its ominous red dots, drifted to the middle of the room.
"We must keep portals open to other worlds, to other dimensions, for trade, for knowledge. To seal ourselves off forever would cause us to grow weak, and leave us open in the end to perhaps far greater dangers."
"The outlanders present among us," and he pointed to where the Americans and Japanese sat, "are a case in point. We still know nothing of where their world is located, or even which dimension it belongs to. Yet somehow a portal was opened to them. Fortunately for us," and his voice showed a touch of affection, "they have proven to be staunch friends and allies."
Allic visibly swelled at the mention of his vassals and nodded approvingly.
"Yet nevertheless they were a surprise. It is therefore far better for us to reach out first, exploring the edges of our dimension and investigating others. Out there," and he pointed vaguely at the collection of worlds, "we can discover who our neighbors are. If we find friends, so much the better. If we find enemies, it will be on their territory and not our own beloved world."
"Thus the portals we maintain must be kept open. Now it appears that Gorgon might have broken through to such an outer world. If he is successful and masters that portal, he will have access straight to our colony worlds, and be that much closer to Haven."
"Could we not simply close off all the portals now, pulling back our outposts and settlements at once?" asked Macha from his vantage in the back of the room.
Mark looked over at he who had once been his enemy and wished he could slide a bit lower in his seat. It was the first time he had seen the demigod since the time he had fought him in the battle before the pass. He hoped old grudges had been forgotten, but after all, during the conflict he had kicked Macha in the family jewels--an insulting blow that was now the topic of many a whispered joke.
"I'm surprised one with your combative spirit would ask such a question," Jartan replied smoothly.
"Some of the weak-livered among us might not have the courage to ask," Macha replied sharply. "You know my feelings on it, and I'd challenge anyone here who doubted my wish for an occasional good fight with that scum. I just thought I'd ask for those who don't have the courage to do the asking."
Jartan chuckled softly at the reply.
Mark shot a quick look over at Macha, who now stood tall with shoulders back, his black mane tied off in a simple queue. And Macha was looking straight back at him, his eyes cold. Squirming inwardly, Mark tried to hold the gaze, and fortunately Jartan started to talk again so he had reason to look away.
"If we abandon all our outposts, Gorgon will have won a great victory. Dozens of pathways would have to be shut down and guarded, and we would be totally on the defensive. He chose the location well: a main outpost that in turn has portals to most of our other worlds."
Jartan nodded towards the display. Suddenly a filigree of gold threads knitted the various worlds together. The greatest bundle came up from the surface of Haven, with a half dozen or more lines going straight to the world under attack. Yet from that planet, thirty or more lines arced out further, striking nearly every other world in the display.
"Take Yuvin, and he can push his way through to everything else. Eventually he would find some unguarded point and reach us here."
"That is why we must meet him there." So saying, Jartan seemed almost to reach out and cup the world in his hands.
"Once defeated, we must pursue him, through dimension after dimension if necessary, shutting down his portals, sealing him back into the hell which he came from. Perhaps then he will leave us alone."
"Let's just kill the bastard," Macha growled.
"A tall wish indeed," Jartan replied, "and a task which even I might find to be a challenge."
"How do we know it is Gorgon?" Cinta, one of Jartan's court sorcerers, asked. "What evidence do we have?"
As the sorcerer spoke,
"We must keep portals open to other worlds, to other dimensions, for trade, for knowledge. To seal ourselves off forever would cause us to grow weak, and leave us open in the end to perhaps far greater dangers."
"The outlanders present among us," and he pointed to where the Americans and Japanese sat, "are a case in point. We still know nothing of where their world is located, or even which dimension it belongs to. Yet somehow a portal was opened to them. Fortunately for us," and his voice showed a touch of affection, "they have proven to be staunch friends and allies."
Allic visibly swelled at the mention of his vassals and nodded approvingly.
"Yet nevertheless they were a surprise. It is therefore far better for us to reach out first, exploring the edges of our dimension and investigating others. Out there," and he pointed vaguely at the collection of worlds, "we can discover who our neighbors are. If we find friends, so much the better. If we find enemies, it will be on their territory and not our own beloved world."
"Thus the portals we maintain must be kept open. Now it appears that Gorgon might have broken through to such an outer world. If he is successful and masters that portal, he will have access straight to our colony worlds, and be that much closer to Haven."
"Could we not simply close off all the portals now, pulling back our outposts and settlements at once?" asked Macha from his vantage in the back of the room.
Mark looked over at he who had once been his enemy and wished he could slide a bit lower in his seat. It was the first time he had seen the demigod since the time he had fought him in the battle before the pass. He hoped old grudges had been forgotten, but after all, during the conflict he had kicked Macha in the family jewels--an insulting blow that was now the topic of many a whispered joke.
"I'm surprised one with your combative spirit would ask such a question," Jartan replied smoothly.
"Some of the weak-livered among us might not have the courage to ask," Macha replied sharply. "You know my feelings on it, and I'd challenge anyone here who doubted my wish for an occasional good fight with that scum. I just thought I'd ask for those who don't have the courage to do the asking."
Jartan chuckled softly at the reply.
Mark shot a quick look over at Macha, who now stood tall with shoulders back, his black mane tied off in a simple queue. And Macha was looking straight back at him, his eyes cold. Squirming inwardly, Mark tried to hold the gaze, and fortunately Jartan started to talk again so he had reason to look away.
"If we abandon all our outposts, Gorgon will have won a great victory. Dozens of pathways would have to be shut down and guarded, and we would be totally on the defensive. He chose the location well: a main outpost that in turn has portals to most of our other worlds."
Jartan nodded towards the display. Suddenly a filigree of gold threads knitted the various worlds together. The greatest bundle came up from the surface of Haven, with a half dozen or more lines going straight to the world under attack. Yet from that planet, thirty or more lines arced out further, striking nearly every other world in the display.
"Take Yuvin, and he can push his way through to everything else. Eventually he would find some unguarded point and reach us here."
"That is why we must meet him there." So saying, Jartan seemed almost to reach out and cup the world in his hands.
"Once defeated, we must pursue him, through dimension after dimension if necessary, shutting down his portals, sealing him back into the hell which he came from. Perhaps then he will leave us alone."
"Let's just kill the bastard," Macha growled.
"A tall wish indeed," Jartan replied, "and a task which even I might find to be a challenge."
"How do we know it is Gorgon?" Cinta, one of Jartan's court sorcerers, asked. "What evidence do we have?"
As the sorcerer spoke,
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