Chapter Twenty-Four
The Battle Begins
Hundreds of campfires burned beneath the heavy gloom of the Dira Nelar. Even the fires could not burn the rotting stench away. Although their numbers had been decimated by the Second Battle of Vila Eadros, every elf who could hold a weapon had united in the desperate attempt to regain the Quenya. Only the pregnant, wounded, and children were left behind. The journey had taken weeks, yet they had met little resistance. Their only conflict thus far had been when they had stumbled across small pockets of drakhalu. None of the creatures had survived the encounters to bring news of the elves’ presence back to their homeland.
Eranalfia looked at the grim faces of those who followed him as they performed their chores about camp. The lesser son of a minor l
