Chapter Twenty-Five

[owlmoose]

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Chapter Twenty-Five
When the pyreflies had woven their glittering skein into the dark recesses of the ceiling and then vanished, there was a crystalline silence over the scene. Everyone stood frozen as though in a wax tableau as Yuna stilled her dance and lowered her arms. The spells which the fallen Maester had cast to seal the entrances to the sanctum had gone along with their maker but not even the sound of activity from the other parts of the citadel penetrated the inner room as yet. Even the light seemed less brilliant, as if Seymour had taken with him the life of the temple and left it desolate and in disrepair.

Auron finally stirred. "Yuna, are you ready to continue?" He looked at her sharply, trying to judge the state of her emotional condition. She could not withstand the trials were she exhausted from her efforts to defeat the enemy here.

"I think I would like a little time to rest, Sir Auron. And to thank Dona for her help."

"Of course." The older guardian turned to face the tall, dark woman and her silent companion and nodded a welcome. "Greetings, Lady Dona."

Dona drew herself to her full height, placing her hand on one hip and tilted her head to the side. "And greetings to you, Lady Yuna, Sir Auron. I'm on my own pilgrimage with my guardian, Barthello," she indicated the man with a wave of her other hand. "We got here a couple of days before you came. The siege trapped me and I didn't like the Maester's attitude -- he assumed I would naturally take his side and didn't even ask my opinion. He thought I would be his tool, just another weapon he could use the way he wanted to. Not me! I've heard about the rebellion and would like to learn more. What are you people up to anyway?"

Behind her, Barthello folded his massive arms over his equally massive chest and scowled protectively at Kimahri, who scowled back from an identical posture.

"We will be glad to tell you our story and we would welcome you to our ranks, should you choose to join us." Auron made a gesture encompassing the others gathered around him. "Let me introduce you to those you haven't met yet."

There was a general bustle of greetings as the members of the rebel team made themselves known to the new summoner and her guardian. Yuna made the first move.

"Dona, I thank you with all my heart. Without your help, I would be the one lying defeated on the floor or on my way to the Farplane. You saved us and we cannot repay you enough. Thank you." She stepped up to the other woman and, reaching up, embraced her formally.

The remaining pilgrims copied their leader and offered their cheeks to the touch of Dona's sun-gilded face in the old ritual as a token of friendship and unity. Paine was the next to greet the new prospective convert and when she touched cheeks was surprised to hear a whisper in her ear: "Your navigator sent me." When the two women drew back from one another, they exchanged broad smiles of understanding.

Nooj limped to stand before Dona and bow his head in recognition from one Warrior to another. "Lady Summoner, you are welcome to our company should you choose to join us. Your skill and courage will greatly increase our abilities to fight against the evil of Yevon." He would have withdrawn had she not raised her hand to stop him.

"I have heard tales of your own talents, commander. If the rumors of the purpose of your rebellion are true, I would be honored to serve with so valiant a force. My guardian, here, is called Barthello. I have no doubt he will also find serving with you to be agreeable." She pulled the stolid man forward and presented him to Nooj.

"C'm'nd'r, sir," Barthello grunted with a rigid salute.

"Barthello. I am glad to welcome you." The Crusader returned the acknowledgement.

Yuna, eager to prepare for her meeting with the fayth, broke in. "Now that we all know one another, let's get some rest and patch up any injuries. There are plenty of sleeping quarters in this place, so ... Dona, if you would like to hear the details of why we are rebelling, I'll be more than happy to tell you our story when I have had time to catch my breath. Will that be okay?"

Dona nodded. "That will do very well. Now, I think I should attend to the spirits of those who have fallen outside the walls. Yuna, you rest; you have the trial before you and I can handle the rest of the sending."

She swept out of the room like a queen, followed by her ever watchful guardian.

-X-
The instant Dona disappeared down the dim corridor, Nooj set off in pursuit. He had just passed the door and was moving as quickly as he could toward the main entrance when Paine tugged at his sleeve.

"Where're you going?" She had no difficulty keeping pace with his limping progress.

"I've got to see Julien Sent with my own eyes." He muttered over his shoulder.

"Why? You know you killed him. Why do you have to see him Sent?"

"To know he won't ever turn up again. There've been too many times when I thought I was rid of an enemy only to run across him again because I didn't make sure."

Paine considered. "Okay. I'll come along and be another witness. And to make sure none of our people get left out. Dona doesn't know all the places to look." She trotted alongside him amiably.

When they reached the courtyard in front of the Temple, it was to discover that their worries had been misplaced. The teams under the control of Beclem and Squab had gathered the dead together and arranged them in orderly rows without distinguishing friend from foe. All were respectfully laid out with dignity to wait their final rites. Julien was amongst them, not separate from the others, for all were equal in death and the summoner sent all with the same ritual.

Dona had already begun her solemn dance and the living stood in silence as she spun and stepped, guiding the souls of the dead to the Farplane where they could be at peace. The witnesses watched as the pyreflies clustered above the bodies and as though at a signal, formed into a spangled scarf and swept upward into the ocean of air, winging their ways into the peaceful world beyond the clouds and storms of Spira. The visible breath of the living made a hazy fog which seemed to accompany the passage of the eternal portion of the dead. When it was over and Dona had gone back inside with her faithful Barthello, Nooj beckoned Beclem to him.

"Well, that's done with. Was there any trouble out here?"

Beclem saluted and replied, "No, sir. All was quiet. The monks attached to this place don't seem to have any more fight in them. They basically sat down and waited. We have them penned up now. What do you want us to do with them?"

"I'll have Squab try to find who the senior monk here is now that Julien's gone. If he is a peaceable type, we'll let him handle the brothers. Just keep them together until Squab gets back to you." Nooj rubbed his forehead as he thought.

"Yessir!" Beclem stood at attention until his commander walked away.

Paine looked at her companion with concern. "Are you hurting?"

"Just a little. It will pass. I need to talk to Squab, give him his orders and then I'll go in and rest for a while. You want to go ahead?"

"Yes, I think I will. I need to stake out a room for us. Want a pill?" She dug into her pouch.

"No ... yes. Just one. I don't have much left to do." He took the pellet she held out to him and washed it down with a handful of snow before setting out in search of Squab.

"I'll meet you in the room where Seymour died," she called out to his retreating back.

He turned and lifted a hand in acknowledgement and agreement.

-X-
Nooj found Squab overseeing the mass of the army as it collected dropped equipment and scavenged what was useful from the battlefield. The captain spotted his commander approaching and immediately came to meet him. "Is everything all right, sir?"

"It seems to be. We need to do something with the prisoners we're holding. I want you to find out who's in charge here now that Julien's dead and try to repatriate the monks left alive."

"Glad to. I'll get right on it, sir." Squab saluted and would have immediately set off had Nooj not interrupted him with a raised hand.

"No. It can wait for a while. Right now finish up with these men and send all of the army back to the Travel Agency to rest and regroup. All except a small contingent to provide an escort for the Summoners. We have two with us now."

"Two, sir?"

"Two. The Lady Dona, the one who Sent the dead just a while ago, is almost certainly going to become a part of our force. So, get these troops taken care of, then see to the prisoners."

"Yessir." The captain turned back to his task, disappearing into the mass of the soldiers and leaving Nooj, leaning on his cane and looking pensively over the rapidly emptying clearing.

He was grateful for the solitude. It was always this way. After a battle, he became morose and hungry to be alone. Too often he was also in pain. He smiled grimly at the thought of Baralai and the pills. The young priestling had been so proud of his accomplishment. Those had been good days, those days in the desert which had seemed so hellish at the time. Ahead lay the conquest of Bevelle and the overthrow of the Maesters. Then ... then there was Sin. Sin, who he must face for the third time and not just as an individual searching for Death but as the head of an army determined to carry Death to the enemy. After that struggle, he could finally lay aside his promise to Auron and find his release. The dark shadow of his destiny brushed him with its hovering wing.

He realized he was looking at nothing and therefore wasting time. The pill had worked its usual magic, soothing the aches and bruises from the successive struggles, so he moved with unusual smoothness toward the door of the citadel. He hoped Paine had found a place for them to rest in privacy.

-X-
Meanwhile, Paine walked into the temple chamber and paused near the door, taking in the scene. Members of the clergy cowered in the corners, sidestepping the Crusaders and staying out of Aquelev's way as he tended to Yuna's guardians, along with wounded soldiers who had been led into the temple. One nun, dressed in the heavy robes common to the women who lived in Macalania, brushed past quickly, almost knocking her over in her haste to get away from the invaders, then paused and steadied them both with a hand, looking down at her with warm dark brown eyes.

Looking down at her. With dark brown... Paine gasped in shocked recognition. "Bar--"

The "nun" lifted finger to lips and raised an eloquent eyebrow, telegraphing an unmistakable message: "Not here." The figure turned, and Paine followed, passing through the door and into a secluded nook by the entryway. As soon as she had determined that they were alone, she flung her arms around him. "You're alive," she whispered fiercely. "You're okay!"

"So I am," Baralai murmured into her hair. "And so are you." He drew back, smiling softly. "It's good to see you. Quickly, now, I haven't much time. I must return to Bevelle. My cover has remained intact, and I need to keep it that way. Are the Crusaders still guarding the way out of the temple?"

"Not nearly as closely as they were," said Paine, "but if you go straight back you will be seen, and stopped, especially in that outfit. And you may have difficulty getting into Bevelle -- the gates are being guarded by our forces."

"I'm not worried about that; I have another way in." Baralai thought for a moment. "All right, I have a way out as well." He smiled down at Paine. "Best if you don't know it. So, about the things you should know. I assume you've been receiving my letters?"

Paine nodded. "Two of them, plus the messenger who warned us of Julien's attack. Very valuable information, especially regarding Seymour being here."

"Good. So then you know that I have significant support in Bevelle. I'm sorry I couldn't tell you about Lady Dona; she only joined our side very recently. But her belief in our cause is true, and she can be trusted. Make sure Lady Yuna knows that -- I understand there is some bad history between them. Now. When are the Al Bhed arriving?"

"Three days." Paine thought for a moment, counting mentally. "Yes, that's right. We had word from Gippal on the Thunder Plains, and that's what he said." She noted that Baralai relaxed slightly at the mention of Gippal's name, and she grinned at him. "And yes, he's fine. By all reports anyway. We'll be seeing him soon."

Baralai laughed gently. "I never doubted him." But she still read relief on his face. "How is Nooj?"

"Well enough," she replied. "Command suits him, no matter what he says. By the way, do you have any more of the painkillers? Our supply is running a little low."

"Yes." Baralai rummaged in the deep pockets of his robe and pulled out a small packet. "I'd hoped to run into you, so I made a small supply while waiting out the siege. These should get you through to Bevelle." He handed her the medication, which she stashed in her pouch. "So the medication is still helping him?"

"Immensely, especially now that he's admitted that he needs it." Baralai raised his eyebrows, and Paine chuckled. "To me, anyway. Not to anyone else. We... things have changed between us. We're more honest with each other now. It's good."

"I'm glad," said Baralai. "And perhaps a little surprised, to be truthful."

"So am I," she admitted. She looked up into his eyes, suddenly realizing that she could finally share what had happened with the one person she could trust to understand. "He loves me, Baralai. He loves me. And I love him, and I finally told him so."

A shocked grin spread over Baralai's face and he grabbed Paine's shoulders. "Really! I-- Paine. I'm glad for you. For both of you. So he is happy then? Happy enough to... to live?"

Hope radiated from his features, a hope that Paine could not share, and she looked away, shaking her head. "I don't know," she said quietly. "He doesn't talk about it much, but... no. I don't think so."

"Ah." The grip on her shoulders turned into a caress as he ran his hands down her arms and lightly took her hands in his. "Well, I suppose that drastic a change would be a bit much to ask for. I'm sorry."

Paine nodded but did not look up.

"Hey." He tipped up her chin with a gentle finger. "We'll worry about that later, yes?"

"Yes." Paine took a deep breath and met his eyes. "Yes," she repeated, more firmly this time. She'd been telling herself to worry about that particular issue later for weeks now; no reason not to postpone later for a little while longer. "Now you'd better get going, before someone starts wondering why I'm deep in conversation with a very tall nun."

With another brief laugh, Baralai hugged her again. "Yes ma'am," he said. "All right. Three days. We will meet in Bevelle, and when the time is right, the gates will open. Make sure Nooj knows."

"I will."

They exchanged another smile and then he was gone, melting back into his disguise. Paine spent a moment watching him go, then slipped into the temple, ready to find a quiet place to share all her news with Nooj.

-X-
Wakka stood sentinel outside the room off the main temple chamber where Yuna rested. There was no need to take guard duty, with the temple securely in the hands of the rebels, but he wanted to do it anyway; it made him feel better, like he was doing something useful. And his presence here gave Kimahri a chance to recover from the wounds he had taken in the battle against Seymour. Arms crossed over his chest, leaning his shoulders up against the door frame, Wakka tipped his head back and stared at the ceiling, thinking. Lost in his own mind, he almost didn't hear the creaking of the door and the rustling of skirts that indicated Lulu's appearance.

"How's Yuna?" he asked, still looking upwards.

"Napping," Lulu replied. "Doing battle with Lord Seymour's aeon took a lot out of her. "

"Her and everyone else." Wakka sighed. "Never thought I'd end up helping kill a maester."

Lulu nodded, then looked closely at her old friend, scrutinizing his face for a clue to his thoughts. "Are you all right?" she asked.

The blitzer took a deep breath, arms rising and then falling as he let out the air, slowly. "Dunno," he muttered. He turned his head to the side then, looking straight at Lulu, hurt and confusion in his eyes. "I attacked a warrior monk, y'know? He was coming after Sir Auron and I didn't even think, I just threw the ball and he went down. It's like my arm made the decision for me. Total reflex. And then, with Maester Seymour..." He shook his head. "I tried to knock him out, ya? So we could lock him up and deal with him later. But he shook it off."

"I noticed that." Lulu folded her arms and leaned sideways against the door. "It was worth a try."

"Yeah, well." He looked at the floor with another sigh. "Wish it hadn't come to this."

They stood in silence for a little while. Then Lulu lightly touched his arm, and he turned his face to hers. "We made our choice," she said. "We could have stayed behind at Djose, but we didn't. We chose to keep following Yuna and to support her. I knew this path would probably lead here eventually, and if you think about it, so did you." Wakka opened his mouth to protest, and she cut him off with a sharp shake of her head. "No, Wakka. Don't pretend any longer. You can't tell me you really thought that Yuna would back down, or that Seymour would negotiate. Enough denial! We are both a part of this, and have been since the beginning. And you either need to accept that or you need to stay behind." With a toss of her head, she opened the door and walked through, latching it behind her with a decided click.

-X-
Gippal stood on the pier, his arms akimbo, watching with satisfaction as the last of those he had recruited boarded the ship. This trip had been far more successful than he had dreamed, far beyond his wildest expectations. When he left his native desert, he'd been little more than a kid, with no qualifications to lead anyone or to persuade them of anything. Then he came back, leading a boatload of Al Bhed and speaking for a respected military leader, and suddenly everyone was treating him like a man. That respect had helped him get the ear of so many people, in small groups and as large, and his knack for persuasion had done the rest, convincing them that it would be possible to throw out the corrupt Yevonite bastards, and then to fight with the rebels to defeat Sin once and for all.

Still, even with his new credibility, it had helped that the Al Bhed were spoiling for a fight. He had caught an undercurrent of dissatisfaction, a real sense that his people were tired of the second-class citizenship and of being banished from so much of Spira. It was their world too, and they were ready to reclaim it. This opportunity had come along at just the right time.

He had quite enjoyed himself, had Gippal. It was pleasant to look into swirling pupils as a regular thing and not a rare treat. He had gorged himself on his native food and immersed his mind in the Al Bhed language for the first time in what felt like years. The only thing from the outer world he really missed was Baralai. He had begun lately to dream about his absent lover, even to reach out for him across the bed in his sleep. Well, it would only be a few more days.

He had not heard from the mainland for a while and could only hope his messages had made their way to the proper eyes. It was almost eerie how their little game on the ship was coming true. Nooj was the captain, captain of the entire army of the rebels if he understood the rumors correctly, with Paine taking care of the practical details at his side. Baralai was almost surely pulling strings behind the curtains, navigating in his own way and as for himself, the Al Bhed were a fighting machine, and he would see them well-tuned. Yes, he thought, it was all coming together. Much better than any of them could have expected.

With a bit of a swagger, which he felt he deserved, Gippal made his own way across the gangplank and onto the swaying deck. Off to Bevelle and a reunion too long delayed. His heartbeat quickened and his single eye glittered as he tasted the sweetness of that thought.

-X-
Yuna had disappeared into the inner sanctum and there was nothing left for the soldiers to do but wait. Afternoon dragged into evening, and soon it became clear that they would have to wait for morning to leave the temple in any case. After what seemed like hours of watching Nooj prowl around the perimeter, Paine stood from her seat on the floor and lightly caught him by the arm. "C'mon," she murmured, "let's go get some sleep." She led him through the corridors to the chamber where the maester had rested and, after a word to the guard there, she sat Nooj down on the bed and began taking his hair down again.

He began to protest. "There's no need--"

She cut him off with a smile. "I like to," she said. "And there seems to be fresh water here. Wouldn't it be nice to get it really clean again?"

Nooj could not argue with that sentiment and so allowed himself once again to lean back into Paine and let her minister to him. She freed the hair from its braids, ran her comb through the long strands, drew several basins of water to wash it, then combed out again, leaving it free to dry. Once she had finished, he eased her down and ministered to her in an entirely different way.

Sometime later, as they rested serenely in each other's arms, Paine began idly stroking the long hair that spilled across his chest. "I like to sleep with you when your hair's down," she said.

"Why?"

"When you loom over me, it swings around us like a tent and I feel safe and sheltered."

He looked into her open, confident face and felt something shift within him. To his dismay, his throat closed and he could not speak but had to content himself with tenderly tracing the line of her jaw and of her lips as she leaned into him and closed her eyes.

-X-
Tired but satisfied, Yuna made her way down the icy hallway that led away from the Cloister of Trials, Kimahri supporting her as the rest of her guardians followed. She reached the exit and placed a hand on the door to push it open.

"Hey, Yuna, wait." Wakka strode forward to take a place by her other side. "There's somethin' I gotta say before we go back out there."

"What is it?" Yuna dropped her hand and looked up at him.

"Well, uh, I guess it's no secret that I wasn't happy about this whole thing. Going against Yevon, turning on the maesters." He scratched the back of his neck and shifted uncomfortably from foot to foot. "I had a lot of time to think in there. About what you said, and Sir Auron, and the maesters. I kinda still wish this wasn't happening. But it is, ya? It is, and I can't keep denying that. So I want to say that I'm sorry. I'm sorry I doubted you. And I'm done with hanging back. I'm your guardian, and I'm in this with you, wherever it goes."

Yuna bowed to him. "Thank you, Sir Wakka," she said, an affectionate smile on her lips. "I'm glad to finally have you with us."

"Me too." He grinned back, straightening his shoulders as if a huge weight had been lifted from them, then opened the door into the temple to let his summoner pass through.

-X-
"I'm sorry I didn't have the opportunity to talk with you before." Yuna closed the door to the chamber behind her, a tray of food in hand.

Dona looked up from her breakfast. "It's all right. Meeting with the fayth was your top priority. She's a beauty, isn't she?"

"Yes." Yuna smiled. "And so powerful!" She set the meal down, took a seat across from the other summoner, and leaned forward on her elbows. "So. How much do you already know about our cause?"

"Well." Dona glanced around the room as if to insure that the women were alone save their constant companions, Kimahri and Barthello. Still, her next words were spoken in a hushed tone. "Quite a bit, actually, given that Baralai recruited me himself."

Yuna sat up straight. "He was here?!"

Dona nodded, finger to her lips. "With Maester Seymour's entourage. But I expect he's long gone by now -- he told me that he was going to slip out at the first opportunity, get back to Bevelle so that he can be there when you attack."

"My goodness." Yuna shook her head. "So I suppose there isn't much I need to tell you after all."

The other woman shook her head with a smile. "But we can pretend that you did. And you can catch me up on what's happened since Baralai left your company. First things first, though." Suddenly her expression was serious and she looked straight into Yuna's eyes. "I need to apologize for my behavior at Kilika Temple. I was jealous of you, of your connections to the High Summoner, and I was willing to use any means necessary to get ahead. So I insulted you and treated Tidus badly. It was wrong of me."

"Thank you, I appreciate the apology. And I accept." Yuna reached a hand across the table and Dona took it. "Shall we put the incident behind us? In the interest of working together for Spira?"

"Gladly." The women shook hands, and then released the grip and settled back into their seats. "So. Fill me in on the last couple of weeks, and tell me what your commander has planned next."

-X-
That afternoon, the triumphant army gathered in front of the Travel Agency, ready to take the fight to Bevelle at last. But the group had progressed only a short way down the path when there was a perceptible darkening of the atmosphere. It was too early for the sun to be setting and there were no clouds shadowing the sky. Yet the atmosphere seemed to be growing denser and, while there was no haze or fog, it became harder to see the path ahead. Then a wind sprung up, carrying a fetid odor, the stench of decayed flesh and rotted vegetation. It was as though the tide had receded from the shore, baring the debris which it normally hid and permitting those things better not experienced to assault the senses. The coolness of the air vanished, to be replaced by a heat as though a furnace had suddenly been opened. The rush of the wind grew stronger until it blew hair and clothing like an approaching hurricane and the lighter boned amongst the marchers had to hold on to what they could to remain upright.

Kal, who had turned at the first sign of a change, was the quickest to see the vast bulk rising from the horizon at the far side of the lake.

"Sin! It's Sin!" He shouted waving his arms frantically to warn the others. "Take cover!"

Confusion possessed the mass of humans as they broke ranks and tried to escape the doom which surely awaited them. They ran with no clear objective in view until they were suddenly stopped by a familiar voice.

"Stop! Halt! Hold your ground! You can't outrun this thing. Your only chance is to stand and fight!" Nooj had interposed himself before them and was shouting over the fear-filled bedlam. "Stand by me!" He raised his arm with the rifle in it to form a rallying point. "Here! To me!" He gestured to the pilgrims to form a protective ring around the two summoners and retreat from the center of the trail.

A ruddy glow began to suffuse the sky, spreading relentlessly across the visible vault. Flashes of lightning sprang from the heavy clouds which had formed, intersecting like the tangled roots of a noxious weed. At times a fiery canopy spanned the heavens so that the mass of Sin was disguised and screened by its attendant phenomena.

Once he had the attention of his army, Nooj began positioning them the better to resist the monster. "You bowmen, get over to the edge of the path, no, not both edges. You don't want to shoot each other. Over to that side." He gestured widely. "Yes, there. Keep under shelter as much as possible so as not to attract attention. Aim at the Sinspawn; you won't be able to hit Sin itself and won't do much damage if you do. Right! That's right! Don't bunch up. Sin will throw some elemental attacks and you don't want to make too easy a target. That goes for all of you."

Kal stormed up, his face fixed in a furious glare. "I'm not staying under cover and shooting my arrows like a coward. I'll take my stand here with the rest of you!" He shouted, spraying Nooj with angry spittle. "What do you think I am, a Maester?"

Nooj wiped his face with his sleeve and coldly responded, "No. You're no Maester. You're a member of this army. A senior member, but still subject to my orders. If I can tolerate taking my position behind the swordsmen, you can take yours where I direct you. We are few, facing Sin and his many. Either do as you are told or get out of my army and fight by yourself." He turned, his attention already on his other concerns.

Kal stood, dumbfounded, staring with bulging eyes at the young commander serenely and effectively issuing his orders.

"You're going to let the swordsmen go in front of you?"

Nooj looked back at the warrior monk, surprised at the interruption. "They have to. They don't have as long a reach as a gun or a bow. I'm putting the various squadrons where they have to be to hold off this thing." He looked straight into the older man's eyes. "Are you with us or not?"

With a shrug, Kal lowered his chin as well as his voice. "Count me in. If you can take it, so can I," he stated with grudging admiration. Without another audible word, he made his way to the edge of the path, just a few paces ahead of the other archers, and prepared to hold that post.

The minor rebellion settled, Nooj continued to position his forces. "Swordsmen and knife users -- to the fore! Separate enough to make a thin target but not so much as to leave gaps. You have to slice through the ground spawn and the flying fiends. Use your shields and don't take stupid chances. Hit and run, turn and hit again. You know the drill. Stay out of the archers' way. You with guns, here to me. Don't shoot until you know it will count. Aim at the head, you'll do more damage. If you can hit the eye sockets, good! Use whatever ammo seems to work. We have plenty so don't try to conserve."

He watched as the various soldiers took their places. Nothing mattered except giving them the best chance possible of surviving the battle to come - and emerging victorious if possible. The summoners were as safe as he could make them and in position to help if they could. He had done his best and was satisfied. So it was an organized and ready army which trembled in anticipation and eagerness as it awaited the onslaught of the great enemy. The air grew steadily more dense and threatening. They waited.

( Next chapter)