fabulously with the men of Nairi. General Akuji had had many run-ins with Nairian patrols along the Blaine River during his lifetime. He could not believe that the elves, someone he thought to be a long-standing enemy, were now their allies. He stood there with a skeptical look on his face.
'Yes, General Akuji, the high elves, which is what this separatist group is known as, was betrayed by the Nairian general and his army. They attacked their capital city in the night and slew everyone in their path while they slept. I have allied myself with Queen Kishi Tiranidrol, the eldest daughter of the elven king. She is a powerful sorceress and will be able to annihilate the people of Nairi. She has powerful motives to carry out my commands. Her twin sister was murdered by the villainous General Yukio of Nairi.'
'Can you guarantee me that these high elves are different from the others? How will we be able to tell them apart from the ones we are supposed to attack?'
'I personally guarantee their loyalty. If they should waver in their charges, I will allow you to destroy them on sight. In answer to your second question, the high elves have much darker skin than their fair cousins of the woods unbeknownst to them. I have also added a special symbol that represents fire and air on their armor and weapons. The symbol will glow when two of my soldiers should cross paths. This way you will not kill any of those that are on our side.'
'What a wicked and cunning move. We will serve with you.' He lowered his head slightly again as a show of respect.
'General Tadok K'K, go and do all that I have asked. I will return to you by week's end. Be ready to move out when I arrive.' She then rose higher into the air until she was nothing more than a speck in the sky. Then she burst into a ball of fire and dashed off toward the goblins in the east.
General Tadok K'K stood there for a moment while he watched the flaming Elemental fly out of view. He quickly turned about and stared coldly at the sentries who had not done their duty when Kana had arrived. The ores that had failed their general walked dejectedly toward their leader and bowed before him. Each lowered their heads as if they were praying to a god that would somehow help them in their precarious situation. The fear was palpable in the air around the soldiers.
'You vermin failed me! You know the penalty for such insubordination,' the general declared menacingly.
'General, why are you going to punish us for not attacking our new leader?' asked one of the ores timidly. As soon as the words had left his mouth, he knew he was dead. Tadok K'K took two swift steps to reach the idiot who dared to question his authority. He reached out with his right hand and ripped his throat from his body. Black blood gushed everywhere as the helpless soldier fell to the ground soundlessly.
'Does anyone else feel that I am being unreasonable?' General Tadok K'K asked imperiously. 'Good; the rest of you will be spared for the war's sake. However, you will be on the front line to help us determine just how far the elves' arrows can fly.' He laughed hard and loud as he marched off toward his tent. The rest of the ores joined in the laughter as they went back to their respective duties.
Kana continued to streak across the sky toward the Sheldon Mountains where the goblins of Tuwa made their aphetic home. They lived so deep under the ground that no sunlight had ever touched the cavernous halls of the goblin nations. They simply cannot stand natural light, which made them use artificial means. They loved to make fire and to use it against their perennial enemy the dwarves. They hated those bearded midgets and their intrusive nature. The stout people of Carrick were always driving their western neighbors out of their perfectly dark and dank dwellings within the mountains so that they could get more of their precious ores. They loathed these intruders completely, but they were no match for their power and military tactics.
As the rogue guardian approached the mountain range that was home to her little friends, the sun had set and the day was drawing to a close. She could see the night post arriving at their stations just outside the main secret entrance on the western end of Sheldon. She burned white hot now to make an even stronger impression on the goblins that stood watch. They would be very impressed by the display and would send for their leader immediately. They were a superstitious bunch that would hail her as their god. Her task here would not be nearly as difficult as her visit was with the ores. The most difficult part would be when she explained that they would be fighting on the same side as the brutes of Tarin.
Kana knew that the ores had the nasty habit of eating their little goblin friends, but she would be able to persuade them to join her cause in spite of this risk. When she explained that the rock trolls would be fighting with them, their fears would subside. She knew that this visit would not take long and that she would have the time she needed to persuade the rock trolls to join her. They would be the most difficult by far to convince, but they should prove to be the deciding factor in the overthrow of the dwarves and men.
She went into a dive so steep that it looked like a star falling from the night sky. The goblins that were on guard began to tremble and shake before this awesome display. One of the guards had enough sense to run back into the tunnels to report the spectacle to their leader. Kana stopped just above the ground and hovered there while she waited for the lords of the five tribes to arrive. She continued to be illuminated as she remained suspended in the air. She smiled to herself at how easy this task was going to be. She knew that in order to unite the different tribes they would all have to witness this grand display. She stayed where she was for only a few minutes before one of the lords appeared with his entourage.
Within minutes of one another, the remaining three lords appeared followed by the only ruling lady. They were all transfixed by this powerful display and were in awe that such a visit would be made to them. No one said anything for a long time; they just stood there looking at the Elemental. They could not tell exactly what the creature was or from where it came. More importantly, they did not know its intent toward them. Maybe the being was there to destroy them. Kana read these nervous thoughts and decided to end the prolonged silence.
'My friends, I am Mistress Kana, master of fire and air. I am here to discuss a cause that requires your special talents and abili ties,' she said with a warm smile. 'Will Lords Daray Krumok, Kieran Magurth, Rothrock Momurth, Pirro Thadak, and Lady Kiara Sodok please come forward?'
The five leaders came forward slowly and stopped several yards before the stunningly beautiful apparition. They kept a respectful distance from the guardian and dropped to one knee as they awaited further instructions. Kana smiled at this display of total obedience and submission from her newest subjects. They apparently revered her as a god, so she would make use this to further her cause. This is going to be even easier than I thought.
'Noble leaders of the great nation of goblins, I have come to ask your aid in cleansing the lands of Tuwa of its rebel races. Men, dwarves, elves, and even giants have plagued these lands for too long. As a guardian, it is my duty to protect the elements from these thoughtless creatures, and I require your help to cleanse Tuwa of one of the vilest among them. Will you join me?' she asked in a booming voice.
'We will, Mistress Kana,' said Lady Kiara with a sanctimonious nod.
'Excellent. As my first act, I will form a unified army of the goblin nations. I will then bolster your ranks with your neighbors to the north of your beautiful mountain homes,' she explained.
'Who are you referring to exactly?' asked Lord Daray cautiously.
'I will meet with the rock trolls tomorrow morning to persuade them to join your ranks. Once you have joined together, your first mission will be to wipe out King Jarvis and his pretentious dwarves,' she said with a venomous hiss. Stunned silence greeted this declaration. The leaders of the tribes looked at one another uneasily as they took in what they were being commanded to do.
'How will we be able to uproot the bearded miners?' asked Lord Pirro tentatively.
'With the aid of the rock trolls, you will be able to remove your foes from their strongholds,' she replied coolly. All five of the leaders nodded their acceptance of this answer while harboring a sense of dread in their hearts. They did not believe they could do what was asked of them.
'I sense that you still do not believe that you can overthrow stunted dwarves. Bring Yuki Togok to me,' she commanded imperiously.
'I am already here, mistress,' Yuki said with a slight bow. She was a fearsome-looking goblin that had silver hair that glimmered in the moonlight.
'You will be my general of the armies of the goblin nations,' Kana said resolutely. The tribal leaders looked at Yuki in shock as they backed away to allow their new general to approach their mistress.
'I will wreak havoc on our stunted foes until they are no more!' she shrieked vehemently.
'Very well, General Yuki. Now, prepare the armies for attack, and I will return to you with the rock trolls to fill your ranks. They will have two commanders that will answer to you, and they will keep their soldiers in line,' Kana
