Spirit Past (Book 8)

by Jeff Inlo

  "Apparently nothing."

  Neltus eyed the powerful wizard suspiciously. He, and the daokiln, expected greater concern from Enin, and yet, the prize magic caster made no attempt to escape.

  "And now that you know my plans, I am surprised you remain before me," the monster revealed.

  "Like I said before, there's no point in hiding and no reason to run. I can hold you off for as long as I have to."

  "You may be able to delay me, but you won't stop me."

  "That's true, but I think we both realize this isn't just between you and me. The battle you face will be against a much stronger opponent."

  Neltus looked to his left and right and then behind him. He sniffed the air and then turned his attention back to the wizard.

  "You speak of the guardian spirit? I've already defeated him. He was unable to keep me from taking Neltus' spirit, and he won't stop me from taking yours."

  "Defeated? You don't really think you've won, do you?"

  "Is there something I've missed?" the daokiln asked through a devious giggle. "This wizard is at my command. I am in control, something the spirit prevented Gnafil from achieving when the infern arrived here."

  "That's only because you didn't take Neltus here. You used Scheff to call Neltus' spirit to Demonspawn. That's how you gained control of the wizard. If you had tried it here, you would have been rebuffed, just as Gnafil was."

  "I don't see the spirit trying to stop me now."

  "But you know he's watching. You can feel him... just as I can."

  "He's hiding."

  Enin almost laughed.

  "Even you can't believe that's true."

  "Then why doesn't he appear?"

  Enin wished the spirit of Sy Fenden would appear, but deep down, he knew he had to prove himself first. Sy was bound to Burbon, but the spirit wasn't going to protect everyone without cause.

  The town was once Enin's home, but he had left it for Connel. Enin swore to protect both, but his focus had drifted away from the small town. He couldn't deny it.

  As he stood within Burbon's walls, he recalled how Sy's life had ended. The captain died protecting Burbon from a horde of goblins, died because Enin had made a promise to protect Connel... and only Connel. He had left Burbon to its own devices.

  Even against Reiculf, Enin made the same mistake. He allowed Ansas to separate the daokiln's intended victims. He returned to Connel while Neltus was placed in Burbon. When the undead attacked, he followed Ansas' instructions and went to Dark Spruce to free Scheff from Reiculf's control. It might have been the most practical decision, but he had left Burbon to fend for itself again.

  In a way, Sy was doing the same to Enin, forcing the wizard to fight without aid. Enin couldn't blame the guardian spirit. He almost wanted to thank him. Enin had felt tremendous guilt over what had happened. He hoped that maybe facing Reiculf would give him some measure of redemption.

  It wasn't so much about sponging away the past as it was a chance to reveal what was always in his heart. He knew he couldn't erase his mistakes, but at least he could show he still cared for the town. He wanted Sy to know that Burbon meant something to him, which in turn would prove that Sy was important to him as well.

  "He's waiting for me," Enin admitted. "The spirit of Sy Fenden will protect Burbon, but I have to prove myself again, prove I am still part of this town. I have to face you first."

  Reiculf laughed through the body of Neltus. The daokiln's connection to the past allowed him to see and feel Enin's guilt. He knew what haunted the wizard, but he found Enin's conclusion most amusing.

  "Absurd. You think facing me will alter the substance of your mistakes? You let Sy Fenden die. You can't simply wash that away with some perceived good deed. Your grievous errors are mine. They always have been and always will be. They make me stronger."

  "I realize I cannot atone for my past. I also know I can't hide it from you. I am aware of what you are. You will hold to my mistakes no matter what I do, but this is not about a clash between you and me. Among other things, this is about my dedication to Burbon and its people. Sy Fenden placed the safety of this town above everything else. That's why his spirit endures here, and I realize his expectations for me will not be easily met. Still, I believe this town is part of my heritage, and I have to prove that... both to myself and the spirit who will ultimately defeat you."

  "Defeat me? If I take you, I will have your power... and your capacity for magic. Imagine what I can do through you. Nothing can stop me, not even a ghost!"

  Enin decided to turn the tables on the demon master and reveal what was very apparent.

  "And just as you can see my guilt, I can see your fear. Despite your claims, you are afraid of the spirit."

  "I do not deny it," the daokiln snickered again. "Fear is a part of me as much as hate and anger. The latter, however, always wins. I will not run. Speaking of which, by facing me, you're putting this town in danger. If you really wished to protect Burbon, shouldn't you have left?"

  "No, that would be running away. That's not something Sy would excuse. It would also enable you to escape him, which is something I will not allow."

  "So what do you expect me to do at this point?" the beast wondered aloud. "Hurl destructive spells in every direction? Threaten to kill the innocent humans of this city? I assume you think this will bring out the protective nature of the spirit, and he might come to your aid. Or maybe you intend to cast defensive spells of your own to save the town and win back the loyalty of the dead captain. Unfortunately for you, I am not that careless. I have no intention of doing any damage or causing any pain, except of course to you. If the ghost was going to protect you, he'd be here by now."

  "Maybe," Enin allowed, "or maybe he wants to see what I'll do. You may rule over my past mistakes, but I can still use them for my own benefit as well."

  Neltus shook his head in disgust.

  "And will you now give me some pathetic lecture about learning from your errors? Spare me."

  Enin was indeed prepared to spare the demon master of any further remarks and allow the battle to take shape. He was very aware, however, of Sy's presence. There was a power in the air beyond magic. It was an overwhelming sensation, and it brought him the conflicting emotions of both hope and guilt. He needed to reveal his view of the conflict, needed Sy to understand why he chose to remain in Burbon.

  "No," Enin stated forcefully, "I will spare you from nothing. You will face this moment just as I must... with a clear understanding of why I have to face you here and now.

  "This isn't just about past errors and bad judgment. I'm talking about honesty. I can look at my entire past—not just my mistakes—and hold myself to the same standards I have placed upon others. It has always been my intention to avoid interference, to let each individual forge his or her own path.

  "Even in this conflict, I have allowed for a great degree of personal latitude. I let Ansas take charge because I hoped he would learn to work with others. I also wanted Jure and Ryson to let go of their anger towards him.

  "It's always been like that for me. I've stood back and allowed others to face their demons, even when I had the power to save them. Now it's my turn to face a greater power, to see if I can rise to the occasion or if I'll fall to fear.

  "Sy is going to want to see that, too. He died facing overwhelming odds. He knows I could have saved him. I know it as well, but I had to let certain events transpire, even when the results were disastrous.

  "As for overwhelming odds, I've never had to face that... until now. I've always been powerful enough to defeat any foe. With the magic within me, I was always superior. That's not the case here."

  Enin exhaled heavily as he considered everything he had professed. He didn't think about the words. They just flowed from his mouth, but he knew he believed in them.

  "So this is not about me saving Burbon or even sacrificing myself," Enin concluded. "This is about me accepting the same responsibility I have placed upon others. In that regard, I hop
e to win this battle."

  "Nice speech," the daokiln growled through a sneer on Neltus' face. "But that does not change certain facts. You cannot defeat me. I will take control of you, and then, when I can feed my energy through your body and mix my magic with yours, all of Uton will fall. Nothing will stop me."

  Enin found Reiculf's confidence puzzling and decided to pour doubt on the daokiln's intentions.

  "You're missing an important piece of the puzzle. The very idea that a guardian spirit exists is a larger threat to you than you will allow. You said if you take my powers that you would become unstoppable. Nonsense. If Sy Fenden's soul can still protect this town after his death, then you will never be unstoppable. That is something even you cannot deny."

  "Deny? I can deny everything. It is what I do."

  Reiculf had grown angry. The threat of the guardian spirit made him wary, but even as he took his first step toward Enin, the ghost of Sy Fenden failed to appear. He took another step and his confidence grew. He smiled wickedly as his eyes turned pale white, the dark brown pupils no longer visible.

  The daokiln had pressed more of his consciousness into Neltus' form. He wanted to feel the exquisite thrill when he took hold of Enin's essence. He craved the moment he could transfer his immense power through the wizard's vast magical core. It would amount to unparalleled freedom. Though his daokiln form would have to remain in Demonspawn, the consciousness and energy he could funnel through Enin's body would allow him to experience unbridled liberty and invade any plane of existence.

  As he watched Neltus move toward him, Enin realized Reiculf's intentions. There would be no magical battle, no contest of spells. The daokiln planned to simply take his essence by brute force alone. He knew his spirit was in great peril, and he had to defend himself.

  Hoping to hold off the daokiln for as long as possible, Enin concentrated upon building a wall of magic between himself and the approaching enemy. Two circles of white magic flew off his hands and formed a curved wall which grounded itself deep into the road. The base of the barrier formed a strong foundation that became one with the stout heart of the town. Enin had placed a desire for firm structure into his defense, and it fed off of Burbon's orderly essence. He pressed an enormous amount of his own energy into the wall as well, and he hoped the combination of forces would hold firm.

  Directed onward by Reiculf, Neltus pushed through the wall with ease. The ground shook as the wall crumbled into flashes of magical destruction. He smirked as he marched forward. He would be upon the wizard in less than a dozen steps and still there was no sign of the guardian spirit.

  His defensive spell utterly destroyed, Enin placed his final hope on one last thrust of power. If he could not overcome Reiculf's magic, he had to try to destroy Neltus' body. He did not wish to kill the crimson casting wizard, but he saw no other way to save himself, and in turn, save Uton.

  He lifted both arms, pointed his hands at the center of Neltus' chest, and let fly every strand of magic within him, as well as that which he could retrieve from his surroundings. He pulled energy from the ground, the air, and even from Burbon itself. Outside the town walls, he called to the trees in Dark Spruce and the water running in the Fuge River.

  The single spell of colossal energy had one purpose, one target. Enin placed the desire for complete destruction into the magical flow and directed it entirely upon his enemy.

  The sheer strength surprised Reiculf, and for one brief instant, it rattled the daokiln's grip upon the crimson casting wizard. Neltus regained control just long enough to reveal a devastating fear of death.

  "What are you doing?" Neltus pleaded with his own voice.

  "What I must," Enin responded.

  Neltus' body shook violently, almost began to fade away. The spell was about to thrust the wizard into oblivion, but just as Neltus' body became transparent, three rings of colorless, distorted energy rotated around his torso. Neltus' form solidified and Reiculf placed his consciousness back within the crimson wizard's mind.

  The moment of vulnerability passed quickly, and the daokiln reasserted firm control. As Enin's spell dissipated into wisps of weakening force, Neltus' expression of panic had washed away. The devious grin fueled by Reiculf returned.

  "You would have killed the human wizard?" the daokiln's voice once again growled out of Neltus' mouth.

  "I cannot let you take me."

  "It seems you no longer have a choice. I have withstood your spell, and you have little magic left. You did better than I expected, but still you have lost. You are mine now."

  Reiculf pressed Neltus' body forward once more. In a few steps, he would have his ultimate victory. He would viciously take a portion of Enin's core and mix it with his own. He would then pour his magical essence into the body of the wizard. Controlling both Neltus and Enin, he would rip Uton to pieces.

  The apparition materialized directly behind Neltus. It remained completely silent. Unnoticed by the daokiln, the ghostly hand of Sy Fenden reached through Neltus' back and ended the threat.

  Neltus collapsed immediately. He remained still, but only for a few moments. His eyes blinked wildly as the pale whiteness that once engulfed his pupils receded. He coughed and shuddered, then spat a foul taste from his mouth. After flailing about, he struggled to his feet, looked upon Enin, and then turned to face the apparition.

  "What happened? What did you do?"

  The spirit said nothing.

  Neltus turned to face Enin again. He recalled a portion of the battle, remembered the brief moment his consciousness was freed of Reiculf's control.

  "You tried to kill me!"

  "I thought it was the only way to save you," Enin admitted.

  "But I'm not dead! I didn't..." Neltus caught himself as he looked around, clearly unsettled. "Something doesn't feel right. Something is wrong!"

  As he looked across the town, and especially over the ground, he saw things differently. The crimson energy which once pulsed within him was silent. His connection to the land had been severed. He tried to call on the dark red energy within him, but he could not find it.

  "I can't feel it!" he cried. "I can't feel the land. My magic! What happened to my magic?!"

  Enin, his magical reserves quickly replenishing, used the energy to look deep into Neltus' essence. He was amazed at what he saw. He then spoke to the guardian spirit.

  "You took his core," the wizard acknowledged, suddenly understanding how the apparition stopped Reiculf.

  The ghost of Sy Fenden nodded.

  The magnitude of the claim was not lost on Neltus.

  "You took it? Give it back!" he howled.

  "He can not," Enin advised. "It was the only way to save you. Reiculf can no longer pass his magic through you. With your core gone, so too are any remnants that the daokiln might exploit. You could stand before him in Demonspawn and he can no longer touch you."

  "But I'm weak!"

  "That is your own dilemma."

  Not knowing what else to do, Neltus ran off. Powerful magic had become the basis for his existence. Without it, he felt empty. In a fit of panic, he left Burbon completely.

  Enin realized that the apparition remained. He also understood Sy's task was not yet complete. There was more to do to end the threat of Reiculf and keep Burbon safe. Enin also understood Neltus' anguish.

  "You're not done, are you?" the wizard asked.

  The ghost simply stared.

  "You were willing to intercede on my behalf because you had to save Uton... save Burbon, but now you have to deal with me," Enin acknowledged. "As long as I am what I am, Reiculf will always be a threat. You have to do to me exactly what you did to Neltus."

  The spirit of Sy Fenden nodded.

  "I see," Enin replied in a near whisper.

  With all his heart, he wished there was another solution, but he knew the apparition would not allow it. Even if Ansas and the others succeeded in removing Macheve from Reiculf's control, the daokiln would attempt other means to reach out into Uton. Enin
was the ultimate aim of Reiculf's desires, and as such, he could not be allowed to remain the wizard he had become.

  Thinking of Ansas, Enin made one request.

  "Before you remove my magic, will you at least allow those who are in Demonspawn a chance to accomplish what they have set out to do? If you remove my core now, my spell that holds them in safety will dissolve. They deserve a chance, don't they?"

  The apparition nodded one last time.

  Chapter 28

  Reiculf raged against yet another loss, especially against one in which he had no recourse. He could not threaten the guardian spirit of Burbon, cause it pain and suffering in retaliation for removing Neltus from his control. The ghost of Sy Fenden was beyond the daokiln's ability to punish.

  Worse, the spirit had removed all the remnants of magic from Neltus, turned the crimson casting wizard into a useless bag of flesh. Reiculf had lost a slave, lost another outlet for his influence, and he would never get it back.

  The daokiln stomped about his sanctuary, raising a dark cloud of dust from the powdery soil. He cursed and spat, swung at the empty gloom that surrounded him. He wished to kill something, anything. Finally, his gaze fell upon Macheve who cowered as far away from the beast as she dared.

  "Serp!" Reiculf roared. "Come here!"

  Macheve could not refuse, but the fear boiling within her made her dread every step forward.

  "Yes?" she whined.

  The daokiln did not strike out at the serp, but he did issue a shocking demand.

  "I will send you to the edges of Demonspawn, and you will deal with the invaders to my realm!"

  The order surprised the serp to such an extent she actually questioned the daokiln.

  "You would put me within their reach? They are here to separate me from you, most likely to kill me!"

  As much as Macheve feared the daokiln, she had grown to fear death in Demonspawn even more. Before Reiculf had seized her spirit, she would have gladly taken her own life to avoid the suffering of that bleak realm, but once her essence became part of the daokiln, mixed within the bowels of the vile creature, she feared death more than ever. She believed if her body expired before she could extract the daokiln's magic from her own essence, her consciousness would be locked within Reiculf forever.