Tom wrapped his giant arms around Palwin and Sara both. Tears streamed down his face, leaving clean tracks through the grime of battle.

 

Marcus walked up and joined the hug. For a moment, despite everything, despite the war raging below, despite the blood and fire and death, they were together again.

 

Numan stood nearby, dripping water onto the passed-out Aldric's face. The real Aldric. Their friend.

 

"Okay this is enough." Marcus broke off. His voice was rough. "We have a war to win."

 

Captain Harwick walked to their side. His armor was dented. His face streaked with soot. "What was that? What happened to Aldric? And where did you come from?" He asked Marcus.

 

"Long story Captain. But in reality I don't know either."

 

Palwin and Tom were still hugging. Marcus let out a deep sigh and turned to the group.

 

"I brought some devices that will cut Malachar's influence on troops he forced to come here." He showed the device he had used to push out Aldric's Puppeteer.

 

"This metal ball radiates a wave... something magical let's say... and stops mind magic." He turned to Palwin. "It will also block your mental connection to Tom."

 

"That is amazing Marcus." Sara said. Her eyes were red from crying but her voice was steady. "I don't know where you were but I am glad you returned. How many do you have?"

 

Marcus hit his bag. "Hundred machines. They last nearly twenty hours. So..."

 

"We can't let the war go on." Captain Harwick said.

 

"Yeah." Marcus nodded.

 

"Even if we die of exhaustion this has to end today. I need to tell this to the commanders." Captain Harwick's jaw was set. His eyes burned with determination.

 

"Please do." Marcus turned to Sara. "Now what is this tunnel?"

 

Sara stopped trying to wake Aldric and returned to Marcus. "Alice."

 

"Alice?"

 

"We talked to Alice and asked if she knew anything that could help us. Apparently Lord Varek had a backup plan if his cooperation with Malachar didn't pan out. He prepared a way out through the mountain." She pointed to the north side of the mountain Drakmoor was built on.

 

"And Malachar didn't know that?"

 

"He didn't. Until Aldric's Puppeteer told him." Sara's voice was bitter.

 

"What was the plan?"

 

"We put explosives in the tunnel. When Malachar's company aligned with the exit we were going to explode it and rain down mountain debris on them. Hopefully close their escape route."

 

Marcus perked up. "We can't let this advantage go to waste."

 

He dropped the bag and picked up several devices. Readied his rifle. And walked up to Numan.

 

"Sara, this is Numan. You can trust him but he doesn't speak Valdrian or any language you know." Marcus handed Numan the walkie-talkie. "I am giving him this device. It will carry my voice."

 

He switched to English. "Numan, stand near Sara. Palwin has portal magic. Coordinate the mind-numbing machines. Drop them where zombie-like troops are overwhelming our guys."

 

Numan let out a breath. He was experiencing everything all at once. Traveling to another planet. The middle of a magical war. A world he had only heard about in stories.

 

He slapped his face a couple of times. Hard.

 

"Don't worry Marcus. I am ready."

 

"Where will you go?" Sara asked Marcus.

 

Marcus put rifle bullet magazines into his vest. Readied his rifle. His face was stone.

 

"To capture that maniac Malachar."

 

Sara's eyes widened. "Marcus don't be stupid. You are not a fighter."

 

Palwin gulped. "Tom don't go out there." She pointed at the war below.

 

The battle raged on with all its might and fury. Even with reinforcements Valdris nearly matched Malachar's army. But only in numbers. Valdris had only the Defenders as their magical force, apart from a few scattered mages in the reinforcements.

 

Malachar's army was in perfect order. Each group had a magical commander. And they were tearing down the Valdris army piece by piece. But the worst was at the back. Malachar and his generals watched from a safe distance, protected by elite magical soldiers.

 

And now, as they learned about the secret tunnel and the attack from above, they were abandoning their position and repositioning further back.

 

"They are retreating." Marcus said in despair. "It is becoming impossible to reach him."

 

"It will also cut their tie with the whole army." Tom said.

 

"What?"

 

"I mean look Marcus. They put serious distance between themselves and their army because of fear from the mountain debris."

 

"Yeah."

 

"When the debris actually falls it will cut their connection. They will be alone."

 

Marcus's eyes lit up. "They will be isolated. And we can portal there thanks to Palwin." He hugged his giant cousin. "But we need the Defenders. We can't win alone."

 

Sara located the Defenders. They were the only group winning against their opponents. Han was leading them with his sheer force and power, cutting through enemy lines like a blade through wheat.

 

"Pulling them from the front lines will seriously damage our ground forces." Sara said.

 

"No one else can fight against Malachar's elites." Marcus said. He turned to Palwin. "How are you Palwin? Can you open a portal near Han and then hold it so the Defenders can come through?"

 

Palwin was afraid. Tired. But also happy because Tom had returned. She wiped the tears from her face. Put on a stern expression.

 

"This will end today. And I will hold no matter what."

 

"Thank you Palwin." Marcus walked to her and put one arm on her shoulder. "After today you can finally live however you want. I am proud of you."

 

Palwin opened a portal on top of the walls. The other end shimmered near Han's position on the battlefield.

 

Marcus saw Han flinch at the sudden appearance. He stepped through, rifle in his hands.

 

As soon as he entered the blood smell and body heat overwhelmed him. The noise was deafening. Steel against steel. Screams of pain. War cries and death rattles.

 

Han was dueling with another sergeant. With his bloodied fists he countered every move. Finally with a split-second opening he broke the man's jaw and knocked him over.

 

"Han! Han!" Marcus called out.

 

Han turned to Marcus as the skirmish continued around them. "I need you and all the Defenders to come with me."

 

"Marcus?" Han's eyes widened. "You are back? And alive?"

 

He punched another attacker without even looking. Unlike his previous opponent this one wasn't magical and flew back two yards.

 

A soldier suddenly broke free from the Defender frontline and was about to stab Han from behind. Marcus raised his rifle and fired.

 

The crack of the gunshot split the air. The soldier dropped.

 

Han flinched. Looked back at the body. Then returned to Marcus.

 

"What is that?"

 

"Han we don't have time. Malachar learned about the secret tunnel and trap. He pulled back."

 

As he was explaining they heard an ear-bursting explosion. The mountain was covered with a dusty cloud. Rocks and small stones started falling with bullet speed.

 

"The explosion went off too early?" Han asked.

 

"Yes. But the falling rocks will cut their connection with their army. We can face off against their elites with the Defenders."

 

"That would be suicide. Even Master Thymon and all the other heroes couldn't defeat him one on one. He will capture our minds and make us fight each other."

 

Marcus pulled out a mind-freeing machine. "Not anymore. We have this. He cannot use that power anymore. Odds are even now. We can win."

 

He looked Han in the eyes.

 

"Gather all your elites. We are finishing this."