After his defeat at Dechoneus Volohs knew this was the beginning of a long war. He glanced off from the distance towards the mountains. At Skull Peak of Blood Mountain, was Eagle Tower; Oxros, God of Destruction was said to have stood there, while polluting the mountain for the horrors of men. Volohs starred at it now, no man could every reach there, no, not even with the strongest of magic. It was for told that reaching Skull Peak was as if reaching the depths of Hell, where Claydrin had banished Oxros, for his crimes against men. The only god who could cure the cursed Mountains was the Lord of the Sun, who's coming would be signaled by the gods themselves.

"My lord, we have lost the Mountain pass through Blood Mountain." The scout bowed.

"When," Volohs questioned calmly.

"Nurus and his men have conquered it as of three days prior." The scout replied, "Lennix has sent his men to conquer it immediately."

"Why did he not wait for my command?" Volohs questioned.

"I know not why." The scout replied.

"Fetch Lennix for me, I wish to speak with him immediately." Volohs said, slightly furious.

"Sir, Lennix has joined his men in the coming fray."

Volohs slammed his hand against a nearby wall, and then yelled into the air. He took a deep breathe, "Leave me."

"Yes, sire."

Quickly the scout left with little encouragement needed. Volohs had almost conquered the lands of Helm, and Dechoneus was falling with his men as he spoke. They had conquered the east side; the city was what they had their concerns about. To the far west of Dechoneus was the forest, given no name, because no man could inhabit it. They seemed at an impasse, however Volohs knew Inger was too prideful to help them in their efforts, and he was counting on their inaction.

"Claydrin guide me," Volohs muttered.

He was ruthless, and direct, however Volohs had no other choice, if they did not respect him, either through fear, or fame, he would have no control over the people and chaos would ensue. He ruled with an iron fist, because he could not risk an up rise. He glared over the palace balcony.

Volohs looked back to the battle of Dechoneus. He remembered seeing the Knight of Helm. He had heard rumors of his great accomplishment. The villages he had conquered had told him this knight had killed a red dragon, of Dragon Rock. Some even claimed they heard the draconic cry from over three days of travel. If he had not slain his wizards, Volohs would have won the battle. The desert plains of Dechoneus had won the battle, but Volohs would be prepared next time. He didn't need the Ommart as he had needed them before. He would let them finish Helm, Volohs's concerns where now on one thing, Dechoneus.

"My lord, I have found what it is you seek."

"Yes, come hither." Volohs replied.

"This book describes how to ascend to godhood, written by one who has such attempted."

"And what have you made of it?"

"Sire, this book is not for mortals, it was written by the sky."

"Can you read it?" Volohs said with curiosity.

"Not beyond the first page." The man replied.

"Very well, explain to me what you have found."

"It says this task can only be taken on by the mighty." The scholar replied, with his white beard shaking in the air.

"And is your lord not mighty? If Claydrin will not grant me godhood, perhaps he means for me to obtain it by my own means."

"This is a dangerous path you follow; you must first kill a minor god."

"Such as," Volohs replied.

"Herne of the west forest, found in Dechoneus, Artio, the Bear of the East Plain, Black Shuck who wanders the lands of the four kingdoms, Dagda, the Bard of Inger, and Leshy, the Swamp Monster."

"What of the Fates" Volohs questioned.

Volohs knew of Herne, the God of the Hunt, Artio, the Goddess of Bears, Black Shuck, the Wolf of Ill Omens and of Leshy, the King of the Swamp. He even had heard of Dagda the Bard of Inger; he played the harp, and was seen as mostly harmless. He was loved by the locals. Volohs thought his best chance was seen with Artio. All where legends that Volohs had of thoughts, but the Fates, peeked his interest, he knew that killing a minor deity couldn't be as simple as spoke, especially with only a page that could be read by mortal men. He needed the Fates to decipher his discoveries.

"Yes, the Fates, the seven sisters of Claydrin. I am unsure if they would serve you my lord." The scholar spoke back, "They are, in their own regard greater than all the other deities listed, it would be unwise to try and slay them."

"You misunderstand my intentions. I wish only to speak to them." Volohs replied, "Do you know where the sisters can be found?"

"I do not, my lord, there resting place is shrouded in lore, and legend; I can only offer ideas, at best, more detailed studies would be necessary."

"Very well, report to me immediately when you have found something."

"Yes my lord."

Volohs nodded, excusing the scholar. He looked back over his balcony, as he starred into the night sky. He knew he was not the only one, who wondered what the moon would look like. Only the coming of the Sun God could bring the Goddess of beauty and peace, that gift. Volohs was convinced he would become the Lord of the Sun, all his actions were predicated upon it.

"Lennix, you fool." Volohs whispered.

Lennix looked to the left and then to the right, as his men snuck through the night sky. He had left two days after Volohs second week to his journey to Dechoneus. His men where well-armed and ready for battle, a steel pauldron covering their dominate shoulder, with a leather belt, covering the belly button, and waste. Their chest was exposed, except Lennix, who wore a tattered tunic, forfeiting his pauldron or any sort of armor, beyond his leather boots. The other Ommart wore metal helmets, while others chose against it. Lennix had journeyed this distance with forty men. He had had mustered the troops as soon as possible, and would rather die, then surrender the north passage.

General Nerus looked onward as the scout reported back to Nerus. Nerus shook his head with understanding as he spoke back.

"Let the Ommart walk right into our trap."

"Sir, we still have few men left."

"Yes, I know." Nerus replied, "We have to hold this position for three more days, my hope is that they cannot cross the mountain, within that time."

Ommart were the only race among mortals to cross Blood Mountain. As a ritual to become a true Ommart, their youth would have to climb to Skull peak, and come back with three bear pelts. Once they had completed this task, they would return to prove themselves in an arena, against a wyvern. After this trial, they were accepted into the military force.

Nerus could see their leader, an ommart who shaved his spinal mane, and had red hair, with nothing but leather boots for protection. He stopped with arrow distance.

"You come for blood!" Nerus shouted, "Shall I give you blood? Or will you turn back now."

Lennix looked back at the general, "So this is general Nerus? Are undermanned, you have no more than sixteen men, by my estimated count. I have a small legion. You are out matched, and outnumbered."

"Perhaps, but by now I trust that you can see there is now way for you to cross!" Nerus replied.

Lennix looked at the ground; he was a step away from ten foot ditch with several wooden pikes slammed into the ground. At the bottom he spotted oil. This was a trap, if they crossed now it would take them hours for the fire to die, in that time, they could pick them out with their bows. Lennix growled as he looked back at Nerus.

"Perhaps you didn't notice." Nerus replied, coldly.

"Very well Nerus, you make this a more difficult task then need be, but you will all die."

"I regret to deny you that privilege!" Nerus shouted.

Lennix looked back to his own men, counting forty five.

"You," Lennix pointed at one of the ommart, "take thirteen men and cross the mountain."

He quickly pointed to another to get reinforcements from the closest surrounding forts. Nerus continued to watch him as he instructed his men build a bridge with the surrounding vegetation. Each knight took a gulp as they watched them make haste of the situation.

"If any come into range, hit them with an arrow." Nerus replied, "three days men, just three days."

Nerus had had a week and two days to secure the fort before Lennix arrival this fateful night. He gripped the battlements as the archers took their aim. The good general occasionally wondered of Cladius, and the promising young lady Almorah. He thought of their travels and how they were faring. He could only hope that all was what it could be for them. He had heard reports, that Volohs had entered Dechoneus; he knew they didn't have six months left.

Inger probably wouldn't make good to their deal even if they had lived past the six month mark. Volohs was making quick progress, wars that had lasted years over the same territory, he now conquered in months. He knew that Dechoneus city was under siege now, as he starred down at the ommart in front of him.

"Claydrin be with us, for we are alone." Nerus whispered.