Chapter 20

 

Ala Batzul an Valdarmare

 

Which is:

The Battle of Valdarmare

 

he saviour of Barline from the evils was in theory a joyous thing for its people. but there was only remorse for the great losses that had been inflicted upon the peoples of that land. But the greatest grief to be long remembered was that of Hiare Minabair. Many may know what it is like to lose a child, but none save a Mina would have to live with that grief for all eternity, remembering it as if it had happened just moments ago. She had never felt such grief before, and never would another grief surpass that. Even the loss of Avternain paled against this, and for several days after the loss none could even speak to her. She was frozen in grief, and wild in her anger. None could calm her from that, and none could even speak to her as battle continued. But when the battle within Barline were all but won she came finally to her senses, and for the first time she contemplated what had happened, and she fell headlong into her loss. She was aided back to Var’bylar, where she spent several worrying days falling into a deep depression. Then Viler came to Var’bylar to meet her. He had not been seen for some time, and his words, though marked with grief, were smothered the more in anger.

“Hiare, it is over now,” he said, “I am leaving for home.”

Hiare, who was still in a swoon of grief, was slow to respond to his words, “what do you mean leaving? Is there not a war to be fought?”

“I said I was leaving, it is all over now, I and others are returning home.” He replied.

Hiare shrugged, “I do not agree Viler, but you are a free spirit as am I, so why dose you come to tell me that you are returning to Minarand?”

“I do not mean to Minarand Hiare” he answered, “I am returning unto Latanzhear, our real home, and I am taking those who wish to leave with me.”

These words awoke Hiare from her swoon, for she was utterly aghast, “you cannot mean you are abandoning Bair Viler? What about our duty to this world, are you not a Mina?”

“Duty!” he cried, “what greater duty is there Hiare than to your family? Our son is dead as is our great grand child! Is your duty not to your family? Or is it else for those who you neither know and are not of our race?”

“How can you say such?” she cried, “We were entrusted the safety of this world. Would you abandon your name in the face of the enemy?”

“Arillirus wants only this world Hiare,” Viler cried, “I say he should have it if our people survive!”

“A shallow soul is a shallow mind Viler,” she said,” how can you decree such when your child’s closest friend was one of a different race?”

“I did not chose his friend Hiare,” he said, “and I did not chose that you brought him to this land. I grieve greatly for the loss of our son Hiare, but I would grieve the more should our entire race be lost to Arillirus. I am leaving Hiare, and you must follow.”

“Never Viler!” she cried, “for I care for lives other than my own. I care for the millions that would be lost if we would abandon them, so I swear now that I shall never abandon Bair until the end, and shall remain so that I am Minare!”

Viler shook his head, “your words are folly Hiare,” he said, “and it is indeed over now. My fairwells have been said Hiare, farewell!”

And with those words Viler turned from her and went to leave the room. But Hiare said to him one last decree. “I am free of you now Viler, for you abandon the world you abandon me also. No longer are we husband and wife. I am alone to chose both my destiny and my love as are you. Remmber that viler the cowardly, we are separate for ever!”

Hiare did not know what these words would one day mean, but as she said, then so it was. Hiare never after retained any tie to Viler save only her decendants. She never again loved viler. She spoke of him as a friend, but never as her love. She thought that he had betrayed both her and the world, he thought that she had given all her love to a alien people. both were right perhaps, or maybe both were wrong.

 

In any case after Viler left that room in the great hall in Barline, he was never seen again upon Bair, and with him went a host of Minare who were of like mind as he. Those who were never truly in love with the world, perhaps a fifth of all that people. But none of his family followed him away from the world, for all loved Bair as the land of their birth and their home. Only one of his family, Rathninear had been of a like mind as he, but he had fallen also. Thus Viler departed, leaving all his remaining family to face the menace of the world as they could on their own.

 

In the early days of the nine hundred and twenty seventh year, with the Orglag having lost their hold upon Tal Avin, Hiare returned from her distraught hiding with a new and greater conviction to the world. In the time which had passed Rikal was trying to begin the reorganisation of the Ezleg armies with the aid of Iviseal. But Rikal was spending also a lot of time with his daughter Glimlith, and with his wife Elnya, who was expecting their second child. Iviseal however, with his brother Nathire, was doing more volatile and exhaustive work on reforming the armies. For all knew that they must take the initiative and strike back, but as it stood the Ezleg were in no shape to do so. For the over half a million Ezleg who had launched the offensive against Arillirus, perhaps a hundred thousand or more fell in battle before Tal Avin had finally fallen. Whole companies had been lost utterly with no survivors in barren places. But of all that would reform those armies, there were none better than Iviseal and Nathire, both of whom wanted to se the downfall of Arillirus more than any others save perhaps only Hiare, for her son was their father. Their mother was also with them in such thoughts, for she would not forsake Bair either, even though her love had been lost.

 

In these days as Barline was prepared once more for battle, the Second war of Zandline came to an end also. For soon those forces who had remained in Glimer to end the war did their duty by assaulting the remaining Orglag who had camped in Glimer Baraz and breaking them they poured into Zandline driving all the Orglag before them. In the meantime forces form Arakline had quickly drove the Orglag out of Arakline and had relieved Tal Valric. Then they marched on the ruins of Zavaner Zar, where the Orglag had held out for a time. Ten days after the ruins were stormed as the Ezleg drove the last remaining Orglag into the tunnels beneath. Thus fell Zandline once more to the Ezleg, but the fall of Zavaner Zar and Zandline did not have the effect as it had done so long before, for since then many things had changed, and it did not seem such a great victory. But the forces that had been victorious there could not rest, for they had to travel in great haste to Var’nue to defend against the Orglag that had fled into Maitherel, and if possible, drive them out.

 

Through the wars in Barline and the Vrolevili realms the land of Daizagul had become almost a shadow land. The land was abandoned to the darkness save only a few Ezleg who remained in the foot hills of the Avinkazag, for the most part the Daizalpelari had fled into Arakline, leaving their realm to naught. But amidst that darkness there still remained a glimmer of light. For deep within the forests of Galir Vinotz there still remained a force of Ezleg fighting the foe, a desperate band in a desperate land they were, who were led by Naglos Minabair. His band, being the remnants of the Daizalpelari rearguard whom he had led in their flight, were now a very feared band in that land. When they were cut off in the nine hundred and twenty fourth year they were five hundred strong, but by this time, nearly three years later, there were scarcely fifty left to continue their fight. But despite their lack of numbers they never let a single Orglag in Daizagul rest easily. Like ghosts they came against them, they killed, and they fled. They were warriors who were without hope, and they killed only to stay alive, and that is what they became, killers, not soldiers. It is said that in that time Naglos was ever changed to a grimmer nature, the more so when he felt his parents die. Scare rumour of their deeds had come west during the wars, but soon rumour was rife in Bairgarand of the Ala-Xlandurek, which is “The Revenger’s”. this name they took, for it inspired fear unto the Orglag, who soon would not stand against the command of Naglos.

 

By the early days of Elmëgezar of that year, the Ezleg Armies had been prepared in Barline. With them now stood nigh on all the minare who had remained on Bair, and also those of the Bythar that were loyal. By the time that the army marched to war, it numbered at least a million souls, making it the greatest alliance ever forged by those loyal upon Bair. And yet not one soul in that army could guess whether or not they were ever to see their home again, or even be victorious through what would follow. But each and ever one there was willing to give their life to save Bair, and alas, many indeed would in that which followed.

 

Thus what later became known as the first coalition passed through Marair Baraz as Elmëgezar was ending. They expected to have to fight for the far end of the pass, but instead found they found Daizagul all but devoid of the foe. They knew then that Arillirus would not just come to their great army, and that their campaign would be difficult. There at once Namlos asked leave of Hiare, and he departed out into the night to seek his brother. But none else left that force, and soon the army would begin its first battles in Daizagul.

 

For Arillirus, then still blind to the forces he faced save only in the vaguest notions of numbers, struck after a few days towards Marair Baraz, with the intent of cutting the Ezleg off from Barline. His mistake was that over three hundred thousand Ezleg, a third of the force stood there, and his forces were less than that by far. Arrows broke the Orglag attack and spears drove them back and both Ezleg and Mina fell upon them as they fled. Few could escape the Minare, and the force was crushed. So far it had thus gone well, and at that time none could see any reason to fear the foe, believing them broken apart form years of war in Barline.

 

It was a few days after the battle that Namlos entered Galir Vinotz seeking his brother. The winds covered any tracks, but after a few days he came upon an abandoned camp. It was long abandoned and he was about to leave when a spear was placed against his neck from behind. A weary voice said, “Where fairest you from stranger? None come to these lands but Orglag any longer.”

“Only one who seeks his brother would come,” said Namlos, who turned around.

It was an Ezlag who stood there, dirtied by many grief’s. But upon seeking the Mina’s face he raised an amazed expression, and asked, “Would you be Namlos son of Rathninear?”

“That I am,” Namlos replied, “and I can tell that you follow my brother. In which case I would hope that you would take me to him.”

“That I can my lord,” said the Ezlag, and I shall asked forgiveness for my action.”

“do not worry,” said Namlos, “One cannot be to careful in a land such as this, but now then, on to my brother, I must see him in haste.”

 

It was some hours later that they came upon a small clearing in which sat several Ezleg in worn garb, and a hooded figure of much less height than they.

“Hail Xlandur,” called Namlos, “a fitting title it is indeed to those who would follow my brother.”

The Hooded figure quickly turned and cast back their hood, revealing the pale face of Naglos. “Brother?” he exclaimed, getting hastily to his feet, “Namlos!” he cried, falling into his bothers embrace. Namlos let off a little shiver. For though Naglos seemed at first sight as he always had, there was something different about him. His eyes were heavy with remorse and anger and worse still, hate.

“I feared that you had died,” said Naglos almost in tears, “I feared that you might have died like our mother and father.”

“It was not so, but they were not alone, for Ivonwe our forefather died also, with many others besides,” said Namlos.

“A bad time for those who would seek he unknown brother,” said Naglos.

“But brother I come with important news for you to hear.” Said Namlos, and they both sat and he began to tell his tale.

Thus was told of all that which had happened that were known to Namlos. The siege of Var’bylar, the death of Ivonwe and their parents, and finally the march into Daizagul.

“Thus we need your help brother, Namlos asked, “there will be need for all when battle is drawn.”

“We are but fifty tired soldiers here brother,” Naglos replied, “But I cannot refuse you, we shall aid as we can, let us go west now, and rejoin our kin, Ezleg and Mina alike.”

 

In the meantime the campaign had gone on apace. Arillirus would not let himself believe that he was in retreat, and relentlessly attacked the Ezleg army, but to little avail. The Orglag, whatever their numbers, could not break the Ezleg forces, which fell upon each force in turn. Then Hiare and Iviseal opened an assault upon the Alman Mina, striking north with a hundred thousand Ezleg with Hiare at their head. Thus they turned Arillirus’ flank, and threatening his retreat across the Rikelanear. In response he pulled back all his forces towards the lake of Valdarmare, where he could be reinforced form across the Rikelanear. Here he had prepared to fight his battle, but all was stopped by the early coming of the Vrozar storms. No army could march for some time, and both camped less than ten miles apart near the lake of Valdarmare.

 

In these colds Namlos, Naglos, and the few surviving warriors began their march south to the Ezleg armies. But when they left Galir Vinotz they found great forces of Orglag assembling, perhaps a third of a million in all, a force which could swing the war in the west. Namlos and Naglos both saw that they must stop this force, or else delay it as long as possible, else they would come to Arillirus’ aid. Thus they launched a raid on the force, killing few, but causing great confusion that would have halted the Orglag for half a day or more. Then they had to fight a battle that could not be won, for fifty Ezleg soldiers and two Minare had to stop three hundred thousand Orglag. Few could have ever done such as they did in that time.

 

It was in the very first days of the nine hundred and twenty eighth year that the Ezleg army began to prepare for battle. The snows still littered the ground, but no more was now falling. All were tired, and all were weary. But amidst the many thousands walked the loan figure of Hiare Minabair. She had decided to share in the grief of those who would follow her. She did not know of Namlos’ plight, nor that many forces had already joined Arillirus over Vrozar. But even if she did know that Namlos needed aid, she would not have gone to him, for now there was only one creature in all of Bair that she wanted to fight. She did not have long to wait it seemed, for they soon came within sight of the lake of Valdarmare, and thus face to face came both the greatest armies ever gathered upon Bair.

 

 For across from the Ezleg army there stood Orglag in their many hundreds of thousands. Nikarin stood before them uncounted, and Ukarak in their many hundreds who were guarding their masters. To match the million Ezleg who were gathered over the front, Arillirus had gathered a force of over two million of his beasts, and he still waited for many thousands more from the east. But Arillirus was not to flee in the face of his enemies once again, and with all his fallen along side him, his great armies charged forth over a fifty mile front to gain victory or else die trying.

 

The Ezleg armies, undeterred by the great numbers of their enemies, marched forth in order, brandishing their great spears. All there knew that defeat would mean the fall of Bair to Arillirus, and this meant that even if their moral was low, their determination was supreme.

 

The two forces clashed in their greatest strength by the shores of the lake, and thus began Batzul Valdarmaread, the Battle of Valdarmare, the largest ever single battle that was ever fought upon Bair, for in those fifty or so miles there fought three million beings. The Ezleg at first gained the upper hand, their ordered ranks brought the first ranks of the Orglag down entire. But soon that order was lost utterly amongst the chaos and al battle of pure attrition it soon came to be.

 

In amidst the chaos of the battle Hiare Minabair fought on like all the others. Many Orglag fell dead at the slightest glance of her sword, but she was not there to slay mere Orglag. But she could not see her true quarry anywhere. But as the waded through the battle she found one being whom she hated nigh as much as Arillirus. For ahead, wielding a great mace and garbed in a black cloak, was Arsgul. Hiare smiled a weary smile and cried so that Arsgul could hear her, “Arzare!, come face me now fallen, or else do you fear a lowly Mina?”

Arsgul, looked down and saw Hiare, and cried, “Hiare, it shall be a pleasure to destroy a meddling Mina like you!”

Arsgul then strode towards Hiare, and Hiare cast down her sword and cast herself into the sky as a great eagle, and then beside her stood Hifylar, whom Hiare was glad to see by her side. Together they went forth to fight the evils.

 

Arsgul was the first to strike, swinging wildly at Hiare who was flying towards her. Then Hifylar attacked, and Arsgul, loosing sight of Hiare, parried Hifylar’s blows fearsomely. But whilst they fought Hiare descended upon her, and she marred Arsgul’s face unto blindness, so that she became easy prey for Hifylar’s sword, who cried, “End now fallen!” and he struck her then unto her end, and there arose a great wail of agony, and Arsgul’s body fell unto the sodden ground. But from the body there arose a black mist as her spirit was thrust back unto Latanzhear, never to return to Bair less the holder of the Nathurihlain ruled it so. Thus ended Arzare the fallen, and the world did not grieve for her, and only one being ever did at all.

 

Arillirus was far distant when Arsgul died, and yet he knew of it at once, and a greater anger that he had ever before felt fell upon him, and he charged wildly unto her body to gain revenge for his loss unbearable.

 

The battle in that time had turned into a slaughter unimaginable, for the Ezleg would not flee, and the Orglag, believing in their numbers, would not do so either. The lake had by now ran red with blood, for it had been fought over many times in but a short while. The banks were now clogged with the dead. Whilst the Ezleg still fought for the lake all could see the wild charge of Arillirus as he ran through the waters from the north to face Hiare and Hifylar. The fighting lulled around the lake as all watched the battle of such adversaries.

“Vengeance Arillirus!” cried Hiare, “an eye for an eye indeed it is now!”

“Then I shall have to take yours Hiare,” said Arillirus almost in a snarl, and then it began.

Hiare and Hifylar rushed into the water, their swords blazing in the morning light, and they all clashed with great power indeed. But Arillirus cast back Hifylar into the water, and he could have gained the sceptre, but now his mind was seeking revenge. He disarmed Hiare, and grabbed her by the neck and lifted her up, “Now I have you Hiare,” he said, “and your life.”

But then a cry came up from the Ezleg ranks, “Down with Arillirus!” they cried. And seeing their greatest friend in danger, they rushed into the water with out any direction, and were to bring their swords to bare upon him. And for the first time Arillirus saw the utter determination of the mortals, and for the first time he feared them. he dropped Hiare there, and fought his way out of the water to the east, suffering many wounds, but surviving to escape. And the Ezleg, now with great fire in their hearts, charged onward to the Orglag on the far side.

 

The battle was far from over yet, but with their leader abandoning them and one of their generals dead the Orglag began to lose heart. It was far from easy for the Ezleg, they were after all attacking a force of far greater strength, and the Orglag did not truly break until the end. But by the end of the day the Orglag were either in flight or being driven away. And when they came to the crossing of the Rikelanear, they found the bridge broken, for Namlos and Naglos had reached there before the Orglag, and had destroyed the bridge, leaving the Orglag no choice but to swim the river. Namlos and Naglos and their host fought all that made the crossing, but still their numbers were great, and many of Naglos’ small force were lost. but they had revenged there the fall of Daizline, and of the two million Orglag who had fought at Valdarmare, less than a hundred thousand escaped, making it the greatest victory the Ezleg ever had, but at what a cost.

 

For there in that battle there were slain the like of which had never been seen before., nor ever again. For of the million or so Ezleg who came to that battle, well over two fifths had died, nigh four hundred thousand souls lost upon that day. Among those lost were some of the great names of the time. Beldaril, Nomleagth’s granddaughter fell leading her people, leaving her young daughter Neldarnil to the rule of Oralath there after. Also fell Minbair, the smith of Glimer, who drowned in the lake in saving Hiare. He was succeeded by his only son, Hoek. Another who fell was Tralik, Nimraphel’s husband, who was then greatly aged, but chose to fight in any case. But the greatest loss was Rikal, the lord of Barline. For he had fallen alongside Minbair in saving Hiare from Arillirus. Hiare ever blamed herself for those two deaths thereafter. Elnya was left without her husband, and was with Rikal’s second child at the time. Only Glimlith and her yet unborn brother Glimlad remained from the descendants of Avternain, leaving the house which had flourished under Mikealar, a ruin unto itself.

 

The sadness that came from the battle of Valdarmare passed through all the Ezleg peoples through the ages, for despite th4e victory, it was not utterly complete, for Arillirus had escaped once more. And because the siege of Xland could not be made again, only war could persist with him until he was finally to be defeated.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter 21

 

An Ala Dure Pelar aigaz ala Batcul ala…

 

Which is:

Of the middle peoples and the war of the twins

 

N the years following the battle of Valdarmare the Ezleg peoples found themselves almost shadows of what they had been before the great wars. So many had died that many parts of southern Barline were never to be inhabited again. The Vrolevili had suffered much the less in the wars, and still remained strong and proud in their armies strength to endure. But the Elybylar saw the whole war as the breaking of Barline’s heart. But neither did they give up completely either, as shall be seen.

 

As for the other battle that took place when Valdarmare was fought, Namlos and Naglos became heroes for what they had done. For of the three hundred thousand Orglag, not one had reached the sight of Battle, for Namlos and his brother had destroyed the bridge across the Rikelanear, stopping the Orglag from fleeing Valdarmare, or else let the second army come to their aid. But amidst the victory few noticed that of those fifty Ezleg who had fought with the two brothers, only eight had survived their ordeal. But still the two Mina were praised. Namlos though did not take himself as some great hero, rather as one who had merely done his duty. But Naglos took the praise as it came, something he one humble Mina would never have done. Namlos knew it was his brothers experiences in Daizagul that had done this too him, and though their love for each other as brothers did not abate, their friendship as mere friends did then somewhat.

 

In the meantime, Daizagul was not granted it peace as yet. For though Alndril re-established Daizline once again, the realm never again truly encompassed Galir Vinotz, for the lands to the east of the Rikelanear were never truly retaken. Only Tal Anganark and the lands around it remained long in the control of the Daizalpelari on the eastern side of the river. Occasionally the Daizalpelari did cross the river and settle in their old homes, but before long they were driven out by the prowling Orglag, and were thus forced back into Lavados. This was not completely so further to the south, where Iviseal once more took charge of the defence once more. At times his forces held all of Dinea Ardi and much of Alizin Gthani, and at other times they went so far as to hold parts of Dure Dinea. But these lands were not settled in any longer, but were held only for defence, and many times over the next century they were often abandoned and the Ezleg armies were forced to flee back to the Rikelanear. Iviseal never again left the siege lines save once only, for he wanted now only to kill Arillirus in vengeance for his father. But for the best part of the next two centuries, the Orglag, though they were present in east Daizagul in large numbers, they were not under the control of Arillirus, and thus they but raided the Rikelanear or any other place where they Ezleg defended, and only rarely massed together to drive the Ezleg back. The reason for this was later known to be Arillirus’ grief, for he had indeed lost on dear to him, and his lost incapacitated him for many a year, giving Bair peace from his malice for a long time.

 

In Bairgarand in that time many things began to change indeed. For as Daizagul had for the most part come under the control of the enemy, now part of this land had done so also. For, as has been told, the Orglag who fled the defeats in the north had fled across the Litheren and founded the realm of Doroline in the land of Maitherel. Soon the Orglag had gained strength enough to begin raiding back across the Litheren. As told, and army was sent against them, but they had succeeded only in clearing Nueline of the foe. Thus, with the Ezleg armies for a time either far distant or else spent, the realm grew apace. By the turn of the millennium all of Maitherel was part of this realm, as well as the Ephelt Gul across the Litheren. But it was because of this realm, which was placed on the western most fringes of the populated lands, that two long lost Ezleg peoples were for the first time revealed, for they had to battle this realm also. The first of those people were those who were rumoured to have survived the long winter in Zand Zlavind when all others had fled. Rumours of them had persisted since the last day any had fled there in the early years. But now rumours became more common and the tales of those who came clothed only in white into battle spread abroad. But the second of those peoples was of greater significance, for there had been scarce even rumour of them since the day they had left. For this was the people who had fled the summons of Hiare under the leadership of one Valwe. No rumour had been heard of them for nigh a thousand years, but now, with the realm of Doroline across their southern border, they came back into the knowledge of the world. Some tales spoke of warriors who never spoke a word in battle, or to any they had ever seen form the lands beyond their own. But they were only ever seen to fight the realm of Doroline, which was still over eight hundred miles from Var’nue at the very closest in the hills of the Ephelt Fren. Little was it known that Avaner and Namlos, travelling the north together for a time, found that realm nigh the end of the first millennium, but bowing to the unspoken wishes of hat people, they did not speak a word of it, and though they knew little of the people in Zand Zlavind, for they refused to return to that place, they decided to leave both those unspoken peoples to their own devices.

 

But as the millennium came a far greater change occurred, for on that year, three Minare sat atop the mountains of the eastern Avin Mina. One of these was Ritnal, the cunning, one of the Minabair. Who sat atop the rock and played his flute as he often did when he watched the night pass. Then in the shadows there came voices from down the slopes that only a Mina could hear from such a distance. Thus he and his companions went down the slopes, until they heard the voices clearer. At first Ritnal could but believe that some force of Orglag had escaped Doroline and come south unnoticed, but the voices he heard were neither the harsh guttural words of an Orglag, nor the stern and long winded words of and Ezlag. No, these voices spoke with a fair and soft voice utterly unlike that of the Ezleg. Thus Ritnal and his companions crept until they were in sight of the beings. Indeed they were not Orglag nor Ezleg, but were instead a race that none had ever seen before. To first sight they looked like children to one who had only seen the Ezleg before, but quickly they realised that hey were not children, though their were children among them. they stood only two thirds the height of the Ezleg, but were very fair of face and very lithe, with pale skin which was almost white, but yet as fairer than any humans of later days. Their eyes were as blue as a star lit mere. But the one thing that stood out the most about them was their hair of purest silver. Not of an aged grey, but of a sparkling youth. This people were the Seldar, and they were the first of that people to come into the knowledge of other races.

 

Yet for all their outward beauty, as their name suggests there was a doom laden upon that race. It was not a doom of evil as some have since said, but was of their nature for all of time that few of their people would ever speak of. But as was later found out, the females of that race ever knew from birth the very moment that they were to die, but not how it was to be. The males on the other hand ever knew how they were to die, but not when it was to be. To some of other races this would seem a great gift, to others, it would seem the gravest curse that there could ever be, knowing when or how you were to die with out hope of stopping it. But the Seldar themselves took this all in their stride, and it instilled in them a bravery beyond all others, for they would never flee battle, even if their doom was near. But there could be darkness upon their souls if tainted so, for the only race never to fall so was the Ezleg, and all others could at times be corrupted. But in any event the Seldar were far closer to the race of the Mafine than any other races save only the Romine. So much so that in times ahead both love and children could come from a union, though this was rare indeed, for the Seldar, if their doom so decreed, could live up to seven hundred years or more, though their doom often made this far the less. But such unions had a great effect on the race of the Mafine, as shall later be told.

 

Thus it was Ritnal who found this race as they struggled through Mina Baraz, and he was ever after their greatest friend amongst the Minare. He wasted no time in coming forth, remembering their mistakes long before in Zand Zlavind. The Seldar were not afraid of him, but at first they could not understand him, for their language was utterly alien to any other he had ever heard. But the Minare have skills beyond others in this art, and in but a short while he was conversing with them in their own speech. They told him that their fate was to go eastward from their old homes, and that they would not turn back, and also that others of their people were following in behind them. Ritnal said to the leader of this host, “I will not hinder your passage, but will aid you in all ways that I can, and those that follow behind also.” He and his two companions followed with them that day, and then on until they came where they wished. They conversed with them all, told them of Minarand to the south, and of the Ezleg realms that they would come to if they followed this way. But he was also at pains to tell them of the great wars that had afflicted Bair, and that if they did go east, that they may be brought into these wars against their will, to which they answered. “Some of us see our doom fighting alongside those that we do not yet know, if this is so then they must be friends, and we shall not try to cheat fate.” Rarely were they so forward about their dooms there after.

 

Ritnal was soon joined by other Minare. Avaner and Namlos came from the north to see this new race, as did Hiare. They all pledged their friendship to this people, and followed them forth for some time. They soon came to the river Lavi, which the Minare and Seldar together bridged that river, leaving a  clear way for those who were to follow to cross. They then came to the Litheren, a greater river. This was bridged also, and the Seldar crossed into the land of Glimline. Here the Seldar decided that they should halt, for no reason known to the Minare. They took all the lands between the Litheren and the Veinar as their realm, which was named in their own language Ethedasul , but was ever after known by the Kaldon name Kalmaren. This realm was large indeed, perhaps a third the size of Barline. But over time as more and more of that people came east, they for the most part settled there, but they never built a single great city for many long years. At first the realm consisted of the land around the Alma Milare in the uttermost south. But within a hundred years all of the land was inhabited, in places quite heavily, for many thousands of Seldar did indeed come from the west into this realm, so that in but five hundred years time, nearly all the Seldar in Bair lived there.

 

But not all the Seldar remained here, for a few pressed on into Barline, where for the first time Ezlag and Seldan met. The rulers of Barline at that time, Glimlith and Glimlad came to meet them. they said that all were welcome in Barline, and that all the realm was open to them. soon a great friendship was indeed forged between those races, a friendship that never but once faltered. A few Seldar then pressed on to the Vrolevili lands. Very few indeed settled there, and those that did were mainly in Nivan and Oralath. Nonetheless they were welcomed by the Vrolevili, and great friendships arose between those peoples also. There on the Seldar were allies to the Ezleg in the wars, and were greatly received in battle, proving themselves both to be brave and loyal indeed.

 

But the Seldar were not the only new people to come to the knowledge of the older peoples at this time, for a few years after the Seldar were discovered in the south, a new race was discovered in the north. This race was more of a surprise in truth, for none had seen them before until they crossed the Frolivar. Here a party of Vrolevili found them struggling to get across the river. They quickly saw this people not to be the enemy and came to their aid, and once all were across the river, it was clear that this race had never been seen before. This was the Kalrathen.

 

The Kalrathen were to another races eyes, and unlovely people. though reasonably tall at about six foot, they were very squat in appearance. They were not pale, nor dark, but light red of skin, with hair of ever the same colour, looking almost aflame. They had large teeth and dark eyes, with a guttural speech and a face that looked almost crushed. Their hands were very large and were little use in crafts. They live about two hundred and fifty years or so, and often wore but the barest and oldest garb of cloaks, not believing that appearance matters greatly, which it never did in their people But despite the apparent ugliness and often unkempt nature of this race, they were of both great intelligence and of great loyalty equal only to that of the Ezleg. The Ezleg found them great friends and companions, even more so than the Seldar, for the bonds between those races were strong. The Minare too held them as friends, but not the Seldar...

 

In many ways the Seldar and the Kalrathen were utterly different races to each other. The Seldar seemed beautiful to others, the Kalrathen seemed ugly. The Seldar never ate meat, while the Kalrathen could eat only that, and were thus great hunters and warriors. But though in the Ezleg realms they obeyed the laws to the full, there was ever at best a great distrust between those peoples, and at worse outright hatred to one another, none could remember from whence it came, and indeed such prejudices are rare indeed between such civilised races, but the grievance of that enduring feud was there at the first. The Seldar called the Kalrathen savages for eating only flesh, whist the Kalrathen called the Seldar evil to the core, for only a child of the darkness could see the future. In truth the Seldar could not truly see the future, and eating only meat was not total savagery, but neither truly understood each other. At first this was minimalist, but later it lead to much greater problems. They occasionally allied for some great cause, but such cases could be counted on the fingers of one hand.

 

The Kalrathen were different in another way also, in that they rarely adhered to having their own realms. They were often part of the Ezleg realms, under Ezleg rule, which never caused a grievance, for they were ever friends. It was partly for this reason that before long the Kalrathen abandoned their own tongue, retaining only a very few of their own words and speaking only Kaldon. Soon after their coming into Dinear a great many came unto Var’narth, so that in a hundred years a quarter of that cities people were Kalrathen. Some went to Barline indeed, but they generally preferred cooler lands, and were more content to stay in the north as the Seldar were to stay in the south.

Thus within a hundred years these peoples were utterly accepted as allies of the Ezleg, which they ever held to. They marched with their armies, and fought for their lands. It is then a mere pity that they had so little time in the east, the Kalrathen especially, as shall soon be told.

 

Whence the battle of Valdarmare had ended, and Iviseal had retaken control of defending Bair against Arillirus, all seemed now quite safe for a time. But it was not so much duty that drove Iviseal, but as the need for revenge against the slayer of his father. But in this Iviseal did not make any rash decisions, and kept himself controlled. In this Namlos was the same, in that he, though he wished for revenge, did not go seeking it right then. But Naglos never calmed his anger, seeking revenge was his only true means there on. He thus remained in he east with Iviseal, who had trouble in keeping his kinsman controlled. So wild was he that he often led his forces far beyond of Iviseal’s wishes, and at times, when he was at his most reckless, he went and defended the lands of Galir Vinotz, in utter opposition to both his great uncle, and his superior. Here he was defending lands thousands of miles away from aid, and it was greatly unfortunate that this was so, for the consequences were grim.

 

For though Arillirus’ grief may have lasted long while he sat in the fastness of Xland, as every moment passed his need for revenge grew the stronger. But knowing now that he was not unassailable he plotted his revenge deep within for many years indeed. But while he hid in his fastness, he learned somehow of Naglos’ hidings in Galir Vinotz, and also that new peoples had come eastward to aid the Ezleg. Thus he for once made the step of preparing long before he assaulted, and deemed for slower action. He listened then to the council of Zalzizur, who told him of Zandline in the furthest north, and the way round the defences of the Ezleg which it allowed. Thus Arillirus sent Zalzizur ahead to plan his war. It now being around the one thousand and thirtieth year of Bair. Then Arillirus went forth himself, for the first time in over a century, and prepared to enact a foul deed indeed.

 

Naglos was indeed at that time still encamped within Galir Vinotz. As ever this was utterly against Iviseal’s wishes, though this time he had left much of his command further to the south. But by this time Iviseal had little sway over his kinsman. Thus with Naglos were by a hundred Ezleg companions, three of whom had survived with him in that forest before. and though they were but a hundred strong, they had succeeded in clearing the land of over ten miles around them of Orglag. He and his companions had retired for the night to a small clearing. They did not gain word as the great army of Arillirus approached them, and it was not until the first Orglag had poured onto the clearing that they knew ought was wrong. Brandishing their weapons, he and his companions fought, but lest there was hope of escape, they were doomed, and there was no escape, for Naglos would not seek it, for he was looked in his anger, and stood and fought. He and his companions fought on for over an hour, slaying it is said more than twenty times their number. Naglos was said to have felled over three hundred Orglag and three Ukarak. But at last, with all his companions now dead, they took him at last alive. They bound him so that even he, a Mina, could not escape, being bound hand, foot and blindfold. He was then taken eastward for many long days, until at last he was brought unto the fastness of Xland.

 

When his blindfold was removed, he found himself in a dark cavern, which was lit only by the merest torches. From the shadows that lingered within that cave, he knew that someone was there in that room with him-

“Welcome Naglos,” said a chill voice in the darkness.

“Who’s there?” cried Naglos, turning in a nervous haste.

“A friend,” said the voice.

“There are no friends of mine in the fastness of Xland!” Naglos shouted back.

“An ally then,” said the voice, as a being stepped out of the darkness, it was Arillirus.

“Naglos laughed sourly upon seeing him, “I would not call the cause of all woes in this world the friend of anyone, least of all myself,” he said.

Naglos tried desperately to strike Arillirus, but no matter how hard he tried, he could not find the strength to do so.

“I am more your ally than any of your own family,” said Arillirus.

“Nay Arillirus, it is lies that you speak, for you cannot speak the truth no longer,” Naglos replied, shaking his head.

“I believe I am indeed right my ally,” Arillirus replied, “for I am not your quarry, for I did not kill your parents, that was Ravik’s unfortunate work.”

“No Naglos,” Arillirus continued, “I am indeed your ally, think about the truth alone. Your parents scorned you, you remember it well, they cared not about you or even this world, they would have have left Bair at a whim if the need had made it so.”

All this struck Naglos hard, for though it had little truth indeed within it, some fragments were not lies, and Naglos was almost in tear, and while shaking his head he cried, “My parents loved me.”

“Your parents hated you,” said Arillirus, “they cared only for your brother. All say the same even now, there is Namlos, and there is his brother. He was indeed your parents first, you they did not expect and did not want.”

Naglos was sobbing wildly now, each word stabbing him like a thousand knives, for the words of Arillirus are hard indeed to resist. He merely sobbed weakly “no, no.”

“All that which you did to save the mortals is already forgotten, only your brothers deeds are remembered. It is a hero and his brother. A champion and the forgotten.”

Naglos’ words were so faint now that none could hear his pain or anguish.

“And what of late my friend?” Arillirus asked, “Iviseal, your teacher and your kinsman scorns everything that you do. Your family forget your valour every day. Hiare your foremother prefers to reside with the lowly mortals than you her kinchild, and worst of all, your brother wishes that he was not a twin, he wishes that you were never born!”

This was all too much for Naglos, who screamed a great and terrible cry of utter pain and bereavement beyond that which most souls could take. He then fell upon his knees, his face hung low for some few moments, and when he looked up, his eyes were no longer bright like Milare, but as dark as a moonless night.”

Arillirus cackled, “with me Naglos you can cast out your brother, and then your family, and gain back all the respect that you ever deserved, and take back your place as the greatest of the Minare.”

“I shall master,” was the reply.

 

 Thus was the fall of Naglos, one of the most fell and evil deeds that Arillirus ever committed, and one of the most unforgivable. The fall of any minare into Arillirus ensnares was a foul deed indeed, but one of Hiare’s family was much more dangerous. For there after Arillirus controlled Naglos as one o his own, both mind and body all but under his absolute control. But then Naglos never truly lost the wildness of his nature, nor his hatred. For he would never serve with Ravik, indeed it is said that he would turn on him if they were kept together for long, for there are certain memories that can never be taken, nor forgotten, and they were thus ever kept apart. Naglos there after came high in Arillirus’ ranks. For he was an invaluable tool, for while most Ukarak were ever foul seeming in looks, Naglos ever kept his fair seeming form, and thus he caused many great troubles while his life lasted.

 

Namlos, despite being many thousands of miles away in Barline, knew at once that something was wrong with his brother, but what he could not tell, feeling only his brothers pain. He thus departed from Var’bylar, where he had been spending time with Avaner, saying only that his brother needed his help, and he left the city eastward, it then being the one thousand and thirty third year. He searched many lands there after, not knowing where his brother was in truth. So it was a further seven years until he found him. For he came then unto the long abandoned ruins of Recand Nain, now far beyond the civilised world. As Namlos approached he saw his brother standing affront the gates that he himself had defended long before. and when he approached, he asked “Brother, what is wrong?”

Naglos turned then and faced his brother, staring him in his eyes for a brief moment, but in that brief moment Namlos read all that had happened to his brother, and cried “Brother! NO!”

Undeterred by his brothers words, Naglos struck at him hard, but he parried the blow and Naglos fled away saying, “Know now brother, that you are now my only foe!”

Namlos did not pursue his brother as he fled out onto the Borlag-Line-Bair, but instead he fell unto his knees and wept. A few moments passed before he said, “I shall save you my brother, be it by repentance or death, I shall fight for it as long as it shall take.”

 

Thus began the war of the twins, an infamous war within the great wars of Bair that lasted many a year. Namlos returned wearily unto Barline in time, and it was there that he told Hiare of what had become of his brother. “dark tidings are these indeed,” she said, “But I shall help you as I can my child.” Naglos thanked her, but said it was only his duty to fight him. Soon the fate of Naglos was known throughout Hiare’s family, and all hardened their hearts against such a fate. Hiare would not have truly helped so early on even if Naglos had accepted her aid, for she had almost ruled Barline as regent while the infant children of Rikal grew to age. Glimlith, the elder had right to rule Barline on her own, but instead she later chose to rule with Glimlad, her younger brother, though it was agreed that her family would rule on after. But now, with the children long grown to age, she was needed no longer as she had been before. she had stayed only because she saw much of Avternain in them, and she thus liked them both, and remained with them. but now she had time free to remember her grief’s, and she slowly fell back into her misery, and almost came to an end like that of Naglos, as is after told.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter 22

 

An Ala Fri Batcul

 

Which is:

Of the ice wars

 

n the century or so following the Battle of Valdarmare, there had been only two great events, the coming of the middle peoples, and the fall of Naglos. Indeed the later half of the tenth century, and the early part of the eleventh were calm indeed. There were no great wars, the battles being confined to Daizagul and Doroline, and even then only in small skirmishes, though many indeed were still ready to fight at any moment. But Arillirus’ capture of Naglos marked his slow return to mischief, though it was a long time indeed until he himself began any great events. But that was not to say that his companions remained idle. But though Drosarn is not heard of in this time at all, Zalzizur took it upon himself to bring chaos to the Ezleg, perhaps with no aid or order from Arillirus. Not that it mattered much who launched the attack when it came, for though it was not a great war like that the century before, it could have had far dire consequences.

 

The weather of Northern Bair had remained virtually static since the long winter a millennium before. of course there had been bad winters over that millennium, but they were very rare, only six times did it cause damage to the Ezleg lands, and them but minor. But then, without any warning, in the one thousand and thirty sixth year, the weather of the north fell into a cold not seen since the long winter. But this time it passed much further southwards, lands as far south as Ager had many trees die in the colds. But it was not only the colds that were there, but the ice, which advanced well over four hundred and fifty miles in places. Var’narth rapidly fell under great waves of snow in the late days of the one thousand and thirty fifth year, which in its self was not a rarity. But as the next year began and the weather should have warmed, it did not. The snows continued to fall, and the ices advanced further throughout Elmëgezar. Then, when the next colds came, all the north fell completely under the colds. The ice went as far to frieze the Frolivar river at its source, six hundred miles south of the normal ice limit. Thus a land which was already struggling after a bad year indeed, was now lost under the ice, and the cities of Var’narth and Glimer found themselves cut off from the south, save only by those who risked their lives to bring food and weapons north. Neither city saw Milare clearly for many years, a testament to the disaster that was befalling.

 

But unlike their ancestors a millennium before, the inhabitants of these cities did not flee. Now they new far more than their ancestors did, and knew not to fear the cold. Indeed centuries of living in the far north made them able, if not ready, to resist these dangers. But there was more that they had to resist, for as Arinizar of the one thousand and thirty sixth year came, and the ice pressed harder onward, there came Orglag in great numbers from the north, from across the ice.

 

These attacks were Zalzizur’s doing, as later became clear. But whether it was Arillirus’ wishes or else just Zalzizur seeing danger in the union of the middle peoples and the Ezleg we cannot tell, and it will probably never be known. But in any case Zalzizur brought to the north fourteen years of intermittent war which could have destroyed lands still with the scars of the second war of Zandline fresh upon them. thus they were utterly unprepared to fight a new war. But for the first time the Ezleg had an ally other than the Minare, for now a large part of the Kalrathen people who had come east had come to Var’narth. And the Kalrathen were great warrior who were adapted well to the cold. It was here that their valour would been either seen or dismissed.

 

But this war did not only involve the races of Dinear, for aside those who travelled north to fight for the two cities, the war stretched far westward into Zand Zlavind. Naught was known of that at the time, and but little later. But it was known that the war there was more ferocious and more long lasting than in Dinear, for there was no respite to the people of that land. But despite it all, they survived, for those who survive in such snows cannot be defeated by those that do not.

 

The first strike into Dinear came with the first Vrozar, that of the one thousand and thirty sixth year. The Orglag were believed to have crossed the ice into the little known place known as Zlavind line, and then came up through the rarely passed mountains of the Avin Zlavind. Through unknown high passes they poured unto Glimline, circumventing the defences of Glimer Baraz at a stroke. In the chaos that the ice had brought, none knew of the Orglag presence in Dinear until they neared Glimer. The city was nearly surprised even then, for in the great snow storms the lookouts were useless to see the ground below. Thus the great defences of Glimer proved all but useless as the Orglag virtually broke into the city at once. They sized and held the lowest gateway and held it for several hours as the forces of the city were marshalled and even after they were driven out by fierce fighting, they held on around the city several miles away. But while this force fought its own battle, a greater force was marching on Var’narth. That city too was almost surprised, but gained warning form those who fled ahead of the Orglag. The Orglag did not attack the city outright there, it had taken Zalzizur with a far greater force to break into that city, and they seemed to have decided it would not be so easy a second time in any case. They instead cut it off at a distance, which caused havoc in a city where there was very little food indeed. This hastened the need to defeat the Orglag quickly indeed.

 

The consul of Var’narth at that time was one Ethdaril, a lady of both commanding presence and tactical skill. She had fought at Valdarmare, and at many other battles besides and before had served under Iviseal himself, and thus knew many ways to defeat the Orglag. But through the chaos of the snow even she had difficulty in planning to defeat the foe. Never had in her memory had the city been blinded by snow for more than a few days, now that period seemed indefinite. But quickly she organised the army, now with its fair share of Kalrathen, for campaigning in the snow. Then she deemed herself ready to drive the Orglag away from the city and back into the wastes from whence they came.

 

Thus before the end of the year the army marched out to the south of the city, the need for the supply lines to be reopened forced Ethdaril’s hand, but with an ample garrison to the city, she stood at the head of eight thousand Ezleg and two thousand Kalrathen, all that could be assembled in the time. The Kalrathen were all untried, indeed few had been in the city for more than a few years at most, but most of the Ezleg were veterans. Some looked worryingly on their new companions, who were barely over two thirds the height of an Orglag, wondering if they could stand against such creatures., but they needn’t of worried. For on the first day of the new year, they came upon several thousand Orglag blocking the Maren road. Ethdaril attacked both flanks and the centre with her superior force, and the white clothed Ezleg and Kalrathen took the Orglag by surprise it was here, at the battle of the Maren road, that the Kalrathen distinguished themselves in battle, for wielding their arm-scythes known as Sarngul “fire knives”, which were tired to the arm and held in the hand, they cut down the Orglag in great numbers. Those weapons of theirs were very deadly, and bloody indeed. The Orglag, who had first charged the Kalrathen seeing them as small beings of little strength, suffered the consequences. True it was that the Orglag stood three feet or more taller than the Kalrathen, but whence the Orglag charged and had their legs cut off by the Kalrathen, they rarely repeated such mistakes again. For in that battle the Ezleg regained their supply lines, allowing food supplies to head north, with a small amount of reserves also. Ethdaril had given the Kalrathen battle experience, for indeed the Orglag were outnumbered and the Ezleg would have most likely won the battle in any case. But with more than two and a half thousand Orglag killed for the loss of but fifty soldiers was an annihilation. But the Orglag still had great force around that city, for more than thirty thousand of them had come south. They still maintained a hold on the northern end for some time, but with supplies entering the city once more their hold meant little.

 

For the remainder of the year there were but mild raids in the north. For Ethdaril was unwilling to go forth now that they city could be sustained, and in any case the Orglag still heavily outnumbered her forces. The year was for the most part spent getting more forces to bare, training them the best they could. So that a year after the battle of the Maren road, Ethdaril had twice the forces she had had a year before. but aside from train, if she did not wish to risk battle, she could do but wait for the ice to abate.

 

That though the ice did not do, but the year after, being the one thousand and thirty eighth year, the Orglag returned instead. This time they came from the west, across the Frolivar. It was thus assumed that they had came from Zand Zlavind. But that did not matter, what did matter was that the Ezleg learned of the crossing, and Ethdaril was intent on stopping them uniting with the Orglag still to the north of Var’narth on the plain which had been given the name Batzul Dinea, the battle plain. Thus she left the city with most of her forces, numbering about fifteen thousand, and she led them towards the enemy. She there caught the Orglag in the open, breaking this great force apart, but despite killing many of the creature, they were unable to destroy the Orglag due to the snow and fog. Thus more scattered Orglag ended up on the plains to the north of Oralath, a failure on Ethdaril’s part she herself deemed. she was thus needed back in the city, and lead her forces back there. Her force were soon engaged in many battles to the north of the city, in which they tried to stop the Orglag from uniting together at all costs.

 

In the mean time Glimer was still in the midst of clearing away the first Orglag force that waited around its walls. But Glimer was still well supplied through the tracks of the Avin Zandlear, and was thus in no need to go out and face the foe, and Hoek would rather wait behind the defences of his city. His force would be paralysed outside in any case, cavalry could not be used in such weather, nor archers. But a few brave Ezleg, dressed in their spear cloaks, went out and kept the Orglag from remaining static. Their losses were high, but the Orglag slowly began to move further north. Soon all had abandoned the south of the city, and were holding out in Glimer Baraz, where they could lick their wounds.

 

Whilst Glimer fought on still, Var’narth had more immediate troubles. For despite Ethdaril’s almost frantic campaigning to stop the Orglag uniting, she failed to do so, for the whereabouts of the foe were hard to find in the snows. By the end of the one thousand and thirty eighth year the Orglag held all the lands to the north of Var’narth from the Frolivar river unto the middle most shores of the FroArinival lake, now all frozen over. But the allies refused to let them gain their own knigdom in Dinear, and fought them relentlessly. It was only through this sheer determination that the Ezleg and Kalrathen managed across the Vrozar of that year to begin to push the foe back. Then Ethdaril launched a full attack at last, and the Orglag, disheartened by their failure, withdrew back in haste. By mid Almazar of the one thousand and thirty ninth year, the Orglag were holding only a few miles to the east of the Frolivar river. Such was the determination to win that the Orglag had been driven back eighty miles in barely fifty days. The foe gave up the river line a few days after with little fighting, though that remained in Dinear withdrew back into the Avin Zlavind to lick their wounds. To end the long campaign a force of several thousand from Maren arrived to reinforce the city. But amidst this seemingly great victory, the ice did not abate, and the north remained for the most part cut off from the outside world.

 

Glimer, though indeed far more secure than Var’narth in its self, could still not deal with the Orglag. As time passed the foe remained entrenched in Glimer Baraz, and Hoek saw no way to drive them out save only by a massive offensive against unknown forces on the enemies terms in a superb defensive position. This he would not do. Thus for the remainder of that year Hoek had to be content with keeping the city its self clear of the foe, and contemplate the time when they would return.

 

After a long lull in the wars, where the Orglag were not seen but the ice retained its stead fast grip on the north. But in the earliest days of the one thousand and forty first year the evils returned in far greater numbers than had yet been seen in this war. They poured over the Avin Zlavind like a tide and spilled into the plains of Dinear in he space of but a few days. Var’narth was not utterly surprised, but was certainly not truly ready. The Orglag broke into the city before the gates could be closed, and they proceeded to run riot through the city no one was safe, and only the thick ice and frost prevented the city from being put to torch, but nonetheless the city was almost left in ruins in any case. The Orglag even broke into the citadel which had resisted an army a great many times their number. But nowhere amidst the city did the Ezleg or Kalrathen give up, and fought on with even greater vigour did they. The evils were quickly driven from the citadel, and with the Ezleg beginning to rally under Ethdaril, the Orglag tried to dig in amidst the city. But the allies never gave them a chance. The beast were driven from the city leaving many dead in their wake, not forgetting the ruin of the city. The evils rallied quickly however as soon as they were safe from pursuit. They held themselves once more to the north of the city. But Var’narth was not the only place in the north to be attacked on those days.

 

For the Orglag coming from the north joined with those still encamped in the northern end of Glimer Baraz and they marched on Glimer, taking the city utterly by surprise. They proceeded to break into the lower levels of the cities defences. Hoek proceeded to launch several fierce counter attacks against them, but it took several long days of fighting to drive them out, and even then it was mostly to do with their lack of food than their position. But this time the Orglag did not retreat north, but instead headed west towards Var’narth. Hoek, realising that Var’narth could be in dire straits, sent a large force off in pursuit, knowing that he could spare it. But in such conditions they had little luck in finding the foe, and instead tired to press on towards Var’narth itself. 

 

For much time after these battles the Orglag did hold a threatening position over Var’narth, but they did not attack outright. The people of Var’narth could not, however, risk doing so either, for their strength was not great enough to both drive the Orglag away and hold a great enough garrison for the city. The lack of supplies, often less than half what was normally eaten, left the defenders verging on great weakness. The supplies still came from the south, but the Orglag, if they cut that line, would have the city in but a few days. Indeed the Orglag often raided the lands near he city, causing a great threat to the city’s supplies. But now, towards the end of the one thousand and forty fist year, Ethdaril learned of the Orglag coming from the west, but not of the forces from Glimer in pursuit. Thus the city was at threat of being attacked from both north and east, a fatal situation indeed.

 

Ethdaril knew that to stay inside the city and face the foe would be utterly hopeless, the people could not survive five days of siege for lack of food she decided with great regret, that the army would march out and defeat those coming from the north first, for those coming from the east were still several days distant at least. After defeating the northern Orglag, they would turn east and face them there. This was very risky, but there was nothing else that could be done. Thus the army was mustered, and she and the forces of Var’narth marched out to defeat the Orglag once again.

 

The Orglag were never an easy pray for the Ezleg and Kalrathen, but the forces of Var’narth were persistent in their efforts, and the largest gathering of Orglag was found some ten miles to the north of the city. In haste, Ethdaril did not wait for all her troops to come up, and using the element of surprise they fell upon the Orglag with the Kalrathen coming round the flank. They proceeded to kill around three thousand and leave thousands more dying in the snow. For the rest of the day and part of the next her forces proceeded to drive nigh on all the Orglag back north, before they rallied together and with a forced march managed to head to the east of the city.

 

The Ezleg army began to arrive on the small ridge where Ethdaril had planned her defence the next day, though it took much of that day for all her troops to arrive. By that time the Orglag had slowly began to arrive to the east. She saw that she was heavily outnumbered by her foe. The Orglag wasted no time in attacking, they failed thrice to gain the ridge, but on the fourth attempt they began to gain the heights as Ethdaril saw her force wavering, and her centre was now on its last legs. But then, as if by inspiration, the forces of Glimer began to fall upon the rear of the foe, and the Orglag, now assailed on two sides, turned and fled wildly this way and that, most reaching he safety of the north, but a great many cut down on route.

 

With the Orglag suppressed once more, if still not utterly destroyed, the force of Glimer stationed itself to the south of Var’narth, to both aid in getting supplies to the beleaguered city, and to protect those lines. The force was also needed much more at Var’narth, for Glimer was still adequately protected, whilst Var’narth was most certainly not.

 

The for some years more the north remained quiet, but in all that time the colds remained still upon the north. Only once did the Orglag gather in any strength, and that force was seen off in short order by being driven onto the frozen FroArinival, which was then broken by catapults. There was then no sign of the Orglag in Dinear, but there was elsewhere, for on the one thousand and forty fifth year, a large force of Orglag was seen by scouts passing through the northern parts of Nuelan. There was no force ready to tackle them however, and the force managed to escape away south into Doroline, thus greatly reinforcing the creatures of that land, and though this did little initially, its significance would become greater in days to come.

 

Thus time drew on until the one thousand and forty eighth year. For then came another massive Orglag force into Dinear from the north, and the forces of Var’narth would have had great trouble in defeating such an army alone. But with food enough for many weeks now having been gathered within the city, the people were content for a siege which the Orglag would not be able to sustain for long. Thus word of the incoming threat was sent to Glimer, and some forces were sent out into the country to pray upon the Orglag stragglers.

 

Soon it was then that the city went under siege. But the Orglag as always did not wait for a true siege at first, and launched their attack at once. The battle was hard and the gate was broken, but in the end the Orglag were driven off, and were forced once more to ring the city at a distance for they were unable to take it.

 

As the new year began and the siege continued, something unthought of happened. A warm wind blew from the south, and the icy fog was cleared from the sky, revealing Milare to the north of Dinear for the first time in twelve years. The ice melted in haste, and within three days the ice had retreated nigh a hundred miles north, and continued to recede. Now the Orglag found themselves in grave danger, for with out the cover of the fog, they were easy pray in the Ezleg homeland. Sallying forth, Ethdaril managed to clear them away from the city. Soon all he cities forces had launched out against the foe. Soon the Ezleg reached the lake of FroArinival, freed of ice for the first time in a great many years. Here the forces of that city joined with those of Glimer, and deciding to put an end to this threat. Thus the forces pursued the Orglag into the Avin Zlavind through the treacherous high passes that had never been crossed by an Ezlag before. soon they had reached the far side and saw many thousands of Orglag fleeing towards the ice in haste. The Ezleg did not give them a chance, and pursued down the slopes onto Zlavind Line, and proceeded to finally crush the Orglag utterly. But alas one of the few casualties of that day in the Battle of Zlavind line was Ethdaril, for she fell to a fatal stone cast at her by the Orglag. Thus did the one who had saved a city for fourteen years died on the last day of the war, and all Ezleg revere her name as they do the other heroes such as Avternain, Nomleagth and Elnmil.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter 23

 

Ala-Ravul Hiaread

 

Which is:

The Madness of Hiare

 

here have been a great many mothers across the ages of Bair that have lost their children in war, be it son or daughter. But of those mothers none save one have had to bare that grief forever, and feel it always as if the loss occurred merest moments before. That one mother, Hiare, had to bare this above nigh on all other things of her life. And for one who had many other cares such as she, very few indeed could stay utterly Zande for eternity. Alas, Hiare was not to be one of them.

 

After Ivonwe’s death Hiare suppressed her grief for a while because of the need to seek revenge in the battles that followed, then to teach the children of Rikal, who were too young to rule Barline, thus she stayed with them, virtually ruling Barline as regent for over a decade. Even after the children had come to age, she stayed for a time to aid them further as she could. But in the end her usefulness waned, and she at last had time to brood upon her grief, and she soon wallowed in it, and for nigh fifty years until the millennium she was not seen by any upon Bair. Then Avaner came to her, and the Mina took her south to see the Seldar and later the Kalrathen. Both races she befriended, and stayed with them for a time to learn their ways and customs. But before long her grief slowly began to overcome her once more, but this time it was not her own will that was at fault, it was that of another.

 

Arillirus had also found himself bereaved, and it has been said that it was this bereavement that prevented him waging war upon Bairgarand for nigh on two centuries. Arsgul had been his love from before time, and now she was lost forever unless he was willing to abandon Bair for all eternity also, but that he would never willingly do, and none upon all of Bair would pity Arillirus save himself. But as time wore on he fought less of his grief, for it was turning into rage, and though she had had aid that day at Valdarmare, Arillirus placed all the blame of Arsgul’s loss upon Hiare, and thus, as he had done with a great many Minare before, he place his dark thoughts upon her. But even in her greatest weakness she would not fall to him, for her hatred of him was far to great. But he instead played upon her grief and anger, an slowly indeed, but surely she was afflicted by his madness.

 

Hiare thus slowly fell into madness, though she never knew that anything was wrong herself. Slowly the need for revenge against her son’s killer. Day by day the need for vengeance grew so that in time she could barely stand it much longer.

 

Finally however, the delusions of Arillirus gained sway over her, and she became determined to feel grief no more, and to go and seek revenge. But even then her judgement was not utterly impaired, and first, it then being the one thousand and ninety first year, she went unto the Avinkazag and found her kinchild Perenna, who sat as she so often did, looking up at the stars of the night. “how fairest you my child?” Hiare asked her, startling the Mina to wakefulness.

“As fair as this night my foremother,” Perenna answered, “but it does not seem that you fairest so well as i.”

Indeed Hiare looked both tired and bedraggled as one who had come on a long journey. Only her eyes betrayed the sickness that assailed her on he inside, and this Perenna did not miss in her.

“Perhaps I do not so,” Hiare muttered to herself. “I have a perilous journey ahead, and in that my current state does not matter. But I wish you to keep this, lest I do not return, and if I do not so, give it to your father, he I trust well to guard it, and he is indeed next to hold it if Iviseal remains out here.

Hiare then removed the bracelet from her left wrist, and with a hand shaking with a pain unbearable, she gave it to Perenna.

“The other I may need for my safety,” said Hiare, “and now I say farewell my friend, and shall look forward for better days.”

“Hiare wait!” cried Perenna, but Hiare had already fled into the skies of the nigh and had vanished. Perenna did not know that whilst they spoke, Hiare could no longer remember her own name, and had only given the bracelet through some call of instinct, such was the madness that had been placed upon her.

 

From the mountains, the last remnants of Hiare’s own will faded away, and her need for revenge there after took her onwards. She passed over western Daizagul in great haste, not stopping to give any word unto Iviseal. She pressed on across the Rikelanear into eastern Daizagul. No hindrance did she receive as she crossed the Orglag strongholds in Galir Vinotz, indeed if the Orglag knew that the Slayer of Arsgul was coming, they would have all fled in haste and not stood against her. Thus Hiare passed onward day after day, walking the way that she could have passed much faster. But in time she came to the ruins of Recand Nain. She steeped slowly over the broken and scoured bones that littered hat place without seemingly noticing the many unmarked graves that she trod upon, sparing no thought for the battle that broke the siege of Xland all those years before, and trudged onwards until she issued from Romig Baraz onto the Borlag-lain-Bair. There she crossed that dreaded land unassailed, nor even hindered, unlike those armies that had crossed there long before seeking the fall of Xland. Night and day she pressed on, needing neither sustenance nor rest, until at last she had crossed the three hundred miles between Recand Nain and the Nargul Viline. There she clambered over the broken stones and decaying weapons that littered the gates upon the forward slopes of the halls of Arillirus, where scarce few had ever entered, and fewer indeed had returned from to speak their tales.

 

Though she had never herself been unto Xland, and if she was there of her own will she could have spent many days in those caverns. But she was not there of her own will, and she thus walked through those caverns as if she had known them a great many years indeed. She passed through the caverns where her own son had espied to late the danger to Bair, and where Iviseal had come so close to utter victory. She wandered so long that none can tell how long it was in truth, be it hours or days. But in the end she found her way to the one that she had sought, and had indeed been led to.

 

She entered into a large arched cavern, larger by far than any she had passed through before, and lit with many torches instead of a pyre in the centre. Across the cavern skulked a few Orglag, and they quickly fled upon seeing Hiare. But she was not looking at them, for she was instead looking towards the centre of the cavern, for there, carved whole from the very stone, was a massive throne, in which sat her quarry, as dark and terrifying as he had ever been.

“Welcome to my abode Hiare,” said Arillirus, “I am glad that you have essayed to follow my call here, for even you, my greatest foe, can be bent to my will.”

With those words the madness that had so long afflicted Hiare was laid bare and was gone, and she realised that all her great angers and delusions were but the work of Arillirus, and that she had done all that his madness had warranted, having come into his own realm without ever realising the error, for which she knew she would pay dearly for.

“I came here for you Arbylar the fallen,” she said, “we have both loved all our loved ones in our feud, so let us end it now.”

Arillirus laughed a sour laugh, then said; “Nay Hiare, I am to disappoint you, for I can inflict far more pain on you than mere death can give, now my servants shall take care of you.”

Then the Ukarak arose from hidden places behind Arillirus, and threw themselves upon Hiare. She heard only one last phrase from Arillirus before they were upon her, and that was “Take her alive”

Hiare fought there with a greater determination than any could have ever expected against such assailants. She fought only to the end that she knew that if she won, she could then fight Arillirus himself. She indeed fought off dozens of assailants, partly with the aid of her bracelet, but mainly due to her supreme strength of the spirit that rose within her. She slew many of the Ukarak that assailed her, and would not yield to any of them. but then one face came through the assailants, one that Hiare had seen many times before, that of her kinchild Naglos. Then her strength failed her, and she was set upon by the Ukarak, and was thus defeated and bound by them, and Hiare looked sorrowingly upon Naglos, who turned his face and fled, unable to stand her piercing gaze. But it mattered not now, for he had done his work there that day, and Arillirus stood from his throne and came to her.

“Oh how I have waited for this day Hiare,” he said, “longer than time itself have I waited indeed to see you at my mercy.”

“You have none Arillirus,” Hiare said, “and I expect and ask for none.”

“Oh you shall have mercy enough Hiare, enough to keep you living long enough for you to swear yourself unto me, and by the time I have finished with you, you will indeed ask for mercy Hiare.”

Hiare said nothing as he reached over and clutched the single bracelet upon her wrists. He snarled as he touched it, his hand yanked away in pain.

“It is not for you to touch Arillirus,” said Hiare, “only a Mina of a untainted heart can touch this, and you are neither a Mina nor untainted.”

“Are there not two?” Arillirus snarled in anger.

“That there are, but the other is safe far away from here where you shall not find it.” Hiare answered.

“It is no matter.” Arillirus said, calling an Ukarak  to take the bracelet. The wretched creature screamed as it pulled the bracelet from her arm and dropped it to the ground, its hand burnt black from the touch.

Arillirus lifted the bracelet with a rod, and said, “It is yours no longer Hiare, but what you now lose in this bracelet you shall gain in agony.” And the Ukarak took her away into the depths of Xland.

 

After Hiare had left her, Perenna, instead of following in a useless pursuit, travelled to Barline. In the Ezleg realm at that time were both her mother and father together with Namlos and Avaner. Perenna arrived at Var’bylar late one night in the later days of the one thousand and ninety first year. Perenna spoke to them, saying that Hiare ad gone east, this in itself not being exceptional, for several times since the great wars she had gone to see Iviseal and aid in Battles in Daizagul, and then none had questioned her then. Indeed she had once disappeared for seventy years, and none had gone to search for her until there was great need. But she showed them the bracelet, and told of how Hiare seemed tired and fatigued, if she was fighting for control over herself. But of them all, only Namlos seemed overly worried at Perenna’s words, though the presence of the bracelet made all anxious. Thus they decided that Namlos would aid Perenna in searching for her, for the others were still scattered in duties elsewhere, and Namlos naturally had a cautious nature after what had befallen his brother. Thus she and her nephew spent the next two years looking for Hiare. True they were not hopeful in that Bair was a large place and if she had gone across the seas as Ivonwe had done they would not find her. Slowly their fears grew over her whereabouts, the fear that she had either died or been captured By Arillirus, both plagued their minds. But they searched on regardless, determined to find her.

 

In those years as her descendants searched for her, Hiare remained a prisoner of Arillirus within Xland. She was tied, bound and blindfold in what could be called a cell, never to move, and unable to escape. Arillirus tried at first to turn her to him as he had done Naglos. But such lies were weak upon Hiare, and he instead resorted to unspeakable acts of torture upon both her body and her mind, both pains unbearable to a Mina. But Hiare was stronger willed than Naglos by far, perhaps stronger willed than most people of Bair, and would never break even remotely so easy. But none the less in a few years Hiare was almost reduced to a ruin by the waves of torture pain and lies, that even if they could not break her, proceeded to turn her inZande, even though she never showed outwardly a single scar for all that happened, her eyes alone betrayed her new madness, for they showed one who wanted only to die, to be set free, for to her death was not surrender, and surrender to Arillirus she would never do. She showed Arillirus that even pain that would take a thousand mortal souls could not take that of Hiare Minabair.

 

Perenna and Namlos, after two years of searching, were joined by Nathire, Olara and Avaner. A black rumour had arose that Hiare was dead, and that Arillirus had killed her. None of them believed it, but searched now even further. But to no avail. Two further years of searching and there was still no sign at all, it was as if she had left Bair utterly. But that was the one thing she would never do, but they were all at an utter loss. Then Namlos decided to check upon his greatest fear. Thus, alone he travelled out across the wilderness of Daizagul, and headed unto Xland.

 

He arrived there in the late days of the one thousand and ninety fifth year. He had never been unto Xland, though he had seen it enough times from Recand Nain to be wary. But like Ivonwe had done eight centuries earlier, he sneaked into the great fortress shrouded in a veil, thus seemingly he was one of the Ukarak, and in that place you would never find anyone lest you were looking for them. Namlos searched through those caverns for some time, until he gained a glimpse, not of Hiare, but of the bracelet, which was a large cavern to the south of that place. Thus, without even seeing Hiare, he had learned that she was there, and he above all people, knew that if Hiare had died, the Minare would know. Thus he departed that place in haste, and was not seen on his flight. Thus he was able to go and tell his family that his worst fear had come true, that Hiare had been captured by Arillirus.

 

He met his family once more in the city of Var’bylar. With him he had brought Iviseal, who he had met at the Rikelanear defence. also had been called together all the Minabair, so that there in Var’bylar now gathered the ten greatest and most well known of all the Minare that remained upon Bair save only the one who they were going to seek. Never did all present gather together again, and never so many of that family and the Minabair gather again save only once.

There Namlos told them of what he had found, and that all knew that Hiare still lived, and thus must be within Xland somewhere. Then he said to them; “There are only two things we can do my friends, we can go and save the one who has given us all either life or a reason and a place to, or else we can abandon her to die, or else become like my brother, a slave to their greatest enemy.”

There was little discussion between them all, all present instantly decided to go and save Hiare, none would abandon her.

Thus in the first days of the one thousand and ninety sixth year, nearing five years since Hiare had spoken to Perenna atop the mountains of the Avinkazag, all those who were given the name Minabair left the city of Var’bylar and set out on the long road to the fastness of Xland.

 

Few indeed have travelled that road and returned safely to tell the tale, and far fewer had such a mission there. But the Minabair went forth willing to sacrifice their own lives for she who had given them so much. Nothing less than the safe return of their queen would they allow, and they were not going to let any being, even Arillirus himself stand in their way, even if many of them were not to return.

 

This small fellowship passed through Marair Baraz into Daizagul soon after they had left Var’bylar, they were not taking their time, and passed through in haste. The Ezleg who stood watch in Tal Avin could have had no idea where they were heading, and it was probably better that way. Pressing on in haste then the group passed across southern Daizagul, a land not so ravaged as the north, merely left abandoned, to be roamed by only a few Orglag, none of whom could have ever interfered with this groups journey. Needing neither sustenance nor rest they pressed on until they reached the Lainad-Bair, and then to their destination, the fortress of Xland.

 

They came upon the fortress in the dead of night, though the darkness was little greater there than in the time of high noon in that place. They came upon the mountains on the southern side, where the tunnels were more numerous and less defended. The Ukarak were completely unaware of their intrusion, so much so that half a dozen of the fallen lost their lives having given no warning to their kindred. Thus the companions went deeper and deeper, and through the immense tunnels they were not spotted at all as they wormed their way unto the heart of the fortress, and when they came to the very heart, not a single Orglag nor Ukarak was looking for them.

 

As they entered unto the large cavern which was marked by Arillirus’ throne, all felt the horrors of that place, indeed perhaps the most evil filled place on all of Bair, but they were relived that he was not there. There lay many bones of those long dead, and those not so long dead upon the ground, most being those of Ezleg, but the of their devourers there was not sign, and thus the then Minare had entered a place that Iviseal and many thousands could not, though none wished to be there, even Iviseal, who knew that the day he gave up trying to sack this place was the day that the war turned against him. Wasting no time they began to search throughout the tunnels that led from there for Hiare. It was Namlos and Perenna who had luck.

 

They found her in a small cave sealed by bars not far from the main cavern. She was sitting in a corner, bound and blindfold so that she could not escape. Upon hearing their coming she began muttering to her self, and when they shouted to her in relief she let out a petrified scream, and huddled closer to the wall screaming again and again “NO!” Namlos, seeing her like this, almost fell to tears. Perenna tired to speak to Hiare, but she would not listen, and screamed the louder. The others quickly came to them, and despite their dismay upon seeing Hiare such, they quickly removed the bars and restraints, and began to carry her to safety.

 

Then there came a great cry and much noise from around them, telling them that they had been spotted, and quickly they fled into the great cavern and their way out. The place was clear when they entered, but as they were about to exit there came a great cry of “Seize them!” and they turned to see Arillirus standing at the head of many Ukarak.

Iviseal, venting his anger, picked up a weathered sword and in anger cast it at Arillirus. His aim was good, and before Arillirus could cast them down, the sword pierced his hand as he tried to block his face. With his wail of agony, the Ukarak charged forth, with one unmistakable being at their head that all the Minare could see, Naglos, his sword raised in anger, his eyes blazing for revenge.

Namlos drew his sword, leaving Hiare in the care of the others, and rushing to face his brother, he swung upward with the skill of a master, disarming his brother and leaving a almighty wound upon his face. He would have finished it there, but the other Ukarak were almost upon him, and they drove him back. He slew two of them, as did Iviseal, but they could not stand against them even as Olara and Calure came to their aid. Then Iviseal forced the others back, and kicking back the Ukarak, he smashed down the mouth of the tunnel with the power that was his, free of the Ukarak and the immediate pursuit, the Minabair quickly passed through the tunnels towards the surface. They were far from safe however as they fled, for the Orglag were now aroused, and they were forced to fight off a great many, which could have given the Ukarak time to find them. Calure, Ritnal and Avaner were wounded, though not so badly as to slow them down, and after several hours they issued from the fortress, and quickly the fled back towards Daizagul, having won both a great, if minor victory over the Ukarak, and the freeing of Hiare. They were not pursued back to Daizagul, but they had to keep a watchful eye behind them in their flight nonetheless.

 

They did not stop until they were back over the Avinkazag and into Barline. The flight had taken some time, even for the Minare. It was only now that they could finally see the damage that had been done to their leader. She could not recognise them, nor speak any sense to them, either through words or through mind. She often screamed without warning, often as if she was in agony. Many thought she had lost her mind, but all saw that she had not given in, and that Arillirus did not have her, though that was little comfort to those who saw her in such a state. Perenna there after stayed with her night and day, for Hiare was almost like a lost and lonely child than the greatest of the Minare. Others stayed in Barline, Nathire and Olara together with Namlos and Avaner. Iviseal returned quickly to the siege lines, fearing, rightly, that Arillirus would want revenge for their insurrection. The other Minabair scattered as they always did, Ritnal to Kalmaren, Calure and Qunal to the north, and Navim remained in Barline. But all remained intensely worried about Hiare, fearing the worst. But Perenna and the other slowly helped Hiare to recover, though it was a slow and painful process. It was over a year until Hiare showed signs of improving, and not until a further thirty years had passed could she walk alone out in the world. But never did she utterly recover, she ever after, at times of rest or sleep, have nightmares of her time there, often to awake screaming. She ever remained somewhat withdrawn form the world for many years, always protecting her emotions so strongly that Arillirus, or any other being could not get in. In this final point she eventually failed, though that was not a error, but a blessing, as shall be later told. But after those thirty years, when she went out into Bair once more, she had more grave things to worry about, for Arillirus had invaded Bairgarand once more.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter 24

 

An ala-Dro Batcul aigaz ala… an Daizagul

Which is:

Of the Blood wars and the ruin of Daizagul

 

he saviour of Hiare was a great humiliation to Arillirus, possibly the greatest that he could have taken after capturing his greatest foe, and the more so for the wound that Iviseal had given him. Thus with his anger aroused to burning, he quickly decided that Iviseal should be the first to receive his wrath, and this time he waited little time at all before he prepared his long campaign to crush the Minare and all of Bairgarand.

 

After Hiare was returned to Barline, Iviseal, fearing the worst from Arillirus, returned unto the defences of the Rikelanear. He expected an assault brought forth from revenge, but did not know when it was to come, but made all his forces ready none the less. But he knew not how much Arillirus had prepared in the last hundred and fifty years, he feared a dreadful battle, but it was in fact much worse than he had feared.

 

For a further four years all was quiet in the east, and though many hoped that he was not going to come against him, they were wrong, for the forces he marshalled merely took much time to gather. But in the eleven hundredth year he attacked through into Daizagul with far greater forces than he had ever had before. Iviseal learned of his coming before he reached the Rikelanear, but was unprepared for the size of Arillirus’ forces, nor was he prepared for the determination and the extensiveness of the attacks. For Arillirus attacked in mass al along the river to the south of Daizline. Thus in some places only a hundred Ezleg were forced to hold off ten times their number, such were the forces loosed against them. but thanks to the long prepared defences, the initial strike was driven off, but only with great loss. A few days later the attacks began again, with a lesser front, but with greater force. Iviseals troops were forced to march to and fro with great speed to stop any break through. Thus did Iviseal ware out his forces over time, and nor could he stop the slow wasting away of his army, for within two years, only a third of his original forces remained to him.

 

But Iviseal had held the river line for two years against forces that should have crushed any normal general in a matter of days. Only due to his long prepared defences, steadfast troops, and iron determination, did he last so long. But by the Arinizar of the one thousand one hundred and second year, Iviseal was himself worn down as were his forces. He knew that Arillirus had merely forced him to ware out his army. Thus when Arillirus attacked with all his forces once more, there was little his battered troops could do to stop him. On the first day of the battle the Orglag gained six bridgeheads across the Rikelanear, on the second twenty, on the third fifty, and by the fourth day none of Iviseal’s forces remained on the river line, in places they had taken five times their number with them, but what was left of his army was soon retreating back up the hills into the Alman Mina and into Daizline. Still Arillirus could not destroy that army utterly, for the remnant cavalry protected the flanks until they had escaped, but none the less, despite his massive losses, Arillirus had crossed the Rikelanear, ever breaking the hold on his forces.

 

The fiercest fighting took place a hundred miles south of Valdarmare, where Iviseal had his command. Iviseal had held the position until late on the fourth day of the offensive, the last position to do so. Here, while his forces fought for their lives, he faced his foe face to face, for Arillirus, revelling in his victory, came forth to gain his revenge. Iviseal came forth and faced him, saying “This war shall end here Arillirus.”

“Yes it shall,” said Arillirus, “for you shall die here now!” the battle was brief, Iviseal, fighting for the memory of his father, was too clouded with hate and anger. He managed to tear open the wound he had given to Arillirus’ hand, but was grabbed by the monster who snapped the Mina’s neck with out a second thought.

 

Thus ended Iviseal, the greatest general that there has ever been among the Minare, and probably the greatest general ever save perhaps only one, he was one who ever did miracles with what he had, but in the end he had not enough to face to much, and it cost him his life, if not the remembrance of him.

 

Arillirus’ force proceeded to devastate Fegra Line, driving the isolated Ezleg formations back over the Avinkazag or else destroying them where they stood. It was not an easy battle, the Orglag had suffered hard in the crossing and were scattered wildly across thousands of square miles of land. It was not for over fifty days that the Ezleg resistance began to fade, but in that time the toll they took upon their foe was great. It was not for over a hundred days, moving into the new year, that Arillirus began to gather together his scattered forces, for there still remained one unsubdued Ezleg realm in Daizagul, that of Daizline, and Arillirus had every hope of destroying it utterly.

 

Thus in the early days of the one thousand one hundred and third year, Arillirus, still with less than half his forces gathered, attacked Daizline in mass. Alndril still ruled that realm, though she was now greatly aged in both looks and mind, though she was still only around her five hundredth year. She knew very well that her realm, without the aid of Iviseal’s armies, was soon to fall. Her forces, aided by a few survivors of Iviseal’s force, had drove off many raiders in the aftermath of the fall of the Rikelanear, but as soon as a connected attack was made, a slaughter would be inevitable. Thus, long before Arillirus’ forces came, she sent almost all her people back through the Avinkazag to safety. She and a few dedicated warriors remained to defend their forest to the very last. She and her followers were swamped a few days after Arillrius attacked Daizline, and none were never heard of again, such was the end of Daizline, a realm of three defeats over a thousand years, which fell only to the final attack, such was the end.

 

With the fall of Daizline, Arillirus had utter control of Daizagul. His forces remained scattered however, and only a small part of his force proceeded in the next attack. The Ezleg to the west, devoid of Hiare’s leadership, could not tell where the attack was to be struck, and feared that Arillirus’ would pour over all their realms in one attack. Such a few was impossible, but Arillirus did launch a massive offensive against the north. The Vrolevili held all the passes they had control of, but could not prevent the Orglag entry into Zandline, seizing that realm once again. Quickly the Vrolevili through defences around that place, but could not sack it. But Arillirus could do no more for now. His forces were scattered over thousands of miles, and had suffered grievously to the Ezleg defence. slowly over the next forty years great forces built up within the shadow land, but in all that time nothing but raiders came over the Avin Zandlear to threaten the Vrolevili, and of Arillirus in those forty years no tale is told.

 

But as one war stalled, another was soon to begin. For eight years after Arillirus seized Zandline, word of that capture finally came to Doroline. The Orglag of that realm believed that Arillirus was soon to be attacking the Vrolevili, and so they themselves prepared for battle, hoping to give Arillirus an overwhelming victory and rejoin their race. They also knew, in somewhat better time, that the two Ezleg armies facing them to the north were badly under strength, with large parts of both forces in Dinear watching Zandline. The Orglag of Doroline were more cunning than those of the east, for they had to fend for themselves somewhat more, and thus, taking a great gamble, they began what became known as the blood wars.

 

Thus in the late days of the one thousand one hundred and twenty first year, three great columns of Orglag surged out of Doroline by crossing the Litheren utterly unopposed, and marched on Var’narth. Such a move took the already heavily overstreched Ezleg utterly by surprise, an caused far greater problems to them. but it was at first they believed that their guarding armies could defend against such an attack, and could deal with the foe.

 

But it was not so. The two Ezleg forces, one two hundred miles Northwest of Var’nue under one lady Telendril, the other two hundred miles Southwest of the city under one lord Ntendar, were both no match for the foe, either in numbers, or otherwise, for both were utterly surprised despite the fact that they knew that Orglag forces had crossed the Litheren. Two of the Orglag forces fell upon Ntendar. He was killed, and his army put to rout in but a hours fighting, and was almost utterly destroyed. Telendril’s force fared little better despite the smaller forces attacking them. Her force drove the attacking Orglag of twice, but lost half her forces in doing it. Under the cover of darkness she pulled back to Var’nue, sending several messengers ahead calling for aid. She arrived at the city just in time to see the few remnants of Ntendar’s force struggle into the city. All in all over fifteen thousand Ezleg and eight hundred Kalrathen had been lost in a single days fighting. That day Telendril was put in charge of the defence of Var’nue with less than six thousand under arms to defend the city.

 

The messengers that Telendril had sent soon arrived at Maren, Var’narth and Nivan. At first they only told of her defeat, thus at first those cities believed that they could send only small forces to persecute the new war. But a few days later more messages arrived at those cities, and told the leaders of Ntendar’s annihilation, and the realisation of how grave the situation was. These messages were sent on to Ager, Barline, and even to Kalmaren, and with the news of the defeats the spirit awoke to destroy Doroline once and for all. Thus Barline readied a small army under Glimlith, and Kalmaren began recruiting a large force. Still the forces sent were but a fraction of what could have been sent, save that Arillirus’ presence caused great worry to all the lands, and large forces were thus kept back.

 

As the one thousand one hundred and twenty second year began, the war took a further turn for the worse. The Orglag moved on the city in great haste, routing three cavalry patrols which tired to delay them. soon the city was surrounded. A further disaster followed when the Orglag managed to destroy the bridge across the Veinaro, even though it was within bow range of the Ezleg, thus meaning that now force from Ager could come directly to their aid, and that they would have to pass via fords up river where the Orglag could defend the better. One of the Orglag forces remained to persecute the siege of the city, while another marched north across the Ephelt Glath. The final force took up a strong defensive position on the road to Nivan, thus blocking any relief from the east.

 

Var’nue was in no immediate need for supplies, food for many weeks being stored within. But the garrison was inadequate to defend the city, there being only nine thousand troops there, though many of the population could help also. But it was that when the Orglag attacked in force in the first days of the siege, the defenders had to fight for their lives to hold them off. They succeeded in driving them off, but time and time again did they attack, several times almost sacking the place, but if they used all their forces repeatedly, there would have been little chance for the defenders of the city.

 

While the Orglag to the east of the city took a defensive posture, those who marched north were on the offensive up the Ephelt Glath on the road to the Frolivar. Their goal was to defeat the small Ezleg forces which had began to congregate on the west side of the river. But as yet there was barely a thousand of them, and the Orglag outnumbered them perhaps fifteen to one, but the Ezleg were being steadily reinforced, so that time was on their advantage. Seeing this the Orglag tired to seize the riverline. The commander of this small forces was a lord Retnar, the son of Lareln, the current consul of Var’narth. He was an able warrior, but untested as a general, having only served under Iviseal before. but he responded well and proceeded to thwart the Orglag strike to drive him from the river, the Orglag were driven off by a force a tenth their number. The Orglag were not deterred and tried to swing north to surround the Ezleg, but they left their numbers strung out across the hills. Retnar, seeing his chance, swung his force west, and proceeded to sever and destroy the Orglag forces there, cutting the northern force from those in the south, but he had to quickly fall back to protect the riverline. The Orglag forces had been small, less than a thousand, but they were scattered and unable to manoeuvre, giving time for Retnar’s army to be strengthened. But the time that the Orglag were ready to attack again, he had nearly five thousand troops on the west side of the river, and he decided to forestall their attack.

 

He began his campaign by clearing the northern Ephelt Glath of the foe. Then he pressed south along the line of the Avin Leth. The Orglag tired to attack him head on and were bloodily repulsed, and were forced to regroup further south. Thus Retnar managed to advance over two hundred miles in eight days. But in doing so his front was becoming dangerously extended, his five thousand troops had to watch for forces over a hundred miles or more, and as the mountains veered sharply eastward, he began to fear a large offensive, but before he had chance to act, the Orglag did open their offensive before he could find a defensive position.

 

Once again the Orglag swung around his flanks in three columns with the intent of surrounding and destroying him. But this times they attacked both flanks and not just one. Retnar thus had great difficulty in fighting this off. Military logic dictated that he should pull back north at once, but his instincts told him to be bold, after all he was young, and had enough tactical flair to find a victory in this grave situation. Thus, leaving a small screen of cavalry to the west and south under his subordinate a lady Redeln, he swung almost his entire force eastward. The manoeuvres took some time and it was not for a night and a day that he came upon the Orglag. He fell upon them as night was falling. He took them utterly by surprise. Retnar had little control of Batzulad Alma, the battle of hills after the first charge. But the  Orglag, cut off with their back against the Avin Leth, fought in decreasing numbers until when morning came only a few were still fighting, and those were being driven up the mountains, the rest of the battlefield being littered with the dead, most of whom were Orglag, it had been an astounding victory.

 

That morning Redeln and her cavalry had been fighting running battles with the other parts of the Orglag forces. She had been given orders only to delay the Orglag, and to retire when pressed to strongly, for she had only five hundred horse and were outnumbered twenty to one. But her forces distinguished themselves by giving up a mere three miles of ground in that day, at the cost of only twenty lives. Redeln herself was wounded, but kept her command late into the night when Retnar’s cavalry began to arrive to reinforce her position. The Orglag attacks ceased soon after.

 

With two thirds of all the Orglag that set out from Var’nue destroyed in battle, coupled with the remarkable checking of the remainder by a mere five hundred cavalry, meant that the Orglag could no longer win the war in the north save only by a miracle. Retnar’s forces were being reinforced daily, so that by the time he was ready to continue his advance a few days later, he had over eight thousand troops with a hundred more arriving daily. And though there had not been a truly decisive victory by the Ezleg, the Orglag had lost the initiative, and were not to regain it as they were driven back south towards Var’nue.

 

To the east however the campaign was markedly different. The Orglag were not seeking a quick victory, and had taken up a defensive position on the road to Nivan, there was little else they could do, for over five thousand of them were strung out across the several hundred miles to defend against an incursion from Ager. But at least ten thousand Orglag defended the road itself, though only a fraction of that could be deployed in the narrow pass. They in fact held one of the strongest defensive positions in the north as the Orglag had found out two hundred years before.

 

In Nivan there had been built up a reserve force of recruits and old military formations. The commander was to be Neldaril, Nomleagth’s great grand daughter. She had been In Nivan with her husband Telear and their then twenty year old son Fronar when the war broke out. She had only come to strengthen the alliance of the Ezleg peoples, but in the end, as the most experienced Vrolevili general of her day, she was going to save Var’nue as Nomleagth her grandsire had done many years before. her husband returned to Oralath, but Fronar stayed his mother. It was to be his first campaign, though certainly not his last.

 

After preparing through late Vrozar of the previous year and into Almazar, Neldaril’s force consisted of nearly thirty thousand troops, over twenty five thousand of which had never fought a battle before, and less than a hundred could call themselves veterans. Still the force was well trained in the time that had been allowed, and had ample weapons and supplies. Thus as Almazar of the one thousand one hundred and twenty second year was coming to a close, her force march out of Nivan and off to battle in the south.

 

Her forces took nine days to march the two hundred miles to the Orglag positions. Thought crack troops could have forced their way their in half the time. But Neldaril had been assured that Var’nue was provisioned until early Arinizar, and thus saw no reason to ware out her forces early on in the campaign. But when she arrived at the Orglag positions, she saw how formidable they were, and she had doubts of how to break through, for she had never had to attack a strong defensive position before. The Orglag had defied their normal practice of charging forth and had dug in well in the slopes. Neldaril sent a message to Ager asking for aid, but she thought that for the most part her force would have to deal with the foe themselves. They did have a nigh on three to one superiority in numbers, but in such a position less than a few thousand could deploy, and her numbers may have not in any case been enough to offset the strength of the Orglag position.

 

She launched two attacks that day, twice driving the Orglag back nigh half a miles, but then being driven back themselves, a dismal failure on her part, the more so for her son was wounded in the attack. That night she launched two more attacks, finally gaining ground, only to see the Orglag form up further back down the road. In all that day’s campaigning had cost her two thousand lives, whilst the Orglag loss was less than half that. Her situation was seemingly very grave.

 

The next morning Neldaril received word from the Agerians. They were sending a force to cut the Orglag retreat, and also gave her permission to cross through their territory. At once Neldaril sent ten thousand of her force across the river, mostly archers, who took up positions where they could fire upon the Orglag. Late in the day they began to fire, a salvo continuing on until nightfall costing the Orglag dearly indeed. Then Neldaril attacked, as did the Agerians ten miles westward. They came very near to a complete success, the Agerians in particular walked freely through the Orglag positions slaying freely. But rather than risk exposing themselves, the Ezleg fell back by dawn, this alone saving the Orglag. Through the night they had been driven back eight miles by Neldaril’s force. The devastation was easily seen. Nigh half the Orglag forces had been utterly destroyed, scarcely five thousand remained, and their position was untenable, thus they began to withdraw westward. Neldaril was unable to offer a sustained pursuit, but the Agerians slew yet another five hundred Orglag, sending the survivors fleeing for their lives back to Var’nue.

 

With over ten thousand of the fifty thousand Orglag who had crossed the Litheren two hundred days before now dead, and another twenty thousand in flight from their foes, the Orglag should have fallen back to Doroline, for if they had done so, there would have been a reasonable chance that their land would have survived, the Litheren being a very difficult river to cross without opposition. But the Orglag would not withdraw, and the remnant forces gathered at Var’nue. From there defeat would mean that Doroline would stand little chance of survival. The Orglag did not know that an army of Seldar was gathering in Kalmaren, and an army of the Elybylar was being assembled under queen Glimlith. But still numbering over forty thousand, the Orglag dug in at Var’nue, preparing to resist forces numbering around thirty five thousand. Neldaril sent a message to Retnar to attack on the same morning, thus crushing the Orglag between their two forces. And with the garrison of Var’nue included, their numbers were about equal, and thus was Var’nue to be the site of yet another battle.

 

From the very beginning of the battle, the Orglag had their hands tied in that they had to keep a force to protect against a sortie from Var’nue. But their forces to the east were in a strong defencive position, though those to the north were not so. None the less Neldaril was the first to launch the attack. Feinting against the city, she launched a massive cavalry attack around the south of the Orglag lines, driving them back, though soon her cavalry became isolated from the rest of her force. Retnar however stuck at the city. The Orglag fought stoutly both her and against Neldaril’s force, but they soon gave ground. A brief counter attack drove Retnar back, but the battle was sealed with the forces of Var’nue, who poured out the gates and struck the Orglag in the back. Those to the west held off Neldaril’s force for a time, but soon the Orglag, their lines broken, began to flee. But now they paid their price, for Neldaril’s cavalry blocked the path south. One thousand horseriders cut over five thousand Orglag to ribbons, and those that escaped did not escape in the shape of an army, but of a defeated rabble. Over twenty five thousand Orglag were killed on the field that was ever known as Batzulad Doroline, the battle of the blood land, for it did indeed decide the fate of that land, for no less than four armies were marching on its borders.

 

The fall of that land was here after quite swift, though not as easy as some would believe. Retnar and Neldaril’s forces began crossing the Litheren ten days after the Battle at Var’nue, it taking a further ten days to get them all across. At the same time an army of Seldar, together with a force of Elybylar under Glimlith, crossed the Litheren over a thousand miles downstream by the Ephelt Gul. None of these forces was heavily pressed in the crossing, but fierce fighting did begin a few days later in the north when the survivors of the battle began to put up a hard, but hopeless fight. Pitched battles continued through Elmëgezar and early Arinizar, after which the armies were forced to hunt down the remnant of the Orglag. Over two hundred days did they spend doing this, until early in the one thousand one hundred and twenty third year. Then, it is deemed, that Doroline fell, for no Orglag were found within there after, and the land was remembered there after by its old name of Maitherel, after two hundred years of Orglag occcupatuion, it was finally free.

 

The Ezleg had won a great victory in the blood wars, though in the end it was virtually inevitable, for Arillirus never did anything to aid that realm in its struggle. But Arillirus was still in Zandline, and still he threatened Bair, thus within fifty years, he would one more bring his war to Bairgarand.