvus Gray and I travel light but are under clear nights.

(Impostor travels quickly, misdirection being used)

The Emperor M U S T meet the Commander, ready the Red Legion.

(Hide the Emperor, Ready the army to defend.)

“I received this letter today by raven, the seal of Raylek is unbroken and genuine to the best of my knowledge. Not only has The Destroyer most likely been released into the world, but it appears someone, or something, has either taken over or is using Commander Gray’s body or form. Raylek is the most unflinching man I know Emperor, he fears nothing. The note says that something more terrifying than The Destroyer herself is headed this way quickly and that you should hide while the army is mustered to fight. I believe that we should pay attention to this letter and ready ourselves.” Vardin spoke with a wavering voice.

The Emperor’s eyes were as wide as plates, face pale and hands shaking uncontrollably. “Vardin, I cannot rally the entire army without making the people panic. We will send 1000 men to intercept Gray and get to the bottom of this."

“Do we have any idea what caused the wave of magic and the earthquakes yet? The Emperor was stoking his beard and staring at the map on his desk. “Are they related?”

“We’ve judged that the wave originated from Maurin Reach City to the east of Abbeyville, while the raven came from Fereldis. I believe you know Abbeyville as City of the Dead.” Raylek marked the two points. “I believe the two are not related. All the Mages in the city have recovered from the overload of their magical senses and report feeling a much more concentrated magic than we’ve felt outside of The Destroyer’s Artifacts. If I had to guess, The Destroyer now has two of the four Artifacts that we keep in this Realm. It may explain the magical wave we felt earlier.”

“How?”

“She has been locked in that prison for 1500 years Emperor, when she was locked away her power was still…formidable. Records show that when she walked a realm for any significant time, that realm would experience a drastic increase in magical energy and new Mages. She spent approximately 600 years in the Blood Elf Realm, when she was imprisoned that realm had an estimated one-to-five ratio of magic to non-magic users.” Raylek froze, a worrying thought stopped him in his tracks.

“Vardin, come back to me old man. You’re not allowed to freeze up during a strategy counsel.” The emperor chuckled.

“Emperor, the Blood Elf population is all centered around Maurin Reach City. Not many years ago you signed a warrant to that despicable Duke to quell an uprising of Blood Elves. Knowing how they’ve been treated, The Destroyers fondness for their race and where we believe her to be… Sir, I believe we need to send scouts from one of the military encampments stationed there to check on the Duke.”

“Agreed, see it done. I must leave you. Take this pin, you will hold the authority of a Commander. Send the troops to intercept Commander Gray and Raylek. do not attack before we know what's going on. Send the ravens to our research base near the City of the Dead informing the Duke to ready arms or flee to the capitol.”

“As you wish.” Vardin immediately made his way out.

“Vardin, one more thing.” The Emperor said without turning to face the man. “Recover all magical items from the vault, figure out what they do if they’re powered, figure out how we can use them.”

“Already in progress Emperor, I will make sure that you are kept aware of significant findings.”

*Sariah*

“One red, one green every day. Got it?” Tom was handing over potions to Srit. Sariah decided to send Kavon and Tom with Delanna while keeping Sub and Erection with her.

“I got it! I got it! What are all these random ones for? Can I give them to him?” Srit had been told the same thing about Sub’s daily regiment close to 30 times.

Tom thought for a few seconds, “No, stupid rat! One red, one green only.” He yelled at the Imp.

“Well why the hell am I carrying these for you then?”

“Pack have infinite storage spell, you not carry. You just carry pack and say words. Make easier for Tom to travel and keep potions safe. Don’t drink Tom’s potions!” The little Gnome Flayer pointed a finger at Srit’s face threateningly. As he did, the finger morphed into a long-pointed claw. Realistically, Tom knew that the Imp would give the potions to Sub anyway, he hoped for it. Each potion was a chance that Srit would become a victim of its properties.

“Fine! Fine! Now go away, Delanna already has hours of travel on you and Erection is coming with us. Your stubby little Gnome legs won’t be able to get you there very fast.” Tom had a habit of getting violent when his Gnome parts were brought up, Srit adored it.

*SIGH* Keep Sub alive, much work in that small Human. Don’t waste!” Tom said as he ran to catch up with Kavon.

Sariah had made good time getting to the next town. Sub was an excellent guide to these lands and had them headed for the capitol with very few stops. Today they’d get horses and supplies that would save them great amounts of time.

“Boss lady, do you want an illusion? Or are we just going to go in there and kill everybody?” Srit had been arguing for death and destruction the entire way to the city.

“No killing unless provoked, no disguises either. I wish to see how people will react to us. Besides, as I told you over and over, I’m not sure that the humans were actually responsible for my imprisonment.” Sariah had recovered more memories with the release of so much magic, but the details already faded. What she had left were notions and hunches.

“Sub, here are your potions.” Srit tossed the child his “medication” and continued to talk to Sariah. “I swear those potions smell familiar to me. Anyway, if they aren’t our enemies, who is?”

“Ancients, I believe it was always the Ancients. It’s odd to me that both of us are lacking memories of the events from the war. Doesn’t it seem like those memories were target intentionally? It would be a brilliant long game strategy, remove knowledge of former battle and alliances so that your enemy wouldn’t remember how to fight you or if they should be fighting you.”

“Sure, if you’re a pussy. I like my enemies to know that I’m coming.” *SIZZLE* An ember landed right on Sariah’s right ass cheek.

“OW!”

“Sariah! Look out! I’m going to burn your right ass cheek!!” Srit yelled after the ember had already faded.

“You didn’t warn me until after you had committed the act! That’s the opposite of what you just said.” She was rubbing the burn mark and admiring the Imp’s uncanny ability to completely remove her tension.

“Nope.” The Imp looked insulted, crossed his arms looking up while tapping his chin and replied, “I clearly remember screaming my warning before. You were all “Bring it on! I’ll ruin you! Blah Blah Blah”, and then my Imp Badassery overwhelmed you. Yeah, that’s how it happened.” Looking satisfied with himself he strode past her towards the town gate.

“Hehe, little fucker. Sub come here, you’re going to help me trick the Lord of Mischief himself. Erection, you’re welcome to join in.” They walked behind the Imp, planning a way to properly pay him back.

*Delanna, Kavon and Tom”

“Woah! Calm…”*CRASH*

Kavon was straining against the combined strength of Delanna and Cully’s strikes. The two ladies didn’t hesitate for even a second when they noticed him following them. He turned a corner and fell straight into their ambush. Tom had tried to assist, but these three were all major league brawlers and he had no place in this fight. Psychically attacking them was strictly against Sariah’s instruction.

“Ladies! I’m here on the order of Sa…” *CRASH* Kavon’s front guard had saved him, but there was a burning sensation on the back of his neck.

“Don’t move!” Cully growled behind him, sprit sword pressed to the exact location that his carapace had broken when Sariah sent him into the cliff face during their first sparring session.

“Are there more of you out there? We trapped your Gnome friend already.” Delanna dismissed her smoke shield and hammer only to summon a 4-foot-long blade as wide as her thigh.

“No, Lady Delanna. I’ve been trying to tell you. I’m not your enemy. Lady Sariah sent us to guard you. Queen Cully, she told me to tell you this, “You have a new Lady Death to serve. I suspect that you made the Dragon Lord your replacement, I approve. Don’t kill Kavon.” Kavon was panting and tired already.

Cully’s bright blue sword faded out of existence, her features softened, and laughter overtook her. “That old bat doesn’t see me in over a thousand years. That’s all she had to say? Sounds right. I’ll heal that carapace fracture you have, you’re leaking. Who is Kavon?”

“Kavon is stupid human scorpion thing! Let Tom go, light rings talk to me!” Tom yelled.

“Ah, yes. Those are pure spirits Tom, if they speak to you it’s because they feel connected to you. Interesting.” She waved a hand and Kavon could hear a shatter.

“Queen…” He was quickly cut off with a glare and firm tone.

“I haven’t been a queen in a very long time. You will call me Cully.” Her eyes flashed for a moment and then dulled.

“Kavon, why would mother send you to protect me?” Delanna’s armor and weapons had faded, leaving her with form fitting black cotton pants and a cut off shirt.

Tom spoke up since the stupid human was embarrassing him with his fawning. “Send Tom for you, stupid human only muscle. Tom good with the mind. Bitch Lady say you eat bad things from Essence. Bad things make minds bad. You eat too much, you turn bad. Tom know Cully from living days. Cully now not able to clean bad from you, kill her because of Bond.” Tom bounded up to Kavon’s massive shoulder and sat down. “Drink” he held out a potion for Kavon, the big man drank with no hesitation.

“Wait, you knew me when I was alive? Gnome lives are not that long.” Cully reached out with her other senses and brushed Tom’s Essence. “Ohhh! I see! So, some did survive those horrendous Gnomish explosives. Well Tom, I’ve not seen a pure Flayer soul in a very long time. I’m afraid that without us to tame your rage, you’ve all fallen away from purity.” The woman looked sad at this prospect. “Blood Elves have been hurt too, your kind tamed our hearts. Without Flayers around passion has overcome logic in the Blood Elf Realm. It doesn’t sound bad, but passion without logic is just chaos. I welcome you as brother. I may be able to remove that curse that’s entwined in your Essence. It’s a nasty bitch too, looks like the work of the Imp King, Srit.”

Kavon and Tom both froze, tensed and stared at each other. Cully and Delanna were still watching their essences so they were able to see what happened next. Tom’s eyes closed, Kavon sent a large pulse of energy directly into Tom. A ball of their combined gold and black energy formed, solidified and rocketed into the distance. They gave each other a brief nod and Tom passed out on Kavon’s shoulder.

*Srit*

“Sub, I’m serious. Tom told me that you should take all of these at the same time this morning. Look, he wrote it right here.” Srit held a ledger in front of the boy quickly and threw it back in his bag before Sub could make out the words.

“Well, he told me before he left that I should never take these close to other people. That one, he pointed at the smallest vial, makes me black out. That one, he pointed at another, makes me rage out. The boy shuddered, and that one makes me horny. If I took them all right now, I don’t know what would happen, but it wouldn’t be good.” Sub knew the Imp was full of shit but playing into his game a little would help him later.

“What the fuck is that?” Srit pointed into the sky. It looked like a large rock was flying towards him, but it was flashing black and gold.

Sariah shot a tendril out to intercept it, but when she almost had it she paused, laughed and let it keep going. Moments later it impacted with Srit’s face. The little Imp had been sent with enough mental magic that he couldn’t even muster a scream before he face planted. Sub looked Sariah, Srit and back to Sariah. She was wiping tears from her eyes and trying to get her laughing under control. “Toss him in the bag. You’ve learned the incantation to open it?” The boy nodded in the affirmative as he picked up the bag.

“Tom and Kavon worked together to throw that attack at Srit. Must be payment for one of his jokes. It’s a step that Bonded take decades to achieve. They’re doing well.” She explained to Sub as they climbed up on the waiting Erection.

*Gray and Raylek*

The pair had been making great time. Raylek’s infusion wasn’t working as well as it should due to the old man’s surprising resistance abilities. His mind was still corrupted by the Ancient’s magic though. Wraiths were always kings of subterfuge, the Ancient was the best.

“Master, there is a full war party in the next city. They have come to escort you back to the Emperor.” Raylek was having more and more problems disguising his thoughts. Violence welled up in the man more from one day to the next, it made things difficult for him to keep well balanced thoughts and logic intact.

“Very well Mage, let us see how this trap plays out. I will lead, you follow.” Gray said, walking briskly towards the town.

“Trap?” Raylek was stunned. He had hardened his mind and thoughts to the best of his ability and it still leaked, or the Wraith was just that much better than him at trickery.

“Yes, a war party is not the standard escort. Also, the Emperor is not a foolish man. Given the destruction of the town and the letter we sent, he would want to bring me in silently and get answers before his people seen a lone Commander coming back without his soldiers.” Gray knew these things, but his dominance over Raylek was properly seated. Hiding things was no longer possible. Gray knew of the coded message and Raylek’s intentions for days now. When the magic flared across the land, Raylek felt hopeful and let his guard down.

Thirty minutes later and the two walked into the town’s inn. “Commander Gray, or whatever you are, you are surrounded. Come peacefully and no harm will come to you.” The Captain said, hand on his hilt.

“Captain, we’ve served in three wars together. Take your hand off your hilt or you will force me to widow your wife and make your son fatherless.” The inn had been surrounded with explosives and rigged to collapse should Gray resist and survive the elite soldier’s onslaught. “Raylek, explain.”

Raylek opened his mouth intending to say “He is an imposter! Kill Him!”, but the words came out differently. “You no doubt read the letter that was sent to the Emperor. The destroyer forced us to write it under duress as a misdirection. I assure you that Commander Grey is himself and nothing more. As you can see, I am unharmed, unarmed and we have come here in peace.” Raylek couldn’t even manage to react physically to what he had said.

“Raylek, I apologize sir, but orders are orders. Come peacefully, I will send word to the Emperor and get new orders given the changing situation. Make any moves to escape and you will both die.” Nothing in the Captain’s voice indicated doubt.

“Captain, I understand your position.” Gray held his hands out awaiting shackles. Internally, the Wraith had to fight his pride with every ounce of will he had.

Captain McCauley gave orders to send ravens ahead while placing the shackles on Gray and Raylek. “Sergeant Gormley, ready the men. We move towards the capital at half march as soon as they are ready.” A crisp salute and “Yes Sir!” had the Sergeant moving.

*Emperor Osandit Pallus*

Pallus walked briskly towards the lowest level of the castle. Ages ago a contamination ward was placed below the castle as a last “fuck you” from The Destroyer to her captors. Mages from the age of 8 to 15 were the caretakers of the ward. Any prolonged exposure to the ward seemed to break Mages minds and spirits. Normal men became insane as well, but nothing like the Mages. Osan entered the cavern and ordered all the young Mages out of the room.

Once the mages were out he approached the edge of the ward and placed his hand on it. Every time he did this it burned flesh from his skin, but the pain was required to prove necessity of bothering his ancestors.

“Why do you bother me, insect?” A voice boomed beyond the barrier.

“Ancestor, The Destroyer has broken from her prison. Reports say there is a more destructive force than her headed this way. I do not know how to protect you from evils of this magnitude.” His entire life he’d been told about his ancestors and how they saved the universe from The Destroyer. He desperately needed their counsel right now.

“HAHAHA you will protect nothing, insect. You will bring this force that you fear so much to me and I will deal with it. As for the one you call “The Destroyer”, I will deal with her after. Insect, you will not harm the force that comes this way. You will tell him this, “

“Yes ancestor.”

“Leave me, send all of the young mages down here and lock the doors behind them. Do not open this door until my guest arrives.”

“Yes ancestor.” Osan stood up quickly and followed orders.

Once he was in the castles command tent he re-read the letter sent by Captain McCauley. “I wish to speak to the Commander and Raylek myself. Bring them before me immediately.”

“Emperor, this could be dangerous!” Vardin protested. “Please allow me to see Raylek beforehand. I’ve known the man for hundreds of years and will be able to flesh out any deception.”

“Very well. Gray will be brought to the cells below the castle, deal with Raylek at the Mages Towers. Once you give me to okay, you may return here with Raylek and we will question Gray.” He commanded.

“Emperor, we have discovered the uses of many of the magical items. I will see if any could be useful and send them to you for protection. I must prepare.” Vardin bowed and swiftly retreated out of the castle.

*Delanna, Kavon, Cully, Tom*

“Wow, she ATE their Essence…nasty.” Kavon had now witnessed the destructive power of Delanna.

“Not nasty! She use bad Essence for food. Cully take the rest and hold it in prison. Make bad Essence neutral. Not nasty, good thing.”

“How is her mind after doing that?”

“Not bad yet, get there. More power make mind bad. More power than that make mind evil. Need to poop power out somehow.” Tom darted into the woods to scout for the party again. So far it had been a steady pattern. Tom scouted, found enemies and then Delanna killed them all. Kavon had been creating smaller wood golems at a steady pace and they branched out to cover a larger area. Simple instructions made them return once an enemy was spotted, lead the group to the enemy and then branch out again to find more.

Another group of men approached them, believing they were going to get jump on Delanna.

Delanna stood perfectly still in the middle of the clearing. After giving Kavon instructions to only observe and telling Cully to stay invisible she made as much noise as possible. She already knew that she needed all the combat practice that she could get, so far her overwhelming weapon and armor (Lily) were enough, but when more Mages bonded, it would no longer be as effective.

A large man strode out of the tree line. “We have you surrounded Elf, lay on your stomach with your hands behind your back or we’ll kill you.” Lily was condensed in Delanna’s palm, her new favorite form, and ready to strike.

“Am I on the right road to get to the Dukes manner?” She asked, not moving but listening to Cully’s report of what each ambusher was using and where they were located.

“Lay down now winch!” the man began to barrel towards her.

Faster than the eyes can track, Delanna raised her arm in a slashing motion that crossed diagonally from her right hip to over her left shoulder and then dropped her arm lazily back to her side.

In the magical spectrum, the man’s essence was ripped straight out of his body by a smoky black blade of energy. In the physical spectrum, she chopped the air and the main suddenly died.

“I like ranged combat, it keeps you safer and lets me do the dangerous parts. Plus, I can focus more on the killing instead of blocking. I like the killing.” Lily spoke to Delanna’s mind.

“As do I. Why did you not take his energy?” she questioned. This Essence just flashed out of existence.

“There was nothing good left in him. If we ate that, I don’t know what would happen.”

Delanna mentally formed the shape of a bow in her left hand, brought it up and pulled the string back. There was no resistance on the string, this bow was essentially made of her an Lily, the shape was familiar though. As she held up the bow she sent a ping around her in a circle. Five responses came back, corrupted Essences. She quickly aimed and fired in rapid succession at each response and killed the five men in less than three seconds.

According to the maps, she was roughly 2 days from the Duke and saving the remaining Blood Elves in the realm.

Kavon’s carapace, unfortunately, couldn’t be healed because his body didn’t register that there was anything wrong. Apparently, his golem, that he refused to name, was as much a part of him as Lily was to Delanna.

Kavon didn’t know, but Cully was able to recognize his Essence as a defendant of both Sariah and the great hero Eroe Bladesmith. Eroe was the progenitor of the scorpion hybrids and a force of nature on the battlefield. His father’s Essence was pure enough to have passed into The Afterlife with no attention from the Blood Elves. His was a truly blessed bloodline.

Corag, Kavon’s father told a tale of betrayal from the Emperor. He had been sent on a campaign to reign in the Dwarven populace. There was an uprising against the Emperor when the Dwarves discovered ancient tomes from the war. Apparently, the Emperor had found out that one of the hybrids survived and was serving in his army. Hybrids were terrifying if they were your enemies. Instead of relying on Corag’s loyalty, the Emperor decided to eliminate the threat with an assassin.

Cully had watched as a young Scorpion tried to protect his brothers and scrape a life together. When Kavon’s older brother died, he decided to become stronger and learned to fight. His was strong, fast and had an amazingly adaptable mind for killing. Not looking enough like his father to be recognized, Kavon was accepted into the Emperor’s personal guard. Two years later he was discovered and sentenced to execution, but Raylek had interfered and had the man take the Magic Test. Kavon’s usefulness and blood oath to serve the Order of Mages gave him his life.

Once a member of the Order, Kavon found interest in science. He’d seen the results of explosives and miracles of science. As it turns out, the man had a penchant for accidentally blowing things up and wound up secluded from large cities to prevent damage to the capital. Secretly the Emperor needed the man out of public eye so that he could send the assassin again.

Many tried, using the guise of bandits, none survived. Kavon had mastered his shapeshifting as a child and the assassins simply couldn’t penetrate the carapace.

Delanna had developed an immediate bond with Kavon and the two seemed to be courting. A powerful lineage could be born from these two. Delanna thought.

They were approaching the gates to the City of the Dead. In a very short time, Delanna would complete the first step of her reckoning.