Alarm!

[altria]

Al'tria stood before the people of Quoa having marched from the ridge. He brandished his blade openly blood still dripping from the tip as he paced before the city entrance. He looked into the eyes of many instilling fear as he announced "Your leader is dead! Hand over the magic users as agreed or my men will tear this city to the ground!"

He let the words sink in as he turned and spoke in Elven to the elves "There is no need for you to stay, if a battle comes there is no need for any elven llife to fail."

[Kinether]

There were no people in the streets. Dead silence. Windows and doors of houses firmly closed, people that hadnt been tranined as soldiers were hiding. For now. From hour to hour, the city turned into place without almost any life, except warriors that were still standing on their stances since the alarm was raised.

Everyone of them just gazed into no where, like statues... in fact they were hiding desperation deep inside them. They all got the weapons in hands, but they didnt dare to go against order of their dead master.

The silence was cut by steps of two mages, walking down the street leading to shrine complex. They were wearing full gear, similar to Ioran one, not showing any emotions... they both stopped in front of Al´Tria.

"According to our master´s word, we two have come here to surrender ourselves. But we will go with you only in one condition." The sorcerer took his wand in both hands and held it in front of him upright, looking on Al´Tria through it "The execution will not take place in the city and you and your army will never again enter Quoa streets. If those these terms are broken, our people got the right to defend themselves."

With that a red energy run out from his hands and surrounded the wand, circling around it. In less than a second, it broke it into pieces.

"Paerai´s wrath fell on us and even that we dont know the reason, we got to accept it." he sighted away and looked in Al´Trias face again "Shall we go?"

[altria]

Al'tria nodded "No army from the desert will attack Quoa unless they provoke attack! You will come with us, to Gur their you will be sentanced and your execution chosen for you." With that simple saying he led the Mages away....

[Kinether]

It was early morning of the 7th day from the day when Quantilian army started its journey to Quoa. Sure it was a quite long time for men to ride on horses... but they were used to this. Anyway, they counted with the chance that they will still have to fight with the unknown invaders or, as Quoa said, "elves."

Several hours ago, the lines of horseriders crossed a gap between two edges of Quoa Forest, extension of The Dark Forests from the east. The city was close, for sure. But when they entered this area, a mist from the forest surrounded them...

Kinether, riding in the first line, was trying to spot the city through the white barrier around, but he couldnt see it. He wasnt here for so long... he was getting confused. Was this really the right way? Didnt they just get lost?

"I dont like that we havent met anyone since we left. Are there no messengers going from Quoa? Or what could be happening to the city...?" he turned on Fenrai.
"Maybe it was only a fake alarm, sir? Maybe its all solved now and..."
"Or they are all dead already, hm? I dont like it." he frowned on the mist and lashed by hand angrily "Go away, stupid thing! Stupid and wet thing! I want to see where we are!"

Suddenly the first houses of Quoa come out from the mist in front of them. But there werent only the houses. Soldiers... riders, standing in front of them? Kinether nodded on Fenrai.

"Everyone, stop!" shouted Fenrai "We are here!"

Whole army, line by line slowly stopped. Kinether slowly went to one of the the soldiers.

"Ilena, defender of Quoa, city of Paerai! My name is Kinether and Ive come together with..."

The soldier raised his head.
"So Kinether? Nerai recieved the message then..." he looked around on lined riders and then sighted down again "...but Im sorry, youre too late."
"What!"
"The attackers. They left." said the soldier almost like without life.
"What do you mean by that they´ve left?!"
"After they killed Ioran and took two more of The High Mages."
"WHA-!" he spured his horse and rode into the city, aiming to the Shrine complex, leaving everyone behind him.


Several hours later, The Plains army settled around Quoa like a huge wall... and Kinether still didnt return.
He was in the Shrine Complex in the centre of the city, talking with four more High Mages from The City Council.

"How do you mean that! Killed Ioran and walked away! Why did you let them!" he spoke angrily. He just couldnt believe it... why Ioran?
"It was his own oath. If he gets killed in duel with their chief, we..." one of the mages tried to reply calmly, but he was interrupted before he could finish his sentence.
"I dont care about any of the elven chiefs! If they killed our patrol as you say as first, why did he even made a treaty with them? They got no right to request this!"
"They we would be in war now. Would you like that more than a death of several people?"

Kinether didnt know what to reply. Yes, it would be fatal for all Quantilians to go to any war now, but... why the heck it had to be Ioran? Couldnt they just... he sighted. Why does always people got so many troubles with letting someone close to them go...

He looked out from a window of the complex.
"Very well, then. You said that after the raid of the Elves..."
"It were not Elves, sir... ...whats your name?" asked one of the mages, actually surprised that he didnt ask earlier. It was strange at all... they were talking to a complete stranger, but his voice sounded kinda... familiar?

He smiled for himself.
"I dont think you could remember... a name of one "crazy" sorcerer that left Quoa some years ago, do you?"
"What do you mean by that?"
"A crazy sorcerer that was talking about that he had seen an attack from strangers from outside lands."
"Do you mean-" the mage catched the clue.

He turned to The Council and looked directly to the face of that one who was asking.

"Kinether?" the mage noticed his red eyes. "Is that really you?"
"But I guess I returned too late. Too late to stop what I wanted to." he turned to the window again "I see you havent elected a new leader of this city yet."
"Thats true... the leadership is heritable, but theres no one after Ioran who..."
"I need Quoa to join our forces. The united forces of Quantilia." he said with showing no emotions that very in fact closed deep inside him. He was still thinking about loss of his teacher... "Will you join voluntarily or do you wish the army that arrived together with me to force you?"
"I..."
"In return I promise a part of the army to stand here and protect these lands against... whats-their-name?"
"Gur´ai. Barbarians from the south."
"So not Elves. No one of them will ever more try to pass into The Plains!" he stopped for a moment "Anyway... Quoa needs a small rebuild. If more attacks come, this city got no chance."
"But they said they will never return!"
He turned back on the mages "And you trust them?! I wont. I will never! I wont trust someone who killed our people because of wood! Do as you wish, servants of Paerai. But sooner or later, Quoa will again stand against the attackers!" with that he walked out.

The same night, Kinether was accepted as a leader of Quoa. An ex-sorcerer became a ruler of his home city...