Ancient Mystic's War of the Realms Saga - Lady Adellandra Dratianos (books to read in your 20s .TXT) 📗

not so easily destroyed, Orthos, and you know it.” Crucis remarked. “My Stalkers, on the other hand, are on their own.”
“Bah!” Bane cried, standing. “I have my Dark Warriors. That should be enough.”
“It might not be.” Orthos supplied. “I take it you have never been in a war before?”
“I cannot say I have, no.”
“Than I advise you to listen to me.” Orthos said. “I have fought in many wars, in this world and the Outer Realm. I have the experience, the tactics, the strategies needed to have a heads-up on my enemies. That is why I have brought magical creatures from both worlds here to fight beside me. The Ancient Mystics will no doubt do the same.”
“Do not lecture me, Orthos!” Lord Bane tempered.
“Save it for battle, Lord Bane.” Crucis spoke up, showing fangs and red eyes.
Lord Bane thought of his words.
“Tell you what, Bane.” Orthos began. “I will leave these two in your command. Omri’s Djinn will confuse the minds of their fighters and Crucis’ Stalkers will take care of the rest. Let your Dark Warriors handle their Armies.”
“What about you?”
“Let me handle my brothers.” Orthos supplied. “Time has come for O’Dell’s final hour.”
The sinister look on his face made Lord Bane feel just a little sorry for Lord Guardian O’Dell. It also made him smile.

Part Three:
Declaration of War

Prologue:
A Gathering of Souls

After borrowing the Dream Locket from Chase, Chikité “Red Wolf” Moondancer called its Outer Realm Chant and headed to the Dweller kin-Clans in Romania. It was night in the Outer Realm, and for that, Red Wolf was grateful. He was able to shift to full-wolf form from his Dweller-human form, using his heightened senses and race to the Dweller hideaway deep underground.
Who but the leader of the kin-Clans was there to greet him.
“Shift, Chikité.” Ramon whispered into the night. “You’re using energy you cannot afford to lose.”
Red Wolf did as he was told, shifting to Dweller-human form before staring up at the kin-Clan leader and bowing his head in respect. “Pérat has sent me to you from our world.”
“Pérat?” Ramon asked, then remembered that word was Ancient Wolf Tongue for ‘Father.’ “Ah, your father Chase. Go on.”
“Lord Maximaniac has declared war against the Master and the Nightmare King.” Chikité replied. “Pérat told me to see you, and have the Hunters report to Lord Guardian.”
“Has he called the Stalkers yet?” Ramon asked, folding his arms.
Chikité looked down, nodding. “Aye. He has.” He said softly, then looked up. “He sent the one called Marcus against me and my near-Bondmate, Celine Stargazer.”
“Did you destroy him?” Ramon asked.
“Aye, Ramon, but I fear there will be more.” Chikité announced. “Will you come with me now, or wait until the Hunters return from the Hunt?”
“We go nowhere,” Ramon shook his head. “Not until you Feed, nephew.”
Did Chikité know the relation between us? Did he know Celeste was kin-Sister to my Blood-brother Daniel? Ramon thought to himself, but Chikité caught it on the common mind-path all Dweller-kin used.
“I am fine, Uncle.” Chikité supplied, affirming the thoughts. “I do not feel the Hunger as our kin do.”
“Maybe not in your world, but you will in this one. You’ve come a long way, and I can feel the Hunger beating at you.” Ramon supplied. “I’m responsible for your welfare while you’re in my world. You will Feed before we return.”
Chikité just stared at Ramon. He didn’t know the leader of the kin-Clans well, but he did know enough from his parents to listen to and respect him.
Ramon thought of something that would make the Companion-Dweller feel more at home. The Hunt.
“Join us in the Hunt, Chikité?” Ramon grinned. “You’ll find it much more rewarding in this world than your own.”
Chikité nodded, his black eyes turning blood red. “May I shift to wolf-form?”
Ramon’s eyes glowed red as well. “As long as you Feed.”
Both Chikité and Ramon shifted to wolf-forms, going to the Hunt.
Once the Hunt was over, and Red Wolf’s Hunger was sated, Ramon and Daniel gathered the Dweller-kin Hunters. Ramon’s Bondmate Bella knew what was going on in the Dream Realm, and led the other non-Hunters and non-Healers to the Dragon Nations, far away from battle.
“You will be safe, my Bondmate?” Bella asked before she left.
Ramon nodded, kissing her. “After all this time, you doubt me?”
Bella shook her head. “Never doubt; only fear, that’s all.”
“Blood-sister, the Hunters look out for one another. You know this.” Daniel told her. “We’ll be fine.”
“I only hope so for your sake, Daniel.” Bella supplied. “I don’t want my grandson to grow up without his father.”
Daniel was only half-surprised she knew. Ramon’s Bondmate Bella wasn’t like other Dweller-kin. No; she was an Ancient Mystic as well, and now a powerful one at that.
“We must go, Uncle.” Chikité announced, breaking into Daniel’s thoughts. “You have to report to Lord Guardian.”
“That we do.” Ramon nodded, kissing Bella goodbye.
Ramon, Daniel, Chikité, the Dweller-kin Hunters and Healers all called the Dream Chant and arrived at the Ancient Mystic Palace.

II

The Crusaders, Young Guardian, the Protector, Grand Magus, Shadow, Amethyst, Scott, the Unicorn, Airmed, Jammins, Julie, TJ and Charlie, arrived at the Canine Valley’s Practice Fields. They met up with Sires Tobias and Wolfton, along with an army’s worth of Companions, ready for battle.
Young Guardian recognized most of those in front of her, and knew them by name. Along with her good friends, Wolf, Toby, Panther and Katherine, stood their three children, Tiger, Destiny and Celine. The Elders she knew were Chase, Celeste, and Cherokee Moondancer; Strath, Toriam, and Sheldon Stargazer; Nathaniel White-Snow; along with Braken Joel, Laurynne Silver-Hawk and Lord Braken Hawk. She even recognized three of the Companion Army fighters, Nicola HeartLily, Ronan BrownPatches and Essex Crowley.
Not soon after the Crusaders arrived, so did Sabrina, Cyrix and Tempest.
Young Guardian stared at her nemesis, curious.
“We join the fight against my father and Lord Bane.” Sabrina said.
Cyrix and Tempest nodded after her.
“Very well.” Young Guardian supplied. “Welcome to the team.”
She sensed someone coming from the other direction and looked to see who it was. Page Red Wolf Moondancer was racing to the group in full wolf-form, followed by at least fifty other wolves.
“So glad you could make it, Red Wolf.” Young Guardian supplied with a grin.
“I had to bring the Dweller kin-Clans with me.” Red Wolf admonished. They introduced themselves in her mind before Red Wolf could go on. “We have Hunters and Healers, at your command, Young Guardian.”
“My command?” Young Guardian asked, gulping.
Was she in over her head trying to command this large army for the war?
“Relax, Love.” The Protector said, rubbing her shoulders. “Assembling all these fighters is no worse than assembling a squad for a stakeout or investigation. You can do this.”
“Allow me to assist you.” Lord Braken’s voice spoke up. “Assign every Companion and Dweller posts.”
“I will see to my Dwellers, Lord Braken Hawk.” Ramon spoke up. “Thank you anyway.”
Braken eyed him and cleared his throat. “As I was saying, assign the Companions posts and duties, based on their specialty.”
“Not a bad idea.” Shadow said. He looked to the Protector and Jammins. “I say we put them in separate platoons, with a Crusader as Captain and an Elder as a leader.”
“We’ll organize them, Young Guardian.” Jammins supplied.
“What about the Dwellers, Ramon?” Young Guardian spoke up.
“As Chikité has said, we have Healers and Hunters.” Ramon told her. “Hunters will fight while the Healers will stay behind to heal the wounded.”
“I will join the Healers, Ramon.” Laurynne announced, receiving a nod in understanding.
“As will Cherokee, Daniel, and myself, Blood-brother.” Celeste Moondancer spoke up.
“All Watchers will be Healers, Ramon.” A Watcher named Abra supplied. He eyed Airmed and smiled, knowing the word ‘Watcher’ grabbed her attention. “Those left of us, that is.”
“That includes Melinda, Beste, Julianna, and Quinn.” Ramon said. He turned to the Watcher with bright red hair and piercing eyes. “What about you, Firestorm? Fight or Heal?”
“I will fight.” Firestorm supplied, showing fangs.
Ramon turned to the Jewel Elder-kin Amber, who only nodded.
“You have Beryl, Calcite, Diamond, Fluorite, Garnet, Kunzite and myself as fighters.” Amber supplied. “As for Healers, you have Hematite, Jasper, Minarette, Carlotta and Malachite.”
Ramon turned to Young Guardian, whose expression told him she was impressed by the organization. Obviously, they’ve all been through this many times before. Ramon smiled at the thought he heard in her mind.
“Does that suffice, Young Guardian?” Ramon replied.
“Uh, yeah. I mean, yes.” Young Guardian stammered, feeling like a child. “Yes, it does. Thank you.”
“Question is; who amongst the Crusaders will fight in the war, and who are to heal the wounded?” Ramon brought up.
Young Guardian shook her head, not knowing. “I haven’t exactly prepared that far, Ramon. Sorry.”
“Don’t apologize.” Ramon encouraged with a smile. “I’m sure you’ve done your best to this point.”
“Yeah.” She breathed with a sigh. “My best.”
The Protector was there to wrap an arm around her waist, sensing her indecision. He knew she wanted to do both, but it would take all her energy to do so. “Will you fight with us, or heal the wounded?”
Young Guardian was at odds with herself. She wanted to do as Laurynne was doing, using her Ancient Mystic powers to heal. The other part of her, on the other hand, wanted to fight with her Crusader family and destroy Orthos and Bane before they could kill O’Dell.
Sensing her twin’s discomfort, the Grand Magus spoke up. “You fight, I’ll help Celeste and the other Healers.”
Young Guardian looked grateful, and even Shadow looked relieved.
“Any other Healers?” Grand Magus asked the group. They shook their heads. “Next order of business: where will we do our healing jobs?”
Celeste grinned, sharing a look with her kin-brother Daniel. “Let the Dwellers handle that, Grand Magus.”
“How will we know when a fighter is wounded?” Grand Magus asked.
“One of us will feel it and bring them to our Healing Tents.” Daniel explained.
“Wow.” Young Guardian breathed. “You Dwellers have thought of everything.”
“Not everything, mind you.” Ramon said. He winked at her, grinning. “But we do come close.”
Regardless, she was grateful for their help. With the Dwellers, the Companion Army, and her band of Crusaders fighting in this war beside her, she felt a whole lot better.
Young Guardian only hoped Lord Guardian and the other Originators had this much faith. They’d all need it before the end.

III

Lord Braken Hawk found six Originators already gathered at the Ancient Mystic Palace. Jezebel was with Maximaniac, Lord Byron was with Challandra, and Lord Guardian was with Enchantra.
Once Lord Guardian acknowledged him, Lord Braken Hawk spoke up.
“The Companion Army and Ramon’s Dweller Hunters have assembled, Lord Guardian.” Braken started. “Young Guardian has set them to different posts around the Battlefield.”
“What of Mystica and the Young Companions?” Jezebel asked. Along with being Braken’s Lady Queen, Mystica was her twin.
“Safe in the Underground, Queen Jezebel.”
“Do we have Healers on standby?” Lord Byron asked.
“Aye, Lord Byron.” Braken said. “Celeste Moondancer, Cherokee, Grand Magus, Laurynne, and Daniel have left to prepare Healing Tents with the Watchers.”
“Where is Young Guardian now?” O’Dell wondered.
“Last I saw her, she was in the middle of the Canine Valley’s Practice Fields, giving orders to the troops.” Braken supplied. “They are all there, awaiting your orders, my Lord.”
O’Dell nodded, turning to the five other Originators. “Max and Jezebel, are your Grey Areans ready?”
“Aye, brother.” Max grunted. “Ready and in position.”
“Lord Byron?” O’Dell asked