Delver Magic: Book 04 - Nightmare's Shadow

by Jeff Inlo

  With a clear objective in mind, he rushed over to the cliffs and raced up the ledges. He entered the tunnels in order to offer a final report to the algors before he simply left them. He did not feel he had to address them all. A small group was enough.

  "The thrastil's dead," he announced, and then he offered his opinion of the situation even if it wasn't required. "Seems as if we got help when we needed it most, even if you didn't want help."

  "We did not want help from the dwarves," several algors responded in unison, as if to justify their decisions.

  "But I guess help from a human wizard was okay?"

  A single algor stepped up to Ryson, but she seemed to speak for them all. Every algor in the tunnel remained silent, simply stood focused on the delver.

  "You think we were wrong to turn away the dwarves? You think we should have simply accepted their aid?" The algor shook her head. "We could not. Why did they want to help us? Because it was honorable? Or was it because they thought it might allow them to forget? If you wish us to forgive them, we may yet one day do so, but it will be our choice, not theirs. You cannot always earn redemption by your own deeds and that is why they were here."

  "So you can't right a wrong?"

  The algor seemed to sigh and then proclaimed what the algors wanted.

  "You can tell the dwarves they may leave our desert now."

  She said nothing further. She and all the algors ventured back outside to bury the dead.

  Ryson did exactly as she asked. He informed the dwarves the battle was over and when they headed back to their underground cities, he returned to the surface and raced back to the mountains.

  #

  Lief saw the battle in the desert, not with his eyes, but with a spirit's awareness. He also heard the words of the algor and he placed them in context with his own situation. He was there to help the delver. He believed that with all his soul, and yet, was that why he had really returned? He knew there was something to be learned from everything he witnessed, something that still eluded him. It was, however, within reach. He could sense it. He believed when Ryson found the right path, Lief would find his.

  Unfortunately, doubts still haunted the elf, doubts about where the struggle would lead and where it would end. He knew the delver was tiring of the conflict, losing faith in everything he had ever done. That was wrong, and Lief knew it. He would help Ryson see that, but then he thought of the algors again. What if the delver didn't want his help? What if he refused just as the algors had refused the aid of the dwarves?

  The elf apparition focused his thoughts on Ryson Acumen. He knew the delver was heading toward the mountains, heading toward Linda. The struggle would continue for the delver whether he wanted it to or not, that much was certain. Lief could only hope that Ryson would not forget him in the confines of that struggle.

  Chapter 28

  "I will remain inside with you. No harm will come to you, Godson willing." Elese said with a smile that may not have appeared completely forced, but at the very least seemed dampened with uncertainty.

  Linda wanted to believe the cliff behemoth who previously saved her and Ryson from the tree rakers, but that was back in the woods when there were only four predators. Linda saw the swarm before Dzeb had hurried her inside the best shelter available—a small hut by the side of a mountain lake. She couldn't manage a guess as to how many caelifera filled the sky, but even at a great distance, they appeared like a driving rain burst of enormous dark droplets.

  Cliff behemoths ready to die in order to protect Linda, quickly surrounded the hut. They were large and powerful beings, sturdy defenders with the strength to break mighty oaks in half as if they were nothing but dry twigs. They took their positions without bravado and without menace. Instead, they moved with purpose and dignity. They had agreed to protect Linda, and they would hold to that vow.

  Linda could not deny the determination of her protectors anymore than she could deny the power within their bodies. They would do everything possible to keep her safe, even that which was impossible for ordinary humans. She never doubted it for a moment. Having so many willing to defend her should have brought her solace, but she could not deny the coming storm.

  It was no goblin horde, no flock of razor crows, no herd of swallits that the slink ghoul sent for her—so many terrors that seemed almost laughable in comparison. Baannat's means of vengeance surpassed her faith in the cliff behemoths. The caelifera formed a swarm of absolute destruction.

  Linda knew of locusts before the magic returned, back when the land dealt with calamities of a lesser nature. She heard stories of how a cloud of the insects could strip the plains clean with their voracious appetite. There was often no way to fight, no way to escape. They were a plague—even when they were simple, small insects.

  The magic, however, brought with it accented nightmares. It took the difficult and made it impossible. It turned the wicked into pure evil. And it grew common pests into monsters of legendary proportions. The gigantic insects filling the oncoming swarm wanted to find her—to take her. She knew it.

  She might have been protected by an army of cliff behemoths, but was she really safe considering what swept across the horizon? Not only did the approaching swarm outnumber the cliff behemoths, they could fly.

  The beating of their wings announced their presence as much as their darting shadows danced across the landscape and blotted out the light from above. The distant hum quickly turned into a terrifying buzz that sounded as if the land itself was being torn apart. Linda covered her ears, but she could not hide from the truth.

  The swarm was upon them.

  It appeared as if the chosen location suited the will of the caelifera. Other areas of the Colad Mountains offered narrow passages among the grand peaks, but the cliff behemoths chose to bring Linda to a large, open valley. The majestic walls of mountain rock stood off in the distance. The space offered a stunning view as a sizable lake stretched across most of the valley and reflected the impressive outlines of the surrounding mountains. To the caelifera's advantage, it also allowed for wide air space, giving the giant locusts ample room to move in force.

  The defenders, however, took quick action and turned the free space toward their own end. Dozens of cliff behemoths hurled boulders into the air. The crushing force of unyielding rock smashed into the hard shelled bodies of the giant locusts, killing a number of them on impact. Satisfied with the results, more behemoths broke stone from the surrounding mountainside with their thick fingers, and the barrage of boulders grew in size and intensity.

  The dark creatures attempted to dodge the projectiles which slowed their forward progress. Their attempts at avoidance intensified the activity within the swarm. The flying rocks and the darting caelifera created an unnerving dance of disorder. The swarm lost any of its cohesiveness and the riotous motion relayed a sense of unbridled insanity.

  As the caelifera finally closed upon the shack, behemoths leapt high into the air and took hold of giant wings. They beat on their foes with mighty fists and snapped their necks with quick twists. Despite the enormity of the locusts' bodies, the followers of Godson took hold of three and four at a time and hurled their massive bodies upward and into the heart of the swarm.

  The dead insects plummeted from the sky with alarming velocity. Whether tossed aside by massive arms or dropped by careening boulders, a host of locusts lost their ability to remain airborne. They struck the land below like streaking meteors.

  Inside the hut, Linda jumped at each sickening crunch of a caelifera crashing to the ground and each booming thud of a giant rock landing nearby. The walls and roof quivered. The very ground beneath her shook as if rattled by tremors. She wondered how long the shack would remain upright around her. She moved to a far corner hoping to avoid injury from the collapse she believed was inevitable.

  Elese moved to the center. She was ready to support the entire structure if the need arose. She eyed the ceiling with calm fortitude, as if she waited for Godson to signal her h
ome.

  Outside, the other cliff behemoths continued their task with solemn acceptance. They abhorred violence, but they accepted their fate. They viewed themselves as tools for Godson's will, nothing more and nothing less. The land was not created for their benefit, to make their lives easy. Life was a test of faith, a test of character. They believed if Godson didn't want them to enter battle, the battle would not have occurred. Such was their faith that they accepted the surrounding mayhem as part of a greater plan, and it was their choice to be a part of that design.

  Even after many caelifera fell, the struggle grew more brutal. The giant locusts were not accustomed to such resistance. They were used to overpowering their foes, lifting prey from the ground and tearing their meals apart at will. These cliff dwellers, however, defied the insect's size and their ferocity. The fury of the battle sent them into a frenzy.

  This was the very reason Baannat sent the caelifera to the Colad Mountains. He never expected them to defeat the cliff behemoths, they only needed to occupy them. For that purpose, the giant locusts were ideally suited.

  As the caelifera became more frantic, the confusion grew. The insects buzzed about in all directions. Some dropped low and darted just above the ground. Others shot high into the sky out of reach for scant seconds only to dive down like suicide missiles. Much of the swarm became a cloud of uncontrollable, directionless rage.

  The cliff behemoths fought through the chaos, but they could not monitor all the activity at once. Communication broke down between them and the followers of Godson struck back with a growing sense of frustration. They drifted within the cloud and became independent fighters as opposed to a cohesive set of defenders. Defending the cabin remained their objective, but they failed to notice the entirety of the battlefield.

  Taking advantage of the confusion, a second wave of insects remained outside the fray, unnoticed by the battling behemoths. Around three dozen caelifera hovered above the lake, out of reach and out of range. The grouping appeared to take heed of the conflict as if calculating the significance of so many cliff behemoths willing to do battle.

  The small structure by the lakeside had remained a focal point. That much was clear. The behemoths had maintained a position around the hut and would not venture far from its walls. Its importance became even more evident as the battle raged.

  As if they suddenly discovered a long lost secret, the unengaged caelifera found purpose of their own and swooped down upon the hut. The first few that landed on the roof clawed at the thatch and mud, pulling it apart and sending it flying into the air like dirt laden confetti. Their intent was clear and their action quick. They gave no time for the cliff behemoths outside the structure to react.

  Once the roof was pulled away completely, several caelifera dropped within the cabin walls. They filled all of the available space, separating the two occupants. Initially, not a single insect struck out. Instead, they remained still, standing on hind legs. They stared within the meager structure with unblinking eyes, and regarded the full contents of the shack with apparent curiosity.

  Elese pressed all her strength against the nearest monsters. She sent two flying into the distance against their will with a mighty heave of both her arms, but two more locusts dropped into the space made available. Elese's path to Linda remained blocked. She tried to shove her way through to the far corner where she knew Linda stood, but a terrified scream brought her attempts to a halt.

  When the caelifera first dropped into the hut, Linda could not make a sound. She stared at the giant locusts with disbelief. Despite everything she had been through, the monster towering over her seemed beyond reason. She could only gape at the creature, until it grabbed her. The scream was more of an uncontrolled response than a call for help.

  Linda felt the weight of her body completely engulfed in multiple legs of the caelifera. She sensed her feet leave the ground as the vibrations of the monster's wings shook her entire body. She looked down for only an instant, but then slammed her eyes shut. Still, she could not shut out the truth. The wind blew threw her hair and she felt the stiff breeze across her body. She was being carried away, taken south.

  Chapter 29

  "You can not just fly off like that."

  "I really didn't fly," Jure corrected Holli. "It's more like a transportation..."

  "I know what it is! I do it myself... when the time is right! You were needed here."

  Jure was about to argue, but then reversed course, and tone. "I admit it. I didn't handle it right. I know you're in charge. I should have asked you first. It's just that I sensed the thrastil and couldn't ignore it. I didn't think the algors had a chance. But that's no excuse. I'm sorry."

  His words carried sincerity and Holli knew it. He was not just pacifying her. He made a mistake and admitted it. It was actually the best answer he could have given her, the best answer she could have hoped for.

  Of all the magic casters in Pinesway, Jure was both the most powerful and the most respectful. He recognized the true power in the entire spectrum of magical energy and displayed sincere consideration to all of its elements. He agreed to defend Pinesway and the eastern plains because he believed in the cause. He did not look for selfish gain, or focus on self preservation.

  When Jure returned from the desert, he could have dismissed Holli's concerns, treated her as an inferior. He didn't have to listen to her. With the power at his command, he could have tossed her aside like an empty wheat sack, which would have beyond impertinent. It would have been calamitous.

  With Enin trapped, any disregard from Jure would have poisoned her authority. He did not take any such stand. He acknowledged her command and actually apologized.

  Holli did more than simply appreciate his respect. Her estimation of the man grew and any doubts about his loyalties faded away. She knew she could rely upon him, and as there was no sense in pounding the point—admonishing him further—she focused on more pressing matters.

  "What happened out there?"

  Jure explained his arrival in the desert, his fight with the thrastil, and the signs of the casualties among the algors and the dark creatures.

  The news rose the elf's spirits, as well as her hopes. It sounded as if the desert was secure. One less concern, though others were growing.

  "What about the dwarves?" Holli asked.

  "What dwarves?"

  "Enin sent two battalions of dwarves to assist the algors. You told me you saw Ryson and the algors, but where were the dwarves?"

  "I didn't see them, but I really didn't look, either."

  "No dwarf weapons or war machines near the thrastil?"

  "No, just broken rock and some dead algors."

  "No dwarf casualties anywhere?"

  Jure closed his eyes and reconstructed the desert scene in his mind. He knew if there were dwarf bodies near the thrastil, he would have seen them. He hadn't and so he shook his head with certainty.

  "That does not seem right," Holli revealed as she considered her own expectations of what should have occurred.

  "I don't think I'm mistaken. I'm pretty..."

  Holli reassured the wizard by explaining her true point of contention.

  "I do not doubt your assessment of the scene. I believe you, but what I can not understand is why the dwarves would not have rushed the thrastil. They are determined warriors and can be stirred into bloodlust given the right circumstances. A thrastil would have offered them a challenge I would not think they could resist. I would have guessed there would have been at least a few dwarf corpses around the thrastil, perhaps even dozens. Long odds would not frighten them. To put it simply, they are not ones to back away from a fight. I believe they would have charged the thrastil, if for nothing else, to prove their courage."

  "Maybe they didn't get the chance," Jure offered. "I reached the desert fairly quickly. I think the battle with the thrastil had just begun."

  It was plausible, but Holli offered other possibilities.

  "Or maybe they never reached the desert
at all. Baannat could have easily targeted the dwarves in their underground tunnels. We know the ghoul wants to make a war of many fronts. We have no idea how many dark creatures are at his disposal. The dwarves could be fighting trolls and bloat spiders as we speak."

  "That's a bit of a pessimistic assumption," Jure noted.

  "In war, you have to always assume the worst."

  Jure knew very little of war, and he did not wish to contradict the elf guard. Still, he had found power in seizing upon the positive, accentuating the opportunity as opposed to emphasizing the peril. That outlook brought him greater control over magic and it did not suit him to simply accept the worst case scenario.

  He contemplated the situation and offered a solution that might answer the question with a greater degree of certainty as opposed to simply accepting pessimistic assumptions.

  "I could try to probe for them. There's still water out there from my spells. I could use that as a way to search. If they're anywhere near the desert, I might be able to locate them. I don't think it would take long to try."

  Holli considered the offer, but realized the results offered little reward. "I do not think it would help our situation. Dwarves are very resistant to magic, and trying to uncover their whereabouts might be a waste of your power. It is a factor that needs to be considered, but it is not imperative. Knowing the desert is secure is the most important issue. Are you certain there were no other threats in the area?"

  "Fairly certain, but as you know, anything could come out of that portal at any time. Still, there was nothing on the horizon when I left, and I did not sense anything nearby. The algors appeared ready to tend to their wounded and dead. Ryson Acumen even asked if he should return here, but I knew he had more important concerns."

  "You think Ryson is headed to the Colad Mountains?"

  "That would be my bet." Jure sensed a deeper anxiety in the elf from that response. "You don't seem happy about that."