Drox swung his sword with all his might, slicing the creature’s head from its body. The corpse’s march ceased – frozen still in the snow. He stepped up and kicked it once more, and this time it stayed on the ground. Its hands tried to grab at him, but he was too far away. Still, despite its efforts, its decrepit fingers twitched as though its prey were just out of reach.
His men had finally halted the advance of the group that had invaded the square. The stench was overwhelming, and the gurgling from their still moving half-decayed mouths was nearly more than his stomach could bear. As soon as he ensured his men were alright, he ran to the mayor’s house to check on Narelle. A man and a curly redhead stood in front of the mansion, sword and bow at the ready.
“Who are you two?”
Aiden raised his sword. “Who wants to know?”
Drox lowered his blade. “Settle down, boy. I’m Drox.”
“I’m Aiden, and this is Frasie.”
“Where’s Narelle?”
“We don’t know,” the woman replied. “We heard an awful commotion.”
“Lahara is under attack,” Drox said. “You two should evacuate.”
“Not a chance,” she said.
Drox shrugged. “Your choice. But there is an undead army making its way through the city. I’m not sure how long we’ll be able to hold them off.” He looked around again. “Are you sure you haven’t seen Narelle?”
“Not since last night,” Aiden said.
“I must find her,” Drox said, then rushed away.
“Undead army?” Frasie asked. “What is that?”
Aiden shook his head. “I have no idea. Let’s find Ormond.”
He and Frasie darted through the panicked residents, trying to make their way to Ormond’s shop. He gripped his sword and constantly surveyed their surroundings, watching for any sign of the invaders. As they turned the corner to the main north-south road, he caught his first glimpse of the approaching undead horde.
Hundreds of corpses marched through the street, trampling anyone who couldn’t run fast enough to escape their grasp. Even the city guards and Drox’s men were being overrun. The necrotic army stood between them and Ormond’s shop.
He tugged on Frasie’s hand. “We’ll have to go around.”
“Wait, Aiden,” she said, then nocked an arrow. She aimed, then hesitated. “I can’t get a clean shot.” She pointed to the clock tower above them. “I can get a better view up there.”
“We need the explosives,” he said.
“I can clear a path.”
“It’s too risky. Besides, those explosives will do more than your arrows.”
Frasie frowned. “Hey, have a little faith in me.”
“I do. It’s not that.” He tugged on her arm again. “Come on Frasie, let’s go. We don’t have time to debate this.”
She pulled away. “You’re right. You get the explosives, I’ll shoot these things from the tower.”
“It’s too dangerous!”
She took a quick glance at the approaching army, then hugged him. “Aiden, life is dangerous.” Her voice was on the edge of breaking. “Be safe, alright?”
Her hug was a quick refuge from the tension that surrounded them. In those few seconds he tried to think of a way to convince her otherwise, but he knew she was determined.
“Meet me back at the mayor’s house.”
His statement was more of a wish than a plan. Her long lashes fluttered before she nodded. She turned away, then headed for the tower. Aiden retreated to the smaller avenue that ran parallel to the primary road, then ran to the end of the street and took a small alleyway to cut behind the attackers.
The narrow path was littered with dead civilians and a gravely injured guard. The man lifted his hand as Aiden stepped over his injured legs. He looked at him for a moment, wanting to offer aid.
“Help,” the guard said.
Aiden knelt and took the man’s hand. “I have to go. There are weapons in a store near here that could save us.”
The man gripped his hand. “Don’t leave…”
His heart ached as he hesitated. He couldn’t stand the thought of leaving the man to die alone, but he, and many others depended on him.
Aiden pulled away. “I’ll try to get back as soon as I can.”
He couldn’t stand to look at the guard any longer. The look of fear paralyzed his will, for he too knew he might soon face the same fate. He stood and hesitated a moment more, than ran away, not able to leave earshot before the guard pleaded in vain once more.
Aiden had successfully moved behind the attackers. None seemed to be aware of his presence. He ducked into Ormond’s store and called for him but heard no response. The front display window was broken, and some of his supplies were strewn across the floor. He raced to the back and gathered as many explosives as he could carry, then ran out into the street and faced the army.
He took a firm grip on one of the charges, lit it, and threw it as hard as he could. It landed just behind the mob and exploded, sending putrid green smoke into the air and flinging rotten flesh over a considerable radius. Despite the commotion, the rest of the army continued their advance. He hurled several more, eliminating many of them.
A tremendous fireball passed over his head right after he tossed the last explosive. He spun and saw another mob of undead warriors, their numbers easily in the thousands. A few larger undead marched in front of them, wearing tattered dark cloaks to cover what little flesh still hung from their bones. Their glowing eyes pierced his soul, sending an icy chill throughout his body.
The skeletal mage launched another tremendous fireball. Aiden hit the ground, narrowly missing the flaming hot projectile. He slipped on a patch of blood-tinged ice as he struggled to rise, but quickly regained his footing and ran away from the approaching mob. He didn’t know which of his steps would be his last.
A tremendous thud shook his whole body as another fireball pass overhead. It soared over the street and hit the clock tower, sending flaming bricks flying in all directions. A horrible groan echoed between the buildings as the tower started to list. He called out for Frasie but knew there was no way she could hear him. Its supports gave way, and the giant structure tumbled down. The rumble knocked him to the ground.
Dust and debris filled the street, cutting through the buildings like a flooding river fills a canyon. Thick smoke filled his lungs, and he struggled to catch his breath. His eyes burned, his throat ached, and his muscles wouldn’t let him claw another inch through the dirty snow.
He laid his head on the ground and closed his eyes and gave up the struggle to breathe. It was easier. His mind drifted through recent events and rested upon a soothing image of Frasie. Her hair caught a ray of sunlight, her eyes twinkled, and her lips formed that mischievous smile he had grown to adore.
And then she faded away.
Chapter 49
Farius, in his owl form, flew high over Lahara. Thick smoke filled his lungs and hindered his vision. He was exhausted from his overnight flight, but the sight of the city in such horrible devastation roused him with a surge of anxious energy. He rested on the ledge of a building in the square and preened his feathers, clearing them of the dust that lingered in the air.
The streets were littered with dead bodies, and decay had already overcome some of the corpses. It was a puzzling sight until he caught a whiff of the foul magic hovering over the beleaguered city. This was no simple attack – this was the work of a necromancer. If Vorea were there, he would know. She must have sent a nefarious agent to work her will over the city.
Corpses marched through the street with no apparent aim. Cadrin’s house was surrounded by undead, so he glided through the streets to look for survivors. He sensed a weak pulse of life in the city. He traveled to the fallen clock tower, the most heavily damaged area in Lahara, and surveyed the wreckage.
He flew closer to investigate a woman limping through the rubble. She seemed startled by his presence and ducked into an alley. He circled an
d perched on a window sill.
Her face lit with excitement when she saw him. “Farius!”
He replied with a screech, then settled on the ground and transformed into his human form.
She lifted her cloak and fell back against the wall.
He rushed to her. “Frasie! Are you alright?”
She struggled to breathe. Blood trickled from a large cut on her head and stained her face. An ugly slice marred the lily-white skin along her neckline. Smaller nicks oozed from under matted curls.
“We have to find Aiden.”
“I have to heal you first.”
She pulled away, then nearly fell. “No, I’m not going to leave Aiden!”
A large rip in her dress exposed another laceration on her leg. “That looks rough, Frasie.” He knelt and examined the wound. “I suspect it is broken.”
She grabbed his shoulder and spoke through gritted teeth. “We’re not leaving him behind!”
He nodded. “Agreed. But you’re in no condition to move.”
He helped her lie on the ground, then summoned the healing magic within him to stabilize her injuries. Frasie whimpered as soothing yellow and green colored energy visibly flowed between them. She took a jagged, deep breath then coughed.
“Breath slowly and try to relax.”
She arched her back as his healing work intensified. He waved his hands over her body, sealing the restorative energy. “Do you feel better?”
She took a few breaths and propped upright on her elbows. “A little. Thank you, Farius.”
He pulled her up then helped her walk to avoid putting weight on her injured leg. “Where did you last see Aiden?”
“He was going to Ormond’s store.” She pointed ahead of them. “That’s where I was headed.”
They walked to the end of the alley, then stopped before proceeding into the street. Frasie drew her bow and ducked before looking both directions. “Some of these corpses are alive. I know that sounds strange.”
“I understand. This is Vorea’s necrotic magic.”
Frasie curled her nose. “Gross. We must be careful. Any one of these bodies could pop up at any moment.”
They walked to Ormond’s shop but saw no sign of Aiden. They inspected the workshop in the back of the store.
“He said they made lots of explosives,” Frasie said. “But I don’t see them.”
“Maybe he used them.”
A group of undead walked through the streets just as they prepared to leave the building. They hunkered behind the displays to avoid detection.
“He has to be here,” Frasie said.
“Perhaps he has already left the city.”
Frasie crept to the door and looked south toward the city’s main gates. “Maybe.” Tears glittered in her eyes and splashed into bloody streaks on her cheeks. “I don’t know. I’m worried, Farius. What if he’s…”
He embraced her. “Let us not give that thought any of our energy.”
“Can you use your magic to find him?”
“I do not yet have a strong bond with Aiden,” he replied. “But I will try.”
He closed his eyes and immediately slipped into a meditative state, then searched the ethereal realm for any hint to Aiden’s location. Surely if he was nearby he would detect something, but there was nothing. He then turned his efforts to Cadrin and Narelle, but their presence was absent as well.
“I cannot sense him, but I am not certain that is useful at this time,” he said. “I believe Vorea’s vile magic is interfering.”
“Then he could have escaped?”
“Indeed,” he replied. “Aiden is quite resourceful.”
“What about Cadrin and Narelle?”
“I tried to locate them as well, but necrotic energy is overwhelming my senses. His home is surrounded by a pack of those mindless monsters.”
“What should we do?”
He sighed. “Our options are limited.” He paced a line in the thick dust that settled on what was left of the floor. “We need help to mount a rescue attempt with any hope of success. I think it best we sneak out of town and make our way to the Den’tari.”
“Did they offer to help?” she asked.
“Not exactly. But they will provide refuge until we can organize a better defense.”
She stared out the broken window pane in the door. “We can’t leave him behind.”
He put his arm around her shoulder. “For now, we must.”
Chapter 50
An overwhelming sense of loss broke Niv’s concentration. She set the ancient book The Elements on the table and buried her head in her hands to shield herself from the images of death and destruction that flashed through her mind. She saw panicked citizens running for their lives, corpses devouring those who couldn’t escape fast enough, and fires raging throughout the city. The devastation was beyond anything she could ever had imagined.
“You mustn’t think of it,” Dailen said.
She massaged her temples. “How can I not?”
He leaned forward in his chair. “Do not try to put it out of your mind. Acknowledge the thoughts and let them go.”
She shook her head. “I can’t.”
He closed the book he was reading and stuck his head outside. “Just as I feared, time has resumed.”
“You mean these things I’m seeing are really happening?”
He sat next to her. “You must focus.”
“My friends are dying!”
He grabbed her arms and pulled them away from her face. “You cannot think of it. There is still much work to do. I cannot—”
She pulled away from him and ran outside, not stopping until she reached the ridge. The sun had burned away the dense morning fog. It was impossible to see Lahara at this distance, but a plume of dark smoke settled on the western horizon.
“We do not have time for this,” Dailen scolded.
She ignored him and continued to stare at the dark cloud. He put his hand on her shoulder, but she flung it away.
“I thought we had discussed this.”
“That was before I saw what I saw. I cannot sit by while my friends are being slaughtered!”
“You are not ready.”
“I am sick and tired of hearing that!” she yelled. “You’ve told me what a quick study I am and how far I’ve progressed. I’ve been reading books and listening to your lectures for what… a week?” She pointed to the city. “Maybe only a few hours have passed for them, but those few hours have been horrific. I fear they are all dead.” She turned to him. “But I’ll be well read, won’t I? I’ll have the keys to defeating Vorea.”
“Their sacrifice—”
She wagged her finger in his face. “Don’t give me that. You have stood on your mountain, high and mighty, studying endless piles of philosophy and theory. Right now, down in that valley, people are dying. My best friend… my father… my… my future wife, as you say? I live in the real world, Dailen. I cannot afford to indulge this any longer.”
He paused for a moment. “Then I’ll fetch you a horse. You can ride alone into that valley of death and fight Vorea’s necrotic army. You have the Amulet of Balance. You will be immune to the effects of that much killing. Except your victims will not be granted a sweet, merciful release from their mortal coil. No… they will fall to the ground, twitch and moan, just waiting to be risen again by their master. They will be revived, and they will come at you again. And you will mow them down until the amulet can sustain you no longer. You will collapse, and you will fail.”
She turned away. She didn’t know if he was right, but he spoke with such conviction, such fire, that he convinced her every word he said was the absolute truth. It did little to soothe her worries, but she saw no alternative. She pondered his words while she stared out into the plains. In a few moments, he returned with a horse.
“She’s ready to go,” Dailen said.
She put her hand on the saddle. “A compromise?”
Dailen raised an eyebrow. “I’m listening.�
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“Even after a week of constant study, I am still far behind Vorea’s level of knowledge. It could take years to exceed her. Maybe I have that long in this little bubble of time, but I cannot maintain it. If keeping this place from experiencing time means I cannot think of those I love, cannot focus on their pain and anguish, then I will fail.”
“You can rise above your emotions.”
“Maybe,” she replied. “But I’m not sure I want to.” She patted the horse’s face. “Someday, if I’m lucky, I will be as wise as you. But I cannot wait, Dailen.”
“What is this compromise?”
“Teach me specifically what I need to know to defeat Vorea.”
Dailen sighed. “But you do not understand. There are countless intricacies—”
“What do I need to know?”
“Astral projection,” he reluctantly replied. “You must transport your spirit instantly into the heart of her magical lair. She will not have her army to defend her, nor will she expect you. She will be vulnerable.”
“Transport my spirit?”
“Yes. See, this is what I mean. We have not yet delved into the spirit-self connection. It is complicated.”
“I cannot stop time again, not after what I have seen. We don’t have a choice. Please, show me what to do.”
Chapter 51
A dark, mossy cave ceiling was Aiden’s first sight. His eyes burned and every muscle in his body ached. He tried to lift his head but was met with incredible pain. His fingers were the only joints he could flex without extreme discomfort.
“You must remain absolutely still, Aiden. It’s not every day someone comes back from the dead.”
“Shareis?” he asked. “Mm-hmm.” Her hand held his. “Please, be still. Are you in pain?”
“Yes.”
She pushed a small piece of bark into his mouth. “Chew on this. It will help.”
The bitter taste nearly made him gag, but he knew willow would help soothe his aches. “Where’s Frasie?”
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