Taylon

by Scott J. Kramer

  Chapter Seventeen

  Euphoria loved the carnage before her. Figaro and Daisy led as she made her way through the marketplace. She commanded her army to attack everything in and around the area. When news of an elf army—arriving at the south end of the market—reached the queen, she laughed at the ensuing chaos.

  Nonk supplied soldiers to be posted by her majesty’s side, but those men ended up being fodder for the queen. Euphoria used lightning attacks on the races of Aladedas. She enjoyed the way it made them quiver before falling over. Most of the bodies she zapped were useless as food to her, but it still made for great entertainment.

  Figaro was having a gnome for a snack at the moment. The great cat’s jaws crushed down upon the head of the small creature like a peanut. He liked to get right in there and sink his teeth into the creatures. Daisy, on the other hand, liked to play with her food. Currently she was batting around a small kobold, her claws wounding it each time she swiped.

  There was plenty for the queen to feed on after the bodyguards. Bodies taken down by arrows littered her path. She would stoop and feed, regain her energy for another lightning strike, and then move on.

  The power source pulled her away from the main battle and deeper into the market. If she wanted to diverge her course, she could not. Strong desire pushed her forward.

  Nothing in the market had given her much challenge. A minotaurian tried to block her path, but the two loyal tigers took him out at the legs. As she went, Euphoria sucked magic out of nearby creatures. A whole booth of sprites dropped like dead insects, their beautiful colored aura disappearing. Without their magic, the helpless creatures writhed on the ground until the queen stomped them out.

  She felt the source was close. Just around the next booth…or maybe a little farther. Euphoria wasn’t sure exactly what magic she was seeking, but she really didn’t care. She would take what she could get.

  The aisle opened into a large semicircular area used to put on plays or demonstrations. Creatures still were in a panic here, having only heard about the attack. She sent a bolt of lightning through the crowd, connecting with a few.

  A satyr ran into her. Her hand gripped its face and sucked the essence right out of him. Very few patrons stood and watched, but when the queen finished her deed, they fled in terror. Euphoria demonically laughed. But oddly enough, something echoed her cackle on the other side of the amphitheater.

  Figaro and Daisy came by her side as she looked through the mass of races. Across the way, she could make out the form of a dark elf, a female dark elf. Around her neck glowed a necklace with a blue…stone?

  This was the source.

  The queen raised her hand again, ready to unleash another bolt toward this figure, but fire erupted through the crowd. It was coming for her. She rolled to the right, and commanded Daisy to go on the attack. The cat made her way through the crowd as the fire spray engulfed others.

  Through the smoke and flames, Euphoria glimpsed Daisy leaping at the elf lady. She started to smile until a sharp yelp issued from that direction.

  A breeze blew the smoke away, enough to reveal the dark elf holding a shriveling tiger carcass.

  A wraith!

  A hellish scream echoed forth as Euphoria let loose with an amazing bolt at her enemy. The ground shook from the electricity, and the dark elf only had time to look up from her feeding. When the bolt connected, it created an explosion.

  What was left of the tiger blew out everywhere. Hot pieces of flesh scalded nearby warriors. The dark elf suffered, too, from the blast. She stood, her arms and legs skeletal, looking like a half-eaten chicken.

  Begone wraith. This is my war.

  Laughter coursed the air, screeching banshee cackles.

  Oh demon. Such pity I feel for you. Run.

  Make it worth my while for me, Da’Lynn.

  Closing her eyes, the dark elf drew in magic. Euphoria watched the dark elf close her eyes. Da’Lynn latched on to an orc, standing within arm’s reach looking dumbfounded. Euphoria felt the dark elf draw in magic as she sucked him dry. Some of Da’Lynn’s emaciated body filled with flesh.

  Euphoria felt exhausted after the attack. She could feel her enemy drawing forth the magic and power from nearby. It was magic she needed. Figaro leapt forward on her command. If only he could break this elf’s concentration, the queen could replenish her vitals. Not wasting any time, Euphoria ran toward the crowd of races and warriors still present. She grasped a gnoll in one hand and a centaur in the other. Both put up an immediate fight before their life forces drained. Many in the crowd scattered, after seeing this murderous display. One brave soul tried to attack, but Euphoria dropped the gnoll and snagged her attacker.

  The dark elf also took a moment to refuel, grabbing a dwarf. The flesh from the dwarf finished covering her bones. Euphoria kept her eyes on the one called Da’Lynn, hoping her tiger could prevent another magic attack. But all at once, the queen was engulfed in flames. Euphoria screamed.

  The fire cut abruptly, leaving a few figures burning. Euphoria still stood, but she was unrecognizable. A small fire still burned the remainder of her dress on her shoulder. The rest of her body was charred black. Her hair was gone. Only the necklace shone brightly around her neck.

  Figaro had done his distraction job, and was currently food for the beast. Euphoria turned and marched toward her foe, each step leaving behind a carbon-y footprint.

  Da’Lynn tossed the drained tiger to the side. As she righted herself, a black hand grasped her neck. She tried to grab forward and clutch what remained of Euphoria’s neck.

  Wraith, you had the chance. Now die. I want your power. Euphoria croaked, squeezing and draining.

  You are weak, puny imp. You are no match for me. Da’Lynn did the same, trying to draw this enemy’s essence.

  Many could not look away, as the body of the Opi’Chi elf and the human queen melded together. Slowly, two became one. A dwarf, who stared wide-eyed, could have sworn he heard the sound of shattering glass before the merge was complete.

  The creature, whatever it was, dropped to the ground as if suddenly weakened by a bout of fatigue. All stared forward, but no one approached the scene. Was it dead?

  A hand moved. And then an arm. And then quickly, as if gaining momentum, the whole creature stood.

  Was this the birth of a god before them?

  It stretched its arms skyward, making its height almost ten feet. The creature standing there was definitely female. An odd aura drifted out from it, so that anyone who saw wanted to come near, to worship. But fear kept them at bay.

  Turning to survey the crowd gathered, it smiled. Power surged through its spirit. Naked except for a necklace, it moved forward. The ground shook with a step, making the gathered crowd move back. Even if the creature had not enchanted the crowd, the necklace would have entranced the collected beings as it pulsed rapidly.

  One more step forward, and the crowd began to come to its senses. Some races ran away. Some bent a knee to worship it.

  The battle still raged on farther in the market. Smoke still billowed, filling the sky. No more petty human or weak elf. It would reign supreme over all these underlings. The new creation threw its head back and laughed.

  ***

  Katrena lay on the floor. After bandaging up Taylon, and seeing to a few cuts on Kara, they headed to the market. Kara armed herself with the sword that had dispatched the dark elf. Taylon selected a few items from the weapon wall. Both wanted to be out of that place quickly.

  Travel was rough for the ex-captain. He’d had neither sleep nor food. The wolf bite swelled on his ankle, despite the clean wrapping job Kara did. Even when the killing ended—Kara needed to make sure the elf was dead—neither human spoke much. They spoke with their eyes.

  She remembered little about Katrena’s house. Warren had freed her quickly. Kara grabbed a weapon immediately, ready to stand against the dark elf. But to her surprise, she discovered that Katrena was preoccupied, and that her flank was left open. It was
only later that she realized she had saved Taylon.

  Warren rode in Kara’s pocket. He was the one that suggested they should look for her friends at the market. Taylon, still bewildered, followed.

  “Euphoria. That thing is back again, isn’t it?” Kara asked as she held back a branch for the soldier.

  “Rose is trapped or forever gone.” His voice held a heavy burden.

  “We knew something was up. So now there are two wraiths out there.”

  “Two?” This made Taylon stop, his senses alert.

  Kara also stopped. “You didn’t know?”

  “But…how? Euphoria’s possessed by a demon. Some crazy magical box. How can the wraith have come back…unless…the mirror pieces!” He looked at Kara for confirmation.

  “Ra’na told me….”

  “Who?”

  She pointed back in the direction of Katrena’s house. “That one’s twin.”

  Fear crept upon Taylon’s face. “You mean there’s another one?”

  “Ra’na’s with us. They found this boy….”

  “Something’s coming!” Taylon drew his sword, as he pointed through the forest. Plants parted ahead as something ran through them. Kara instantly had her blade drawn. Whatever it was, it was heading straight for them. Both humans backed away from the path they had blazed, waiting for the creature to run through.

  Leaves parted and Kara only saw pink, before Taylon tackled it. A squeal rang the air as the creature put up a struggle. To Kara, it looked like a pig with tusks and then the bottom half was that of a goat, resembling a satyr.

  “Let—squeal—me go!” came a high-pitched voice. Taylon held on as it kicked and bucked.

  “Why were you running at us?” Kara asked, not sure what she could do to help Taylon. The struggling stopped after the question.

  “I was running away from the market. From your army.” And with a quick tug, the creature escaped Taylon’s grasp and took off. The ex-captain made to go after the pig, but stopped himself as he realized it would be futile.

  “Why are they attacking the market?”

  He answered with a shrug. “Everything sounds great when Euphoria tells it. She gets in your head. But then, when it actually happens, things just seem wrong.”

  Kara looked behind her, the creature long gone, and then she faced forward, knowing that was the way they had to go. “We need to find my friends.”

  ***

  Reggie was true to his word and led Jesset and Fret right to Hambone and Ra’na. Of course, he wanted some kind of reward for his services rendered. Ynob kept telling Fret to raise his hands and the bird would get a reward that it wouldn’t forget.

  “Where’s Gantha? Did you find him?” Ra’na asked after hugs.

  “When he saw the elf army, he ran into the battle convinced he had to do something,” Jesset said. The battle continued in front of them, but they were at a safe distance to be only spectators.

  Roberto, the sprite, took an interest in Ynob. He flew around what looked to everyone else like empty air. The wizard tried to swat at the ball of light, but his ghostly hand mainly went through Roberto. He twittered loudly.

  “There’s no one there,” Hambone said, but the sprite chittered away.

  “Great, a sprite and a boy can see me. I shall never be lonely again,” the wizard said in a mock tone.

  “Fret is that…?” Jesset turned, watching the sprite.

  “Yes.” It was a dry response. He was getting sick of being the only one to be able to see and hear the wizard. Even if the sprite could see Ynob, Fret couldn’t understand sprite-speak to converse about the wizard.

  “What is all this?” Ra’na stepped forward.

  Did you all forget about me? Hungry crow here. Reggie piped up from the tree. No one answered him. Jesset looked at Fret. Hambone stepped up to the boy too.

  “Okay. Okay! Somehow, I can still see Ynob in spirit. He is right there.” Fret pointed to the blank space near where Roberto hovered. All eyes stared, and then looked back at the boy, unconvinced. “I know. I’m the only one that can see him. And hear him. It’s because of this ring.” Fret lifted his hand and showed off the ring.

  “But…I don’t know what to say.”

  I know. How about feed the crow? Reggie squawked again.

  “We also found out that Fret can channel the wizard’s magic,” Jesset added.

  “What?” Hambone said.

  “Ynob started a spell, and the flames came out of my hands.” Fret said, leaving out the part about frying some of the elfin warriors in the process.

  Hey! Hey! Hey! Reggie cawed urgently.

  Three people turned toward the crow to yell at it.

  Jeesh! I just thought you would want to know that something big is going on in the market over there. A blue glow and lots of screaming.

  From their point of view, they saw nothing but the market. But as they gazed furtively, a horrible laugh came through. Fret shivered instantly. I know that voice. Ynob too, looked scared.

  “Uh oh,” Hambone said and pointed to the market. Elfin warriors were approaching the group, their stares fixated on Jesset and Fret.

  “Not again,” Fret murmured. Ra’na stepped forward, which threw the warriors for a loop.

  Suddenly the ground shook and a hot blast knocked everyone to the ground.

  ***

  Power exploded from the creature. A ring of fire shot forth, singeing all who were on bent knee. The whole market suffered the force from the new god monster. As good as it felt releasing the shockwave, the side effects brought the giant to her knees.

  Screams echoed all around her, yet her force remained drained and helpless. She reached out and was able to pluck a dwarf, one roasted by the fire. It became nothing but clothing in a matter of seconds. The energy fed the new creature, but did not rejuvenate it by far.

  She crawled forward, bodies strewn all around. Why was she so weak? Close by were a few of the burned worshipers. Quickly she sucked what energy they had left, which gave her enough power to stand.

  Chaos still reigned around her. The market burned, people still fought, but she could not enjoy any of it. Standing was a chore for her. She needed to feed, needed magic. The necklace, which now was a combination of the shard Da’Lynn wore and the bat pendant Euphoria donned, glowed dimly around her neck.

  No one approached her. Charred bodies three deep surrounded her, as well as booths and other merchandise aflame. She tried to calm her internal rage that built, a frustration that had a hunger to feed. As her internal core cooled, she was able to sense a source deeper through the market. Something magical.

  Slowly, she stepped forward. And then again. She could feed along the way. She needed that source, that magic.

  ***

  Chele sat up, dazed from whatever knocked her to the ground. Looking around, she saw two others picking themselves up off the ground. The last thing she remembered was beheading another human with her lava sword.

  Queig was up, and by her side. “Are you okay?” He offered a hand, but she refused it. Chele didn’t like the touch of the goblin, or any of the races for that matter. She stood under her own power.

  “What…what happened?” Fire burned behind her. The blast, or whatever it was, had come from there. Looking back, she glimpsed something tall pushing through the booths. It was a…she was never good with races.

  “What is…?” The goblin muttered as he watched the thing trudge through the next aisle.

  The thing had dark milky skin and was completely naked, from what she could see. Most of the races were modest. All she could do was stare in wonder. What the heck was that thing?

  A blue glow caught her eye and made her want to follow it. She took a step in that direction.

  “Arr! Arr! Arr!” The geth exclaimed loudly, protesting her progress.

  “Get out of the way.” This new pet was getting annoying. She stepped forward, and the geth allowed her to pass. Chele broke into a run as the beast moved quickly.

  She
heard the geth behind her, and Queig a few paces behind it. Chele kept her eyes focused forward, ready to strike at anything human, or anything that got in her way. She bumped past a nymph, who looked a little perturbed at the rough treatment.

  Most of the customers cleared the aisle. The only ones who remained were die-hard merchants and patrons that wanted to kill something. It was fine with Chele. As long as they didn’t bother her, she had no problem with them.

  The creature she followed paused every now and then, as if stopping to pick up a coin. With each stop, the blue glow grew. Chele did not stop. There was something about the creature, the glow, made her want to follow it. The geth barked at her heels. She hoped Queig was keeping up, too.

  ***

  Nonk picked himself up, not knowing what had hit him. Was it some sort of explosion? The elf he had been dueling with was still on the ground. He stabbed his sword through the creature’s heart.

  Most of his soldiers picked themselves up before their elfin combatants, but a few met their death due to the shock wave. Nonk took a quick look around to get his bearings again. Something in him felt different. It was almost as if his purpose had left him.

  He looked at his men, and they had a similar look on their faces. What was their goal in taking this marketplace? Captain Nonk could not remember.

  Another elf approached. Nonk took two strides and ended its life.

  “Men, to me!” Nonk called his soldiers. Havoc was all around. The soldiers had caused some of it, while other fires were because…Nonk was not sure.

  Several of his men came ’round, while others stared at him unsure of what to do. He was not particularly sure what he was going to say, but he knew he needed to say something. Should they retreat? Should they press on? At least a dozen sets of eyes looked to him, hungering for some purpose.

  “I don’t know what that was…but we must be frightening them if they have to use magic against us. Remain watchful and alert.” Nonk ended his simple speech with a yell, his sword in the air.