by Jeff Inlo
That link, however, always flowed through Vraya's focused energy. It limited what she could follow during the turmoil within the ebony magic. But Jure could follow through different routes.
Once more, the elder wizard took hold of Vraya's shadow spell which remained upon Ryson. He could only follow it so far, but it took him to the edges of Demonsheol. Once his perception breached the new land of nightmares, he picked through the echoes of magic, looking for the defined pattern which would lead him to the Sword of Decree.
It took long moments to refine the search, but eventually, he found what he was looking for. Using both the echo of the sword's unique enchantment and the trail of Vraya's spell, Jure followed it directly to Ryson's exact position.
"I found him," the wizard declared.
"Is he safe?" Holli demanded.
"I can't tell. I know where he is, but I can't really see him. There's something else with him, something that's keeping me from focusing. It's blurring all the magic."
"Vraya, can you follow Jure's connection? Try to see him as you have in the past."
"I can't. There's still too much interference."
Holli did not wait another moment to decide. Even though she had no idea what the delver faced, she believed they could not waste the opportunity.
"Jure, can you transport Ryson back to us?"
"I can, but I don't know what he's doing. He may not..."
"Bring him here immediately!"
The tone of Holli's voice convinced Jure not to debate the issue. He placed his hands together and concentrated on a spell to retrieve the delver.
It was not difficult, not like creating a portal to Demonspawn. The new realm was a separate entity but within the same plane of reality as Uton and the dark lands. All he had to do was create an ordinary portal between the two points, and then teleport Ryson into the center of the rift.
A circle of powerful white magic rolled off Jure's arms and exploded upon the flat plateau of the rock spire. A portal to Demonsheol was created in an instant, and Jure's magic flowed through the rift. The energy locked upon the delver by seizing the distinct enchantment of his sword. In one massive surge, it pulled Ryson into the rift and placed him back in the dark realm.
Ryson stood before them, appearing more annoyed than confused or frightened. He looked about quickly and immediately recognized the wide flat grounds of the high plateau. He had several questions, but he believed he knew more of what had happened than the others.
Before he stated anything else, he requested Vraya remove her spell of shadow from his senses. Once that was done, he called out to the elf guard with a desire for immediate action.
"We need to help Enin," Ryson stated.
Holli recognized the stern expression and urgent tone. She decided additional questions could wait, but she needed further direction from the delver.
"What must we do?" she asked.
"The pit demon took him into the dark lands."
"We are aware of that. Vraya found the remnants of the portal the dathit took to enter the dark realm."
"That's right," the delver recalled. He then questioned the sorceress. "Do you remember where that was?"
"Of course," she replied
"Good, then we can follow it. The pit demon was under orders from Baannat."
"How could Baannat take control of a dathit?" Jure questioned.
"He wasn't alone," Ryson explained quickly. "Reiculf and Ansas were involved too. I don't know all the details, but I know Baannat ordered the pit demon to take Enin to the dark realm and hold him there. That was the last instruction the dathit received. It's just waiting there. It's on its own, for now. We have to get Enin before things change."
Holli nodded in agreement. Rescuing Enin remained a priority. She had previously restrained from going after the wizard until she had more information. With the delver's report, she agreed the dathit was vulnerable. She could no longer wait.
"Then this is our opportunity," Holli agreed. "Vraya, take us back to the Lacobian Desert, back to the spot where the pit demon escaped."
Vraya did as she was asked. With a spell similar to the one Jure cast to retrieve Ryson, she brought them all to the spot in Uton's large desert where the dathit utilized a portal to enter the dark realm.
Jure examined the remnants of the rift and quickly constructed one of similar properties. They leapt through and returned to the dark lands, but far from the stone tower. They stood in a valley of thick ash, surrounded by jagged peaks of gray cliffs. The elder wizard quickly closed the gateway so that no dark creatures could rush through into their homeland.
The delver easily found the tracks of the pit demon, and after but a few turns around the high cliffs, spotted the giant demon in the distance.
"There it is," Ryson stated the obvious as he pulled out his spyscope. He quickly peered through the lens and then handed it to the elf guard. "It still has Enin, and he's still alive. It's like I said. It's just waiting there."
Holli placed the spyscope to her eye, and her gaze swept over the colossus and the surrounding grounds. She considered the power of the individuals at her disposal, and then requested assistance.
"A pit demon is not an easy foe to face. It will be extremely difficult to defeat, but defeating it is not our goal. We must only remove Enin from the creature's grasp. We have suitable strength to engage the demon, but we need to do so in a fashion that will keep Enin safe. Options?"
"I was told Baannat ordered the pit demon to guard and protect Enin," Ryson offered, "not to kill him."
"It is possible we can use that to our advantage, but I would rather be sure about Enin's safety before we attack. Jure, we once discussed teleporting Enin out of the demon's hand. Your magical reserve has now been fully restored. Can you remove him from danger?"
"It would be better if he did it himself," Jure replied, and the answer surprised the elf.
"You are well aware he cannot."
"I'm not so sure. I've been thinking about what we talked about in the desert before he was taken. We discussed bending the magic for him to use."
"That was a discussion with a doppelganger and Neltus, both of whom were only hoping to trap Enin. I do not believe we should put much trust in their contentions."
"I don't trust them. But I've been thinking about it in a different way, and the theory might actually work. Think about it. I enchanted an item and Neltus was able to teleport all of us from Connel into the desert. What if I used the same concept? What if I bent a magical flow directly toward Enin for him to use?"
"A simple flow of magic may not be enough for him to hold and utilize," Vraya offered. "Without a core, he would not be able to absorb any of the energy."
"True, but what if I placed additional influence of my own into the magic itself? Enchanting an item is more than storing dormant magic in some inanimate container. The magic also has to be shaped so that it can be utilized properly. What if I put that kind of influence in the magical flow and then directed it at Enin?"
"Would that actually work?" Ryson wondered aloud.
"Not for just anybody, but it would for someone with Enin's experience. He knows better than any of us how to shape magic, how to control spells. He might have lost his magical core, but as he said so himself, he never lost his understanding of how to use it. If Neltus could shape magic from a coin, then Enin should be able to handle free flowing energy, as long as it's prepared properly."
"Is there a danger?" Holli questioned.
"Less danger than if I tried to teleport him out of there myself."
"That does not answer the question."
"Yes, there is a danger. If the pit demon senses Enin trying to escape, it might clamp down hard to prevent it, but Enin could teleport to safety on his own faster than I could do it for him."
"What about the magical flow you direct toward Enin? Would that not alert the demon?"
"It shouldn't. It's just magic shaped to conform to any spell. It's not an attack or an attempt to e
scape. It won't have a defined purpose until Enin starts to use it, but that's the moment of danger. There will be one slight instance in time when Enin has to shape the energy. It's the smallest possible period of time, but the pit demon might recognize it."
"Then we have to minimize that danger."
"Distract it," Vraya offered.
"How?" Holli asked.
"Any means possible which will be viewed as an external threat. The pit demon was told to guard Enin. If it follows that order, it will be more concerned with threats surrounding it than it would be by Enin trying to escape."
Holli nodded. She took one more look through Ryson's spyscope and then returned it to the delver.
"This region is somewhat dormant and the few dark creatures in the area have given a wide berth to the pit demon," the elf guard revealed. "That works to our advantage as well. We have a clear area and I intend to use it."
Holli looked to the delver.
"Ryson, when I give the order, I want you to unsheathe the Sword of Decree and circle the demon. Ensure your own safety. You are to distract it, not attack it. Be ready to move on my signal."
"Whenever you're ready," Ryson agreed.
"Vraya, I want you to use your magic in concert with mine. The plants in this realm are weak and in a constant state of decay. Right before I cast my own spell upon the surrounding trees and vines, I want you to alter their substance into a healthy and more vibrant state. Can you do that?"
"I can. What will your spell do?"
"It will instruct the trees to encroach upon the demon. The withered vines will entangle its legs, but they have to be strong enough to be viewed as a persistent threat."
"I can strengthen them sufficiently."
"Excellent." The elf then turned to the elder wizard. "Jure, prepare your spell, but do not send the magic to Enin until the demon is sufficiently distracted."
"I understand."
Holli gave one more sweeping glance at the surrounding grounds and sky. With the pit demon standing idle and the area clear of other monsters, there would be no better time to act. She gave the order.
"Vraya, start your spell."
The sorceress accepted the challenge. While it would require enormous reserves of magical energy, it was not a difficult spell for a magic caster experienced in the transformative elements of ebony energy. She focused her powers of alteration on the diseased plants surrounding the pit demon. The transformation would reverse the state of decay in all the vines and brush scattered about the ashy ground and fill them with a healthy vigor.
Placing her concentration on reaching the deepest and most potent elements of her own magical core, Vraya tapped into vast pools of ebony energy. In one grand gesture, she unleashed the full force of her spell in a crisp, black circle which rotated at phenomenal speeds.
The ring of magic broke open at one end as it drove over the dreary landscape in an awesome wave. The ebony energy completely reversed the stages of rot and decay. It altered the cycle of diminishing growth in a harsh and brutal environment. It transformed the inherent sense of surrender into an altered outlook of hopeful persistence.
As the black wave rushed across wilted vines and broken trees, the vegetation broke free from the devastating shackles of life in the dark lands. The vines and leaves did not turn lush green as they would in Uton. They remained dark and twisted. But instead of brittle and weak, they became resilient and strong. Pulsing with energy, the vines thickened and tree branches stretched outward.
As the strange vegetation continued to grow, it filled the once vast empty spaces with layers and layers of leaves and stems. The vines and limbs appeared to fight with each other, each strand trying to choke out any competition for room to grow. The area surrounding the pit demon became a frightening jungle of misshapen brush, all of it twisting together into one angry mass.
Holli was both pleased and surprised by the strength of Vraya's spell. In order to get the pit demon's attention, she would need to work with a vast and strong field of trees and underbrush. Vraya gave her that and far more. The mass of thick dark branches reminded the elf guard of the threat of shadow trees, and such a horror could not be easily dismissed.
With Vraya's spell working so proficiently, Holli's task became substantially easier. The inherent qualities of life in that angry realm brought out the vicious and aggressive nature of the trees and vines bursting with a surge of ebony magic. All the elf guard had to do was nudge the pulsating jungle into a frenzy and point it at the proper target.
An octagon of green energy appeared at the elf's wrists. She cast it out toward the thick field of dark brush. The moment it hit the outer edges of the new growth, the magic exploded into emerald dust. It scattered across the entire area, imbedding itself into nearly every leaf, vine and stem.
As the direction of the magic took hold, the movement within the dark field intensified. It appeared as if war had broken out among the trees and vines, but their attacks against each other quickly faded. The invigorated stems were given the freedom of greater movement and a new target for their aggression.
Trees did not uproot themselves completely, but the trunks pulled upward as the roots lengthened and extended to allow the trees to push toward a new enemy. Branches swelled even further outward, and they pressed in one massive lunge toward the pit demon.
Vines slithered along the ground and through those same lurching branches. All of the stems moved with deceptive speed. They twisted and turned through every open space like mice running through a thicket. When they hit the feet of the colossal demon, they quickly spread upward, wrapping around the ankles and shins of the dathit. They rose up over the knees, along its thighs, and finally encircled its hips.
The entire bottom half of the pit demon was ensnared with layers and layers of thick, dark vines throbbing with ebony and emerald energy. The dathit lifted Enin high over its head, as it clearly wished to protect the wizard from the encroaching mass. Otherwise, it remained motionless even as thick branches and heavy limbs from nearby trees crashed into its body.
Snaps and cracks echoed across the dark lands as the trees broke against the giant's thick hide. The uproar became so loud, Holli had to shout her next orders.
"Ryson, unsheathe your sword and prepare to circle the giant."
With one smooth pull, Ryson freed the Sword of Decree from the sheath on his back. The blade glowed gloriously in the dim starlight of the dark realm. It became a shining beacon in a dismal land, and its brilliance could not be ignored, even by a colossal faceless demon.
Holli issued one last warning before commanding the delver to make his run.
"Ryson, take heed of the plants. They will move of their own accord and they will disregard your path. If you are not careful, they will drag you into the dathit. Still, I need to ensure the pit demon's attention is properly divided. It may not view the surrounding trees as a significant threat, but your sword will draw its attention. Now go!"
Ryson wondered how the elf guard could be so certain the blazing sword would gain the notice of a demon with no eyes. It was not a question he had the time to ask, and so, he raced over the desolate ground toward the throbbing mass of shadowy and pulsating brush.
At first, he remained at the edges of the attacking field, stayed upon clear grounds. He circled the demon twice. Even as his sword bathed the dark trees with brilliant light, the pit demon failed to show interest in his movements.
Ryson watched for any signs of concern in the dathit, but the colossus remained virtually motionless. The most it would do was brush encroaching branches away from its arm which held Enin high over its head. Beyond that, it ignored both Ryson and the vines which entangled the lower portion of its massive body.
The delver decided to make a bold move. Ryson had grown comfortable leaping from tree to tree in Dark Spruce Forest. The branches served as intertwined paths and byways for travel above the forest ground. Those trees, however, remained mostly stationary. Beyond swaying in a stiff breeze, they
were not engaged in a massive struggle against a giant pit demon.
The dark branches and limbs between him and the dathit moved constantly. Those further back pressed heavily against the trees closer to the monster. Long branches swung violently in a desperate attempt to close the gap. Limbs speared upward into open space and then darted over the tops of tangled masses. The chaos of movement created a dangerous swirl of potentially bone-breaking collisions, but Ryson found the cascade of motion too tempting to avoid.
With one large bound, he leapt upon a heavy limb, and then swung over to a long branch. He danced through the turmoil as he jumped from tree to tree and rushed ever closer to the pit demon.
As fast as the vines snaked through the mass and as boldly as limbs jutted upward toward open spaces, Ryson raced with even greater speed across the thicket. He continued to circle the pit demon, but with each pass, he drew closer.
The Sword of Decree marked his presence. It sparkled and glistened. Its light blazed even more brilliantly against the dense brush. It appeared far brighter than any of the stars in the foreboding sky of the dark realm, and it finally caught the pit demon's attention.
The beast had no eyes with which to look upon the blazing blade, but it turned its faceless head toward the bright glow. It followed the light, even turned about as the delver circled around to its back.
As it pulled its massive legs from the tangled vines, the stems snapped and broke. Though much of the long strands remained wrapped around its lower body, large portions broke free and dropped to the ground. Thick limbs shattered from the collision with the demon's torso, and trees were forced to pull back as the giant continued to move within the thicket to follow the path of the glowing blade.
"Ryson has its attention," Jure pointed out.
"Are you ready to send the magic to Enin?" Holli questioned.
"Whenever you say."
"Do it now."
Jure cast a very subtle spell. The ring of white magic was barely visible in his palm, and the circle of energy remained there as he held his hand aloft. Jure whispered a few words no one could hear, and then remained as still as a stone.