"Our scouts have spotted the Taker's advance guard," Tu'uua'col said. "How soon will they be here?"
"Within minutes."
"And their numbers?"
"As at Voalidru," Tu'uua'col answered.
"Do you think we can hold them from Naulys?"
The Dukar hesitated. Mirol had remained very true to his calling as a priest until his father had handed him the reins of leadership. As a result, the boy didn't know much about the ways of war and warriors.
"No, my prince. Not without a miracle."
Mirol showed him a brave smile and said, "Exactly what I was praying for. Now let's see if Eadro can deliver."
He took up the trident that had been his father's and swam to the front of the line.
The land around Naulys was hilly, rife with coral reefs. They'd used those reefs to set up ballistae that had been salvaged from surface world ships. The Taker's army came on, the drowned ones at the lead.
Tu'uua'col watched as the first rows of warriors clashed. Priests of Eadro, summoned by Mirol, worked to turn the undead, chanting praises to Eadro. Many of the drowned ones were turned away, leaving the koalinth to bear the brunt of the first attack while their own ranks were broken by the zombies' retreat.
For a moment, confused by the retreating zombies, the koalinth gave ground in the face of the vengeful assault by the merman warriors of three conquered cities who'd managed to join Naulys's defenders. The sheer numbers of the koalinth turned the tide yet again. The merman warriors were slowly driven back.
Tu'uua'col watched, desperately seeking some way out of the situation though he knew there wasn't one. The Taker had planned too well, and the priests had not turned all of the drowned ones. He gazed at the Taker's flagship floating above and behind the koalinth, then noticed the fluttering movement that came in from the north.
The winged shapes sped through the water without warning, and they came by the thousands. They descended on the staggered line of koalinth without mercy.
"What is that?" Mirol asked. He peered into the deeper reaches of the sea.
"Ixitxachitl," Tu'uua'col answered, feeling somewhat better. "Apparently, they decided to join in and retaliate against the Taker."
"It's a miracle," Mirol said quietly.
Tu'uua'col didn't agree, thinking it was more like the demon rays taking advantage of the diversion the mermen provided. As he watched the ixitxachitls swoop in on the koalinth, the Dukar thought the real miracle would be if the demon rays didn't turn on them next.
The merman warriors pressed to the forefront, cutting down koalinth as chance presented itself
"Col," Mirol asked, "do you think there's a chance to form an alliance at Myth Nantar to stand against the Taker?"
"Yes," the Dukar replied quickly.
Excitement flared within him. The merman cities held the largest population in the immediate area around Myth Nan tar. If they took a step to form an alliance he was certain the other races would agree.
"I would like you to start on this immediately after this battle is finished," Mirol said. "Provided we both yet live. I will go with you."
"Of course, Prince Mirol."
Tu'uua'col turned to watch the battle as the koalinth continued to retreat before the savagery of the ixitxachitl. If Myth Nan tar rose again, as was alluded to in some of the legends, the Dukars would also rise once more.
Nine days later, Pacys stood close to the Great Barrier. Senior High Mage Reefglamor and the other High Mages of Sylkiir stood there with the others who agreed to the Nantarn Alliance. After nearly a tenday of hammering out the details, the old bard knew them all. While they'd bickered and argued among themselves, he'd written, adding their songs to the epic that came so readily now to his lips.
The Taker's army had been turned at Naulys, leaving the city intact, though Voalidru was still heavily occupied at the moment. Scouts had also determined that Iakhovas was pulling together reserves from the sahuagin raiding parties and guiding even more of the drowned ones that continued the occupation of the Whamite Isles.
With arms as thick as oak trees crossed over his huge chest, Qos faced the Great Barrier beside the old bard. When he'd first put in his appearance there had been many who had known him.
"Know you this," Qos said in his booming voice, "as we begin this alliance. If any of you who represent your nations and people are not truthful, the Great Barrier will know and it will not open. Only the true interest of saving all of Seros, of seeing Seros once again healthy and whole, will allow the barrier to unlock the City of Destinies."
The faces on the other side of the Great Barrier regarded him solemnly.
"Myth Nantar holds her secrets jealously these days," Qos went on. "She has been betrayed, the ideals she was founded on corrupted. Blood of those who were to make this city their home has run in her streets and scarred the mythal that surrounds it. The Weave will have to be honored and respected for now and for always." He paused. "Else we may lose great Myth Nantar forever."
The rulers and representatives of the world below, the High Mages, and Khlinat all stared through the barrier.
"We will begin," Qos said. "Step forward, place your hand against the Great Barrier, and speak your name."
The crowd hesitated for a moment, then Reefglamor strode forward and pushed his hand to the invisible wall.
"I am Senior High Mage Taranath Reefglamor of Sylkiir, and I am here to see that the City of Destinies is reopened."
Pacys closed his eyes, listening to the vibration the sea elf's voice started within the Great Barrier. The other High Mages followed suit and Pacys listened intently to the changes in the vibration.
"Princess Arina of Eadraal."
"Prince Mirol of Eadraal."
"Tribune Akkys of Vuuvax."
The triton Akkys stood aloof, as all his kind did. He was slightly built compared to the mermen, but everyone in Seros knew not to judge the tritons lightly. They were savage fighters. He wore his shoulder-length blue hair tied back and carried a tapal, the signature weapon of his race, which curved in the middle like a fishhook and seemed to be made of all sharp edges.
Pacys knew that the Vuuvax was of the avenging protectorate within the triton race. His people had undertaken the job of bringing the Great Whale Bard's killer to justice. The triton slapped the Great Barrier forcefully, changing the pitch of the vibration.
"Dukar Gayar," a thin voice said, "Grand Savant of the Third Order and Paragon of the Kupavi Order."
The morkoth had been a surprise but Qos had vouched for him. His touch was soft, hardly changing the vibration at all.
"Lashyrr Maerdrymrn, Grand Savant of the First Order and Paragon of the Numosi Order."
Pacys recognized her as a baelnorn, a once-dead elf returned to life as a guardian for others. Her body had transformed into living pearl upon her acceptance of her destiny. She was pale blue and ivory, and could have been mistaken for an elegant statue. Her hand slapped flatly against the barrier, changing the vibration's pitch more than anyone.
"Keros the Wanderer, of… Seros."
Though the young triton Keros showed hesitation, his voice was strong and clear. The young triton had come to Myth Nantar for reasons of his own and stayed away from the others of his kind.
"Roaoum, subchief of the Tiger Coral tribe."
The locathah's voice was soft and carefully measured. Over the last days he had a habit of not speaking unless he truly had something to say. He and Prince Mirol had been friends for a number of years.
"Khlinat Ironeater," the dwarf said, putting his callused palm against the Great Barrier as well. He stared through the barrier at Pacys. "By Marthammor Duin, I'll stand with ye long as me heart beats and I got me good leg under me."
The roll of names continued until there was only one to go.