A femanine scream,
Thumping feet,
Voices, screaming for help,
Anger,
And red.
So much red.

I awakened with a start, breathing heavily, and realized three things. A: My friends were sitting around me with concern, B: My lower back was in severe pain, and C: I was in Meneltarma. The first two, I realized without reacting, but upon my noticing of the third, I jumped straight out of the bed, and collapsed on to the floor, groaning in pain. Herulepillin and Saironellotoron helped me back into the bed, and Aranellevanima reprimanded me, saying "Stay in bed, and we will decide when you can get up. Until then, relax, and heal!"
I laughed and said "envinyantavéra", meaning "personal heal," but nothing happened. I cast it again, but once again, it had no effect. "What is going on here?" I demanded, not comprehending why the spell hadn't worked.
Herulepillin shrugged and said, "We have been led to believe that the blade was poisoned with a substance designed to make you resistant to magic, and thus you will have to heal naturally." He grimaced, and stopped mitigating, asking "What do you remember?"
I looked at him, and what would later be described by my friends as a shadow crossed over my face. "Enough to fill me with more sadness, guilt, betrayal, confusion, and anger, than I know how to control."
He nodded, and Aranellevanima ventured "So you remember what happened with Nimloth?" A tear ran down her face when I nodded, and she began to weep heavily. "I'm so sorry Saironelloistya, we should have been there! We should have kept you safe!" Herulepillin waited for a response from me, so I paused.
Then I stated "You could not have predicted it Aranellevanima, you hold no blame on this count. This is my fault for not heeding Martamo's warning. You two chose me to lead in our quest, and I failed you both." I suddenly felt weary, and Herulepillin gestured for Saironellotoron and Aranellevanima to leave.
"Asaro!" He bellowed, "restase" meaning "Doctor! Help him!" A necromancer ran in, and checked my pulse, she said it was elevated, but that I would be tired out from the healing process.
I made one last request of my master, before I passed out again. I asked him, "When I wake, will you gather the council?" He said something in response, but I drifted off before he could.

. . .

Nothing of interest happened for the next three days, although I was soon allowed to walk around the halls, and talk to others. However, on the evening of the third day, I was surprised to see Aranellevanima run into my room, looking disheveled, and out of breath. She said, "The war has begun! Three hours ago, Nimloth took Le Elyanme,(Rainbow) with a spontaneously appearing force of over 100,000 men at arms! The garrison at the Skybridge couldn't hold against such a force, and the minds of the army are now under her control."
I climbed out of the bed , grimacing and asked, "What has the Council done about this?"
Saironellotoron had run in just in time to hear my previous question, and he replied, "Nothing, they are too busy arguing about who should lead the army of Meneltarma."
I was infuriated. "We need to act now!" I retorted, as I ran out of the room and burst into the council chamber. "WHAT ARE YOU DOING!" I bellowed, at the council members, all six of which looked at me in shock.
"We cannot decide on who the army leader should be." Herievamornie replied, "We do not wish for any councilor to have a military advantage over the others."

"Yet we cannot allow a civilian to lead, because they might turn over to Nimloth." Heruellohande said, before turning to Herievamornie and saying, "What would you recommend, Councilor?"

Herievamornie went to respond, but Aranellevanima interrupted her, and my thoughts. "What about Saironelloistya? He has shown himself to be intelligent, loyal, logical, strategically inclined, and resourceful. He completed this quest as our leader, and I will vouch that while he may make mistakes, he will not waste lives lightly, due to his guilt over those mistakes."

I whipped around, and argued, "That is a terrible idea. I got us into this whole mess, and I am just recovering from an injury."

Herulepillin seemed to agree with her though, and replied, "Who better to fight against the power of the gem, than the one who knows the most about it? Your injury will heal soon, so that will not be an issue, and she is right, Saironelloistya. She certainly knows you well enough to make such claims, and I know you well enough to know she speaks the truth. Strategically speaking, I was never able to best you in a game of Battle, and you have never lost any illusion battle practice you have been in."

"What of his ties to you, Herulepillin? How are we sure he won't let you clutch at the strings?" Heruevafairëindemmar said cautiously, trying to find other flaws in this plan.

Heruellohande laughed, and replied, "Heruevafairëindemmar, you have nothing to worry about on that front, as from what Herulepillin tells me. Saironelloistya, has enough difficulty obeying orders from anyone, but himself, and his two friends." She smiled at me, and I blushed.

Heruellohande sat back quietly watching it all unfold while, Heruellovista said, "So you want a general who refuses to obey orders? That doesn't seem strategically wise to me."

"Enough!" Gollorelloleilurambar shouted, pounding his fist on the table. "I am tired of this monotonous discussion! Let us vote and be done with it. All in favour of selecting The Universal Wizard, Saironelloistya, raise your hand now." I looked around in shock, Aranellevanima looked around in awe, and Saironellotoron looked around confused, because he had no idea why every council member was raising their hand.

. . .

An hour later, I was next to my hospital bed, having my measurements taken for my new uniform. I was standing next to a map, of the Land of Quendelie ar Apanónar, and trying to find strategic locations for us to position our troops. "What is our total soldier count?" I asked Gollorelloleilurambar, who was awaiting a message for the council nearby.

"We have just over 250,000 troops. We recently found out that Nimloth has approximately just under 100,000 troops. By all accounts, this war should be over quickly." He replied, looking proud of our army.

"Do not be so sure, Gollorelloleilurambar," I replied, "She has taken over the high ground, and will probably have at least 50,000 soldiers there, making is extremely difficult to conquer. We will need to weaken her force first, and in all hope's, force her to overextend herself. We need to hold our capital, of Meneltarma, but we will need a list of what else she has conquered, so we know where to attack."

"Shall I ask our Divination Councilor to find out for you?" The Councilor asked, but I shook my head no.

"I have my own way of finding out, " I answered, tapping my hand on my blue belt pouch, as he walked out the door. I shut the door and locked it, after ordering the servants to leave, and pulled out the blue box, covered in white flowers. I looked it over intently, noticing the intricate designs and carvings that covered the outside of the box, before I opened it up, and looked at the soft golden hair that filled it up. I carefully took out one strand, and laid it down upon the chest at the foot of my bed. I cast "nar," and watched as the familiar whirling vortex became clear, and Nimloth's face appeared, sitting in the Governor's chair, looking at me.

"I did not expect you to call me, but I knew I would hear from you soon. What is it that you require?" She said casually.

I looked at her familiar face, and couldn't believe that the person who had helped me on my quest, who stood up for me in my Trial about my trials, and even had helped me in my trials, was my newest adversary. "Why?" I repeated, the first time being when she stabbed me.

She turned away, and said "Let's just say that my reasons are not for my own gain, and leave it at that."
I shook my head, and said, "I must know, because otherwise this betrayal is incomprehensible to me. Congratulations on your capturing of the high ground, by the way."

She laughed, a sound that had once warmed my heart, turning it cold with terror. "I believe congratulations are due to you too, Major General of The Oligarchical Army of Meneltarma. Do not think that I would be fooled by you peaceful method of communication. I know you are seeking information, and I am glad to provide it. Ask, and I will attempt to answer."

I gulped. "As it is per to your request." I said, looking her in the eyes. "Where do you plan to attack next?"

She smiled, and said, "It is a place you will recognise, I assure you. Do you remember the city where you gathered the Blade of Osiris, and the Skin of a Shapeshifters?"

I was confused. "The Castle of Chameleons in Helkaluksor? Why would you wish to attack there?"

She grinned mischievously, and said,"The possibilities for usage of an army on Shapeshifters, is nearly unlimited, and taking over the city should be easy, because it's garrison is only 10,000 strong. "

"Why prey on the weak, when the strongest being eliminated would leave you unrivaled?" I asked, curious to her reasoning.

"I will only attack the strong when my victory is certain, and currently it is not. However, it will not be long before we have the strength necessary to defeat Meneltarma, and any resistance force that rises against us."

"That is tactically and strategically logical, but why would you tell me all of this?" I quested, not comprehending her reasoning.

She laughed again, and replied, "Saironelloistya, I do not wish to harm any more people, whether they be elves, men, or dwarves, but while I believe this may be the path of salvation, it is a path to salvation paved with blood. I know, from the tales of your journey that you stored in this gem, that you value human life, and will work to conserve it. That is why I tested to see if I could get you to break the law, by going into the city, but you are too loyal to the councilors of your homeland, to turn with me."

I stopped her. "You mean to betray them. You speak of salvation, but you do not tell me what it is salvation from. What is this evil that bloodshed is advisable, to end it's reign over the Land of Men and Elves? And how did you think I would betray my people, your people, the people of Meneltarma? It would not happen."

"I do not expect you to understand, but the council is corrupt. They often work for their own good, instead of the good of the people. Even your master, Herulepillin, has sought to serve his own means, over the needs or wants of the people. They must be stopped, because the power is corrupting them, and they are my friends, and I would rather see them dead than corrupt." A tear ran down her face, and I noticed something. My emotions were sensing a slight ripple, and it wasn't natural.

"So how long have you been using magic on me, Nimloth?" I ventured, curious to her response.

She looked confused, and I drew my sword. I whipped around to see a young wizard, human, no older than 13, sitting in the room casting a spell on me. I laughed, and sent him out, then I barred the door again. She, however, looked concerned. "Are you sure he won't report this conversation? He doesn't seem to be at an age to comprehend confidentiality."

I laughed, and then realised Nimloth was serious. "Nimloth, I will not kill a 13 year old, regardless of what it means to my own safety."

She grimaced, and as the hair sputtered out, she said, "And that is why you will not defeat me."

. . .

I exited the room I was in, and presented my plan to the council. I explained, "We must maintain the five cities of Meneltarma, Mistaostirion, Cópaostirion(harbour fort), Moinatarminas(safe, secure tower), Esteltumbo(hopes deep valley surrounded or amoung hills.) They are all neccesary to our strategy. We require a port for trade, thus we need Copaostirion. We need a redoubt, a place to retreat to, and hold troops before battle, and strategically, Esteltumbo will be able to be defended best in the land, second only to the Skybridge, so we will have to use that. Mistaostirion we must maintain, because the forest and the city are where the majority of our soldiers families live, and we have to defend them for morale maintence. We need a base near to the Skybridge, but close enough to Meneltarma to provide intelligence on Nimloth's activities. I have chosen Moinatarminas, because it fits this purpose. Finally we need to maintain Meneltarma, our capital, in hopes that we can use this fortress to protect our citizens if all else fails. We need to put the city on lockdown, to protect against Nimloth's new recruits, the Shapeshifters. Finally we will need to order a draft, to all men and boys able to bear arms, and increase our army. I wish to have an army of 350,000 men strong, so I can position 50,000 men at each base. I want to eliminate all of her other forces first, to weaken her army, before we march upon The Elyanme, to limit our loss as much as possible. Any questions?"

"What forts does she currently have?" Herievamornie asked, trying to discern the death counts that would occur.

"We know she has Le Elyanme, and The Castle of Chameleons, and thus all of Helkaluksor. She also has taken the seven small villages surrounding Le Elyanme. Her force is nearly 110,000 strong, and is still growing, by enchantment or extortion, I do not know. I am uncertain to how many troops she will bring to the first battle, but I know she will not leave Le Elyanme undefended, because that is her main base of operations, and it is tactically insurmountable with our current troop count." I answered, admiring her tactics.

"Where do you plan to go first?" Herulepillin asked, looking carefully at the map.

"I personally am going to have all of the ordered troops, go to their assigned villages, which Saironellotoron will be overseeing. Aranellevanima, 50,000 troops and myself, will be engaging in a conquest for the realm of Helkaluksor, starting at the Castle of The Chameleons. We leave in two days, so please order the draft. I must now go an make my appointments." I said, before bowing and walking out.