Legon Restoration (35 page)

As dragon flew over head, several Elves jumped to the ground and took their places around Sasha. As her guard formed, she felt more comfortable.

"The Iumenta will not attack us," Cynta said. "But you do not feel safe here," she pointed out.

"I never really have been safe here without my brother, have I?” Sasha said.

Cynta smirked, "That was before you had us Un Prose."

Sasha smiled warmly. She stopped, before her was her old home. She thought of approaching it, walking inside one last time and then thought better.
No, it's time Salmont lost its hold on me
she thought. She turned back to Cynta, "Perhaps we should go back to Salez, I have work that needs to be done and my presence here doesn't seem to be needed anymore."

Chapter Twenty-Four

Arrangements

"Proper planning is the key to any successful venture, you may not always be able to follow your plans, but having them will give you a path and skill that will lead to success."

-The Exiled Captain (Author Unknown)

Legon flew south, honestly not caring about the town of Salmont as it shrunk behind him. To his side were Opes and the rest of his guard flying in a tight formation. The trip to Salmont had more of an effect on Sasha than it had him, but Legon thought that she was going to be alright.

"Opes," Legon said.

"Yes Un Prosa."

"Why do you think the Iumenta were burning towns?" Legon asked.

Opes considered the question for a moment. "It appears to be some sort of scorch earth policy," he said and then reading the questioning edge in Legon's mind added, "As you retreat if you burn everything, leaving nothing for your enemy, in a way it’s like a victory."
 

"I understand that, but why human towns? You only burn resources..." then Legon's mind jumped to what should have been painfully obvious, "humans are just another resource to the Iumenta," he said feeling deflated.

"I agree that is the only possible conclusion," Opes said grimly.

Legon felt himself speeding up, his guard following suit without question, as soon as he was in range of Salez he reached out to Sydin's mind.

"Yes Un Prosa," Sydin asked.

"How is the Ascended reserve in the Pawdin Empire?" Legon asked.

"Mostly young and untrained, we have a backup force along the Pawdin borders and under trained Ascended in the interior. Why?"

Legon showed Sydin what he'd seen.

"We have been getting reports like that all day, what are you thinking?"
 

"I would like to look at the possibility of deploying more Ascended before the Iumenta kill everyone," Legon said.

Sydin said that he would meet with Legon once he was back in Salez. This left Legon to his thoughts for the rest of the flight back. The Iumenta had always been tyrants, but outright genocide was new, even for them.
 

After awhile the twin fortresses of Salez came into view. Legon connected with the Elf base, receiving priority to land. He and his guard circled, turning into the wind, the landscape rushing below them. Legon banked back and forth slowing himself until he landed. As soon as he touched down he transformed into his Elf form, and walked off the landing pad to a waiting Sydin.

"I have scheduled a meeting with the commands of the other Great Houses in an hour. Evindass has control over the Ascended as far as the war goes but I would like to consult with them," Sydin explained.

Legon nodded, "That's a good idea, I spoke to Iselin and she will be in attendance as well. We will change and meet you in half an hour."
 

Sydin nodded walking off.
 

Legon turned to his wife, smiling. Current situation or not it was rare to see her in her Elf form anymore. She walked up next to him taking his hand. He pulled it to his lips, kissing the back of it. "How is it that you can still give me butterflies?" he asked making her face flush as she smiled, trying not to roll her eyes.

* * * * *

 
Iselin followed her husband into a small meeting room. Sydin was already present, along with leadership from six of the other Great Houses. A crystal in the center of the room was lit up; Iselin knew that leadership from the remaining Houses would be present. The attendants stood as she and Legon entered.

Sydin spoke. "Thank you all for joining us today; I will not be leading this meeting, but rather Un Prosa Legon of House Evindass. We will be discussing possible strategic uses of Ascended currently stationed in the Pawdin interior. Is everyone with us today authorized to make decisions on this level?" he asked.
 

Everyone said that they were able to. Iselin knew that Sydin was calling this meeting more as a courtesy to the other Houses, but she still sent calming waves to Legon. She didn't want him to look like emotion was ruling his decisions.

Legon walked up to the crystal saying, "My wife and I would like to add our thanks to that of Sydin's. My fellow leaders, I am going to presume that you have been brought up to speed with the happenings here in the north, in regard to the Iumenta aggression toward humanity."
 

They said that they had.

Legon continued, "We currently have nearly twenty-five percent of active Ascended stationed inside the Pawdin Empire. Ten percent of our Ascended are assigned to domes along the Mahj defensive line, of these I think, we need not consider moving. But those inside our borders are another story. We think it appropriate to deploy the remaining fifteen percent to securing current Cona lands or to the front lines."
 

There was no response at first. Iselin knew the other Houses wouldn't be keen on this idea. The Great Houses would be leaving the interior largely unprotected by Ascended.

The representative from House Viridi spoke. "What does House Evindass hope to accomplish?" she asked sounding uncomfortable.

"The Pawdin Empire is in no threat from the Impa Empire. We need to increase pressure on the Impa to not only stop the inevitable genocide of humans in the area, but also to bring this war to a swifter end," Legon explained.

"Do you think the Impa will respond by pulling Ascended from their own interior?" the representative from House Amuun asked.

Leena, a brown haired woman from house Paldin responded, "It may not have that effect. If we increase pressure on all fronts it could make the Impa Provinces concerned. They could keep their forces at home in case they are needed to defend their home lands."

A severe man with cold eyes spoke, "House Coreen agrees with House Paldin and Evindass. If we want to win the war and minimize losses we need to pull more Ascended into the fight. We already outnumber the Iumenta in the sky." He turned to Legon, "Un Prosa Legon may I make a request?"

Legon nodded.

"To the north we are not fairing as well, do you think it would be possible to put a focus on the northern lands?"

Legon glanced to Sydin, his eyes quickly going out of focus and then he looked to the representative from Coreen. "Yes, we can do that," Legon said.

Sydin stood. "We can put an increased effort in the north, this will force the Impa to send more Ascended to that area. Once that is done we will pull in our reserve, pressing up from the south. If this works right we will be able to gain some stability in the near future up north, and then when our extra Ascended arrive gain valuable ground in the south."
 

Members of Houses added other thoughts but by the end of the meeting every House was behind the new plan. Legon and Iselin would be going north; Legon's presence would not only worry the Iumenta, but give the northern troops a much needed boost in morale.

* * * * *

Legon walked out of the meeting pleased. He and Iselin would be leaving that evening to a Carrier group in the north. He reached out his mind to Sasha to tell her his plans. She wasn't thrilled about him and Iselin leaving, but understood the value of it.

"What are your plans?" he asked her.

"My team jumped in this morning, we are taking the jump crystal in the north fortress. We are getting ready to move in by the end of the day tomorrow or whenever the House guard has cleared the building," she said sounding irritated.

"What’s got you upset?"

"Nothing, we just have to include a security force from the human military, is all. They are feeling underutilized, but I have my choice of units so that's not too bad," she said.

"Are you going to make Barnin and his men do it?" Legon asked knowing the answer.

"Of course," she said brightly "They may not like the idea of sitting around but they have been on the lines too long and there's no reason not to at least have some more good company," she said.

"Have you told Barnin yet?"
 

She paused, "Well, coward that I am I made the human officers do it, I mean they wanted to be more involved, so they can tell Barnin that he is going to be babysitting a group of Elves that really don't need babysitting." Then changing tact asked, "Are you going to have time for dinner tonight?"

"Yes, we are going to be jumping and need to rest and get a bite to eat. Ise and I will be eating here, so let’s keep it low key."

"Perfect, I'll let Emma and Edling know," she said and broke the connection.

* * * * *

Barnin stood at attention trying not to let his eyes glass over. He was being told that his unit was going to be assigned to assist in security for the Lady Sasha and her team of researchers. Ankle stood next to him looking equally bored. The man speaking was named Johnson and was new to the area, he was sandy haired with a hook noise.

"Men, this is a key opportunity for us, you should feel honored to be selected for a mission like this," he said looking down his hooked nose at Barnin. Johnson looked up at Ankle, "Is that a smirk I see, son?"

Son?
Barnin thought.
We have to be older than this guy, who is he calling son?

"Not smirking, Sir," Ankle answered.

Johnson's eyes narrowed. "It is unlikely that you can be trusted on your own with this, so I will be accompanying you in your assignment. You are to speak only when spoken to by representatives of House Evindass, am I clear?" he said firmly.

Barnin refrained from rolling his eyes. He gathered his men and waited for Johnson before heading over to where the Elves were. Johnson insisted on leading them even though he had no idea where he was going. Finally they arrived at an open dragon hanger. Elves moved, stopping to look up at Barnin's unit, which was marching in formation.
 

A figure walked from the building in a lavender robe. It was Emma looking, confused. She looked at Barnin and he nodded to Johnson.
 

"My name is Emma, I'm Un Prose Sasha's assistant, may I help you?" she said keeping a polite but formal tone to her voice.

Johnson looked at Emma regarding her passively, "I am Major Johnson, I am here to speak with Lady Sasha, please fetch her."

Barnin heard Heath whisper, "Bad call."

Emma puffed up, "Fetch her?" She turned her gaze to Barnin. "Barnin, who is this man?" Emma asked dropping all hints of politeness.

Johnson spoke before Barnin could. "As I said before, I am Major Johnson, please do not address my men. From this point on I will be Lady Sasha's sole contact, now yes, fetch her for me," he said closing the subject.

Barnin saw Cynta walking out of the hanger, her purple House guard overcoat catching the breeze, coupled with her being followed by a bear cub familiar of bright green she was rather intimidating. Barnin repressed the urge to smile.

Before Johnson could speak Cynta said coolly, "I am Cynta, Head of Un Prose Sasha's security, you will be under my command. For further reference, we selected Barnin and his men, not you. You do not
fetch
Heads of House, when their assistants greet you they are standing in proxy as the Head of House and should be treated as such. And lastly, Un Prose Sasha will address whomever she chooses whenever she chooses, am I clear?"

Johnson shrunk back a bit,"Y-yes um...Cynta. Forgive me Emma, what may I do?"

Emma eyed him, "Not talking would be a start."
 

She walked up to Barnin and hugged him, kissed Heath on the cheek and asked Ankle if he'd grown.

Ankle smirked. "Someone has to make up for how short you are," he said earning a slap to the arm.

"Come on in, Sasha is inside." She turned to Cynta, "I leave Major Johnson along with the rest of Barnin's men in your capable hands," Emma said to Cynta making Johnson blanch.

* * * * *

Ankle walked inside the hanger with Barnin and Heath. Elves were moving about no longer paying them any attention. Toward the back of the building they found Sasha next to a table of glass jars. She turned smiling at them.

"How are you guys today?" she asked warmly. "I hear your new boss is a bit stuffy."

Barnin chuckled. "Stuffy is an understatement. So why did you ask for us Sash?" he asked.

She shrugged. "Well, we needed to make the Cona government feel involved. I thought of your men because we are friends and I thought you could use some time away from the front and could go for the comfort of Salez," she explained.

Ankle stopped listening; he was fine with the assignment, since he knew that he and his men wouldn't be doing any real work on this mission. It was for PR and the thought of not having people try to kill him seemed wonderful. He turned his attention to the tables, along with Heath.
 

He bowed in close, seeing a glass filled with some black liquid in it. He sniffed and wrinkled his nose. "Smells like sewage," he said.

"It's dead algae," Emma explained. "We pulled it from a vat in the fortress."

"Why did you do that?" Ankle asked.

Emma shrugged, "There isn't much we can learn from it but we wanted to make sure."
 

He must have looked confused as she explained, "It's from the base of a jump crystal..."

"A power vat?" Heath asked excited.