Alutar: The Great Demon

by Tuttle, Richard S.

  The elven mage nodded and started walking along the trail. The other mages followed. After a few minutes of walking, Eulena selected a small clearing for the camp. The mages settled down for a simple meal, and an hour later when the unicorns entered the camp, Zynor rose and greeted them.

  “He dotes on them,” Atule nodded towards the unicorns. “You would think that they are like family to him.”

  “Maybe they are as close as he has ever come to having a family,” retorted Kalmar. “Our profession tends to be a lonely one. What happened between you and Crystil all those years ago?”

  Atule’s brow creased as he gazed at the Koroccan healer. “That was a long time ago,” he eventually sighed. “We were young and in love like you and Valera are now.”

  Kalmar raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean by that?” he asked with mock offense.

  Atule chuckled, “Your feelings are well known by everyone in this camp. Perhaps with the exception of yourself,” Atule added after a slight pause. “We have all lived longer than you, and we have all seen it a thousand times before. It is nothing to be ashamed of. Valera is a very talented and beautiful woman.”

  Kalmar sighed and shook his head. “I am not sure how I feel about her,” he eventually said. “I do not deny that there is a strong attraction there, but you have strayed from the question I asked. What happened between you and Crystil?”

  “We were both too stubborn,” shrugged Atule. “We felt different obligations pulling us apart, and neither of us was willing to forego our own destiny. We ended up going our own separate ways. It was nothing more than that. We are good friends now,” he added as he turned to look across the small clearing at his former lover.

  Atule frowned and slowly rose to his feet. He crossed the small clearing to where Valera sat gazing up at the trees.

  “Where is Crystil?” Atule asked.

  Valera blinked and lowered her gaze to stare up at the jungle mage. “She went on ahead,” Valera replied.

  “On ahead?” scowled Atule. “What do you mean she went on ahead?”

  All of the mages turned to look at Atule as he stood over Valera with his hands on his hips.

  “She thought it would be wise to construct some pillars to isolate Alutar from his demons,” answered Valera. “Fakir said that the demons could draw power from Alutar. Crystil wants to make sure that they cannot do that.”

  “And you let her go?” snapped Atule. “Why didn’t you at least go with her?”

  “I wanted to,” frowned Valera, “but she insisted on going alone. She said that she alone would be able to move among the demons without detection. Why are you getting angry with me?”

  “Valera is not at fault,” the Mage said in a soothing voice. “There is some truth to Crystil’s words. If she is careful, the demons will not detect her, but Alutar might. We should continue our journey immediately.”

  The mages quickly mounted their unicorns and set off along the trail. Atule immediately moved up alongside Fakir Aziz.

  “What did you mean when you said that Alutar might detect her?” Atule asked the Mage. “Are you not sure of his capabilities?”

  “He is quite capable of detecting Crystil,” answered Fakir Aziz. “I said might because Alutar will be preoccupied with the demonstone. He is immortal and can withstand things that mere mortals could not, but that is not to say that everything is simple for him. He has the demonstone now, and he wants to incorporate it back into himself, but that is not an easy task. Such a task demands great concentration and a considerable amount of time. While time is normally something that barely concerns the Great Demon, he has little of it right now. He knows that I am coming to banish him. That is why he sent every one of his creatures to attack us. He never expected the attacks to be successful, but they have slowed us down.”

  Atule sighed nervously and nodded. “Will we be in time?” he asked.

  “I do not know,” admitted the Mage.

  The group rode on in silence for over half an hour before Fakir Aziz held up his hand to halt the group. They all dismounted, and the Mage signaled for them to gather around.

  “We go on foot from here,” stated the mage. “If Crystil has completed the pillars, we need to get inside the enclosure defined by them. That will limit what effect the demons can have on us.”

  “If she has failed?” asked Dorforun.

  “We will be tested severely in any event,” answered the mage, “but our task becomes close to impossible without the safety that the pillars provide. You need to drive the demons outside the protected area before I can deal with Alutar.” The Mage paused and glanced at each of the other mages before continuing, “Do not waste your time and power trying to strike Alutar. He is beyond your capabilities. Concentrate on the demons. Confuse them. Keep them off balance. Do whatever you can to make them act defensively, and strive to keep them away from Alutar and me. Whatever you do, do not get within striking range of their wings. Their physical power is unlike anything you have ever faced before. Follow me.”

  Fakir Aziz turned and walked silently through the trees. The other mages followed him. After a few minutes of walking, they came to a large stone pillar. Fakir smiled. He walked past the pillar and turned to his right, heading perpendicularly to his previous path. He halted a moment later when the eastern edge of a large lava lake came into view. The group also halted and gathered around the Mage. In the center of the lava lake, Alutar’s upper body protruded out of the lava. The Great Demon was looking to the group’s left, and the mages followed Alutar’s gaze. In the distance on the southern shore of the lake was a large bloodstained altar. A grotesque demon stood by the altar, staring at the Great Demon, as if in a trance. Behind him were scores of other demons, and many of the mages felt shudders of fear race up their spines.

  “Look,” whispered Kalmar as he pointed at the far end of the lake on the right-hand side. “It is one of Crystil’s pillars.”

  Fakir Aziz turned and gazed at the distant pillar. He nodded in satisfaction. He looked at the distant shore on the left-hand side of the lake, but he could not find a pillar. Without a word, Fakir stepped back into the trees and continued northward. After a few minutes, the group came to another stone pillar.

  “That’s three,” Atule said with a broad grin. “I knew that she could do it.”

  Fakir Aziz said nothing. Once again he turned and walked perpendicular to his previous path, leading the group westward along the shore opposite from the altar. The length of the lava lake was much greater than its width, and the group walked for a long time before the Mage halted once again. The group moved cautiously towards the lake until the back of Alutar stood exposed to view. Everyone’s eyes immediately focused on the southwest corner of the lake. Almost hidden from view was a small stone pillar. Alongside the pillar was Crystil.

  “She is almost done,” commented Valera. “Do we wait for her to finish?”

  “Yes,” the Mage said without hesitation. “The enclosure is needed before I banish Alutar. I do not want his demons following their master. Left alone, they will revert to their usual laziness. We return to the woods and wait.”

  Across the lake, D’Artim had been communicating with Alutar. He had been standing with his eyes closed, but he suddenly opened them and saw the group moving back into the trees. He shouted a warning, and the host of demons raced to the edge of the lava lake to see the enemy. Alutar snapped his head around and stared at the Mage.

  “So you have come, Fakir Aziz,” the Great Demon said with a thundering voice. “And you have brought offerings for my demons. Very well. Let the game begin then.”

  Alutar’s fiery eyes glowed and twin streams of fire shot across the lava lake towards the group of mages. The Mage turned and stepped forward towards the lake while the other mages continued into the forest. The twin streams of fire splayed over an invisible shield before Fakir. The Mage raised one arm and pointed at Alutar, but he suddenly turned and pointed at one of the demons instead. A brilliant tendril of wh
ite light shot across the lava lake and struck one of the demons. The demon glowed with the brilliance of the sun and then simply disappeared. Many of the demons who had come forward to see the enemy across the lake now slinked backwards, not wanting to face the Mage. Alutar raised an arm and pointed at the far shore, but not at Fakir Aziz. A tremendous blast of power flew from the Great Demon’s hand and a swath of trees blew away from the edge of the lake, creating a bare strip of ground stretching deep into the forest. Fortunately, Alutar had guessed wrong as to where the Mage’s allies were hiding, but Fakir knew that he would discover them soon enough. The Mage pointed at another demon and quickly ended his existence, but he swiftly followed up with an attack on Alutar, to regain the Great Demon’s focus on himself.

  “Spread out,” the Mage warned his group. “The demons will soon be coming for you. Stay within the pillars so you will have some protection when Crystil finishes.”

  When the second demon vanished, several of the lesser demons turned and ran for their lives. Unfortunately, their escape sent them right past Crystil, and she was discovered. Their shouts grabbed Alutar’s attention, and he jerked his head around to see what was the matter. When he saw Crystil, twin beams of red shot from his eyes. Crystil’s body began to glow brilliantly, and wisps of black smoke rose from her body. Crystil screamed as her skin began to liquefy. Her hair disappeared in a brief flash of fire and her nose began to drip down her face. Screaming in agony, Crystil moved away from the pillar and towards the lava lake. The black cloud over Crystil’s body continued to grow, and her flesh began to cascade down her body. Unable to save herself, Crystil marched into the lava lake and disappeared beneath the crust.

  Across the lake, tears ran down Atule’s cheeks as he watched Crystil die, but he did not have time to mourn. The demons flew across the lake and landed near the group of mages. Eulena swiftly erected shields around the group, as Dorforun cast a stone-splitting spell directly at one of the demons. The creature gasped and staggered backwards, but the dwarf could see no rent in the creature’s body. Dorforun frowned in disappointment. Zynor closed his eyes and concentrated on the other demon. At first, it merely tilted its head as if confused, but soon it reached out with its powerful wing and attacked its partner. The partner growled and attacked in defense.

  “We need to get out of here,” Kalmar said anxiously. “We are too close to them.”

  “I don’t think we can even hurt these creatures,” frowned Atule as the group began running. “The Mage said to keep them distracted.”

  “Until the pillars were built,” nodded Valera. “I am going to finish what Crystil started. Try to keep their attention off of me.”

  Valera turned and ran westward. Kalmar halted and watched her go with indecision.

  “Go after her,” Atule said sympathetically. “Guard her if you can. Distract the demons if your shields cannot save her.”

  Kalmar nodded and raced after Valera.

  “The rest of us need to head eastward,” suggested Eulena. “We dare not stay near the Mage, and we must distract the demons from Valera.”

  Chapter 51

  Lava Lake

  The four mages halted near the northeastern corner of the lava lake. They quickly spread out along the edge of the large clearing and prepared to face the demons. They did not have long to prepare. Almost immediately, the demons that they had run from entered the clearing. They halted for a moment, glancing around the clearing as if looking for something, or someone.

  “They want to make sure that the Mage is not here,” whispered Eulena. “An illusion of him might drive them away.”

  “It might,” Zynor whispered back, “but that is not what we came here for. We are supposed to be the distraction.”

  “Then let us be one,” Dorforun said loud enough for all to hear as he raised his arm and pointed at the demon on the right.

  A stone-shattering projectile flew from the dwarf’s hand and struck the demon. While Dorforun had no expectations of actually killing the demon, he was pleased with the reaction. The demon grunted and stepped back a pace. The other demon nodded in the direction of the four mages, and a powerful bolt of energy soared across the clearing, distorting the air as it moved. Eulena grunted as her shield absorbed the spell. Zynor closed his eyes and tried to cast a spell of confusion, but the demons sensed it this time. Together, the demons charged to physically attack the mages. Atule pointed at the ground in front of the demons and muttered an incantation. The soil liquefied, and the charging demons ran into a pit of quicksand. Dorforun immediately cast two more of the stone-splitting spells. One of the projectiles hit one of demons squarely, but the other merely struck a wing and seemed to pass right through the thin membrane. The demon that had been struck in the chest flapped his wings and rose above the pit, but the other could not. When he tried to flap his wings, Atule saw that the wing was perforated, and he smiled at the infirmity.

  “Hit the flying one in the wing, Dorforun!” he called to the dwarven mage.

  Dorforun was just about to cast another stone-splitting projectile when he heard Atule’s words. The dwarf tried to aim for the demon’s wing, but the demon had heard the instruction, too. The demon shot straight up and disappeared into the canopy. A moment later, the demon returned with amazing speed. The flying demon shot over the pit and grabbed his brother from the quicksand. Before Dorforun could aim, both demons disappeared from sight.

  “We have found something that can at least harm them,” Atule said with an optimistic grin. “Teach us that spell, Dorforun.”

  “The demons are probably already spreading the word about our location,” frowned the dwarf, “and they will explain the danger to the others. I will teach you the spell, but do not expect them to give us another chance to use it. We must continue to improvise.”

  “I agree,” stated Eulena, “but I do think the wings are the correct target. Fakir Aziz warned us to avoid them, and the wings also allow the creatures to fly. I think we need to concentrate on that area of their anatomy.”

  “The rest of their bodies are like armor,” commented Zynor. “Physical projectiles will not have much effect in those areas. Perhaps the eyes might be vulnerable, though.”

  “Then wings and eyes it is,” Dorforun said with an air of finality. “Listen closely and I will teach you the dwarven spell.”

  At the opposite corner of the lava lake, Valera reached the area of the unfinished pillar. As she halted to examine it from the cover of the forest, Kalmar arrived to stand beside her.

  “Do you know what to do?” he asked in a whisper.

  Valera nodded. “Crystil has been teaching me since Farmin,” she whispered, “but I have always had her around to check my work. I hope that I get it right the first time.”

  “You will,” smiled Kalmar. “I have faith in you. I will stay hidden and distract any demons that try to bother you.”

  “Thank you,” Kalmar,” the Vinaforan mage replied. “Knowing that you are watching over me will allow me to concentrate on my work.”

  Without another word, Valera slipped out of the woods and crawled to the unfinished pillar. Kalmar grimaced at her exposed position. Although he intended to do whatever it took to safeguard Valera, he knew that he was no match for Alutar. He glanced at the Great Demon, and a shudder of fear coursed up his spine. He saw Alutar nod towards the northern shore. A red beam sailed across the lava lake, and Kalmar turned to follow its progress. Fakir Aziz stood on the shore, a brilliant glowing nimbus surrounding him. Alutar’s red beam struck the nimbus, turning it a deep blood red. For a brief moment, the Mage was no longer visible, but the nimbus soon reverted as the red color dissipated.

  The Mage spread his arms wide and then swiftly brought them together. The surface of the lava lake rose in a chaotic turmoil and then a tsunami of molten lava sped towards the Great Demon. Alutar laughed at the feeble attack, but it had not been meant for him. The great lava wave continued past Alutar, striking the opposite shore of the lake. The huge wall of molten
material spewed across the land, showering the demons with superheated debris. The trees burst into flames, and the demons howled in pain. When Alutar turned to see what had happened, the Mage repeated the spell, sending another tsunami across the lake. The demons saw it coming and raced deeper into the woods.

  Alutar growled in rage and turned his attention back to the Mage. The Great Demon thrust out both arms as if pushing something huge towards the Mage. The forest around Fakir Aziz erupted in a frenzy of exploding trees. The air sizzled with flying chunks of wood, and millions of leaves fluttered to the ground. Alutar’s eyes scanned the shoreline looking for the bodies of Fakir’s mages, but he could not find any of them. He grumbled with dissatisfaction and started to turn his head in an attempt to locate the mages. The Mage chose that moment to send a brilliant projectile at Alutar’s eyes. Alutar caught sight of the brilliant missile and swiftly raised his arm across his face. The projectile exploded before it reached the Great Demon, and a brilliant nova suddenly appeared before Alutar’s face. The Great Demon blinked his eyes repeatedly, but his vision was slow to return to normal. He felt a weight upon his back and reached back to seize it.

  “It is me, Master,” said the demon. “It is D’Artim. How can I serve you?”

  “Find the Mage’s helpers and destroy them,” Alutar ordered.

  “They have already been located,” replied the demon. “They are hiding in the northeastern section. D’Cavan is leading the attack upon them.”

  “Then point me towards the Mage,” demanded Alutar. “I cannot see him.”

  Alutar raised an arm and pointed at the northern shore. D’Artim hid on the Great Demon’s back and guided the attack. After a few moments, Alutar’s sight returned, and he no longer needed help to locate Fakir Aziz, but D’Artim remained in case he was needed again.

  * * * *

  “Hurry,” urged Eulena. “We need to leave the protected area before the demons attack again.”

  “Why in the world are you leading us away from the protected area?” groused Atule. “The whole purpose of the pillars is to protect us.”