TBC: Chapter Thirty-Two

Crystals of ice clung to the leaves of the trees within Gawl Forest. The air whipped through the grounds, causing the frosted leaves to clack and rattle as if to protest the cold.

Mordán pulled his thick hooded cloak tightly to him in protection against the frigid air. He hurried along the narrow path up to the caves of the Ice Mountains, a look of impatience clouding his features. Without stopping at the cave entrance, he moved along a separate pathway opposite the tunnel to the cave cells and directly into Akila's cold and mostly barren shelter. The only light within the cave shone from a small fire, which burned in the middle of the room.

Akila sat in a chair near the fire, staring at the book in her hands with an intense look of concentration. She barely glanced up as Mordán strode past her without greeting to warm his hands by the fire.

"We have to come up with something to stop the warriors sooner than later," he said in frustration. "There are reports that they have sabotaged two of my camps already. Apparently, some in the Order are disguising themselves as soldiers and infiltrating the camps. Every one of the men in one unit ran off after drinking water that was laced with a potion designed to make them lose their memory of ever having become a soldier!"

"Master Jabari is a master of disguise, Sire," answered Akila calmly without looking up. "He will be difficult to discover. Besides, I have already given the remaining men a counter potion to block any other substances Malik may conjure, so that issue is resolved for now."

"Is the Pandian formula ready?"

"Almost," Akila said as she closed the book. "It must be precise. The average body cannot withstand the structure of Pandian blood unless other additives are mixed properly. It would kill your soldiers."

Mordán scowled at the surroundings of the cave. "Why do you even stay here, Akila? You at least would be more accommodated in the old dungeon realms of the castle."

"I prefer solitude," she responded. "The cold does not bother star witches, my lord. Besides I am preparing the old dungeons for newcomers."

Mordán cast Akila a curious glance but shrugged it off. "I do not believe that Pandian blood will be enough to match the strength of the warriors."

"It won't. You will need another ingredient."

"What ingredient?" Mordán asked. "Like the mixture you gave me that enabled me to shoot fire for a short time?"

"No. Something much more difficult to obtain."

"What do you mean?"

"You need the blood of a light warrior."

"And how are we to get that?" Mordán said with a skeptical glance. "Just wait for one to fall asleep and sneak up on them?"

Amusement flashed in Akila's eyes. "Yes."

"I was being sarcastic."

"You have already split the warriors up by ordering different attack points throughout Uthar, so you have weakened their strength of unity. Now, it is time to take advantage of this and gain what we need from them."

"Then you must do it," Mordán said. "We cannot fail in this."

Akila smiled. "I have arranged to leave soon, and I already have in mind the warrior I want."

***