by Jeff Inlo
Baannat dismissed the charge.
"Are you saying that for your benefit or hers? Maybe giving her false hope? Admirable. You say the woman is not meant to be here. But then, what about you? Does that mean you belong here?"
"I deserve it."
"Taking blame for everything? Not only admirable, but noble as well. Should I applaud?"
"I don't care what you do."
"Yes, you do. And so does she," the ghoul then spoke directly to Linda. "You're a silly, stupid creature. You thought your worst fear was something happening to that pathetic delver of yours while he was out on some mindless excursion. You worried about him being hurt out in the forest, or falling down some mountain. He'd be alone and you wouldn't be able to help him. You tried to stifle that fear, even commended yourself on accepting it as part of life. How very courageous of you. Of course, it's not true, and now you know it. It will be so much worse to have something happen to him right in front of you... because of you. That's right, my dear. As I said, he'll be coming here to save you. Won't happen. I will torture him in front of you, and then you in front of him. You will both share in the same pain. Isn't that fun?"
#
"Ryson Acumen, you must understand," Dzeb stated. "The caelifera would not have been able to take her if it was not part of a larger..."
Ryson would not let him finish.
"Dzeb... just stop it! I don't want to hear about it. Don't tell me about Godson's will. If Godson cared, none of this would be happening."
The cliff behemoth did not agree.
"If not Godson's will, do you have another explanation?"
Ryson felt the blood pounding in his head. He grew angrier with each moment he was delayed. He stared at the cliff behemoth with a growing hostility he once thought would be impossible to direct toward such a creature of grace.
"I don't have time for this. You're keeping me from Linda! I'm already trying not to blame you for not protecting her. If you don't let me go, I'll blame you for anything that happens. Everything!"
Dzeb almost let go, but he had to offer Ryson one last point of consideration.
"You are not the only one who suffers in this land."
"So what?!" Ryson scoffed. "Is that some kind of grand excuse? Am I supposed to accept everything that's happened because other people are getting their fair share of hardship?" He clamped down his jaw. There was no time for this, no time for some philosophical debate. "Dzeb, I really don't care about Godson, or suffering, or whatever else is on your mind. All I care about is Linda. Let me go... now."
"And so I will, but you might wish to consider those who have felt greater loss and still believe."
"That's their problem, not mine."
"And as you focus on your problems, I will remain faithful that Godson will help to heal you, as well as the others who have suffered."
Dzeb let go of the delver, and Ryson Acumen took off to the south without another word.
As Ryson blazed off in a blur, he pressed the words of the cliff behemoth out of his mind, or so he thought. He focused on saving Linda. He was sure she had been taken to the dark realm. He would check the cave first and if she was not there, he would search the entire realm if necessary. He would find her.
And then what?
That was the important question. How would he save her? What if she remained in the clutches of a swarm of caelifera? He couldn't fight them all. One was probably too much.
And if not the caelifera, then he would have to face Baannat. How could he defeat the ghoul? He thought he already had. He fought Baannat before and won. Baannat was dead, but somehow returned.
Returned.
With that thought, he realized he would not go directly to the portal. He wanted to, with all his being, but a spark of realization made it impossible.
Dzeb's assertion about accepting assistance was correct, but only partially. Ryson had to consider what force to bring with him against Baannat, but it wasn't going to be an army of cliff behemoths. He needed something else. And though it would cost him time, he had to make one stop first. If he was going to save himself, save Enin—and most importantly, save Linda—he knew he needed help. He believed he knew where to get that help.
Chapter 31
Black dust fell upon several magic casters at once. A spell of near total dominance announced the new attack on Pinesway. It came from every direction, the enemy sorcerer's location not yet revealed. The misty but dry substance followed the waves of magic, traveled over the echoes of spells used against the dark creatures that previously invaded the abandoned town. The remnants of these spells formed the anchor lines for the assault.
In the northern section of Pinesway, the sorceress and wizard that drove back the river rogues with fire could not escape the black powder that shot back upon them like shadow flares. On the streets encircling the town, the magic casters that repelled goblin crossbow fire with wind swells could not avoid the murky cloud that swirled around them. And the sorcerers to the southwest that pressed the gremplings back into the trees with spells of pure force could not evade the dark wall that fell upon them.
Despite the great magical power in all of these spell casters, they could not overcome the strike. The black spell grasped the magical residue, followed it with unerring accuracy. The echoes of past spells could not be extinguished fast enough to escape the fury of the overpowering retaliation. A dozen spell casters dropped to the ground, dead in but an instant.
Holli felt the loss. Her connection to the other magic casters in Pinesway allowed her to oversee the battle, to conduct her strategies. It also enabled her to sense their death. In that instant, she also understood the brilliance of the overall plan.
"That is why they attacked the way they did," the elf guard said to herself. "Someone out there wanted us to cast spells at the invaders, to create a magical trail that could be used against us."
Knowing the strategy, however, did little to comfort her. Utilizing the remnants of spells as a conduit for an attack required powerful focus and control. Holli realized that all of the dark creatures that surrounded Pinesway, including the rock beetles that had already perished, were nothing compared to the sorcerer able to devise such a spell. The goblins, river rogues, gremplings, and rock beetles were less than distractions, they were expendable tools, and they were used as such.
She directed an immediate order to the surviving magic casters at her disposal.
"Break all links to any existing spells!"
This, of course, would also break the ties she established to communicate her orders. She would not be able to coordinate the fight—debilitating, but necessary, for if they allowed any lingering spell connection, it would be used against them all.
Holli's perception of the town went blank. All sight spells dissolved as did her link to every other sorceress and wizard in Pinesway. Her awareness was limited to what she could see and hear from her current position, which was very little. She ran outside and scanned the town in hopes of regrouping her forces. She saw no one.
"Where is Heteera?" she fumed.
There was, however, no sign of her or Jure. The streets remained empty. Her options dwindled. She did not wish to move far from her command post, as she needed Heteera at her side if they were to have any chance at defeating the new threat that surely stalked them all. If she ventured too far, she might not locate Jure until it was too late.
At the same time, she did not wish to abandon the other spell casters. They would need direction or they would be picked off one by one. The spell links had been broken, but a dark sorcerer of such significant power had many ways to search the town.
As an elf guard, she immediately realized that indecision was her greatest enemy. The battle had turned and she faced a defining moment. Wars were won or lost during such critical periods. She would not fail due to uncertainty.
Though her magical reserves remained low, she utilized almost all she had left for one spell. She did not create links to any other spell casters to
send her message. Instead, she forced her thoughts out through the town for all to hear regardless of their connection to the magic.
"Do not attack! Reserve all of your power for defensive spells. Fall back against any foe. Abandon the town, but only if necessary."
She then sent a second message. It was directed at one individual, but again, every one in and around Pinesway would hear it.
"Jure, find her, get back here, and prepare to use her, if necessary."
Her orders given, she waited for what she believed was the inevitable assault. She knew she had left herself open for an attack. The dark sorcerer could easily use her last spell of communication to send powerful magic back upon her. She understood that when she cast the spell. She didn't intend to die, but she knew there might be little choice in the matter. If she did, she hoped Jure was as strong as she believed.
#
"I wish to talk to you," the muscular man with dirty blonde hair, a large nose, and sunken eyes commanded as he appeared directly in front of Neltus.
Neltus pulled to a halt from his slow trot. He had heard Holli's order and accepted it as an invitation to leave. He had seen the attack of black magic on a nearby wizard. He had no intention of suffering a similar fate. He was going to abandon the town immediately, because in his eyes, it was necessary—necessary for him to survive.
"I know you're leaving, and that's exactly what I want," the stranger announced to a silent Neltus. "There are, however, a few things I must know, and so, your exit must be delayed."
Neltus didn't like taking orders, but it seemed as if lately no matter where he turned, another more powerful spell caster was making demands. He believed the man before him was responsible for the sudden change in fortunes in Pinesway, and if that was the case, he didn't want to cross him. Before making any further decisions, he decided to confirm his suspicions.
"You cast that spell, the one that killed the others, didn't you?" Neltus finally asked cautiously.
"I did. I could have killed you as well. It would have been easy. That spell you cast—the one that vibrated the land—quite a spell, but quite a trail as well. You left a wake of magical energy back to you that a blind man could have followed, but I decided I wanted you to live."
The last statement was offered not as a gift, but more of a declaration of the dark sorcerer's desires. It was as if his verdicts formed reality.
Neltus was of course thankful, but suspicious.
"Why?"
"Because you impressed me."
Again, it didn't sound as if it was meant to be a compliment, and certainly not offered for the purpose of flattering Neltus. It was more of a statement of fact than anything else.
"Who are you?"
"My name is Ansas," the sorcerer replied as he looked Neltus over like a cow at an auction. He then shrugged, as if Neltus' physical appearance did not match the dark sorcerer's expectations. Continuing, he offered more information, but all the while regarding Neltus as nothing more than a simple diversion and worth little consideration. Even as he spoke, he looked about the town with a sense of detachment. "Baannat asked me to remove the pathetic force of magic casters in this abandoned town and then take the eastern plains."
"You willingly do Baannat's bidding?"
This remark provoked a bit more emotion from Ansas, and he quickly placed his full attention on Neltus, something Neltus found extraordinarily unsettling.
"I willingly do my own bidding. He asked me, he didn't order me. You should pay closer attention."
Neltus wanted to leave it at that, but he felt as if he needed to explain himself.
"No offense, but you came here as part of Baannat's army."
"I came here to test my power. It was my time. Baannat simply created an opportunity. I chose to embrace that opportunity. Nothing more and nothing less." Ansas then regarded Neltus with a spark of impatience. "Enough of that. I'm here because I have questions for you, not the other way around."
Neltus bowed his head in submission and waited, offering no further word until spoken to.
"Why did you agree to join this group?"
"It was that or die," Neltus answered without hesitation.
"You don't expect me to believe that they threatened to kill you if you didn't join them, do you? They don't act in that manner."
"No, I thought Baannat would kill me. If he won, he would wipe out all the spell casters."
"And that was your incentive to join this group, to take orders from an inferior elf witch, and to place yourself in jeopardy? If you're going to reply with absurdities, then my impression of you will quickly diminish even further."
"It's not absurd! Baannat was sending forces into the desert. He was looking to conquer the eastern plains. Look at what happened here. Look at you! You were sent here to destroy the other spell casters. You revealed as much only a moment ago. Any one that might be a threat to Baannat's power would be removed. Every capable spell caster would die!"
"Am I going to die?" Ansas asked.
Neltus paused as he considered the question. Before him was a very powerful sorcerer who had clearly taken a stake in Baannat's game. He couldn't imagine why.
"I don't know," Neltus admitted.
"I assure you, I am not. I understand death better than anyone. Death does not wait for those who side with Baannat."
"What does wait?"
"Opportunity."
Neltus never considered that as a plausible alternative. It interested him and he wondered if he might profit from it.
"Are you offering me something?"
The dark sorcerer laughed, as if he heard a slightly humorous tale. "I've already decided to let you live, so I'm offering you nothing. I'm just curious about you. You have far more power than the elf witch, yet you bend to her will. That's only mildly surprising because you do so out of self preservation. I understand that now. And despite your abilities, there is one even more powerful than you who also defers to the elf."
"His name is Jure," Neltus confirmed. "He casts near white magic in a perfect circle."
Ansas shrugged. "And I cast pure black magic in a perfect circle. I would not submit to the elf witch, why does he? Why do you? Are you actually afraid of her?"
"I'm afraid of Enin," Neltus admitted. It was difficult to state, but it was the truth, and he was not willing to risk angering the dark sorcerer with lies.
"Enin is no longer a threat," Ansas revealed.
"How is that possible?"
"An error in judgment. He is trapped in Baannat's new existence. Take a lesson in that, Neltus. The truth is that Baannat is also trapped in that existence. Not to the same extent, but he can only project a portion of his will into a purely physical realm."
"How do you know this?"
"As I said, I cast in pure black magic. I understand death. Baannat controls the dark creatures because he offers something beyond their grasp, a chance of existence without consequence, but they are fools. There are always consequences. They grasp at the unattainable."
"So why are you here?"
"As I said, I wish to test my powers. I have already done so successfully in so many ways. Even now, the elf witch waits for her death at my hand. I could easily accommodate her, but there is no challenge in that." Ansas frowned. "And yet again, you are asking the questions. You really do not listen well, do you?"
"No, I do not. My apologies."
"Then listen carefully now. I understand now why you're here, and I accept it. I wish you to leave immediately. You don't have to worry about Enin or the elf, or Jure, or even Baannat. You are clearly not my equal, but you have power I find intriguing. You have remained true to the pureness of your true calling. The crimson energy cannot match the strength of ebony power, but it is a hue I respect. It is for that reason alone I will let you leave."
Neltus did not argue the sentiment. He simply bowed and continued his escape from Pinesway.
#
"You had to hear her, everyone did. You can't just hide here."
Jure had found Heteera crouched down behind a broken counter of an old general store. The sign had fallen into the dirt just outside the front door, but it remained legible. The shelves had long since been emptied of everything that was of any use or value. The only items that remained upon them were spiders, broken glass, and dust.
Heteera would not look up at Jure. She just stared at the grimy floor. She didn't wish to acknowledge him. She did not like him. He was so calm and certain with the magic. He had no idea what she went through, what it was like to have the energy flow within like a raging river that could not be contained or controlled.
"Well?" he pressed.
"Yes, I heard her, but I can't go."
"Why not?"
"Because I can't control it."
"You don't have to control it. Leave that to Holli."
Heteera exploded. She jumped up from behind the counter and bore into Jure with venom in her stare.
"She can't control it, either! She tried once before and it made things worse!"
Jure's expression turned to stone. Just as Heteera did not like him, he had no great admiration for her... and certainly no respect. She had immense power, but she was weak—weak in will—and it limited her true potential. She viewed control over the magic as simply an inherent quality, one that could not be obtained or enhanced through focus and determination. She was wrong. He was proof of that.
"You're coming with me. Holli will use your energy and you will allow it."
"Why? Because you say so? I'm not going to listen to you."
White energy bubbled around her as her anger grew. She made her threat clear, she would cast all her power at him before she agreed to follow him anywhere.
Jure responded with a display of his own. A circle of energy formed around him. It danced around his entire body, swaying and rolling in perfect rotations. The energy glistened white, but not as pure as Heteera's. A hint of blue stained it ever so slightly, but even that small imperfection could not dampen the truth.
The magic that surrounded Jure moved entirely at his whim. The perfection of the circle remained undeniable. The depth of his magical energy might not match hers, but his control remained far superior.