Wizard's Sword (The Battle Wizard Saga, No.2)

by C. M. Lance

  A roar from behind made Sig whirl and raise his sword. A huge flaming ball hurtled toward him. He swung his sword at it and knocked it aside, away from Rick. Another followed and he batted it back in the direction it had come from. Trees next to the fence ignited when it landed among them.

  Sig assumed a guard stance, but nothing else materialized.

  Rick stepped into the shadows and changed to human form. Sig decided to maintain his shape.

  Professor Herman pulled up in a Maybach 62S. Sig′s mouth dropped open, distracted from the wolf and rider, while he gawked at the car. The Professor looked up at him through the clear moon roof. The Maybach is what a Rolls Royce would be with more leading edge technology and even more power.

  Sig′s truck and the still flaming tree blocked the driveway entrance. The Professor climbed out of his vehicle, surveyed the damage to Sig′s truck with a quick glance, and took in the flaming tree blocking the gateway. "What occurred here?"

  "A man with a sword riding a huge wolf attacked us."

  "It wasn′t a Were. It wasn′t a real wolf, but it wasn′t a Were. It didn′t smell right," Rick yammered.

  Sig didn′t like the look of the slashes on Rick′s arms and shoulders. Blood ran from gaping cuts and soaked his shirt.

  Professor Herman gestured toward the house. "Let′s get behind the warded fence."

  Sig grabbed the tree, threw it to the side, changed forms, and jumped into his stalled truck. It fired up immediately. As he backed up, he heard a screech and then a sword sliced through the roof on the passenger side, spraying him with glass again before it ripped off the door. The truck stalled again.

  A fireball passed over Sig's head and struck the helmeted rider, knocking him off his wolf.

  Sig looked over at the Professor who stood with his upper body out of his car′s moon roof. Smoke drifted from his hands.

  Sig tried again and the truck started. He mashed the accelerator. Tires squealed as he backed up the driveway into the Professor′s estate followed closely by the Maybach.

  As Sig passed through the gateway, the rider leapt back on the wolf to pursue but ran into an invisible barrier at the gate. The wolf mashed its face as it slammed into it. The rider flew over the wolf′s head and squealed again when he smacked against the barrier. He leapt to his feet, raised his arm, and hurled the largest fireball Sig had yet seen. Sig held his hands up in front of his face instinctively, knowing it would be futile.

  The fireball splattered against the invisible wall where the gates would normally be. Flame splashed in all directions except into the estate. The fighter in the feathered helmet screeched again. The sound made Sig′s teeth ache.

  Rick and the Professor ran up the stairs onto the expansive porch. The Professor turned and hurled a flaming ball of energy back at the rider. It passed through the invisible wall, but the warrior slapped it aside with his blade. The rider′s shrieks crescendoed as he and the wolf paced back and forth in front of the entrance.

  Back in his battle form, Sig stood with sword raised. Professor Herman shouted. "Get into the house, swiftly. If he′s alone, we will be safe. If he arrived here with his demon legions, I′m uncertain as to the outcome. Quickly now, into the house."

  Sig sprinted up the steps, ducked under the doorway, and joined Rick in the house. The Professor followed more slowly, backing across the porch, watching for an attack. Sig turned to Rick prepared to render aid, but his wounds weren′t as severe as they had appeared outside and the bleeding had stopped.

  Sig slammed the door shut after Professor Herman who began checking the wards he had set inside the house. Satisfied that the enchantments were operational, he walked to the parlor, sank onto the divan, and smiled thinly at Sig and Rick.

  Rick asked, "What did you say about demon legions? Tell me I misheard." Amazingly, Rick′s wounds had almost healed. Only the blood soaking his shirt revealed how severe they had been.

  The Professor raised his hand, index finger pointing up, and then brought it down to point at the front door. "I believe that is Andras, a great marquis of Hell. If memory serves, he commands thirty legions of demons."

  "Thirty legions? Isn′t that approximately equal to a butt load of demons?"

  The Professor looked at Rick levelly for a moment while he considered the question. "I expect his legions would be with him if he arrived here on his own recognizance. However, if a Black Mage summoned him, he is most likely here by himself. Controlling even one demon lord takes enormous power.

  "Since he′s here, can′t he just call on his demons?"

  "He can′t if he′s being controlled by someone else. It appears we′re in luck."

  Sig, back to his human self, turned to them and let the curtain drop. "In luck? Have you seen my truck? What am I going to tell the insurance company? 'Some dude on a wolf tried to slice it in half while I occupied it. In fact, I think I′m lucky he didn′t carve me up."

  "Be happy you will be able to talk to an insurance adjuster and not to Samael, the angel of death."

  Sig face paled. "That puts a different perspective on it. But, if we don′t have a visit from this Sam guy, I still need to come up with an explanation."

  "Why don′t we wait to see if he brought his thirty legions? If he did, your truck′s damage will be moot."

  Rick frowned, "So, he has thirty demon legions at his command. Shouldn′t we be looking for a place to hide, preferably under a rock, or lots of rock? Under Cheyenne Mountain may be a good place to start. "

  "OK, my truck′s not important; got it. Nevertheless, he′s out there. How are we going to get out of here when he′s out there with his thirty legions? Only the magic wards have stopped him. What if they fail against his legions?"

  "Again, I don′t believe his demon host accompanied him. Further, few demons are more dangerous to summon than Andras. Controlling a pack of rabid dogs would be far easier. If the summoner plans to stay alive, he will have to send him back soon."

  "The guy in the feathered helmet is a real badass, huh?" asked Rick. "Are your wards strong enough to keep him out?"

  "The wards appear to be holding, but time will tell. That′s not a helmet. In his earthly incarnation he has the head of an owl, rides an enormous black wolf, and bears an invincible sword."

  "Invincible? It wasn′t invincible. He was really good with it, but not invincible," Sig said.

  "Perhaps, it seemed that way, because you also bear an invincible sword. That raises the age-old question; 'What happens when an immovable object meets an irresistible force?′ Perhaps now we know. It depends on the wielders."

  "C′mon Professor, you′ll make his head swell."

  "Ah, but the larger the head, the easier it is to lop off."

  Sig looked between them and felt uncomfortable. Were they pulling for him or viewing him as a science experiment?

  Sig and Thor walked into the great room where Mom waited.

  They spent a restless night observing Andras and his wolf patrol the fence line. Sig finally fell asleep while watching from the porch swing. Rick stayed awake and reported that there were no sightings after four o′clock in the morning. At dawn, Sig and Rick assumed their supernatural forms to patrol the perimeter, inside and out. The demon marquis and his wolf had left the building.

  Back inside, the Professor remarked on how quickly Rick had healed from his wounds.

  "As you know, professor, we Weres can take a lot of damage because we heal quickly. Of course, we can′t heal a large caliber bullet in the head or heart$mdash;silver or not. However, this time I healed quicker than usual. Maybe it′s because the wolf wasn′t real. It didn′t smell or act like either a Were or a wolf. I don′t know what it was."

  "The wolf apparition you fought is part of the demon Andras, not a separate being. It is part of his earthly façade."

  "So I wiped the street with a façade? Damn, I thought I had really accomplished something." Rick frowned.

  "Au contraire, you battled and defeated one of the marquis of He
ll," the Professor said with a smile.

  "Defeated is a strong word. He did squeal and escape from me and then they ran, but when they came back – we ran."

  "Nevertheless, I am impressed."

  Sig watched the exchange and wondered if they remembered that he participated in the battle.

  "Let us hope that they′ve left this realm. Calling a demon of such power is fraught with danger. The longer the binding on Andras lasts, the more dangerous he becomes to the caller. Should the bonds controlling the demon fail, he′ll turn on and destroy his master. It is constantly probing the boundaries of the summoning for an exit.

  "A demon marquis takes tremendous insult from being controlled. It won′t just be bad for the master; it will release an affronted demon to terrorize this dimension."

  "Don′t demons terrorize us all the time?" Sig asked.

  "By the strictures placed on them, they must be invited into our world. The invitation rends a rift in the curtains separating dimensions, allowing them passage. Yes, they do perform mischief constantly, but their interference is frequently of influence, not physical dominance. For that, they must be in our demesne."

  "So demons can only actually be in our world for a short time?"

  It depends on the demon. Lower order demons; Foliots, Djinn, Afreets, and the like can be controlled much more easily and for longer periods. Dark Wizards use them frequently, some even treating them like familiars. Higher ranking demons such as Andras can only be controlled for short periods and even then, at great risk."

  "So a demon like the one that is devouring Grampa Thor′s magic can stay in this world for a long time?" Sig asked.

  "Yes, unfortunately they can remain and perform their minor evils." The Professor looked morose and then gave Sig a grim smile. "Thank goodness, access by the terribly powerful demons is constrained. However, they have been known to create great damage. Have you heard of Chernobyl?"

  "The Russian nuclear meltdown? A demon caused that?"

  "That, the Inquisition, the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand that resulted in World War I, the explosion of Mt. Saint Helens, and many other aberrations can be laid at the feet of demons of great power. Some were guided by Dark Mages; others happened when a demon broke its yoke and roamed freely before being drawn back."

  "If I understand what you′re saying, and I don′t always," Sig said wryly, "if the bonds are slipped, Andras will wreak havoc in our world. We have to stop him. Rick and I fought him to a draw before we had your help. With your help, we can send him back."

  Professor Herman nodded. "Spoken like a true Battle Wizard. There are forces that will eventually compel a demon to leave, and we can lend our assistance. They are unable to remain here permanently, but they cause great damage and misery during the time they remain in our world."

  "The demon that′s eating Grampa′s magic, is he like Andras?"

  "No, your great-grandfather′s demon is much more mindless and far less powerful. It is more appropriate to compare that demon to one of Andras′ minions, a specialized foot soldier."

  "So I can′t hope that it will be drawn back into hell?"

  Professor Herman pursed his lips and shook his head. "No, the same bindings that control it also hold him in this dimension."

  It would have been too good to be true. "What should we do about Andras?" Sig asked

  "I surmise that he left our world, but if not, for the time being we should stay together. The three of us jointly should be able to vanquish him if he attacks. Let us travel collectively to the university today. I must leave now. I arrived home late yesterday because I had a departmental funding meeting with Professor Heathcoat. We scheduled our follow up meeting for this morning."

  Rick snorted, "Is he still trying to steal our funding? Can′t he see what we are accomplishing?"

  Professor Herman replied dryly, "It is my job to elucidate our accomplishments. I can′t do that if I don′t meet with him this morning."

  Sig looked out the window at his truck sitting broken and crumpled in the driveway. "That sounds like a good idea. I don′t think I′ll be driving anywhere from now on. I still don′t know how I′ll explain that mess." He gestured dismissively at the window.

  The Professor walked over to stand by his side. He surveyed the trees in front of the house. "Can you pull your truck over past the parking area near that large tree with the split trunk, the one with the charred bark?"

  "I′ll try."

  Sig got the truck started and pulled it forward. A cacophony of scraping and squealing sounds accompanied its movement. He parked the truck near the charred tree and loped back. The Professor met him halfway. "OK, professor, it′s out of the way over there."

  "This will take a bit of precision, unlike the fire balls tossed about last night." Professor Herman rubbed the large ring he wore until it glowed. Raising his arms above his head, he made a thrusting motion at the tree and a lance of fire sprung from between his hands and flew at the tree. The side of the tree nearest to Sig′s truck caught fire. While the trunk charred and blackened, he guided the thin lance of fire back toward the middle of the tree.

  The fire ate through the trunk. With loud cracking and popping, the tree started to lean.

  He gestured with his fingers, as if signaling the tree to move in the direction he indicated.

  It tilted further and Sig realized it would land on his truck. It crashed down, flattening the cab with a resounding smack. Glass sprayed from the impact.

  Now Sig′s truck was ready for the scrap pile. His shoulders slumped.

  The Professor clapped his shoulder. "Now you will have something to explain to the insurance adjuster. Lightning struck the tree; it fell and crushed your truck. This way it won′t add an incident to your driving record. Problem solved."

  Sig looked up at his smiling face. "Except I′ll be bumming rides until I get a replacement."

  "There is that. Come, let′s get to school." He gestured at his Maybach.

  Sig glanced at it then back to the Professor. "Can I drive?"

  "Surely you jest. Look how you treat your car."

  Sig′s mouth dropped open. Rick howled with laughter as he climbed into the back of the Maybach. "Come on, it beats walking, something you better get used to."

  Andras patrolled the circumference of the magic circle. His wolf lay across the only exit from the room. The Wizard glared at him from inside the circle and said, "I command that you return."

  Andras responded with an ancient single-handed gesture, still in use today, and hissed. "Come out wicked one. Join me. Together we can defeat this Battle Wizard of yours." His huge owl-like eyes rolled back as if in ecstasy. "Think of the pleasure of driving a sword through his chest and ripping out and tasting his heart. I can make that happen."

  "You failed. He defeated you."

  Andras thundered, "Defeated me, he didn′t. He hid behind enchanted barriers. He wouldn′t finish the fight. Don′t think because you embrace black magic that you can insult me." His skin took on a deep red tone and smoke rose from his shoulders and head.

  The harmonics in Andras′ shout sent shivers through the Wizard′s backbone. It sounded like a voice designed expressly to command demon legions. Through his growing fear, the Wizard reiterated, "I command that you return."

  Andras purred. "I like it here. It is so pleasant, but I miss my legions."

  "You are nothing without your legions."

  Andras squealed and threw himself at the circle, pounding at the invisible force bubble with the flat of his sword. The circle bulged inward.

  The wizard recoiled. Strain echoed in his voice as he demanded, "I am your master. You will leave this domain."

  Andras′ contemptuous glance let him know that he hadn′t hidden the tremor in his voice. "Master, you call yourself," he sneered. "I will stay and eat your heart."

  Shifting to a wheedling tone he said, "You must be getting hungry. I remember hunger, like talons in the stomach. Come out. I′ve prepared a wondrous feast
for you." He waved his arm. The table against the wall creaked as it filled with roast pheasant, suckling pig, mounds of succulent corn, potatoes, casseroles, wines, and desserts of all kinds.

  Despite the chill in the room, sweat ran under the Dark Mage′s ceremonial robe. "Are you angry that he escaped you?"

  "Yesssss, I want to crush his bones and suck the marrow, eat his liver, burn his heart."

  "Leave now and I will bring you back when the time is right. If you refuse, there are others. Azazel, Asmodeus, or Belial will come and do my bidding."

  Andras howled. "Belial! His beauty hides a forked tongue. Bah. You deserve each other." The harmonics in his roar again shivered across the Wizard′s skin.

  "Bring me back, you will, to kill the Wizard… and his friends? You will let me soak the soil with their blood?" Andras asked.

  "Someone will do it. Someone who will do my bidding."

  "If I kill you, I can finish him as I please." He leapt at the circle again. The boundaries flexed even more.

  The mage felt sweat trickling down his face. He refused to wipe it and demonstrate fear. "Before you can get to me I will bring Belial and the others to cast you back, never to return." He gathered up a paintbrush and a container of viscous red liquid. "Leave now or I will summon the others. I have enough virgin blood to paint the sigils I need. I begin now." He opened the container and dipped the brush in.

  Andras screamed, "Bring me back or I will return to kill you." He leapt on the wolf and they charged through a portal that appeared in the rock wall, disappearing from this world.

  When the portal sealed with a snap, the wizard crumpled to the floor and wept.

  †††

  An hour later, courage restored by two snifters of brandy, the Dark Mage summoned Dmitri. He could have beckoned him with a spell. Instead, with hands still trembling, he dialed Dmitri′s cell phone.

  Dmitry arrived and shuffled into the Mage′s study with shoulders hunched, as if fearing a blow. "Yes, f-f-Master?" The hall light provided the only illumination.

  The Mage motioned Dmitri closer after setting a crystal box in the middle of his empty desk. In the dim room, the box pulsed with an inner light