Blakstar responded by holding will-giver before him, then slicing down as if he were cutting through something in his way. Delgart saw a flash of red light in front of the command squad, between Blakstar and the morgle, but will-giver’s golden light only burned brighter, chopping through the teka barrier of fire raised by the morgle. The barrier shattered; pieces of the red flames flew away from the kortexi’s sword, many of them flying back into and setting the morgle’s robes alight.
Behind Delgart, Hrelga, Luthina, and Thal sang, “pleugikel,” several ice arrows shooting past the commander and directly at the morgle. At nearly the same time, Delgart heard Grelsor, Lidelle, and Klaybear sing, “stalna-kailigater,” a triple pillar of green fire striking down from above.
Seeing its death in the golden flames of will-giver and not able to contend with all of them at once, the morgle made a hissing, bubbling sound; yellow light flashed, and it flew suddenly away from them. The three ice arrows crashed together in the air where the morgle had been a moment before; the three pillars of green fire came down from the above, instantly vaporizing the shards of ice and brilliantly illuminating the whole area between the four, round and earthen guard posts as well as the near end of the bridge. At the edge of that light they could see the still smoldering robes of the morgle disappear over the bridge’s east parapet, followed by a splash.
Delgart raised his arm, stopping his squad and looking around. “Luthgart!” he called. “Company status?” he asked, looking around for the captain of his Seventh Company.
“A few minor injuries,” Luthgart called back, hurrying forward. “The morgle’s forces are all dead or fleeing; the wedaterem are all down.”
“Leave two squads to send them to the methaghem,” Delgart said, “form up the rest to follow the command squad and secure passage over the bridge.”
“At once, commander,” Luthgart replied, turning away to gather his company and make the assignment.
“We must hurry, before that morgle can alert Morokolu,” Delgart added. He looked around at the members of his command squad. “That was well-executed,” he noted, smiling at them, “too bad it escaped.”
Grelsor nodded, looking toward the place where the morgle had dived off the bridge. “We should have anticipated that it might flee,” he said.
“Yes,” Hrelga added, “one of us could have dropped a stone wall behind it while the others attacked,” she sighed and shook her head. “The escape orthek is so obvious . . . now.”
“Don’t berate yourselves for not thinking of everything,” Delgart said, smiling to himself, feeling pride over how well they had done, “we have done exceptionally well, thus far.”
“If you can still say that when the sun sets today,” Velnar put in, sagely, “we will have accomplished all that you could hope for, commander.”
Blakstar was frowning, looking at the point where the morgle had been. “It’s too bad my sword won’t shoot its fire at my enemies,” he said holding up the still-glowing will-giver, “then it would not have escaped so easily.”
“Who says it cannot?” Thal replied; Delgart noticed a grin twitching at the corners of his mouth.
The others turned suddenly and looked at the white maghi.
Thal flushed slightly under their gazes; he shrugged. “Have you tried ‘shooting fire’ at anyone?” he asked Blakstar; the kortexi shook his head. “So how do you know that you cannot?”
“That is a revolutionary idea,” Hrelga noted.
Lidelle and Grelsor both nodded. “Yes, I think it is,” Lidelle said.
“What do you mean by revolutionary?” Delgart asked.
“A kortexi using an artifact of power is incredible,” Hrelga clarified, “but one using an artifact of power to shoot bolts of golden fire at his enemies to keep them from fleeing justice,” she shook her head, “that would unhinge most of your kortexi brethren, so you probably should not do it when any of them are present.”
Grelsor laughed. “Unless I’m there,” he said, “that would be worth the price of admission: to see a group of kortexem go into apoplectic fits, torn between their desire to congratulate you for not letting the ‘evil-doers’ escape, and their desire to kill you for using forbidden teka.”
Blakstar choked at these words. “I never said I would use such a power,” he stammered, “if I could, and if it were possible,” he hesitated, looking at Grelsor who was now grinning from ear to ear, and Blakstar’s brow furrowed. “You are making fun of me, aren’t you?” he asked.
“No,” Grelsor said, “you have proven yourself unlike the majority of your order; I was making fun of them.”
Delgart cut across their banter. “Form up,” he said crisply, “Luthgart has his company gathered and ready.” The commander of the gwenakso raised his hand as his command squad gathered around him, then signaled forward, and his squad, supported by Luthgart’s Seventh Company, moved south onto the bridge that led to the west gate of Morokolu.
Unlike the previous bridge Delgart’s squad had crossed, which had been made of a multitude of disparate materials, this bridge was constructed entirely of stone, spanning the northwest section of the lake that surrounded the granite dome somewhere near the center of Mariskal. The bridge was wide enough for an entire company to march abreast, with a parapet on both sides about three feet high; at each supporting pillar and on either side were small guard houses, large enough for a single person, which meant that these enclosures must have been ornamental rather than functional, for none were occupied. In the dim light of dawn, they could just make out the outline of Morokolu to their left as they jogged south across the bridge, but no sound of challenge, or of forces being deployed, interrupted the sounds of the swamp and the continuous bubbling and gurgling of the slime that choked the pools of the Mariskal.
As they neared what Delgart judged was the center of the bridge, he signaled for bows; Luthgart again mirrored his signal, passing the same command to his squad leaders. All but the swords and shields nocked arrows; Delgart signaled again, and the scouts detached themselves from their squads and ran silently forward, staying close to the parapet on either side of the bridge. The commander signaled a third time, slowing them to a halt, giving the scouts more time for stealth and investigation. Delgart reckoned that if their enemy was trying to reman the guard posts north of the bridge, then he must have already re-manned those south of the bridge; the scouts moved ahead in order to take out any lookouts on the towers before an alarm could be raised, and Delgart’s biggest fear was that one of the lookouts might fall from a tower after being struck by an arrow: the sound of the body hitting the ground or the water would alert the others. They needed to pass the west gate to Morokolu without being spotted so they could attack Spenthronsa, without being attacked themselves, from behind, and they were late: the sun was beginning to rise, and, although it remained dark in the heart of the Mariskal even at midday, there was enough light to reveal their presence.
Delgart’s eyes strained forward, trying to pierce the predawn gloom under the huge, ancient cypress trees that stood in and around the guard posts at the south end of the bridge; Delgart’s eyes moved from his scouts to the trees he suspected served as lookout towers, and he waited, the seconds dragging slowly by, each one stretching longer and longer as the sun began to rise. At last Delgart saw the nearest scout signal him, so he signaled in turn, and just as his command squad, followed by the squads of Luthgart’s company, took their first step forward, the scout frantically signaled again, and Delgart raised his hand again, halting everyone mid-step. Before any of them could take another breath, Delgart heard the sound he feared: a loud splash to his left toward Morokolu, which was the sound of a lookout falling into the water. Delgart jerked his arm forward, and the seklesem leaped forward as one, running the rest of the distance across the bridge; he saw his scouts already engaged hand-to-hand with the enemy, led by his Chief Scouts, Reena and Kreega. Delgart signaled again, and arrows flew at and struck down the enemy soldiers running toward the brid
ge and the cries of alarm and sounds of battle.
“Luthgart!” Delgart shouted. “There’s the guard hut we need to take, to the right. You have to keep them pinned down inside the gate!”
“How much time?” Luthgart shouted back.
“At least half-an-hour,” Delgart said, “I know that is a tall order, but I know you can do it.”
“We’ll do it,” Luthgart replied with a grin. “Besides, you probably won’t need that long,” he added, jerking his head toward Blakstar, “just get him close to Spenthronsa and his sword will do the rest.”
Delgart laughed once. “Swords and shields ready!” he exclaimed, seeing enemy soldiers pouring out of both guard huts. “Archers loose at will! Be prepared to swap weapons!” He heard Grelsor to his left, and Hrelga to his right, along with their fellow tekson, begin to sing the words of many different ortheks. Thus, along with the feathered shafts flying toward the morgle’s forces, streaks of gray stone arrows, red fire arrows, blue-white bolts of lightning, and green bolts of kailu fire, all flew toward and ripped through the ranks of their enemies. Several more green-skinned morgle came out of the huts, and the arrows of stone and fire, and the bolts of lightning, along with the feathered shafts, flew in turn toward his seklesem, and the kailum attached to the squads switched to shield ortheks. However, not all of them were as quick to respond as Grelsor, Lidelle, and his brother, Klaybear, who raised shields that blocked all the arrows and bolts, teka or mundane, flying toward his command squad, and he noted that several squads were torn apart before their kailum could protect them. Delgart swallowed hard and drew his twin sabers, unusual for a seklesi, and a holdover from his years as a slave to pirates, spinning both deftly before bringing them to the ready position. Blakstar, he noticed, was doing the same thing with will-giver, spinning it around in a whir of golden flames as he ran at the point of the command squad toward the nearest of their foes, those closer to the west guard hut and blocking their way to Spenthronsa.
Delgart’s plan was that they drive past the west guard hut and then turn west, leaving Luthgart and his company to take the guard hut and keep the morgle’s forces hemmed in the gate to Morokolu: if this meant that Luthgart had also to take the east guard hut, he would do his best to keep the morgle’s forces off the command squad’s rear, giving Delgart and his squad time to engage and destroy the sponsu queen. Delgart hoped the fall of their queen would dismay and disorganize the sponsum who had the rest of the Seventh Legion pinned down, and release Marilee from the orthek she was under. He would then be able to bring several companies through an archway and assault Morokolu in earnest, creating more confusion inside the dome and, hopefully, enabling his brother, Thal, and Blakstar to find and defeat the morgle and take back the rod. He shook his head, recognizing their precarious position, then joined the rest of his command squad in a final burst of speed just before the front of the diamond crashed into and through the enemy ranks. Will-giver was like Nekerp and his scythe, a golden flame harvesting anyone who came within the kortexi’s reach, and Blakstar was again glowing brightly, blinding any of the enemy foolish enough to look at him; they began to give way before him, enemy ranks opening in the direction the kortexi moved. This fear of Blakstar gave the swords and shields, Hrothlo and Rolva to his left, and Mitha and Hranda to his right, plenty to do, and Delgart found himself moving from one side of the diamond to the other, his twin blades and his arms adder-like in their quick, agile attacks left and right. Velnar and Janelle switched to sword and shield the moment the command squad crashed into the enemy. The command squad tekson were forced to attack the enemy building behind them, in spite of all that Luthgart’s company was doing to hem most of them inside the gate. What saved Delgart’s command squad from being overwhelmed was the three extra people he had included, three of his fellow chosen: Klaybear and Thal were able to direct their attention forward, and, with the effect of Blakstar’s flaming sword on the forces barring their way, the command squad blasted through the morgle’s forces.
“How do we keep them from following us?” Reena asked.
“Some of us will have to remain here and hold them off,” Delgart replied.
“No,” Velnar said, and he was looking ahead at an area of shadow that the rising sun did not penetrate. “I am certain it will take us all to tackle Spenthronsa.”
Delgart saw a circle of smoky, red light open in the air above the area of darkness; a small shape tumbled out of the circle, and he heard a wail as the shape disappeared into the area of darkness. The wail was cut-off suddenly moments later. He exchanged a look with Klaybear and Thal.
“You don’t suppose . . . ,” Klaybear began, and Thal nodded before he could finish.
“The shape was about the right size,” Thal noted.
“If he’s just fallen into Spenthronsa’s web,” Delgart said, “we have only moments.” He looked around at his squad; Lidelle was scratching at his gray-haired head. “An idea, Lidelle?” he asked.
“Maybe, commander,” Lidelle replied, “there is an old, powerful kailu orthek, unused for centuries because no staff can channel the forces necessary to work it; however,” he nodded to Blakstar, “we might be able to channel them through his sword.”
“But I do not know how to . . . ,” Blakstar started to protest, but Lidelle cut him off.
“You don’t need to know how,” Lidelle interrupted, “we will tell you the words to sing.”
“And you will merely be the focus point,” Grelsor added, catching on, “so we,” he pointed to himself, Lidelle, and Klaybear, “will be the actual workers of the orthek.”
Lidelle looked at Delgart. “You go ahead with the others,” he said, “and we will prevent them from following.”
Delgart nodded and led the others into the area of darkness.
Blakstar was puzzled, but Grelsor ignored him for the moment and followed Lidelle back toward the enemy, a few of which were beginning to lose their fear of will-giver, although they could still see the kortexi shining brightly.
“Are you thinking of the old earthquake orthek?” Grelsor asked.
“Earthquake?” Klaybear put in, “I think I came across that one.”
Lidelle nodded. “The ground here seems unstable already,” he noted, “I think if we crack it here and shake it beyond, much of it will sink allowing the water to come in and making it temporarily impassable.”
Grelsor nodded. “We have to hurry, though,” he said, pointing toward the enemy who were beginning to move in their direction.
“You shield us,” Lidelle said to Grelsor. “I think I want the raw power of these two to cast the orthek.”
“Wisdom is our principle attribute,” Grelsor quipped, and he raised a shield to cover them.
Lidelle’s voice spoke in Blakstar’s mind. It’s faster this way, so listen carefully. Klaybear and I will begin the first half of the orthek, which will crack the ground. The words are ‘nunkopedom-rumpet’; repeat them back to me, in your mind! Blakstar did so until the words and the intonation were perfect. When we place our hands on your shoulders, Blakstar, we will begin to sing the phrase, in the same ascending tune as before. As we begin, hold up your sword and think about filling it with energy, make it shine as brightly as the sun; as we sing, turn it point down, and when we finish the phrase, drive it into the ground in front of your feet, thinking strongly about a great crack opening in the ground where the sword pierces it, opening to your right and left until it reaches deep into the water in both directions. After the crack has opened, raise your sword in the air again, thinking again about filling it with power and light. We will then sing the word, ‘kweterumtod’; repeat it back to me in your mind. As before, he repeated it until correct. When we finish singing the phrase, point the sword toward the ground beyond the crack and imagine it beginning to shake violently while we continue to sing the word over and over again, in unison, until the ground beyond the crack has sunk into the water. Understand? Good, then we begin. Klaybear, you know what to do; nod when you are r
eady.
Blakstar held up will-giver and waited until he felt the hands clap him on either shoulder in unison, and in unison, the three of them began to sing, “nunkopedom-rumpet!” As they began to sing, the sword glowed brightly, blindingly golden, and Blakstar reversed it, preparing to drive it into the ground at his feet; as his tongue touched the roof of his mouth, forming the final letter, he drove will-giver with a brilliant flash of golden light into the ground. He felt a concussion beneath his feet and a crack opened where the blade split the earth, widening in short spurts right and left even as he imagined it happening in his mind, growing, like two jagged snakes jerking to get away from him. Blakstar heard Lidelle and Klaybear still singing the phrase, so he followed their leads, singing along with them, but the loud cracking sounds he expected to hear were muffled thuds coming from deep under the ground. He felt the elemental forces of the two kailum pouring through him and was amazed at how much his sword added to their combined power, multiplying and increasing it. With one final surge, the cracks shot into the water.
“Raise the sword!” Lidelle said. “Now, next word.” Again in unison, they sang the word, “kweterumtod!” Blakstar pointed the sword, again glowing with a blinding gold light, toward the ground beyond the crack before his feet, which was filling with water, and the ground beyond the fissure began shaking, slowly at first, then violently as they continued to sing and channel more power through will-giver. Not only did the enemy forces begin to reel like the drunken, but also the huge cypress trees began to sway side to side, until the lower branches were slapping the ground, catching anyone unable to move out of the way and hurling that person or creature through the air. The nearer guard hut started to collapse even as the ground in many places in between fell into more cracks that opened, immediately filling with water. The air was filled with rumbling, splitting, and cracking sounds, and now screams of terror, as the forces of the enemy tried to flee away from the localized earthquake, only to be cut down by Luthgart’s company, who had retreated toward the bridge when the scouts noticed and reported what the command squad was doing. More water rushed in as more of the ground cracked and opened, swallowing rocks, plants, and enemy soldiers whose screams were cut-off suddenly when the shaking earth and the rushing water covered them.
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