ayi was drafted and tasked with the duty of keeping track of the advancing army, and only her.  Ariana was a bit annoyed that her usual role was usurped, at least until Kang explained that if she was spotted, flying Demons would Teleport right to her location and attack her, and no amount of her vaunted flying speed would save her because they could just Teleport in front of her at any time.  They would do the same to Anayi, but Anayi could herself Teleport away, making it much safer for her to do it than Ariana.  Given that Anayi had been inside the Iron Mountain and could instantly Teleport right back to it at any time, it would allow her to return with up-to-the-second intelligence on the movements and activities of the enemy.
	At least Mist understood.  He hadnt told her everything about his plan, but she knew enough to know that he needed to be well prepared, and what hed been doing was preparation for this challenging task.  She kept him quiet company, and kept the children from distracting him too much as he read through his spellbook over, and over, and over, struggling to comprehend the language behind the words.  But it was very slow going, and at times he had to put the book down in frustration and go walk around.
	Those walks around were rarely very pleasant.  The Were-cats were not well liked now, both because of Tarrins actions towards Darax and Kimmies utter thrashing of the nobles.  The Were-cats had stung the pride of the Dura on multiple fronts, by showing a lack of respect towards their young king, and beating them around the throne hall like disobedient dogs.  Insolent glares followed him around, and they became truly heated when the Dwarves realized that the Were-cat, so totally engrossed in his own thoughts, didnt even notice that they were there, let alone took notice of their dislike of himbut after what happened in the throne room, none of them had the courage to confront him.  The Dwarf whom Mist had de-bearded had been healed, but it would be years before he regrew his beard out, and the lack of a beard made him look quite different from his fellows.
	That beard now hung on the wall opposite the door in their apartment, a very visible warning to any Dwarf who entered Tarrins rooms what the price was for showing disrespect.
	It was during one of those walks that he found himself standing in front on a bench that was too small for him in front of a fountain not far from the palace compound, staring at the cascading water without noticing too much what was before his eyes.  There was a statue of a female Dwarf and a male Dwarf standing back to back on a rough rock in the center of the fountain, wearing heavy plate armor and brandishing battle axes.  Water bubbled up from vents around their feet and cascaded down the sides of the rock, gurgling down into a wide, shallow pool.  There was an inscription on the rock, which read Dain Korgak VI under the male and another which read Dain Grendla III under the female.  They were statues honoring kings of the past.
	Crossing his arms, he looked down into the water and decided that this might be a good time to touch base with some old friends.  His wings flooded with the incadescent white light that marked his use of Sorcery, and he wove a weave of Water and Divine into the waters of the pool.  Within seconds, the shell of animation was complete, and a tenuous link opened between where he was and the Elemental Plane of Water, beckoning to the spirit residing there to join him.
	She answered immediately, as she always did.  The surface of the water bulged, and then the form of the Elemental rose from the waters of the pool.  As she always did, she took on a vaguely humanoid form when he did not select one for her, a humanoid form that was decidedly feminine.  His water Elemental was the only one of the four that was anima, was female, and she always seemed to want that fact known for some reason.  Two glowing green eyes appeared within the watery head of the Elementals form, and she nodded to him with stateful eloquence as the gentle link between his mind and hers was formed.
	He chose his water Elemental because she, unlike the others, had a position of prominence and authority within her realm.  She was best suited to answer his questions, even though his earth Elemental was much wiser and more learned than she was.
	In that touch between their minds was all the information that he needed to pass to her.  She immediately knew what he wanted of her.  Is it possible? he asked aloud.
	She was motionless for a long moment, then she nodded.  If you know the proper Wizard spells, it is possible, she answered aloud, mirroring his own method of communication, in a voice that sounded like waves crashing against the sea.  But you will suffer from the same restrictions as a Wizard by doing so.  You are only safe from me, Master.
	Can you think of a way around that?
	If you sought the aid of Vishtee, the Mistress of Water, queen of the plane of Water, she could compel the others to obey.  But she would not do such a thing for a mortal, Master, not even you.
	Even if she knew what Im facing here?
	The Demons cannot challenge us, Master, and the events of the material plane do not concern us.  She glanced around.  Would you grant me the boon of calling forth my cousin from the earth?  We should seek his council in this.
	Calling the other two would probably also be a good idea, he grunted.  Theyre probably worried, since its been so long.
	I have been, she nodded.
	In a matter of moments, he had all four of his Elementals present with him.  The air elemental hovered over his shoulder, and the other three formed a ring before the fountain.  After allaying worries with reassurances, he explained what was coming, and his idea to help combat it.  Can you think of any way I can call more than you four without risking them turning on me? he asked directly.  If I could field a few dozen Elementals, it could really help.  Demons have no defense against an Elemental.
	Using standard methods, no, the earth Elemental answered aloud, his voice sounding like the groaning of a deep cave.  Sorcery will not permit you to summon a second Elemental of the same kind, because of the bond, and if you use Wizardry, you are bound by its rules.  But, he said, glancing at the fire elemental, you have a different way of doing it, Master.  You are a god of fire, and you can command that element.  If you called out to the plane of Fire, the Elementals there would be compelled to obey you.
	I dont want to force them to help me, he grunted.
	They have no reason to obey you willingly, Master, the earth Elemental grumbled.  The happenings in the material world have no meaning to us.  Your only recourse is to command.
	Phaugh, Tarrin snorted, turning around and sitting on the edge of the fountain.  Well, it was an idea, anyway.
	Why does the idea of command bother you so? the water Elemental asked.
	He ran his paw over his head, mashing an ear back.  I guessI guess it means that I have to fall back on that, he told her.  You know Ive never been comfortable with it.
	It is who you are, Master, she told him, putting a watery hand on his shoulder.  Try as we might to rage against that which we are, in the end it can never be denied.  You have a chance to use it to your advantage, and perhaps save many lives.  Dont turn your back on it because it means using power you despise.
	Youre right, youre right, he sighed, looking to the fire Elemental.  Will it work?
	It nodded.  We cant disobey when you call to us, it answered.  If you used a Wizard spell to open a rift into the plane of Fire, you could command every Elemental near to it to obey you.
	No, I wont do it that way, he said.  If I call them through a gate, then if they die here, they die.
	We cannot die on the material plane, the earth Elemental told him.  All it would do is send our spirits back to our home planes.  We would then simply reform another body from the substance of the plane.  It would take longer and we would lose energy, but we would not die.
	The only way to kill an Elemental forever is to slay us in our home plane, the air Elemental agreed.
	Well, thats something, he sighed.  How many fire Elementals could I call? he asked, looking to the fire Elemental.
	I couldnt say, Master, it answered.  It would depend entirely on where you opened the rift.
	Here now, what manner of beasts be these? a voice called.
	Tarrin looked up and saw none other than Dain Darax, with two of his guards.  He was wearing a gleaming silvered breastplate with sturdy black trousers, and was carrying his copy of the axe of the Dains.  He didnt look hostile, just curious.
	Elementals, Darax, Tarrin answered politely.  Air, fire, earth, and water, he added, pointing them out.  Each nodded to the Dain as he pointed to them.  Summoning an Elemental is a spell of magic.  These are the ones that answer my call.  I had some questions I needed answered, and Ive found that Elementals are beings of wisdom as well as power.  Sometimes these four beings are the only ones I can turn to when I need certain questions answered.  After all, their knowledge is far beyond just this world.
	Well, pleased to meet ye, he said a bit uncertainly.  May I?
	Please, he said, motioning beside him.  Darax stomped over, giving the Elementals a quick look.  They moved back a little to let him sit down.
	I done had a talk with Kang, and with Mistress Dolanna, he said respectfully.  I couldnt right believe one of the things she said.  She said you were the one that fought the One.
	Tarrin looked him directly in the eyes.  I did, he admitted.  I lost too.
	But still, ye fought a god.  That seems impossible.
	Its not impossible, he said casually.  Gods can only use so much power in the material world.  If you can stand up to that, you can fight a god.  Granted, its still way more power than most can match, but I have certain, advantages, he said, jerking a thumb over his shoulder.  These are a part of that.  They give me the power to fight a god in the physical world.
	What are they?
	An echo of a long-dead power, he answered.  Trust me, they werent worth what I had to pay for them.
	I dont understand.
	Im sorry, Darax, but it would take too long to explain it.  Just think of them as a small fragment of a long-dead power that has enough strength to oppose the One, and leave it at that.
	Ill trust yer word on that.  She said that ye mean to go back and finish what ye started.
	I will, he answered.  In five days, when the others go back to Sennadar, Ill go to Pyros and destroy the One.
	And the Demon Lord?
	Dolanna and I have a plan for leashing him, he answered.  After that, its going to be up to the people left on Pyrosia to kill the Demons.  I wont be able to help.
	Why not?
	Because Ill be dead, he answered bluntly.  And Dolanna will have to keep the leash on the Demon Lord.
	She said that it wouldnt come to that.
	Dolanna is too optomistic sometimes, he grunted.  And even if I do live through it, Ill have to retain the leash on the Demon Lord, which takes me out of the fight.  Thatll free up Dolanna, though.
	Can ye do it?  Kill the One?
	I can, he answered.  He summoned the Demon Lord out of desperation, because even though were both wounded, Im healing faster than he is.  He knows that when I show up again, hell lose.  He summoned the Demon Lord to protect himself from me, but that was the biggest mistake he could have ever made. The Demon Lord will destroy the One the instant he has enough power in this world to do so, and then well be left with facing the Demon army he summons to conquer the world.
	Why not let this Demon kill the One?
	Because that means he has the power to conquer the rest of the world, he answered.  Every minute that goes by is more power that the Demon Lord manages to amass.  I have to kill the One as quickly as possible.
	Doesnt that mean that ye have to go through the Demon Lord to get at the One?
	He nodded.  I never said it was going to be easy, he shrugged.  But we have a plan for that.  Its complicated, and excuse me if I dont explain it to you.
	Is there anythin I can do to help with yer plan? he asked in a steady voice.
	Tarrin glanced at him.  Yes.  You can send some of your people with Phandebrass, he answered.  But you can also stand and fight.  That way you can help defend this world from the Demon Lord, but if we all fail, well, then the Dura will survive.  The Duthak had that foresight, which is why the Dura are here now.  Just show the same prudence your ancestors did, thats all I ask.  Thats all.  I spent years studying your ancestors, and the Dwarves are remembered to this day, even after five thousand years, with the highest regard and respect.  When your old god, Clangeddin, asked me to come to see if there were any Dwarves left, I agreed without hesitation.  I have too much respect and admiration for your people to see them die here and now because you wouldnt take the steps to protect your people from extinction.
	Ye coulda said it like that instead of confronting me in me own throne room, he chuckled gratingly.
	Im not one for diplomacy, Darax.  I never have been.
	Lady Dolanna explained things to me.  I understand better now.  Ive already decided that Im sending some of me people with Phandebrass, enough to protect us from dyin out.  But the rest of us, were stayin, and well fight.
	The Elara?
	He nodded.  They refuse to send anyone away.  Theyll stay and fight to the last man.  They believe that with them up on the moon, there aint no way the Demon Lord can get at em.
	Just the way you thought that no Demon could breach the gates of the Iron Mountain.
	He nodded.  Seein that girl of yers beat down me nobles, that made me start thinkin that maybe we arent as safe here as I thought.
	Be glad it was Kimmie.  If it was Mist, youd have buried a couple.
	Aye, I was warned about her.  But she doesnt seem all that mean.
	Say the wrong thing and youll find out.
	Darax chuckled.  Are these, well, alive? he asked, motioning to the Elementals.
	Very, he replied.  They come from another dimension.
	They look very strangeno offense meant, ye understand, he said quickly.  I just never saw nothing like ye before.
	To us, you look very strange, the earth Elemental boomed.
	Ah, they talk, he said with a chuckled.  I be Darax, Dain of the Dura, he introduced.  What names are yers?
	Our names are irrelevant, the water Elemental answered.  They would be things we would never reveal to others.  Should a Wizard discover our names, the Wizard could use them to make slaves of us.
	I didnt know that.  I beg yer pardon for askin then, madam.
	Few who do not study the ways of Arcane magic would, she answered with a simple nod.
	So these be advisors of yers? he asked Tarrin.
	At times.  They also help me in other ways, even if I just need to talk.  Theyve been friends of mine for many years.
	Darax looked at them again, then stood up.  Well, Id best be getting back to the planning.  Just needed to step out for a bit of fresh air.  Be well, master Tarrin.
	Darax stumped away with his guards, as Tarrin studied his back, until he made a decision.  Darax, he called.
	Aye? he asked, turning around.  He flinched violently but managed to react in time to catch the object that Tarrin had lobbed at him.  He stared at it for a long moment, his eyes a mystery.
	It was the Axe of the Dwarven King.
	I think that belongs to you, Tarrin called.  Take care of it, your Majesty.
	With me life, he said reverently, running a finger over the symbols engraved in one of the axeheads.  With me life.

	Time.
	Sometimes time was an element of universal reality that completely mystified Tarrin.  Even with all of his learning, and wisdom, and years of hard life that had grown him beyond his years, he still just didnt understand how it could flow like a racing river or creep like a garden slug along a leaf.
	Five days had seemed like lots of time before they left Pyrosia, but there was also the fact that the armies of the One was coming, and they had maintained a murderous pace.  They got ever closer as Tarrin raced to complete his almost impossible task, to unlock the meaning of the language of magic, to understand the language of the gods, until it was apparent that they were going to arrive before he accomplished that task.
	Ariana had predicted theyd arrive four days after they reached the Iron Mountain, three days before they were going to leave, and she had been exactly right.
	Tarrin stood on the absolute pinnacle of the Iron Mountain, his feet resting precariously on a tiny ridge of snow-laced, windswept rock that marked the apex of the peak, standing erect against a howling wind that sought to tear him from his perch and send him hurtling off into the vast expanse of empty air before him.  To the south, snaking out like a great living thing, were the armies of the One, advancing with singular purpose upon the towering monument that was the Iron Mountain, last bastion of the race of the Sennadar Dwarves.  They looked like ants to him from that lofty height, tiny crawling things far beneath him, awaiting only to be squashed.
	They werent alone, of course.  There were Demons down thereTarrin could feel them.  And the Demons could feel him.  There was no doubt that every Demonic eye was locked on the summit of the mountain, staring up at the glowing, almost incandescent presence of a being not meant for the mortal plane, the shining light that was his divine soul that radiated out from him, a light that only other extradimensional beings could see.  To them, the top of the Iron Mountain shone like a lighthouse on the shore, and the light that illuminated that snowy peak was ominous and dreadful.
	Todaytoday, would be a day of change.  The armies of the enemy were marching forward with inexorable certainty, extinguishing their torches in the dawn.  Theyd camped a few longspans south, and were now marching the final distance to reach the battlefield that Kang and Bragg had chosenalmost as if they knew where it was going to be.  From the way it looked, theyd be set up on the far side of that narrow valley and ready to hit the armies of the Dura in about an hourearly in the morning, but late enough for the light of the sun to come over the mountain peaks to the south and shine in the faces of the Dwarves as the armies of the One charged.  That was only prudent military planning, showing that whoever was leading that army knew what he was doing.  Their forces would be warmed up from the march, but not exhausted and unable to fight.  If they had discipline, they could set their forces and move within minutes of reaching a staging area, so long as the reserves behind that assault force formed up behind them as they charged.  But that wasnt going to matter.  No matter how many they had, no matter how many Demons they sent, Tarrin would ensure that they were destroyed.  Tarrin would do his best to help eradicate that entire army and rob the Demon Lord of those forces later on, when the real war began.
	It wasnt going to be easy, but Kang and Bragg had a good plan, and they had a tactical advantage with the terrain and the chosen battlefield.  They would also initially be defending in an area that had been prepared with fortifications, which gave them another advantage.  The enemy had an overwhelming numerical advantage, as well as Demonsbut Tarrins responsibility was to even those odds.  And he had already planned that out.
	He had to approach this with a minimalist bent.  He had to accomplish his objectives and help win this battle while utilizing as little of his power as possible.  He didnt want to show his hand to the Demon Lord as to what kind of power he possessed, didnt want to give the Demon Lord any reason to fear Tarrins power.  If he overstepped his bounds and gave the Demon Lord reason to worry, then the creature might join against the One to destroy him when he went after themand Tarin couldnt fight them both at once.  He figured that it wouldnt hurt to use any ability that they knew that he had already displayed since he was wounded, mainly his Sorcery, shapeshifting, and minor use of his divine abilities.  At the most, he would open the rift into the Plane of Fire and summon help if things got bad.  But that was as far as he could go.  If he showed any more power than that, then the Demon Lord might attack him when he arrived at Pyros instead of simply stepping back and allowing him to remove the last obstacle between the Demon Lord and absolute domination of this material plane.  The entire key to this was to show that he was strong enough to kill the One, but that he was no threat to the Demon Lord.  Tarrins rage was his motivation for going back after the Oneor so he would let them believe.  That bitch ShazBaket was with the Demon Lord, he had no doubt that she had told him everything she knew about him, which was admittedly a substantial amount.  That Tarrin would risk death by attacking the One with the Demon Lord standing in the way was not a stretchthat was something that he would definitely do.  Tarrins rage knew no fear, and more than once in the past it had blinded his judgement.
	Tarrin was counting on the fact that ShazBaket knew all about him, and had told her master.  He was depending on it.  He would turn that weakness into a critical advantage.
	Tarrin wrapped his wings, which now blazed with an incandescent white light at all times because of the tremendous reserve of Sorcery he had built up over the night, around himself to keep the chill of the wind off his skin, shaking his head a little after his braid whipped over his shoulder and flapped in the stiff wind, partially blocking his view of the valley below.  His tail snaked up over his shoulder and wrapped around his braid, then pulled it back over his shoulder and under his wings to keep it secured.
	Today would be the first day a brand new Blood War, the first day of the making of a new world.  Today would mark the flipping of the hourglassand when that sand poured out its last grain, the One would be dead, and the Demon Lord and all his minions would be safely contained.  Then the hourglass would be turned over once again, its sands marking the destruction of the Demon Lords forces and the liberation of Pyrosia from both the One and the Demon Lord.
	And then it would be turned over once more, to mark the beginning of a new age of peace.  And would the Goddess ensure that sand never poured out.
	He closed his eyes as something familiar smacked into his shoulder, then crawled up and took shelter from the wind under one of his wings.  Theyre looking for you, Tarrin, Sarraya piped over the wind.  Did you have to come out here when its so windy?  I almost had my dress torn off!
	Tarrin looked up into the cloudless sky.  Its going to get worse, Sarraya, he said in an absent, almost lethargic manner.  Theres a storm coming.
	Well, lets hope that it only rains over there! she shouted.  Whats wrong? she asked after a moment.
	Nothing, old friend, he answered, looking back down at the army in the distance.  Just musing about the past and the future, and what more needs to be done.
	Dont get all mopey on me now, she said.
	He didnt answer.
	Kang wants you down at the army, she told him.  Theyve sent out some of those flying Demons to scout, so he figures the fightings going to start real soon.
	I know the plan, Sarraya, and I know the signals.  Ill stay up here, where they can see me, where I can be a powerful distraction.  Those Demons down there are going to be too busy watching me than to worry too much about what the Dura and the others are doing, and that might help them.  Tell Kang that when Im needed, Ill be there.
	Hes not gonna like that.
	Look into my eyes, then ask me if I care.
	Sarraya burst out into laughter.  Not a bit, she giggled.  Ill go tell him.  Ill even tell him what you just told me if he gets pecky.
	Knock yourself out, he said absently.
	Alright.  Ill see you down there.  Be careful, Tarrin.  Its gonna be dangerous, you know.  For you, I mean.
	You too, old friend.
	She flitted out from the protection of his wing and dove down the mountainside, flying along the leeward side to protect herself from the wind, quickly vanishing from sight as she turned invisiblebut he could still see the aura of her as a wispy outline encompassing empty air.  But that too quickly vanished, as she raced away from him.
	Tarrin watched her go, and then hefted his sword.  The flame of the sword flinched, and then was replaced by the ghostly white aura that marked its connection to the Weave, almost looking like white fire dancing along the blade.  He did not weave any spells, instead, he reversed the blade, then drove it into the stone of the mountains peak.  The entire mountain seemed to shudder and flinch as flows of Sorcery suddenly raced through it, coarsing through the veins of rock, threading down and branching over and over again, expanding more and more as it raced down the mountain until they reached the base.  Then the flows began to weave together into a coherent spell, a spell of High Sorcery that heavily involved all seven Spheres, a spell that had not existed until that moment.  The spell infused the rock, introducing a Ward into the stone of the mountain itself that would instantly destroy any Demon who so much as put a clawpoint on any part of the stone.  Built into the spell was a specific exclusion, to protect Anayi, Forge, and Ember.  The spell would not hurt them, but would kill any other Demon.  Tarrin charged the Ward so it would last for at least a few days, then removed the sword.
	That was the last line of defense, in case everything went horribly wrong.
	The white of his wings faded away, leaving them looking normal once morea conscious move to conceal the charge he was carrying, nothing more.  That spell had cost him none of the energy he had stored up, it had all come from the sword.
	There was no more he had to do.  He had already laid down a Ward over the planned battlefield to prevent any Demon from teleporting in or out, even Anayi.  There was nothing left for him to do but watch, and wait.
	
	Bragg was the one that had command of the front line, and there was no other place that the scarred general would ever want to be.  It wasnt that the general enjoyed killing and warwell, maybe not completelybut his place was with his men, fighting at the front lines, swinging his axe just as he expected his youngest, lowest-ranking, downy-faced whelp of a private to do.  Dwarven generals did not sit on horses at the rear of the line and bark orders at their troops.  Dwarven generals stood right in the middle of the line and boomed those orders over the din with voices trained over the years to carry over the loudest battle, accompanied by a flag officer who waved certain flags to reinforce those commands.
	Dwarven generals were warriors before they were generals.
	As the sun rose over the hills to the southeast, the enemy moved in and set up.  Though more than half of their forces hadnt even reached the staging area yet, there was already a seething sea of stinking humans facing them across the narrow valley that would serve as a chokepoint to prevent them from flanking his forces.  He could see that those flying figures in the distance that were hovering over their armies had to be flying scouts, and they were reporting the position and fortifications of the Dwarven lines.  That meant that the commander of the enemy forces was now making a decision, debating where and how to hit the fortified line.
	That line was formidable.  Theyd dug a deep trench through the middle of the valley and filled it with sharpened stakes, then piled the dirt up on the far side to form a rampart that was would be manned by Dwarves with long pikes to kill anything that tried to climb up.  Beyond that was an empty area, and then there was a zigzagging low wall of logs, behind which the rest of the army would stand ready to repel any invaders.  Behind them was a natural rise in the valley floor, upon which were stationed all the magic-users, to give them an unobstructed line of sight to the open area beyond the log wall.  Archers armed with crossbows were on the hillsides to either side of the log wall, so their elevation would give them greater range, to make the very act of reaching the trench a dangerous one.  Their reserves were stationed behind the magic-users, in the open area beyond the valley, ready to rush in and support, and also ready to run forward with long planks that would be thrown over the rampart and trench to allow the Dwarven army to rush across the obstacle and press the planned counterattack.  They were well positioned and safely entrenched behind solid fortifications.  They were ready for the enemy army.
	But Bragg saw no Demons other than the fliers in that armywhich were what was supposed to make this such a dangerous battle.  No, wait, now he saw one, and an evil looking monster it was at that.  It was a gruesome looking thing, looking like a human woman with six arms, but it was like someone cut her in half at the waist and stuck her on the end of a giant snake.  Eerie looking witch, there wasnt any doubt about that, despite the fact that her head looked completely human, and she had an impressive pair of uncovered breasts waggling freely about in the morning breeze.  She slithered out on that snake body ahead of the forces, and boldly used some kind of spyglass to look over the fortifications his men had made over the last few days.  Then Bragg saw another Demon, this one a disgusting looking thing that looked like some kind of cross between a frog and a lizard that walked on two legs like a man.  It rushed out of the formation of rather nervous-looking humans and seemed to talk to six-arms, then it just disappeared like it wasnt there!
	ShazBaket! Lady Dolanna gasped from well behind him, where the other magicians were gathered and prepared to repel the Demons.  They sent ShazBaket!
	Ye know that six-armed wench, Lady Dolanna? Bragg asked.
	She has been a thorn in our side for many years