Chapter 18: Downhill

A week had passed since the choosing of partners and Terrence was still in his gay, cheery mood. However, when he was alone, the bully had attacked him. Being younger and smaller in size, Terrance lost to the bully, but his dragon came to his aid. In his fury, the little dragon defended his master fiercely, causing enough noise with his screeching to attract the attention of Kadarth. By the time Kadarth managed to separate the livid dragon from the bully, the bully had suffered many scratches, a broken arm, and a cracked rib. The little black dragon only had minor bruises and Terrance, a huge spreading bruise on his side and a throbbing head.

Kadarth sent both the bully and Terrence to the hospital, and allowed the dragon to accompany Terrance, to ensure his safety in his weakened state. The bully was suspended from attending the next three occasions when future clutches would pick their trainers; candidates who were not chosen could try again for the next batch of eggs. Despite himself, Kadarth was impressed with the little dragon's fighting ability. Only one week of age, he showed immense potential.

Rina, Gena, Phil, and Teresa gathered in the hospital beside Terrence's bed soon after the attack. He was immensely pleased with the little dragon, which seem to have sensed his trainer's delight. The little black dragon curled up at the foot of Terrence's bed, stretching out his neck once in a while to ask for a scratching.

When Rina looked thoughtful, Terrence asked, "What are thinking about?"

"I was thinking about the Tokenyen Massacre, and the horrible results of it." Rina answered truthfully. "What's wrong?" She asked when she noticed Terrence cringe at the word.

After a moment, Terrence answered slowly. "Mother was a captive. She was one of those who lost their grip on sanity."

"Oh, Terrence. I'm so sorry." Rina cried.

"It's ok. I've gotten over it. It doesn't hurt as much. And besides, we were fortunate she lasted so long. She outlived the other victims by several years." Terrence's dejected tone prompted Rina to lean over and hug him, like a sister would comfort her younger brother. After a few minutes of silence, Rina noticed the absence of Phil and Teresa. Looking around, she spotted them leaving the hospital room together. Rina began to feel annoyed. She recently caught them together a lot, too much for comfort. She wasn't sure why she was suddenly so sensitive, or why Phil and Teresa wandered off together so often.

Overall, life had been going smoothly. Despite frequent attacks of the raiding group, the secret organization was too worried; few of the attacks hit any other major base locations. Suddenly, a few weeks later, a surprise meeting was called. When Rina entered the conference room, despite herself, she was instantly filled with a feeling of dread. Most of the room was already filled. All the men and women were grim, quiet with downcast eyes. At one end of the table, beside the podium, was a filthy and tired-looking man. Rina took a seat beside Jerrold, whose face was white and his mouth in a thin line. Despite her curiosity, an internal feeling told her not to interrupt the silence.

When Rina was seated, Jerrold stood up and walked to the podium. "We had received urgent news. Gorham has fallen." Jerrold paused to allow those who have not heard to absorb the news. He went on to explain, with the help of the messenger who escaped from Gorham to bring the news, the finer details of Gorham's last days and the surprise attack made, undoubtedly, by Nargul. "Our losses account for 169 of the 180 civilians, all 302 of the soldiers—no prisoners were taken—and Duke Ortis, Captains Welsh, Quain, Luter, and Perry, Generals Flyon and Ford, and Spymaster Keith." With each name, the frowns on each face drew more distinguished, the pallor of their faces turned paler. At the Keith's name, Rina felt the blood draining from her face and a sinking feeling in her heart. She felt a special attachment to Keith. He was the person who first sought her out, the one who first informed her of the rebellion. He had been the childhood friend of her father and perhaps knew him best. The rest of the room seemed to be shock as well. "General VanLein is believed to have escaped with the missing eleven civilians. All of the important paperwork has been cleared from the base; we can only hope VanLein has taken them with him. The base has been stripped of all treasures, food, weapons, and any other objects of value. All beasts have been either slain or captured.

"We have lost one fourth of our troops and a great deal of valuable weapons and food. These must be regained before we attack the castle." Jerrold went on. "I propose we take the risk of ambush and delay the attack." The consuls had recovered from the news sufficiently to discuss the subject. By the end of the meeting, they had decided to spend a month recovering, and then attack the castle in hope that Nargul has not been able to use information learned from the previous attack to locate the remaining bases.

The news spread through the base like wildfire. For days, all was grim and silent. Slowly, the spirit returned the base. However, this time, everyone seemed to have a sense of determination they previously lacked. The soldiers trained harder than ever. The civilians began to set aside their domestic duties to create weapons and armor. The animals seemed to have sensed something, for they made remarkable progress in their training, especially the dragons, which, at only one month, some of they could serve as back up if needed. The commanders were always busy, calling in reserve troops and recruiting every and all men available.

The officers had decided to form the animals into squads to make up for lost men. The dragons and kyushus were placed in squads, with junior squadrons for younger and inexperienced trainers. The striped herrks formed another group, and the dragonets another.

About two weeks after the attack on Gorham, General VanLein arrived, ravenous and half dead, at the base with nine civilians. The missing two had been caught and crucified as examples. He also brought with him all the important paperwork and documents from the vanquished base.

Rina's lessons had increased and the teachers became more demanding. It was as if they were drilling into her head the final lessons that they would be able to teach her.

The picture of Joseph Lenkant of the Tokenyen Massacre had been haunting her mind, and now, she suddenly realized why he was so familiar. Rina knocked on Jerrold's office door. He opened the door and looked expectantly at her.

"Are you still looking for experienced officers?" She asked.

"Yes." Jerrold replied.

"Even if they have been out of action for a long time?"

"As long as they have served for a sufficient amount of time, there is no reason why they cannot regain that knowledge within a few weeks."

"Would you be interested in Joseph Lenkant?"

"Yes! Of course! But we've lost contact with him. Unless you've been hiding something. . . " Jerrold looked at her suspiciously.

"No, you know about it too. I just now realized it. He's Joe, the old man that lives in the desert." Rina answered truthfully.

"Are you sure?"

"He said he had lived there sixteen years. And he does look like the picture in my textbook."

"He might not want to abandon his life as a hermit and join our cause."

"But he was once a part of it!"

"Things change. The massacre occurred. No one blames him. But he blames himself."

"But it wasn't his fault. Every commander makes mistakes! They're only human, after all. If you explain it to him, maybe. . ."

"We tried that 16 years ago."

"But this is 16 years later. Things change, as you said."

"Alright, if you can describe to me his location, I will send someone to verify. But be warned, Joe may resist us. He is human. Humans feel guilt. And the guilt of hundreds of lives may last 16 years."

It turned out that Rina had been correct in her assumptions. Joe admitted when questioned to be Joseph Lenkant, but it took much more persuading to convince him to move to the base. Jerrold was right; he had become accustomed to the life of a hermit. Joe's skills as a military commander proved to be as superior as it was famed to be. His knack for command returned almost immediately, despite sixteen years of disuse.

"How are you doing, Joe?" Rina said when she caught him alone and unoccupied. "How is life at the base?"

Joe shrugged. "It's different. I guess I just need time to adjust."

"I'm sorry. I wouldn't have suggested it if I had known you liked your solitude." Rina said apologetically.

"That quite alright, Rina. I only needed to be reminded of my duty to my country and my queen" said Joe. "Jerrold has done just that. This will be a positive experience for me, I assure you."

"Um, Joe?"

"Yes?"

"Why are you hesitant about returning? The massacre was 16 years ago. No one blames you for it. You've got to put the past behind you."

"What you said may be true, Rina, but the effects of the massacre are still here. The people are still troubled. You can see it in their eyes. Jerrold, for all his bravery and heroism, still has that haunted look in his eye. He hasn't gotten over the death of his wife, and he never will."

"It can't possibly be because you're here!" Rina protested.

"I am, after all, the person who caused the death of his wife." Joe replied calmly.

"I understand such a loss is difficult, if not impossible, to forget, but time diminishes the hurt."

"Yes, that is true, but some things scar your soul. You can't live normally with such guilt."

"Does that mean you'll leave us?"

"No! Heavens no, child. As I said, my loyalty to my queen keeps me here and I shall do my best to win you back your crown."

"Joe?"

"Hmm?"

"Did you know who I was, that I was the heir and stuff, when I first saw you in the desert?"

"No, I did not, I admit. I did, however, sensed something, although it occurred to me that you might be connected with Jerrold only after you left. You are of the right age and you do look very much like your mother." Joe replied.

After that meeting, Rina was rarely able to speak to Joe. He spent most of his time in his office with the officers, muttering about plans. Not long after the fall of Gorham, Jerrold ordered yet another surprise meeting.

"I'm afraid I have more unpleasant news," he said at the meeting, "Myron is besieged." Myron was the base in the mountains responsible for forging weapons. According Jerrold, they had been luckily. A rebellion spy serving as a high ranking officer in Nargul's army—Jerrold refused to tell Rina who—had found out about the attack and sent a warning to the base. The forewarning had saved the base from destruction. The soldiers stationed there would not be able to attend the final attack on the castle, but a load of weapons had been shipped out the day before so the rest of the rebellion was not short on weapons.

This news was yet another blow to the moral of the residents of the base. The news did not have time to be properly absorbed, for, on the very next day, an attack was made on the neighboring town of Honeywood. The death toll was low, but a frightful mood settled on the inhabitants of both the town and base. Tension was high; some of the residents of the town knew vaguely about the existence of the base.

When a meeting was called, to Rina's surprise, Jerrold invited Phil to join them.

"It seems like Nargul is honing in on us." Jerrold said at the meeting. "He must have a pretty good idea of our location. I've assigned a team to research the attack." Jerrold stepped down and motioned to several seated people. Tristian and two other men stood and walked to front. Tristan opened a folder and arranged the papers on the podium. As Jerrold slipped into a seat beside Rina, Tristan cleared his throat and said, "We've investigated the raid on Honeywood. There were several unusually aspects of the attack. One: Although all the buildings were searched, few valuables are taken. Two: these men did not have the dirty ragged attire common to raiders. Three: The attackers carried one of three kinds of weapons, which seem to be created by the same company.

"From these characteristics, we concluded that the attack on Honeywood was an organized search made by a trained army. I'm afraid the army is still here. They are currently camped right outside the town. Civilians are taken from their houses daily and are returned, battered and beaten, a few days later. The army dresses in civilian clothes and the commander of the operation is kept secret, but we've found out that it's Porce."

Several of the men gasped. Jerrold leaned over and whispered in Rina's ear, "Porce is Nargul's greatest general."

Spurred by this news, Jerrold pulled out several rolls which was lending against the wall. He unrolled one and weighed it down. It was a large political map of Keron. Jerrold withdrew from a bag numerous little flags of various colors. He placed the flags at certain positions. Each flag had two little numbers and small print on it, indicating what lay at the site it was placed on. Kenton, this base, lay right beside the Merfin border. The flag bearing "Durth" was placed in towards the western border of the country. Keron's capital city, Teyka, was located in the middle of the country, bordered by a major river, the Green River. Gorham lay about two inches above Teyka. Nested between rows of mountain ranges, high up north was Myron. A number of identical blue flags with numbers indicating the amount of soldiers housed there was scattered about the country.

Having prepared that map, Jerrold set it aside and pulled out another map. This one showed Teyka and its suburbs. Once again, Jerrold labeled certain locations with various flags.

"Alright." He said. "The flags locate areas loyal to the rebellion. The first number indicates the amount of troops lie there. the second indicates the maximum amount of troops that could be housed there. A blue color indicates soldiers, white indicates havens, mostly mansions owned by people we trust, and red flags mark hidden stashes of supplies.

"We must begin moving people out from the bases and closer to Teyka." Rina watched in silence as he and some other higher ranking people argued and planned, using names she did not recognize. The only thing she understood was that people were going to be smuggled into the capital city and into mansions, townhouses, inns, and anywhere participating in the rebellion. The soldiers would be camped right outside the city, hidden by some method Jerrold chose not to elaborate on. Rina, Phil, and Teresa, as well as some of the higher ranking officers would be hidden in a manor owned by Duke Pagirh.

The moving began that very day. Day by day, soldiers and beasts trickled out. The civilians remained; they were of little use during the fighting and would only hinder the operation. Before long, the practice compartment was virtually quiet. No more clashing swords or screaming trainers. Only the dragons remained. The dragons would arrive the day of the fighting as it was difficult to hide their bulk.

The day before Rina was delegated to move out, Jerrold suggested that she and her friends have a picnic on the crater to relieve the stress and tension that had risen during the evacuation.

The day dawned bright and warm, a perfect day for a picnic. Rina, Phil, Gena, Teresa, and Terrance and his little dragon gathered beside the pond. Self-invited was Gena's little brother Max who came bouncing and screaming, clutching the poor bewildered yellow dragonet in his fist. The minute max spotted the black dragon, he dropped the yellow dragonet and threw himself onto the baby dragon. Terrence looked slightly put out with the child and scowled as he pacified his dragon, which was, by the way he glared at the boy, obvious irritated by Max's poking and prodding. Meanwhile, the forgotten dragonet picked himself wearily off the ground and flopped to Gena who settled him onto her lap and fed him tidbits from her lunch while murmuring softly to the abused dragonet. Gena shot Terrence looks of apology, as of saying that she did everything within her power to stop Max from coming and didn't know how to get rid of him.

Max stayed for the remainder of the picnic. He picked up no hint and no one wanted to offend a child for fear of a tantrum. Gena looked embarrassed and tried several times to leave with Max in tow, but failed. The little black dragon became irate with Max. After several tail-pulling, eye-poking, and attempted mountings, Terrance announced that he was leaving.

"Me wanna come too." Max announced. Terrence looked horrified.

"Why don't you stay here with me and your dragonet." Gena proposed, holding up the poor dragonet that had so peacefully rested in her lap. The dragonet struggled in her grip, obviously unhappy with this suggestion.

"No!" Max screamed. "Me wanna go with giant lizard."

"Max, he's a dragon, not a lizard." Gena said quickly, for the little dragon looked slightly offended.

"Me wanna go with giant lizard!" Max repeated, banging his fist. In the end, Terrence and the black dragon left with Max at their heels, followed by an anguished Gena.

Rina, Phil, and Teresa stared at each other in the silence that prevailed following Max's exit.

"Wow." Said Rina. "That was interesting."

"I feel sorry for Gena." Said Teresa. "It's not her fault she has a brother like that."

"I feel sorry for the yellow dragonet." Phil said, stroking Kirby who was perched on his shoulder. "I'm surprised he lived this long. He's the runt of litter, a good hand span shorter than Kirby, and with an owner like that . . ." Rina nodded her agreement. Silence once again settled. Then Teresa nudged Phil. He looked at her and blushed. She nudged him again and once again he blushed. Teresa made a quick walking motion with her hands and winked. Phil laughed softly and shook his head. Rina watched in silence. Feeling like she was intruding in something and suddenly feeling annoyed, Rina stood up, excused herself, and left. Glancing back, she noticed Teresa shaking her head. Phil looked both sad and, to her ire, relieved.

A/N: Finally, that much delayed update. I admit I came really close to abandoning the fic because I was depressed that reviews were so low. But it was a lot of fun writing about Max. I just love Max.

A note to Shattered rainbow: thanks for reading. I know there's a lot grammatical errors, and I do try to edit, but some things I just miss. Getting everywhere is so difficult because, you'll find out later, that the country has fallen into ruins. Yes, Joe is the general. That's very observant of you. As for the baby blanket, I apologize. It was suppose to say Rina, but I confused it with the other story. Ari is not related to Rina at all. It's nice to know you read my other story.