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Here it is at long last. Enjoy and review. BTW don't take 2 weeks to review it this time Rigs. 
- Spoiler:
- Blood poured from Surel’s wound.
Surel(thinking): And it still hurts.
But he could not stop fighting. If he stopped, he would most likely just receive another wound. The long pike he carried was good for dispatching foes at a distance, but against a sword up close… well. He was forced into a defensive stance by his opponent, whose bone sword slashed down again and again. Thankfully, the shaft of his pike was fashion from exsidian metal, not just the blade.
An idea saved the Ice warrior. Dodging a powerful downward slash, he pinned the sword to the ground with his foot, then rushed at his adversary with pike held horizontally. They both fell to the ground, Surel on top. Without a second’s hesitation, he unsheathed his dagger from his belt and drove it downward into the gap between his enemy’s chest and shoulder plates. Death came instantly.
Surel let air enter his lungs in large quantities. When he didn’t feel like he was going to pass out, he checked his wound and looked around the battlefield. The fight had died down from a full scale battle to pockets of resistance on the part of the opposing army. Surel spat.
Surel: The Water tribe.
The day before, an Ice tribe trade caravan had wandered dangerously far into the Water Lord’s territory. There was an attack. Not a large force, just enough to terrorize some Agori. Luckily there were Ice warriors accompanying the traders. While digging themselves in, they sent one Glatorian to get reinforcements. By the time they had arrived, forces of the Water tribe had as well. Surel didn’t know how long the battle had lasted. He had been too busy fighting for his life to think about the time. He couldn’t even see the sun because of the smoke and the blood in his eyes. Limping back to where he thought his army’s camp might be, he thought of how much better it would be if they had swifter scouts. An animal on four legs that could run fast, that’s what the Ice Lord needed. Perhaps with the strange liquid they now had, something could be “made” for that purpose. Yes, he would think of something.
The war had begun.
***
If you can imagine the angry, surprised, and/or worried shouts and arguments reverberating in the domed structure that was the Hall or the Great Beings, coupled with what you knew everyone was probably thinking, and knowing that neither was at all pleasant or in the least hopeful, then you have a close picture of what Angonce was going through at the present meeting. He could only hope that Gaia had not lingered outside the chamber in hopes of catching conversation, because it would no doubt jar her sensitive mind into a worse headache than he had.
The topic of discussion was, of course, the battle in plains at the edge of Water province. The bloodshed was unexpected and, in his opinion, unnecessary. Heremus’ voice rose above the others.
Heremus: Despite what has been done today, we cannot lower ourselves to this pointless bickering!
The hall grew silent.
Heremus: *coughs* Thank you. Now, I think we can all agree that while the struggle over this new-found resource in the White Quartz Mountains has brought this to a head, the underlying problem has been the rash leadership of the Element Lords.
Angonce caught a few doubtful glances, but all agreed that this was the most likely cause.
Heremus: So, the question now, is how to deal with them without resorting to their destructive tactics so recently shown. Therefore, I suggest-
Elder: Hold.
Silence reigned again. The Elder, one of the few who had been silent so far, now spoke.
Elder: Before we enter again into the affairs of this world, we must sort out our own. Melkor, stand before us.
Morkoth, who had also said little hitherto, stiffened. But he rose and strode to the low center of the chamber where there were no seats and faced The Elder.
Elder: Morkoth, you were the one who suggested, perfected, and oversaw the experiment that created the six Warlords, were you not?
Morkoth: Yes I was.
Elder: And you were also the one who meticulously handpicked the same beings for that experiment; is this not also true?
A flash of anger came over the lesser Great Being’s face and he opened his mouth as if to reply with a rebuttal. Then he apparently thought better of it and simply nodded.
Elder: You have admitted this before the Assembly. You voluntarily assumed responsibility for your experiment when you accepted the task. It is now because of your project that Agori and Glatorian are dead. It is because of your carelessness of choice in character that this world is now ruled by volatile beings. And it is because of your work that those beings now have the power to decimate worlds.
Angonce could watch the tirade no longer.
Angonce: I apologize, but is this all Morkoth’s fault? Surely we are all at blame for this?
Elder: I understand your feelings Angonce, but in areas of discipline, I have sole responsibility. You are right that Morkoth’s mistakes may not have been intentional, but nevertheless he must face them.
The Elder turned to the one in question.
Elder: Brother, do you wish to say anything for yourself?
Morkoth now looked up, and eyed the room in a sweeping glare. The same flash of resentment that had risen earlier returned to his face.
Morkoth: How can I expect you- any of you to understand real science. I made a breakthrough! And now because that has minor consequences, you cast me out? Well, I welcome it!
Elder: I have said nothing of the sort, Morkoth. But you still must-
Morkoth: I must what? Bow and scrape before you as if I had to ask your forgiveness for a “crime” that I had nothing to do with?
His voice trailed off under the Elder’s gaze, now turned from reluctance and pity to sternness.
Elder: I will not punish you unfairly. That is not our way. But I will do you a service in your punishment. And you have named it for yourself already. Banishment from our order for one thousand years will give you time enough to think of how your carelessness has caused pain and death.
Angonce still thought that was hash, but at least it had not been more. In the end, he agreed that the punishment was fitting for such a blunder as his brother had made.
Morkoth: Then I will leave. Keep your rules and guidelines! May they come crashing down on your heads by year’s end!
The double doors burst open as he hastily left. Angonce sat at the far right of the chamber when coming in, very close to the entrance. Thus, before they automatically closed behind Morkoth, he was able to catch a glimpse of his brother’s face as he exited, as well as Gaia, who had indeed been listening to the events inside the hall; she watched Morkoth pass her swiftly, and then shot a quizzical look at Angonce. He wondered why, and tried remembering what Morkoth had looked like as he left. He suddenly knew what it was. When the banished Great Being had left, he had not been angry as just a few seconds before. He had been smiling.
***
The smiling being laughed as he went through the passageways and out the main tower door. That part of his life was finally dead. It had taken long years to kill it, but now the rest of him was free.
Morkoth(cheerfully): Fools, all of them fools. All their knowledge and supposed wisdom and they can’t even see what is before their faces!
His outburst of rage had all been a charade. The thought humored the banished one for some time. Eventually overcoming his secret glee, Morkoth reminded himself that only the first stage was over and done. More work was still before him. He decided that a talk with the Ice Lord was in order to orient him on what should come next, but only immediately next.
A short teleport put him right in the Ice Lord’s personal chamber, as intended. The Titan started with surprise, then quickly regained his composure.
Ice: You surprise too often. On that subject, I demand to know why I was not warned of the attack on my people’s trade caravan. I had not agreed to this.
Morkoth inwardly laughed at himself again. It seemed that he was the only one who knew the whole picture of what was going on.
Morkoth(thinking): Ah yes, but I am.
Last edited by GoldenTahu on 9th March 2012, 1:05 pm; edited 8 times in total
