The Fire and The Storm - The Nexus of Kellaran #2
Chapter 168

Part 24

"In this case, it is Tithian, seer and oracle, for I speak in that capacity for The Circle of Seers. We have added many members since this Assembly first met; prescients from every race among us, and we have learned how to join our talents somewhat by Linking. We are now capable of giving a discerning of the future in only moments, and we have done so.

"The new capabilities that Fire announced are welcome news.

"But we find so far that if we do this attack today, the peak of the nexus will occur in just less than a year and a half, rather than in two years, and it will be more severe. By that I mean that the magnitude of a nexus is measured by how much change occurs during it, and if we do this thing, there will almost certainly be more change than otherwise, as well as sooner. We still do not know how much of that change wil be beneficial and how much harmful, only that there will be more, sooner. But our general consensus is that acting now will not be an improvement. It seems that if we attack the demons today as has been proposed, and it were destined to be successful, then the peak of the nexus, the period of maximum change, would occur today or shortly thereafter. But as I say, that is not what we see."

She returned to her place, and another appeared on the stage where she had been. Everyone there instantly knew who he was, as that was an attribute of the divine, but Mark announced him anyway. "Glishkerkugthak, Kwetkerthok God of Life."

The great gray gargoyle god seemed to glower at the gathering for a moment, then spoke. "There were only one hundred and ninety-six gods on Kellaran when we faced the demons over seven million years ago. There were only about six hundred million mortals then, only half of whom lived on the surface and fought the demons.

"Now we are many, we are all united, we are far more capable, and we have the assistance of The Triax. It is easy to think that we could be victorious, particularly if all of us and all of our nations and all of The Triax joined with these young warlocks in launching an overwhelming strike with all of our power simultaneously. It might seem that we could not fail.

"But there were only about twenty million demons on Kellaran at the most the last time, and only two hundred thousand of them were greater demons, yet with the constant reinforcements they were able to bring through their Gate they were able to hold their own against all of our gods and mortals, and they were gaining the initiative. Only the destruction of their Gate allowed us to prevail.

"We did not face any of those that The Triax call DemonLords. And The Triax, in all their war against the demons, have never seen them use a Gate such as they used here. So the demons that were here were more dangerous in that way than any that The Triax have ever faced. The rock that the demons are riding here is much larger than the Triax have ever seen them use before. The Triax assure us that if these demons coming here now are aware of the demons' defeat on Kellaran seven million years ago, they would only attempt to face us again if they were bringing many times more power to bear against us than they think they will need to exterminate us all. They have had seven million years to improve their methods.

"Those are some of the many reasons to suppose that the demons might not be easy to defeat, even given the unprecedented power that we can bring to bear against them.

"I was the first god to fight the demons here, those eons ago. Initially we gods would not fight them directly, for we followed a policy that we would not go to war against any mortal, and despite everything else they were, the demons were certainly mortal. I was forced to act when I realized that my people might be destroyed to the last. I found killing the demons to be easy, and the much smaller number of exclusively lesser demons that I faced in those early days of the conflict were defenseless against me.

"Then some of them hid from me, I know not how, and the rest fled back into their Gate. For two days I stood raging before it, for I could find no way to destroy it. That entire time they taunted me from within the Gate. Their cries were wordless, but it was plain that they were mocking me, and I challenged them to come forth and fight with equal spite.

"Then somehow I was pushed toward the Gate by the demons who had hidden on Kellaran, and drawn towards the Gate at the same time by those within it, or perhaps by the Gate itself. It was so sudden and so powerful that I could not resist it, and at the last I ceased resisting and charged into it, thinking that surely those waiting on the other side were due for woe when I was among them.

"But I did not emerge on the other side of the Gate, instead, I was held in an unknown version of the Translocation medium. And though it seemed that I was alone there, I was then attacked. Millions of demons attacked my mind in a way that might be called psionic, though that may not be accurate, or even applicable. They destroyed my sanity and gave me an eternity of absolute torment."

He paused again and turned to Mark, meeting his eye before surveying the rest of his family, then speaking directly to him.

"The point has been made that we are improving rapidly, and the demons are unlikely to be doing so. Is very valid, and very telling. Wait. Wait until we are no longer improving, or at least until the date of attack we have previously agreed on.

"The demons are tricky and cunning and unpredictable and cruel beyond all imagining. It is easy to underestimate them. Do not make the same mistake that I made."

He disappeared, and a second later his place was taken by Heklivmalgiso, first of the two gods of the elves.

Mark unnecessarily announced him as well.

"I speak for those gods of Kellaran who can read the shadows of the future, and we see deeper and with greater detail than the mortal Circle of Seers. We agree with their assessment, and add this; If you act against the demons now, there is no doubt that the results for Kellaran will be worse than they would be if you wait."

"How long should we wait?" Fire demanded.

"At least until after the tournament for the rule of Kellaran." the elven god decreed. "We will make another assessment at that time."

"All right, we'll wait." Mark nodded.

"It is understandable and honorable that you should wish to end the threat against Kellaran as soon as possible." Heklivmalgiso told Mark and his family. "The new techniques you discovered today in spell-craft and magical attack are magnificent, and completely innovative. We are all very proud of you, and we regret that you are denied the chance to strike against the demons today.

"Be well, and be patient, young ones."

With that, the elven god took himself elsewhere.

"Well, I guess it's settled." Mark told the Assembly. "We're off to talk to some fools about the futility of acting self-destructive in innovative new ways."

He got a bit of a chuckle from his audience for that.

"If you can recommend a few skilled but discreet news Revealers, we invite them to come along. We'll be starting off from the private beach on Hilia in about twenty minutes. "We'll all meet here again tomorrow as scheduled, to plan military exercises involving all our nations, in preparation for doing the same with The Triax.

"We thank you all for coming on such short notice, and wish you well."

With a bow to the Assembly, he Translocated his family to the Royal Beach on Hilia.

Once there he cast Speaking to First Minister Sheramiv.000

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