Saroth bowed his head slightly. "As you wish, high mage. Staying hidden within the city should not be difficult but entering and leaving when they are alerted to our presence on these shores may pose an interesting challenge."
Sephonis gave another cold smile. "Indeed. For the attack on Turambar, the commander shall lead it assisted by both yourself and Balthus."
"With all due respect, high mage, Balthus should remain in Boraila with you," said Draliak. "We can take the fortress with the strength of my men alone."
"I wish Balthus to accompany you. Gaining entrance to the fortress may prove troublesome with no siege engines at your disposal yet. How exactly did you propose to do this, commander?"
Draliak noticed an amused look from Balthus and sighed. "As I said, the strength of my men would see it fall but Saroth would be the key. From his description of the fortress, he can gain entry alone and open the gates for us. After that, it would be a simple affair."
Saroth decided to speak before Sephonis could, which was something few ever dared. "The commander is correct. I am confident that I could enter the fortress and open the gates for the soldiers."
"So be it," agreed Sephonis. His eyes narrowed slightly as he glanced back at Draliak. "Balthus will still join you though."
Draliak groaned softly, as much as he dared, and nodded his agreement. "When do we attack?"
Sephonis closed his eyes momentarily, then spoke softly. "We will allow time for your men to rest but we must act soon. When I leave for the temple, you shall lead the attack." The high mage turned his back to the three other Shada-Kavielians. "Commander, Saroth, you may go. Balthus is to stay."
Draliak thought that he could detect a strange tone in Sephonis' voice, as if he were biting back pain from a wound. With a final glance to Balthus, Draliak beckoned to Saroth and the two left the room.
For a moment, the only sounds to be heard were those of the shouts coming from the docks as the captured Rotians were being placed on ships bound for Shada-Kaviel. Then, Sephonis let out a long breath and turned to face Balthus. The invoker could see that the High Mage's eyes had darkened as they so often did when the Dar'ota was in contact with him. It was somewhat unsettling to witness the change and Balthus often found himself wondering what feelings Sephonis had during the link.
"The Dar'ota is pleased," said Sephonis finally, his voice just a whisper. "He has indicated that our part in this shall be rewarded when the time is right."
Balthus gave a slight bow to his master. "I am glad that we please him. May we continue to do so."
Sephonis frowned slightly at his words. "Do you have doubts as to the forthcoming battles?"
"No, high mage. With certain events having occurred recently" - Balthus traced the line of his scar with a finger - "I have been somewhat lacking in my confidence."
"Yes, you were foolish to get close enough to the one that did this to you but the lesson has been learned." Sephonis cocked his head to one side. "Yet, you still boil with the anger and dreams of vengeance."
Balthus nodded slowly. "I do."
Sephonis approached the invoker and placed a hand on his shoulder. This was an act that Balthus found unnerving, knowing the power that could flow through the high mage.
"One day, you will find the one who did this and, when that day comes, you will have your vengeance. You must allow your hatred to work as an advantage for you, not to hinder or blind you."
Balthus could feel a pulsating warmth eminating from Sephonis' fingers. "I understand," he said quietly.
Sephonis pulled his hand away sharply and turned his back on Balthus. "I am weary now. I must rest and allow my strength to return. I shall speak to you more tomorrow, Balthus."
"As you wish, high mage." Balthus spun on his heels and walked swiftly to the door. He glanced back over his shoulder once before leaving and could only just make out Sephonis in the dimming light.
As soon as the Invoker had closed the door, Sephonis let out a long, hissing breath that rattled in his throat. He glanced down at his hands and could see the dark lines forming beneath his skin. He closed his eyes and held his hands out before him, palms facing upward. Silence descended on the room.
Your power weakens, Sephonis.
"Yes, my lord, it does."
Very well. This infusion must be your last for now. Do not forget, Sephonis, that you are to conduct the ritual at the temple soon.
"I have not forgotten, my lord. The ritual shall go ahead as agreed."
Draliak does not know of this yet?
"He does not. He knows that I shall be residing at the temple soon but does not know why."
Keep it that way, until the ritual is complete. Now, open your eyes and replenish your strength.
The high mage prepared himself mentally for what was to come and opened his eyes.
Balthus was stepping out into the street as he felt the shift in the air. It was a sensation that he was trying to get used to but it still made him nervous. He had never seen what transpired when Sephonis and the Dar'ota formed their strange link. On occasions, he had seen flashes of light, heard bizarre noises or even felt the ground move slightly beneath his feet. He knew of the power that the Dar'ota passed along to Sephonis but the way in which it was done was frightening to ponder upon. Without the Dar'ota's energy, Sephonis could not have hidden the Shada-Kavielian force in the smuggler's den for as long as he did.
Every time he saw the mental link open between his master and the Shada-Kavielian ruler, he was certain that more strange traits appeared on Sephonis' face.
The invoker shook his head clear of the troubling thoughts and headed towards the docks. He was not tired and was anxious to see the slaves being herded onto the ships.
"Where are you taking them?" yelled Guard Commander Vohlkern, watching helplessly as a third group of Borailan men, woman and children were moved off down the nearest pier. One of the ominous dark vessels sat moored at the pier, shadowy forms moving about on its deck.
Vohlkern turned his head so that his one good eye could scan the scene before him. He had been beaten after resisting the attackers and the bruising around his left eye had swelled, forcing the eye shut. He was certain that his right arm was broken also but his captors did not seem concerned with that.
Borailans were bound together along the length of the docks, their cries of anguish echoing into the night air. Children sobbed and called for their parents but the chances of families being held together at this dark hour were minimal. Many of Vohlkern's men were dead; slaughtered by the invaders in the streets as they defended their homes.
Vohlkern looked across at one of the attackers who was pacing along the docks, viewing all of the Borailans as he walked. They had come out of the night as if appearing from thin air and, by the time Vohlkern had made his way down from the temple, the attack was already underway. The dark ships arrived carrying more of the soldiers and this overwhelmed the defenders. Outnumbered, the Borailan guards could do nothing against the sudden attack.
A woman shouted Vohlkern's name but he could not see who it was in the throng of people. His own family would be amongst them somewhere but he could not move to find them.
As the soldier he had been watching passed him, Vohlkern quietly hoped for King Afaron to exact a swift and merciless retaliation against this invading force. His hopes were that the king would soon hear of Boraila's plight and gather the armies together to repel the invaders from their lands. From what he had seen, this was not a large force and the Rotian army would have the advantage in the amount of men they could muster. Still, the seizing of the port heralded a dark period for the Rotians and Vohlkern had no doubts of the struggle ahead being violent and costly.
There was a sudden movement from the people surrounding him that forced Vohlkern to stumble and, as he regained his balance, he realised what was happening. His group of Borailans were beginning to be herded onto one of the piers and he watched as the men and women nearest the docks were dragged forward by some of the dark soldiers. His mind reeled as he desperately tried to piece together a way to escape but the bindings holding his hands together were then attached to people next to him. It was a futile struggle but he refused to believe that this was his only option; to be pushed onto an unfamiliar vessel and be shipped off to an unknown location.
As he began to move towards the pier, he heard a child crying and looked to his right. A woman stood within arm's reach of him, her young daughter - no more than four or five years of age - clung to her tightly. Vohlkern examined the mother's face for a moment as he found something familiar there. Seeing his frowning expression, the woman tried to turn away but was pulled by the crowd and was forced even closer to him.
"Excuse me," called Vohlkern above the cries from the crowd. "Is the little one hurt?"
The woman stared at him for a moment, her tired eyes fearful. Then, seeing that he wore a Borailan guard uniform, she answered. "No, just as frightened as the rest of the people here. I see you were less fortunate."
Vohlkern nodded. "Yes, these soldiers did not like me refusing to surrender."
"You are lucky to be alive then. They killed any men who fought them when they came through Tamriel."
"You are from Tamriel?" asked Vohlkern. "Do I know you?"
The woman gave a false smile whilst her eyes showed no hint of humour. "It is possible. I am Elna Orgillian and this is my daughter, Cassi."
Vohlkern could not hide his surprise. Before him stood the wife of Celestius Orgillian and his youngest daughter, both being dragged onto one of the invading ships just as Vohlkern was. "I believed that only Boraila was invaded, my lady. I can see now that this was not the case."
Elna glanced away as the painful memory of seeing her home ravaged resurfaced. She bit back the tears that wanted to flow. "These soldiers entered Tamriel from the east and were merciless in their attack. They brought prisoners with them from Barentin which I learnt was also destroyed. We were taken, along with many others and were led through the forest. We realised that Boraila had been taken too as we entered the city."
Vohlkern's head bowed at the news. "Then this is truly an invasion. If Barentin and Tamriel are gone, this new enemy commands the north side of the river." He was pushed forward onto the boards of the pier and reached out to stop Elna from being knocked to the ground by the mass of bodies.
"You are a guard of Boraila?" Elna asked him.
At this, he sighed deeply. "My name is Vohlkern, Guard Commander of Boraila."
"Apologies for not recognising the rank, Guard Commander. I saw only the armour in this dim light." Elna glanced up at the moon above, it's silver glow half-covered by the slow-moving clouds.
"Do not apologise, my lady. I was stripped of most of my uniform when I was captured. Many of my men died in the attack but I was left alive. I do not know why." Vohlkern dared to ask her a painful question. "Are the rest of the Orgillian family here too?"
Elna shook her head. "No, my husband and my son went to…" Her voice faltered and she found that she could no longer hold back the tears. For a moment, as they were moving closer to the vessel, Elna wept with Cassi.
Vohlkern could offer no comfort at such a time and he glanced to his left, looking out across the dark water to the next pier. The whole scene was so surreal to him and he started to wish that he had died with his men back in the city.
"They went to Barentin," came Elna's voice suddenly.
Vohlkern turned and saw that her face was once again an expressionless mask. "Barentin, my lady?"
"Yes, Celestius and Gorric travelled there just before the attack. I heard nothing of them from the people of Barentin amongst the prisoners. I fear for the worst. As for my other daughter, Kithia, she vanished when the soldiers were attacking Tamriel. I do not know what happened to her either."
"I'm sure that your family are safe," assured Vohlkern, knowing very well that they were more likely to have been killed in the battles.
"Where are we being taken?"
"Our destination is unknown to everyone here." Vohlkern leant as close to Elna as he could. "I shall try to keep you and your daughter from harm as best I can."
Before Elna could reply, they found themselves being led up a wide gangplank onto the enemy ship. The prisoners were pushed tightly together when they stood on deck and within minutes the gangplank was being retracted and the anchor raised.
As the dark vessel left the Borailan docks, it was joined by four others. Vohlkern watched as his home city began to fade into the distance and the realisation that they were being taken to a foreign land suddenly hit all of the prisoners once they saw that they were heading west, out into the unknown oceans. Fear gripped them and most wept openly, huddling close to any of the people nearest to them for warmth and security.
Vohlkern looked across at Elna still clutching Cassi as tightly as she could. What an empty promise he had made to protect them. Nothing anybody could say would help them now. As the prisoners started to be moved away and led below, Vohlkern stood watching Boraila for as long as he could.