"Blood for the Unborn God! Blood for the Ancestor!" went the calls behind them.

The three of them sprinted through the darkness, followed by the howls and gnashing of teeth. The stone beneath their feet was rough. Relma stumbled over a loose stone as she ran, only for Aunt Pan to steady her and shove her onward. Ajax slid to a halt in a particularly narrow part of the tunnels as they did. Halting here, he howled at the satyrs, who paused before him with blades raised and returning the howl. It was a savage sight, and Relma wondered who was the more formidable. Ajax looked terrifying, more like a wolf than ever.

"This area is narrow," said Aunt Pan. "Relma, go get Varsus; tell him to bring his forces down here. We'll hold the breach here."

"Are you sure-" began Relma.

"Just go, now!" said Aunt Pan.

Relma sprinted off, hoping neither of them was killed for her plan. She'd had to divert that army somehow and felt that showing herself to Lucius was important. Something had been achieved there; she just had to find it after she found Varsus.

"Come on, you bastards! Face me!" roared Ajax behind her, and fighting could be heard.

"Varsus! Varsus!" called Relma, sprinting through the halls.

Eventually, she rounded a corner and came headlong into Varsus and his forces. They had been marching toward her. Estela was nearby, and their swords were drawn. "What is it, Relma?"

"The satyrs are attacking Estela and Ajax!" said Relma. "They're fighting to try and keep them at bay."

"Quickly, men, we'll go to their aid," said Varsus. "Reginald, De Cathe, keep your men here as a rear guard. Watch that passage; we must not be flanked.

"The rest of you come with me."

They hurried forward toward the sound of fighting. Soon, they rounded the corner. They saw Ajax standing before a swarm of satyrs, hacking viciously. His body was covered in wounds, and blood covered him as he hacked at the enemy. A blade cut into his shoulder, and he fell back before Estela stepped over him and brought down her sword. A satyr fell dead as Fayn came beside her, slashing with her axe to cleave a skull.

Then Varsus surged forward. His blade flashed as he struck the satyr on Ajax. His head fell from his shoulders. Shields were locked as the satyrs moved forward, and the battle was joined. Relma ran to Ajax and kneeled by him, touching him and beginning to heal the injuries. None of the wounds were severe, but this was her fault.

Why had she had to do that?

Because she'd known it was the only way. Why? Why did she think that?

"Form up, ready your spears," called Varsus, directing his men. "Relma, stay behind the line and heal any who are injured. Fayn, retreat!"

Fayn did retreat, looking furious as she was replaced. "Why am I being replaced?!"

"I need you to summon flames and cover our retreat," said Varsus.

"Yes, sir." scoffed Fayn.

And so it began. The satyrs washed against their position, slamming against armored defenses. Screams of wrath and pain resounded, and Relma healed. She finished her work on Ajax and moved on. Whenever men began to tire or were wounded, they were drawn back and replaced. Varsus' defense was holding them at bay, and the wounded and dead from the satyrs began to pile up.

"Well, this is a fine mess; you've gotten us into Relma," said Fayn, looking annoyed. "How did you manage to alert an entire army?"

"I told them I was here, and Lucius sent them after me," said Relma.

"What?" said Fayn. "Why would you-"

"They were going to invade the Dusk Lands," said Relma. "I thought I could divert their attention."

"Well, you did that, at least," said Fayn.

"Actually, this is only a small part of their army," said Relma.

"Every bit helps," said Varsus, walking forward. "I doubt that Lucius knows exactly how large a force we have. If he underestimates us, he'll send too few forces to their death. If he overestimates us, we can hold off much of his army from the main battle." Estela limped back from the battle line and kneeled down. One of her hands was bloodied, and Relma grasped it. "Hold on; I'll heal you, Estela."

"Thank you," said Estela. "Lady Pandora, how large was the force you saw gathering?"

"Larger than the one that attacked Castle Culhorn," said Aunt Pan, opening her eyes. "Much larger."

"We are entirely outmatched in numbers and weapons," said Varsus. "Well, there is only one thing to do. Ajax, I have something I need you to do."

"What is it?" asked Ajax. "I've just had to fight a large part of the satyrs alone in cramped quarters."

"Are there any other passages that could lead this way?" asked Varsus.

"There are passages that lead all over," said Ajax. "I know this area like the back of my hand."

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"Could you find the main enemy's strength," asked Varsus.

"Yes, why?" asked Ajax.

"Good," said Varsus. "Go to Reginald and tell him I've ordered him and his men to find the main satyr army and engage it."

Pandora stared. "You're joking."

"Attack them, break up their formation, draw their attention, and then pull back," said Varsus.

"Fight, retreat, then fight again. Draw them back here if you must, but keep the way we came open."

"Why?" asked Ajax.

"We are wholly outmatched in numbers and weapons," said Varsus. "But the illusion of power may be as good as power itself. If Lucius believes we are stronger than we actually are, he may put aside a large part of his forces to deal with us.

"That will weaken his thrust into the Dusk Lands. Pandora, can you use sorcery to aid us?"

"I am," said Pandora. "Lucius' will is set against us. I am holding it at bay. It is more than a little difficult."

"Which means we all die," said Fayn.

"No, it means we cause him problems and withdraw," said Varsus.

"Fine," said Ajax. "But, this is insane."

"Shouldn't we try to warn them?" asked Relma.

"I have the means to do just that," said Varsus, drawing out a ring from his pack and donning it on one armored hand. "House Gabriel has been friends with the Dust Elves for years. Ever since my uncle Vanion adventured alongside Raynald De Chevlon and Princess Rusara. He was given a ring by Rusara, which may be used to communicate with her people in times of great peril.

"When I was dispatched here, Duke Vanion gave it to me. Estela, take command while I commune with the Dust Elves."

And then he kneeled down and began to focus. His eyes closed, and he was silent. Estela looked to where the satyrs were, leaving more and more corpses across the ground. Then, gradually, the bodies began to rise with weapons in hand. Several men were injured, and Relma had to work at them. The line began to falter, but Estela and Fayn rushed forward.

"For House Vortegex! For Escor!" called Estela.

They plugged the gap, and Relma began to work with the injured men. As she did, she began to find herself at her limit. She was better at healing than she'd been before. But she found herself hardly able to do it. Wound after wound came before her. Relma could not fix them all without constant concentration. And more were coming at every moment.

"Come on, Elranor, help me damn it," muttered Relma. "How does William do this?"

"Well, he probably cares about the person he's healing," said Aunt Pan quickly. "Magic is all about mindset."

Relma looked at the soldier she was healing. He was a person, not a guard, with hopes, dreams, and goals. She had put him in danger, and now she was failing him. No, she had to succeed.

Relma found she had the strength to do this. His injuries healed, and she moved on to the next one. The man was pulled up and went back into the fray. Now, she could do this; she could keep the army going. But the satyrs kept on pushing, their corpses pressing on. And no matter how many they killed, they always had more.

Their losses meant nothing. Didn't they want to survive? What could drive this?

"Any time we kill these things, they rise as undead!" snapped Fayn, drawing back. She was nursing a nasty cut across the face. "This is insane!" Relma put her hand on Fayn's forehead.

"I only pray that Reginald is doing better than we are," said Aunt Pan.

Then Varsus arose. "He is doing more than better. I assure you of that."

"Varsus, how long can we hold like this?" asked Fayn,

"We have a strong defensive position," said Varsus. "We are heavily armored, and our enemy is not. If all goes well, we might hold off until we run out of food.

"But not all will go well.

"I do not like the way all this is going.

"You men, rotate positions; you've fought enough."

Then, the howling stopped and was replaced by chanting. The satyrs drew back. Then came a new kind of satyr. They were larger and more robust, wearing armor and holding shields and axes.

"These ones seem better armed," said Varsus. "Our men are tired, and we are failing. The time has come to cut our losses. Fayn, unleash your power. Now!"

Fayn smiled and raised her axe, which clinked against the ceiling. "Flames of Cin' dar, come to me!"

A great fire arose among the corpses piled high. Smoke and flames arose, and the satyrs drew back. Flames rose higher and higher and hotter than anything Relma had fought.

"We now face the more experienced satyrs," said Varsus. "Keep the fire burning. The smoke should drive them off. We'll withdraw the passage. Take the bodies of our fallen with us."

Relma looked at the dead bodies of two men. Men who had died in a single blow, their helms broke. Dead because of a battle she'd started.

"We should leave them," said Fayn.

"I will not leave my men unburied for the satyrs to devour," said Varsus. "Now come. Estela, Fayn, you are the rear guard."

And so began the retreat. Relma was tired, and so was everyone else. They fled from the flames behind them down the passage. Every step was a labor, and Relma struggled to keep going. As she walked behind, she saw the bodies being carried. They weren't more than five years older than her and dead.

This was because of her decisions.

Relma could tell herself that she had saved more lives. But she was still responsible for these deaths. Then they came to the crossroads and found shrieking satyrs fleeing from Reginald. The redheaded warrior had covered his blade in blood, and De Cathe was an equally grisly sight. Some of his men were lying by the far wall, dead or injured.

Relma ran to them.

"Well done! We've driven them off!" said De Cathe.

"Come, let's pursue them and wipe them out!" cried Reginald joyfully. "We'll slaughter them by the hundreds!"

"Not yet, Reginald," said Varsus. "We cannot afford to keep fighting them like this. We'll face an enemy from both directions soon.

"First, we must know our enemy. Tell us everything you saw.

"Sir Varsus, we have a live one over here." said a man.

"Then we'll speak to him later," said Varsus.

Relma dared not look up as she healed everyone she could. But she heard Varsus' voice. "You, where have you come from? How did you gain such numbers?"

"We are the satyrs of stone," spat the voice. "Lucius led those of us he deemed worthy into the mountains. He changed our blood and bodies and shifted us to survive. We multiplied and were fruitful.

"Now we shall wash over all his enemies. What you faced her was only a token force, and more will come soon."

Relma healed a man who had lost an eye. As she did, he gasped.

"Go to your brethren," said Varsus. "Tell them that if they make war on House Gabriel, our venom shall destroy them when they think they are safest. For we are serpents, and our bite does not kill at once. Even if your blades find their mark, it will be your end.

"Go."

"So be it," said the satyr. Then, there came the sound of sprinting. Relma finished her work and made her way up to Varsus.

"What did you say to him?" asked Reginald.

"Couldn't you tell?" asked Relma.

"I don't speak satyr, so no. Do you?" asked Reginald.

"No, but I-"began Relma.

"Servants of gods can speak all languages, Relma," said Aunt Pan. "Don't pay mind to it."

"Varsus, what did you say?" asked Estela.

"These satyrs are the descendants of a colony sent into Smyngoth's Mountain. That was long ago," said Varsus. "They must have multiplied within the old goblin empire. No doubt, they've been planning this for a long time."

"So what do we do?" asked Relma.

Varsus looked around. "...This is a poor position for us to defend. There are two ways out, and the fires are dying down. We must withdraw the way we came and find another choke point. If we beat a fighting retreat, we should be able to dissuade-"And then he halted. "Where is the passage we came in by?"

Relma looked up, and Ajax moved forward.

"It has always been here," said Ajax.

"Not anymore," noted Fayn.

"It seems Lucius has closed our means of retreat," said Aunt Pan. "We're trapped."

This was not good.