They walked down a different set of passages to reach the council chamber this time. Much more traffic was present in the various hallways and intersections, showing off a higher population of Thoiri. The group crossed a set of deep caverns with massive bridges leading to different sides and levels. Despite the amount of people moving around, Alton couldn’t shake the feeling that the amount of Thoiri was dwindling.
Alton noticed they approached the council chamber from a different angle this time. The hallway leading up to it was decorated with tapestries and paintings depicting the history of the Thoiri. Large doorways were carved and inlaid with precious stones, including, to Alton’s surprise, alta stones. The final hallway was flanked by sets of guards stationed two a piece and twenty feet apart. The guards wore more formal uniforms than those Alton had seen thus far.
When they entered the chamber, it was far different from the day before. There were more benches set against the walls and in the open space behind the circle of seats, all filled with Thoiri. The seven seats remained empty for now, and the buzz of chatter died down as they entered. Quain led them to the open area between the seven chairs and motioned for them to stand with him.
In an almost overly dramatic fashion, the door at the end of the chamber opened once they were settled in place. A man in ornate robes walked out first and read a list of names from a long scroll. The only name that Alton recognized was that of Lotha, from yesterday. The assumed Great Council members streamed out from behind him as each name was called and settled down into the chairs.
It unnerved Alton to have half of the council behind him, but Quain remained calm at his side. Jonah looked around in curiosity at the walls, noticing the intricate paintings the same way Alton had. After the procession ended, the man in robes spoke again and the room quieted. Quain translated at his side.
“We call a session of Great Council to discuss events. Captain Alton of the valley, Jonah of the valley. We welcome you to Thornwur, last enclave of Thoiri Tribe.”
Alton nodded to each of the council and stood awkwardly as silence settled in. “You have my thanks for welcoming my company in and providing for us.”
Quain continued to translate between the parties. Alton found that not every Thoiri spoke Eludite in a way that he understood. There were different dialects involved here.
“We wish to hear of…” He looked at Quain and said something rapidly. “The situation in the valley and what brings you to mountains. Then we tell you of Thoiri and our troubles.”
Alton took a moment to think of how to describe what was happening down in the valleys of Agorra. He was far from a historian or tactician and honestly hadn’t thought of the other three primary valleys in months. A frown appeared on his face and he was saved by a chuckle from Jonah.
“I will handle this one, Quain. Agorrans left the Mad God’s mountain eighty-eight years ago this spring. We emerged after nearly a millennium after being sealed in during the Mad God’s War against Edoria and its Crown Princes. We settled in the old site of Agorath and rebuilt the city before spreading out to our ancestral valleys over the coming decades. Imperial Edoria had erected three fortresses to watch the valleys and began to harass us from them.
A war broke out ten years ago and began in a valley far to the north of here. After a narrow but decisive victory, we fully reclaimed that valley and it became a stronghold of agriculture for us. Our own council became emboldened and launched an offensive against the two remaining fortresses guarding the other two valleys that lead out to Edoria. The valley closest to us is known to us as Lucia Valley and the fortress of Kitsu was claimed by Agorra two years ago.
For the last two years, we have fought against Edorians in the valley and pushed farther and farther south. The army stationed here was named the Third Army, and Alton and I were attached to it. Three months ago, reports began of Edoria using Sapients to control mindless. They began to attack our advance units and encampments with hordes of converted,” Jonah looked around and pressed on “tribal Edorians. The Third Army was pushed from its current camp and our company was tasked with holding a pass to give them time to retreat to Fort Kitsu. We defended the pass and fled up the mountain where your people found us.”
As Quain finished translating the story, anger grew in the crowd. When Jonah recounted the mindless being converted tribal Edorians, there was an outright roar of anger. The same councilman who spoke earlier stood and quieted the crowd with harsh words and gestures. Once they settled, he took his seat and rubbed his chin with his hand before speaking.
“We are not Edorians.” He said this with a harsh inflection and it needed no translation. “We are Eludite. Our ancestor allies with Mad God. Chose to stay in mountain homes. Mad God protect us from attack.” He pointed to one of the paintings depicting a glowing figure, “four great tribes left. We are under attack as well.”
Quain held up his hand to stop the councilor and spoke. “I think it best to start from beginning. We know these stories from our ancestors, passed down through the ages. Long ago when Mad God fought Edoria, he offered our tribes refuge in mountain. Our ancestors decide to stay in our homes already deep in mountain. He place protection for us against attack and left us large mana reservoir not to be consumed.
For many, many years, we had peace. We ruled the mountains in harmony with fiends and beasts alike. Then a great fiend, Ulgarath, sends armies to attack from below. What you see now is but a small piece of Thornwur. Rest goes deep, very deep. We lose greatest warriors of Thoiri fighting deep down beneath earth and lose rest of Thornwur. Have to seal off against forces of Ulgarath.
Then Edorians begin to attack smaller tribes in small mountains. They take and convert to undeath. Kill our shamans to make fiends. We fight back as we can but losing, Thoiri smaller than Edorian. We no longer have great warriors to lead fighting bands. Even drake, too hard to kill, too risky. Every day, we lose more warriors fighting in the deep caverns below us. Most of our fighting force never leaves.”
When he finished speaking, he gave Alton a glum look and turned away. Alton processed his story and shook his head in sadness. His brief vision for a swarm of Thoiri turning the battle against Edoria crumbling away. His hand reflexively went to Fang, and he felt comfort in his familiar weapons presence.
“What do you want of us?” Alton asked.
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“We offer to bring you to Kitsu and help defend. In return, you help lead us against Ulgarath. We have weapons and armor of great warriors with none to use. You have aspect, great power within you. Knowledge has survived through ancestors, use aspect to bring victory. Ulgarath and Edoria fight together, defeat one and defeat the other. We unite remaining tribes and flush Edoria out of Agorra.” Quain translated for the councilman.
Alton rocked on his heels and considered the implications. Jonah gave him a long look, but remained silent. Jonah was better at playing politics, Alton avoided it outright. On the surface, it seemed a fair trade without knowing how involved a fight against Ulgarath would be. Fighting the fiend itself? There was little known of this fiend until they spoke further with the Thoiri.
“I can’t speak for Agorra. I am a lowly ranked Captain. If you deliver us to Kitsu and see it defended, I will assist you in your plight. I can only offer myself in this. My company is free to do as they wish.” Alton said to Quain before turning to look at each member of the council.
“You have my word.” He finished.
---
They left the council chambers shortly after, leaving the Thoiri to debate amongst themselves. Alton gave Jonah a quick signal to talk later and followed Quain back down through the halls to the training area. When he entered, he saw Amelia leading a mock battle drill with the remnants of the company defending against Thoiri. He sat off to the side to watch and digest what had been said.
“I will return after council speaks. We will see armory for your men,” Quain said and bowed, taking his leave.
Jonah spoke softly, but angrily to his side once Quain left them. “To fight against this Ulgarath is madness, Alton. Surely you must know that. This may be the same fiend that forced us out of the mountain and started this chain of events in the first place. Tell me what foolishness you are thinking to pledge yourself against it.”
“I don’t know, Jonah.” Alton sighed. “Once we make it back to Kitsu, the rest of the company can return to the army. We can speak with command and strategize then. Four tribes could turn the tide of the war back in our favor. If we can recruit them to our cause, it would be worth it.”
“I need you to find out as much as you can from them about this fiend.” Alton asked.
“I will try, old friend, I will try.” Jonah replied.
“Call the company around. They should all hear what madness you have signed up against this time.” Jonah said, voice brimming with anger.
“Bah. Let them finish the drill. A few more minutes won’t change our fate.” He retorted.
—-
Amelia ducked down low behind a natural rock structure left in the training area. The course was littered with boulders and rock formations as it aided the mountainous fighters train and prepare for the environment they fought most in. She signed over to Prian to advance his team towards the target. A cloth tied to a stick and wedged in between a few rocks on the other side of the cavernous training room.
They were drilling as the aggressors this time against the Thoiri defenders. One tap from a practice blade or a clear call from an archer was enough to disqualify. Prian moved to duck around the south side of his boulder and his group of scouts followed. Amelia turned to signal Miser to begin his approach from the opposite direction.
Once she heard engagement, she signaled the infantry with her and bounded over the boulder. She took point and raced across the open floor, pumping her legs to reach the next spot of cover. Her group passed unmolested, and she ducked against another boulder. The sounds of combat could be heard coming from both directions. She tapped two of her infantry and sent them to each side of the large boulder.
Peeking over the top, she saw Thoiri arranged in a semicircle guarding the cloth flag. There were ten defenders to her four. Even odds with the skill disparity between the forces. The Thoiri arranged against them were a few years younger than her, but untested. Whatever was happening inside this dwelling, there were no senior soldiers or men around.
A few quick signals to prepare her troop and she dashed out and towards the flag. Shouts rose from the defenders as they readied to receive her charge. Four of them lined up to head her off and the rest split for her team. She readied her practice blade, short and curved, heavy on the end, and closed the distance.
A few quick slashes later and she was through and grabbing the flag. It was anti-climatic, but so had every drill been thus far. Either the academy had over prepared her or the Thoiri were sorely over matched. When she turned to survey the rest of the field, she saw Alton and Jonah sitting by the entrance. She smiled at the sight of Jonah back up and moving. His wound had seemed fatal in the cave and she was grateful that what the tribe lacked in combat they made up for in healing.
She gathered the rest of her team and auxiliary units and they headed over. Amelia yearned for a good spar to test her new skills. She hoped the captain would be up for a spar. When she found a blade that she could infuse for her own, she would fight just like he did. A devastating force multiplier and no one on her team needed to die again…Thinking of Rico brought her smile down. She missed him terribly. There would be no searching for spars if he was still around. Her thoughts were clouded when the group reached Alton and Jonah.
“I trust the drilling has gone well?” Alton asked her.
“Yes, sir. The Thoiri are an eager drilling partner, and we practiced multiple offensive and defensive drills.” Amelia answered.
“Good. Take a seat,” Alton motioned to the bleachers around him. “There is much to discuss.”
He summarized the history of the Thoiri for the company. When he reached the current battle against the Edorians and forces of Ulgarath, she saw faces grimace. It was starting to feel like unsurmountable odds arrayed against the tiny nation of Agorra. He took a breath and let the information sink in before continuing.
“The Thoiri have agreed to help us reach Fort Kitsu and see to its defense. They have agreed to supply us with weapons and armor they claim to be superior to our own. Once secure at Kitsu, I will return and help them fight against the forces of this fiend, Ulagrath. I do not expect any of you to come and will release you back to the army.” Alton said.
“Sir!” The word left her mouth before she could stop it. “I won’t leave you. Don’t force us to. We are Wolf team.”
He looked at her with pride in his eyes and spoke. “I will not force you to leave. It is merely an option for those who do not want to risk fighting against Thoiri foes deep under the earth. The Thoiri have been losing this fight for centuries. I do not go to a peaceful death.”
“We are with you, sir,” several members of his team answered in succession. Amelia felt her heart swell at the bond between their team. She owed her life several times over to Alton and would not leave his side.
“Captain Alton, sir…” One of the infantry stepped up beside Amelia and gave her a stiff nod. She knew what he would ask and whole-heartedly supported him. “We have been speaking, the rest of us and the scouts and well, I know we are not mana awakened and that Wolf team has never had common soldiers on it, but there is precedent from the first army…”
Alton held up his hand to stop him. “Ask your question in peace, friend.”
The soldier took a deep breath and stood up, tall and proud. “Sir, we have found a collective purpose serving with Wolf team this past week. I speak for all of us gathered here when I saw we would be honored to serve alongside Wolf team as a permanent auxiliary force.”
Alton let him finish before standing and putting a hand on his shoulder. “I am sorry, soldier. Wolf team can not accept any auxiliary forces for this kind of mission. It would bog us down too much when flexibility is needed.”
The soldier hung his head low, and Alton continued to speak. “What Wolf team does need, however, is sixteen brave and capable soldiers to join as full members, mana awakened or not. Pending higher approval, of course,” he finished with a wink.
Amelia grinned. Used to the captain’s sense of humor. Full members would receive higher pay and privileges compared to an auxiliary unit. The common soldiers stayed quiet for a moment before realizing what he said. Amelia clapped the soldier on his head and started whooping loudly. The rest of her team joined in and the group shared hugs, welcoming their newest members.