“Eliya, my dear! I am so sorry for your loss. I have just heard the news. It is a great misfortune for all of us.” Thus it was that King Gothrim welcomed them into Roxil.

King Gothrim was a rather stout, well-built man, fond of food and drink. However the war had driven him out of the comfort of his palace at the capital, Siplin. Two days ago, after the attacks had spread as far as Ringole and Talem, King Gothrim and his men had vacated the palace and left for Roxil. Considering that Arrakesh was far away from any of the borders of Hadria, it was mostly a peaceful country of farmers and ironworkers. They were not really capable of putting up much of a fight.

 “You have undergone far too many trials. Now you need to rest. Do not fret. You will be safe here, Princess.” With that the king of Arrakesh left the hall, while his men escorted Eliya and the others to their chambers.

 

-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-

 

 The view from Eliya’s room was spectacular. She could see the lush, green forest surrounding them and further, the waters of the Valhen strait. She could even see narwhales in the water, bulky but fast-moving creatures resembling whales, found in the Valhen strait and the Azure Sea, after they had been chased out of the Hadrian Sea by the Haders. They were so large that their movements caused the water to churn, only serving to remind Eliya of the Haders’ involvement in the churning of her own environment. And far off in the distance, she could see the shores of Arrakesh. The sky was dark and clouded, just like the future of Mesagog. And Eliya could not help but think of her family, now in a better place.

 Suddenly she sensed movement in the underbrush below the fort. A shadowy figure was leaping away from the fort. It was heading into the darkness on all fours. Even at that distance, Eliya recognized its simian gait. It was Kenos.

 

-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-

 

 Eliya was still awaiting Kenos’ return when the black swarm came into view. It seemed to advance across the land, like a wave, consuming all in its path, unrelenting, washing away everything. It was advancing, converging unstoppably on the fort, which was supposed to be impregnable, impenetrable. But what if it wasn’t? There were a few seconds of uneasy silence. Eliya felt as if she might not be able to breathe with fear. A shrill cry pierced the air, “HADERS! Fort under attack!!”

 And then all hell broke loose.