by Jeff Inlo
"You mean send it new instructions?" Ryson asked.
"No, that would not work," Enin explained. "From what we have learned, the dathit became subjected to Baannat's will. It would not heed new instructions from an unfamiliar source over an order from its master. It is the last order from Baannat which would have to be altered."
Holli turned to Vraya.
"You hold great power over alteration. Can you do this? Do you have sufficient magic?"
"I'm not sure how. It's not simply a matter of magical reserves. How do I alter a message that's already been given? It's not like there's a spell currently affecting the demon. It's acting on an order it's already received. I'd have to alter history, and how do I do that without causing a major upheaval in every event which has occurred since that order was initially given?"
"She's right," Enin confirmed. "You asked me what I would do, but I had more than just ebony magic at my disposal. The spell would have to alter the instruction to the dathit while keeping everything else constant. That would be well beyond the inherent nature of Vraya's black magic."
"Would Jure be able to cast that spell?"
"Perhaps, but it would take a great deal of concentration and energy. I can guide him with the construction of the spell, but it would still require massive amounts of magic, energy he doesn't currently have."
"Then we will have to keep you safe until he is ready."
The delver, however, considered the problem from a different perspective.
"Can't Vraya just alter the demon's interpretation of the order its already been given?" Ryson asked.
"What do you mean?" Jure asked, uncertain of the delver's suggestion.
"Instead of changing the instruction itself, just change how the dathit carries it out. Don't try to convince the demon to ignore Enin, just give it a different perspective about how to guard him. I mean, there has to be a way the demon would be willing to protect Enin without imprisoning him."
Jure marveled at the simplicity of the suggestion.
"That's ingenious," the elder wizard remarked. Jure then turned to Vraya. "You wouldn't have to alter the message, all you'd have to do is change the demons understanding of what guarding Enin means."
Vraya appreciated the cleverness of the idea, but she viewed the actual casting as an obstacle too large to overcome.
"How do I get through to it?" Vraya questioned. "I admit it's an inspired solution, but I have to find a way to reach the demon. I'm not sure how this thing senses anything at all. It's like Enin said, it's not going to hear or see anything. How do I use the magic to penetrate its awareness? If I just try to alter that thing's understanding through waves of magic, I could risk sending it into a rage. Maybe it will think it has to destroy everything in order to keep Enin safe."
"That is a definite problem," Enin agreed. "We can't..."
The discussion ended before he could finish.
"It's moving!" Ryson shouted.
The dathit turned its faceless head slowly to the left and then the right. It took small steps as it seemed uncertain of which direction to head. It raised one massive arm into the cold desert air as it appeared to feel for something it couldn't quite touch.
"Ryson!" Holli commanded. "Just as before, unsheathe your sword and circle the monster as quickly as you can."
The delver did as he was asked. He pulled the Sword of Decree from the sheath on his back and raced across the desert sands. He held the blade up high, kept the tip pointed at the faceless head of the demon. He knew he couldn't blind it, but the sword's point generated a sharp and tight beam of light. He believed the enchantment was at its highest concentration in that ray of bright radiance.
Hoping the magic of his sword would continue to disrupt the demon's perception, he circled the giant at top speed, running up and down sandy slopes and leaping over the tops of the surrounding dunes. All the while, he held the beam of light steady upon the colossal head.
The pit demon displayed even greater uncertainty. It stumbled about the desert with both arms flailing outward. The enchantment of the sword created as much interference to its awareness as the collapsing of the large portal.
As Ryson continued to circle the dathit, he watched how it moved. The delver looked for certain signs which might indicate how the giant detected the glowing blade. It seemed as if the monster moved by more than just what it could feel. Ryson believed the demon was guided by some internal directional force. Like a compass needle that attempts to swing to the north even as it's turned about, the pit demon searched for its own magical guidance.
The delver considered what he had heard from Vraya, Enin, and Jure. He understood very little about magic, but he knew about perception and the power of the senses. As a delver, he could be pulled in several directions at once, but eventually he would hone in on the strongest sensation. He knew the pit demon would eventually be pulled toward Enin and all the distractions of his sword would fail to stop it. He also came up with a possible solution.
Ryson sheathed his sword and rushed back over to Vraya.
His actions surprised the elf guard.
"Ryson, we need more time!"
"Maybe we don't," the delver replied but then turned back to the sorceress. "Can you alter the demon itself?"
"What do you mean?" Vraya questioned. "Change it into something less dangerous? No. That would take unbelievable amounts of magic."
"No, not change it to something else. Slightly alter its abilities... give it ears so that it can hear."
Vraya offered a confused look at the delver, but it vanished behind a quickly growing smile.
"Just like allowing someone to see in the dark or breathe underwater," she concluded. "A simple alteration spell; I can handle that with ease."
"You got it, and when it can hear..." Ryson began.
"...change the message to guard Enin so it has a new meaning," Vraya finished.
"Exactly."
"Brilliant."
"You can do it?"
"Watch."
Vraya raised her arms toward the demon and cast two quick spells in succession. A single ring of ebony magic appeared, but it was quickly followed by a second; each circle representing an independent spell. Both rings of ebony magic rolled off her hands simultaneously as she whispered two small words.
"Hear. Here."
The circles of black energy flew toward the head of the faceless demon. When the first struck, the giant stopped. Its head tilted slightly back, as if it stared into the heavens during some moment of divine influence. As it remained frozen in place, the second ring hit, and the giant turned its head back to the desert floor.
The pit demon followed the threads of magic back to the point from which the two spells were cast. It moved slowly forward and hovered over those standing in the desert. As it reached down, Vraya offered a warning.
"Enin, let it take you."
Holli almost interfered, but Enin's acceptance caused the elf to hold her place.
"I understand," the wizard said with a wink toward the sorceress. "Nicely done."
The pit demon carefully lifted Enin from the desert floor, and once more, stood as still as a statue.
"What is happening?" Holli demanded.
"It's alright," Vraya explained. "I expected it to do that. It still plans to guard Enin, but it's now limited in what it will do. In order for the spell to be successful, it had to be a simple alteration of both the demon's abilities and the last order it received. If I made it any more complicated, it would have failed or I would have run out of magic."
"What did you do?"
"As I said before, I wasn't sure how the demon perceived its orders, but I followed Ryson's suggestion. I gave it the momentary ability to actually hear. It was just for a brief time, but long enough to listen to the message behind the second spell. I altered the giant's interpretation of its orders in a way that would limit the demon's eagerness to guard Enin."
"Then why has the giant taken hold of Enin once more?"
"It's just going to remain here in the Lacobian, isn't it?" Ryson asked.
"It will," Vraya answered with a smile. "Once we leave, it will remain in this part of the desert, a wasteland where it can do no harm. In fact, it will continue to hold to the order of protecting Enin for as long as it remains in existence, perhaps until the end of time."
"What if Rul Saattan changes the order?" Jure asked. "Wouldn't it would be just as easy for him to send new instructions?"
"If he wishes to attack us with demons, I think we'd have substantially larger problems than a single dathit," Vraya replied. "I'm also not so certain it would be an easy task. The pit demon answers to Baannat, not Rul Saattan."
"I guess that's true." Jure admitted. The elder wizard then decided to question the delver about his idea. "How did you come up with that? I mean, I understand altering a message or sending a new one. I've done it myself, but I've always considered it from the perspective of the one who was sending the message, not the one receiving it."
"Believe it or not," Ryson revealed. "I thought of the contrarian. His influence focused on intentions, but a great deal of intention depends on a point of view. That innkeeper back in Portsans was able to figure out what we wanted based on our perspective, not his own. There's a big difference. That's why he was afraid of me."
"I'm not sure I follow you," Jure admitted.
"Holli gave me an order, an order to kill the innkeeper. She viewed it as a way to defeat the contrarian. Based on Holli's intentions, Ott should have been able to defeat us, but then he considered my understanding of the order. I would have never obeyed such a demand. Ott saw that I didn't want to kill anybody, and a reversal of that intention would have been disastrous."
"So you applied the same reasoning to the pit demon?"
"Basically, yes. The demon was ordered to guard Enin, but there are different ways to interpret what that means. You could view it as a way a prison guard watches over a prisoner, or you could think of it like the way a dog protects its master."
"And the idea for it to hear?"
"I just watched it while I was distracting it. It clearly has some kind of awareness, and it looked like there was something inside guiding it. I thought the easiest way to reach it would be to create a more direct path to its perception."
Holli did not wish to discount the delver's contribution, but she remained uncomfortable with their current situation.
"We can discuss this further at a more suitable location," Holli insisted. She then questioned Ryson about possible destinations. "Can we now proceed to Connel, or do you still think it would be dangerous?"
Ryson didn't answer immediately. He looked up at the pit demon and then at Enin. He didn't want to leave the wizard in the hand of the dathit much longer, but he needed to consider their next move.
He could not entirely say why, but he didn't think they would be followed again. His instincts had calmed in that regard. Though he remained uncertain regarding who or what was behind the opening of the portal which allowed the demon to reach the Lacobian, he believed they had finally subdued the dathit.
In that, he also believed they achieved their first real victory in the confusing confrontation. As he considered their most recent trials, he knew where he wanted to go. He acknowledged a level of selfishness in the decision, but he also pointed to certain advantages.
"If it's all the same to you, I think we should go to Burbon."
"You are concerned about Linda," Holli noted.
"Absolutely, but you have to admit she's part of this. Somebody or something wanted to bring her out to the desert. That's basically what allowed Neltus to get his core back. And we still have him to consider. He's got his magic back and that's a problem. We also have to think about Sy. He knew enough to keep Linda from leaving Burbon. If we're going to discuss our next move, we should do it in a place where he has the opportunity to be involved."
"The ghost captain does not speak to us," Holli reminded.
"True, and he might not even appear when we get there, but he can communicate with us if he wants... through Captain Klusac. I think we have to make sure he has the chance."
Holli nodded.
"You are right," the elf agreed. "He is the one who restored Neltus' core... at my request. He may already know what has happened, but we can not simply make that assumption. We will go to Burbon."
"Am I invited this time?" Vraya openly wondered.
"Yes, you are," Holli responded without regret for her previous decisions regarding the sorceress. "You are now a part of this, and though I still have many questions regarding your interests in Ryson, I can not in good conscience disregard your contributions."
"I guess that's better than being told I can't come," Vraya responded with a slight smile.
Holli disregarded the sorceress' minor jab, and looked to Jure for transportation out of the desert.
"Have you sufficient power to return us to Burbon?"
"I do now, but will the pit demon attempt to stop Enin from leaving? I can direct magic toward him again and let him cast his own teleportation spell if it's necessary."
"No," Vraya offered. "that won't be necessary. The guidance I gave the demon will limit how it responds. The giant will allow Enin to leave without interfering, and it will not attempt to follow."
"Then there's no reason to delay any longer," Holli advised. "Ryson is correct. We need to discuss what is to be done about Neltus."
Chapter 23
After returning to Burbon, Ryson led his companions directly to his home. The delver found his wife awake, relieved at his return, and hoping for news when he walked through the door. He wished to explain everything to her, but Enin would not give him the chance.
The coreless wizard requested immediate information about every event which had occurred after his capture, from the confrontation with the contrarian to Ryson's meeting with Rul Saattan. Enin questioned them all quickly and gave them little time to offer detailed opinions. At times, he focused on odd descriptions and moved swiftly from one topic to another.
Linda listened intently to everything that was said. After she heard Vraya explain how she watched Ryson by following the Sword of Decree, she wanted to dislike the sorceress, wanted to throw the spell caster out of her home, but she couldn't bring herself to do either.
As she listened to Vraya, Linda sensed a great level of warmth aimed directly at the delver. She heard the sorceress describe the changes Ryson helped bring to the land, and she noted a level of appreciation for his sacrifices within Vraya's words. She thought she might feel jealous of the spell caster, question the sorceress' apparent obsession with her husband, but she didn't.
When she heard Vraya cast with an ebony circle, she recoiled from the sorceress, but only for a short time. She remembered what Ansas' black magic once did to her. Despite her immunity to magic, she felt vulnerable, but for some reason, she knew Vraya was not the enemy. She couldn't explain why, not even to herself.
If there was one thing within the discussion which concerned Linda, it was the fact that Reiculf had joined with Baannat. She feared the slink ghoul more than anything, for it was Baannat who had trapped her in nonexistence and brought great pain to her essence, tortured her spirit.
She wanted to know how much of Baannat's consciousness remained intact within Rul Saattan, but it was difficult to determine. Very little of the discussion centered on Baannat. It was hard enough for Linda to grasp some of the magical concepts, and the seemingly disorganized ramblings of the discussion did little to help her find clarity.
The conversation jumped about at Enin's discretion. He questi
oned those sitting in Ryson and Linda's home in no particular order. He didn't attempt to keep things in any type of sequence, and he leapt from one topic to another without any apparent reason. When a difficult question arose, he mumbled to himself and then redirected his focus to an issue which seemed irrelevant to the previous topic.
Enin was not trying to keep things in order based on the timing of events. Instead, he hoped to determine a pattern of behavior. He searched for clues regarding the degree of influences which plagued them all.
Enin spent a great deal of time questioning Ryson about his experiences with Rul Saattan in Demonsheol. He asked Jure about the contrarian and Vraya about the spells she cast. He questioned Holli about her time in Burbon; her meeting with Sy Fenden's spirit as well as Neltus' request to regain his core.
After Holli discussed her encounter with the ghost warrior, Linda finally spoke. She recalled what she had heard after Holli and Neltus departed, and she revealed what she had learned.
"Captain Klusac told me things weren't going to work out as you planned," Linda explained. "Sy's spirit couldn't give him details, but the captain knew it wouldn't be safe out in the desert."
"And yet Sy still returned Neltus' core," Enin acknowledged. "Did either Captain Klusac or Sy give you any insight into that decision?"
"No, Klusac seemed more concerned about Holli than Neltus."
"In what way?""
"Sy told him that Holli wouldn't be able to control everything."
"I doubt she believed she ever could. She has been trained as an elf guard. She knows that certain things are beyond her control. She would have never completed her training if she didn't understand that."
"But the captain said she wanted to fix everything on her own."
"I wanted to correct my errors," Holli offered without regret or annoyance.
"That's just it," Linda responded. "He made it sound as though your mistakes had nothing to do with what had happened. You wouldn't be able to fix things no matter how hard you tried. He said some things couldn't be avoided, that they were meant to be, even if they led to a tragic outcome. He said this after you left, so I couldn't warn you."