76 Chapter 67

[A/N:I wanted to later write more about Merlin's travels in Yi Ti, when I remembered the movie The Great Wall. Which is perfect for Yi Ti and Merlin storyline. Like The Five Forts are massive fortresses along the northeastern boundaries of the Golden Empire of Yi Ti, situated between the Bleeding Sea and the Mountains of the Morn. Northeast of the Five Forts are the Land of the Shrykes, K'Dath, Bonetown, the Grey Waste, and the Cannibal Sands. They are supposedly these forts' walls are slabs of fused black stone almost a thousand feet high. The Five Forts predate the Golden Empire of Yi Ti. Some suggest they were built by the Pearl Emperor at the time of the Great Empire of the Dawn to defend against the demons of the Lion of Night. So these demons could be like Tao tie.]

Balthazar drew away from the tree ... and his sword. His deep voice betrayed a certain awe. "Wizards ... so they really came to your call."

"They are the last chancewe have," Lady Mohiam said. "And they will bring back the Sorcereress."

Balthazar frowned at the king. "You would put your faith in a group of warlocks?"

Melisandre's trained her eyes on the giant, fixing a cold glare on the man ... but she said nothing.

Lady Mohiam said. "They are masters of magic.... they are thr only one'swgo are capable of bringing the Sorcereress back, thus ending Memnon's reign."

Balthazar snorted. "Your words do not change the truth of it: we are putting our trust on a group of warlocks."

The king's son was on his feet, now, and—trying to regain some dignity—strode forward, to meet the cloaked. He stood before Merlin and looked into his face.

"You," Takmet said to Merlin, and disrespect tinged his tone. "You appear to be young to be master in magic?"

"Perhaps,"Merlin said, "Since you doubt me, would you like to test me."

Holding his palm out as a ball of flames ignited on it , Merlin questioned, "Do you want to try it?

Takmet seeing this scrambled back to his father, addressing him with a distinct lack of the respect that the son had earlier demanded of others for this king. "And how much will this cost us for raising this army?"

Quietly King Ashur stated, "Twenty blood rubies from each clan."

And the old man held out a leather pouch, at which his son stared, shocked, dismayed. "Father!" Takmet gasped. "That... that's the last of our treasury!"

The king's frown exercised every deep line in his face. "Silence, boy!....we need this to raise an army."

Takmet stood there staring at his father, for several long moments, as if he'd been slapped by the man; perhaps, in a sense, he had. The king's son was trembling with embarrassment, and fighting to hold back his fury at what he considered to be his father's stupidity.

Then Takmet turned and stormed away, fuming, leaving the circle of fire. Again, King Ashur addressed the war tribe leaders, figures washed in the orange of firelight in the blue of night. "If the wizards bring the sorcerer ... then will you come together? Will you fight as one?"

It did not happen all at once. Murmured discussion followed; but then, slowly, gradually, heads began to nod, as one by one they agreed with Ashur's proposal... even the lovely Queen Isis. Only one tribal leader had not responded to the question ... . .. Balthazar.

And finally all faces turned toward the Nubian giant, waiting. His eyes like cuts in his scarred visage, Balthazar released a deep sigh, and then... nodded. King Ashur turned his gaze upon the wizard trio, nodding himself.

"So be it," the king said.

While Lady Mohiam spoke up,"We will await the news of Cassandra's return."

Merlin nodded and replied,"Don't worry she will come back safe."

And then the cloaked trio looked as if they sucked into vortex,being twisted and swirled into nothing within a swirling clear haze, accompanied with a loud rustling or rushing sound disappear completely into thin air, leaving behind a circle of fire and an astonished tribal council.

They soon arrived at Memnon's present location, from the crest of a dune, they saw Memnon's city of tents, with campfires whose numbers rivaled the stars. And yet the three advanced, a tiny assault force against an army. They performed reconnaissance, noting the positions of the various sentries ringing the encampment, perched on their individual dunes, warriors in breastplates and helmets and peplum, surrounded by torches on staffs stuck in the sand.

As Merlin surveyed the scene, his keen eyes caught the subtle signs of a setup. "It seems to be orchestrated," he murmured, his voice barely audible over the rustling of winds. "The guards are sparse, especially for someone as paranoid as Memnon."

Gandalf, standing beside him, nodded in agreement. "Indeed, the security appears to be lacking. It's as if they're inviting us in."

Merlin's lips curled into a cunning smile. "Melisandre, you and Gandalf will depart for Quarth. I'll handle the sorceress and pay Memnon a little visit."

Melisandre, her curiosity piqued, couldn't help but ask, "Why not seize her now?"

Merlin's gaze held a glint of mischief. "It's all about strategy, my dear. We'll pluck her from the heart of his fortified palace. That'll sting Memnon where it hurts the most – his pride. Also, the rebels will gain more courage from these news."

Gandalf grunted in approval, while Melisandre reluctantly acquiesced with a nod.

[A/N:There are ideas about a fanfic of MC going to world with amalgamation of Vikings TV show, Reign, Tudor, God's of Egypt...etc. The MC has the ability of silver tongue from movie Inkheart and archive that has various books, comics, he gets various things like 12 Talisman from Jackie Chan cartoon show and Charms from Bezel from Ben 10 TV show.]