The Fire and The Storm - The Nexus of Kellaran #2 novel Chapter 161

Part 24

“The aquatic races are behind us all, and are still in the initial stages of militarizing and preparing for war. While most of our populations are now soldiers training to fight in the void, and the other established races of The Just Alliance are now soldiers and militia who are training to be wizards, the aquatics are still training civilians to be soldiers as they expand from fairly small peacetime levels of military participation. Of them the Kag are most ready, being a predatory and aggressive race that have had many conflicts, both among themselves and with other races. The Southernmost are the other extreme; while they are also a predatory race who have as much potential for warfare in their nature as any other, they have been so isolated and so civilized throughout their entire existence that they have never had a war.

“When the time-bubbles end, those within them will emerge expecting only minor changes in the world over the two months of real time that they missed, but they will face a surprisingly different Kellaran.

“At any rate, because of the results of Mark and his family’s actions, military training was accelerated in Serminak, and we in Xervia have chosen to match them in that.

“The time has now come for The Just Alliance to re-assert control over our world’s militaries again, since the gods have decided that exercises involving all of Kellaran’s nations are the next reasonable step in our military development, and I agree.

“We are making great strides in a short time, and even if the gods had not requested their inclusion, I fear that the nations of Debivin, Kletiuk, Felion, Oceania, and the undersea peoples are falling too far behind us. Though they may not be able to bring all of their forces to bear in our next exercise, we should ask them to bring what they can.

“I therefore ask that we meet with their rulers and commanders who remain available, tomorrow at the twentieth hour, Standard Time, in The Hall of The Just Alliance.

“Are we agreed?”

He took a quick accounting of the responses, and nodded. “We are agreed. I will take responsibility for briefing the aquatic rulers and commanders on what has transpired, and asking them to the meeting. Prince Mark, will you speak with the humanoids?”

“Certainly.” Mark nodded.

“Thank you.

“Do we have any more business here for today?”

None spoke, so the ancient white dragon nodded again and finished with; “Until tomorrow then, farewell.”

With that, all the Xervians except a few of the unicorns Translocated out.

Mark and his commanders did so a moment later, appearing in The Lair of The Dragon Lord Regent in Serminak. All but Mark’s family were dismissed and left by various means.

“Please, make yourselves comfortable. Our home is your home.” Povon said as she and Kragorram reclined, and she started giving him a full-body scratch massage with her claws, starting from the tip of his nose and working to the tip of his tail. She considerately cast a quick automated spell that collected the millions of spent crimson scales she was dislodging and stowed them in a huge stone cask she had handy. Kragorram rumbled a groan of pleasure so low it was more felt than heard.

“Thanks, I think I will.” Fire giggled, and assumed the fiery-looking dragon Simulacrum she’d used when they’d visited Zarkog.

They sensed somehow that it was a big moment for her; that visit with Zarkog was the only time she’d assumed dragon form with anyone but Karz, and she’d never done it with their parents. She noted what Povon was doing and pushed Karz to the floor with playful roughness, and started giving him what Kragorram was getting.

“Aww, that’s sweet.” Talia smiled as she lounged on the floor, a large section of which was covered with a thirteen centimeter deep red velvet quilted pad.

Val appeared and stretched luxuriously as she said; “Good, I’m glad you’re done. I’m so ready for a break, but I was holding out until you were finished.”

She flopped down on the padded floor beside Talia as she Linked with her siblings to see how the exercise had gone.

Emperor Osbald of Thon and his military staff were the first to arrive.

“On my word!” he exclaimed on seeing the colossal Simulacrums.

“Don’t mind them, they’re trying to fit in with dragons.” Mark laughed as the two shook hands.

Osbald gave his head a shake, and tried to recover his composure. “I don’t know which is stranger; their immense size, or that Alilia is the same size as the children. That just doesn’t look right.”

“On the other hand, you look just fine, Emperor Osbald!” Fire laughed.

“Fire?!” Osbald gaped on recognizing her voice. “I see you are truly fitting in with dragons!”

Overlord Senchak arrived with his large staff of dwarves then, and Empress Emeroth was only a moment behind him. Within a minute the huge room was feeling less spacious after the arrivals of the rest of the monarchs and general staffs of the humans, elves, giants, and gnomes.

Their reactions on what they saw when they arrived were as amazed as Osbald’s, though only from such a surprising and unexpected sight. Such Simulacrums and the techniques for casting them had been well-known for weeks.

“I’ll just fill you in the fast way.” Mark said as he Linked with all the new arrivals and gave them a Reading of the training and exercises he’d engaged in since the last meeting of The Assembly, including the meetings and evaluations with the leaders of Xervia and with the operators of the exercises.

“All right, now you know where we stand, and that you’re invited to a military meeting of The Assembly tomorrow. As was said, we know you can’t bring many of your forces, but every one of your nations should be represented by at least a few of your best officers, so they can be kept up to speed and be ready to bring the rest of you up to speed as soon as it’s practical.”