<HTML> Battle Lines Metamor Keep    "What do you have to report, Misha?"    The battle-scarred fox rose and walked to the far end of the table, opposite Lord Thomas, his eyes hard and determined. Between the Long Scout and the Duke sat Father Hough, Raven, Rickkter, and Daria, on either side of the table in Hough's study. Daria was frankly feeling a little out of place among such important leaders, but the Duke had requested her presence personally.    "After interrogating our prisoners from the fight with the Shadow Bringers, we've learned the location of the enemy's command center," Misha said, gripping the edge of the table and leaning over the map that lay atop it. "There is a group of five high-ranking mages operating out of Barracks One, here.  According to our sources, these mages are acting as the commanding officers for the entire assault. They're led by General Selig, one of Nasoj's old veterans. The mages are an unknown quantity, but the lutin I know. He's a very dangerous enemy."    "And now that Kyia has been freed, they are cut off from most of their forces," Raven added. "All of the gates and doors have been sealed. Nothing can get in or out."    "How many troops does the enemy still have in the Keep itself?" Thomas asked.    "We aren't entirely sure," Misha admitted. "Our best estimates indicate perhaps four hundred human troops, eight or nine hundred Lutins, and a small number of support units." He gestured at the map. "Of those troops, a mixed force of about three hundred is assaulting the Long House. The rest have withdrawn to the barracks itself, probably expecting an attack."    "Why are they only attacking Long House?" Rickkter asked interrupting the fox.    "Evidently Nasoj thinks that Long house is important enough to expend so much effort to take," Misha replied.    "Why?" Hough asked. "What could be so valuable?"    "Metamor holds many treasures," Raven answered enigmatically. "Some more valuable then others."    Misha nodded in agreement but said nothing.    "If they are expecting an attack, then let us be sure we don't disappoint them," the Duke said evenly, changing the subject. He folded his hoof-like hands above the table and looked at the fox. "How many of our soldiers can you rally for this assault, Misha?"    The fox looked pensive for a moment. "Based on what we've seen while scouting ... perhaps two hundred regulars, another three hundred reserves and militia. The dire wolves may or may not help us, but I'll be satisfied as long as they aren't helping Nasoj. In terms of manpower, we have enough people to make it a decent fight. Our chain of command is in shambles, though, Sire -- I can't guarantee that we'll be able to pull off anything elaborate."      The stallion twitched his ears in an expression of mild amusement. "Close-quarters combat in a confined area is seldom elaborate, Misha. Just do the best you can. I want every able-bodied soldier available to be a part of this."      "Aye, sir. They'll be there."      "Good. What's your plan of attack?"    Misha pointed on the map to a small room adjacent to Barracks One. "This guard room provides the most direct access to the barracks. It will be heavily guarded, but because of its size they won't be able to fit very many troops inside. There is another door at the other end of the barracks, but it usually leads to a small, narrow corridor that connects the barracks to the officers' quarters. It also leads to one of the small access doors to the outside of the Keep -- a bolt-hole for the officers -- but as Raven said, that door is sealed. Effectively, the enemy has shut itself into a den it can't get out of. He has nowhere to retreat to. That's good and bad. The enemy can't escape but it also means they have no choice but to stand and fight to the death."    "Messy work," Daria murmured.    The fox nodded soberly. "This will be knife work, close and bloody. Very bloody, especially with wizards involved. Fortunately, the close quarters will keep them from using any large area-effect spells."    "What concerns me is that the troops attacking Long House could come back and attack us from behind," Thomas gave Raven a serious look. "Lightbringer, can you assure us that Lady Kyia will keep that from happening?"    "She will," the wolf-woman said, eyes glittering coldly. "Kyia hates these intruders as much as we do, my liege. She can keep them running in circles forever, if need be."    "That will help," Misha nodded. "Once we kill the leaders, the rest will panic and we can kill them at our leisure."    "What about the enemy forces outside the Keep?" Daria asked. "I realize they can't get in, but they could set up a siege and wait for reinforcements to arrive."    "What's the status of our own reinforcements?" Thomas asked.    "They could be here at any moment," Raven answered. "Now that the storm has lifted, they should be making good time. Once they arrive any attempt at a siege will be impossible."    "I still haven't seen any sign of help from the Mages' Guild," Misha added, "but that doesn't mean they aren't here."    The duke nodded. "We shall just have to hope they can take care of the forces outside, while we deal with those within. Continue, Misha."    "Aye, sir. Once the guard room is clear we will place the reserves and militia forces just outside it and muster our regulars here and here" -- he pointed to two spots along the left side of the barracks -- "along with most of our spell casters and archers. The remaining mages and archers will form a line at the main entrance, inside the guard room. "When the signal is given, we'll open the front doors and the spell casters and archers will begin firing at the enemy. At the same time, Daria will use her Key to open holes in the wall at these points, and our ranged attackers there will set up a crossfire to eliminate as many of the enemy as quickly as possible." "Will they be targeting the mages or the regular troops?" Daria asked. "Primarily the regulars. For one thing, there are a lot more of them, and a dozen trained men with swords are as good as one mage in this sort of close-in fighting. For another thing, the mages will probably have shield spells to protect them from any direct attacks. We'll be better off using the mana where it will count. Plus I have a plan to get rid of the mages." "All right," Thomas said. "How long do you plan to use the mages like this before pulling them back?" "As long as they can keep the enemy at bay," Misha said. "Once they start getting drained, we'll pull them back and send in our foot soldiers. The archers will stay by the entrance points and scout for targets of opportunity. "What about the Mages?" Rickkter asked. "They need to be removed quickly."    "I intend to take out the general and most of the mages at the start."    "How?"    "If they stay true to form," fox explained. "We'll find General Selig and the five commanding mages together in one, very well protected spot in the center. It won't be hard for the Longs to get in and kill them."    "How?" Daria asked. "They'll be in the surrounded by all those Lutins."    "I have a plan," Misha said confidently but without explaining. "We'll take him by surprise and kill them all before they can put up any resistance."    Thomas nodded. "You make it sound easy."    "It won't be," the fox said quietly sitting down in a chair. He leaned back and closed his eyes. As Daria watched the energy seemed to drain out of Misha. He looked very tired and haggard.    "Are you all right?" The Duke asked.   "Just tired," the vulpine said the weariness in his voice confirming the words.    "We're all tired Misha," the stallion commented.   "Llyn dead, Lisa - crippled, Ralls, injured and now Kershaw down. I'm running short of people. I need some help. More people. I wish George was here."    "How many do you need?" The stallion asked.    "I could use one person, very good with a bow and sword."    "I know of someone," Raven said. "He just came to the temple a few hours ago. A fine hunter by the name of Padraic."    Misha opened his eyes and seemed to perk up. "A brown rabbit from Ellingham?" he asked.    "You know him?"    "George and I have had our eyes on him for a while. Having him would be perfect," the fox explained.    "I'll inform him as soon as I return to the temple," Raven answered.    "Thank you. It would greatly help us if she could do that."    "What about you, Madam Lightbringer? What are your plans for this battle?" Thomas asked. "Sister Merai and I shall deal with the two remaining Moranasi," the priestess replied smoothly. "I expect them to be in the barracks with the commanders, but if they should try to escape we will be ready for them." Father Hough gave her a quizzical look. "I thought you said the Keep was sealed. How could they escape?" Raven flicked one of her ears. "The old texts say that the Moranasi are extremely resourceful. They have spells that will enable them to escape almost any prison, though they are quite draining and used only in dire circumstances. They could escape through even a sealed door, though they could not take anyone with them." The seeming-boy frowned. "Then why haven't they escaped already?" The Lightbringer smiled thinly. "Most likely because they still suspect they can win. If they retreat now and Nasoj's forces still manage to achieve victory, they will be disgraced before their master -- both for their cowardice and for allowing their four apprentices to die without retribution. If they wait until the Enemy is conclusively defeated, then they live to fight another day and lose nothing." "But if they can escape so easily, how will you stop them?" Hough persisted. Raven's smile grew wider and more mysterious. "We have our ways," she replied cryptically. "Our key advantage in all of this," Misha said, "is the enemy's overconfidence. They didn't expect us to be able to do half of what we have already done. They certainly didn't expect Daria's Key -- and thank Eli that Kee brought it here in the first place -- and they probably aren't expecting whatever the Lightbringers have in store for them, either. I think that we should strike now -- tonight, if possible -- so that we can end this before they have a chance to come up with a new plan." Thomas sat in silence for a few moments, then nodded. "Agreed. We shall not get a better opportunity than this." He looked up at the others. "Do what you have to do ... and may all the gods smile on us tonight." "One thing," Misha said interrupting the duke. There was a cold light in his eyes that made Daria shiver. "I need to make this perfectly clear. We are dealing with the leaders of this attack. Some of the most foul, vile and evil people alive. This is a battle of no quarter. No quarter asked, and none given. When the fighting starts, kill everything that lives," the fox said in a cold, heartless tone. "Take no prisoners." "Misha, we are not cruel monsters," the duke countered. "We aren't, but our enemies are," the fox replied. "We have to destroy them utterly, wipe them out of existence." He held up a dagger its steel blade blackened to show no reflection. "To do that we have to be as hard and cold as steel. We won't get another chance. We win or loose with this battle." ~0~ A solemn air filled the temple as a long procession emerged from the Archives and filed out into the hallway outside. It was all very different from before. There were no speeches this time, no ceremonies -- just the business of war, being carried out with quiet efficiency for the first time since the battle began. The Longs and the remaining members of Daria's otrinca squad had searched as much of the castle as time allowed, and dozens of ranking officers had been brought back to the temple to lead the mustering army. As Merai walked quietly with the rest of the group, she observed that there would be few people left in the temple when they departed. Lord Thomas was calling every able-bodied man and woman in Metamor to battle. She looked up at her father, Dana, who was wearing his studded leather armor and carrying a long sword along with his expander bow. The man's gray eyes were serious and determined. She thought back to the time several days ago when Misha had turned him down for a place on Daria's team, saying that he was needed more as a father than a fighter. Now, it seemed, he would be called upon to fight anyway. "Da?" she said softly. He looked down at her, smiling gently. "Aye, honey?" Merai grimaced, clenching her teeth and trying to force back the rush of fear that ran through her. "Be careful. Please?" Dana reached out and hugged his daughter tightly. "I shall," he said. Wordlessly, they drew out of the embrace and continued walking. In the flood of people, no one noticed the gray wolf slinking out the door behind them. ~0~ ~0~ Adept Mistress Thryza prowled the edges of the barracks hall like a caged animal, nurturing her hatred into a quiet, simmering rage. The target of her anger was virtually irrelevant, and shifted with each passing step: The Horse-King who had dared to defy Lord Ba'al's chosen servant. Nasoj himself, for his idiotic misjudgment of the Keepers' abilities. Grand Master Polteen, for bringing her and her apprentices with him on this fool's errand. Rankin and Stenger, for allowing themselves to be killed by mundane warriors -- and most of all, the Keepers who had slain them, putting to waste the years of training she had invested in them. The hatred churned and writhed inside her like a living thing, and with each passing moment it drew more of the Dark Prince's power into herself. She would need every ounce of power she could get, Thryza thought bitterly, as she pushed aside an ogre who had gotten in her way. The towering brute reeled under the impact and fell to the floor, but it did not dare to make a sound in protest. In a way, Thryza found that a little disappointing. She would have liked the excuse to torture something right about now. The door at the back of the hall opened and General Selig walked in, his little band of pet wizards following close behind. Thryza immediately veered to intercept them. "Hail, General Selig! I trust the cowering is proceeding to your satisfaction?" she sneered. Selig glared daggers at her. He was big for a lutin, nearly as tall as she, and lately he had started refusing to bow his head before her. Maybe someone had finally told him that _he_ was the one in charge of this debacle. Then again, maybe it was just that he didn't find her so imposing after she and her fellow Moranasi had been humiliated by a motley band of Keepers. "This 'cowering', as you call it, is our best chance of preserving our foothold in the castle, _Mistress,"_ Selig said, his voice making clear how little value he placed on her title. "The Keepers must now make a choice: death now, or death later. If they attack us here, with our forces concentrated in one place, they will be crushed. If they postpone their attack, we will hold their castle under siege until the Dark Lord himself arrives." Thryza frowned. "Nasoj is coming here?" "We received word yesterday evening that another three thousand troops are coming to reinforce us," the mage Thorne said, standing impassively behind Selig. The Moranasi scoffed. "And you didn't tell him what's happened? We're _losing,_ you idiots!" "Do not take the failure of your mission to mean the failure of ours," Selig retorted. "We still hold every inch of ground we held before." "But now that ground can slip through your fingers like sand!" The lutin smiled thinly. "The Keep cannot take us anywhere if we do not choose to move. When the Dark Lord arrives, he will penetrate Metamor's defenses and the rest of our troops will storm the castle. Nothing will save the Keepers then." Thryza shook her head. "You're a bunch of damned fools, all of you. Once I take care of the ones that killed my pupils, I'm going to sit back and enjoy watching you die." "We shall see, Mistress," Selig said, walking past her toward his chair in the middle of the room. The mages followed him, single file, all of them pointedly ignoring her murderous gaze. Thryza turned her perceptions outward, sensing the hostile, swirling thoughts of the Keep itself -- and somewhere, not far away, the minds of approaching Keepers, ready to fight. "We certainly shall," she whispered. **** End part 69</HTML>