Matthias pushed his will to re-establish the planes of his memory. Pain lanced through his forehead as he reconnected. A female warrior, hair of fire, blade of ice, faster than the wind... An angel of death that Akileena promised him was just a rebel with a talented sword that could cut through armour.
A wave of energy flowed through the camp, rippling all the planes as it passed through them. That sparked his attention, what — was that? It was like nothing he had ever felt from the planes before.
Tentatively, he pulled himself over so he could get into a better position to get up. Something was happening out there...
Once he was on his hands and knees, Matthias paused again as more nausea threatened to overwhelm him. He was groggy and holding onto his consciousness was more of a struggle than it should be. He could sense another mage's presence and concluded that it must be an elvan mage, because a human mage would not haunt the planes of his mind like a ghost.
It occurred to him that an elvan mage meant it was a rebel. They would be here for that cursed warrior. If she was free already, Matthias was not so sure he wanted to leave his tent. Where was Akileena? Why could he not hear anything, not even his own breathing?
Darkness started to blur Matthias' vision. He could feel his hold on his consciousness slipping. No! He would not be manipulated. He dragged in his focus and steeled his determination. Using it like a sword, he struck at the oppressive influence that was trying to control him.
Akileena wanted to affirm his faith to the elvan before him, declare his loyalty to his nation; his people. By Fate's blessing, it was the Saviour! He had to think to catch his breath as he sank to one knee and bowed his head.
'Da dei-sjhon, fu rayne sa, torahn,' he whispered. My saviour, the chosen one, sire.
There was a shout of alarm from one of the tents — Rochester's tent. At his yell the men started to wake. The sleep the may-en-ghi had induced in them was thrown off by the only human mage to survive Sariah's attack.
Sariah pulled up the pegged rope used to hold the horses and lifted herself up onto Treya, glad now that she had instructed the charger to allow herself to be caught just before Akileena had overcome her. 'Ask them to follow me,' she sent.
Treya whinnied, happy to see her free, and sent her request on. Sariah paused for one more look at the Saviour. Brynn was still standing in the middle of the camp, the mage, Akileena, was on one knee before him.
A movement on their peripheral caught Kaydyr's notice and she saw the mage she had almost killed stumble from his tent. Sariah considered attacking him, but she felt Brynn's sanction. She really wanted to go after Nathan Kennelm, and might have had Brynn's hair not been streaked with rivers of silver and had his blue eyes not lifted from the mage before him to steadily lock with Kaydyr's.
He shook his head slightly. 'Go, Sariah. Keep Sentary safe. I have revealed myself on the planes now, it will not be long before Colnba works out that it is me. It will become too dangerous here for the non-talented.'
Nathan emerged from his tent as several more cries went up. The soldiers were scrambling for their wits, their weapons and the horses that were now disappearing. The Thane's attention was caught by an elvan standing just a few meters away. It was his newest captive. Nathan frowned, only hours ago that captive had been weak and bleeding. And the tawny-red hair was now black with streaks of silver... By the great sages –the Saviour was real!
He had never, not in his heart, truly believed there was a real saviour. Oh, he believed the prophecies were not complete nonsense, but this mythical saviour — it must be exaggeration, a tactic to intimidate the ruling class rather than a real possibility. The part about the hair and the eyes had always been the sticking point, it just did not fit the elvan type. Yet, before him was physical evidence, not just in that silver-black combination, but in the piercing, dark-blue eyes that were focused on him.
Regen and his idiotic brethren would experience an agonisingly slow death for all the infuriatingly vexing riddles. Two elvan! The imbeciles! How in the freezing depths of the sage's worst creation had they got it so wrong? The Thane's grip tightened on the scabbarded sword he had snatched up as he left the tent.
'Surround the prisoner, you fools,' he shouted. He stalked up to Akileena. 'What is wrong with you? Get up, you moronic idiot.' Nathan said as he roughly dragged Akileena to his feet.
The Saviour focused back on Akileena. 'I have arranged for their safety.'
The mage's face was transformed by his surprise and disbelief. 'Both of them?'
'Andarin is seriously injured, yet he will heal,' he assured Akileena with a tone of apology. 'Your daughter is protected beneath the shadow of the raven's wing.'
Akileena always thought that if he should ever get free, the rebels would punish him. After all, he had sided with the enemy when many others chose death. Yet he was being offered freedom. He bowed slightly. 'This is a debt I will forever honour,' he whispered reverently.
'Catch up with the others,' the Saviour told him. 'You need to protect them until I join you, for I will not endure Nathan's existence any longer.'
Akileena frowned in concern at the intensity of the Saviour's words, but then nodded.
Nathan listened to the conversation with some confusion at first. Then it became clear. His mage was defecting. Drawing his sword, he swung it at Akileena's throat. No one betrayed him!
Frozen in fear's grip, Akileena knew that none of his reactions would be quick enough. With his guard down in the presence of the Saviour, he only had time enough to close his eyes...
The sharp ring of steel upon steel brought his eyes back open to meet the gaze that had haunted him since the day on the cliff. The Saviour had stepped in front of the mage and used the crossbow on his arm to stop Nathan's blade.
'Go,' the Saviour directed simply.
Nathan wavered as he tore himself from the Saviour's mental hold. He knew well enough when not to meet a mage's eyes, and the mistake of meeting the Saviour's had cost him. With a baleful glare, he whipped his sword up and levelled it at the Saviour's throat, pressing it into the skin.
'You think you are gods,' he sneered. 'Yet your blood is thinned by cowardice and spills just as easily as any other mans.'
The Thane looked for his last remaining mage. 'Rochester!'
Rochester was limping over, one hand held to his head, his face an unhealthy pallor. Around him the soldiers were organising themselves, several standing by their thane, more arraying themselves around the Saviour. Yet, strangely, none prevented Akileena from passing.
Nathan was oblivious. 'Send to Colnba, I want him to ensure we keep this one captive.'
Rochester met the rebel thief's gaze knowing this was the mage who had subverted his will. It was easy to understand now, for the rebel was clearly marked as the Saviour. His instincts yelled at him to get away. He would be a fool to think he had won against this mage just moments before. No, he had simply been let go.
'As you will it, my lord thane,' Rochester replied, but the Thane was no longer looking at him.
Nathan was barking at his captain, 'Strike camp, we go to Denas, now!'
Rochester gave the elvan another look as soldiers milled around him and decided it might be prudent to find a quiet, secluded place to undertake his task — away from all the swords.
'All these men, for a coward like me? Mayhap I am not in fear, but the cause of it?' the Saviour suggested.
Nathan pressed the sword harder against the Saviour's throat, drawing a trickle of blood. 'Take care with your words, elvan, I might just slip,' he threatened. 'Nay, I have nothing to fear for I have trapped a creature never hunted before: a myth. I know you!' Nathan asserted. 'I know how you think, how you will act, and what motivates you. That is how I brought you to me.'
'Is it?' the Saviour countered, all traces of amusement gone. He tilted his head slightly to reduce some of the pressure of the sword tip. 'Why do you think I walked into this camp, Nathan?'
The answer came without hesitation. '
To save the slaves. Honour compelled you.'
'Are you certain? Why, then, did I let the slaves suffer for days before surrendering? You must wonder why I was waiting. Or, was I even waiting? Mayhap the real reason was—'
'The female warrior!' Nathan exclaimed. 'I always suspected that you gave yourself up to save her.'
'Really? I thought it was obvious I came to free Akileena,' the Saviour said.
Nathan shook his head. 'Not a mere mage. But one-time-only-prophecised-peace would be worth a risk like this.' Nathan shrugged. 'Your Ko-renti warrior will not get far. None of them will. In your arrogance, you have granted me a boon. Now, when I draw the blade across her throat, I will have the satisfaction of knowing with certainty that I am killing all hope your people have,' Nathan purred with a predatory smile. 'You are wrong. I know you,' he asserted again. 'I am your master now, and I decide if you live or die!
'In fact, I think just showing Malithorn your body will suffice,' Nathan declared, driving his sword forward.
Brynn was right when he told Sariah it would not take long for Colnba to react. Brynn remembered his last confrontation with Colnba very well. Back then, Colnba had chosen the battlefield — the images were symbolic, for in reality, it was mind against mind, will against will, as each employed their talent to defeat the other. On the planes, though, the battle had been represented by two armies clashing. Without may-en-ghi aid and his mentor, Linuk, he would have lost that battle. And this time, he was alone.
True to his style, the timing gave Colnba the advantage. Brynn's physical body was vulnerable, more so, considering the Thane was on the point of killing him. It was an effective strategy for overcoming another mage: wait for or instigate a life-threatening situation and simultaneously strike on the planes. Although most mages could function in the physical realm and the planes concurrently, being attacked on both fronts required adept use of talent to survive. That was why all mages, where possible, went into physical confrontations with a retinue of body guards.
Time moved at a different pace on the planes though, so if Brynn responded forcefully, he had a chance. He chose the form of an illa-kaan, the legendary ice dragon. An immense black creature with wings that would shadow an entire village, his armoured scales combined with the feather-like armour of his wings made him a formidable foe. Long, tractable spikes flowed from his horned head to his prehensile tail and poisonous talons dug into the icy rock of the plane Brynn created.
Not bothered by the arctic setting, Colnba responded to Brynn's challenge by adopting the form of a greater fire dragon, a grelanir of the gredisaan family. Flexing feathered wings twice the span of Brynn's, Colnba's burgundy-red sides lit up like embers as he built up the gases that created a flame so lethal it disintegrated all but solid rock.
Brynn was not intimidated by the larger dragon, although it represented the elder mage's greater experience. Brynn knew his ice dragon form to be swifter, more adaptable and with shields the other dragon would lack; his armoured scales would withstand the grelanir's flame.
With a roar Colnba lunged forth, taking to the air so he could dive while expelling scorching flame, but Brynn deflected it with ice flame. As the greater dragon closed, Brynn twisted, swinging his spike tail around and slamming it into Colnba's side.
They locked, trading bites and blows, both using their poisoned talons. Colnba's were longer and sharper, but they could not penetrate the armoured scales as easily as the younger mage's claws found their way through to his skin. Still, the heavier dragon was slowly overcoming Brynn.
In a bold move Brynn managed to get hold of Colnba's shoulder and while biting down, also breathed ice flame. Colnba recoiled only momentarily, before flaming directly in Brynn's face. The younger mage was saved by closing eyes and nostrils designed to protect dragons from such attacks. While his armour protected him from fatal injury, the strike was tremendously painful.
Just as Colnba went for Brynn's exposed throat, a roar behind him made him swing around. Two, no, six may-en-ghi were approaching from behind. Stalking forward in formation, they leaped to attack just as they brought attention to themselves.
Whether they were real may-en-ghi or symbolic of Brynn's talent, Colnba did not remain to find out, he was outnumbered now. The senior mage left the plane before they could land on him.
As soon as Colnba withdrew, Brynn returned to the physical plane with a jolt. While time moved at a different pace on the planes, it did not mean it stopped, rather it progressed at a slower pace. Nathan had only just started to lunge forward, the pressure of his blade increasing. Still partly on the planes, Brynn could experience and perceive each second, as if it lasted several seconds each.
'…I decide if you live or die!' Nathan's scornful, derisive tone jeered contemptuously. 'In fact, I think just showing Malithorn your body will suffice.'
Brynn's survival required an instantaneous response, but the young mage's mind froze.
'What is happening, Sariah?' Sentary asked anxiously.
'I cannot tell exactly. I dare not let Kaydyr get closer. Brynn has already warned him off twice.'
'We should keep moving,' Akileena urged, 'This may not be far enough to be safe.'
Sariah gave him a sharp look, she did not like having a traitor amongst them. Yet, Brynn had sent him, did she dare dismiss his judgement?
'Brynn mentioned nothing to me about needing to move, so we are staying here until he joins us,' she snapped, allowing her apprehension to reveal itself in her irritation.
Akileena did not respond, accepting her leadership in silence. He had not meant to challenge her, he just wanted to make sure they were safe.
A moment later, the group was thrown to the ground.
Chapter 7
Day 16 – Before Dawn
Denas
Colnba rose from one of the large round cushions in the sunken portion of the room. The octagonal area was accessed by four sets of stairs placed upon the four directions: south, east, north, west. A combination of wood, stone, marble and sand made up the floor. In each corner, the sand filled in the shape of the animal that represented each direction: dragon; may-en-ghi; phoenix; unicorn. The shapes had been cut out of marble and were bordered by intricate sculptures of the animal represented. Dragons flew or rested about a set of miniature stepped falls. May-en-ghi stalked through plants. One phoenix perched on a tree branch, while the other glided above. Unicorns serenely grazed in a clearing at the bottom of a miniature waterfall. The foliage had been sculpted to create a mini-maze with wooden and stone pathways that opened up into wide circles where the sculptures were. The waterfalls were connected by a miniature river that wove throughout the maze. Two or three large, circular cushions provided seating in each area, or a bench carved from wood. The area was extensively warded to protect Nisari and Colnba when they undertook planes-bound tasks.
Colnba gave the dragons in the section he was in a long look as he thought about the ice dragon the Saviour had used to defend himself with. Then, stepping around the unconscious form of Matthias, he made his way to the bathing room to splash water on his face.
Ahhh... much better, he thought. Steam still rose from the water in the nearby sunken bath, indicating that his visit to the planes had not been as long as it felt.
He stripped off slowly, muscles sore and aching. It was a common effect of planes-bound activity and only the salts in the waters would relieve the discomfort. Colnba immersed himself in the water. It was almost too hot and yet relieving at the same time. He was taking longer to recover from these excursions and he was becoming more worn each time. Too many, too quickly. Malithorn would have to accept it when he said 'No' to the next demand. He needed time to recover.
The Saviour had finally shown some quality.
Regrettably, that meant Colnba had found himself out-numbered and over-drawn. Having stretched his resources across so many planes and so often, he found himself less-prepared for the Saviour than he would have liked. Withdrawal was not ideal, but not done wit
hout intention. Just as he had withdrawn, the Saviour was plunged back into his ill-fated confrontation with Nathan, the Thane's sword at his throat. Colnba had feigned the withdrawal so that as the Saviour found himself facing Nathan again, Colnba could surprise him with a second attack. But there, again, he met with another of the Saviour's allies — this one preventing him from taking advantage of the Saviour's distraction. To Colnba's surprise, the Saviour's new guardian had been able to subvert him entirely.
His first impression was that the guardian was Akileena, coming to the aid of his benefactor, but the spirit did not match. Yet, there had been something very familiar about this new guardian… Something he had yet to place.
Reluctantly, Colnba got out of the bath and towelled himself dry. He'd drifted so far off into contemplation he had lost track of time, leaving his skin wrinkled from the extended time in the water. Pulling on some loose, cotton pants and a tunic, he returned to the sunken area where Matthias still lay unconscious. If Matthias had not linked with Colnba at the exact moment he did, well, he would be dead. Despite Akileena healing the worst of his injuries, the human mage was very fragile, leaving him with very little energy. He should have known better than to resist the Saviour. As a result, there was a higher probability he would lose his very tenuous grasp on life. Pulling him through the planes may well have finished him, but there had been no other option.
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