by Mike Truk
There were no immediate attacks. They were experienced enough to gauge us in turn as we gauged them.
“Forward march,” said Valeria.
Emma, Brielle, and Valeria moved forward. I drifted alongside them, the lower curvature of my sphere just barely touching Emma’s ward.
Little Meow brought up the rear, her ward a bubblegum pink.
Neveah?
Gone.
The enemy had reached the halfway mark.
“Halt,” said Valeria. “Adjust ranks.”
Emma stepped back to be in line with the other two.
“They’re splitting up,” I said. And indeed, the seven Morathi had broken into two groups, four remaining dead-center and continuing their direct approach, while Isossa led two others in a wide, looping arc to come in at our flank, unhurried. Shields were held before them, wards extending a healthy three yards from each.
Isossa’s ward was the most powerful. It glimmered lavender and pushed out a good five yards.
Damn her arrogant self-assurance.
“Steady,” said Valeria. “Imogen, call the attack when they’re in range.”
“Isossa still?” she asked.
Valeria had her crossbow to her shoulder. “Yes.”
We watched in silence. The enemy was unnervingly quiet - no commands, no insults, just silent scrutiny as they edged ever closer.
The four in the center, led by Agax, were two-thirds of the way across the board now, perhaps only twenty yards from our leading edge. I could see the whites of his eyes within his helm, the way his shoulders rose and fell with each deep breath.
“Hold onto your Vam’s,” I said, pitching my voice low. “Stay relaxed.”
“Count of three,” said Imogen. “One.”
A breath passed. Isossa had completed most of her arc and was now coming in on our left toward Valeria, hunched low behind her shield, only thirty or so yards from closing.
“Two.”
“Pretend to focus on Agax,” said Valeria. “Misdirection.”
“Three,” said Imogen. A, levenbolt as thick as my thigh erupted from her palm, leaping down our line and slamming into Isossa’s ward with the force of a Mack truck.
I simultaneously slashed Shard in her direction, hurling a flare of golden light, just as Valeria fired her crossbow and Brielle unleashed a terrible gout of flame.
All four attacks hit in rapid succession.
Isossa’s ward flickered and fell.
“Charge!” roared Agax, breaking into a run as he summoned a ball of glittering black light into his palm and hurled it at me.
Madness. Imogen raked her levenbolt across the flankers to direct it at Agax as Valeria sought to reload her crossbow. I unleashed a levenbolt of my own at Agax, just as six bolts of black flame slammed into our wards.
The effect was concussive. I’d once been swimming underwater at Lake Flue back home in Ohio when some idiots had decided to go dynamite fishing without warning anybody.
The sensation of being hit by those black spheres was the same as the shockwave that had rolled through the water and washed over me then. Jarring, disconcerting - but ultimately harmless.
Our wards held.
But the damage was evident. Sparks flew from deep cracks and fissures that ran across their faces. My own was riven by deep gouges, gouges which I willed to fill in. Pouring my essence into my ward’s substance, I roared and swiped Shard at Agax, sending a brilliant swathe of gold light down at his charging form.
Lightning flew. Flame blasted forth from Brielle’s ward, and more black spheres came flying toward us, impacting with such terrible force that I felt each one in my molars.
Isossa was down. Her two companions were racing to engage Valeria when Neveah burst out of nowhere and cannon-balled into them, sending both tumbling. Smacking one clear across the front of the helm with a scabbarded Morghothilim, she drove her knee into the other’s chest. She was like a dark scythe, reaping both right off their feet and hitting the ground in a forward roll. Her long mane of black hair rippled in her wake as she came up in a dead sprint, leaning over to the side as she bolted around to flank Agax.
He had been driven to a stand-still by our attacks, his ward shimmering and flickering as we pummeled it. He stood behind, shield raised, shoulders hunched, and I was beginning to feel the fluttering delight at the prospect of victory when Brielle’s ward went down.
Her scream followed a second later as a black sphere hit her shoulder and sent her spinning.
“No!” I cried, unsure as to how badly she was hurt, feeling her agony lance through our sympathetic bond. I hurled a levenbolt at the Morathi who’d broken her defenses even as Valeria closed the line, stepping in to merge her ward with Emma’s as Little Meow hauled Brielle back.
The urge to fly forth was almost overwhelming, to swoop down on the enemy and give vent to my fury.
But no. To break rank was to weaken us all, so I ground my teeth and poured all my might into my next levenbolt.
It was an attack which had served me in good stead all this while, but hadn’t substantively changed since I’d first manifested it. Every previous bolt had been as thick as my wrist, a wild, clawing attack that leaped and scored deep, burning grooves wherever I directed it.
But seeing Brielle go down, hearing her scream - it shook something within me, breaking some kind of restraint. I felt Muladhara blaze forth within my core, drinking deep of my magic as it channeled its might down my arm.
Flickers of electricity raced down to my hand and there exploded forth in a riot of raw power. A dozen tendrils - each as thick as one of my old attacks - lashed forth like an attacking hydra, splitting the air with their brilliance and whipping down upon the Morathi who’d wounded Brielle to enmesh his ward with chains of living lightning.
His ward exploded, and my levenbolts spun him around, sending him toppling to the ground. There he lay still, dark smoke rising from his burned form.
Agax bellowed a command and the remaining Morathi dropped their weapons, raising the arms in surrender.
For a moment it was all I could do to not direct my fury at him, but with effort I held back. Cutting my connection to Muladhara, I dropped down beside Brielle.
She sat propped up in Little Meow’s arms, blinking and looking pale.
“She’s fine,” said Little Meow. “Not a bad hit. Just enough to take her out of the game.”
“Thank god,” I said.
“I can’t believe they got through my ward,” said Brielle, wincing. “What manner of demeaning bullshit is that?”
“Good job, everyone,” said Valeria, turning to grin at us. She looked alive, her eyes gleaming with a healthy joy I’d not seen in far too long. “We stayed with the plan and won. Excellent job.”
Emma rested Victor’s blade on her shoulder. “Not too shabby, everyone!”
I glanced across the board. Neveah was trudging in our direction, ignoring the stares from the Morathi as they tended to their fallen. Good. They weren’t fucking with her.
“I think it’s fair to say we exceeded their expectations,” said Imogen, pushing her glasses back up her snub nose. “Oh, but I do enjoy winning. I enjoy it a lot.”
I raked my hair back. “Looks like Emelias underestimated us. Look, he’s climbing onto the board.”
Indeed he was, leaping up nimbly to stride toward Isossa, who was climbing to her feet.
“A splendid victory!” He beamed at us with something akin to affection or pride, as if he were personally responsible for our talent. “Were you holding back in your previous battle with the guards, or - as I suspect - has the stimulus you’ve received in Ur-Gharab provoked unprecedented growth in your power?”
“Regardless,” I said, moving forward to stare at him, “we won. Not a flawless victory, but I think we’ve shown that we’re more than a match for you Morathi.”
Isossa laughed. Agax grinned darkly, and while Emelias didn’t do more than smile, I saw a dark gleam in his eye that was decidedly u
nnerving.
“Oh, I’m not so sure about that,” he said. “This was but the warm-up bout, was it not? Let’s give it another go. Isossa? Gramax? Are you good to go again?”
“Oh, yes,” said Isossa, resettling her helm. “Ready and hungry for more.”
“My gem is burst,” said Gramax, the man whom I’d lashed with a dozen levenbolts. “The… Savior… near killed me.”
“Then you need to improve your wards, do you not?” Emelias’s tone was wintry. “Off the board. Hehmark, take his place.”
One of the soldiers sitting on the bleachers rose and made his way to the center of the board.
“Now,” said Emelias, turning back to us with a smile. “Let’s make this a little more interesting. The same set-up, but the same rules, but my Morathi will… how shall I put this? Use their abilities a little more fully.”
Should I beg off? Leave with this victory? No. We needed to learn what more the enemy could throw at us. Even if it meant a defeat, an injury. The more we tested our abilities in a safe place such as this board, the stronger we’d be when we met the real enemy.
“Very well,” I said. “Give us a moment and we’ll be with you.”
I turned and walked back to my companions. “Gather in my sanctum. Time to power up.”
I closed my eyes and dove down into my reservoir, down the golden filament to where my companions’ apertures hovered. I paused, seeing that Valeria’s filament still did not burn with a golden fire; I’d hoped that after yesterday’s connection that might have been otherwise. Still, no time to reflect. I willed the apertures to open, and a moment later all five were before me, their spirit bodies gleaming, their essences vibrating with excitement.
Power hug, I said, and we gathered in close, embracing each other so golden light fountained above us and rapidly refilled my reservoir. I’d expended almost half of my reserves, but in a matter of seconds, it all came flooding back.
I then directed the overflow into each of their sanctums, and a moment later, everyone was topped off.
Incredible, said Imogen.
We can’t duplicate the same strategy, said Valeria. They’ll be ready for that. This time we’ll press toward the right-center side of the board. If they split and try to flank our left again, that will leave them divided but unable to close at the same time. If they change things up, I’ll call out ‘center’ and we’ll move to engage them directly. If I think it best to hang back as before, only ten yards from our board’s edge, I’ll cry out ‘reserve’ and we’ll move back. Clear?
Move toward the right-center, said Emma. Unless you call out ‘center’, upon which we’ll move to engage directly, or ‘reserve’ which will be our signal to move back. Got it.
They’re going to try something different, said Imogen. I’d wager they’ll be using Hexenmagic against us. Wards and black fire are basic as powers go - I’m sure they’re capable of more.
Like what? I asked.
Harmiel could allow them to close with us without noticing, said Imogen. Salathis could teleport, remember? They might move behind us.
We’ll have to tell Little Meow to be wary, said Valeria.
They might also hit us with a corruption or perversion attack, said Imogen. Something that would weaken us within. I don’t know. Even my studies of Hexenmagic are terribly limited compared to what’s out there.
Good to know, I said. We’ll stay close and keep our wards up. Do we go for Isossa again?
Let’s switch it up, said Valeria. Whichever of Isossa or Agax comes directly at us, we take them out. Second target is whoever remains of the two.
Got it, I said. And, by the way? Our wards fucking worked. Good job, everyone.
Brielle crossed her arms. Yes, well. Thanks.
Cheer up, said Valeria, cuffing her shoulder. You did well. If you want some tips after, I’d be happy to share.
Brielle gave a disbelieving shake of her head. What manner of sadist torments royalty while they’re wounded?
Valeria’s grin did my heart good.
Time to go back, I said. Emma, share the plan with Little Meow. Everyone else, in formation.
I opened my eyes. The Morathi were clustered on the far side of the board, with Emelias having returned to the bleachers.
The cold wind howled down the length of the board; the whole scene suddenly seemed cruel and cold and inhuman.
Emelias raised his hand. “Begin!”
Our wards sprang up even quicker this time. My platinum gold sphere sprang forth from my core as if eager to assert itself upon the world. Manipura roared within me, and I lifted off the ground, rising a couple of yards above Emma. Her soapstone-green ward pushed out a good three yards all around her, scintillating and firm.
I went to engage the First Prism, more by reflex than anything else, then decided not to - hell, my reservoir was bursting with magical power. Why would I extend its duration for a short battle like this?
Neveah darted off to the right, fading from view as she ran, then she was gone - a bruise, a slight shadow that slipped from my field of vision as I turned to consider the enemy.
Their wards were up, rock-solid and interlaced, shields raised, blades held at the ready. Isossa held the center of the line, with Agax looming on the far right.
“Forward right march,” said Valeria, voice taut with self-control and a shiver of excitement.
Imogen, Brielle, and Emma obeyed, moving at an oblique angle to the Morathi, not rushing, watching for the enemy’s first move.
They began to advance, unhurried, moving toward the center of the board as we advanced to their right.
“They’re not splitting up,” said Brielle. “We change our plans?”
“Hold steady,” said Valeria.
They halted at the halfway mark, and there Isossa stepped forward, emerging from the front rank to extend her hands toward us.
“Brace for attack,” said Valeria, tone cool, controlled.
Instead, smoke began to billow forth in great quantities, spiraling from her hands to spread out across the board. The volume was astounding - even as I watched, moment to moment, it spread across the pale flagstones, reducing the Morathi to vague silhouettes, then obscuring them altogether as the battlefield was smothered in a dank and heavy fog.
“What the fuck?” said Emma, a note of fear entering her voice.
“Steady,” said Valeria again. “Imogen?”
“On it.” Imogen dropped to a knee and placed her palm on the ground.
I spun in a slow circle. We’d been about fifteen yards from the right side of the board. Standing now in an island of gray, the light of our wards was muted and shifting as fog coalesced around us but failed to penetrate.
“They’ve split up,” said Imogen. “Are coming at us individually, closing like a net. Moving slowly, giving those trying to flank and come around behind us time to get into place.”
“Shit,” said Valeria.
“Can we clear this away?” asked Brielle, then unleashed a gout of flame from her blade. Its brilliance flared for a second before dying away as the fog came rolling back in.
“Form a circle,” I said. “Little Meow, you’re in the center. Everyone else, back-to-back.”
“Better drop down or go up higher, Noah,” said Valeria. “They’ll take your flight into account.”
“Let me see what I can see from above,” I said, and, heart hammering, reluctant to leave my companions, I flew higher, breaching the fog to emerge into the chill air. My heart sank. The whole board was smothered, a plane of shifting, featureless gray. I could barely make out the glow of my companions’ wards below me. Could I detect those of the enemy in like manner? Should I fly out and search for them, or remain close to help when the attack came?
I’d let the Vam Mantra stop, just as I had when Brielle had been hurt during the first bout. That wasn’t good. I initiated it once more, feeling my assurance and calm reassert itself.
The best defense was an offense.
It was
time to go hunting.
I dove down. My companions were bunched up together, Imogen still on one knee.
“…closing now, fifteen yards away, though one is closer, coming at you, Valeria, moving quicker, now they’re running right at us -”
“Mine,” I growled. Dumped a truckload of magic into Manipura, I fueled my flight and strengthened every aspect of my body as I speared out over Valeria’s head to fly at the incoming attack. I squinted at the fog that dampened my face and felt almost oppressively tangible; Shard burned bright with my anger and frustration.
There.
The Morathi had withdrawn their ward so it but glimmered a foot away from their skin, making them, no doubt, nearly impossible to spot from the air.
I resisted the urge to shout, instead unleashing a levenbolt at the same time I fired a flare of golden light from Shard.
Both attacks impacted the Morathi at once, and I had but a second to catch a flash of the man’s surprise before I bulldozed into him at full speed. Turning my shoulder so I could slam right into his shield, I drove it back into his body, slamming the upper lip into his helm, and picking him right up off his feet.
For a second, I bore him before me, the ground speeding away underfoot. Then I angled upwards and he slipped free to disappear with a cry into the fog.
I punched out of the fog, took a moment to orient myself, and saw that I’d sprinted nearly clear across the board. Flying back, I heard cries, the sounds of battle. I felt anger, fear, and the desire to dominate come through the channels to my companions.
Gritting my teeth, I hurled myself down into the fray, down toward the glow of my friends’ wards, and there saw them embattled - surrounded by the Morathi.
Brielle’s flames lit up the fog, while Imogen’s levenbolts sparked forth, stabbing at the foes. Emma’s ward was badly fractured, clearly on the verge of collapse, and I caught a glimpse of Valeria down, Little Meow crouched over her.
I roared, abandoning all subtlety, and swept down upon Agax’s mighty form. Cleaving Shard at his ward with a double-handed blow, the blade burning so brightly it left an after-image in my vision.
But Agax disappeared just before I cleaved through him, and reappeared beside Little Meow.