The hands of the Priest came down towards Asnea and Sviska scrambled to his feet, sprinting towards them. He jumped and pushed Asnea from his grip and away from the altar. Finding his footing, he turned, arms open. His weapons were near Berie.
But the Priest did not seek his death nor any of them. In his attack on Asnea, he had freed the way to the altar and now the Galhedriss Arcana was within his immediate grasp. He bent down, picking it up and turned to the altar.
Sviska ran for his weapons grabbing his dagger and ax. He then heard the sounds of rapid footsteps approaching. He turned just as Kealin’s red blades came down onto him. He parried and looked Kealin in the eye.
The Priest laughed, “The once god-killer now serves the Itsu, an exalted day.”
Sviska tired in his parries. His fight with Kasis had used much of his strength.
Dis is not what you think.
Kealin spoke to Sviska through the Dwemhar powers.
I did not betray you, I had to get close to the Priest, close to learn his secret. It is true, I can kill a god but the priest is different. There is a name spoken upon creation of a priest, it must be spoken again if one is to kill him.
He can only be killed within the realm of the gods. That is why I made sure he got to this temple.
Their fighting continued. Meanwhile, the Priest set the book upon the altar. The other Saints were forced down by a spell of the Itsu, their strength sapped.
You mean to let him open the Void of Ages?
Dat is de only way. It only must be opened, once it is, I can kill him and it will shut.
Kealin, Kasis used these powers, too. The Itsu Priest may hear your thoughts.
Sviska felt a pounding, a shuddering darkness take to his head.
Betray me? Half-elf? Do you not know I have gained the powers of the Dwemhar?
Sviska turned just in time to dodge the Itsu Priest’s blade, but Kealin was struck in the head, splitting his skull down the side, the blade ripping through his mouth. Kealin the half-elf was cut down.
The Itsu Priest raised his foot and stomped him in the chest, before looking back to the altar and lifting his hands in the air.
“I have defeated you, Kealin, killer of gods, and now I will return my masters to glory!”
A gust of wind took the temple grounds, bending around Finar and into the inner sanctum.
Kel had joined the forces fighting against the Itsu Priest’s forces. He swung his claws swiping the ground, tearing apart the ranks of the Cursed Legions. Stepping over the main battle lines, he attacked the forces not engaged with a roar and a white fire that disintegrated that which the Itsu had empowered. Ruir lay on the field of battle, staring upward at the sight. His men rallied and charged into their fleeing enemy. The Island Chieftain smiled. As Arsus led the forces of Lokam in a growing hope for victory, the Cursed Legions broke apart and faltered.
Kel then stepped towards the city. The polar lights spanned the entire twilight sky in a deep red hue. Wura now stood near the city.
Above the sea, a large swirling mass appearing as many stars appeared, reaching over the city of Finar. The Void of Ages was open.
Garoa vanquished the last of his foes long enough to run towards the temple. He held out his staff, leaping onto the upper level and sliding down the stairwell into the inner sanctum. It was a last attempt that was folly and too late.
The Priest would complete his task. Though they were all weak, the Saints struggled for their weapons. Sviska crawled towards his dagger as the Itsu Priest begin to float into the air.
“Return to this world, masters!”
The gods of the North made a final move. The hands of Kel and Wura came over the Itsu Temple, before gripping into the foundations of Finar and ripping the structure from the earth.
Sviska noticed his necklace was glowing. But it was not bats that would come this day.
In this moment, Kel and Wura placed the temple, with the Saints of Wura, into the opened portal between realms before both gods followed them into the Void.
Sviska gasped as a sudden searing heat covered his entire body and his eyes were forced close from a blinding light.
Chapter 20 The Roads End
He opened his eyes and found himself face-down, a bright light above him. He opened and closed his hands and felt a substance he had not felt in some time, sand.
He rolled over, looking around to see a bright white sky. Desert dunes went out in all directions from them. The inner sanctum of the temple was now ruins, leaving only the altar and sections of the floor in the dunes near them.
Nearby, Berie and Slats struggled to stand but Garoa was already up. He pointed behind Sviska.
“The Itsu creatures! They are coming!”
Sviska turned to see the angels of the Itsu. Berie pulled back on her bow and Slats charged forward. Asnea stood next to Berie but was awestruck by the sights above them and stunned.
Strange beings were in the clouds above, numbering too many to count. Some were made of stone, while others were of fire, and ice, and still others were masses of fog, much like the Itsu Priest. Kel and Wura had blades and were surrounded, striking one after another of the other gods down. Garoa looked to Sviska.
“I must go.”
In a whirlwind, Garoa took to the sky by the power of his staff. He began to send blasts of magic towards the Itsu. The Itsu Priest appeared, challenging Garoa once again, and their duel continued.
Berie fired her bow and now Slats struck down the beasts, working to overtake them. Sviska looked around and found that Brethor as well as Runka were not there. He then spotted Kealin.
As sands ripped and howled around them, Sviska jogged towards him. Dropping to his knees, he noticed Kealin was bleeding from many areas. The Itsu blade had crushed a portion of his skull, but he still drew breath every few moments, in a gasping motion where his entire body shook.
“Friend, you still live?”
Kealin grasped at his armor with his left hand.
Only the living may be brought to this place but I near the end. My mind, go, Sviska.
Sviska shook his head, “I do not know what you mean.”
“Sviska, the time is now. You must embrace the Dwemhar way.”
His voice was clearer than he had ever spoke.
Kealin grabbed his hand and pulled it onto his chest. In a flash of light, he was away from the realm of the Itsu and he found himself in a strange world.
It was like a dream. It was dark. On a single cliff in the distance sat a young boy with a torch next to him.
A chilled wind brushed Sviska’s face and then he heard Kealin whisper in a faint voice, “Now is the time for the end.”
Sviska was no longer injured. He walked along a stone path, green grasses everywhere. The sky above was full of stars and a pale white moon.
As he walked up the small hill and to the edge of the cliff, the boy turned. His eyes were alight with red fire.
In the distance behind him, a large lake, sparkling with the starlight above, was still even with the breeze of the night air.
“Do you like the nighttime?” the boy asked.
“I do.”
“I really like it, it is my favorite time. Have you seen my brothers and sister?”
Sviska sat next to him on the hill, “No, I only see you.”
“Oh,” the boy said, his eyes turned sad. “That is because they died. They died a long time ago, back when I was forgotten, as well.”
“You were left here?” asked Sviska.
“It is where I feel safe. Where I go when the blood is all I can see. You understand, you have that place you go to when you are unhappy.”
The little boy kicked his feet atop the cliff, “Look, a fire!” the boy shouted.
In the far distance, flames licked up the trees surrounding the lake. Sviska noticed they were burning faster than a normal fire.
“It is not long now.”
“We need to leave. I do not know how I am here but we need to go.”
“No, this is the end that was decided. It was decided long ago. I am happy with it.”
“I do not understand.”
“I know. He did not want to leave you all before but he knew the Priest could only be defeated by one way. He defeated one before.
But not this time, he gave me the secret to keep. I have the name.”
“Are you Kealin?”
The boy smiled and giggled, “I am him, I am his happiness, when he was a young boy. He thought about me for many of his years but guarded me from the other mind he had. This place was a place of the elves, he lived here when he was young. I have his memories just not the really bad ones. That is what he told me.”
The fires were now coming around the lake and already the flames had begun down the path Sviska had came.
“You need the name now; I am to give it to you so you may defeat him. The name of the Itsu Priest is Nurichan. Kealin had tried to do it himself, but he couldn’t. You have the gift of the mind as he did. Your wisdom has been given, so now, I can finally go to sleep.”
In flashes of light, the flames and smoke fled from his mind and Sviska found himself above Kealin. The half-elf’s chest no longer rose.
“Sviska! Sviska!” Berie called out.
He felt as if still in a daze and, looking up, he witnessed the elf firing her bow into the sky. The Itsu Priest was above them and Slats had been all but overrun by the Itsu angels.
A voice echoed across the sky, “My Saints, defeat the one who opened this place. We brought you here to destroy him who opened this void. The time of the gods is to be finished.”
Garoa immediately came down to the ground where Sviska stood. He lifted his staff, a bright shield of light burst outward from the pearl of the sea god and the Itsu angels were turned to ash. The Priest slammed his staff on the shield and it collapsed, knocking Garoa back and into the sand.
The Priest landed on the ground and looked to Sviska who stared at him. The confident eyes of the Priest locked with his and its blade rose into the air as it flew towards him.
Garoa jumped between them. His staff out, he sent a shock of lightning into the Priest. In response, a blast of fog enveloped the Rusis. He swung his staff but was thrown into the sands. The fogs rolled over him in a constant wave and Sviska saw his hand fall to the ground, the Staff of Kel now only loosely held.
Sviska stepped forward, his dagger and ax in hand. He threw the ax and the Priest parried it.
“What do you know, Sviska?” the Priest asked, “What enlightenment do you feel has been awakened in your mind? You may have the blood of the Dwemhar but that is no advantage now.”
Sviska flew into the air. He felt invisible hands on his arms and legs. His dagger was torn from his hand. He looked down at the Priest’s outstretched staff.
He worked to keep his mind focused and clear. Forcing the betraying thoughts deep within.
“You know nothing, Dwemhar. But I know something of you. You have a curse and one you care about greatly among us.”
At that moment, one of Berie’s bolts flew towards him. He watched the arrow stop before falling to the ground. He pointed his hand and, in a blast of sand, Berie and Slats were knocked back.
Sviska felt the grips tighten on his arms and then he flew sideways into the steps of the altar, rolling down to where Kealin lay.
“Blood rite of the Damned, a useful curse for the weak but satisfying,” the Priest laughed. “You shall kill the elf and we will be rid of another useless race that dishonors the Itsu.”
Sviska shook his head. He could hear the Priest’s voice.
Yes, your mind is becoming weak. Soon you will do what I wish.
Behind them, the gods of the north toppled a few of the Itsu, but there were many more and some had begun to wander towards the Void of Ages open above the sea and the ruins of Finar.
Sviska had to act. The Priest walked towards him but Sishan was far away. He reached out for the dagger of Meredaas. Its jeweled hilt flew towards him but the priest caught it mid-flight.
You are done.
It was then Sviska’s hand felt the hilt of another blade. He looked down to see the shell blade that was Kealin’s.
Sviska smiled, Itsu Priest, I need not worry of a curse for I know--
The Itsu Priest glared at him, Speak it not!
“Nurichan, I destroy you!”
He gripped the dagger of the half-elf, flinging it at just the moment Nurichan lunged to silence him, as he had done to Kealin. The blade pierced his chest. Fogs shot out from his form and then began to recede, leaving a blackened body, scarred and burning.
In a flash of gold, light spread across the skies before a dark fire and a howling sound shrieked across the sands. The Itsu Priest was no more.
The brilliance of the polar lights surrounded them all as the sands faded and into the ethereal plains of the northern gods they appeared. The sands and the fighting from before were gone. They flew over twilight fields and up into the skies until all they could see were stars. They were now in the starlight realm they had entered when they first were charged with the Galhedriss Arcana.
The voice of Wura spoke to them:
“The Priest has been destroyed. Destroyed by your hands, my Saints. Keep well the ways of magic for we gods sacrifice ourselves to seal the Itsu away forever. So it is spoken.”
Sviska, as did the others, felt themselves pulled downward and, in a blast of winds, they appeared on the top of Itsu Temple in Finar.
Around them stood those of the Island Nation, the Falacar, as well as the Legions of Lokam.
“Is it done?”
The man that asked them stood covered in the blood and tissues of battle. His side was bloodied and his beard was caked in mud. It was Ruir, and next to him was Arsus.
“We have defeated the Cursed Legions, they have fled. We have taken the field and city. But what of the Itsu?” Arsus asked.
“They are defeated,” said Sviska, “We are victorious.”
A smile crossed the face of those in front, spreading then to the rest of the warriors in a wave of shouts and joyous singing.
Sviska looked to the others. Berie stood behind him and next to her was Slats. Behind them was Garoa with his arm around Asnea. He closed his eyes and wished that Brethor could stand next to them.
Rincew approached them and howled deep and long before speaking. “We have sensed the loss of Runka but where is Brethor?”
“He fell in defense of all of us,” said Berie, “As did the one you call Runka who was with him in the end.”
From the far side of the temple grounds there emerged a single person. A shuffling of Falacar and legionnaires alike followed as more began to appear from a dark opening in the ground, young and old, some well, others sick and barely walking.
Knasgriff noticed first who they were and then slowly the others of the Island Nation noticed. Prisoners, taken from all regions of the lands, emerged from their prison, the iron cells shaken free by the hands of the Northern gods. At last, they had been saved.
Two children ran to two warriors of the Island Nation. Sviska smiled, as he saw Kealin’s promise well kept. Aoscu and Lurta were safe with their parents. He turned to look around those that had returned from the Void of Ages. Kealin’s body had not come with them.
He then thought of the Keepers that had come at the last moment to fight the Dark Ones. Dran, and the others like him, had honored them in those last moments. Now they were either dead or were gone long before the forces of Lokam came. He had many questions but perhaps it was better he not know where they went. That was no longer his life. The Keepers were those who the Order spoke of protecting the children that they once sought to kill. An irony that he smiled at. But Sviska was no longer one of them and he was happy of that.
In the coming hours that passed, the Saints of Wura did little save retrieve the bodies of Brethor and Runka which had been thrown into the rubble of the temple. Arsus set a garrison to hold Finar but the Saints’ duty
was to return to Lokam. Ahead of the main army and accompanied by those of the Falacar, they rode swiftly to the city.
As news spread throughout the Lokam of the fall of the Order and of Finar, few understood the meaning beyond the Saints themselves.
Sviska went to the Gypsy Mother to give her news of the events.
He stood outside her cart where she once again sat staring at him. She cleared her table of the books she had and offered him a seat.
“The field of battle looks heavy upon you, Resua.”
“It was,” he said plainly.
“Perhaps we should look at the cards, then?”
He raised his hand over the table, “I have news that is not easy to tell.”
“And I can tell you that no matter your news, it is not something that was not meant to happen.”
He paused, not sure how to respond.
She began arranging her cards.
“You have grown much,” she said. “From a winemaker with intent of harm to a man that can look into his reflection and be glad of his deeds. It is now you must unlock that of your kin, the power of the mind beyond even what I myself have.”
She smiled and then stared at the cards.
“Snow,” she said, “That is your next path.” She flipped another card over, “But then the sea and calmness for a time. It is then I see the wolf and a rising morning sun.”
“Brethor has fallen.”
The Gypsy Mother paused.
“The news was upon me before you yourself knew. It was his time and in doing so, he died with the completion of his life goal and duty to the gods. He was once called a Knight of Kel and his duty is done.”
She was silent for a moment, “But it does not mean that I am not saddened by such happenings.”
She returned to the cards, “You were a blank card that brought fear to me before. I know you keep that card but I ask you, return it to the deck. Your path you chose long before this day and I wish to give you a new fortune, as much of one, at least, as this old gypsy can.”
He reached into his shirt, taking the card that had remained with him for many months and now he handed it over with a certain attachment to it.
Saints of Wura: Winemaker of the North, Arcane Awakening, Reckoning in the Void (Saints of Wura Books 1-3 with bonus content) Page 79