2407 Rab 9, Reshpe

The doors to the Riogener's office flew open as Canelis burst forth, the attendant bumbling behind her. Inside, the highest authority in Peltra sat behind his desk, staring at her with a passive expression.

"What is it now?" There was no annoyance or offense in the Riogener's expression. His eyes merely followed her as she strode closer to his desk.

Canelis slammed her hands on the hard surface, never minding the sharp pain shooting into her palms. "Grant me emergency authority," she said. "The plague has already reached a fraction of Xai-Ren. It will effect us if we don't do anything now."

Yesterday was enough proof of that. It was a good thing Elder Tarmis was with her when the plague point erupted on the spot where her foot had just been back in Ok-Sa. He pulled her away before the wall of gray and black could touch her.

"Careful," the Eder had cautioned. "I'll come with you."

Before Canelis could protest, the Elder had saddled his dagrine, Fioren, and sooner than later, the two of them were on their way back to Yin-Alora. Both of them quite forgot who each other had been and where they stood in society's sides. For now, it didn't matter. They've all got one territory to save and the answer lay in their hands.

Besides, Canelis couldn't have spotted plague points before they erupt and the Elder had been dealing with them all his life. Now that they're appearing past the outposts in Xai-Ren, she needed him more than ever.

They spent the whole day trekking the same path she and Cailen had taken, only with less talking and certainly less slowing down. By the time Canelis had touched down inside the fortress, the muscles on her back hurt from pushing her wings to the limit. It's only a matter of wrestling her way past the guards and daring anyone to challenge her authority as the Crown General when the soldiers tried detaining the Elder.

Canelis wasted no time, then, busting her way through the Riogener's office to request, or rather, demand emergency authority. It could only be executed under the advent of disaster, war, or a coup. In this case, it could be all three since Canelis wasn't sure what she's going ot do if she's denied. Might as well start an on-the-spot coup or something.

She leveled her gaze on her father. " Don't make this harder for everyone," she said. "Grant me emergency authority. It's the only way we can save Xai-Ren."

Only the cold air from the forests surrounding the fortress whistled in the space between them, shuffling their equally dark hair off their faces. The Riogener met Canelis's gaze with a stern look of his own. "Granted," he said. "Do what you think is best. You have up to my Commanders under your authority. Solve this quickly, soldier."

Canelis breathed a sigh of relief and gave the Riogener a quick salute. "Thank you, sir."

"Although, for the record, you could have just exercised your authority as the Crown General," the Riogener corrected, shuffling the sheafs of parchment he was working on when Canelis disturbed him. "Your rank is higher than the Commanders anyway."

A smile crept on her father's face. "Go now," he jerked his chin to the door. "Don't waste precious seconds with your emergency authority. I will be here if you need reinforcements."

Canelis ducked her head. "There's no need," she said. "Hold the fort with Umagi's blessings."

"Likewise," the Riogener answered out of habit. "Avraja."

With that, Canelis stormed out of the office and found her way back into her rooms. She slid the door open with such force she's sure some of the parchment panes ripped. Elder Tarmis flinched at the sound the door made against the frame when it stopped Canelis's action.

"What's the news?" the Elder asked as Canelis pushed past him and made for the door to her small conservatory. That's where her succulents waited for her. "What did the Riogener say?"

Canelis grabbed her trowel from the pile of gardening tools strewn in the corner near the door. "You can go back to Ok-Sa now," she said, scanning the space for the spot where she last saw the bunch of zenrel succulents. "You should be able to stop the plague points on your own with the bones. You have my genuine gratitude for all your help."

"Actually, Crown General," Elder Tarmis brought his hands together. "I was hoping to bring back some samples of zenrel back to Ok-Sa so we could cultivate them there. That way, we wouldn't need to take the lives of quilderfen from Dwanzeig. With this, we can even keep it from spreading far from the beach."

"Let's do that, then," she strode past the rows of tirch globes native to Lanbridhr and came to the conservatory's end. "Can you ride back with it?"

The Elder's head bobbed in her periphery. "Certainly, Officer."

She didn't reply anymore. There, on a small pocket in the corner, lay two or three buds of zenrel. She recognized the pointed leaves lined with purple on the tips. It was hardly enough to keep a plague at bay but that's where she needed the rest of the Army.

When they got out of the conservatory, the Elder had a pot of zenrel in his arms. He followed her through the corridors with his mouth slightly parted, ogling at the ornaments with sparks of wonder in his eyes. It's the same scene when Canelis was admiring the presevered ancient city, only this time, she was the one breezing through without stopping.

The Elder looked out of place in the Royal villa with his dusty boots and scratchy, hole-ridden clothes. Canelis let it be. Nobody mentioned it but this was probably the first and only time a renegade would be allowed to enter Yin-Alora and the Royal villa without being skewered or torn to pieces. Pride settled in her gut. It truly was a momentous occasion—one that signaled pixies still having a chance at changing the social system.

They reached the top of the stairs leading to the royal courtyard. Canelis gauged the space. That would have to do if they're in a hurry. Word could spread later on. For now, they needed to move.

She raised two of her fingers to the air and, summoning her magic to the surface, shot a pure red beam into the sky. It was silent but anyone who would see it would know the Royal officehad called for attention. It wouldn't be took long before soldiers would come pouring in.

After only half an hour, at least a thousand soldiers had flitted inside the courtyard, dressed in their armor and carrying their weapons. Confused glances were the most abundant expression in the crowd, no doubt wondering why in Umazure Canelis was the one standing at the top of the stairs and not the Riogener.

"I know there are a lot of questions," Canelis clasped her hands behind her back. "But I have called you out here because I have been granted emergency authority by the Riogener. While it is in place, you will have to answer to me. Why? I will let my friend, Elder Tarmis explain."

The Elder's eyes widened and he fumbled with the pot he was holding to avoid dropping it. "What are you doing?" he whispered. "I can't talk to them. It will start a riot."

Canelis gritted her teeth and turned back to the audience standing in rigid attention. "The Elder here is the leader of the faction of pixies living in Ok-Sa," she said. "The Renegades."

Harsh murmurs broke into the crowd. Tension hung in the air and spread it thin. Canelis frowned and fired a bolt of white-hot light into the center of the crowd. Someone yelped. Whoever was that, he's pathetic.

She blew the smoke curling at the tips of her fingers. "Don't make me do that again," she said. "Listen to what Elder Tarmis has to say before you let your outdated views about being a renegade run your mouth. Elder?"

She made it a point to step back to give room for the Elder. He cleared his throat and spoke the way he did to his people—with authority and gentleness. The soldiers present didn't get any more funny ideas of whispering amongst each other and listened. The Elder told them about the plague and how to best stop it. When he was done, Canelis took the stage once more.

"That's what we require you to do," Canelis said. Her voice echoed into the courtyard, loud and clear. "Gather all the zenrel you could find in Yin-Alora and in the unaffected parts of Xai-Ren. Bring everyone affected by the plague to the base of the Temple of Dark. I'll bring some Renegades to help us attend to them."

"Divide yourselves into factions," she directed. "One faction will come with me to Xai-Ren and Ok-Sa to drive the plague points back to the sea. Another will be responsible in maintaining the zenrel population in the conservatory inside the Royal villa. Lastly, one will be responsible in healing. We will be working alongside with the renegades throughout the whole operation because of their extensive knowledge in dealing with this plague. Any objections?"

Silence.

Canelis blew a breath. "That's all for this assembly," she tightened her hold on her hand behind her. "Spread the word to those who couldn't make it. Let's save Peltra and our people. Avraja!"

"Avraja!" came the polite but rather strained reply. For Canelis, that was enough. All of this was a start to something greater and great things take time.

She glanced at the Elder and nodded at him. Not as a Crown General to a soldier of a lower rank but of an equal. "Let's go," she said. "Gather the renegades. I'll make sure no harm comes to them throughout this excursion."

The Elder nodded back and together, they tore down the stairs with their mission on their shoulders.