– Yes my Lord. Forgive me for visiting so early, but the sight which I saw is too important. We have to do conference immediately.
– Okay Ikru. Get everyone and wait for me in the conference room. I'll come soon.
The gathering of all the generals was arranged as quickly as possible, and within fifteen minutes Tagrin, Inohildis, Rigan, Nodis and Ikru were waiting for Tonnord in the conference room at the large round table. Some of them asked Ikru a leading question, trying to find out what exactly she saw in her sight, but Ikru was inflexible, only saying: “You will know everything when Lord Tonnord will come.” When the door opened and a tall white-haired elf dressed in royal armor entered the hall, everyone stood up from their seats as a sign of respect and reverence.
– Have a sit please – Tonnord sat on the chair, making a smooth sign by his hand – Ikru report.
– Brothers! You are all well aware due to the recent events, our world is on the edge of destruction. I've spent the last few days in the library trying to find out how exactly the dark mages can give the key of Eraqel's dungeon to the Naabs. Unfortunately, I didn't know anything from the books. This morning I just fell asleep right at the table because I tired. But while I was sleeping, I had a sight. I saw a huge acre of gray stone near the walls of Zerton – Ikru heard a quiet whispers – There at the arch I saw Borgind and Keries, as well as many other dark magicians and workers who were built that arch. I've seen some strange purple crystal, which Borgind putted in base of the arch. Then there was some fog. Something what I can't decipher yet. But later on the vision cleared up. I saw that arch again, but there was no one around. Then, straight from the sky, a huge bright purple ray struck the center of this structure. Nothing happened for a while, and then…
Ikru got silence, covering her face with her hands. No one made a sound. Everyone was looking at her, waiting for her to continue, and she just muttered quietly, “Oh, creator…”
– Ikru, what happened next?
– That ray from the sky caused the explosion. It was so strong, so Zerton will be destroyed. The entire Orc race will be destroyed. Nothing will survive in that area. There will be only ruins, corpses, and scorched earth. And that arch.
Everyone immediately began to mutter and talk to each other.
– Quiet! Brothers, let her finish.
– I think the arch is a portal. They are building a huge portal which is let them pass the key through it. I don't think the Naabs will be able to go through it into our world. At least not now while Eraqel still alive. But the dark mages will be able to pass through it with the key and give it to Naabs. Perhaps this portal will have another purpose. I don't know yet.
– Are they building it? Or they going to build it? – Tagrin asked.
– My sights are about a future. Which is will come soon. Maybe they will start construction shortly.
– How long that construction will take? – Inohildis asked.
– It's not a big structure. So I think a day. Maybe two.
– It's not good – Rigan muttered.
– Yeah, this is bad – Nodis said, the commander of the northern Elven outpost – Even if we decide to disrupt their construction plans, we are physically won't have time. To the Pleepmorr is about two days riding with a maximum speed without any stops. And from Pleepmorr to the Zerton approximately the same.
– You forgot the most important thing – Tagrin said – If our warriors will be there when the explosion occurs we will face the same fate as the Orcs.
– Yes, Tagrin, you're absolutely right – thoughtfully said Tonnord, and then turned back to Seer – Do you have something else to say to us?
– After the explosion, I saw like space become shine inside arch. So the explosion activated the portal. As I said earlier, I didn't see any dark mages around during the explosion. So they were hiding somewhere. But after the portal is activated, they will need to return to it and pass the key.
– Exactly! – Inohildis exclaimed – This is our chance! Brothers, I have a plan. We need to assemble a small squad. About ten warriors. And act immediately. While they will build the portal, squad will be able to get the Pleepmorr or mountains of the Canyon of Death and get cover there. Then we need to wait for the explosion, and then immediately get to the portal, hiding somewhere nearby. At the moment of the key transfer, when the enemy does not expect it at all, we will steal it.
– Hah! Very interesting – Nodis smirk – Didn`t you think it`s going to be hundreds or even thousands of dark magicians and this squad of ten elves will be scattered like kittens?!
Inohildis said nothing.
– Nodis is right. We can't take that risk. The fact – operation must be secretive, but if there will be a lot of enemies it will be a complete failure. – Tonnord looked back at the Ikru – We won`t be able to do anything without magic. Do you have any ideas?
Ikru looks very thoughtfully.
– You're missing an important point – entered the dialog Regan, the commander of the West Elven outpost – We don't know who will have the key.
– You don't need to be a Seer like Ikru to understand that. Borgind will have it. If I would be a commander-in-chief of the dark Mage army, I wouldn't trust anyone possession of such an important artifact.
– I can cast a disguise spell on the squad, but the dark mages will be able to see it anyway – the sorceress spoke again – Someone will have to distract their attention, and I have an idea how to do so. But I'm afraid none of you will like it.
– Our world is on the edge of destruction, so under this circumstances, I think any means are good. What's the idea? – Tonnord asked.
– I offer to released Ethelkir and take him with us… – she paused for a moment and her eyes run over the group. Almost everyone's eyes immediately showed indignation and anger. – If there will be many enemies, he will raise the corpses of the dead orcs and direct them against the dark mages. While they will distract to them, squad will be able to neutralize Borgind and steal the key.
– Are you out of your mind? Raise the corpses? – Rigan exclaimed – Didn't you get enough of the battle under the Yeagrefgort?
– Yes Ikru, a terrible idea. That bastard with his disgusting magic destroyed all of the Northerners, once inhabited Yeagrefgort – Tagrin said dejectedly.
– Northerners were the ancient descendants of humans. Do you know what will happen if king Grifgerd know we released him? We will forever be enemies with humans – Inohildis added indignantly.
– Exactly! He betrayed us! – Nodis cried – HE'S CRAZY! Necromancy has consumed his soul! He betrayed our laws, our morals, and our King! The elf w-w-who – Nodis even started to stutter because of outrage – He had renounced from the bright Elven magic in exchange to dirty necromancy! And you're offering to release him?! Do you really want him raise the corpses?!
Very soon, the indignation got more and more intense. Ikru was silent, taking the “strikes” for her not really good idea. Tonnord was silent as well. He was concentrating on his thoughts, and his head was slightly lowered, looking somewhere at the one point. He was absolutely sure there would be a lot of enemies when the key will be passing. Dark magicians are not stupid at all, and it would be a big mistake to underestimate them. The idea of Ikru was good – on the one side. But on the other side – absolutely terrible. King Grifgerd and whole Preeosted will find out shortly about that and would be a scandal. Although Tonnord knew what to say to the king of the people “well, you know we had no other choice. This is a desperate measure in the name of saving all of us”, but most of all, the lord of the elves afraid that Ethelkir might escape. And if so, hundreds of thousands of the walking dead begin to walk around Araklia, bringing terror to all of the residents. That will only mean one thing – the elves can forever forget they have friends somewhere.
A little more than half a century