Rebellion (Part Two)

Only several hours had passed when Ganillo returned to the tent with an update on his mission. “I think I got it.”

“You think?” Dordin asked, apprehensively.

Ganillo nodded. “I’m positive it will take us somewhere.”

“Somewhere?” Roth asked this time.

“Yes. You see, during your speech about King Arthur being taken away to Avalon at the Lake, it gave me something more to base my theory on. After I spoke with you earlier, I gathered a few of my fellow wizard colleagues and teleported them to the Lake. We searched for a Laegil, or magical signature, and managed to find one.

“Laegil?” Dordin asked.

“Yes, you see, when a Takmag with teleportation abilities teleports, he leaves behind a Laegil, which says where the magic took the Takmag. If another Takmag with the same powers was close behind manages to find the Laegil, he can use that information to teleport to the same location.”

“And you found this, Laegil thing, right?” Roth asked.

Ganillo nodded and held out a small sapphire shard which had a faint blue glow to it. “The Laegil gets stored here.”

Roth looked over to Dordin, searching for a response. Dordin sighed. “Do you realize what would happen if I were to lead these people to Stonehenge with promises of freedom, and we end up in the ocean?”

“Sir, I understand that, but I have strong reason to believe that this is the correct Laegil. It was a powerful wizard that left it. I’ve researched Laegil’s. No matter how far a wizard teleports, the Laegil they leave behind is only a hundredth as strong as the one found at the Lake, possibly even smaller.” He put the Laegil stone into a small bag and hid it under his tunic.

Dordin gave him a look of approval. He had no other choice but to put all belief in Ganillo’s work. “How soon can we get this camp to Stonehenge?”

The Takmag shrugged. “By foot, a less than a day. We aren’t that far away.”

“You can’t teleport us?”

“Not all at once.”

Dordin nodded. “I will tell the camp.” He left the tent once more that day and faced the crowd with such courage and bravery stamped across his face. Kinhu followed short behind, ready to make the stage again. He did so with only a single smile from Dordin, and instantly lifted the leader of the camp above his people.

For the second time, all eyes were focused on him. “My people! We have fantastic news!” He smiled greatly, making sure his appearance matched the information he was about to distribute. “Through the help of two family members,” he gestured to Ganillo and Kinhu who stood next to each. Ganillo waved to the crowd as Kinhu cowered in embarrassment. His cousin helped him up and forced him to acknowledge his achievement. “We have opened the doorway to another world! A world where we can be free to perform magic without being persecuted!” The crowd began to roar at this. He hadn’t even finished what he was going to say when the noise from the people was too much. He put his arm in the air, and yelled, “Rofan aokplo!” From his fingertips erupted a blast of fire so great that the entire camp population quieted down in mere seconds.

“Thank you,” he said with a warm smile. “Now I know you all know of Stonehenge, the great rocks from the giants!” Everyone agreed, and those who were out of the loop were quickly informed by their neighbors. Dordin evaluated the crowd, once again spotting out his wife and children and a partially delighted Kinhu. Roth was out of sight. Probably sulking about having no war, he thought. “My friends! The day had come for our freedom!” Uproar exploded from the crowd. “Let us begin our journey to the great Isle of Avalon, where we can live forever!”

The camp went ecstatic. Everyone began rushing this way and that, trying to get back to their respective tents, gathering all their belongings for the new world. Kinhu lowered Dordin back down, and once again they retreated to the command tent. Roth was waiting in the tent, sitting in Dordin’s seat at the table. He rose immediately upon their arrival. “Sir, what will the Omaat feel about your plan.”

Dordin sat down in his seat which Roth had just vacated and laughed heartily. “They don’t have much of a choice, do they?”

“So you’re just going to ignore the council?”

Dordin bobbed his head up and down. “Yes. Let’s face it. If they are really against it, they are overruled just by the community.”

Roth was surprised. “So you’re overthrowing the Omaat?”

“No,” he said shaking his head. “Just defying them.” Dordin looked over to Kinhu, who was performing his classic leaning forward and back again. “Kinhu, do I need to say it?”

Kinhu shook his head. “No, sir. But when are we going to inform the rest of the community?”

Both Roth and Dordin were perplexed. “The rest of the community?”

A rapid nod. “Yes, my lord. The dragons, the dwarves, the Sinilians, and the merpeople!” Before his leader had a chance to respond, he continued. “The magical community is much greater then just the humans! I know we are on bad relations with the dragons, but they are still our brethren.”

Kinhu was right, and Dordin knew that. “But how will we notify them?”

“I believe I can help there.” Ganillo had just entered the tent, having heard the most recent predicament. “We can use the Stones to send out a message in mind speech that all magical beings will pick up on.”

Dordin placed his hand on his forehead and rubbed. “How soon can you do that?”

“I can do that now, sir.”

The leader of the group approved. “Go.” In the blink of an eye, Ganillo was gone again. Dordin looked up to Roth. “Let’s see if the people are ready.” He grabbed his helmet and watcher canteen, and together they left the tent and peered across the sea of faces. “Kinhu, if you will?” The young Earth wizard agreed and Dordin was in the air again. “And can you go retrieve our horses?” Another nod of obedience paired with scampering feet told Dordin all he needed.

He turned back to the crowd. “People of the magical community! Whether you are ready or not, we leave now for Stonehenge!” At that moment, two horses were guided to the side of the platform. Roth mounted one, while Dordin jumped from the platform landing on horse. He held his hand out to Kinhu who was turning to go with the crowd. Kinhu saw the gesture and turned back, staring at the gift. “Come,” Dordin said. “You ride with me.”

Kinhu grasped at the hand and was instantly hoisted upwards. Once firmly in the saddle behind Dordin, the horse was off, galloping through the crowd in the direction of Stonehenge. Only seconds later did the voice of Ganillo begin to drill through everyone’s minds, instructing them gather at Stonehenge.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The rest of the day passed with nothing but traveling. Dordin, Roth, and anyone else riding a horse had to ride it very slowly as to not get ahead of the immense human migration that was occurring in England.

“Sir,” Roth said. “We should be able to make it by nightfall.”

“That’s good news. I hope Ganillo has everything prepared.” Dordin stretched out his arms, trying to get circulation running again.

“Oh, he will, my lord,” Kinhu announced with such vigor. Dordin was seeing a change in him.

Everything was calm, until from the skies ahead they could see a figure moving across the approaching twilight. The dark figure moved with incredible speed, gracefully but yet powerfully flapping wings like a bat’s. As the mysterious visitor flew closer and closer, they managed to make out the outline of a dragon. Covered in brown scales and ivory horns protruding from its skull, the setting sun reflected off of these scaly surfaces throwing down a light show amongst the trees.

Dordin instructed the people to keep moving, for they did not know the dragon’s intent, and the group was slowing down considerably.

The dragon was finally upon them and was slowing down as well, making ready for a landing. With great beats of its wings, the dragon landed peacefully in front of Dordin, Roth, and Kinhu, sending their horses into frenzy. The dragon turned its side to the three, revealing Ganillo sitting on its back.

“Lord Dordin!” Ganillo called out. “We have a problem!”

Dordin didn’t want to deal with this. Everything was going so well. “What is it?”

“You have a spy in your midst,” Ganillo responded. “The English forces are gathering all around Stonehenge. And I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but the fleet is enormous.”

“The English have assembled so quickly? They sure didn’t spare any time for King Arthur’s death.”

“Yes, sir. They were motivated for magical blood. Once they got word of your goals, they all seemed very willing to cooperate for this cause. And I’m afraid it gets worse.”

Dordin cursed. When he had recomposed himself, he said, “What now?”

“They have granted amnesty to the criminals if they fight this war with them, increasing their already immense numbers.”

A sigh escaped Dordin’s mouth. Then an idea dawned on him. “What about those who have arrived at Stonehenge already?”

“What do you mean?”

“Will they join our cause? With enough magic, we can defeat any army!”

The dragons will support your cause, came a feminine voice, booming through their minds.

Everyone was caught off guard. “This is Yanir,” Ganillo said pointing to the dragon.

“Pleasure to meet you,” Dordin said in awe.

Likewise, came the wise voice of Yanir again. While we will support you, most of our kind has flown off in retrieval of those magical creatures that would not have made it to Stonehenge in time, or who could not cross the waters to England. We have been left with but a few.

“Very well,” Dordin said. “Then we will continue our journey.”

“What about the spy?” Ganillo asked.

You mean, you don’t know who it is? Yanir asked, voicing her question with some added amusement.

“You know who?” Dordin was surprised once again that day.

Of course. Everyone’s most prominent thoughts are available for me to read, she said. Then with out a response, her head swiveled around and those great brown dragon eyes rested upon the quivering body of Roth.

“Lies!” He cried out. “She is lying!” Beads of sweat were beginning to accumulate on his face.

Sadness from the approaching army was witched to intense anger and hatred for Roth inside Dordin’s mind. “You little rat!” he called out. Veins were starting to formulate on his neck and temple. With movements quicker than lightning, Dordin drew out his sword, the long dark grey blade shimmering in the sun, and with one precise swipe severed the head of the traitor. Blood sprayed everywhere, and when the horse panicked, rearing on its legs, the corpse toppled over to the ground. The people gasped. “Leave it!” He called out. “Infiltration was not the way I had planned on starting our new life.” He was mostly speaking to himself, but he yelled it anyway. The cut was so accurate that his sword had barely a drop of blood on it. With a single wipe, he sheathed the sword back to his waist.

“Kinhu,” he turned his attention to the young wizard behind him. “Ride that horse. We need to secure as many livestock as possible.” Kinhu obeyed and jumped from horse to horse, seating himself comfortably in the saddle. “Let’s just keep going,” he said through suppressed anger and other feelings. “We’ll just have to hope for the best, that the rest of the dragons will arrive.”

Ganillo agreed, and once again that day disappeared before their eyes, this time taking Yanir with him. The people of the magical community and their mortal supporters continued their migration to Stonehenge in hopes of a better tomorrow. Unfortunately, Dordin had lost control of that promise.

When the caravan had come within a mile of the combined English forces, Dordin and Kinhu, who had a willingness to help, met up with Ganillo and the three departed from the group and journeyed to a hill just beyond their resting point. Together, they peered over the rise of land, gazing into what they saw as death.

They had clear visibility of Stonehenge, but of practically nothing else. Covering the entire surrounding area of Stonehenge were men, men as far as they could see. Some were in their uniforms that signified they were part of the real English forces, while other men were unshaven and still wearing their prison garb. Dordin even spotted the peasants standing around for the draft that must have corresponded with this event.

“Sir,” Ganillo began looking over to Dordin. “What is the plan? Diversion?”

Dordin shook his head. “No. Magic is the only diversion these mortals will need to see.”

Ganillo choked on his next words. “You mean you’re just going to attack head on so soon? We’re obviously outnumbered!”

“Yes, that’s true.” Dordin did agree with him. They were outnumbered. “But, one man on our side is equivalent to about twenty on theirs.” He was about to return back to his forces when his heart dropped to the ground.

Every single man in the English forces turned in unison to see something. But it wasn’t just anything they were looking at; it was them they were staring at. The entire army was staring at the hill which Dordin, Kinhu, and Ganillo hid behind, as if they had all simultaneously been informed of their location.

“Ganillo,” Dordin said as calmly as possible.

“Yes, sir?”

“Get us the hell out of here.”

“Yes sir."