by D G Palmer
Then the air between the opposing groups began to shimmer and a hole appeared in space and rapidly widened. An olive-toned leg, wearing white-leather Ptolemaic shoes stepped through. Sayyidah stood before them resplendent in her simple yet elegant, white diaphanous lace halter necked dress, as the goddess she purported to be.
Chapter Thirty-Four
The companions looked on as a bad situation became decidedly worse. Those that recognised her couldn’t believe what they were seeing with their own eyes.
‘You have got to be kidding me,’ breathed Trinity.
‘Who is that?’ Asked Daniel.
Tavisum couldn’t believe her eyes either. ‘This cannot be real. It’s not possible.’
‘Who is that?’ Daniel asked again.
‘That is...’ Trinity could barely believe that she was saying the words herself. ‘That is Sayyidah. The woman that brought the Shade to Ariest. The architect of the second Great War. The wife of Gydion so - in effect - my mother.’ The surprising reappearance of the Egyptian Mage had made Trinity overlook one important fact. Gydion had gone to Salamida to question her. So, if Sayyidah was here, where was her father?
Sayyidah had her back to Daniel and his friends. She had barely given them a backward glance since her arrival, such was her disdain for them. Besides she had more important things to attend to. ‘Ch’tan, to me.’ For all of his boasts of partnerships it was clear to Daniel and his friends that this was more of a 100/0 split arrangement as opposed to the 50/50 that he had led them to think it was. ‘Give me the book,’ she demanded.
This was the moment Ch’tan had been waiting for. The moment that their allegiance would be sealed. She would get the Book of Azul; he would get the Undany royal throne. However, the smug smile he had on his face vanished as he plunged his hand into Daniel’s satchel and pulled out a book called History: From the Dawn of Civilisation to the Present Day.
‘That’s the book I got for you,’ Daniel whispered to Nyriel.
The princess smiled back and thanked him enthusiastically. ‘I can’t wait to read it! I hope they don’t damage it.’
‘I don’t understand. It was right here in the bag,’ Ch’tan explained.
‘You mean to tell me that you do not have it?’
‘It was right here! I promise you!’ He desperately looked around, as though he hoped it had fallen on the ground. Then he saw it. ‘The boy - the boy has the book!’
‘The boy has the book,’ she repeated in exasperation. When she looked at Daniel, her face softened, ever so slightly, but it vanished as quickly as it appeared. ‘You were supposed to bring me the book a long time ago. And could not because only the king can release it from its hiding place. I should have killed you then. But I thought, maybe having him on the Undany throne might be useful. But now I’m beginning to think not. Your slow actions forced me to get you extra assistance to obtain the book. So, I ensorcelled these Krez elves for you and still you could not get it done. Sending you to kill Cernounos was only a reprieve for you, even though his death will weaken the Alliance with no replacement readily prepared to succeed him.’
The anger in Sayyidah was growing. She had made a simple a plan, she believed, and yet, the people that she had entrusted to execute it had continued to fail her. Now she would show them what it meant to disappoint her.
‘Now I shall have to get it myself, and as such, I no longer have need for any of you.’ Sayyidah raised her hand and it began to glow at which point, the nearest Krez elf screamed out and clutched his head as it started to undulate. He fell to his knees still screaming in agony. Then another started to scream. And another.
Anjunel sprang into action. She was fast and from the corner of her eye she could see more of her comrades collapsing in death. The fatal edge growing ever closer to Tessera. Anju leapt through the air and tackled her friend, just as the Krez beside her begun to scream and convulse. She forced the Archdruid’s pellet down the dark-haired elf’s throat and hoped that she wasn’t too late.
Tessera begun to scream. Her head undulated. Then, doubled over in pain, she threw up the green viscous poison that had been coursing through her body and allowed her to be controlled. ‘Anju,’ she said weakly, ‘I always knew. I never stopped believing you would do something.’
‘Those that can survive are strong,’ Anju whispered to her friend as she helped her up.
‘Those that can survive are strong,’ Tessera repeated weakly. ‘But never as strong as you.’ She could see Anju look pass her. The beautiful face she knew was filled with rage and vengeance and she pitied the recipient of it.
‘Interesting,’ Sayyidah scoffed at the rescue of the elf. ‘No matter. The chaff has been culled. And I am left with one.’
‘Please no,’ Ch’tan pleaded. ‘I can still be useful.’
‘I think not. You’ve outlived your usefulness. All I needed from you was the book. The book has now been released from its hiding place, one of only two useful things you have done, and with that, the end of your service to me.’
‘You can’t do this! You promised me! I did everything you asked of me. You couldn’t do it without me!’ The expression that immediately came over Ch’tan’s face, showed that he regretted what he had just said.
‘What? You think I needed you to do any of this?’ Sayyidah laughed. ‘I didn’t need you for any of it! If I so pleased, I could have gone to your precious Murias City and ripped it apart until I had the book. I could have walked into the Druid Glade, right into their sacred grove and destroyed their divine tree and Cernounos.’
‘Never!’ Tavisum shouted. ‘I would have stopped you!’
‘Not on your best day, druid! Don’t get it wrong, little Undany, I never needed you. I just used you, because I could and because I had bigger things to deal with. You were just a tool and nothing more. You are nothing but a guard. I could have manipulated any other separatist fool. You have nothing to offer me when I have armies of Frell, Firbolgs, Gnolls and Giants waiting for the return of their Harpy Queen. Soon they will know that their wait is over!
The pleading look that Ch’tan gave Nyriel was filled with sorrow. He realised how wrong he had been and the dire mistake he had made as he heard the words of magic leave Sayyidah’s lips. ‘I’m sorry, Nyriel. I only did what I thought was right for our people. I let it blind me into hurting you. I’m so—'
Ch’tan stopped short and clutched his chest. He let out a strangled groan as a bright orange glow shone out of his open mouth. Then smoke started to escape through his gritted teeth as his skin began to blister. His blood curdling cries reached a crescendo as watched in horror as Sayyidah burned Ch’tan alive from the inside out.
Nyriel buried her head into Daniel’s shoulder, unable to watch the last excruciating moments of the person she once called friend. What he did to her was terrible, but she put it down to him losing his direction. It didn’t erase all the fond memories she had of him. to meet your end in that manner was something she wouldn’t wish upon her worse enemy... but then again, her worse enemy was standing before her.
‘So,’ Sayyidah sauntered over to the group to stand before Daniel, an imperious air surrounding her and continued as if the atrocities of moments ago had never happened. ‘Now that I have dispensed with all the intermediaries, let us return to the business at hand. Daniel, will you give me the Book of Azul, please.’
It was that last word that threw Daniel. “Please.” A simple word. Used to make a request polite. Yet, he had seen nothing from Sayyidah’s actions to suggest that she knew the meaning of the word. She had just killed someone with as much ease and nonchalance that someone has when they breathe.
‘I’m sorry,’ he started, ‘I can’t do that.’
‘Come on, Daniel,’ the Egyptian pushed in ancient Hellenic, ‘do the right thing. Hand me the book.’
‘I don’t understand what you said,’ replied Daniel.
‘You will, in time. Give me the book, Daniel,’ she said again in common tongue.
&n
bsp; ‘The way you talk to me... it’s like you know me.’
‘Because I do. I know the real you, not this mask you wear for everyone else. You used a different name, but it is you. You had a craving for knowledge, a desire to learn everything. It’s there in your eyes.’
‘Don’t listen to her, Daniel. She’s just reading it from your mind.’ His friends all knew Daniel to be a seeker of knowledge. How else could she have known?
‘Come, come, dear daughter. You know as well as I that reading an unwilling mind would cause tremendous pain for the participant.’
‘Don’t call me that! You’re nothing to me.’
‘I’m more to you than you know, Trinity.’
‘Rubbish! I don’t believe you!’
‘That would have been a conversation for you and daddy dearest.’
‘What do you mean, “would have”?’
‘I mean that my dearly departed husband is no more.’
The world literally fell away from Trinity and she stumbled as she heard the news. ‘I don’t believe you,’ She stammered.
‘Being a person like Gydion,’ Sayyidah continued, ‘you are bound to attract enemies.’
‘You...’
‘No, not me, dear daughter, oh how I wish it had been, but that privilege fell to another of my puppets. Now, if you would be so kind, the book, Daniel.’
Again, he refused. ‘I - I can’t do that. I was supposed to deliver it to Gydion but if he is - if he is gone, as you say, then I suppose it should go back to Murias City.’
‘I am beginning to lose my patience. I don’t really want to hurt you, Daniel, I am who I am because of you, but I will have the book, and the others, and I won’t let anyone stop me, not even you.’
‘He’s right,’ Nyriel said defiantly, ‘the book is not his to give. It was given to my people by our god. It does not belong to you.’
‘It does now, as will they all. If your lizard does not approve, then let him stop me,’ laughed Sayyidah as she reached for the book Daniel’s hand.
‘I said no!’ The water Trinity had used to help rehydrate Nyriel had left the platform wet with surface water. Enough for the Undany princess to become an attacking force. She quickly manipulated the water into a bubble and sent it over Sayyidah’s head, intent on weakening the powerful Mage by depriving her of air.
‘About time!’ Finn exclaimed. ‘Was it just me that was getting fed up with all that yappity yapping? It wasn’t, was it? Come on, own up.’ Finn then saw another glimpse of the power they were about to face as Sayyidah simply phased through the water bubble. ‘Uh - oh. I think you vekted up, she kind of looks mad.’
‘Well, little princess, that was a bold move. Allow me to repay the compliment.’ Sayyidah used her magic to will a ring of fire around the terrified Nyriel. The Undany had to continually douse herself to stay hydrated.
The Shadow Dancers were next to attack but they had barely taken a step when their feet became melded to the platform and anchored them in place.
‘Is this all you have? Really?’ Sayyidah mocked.
‘We need to coordinate are attacks,’ Tavisum said. ‘If we don’t, she will just pick us off one by one.’
‘All together,’ Daniel blurted out. ‘We should go all together, wear her down.’
Trinity smiled at Daniel. ‘I was thinking the same thing! Maybe someone will get a lucky strike, too.’
Tavisum nodded. ‘Okay, all together.’
‘Have you formulated a plan yet,’ asked Sayyidah, ‘or are you just going to surrender?’
As if in answer to the Egyptian’s question, the group charged the mage. Anjunel, jumped at Sayyidah, two daggers in hand, but she was brought to a halt as her long blonde hair came to life and began to wrap around the Krez elf’s neck and constrict tighter and tighter. Tessera, still regaining strength after her ordeal, ran to aid her long-time friend. Finn seized the opening to deliver a thunderous left hook, which was covered in the purple and gold hand-wrap.
The mage was sent crashing to the ground and the others ran in to press their advantage. Finn attempted to throw another punch but Sayyidah raised a hand and diverted the blow to knockout Tristan. Again, Finn attacked, as did Tavisum, who released a blast of fae magic. The bolt dispersed on Sayyidah’s protective barrier and she evaded Finn’s attack, touching the young woman’s chest in the process. A green moss like substance grew from the spot and rapidly spread to cover Finn’s entire body until she fell to the ground gasping for air.
With her Schiavona in hand, Trinity advanced on Sayyidah. Tavisum joined her. The Archdruid pulled out a dagger which extended to become a spear. Their opponent was unimpressed.
‘You can’t match my magic so you think to defeat me with the sword instead? I have been using swords since I was a child in the slums of ancient Alexandria,’ she smiled as two golden swords appeared in her upturned palms. ‘I don’t fancy your chances.’
Tavisum attacked low, thrusting with her spear, whilst Trinity went high. Sayyidah jumped above the Archdruid’s attack, blocking Trinity’s at the same time. She landed lightly on the spear head, took a step and kicked Tavisum in the face. From there, in a fluid motion, the Egyptian somersaulted and slammed down on the auburn-haired druid with both swords. Trinity got her sword up but the strength of the attack forced her back.
Daniel had taken the chance to retrieve his bag, and with the Book of Azul placed back in it, he was now able to help. His fingers flashed as he sent volley after volley of frost bolts at Sayyidah. His aim was true and they all hit her. He was excited by the fact that he had her reeling, that Daniel, the novice that he was, lost concentration. He couldn’t centre himself and his next attack failed to materialise.
Trinity, reluctant to relinquish her hold of Gydion’s grimoire, continued to fight on with her Schiavona. She watched the others struggle against Sayyidah and felt that she would be more effective if she could use her own magic. Then the Harpy Queen unleashed a wave of energy which sent everybody flying back to the edge of the platform, scrambling to hold on. One of the Krez couldn’t hold on and they fell off into the deep depths of the cavern.
This was the opportunity that Trinity had been waiting for, a break in the combat so that she could get to Daniel. ‘How are you holding up?’ She asked him while she rubbed his shoulder.
He had landed awkwardly on it and was grimacing. ‘I’m ok. I don’t think we’re making any headway against her though. Even the Archdruid is having a hard time going toe to toe with her.’ Trinity slipped Gydion’s spellbook into Daniel’s bag and was using a healing spell on his injured shoulder. ‘What about Gydion’s Book? Perhaps there’s something in there that could help take her down.’
‘I don’t know. The most powerful spells would need rituals, possibly an altar. Somehow I don’t think Sayyidah would allow us the time.’
‘Well, what if we keep her occupied while you cast?’
She thought for a moment. ‘It’ll be dangerous...’
‘But worth a shot,’ Daniel added.
Trinity nodded. ‘Okay. Tavisum, I’m going to need you to keep her busy.’
‘With pleasure,’ the Archdruid replied.
‘Let’s have a look at Grim, Daniel, and see if we can find something to finish this bitch.’
Daniel took Gydion’s grimoire out of his bag and handed it to Trinity. But before she could take it, the book flew out of his hand, in mid-air the pages flipped back and forth until it landed on the right page. Everyone stopped fighting to see what was going on, even Sayyidah was intrigued. The words of the spell floated up into the air, merged together and when they separated a portal opened.
‘Well, that’s nice,’ Gydion said as he stepped through the portal. ‘I wasn’t expecting a welcoming committee.’
Chapter Thirty-Five
‘In the back of my mind, I think I always knew that you wouldn’t stay dead. That would have been too considerate of you,’ said Sayyidah upon seeing Gydion.
‘I thought I might have l
eft it a bit late, but here I am,’ he replied.
‘Exactly. Like a bad smell. Or a husband that just will not take the hint that the marriage is over.’
‘I’ll be more than happy to make the divorce final and permanent right now.’ Gydion cast a dispel charm over Finn and Anjunel, releasing them from their magical restraints. And as they and the others recovered, he squared up to his wife.
It was a repeat of the last days of The War, when the alliance had finally overcome Sayyidah and her shadow forces. Back then, however, he still had feelings for her, still had hope that she could be rehabilitated. When he first saw her on Salamida, he thought that she had been but soon realised, the hard way, that wasn’t the case and that, not only had it all been a ruse, but she had become more dangerous than ever.
The love that was once there was gone. This time he wouldn’t banish her to another dimension. This time her would end her life.
‘I will not be fooled by your duplication spell this time, Sayyidah.’
‘I will not need to use it this time, Gydion. You should have joined me. The power of Salamida could have made us both gods; now I shall rule alone.’
‘I have power enough!’ Gydion yelled as he finished the last words of his Meteor Storm spell. Several fiery boulders came crashing down on Sayyidah. Each rock hit with a fiery explosion. Even behind Gydion Daniel could feel their heat and shockwaves.
The Egyptian held up her hands to bolster her magical shield, even so, such was the strength and ferocity of Gydion’s attack that her protection didn’t last long and the final meteor explosion sent her over the edge of the platform and into the abyss.
Daniel and his friends cheered, thinking the contest over, swiftly and decisively. Only Tavisum was reluctant to celebrate. Only she seemed to realise that the battle was far from over. They didn’t really know what they were up against. Sayyidah was just as powerful as Gydion, some would argue more so. But couple that ability with the mind she had and that is what made her so dangerous.