Chapter 143

"This is not a coincidence!" Riley's voice carried with it all the force of a yell, while Rangers in discordant groups streamed around them, some running in their direction, others, out towards the danger.

"You don't say?" Tobias replied with sarcasm dripping from his words before body checking into another ranger, each tumbled to the ground.

Without apology, they each scrambled up and darted by.

It seemed everyone had a place to be.

Tobias' com crystal appeared in his hand, "Cid, what's your location?"

"We're in the residential tower. A servant of the Generals is here. They want us in the central chamber. Where in the infernal hells are you, boy?" He snapped in reply, just as the feeling of a minor earthquake rolled through the fortress.

Riley saw a pillar of dust rising up from her back left quarter as the walls fell.

Tobias looked up towards the central castle, "Get moving, we'll meet you there."

"In motion, out," Cid replied.

The com crystal vanished away. Tobias looked behind him, to see the disparate array of rangers falling into small units of fives and sixes, forming a small column of troops.

"This is bad," Tobias' voice was shocked and small as he stared with disbelief; black swords flashed in the night, waiting for the imminent assault.

"It's going to be worse if we don't support. There's enough here to hold the line, but we've got to do our part; come on!" Riley urged, only to trip a man and take his boot to her ribs as they crossed paths.

"Ungggh..." She flopped to the ground, her wind gone, not waiting the power rocketed out from around her.

Healing Halo

A rib ground sickeningly back into place as Riley twitched upon the ground.

Suddenly, she took in a deep, cleansing breath, shaking her head.

"Watch where you're going!" Tobias shouted, "Are you ok?"

"It'll settle. Oh, I wish healing worked like it did in books, " Riley opened her eyes in time to see Tobias scoop her up from the ground, as multi colored flashes of light, and the crashing of swords sounded behind them.

"The battle is joined." Tobias remarked, collecting her to his chest, holding her somewhat like a furry football Crouching down, he resumed his run towards the central keep, where a line of guards blocked his path.

"Rowan, Greenbriar, we've been ordered to report to the Generals. Cid is just behind me coming from the barracks tower. By the light of. Arctos, and the power of Galdor do we walk the path in midnight and high sun!"

The guard furthest to the right nodded, and the rest parted like an opening door.

"Make way!" Came the shout as the remaining rows opened to let them pass.

"Set me down, we can move faster now." Riley demanded as they made their way through the massive door.

"Why haven't you secured this?" Tobias asked one of the two men manning an interior station.

"We have our orders; see to your own," He snapped.

Tobias set Riley down, allowing her to rocket up the stairs as Tobias passed station after station of posted guards.

Cid, Caedmon, and Eastmund were all waiting, just outside the generals' chambers.

"Where have you been all night?" Cid asked, his tone suspicious.

"The library looking for leads, Riley can read the old books," Tobias replied his voice strained and terse.

Cid's eyes sparkled with curiosity, dancing with a near-feral madness, "You're just full of surprises. What do you want to bet this is related to the case?"

"Ya think?" Riley snapped as a servant threw open the door.

"You four, come on, hurry!"

Entering, another Ranger squad of six was waiting with their swords drawn, each watching an entrance, staying close.

“Orders?” Cid asked Kivara.

"We're clearing a path to the dragon now. These men will lead you, get to the Ashenvale, and see to your mission while there's still a kingdom left to save. Timbergarde and Ashenvale are under siege, as are we," Kivara's voice was grave and tense.

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"The King?" Eastmund asked, turning pale.

"The last report is that he's fled after fighting off a first-tier attack. Thank the Thirteen for the Greyblade Rangers. The kingdom seems to be splitting between noble families across the spectrum of power. It's like nothing we've ever seen. Sylvanus will go with you and ride on to meet the king," She replied, as the old man stepped up.

"We need to move. Can you keep up?" Cid asked.

"Do I look dead?" he grinned, "Now, enough talking. We have to move while we can."

"Go with the light of the Thirteen!" Kivara called out.

As they exited, it was a scene out of hell.

Flaming boulders were falling from the sky, as an army of the undead streamed through the ruptures in the walls, at the very back, surrounded by a shimmering ward, was a grey cloaked figure, her features indistinguishable at that distance, with her hands folded, chanting quietly.

As they rushed, stepping over their fallen comrades, Riley cast Celestial Insight

Dame Morgana of Ravenwald, Chaotic Dark, 1-1

Level prevents further analysis

...And the wrath of those scorned will rise to cut your throat in the night.

There was a reason for her focus, no less than fifty rangers were swarming around her, trying to get close, but unlike the second tier magic Riley had seen before, she was some type of multicaster.

Every time a ranger fell, they would rise, and join the ranks of the enemy, tearing apart their former fellows while the grey robed mage peppered the field with jets of freezing ice.

Spiked projectiles of frozen water flew across the battlefield as if fired from trebuchets, tearing men in half, which only added to the ranks of the undead.

Their escort formed out in a wedge as swords clashed with teeth and bone, cutting a swath through the back line.

"Holy shit," Riley exclaimed as they turned, exiting out the inner walls, putting the main battle behind them.

"Just another day in sunny Ashenvale. I'm beginning to miss Alicia!" Eastmund cried, cleaving a former ranger from shoulder to hip.

"I think Terrox would like to summer here," Caedmon replied, taking down another fallen ranger with a swift arc of his curved sword.

The dragon was just ahead, saddled and ready, as a burst of air and flame came from their left.

Three of their escort flashed to ash with no time to scream as General Hilvar grinned, stepping out from the smoke.

"What is the meaning of this?" Sylvanus balked

Hillvar drew his blade.

"It's time for a new order, a return to the way things were when the strongest survived. Our Kingdom was founded by a man who could not tolerate the weakness of the old regime, and that time has come again! The weak have cost us too much in the lives of good men." Hilvar's voice was pained and full of remorse yet resolute. On his wrist was a silver bangle, pulsing to Riley's eyes with orange light.

"Traitor!" Cid shouted as a defensive perimeter formed around Sylvanus.

Celestial Insight

Hilvar, Aeromancer 2-10, Lawful Neutral

Hope and faith drown in a sea of endless sacrifice.

"He's not fae blind!" Riley cried.

"No, I had no need to be twisted to do what was right nor did Iskaros. We must do what is best for the Ashenvale. We're all Rangers, so I'll give you a chance to do what is right before the Dame, or I put you down. Hand over Riley, recognize this new order, and you can thrive within it. Enough of us have died already," he pleaded.

"You're no ranger. Not any longer." Cid spat.

"You dropped the wards, didn't you? You caused all this!" Sylvanus accused.

"We each know the meaning of sacrifice, Sylvanus. Now, stand down and hand over the beast!" He roared.

"Rangers don't betray their own. I thought I knew you," Sylvanus growled.

"Come and get me!" Riley cried.

Hilvar braced, summoning his magic with a weary sigh, "So it's the hard way. So be it.