Umores sat up quickly and looked around. He had been sleeping deeply for a change but had been startled awake. He blinked and tried to see in the added darkness to night that the cave gave. He saw that he was not alone he several others quietly stirred as well. Phoenix was awake as usual, and there was Albertus and Dennizon, quietly looking around them as if searching for something. Jaha was raised on one knee, a hand placed on Kitana's shoulder, still laying down, in a protective gesture. The rustle of a boot on dirt made Umores look behind him and he saw Freedom nudging his friend Doomwolf awake.

Suddenly, he heard a sharp peal from a horn and grimaced as a baby was startled awake and began to cry. Its mother quickly tried to hush her baby daughter and Umores returned to listening. Again the horn pealed in the night and the faint sound of drums beating traveled ominously through the caves. Duuum bum dum dum Duuum bum dum dum Duum bum dum dum. Umores eyes widened as he recognized the drums beating a cadence that was followed by the pounding and shuffling of what had to be thousands, no maybe tens of thousands of heavy footsteps.

Umores jerked his head to the side has there was a commotion in the direction of the exit to the caves. He strained to listen as the scout, he recognized him as one sent out by the High Council the other day, hurried over to Albertus and Dennizon. Freedom hurried past Umores to the gathering to hear the news. “Milord” the scout said as he gave a hurried salute, “He’s dead! Yelsef is dead! I saw them take him, it was terrible, huge, the numbers, I, I…” “Calm yourself Zakaire” Dennizon rebuked him sharply. “Tell us what has happened” “Indeed, how is Yelsef dead?” Albertus asked calmly. Zakaire took a deep breath and started to relate his tale. Apparently, from what Umores could hear there was a vast army on the march just a mile or so away from the cave. Zakaire and Yelsef had been scouting from provisions as ordered but had split up to cover more ground. Zakaire had heard the war drums and rushed over a small ridge to see what the commotion was. What he saw were massive beasts standing head and shoulders taller than even a tall man. There were thousands upon thousands of them marching as unto war. Yelsef himself had been discovered by them as he tried to evade their scouts but to no avail. He had been shot down by an archer and then carried off for purposes unknown. “An army? Of that size? But what could be their purpose?” Asked Freedom.
“There’s more.” Zakaire said with a look of fear in his eyes. “There were man small groups of these beasts carrying bronze chalices containing liquid fire it seemed and a procession at the head of the army carrying a giant, twisted effigy lit on fire and bearing the resemblance of some being I have never before seen.”

“It is as I feared.” Albertus said gravely. “Indeed it is just as we discussed. We must prepare.” Dennizon agreed. “What shall I do to prepare Councilors?” Freedom asked apparently completely aware of what they were talking about even though Umores himself was not. “Wait,” stammered Zakaire obviously not knowing what was going on, “you know of these things?” “Well it depends of what things you speak of.” Said Albertus with a pointed look. “Of these beasts you speak of I know nothing. Of this army’s purpose, I can only guess. But of these bearers of flame and the burning effigy I have an idea. You see, in light of our recent perils I have wracked by mind for anything I can recall about the use of magic and fire to explain what happened. It was not until early today that I recalled in my youth studies of a primitive form of magic, old magic. In days long past wars of magic very nearly consumed the entire world and all living beings in it for their misuse of its power. Certain spells could call upon the very fabric of the elements to rain down destruction on ones enemies. But, as with all things, with great power comes great responsibility, or great cost. The Arch mages of old declared that these potent magics be banned from use and no longer taught. Those who already knew them were magically bound to no longer be able to spread their knowledge or use them at all. It was thought that in this way this terrible knowledge could be erased from existence. One such spell was to rain fire and rock down upon ones foes to utterly annihilate them and their land.” Zakaire gasped and seemed taken aback. Even Umores felt a tinge of fear for he was not ignorant of the ways of magic himself. He had always taken an interest in such things and had heard legends of these deadly powerful spells though he had never thought of them as the source of his own personal peril.

“You see, I believe, that will rudimentary these effigies summon something very similar to what those old spells could accomplish.” Albertus continued unperturbed by Zakaire's shock. “I am not certain how a race of beings such as the ones you described could have misted such potent magic, but it seems that they may well have tapped into this extreme power and used it.” “But why? Why would they want to do this, and why do they march as if to war?” Asked a bewildered Zakaire. “That is the question isn’t it?” Replied Dennizon. “Whatever the answer, these beasts intend to bring devastation before them. What’s more they aren’t stupid. They knew how to use this spell, the effect it would have, and how to shield themselves from it.” He continued. “Yes, and that’s the part that, to our peril, we do not know and must find out.” Albertus interjected. “But why? Is it not better to leave such evil and destruction behind us?” Zakaire answered. Albertus and Dennizon were quiet for a moment and it was finally Albertus who spoke. “Safer? Perhaps. Better, I am not so sure. This is a danger to everyone and how ignorance makes us unsafe.” “But surely safety matters more than us knowing anything!” Shouted Zakaire seeming to panic a bit. Umores could understand it since the man had seen his companion killed by the lot and saw the fierceness of their army and their terrible countenance. “We could run, we could go the opposite way! We were safer in Camelot than we are in what you suggest!”

“Stand up man and remember to whom you speak!” barked Freedom in disgust. “You would run? When so many of our family and friends have died by the hands of these beasts you so fear?” “Go easy Count Freedom,” Albertus said soothingly, “Zakaire is understandably shaken after his encounter. I do not fault him there. However, Zakaire, you must see the truth in Count Freedom’s words as well? Surely you can see that we must protect not only ourselves, but try to ensure that others do not fall victim to magics that were outlawed for our survival to begin with?” “NO I don’t!” Shouted Zakaire who was obviously loosing his composure. “Well I believe you know the direction to Camelot if you feel we are in error Zakaire.” Dennizon said quietly, “But we are involved here now, and I cannot think of or accept running and hiding. Too many of our own people died here and I would not wish that same fate on others. We have always stood for what is just and right, and must continue to do so now.” Umores watched as Zakaire started to retort, then grew quiet, dropped his head, and nodded. “You are not alone in your dread of this thing Zakaire.” Albertus said solemnly. “I understand more than you know the dread of such a thing and the desire to leave it behind. But I have experienced such things in the past and I did try to leave it behind me and go on with life. It would seem it has found me and those I love for a second time.” Umores wondered at this reference to Albertus’ hidden past. Much was not known about this ancient sorcerer and it intrigued him, the man’s experience. “What would you have me do milord” Zakaire said in acceptance of these words. “Do what you do best. Scout these beasts. Let us know of their movements. We need to leave this cave anyway as our provisions are too low to stay. When the time is right, it is your scouting that will deliver our people to safety.” Albertus said in his parental like manner. “Go, report to us when you have news of this army’s intentions.”

Umores watched as Zakaire saluted with newfound energy. His spirits were obviously uplifted by his talk with the High Council. Umores wondered what would happen next and got his answer to his surprise. “Umores,” Albertus called to him, “since you too are privy to our situation I will need your assistance. Come.” Umores blinked and then hurriedly stood. How the old man had known he was listening was beyond him, but there would be time to consider that later. For now, he joined a select group of people being called to the High Council and Count Freedom.