At the command, every bone in Executioner’s body burst and shattered and yet the master’s power held him alive. “Failure does not advise a god!” Spittle rained down around the broken hound and even the hounds holding Executioner fell back from the master’s bellow. He waved his hand over his hound and pulled the dust of his bones and blood into the air, and still he lived. Orcus, master of all unlife, flexed his power and the hellhound that was Executioner reshaped into a wand capped by the hound’s skull. Sick green fire and intelligence moved into the wand and Orcus smashed its end into the ground. “Hear me my worshippers! This wand will go to the mightiest of you. Let any who claim it, receive the power to finish what my mightiest hound failed.”
The wand began to bleed into the ground and Executioner screamed. Orcus stood and all creation bowed before his glory. “My blessings on you all, and freedom to the victor!”
The god faded into the sun watching down on the world. The bowed creatures, the undead, the living, all held their breaths, and after one heartbeat, two heartbeats, the hellhounds attacked each other. And, across all creation, creation turned on itself and fought for the prize of the wand, and the freedom to have free will. It was their master's will that drove them to so fight. In fighting, each combatant received a measure of free will to choose their tools of war and decide for itself. The undead forgot the living and a great alliance of humans, elves, and dwarves rose up to war for the prize.
Chapter Fifty Six - The Aftermath of Hellhounds
Blade humanshifted to stand and speak with Dar Kendra and Daryx.
Daryx had a particularly pleased look on his face as he heard that their one casualty would recover to full health within the day. He held a small silvery spider in his hand, which jumped to an amethyst circlet on his brow. “The cost of watching the portal, immense as it was, was worth it! The golem spiders Sai made are exquisite! And one yet remains. Having the Order of Water already here, priceless. The dragon emperor will be pleased. Lord Blade, you were masterful! May I ask, how many of the hounds did you catch offguard through the gate?” He sounded giddy. "We have never so thoroughly defeated them. I do believe this is a new record!"
Blade factually stated, “Four. But just in case, I razed the plains around the gate hoping to awaken the chaos lord.”
Daryx laughed out loud and even Dar Kendra cracked a smile. “Come Apprentice, come!” Daryx called to the mage. “This could not have been done without the support of the Mage’s Guild! We will be sure to let Dar Reznor know the role you played here.” The Apprentice bowed low. “Come all of you!” Daryx called out to the group. “Though this is hardly the time or place to celebrate, I want to congratulate you. The emperor wishes to congratulate you! I do believe that this is a new record for how quickly a hellhound has been defeated! In point of fact, as Dread Blade just informed us, there were four on the other side. If all went well, the Mage’s Guild’s firebombs should have detonated when Executioner met his master.” His voice trailed to a low whisper as he spoke and licked his fanged teeth after finishing this thought. “Oh to be there and see it.”
General Shak D'Rath spoke. "All our preparations resulted in this flawless victory. I regret only that your newest member, Malcor, could not join us. I do believe he would have enjoyed this. I do believe the Jade God will remember this day." He looked around and counted. "I see all of us have already earned the enmity and spite of the Jade God. Good, so nothing new there." He laughed.
Fists raised and cheers of “hoo rah!” filled the group. When they calmed down, Dar Kendra signaled her desire to speak. “Order of Water, my brothers and sisters! Again, we have defeated a mighty foe. Let the names of those here be recorded in our lore.” She bowed deeply to Daryx, and then all present bowed except for Dread Lord Blade. “And let our lore, as always exclude the heroism of Dar Malyx, our benefactor who must not be written. His involvement here shall remain secret.”
Daryx nodded and said, “My thanks. I am honored to serve with the Order of Water and advance the Queen’s great purpose. We will take a break and then we must speak of the real reason the Order of Water is here. Let us return to your base and make ready to discuss Malcor.”
Later that night, with several bonfires burning brightly, the Order of Water, the dread lord Blaze, and Daryx sat in counsel. Daryx relayed their interaction with the lich and noted that Malcor had exhausted his regenerative ring, but is “so very close to his objective.” He also shared that Sorian knights had finally arrived and had almost fallen to the lich in the royal house. He laughed describing how the Cuthbert zealots had practically ensured their destruction. “The only real good thing to come of it is the Sorian commander, a Sir Allen who is known to us, has been brought much closer to outright alliance if not friendship with Tania.”
“So, the real question is this: knowing that the hellhounds came for our lich, knowing that our lich is not yet necromantic, and knowing that,” and he was interrupted.
One of the battle priests, a veteran of many seasons of campaigns, rose to ask a question and Daryx conceded to him. “You say not yet necromantic. Do you imply that the lich is still more eldar than of this world? How is that possible?”
Daryx shrugged. “The Circle has discussed this with the emperor. Our best guess is that the lich was cast off into the ether so far from the River that when he resurfaced, this much time had passed. Whether by his choice or by some other eldar event, he became a lich before the Jade God had claimed undeath and sealed that part of the Immortality Quest away to the abyss.”
The Apprentice rose and added, “In this world, becoming a lich is only appealing to mages of a certain sort. Cut off from advancement by the ravages of time, the Jade God offers lichdom at the first immortality shrine. In that moment, the mage must decide. The veil between Tehra and the principle dominion is very thin at that shrine and virtually all mages fall to the Jade God there. This lich here, from reports shared by my master Reznor, he is capable of necromancy but executes it through chaos magic, exactly as an eldar does, like the emperor. The more he does it, the more his chaos energy will pull at the necromantic dominion.”
Tembri rose. “Is Sir Malcor safe?”
The abrupt shift in topic drew them into silence and Daryx looked up at the night sky carefully choosing his answer. Before he could speak, dread lord Blade stepped forward. Not as proficient at humanshifting as his father and brother, Blade retained a distinctly non-human appearance and his words lisped against his scaled and toothy mouth. “He is not. Our ability to scry him was cut at the same time Daryx spoke with the lich. The high priest Kell visited him in a vision and found him suffering. Kell reports that Malcor pushes himself too hard and his faith has already started to pull away from the Queen towards shadow.”
A pregnant silence followed as the faithful members of the Order each reflected back on their early times when their faith had been so sorely tested that they had waivered. Tembri restated, “He is in danger of losing his faith then.”
“More to the point,” Daryx continued, “is that the lich is aware Tania is watching and has closed his fortress to scrying and no doubt seeks out to know what else we know. This puts more than Malcor’s faith in danger. It makes him a magnet for an increasingly desperate lich. Desperation is the heartstone of the Jade God’s sceptre. Either the lich or Malcor will find it. Fortunately, the lich is a far more appealing target to the sceptre than Malcor, for now. The Temple has foreseen a contest between the two.”
Dar Kendra signaled for silence and turned to Daryx and Blade. “Malcor’s last orders, from me, were to seek out the lich and we – the Order - would prepare his victory. You are telling us, telling me, that the Order will not know when this contest or WHERE this contest will occur. You have left Malcor alone and turned me into a liar. Malcor is not ready for a contest involving the sceptre!”
As she spoke, her eyes flashed and rage burned in her countenance. Daryx did not flinch, but he softened his tone even as Blade’s aura ignited the air around him.
“My lady, we are doing everything we can to locate him. And…”
“What?” she practically growled at the dark elf as she stepped right into his face.
Daryx stepped back and his eyes narrowed glinting with purple faerie fire. “Dar Kendra, as you yourself know better than most, combat plans -”
“Never survive combat. Yes, you dare to lecture me with catch phrases?”
“You need to hear me out. I understand you are frustrated. So am I. So is Dar Rojo and Dar Kell, and I must tell you the emperor is also not particularly pleased with how this is turning out. Faith Kendra, we must have faith.”
"Faith! You dare to speak to me of that?!" Dar Kendra exploded and in an instant her cry that Daryx had betrayed her turned into a dragon-like aura that rose up around her towering in its glory and radiant with silver fire. As she drew her sword, Daryx pulled back, keeping his hand on his sword, but the tension in his body crackled with energy. Blade looked at the two and growled something in draconian. For all present, their leader’s anger and frustration sounded a clarion call to action but, like her, they recognized that Daryx was not the real target.
“Faith in Malcor! You need to hear me out,” he stated again. “The Circle, the emperor, the Queen – they did not send me here for an execution. When Dar Kell visited Malcor by vision, he found the boy shadow-touched. No prophecies, no portents, no plan for that either Kendra. He most certainly is a member of this Order, but as a shadow-touched, he belongs to Kell.” She stepped forward and to Daryx’s credit he stepped into her sword tip as if daring her to skewer his neck. “You’ve seen what happens in Bloodstone with the cascades. You know our history. If the Sceptre becomes aware that Malcor is bound to Cor’tanos AND you all go piling on AND Tania sends all of its resources to assist, a Cascade will happen. Here. On Khasra. Think about it Kendra. We lose Malcor, 100% sure. Not only do we lose most of the Order, but we lose the shadow dragons to the Jade God. I guarantee you, as much as the Queen hates Cor’tanos, the shadow dragons enslaved as dracoliches to the Jade God? That would be a nightmare we might never undo.”
Her gleaming fire raged around her as she fought for self-control. Finally, she turned and smashed her fire towards the river. In its passing, molten soil and glassed stone hissed and lit the darkness stretching to the river. Blade roared into the heavens and then it fell silent. Kendra glowered at Daryx. “One of these days elf,” she swore.
“Drow, or dark elf, please. And the pleasure will be mine human.”
Blade looked at Daryx and then began laughing. His dragonvoice rumbled deep and then spilled out hoarsely. “You are so amusing.” His eyes darted back and forth between the two several times, “Alone, either of you might triumph but I cannot foresee who would win.”
Kendra started to reply that it would be her but Daryx beat her to the point. “Only Tania’s enemies would lose in such a fight. Please, think this through. You out of all people understand best what shadow-touched means. Malcor does not have much time.”
“Did my brother name him?”
“Yes, he named the boy after his own surname – Kell’Tayris. Cor’tanos will come for him the same as he came for Kell. To our benefit, the boy is young and surrounded by allies who know what to look for. Unlike Kell though, Malcor’s youth and berserker rage edge him towards Cor’tanos. The emperor does not think the truce will provide any protection.”
General D'Rath interrupted, "Lord Malyx, I doubt most here know of the truce.” The General turned to them all, “As you know, the Queen cast the shadow dragons out. They took home in the plane of shadows past the gates of destruction. Because it is anti-life and inert, the shadow dragons are losing their potency, their power, and have lost their ability to procreate. They are slowly dying as a race. They were looking for a way out when Kell first uncovered the doctrine of dragonshifting. There has been a truce ever since. The truce allows the shadow dragons to interact with dragonshifters choosing or becoming shadow dragons, like Kell and now Malcor. It prevents them from fully re-entering the world until the Queen or a dragonshifter allows it. Kell does not. Malcor is far away from where we can guide him in how to handle this."
The general closed his eyes and said, "The emperor related it to us like this. He said, My children are many and multiply. Should your shadow touch any of them, they will become a bridge between our doctrines. Brother, the shadow is no place for a dragon. You must come back into the light.”
Dar Kell, a rage-filled former paladin and then priest was the first to be shadow-touched by Cor’tanos. The Kell Conflict that consumed the empire left many scars, but the Circle knew the truth. It took Kell years to master and eventually tame the darkness that filled him. Though Malcor did not have the same sorrow and suffering, Daryx said, “Malcor is young, Kendra, and feels great pressure as a son of Kell to bring glory to the Order of Water. His desire to succeed and his youth both make him prey to Cor’tanos,” Daryx said. “So, the question isn’t IF. And it isn’t WHO TO BLAME. It is what we do about it. At least we know and at least Malcor will be far less formidable than your brother was. Plus, we have the lich to deal with.”
“Truly? He is shadow-touched like Kell?” Kendra whispered.
Tembri chose that time to stand as did many others in the Order. Soon all stood with an attitude of anticipation and fire. Kendra and Daryx broke their warring gaze and looked at them. “You all have questions…”
“No,” Kendra interrupted the dark elf. “They stand with their brother. We will attack the fortress head on, even if Tania will not aid us. I accept the risk of a Cascade and put my faith in Malcor’s fighting heart. Now. Begin your preparations, all of you.”
The camp erupted into action. Kendra turned to Blade and bowed, “Dread Lord, would you like to ally with us?”
Blade licked his lips spilling fire like drool. “Aye, I will.”
Daryx smiled and before Kendra could ask he said, “My place is not here, however, I will prepare contingencies in your favor. Remember, my task and goal is the wand.” He looked at Blade and almost reminded him that it was the dragon’s task as well. He decided against it. “The hounds confirmed it is in this direction. I would use your attack and Malcor’s rescue as a distraction to find and secure it.”
Kendra frowned and he said, “So I will be with your cause, but consider, should I fail and Malcor shadowshifts in the presence of the wand, or the lich is taken by it. I must obey the emperor.” He bowed and withdrew from the belligerent conversation.
“Fool,” Kendra spat at the ground where Daryx had stood.
Blade returned to his human form and clapped her shoulder. “You are all fools to play games with my father, but tonight Kendra, you are my fool. It has been too long since I have seen you unleashed.”
Chapter Fifty Seven - Tembri
From the shadows, Malyx watched Blade and Kendra walk away from the camp together. He smirked. These humans. He turned and went to look for Malcor’s battle priest. He had to consult a note to remember the fellow’s name. “Tembri, may we have a word?”
Tembri rose from where he had set out his armor, potions, and weapons, in addition to his basic underground gear. When he saw the elf, he bowed and said, “Of course Dar Malyx. Of course.” General D'Rath walked up to them as well.
“Your ward Malcor, it is likely that either Kendra’s attack or Malcor reaching the prize draws out the lich or the wand. The emperor made it very clear that Tania cannot afford to have the wand take possession of an eldar or Malcor. If either happens, we must withdraw and set defensive plans.” Seeing the priest’s coming objections, he continued, “But, that won’t happen because you will reach Malcor first. That is, if you can refrain from doing anything overtly battle priesty.”
D'Rath nodded. "The boy is precious to the empire. Alerius counts him already as a jewel of Tania. But, should the sceptre become aware of him, should the sceptre take him, we will have to slay him."
Tembri looked at both of them. "You have seen this?" They nodded. "If it means s
aving Malcor, yes, I can do anything.”
“Even if it means passing up a golden combat opportunity, full of glory? Even if the Queen’s voice directs you to engage?”
Tembri looked at them both with distaste. “I am a priest, disobeying the Queen is not an option.”
“Sure it is! I’m not talking about heresy or apostasy. I’m only saying that this whole quest is the Queen’s will for Malcor. If he falls to either the lich, the shadows, or the sceptre, well then we have all disobeyed the Queen!” D'Rath rumbled this out his voice rasping a bit and Tembri had to remember that, though he looked like it, the general was not a paladin - a great officer and hero but not a paladin.
Tembri reflected back on his long career. “I see you twisting different objectives to suit your needs, but one thing is crystal clear to me. Malcor was entrusted to me and he is important. I will do whatever it takes to respect that trust. I will not let him down nor will I fail in my duty to safeguard him.”
Daryx smiled, “Excellent. I am going to clear this with Kendra so that, well you know how she is.” He turned and walked off.
D'Rath remained. "Tembri, had things gone differently, we would have brought the boy with us to face the hellhounds. But with Kell finding him shadowtouched, it is too risky to have him known to the Jade God just yet. We cannot control when, but Bloodstone would be the ideal place and time. I felt you should know."
Tembri smiled, "That makes sense and is more in keeping with normal paladin training. I worry that Malcor will be so far alienated from the rest of the knights that he will be more pariah than prodigy."
"He serves, as do we all. His way though is more… complex. He is lucky to have you as his priest Tembri."
"He is lucky to have so many aware of and thinking about him," Tembri countered.
"Tell me," the General said, "do you remember our last campaign at Bloodstone? The one with the mine and that dwarven overseer – Bostic?"
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