Running hurt. Tias' legs looked swollen and weakened with the effort. She hobbled over the beach up onto the shingle that led to the harbour.

The small wall from the harbour to the town hampered her.

She had met the dragon! She had fallen into a mountain! She now had a dragon as a friend! The invaders were coming! It was all a bit too much. She sobbed and sobbed with pain and emotion. She had to get to her father.

Solomon was on his way to meet with the town council. He was coming out of the guild with Timeron and Domerus. Heading down the cobbled road to the town square and the Town Hall. Past the Oaks that lined the way. Chatting with his council members and discussing the agenda for the council meeting. Their bright green robes of office blustering in the breeze.

"Make me feel all right" she pleaded to herself.

She ran to her father.

He became aware of her approach and Tia heard him stop in mid sentence as she flung herself at him. Silent sobs made her chest heave and tears were soaked into his robes of office.

"Tia! What is it? What is wrong? Did you fall? Your dress is in tatters girl. Your mother will not be impressed." He raised his hand towards his companions as if to apologise for the interruption. They looked at each other and shrugged. Moving away to give the pair some privacy in Tias' obvious distress.

Breathlessly she began,

"I have seen an army approaching. To the west among the trees. They are all armoured and their numbers are more than I could count!" Streaks of tears fell down her face and left clean lines in the grime of the mountain.

"We have been expecting them, Tia. This meeting of the Guild was to be a meeting of war. Go back home, my daughter. I cannot take you as time is of the essence. Tell all at the Guild to hide in the mountain till the danger is passed."

"How long will that be!? It may never pass. This will be the death of us all." She continued to sob and buried her face in Soloman's robe.

"It may be so my girl but all is not lost yet. Return home and do as I say. We still have some defence that may surprise them."

Leaning back from her father's clothing she looked him in the eyes.

"I can call Cascaria. She will help us." She said simply.

Soloman looked surprised and grabbed Tia by the shoulders and looked deep into her watery eyes.

"You never fail to amaze me, Tia. We may well need her help. I have met her too. Although I do not have the power to call her. We need you. Go home and clean up. Warn the others and meet me in the square as soon as you can."

***

Kane had decided to call himself Commander. He thought 'Commander Kane' rolled off the tongue very well. Deller didn't mind as long as slaves were taken and land conquered. How it was done was not important. Kane could create as much pain and havoc as he liked.

Beko had taken an army to the West. He had settled on calling himself 'Prince Beko' It sounded more royal and powerful. The way to the west was more aggressive and wild than to the east. So he had the bigger army to lead.

Deller had settled well in Mangor. The drill-pod had surpassed expectations and long past the time of Dellers' luck running out, continued to be very lucky indeed. It had survived the entering of the atmosphere of Agios and had crash-landed in a mountain lake some way north of Mangor.

Before crashing it had detected some massive deposits of lizard crystal. Much larger than anything Deller had ever come across before. They appeared to emanate many days, maybe weeks to the North, East and West of the crash site.

It was not too deep in the lake and one day Deller planned to go back and salvage it. For now, however, he was as happy as he could be with his harem, many offspring and the King's palace in Mangor. He had turned slaves into warriors and sent Beko and Kane off to bring back more slaves, conquer lands and any rumours of lizard crystal they could find.

Mangorians were so trustworthy. They believed his lies. They did what he asked, for little in return. A few well-placed murders, a couple of rousing speeches and the imprisonment of the old King Modas had elevated him to the new King. All bowed implicitly before him. It was too easy. He needed to rule the world, develop his knowledge of the crystal. Maybe then his empire would spread universally. These Agiossans didn't even know there was a whole universe out there. So backwards. So Unambitious. So doomed.

Deller had dozed off on his throne again. He had become rather chubby over the last few years.

The gong at his door sounded and he bade his guards open it and allow entry. It was time to decide. His favourite part of the day.

The Guards escorted the motley subjects and the accused through the large polished oak doors.

Deller only made decisions on the more serious crimes. He had a town magistrate that dealt with theft and assault and minor disputes. He presided over murders and rapes and 'the more interesting cases'.

A noble of the town stood before him in a long white robe. He would be able to put his own side of events to the King. To his left stood a very large muscular bald man of middle age. His face betraying that he was not the sharpest of minds.

They were introduced by the captain of ceremonies Parkin, Dellers right-hand man now that Beko and Kane were on their crusades.

"The victim. Nobleman Darma and the accused Grekko the builder. Your majesty" Parkin read from a scroll.

"Thank you, Parkin. Speak, Darma."

"Your majesty. I am grateful that you take the time to hear my distressing case. This man here in a drunken stupor broke through the front door of my house in the new quarter and punched my wife to unconsciousness, then went upstairs and murdered my son." Darma just managed to speak through his growing emotion.

"This is a serious accusation nobleman. Explain yourself Grekko. Open the pit, Parkin." Parkin nodded and stood on a stone button next to the throne.

There was a grinding noise. Two slabs of stone angled downward just in front of both men. They both recoiled from the stench and the gaping chasm. Snarling and whimpering could be heard from the pit.

Grekko gulped. Beads of sweat rolled down his forehead, sticking his fringe to his skin.

"I......His son was scum. He owed me money from a game of 'Sweaty Maiden' he owed me a long time and he said he wasn't paying it back. I got carried away and gripped his neck too hard. He had a very soft neck." Wringing his large hands with humility Grekko looked around the room. Searching for forgiveness. Fear in his eyes.

Deller could be seen to grin to himself.

"What were you doing at this time Darma?"

"I was helping my wife your majesty"

"Did you not try to stop this man?"

"I was comforting my wife your majesty. He is a very large man and very intimidating your majesty."

"I have made my decision. Guards. Tie this man's' ankles together and push him into the pit." Deller stood and pointed at Darma. "I need a new bodyguard and Grekko will do."

The King left his throne and went over to Grekko. With an arm stretched over his shoulders, he walked to the back of the room discussing Grekkos new role. He had to speak loudly as the screams from the pit echoed for quite a while.

***

The invasion had now passed through Dawson, Upton and The Forest. The magnificent mangorian army was at a junction. To the east stood Pride and to the south the main prize of Kingsport. Commander Kane had his first big decision to make. He wasn't very good at these. That's why he had captains. His captains had been in council for many hours. Kane had spent the time with some of the prettier slaves and some excellent Nocton Ker brandy.

Gower entered the campaign tent. It was by far the biggest and best tent in the field. Gower was an old soldier, he was a veteran of many a campaign. Neatly trimmed white beard and close-shorn grey hair.

"Commander?" His voice was deep and confident.

"Come in, captain. How do our plans progress?" Kane herded his guests out of the tent and motioned Gower to be at ease.

"Help yourself to brandy and report."

"We need to take the town of Pride commander. The captains feel that Pride will be a good place to house and feed the slaves we already have. Of course, the current inhabitants will become slaves too. It may be prudent to send a quarter of our army there to take the town and set up a slave camp. Then the rest of the army can carry on to Kingsport. If there is to be a siege then the sooner we get there the better. We need to cut off all supply to the capital. This way by No-leaf the place will be on its knees and ready for us to take. The slaves are starving. We need to feed some of them to ensure that a decent quota survives and return to Mangor. If you agree then captain Roper will lead the troops to victory in Pride and take control of the slaves."

Kane tried to put on a thoughtful face. He stroked his beard. Wondered how Deller would deal with this report.

"Very good. I concur. Please dispatch Roper and ensure ekwids are regularly sent with information between him and myself I want progress reports twice a day. Good work Gower. Take a bottle of brandy to each of the captains. Give them my thanks. Dismissed."

The old captain nodded deeply in traditional deference to his military commander. He grabbed awkwardly six bottles of brandy that had been left on the old war trunk for the others and retreated out of the tent.

The camp was quiet. It was the first time the army had stopped moving since the Battle of Upton, over ten days ago. All had stopped. Kane could see Gowers' exit through the flaps of the tent. The only thing that moved was the stench of the slaves. It wafted menacingly from the west. The troops had each erected a tent of sorts if they had one and presumably fallen asleep. Those meant to guard were barely awake. It would be good to leave those wasted wretches in Pride.

***

Sleep had been denied. Bound roughly around the wrists. Hand to hand with stinking, shit-stained, cadaver-like former citizens of Fenland. Klem was dragged, painfully.

His knees agonising and bloody, coming only second to the pain in his wrists.

Half stumbling, half crawling he followed the doomed soul in front.

Trying to shut out the nightmare of travelling in the mass of the damned, his drained mind tried to escape. A small corner became a refuge. Hidden there he found his family. Separated only days ago they appeared as a beacon. The sun between the storms. Connie, Jed, Mo, Mum and Dad. Smiling and safe and warm at home. Maintaining the illusion took considerable effort.

The lash caught his ear. The pain stung excruciatingly. The whip was meant for the captive in front of him. His ear was just collateral damage. The shock and the pain inflicted on his fellow captive, however, was fatal. No longer moaning. No longer hungry. No longer in pain. No longer breathing. The release was a blessing. It was however without dignity. With his bound hands being led by ekwids his body no longer stumbled but was dragged.

The large, muddy, mangorian put away his whip and swung his blade. Slicing the wretch from the rope. Klem had to hop over the mutilated corpse as it fell in front of him. Dumbstruck watching the dead mans' body being accidentally trampled by those behind him. He turned back to see the remains. A pair of tightly tied, severed hands still bobbled on the rope before him.