by Jeff Inlo
He did not, however, maintain his quickened pace. He came to a abrupt halt as his eyes scanned a brick wall before him. He spied a drain pipe that snaked down from the roof. That was all he needed to see as he spun about and placed his back to the side wall of the neighboring building. Facing the inferns, the delver placed his hands near the war blades at his hips and addressed the half-demons with fierce determination. He believed their purpose was to capture him and he wanted to know why.
"What do you want?" Ryson demanded.
Neither infern answered, but they did not close on their quarry, either. Stepping away from the side entrance of the tavern, they attempted to block both ends of the alley. They spread apart and widened their distance from each other while keeping the delver between them. They each held lightly to their burning hot javelins, and they positioned the weapons horizontally across their chests as they backed away from the delver. Stepping lightly with a grace that reminded Ryson of the elves, the half-demons took strategic positions in the middle of the passage. Effectively blocking the alley at both ends, they isolated the delver and offered no route of escape.
Disregarding their obvious intention to corral him, Ryson looked carefully over both armor-clad monsters. He recognized one as the infern that had earlier grabbed a goblin and then stopped at the door. At the time, he wondered if the infern had noticed him. Now, he was certain of it.
"So what gave me away in the tavern?" Ryson asked. "I saw you pause at the door. Were you able to smell me?"
"Not smell… taste," came an answer, but not from either of the two inferns that blocked Ryson's way.
A third infern rounded a corner and announced its presence with the same cold voice it used when it previously addressed the goblins inside the tavern. Despite the chilled tone, steam rose from its breath.
"We can taste things in the air," the infern continued. It stepped further into the alley, just past the half-demon closest to the front street, and then stopped to assess the situation. "Most creatures give off scents, but they also leave a trail beyond the smell. A stray hair, a flake of skin, the smallest droplet of spittle, even the dust that once clung to you but falls away; all of it contains a taste of what you are. And you are a delver."
Ryson wondered if the explanation of infern power was meant to impress him… or even scare him. He wanted to make certain the half-demon knew it did neither.
"You could have guessed that by how I moved just now. I didn't try to hide it."
"But you have hid, until now. You are a stranger in town, a strange delver."
"So I'm a stranger. There are other delvers in town. Why are you so interested in me?"
"All delvers are to be registered with the authorities. You are not registered. Your taste is new."
"So that's what this is all about?"
"This is about you."
The infern's voice grew substantially colder. The deep, emotionless tone rang out like the hollow footfalls of a funeral march which was in striking opposition to its smoldering form. The heat which billowed from the half-demon's stout body rose from its head and swirled about in the sweltering, humid air in wavering streams. The black armor dampened the fiery glow, but only slightly. The brilliance of the infern's body still radiated enough light to create shadows along the dark alley in the dead of night.
"You are a delver and you have been stalking around the city for quite some time… asking questions, watching us. Do not deny it. While you were in the tavern, I took the opportunity to search you."
"You were never near me."
"I don't have to be near you. I don't even have to be within the same building. Demons have eyes that can see through more than the dark."
"You're only half demon."
Ryson knew he was antagonizing the infern, but he doubted it would change the intentions of the creature, or his own circumstances.
"Be that as it may, I still know that you have been in the city for… three days. You have traveled far across the region. You are not even from the valleys."
"Is that what I felt at the door… you probing me? You gave yourself away you know. I knew you were just outside the front door before I opened it. That's why I came out here."
"And yet still we have you."
"You only think you do."
"What I think and what you think are of little importance. What matters is that you cooperate. We have been charged with maintaining order in Ashlan. You appear to be disturbing that order."
"I like order as much as anyone else. I'm not causing any trouble."
"You are unregistered. That is trouble enough. What is your name?"
"I don't think I want to tell you."
The infern reached its level of tolerance.
"You don't have a choice."
"Believe me, I have plenty of choices."
"Your overconfidence annoys me."
"I don't think you'd be much happier with humility."
The eyes of the infern turned a bright shade of red, like the embers of a furnace pressed far beneath bright orange flames. Despite the infern's rage, its voice still chilled the otherwise sultry air. It spoke with certainty.
"I would prefer the acceptance of reality."
"And what reality is that?"
"We have dealt with delvers before. I am well aware of your speed."
"Do you think I underestimate yours?" Ryson challenged the infern.
"Do you?"
"I saw you move in the tavern, and I'm guessing that was only a fraction of your true speed. Heat always makes things move faster."
"Perhaps your view of reality is closer to the truth than I expected."
"Maybe it is, but where does that leave us?"
"It leaves us nowhere but here, and returns me to my question-which I will ask only once more-and this time I expect an answer. What is your name?"
"I still don't want to tell you."
Ryson kept his eyes on the three inferns in the alley. If they advanced, he wouldn't try to outmaneuver them in the open streets. He saw how quickly the infern moved when it caught the goblin's wrist with the hook in its javelin. He knew they were fast, and while trying to outrace them was probably within his ability, there was no need for such a risk. If any of the inferns made a move, he already planned a path of escape up the side of the building behind him.
"I have given you fair warning," the lead infern spoke with finality. "You chose this confrontation."
Ryson prepared to dodge any attack and climb up the drain pipe behind him, but the three inferns did not advance. They stared at the delver with red hot eyes-the demon portion of their lost souls burning with desire to consume the delver with the fires within them. Still, no flames burst forth from their bodies or from their glowing javelins. They simply stood their ground.
Ryson didn't care for the stalemate, but he held his ground as well. He didn't wish to make a mistake born of impatience. He had time. The streets were quiet and empty. No one else was in danger and he wished to force the inferns into the first move.
As he heightened his senses during the standoff, he felt a new wave of heat. He prepared himself for an immediate retreat, believing that one of the inferns stoked up its own flames in hopes of casting out fire. He bent his knees and gave one quick peek behind him to ensure his anticipated path of retreat remained clear.
Nothing was behind him, but he caught a glimpse of movement from above. Whatever it was, it was coming down directly upon him. He did not hesitate, not even for an instant. He altered his escape plan with speed and decisiveness that even Holli would envy.
Without even looking upward to identify the threat, Ryson leapt forward. He made one quick step toward the lead infern, but only as a momentary deception. With blazing speed, he flashed back across the alley and through the side door of the tavern.
Before completely heading down the hall, he glimpsed over his shoulder. A fourth infern had dropped from the sky, but in a very controlled manner. It had not leapt from the rooftop above, but rather
floated down under its own power.
"So these things can fly," Ryson acknowledged to himself. "That could be a problem."
Dashing down the hallway, he burst into the main room of the tavern. If his previous exit caught the attention of a few, his return brought on the gaze of all, including the goblins in the back. He was not running at his top speed, but still far faster than any human could boast. Darting around tables, he disregarded the stares of each onlooker.
He made a path to the goblin table. As he passed, his arm streaked over the tabletop and he scattered the coins in every direction and across the floor. The goblins hissed and cursed at him, but the ruckus caused its desired effect. The greedy monsters scurried across the floor, diving after rolling coins. Any infern following him would have to deal with that confusion.
Satisfied with the diversion. Ryson bolted to the front door. His hand took hold of the door handle lever and he yanked it with pure abandonment. He burst out into the streets hoping his arrival would surprise any inferns that might be lurking near the front of the tavern.
He noticed two more inferns, but they had moved to flanking positions far to his right at the front of the alley he had just left. They were obviously held in reserve to guard the way in case he got lucky and was able to rush past the lead infern. None of them had expected his move.
While they might have been surprised, the half-demons were not without the desire to catch their prey. One of the inferns thrust itself towards the delver. It left its feet and propelled itself through the air. Its face lit up far brighter than normal as its internal fire burned intensely enough to give it lift and propulsion. It raced towards Ryson like a shooting star.
Ryson had faced many things since the return of magic; an ancient wizard back from the dead, a vengeance craved dwarf queen turned into a powerful tempest, a vampire bent on ending his life, a wicked serp with desires of grand conquest, and a slink ghoul that cheated death only to create a shadow existence for tormented souls. During many of those encounters, he fought back not only fear, but genuine astonishment as to the irrationality of life in a world filled with unbridled magic. Many memories haunted him, images that took their place in the twisted corners of nightmares best forgotten. A new one burned an irrevocable place into the delver's soul.
The pale face of the half demon glowed bright white as it streaked toward him. The eyes of the infern burned so red they looked like roses in flames. Its mouth twisted downward into a maniacal frown. The entire face launching at him became the very essence of terror.
Ryson ran with all his might from the haunting countenance. The street was empty before him which allowed him to race at near his top speed down the center of the road. He did not have to worry over wagons crossing his path, and the few people that came out of pubs and inns stuck to the narrow walkways in front of the buildings. He could focus all of his attention on avoiding the streaking half-demon that drew frighteningly closer to him with each breath. Hoping to avoid capture, he swerved to his left and right, and in this, he finally found hope.
Whereas the inferns sudden blast of initial speed threatened to actually overtake the delver, the half-demon had limited control over its path. When it attempted to turn, the creature overcompensated and made steep banks, making for wider turns than the delver and losing ground to its quarry.
Noticing the half-demon's difficulty, Ryson chose to make several twists and turns at various intersections through the city. The pattern of movement forced him to slow down slightly as well, but not to the same extent. With each break right or left, he increased the cushion of space between himself and the soaring infern.
The half-demon that trailed the delver maintained its pace initially, but after several more turns, grew frustrated or perhaps simply ran cold. The burning red eyes seemed to lighten ever so slightly, and the glowing pale face dimmed significantly. The creature eventually came to a halt in the middle of the street and watched almost indifferently as the delver rushed away.
Feeling somewhat more secure about his fate, Ryson reached into his pocket and pulled out one of the two beacon stones Holli had given him. He kept the other safely tucked away, but decided to toss the one in his hand into a side alley. He didn't wish to lead Holli into a trap, but with dozens of inferns lurking throughout the city, he believed it was best if they came together as soon as possible.
He kept moving, putting space between himself and both the infern and the discarded beacon stone. Eventually, he reduced his speed, but still ran like a human sprinting. He chose narrow alleys and side streets, hoping to avoid attention and utilizing the darkness to watch for glowing inferns patrolling the roads.
After passing several more blocks, Ryson dropped his pace down to a slow trot. He sniffed the wind, but the scent of the city was filled with numerous smells-the most prevalent of which was goblin-but in one brief moment, he sensed as if all the town was ablaze. The smell of unnatural fire, like water burning as opposed to boiling, filled the air around him.
Instinctively, Ryson leapt to the far side of the road. Only his speed saved his life. The thick humid air in the place he once stood burst into flames. The fire burned so hot, he had to shield his face. It glowed white and lasted for several moments. Had he not leapt away, he would have been incinerated.
Ryson bent low, but scanned the rooftops and the open skies for all that he could see. He knew the inferns could fly and he believed one had to be soaring above him in order to pinpoint his position so exactly. Seeing nothing above-no glowing forms or even the faint whisper of light in the night sky-Ryson turned his attention back to the streets around him.
He kept silent and still. He looked down every narrow path, every lonely alley. All he saw was darkness. He couldn't believe the half-demons could hide their position, didn't think they would bother to try. They had attacked him, so he was already alerted to their presence, and yet he could not locate a single infern.
He smelled it again-the clear scent of demon fire, a blaze that required no true fuel and burned with a power beyond natural flames. He dove away from the spot where he stood, rolled to the ground and pushed his body to the opposite side of the alley.
A bright, white flame scattered the shadows once more, scorching the ground where Ryson had stood. It lit up the alley more brightly than the Sword of Decree with its glowing enchantment ever could. The light intensified and it forced Ryson to look away.
For long, painful moments, the delver fought to adjust his sight after the fire died away. Spots filled his vision. He jumped back to his feet, slammed his eyelids closed and placed all of his focus on what he could hear and smell. He sensed nothing nearby, which caused him even greater distress.
At least one of the half-demons had targeted him twice with exact clarity, yet he was certain no infern was anywhere near. How could they locate him? And if they continued to succeed, how could he fight them?
He decided not to stay still for long. He raced down the side of the alley, turned up an empty street, and then leapt to another narrow alley between two taller buildings. There was less space for him to move, but he hoped the greater cover would conceal his presence. He slowed to a mere walk, but continued to move forward.
Just as he reduced his pace, he sensed another charge of flame. He jumped forward and then broke into a full sprint. The entire alley lit up as if the sun had risen directly overhead. Ryson could feel the heat on his back as he surged forward. He ran out of the alley into a main avenue of the city.
There were more people about on this busier street, and that simply added to his dilemma. If he ran like a delver, they would notice him immediately. One might call out and further expand his predicament. He would not, however, mix with the crowd. He didn't wish to endanger anyone, but he still could not fathom how the inferns were able to locate him so precisely. He could not simply trust that the half-demons would refrain from risking casualties to innocent people nearby.
He reduced his speed, which he knew was a risk, and he walked alone in
open space which compounded that risk. In a heartbeat, he smelled it again-the putrid stench of demon fire-just as he felt the crackling charge of energy throughout the air around him. He took one instant to ensure there was no one in his path before he leapt with all his might toward another narrow side street. The pause almost cost him his life as he felt the searing heat explode across his back.
He dove to the ground and rolled furiously through the dirt. The scent of burning cloth-smoke from his own shirt-filled his nose. He coughed once, but realized quickly the danger had not diminished. He jumped to his feet and dashed down the side street just as another flash of white fire burst across the ground.
The people on the avenue screamed and ran for cover. They did not know the stranger who had been targeted by the inferns, but a few had seen what happened to flesh when it met with demon fire. They didn't wish to see it again. Those that hadn't seen it had heard stories, and there was no desire within them to actually witness the incineration of another living being.
Back to sprinting through empty alleys and narrow streets, Ryson began to wish he was once more being trailed by a streaking infern. At least then he would know the true location of his enemy. Flames appearing out of no where left him with little hope of escaping. Facing the harsh truth, he knew that whenever he stopped or even just slowed into a casual run, he invited an attack. He needed to keep moving, and moving at a delver's speed.
That in itself was not the end of his worries. While he could run at great speed for extended periods of time, he also needed to avoid the inferns that patrolled the streets as well as other humans in order to keep them from harm. His options dwindled.
Trying to understand the heart of his dilemma, he focused on his encounter with the lead infern. The half-demon had said it searched the delver… that demons could see through more than just the dark. They could also taste his trail. If that were true, it was possible they could locate him at any point within the city. It would also explain why he could not locate his enemies nearby.