Avondale V

by Toby Neighbors

  They saw the portal open—it was a round, glowing ring, and inside they could see another place. The light inside the portal was red, and the sounds of fury, hatred, and utter agony came pouring across the plain.

  “Are we too late?” Rafe asked.

  “The portal’s open, but it isn’t permanent yet,” Tiberius shouted back. “This is far enough.”

  He had to calm his breathing down so that he could pronounce each word of the spell he was about to cast correctly. The last thing he wanted to do was fumble over the spell and cause another cataclysm.

  He was just about to start chanting when a huge beast came lumbering through the portal. It was twice the height of a man, with huge, hunching shoulders and long arms that ended in thick stumps. It pounded its arms together and roared. The sound reverberated across the lava field. The demon pointed at Tiberius, and Ti didn’t have to hear what the creature said to know it was sending the beast to kill them.

  “I’ll need time to cast this spell,” Tiberius said. “I can’t be worried about fighting what comes through the portal.”

  “No,” Rafe said, his voice filled with determination. “I’ll take care of that.”

  Lexi and Olyva stepped up behind Rafe, who quickly laid out their plan of action.

  “You two spread out on either side,” he told them. “Dart in and out, but don’t take unnecessary risks.”

  They both nodded, and Tiberius closed his eyes. He could feel the swirl of magic all around him even before he cast the spell. It was like being in the middle of a powerful storm. For a moment Tiberius was tempted to simply attack the demon. He could summon a cyclone that would keep the foul being from completing its spell. But Tiberius was afraid the demon would simply flee and then recast the spell once it had escaped. If he didn’t destroy the Balestone now, he might not get another chance.

  The destruction spell wasn’t difficult. In fact, all of the spells of the Fourth Order were easier than the complicated pronunciations and longer incantations of the First Order healing spells, but that fact didn’t make the weight of the spell any easier to bear. Tiberius did his best to settle his mind and ignore the creature charging toward them at that very moment. He needed all his concentration on the spell. He had to focus his magic on the Balestone and nothing else. If the power he unleashed with his magic got out of control, he could kill himself, everyone he cared about, perhaps even the entire kingdom.

  “Motus Tellus Aboleo,” he chanted softly, over and over. “Motus Tellus Aboleo.”

  Immediately a new sense of magic, different than anything he’d ever felt before, swirled around him. He had expected the power to come from another place, the way the other spells of the Fourth Order worked. He had thought he would need to clamp down on a portal or concentrate the destructive power, but the magic flowing around him now wasn’t outrageous or difficult to control. It was seductive. The other spells were like trying to tame a wild stallion. The destruction spell was more like listening to an exotic lover.

  The power whispered in his ear. He knew he could do anything in that moment, that he could have anything he wanted. No one could ever stand against him. He held the power to destroy anything. And not just change its form. When a tree burned, it released the magic that gave it life, and the wood turned to heat and ash. In that way the tree was destroyed, but all that had made the tree was present, just transformed into something different. The destruction spell would do more than just transform or break something down—it would erase it from existence.

  The power was not only tempting. It felt amazing. Tiberius’ body relaxed, and he felt a sense of strength and vitality he’d never known before. In the back of his mind, he knew that time was of the essence, but in that moment all he could think about was the wondrous feeling of power that was coursing through his body as he chanted the spell.

  Other spells required that Tiberius focus his attention on controlling the magic, but the destruction spell was different. It was as if the magic had found him and wanted to stay with him, empowering him. He opened his eyes just in time to see Rafe dodge away as the huge creature brought both of its stumpy fists down in an attempt to smash his friend.

  Ti’s natural instinct was to help his friends, but then the destruction spell whispered in his ear. They weren’t really his friends, they were playthings, here for his enjoyment. The magic told him he was above all that now, superior, unstoppable. They were mere mortals before a living god. He should watch, enjoy their attempt to stop the monster.

  The creature’s massive head turned to watch Rafe, as he rolled to his feet, his sword flashing in the air. From the opposite side, Olyva ran forward and stabbed the beast in its side. The thrust of her spear was hard, and the metal spear head sliced through the tough hide and gashed into the creature’s flesh. It swatted at her, roaring angrily, but she had already dodged back, taking her spear with her.

  Tiberius saw the green blood pouring from the wound, heard the creature roaring in pain, and then heard himself laughing. The magic was amused, as well. He could feel it surging through his body, every muscle tingling with anticipation of unleashing his magnificent magical strength on the world.

  Then he saw Lexi. She was so fast he was amazed at her ability. She swept behind the monster, slashing its heels with her Wangorian dagger as she ran. The monster fell to its knees, and Rafe rushed in, stabbing his sword deep into the creature’s neck. It fumbled for him, but the wounds had weakened the monster, and Rafe evaded the clumsy attempt to grab him.

  Tiberius felt the magic wooing him, but it had lost some of its potency. He still wanted the magic, still wanted the feeling of unlimited power, but his love and concern for his friends rooted him in reality. He had a purpose. They were putting their lives on the line for him, and he couldn’t let them down. They weren’t just playthings, they weren’t inferior—they were precious to him.

  The creature toppled onto its side, but a horde of beasts had come through after the monster. They were spreading out around the demon, which was still casting its spell. Tiberius focused his attention on the glowing Balestone. He willed the destruction spell toward it. The magic seemed hesitant, almost remorseful about leaving him. Tiberius felt it draining away, felt his strength going with it, and it took all his resolve to finish the spell. The world seemed too dim in his vision, but he stared hard at the glowing Balestone. The destruction spell wanted to spread out, to encompass everything, but Tiberius reined it in.

  There was one last maddening temptation to hold onto the power, but Tiberius resisted, and the spell shot out like a flaming arrow from the bow of a hero. There was no explosion, no great spectacle of power—the Balestone simply vanished. And Tiberius, suddenly barely able to breathe, collapsed.

  Chapter 45

  Rafe

  The horde of creatures were closing in, and Rafe knew that the odds were against him. Even if the earl’s entire war band were present, there was no guarantee they could overcome the monsters before them. Some were animals, others were more humanoid in appearance, but they were all evil-looking creatures. And each one was intent on killing Rafe and his friends.

  Rafe wasn’t sure what Tiberius was doing—he seemed to be in a trance. But then suddenly the portal behind the horde of monsters disappeared, and there was a horrible roar of hatred. The creature Tiberius had called a demon looked real enough to Rafe, and it was furious. The other monsters, once focused on Rafe and the girls, now turned and looked almost fearful as the demon flew into rage.

  One of the creatures charged Rafe. It was a snarling beast, running on two powerful hind legs. Its forelegs were reaching out for him; the head was thin and narrow, with a bone ridge that looked as sharp as a sword that ran down the length of the skull and between its narrow eyes. Rafe feinted to his right then jumped to his left, stabbing his rapier at the beast as he went. The sword was the perfect stabbing weapon and it sliced into the beast’s chest, killing it instantly.

  The demon was attacking its own horrid creatures no
w, and another beast was rushing toward Olyva and Lexi, who were standing side by side. Olyva rammed the butt of her spear into the ground and aimed the point at the onrushing creature. She knelt, and Lexi stooped low beside her. The beast impaled itself on Olyva’s spear, the momentum of its charge flipping it over their heads to crash on the hardened stone ground.

  Rafe glanced back and saw that Tiberius had fallen. He rushed back to his friend but didn’t have time to check on him. Two small flying creatures were swooping down; their leathery bodies seemed small compared to their flaring wings and gapping maws full of pointed teeth. Rafe stepped over his friend’s prone body and swung his sword in a hard arc. The blade severed one creature’s wing and then slammed into its body. The wounded beast crashed into its companion, almost driving it into the ground. The second flying creature swooped back up, flapping its wings hard, before diving back toward Rafe. His second slash cut the beast completely in two.

  The creatures were fearless, but not all that intelligent. Rafe felt a glimmer of hope that they might somehow survive the battle. He bent low and checked on Tiberius. The wizard was breathing, and there was no visible wound. Rafe guessed that whatever spell Ti had cast had worked, but the cost was terrible. The realization of his friend’s sacrifice hardened Rafe’s resolve. He wouldn’t let anything touch his friend, not while he lived.

  Some of the creatures were now fighting each other. When they had first come from the portal, they seemed to have had a singular focus, but now they were scattered. Killing was all they seemed intent on; whether it was killing the humans or killing each other didn’t seem to matter.

  Lexi and Olyva had split apart, and Olyva was fending off a huge, hairy beast. It had massive legs that were covered in fur, then an almost smooth, human body, but the head of a shaggy animal. Its arms were tiny and practically useless, but its snapping jaws were deadly. Olyva was keeping the beast at bay with her spear, but Rafe was afraid she couldn’t stop the monster for long. Then, as fearless as any of the creatures that came through the demon’s portal, Lexi ran and jumped on the beast’s back. Her left hand grabbed onto the shaggy fur of its head, and the right drew her Wangorian dagger quickly across the monster’s throat. The entire attack lasted only a second. Her agile feet launched her backward, off the beast’s rump. She turned a somersault in the air and landed gracefully on her feet as the monster fell on its knees and then toppled onto its side.

  “Wake up, Tiberius!” Rafe shouted. He bent down and slapped his friend hard.

  Tiberius moaned but didn’t wake up. Rafe didn’t have time to keep trying. A very heavy-looking beast on all fours was fighting two smaller creatures. They were skinny beasts with long arms and legs that were constantly in motion. The heavy creature was trying to knock them away or impale them on the long horns that spiraled out of its forehead, but the smaller beasts dodged and jumped back and forth over the larger monster. The beasts were stumbling and rolling directly toward Tiberius, and Rafe knew he couldn’t stop them. Instead he grabbed Tiberius’s arm and pulled his friend to safety.

  “Is he okay?” Lexi shouted.

  “I think so,” Rafe called back.

  Olyva was slowly backing away from a tall monster on six legs. It had huge pincers and a hard shell across its back. Lexi came to check on Tiberius, and Rafe ran to help Olyva. He raised his sword and hacked at one of the beast’s six legs. The sword bounced harmlessly off the shell-like exterior, and the creature swung a serrated pincer toward Rafe, who dodged back before he could get caught in the huge claw.

  “I can’t stop it!” Olyva shouted.

  There was desperation in her voice, and Rafe knew he needed to do something. The creature turned as Rafe tried to circle around behind it. It was fast, perhaps not able to cover distances as quickly as some, but in tight confines the monster was able to turn back and forth with dazzling speed.

  Rafe attacked again, this time aiming his long sword at the creature’s joint. It was as high as Rafe’s head, the body towering above him, but the sword was able to cut the beast’s leg at the joint. It wasn’t a devastating blow and certainly not the killing stroke Rafe needed it to be, but he drew blood.

  “Attack the joints!” Rafe shouted.

  Olyva jabbed with her spear but missed. Rafe was just about to renew his attack when another creature bowled into him. It had a thick leathery hide and a pointed snout. Long claws extended from the paws on all four legs, and when it gained speed, it curled into a ball, smashing into its victims and knocking them senseless before pouncing and ripping them to bloody ribbons.

  Rafe struggled to get back to his feet, but the creature crashed into him again, knocking his sword from his hand and sending him sprawling backward. When he opened his eyes, he saw the creature in mid-leap. Rafe had just enough time to draw his dagger. The thick blade was as wide as Rafe’s fist at the hilt and tapered into a strong, sharp point. He raised the weapon just as the creature landed on him. The beast’s weight knocked the wind out of him, but the dagger had stabbed into the animal’s side. It scrambled back, slicing Rafe’s scalp and chest with its long talons in the process of getting away.

  Rafe screamed in pain, losing his dagger but surviving the encounter. Meanwhile, Lexi had rushed to Olyva’s aid. She timed her own charge and ran between the huge armored beast’s tall legs. The blue steel of her blade flashed as she ran under the monster, opening a huge gash in its soft underbelly. Blood gushed out, but Lexi was gone, racing back out from under the monster to safety. The wounded beast roared and reared up. Olyva’s spear found an exposed leg joint and bit deep. The creature collapsed, flipping away from Olyva as it fell and landing on its hardshell back, where it was helpless.

  Rafe struggled to his feet, swiping the blood from his eyes and picking up his sword. He moved back toward Tiberius where Lexi and Olyva were waiting. They were all breathing hard and watching for any sign of danger. All around them the horrible monsters battled. When Rafe felt something grab his leg, he almost slashed down with his sword before even looking to see what it was.

  Tiberius was awake and struggling to get to his feet.

  “Are you okay?” Rafe asked, hauling his friend up.

  “I will be,” Tiberius said weakly.

  Lexi grabbed his other arm to steady him, but it was Olyva who lent him the most strength.

  “Here, lean against me,” she said.

  Rafe looked down and saw her toes were digging into the cracks left in the ground as the lava cooled. Tiberius put one hand on Olyva’s back and then leaned against her. When Rafe looked up again, what he saw made him want to drop his sword and run.

  “Wizard!” screamed the demon, its voice like the roar of an angry animal.

  “It’s flesh and blood now,” Tiberius said. “We have to kill it.”

  “How?” Rafe asked.

  “Its a Tuscogee. You fight, I’ll protect you.”

  Rafe’s eyes narrowed. He wasn’t afraid of fighting any man, yet the creature before him wasn’t a man. It was taller than Rafe; its long muscular arms were almost the length of its entire body. The legs looked strong, but they were so twisted the demon used its arms like crutches. Rafe had no idea what the creature was capable of, yet he knew that if Tiberius had his back, he could win.

  “Let’s do this,” Rafe said grimly.

  He stepped forward, raising his sword into a defensive position. The demon snarled and bent low. Behind him, Rafe could hear Tiberius chanting a spell. Then the hideous creature charged, and Rafe ran to meet him. Just before they reached each other, Rafe saw the demon’s eyes, which were terrifying black orbs, widen slightly. It was a look Rafe knew, a look of surprise. Whatever Tiberius was doing, he knew it had caught the demon off guard, and he meant to take advantage of it.

  The demon swung one arm in a low arc directly in front of it. The blow should have swept Rafe’s feet out from under him, but he jumped toward the creature, hurdling the demon’s arm and stabbing down with his rapier. The sword gouged into the demon’s shou
lder, hit bone, then bounced away. Rafe stumbled as he fell, falling onto his side and rolling away from the demon, which roared in pain.

  Rafe scrambled to his feet and attacked again, this time slashing at the demon’s crippled legs, only this time his sword didn’t touch the creature before it bounced harmlessly away, and it was Rafe’s turn to look stunned. Then a powerful but invisible force knocked him backward and sent him sprawling in the dust.

  Chapter 46

  Tiberius

  Leaning against Olyva was like leaning against a tree, and Tiberius almost felt as if he were stronger when he touched her. His whole body ached, and he felt so weak it was as if he were starving to death. Yet all around him was the carnage of another world, one that threatened to wreak havoc all across Valana unless he stopped it.

  He cast the cloaking spell on Rafe and watched as his friend vanished from view. He felt Olyva stiffen when Rafe disappeared, but then they saw the blood erupt from the demon’s shoulder. It appeared spontaneous, but Tiberius knew it was Rafe’s handiwork. Then the demon cast a spell of his own. Ti felt Rafe go sprawling and barely had time to protect himself, Olyva, and Lexi.

  “Scuti Incantatio,” Tiberius said, lifting the shielding spell just as he was battered by the demon’s own magic.

  The kinetic energy would have knocked him down, but Olyva wrapped one arm around him and held him fast. Rafe was slow getting up. The cloaking spell gone, and the warrior was in plain view. The demon turned toward Tiberius.

  “You cannot resist me, wizard,” he snarled.

  “I already have,” Tiberius shouted back.

  “None can stand before Draggah!”

  “We defy you!”

  “Then die!”

  Olyva hurled her spear. It wasn’t a powerful throw and wasn’t really intended to kill the demon, just distract it long enough for Tiberius to act. The missile flew true, and Draggah was nearly impaled, but he batted the weapon away at the last instant.