by Mark B Frost
She wrapped herself in the blanket she had brought up, but as night fell she found that it was still too cold to stay out late. It was the middle of spring now and the sun owned the daytime, but the nights still belonged to wintry frost. She started to doze off, then decided it was time to go home before she fell asleep and froze to death.
She gathered her stuff and climbed down the steps. A sentry nodded to her as he ascended to take his post, and she nodded back. She started to head to the residential sector, when suddenly she heard the front gate begin to rise. She skipped over to see what was going on, wondering if someone had taken over the gate controls and invaders were being let in. She realized she had been playing soldier for too long and shook the thought away.
When she got there, Abaddon stepped through the gate carrying Atheme in his arms. The big man looked exhausted, and almost fell over. A couple of soldiers reached to help him, but he barked them back. Relm ran over to him terrified and practically screamed, “Abaddon! What happened to him?”
She moved to his side and tried to support him. To her surprise, he leaned into her and let her help. “He’s bad, Relm. I’ve pushed myself for a full night and day to carry him here on foot, because I couldn’t find a damned peist in all of Jegan. Help me get him to Aveni.”
She nodded and waved at one of the soldiers at the gate. “Hey! Run to the Church and find Lord Cardinal Aveni. Tell him we’re on our way and to meet us at the Chamber of Life.”
The sentry seemed to debate following her orders for a moment, not recognizing her as anyone of authority. Then Abaddon boomed out, “Move your feet!” The man hesitated no longer—knowing perfectly well who Abaddon was—and headed toward the Church as fast as he could run.
The clearly-exhausted knight continued to carry Atheme, and Relm guided him and tried to bear as much of the load as she could without getting in his way. The big man’s eyes were glazed over, and she started to worry that her love was not the only one in immediate danger.
When they got to Church property over an hour later, Aveni was waiting with a pair of Templars. Abaddon nodded to the Cardinal, then carefully handed Atheme’s body into the waiting arms of one of the Templars. They turned to head to the infirmary with haste, then a loud thud was heard behind them. Relm looked back to see Abaddon lying lifelessly on the ground, and she let out a small shriek. The other Templar picked him up at Aveni’s command, and they headed to the Chamber of Life.
Chapter 20.
Abaddon’s Rage
Morning sunlight leaked into the infirmary and spread across a beautiful tile floor. The patients in the sickbeds were still asleep, resting from injury or illness. The only other figure in the room sat in a chair by one of the beds, the small cat ears on her hood bouncing as her head nodded in sleep. The red-headed man lying on the bed was still, his head and torso wrapped in bandages.
Relm awoke with a start as the sunlight warmed her face, and she looked to Atheme. “Drattit!” she said half to herself. “I was supposed to stay awake all night and watch over you.” She leaned over and checked his pulse and breathing. He seemed stable, so she rubbed her eyes and walked over to Abaddon’s bed. She stared at it blankly for several seconds before realizing no one was in it. She panicked and dashed into the hallway. There she saw Aveni washing his hands in a basin of holy water.
“Cardinal, Abaddon is gone! Did he die? What happened?”
He smiled and placed a hand on her shoulder. “Relax, child. The good Templar awoke early this morning and headed out. He said that with Atheme in good hands, he wished to take a walk.”
“Isn’t his condition too serious for him to be wandering around alone like that?”
“For any other patient I would certainly agree. But I have treated Lord Abaddon many times, and he is not one to stay bedridden. Most of his injuries have healed and he has had a full night’s sleep, from here his own body will handle the rest. He’s not quite so fragile as the rest of us.”
“What about Atheme?”
His smile faded. “Atheme will need more time. It’s too early to give a prognosis. He’s under the effects of a powerful poison resistant to white magic, and it has worked its way deep into his system. I’m using my best wards to prevent further spread, but he’s still at risk for various organ failures. I took an infected blood sample and delivered it to Lord Kinguin, and we’re both working to find an antidote. We can only hope that we make it in time.”
Relm’s head sagged. “I was hoping you had already cured him. He looked so peaceful this morning.”
“He is in a deep coma I have induced. He will not suffer further, but we may yet lose him.”
“Oh. Well, I’m going to go sit by his bed for a while longer then. Thank you.”
His brow creased with worry. “I wish to assure you, Kinguin and I are doing our best. Atheme is a dear friend to us both and we will not let him down.”
She smiled bravely. “I know. I have faith in you.”
Aveni watched as she returned to the room and took her seat by the bed. He reached over and picked up his Staff of Ainshen, then stared into the glowing orb at the top. “Atheme shall certainly not die. Not so long as I can still summon a Miracle.”
* * * * *
Abaddon stood in the center of his favorite clearing in the Ducall forest. The trees around him shuffled lightly in the midday breezes, and small forest animals stopped to stare. After standing motionless for nearly an hour, he took deep breath and held it. His chest expanded and his muscles flooded with mystic grey magic, bulging his biceps to almost twice their normal size. He held steady for several seconds, then released a roar of rage and frustration. Nature echoed his grief, as a rush of ether, wind, and earth tore from him and even the trees leaned away from the power of his eruption.
Once this outburst passed, he stood staring at the sky with his eyes radiating their own deep blue light. For a moment his body seemed to be aflame. Then he coughed, and in an instant diminished to normal. He lowered his head wearily and looked to the ground before him. To his surprise a large chunk of earth had been uprooted, and a black void stood gaping at his feet.
“Impossible,” he muttered to himself. “I’ve never sensed anything out of the ordinary in this glade.” He moved forward and attempted to step into the opening, but he was repulsed by a blast of blue light. He steadied himself and slowly approached again. He knelt down a few inches away and gently lowered his hands into the blackness.
A rune structure flared and created a wall of resistance in front of him. He focused his concentration on the structure and his hands began to sink through the fiery lines. Once he was elbow deep into the cavern, he ripped up and grabbed at the runes. There was an explosion of ether and fire as he tore through the magical fabrics, and he was thrown across the clearing with bolts of energy rocking his frame.
He smashed into a tree and sank to the ground. He took a moment to recover from the jolt he had received, then looked back to the opening. As he stared, a fearsome creature stepped forth from the underground cavern and screeched at him.
It was a full foot taller than him, well over seven feet. It stood on its hind legs, and its arms were so long that the gigantic clawed hands nearly scraped the ground. Its head had large golden eyes and a narrow mouth with small razor-sharp fangs, set on a large sloping brow. The scales that covered its body reflected the sunlight in shades of green and blue.
Abaddon rose to his feet and grimaced. “I find it hard to believe a rune structure as powerful as that one was made for your benefit. Unless you’re tougher than you look.” He reached up and drew the Dual Blade from its half scabbard. “Show me.”
He charged the demonspawn in a reckless manner, letting his sword hang out behind him. When he was close he suddenly veered right and gave a ferocious stab, twisting his body with the thrust of the blade. The combination of movements gave his sword blazing speed, but the creature was faster. It reached up with one of its arms and clamped the sword, stopping it dead, then thrust its other
arm forward and grabbed the man around his chest.
Abaddon felt the air squeezed out of his lungs. The monster pulled its face close to his and screamed again as it held him tight. He released his sword and punched the sides of the screeching face with both fists. The demonspawn was stunned enough to release him, but recovered within an instant. Before Abaddon could make another move it backhanded his head and flung him across the clearing. He landed on his feet, but when he looked up his own sword was flying straight at him.
He managed to dodge the Dual Blade and avoid being skewered, but the hook at the base caught and tore into his neck. The creature extended its arms out to their full length and revealed a pair of slim-boned wings. It leaped several feet into the air and came down at him from behind. The big man jumped forward and turned himself in midair, but the demonspawn followed his motion, then snatched him up and bit deep into his shoulder. It ripped free a mouthful of flesh, slammed Abaddon fiercely into the ground, then retreated into the air.
The injured man stood and spat. “You don’t get to defeat me,” he proclaimed softly. “Not today.” Wind and ether currents once more began to billow about his body. “One more time, then.”
The demonspawn descended suddenly and slammed into the ground where he stood. Abaddon made a quick dash forward, then turned and rushed its back. It changed momentum and threw a high punch without delay. He adjusted his attack as well, sliding underneath its fist with his left arm raised to shield his head. He planted his right foot into the ground for stability, then delivered an immense uppercut. In the instant that the creature was stunned, he reached forward with his left hand and grabbed the base of its wing. Sinew and bone snapped within his vicious grip, and the broken wing fell to the ground.
The monster screamed and began thrashing wildly. Abaddon evaded the flaying claws and teeth, then glided swiftly across the clearing to where his sword was stuck in a tree and retrieved it. With his peripheral vision he watched his foe already dashing toward him, but suddenly he froze and did not move to respond. The demonspawn mimicked the man’s first attack, sliding to its right at close range and then punching with tremendous speed. Its golden eyes blinked in confusion as Abaddon’s body vanished, leaving a fading afterimage. The clawed arm slammed into the tree and sank deep into the trunk. The creature realized that it was caught, and began struggling violently to free itself.
Abaddon stood behind it and watched its struggles. He stepped forward and placed a hand on the shoulder of its still-free arm. “Stuck, are you?” he asked maliciously. “Allow me.” In a smooth motion the Dual Blade ripped through the creature’s shoulder, and the embedded arm fell limply against the side of the tree. The demonspawn screamed again, then turned and swung its remaining arm at the man’s head.
Just before the bladed knuckles came into contact with his face, Abaddon’s hand seized the wiry wrist. Again the Dual Blade flashed, and the creature’s remaining arm and wing fell to the ground. It realized that it was in dire peril and started to back away from its foe. It bumped into the tree behind it and looked around frantically, trying to determine where to run.
Abaddon split the Dual Blade into twin swords and stretched one out on each side of his opponent. “You’re unarmed, in every sense of the word.” He turned the swords down and implanted them into the demonspawn’s feet, nailing them to the ground. “Now you’re going to pay for taking a bite out of me.”
Monstrous cries could be heard deep throughout the forest, carried by the soft wind. Soon the screams faded, and only a dull thud could be heard reverberating through the trees. Finally, that ceased as well.
Abaddon stood breathing heavily, staring at the body he had beaten into an unrecognizable pulp. His arms were soaked with blood up to his shoulders, and scraps of reptilian skin clung to his clothing. He straightened his back and relaxed slightly, combining his swords and returning the Blade to its sheath. “I feel a bit better now,” he said softly to himself.
He recalled the mystery he had uncovered, and wandered back to the exposed abyss. Now that he had time for closer inspection, he realized that it was an underground tunnel with a powerful darkness spell cast over it. He gathered fresh ether into his body, then slipped into the opening.
* * * * *
Cildar and Myris walked through the courtyard that ran between Dictus and Emle properties as the afternoon sun warmed the cold earth. Cildar was required to perform extensive rounds as part of his Dragoon duties, and Myris had long ago made a habit of accompanying him for conversation. Though as of late, the Cainite seemed to have little to say.
The paladin kicked a loose pebble in front of him and tried to start up a dialog. “Any news on Atheme’s condition?”
“Still unchanged,” the dark man responded.
“Hard to be surprised,” he replied with a nod. “I worked with Lord Aveni for a few hours last night. We were having a hard time isolating exactly what he’s been exposed to. It seems to be some sort of compounded virus, attacking various systems at once.”
“Hm.”
Cildar sighed and gave up. They continued to march, scanning over the Dictus property and working their way from the Senate building in the north down to the Chamber Vesovia. An hour later, he tried again.
“You’ve been in terrible spirits for some time now. What’s going on?”
Myris stopped walking, so his friend also stopped and stared at him. He could hear the Cainite breathing shallowly with his head hung, and it seemed the man was about to say something.
This was cut short by a sudden call from Abaddon. “Cildar, Myris.” The two turned to see the large man approaching from the south, covered from head to toe in black blood.
“Holy lords,” Cildar exclaimed. “What in Pecoros’ name have you been doing?”
He wiped blood from around his eyes and spat. “I found a secret cave. It’s guarded by a few monsters, so I had to fight my way through.”
“Why do I get the impression that our definitions of ‘a few monsters’ do not match up?” Myris asked.
“Not important. There’s a powerful rune structure deep in the cavern. I can’t break it. I need someone’s help. With Atheme injured, you two are the strongest warriors I know with a comprehension of magic.”
The paladin scratched his head. “This is an odd request, milord. You’re asking us to go to the bottom of a cave inhabited with demonspawn and try to break a rune structure that we know nothing about?”
Abaddon stared at him evenly. “Will you help me or not?”
Myris shuffled forward. “What do you expect to accomplish by this course?”
He stared at the shorter man for a moment, then said, “There’s a powerful rune structure in an underground cave outside of our city. It’s clearly sealing something powerful. The way I see it, there are two possibilities here—either it’s a weapon and could help us in our battle against Revian, or it’s a demonspawn of tremendous power, in which case it should not be so close to Felthespar’s borders and we need to kill it. So once again, will you help me or not?”
Myris stared quizzically for a moment longer, then turned and looked at Cildar. “Good enough for me. You in?”
The tall man sighed. “I’ll come along. But we’re going to need someone with a deeper understanding of runes. Let me take a look at your wounds before we do anything.” He ran some healing spells over Abaddon, but found most of the damage was only superficial. While he was working he suggested, “Kinguin is our most prominent runemaster.”
Myris chimed in, “No!” with surprising fervor. He then continued calmly, “He does not appreciate being bothered and is unlikely to be lured from the Tower. We should instead enlist Relm. She is his student, but would prove less of a nuisance than Kinguin.”
Cildar raised an eyebrow. “You and Kinguin still aren’t getting along, huh?”
He ruffled his shoulders and looked away. “I am simply trying to ensure our best chance for success. I believe that is with Relm, not Kinguin.”
Ab
addon nodded and stepped away from the paladin. “I agree. Let’s go to the Church. I’m sure Relm is still in the infirmary.”
The two dark figures headed east as Cildar stood shaking his head. “Something strange is going on here. I know I associate myself with odd men, but this is a bit much even for these two.” He rubbed his chin for a moment, then muttered, “I wish Atheme was awake,” before moving to follow his friends.
Chapter 21.
Sealed Cave
There was a flash of light as the Trine Lance decapitated yet another of the cave’s ogres. Cildar felt it must have been his hundredth kill. He and Abaddon stayed close to Relm, protecting her from the hordes of monsters that harassed them. The light of the Trine Lance dissuaded many of the weaker creatures, but it was a small relief. Even with his knowledge of The Destroyer’s history, Cildar found it hard to believe any man had managed these odds by himself.
Myris scouted ahead, able to move through the ranks of the demonspawn as one of their own. The shadowy warrior had explained before that Cainites possessed the ability to masquerade as nightspawn, but seeing it in action Cildar found it unnerving.
There was a flash of crackling lightning up ahead. The group quickened their pace, Abaddon clearing the way with the twin swords of his Dual Blade. They shortly reached Myris, who stood with over two dozen slain enemies surrounding him.
“I have found what we seek,” he announced. “There is a large rune wall ahead. Come, through here.”
“Now that we know where we’re going,” Cildar interjected as the man started to move away, “what say you get back here and help the rest of us?”
Myris stopped and gave a bow. “Of course.” As he spoke a trace of fire ran along the Soul Scythe, and with a slash more demons fell to Cainite magic.