– Yes, yes. He can't either, because of the ancient magic of Izemburn. Otherwise we would already know what happened there.

– But I can say they are moving, so soon they will leave Izemburn.

Tonnord thought. His view under long gray eyebrows was fixed on the single point. For a few seconds he freezes like a stone Gargoyle, motionless and silent. But soon he got up from the bench and began to walk back and forward along the balustrade of the balcony.

– Was that person alone?

– Yes, my lord.

– This is very strange. What motivates a man who decided to go to the west alone with such a valuable thing?! If that person is one of the dark magicians henchmen – he paused – Well, let's say. But we do not yet know who it is, so in order to deliver the key to the Yeagrefgort, you need to go directly to the north. Around the Canyon of Death, or through it – Tonnord chuckled – straight through the Middle Pathway, then through the Preeosted, across the Elma River, a few days across the Wastelands and that's it! But there is nothing in the West. Only the Pleepmorr, Scorched Earth and Trolls Swamps. Conclusion – this person does not belong to the dark magicians. And he seems completely reckless to go west ALONE. Around the Pleepmorr as well as inside of the city only the bastards. Robbers, assassins, thieves, mercenaries-rejected from other kingdoms… I'm not even talking about the Canyon of Death and the Scorched Earth crowded with all sorts of evil… In general, everything is bad. The key can end up in the hands of anyone, and then even the Dark Magicians, as Bronton said before. After that, I don't even want to think.

The loss of the key from an inexperienced keeper who had just come to this world was quite expected. Tonnord didn`t rule out the fact this could happen. So now it was necessary to act quickly. Return the key back to the Keeper and cover both of them in Afleeakwein. This meant one or two dozen warriors would have to be sent in pursuit of the thief, which would certainly attract attention, especially around the Pleepmorr area. And this Tonnord didn`t want to. He wanted to act secretly. But there was no choice.

– Okay Ikru, thank you for the news, even not good at all. I'll do an order to send a squad to chase the thief. I really didn`t want to “make noise” and attract attention, but it looks like we don`t have a choice. The key must be returned by any costs, before it is too late.

– I completely agree with you, my Lord.

– Go, Sister. Try to see as much as you can, and as soon as Enilice contacts you, let me know.

Ikru left, and Tonnord reached to the Tagrin`s mind.

“Tagrin, do you hear me?”

“Yes, my lord.”

“Come up to me at the balcony, I need to talk to you personally.”

“Right away, sir.”

Shortly, a tall and strong elf, covered in armor, with a heavy blade at his belt and a bow on his back, entered the balcony to Tonnord. His tight black hair fell to his shoulders, and the same tight black beard fell to the middle of his chest, obscuring the Afleeakwein emblem etched on the breastplate of his armor. However, he still had the bright blue eyes and elven ears, which gave a certain contrast to his appearance. Anyone who didn't know him would have thought he was a northerner from Preeosted or it`s area. But he was a full-blooded elf. His late mother, who died in the war after the capture of Eraqel, was an elven mage. One of the strongest at that time. And as you know, the genes of magicians responsible for appearance very often change under the influence of magic, and later that passed on to her son.

– If you wanna hear about the search for Oks, then I can say he is not in the Gragos or Preeosted. I can't say anything about Izemburn because…

– Yes, Yes, I know. That's what I wanted to talk about. What you're about to hear now, must remain as a secret. But I'm afraid the circumstances are such that no matter how much we want it, it can`t hardly remain as a secret.

Tonnord brought Tagrin fully up to speed.

– I didn't tell you right away because we didn't know. Ikru and I thought that she was with Oks, but later on Ikru saw a completely different picture. So the trackers from Preeosted and Gragos can be recalled. It is very important to get some news from Enilice as soon as possible, but I do not know how soon it will happen. And the key is moving west. What do you think?

– We can't delay. We'll send two squads to the west. From the southern Outpost by the old road around the Pleepmorr.

– If I'm not mistaken Inohildis is a commander of Southern Outpost?

– Yes, my Lord. He is. Oh, how masterfully he jumped and slashed Borgind. I was unlucky that day, but he`s done that mission and stole the key. I remember everything as if it was yesterday.

***

40 years ago.

Two riders in dark-purple cloaks were riding at full speed through the wild orc forests. Soon, as the forest becomes thinned, they could see the massive stone walls of Zerton. It was a huge Orc`s city, stretching from west to east from the channel of the Elma River to the Canyon of Death, and from north to south from the Middle Pathway to the Plains. The city had over half a million Orcs. Warriors and mages, workers and merchants, women and children. They were all meant to be die.

– According to the coordinates which Naabs gave me, the dark portal should be installed somewhere in this area. – Borgind said affirmatively, pointing to the area around the city.

– What's the plan? – Keries asked.

– We'll begin construction near the walls of Zerton. And we'll do camp in the mountains of the Canyon of Death.

– It's a bit far from the construction site. What if the Orcs…

– If they will come here, burn them all! Borgind perfectly understood his General – However, no matter how belligerent they are, I don`t think they will. Anyway, these green-skinned animals very soon will cease to exist in this world forever.

The general's eyes widened in surprise. He turned his head to his master and asked in utter bewilderment:

– How come???

– When the arch of the Portal will be finished, I will place this crystal in the base… He took a bright-purple crystal a walnut size out of his pocket. The crystal was glowing and the energy was pulsing inside of it.

– And what`s next?

– Next, will be big boom – Borgind smiled – After I cast special spell, the Naabs will send an energy of incredible power to the crystal, which will activate the portal. This energy will be so powerful that it will destroy everything for hundred miles away. Nothing will survive – only the portal.

– Now I see why we should camp so far from here. My Lord, aren't you afraid that the shock wave…

– No, I'm not. I'll use the momentary movement spell. When the energy comes to the portal, I won't be here anymore.

– I see, my Lord. When do we start?

– We've already started. I gave this ordered long time ago. The construction materials caravan will be here tomorrow morning. Your objective is to set up a camp here for construction workers and security guards. The main camp will be set up in the mountains. I`m going to ride to the Pleepmorr, I have some business there. Once everything is ready, get all of our people to the mountains and let me know through the Plabark.

– Yes, my Lord! – answered Keries.

***

Ikru sat in the main library of Afleeakwein, nervously search one book after another. She was looking for an answer to the question – how Naabs could enter their world to get the key from Eraqel's prison. As long as the angel is alive, even if he is a prisoner, the Naabs will not be able to cross the boundaries of this world. The energy of Araclia is destructive for them. So there was another way. And Ikru had to find it out as soon as possible.