The mists of sorrow ms-7

by Brian S. Pratt

  A dark figure, dwarfed by the size of the dome, stands before it. The unmistakable sight of two warrior priests stands behind the dark figure. Cowled figures, similar to those he encountered the last time he and Jiron were here are spaced in twos around the edge of the red dome.

  “Look there!” Miko says in a hushed whisper. Pointing down below where they stand on the stairs, he indicates eight figures moving across the cavern floor toward the dark figure standing before the dome. Four of them are warrior priests, each of whom has hold of a man dressed in slave rags.

  Jiron recognizes one of the men. “Tinok!” he breathes. He looks down at his lifelong friend as he is being brought forward toward the dark figure.

  “Ozgirath,” says Brother Willim. When James glances to him he indicates the dark figure and says, “Ozgirath, the High Priest of Dmon-Li.”

  Miko moves his hand to the pouch containing the Star of Morcyth but James stops him. “Not yet,” he says. If he brings it out of the pouch now, its light will flood the cavern and those down below will know they’re there. “Let’s get closer.” Already the light from the Star feels almost like it’s struggling to leave the pouch.

  Still unobserved by those below, they start moving the rest of the way down to the bottom. James notices that the Little Brothers are not with them. Glancing back up to the top of the stairs, he can see a large concentration of them there watching. For just a moment he thinks that they have more sense than he does, then returns his attention back to the stairs and continues down after the others.

  Ozgirath waits while the last four are brought to him. Something tugs at the back of his mind but he pushes it aside. Nothing can disturb what comes next. Reaching into his robe, he pulls forth a dagger. Easily a foot and a half long, the wicked looking weapon glows darkly from the runes inscribed upon the hilt and blade.

  To make the gate permanent, he must drench it with blood from this world. At the same time it must be sealed with the darkest of magic. He motions for the first of the men to be brought forward. Unable to draw from the magic being sent by the temples as that is being fed directly to the dome area, he instead draws it from the twelve cowled figures. As soon as he begins absorbing their magic, they buckle and collapse.

  When the warrior priest brings the first man before him, he plunges the knife into the man’s breast, spearing the heart. The man makes no sound as the knife is withdrawn. Blood begins to pump forth from the wound as the warrior priest turns and lays the man down at the gate’s base. The dark magic of Ozgirath keeps the man alive as his heart continues to pump out the needed blood.

  The next warrior priest brings forward the next man and again, he plunges the dagger into the man’s breast. Soon, he too is lying at the base of the gate as his life’s blood is leaving his body.

  At the base of the stairs, the four companions watch in horror as the first two men are sacrificed. The third man is then brought forward to stand before Ozgirath. Tinok is in line to be the fourth.

  “Jiron,” James whispers. “You get to Tinok and get him out of here. You’ll be no use in the fight that is to come.”

  Nodding, Jiron says, “I understand.” Moving along the wall beneath the stairs, he starts edging closer to where Tinok stands in the grip of the warrior priest.

  James then turns to Brother Willim and asks hurriedly, “Will the Little Brothers come and help us?”

  “I can feel their fear from here,” he says. “Against Hikuli is one thing. Against this…I don’t know.”

  Out of the corner of his eye, he sees the third man fall and the warrior priest holding Tinok begins to move forward. “Whatever happens,” he says, “Don’t let the knife fall.”

  Miko and Brother Willim both understand what he’s talking about and nod.

  “Miko,” James says, “it’s time to bring forth the Star.”

  Miko gives him a nod as he opens the pouch containing the Star. At the same time, James pulls the medallion bearing the Star of Morcyth out from beneath his shirt. Light shines forth from both in magnificent brilliance.

  Then it seems as if time stops as every eye turns toward them. The arm of Ozgirath is poised to plunge the dagger into Tinok’s chest as he looks to see those who have dared to intrude upon his domain. His yellow eyes flash as he sees the Star where it shines in Miko’s hand. Only for the space of a heartbeat does the world seem to stop before it once again resumes.

  Kill them and take the Star!

  His warrior priests draw their swords and the prickling sensation spikes as they move toward James, Miko and Brother Willim. Then just as he turns back and is about to plunge the dagger in Tinok’s chest to complete the binding of the gate, Jiron comes from behind him and kicks with his foot the hand holding the dagger. The blow causes the dagger to fly free of the hand and sail through the air toward the dome. When it hits the dome’s surface, there’s a flash and the dagger is gone.

  Noooooooooo!

  Ozgirath turns his eyes onto the man who cost him his dagger. A wave of energy lashes out from him and strikes Jiron. It picks him up and throws him further back into the cavern. The warrior priest who had brought Tinok before Ozgirath still stands there holding him. Dmon-Li’s High Priest moves forward and grasps the hilt of the warrior priest’s sword. Pulling it from its scabbard, he raises it high to strike Tinok and add his blood to the others to complete the spell.

  As the sword descends toward Tinok’s breast, a shimmering field springs up around him. The sword connects with the shield and rebounds back. Anger erupts within Ozgirath. Returning the sword back to the warrior priest he says, When the shield falls, strike. There’s very little time left.

  The warrior priest nods and stands ready.

  Turning to the mage who unwittingly helped him to reach this goal, he now turns the full might of his power against him. Energy crackles around him as he summons the power of his god.

  When Jiron had managed to remove the dagger from the dark one’s hand, James had almost shouted in glee. Then his jubilation left him quickly when he saw the five warrior priests turn their attention on him, Miko and Brother Willim.

  Magic erupts from the Star as Miko begins speaking once more in the tongue none other understands. Lances of light shoot forth from the Star and strike the approaching warrior priests with devastating results. Knocked backward several feet, they quickly recover. Then a dark miasmic cloud forms before them and rushes forward.

  The green glow surrounding Brother Willim intensifies as he works to counter the malignant magic being turned to bear upon them. How he wishes the other members of the Hand were with him now, he sorely needs them. Then out of desperation, he sends forth a message, “Little Brothers! Asran needs you this day!”

  Throwing a handful of seeds toward a dark miasmic cloud billowing its way toward them, he prays to Asran to give the earth spirits courage. As the seeds blossom into green tendrils that begin absorbing the cloud, Little Brothers fill the air as they jump from the steps above and race to his aid.

  Jiron shakes off the effects of the blast and regains his feet. A moment’s glance shows him Tinok encased in one of James’ barriers, the Little Brothers launching themselves from high up on the stairs, and James, Miko and Brother Willim fighting for their lives against five warrior priests and the dark figure whom Brother Willim named Ozgirath.

  Seeing as how Tinok is in no immediate threat from the sword held in the hand of the warrior priest so long as James’ shield remains in effect, he rushes toward where James and the others are under attack.

  At first dozens, then scores of Little Brothers appear and swarm toward the combatants. None go near Ozgirath, instead they wash over the warrior priests like a tide. Their tiny claws scratching away at any exposed skin that isn’t covered by armor. Even the armor of the warrior priests begins to show signs of their attack.

  Four of the warrior priests bear the brunt of their assault. Their swords move incredibly fast as they strike out and cleave many of the Little Brothers in two. But for every
one they kill, two more take its place.

  Miko holds aloft the brilliantly shining Star which is keeping several shadows at bay while fending off a warrior priest with his sword. The shadows had appeared shortly after Ozgirath’s dagger disappeared in the dome. The light of the Stair is preventing them from coming close. When they do, smoke seems to rise from them as if the Star’s light burns them.

  Whack! Whack! Whack!

  Brother Willim’s staff quickly strikes the warrior priest engaging Miko three times in quick succession but fails to yield any results.

  Bam!

  One of the warrior priests blasts a dozen Little Brothers from him and then lays about with his sword before more attach themselves to him once again. They grip the armor and use their hands, feet, and at times teeth, on any exposed flesh within their reach. Two of his fellows are already completely encased in a mass of wriggling bodies. The fourth lies still upon the ground, the armor now holding nothing more than a grisly piece of ripped flesh. That it had been a man is no longer apparent.

  Ozgirath unleashes a massive surge of magic toward James which grips him in absolute agony. Every nerve ending on his body flares pain, his muscles begin to twist beneath his skin. A cry of pain is ripped from him as he drops to his knees. Responding with magic of his own, he thrusts the invading magic from him and the pain diminishes.

  Grinning, Ozgirath raises his hand and blackness surrounds it. A blackness so total that is seems as if the light around it is being drawn within. Before he’s able to complete the spell, a knife is thrust to the hilt in his back.

  Ignoring the blade, he launches the blackness toward James then turns his attention to Jiron who is striking him with his other knife. Fool! Ozgirath says to Jiron. Lashing out with his arm, he connects with Jiron and sends him flying toward the dome. Striking it, he disappears.

  “Jiron!” yells James when he sees him vanish. Unable to dwell more upon the fate of his friend due to the approaching bulbous cloud of black, he strikes the cloud with a wave of magic and shatters it.

  “ Ahhhh!”

  Suddenly Miko cries out in pain. James turns in time to see the light of the Star diminish greatly as the sword from a warrior priest severs the arm holding it. Blood spurts out from the stump as he staggers backward.

  Brother Willim moves in with his staff to engage the warrior priest, allowing Miko a chance to withdraw. “Get the Star!” he hollers to James.

  Then a wave of darkness seems to roll over them all as Ozgirath stands there with arms upraised. James moves toward the Star and is almost upon it when he sees Miko’s blood on the ground. It’s moving across the ground as if of its own volition, and it’s heading for the dome.

  Unable to worry about the ramifications of that, he reaches where the Star is lying on the ground. Then he stands there in indecision. He knows it’s his death for him to lay hands upon it, even to save it from the minions of Dmon-Li.

  Brother Willim notices his hesitation and yells, “The shadows! Get the Star or all is lost!”

  James turns and sees the shadows that had been held at bay by the Star moving quickly toward them. Then out of the corner of his eye, he sees Tinok where he is still encased within the barrier he put around him. “That’s it!” he cries.

  Casting a spell he’s cast hundreds of times before, he encases the Star in one of his barriers. Bending over he picks it up. He hesitates only a fraction of a second once it’s in his hand before raising it high. “Morcyth, lend me your aid!” he hollers and the Star bursts to life.

  As the light of the Star blazes forth, screams rip their way through his mind as the light burns the shadows. The pain from the screams forces him to close his eyes. When he reopens them, the shadows are once again a good distance away.

  He then turns to Miko and sees him on the floor awash in his own blood as he holds his severed arm to the stump. A glow forms where the two ends meet as the power of Morcyth works to reattach the limb. “Are you okay?” he asks.

  Face displaying the pain he’s feeling, he fails to answer other than a shake of his head.

  Whack!

  Brother Willim strikes the helm of the warrior priest he’s facing. Bringing his staff in for another strike, the warrior priest’s sword unexpectedly strikes the center of the staff and cleaves it in two. Now unable to adequately defend himself, Brother Willim is helpless to stop the next attack. “Asran!” he cries out as the warrior priest’s sword penetrates his stomach.

  Suddenly, the cavern is filled with the angered screams of Little Brothers. They launch themselves at the warrior priest. Now in total disregard for their own safety, they swarm the warrior priest with a viciousness one wouldn’t expect from such shy creatures. The warrior priest’s sword moves rapidly as he strikes one after another, but the deluge of bodies is simply overpowering.

  James rushes to his side and can see the green glow already surrounding him. “Brother Willim!” he says but the brother is too deep in healing concentration to hear him.

  Then all of a sudden, there’s a subtle shift in the feel of the cavern. Turning his gaze to Ozgirath, he sees him radiating darkness as he faces the dome. “Oh no,” James says as he sees the top of the dome beginning to sink toward the floor.

  The dark ritual has been completed. The gate is now ready.

  Chapter Thirty Nine

  He was surprised when the knife he put in the back of the High Priest did little to hurt him. Then when Ozgirath turned and struck him, he was even more stunned by the sheer strength with which he was struck. There was very little time for him to dwell on this as he flew through the air. Then all of a sudden, he was elsewhere.

  When he came to land, the first thing he felt was fear. More fear than he’s ever felt in his life. Barely able to move, he looks around and realizes he’s no longer in the cavern. A dark haze lays over the land, the ground cracked as if all the moisture was taken from it. The air tastes different and it’s difficult for him to take a breath.

  His gaze continues to turn and he knows he’s not alone. There’s something here with him, something of immeasurable evil and power though his eyes cannot see it. Pain erupts in his head as a malignant presence voices strange words in his mind. Putting his hands to his ears, he tries to shut them out but can’t.

  The dagger Jiron!

  Another voice enters his mind and alleviates in part the pain the strange words give him. This voice gives reason instead of madness and curbs in part the fear he’s felt since passing through. A feeling of imminent danger comes over him as the malignant voice suddenly ceases.

  Take the dagger!

  Again the soothing voice comes to him and in his mind’s eye he pictures golden hair, a memory of long ago. Then his eyes see it. Not more than three feet away lays the dagger he knocked from Ozgirath’s hand.

  Yes

  Lurching forward on his hands and knees, he grabs the dagger by the hilt and a searing pain courses through his hand and up into his arm. The touch of the dagger is almost more than he can bear, but he holds onto it tightly.

  Flee!

  The fear rises within him, as does a feeling that his imminent death is nigh. Rising to his feet, he turns around and sees a dark red area that almost perfectly matches the appearance of the dome in the cavern he just left. Only this area is flat.

  Evil washes over him as he moves toward the dark red area. Falling to his knees in panic, he cringes. Then he looks up toward the dark red area and against all logic, sees the shimmering image of a woman with golden hair. He blinks his eye twice but the image of the shimmering woman remains. Beckoning to him, the image gives him strength to once more rise to his feet.

  Then as he takes a step forward, a wave of force passes him and strikes the shimmering woman. A shriek is heard as she disappears. With the indomitable will that has carried him through many times of crisis, he forces first his right leg to move forward toward the red area, then the left.

  Around him, it almost feels as if evil is assaulting him from all directions
. The dagger in his now all but numb hand shines darkly with power. Step by small step, he forces his legs to obey him as he draws closer to the dark red area. When at last he’s near enough, he gathers his courage and jumps…

  My lord, the way is ready.

  Ozgirath stands there in the cavern before the gate. The dome has collapsed now until only a dark red, shifting flat area remains. The gate stands ready and he awaits his lord’s coming.

  The gate suddenly bulges upward as sparks dance across its top. Then Jiron vaults out from the bulge and lands before Ozgirath. Behind him, the gate settles down and the sparks disappear.

  Ozgirath’s yellow eyes flash as Jiron appears from out of the gate with the dagger aglow in his hand.

  Jiron sees Ozgirath standing there before him and doesn’t hesitate in leaping forward. With a mighty cry, he plunges the dagger with both hands toward the High Priest’s breast.

  James sees him attacking and sends a bolt of white light from the Star to strike Ozgirath a second before Jiron does. The bolt of white light explodes when it hits him, disrupting the spell Ozgirath had planned to use in his defense.

  The dagger in Jiron’s hand strikes the breast of Ozgirath and sinks in to the hilt.

  An inhuman cry is torn from Ozgirath as the runes on the blade flare. At the same time, James turns the full might of the Star upon him and drives him to his knees.

  My lord! Your servant needs your aid!

  Then the gate begins to once again bulge and the sparks appear as they dance across its surface.

  “He’s coming through!” yells Brother Willim. “Forget Ozgirath. You must destroy the gate.”

  James understands the logic of what he says and stops the beam of light going to Ozgirath. Instead he sends the magic toward the gate and works to prevent the crossing of Dmon-Li one way or another.

  Jiron sees the Little Brothers racing for the stairs, fearful at what is coming through the gate. The six warrior priests are gone, now nothing but piles of blood and shredded meat remain. The shadows are still held at bay by the light of the Star. Brother Willim has Miko’s head cradled in his lap and things don’t look very good.