“Do what you can and make certain that the palace’s wards are examined as well,” Alserah ordered, then looked at Moira. “What of the priesthood and knightly orders?”
“Word has been spread to be on the lookout for angels in unusual places, and I have some preliminary reports of some of them near Eldsyr, but nothing certain of yet. The local knights are following up on that now. The knightly orders have been warned that they should be ready to defend the cities and towns at a moment’s notice, and the Aerie of Bows stands ready,” Moira said, looking back at Alserah with a calm gaze. “The temples have begun preparations to serve as refuges, and their stockpiles of necessary supplies are in excellent condition in most cases. The handful that aren’t will be examined more closely once the current state of concern passes, and the priesthood on site are doing what they can to remedy the situation. We’re as prepared as I can manage, My Lady.”
“Excellent. There’s not much else that you can do, especially when we don’t know what it is that this Haral is planning,” Alserah said, nodding in satisfaction. Finally, she looked at Hanrith and asked, “How well prepared is the palace guard?”
“After the attacks on Her Highness’s guards, everyone has been on high alert. None of them want to have a repeat of that, and they’re furious that someone would attack from the shadows. As such, the palace’s security is in far better condition than it has been in years,” the soldier said, and frowned as he continued. “I’ve passed your concerns on to the general, and he says that they’re heightening security across the country. I doubt that all of the commanders will take the instructions as seriously as we’d prefer, but there isn’t anything we can do about that.”
“There never is,” Alserah agreed. She considered the others for a long minute, then nodded and stood. “Unfortunately, that’s all we can do right now. Keep investigating and reinforce defenses across the realm. As soon as the king reaches the palace, I’ll explain what has happened to him.”
“I hope we can figure out what it is these renegade angels have planned,” Ethris murmured, standing as well. “The lack of information worries me.”
Alserah nodded in agreement, her own worries growing deeper. She hoped they had time, but she wasn’t going to rely on that. Fortune favored the prepared, after all.
Chapter 40
As Haral watched, the last of the stones turned blue, and she let out a breath of relief. She’d been waiting for two days for the last of the spells to stabilize and finally she could enact her plan. First she had to warn the others, though.
“Adrian?” Haral called out, and after a couple of seconds the angel poked his head in.
“Yes, Lady Haral?” Adrian asked, his face lighting up at the sight of her. Adrian had fallen in love with her, Haral knew, which was really too bad for him. She didn’t mind it, as it also made him more willing to do what she asked, but she wasn’t interested in the young man at all. She was in a relationship, after all, and she wasn’t going to lead the young man on just for the sake of convenience. On the other hand, she didn’t want to reject him too hard, not in the middle of everything.
Haral nodded at the stones, explaining gently. “It appears that everything is ready. If you’d let the others know to be prepared for battle? While it’s unlikely that the elves will be in a position to send anyone after us, I don’t want to risk them taking us unaware.”
“Of course, Lady Haral, right away!” Adrian replied, a flash of relief flickering across his face. “How soon do you expect to begin?”
“Based on what I was told, it’ll take approximately half of an hour before the beasts are ready. At that point, I suspect the results will be rather sudden,” Haral said, and she took a step to the side, pulling out a box.
“I’ll let them know,” Adrian promised, and quickly headed down the hall.
“Good boy, isn’t he? And a proper angel, too. Unlike so many of the others in the heavens,” Haral murmured, smiling as she opened the box.
Inside was a bracelet, one forged of golden strands woven together with platinum, and it had a ruby at the center of it. Around the glittering ruby were twenty onyx gems, each black as pitch and perfectly cut. The bracelet shimmered with magic, and Haral hesitated for just a moment before slipping it over her left wrist. She could feel its power and shivered, waiting to feel the slight throb as it attuned to her thoughts.
“There we are,” Haral murmured as she set the box aside, then picked up the first stone. Touching it against the ruby, she waited patiently as the light was slowly absorbed by the ruby, and one of the onyx jewels began to glow a soft blue. Nodding to herself, the angel set the stone aside and began to do the same with the other stones as well.
One by one the gems on the bracelet lit up, and Haral smiled as she began to sense the spells and creatures that the magic item linked her to. Haral could feel them in the distance, but she wasn’t going to act until she had them all ready.
Eventually Haral finished, and she could feel the bracelet practically throbbing with dangerous power. It was the tool to unleash devastation, and despite her beliefs and plans, there was a part of Haral that hesitated.
The memory of Eldsyr flashed through her mind, of its towers and the people who walked its streets. She’d seen children laughing and playing around fountains and in the parks, and more than a few had pointed at her in awe, waving excitedly when they saw her flying overhead. Their innocence had been refreshing, and it made Haral regret what she was going to do.
“There’s no other choice. Sacrifices have to be made for the world to be cleansed of evil. Maybe, just maybe, some of them will survive and become wiser than their forebears,” Haral murmured… and she mentally reached out and activated the enchantments she sensed.
Across the breadth of the Forest of Sighs, twenty crates had been hidden. The crates were simple and nondescript, but inside each of them were elaborate frameworks made of precious metals and dark stone, the surface of them etched with runes that glowed with magic.
Not all of the crates had been hidden well enough, though. A group of hunters had found one, and upon opening it they’d chosen to take it back to their camp. They intended to have a mage determine what the device was before selling it and splitting the profits, though there was a good deal of argument over how much of a percentage each would get.
While the elves argued, the device’s runes flickered with light, turning a deep, dull red. The device clicked several times, drawing the attention of one of the hunters, but it was far too late for them. None of the hunters had time to investigate or run as the device, the crate, and the building it was in exploded.
An immense figure emerged from the ruins, expanding from a size tinier than a pea to half the size of a castle in seconds, and a strange, unearthly cry echoed across the landscape as its mass crushed everything nearby. The titanic creature looked like a worm with a fanged maw large enough to swallow two oxen at once, and glittering black eyes dotted the surface of its body around the maw, though if one looked closely, they’d be able to see that there was an unearthly blue glow in the depths of its eyes.
The creature writhed, shattering trees and the other huts near where it’d been kept, and the dull red scales along its body began to glow. At first, the glow was dim, but slowly it brightened, until lines of fiery light extended the full length of the worm’s body, and it reared back, then lunged forward with a scream as it emitted a jet of fire a hundred feet long, one so hot that several trees exploded instantly, and a line of the forest was set ablaze.
Half of the boxes contained worms like the first, while the other half were something far different. Along the coast, a box exploded to allow a gigantic eagle with vivid purple feathers to emerge, its eyes containing the same blue glow. The bird’s wingspan was immense, and its talons could eviscerate a horse with ease.
As it extended its wings to take flight, the wind unleashed by the creature was far greater than it should have been, cracking trees and ripping leaves from their branches.
Lightning crackled around the bird, seething as it all but begged for release. The bird didn’t allow the lightning to do as it wished, though, instead circling upward as it unleashed a windstorm around it.
Haral shivered as she sensed all the creatures that she’d released from their prisons. Storm phoenixes were rare and malevolent denizens of the hells, so it had taken centuries of work to gather the ones the Society of Golden Dawn possessed, and the same was true of the hellfire worms. Any one of the creatures was a living natural disaster in the hells, and she’d been given ten of each to wreak destruction on the Forest of Sighs.
In all honesty, Haral doubted that any of the creatures would be a threat to Alserah in single combat, but that was why they were scattered across the country, aside from the worm near the palace. The point was to destroy faith in Alserah and pin the blame on the hells. With that in mind, she extended her hand and concentrated on each of the creatures, commanding them to seek out the targets she’d selected.
The monsters began to move, and Haral quickly stood and headed for the armory. She needed to get into her armor and prepare, just in case Alserah realized what was happening and tracked her down. If she did, though… Haral smiled to herself.
“If the goddess comes here, she’s going to be in for a rude surprise,” Haral murmured, thinking about the magical formation around her hilltop, the storm phoenix that could easily come to their aid, and above all, the additional arrow that had barely been finished and delivered a week before.
The society’s leaders had placed a lot of trust in Haral, and she wasn’t going to let them down.
Chapter 41
Kitania woke to the sound of alarm bells, and her eyes snapped open as she immediately struggled out of bed. For an instant, she forgot where she was, then Kitania let out a breath of relief as she realized that she was in her room in Alserah’s palace. Niadra hadn’t accompanied her the previous night, not after the awkward conversations of the day, which helped her relax, if only just.
Even so, the sound of alarm bells worried Kitania, and she only hesitated for an instant before she lunged toward the armor rack she’d been given, grabbing the gambeson so she could put on her new armor. It wouldn’t take too long to put on, not with the enchantments making it easier for Kitania to prepare, but it still wouldn’t be easy.
A flash of green light illuminated her room, and Kitania swore, spinning around as she snatched the nearby hair stick that was her cloudpiercer, preparing to defend herself. Just as it fully revealed itself as a weapon, Kitania paused at the sight of Vinara, the succubus barely dressed but looking fully awake.
“What are you doing here?” Kitania demanded suspiciously, her blade pointed at the succubus.
“I’m going to help you into your armor, of course,” Vinara snapped, glowering at Kitania as she sniffed loudly. “I know you’re not happy with how I’ve acted, but with an alarm going off, someone needs to help you.”
Kitania hesitated for a moment, then nodded and replied bluntly, setting her weapon aside as she continued putting her armor on. “Fine, then. Do you know what’s happening?”
“Not a clue,” Vinara replied, shaking her head as she helped Kitania into the armor. “I woke up not long ago, and the alarm went up rather quickly. Plus, I think I see a lot of smoke and light from the east. That doesn’t bode well.”
“That’s an understatement. I wouldn’t think that we’d be dealing with a forest fire in the middle of summer. Maybe toward the end, but…” Kitania’s voice trailed off, then she chuckled darkly as she added, “On the other hand, what do I know? I don’t know enough about the mortal world to be certain of that.”
“True,” Vinara replied, sounding slightly amused as she helped settle the pauldrons into place. “I don’t know either, and—”
Vinara was interrupted by a faint, high-pitched scream of a creature. The scream wasn’t too clear, but even the sound of it chilled Kitania’s blood, and she looked at Vinara in shock, then the two of them spoke at the same time.
“A hellfire worm,” they said in unison, and Kitania felt disbelief course through her.
“That’s impossible! They can’t cross water and aren’t native to the area around the portal on this continent!” Kitania protested, speeding up anyway.
“Which means the damned thing had help getting here, and that the locals won’t know its weak points,” Vinara said, glowering as she continued. “Want to bet the angels are trying to pin it on the demons again?”
“Not a chance. I don’t need to lose money, or more respect from the others,” Kitania said, prompting a chuckle from Vinara.
A moment later, there was a rapping at Kitania’s door, then it opened as Niadra spoke, her voice a little frantic. “Kitania, the alarms are going off, and I heard something—ah!”
“We heard it, and Vinara somehow teleported into my room to help me into my armor,” Kitania said, glancing over to see the princess in a nightgown and robe, looking startled. Kitania took a moment to smile reassuringly as she asked, “Do you have any idea where Commander Northwind or Her Grace will be? We heard a horrible creature out there, one native to the hells which shouldn’t be here.”
“I… I’m not sure, but I’d think they’d be heading for her office, or maybe the training grounds for the soldiers,” Niadra said, swallowing hard in worry. “You look worried. Is it that bad?”
“Hellfire worms are often a threat to entire cities. One attacking here is… unprecedented, but at least we know its weaknesses, what it has of them,” Vinara said, her voice taut. “I’ll be some use against it. Kitania will be mostly useless.”
“Irrelevant either way. Based on the attack which blasted me on arrival, if it breaks through the outer wall, it’s dead as a doornail,” Kitania replied flatly, shaking her head. “That isn’t even considering Alserah herself. She’s immensely powerful, and took out a dream spider in a single, casual shot. It’ll die, the only question is how long it takes.”
“If you say so,” Vinara said, stepping back as the last strap was secured. “There, as ready as you’ll ever be. Let’s go.”
“You’re half-naked, though!” Niadra protested, staring at Vinara while Kitania grabbed her cloudpiercer again.
“Am I? Well, as a mage that doesn’t much matter, as I’m going to weave defensive spells as I fly,” Vinara said, smiling broadly at Niadra. “Don’t worry about that. I’m afraid we need to go.”
“Stay safe, Niadra. We’re going to help eliminate the monster, then we can find out what’s going on,” Kitania said, smiling at the princess. Vinara was already heading for the door to the balcony, so Kitania slipped on her helmet and followed her.
“You be safe, too!” Niadra called after them, sounding incredibly worried.
The second she got onto the balcony, Kitania could see what Vinara had meant about the forest. It was still the middle of the night, but she could see the smoke rising in a broad swathe to the east, along with spreading flames that illuminated the night somewhat.
Kitania frowned as she saw how the flames weren’t widespread, though, and after a moment she spoke. “It’s coming straight at the palace.”
“Which means it’s definitely not just a hellfire worm. They’re never that single-minded,” Vinara agreed, spreading her wings. “I see some soldiers gathering to the southeast, and it looks like they’re reporting to someone. Shall we?”
“Sure,” Kitania agreed, and she drew on her mana and sent it into her armor. As she did so, she felt the armor grow lighter, and a strange sensation washed through her as feathery wings formed of shadow sprang from her back. Kitania glanced back and blinked, then willed herself upward… and found herself flying rather suddenly as she gasped. “Ack! That… is more than just intuitive!”
Vinara laughed, then gave chase, teasing. “Is that so? Well, at least it’s something you can wrap your mind around. I find it amusing that Her Majesty gave your wings black feathers.”
“We’re in a bit of a situation, you know,
so I’d appreciate it if you would focus,” Kitania retorted, taking a few moments to figure out how to fly properly, then moved toward the training ground, where she could see dozens of soldiers.
While she was flying, Kitania flinched as the immense spell towers unleashed a torrent of magical blasts at what must be the hellfire worm. Unfortunately, Kitania knew that hellfire worms had magical defenses that protected them from most magic that wasn’t cast from point-blank range.
“I’m not the one who brought the beast here, and it isn’t like I’m delaying us,” Vinara replied, her smile fading as she saw the soldiers stir, and several of them pulled out their bows. “If they shoot at us, though…”
A snarled order caused the soldiers to stop, and Kitania came in for a relatively rough landing. The soldiers backed away quickly, and Kitania saw that Hanrith was with several other officers, and he scowled at Kitania in annoyance.
“What is it?” Hanrith snapped, glowering at Kitania almost angrily.
“We’re here to help,” Kitania replied, returning his glare icily. “Vinara and I recognized the creature’s scream, and we’d rather you knew how to kill the damned thing rather than flailing around in trial and error. I don’t suppose you know what it is?”
“Lord Commander, I don’t think we have time for—” one of the female officers began, only to have Hanrith silence her with a look.
“No, we don’t know what it is. Make it fast, we don’t have much time,” Hanrith said, his voice flat, but a hint of hope in his eyes.
Kitania glanced at Vinara, then began speaking. “Hellfire worms are a force of nature in the hells, and they are immune to fire, which isn’t a surprise. They can breathe immense jets of flames, and any magic cast at them from more than ten paces away is severely mitigated or entirely deflected. They spray magma-like blood when injured, and their entire front half is reinforced with bone plates. Even worse, they heal incredibly rapidly, often even regenerating body parts.”
Mortal Gods (Mantles of Power Book 2) Page 35