She was sitting like that until the morning, rereading and reviewing hundreds of books and manuscripts until she finally exhausted and fell asleep right at the table. It began to dawn when Liaris, the old elf library-keeper saw her. As he approached, he put his hand on her shoulder and lightly shacked her with the words:
– Lady Ikru, Lady Ikru, don't you think you'd better rest in your room? You've been sitting here all night.
Straightway Ikru jumped up from the bench, as if a hot stigma had been putted to her buttocks. With a completely stunned view and eyes full of wild fear she exclaimed:
– Where is Tonnord??!!
He didn`t expect such a reaction and unexpected question, so he hesitated for a while, but after a second he mumbled:
– Well, probably in his room. Resting. It's still early.
At the same moment, Ikru took off from her seat, overturning the bench and ran away. A few minutes later, she already was at the door leading to the elven lord's chambers, met with two guards.
– Is Tonnord inside?! – She asked strongly.
– Yes. The Lord is resting. Lady Ikru, you're a little bit early.
– I don't want to hear anything! Wake him up! Quickly! – She exclaimed.
The guards exchanged glances. They knew Tonnord`s peace can`t be broken, until he comes by himself or call the guards. But they also had an order that the Seer had the right to address the Lord at any time. One of the guards was about to knock on the door and say that the Seer was asking for an audience, but the door suddenly opened. Sleepy, in his nightdress, Tonnord immediately asked:
– Ikru, did you have a sight?
– 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 ago, when Ethelkir has been caught, all the people insisted on his execution. The elf who took necromantic is not the elf anymore, and Tonnord was ready to execute him. But because of Ikru, that didn`t happened and the dark elf was imprisoned. Ikru had a sight which "told" her he should be kept alive because he would be useful in the future. All this time Tonnord remembered about it and now realized this is exactly right moment. The Lord of the elves raised his right hand, and everybody were silent right away.
– Borgind and the key will be well protected. We will release Ethelkir. It is clear he won`t cooperate with us for a simple “thank you”. I will personally go to him and tell him that I will guarantee his freedom if he helps us…
– But how come, my lord – Tagrin interrupted, confused.
– My brother, don't jump to conclusions. I will lie to him and you Ikru – he turned his view to the sorceress – will kill him immediately after completing the mission.
For a few seconds Tonnord got paused expecting to hear some comments, but they are not followed and he continued:
– With a large enemy force, a squad of ten warriors is just suicides. And I can't take that risk. Not with the lives of ordinary soldiers, and certainly not with the lives of my commanders. If any of you have better ideas than Ikru suggested, I'd love to hear them out.
No one said a word. Tonnord only saw a synchronized shake of their heads. Everyone agreed with him.
– Well, let's discuss the next steps. We need to decide who will be in this squad. – Tonnord looked around – Absolutely clear Ikru will be with us.
– I'll go, my Lord. – Inohildis said quickly – I first offered this plan. And I still hope there won`t be many enemies over there. But if not, well… Even though it`s wild disgusted for me, but will have to resort to using dirty Ethelkir`s magic.
– Then I'll go with you. How can I leave you unattended? – Tagrin smiled, slamming Inohildis`s back – If suddenly something happen? Who am I going to compete for the amount of drank Elven ale? – Tagrin laughed.
– With me! – Rigan shouted with a smile.
– Oh, come on. Rigan, you can`t standing up after your fifth drink!
They all laughed and began to discuss the old days, but when Tonnord raised his arm everyone get quiet.
– Well, so be it. Ikru, Inohildis and Tagrin. The fate of our world will depend on you. At your own discretion, take the best fighters into your squad. You know better who exactly you should take. Only one question remains, – Tonnord turned to the sorceress – If we succeed, once the key will be in the hands of Tagrin or Inohildis, we will need to quickly return to Afleeakwein. You do understand that leaving the chase by horseback is not a good option.
– Yes Tonnord I know. Unfortunately, I don't have immediate movement spell that dark mages have. They got it only thanks to the Naabs by the way. But I can enchant a scroll that will return one elf to the place which will be in this spell.
– Just one? – Nodis asked dejectedly.
– Enchanting a scroll is a very difficult process. It usually takes a day.
– We don't have that much time Ikru – reproachfully told Tonnord.
– Yes, my lord, I know that. I have some ideas how to do this faster, and I'll try to finish it by the time our squad is ready to move out.
– All right – said Tonnord and rose from the chair – Tagrin, Inohildis, get the squad and get ready to move out. Ikru – take care of the scroll. I'm going to go to see Ethelkir. The meeting is over.
The squad was assembled very quickly. But they all had to wait for the sorceress, who had been working on the scroll of return for a very long time. It was late in the afternoon before they set out. Moving parallel to the road leading to Pleepmorr, they moved around any area where they could meet someone. Ethelkir was riding one horse with Ikru, under her strict supervision. His hands were bound with magical fetters to avoid any tricks that might come to his mind, clouded by half a century of imprisonment. For the first twenty-four hours they ride at full speed without a single stop, and only after that, when they reached the eastern side of the Canyon of Death, they did a short stop to rest their horses. On the evening of the second day, as they rounded the mountains of the western hillside, Inohildis was the first who saw a bright flash in the sky.
– Look! – He exclaimed, pointing by his hand – What is that?
Ikru looked up at the sky, and then cried out to Tagrin:
– Tagrin, do command for a stop!
The squad stopped. Everyone turned their view to the west. Lightning danced one after another in the evening sky, which seemed absolutely incredible because there was not a single cloud around. Very soon, a new, more powerful flash lit up the sky, and a huge purple ray get down from the sky to the ground.
– Take cover! Quickly! – Ikru shouted, and all of them immediately galloped off in the direction of the mountains.
Quickly climbing a small slope, they found a small spot of land surrounded by high mountains on the three sides. They all dismounted at once.
– Quickly tie up the horses and sit on the ground! – Ikru shouted.
Unfortunately, because of the mountains, it was no longer possible to see what was happening in the sky, but it was not necessary. Very soon everyone felt it. Nothing happened for the first few seconds, and then the ground shook. At first, it was like the echoes of some earthquake that happened somewhere far away and only a small part of it reached here. But then the vibration began to increase with each passing second. Stronger and stronger until it reached its maximum. The horses got wild because of fear. A furious rumble and a devastating shock wave swept across the entire western area. From behind the massive mountain which blocked the squad from the west side, a lot of wreckage could be seen flying along with the shock wave. Parts of roofs of houses, wood boards, stones… In addition, the shock wave destroyed the tops of the mountains which covered the squad and the wreckage of stones fell down. The warriors were able to evade easily, but two horses were unlucky. One was killed. A part of rock which is falling to the other direction, destroyed the stone where the animal was fastened, and the horse galloped away in fear. When the horse ran out from the shelter, it was blown away by the shock wave along with other wreckage which flew from the west, where once was Zerton City. When everything finally quieted down, Ikru got everyone in a circle.