by Jeff Inlo
"I admit I am amazed, but you appear to be correct. Your magic is forming a new barrier within him. You have succeeded."
The sorcerer gave one additional glance at the bewildered daokiln, and then in a stunning reversal of his own character, Ansas offered surprising advice to the delver.
"Perhaps you should leave now."
"Not just yet. I need him to understand what happened. Besides, he can't kill me now. Just like you couldn't kill me because of your past, neither can he. My magic is a part of him, just like yours is. He also can't harm Linda. That was the reason I came here, but now it's part of what I've done, not just what I wanted to do, and it's growing stronger every moment."
Ryson stepped directly up to the daokiln, almost dared the fiend to strike out at him. His explanation, however, bared the truth Reiculf could not deny.
"Everything you are is based on the past. What happened here has become a part of what you are. It's really not that complicated. I made a stand, and that's going to last with you forever. I placed my magic within you for one reason alone, to keep you from harming my wife. It's done, it's over. You go back on that, and you're basically going to destroy your own history, and you can't do that, can you?"
Reiculf could not answer with words. His pale eyes burned with hatred as he shrieked with fury. The beast stormed about his lair, but the delver was right. He could not strike out at Ryson. Worse, he was constrained in what he could do in the future. The delver had placed restrictions on him, and the daokiln could feel them growing within him. He might have wanted to kill the delver's mate, but such an action was now beyond his grasp. The present had become the past, and Reiculf would not be able to escape the delver's triumph.
With one last soul piercing scream, the monster disappeared into the gray shadows.
"Now we can leave," Ryson called to the sorcerer. "Time for us to go."
"For you, yes, but not for me."
"You have other ideas?"
"I have always wanted to challenge the daokiln. Here, I can do so with every passing moment. Whether he wishes to accept it or not, I have earned my victory against him."
Ryson was surprised Ansas remained so focused on such hollow aspirations.
"Maybe so," the delver allowed, "but the longer you stay here, the greater risk you take. Reiculf will try to trap you, use some other mistake to manipulate you. Given enough time, he'll find something to use against you."
"I have conquered all my failures," Ansas stated boldly. "I have overcome every obstacle, emerged unscathed and victorious in every conflict against Reiculf. By reaching the daokiln's sanctuary, I have even beaten Baannat. The slink ghoul cannot take me from this place. I have accomplished all I set out to achieve."
"And what about me?" Ryson asked. "You wanted to kill me."
"That is true, but I do not believe I failed in that regard."
"I'm still alive."
"But your death is now meaningless to me. While I do not like to lose, I realize certain losses are meant as paths to victory. I once viewed my past conflict with you in isolation. That is no longer the case. Now, I realize it was only part of a greater challenge. If I had killed you, I would not have been able to use your magic."
Ryson saw nothing gained in arguing against such arrogance. And while the delver had no deep affection for the sorcerer, he could not simply leave without offering what he felt was the wiser path, one Ansas might take to avoid further suffering.
"I think it's best to let go of past errors. You don't have to stay here, not now. It's not necessary.
"Necessary? I want to remain. I'd rather challenge Reiculf here then go back to Baannat. Here, I have my magic."
"There's another choice. You can look beyond what you've done. That's the whole point of this. If you let go of it all, Baannat can't take you, either."
Ansas declined with a tone of finality.
"I'm not like you. I can't let it go. I won't. I'd rather stay here and fight. That's the choice I make."
Ansas then called out to Enin.
"Recall the rest back to you, but simply release me from your spell. I will stay here."
The next thing Ryson knew, he was standing in the middle of a street in Burbon, along with Enin and the ghost of Sy Fenden .
Chapter 31
Ryson found himself on familiar ground surrounded by very familiar faces. Enin had recalled them all from Demonspawn—all save Ansas—and they stood at the center of a street near the Borderline Inn in Burbon.
The elves gathered together, including Shantree who had also been summoned inside the walls of the small town. Jure was talking softly to the elf elder, explaining everything that had happened. Linda and Dzeb watched quietly, the giant not leaving her side until the delver returned to her. The spirit of Sy Fenden remained nearby, but his silhouette was dim, as if he did not wish to draw attention away from those that had returned.
Upon seeing his wife, Ryson rushed toward Linda with overwhelming happiness freeing him from so many worries. He was relieved she appeared unhurt, but without knowing what happened to her during his confrontation with Reiculf, he needed to confirm her well-being.
"Are you alright?"
"Fine," Linda exclaimed. "We were never attacked after you left. There were some demons in the distance, but they never approached us. I was more worried about you."
"I'm fine too," Ryson answered. "And we don't have to worry about Reiculf anymore. You're safe."
"He won't be coming after us?" Linda questioned, sounding almost reluctant to accept the good news. "Either of us?"
"No, he can't."
The delver went on to reveal everything that had happened. They all listened to his account. When he finished, Jure questioned the obvious absence of one individual.
"Where's Ansas?"
"He wanted to stay," Ryson explained. "He wanted to challenge Reiculf."
"He's still at the center of Demonspawn?"
"He made the request himself," Enin explained. "I would have been willing to bring him back, but all he wanted me to do was end the spell that kept him in magical transition. He's now completely in Reiculf's realm, and I don't think he can leave."
"He has his magic," Ryson added. "He said it was better to be there than to be trapped with Baannat. I thought there might be another choice, but he didn't want to hear it."
"An eternity battling a daokiln with his ebony magic," Jure noted. "Somehow, that doesn't surprise me. I could see him taking up that fight. Well, good luck to him."
The others weren't quite sure if Jure actually wished the sorcerer well or if he was sarcastically emphasizing the futility of such a decision.
Shantree had listened to everything that had been said. It seemed as if they had returned victorious. She looked down upon the ground. The body of Scheff was at their feet, no longer animated, no longer tainted with Ansas' spell. She did not like seeing him there. She wanted to bring the body back to their camp, to show proper respect, but she wasn't sure she could return.
"And is the daokiln now confined again to Demonspawn?" the elf elder spoke out. "Has the danger passed completely, and are we now free to return to our homes?"
Enin was about to speak, but before he could say a word, the guardian spirit—who had hovered inconspicuously off to the side—floated forward. A hush fell over the entire group and not one of them moved, not even Enin.
The ghost of Sy Fenden glided directly in front of the wizard and reached deep inside Enin with ethereal hands. With one sudden tug, the apparition pulled out a glowing white orb from the spell caster. Once it was fully separated from the wizard, the collection of magic disintegrated.
Enin slumped immediately and almost fell to the ground. Jure caught him, helped keep him steady. The wizard shook slightly, but made no defiant reaction towards the spirit.
"What just happened?" Ryson asked before anyone else could speak.
"He has taken my magical core," Enin said through a heavy breath. "Funny, I'm suddenly so tired. Neltus ra
n out of here when he lost his core, but I can barely catch my breath. Odd."
Ryson could not understand what was happening. It appeared as if the ghost captain had assaulted the wizard.
"He did this to Neltus, too? What's going on?"
Before Enin could explain, the apparition moved to Shantree Wispon. The guardian spirit floated silently in the air as he gazed into the eyes of the elf elder. No one could hear a word from the ghost, but Shantree responded as if Sy had spoken directly to her.
"This will free me from any further possible invasion?" the elder elf asked of the ghost.
Sy nodded.
"But my own magic will remain?" she questioned.
The apparition nodded again.
"Very well."
Sy moved slightly forward. He reached into the elf with both hands, but he pulled nothing from her when he removed them from her body. His ghostly fingers, however, appeared somewhat darker than the rest of his form. He gazed at them for a moment, and the gray tinge disappeared. Then, so did he.
Ryson was flooded with confusion. He looked back and forth from Enin to Shantree in sheer dismay.
"What just happened?" he pleaded.
Enin was slowly regaining his strength, and he attempted to explain.
"I have been purged of my magic," the wizard revealed. "Sy took it from me. It was the only way he could ensure that Reiculf would never gain control of me. Sy did the same to Neltus before you returned. There was no other way to be certain."
Ryson looked to the elf elder.
"And what about you? You asked if your magic would remain, and Sy nodded. Does that mean he didn't take your core?"
"He said he would cleanse me of Ansas' taint," Shantree replied.
"He spoke to you?"
"I heard his words in my mind. I knew what he wanted to do, but I was not certain how it would affect me. Remember, I am elf."
"Why is that important?"
Enin answered in hopes of making it clear.
"She is somewhat like you, Ryson. The magic is a part of her... not just magic within a core, but a flicker of energy inside nearly every fiber of her being. If Sy took all of her magic, she would no longer be an elf, just as you would no longer be a delver. He didn't wish to do that, and it appears he didn't have to."
"He said he could remove all traces and remnants of Ansas' magic from me without changing who I was," Shantree added.
"How?" the delver continued to question. "And why couldn't he do the same with Enin?"
"I believe because she was never given a choice," Enin offered, apparently accepting his fate, "and that was an important difference. She never asked for Ansas' magic. It was pressed into her against her will. Though she once used it, she never made a conscious decision to actually accept it. It was always separate from the magic that made her an elf. The rest of us who were susceptible to Reiculf willingly chose to receive a portion of tainted magic. We had to accept the consequences for our decisions, but it seems she could not be blamed for what she did not choose. "
"I said that from the beginning," Shantree noted.
"Yes, you did," the wizard agreed.
"But what about you?" Ryson questioned. "Does this mean you can't use magic anymore?"
"That is indeed the case," Enin admitted with obvious sorrow.
"Are you immune like me?" Linda questioned, wondering if somehow the wizard was suddenly much like her, the very opposite of what he used to be.
"No, magic can still affect me. I simply can no longer bend it to my own will. It is something... something that I will have to get used to."
Jure had watched and listened carefully. He considered all that had happened and placed it in context with the conflict they had faced. He believed he understood why it was necessary for the guardian spirit to remove Enin's magic and cleanse the elf elder. The ghost of Sy Fenden was protecting his town, ensuring that the daokiln remained contained in Demonspawn.
Those that had been tainted by Ansas' magic were either dead, cleansed, or drained of magic. The stain that had been exploited to break the barriers of Demonspawn had been removed. He tried to find a mistake Reiculf might expose, but it appeared as if they had indeed cut off all paths for the daokiln.
"That takes care of everyone, doesn't it?" the elder wizard questioned aloud. "Everyone that had been exposed to Ansas' magic has been accounted for. Reiculf can't mix his magic with anyone else, and Ansas himself is marooned in Demonspawn. He really is contained again."
"Yes, he is," Enin confirmed. "Reiculf can't even trick Neltus into making some idiotic misjudgment. Like me, Neltus' magic is gone."
It was the delver who looked beyond the daokiln and considered Enin's future.
"What are you going to do?" Ryson asked of the wizard.
The question was near monumental. Since the return of the energy, Enin had been the most powerful wielder of magic in all of Uton. The wizard had saved thousands of lives, helped rebuild Connel and Pinesway, built strong relations with the dwarves, and assisted the elf camp on numerous occasions. While he had always been extremely cautious with his power, he had used it for the benefit of the worthy and the destruction of the wicked.
In yet one more display of irony, it appeared as if Enin was forced to give up the abilities he used for the benefit of others in order to ensure the safety of the land. It was like cutting down trees to stop a forest fire.
Enin did not ignore the question, but he turned to Jure and Holli to offer his response.
"There is still much I would like to do. I don't believe I am really that much different than I was. I cannot deny the loss of my power, but my memories remain intact, as do my beliefs. I am hoping you two will allow me to continue to teach you. I may have lost my magic, but I still remember how to utilize it. My understanding of the energy remains. I believe I can still be of use."
"I certainly don't think you're useless," Jure answered quickly. "I would be grateful for anything you could teach me."
"And you?" Enin asked of Holli.
The elf appeared confused. She looked at the wizard as if she could not hear him.
"Forgive me," she responded, "but our connection... it is gone."
"An unfortunate consequence of losing my magic. Just as Reiculf can no longer take over my essence, the magical link between us, as I defined it, no longer exists."
"I had grown so accustomed to it. It is strange not to have it."
"I understand," Enin responded sadly.
The elf was clearly troubled by the severing of the connection, but any doubt about her service or loyalty was quickly extinguished.
"I am your guard," Holli stated with obvious intensity, "and I will remain so... as long as you will have me."
"It seems I will need you now more than ever," the wizard acknowledged. "I have no defenses of my own."
"I will be your defense."
"I'm hoping the two of you will also be Connel's defense," the wizard asked of both Holli and Jure. "The city needs you."
Holli took one glance toward Shantree, but then refocused all of her attention upon Enin.
"Connel is my home. I will defend it as I defend you, with my life."
"I'm not sure how much Connel really needs me," Jure followed. "The city has the guard, the dwarves, and you and Holli. That's a strong force in its own right, but if I can help in anyway, I'd be happy to."
"Do not discount your abilities or your worth," Enin advised. "It is highly probable you are now the most powerful spell caster in all the land."
"If that is settled," Shantree interrupted with a growing tone of authority, "I wish to make a request. Jure, would you be so kind as to teleport myself, Haven, and Scheff back to our camp. It is time we show our fallen companion proper respect."
"Of course," Jure responded. "I can send you immediately if you like."
The elves bid their friends goodbye, and the elder wizard sent them to their home in Dark Spruce. With everyone else accounted for, the delver looked up to the cliff be
hemoth.
"And what about you Dzeb?" Ryson asked of the giant.
"I will return to the mountains." The behemoth gave a quick smile and wink to Jure and then offered his own preference. "No need to ask about spells of teleportation, my friend. I prefer to walk. It will do me good."
"You could stay for a while," the delver offered, "that is, if you want."
"There is no need for me here now. This town is protected. Remember that. Linda... and Stomps are safe within this haven. Nothing can happen to them here."
Ryson nodded with appreciation towards the sentiment, but the delver appeared hesitant to let the giant leave.
"There's a lot I'd like to talk to you about," Ryson admitted. "A lot has happened."
"Godson willing, we can talk again. Visit me in the mountains, but give yourself some time. You have learned a great deal about yourself... and others."
"I still want to thank you. Thank you for coming to get me. It seems so strange. You came here to protect me from Reiculf, but it was in Demonspawn where I learned the most."
"The place of learning is never as important as the content of what is learned. It was Godson's will that brought me to you. I was nothing more than a servant leading you to a place of reassurance. I believe you have found such comfort. I can see it in your eyes."
The giant prepared to leave, but he smiled once more as he looked upon Ryson and Linda.
"Give Stomps a very large pat on the head for me."
With that said, the cliff behemoth left Burbon as he first entered, past the guards and through the gate.
Epilogue
Through a series of teleportation spells and portals, Jure brought Ryson and Enin to the high precipice in the dark realm where Baannat had returned Ansas' essence to his once fallen body. Under Enin's direction and guidance, Jure opened the shadow of a portal which created a doorway into Baannat's realm of nonexistence.
At first, there was no response. The portal swirled but nothing came through. It was Ryson who called out a clear and very real warning to the slink ghoul.