Everybody's been waiting for the day somebody declared rebellion. With the Church's backing, they all felt compelled to help. They had a chance of winning, especially after crippling most of Stalwart's allies. 

He was alone, surrounded by a coalition of armies whose numbers exceeded fifty thousand. As per the intelligence provided by Pontiff Nari, Stalwart only had ten thousand men at his command. Little did they know that the infamous Hartwell had an army of his own. 

Hartwell was one of the few chosen by Lord Qil'Al as a champion. He'd succeeded in every test. Therefore, the Lord of Death had granted him his own army, his own Wild Hunt. They're hors.e.m.e.n summoned straight from Qil'Al's domain. They only obey one law, kill everything in sight. 

They could be killed, provided one had the strength and the energy required, but they'd kill a thousand men before they could be brought to the ground. Hartwell commanded two dozen. In a way, King Nicholas's forces far exceeded Stalwart, but the Mad Wizard wasn't easy to defeat. 

The Church had also been recruiting with the help of Utar. The priest was an excellent tracker, and managed to find twenty warriors with exceptional talent. The Bishop's plan was to deplete Stalwart's army, bring him to face them alone. 

It was a gray morning when Utar barged into King Nicholas's war council chambers. The king stood above a long table on which a map of Biarkh had been placed. He was observing it with the Bishop and a few trusted generals. 

"He'll likely make a move through the Dark Forest and toward the Sera Trench," one of the generals said. "He may be a wizard, but his men are but ordinary people. Their march will be faster." 

"Not to mention easier on the soldiers," another general put in. "There'll be plenty of villages for them to plunder for food and supplies. I say we meet them here." He pointed at some hills north of the trench. "We'll have the advantage of higher ground," he said.

The king nodded approvingly. "Send a small contingent out west," he pointed at a small road through the hills that preceded the capital. "If he's as smart as we all think, Stalwart will send some of his men to flank us. We won't give him that pleasure. We have the numbers. Let's use them to our advantage." 

King Nicholas turned to look at the Bishop. He found him staring at Utar, whose face was devoid of all color. "What is it, priest?" one of the generals asked. 

"Speak," the Bishop encouraged Utar. 

"Queen Celise's army," he said in a faint voice. "They've been ambushed. The queen's reported missing, maybe dead." 

Whispers of indignation filled the war council chambers. The king had to speak louder in order to drown out his generals' outburst. "How could that be?" he asked. "They had five thousand soldiers. The queen had sent word herself to confirm it." 

"It's Stalwart," Utar said. "I received word of it this instant and came to report. I already have some men scouring the place. They say about ten thousand men had stormed the queen's army by night." 

"He's already made his move," the king said, thoughtful. He turned to look at the Bishop then. "What do you think this means, Bishop?" 

"Stalwart's strong enough to kill a thousand, maybe two thousand men in an all out battle. He can also create an illusion to make us think his army's there," the Bishop said. "However, decimating five thousand men before we could even send back-up... I'll send Pontiff Nari to investigate. Stalwart may yet have a trick up his sleeve." 

In the meantime, Stalwart was riding toward the Sera Trench as the king's generals predicted. Only twenty five hundred men followed him, most of them on foot. Sam rode by his side, unshackled.

 Hartwell trailed behind them. He seemed to concentrate on something n.o.body could see. His eyebrows had knitted together, forming thick creases on his forehead. The next minute, his face relaxed and he urged his warhorse to trot faster.

"Queen Celise's army has been dealt with," he reported as soon as he reached the mad wizard. 

Stalwart nodded. "Send word to the others. Have them spread out even further." 

Hartwell nodded and urged his warhorse to break into a gallop. After Qil'Al's champion disappeared, Stalwart turned toward Sam. "This battle will never be remembered," he said in a grim tone. "It will be the only coalition in history to ever a.s.semble against me, yet n.o.body'll remember it. It's a shame really." 

"Will Utar pay for what he'd done to us?" Sam asked. 

"I'll let you decide on his fate," Stalwart replied. "After all you've shown me, it's the least I could do." 

"What about the Holi Wars?" Sam asked. "Will I still partic.i.p.ate?" 

"You still want to see your aunt, don't you?" Stalwart asked. "Follow my lead, and you shall have power the likes of which you've never dreamed of." 

Sam's lips parted into a vindictive smile. He looked at the horizon, hopeful that tomorrow would bring a better, brighter dawn. After all the power he's acc.u.mulated, he thought he had become a one man army. Stalwart had crushed his hopes, only to reveal a new and improved way toward eternal happiness. 

"What about Myles?" he asked. "Wasn't he with you when I interfered?" 

"He's dead for all I know," Stalwart bitterly replied. "If only that stubborn grandson of mine was like you." 

In truth, Stalwart was furious with his grandson. None of this would have happened had he stayed in Raiya's Tree Vessel. He wouldn't have had to leave his country behind, and lose all the support he desperately needed right now. 

"You focus on joining your band now," Stalwart said. "The Bishop will certainly welcome you with open arms. You're their only hope in the upcoming wars. Without you, they'd wither and die as time does what it does best. 

"Go to them, do everything exactly as I taught you. In three weeks, you'll be in a s.h.i.+p bound to Milogac. The witch will have beckoned the moon by then."

"You'll save Agatha after that," Sam said. He feared demanding anything from the Mad Wizard, but he was also risking too much. He had to have a.s.surances. 

Stalwart smiled. "My word is my bond," he said. "You do your part and let me worry about mine." 

Sam nodded. "It's almost noon," he said as he squinted at the sky above. Heavy clouds hid the sun, but didn't block its rays entirely. "I should get going." 

"Stay alert, and keep your psionic link open at all times," Stalwart said as he sent him off. "We shall meet after I crush this rebellion."