All men departed save for Owen, the leading technology master and overseer, and Quian, right hand to Multias. Once he was sure no one was in earshot, Multias began to speak.

'How many of the beast do we have left?' he asked.

'Roughly one hundred,' Owen answered, flipping a black device into the air and catching it again in his hand. 'I could have many more captured from the Ukotan Jungle if necessary.'

'Good. We may not have time to capture more, but acquire as many as you can. I will need them again to help defend when the Alliance returns.'

'I was under the impression you wished to discontinue their use,' said Owen darkly, seeming uncomfortable talking about the topic with a man he knew was Daijuarn, perhaps not a sentinel but still Daijuarn.

'Exactly what I am getting at. They are a blemish on this great city's history and a reminder of a time I'd prefer to forget, as you know. I have always believed that they are a hideous life form that should never have come into existence. Now that we are leaving the city, I hope to right that wrong the best way we can for now.'

'What would you have me do?' asked Owen.

'Nothing like that,' said Multias with a wave of his hand, as if reading Owen's thoughts. 'I had planned on destroying them, but they will help us fight the final battle, and they will be destroyed by the Alliance instead.'

Owen seemed to contemplate this new stance Multias had taken on how they should dispose of the beasts, but didn't seem to find a disagreement.

'As you wish,' he said.

'Good. Now go and tend to your family before you leave.'

Owen bowed.

'And Owen,' Multias called out after him.

'Yes?'

'Thank you for all of your service. Your brilliance has saved thousands of Waikorian lives.'

'They are my people,' said Owen, 'I do not need thanks.'

Multias smiled at the good nature still strong in Waikor as Owen exited the room. He then turned to Quian. Both knew that they would need to begin preparation for the coming battle immediately. They were capable of destroying the forces being sent on their own, but they were bound by the Daijuarn code and would only defend. However, the Daijuarn code only applied to the use of the essence, it said nothing of firing other weapons, or using the Ukotan beasts in battle.

'Do you still question the ethics of these methods?' asked Multias.

Quian paused a moment, weighing up the moral dilemma posed to him. 'Always. I do not agree that these beasts should be used against men, no matter how evil the men might be. We are of the Daijuar. We are meant to set the example of good. But I would also do anything to ensure my people remain safe, so I do not oppose your decision to use them. Nevertheless, I will always question what we do.'

Multias nodded. 'You are a good man, perhaps better than I am.'

Quian bowed. 'I learned from you.'

'Then I am glad one of us was paying attention,' said Multias. 'Come, we must prepare. The Alliance won't be gone forever.'

Both men stood to exit the room.

'When do you expect their return?' asked Quian.

Multias stopped just short of the door and his stare became distant for a moment, but upon realising he did not have the answer, he shrugged.

'Too soon,' he said, and the two Daijuarn leaders joined their commanders in helping to prepare the evacuation of Waikor.

Chapter Twenty-Four.

Who are you to say that I must hang my head in shame?

March 3, 997 R.E.

The Alliance force made their way to Raiulun under the command of Lieutenant-General Liet Revarn. His orders were strict and to the point, with little regard for anything not of the Alliance. Any village or minor city in their way was attacked, raided and burned to the ground, its residents slaughtered or taken captive as slaves. General Alkon Zaccarah did nothing as he sat isolated in the personnel carrier, mulling over things only he could know.

When they arrived at Raiulun, Alkon emerged looking frail, his body weak and skin almost completely white, while his beard had grown from a neatly trimmed symbol of authority to a tangled mess of failure. He was escorted to private quarters while Liet made his way through the new city. It was still intact, without a building damaged or burned. Unlike Alkon, General Xosis Tigon had been successful in capturing the city without bloodshed, and was fast being looked upon as the Alliance's most valued commander.

The buildings here were vastly different from those in Ceahlin and Waikor, towering high above the land with some reaching up to seventy storeys and more. Raiulun, excluding Corsec and its congregation of Resistance military, was the most heavily populated city in Aurialis with a million residents. There was little green among the buildings, much of the sidewalks paved in gray and the roads made of concrete. The colour of the city came from windows of the buildings tinted red, which were enhanced greatly by the now setting sun.

Though he had just arrived, Liet had quickly learned of the military might the Raiul people possessed. Their technology was similar with only minor alterations and different levels of advancement, but they would prove a great ally in terms of strength and ability. The city would act as an Alliance stronghold from now on, and one day give them access to the eastern nations that had not yet been affected by war. Liet wondered at the possibilities of fighting those nations, as the Alliance had not yet had the chance to explore or investigate anything of their culture or military prowess. It was uncharted terrain on the final continent after Aurialis, Equadon, but first, they would need to take Corsec, so that their forces could gain easy access into these lands.

A large circular structure, one of the smallest buildings in height of the city at a mere five storeys, was now in sight, and Liet approached a man standing outside who was not too unlike Alkon. He was the same height and had hair the colour of his uniform, except he wore his short and had a cleanly shaven lip and jaw. Despite his commanding stature, there was softness in his hard exterior, and as Liet stood in range to see the familiar blue eyes staring back, the man extended his arm.

'Welcome to Raiulun, cousin,' he said, his voice strained as if he dared not use its full power.

Liet regarded the man for a moment, and then extended his own arm in greeting. 'General Tigon,' he said, 'it is an honour.'

Xosis laughed. 'You flatter me. I was not aware a title could change who I truly am.'

'Everything changes with age.'

'Yes,' said Xosis, 'but you will always be that ten year old I used to throw into the lake, no matter your rank, and I will always be the goofy seventeen year old, laughing at you as you tried to swim.'

'I almost drowned,' said Liet.

'You were a better swimmer than I was.'

'With you on the hunt, I had to learn quickly.'

They both laughed and Xosis put his hand on Liet's right shoulder as he led him into the circular building.

'Come,' he said, 'we are to attend Alkon's hearing soon. The High Council themselves have graced us with their presence.'

Inside, the building was luxurious by Alliance standard, with dark gray carpets, black desks and couches and glass walls. Ten soldiers guarded the first level, and Xosis led Liet past them into an elevator at the centre of the building before saying anything more.

'I fear I do not have any good news for them,' said Liet once the elevator doors had closed.

Xosis nodded and pressed the button to go to the third floor. He then stood with his hands behind his back.

'I have heard General Zaccarah has failed. It is sad that he has suffered so much. He was an apt commander to say the least.'

'Though not to your standard,' said Liet. 'How did you manage this conquest?'

'Call it luck,' said Xosis with a shrug. 'The southern nations did not seem to know we were coming. We were never met with much resistance, and Raiulun was easily romanced with promises of power. They accepted our terms as soon as I mentioned that they would become a strong part of the Alliance. Despite what the Callibrian man has told us, I think we needed no more than half of what we had to get where we are now.'

The elevator had reached the third floor and both walked out into a circular area that had many rooms behind doors branching from it.

'He has a forked tongue,' Liet agreed as they walked. 'His popularity is growing. I fear he is becoming a threat to us all.'

Xosis let them into a room with a key and then closed the door behind him. 'He is a man without rank.'

While Xosis prepared two drinks, Liet walked into what appeared to be living quarters and stood inside the lounge room, which was decorated in the same manner as the first level.

'For now, yes. But he has the High Council's favour, and they have come here by his request. You will see what he has accomplished during General Zaccarah's hearing. I believe it will not be long before the High Council trials him in order to determine his skill with command.'

'Why do you fear him?' asked Xosis, handing Liet one of the brown drinks in a crystal glass.

'A man that prioritises ambition can never be trusted. He is not here to serve the Alliance. He is here to serve himself.'

'If that is true, he will need to be stopped.'

'That is why I wish to speak with you. Even without attending, I can almost guarantee how the hearing will end. When he is through with General Zaccarah, we will need to be alert.'

'What will happen?'

Liet shook his head with a raised hand and then drank deeply. He placed the glass down on a wooden bench and then took a seat in one of the black couches.

'It is better that you do not know. But we will need to stand together from this point on.'

'It goes without saying,' said Xosis, taking a seat opposite Liet. 'What else do we have to do?'

'If I am right about the outcome of this hearing, General Zaccarah will be demoted. Either Master Guyde or I will take his place. You will then accompany us to Waikor and together we will take it, as was first planned. The High Council will not attempt to have Corsec as the testing ground for Master Guyde. That will be ours.'

Xosis nodded. 'General Vondus will be awaiting our signal across the bridge.'

'We will proceed with the current attack sequence; I do not think it requires change.'

'So what are we to do about Master Guyde?'

'Give him a unit to command in Corsec.'

Xosis raised an eyebrow. 'What will that achieve?'

'It will appear as a trial of his ability to command.'

'But?'

'We make sure he is killed in battle.'

'Ah,' said Xosis, leaning back with his fingertips pressed to one another. 'You wish to have him executed.'

'It will appear as a casualty,' said Liet.

'And if we fail?'

'He cannot defend against a stray missile, only bullets.'

'Yes, tell me of this power he has. Is he Daijuarn?'

'Not to my knowledge. I do believe he might have had some contact with them. It is a similar but weaker variation of their power. He is able to shield himself well enough, but his ability grows slowly.'

'How does he do it?'

'That is one of the many mysteries on which he will not enlighten me,' said Liet.

Their conversation ceased when there was a knock on the door and two soldiers entered the living quarters.

'The High Council requests your presence.'

With a quick glance at one another, Liet and Xosis both stood and followed the two soldiers out and then into the elevator. They were lifted to the fifth storey and exited into a completely open area, the glass windows of the top level visible on all sides. But the surrounding buildings were now vague in the darkness, with only the occupied rooms lit enough to be seen. Unlike the residential third storey, there were no walls or doors here, only decorated gray circular columns supporting the ceiling. The carpet was red and there was little furniture other than some seating that had been set up in front of three men. These three wore dark red silk robes that were patterned with gold, and they sat high behind a large black desk in their own chairs, which resembled thrones rather than the benches of the other seating. There were guards posted all around the area, and before the three men two others stood, Kobin Guyde and General Alkon Zaccarah.

Alkon now wore a fresh uniform and had taken time to bathe so that he would look presentable. His beard was neatly trimmed and his hair tied back. Liet thought this wise, as he was now standing before the three most powerful men in the Alliance, the High Council. Kobin was standing at his usual ease to Alkon's left, glancing behind him only momentarily as he heard Liet and Xosis enter. When both were seated, all attention was focused on the three leaders ahead.

On the left sat Icek Colonma. He had once been ruler of the great nation Xosuh, the homeland of Liet and Xosis, before it had been destroyed. Next to him was Elor Cordak, emperor of Entagor and instigator of the first war. And lastly on the right was Rihk Tikrun, appointed spokesman of Surrunla, a nation that had previously not allowed a single man to have power over their nation. All were nearing the end of their days and had held their positions on the council since the beginning of the wars.

Icek sat calmly with lowered eyes, his chin leaning against his right hand as he studied the two before him with keen interest. Elor sat much more boldly, both arms resting on either side of his chair, his back straight and chin slightly lifted. Rihk was sitting back in contemplation, his fingers placed together at eye level, almost completely covering his face. All three sat with such ease that it betrayed the tension of the room.

The emperor, Elor, was first to speak, his voice sharp and crackling as he fought to give it strength. 'General Alkon Zaccarah of the nation Ordear,' he said, lifting an open palm to him. 'The Council has learned of your defeat at Waikor. Under Alliance law, your ability will be reviewed. Do you understand?'

'Yes, sire,' said Alkon, bowing a little.

'You are now on trial,' said Elor, and then he lifted his head and looked at all within eyesight. 'It is customary for the defendant to have the first word. Witnesses will then speak of what they know before the defendant has the final say. There are to be no interruptions. Unless asked to, none will speak. Is that clear?'

All bowed as Alkon had done, and then Elor looked at him directly. 'General Alkon Zaccarah, you may speak.'

'Thank you, sire,' said Alkon, and he repositioned his feet as he took a deep breath before speaking with a deep and powerful voice, belying the fatigue seen in his features. 'Although failure has been brought upon the Alliance, I do not relay this failure upon my own abilities as general. The city of Waikor used technology never seen before. Their defences were underground and remained undetected by the scouts that were sent. All standard procedures, as well as others I have learned to employ, were followed as required by the Alliance Military law, and still we suffered defeat. Our equipment was made inactive and we were left immobilised because of it. I am confident that with a second force under my command and knowledge of these defences, I will be able to bring Waikor to its knees.'

'General,' said Icek smoothly, no longer leaning on his left hand and his voice curious, 'is it not your responsibility to know your enemy?'

'As far as one may know his enemy, sire, yes.'

'This is what I don't understand,' said Icek. 'What was your plan of attack?'

'By the Callibrian's word, I learned that Waikor would be a powerful ally,' said Alkon.

'You will refer to Mister Guyde in the proper manner, General,' commanded Elor.