Highmage's Plight (Highmage’s Plight Series Book 1)

by Aire, D. H.

  Thomi took her to the rubble of a fallen building and they were able to slip past a broken doorway by crouching. Torches bracketed one wall and Cle’or lit one then followed Thomi into the dark corridor.

  After a time they reached an intersecting passage. Something growled in the darkness as Cle’or drew her sword and spun to confront it. A massive arm pushed her back, sending her sprawling. It shambled forward as Thomi shouted, “No, Walsh! It’s all right! She means you no harm!”

  Cle’or gaped as the hulking eight-foot-tall ogre paused and turned to the boy, then smiled crookedly, “Tho-mi?”

  “It’s me, Walsh! She rescued me!”

  The ogre gave a sob and brokenly explained, “Mara… said… master… kill…you…unless…’

  “I know that, Walsh!”

  The ogre quickly lifted the boy off the ground and hugged him. “Tho-mi…live. Only friend…not…die.”

  To Cle’or’s astonishment, Thomi fervently hugged the creature back. The ogre gave a soft croon of pleasure. “Put me down now, Walsh. My new friend and I must get into the hall to try and save her friends!”

  A bell rang out again and immediately the ogre stiffened and set the boy down. “He…summons.” His gaze grew distant. “He…wants me kill.” The ogre shook himself, “Tho–mi…must go! Not safe!”

  The bell echoed once more and the ogre took an involuntary step away, then another. The boy took Cle’or’s hand and led her down the passage opposite the retreating ogre. There were tears in his eyes. “We must hurry! There is little time!”

  “What do you mean that he’s gone?” Raslinn rasped at the cowered woman Mara, who sported a sizeable bump on her head.

  “I went as you commanded, Master! Then I was knocked unconscious!”

  “Fool! Guards! Find Thomi! I’ll not have this spectacle ruined!” Then he looked at the woman darkly. “Your punishment should at least prove amusing.”

  Raven blinked sleep from her eyes, no longer in human form, but in her beast shape. About her neck she wore a jewelled collar. She tried to shake it off, then willed herself to change but nothing happened.

  Light suddenly filled the pit around her. The walls were lined with seated people, staring at her in fascination. She heard a grim laugh then saw the goblin come into the light.

  “You are collared to our dark master’s will once more, were-child!”

  Raven growled at Raslinn.

  “You will do my will! And since you must be famished, here is a morsel for you.”

  He drew a frightened woman up beside him and callously tossed her screaming into the pit. “Enjoy!” he shouted and turned to the staring, raggedly dressed crowd, who abruptly applauded.

  “Good, that’s better,” he preened. “That should teach the dratted boy the price of daring to disobey me."

  Cle’or and Thomi heard the screaming as they came out behind the seats lining the pit. Thomi stared from their vantage in horror. Cle’or’s gaze narrowed as Raven in beast form shuddered and rose at the sight of the terrified woman.

  Raven growled, then took half a step forward before twisting about, fighting the geas placed upon her.

  Raslinn shook his head, “This will not do at all.” He raised his left hand. “Lower it!”

  There was a creaking noise from high above. Cle’or watched a cage bearing Se’and swaying into the light.

  “This should serve as incentive, my pet! Now kill the morsel before you!”

  Raven howled and bit at the air.

  A stooped old man guarded the door to the others’ cell. Balfour closed his eyes and mentally reached out to him. The man suddenly began breathing hard, then glanced sheepishly into the room. He looked up at Me’oh and muttered, “My, my, what a lovely specimen.”

  He took his key and opened the door. The old fellow’s face was flush as he entered. His clawing hands reached for Me’oh ankle. She kicked at him.

  “Feisty. I like that.”

  Me’oh glanced at Balfour and frowned, noting his deep look of concentration. She suddenly smiled, “You want me? That’s too bad since I’m locked in here.”

  “So? I’ve the key?” he held it up. “Just promise me a kiss?”

  She grinned, “Just a kiss?”

  He hurriedly put the key in the lock and turned it. Me’oh kicked outward sending him sprawling. He shook his head to clear his addled wits. “What am I thinking?” he muttered.

  “Sleep now,” Balfour whispered in answer. The man’s eyes shut and he slumped to the floor snoring lightly. Balfour opened his eyes as Me’oh hastened from her cage and grabbed the key.

  “Give a girl some warning next time,” Me’oh said.

  Balfour took a deep calming breath, “Nice work.”

  Moments later they were both free. Me’oh thoughtfully closed the cell door behind them, wishing the man well in his slumber.

  Raven raced forward and swatted her prey. The woman cried out in fear, “Please, master, no!”

  “This is the boy’s fault! You knew what I wanted from him and you let him escape!” he responded.

  Raven leapt. The woman fell backwards as Raven’s gaping jaws snapped just inches from her throat.

  She struggled to fend off the beast. “No! Please!”

  Intelligence flashed in Raven’s eyes and she turned her gnashing teeth to the side.

  Thomi stepped into the light and faced the goblin, “You wanted me here?”

  Raslinn stared incredulous, raised his hand, and muttered a half-heard word. The geas instantly restrained Raven’s attack. “Who freed you?”

  Thomi laughed, “What? You didn’t appreciate my little trick?”

  “Boy, do you want to join her?” the goblin mage shouted.

  “Release my mother and I’ll order Walsh to obey you.”

  The goblin glared at him, then shouted, “Throw down a rope, then make ready to release the ogre. The main event is about to commence!”

  Thomi took a deep breath as his mother was helped from the pit. He then looked worriedly across its length. A thick wooden door was raised. The ogre stepped into the pit and saw the waiting pale beast with a black mane.

  Raven growled at him as Thomi winced.

  “This will be a fight to the death!” the goblin mage shouted. “To the winner goes the morsel!” he added laughing, gesturing at the glaring Se’and.

  The ogre glared at the self-styled Lord of Niota. The goblin smiled and uttered an elvish word. Stiffening in pain, the ogre bellowed, then the mage pointed at Walsh.

  “Beast, kill this creature!”

  Raven raced across the pit.

  “Walsh! Defend yourself!” Thomi cried as the ogre grimaced and met the beast’s charge.

  Cle’or had sidled away from Thomi. The audience’s attention was completely focused on the scene before them. She drew two throwing daggers and moved to a position directly behind her target. The voice of the elf in her dream whispered to her an idea. Her eyes widened.

  Se’and, dangling above the monstrous battle, beat futilely on the bars, gaping at the fight her ward found herself in. “I have to get out of here!”

  Something came through the bars and landed beside her. Se’and stared at George’s discolored metal dagger. She dared not glance about and draw any attention. Cautiously, she edged toward the knife, then hefted it and moved to pick the cage’s lock.

  The ogre groaned as Raven’s claws cut his arm. He flailed his other arm, striking the beast and sending it toppling end over end. She shook her head as she rose with a scream of rage.

  The ogre shambled in a lope toward her, swinging his fists like a mace. Raven ducked then jumped and bit down hard on its heavily muscled bicep. In agony he turned and slammed her to the ground. As she held on with her teeth clamped, the ogre twisted and slammed her again and again.

  The crowd cheered. Half dazed, Raven let go and hastened a few steps away. When she came up, the ogre was staring darkly at her, blood streaming from its arm and from the cuts it had taken.

&
nbsp; George felt drugged. He blinked, doing his best to move, to concentrate. He fought the haze and found Fri’il seated at his side. She straightened, “Thank the Lords! We thought we had lost you! You’ve been fevered for days!”

  “Fevered?” he mumbled. He mentally reached out for rapport and didn’t find it. His computer staff was originally intended as a tool, an extension of his mind, but since falling into this world it felt more like it was the other half of himself. Without it, he felt incomplete.

  She brought a drink brought to his lips. He shook his head violently, spilling it all.

  “Oh, my, look what you’ve done?” She dabbed at the spill, then bent and kissed him passionately.

  Something was very wrong. He turned his head away violently. “Why can’t I move my arms and legs?”

  Crestfallen, Fri’il backed away filled with despair. Tears filled her eyes.

  “You had to be bound for your own safety,” she muttered as she disgustedly removed her livery and drew her knife while tears streamed down her cheeks.

  As he stared, she put the knife to her bodice strings and sliced them open, leaving her bosom bared.

  “Am I so ugly? Why can’t you love me as a Lord of Cathart ought?”

  “Fri’il,” he muttered, feeling nauseous, “cut my bindings!”

  She shook her head, her eyes glazed. The knife in her hands gleamed in the light. She turned it toward him.

  “Why can’t you love me?”

  Cle’or waited just long enough to see Se’and pick the lock and slip out to drop into the pit.

  Raslinn muttered a word as he heard the faintest sound of warning and saw Se’and’s escape. He turned in a blur and caught the thrown dagger from the stands and yelled.

  “Guards! Guards!”

  Raven spun on her heels as Se’and landed on her back and brought the odd blade down on the collar. It instantly sizzled then burst apart as Raven dodged aside. She then leapt forward and shimmered into bird form.

  The goblin mage stared in disbelief, “No!” He dove forward and grabbed something obscured as a blast of supernatural energy shot unerringly toward the freed were.

  The ogre stared, then raised a thick fist to slam the new intruder when he heard Thomi cry, “No, Walsh! They’re friends!”

  Cle’or drew her sword and fought back two of the guards. She cursed as Raven was knocked from the air. Other guards raced around the circumference of the pit as pandemonium broke out among spectators eager to flee. Cle’or dispatched her first opponent then cast a dagger underhanded at the second.

  Raslinn turned and stared, “Another Cathartan. Quite impressive. Now kill her!”

  The remaining guards were nearly upon her then one cried out having a sudden seizure. The goblin turned as a second cried out. Balfour stood in the main entry his hand upraised, sweat beading his brow as he stared at the falling guards.

  The goblin gaped, having felt no magery being wielded. He heard a squawk and narrowly dove aside as Raven returned to the attack. A thick hand clasped the edge of the pit before him and the goblin paled.

  The ogre’s other hand got purchase. The goblin hastily fled.

  Se’and caught the rope that Me’oh and the woman who had previously tenanted the pit threw down to her. Raven shimmered and returned to beast form, then raced after the retreating goblin as the ogre reached the stands.

  “Ras-linn!” he shouted as Thomi raced after him.

  “Where are Je’orj and Fri’il?” Se’and shouted.

  Me’oh shrugged, “We didn’t see them on our way here!”

  Thomi’s mother said, “I know where your friends are.”

  Balfour and Cle’or reached them as they rushed from the chamber.

  “Fri’il, free me from these bounds!” he muttered, struggling against the cords that bound his wrists and ankles, suddenly feeling the haze lift around him.

  She looked back on him wanly, holding the knife threateningly. “Why won’t you love me? I will bear you strong daughters!”

  “Release me and we can talk about it!” he said with some concern.

  Then the door was flung wide and George stared in shock as a figure occupied the doorway. Staff was pulsing darkly in the being’s hand.

  “You’re awake? I would have thought she would have dosed you insensate by now.”

  “A goblin? You are certainly far from home.” He concentrated and tried to link with the staff, yet nothing seemed to happen for a moment.

  ‘Geo-rge, he-lp me.’

  The goblin mage smiled thinly and breathed rapidly. Something momentarily wrung the breath from him. He slammed the door firmly shut then barred it behind him.

  “No matter, perhaps it will be better this way with you awake and knowing you have brought this doom upon yourself.”

  “Why don’t you love me?” Fri’il rasped inconsolably as the goblin laughed.

  George looked at her as she brandished the knife. “Fri’il, it is not a matter of love. I cannot do this. I must return to my world.”

  “Hear that, my dear,” Raslinn practically cackled in delight. “He will not sire the children you must bear to secure your house. He means to betray you! He has always meant to!”

  “You must love me!” she pleaded. “Your life is here with us!” She gestured at her bosom. “Am I not pleasing enough?”

  George swallowed hard, wondering how he could make her understand that he could not accept what she offered. He had to go home. This was not his world. This place had no right to just summon him and thrust him into a fate he could never have imagined.

  “I can’t…” he muttered in frustration.

  She slumped forward sobbing and the goblin mage laughed.

  “So the augury has foretold!” He began to sing the spell chant and the staff flared with dark energy.

  ‘George!’ screamed the computer staff distantly.

  He blinked and saw a stygian blackness well from the staff. It was death personified, born of the goblin’s maniacal hatred and Fri’il’s heart-wrenching, innocent agony. It reached out toward the knife in Fri’il’s hands. The darkness touched it and she rose stiffly, a dread anger blazing in her eyes.

  With a sigh, George closed his eyes and said, “Fri’il, I do love you.”

  Her eyes widened and her hands trembled as the goblin mage gasped, “That’s a lie! You know in your heart he will never give you what you most desire! He kills your house aborning!”

  Yet deep within her George’s words echoed, ‘love you,’ and they awoke the power of her duty.

  “Kill him!” the goblin cried.

  Fri’il’s hands trembled yet she made no move to obey.

  Furious, Raslinn screamed, “So be it then!" He raised the staff over his head and chanted to the stygian emptiness that lay growing on the blade.

  The darkness inched up her arms. It would have a soul just as the goblin had promised.

  The ogre took the stairs several at a time knocking aside several guards. Raven howled as she reached the doorway with the unmistakable scent of the goblin. She struck the door with her shoulder, only to be cast backward as the warding flared, rebuffing her.

  She struck the far wall and shimmered back to human form. The ogre stopped and stared at her, peering down at her. “Me…fought…only…little girl?” he muttered.

  Raven shook her head as the ogre offered her his hand and helped her to her feet.

  “Need Father’s…dagger,” Raven explained. “Warded.”

  The ogre glanced at the door and pounded on it with his right fist. A blast of energy snapped out, stinging his hand. He shook it and grimaced. It had given not the smallest sound of impact. Raven turned and heard running feet. Thomi was only steps ahead of Se’and and the others when the boy paused and stared at her. He blinked, wondering where this naked girl had come from. His mother screeched at him and abruptly covered his eyes.

  “Mother!”

  Raven shook her head and shouted at Se’and, “Dagger!”

  Se’and
handed it over and watched Raven run to end of the hall, the ogre curiously following. The unshuttered window was high up and narrow. Putting the dagger between her teeth, Raven gestured for Walsh to help her up. He held out his arms uncertainly. Raven hopped up to take a quick look out the window before scampering onto the ledge.

  Thomi caught a brief glimpse of her vanishing back. “Who was that?”

  Se’and shook her head, “That is my foster daughter,” she said proudly. “Be prepared everyone. It shouldn’t be long now.”

  Cle’or smiled thinly, passing daggers to Balfour and Me’oh, and tossed another to Se’and. “I’m always ready.”

  Raven moved carefully along the ledge. It had crumbled in places but she was remarkably surefooted even as a human. She listened by the window and could detect nothing. The room was completely warded. She sighed, fearing the worst then took the knife in her hands and slammed the discolored blade into the shutter. The ward shattered as she threw herself within.

  There, the goblin was smiling as Fri’il stiffened and turned the dagger toward her own bared breast, even as the window shattered and a naked form burst across the room.

  “The bindings!” his prisoner cried.

  A blast of fey energy flicked out from Raslinn’s fingertips at the were-child sought to reach the goblin before he could finish chanting his grim spell of death.

  Raven ducked as the blast struck the wall at the same time that the door behind the mage thudded with a terrific impact, no longer warded against harm, but stout enough to hold for a time.

  Raven slashed with her blade at the nearest binding restraining her foster father as she saw the darkness ebb up Fri’il’s arms to her shoulders.

  Fri’il looked at Raven sadly, “Look after him for me, Raven.”

  She raised the knife to thrust into her own heart as George shouted, “No!”

  White fire flared from the computer staff amid the black energy, and seared the startled goblin’s hands.

  Fri’il screamed as the blackness flared with opposing white light. She swayed as the dagger began to glow. Raven cut George’s other hand free then threw George’s dagger with all her might at the goblin.