At first there were just a few snowflakes dancing in the air. Soon others were following till rocky mountainsides were covered with a clean white cover. One of their lizards was almost dead and the rest of them were in pretty bad shape, they weren’t able to survive cold weather. Our party had to stop and make a big fire. They weren’t able to go any further till Lillium made the stones of warmth for them and the animals. Few days later they were above the level of fog, and in the Land of Moving Hills. Despite the magical stones ten of their animals were dead before they made it to the first settlement. Animals were left there and our heroes followed instructions given by the tribesmen to find a local leader of resistance. It was a plump, short man in his fifties named Bubikol. He was eager to explain the situation as soon as possible and get them out of his house.

“Lorantid plan to put us all in btari mines, three mines are already built and some of the tribes and remains of your army were taken down there to dig. Some others became hosts for Lorantides. Some of enemy hosts were returned to Land of Lorantid and others are still here either as guards in the mines or members of garrisons all over our lands. Dozen or so mines are still under constructions, as soon as they are finished the rest of us will be taken there.”

“Where are those mines?”

Bubikol pointed on the ancient map drawn on the back of wolf’s pelt.

“We need to try to save these people too. How strong is the resistance?”

“Mostly knights of bloody scarf, parts of your army who managed to escape and some rebelled tribes who are hiding in the mountains.”

“Is there any way to enter those mines?”

“Yes, you just need to past next to them and guards will capture you and put you to work. They do the same with all refugees, they find.”

“Ok, here is what we are going to do. Me, Lillium and Schnew will go to the mines, infiltrate there and try to take them over. Each of us will go to one of the finished mines. Alma will stay with you. Your mission is to start the rebellion. Spread the word I have returned and also go to the cult of wolf members in Urke kingdom, and carry this message to them which says I have spoken with wolf god, all country will follow you. In fact, I think you should go there first.”

Subito looked up to them, everyone was silent. He hugged them all one by one and walked out. It was time for actions, time for talk was over. He took one of the strayed dogs of his army, tribesmen caught and took care of and rode into the snow. Schnew was next, he also hugged his comrades, but Lillium just turned away. On the edge of tears he went out, found the dog and rode in a different direction. Lillium was shortly after him, she saw him going away. For some time she considered it and then with a sigh, she jumped on her dog and strode toward her mine. Alma and Bubikol left on foot. Silence fell on deserted house. Four sets of footprints in the snow leading to different directions were the only reminder of events which took place in there.

*

Border tribes of Toleni kingdom joined Alma and Bubikol and entered Urke kingdom together with them. News was spreading about Subito’s comeback and his encounter with wolf god. Everyday Alma’s host was getting bigger with new arrivals. At first they were coming individually or in small groups, but after her successful night attack and capturing of the Lorantid garrison they were coming in hundreds, sometimes even whole tribes. After that it was like a dream, garrisons were falling one after another and soon there was not a single Lorantid in whole of Urke. Rebellion spread like a fire and caught parts of Toleni and Talasu in no time. But then she received the news about a large Lorantid army marching towards them. It was an expeditionary force with a single mission – to suppress rebellion. Enemy host was about double size of her own army. She was retreating and maneuvering in order to buy some time till her machines get finished.

*

Schnew stood in a line for a meal in a mine in Talasu kingdom. Triumphant grin crossed his lips as he was watching the works of his last night venture. He hid his portion of fire moss in his boots like the others from the company, and let Lorantides catch him and take him to the mines. Last night he sneaked into the kitchens and put fire moss into the meals for guards. Now they were rolling on the floor screaming, as Lorantides were falling off their hosts. He stood there amongst petrified miners enjoying his work for some more time and then he yelled:

“Step on those Lorantides, I am with Subito, we came back and we are bringing freedom!”

He rushed to the guards stepping on wiggling Lorantides. Soon others joined him. Cry of victory was echoing through the mine. Next thing to do was to mix some fire moss into the meals for nearby garrison and send it to them same as every other day.

*

In Toleni mine Lillium knew she could finally have her revenge to Schnew. That bastard surely deserved what was coming. She was whispering something in Lorantid guard commander’s ear. He was nodding knowingly and took her into his chambers so they could speak undisturbed. Wicked smile crossed her lips. Guard already could taste great reward waiting for him. Despite knowledge that she had every right to revenge, she still felt as she was committing treachery. Either way it was too late to back up right now, wheels were already in motion. She could only hope that the sweet taste of revenge will annul bitterness of bad conscience.

*

Subito knew that he was in trouble when he recognized drawings of his own face in the Masata mine. In inscriptions below the drawing he was described as dangerous fugitive. Big sum of money and freedom were offered as a reward for reporting him. Sure that similar poster was shared all over the Land of Moving Hills he decided to take his chances and stay here. He hide in big groups, smeared his face with the dust and made crude eyepatch of piece of cloth he wrapped around his head. It was only a matter of time before someone would recognize him. He was hoping to put fire moss into the meals before they catch him, but he knew it was too late when he saw one of the miners pointing at him to the guard. He ran deeper into the mine, not heeding a guard who was yelling at him to stop. He was praying to Poet and to the Voice from the Crowd to give him enough strength to get to the vent before guards catch him. Corridors were swirling in all directions. Listening to the sounds of the guards running behind him, he was hoping he goes the right way. Three guards slowed entering the blind passage behind him. He was trapped. This passage was leading only to the vent. The hole was so small he could barely squeeze his head through it. They could see him now, facing the wall, his backs turned to them.

Slowly approaching him, guard lowered hand on his shoulder.“Come with us.”

*

Two armies were aligned, Alma decided to take a battle.

“Wait… Wait…”

Alma was repeating as her guardsmen were getting restless. Hails of arrows were bouncing off the wall of shields they have made. She ordered her soldiers to make shields of wickers in order to protect them from arrows. She had to wait till Lorantides come close enough. Right behind the arrows were running warriors:

“Circle!”

Following the command, wall transformed in circle joining its ends together. They were still waiting in the middle of the battle, taking hits but not moving. And then she saw it, they were surrounded by incoming Lorantides. She yelled in order to be heard in the turmoil of battle:

“Engage machines!”

Her machines moved toward the outer line of the circle. They were wooden tanks on sleds, pushed by the soldiers. On top of the every tank was the pump and warrior pumping hard behind it. In front of the pump was another warrior holding hoe and spraying Lorantides. Tanks were filled with fire moss solution in water. Screams were so terrible and loud no one could hear her, so she gave a sign with her hand. Small units dispatched on every side to step on Lorantides falling of their hosts. Machines lined facing incoming waves of fresh Lorantides. New line of shields was formed in front of machines pushing Lorantides back and stepping over the hosts in pain to crush detached Lorantides. Finally when the last of the tanks was empty she bellowed:

“Charge!”

“For the Subito! For the freedom of the Land of Moving Hills!” Soldiers answered as they were already running crushing everything and everybody in front of them. Victory was complete.

*

Guard only saw a glistening long, thin line moving fast in front of him, before his head hit the floor with a sickening splash of blood. Subito saw fear and surprise in the eyes of two other guards who were after him. They couldn’t comprehend how he got a sword. He didn’t give them any time to puzzle it out. His second sword swing was aimed at litle torch on the wall of the passage. Then he removed eyepatch. It was old trick used by Utrikat pirates, allowing covered eye to adjust to dark. Very usefull trick when you have to fight in the hulls of the ships or in dark passages. He stepped over dead guards bodies, to run through the mines and call miners to join him. They did. High above his head was an ancient sword with ruby pommel and the bone handle. Before he surrendered himself to the Lorantides he pushed the sword through the vent opening on the surface. It was easy to spot vent opening since it was below small roof structure to prevent snow from blocking air flow. Later on he found the spot where the sword had fallen in the mine. As he was moving through the corridors crowd around him was getting bigger. On their way they have dispatched several guard patrols that were unlucky enough to run on them. Rest of the guards was in guard chambers. Battle was short since miners were outnumbering guards several times and caught them unprepared for full scale rebellion. Seeing they are about to lose, guard commander blow giant horn located in the center of guard chambers. Subito struck him with a single blow to the head.

He turned to the nearest miner,“What was that?”

“He had just summoned Lorantides from the nearby garrison. This horn is alarm system.”

“Everybody get out! Take their weapons and meet me outside.” Subito was already running toward the exit.

But by the time he reached big iron doors, they were already blocked by incoming Lorantides. Without hesitation, he ordered the attack. But most of his rebels were still deep inside of mine. Those who were with him were quickly subdued.

Lorantides weren’t taking any prisoners. Seeing bloodbath late miners turned and run away. Despair and rage were so strong that he wanted to cry, but he couldn’t. Wolfs don’t know how to cry. Instead he looked for the last stand. And he found it in very narrow tunnel fifty foot away from the main entrance. No more than two men could stand side by side in that tunnel. He turned to the few brave who had followed him inside:

“Here we will wait for them to come.”

They had come. And he was dancing his deadly sword dance. The walls of the tunnel were red with blood of his enemy, but he kept on dancing. With each kill he took two lives, first of the Lorantid and the second of his human host, but he kept on dancing. They were trying to kill him with the arrows, but his sword hand was quicker than arrow in flight and he cut them down before they would hit him. His friends were falling dead one by one, but he kept on dancing. Few times Lorantides had to clean passage of the dead bodies of their comrades in order to reach him, but as soon as they would reach him again his dance was continuing. His skin was hardened at the Iron tree and their axes couldn’t cut it, but they were breaking his bones under it. Enduring the pain he kept on dancing. He must have killed hundreds of them. It was almost an hour since his dance had started, but he wasn’t tired his thirst was still strong. Thirst for their blood. He could see them shaking and approaching reluctantly, but there was not mercy in his heart. He got hit so many times, so many bones were shattered, so many wounds bleeding inside of him that he knew he should be dead long ago. But he wasn’t dead. He didn’t want to die, not yet, he preferred to dance some more. And then they were running away from him. Confused he stood there for a moment, and then began to laugh. It can’t be so easy, he wanted more blood, more dance. Not even thinking about it, he slowly paced toward the exit of the tunnel. And then he saw it - light at the end of the tunnel. Was he dying? He didn’t care. Moments later he discovered the light was coming from a giant fire ball they were pushing toward him. Lorantides made a big ball of flammable materials and light it. They were hoping to chase him out with the smoke. Now he was running toward it. He leaped swinging his sword. Ball exploded under impact falling on Lorantides. Dozen of them were burning. Now on the open he could kill two or three of them with one strike. He could see fear in the eyes of his enemy and he could hear them whisper “Demon!” Commanders were whipping their soldiers forcing them to attack. He knew the end was near, but it was good: more they are crowded, more of them he could kill.

*

Lillium had accomplished what she wanted. She had to seduce guard commander and to stand most disgusting sexual experience in her life, but she managed to get two things she was after. First she had her revenge against Schnew, and second she persuaded commander, she is too beautiful and gentle to work in mines. He was happy to reassign her to the kitchen. After that it was easy for her to slip some fire moss into the kettle. Now mine was under her control and she was preparing another meal spiced with fire moss for nearby garrison. She was happily stirring boiling stew when one of the guards she positioned in front of the mine run in:

“There is turmoil in garrison. I don’t know what they are up to.”

She considered it for some time: “I am not ready to risk it. I am ordering movement out of the mine.”

A quarter of an hour later she was looking at the garrison from a nearby cliff. She could see the troops are leaving the garrison. But they were not moving toward the mine, but toward a cliff, she was standing on. She sighed:

“I don’t know how but they know where we are. There is too many of them, we will retreat and try to gather more men from surrounding tribes or join with my friends before we engage in battle with them.”

What she didn’t know, was that among the troops who were following them was a group of fire wizards. They have noticed her rebellion in mine using their bird sentries.

*

Both of his legs were broken, but he kept on fighting sitting on the ground. Seeing his determination and bravery miners gathered again and attacked Lorantides from behind. This was too much for Lorantides, who were exhausted and with their morale rapidly dropping during the fight against Subito. They turned against their commanders and killed them, surrendering to the attackers. Miners carried Subito on their shoulders. He ordered them to detach surrendered Lorantides from their hosts and to walk over their bodies. Outside they made a litter for him. News echoed like a thunder. The rebellion spread all over the Masata and Basteri kingdoms. Lorantid’s garrisons were falling one after another. Remains of Lorantid army retreated to Urusda. In Toleni Subito joined with Alma’s army. Schnew with troops from Talasu and knights of the bloody scarf was already with her. There they found out that Lillium has retreated to the mountains with her rebel force. They decided to join with her on their way to Urusda.

***

For days they were wandering through snow deserts of Land of Moving Hills, before they found some tribesmen able to tell them his sword brother army has besieged Urusda. After that it was easy to find him. They have sent scouts in front of them, in order to avoid being confused with Lorantides. He and queen Melessara, who was in charge of Ulan army entered Subito’s tent.

“Brother!” Subito called from his litter. Melessar ran and huged him.

“Slowly those bones need to heal.” Schnew was smiling in the corner of the tent. Next to him was an unfamiliar blonde beauty.

“Schnew…! If you are here, everything will be good. When we were children, we thought you can turn any situation in your benefit. You were like the hero from the tales for us. And I am pretty sure we weren’t wrong.”

“Don’t you know me? It’s me Alma.” Blond pushed him.

“Alma…! You are different for sure. It’s like a family reunion, uncle wanted to come, but I persuaded him to stay at home and leave war for us youngers. We needed someone to closely watch king Trevan. It seems he had developed an affinity for Lorantid’s btaris. It’s too damn cold here anyway for an old man, my Hull Termian soldiers are turning blue despite their stones of warmth.”

“They will get used to the cold, just give them some time. My mercenaries from that lovely city are no worse than any of my soldiers. Queen Melessara, I am glad to see you, my old commander.”

“My heart is filled with joy, to see my best soldier.”

“Now you can take command and take some burden of my backs.”

“No, you are the best commander. There is no need to change you.”

“I insist, it is not time for vanity. I have served you, and will serve you again gladly. We need experience.”

“All right Subito, give me report.”

“We are besieging the city for over a week. For twelve times we were storming the walls, and for twelve times they have pushed us back. We have built ice towers on the sleds for archers, ladders for footmen and rams for breaking the walls. When we realized it won’t be as easy as we have expected, we decided to wait for more tribesmen to arrive. Lillium has not yet returned from the mine where she supposed to spark a rebellion. We expected her, but you had come. It turned out better than we had expected, you have more soldiers. I suggest we attack again. That’s it.”

“So be it, we will attack immediately.”

“Carry me out.”

Melessar frowned: “It would be better if you stay here, you need to rest.”

“No way, I want to see my king breaking the gates of Urusda.”

“Don’t argue with him, there is no point.” Schnew tapped him on the backs.

Melessara first sent ice towers in, while archers were showering walls with arrows, footmen approached under their cover and stormed the walls with rams and ladders. You could already hear the ringing of the swords on the walls where first attackers engaged in battle after a short run up the ladders. Melessara sent in reinforcements. Men on the ladders and the wall looked like ants from this distance. The cries of those who would fall off the wall were stronger than all of clinking of the metal and battle cries. Snow under the fortress was red with blood. The battle looked good till first reports arrived. Messengers were claiming Lorantides are thickening the wall in places were the rams were hitting, by stacking stones and pouring water over them to create ice blocks. They also suggested there is too many enemies and that they have a great number of prisoners, which they use as a new hosts for Lorantides when his old host die in battle. Soon their words were confirmed when first ladders were pushed off the wall, taking all soldiers on them to the long fall. After them one more, and then they were falling like a grass in front of the scythe. Soldiers on ladders that were yet standing started to go back, which resulted in more falls. Confusion and panic spread quickly, and soon their whole army was running away in disorder.

“Organize cavalry unit to accept them and organize their retreat.” Melessara was screaming. Then she sat with her head in her hand, without a word. She finally spoke again when the first reports arrived:

“Seven hundred men fell out of the ranks in just half of an hour. This is the biggest disaster in history.”

“Maybe we could starve them?” Melessar suggested.

“They have enough food there to last them for a year.”

“It will last even more if they collect the bodies, it wouldn’t be the first time for them to eat human flesh. And nothing goes rotten or spoiled at this temperature.” Schnew gave cynical smile.

Lorantides were blowing their big horns and singing. Then they raised some head on the spear and were carrying it over the wall. Schnew turned pale as a snow and walked away.

“Where is he going?” Subito raised on his elbows. He looked intensively in the direction of the fortress, when all of the sudden he realized “Oh no it is Lillium’s head, someone stop him.”

But it was too late, Schnew was already ridding lizard toward the fortress in front of his thousand Sulutapi warriors. In no time they were under the wall.

It was no trouble for lizards to climb the wall using their long claws and sounds of the battle splashed our heroes once more. It lasted forever, with every moment passing, clamor was closer to the gates. Melessara shouted:

“Prepare for the charge on the gates.”

Dog riders were lined in no time. Sudden silence covered them like darkness. With every moment their hopes were dying. And then Lorantides were carrying another head on the spear across the wall and singing even louder. Everyone was choking on tears, even the queen Melessara. Her head covered with long gray hair was hanging like a dead bird. Subito turned his face away not being able to watch, he didn’t cry. He couldn’t cry. But his whole face was twitching like he was crying.

Galatu approached them:

“I will try to make storm and break the walls.”

“There is no point. They have formed anti magic circle. You can’t do anything.”

“But I will try. We will try till we succeed. They can’t win unless we let them.”

Nobody was trying to stop him. He ate his mushrooms and flew up in a form of a snow white bird. Flying over the city he shrieked loudly. And he managed to create a weak breeze, but that was all, circle of wizards on the roof of the palace were chanting restlessly and canceling his spells. In the dream Galatu human body whispered:

“Just a little more strength, just a little…”

Melessar felt when his sword brother’s arm went limp. When he turned around Subito was not moving, his face ghastly pale. He screamed:

“Noooo…! Do I have to lose everything? Why god? What have I done to deserve such a curse?”

He was shaking Subito’s shoulders, but his sword brother wasn’t moving. All hopes were gone. Defeated he fell into the snow. Everything was over. He would wish for death, if he had any strength to make a wish. Everything was lost, all battles and all wars, his sword brother was gone. They were doing everything together, even coming to this world. We should have died together. All of his life he was losing. First his hand, then Red and now Schnew and even his sword brother were gone. How would his uncle feel if he would lose both of his heirs? Their family would disappear without male heir. It would be extinct with a death of misfortunate old man. There will be no more descendants of prince Ang. His blood would be gone, same as the bloodlines of so many ancient kings. He has already lost better son, why would he miss me? He wiped tears using his sleeve, and then his hand went down pulling out the sword. He was concentrating on the cold steel blade, waiting for the tears to dry. Warrior can’t die crying. If he wasn’t warrior in his life he will be a warrior in his death. Schnew show him the path, after this charge he will join him and all others he lost in the underworld. He was hoping life after death would not be so full of losses as the one before it.

Something was amiss, his head rose, and then he saw it: another bird and the clouds following her. First thunder stroke in the palace roof and turned wizards into ashes. Several others hits on the wall, strong push of the wind and wall collapsed. Big hole was calling for them. Bird was falling directly toward them. She brushed Melessar cheek flying past him and entered Subito’s body. He woke up immediately.

“But… How…?”

Subito smiled: “I just understood Galatu and I knew. C’mon my soldiers, my children. Dinner is served for mine wolfs. Let’s feast.” Soldiers carried away his litter from Melessar, towards the city. He was waving his sword and chanting with a voice strong like a thunder: “…Chains

Once I tied my dog to a tree. Later I discovered that the tree was rotten when I leaned on it and it broke. Dog could easily run away, but he didn’t. Because he knew he was tied. Sometimes mental chains are stronger than metal chains.”