"We intend to conduct the ritual at dawn the day after tomorrow, as Castamir and I consider that the most favourable time," Dragovar said, "so I didn't want to serve anything too heavy as we will leave for Braidfleet early tomorrow morning. I assume you will want to come too?"
"Yes, of course," replied Tasseder, Elinne nodded vigorously.
Conversation became rather stilted after that, and Tasseder and Elinne excused themselves shortly after the meal was over.
The rest of us went to bed early and I held Chessina very close that night.
oOo
The next day dawned cloudy with a penetrating drizzle. Fortunately, Dragovar and I could each conjure a rain shield that would protect the rugs' occupants from the rain or the journey would have been miserable. Although I knew from experience that above the clouds it would be bright sunshine, we had to fly below them to navigate. What sights there were, were difficult to see through the rain so the journey was dull. Chessina sat with her arm in mine and her head resting on my shoulder which comforted me greatly and seemed to comfort her. I was extremely glad after several hours’ travel, when Dragovar pointed out the river Fleet ahead, it would be very easy to get lost in such poor visibility. The weather enforced a need for both intense concentration and reduced speed so it was with great relief that we at last saw the town of Braidfleet ahead. I could see through the rain that unlike our previous visit, the harbour was occupied by more than fishing boats. The masts of several merchant ships were visible through the gloom which gave me a sense of satisfaction. When we landed at Tasseder's estate, I'm not sure if the servants were more startled by our arrival from the skies, or that we were completely dry. I was profoundly grateful for this latter and sent a prayer of thanks to Arcana. It wasn't long before we were seated in a parlour in front of a roaring fire with goblets of mulled wine. We were all fairly exhausted by the journey and after eating what we could of the supper provided we all sought our beds. As I was leaving the room I was stopped by Dragovar.
"A moment, Castamir," he said, "I have something for you."
He handed me a sheathed dagger, it looked to be of dwarven make.
"Thank you, I take it that the weapon might cause Chessina distress?" I asked.
"The blade is called Demonslicer," replied Dragovar, "from what I know of its powers, it is well named."
"Yes, dwarves are a rather literal-minded people," I said, Dragovar then handed me a small box.
"Here are the items I loaned you in the capital when I feared that Renilla might attack you, please take them now as gifts," Dragovar said, "you can tell Chessina they were why I stopped you, and not let the dagger bother her. The runes on the sheath should prevent her from feeling the weapon's presence."
Impulsively, I embraced Dragovar. Chessina's exuberance for hugging seemed to be catching.
"I'd be somewhat distressed if you and Chessina didn't survive," he remarked, "and Tasayne would never forgive me."
I smiled at Dragovar and climbed wearily upstairs to my room.
oOo
When I was shaken awake by Chessina I felt that I had only just got to sleep but I could see the first vestiges of the false dawn through the window.
"It's time to get up," said Chessina, lightly kissing me on the nose, "what's in that box? I meant to ask you last night but you went out like a light."
"Do you remember the protective magics that Dragovar loaned us in the capital?" I answered, "when we thought Renilla might try to have us killed by more mundane methods than a summoned demon."
"Oh, yes," Chessina said, " the amulet to protect you against poison and the rings to help against bladed weapons."
"They should work against claws too," I said.
After we had dressed I opened the box Dragovar had given me and saw a note on top of the items marked 'Castamir', I opened the note and read it:
I have taken the liberty of enclosing a second amulet to protect against poison in the expectation that Chessina will need such after today having regained her soul.
Dragovar
Chessina beamed with pleasure and I gave her the ring and amulet. While Chessina put these on, I took advantage of her distraction putting the dagger Dragovar had given me on my belt in place of my usual knife. I then picked up the box containing the water Silavara had given me and we went downstairs. Dragovar, Tasayne, Tasseder and Elinne were waiting for us and after eating what food we could stomach, courtesy of Tasayne's conjured servants, we set off for the abandoned temple.
oOo
Travel wasn't difficult thanks to all the magical lights that were cast and soon the temple loomed before us, its columns faintly lit by the pre-dawn light. Dragovar unwrapped the mirror from the package that he carried, the larger package containing Shareen's bones still held by the conjured servant that had carried it here. The mirror was levitated into position between two columns and then enlarged by Dragovar. As he continued his casting this was fixed to the columns by glowing lines of magical force. All this was done in silence save for the muttering of spells as the ceremony was too serious for idle chatter. Finally, Dragovar spoke.
"I have fixed the mirror on the Western side of the temple with its reflective surface facing East," he said. “When the first rays of the dawn sun touch the mirror I will change the runes on the other side, to those Arcana told you about Castamir. That will turn it into a gateway to the Place of Waiting and you and Chessina will go through. And may the gods be with you both."
Chessina embraced the two other girls and I shook hands with Dragovar and Tasseder. I hadn't noticed before, being too caught up in my own thoughts, that Tasseder was armed and armoured as he was on our previous visit to the temple.
"Just in case," he murmured.
I handed my staff to Tasayne.
"Keep it for me," I said, and Tasayne nodded wordlessly. "Look after this too," I added, giving her the box that had held Silvana's phial, putting the phial itself back in my pocket.
"Castamir, Chessina, get ready," Dragovar's voice sounded harsh.
The sunlight flashed onto the mirror bathing the pair of us in light, Dragovar chanted his spell and the mirror changed. Rather than reflecting the rising sun it now showed a wide, paved hall with stone columns at intervals, seeming slightly distorted as though seen through poor glass. Hand in hand Chessina and I stepped through.
The hall stretched out in every direction with what appeared to be stone columns set at regular intervals. The ceiling was impossibly high above but light came through skylights set within it. The hall was not silent but there were the sounds of muffled footfalls and the echoes of voices. I turned around and saw a circular gateway hanging in mid air behind me. Through it I could see the rising sun flooding the temple, as distorted as our view of this place had been. I felt a great calm and peace wash over me. Chessina's hand gripped mine tightly, from her expression her feelings in no way matched mine. As I was wondering where to go I saw a figure in a grey hooded robe approaching us. I felt for the tower and was greatly relieved that I could still contact it. I felt no threat from the figure but brought defensive spells to the forefront of my mind. Wizards are cautious, alright then, wizards are paranoid. The figure came up to us and spoke from within its deeply shadowed hood.
"Castamir, Chessina, you are expected, Emaxtiphrael Lord of the Halls of Waiting has sent me to guide you, please follow me," it said.
"How is it that we are expected?" asked Chessina suspiciously.
"Why, Arcana told my Lord Emaxtiphrael," replied our guide, "who will be pleased to have the anomaly dealt with."
"Anomaly?" Chessina enquired.
"Your soul," the guide replied, "for a soul to remain here more than a short while is almost unprecedented. We have all been disturbed by it, and its guardian."
"We?" Chessina again employed a one-word question.
"My companions and I," our guide said, "we serve our Lord Emaxtiphrael in guiding and assisting the souls who come here before they go to their place in the afterlife. I
may only guide you however, dealing with the guardian of Chessina's soul, or any other summoned is your responsibility."
As we walked, still holding Chessina's hand I looked around. I found it interesting that both Arcana and Emaxtiphrael referred to Chessina by her chosen name, not the one that had been given her at birth.
"Are there so few other souls here, I see no-one else?" I enquired.
"By no means," our guide replied, "but due to the anomaly this part of the halls has been shunned."
"What should we call you?" Chessina asked, "I will not ask you your name, just a . . . verbal identifier."
"Giving my name, would indeed be unwise, given what you must face," replied our guide, "but you may call me . . . Corrund. I must leave you now, Chessina's soul is in that direction." Corrund pointed in the direction we had been going. “I will wait here for you."
I cast a lesser sphere of protection on both of us without effort thanks to my connection to the tower and we pressed forward, both on the alert. We heard it, before we saw it and it was speaking Abyssal, the tongue of demons; no surprise there then. I prepared the magical fist spell Dragovar had taught me that was so effective against the least demon released from the cellar near the abandoned temple. The demon was muttering and cursing which masked any sound we made during our approach. This demon was bigger than the least demon I had intended to conjure when Chessina appeared. Such a short time in reality but it often seemed in a previous age of the world. This . . . thing, was about the height of a man but much heavier, scaly but with vicious spikes on elbows and knees as well as claws on hands and feet. Its face was insectile rather than reptilian with complicated, and sharp looking, mouth parts. These started quivering as soon as it saw us, and the demon charged forthwith. In the moments before it reached us, I could see what was, apparently a body on the floor. The body looked like a young Chessina but I could spare no time for reflection as the demon was almost on me. The demon was flung to one side as my conjured fist hit it on its left side, knocking it to the right and away from Chessina. There had been an ominous cracking sound as the fist hit and while the creature staggered trying to regain its balance, Chessina shouted.
"Schedraza!" Pleasure! she yelled.
As the demon had no apparent genitalia, I had no idea what effect that might have, I hoped it might confuse the creature if nothing else.
It regained its balance and stopped for a moment, indeed confused. My fist hit it again, from above this time, knocking it to ground. There was a louder cracking noise, and its right arm twisted unnaturally, seemingly useless.
"Schedriza!" Pain! Chessina shouted, and the demon writhed on the ground. I hated having to do this, even to such a being, but it stood between us and Chessina's soul. I raised the fist and with the power of the tower behind me intending to crush the creature and end this. Before the fist made contact, the demon screamed out a word in Abyssal that I didn't know. I could, however, feel that it was a word of magical potency. My conjured fist made contact with the creature and crushed it into the paving. The demon was destroyed and the broken remains of its body dissolved into a vile goo which swiftly evaporated to nothing. My attention was diverted by Chessina.
"Look out, master!" she shouted and pointed. At the place she indicated a pulsating spot of darkness appeared and rapidly grew. Out of it stepped what looked like a man except for horns and a tail.
"Master, it's Fishface," Chessina whispered.
Chapter 26
Fishface! A very human looking demon, and therefore dangerous, as I had no idea what resources he could bring to bear. He was tall, taller than I was, slender and very good looking, he would almost be pretty if his expression wasn't so cruel. Long dark hair framed his narrow face while his goat like horns protruded through it, and they were . . . gilded! His ego must be gigantic. He wore a frock coat of damask with a froth of lace at his throat and an ornate silver amulet, set with a blue gem on a chain around his neck.
"Ah, Amerindorina, how . . . nice to see you," Fishface almost purred. He didn't get a chance to do more than that when my still extant fist hit him in the chest with great force knocking him crashing to the ground. I was drawing back the fist for another, more powerful, blow when he touched the amulet that hung around his neck. There was a flash of light that blinded me. I could feel my concentration waver, and the fist spell dissolved. I could feel the protection spell trying to absorb the power of the damaging spell and I called on the tower's energy to reinforce the protection and to suck away the power before it could destroy the protection. At last the protection collapsed and I felt as though I had been briefly bathed in fire. I fell to the ground, and I was hurt but not as badly as I could have been, and probably not as badly as Fishface thought I was. Nonetheless, I felt as though I had been trampled by a carthorse. Moving was difficult.
"Master!," I heard Chessina scream.
"No Amerindorina, I am your master, and always have been," Fishface was definitely purring now, "we shall be spending a great deal of time together and when I have finished my . . . fun, and you die, as you aren't a true demon and have a soul which I control, I can put you back in a body, and we can do it all over again, for all eternity."
Chessina screamed. Then she screamed again, in anger. She screamed a third time, but this time it was the words of a spell. Fishface staggered at the impact but recovered. I had to get up, to save Chessina. I wouldn't let Fishface have her. I concentrated on healing and fought the pain. Suddenly I felt at one with the tower. The pain was ebbing, and I could stand. Fishface was taunting Chessina, laughing at her. He brushed Chessina's spells aside with amused contempt. I drew Demonslicer and crept towards Fishface. As I moved, Chessina redoubled her efforts. Without looking at me, she somehow knew I was coming. If Fishface used the amulet again I was dead, and Chessina was lost. Chessina used spells that kept Fishface off balance. Balance! I swept Demonslicer backhanded across the rear of Fishface's right knee. The cloth of his breeches parted cleanly and his flesh opened spraying brown ichor. Fishface screamed in agony as Demonslicer's magic coursed through him. His leg buckled and Fishface went down hard on his right knee. He screamed again as pain shot through his leg from its impact with the flagstones. Fishface turned involuntarily towards me, his attention on Chessina broken. With a snarl, Chessina slashed at his face, her fingernails now razor-sharp claws. Fishface brought up his left arm to protect his face. I stabbed this arm and he cried out again jerking it away from the agony the knife caused. This gave Chessina a clear blow. She gouged deep wounds in Fishface's visage, ichor pouring from the wounds. Fishface howled with anguish as one of Chessina's claws plunged into his left eye, blinding it. Fishface reached for the amulet with his right arm but Chessina slashed at the right side of his face. Desperately trying to protect his one good eye, Fishface jerked away from Chessina's claws. He lost his balance and fell to the flagstones on his back, his right leg bent under him. I thrust Demonslicer at Fishface's prone form and the knife caused Fishface to writhe and scream as it bit into his chest. I'd been aiming for his neck, but missed. More ichor flowed from this new wound. With horror, I saw that the wounds on Fishface's face were healing visibly. The wound on his left arm showed no sign of that however. The ichor from his chest wound ran down, soaking his once fine clothes, to join the pool on the ground from Fishface's arm and knee. Fishface was frantically trying to get to the amulet but Chessina was still slashing towards his one functional eye.
In a move born of desperation, Fishface suddenly concentrated all his efforts to reach the amulet and gave up trying to protect his eye. Before I could react he grasped the amulet. Frantically I twisted Demonslicer in Fishface's chest hoping to distract him before he could cast a spell. He writhed, unable to concentrate. This situation couldn't last. I reached into my pocket and grabbed hold of Silavara's phial. Praying to the goddess Silvana I tossed it in Chessina's direction.
"Chessina, use the phial!" I yelled. Bless her, she did just that. Grim faced, Chessina poured the sacred water onto
Fishface's hand. With a deafening cry, Fishface released his hold on the amulet as his hand dissolved into a foul puddle. I grasped the amulet's chain and jerked Demonslicer from where it had been buried in Fishface's chest. A single cut of the knife severed the chain cleanly, the blade's magic slicing through the demon-made metal. I pulled frantically and the chain and amulet were in my hand. I readied Demonslicer and looked in Fishface's one undamaged eye as I thrust the dwarf-made blade into his heart. I saw the hate there before he shuddered and was still. The rest of Fishface's body was now dissolving until only a puddle of putrid slime remained. This started smoking and evaporated until it had entirely vanished. Nothing remained of Fishface but his slashed and ichor stained clothing and the amulet and chain that I held.
Chessina clung to me as we both stood there, shaking and weeping.
"I'm so proud of you Chessina," I said at last, "you used the phial even though you feared it."
"I had to master, he would have killed you," she replied simply. "Master, you're bleeding."
Chessina touched my ear and I winced as her hand came away bloody.
"Fishface's last scream appears to have ruptured my eardrum," I replied, "no wonder it hurts."
"I'm glad that's all it is," she said, "we can deal with that later." Chessina turned and looked at what appeared to be a sleeping girl.
"Is that my soul, master?" she asked. "She looks different to me."
"She is younger," I replied.
Chessina knelt down beside the girl who opened her eyes and looked up at Chessina who started back, surprised. The young girl half raised herself and gently touched Chessina's face and then she was somehow flowing into Chessina until she was gone. Chessina looked very startled and then a look of understanding and awe came over her face. She smiled a blinding smile at me.
"Master, I have a soul," she said.
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