The Final Parley

The following early morning, Hermina teleported away back to Portal, and Rebecca was surprising herself with how sad she was to see her go. But there was no real time for missing her, as the first of the birds Gerald had sent to watch the enemy had returned. 

The Wizards would be there before noon. Already, Gerald could see dust from the dirt road rising above a hill as the Wizards marched along. It was unseasonably warm as he waited, meditated, and talked with Arianna, Rebecca, and the skeletal commanders about what could happen that day. The maps had been gone over, repeatedly, and different strategies were brought up. 

It was Gerald who had made the final say, however, and the decision was set. 

It was time to remind the new Circle at Ecthel why the Necromancers were unmatched on the battlefield in the ancient wars...