Dododex

ARK: Survival Evolved & Ascended Companion

Ascendant

- HGA ttg The Nazgûl

Book 1: Convergence

Chapter 2

“You’re wanted up in the council chambers.” This came from a tall, strong man standing in the middle of the doorway to Spark’s house. He had a fairly large and bushy beard. His hair was longer, but not down to his shoulders. He had a deep voice, and he looked like he could wrestle a wolf with each hand. His full name was Eddie, though most just referred to him as Ed. His head was tilted at an angle so that he could see through the doorway, and his torso blocked most of the light coming in. Those who had never seen him would fear for their life, but those who knew him knew he was a gentle and kind man, but was certainly a force to be reckoned with if his friends were harmed.

“What for?” Spark asked.

“Didn’t say. All I know is they seemed worried, and if it’s something they want you specifically for, then it must be serious. I can do any manual labor around the town, so this must be something a little more concerning, or at least more complex. Thinking and strategizing aren’t my specialties.”

“My arm has been reminding me of that a lot over the past few days.” Spark remarked. He and Eddie shared a chuckle.

“You’ll be fine, just keep stretching it and let it rest. Just let me know whenever you’re ready for that rematch you mentioned.” Eddie said.

“Well, I was honestly hoping it would be sooner, but if whatever the council needs is as serious as you think, it may be a little while.”

Spark and Eddie began hiking up the path of trails and bridges up to the top of the cliff. As Spark looked out over the rails, he saw the ocean, shining blue and stretching on for what seemed like forever. Next to it was the desert. It seemed to have just as much life as the ocean with its vast expanse of sand dunes that made up the majority of it. As he made a final glance at the beauty of it, something caught his eye, or as a matter of fact, something didn’t catch his eye. He hadn’t realized it before, but there were no birds flying over the waters, or fish leaping from the waves. Although they often disappeared for a while during the winter, that was not for several more months. As they reached the top of the cliff, he began to grow a little more concerned. When they arrived at the large doors which opened into the council chambers, Eddie opened them. Spark marveled at how effortlessly he moved them on their hinges. They were heavy doors, yet Eddie had no trouble with them. Spark always wondered how a man so big could move as smoothly as Eddie did.

As they entered into the room where the council sat, the head of the council, Linus, began to speak, “Spark, we are glad to have you here. We have just receive some unsettling news. One of our patrol scouts returned yesterday from his mid-day patrol in quite a state of concern. I would let him explain to you what he saw, however he is currently gone, warning the people across the island of what is to come.”

“What is coming? What did he see?” Spark asked. He tried not to sound too pushy, but it always took Linus time to get to the important things. Being a very concise and no-nonsense communicator himself, Spark had had to learn to let Linus take his time.

“He shared with us two things, the second, he believes corresponds with the first. First off, he was flying over his usual route which covers the central portion of the island. He was making his usual rounds to close out the patrol in the north, near the wyvern trench, when he saw something moving down below. When he examined closer, he found that there were people in the trench. What concerned him was that they were constructing something, as well as preparing weapons and armor.”

“This is normal,” Spark responded. “The people of that region need heavy equipment to survive.”

“Yes, but it was the number of them that concerned him. Hundreds of men were working in that trench. We do not have any record of how these people got here. Nearly the entire population lives here in Solace. The island’s population cannot of simply doubled in size overnight. What’s worse, is that the second thing he noticed was that much of the wildlife across his route was gone. They are preparing for something. They can feel it.” Spark thought back on the lack of birds and fish from earlier. The animals made sense as he had often seen them act this way in the event of something big. He could not understand how hundreds of people had shown up in the trench. “We are afraid to say it, but we must prepare for war. We will not be the ones to start it, but we cannot be caught off guard. You are the most competent person here to lead our people in battle and to prepare them for it. We trust that you can and will be able to help save us from this apparent threat.”

“Thanks you.” Spark said. “I am honored that you would choose me. When must I have them ready by?”

“We will gather the people together tonight at the meeting hall to let them know. After then, as soon as possible.” Spark nodded as he turned and walked out. If he was going to build and lead an army, he was going to have to split up command. He could certainly not lead everyone himself. Fortunately, he knew exactly who he could trust with the task.