Divide And Conquer

Chapter 3

Deep in the fetid swamps of the Sixth Ring, the Sea-kin Ekka slithered through the muddy waters on her way to a secret gathering. Mud-crusted huts and crooked walkedways marked the village inhabited by her people, now shrouded in gloom as the denizens of the deep emerged under cover of night.

Ekka came upon a hidden cove where other Sea-kin slowly converged, their forms gliding silently through the shallows. She exchanged whispers with those she passed, simple words fraught with meaning: "The currents rise. The depths stir. Our time nears..."

Before long, dozens of Sea-kin ringed the secluded cove, bodies adorned with strings of teeth and bone tokens. At an unspoken signal, their leader, a massive Sea-kin named Skurj, rose from the waters to address them.

"Brothers, sisters, our misery in this forsaken land has gone on far too long. Voraz and his minions treat us like slaves and vermin, plundering our waters and leaving only pain and destitution in their wake."

Murmurs of assent rose from the gathered Sea-kin. Skurj continued. "I have reached out in secret to the other races, and found our misery mirrored among them. The seeds of rebellion run deep, my kin. The time comes soon when all of Xiuri' shall rise up to cast off our shackles!"

The Sea-kin erupted in fierce whispers, baring their jagged fangs. Skurj raised a clawed hand for silence. "Patience, brothers and sisters. The revolution must begin at the appointed time, when all is in readiness. Until then, continue to prepare your minds and gather your magics. We Sea-kin command the waters; soon we shall use that power to drown our enemies!"

More murmurs rippled through the cove. Then the Sea-kin began to disperse in small groups to avoid detection, leaving only the gentlest ripples in their wake.

Ekka slipped through the gloomy marsh, the thrill of impending vengeance coursing through her veins. She imagined the coming day when the races of Xiuri' would unite to spill the blood of Voraz and his lackeys. A cruel smile twisted her lips at the thought.

Above, in the crumbling towers of the Fourth Ring, two Elfs met in hushed conspiracy. Kovil and Maya had spread their illusion magic, concealing their true forms behind the guise of lowly Imps as they furtively sought signs of unrest.

"The Bornians grow complacent," Kovil reported, his voice a papery rasp. "I glimpsed only three patrols on the road here. They've grown lazy and overconfident."

Maya's luminous eyes narrowed with cunning intent. "Their laxness shall be the death of them when the time comes. And the time draws near indeed--today an Imp whispered to me that the races conspire in secret, united in their hatred for Voraz."

"That name should be cursed for all time!" Kovil hissed. "If the other races plot rebellion, we too must join. On the appointed day, Elf sorcery shall cloud the minds of the Embodiments. Our illusions will sow chaos when the revolution begins!"

Maya nodded. "Until then, we continue to wait and watch. With luck, Voraz's reign will soon end in fire and bloodshed."

The false Imp forms melted away as Kovil and Maya parted, already envisioning the coming downfall of Xiuri's cruel overlord.

In the forests of the Second Ring, an Owlkin patrol soared above the shadowed treetops. Their great wings stirred up eddies in the mist as they scanned the terrain with razor-sharp sight.

The leader, an enormous Owlkin called Jiran, gave an ominous hooting cry to summon his two companions. They circled lower, alighting on gnarled branches with whispers of feathers.

Jiran swiveled his head almost upside down, gaze piercing. "Something stirs beyond the Ring walls. Bornian patrols come forth in numbers not seen for many cycles."

The other Owlkin, Terak and Kova, clicked their curved beaks in alarm. "You speak truth, brother," said Terak. "What dire tidings warrant such interest from Voraz's lapdogs?"

Kova rustled his feathers uneasily. "I like not the smell of this. If Voraz takes greater interest in the outer Rings, he may root out..." His voice trailed off meaningfully.

Jiran finished the thought. "Our own hidden schemes for rebellion. Yes, this bears ill fortune if the Bornians now look beyond their borders." He rotated his head the other way, pondering.

"We must exercise greater caution," Jiran decided. "Send out silent wings to gather information without being seen. And alert the others - the day we dreamed of may come sooner than expected. All must stand ready for whatever emerges from the darkness."

With murmurs of assent, the Owlkin took to the sky. Their forms soon disappeared into the gloom above the forest. Only the faint echo of wingbeats remained to hint at their passing.