Chapter 8

Into the Unknown

The relentless wind rolled off the bullet shaped head of Gloag as the lead voller "Scarlet Chavonth" flew through the mingled red and green rays of Kregen. A plethora of banners whipped mightily and proud. The Mehztan leaned against the sturdy but of necessity, lightweight railing that encircled the upper deck. Tapping his blunt fingers absently, he wondered aloud "Schan or Paz. What blasted hemisphere are we in now?" It had been a full day since the Pazzian expeditionary force had left the bleak eastern shores of the Island of Mehzta, bound for the legendary continent of Gah. The dozen fliers were of the huge military transport variety that could and did comfortably hold five hundred fully equipped warriors. The six thousand man (and woman) force was comprised of the same elements which had liberated Gloag's homeland from the despotic rule of the Shanks and Schtarkins. Both the fish and snake heads had virtually wiped out all Pazzians (mainly Mehztans) that had dwelled in the lands occupied by the advancing horde. A few, certainly not the lucky ones, were kept alive to slave for their reptilian masters. All had been killed by the retreating foe rather than be released to the oncoming victors. None remained alive to accompany the defeated Shanks to their mystery shrouded homeland, far far away over the eastern horizon. Curiously, none of the Pazzzians were tortured, almost as if the killing was a business concern and not a cruel sport. Gloag knew the Neeshargs would have indulged in such depravity, had they been the defeated host ... Now that was a thing to ponder on and not lightly.

South, with a little bit of easterly to it, then due west was where the legendary continent of Gah was located. At least it was if the ancient globes from the House of Eward, that Gloag had pored over contained any accuracy. True the coastlines were vague but it appeared that Gah was the southern counterpart to Thyraxia in the north, of Schan. These two continents dominated this grouping of lands but it was Shar, the third largest that was perhaps the most strategic, geographically and politically. For there, the Shanks and Schtarkins battled for their homeland (well, the Fish-heads at least), their way of life and indeed, their very lives themselves. And the fate of Paz hinged on this battle on the fringes of Schan. It was hoped that some of the nations and empires of Gah could be persuaded to throw in with those of the expeditionary force out of Paz. At least there were legends of ancient contact between Paz and Gah. Perhaps a revival of that eons old trade could be accomplished, in addition to the proposed military alliance that Gloag would put on the table. Thyraxia to the north of Gah, was an unknown place of mystery, brooding atop that hemisphere and possibly posing the greatest threat both Paz and Schan had ever known. So, Gah it was to be, and the armada , led by the "Scarlet Chavonth,"crossed dwa-bur after dwa-bur, cutting almost due south through the Southern Ocean and into the Ocean of Clouds, before changing the heading to west. In this manner, the Pazzians hoped to bypass the bloody struggle going on in Shar and its coastal islands to the west.

And so, the burs changed into days, the seas below seemingly bereft of life. Later, Gloag was to learn that the body of water , sparkling below, was the Thorinar Sea, and it was to later play an important conduit of aid, to the Pazzian cause. Finally, the day after the armada had to quickly rise above a rashoon that had burst on the scene, land was sighted! The journey from Mehzta had taken a weeks time, by voller, and Gloag suddenly appreciated just how long and dangerous it must have been for those Shanks, when first they had started reiving, pirating, slaying and generally testing the meddle and resolve of Paz. Putting such thoughts aside, for those damned Lemm-Lovers had decimated his homeland and Gloag would never forget that, come what may!

As the coast of a large land mass came into sight, Gloag hoped it belonged to some part of the continent of Gah. And if so, what kind of meeting could his armada of twelve vollers from Paz expect? As if reading his mind and as the faint shoreline crystallized, a force of fliers ghosted in on either side of the expeditionary force and it dwarfed it in both size and numbers. The gaily colored vollers were comprised of both monster-sized transports and sleek scout ships that buzzed about and before Gloag knew what was happening, his fleet was slowed down to a crawl and boxed in as neat as could be. Gazing at the warrior-thronged decks of the surrounding fliers, the Mehtzan could only rub his calloused fingers through the bristle-like hair atop his pointed head. "Welcome to Gah" he muttered to himself and prepared to issue his commands, as his officers looked to him, expectantly.