by Ben Hale
“My turn,” Alydian said.
She dropped the partially melted shield and advanced on the struggling dragon. Drawing on the tremendous heat in the canyon, she cast her own dragon’s fire, sending a torrent of flames down the creature’s mouth. Held open by Jester’s sword, the beast was helpless to stop the current of fire.
She poured an inferno into the dragon’s maw, funneling every shred of heat into the great sentient. Red cracks appeared on its body, the cracks brightening by the second. A strangled roar escaped the beast as it swallowed enough heat to melt a legion of steel-clad soldiers. The cracks glowed bright and expanded across its body, threatening to explode.
“Get behind me!” Alydian shouted.
Jester and Red released their grips and leapt behind her. The dragon ripped free and tried to fly, rising several feet off the ground. Jester and Red scrambled behind Alydian and she raised a wall of stone as the dragon detonated.
Fire and shards of stone engulfed the canyon, shredding the remaining entities in the explosion. Jester shouted in triumph as the blast passed around them, cascading to either side of the earth shield.
When it subsided she lowered the steaming barrier to find the canyon shredded. Melting rock dripped down the walls, darkening as it cooled. Chunks of burning stone were all that remained of the mighty sentient.
Red grinned at Jester. “You bring me to the best wars.”
“What will we do when it’s over?” he lamented.
“We promised,” she said, shaking her head with a smile. “No talk of the future unless we survive.”
Alydian’s heart darkened as she listened. The Verinai had anticipated Alydian and perhaps her friends. They had not prepared for two Paladins. But the triumph tasted like ash and left her wanting more. It didn’t matter if she won.
She’d already lost.
Chapter 42: Seeking the Runestone
After separating from Alydian, Raiden took his journey south, circumnavigating the mountain ridge to where they’d escaped from Verisith. It had been a year and a half since he’d infiltrated the city under the guise of Runeguard. They’d sought proof of the Verinai’s traitorous plans, and been fortunate to escape with their lives. Devkin stepped out of the trees as they approached.
“They sealed the river’s exit,” Devkin said. “But I found the secret entrance. It’s a mile east of here.”
“Elsin should never have trusted Winter with its location,” Marrow said with a smirk.
“She was a high-level master,” Raiden said. “Of course Elsin trusted her.”
“It will be guarded,” Devkin said, taking the lead and making his way down the trail.
“I expect nothing less,” Raiden said, drawing his sword.
They worked their way over the rocky trail, skirting the base of a mountain to an innocuous tree set against the cliff. The tree’s roots had found purchase in the cracks of the stones, its canopy shading the trail.
Devkin stepped to the tree and motioned Marrow to the trunk. “It only opens to Verinai.”
“And neither of you possess magic,” she said with a smile. “Don’t worry, she’ll open the door.”
She stepped to the tree and placed a palm against the trunk—detonating the tree from the cliff. The sudden blast knocked Raiden from his feet. His vision swam and he coughed at the dust and smoke. He groaned and rose, stumbling to the gaping hole.
“You just had to show your magic,” he growled.
“You said open the door,” Marrow said, folding her arms.
“She did open the door,” Devkin said, coughing through his smile.
Dust and smoke obscured the opening, while the tree lay several feet away, its trunk burning and belching smoke. Cracks lined the cliff away from the opening, the magic meant to guard the barrier sparking where the curses had been severed.
Through the haze Raiden spotted a pair of mages just rising to their feet. Their eyes met and the Verinai sought to summon their magic, but Devkin and Raiden darted in, their swords flashing.
“Let’s go,” Raiden said. “But watch for traps.”
“Your face is bleeding,” Marrow said, picking her way over the fallen guards.
He reached up and found a cut. It was not deep but would likely leave a scar along his jawbone, adding to the litany of scars he’d gained from his time with Marrow. Devkin shook his head as he tied a makeshift bandage around his shoulder.
“She causes more damage than the enemy,” he muttered.
“When do I get a sword?” Marrow asked.
“No sharp weapons for you,” Raiden said.
“How about a warhammer?” Marrow asked. She conjured a ridiculously oversized hammer out of light—and promptly dropped it on her foot. Hissing profanities, she hopped on the other foot.
“Let’s just say no weapons,” Devkin said, hiding a smile.
“Fine,” she said petulantly, leaving the warhammer behind.
Raiden grinned and worked his way up the tunnel. He kept his attention on the walls, scanning for the marks that signaled a mage trap. Illuminated by light orbs bracketed into the ceiling, the tunnel rose in a gentle upward curve.
They encountered two traps, and both were disarmed with Raiden’s anti-magic sword. Marrow quickly grew bored and cast an entity of stone to play with. The gremlin spoke in dwarvish and the two laughed and giggled.
They approached a final bend and a strongdoor came into view. There were no guards, but Raiden spotted a glow of light on the underside of the door. He slowed and signaled Marrow to silence, causing her to frown.
“I don’t like being silent,” she said tersely.
The light moved, indicating that its source had heard Marrow’s comment. Cursing Marrow would only make her angry, so he looked to Devkin. They both drew their swords and stepped in front of Marrow.
The door swung open and a woman appeared. Dressed as a Verinai apprentice, she came to a halt when she spotted them. Her eyes widened in surprise, and then a smile of anticipation spread on her face.
“Elsin left an apprentice to guard an escape tunnel?” Devkin asked.
The woman’s eyes lit up with excitement. “I had little power in life, but Elsin gave me the choice to prove my worth.”
She raised a hand and her fingers turned to fire, the transformation spreading down her arm and into her torso. She smiled and released a breath, sending sparks and light spilling onto the floor.
“Now I have so much power . . .”
Raiden and Devkin exchanged a look and spoke in unison.
“Guardian.”
The woman smiled. “I never suspected I’d get to kill the vaunted Soldier.”
She pointed her hands at Raiden and he whipped his sword up, catching the blast of fire on the blade. Flames spilled to either side and Devkin ducked underneath. Rolling to close the gap, he plunged his sword into her leg. Also imbued with anti-magic the sword cut deep, sapping her power.
The guardian growled and struck him, knocking him flying backwards. Raiden ducked his flying body and darted in, striking at her upraised hand. His sword passed through her wrist and her hand darkened. She screamed and struck him as well. He tasted blood as he tumbled backward and landed close to Devkin.
Marrow frowned. “I don’t like my friends being hurt.”
The guardian limped forward and raised her good hand. “Little girl, you know nothing of being hurt. But you soon will.”
She pointed her finger at Marrow and sent a blast of fire strong enough to melt dwarven armor. Marrow screamed when she was engulfed in the inferno, and Raiden scrambled to his feet. Knowing it was futile, he leapt to the current of flames and caught them on his blade, the black material absorbing the magic. To his astonishment Marrow stood unharmed.
With wisps of fire sparking on her hair and clothing, she stood with an annoyed expression. Brushing the flames free like they were dry leaves, she shook herself and the lingering sparks fell away. The guardian was so shocked she cut off the fire to stare.
“What are you?” she asked.
“Marrow,” she said it like it was obvious. Then she looked to her gremlin still perched on her shoulder. “Are you hungry little one?” Then her smile faded and her eyes flicked to the guardian. “Because dinner is served . . .”
The gremlin chirped and leapt over Raiden’s shoulder. As it soared towards the guardian it opened its jaws. Larger and larger they opened until they were big enough to consume the entire woman.
Her eyes widened in surprise and she raised her hands, but the gremlin’s mouth closed over her and swallowed her whole. The jaws closed against the floor and the gremlin settled back onto its haunches.
A muffled explosion came from the creature and it burped, sending a burst of fire into the stone, charring the wall. Glowing cracks appeared on its small form before gradually fading. Then it padded back to Marrow and leapt to her shoulder, its tail coiling about her neck.
“Full?” Marrow asked.
The gremlin chirped in satisfaction.
Raiden turned to Devkin, and the grizzled soldier grinned. “I would not have thought of that.”
“Ready?” Marrow asked brightly, oblivious to the steaming and scorched walls.
“You have my gratitude,” Raiden said. “But from this point forth we need subterfuge, not sparks.”
“I don’t understand,” Marrow said.
The gremlin burped, sending a burst of fire into the ceiling and melting a portion of stone. Molten rock dripped between them, leaving a trail of steam from ceiling to floor. Raiden folded his arms.
“Oh,” she said.
Devkin grinned and slipped into the lead, withdrawing a map. “Unless the Verinai have changed the tunnels beneath the city, we should be four levels below the farms. The surface is above that.”
Raiden stepped through the door to find a small guardroom. The chairs and weapons on the wall suggested it was meant for four soldiers, but with the requirements of the war, the guild had left only a single, lesser guardian. A set of stairs ascended out of sight.
“How close are we to the keep?” he asked.
Devkin consulted the map. “Not too far.”
“Winter said the runestone is likely hidden in Elsin’s office,” Raiden said.
“Even with fewer guards, we won’t make it to her office.” Devkin stepped to the stairs and peered upward. “How will we know when Alydian strikes?”
“We’ll know,” Marrow said with a loud laugh. Raiden frowned and she lowered her tone to a whisper. “Sorry.”
“Let’s get as close as we can,” Raiden said. “When the guards leave their posts, we’ll make our attempt.”
Devkin nodded and fell into step behind Raiden, his map in hand. Marked with guard locations and directions, it showed the tunnels beneath the keep. In the lead, Raiden watched for threats while Devkin guided his path.
The stark, empty tunnels contained numerous doors on either side. A glance through the bars revealed crates and barrels, reserves of food and water. He expected more guards but there were none, their absence leaving the city disturbingly quiet.
They crept their way through the abandoned underbelly of Verisith. After several minutes they came to the garden level, so called for its multitude of farms. The chambers on either side contained storm and sun charms, bathing the crops in water and light. But they showed the signs of neglect, the storms sputtering at the ceiling, the lights going dim. Fruit and vegetables withered, their leaves turning black.
“They’ve pulled their resources for the war,” he said.
“But where are the guards?” Devkin murmured.
“You think they know Alydian is coming?” Raiden asked.
A distant rumble sent a shudder through the stone. It could have been a landslide or thunder, but Raiden’s eyes snapped east, where Alydian would be attacking the city. They all tensed and waited, and then another tremble shifted his boots.
Marrow giggled. “If they didn’t fear her before, they certainly do now.”
Raiden risked picking up the pace but his caution was unnecessary. They ascended the stairs into an empty guard hall. Chairs lay scattered about and food cooled on the plates. The door hung open and he stepped to the opening, peering down the street.
The guard tower was positioned adjacent to the keep, providing an excellent view of Verisith. The sun was just beginning to fall behind the mountain, its rays illuminating a vibrant city. But the streets were all but empty. Those still present rushed toward the main gates, and the sounds of boots echoed from all directions.
Raiden spotted a knight prowling around a courtyard, its armor and skin vacillating between flesh and stone. Other guardians were equally as rattled, but their leashes kept them bound. Then Raiden looked beyond the city.
A plunging gorge separated Verisith from the Canyon of Mages. Soldiers rushed up the stairs and sprinted through the enormous panthers. The cats prowled at the limits of their chains, agitated by something beyond.
Light reflected on the canyon wall, bright and sharp. The sounds of battle rumbled like thunder, causing the guardians in the city to roar and shout. Devkin imagined the battle being waged and yearned to join, but they had their own assignment. He glanced to the sun to find it setting behind the mountains.
“Alydian’s doing her part,” he said, glancing at Devkin. “It’s time we do ours.”
Devkin nodded, his eyes on the sunset as well. “Let’s find ourselves a runestone.”
Chapter 43: Titan
Toron stepped into the Requiem and the branch lifted him into the sphere. The now familiar sensation of his consciousness linking to the Paladin swelled over him, and he opened his eyes to find himself in the cavern, his head now twenty feet off the ground. He gave an experimental flex of his fingers and then looked down on Galathon.
The rock troll nodded in approval. “It’s as close as you’ll get to being a rock troll.”
At his side, Winter grinned. “But it can’t do magic.”
“Perhaps,” Toron said, “but it might be better.”
“Let’s get to the west watch battlements,” Winter said with a snort.
“Yes, General,” Toron said, his voice distorted through the Paladin.
As Winter gathered the rest of their watch, the other Paladins came alive, their eyes glowing as each soldier linked to a huge war machine. Toron felt a chill as the army came to life and advanced to the hole Alydian had created. Reaching to the rocks, Toron climbed to the surface. As he straightened to his full height he marveled at how the once mighty fortress felt small.
He strode to the swords leaning against the wall. All were ten feet tall and built by the dwarves, each crafted for a specific Paladin. Toron grasped the blade that bore the mark of fire and shadow. The flat steel blade was more a cudgel than a sword. Its edge was as dull as a hammer, the sheer weight of the weapon making it lethal. The dwarves had built the blade. He’d added the magic.
He picked it up and fire arced along the blade, licking hungrily at the steel. “Let’s do some damage, shall we?”
The other Paladins retrieved their weapons and fell into line. All knew what they faced, but the expressions of anticipation were universal. It was hard to feel fear when you had such power. He nodded to the other Paladins, which Winter had assigned him to lead.
“The Paladin can only take so much damage,” he said. “So make it count. The titans are our principle targets and it will take all of us to destroy one. If we survive the first wave, we’ll face the Verinai.”
The Demon Dwarf, spun his fire hammer, which seemed tiny in his huge hands. “We know what to do,” he said irritably. “When do we get to fight?”
There was a chorus of agreement and Toron grinned. “Let them come to us. When the titans get trapped in the city, we strike.”
They nodded, and he led the way through the open gates. He had to duck under the opening and then entered the treacherous ground of the city. Threading his way around the multitude of hidden traps, he turned west. Then he caug
ht the roof of an inn that had miraculously survived the tower’s fall.
His hand dug through the wood, snapping beams like twigs as he scaled to the roof. With one foot through a hole in the roof and the other atop, he gazed west, where the Empire’s army approached.
The four titans led the advance, their feet plunging into the earth. At fifty feet tall they were enormous, their bodies threaded with all twelve of the common magics. Their light rivaled the setting sun, a sinister reminder of Verinai’s power.
Behind them came the Verinai. Nearly the whole of the guild was present, each armed and armored for battle. They strode with their heads high, their expressions smug. Fire blossomed on shields and spears, blades and armor. Entities of every type walked among them, an army of creatures bent on destruction. The Verinai’s passage killed the vegetation, leaving ashes in their wake.
The Empire loyalists and single talent mages comprised the third wave. No less armored, they had chosen to follow Teriah of their own volition, and they marched with the confidence of victory.
Bringing up the rear, the remainder of the rebellion marched, their position as reserve obvious. Many were in shackles and chained together like slaves. They vacillated between shouting at the rebellion, and spewing hatred at the Empire.
A hundred thousand strong, the army filled the landscape, eliciting growls and curses from the meager defenders. Winter ascended to the roof beside Toron and raised her voice to the Western Command.
“Take down the titans,” she called. “Then the Verinai. Hopefully everyone else will surrender.”
“If we survive that long,” a gnome said.
The Empire army split up as it approached, the four divisions following the titans to surround the city. The Empire’s tactics were obvious, surround and crush the city, and anyone inside. Toron thought Teriah would seek an opportunity to speak with Alydian, but noticed a different figure at the head of the army.