The Minion second in command was gone in a flash. In mere moments he returned with a litter borne by six warriors, as well as an additional fifty warriors to fly guard. Wigg quickly climbed aboard, anxiously gesturing to Tristan to join him.
With one last look at the horrible scene, Tristan stepped in and took the seat next to the First Wizard. He closed his eyes.
Traax barked out the order, and the litter rose into the sky.
CHAPTER IV
Wigg knew how to find whatever was attacking their people. All they would have to do was follow the trail of dead bodies.
As they soared over the courtyard, Wigg shouted as much to Traax, who immediately passed the wizard's orders on to the litter bearers and guards.
Below them, the streets of Tammerland overflowed with the wounded, the dying, and the dead. Some looked up at the flying warriors and shook their fists at them. Tristan had little doubt that if they had been flying lower, he would have been able to hear their curses, as well.
Apparently many of his subjects still considered the Minions their enemy. Tristan could hardly blame them. All they knew of the winged warriors was that they had destroyed much of Tammerland, butchering, torturing, and raping the citizens in the streets and in their homes. They didn't know that the Minions were under Tristan's firm control now, no longer a threat to Tammerland and, indeed, pledged to defend all of Tristan's people.
Most of the citizenry also had no idea that the Directorate of Wizards was no more. They deserved to know that, and also to know that Tristan loved them and wanted to be-needed to be-a strong leader for them.
How can I possibly accomplish all this? he wondered. How does one inform an entire country of so many bizarre twists and turns behind the devastation that has beset it in its recent history? Even he scarcely believed all that had happened, and he had seen it firsthand.