by James Wisher
Connor turned the residual energy into dark spears that streaked toward her heart. Perhaps taken by surprise, she missed one of the spears. It struck her mail and sent the paladin flying. She skidded across the empty throne, not stopping until she hit the far wall.
He grinned. She wasn’t invincible at least.
The paladin stood up, not a mark on her. Not even her mail was tarnished from the blow of his spear. His grin soured. He should have known such a weak attack wouldn’t phase a paladin capable of crossing the haunted lands and raising such a powerful barrier. The fact that her sword and armor both had heavenly energy bound into them didn’t help his cause.
The paladin leveled her sword at him. It glowed white. Connor leapt, avoiding a burning arrow by inches. He rolled, spun, and dodged a storm of arrows. Lying on his back Connor sent a black scythe at her knees.
The dark blade stopped when the sword slashed down through his attack. He sent blast after blast at his opponent, watching closely as she slashed each blast out of the sky. After the fourth attack he realized she was using only the power of the sword for both offense and defense. After the sixth blast he noticed the sword’s glow diminishing.
He knew what he had to do now. Connor drew deeply from his core, increasing the power in each blast. If he could just force her to take a little power away from the barrier it might be enough to allow Focalor to break through. With the demon at his side it would be a whole new battle. From the tiny beads of sweat forming on her smooth brow the paladin knew it too.
Connor sent another blast, the biggest one so far. She slashed through it. Her power flared an instant before a wave of white light came roaring at him.
Connor raised his shield at the same moment the wave struck. Dark and light power clashed.
The explosion sent Connor flying. Only his enhanced strength kept his ribs from breaking when he struck the wall.
His opponent stood slumped over, leaning on her no-longer-glowing sword. Connor drew another chunk of power and hurled a black lightning bolt.
She formed a white shield that shattered when the corrupt energy struck it. The barrier wavered.
The ceiling exploded inward. When the dust settled Focalor stood in the center of the throne room.
The demon’s knobby, scaled form shimmered. Bat wings turned to raven wings. The tail shrank and disappeared. The wide, thick body became slimmer and more human.
So his erstwhile partner wasn’t a true demon at all, but a risen demon cast out of hell for the crime of not being evil enough. Should Focalor turn against him Connor wouldn’t last long against both the paladin and the former demon.
For the moment it seemed Focalor had eyes only for the paladin. His gaze locked on the still-silent woman.
“We meet again at last, my love,” Focalor said. “I have so missed you.”
Chapter 28
“I should have killed you centuries ago, Focalor.” The paladin’s voice sounded dull and raspy from years of disuse.
“Kill me! I gave up everything I was for you, Aowin. Now I’m trapped on this wretched world. But once I’ve killed you I’ll reclaim my place in hell.”
Focalor’s power blazed around him, a muddy gray haze, not quite the corrupt darkness of a true demon and not the golden light of a mortal sorcerer. The ragged remains of the paladin’s barrier vanished as she drew the energy back into herself and her sword. Both weapon and wielder glowed with pure white light.
If either of them remained aware of Connor they gave no sign. That suited the exhausted warlock. He scrambled back to the doorway and hunkered down to watch the show. He needed time to let his badly depleted soul force regenerate.
Focalor raised his claws and a pillar of gray flames roared down on Aowin. The flames splashed down over her shield. When the torrent subsided she stood unharmed in a circle of charred stone.
“You always start with the same attack.” She shook her head. “Poor, predictable Focalor.”
She raised her sword and Connor expected the white arrows. Focalor blurred and reappeared beside Aowin. He backhanded her hard enough to snap her head aside. He hammered a fist into her stomach, doubling her over.
“Predictable am I?” Focalor raised his hand high for a clubbing blow to her head.
Aowin sped up. Her sword swung in a crossing slash.
Focalor’s hand went flying, spraying black blood all over the white stone. He grasped his stump and snarled.
Aowin sneered as her sword burned the black blood away. “Did I say predictable? I meant pathetic.”
She showed no ill effects from the heavy blows. The great sword went up and power flowed into it. When it reached its highest point Focalor smiled and thrust his dripping wrist at her face.
Mingled blood and flame sprayed into Aowin’s face.
She gagged and staggered back, pawing at her face. Focalor formed a new hand of pure soul force. He drove straightened fingers into her stomach. When he ripped them back they were stained red.
Aowin moaned and held a hand to her stomach. Focalor loomed over her. He seemed to be enjoying himself.
Connor studied the paladin. Power flowed to her wound. “Finish her before she heals!”
Focalor looked back at him.
Bad move.
Aowin chose her moment well. She drove her great sword one handed into Focalor’s chest up to the hilt. Purifying light burst from the blade. Focalor screamed.
He tried to back away from the heavenly blade, but the paladin wouldn’t give him an inch. She poured more power into her weapon. White light burst from cracks in Focalor’s arms and legs. He roared even louder.
Connor gathered his power. It wouldn’t be long now.
Light shot out the demon’s mouth and eyes. A final blinding flash filled the throne room. When Connor’s vision cleared there was no sign of Focalor. Aowin stood panting, her soul force depleted.
Perfect.
Connor conjured a black blade of dense soul force and walked over. “That was impressive.”
She looked up at him and he swung. Aowin’s head hit the ground, eyes wide with shock. Connor smiled down at her. Now where was the key?
He patted her pockets, but found them empty. Four buckles held the silver mail in place and once he unfastened them he tossed it aside and shook his singed fingers. On a chain around her neck was a small round seal marked with the rune of opening. He yanked it and snapped the chain.
Connor now had everything he needed to claim the crystal.
Chapter 29
“You’re not dead.” The spirit in the mirror appeared the moment Connor entered the vault carrying Aowin’s severed head. “I’m modestly impressed. I was certain the paladin would kill you.”
“Thanks.” He tossed the head in the corner. “When can I speak to King Alexious?”
“I’ll need a few minutes. It’s not like he’s sitting around waiting to speak with every dimwitted warlock that wanders into his palace.”
Connor ignored the insult and flicked his hand at the spirit. “Well run along and let him know I’ve completed the tasks you set.”
The spirit stuck a shadowy tongue out at him and vanished. Connor shook his head and went over to the crystal’s niche. It took a moment to locate the empty circle in the runes. When he found it again Connor placed the key in it. Seconds passed and nothing happened.
Had he done something wrong? Power gathered and the runes writhed, finally. A blast of power sent Connor flying across the room. He slammed into the far wall and slid to the floor. Again.
Connor clambered to his feet shaking his head, trying to figure out what happened. In the mirror the spirit had returned. It wore a grin that almost split its head in half. “You tried to open the niche before learning the proper technique.”
Connor snarled. “You might have warned me.”
“Why should I warn someone too stupid or impatient to wait for the proper instruction?”
Before Connor could respond the spirit shuddered and faded away. An armore
d figure took its place. This apparition appeared far more solid than the vaporous spirit. Connor took a knee. This had to be King Alexious.
“On your feet, boy.” The king spoke in a deep sepulchral voice that seemed to echo as though coming from a great depth.
Connor rushed to obey, not even thinking to be insulted by the boy comment. To a being of King Alexious’s age and power Connor was little more than a child. “Great King, it is an honor to meet you.”
“My spirit guard seems to think little of you, but you have manners at least. That’s surprisingly rare among those who walk our path. I never understood it myself. You’d think by the behavior of some warlocks that snarling savagery and spitting curses somehow made you stronger.”
While the king spoke of manners Connor took the opportunity to study the man, or perhaps former man, that had been his chief inspiration ever since Connor learned of him. The once king had a heavy build and crimson eyes shone out from slits in the horned helm. He looked closer. It wasn’t armor the king wore, not exactly. It appeared the plate, helm and gauntlets were fused to his body like a second skin or a demon’s scales.
“What do you wish to know of me, boy?” King Alexious asked.
“I want to finish your work and sacrifice the rest of the continent to the Horned One. I sought the soul burn crystal to complete your harvest.”
The king chuckled. “Ambitious, I like that. The hell gate project wasn’t a backup plan. It was my first plan which I abandoned as unworkable and inefficient compared to my final project. What makes you think you can succeed where I failed?”
The king’s voice held an edge when he asked the final question. Connor swallowed. He’d have to be diplomatic in how he answered. “I believe it’s my best chance to succeed. I have no army and no kingdom. If I attempted to duplicate your work with the pyramids my enemies would detect it at once and destroy me and my work. Creating the hell gate allows me to do most of the work in secret and once I’m ready I’ll have the army I need to crush my enemies. Once I subjugate the kingdom I can move on to building pyramids and offering the great sacrifice.”
King Alexious nodded. “A thoughtful plan. Where will you find the energy sources you need to bring your army through the gate?”
“Much has changed in the years since you ascended. What was once wilderness with savage natives is now a prosperous kingdom. I will have no trouble getting the soul force I need to summon an army.”
“I honor your ambition and the Horned One’s decision to gift you a portion of his soul force. Succeed and I will welcome you to The Master’s court as a brother. To claim the crystal, place the key in the empty circle, charge it with hellfire, and spin it one full rotation right and two full rotations left. When you leave be certain to reset the guardian.”
The king vanished from the mirror and the first spirit returned. “You two seemed to hit it off.”
Connor ignored the spirit and walked back to the crystal’s niche. He performed the steps as King Alexious said then watched as the guardian runes faded away and the glass became insubstantial. He reached in and pulled the crystal out. It weighed more than he’d expected; more like lead than crystal. Connor sighed in satisfaction. Now his plans could proceed.
He pocketed the key, surrounded the crystal with a soul force bubble, and let it drift beside him.
“Wait,” the spirit said. “Take me with you and I’ll lead you to the cavern King Alexious planned to use to house the crystal.”
“I already have a place picked out. Do you know how to reset the guardian?”
The spirit gave a despairing shake of its head. “There’s a circle on the floor outside. Put the token in the center and pour hellfire into it. When it can’t hold any more it’ll reactivate. Are you really going to pass up the chance to set up in the location the master chose himself?”
Connor walked out of the treasure room without a backward glance. He needed to return to his library and check on Mikhail. He didn’t trust the unstable young man to act on his own for very long.
Chapter 30
The sun had long since slunk behind the mountains when Connor spotted the cave. He was relieved to find no bodies littering the ground outside. Either none of his agents had come calling or Mikhail had shown a shred of good judgment and let them be. Whichever way it turned out, a great weight lifted from Connor’s shoulders.
The snow crunched under his boots when he landed and Connor sunk up to mid-calf. It must have snowed again while he was gone. He stepped out of the snow and walked down the long tunnel to his library. He sensed Mikhail there. Connor frowned. The black knight wasn’t alone. Another weak soul force was present. Who could it be? Despite what he’d told Mikhail, Connor hadn’t actually expected any of his agents to visit for weeks.
Something must have happened.
Connor picked up his pace, not running, that would be a sign of weakness and he didn’t dare show any weakness. He entered his library and found Mikhail, drawn sword held in his scaly new hand, standing over a man in dark brown and green robes. The unfortunate prisoner spotted Connor and sighed in relief.
“Master, I have an important message,” the prisoner said.
“Silence, worm. I caught this one prowling around outside two days ago, Master. Remembering your admonishment I detained him for questioning prior to execution.”
“Good, Mikhail, I’m pleased you paid attention.” Turning his gaze on the prisoner Connor continued, “I assume Eleck sent you.”
“Yes, Master.” The terrified man looked up at Mikhail then back to Connor.
Connor attempted a reassuring smile. With his current appearance he wasn’t certain how well he pulled it off. “Don’t worry, Mikhail isn’t going to kill you. He was just acting out of an abundance of caution. Your message?”
“Of course. Master Eleck says the project is on schedule, but he fears one of the Wise One’s followers may have discovered our work. A girl has disappeared, and hunters have been dispatched. He feels confident the girl will be found and dealt with, but wished to let you know what had happened.”
Connor ground his teeth. If Eleck didn’t get the cave ready or, worse, someone from the kingdom learned what they were doing he’d have nowhere to set up the crystal. “Return and tell Eleck if he fails I’ll send Mikhail to kill the lot of you.”
The trembling messenger popped to his feet and fled the library as fast as his skinny legs could carry him. Connor slammed his fist into the wall. Problems, problems, problems. Why did all his servants cause him nothing but problems?
He stalked across the library and sat in his black chair. “It isn’t too much to expect my subordinates to do their jobs competently, is it?”
“No, Master,” Mikhail said. “Say the word and I will punish them for you.”
Connor rubbed his face. Was Mikhail so stupid he didn’t realize Connor was talking about him too? Probably.
“I appreciate the offer, but Eleck still has important work to do. We’ll give him a chance to clean up his mess before we take more drastic measures.”
Chapter 31
Lon sat across the table from Thomas in the headmaster’s cluttered office. It had been an exhausting and frustrating couple of days. He returned Jen and her team to The Citadel before returning to report. Lon wasn’t exactly sure how Thomas got put in charge of researching Connor Blackman. Usually the headmaster looked after his students and teachers and nothing else. The archmage must have been too busy with the imperial ships to take care of this as well. Thomas and Lidia were old friends and Lon suspected if she asked him to look into this business for her Thomas wouldn’t hesitate to help.
Thomas looked up from Lon’s report. “Not much here and Kat didn’t know anything. Huh. Quite remarkable, soul force eaters showing up at both locations at the same time as you. It’s enough to make a man think we have a leak in The Tower.”
Lon had similar thoughts, but kept silent, uncomfortable giving voice to them. He couldn’t imagine who might help Connor and th
ey certainly couldn’t just question people for no reason. It would kill morale and make everyone suspicious of everyone else. If that happened they’d never accomplish anything.
“What do you want to do?” Lon asked.
“If you’re willing I was thinking of setting a trap.”
Lon frowned. “What sort of trap?”
“There’s one last avenue we haven’t explored: the Blackman family itself. I want you to go talk to them. But before you meet, I’ll let the usual people know something’s happening, each with a slight variation, none of it the truth. Different times of the meeting, different locations, that sort of thing. You’ll go to each place at the appointed time. If you’re attacked we’ll have our answer. Once that’s sorted out you can talk to the Blackman clan safely.”
“I’m not crazy about lying to our people, but I agree we don’t have much choice. Who do you trust to act as my backup?”
“That, at least, I have sorted out. Before she left Lidia put three members of her Crimson Legion at my disposal, just in case. If we can’t trust them, we can’t trust anyone.”
Lon feared his old friend was all too correct about that last bit. “How many people will you test?”
“I only told six others about your last mission. Three of the high sorcerers, my assistant, Mistress Ann, and Lenore the librarian. I have my suspicions, but I’ll try them all to be certain. Since Sasha is already in Valcane I won’t inform her of your mission. The other five I’ll give different information about a meeting three days from now in the port. At least one of them will most likely be a trap. Are you certain you’re willing to take the risk, Lon?”
Lon wasn’t at all certain, but they had limited options. They needed to sort this out if they were to have any chance of stopping Connor. “Don’t worry, a trap isn’t as dangerous if you know you’re walking into it.”