Fighter

by Isaac Hooke

  Euryale approached. She went to the pegasus. The animal balked, stepping back, but Malem ordered it to stand its ground. He sent soothing vibes to Lantos, knowing that he was betraying the animal.

  I’m going to abandon the poor animal. But I have no choice. For Gwen.

  “Look at that, you’re not even afraid!” Euryale told the pegasus. “Little horsy, you’re not afraid! You’re so brave!”

  And she caressed its flanks. Malem half expected it to turn to stone. He hadn’t been sure whether Euryale had told the truth about the animal, and wondered if she wanted the pegasus for more nefarious reasons.

  But it didn’t turn to stone.

  “Come on, little pony,” Euryale said. “Come on.”

  She grabbed the animal by the chin, and led it forward. It resisted her at first, snorting in protest. It held its head and tail high.

  Malem prodded it forward with his mind. It issued one last snort, flexing its wings and knocking down nearby statues, but then followed.

  She led it toward the entrance. Malem glanced urgently at the sun. It was almost past the horizon. Another minute, maybe two…

  “That’s far enough,” he called. “Restore Gwen, or suffer the consequences.”

  “I told you, you came too late,” Euryale said over her shoulder. “She’s lost.”

  “Nonetheless, you will try,” Malem said.

  “Fuck off!” Euryale said, continuing toward the doorway.

  Malem nodded at Aurora.

  She raised her hands, and summoned three mini-Balors, directly in front of Euryale.

  The Gorgon cast her gaze upon the creatures, and the demons immediately began turning to stone. But they approached her menacingly nonetheless, and swatted with their weapons. She was forced to back away, abandoning the pegasus. She retreated, but bad luck brought her into the line of sight of the mob spider. Grinning maliciously, she released threads of greenish-black magic, and struck the spider.

  Malem’s vision abruptly snapped back inside of himself, and he felt that familiar boomerang that came with losing a monster bound to him. He slumped, drained of energy. He glanced in the direction of the spider, which was crouched behind Zach’s body, and saw that it had turned to stone. Those arachnids that weren’t on its back were scrambling away in random directions.

  Euryale cackled; her voice rose in volume, so he knew she was approaching.

  Scatter! Malem ordered.

  They were fighting blind, now. He had to assume that the three mini-Balors were out there, flushing her toward them, but they wouldn’t be in the game for very long.

  How are we supposed to kill something we can’t even look at! Aurora said. Or hear?

  Can you access the vision of your demons? Malem asked.

  What? Aurora replied. No. Wish I could!

  But then Malem realized he had another beast he could use to look at the Gorgon. One that was immune to her power.

  Dummy!

  He tapped into the pegasus’ eyes, and instantly the scene became clear before him.

  Sylfi and Brita had retrieved their bows from their saddles, and were fully clothed; they stepped from cover to release experimental shots in the direction of the gorgon. They kept their eyes closed.

  They lined up their shots and scored hits. However, that attracted the attention of the gorgon, and Euryale sent her spirals of deadly magic at them. The two dodged behind the stone bodies of nearby monsters, escaping the magic.

  The gorgon rapidly sped toward their positions.

  But then Wendolin grew branches from the fletchings still embedded in the gorgon’s body, and formed a cage. This time, Euryale didn’t turn that cage to stone, and attempt to tear through it with her hands and jaws.

  But Wendolin kept growing those branches in profusion, until Euryale was firmly bound.

  “Now then, you are mine again,” Malem said. “Restore Gwen, as you promised.”

  He glanced at the sun. It had just crested the horizon. Was he really too late?

  Euryale sighed. “Bring her to me.”

  Aurora, another mini-Balor… he sent, since the other three had already turned to stone.

  She summoned a demon in front of the fountain, and it grabbed the statue of Gwen and lifted it over one arm. The demon approached Euryale, guided by Aurora, and kept its gaze averted.

  “It can look at me,” the Gorgon said. “I won’t turn it to stone.”

  Don’t trust her, Malem said.

  Don’t intend to, Aurora agreed.

  The min-Balor arrived, and deposited Gwen in front of her. Gwen was still crouching of course, so it looked like she was bowed before the Gorgon.

  Euryale reached out, between her plant binds, and laid a hand upon Gwen’s head.

  The stone coloration began to leave Gwen’s form, starting with the boots, rising up the dragonscale leggings, then the chest, down her arms, her hands, and finally toward the head. Stone flesh became light green. And when her hair had returned to its natural coloration, the Gorgon quickly removed its hand.

  Euryale’s skin had taken on a darker shade of gray as she absorbed the stone, her form apparently further solidifying. He sensed pain from the creature, and when Euryale withdrew her arm, her movements were slow, jerky.

  “It’s done,” the Gorgon said.

  He felt Gwen in his head again.

  She raised her head in confusion. Man, I’m stiff. What happened?

  Get back, quickly! Malem said.

  Gwen leaped to her feet and started when she saw the woman with the snakes for hair bound before her. Gwen turned around and ran between the statues until she spotted him, and ducked for cover.

  “What happened?” she repeated. “One moment I’m firing my bow, and then ducking to avoid the Gorgon’s return magic, and the next thing I know I’m standing in front of the creature!”

  “Long story,” he told her. Tears welled in his eyes. “Just know that I’m so happy to see you.” He gave her a hug.

  She patted him in confusion. “Thanks.”

  “You died,” Xaxia said from beside him.

  “Oh,” Gwen said, pulling away. “Sorry about that.”

  Malem shrugged. “It happens. Now quickly, let’s get inside the keep. We have a portal to enter.” He glanced at Aurora. “Place the mini-Balor directly in front of Euryale. Block the keep from her vision.”

  Aurora nodded. “It’s done. She won’t see us.”

  “Let me go!” Euryale cried.

  Malem ignored her. He glanced at his companions. “Are you ready?”

  “Should we bring the saddles?” Weyanna asked.

  “No,” Malem replied. “Too bulky. I’m hopeful there won’t be any more resistance inside the keep, but we might not be out of the woods yet. Plus, I’m not sure how big the portal is. The saddles might not fit. We’ll just bring along the harnesses we need to secure ourselves. And stow your clothes in our backpacks.”

  Taking care to stay out of the Gorgon’s line of sight, he went to Sylfi's saddlebag and retrieved the harnesses in question, and shoved them into his pack. The other riders did the same. He also stowed some spare clothing for Sylfi, just in case.

  He went to Lantos, and directed the pegasus toward the keep. Its footfalls clopped loudly on the stone below.

  “My pegasus!” Euryale wailed. “You’re taking my pegasus!”

  “She just turned my demon to stone,” Aurora said.

  Malem nodded. He switched to the viewpoint of the pegasus, and had the animal look back. He confirmed that the stone form of the mini-Balor still blocked him and the others from sight. He instructed the animal to keep looking back, and to alert him if it spotted streams of green-black magic coming their way. He didn’t want to risk looking back himself, in case he should accidentally catch sight of the creature. Aurora could be wrong about the stone demon’s alignment, after all.

  The party reached the keep and quickly rushed inside. They hurried down the stone corridors, heading toward where the mob spider had ea
rlier reported the portal.

  Lantos’ hooves continued to make loud clip-clops.

  “You got a new friend, I see,” Gwen said, nodding at the pegasus.

  “I did indeed,” Malem agreed.

  “So when are you going to update me on what happened?” she asked.

  Malem did so.

  “Sorry,” she said. “You went through a lot of work for me.”

  “And I’d do it again, in a heartbeat,” Malem said. He glanced at the others. “For any of you.” He nodded at Lantos. “Besides, like you said, I acquired a new friend along the way.”

  “What are we going to do about Euryale?” Wendolin asked.

  “Leave her as she is,” Malem said. “I’m sure she’ll chew her way out eventually.”

  Wendolin nodded. “You can be cruel sometimes.”

  “When I face somebody who would hurt those close to me, yes I can,” Malem agreed.

  Grendel and Weyanna led the way, ready to strike in case they encountered more of Euryale’s minions, but the companions met no resistance.

  They turned onto the final corridor that led to the chamber containing the light portal. Ahead, the light was nearly blinding, and Malem squinted, shielding his eyes.

  He and the others approached warily. Beside him, Lantos snorted nervously. Malem fed the animal calming vibes.

  The portal was about the size of a man, though about three times as wide.

  “Looks like the saddles would have fit after all,” Brita commented.

  “We’re not going back for them now,” Malem said.

  “So what do we do?” Xaxia asked. “Just step through?”

  “That’s right,” Grendel said.

  And so, the party members entered one by one, led by Grendel.

  When Malem’s turn came, he stepped through with Lantos—it was big enough to fit them both. He was surrounded by warmth, and his vision filled with light so bright that he could no longer see the pegasus, or anything else but that all-encompassing glow. Though the radiance consumed all, it didn’t hurt his eyes, not in the least.

  And when it faded, he was in a new land entirely.

  20

  Malem stood at the top of a rise. Ahead of him was a bright valley filled with emerald trees whose branches sparkled with silver and gold fruit. A river ran through it, sourced from a bright, golden waterfall that fell from another rise nearby, the spray creating a picturesque rainbow. The rise itself sparkled silver and platinum beneath the brilliant sun. Just as with the glow from a moment before, he found that he could look at that sun without hurting his eyes, which was odd for someone like him, whose eyes were optimized for the night.

  He glanced behind, searching for the portal back, but there was only forest behind him. As the remaining companions entered, they appeared in random positions, slightly offset around him.

  He glanced at Grendel. “Did you know the portal was one way?”

  She nodded.

  “Now you tell us,” Xaxia said.

  “I assumed you knew,” Grendel said. “Sorry.”

  Gwen was staring at the valley ahead of her. “You guys tell me I died… but if that’s true, why don’t I remember coming to a land like this? This is the real paradise! Who cares if we can’t go back? Let’s stay here!”

  “All that glitters is not gold,” Wendolin said.

  “What’s that supposed to mean?” Xaxia said. “Of course if gold glitters, it’s going to be gold!”

  “It means don’t always trust your eyes,” Wendolin said. “Fool’s gold glitters just as well as real gold. It also means: don’t drop your guard. You’re in no less danger in this realm than you were in the Black Realm.”

  “She’s right,” Grendel said. “There are monsters here to rival any you will find in the Black Realm. And we are not safe even from the Paragons. They are beings of light, yes. Creatures of balance. But that does not mean they are inherently good. Like men, and even Balors, their personalities run the gamut from good to evil. Some Paragons can be so very cruel. Others benevolent.”

  There were trees on the rise, and Timlir was standing beneath one of them. He leaned against the bark to adjust one of his boots, and started as a flock of songbirds launched from the branches above in profusion. He unlooped his ax from his belt, and gazed nervously into the branches.

  “So, I am in the land where my power is sourced,” Grendel said. “Finally. I never thought my travels would ever take me to this place.”

  “How does it feel?” Malem asked.

  “Like I’ve completed a long journey, and finally come to its end,” Grendel said.

  “Yet our journey is only beginning,” he said.

  “So it is,” she agreed. She gave him a sad glance that reminded him of their conversation the night before, as if to say: “Our journey is only beginning, yes, but it will come to an end all too soon, and we must be parted.”

  Lantos pressed against Malem, reminding him of the animal’s presence, and he patted the creature’s flank reassuringly. He sensed tranquility coming from the animal. Lantos was completely relaxed in this environment. For the moment.

  The sight of the waterfalls below reminded Malem he would have to bathe, soon. Hang out with horses too often, even one as beautiful as Lantos, and you began to smell like them. Not even pegasi were free of the stench.

  But now was not the time for bathing.

  “Earlier, you mentioned there were creatures here called Trabeculae,” Malem asked Grendel. “Capable of tracking the Dark. Where can we find one?”

  “I’m not actually sure,” Grendel replied.

  Aurora threw up her arms. “We come all this way, and now you tell us this?”

  Grendel glanced at Malem. “You would have come regardless, am I right?”

  Malem nodded. “I would have.”

  “I can tell you what they look like,” she said. “They are humanoid in shape, though their skin is like that of an insect: an exoskeleton, black and hard. They have long muzzles containing proboscises, and large, insectile eyes.”

  “Sound like big beetles,” Xaxia said.

  “Essentially,” she said. “Except they can’t fly. They are gregarious nomads, and live together in temporary dwellings made from mud and saliva.”

  “Yuck,” Gwen said. “I’m liking these creatures less and less.”

  “So you have no idea where to find them?” Malem asked.

  Grendel gazed out across the valley. “Maybe on the plains beyond the vale?”

  “What plains?” Malem gazed past the edge of the vale, and spotted the rolling grassland beyond. “Never mind.”

  “So wait, once we find them, how are we going to get them to help us?” Sylfi glanced at Grendel. “You said they were intelligent creatures. I assume that means you can speak their language?”

  “Those who came to our realm spoke common,” Grendel said. “So I’m hopeful the language hasn’t died off among them.”

  “We’ll have to wing it,” Malem said. “As always. All right, Metals, transform. Let’s explore this new world, and find ourselves some Trabeculae.”

  The dragons changed.

  “Timlir, you’ll ride Sylfi with Grendel.” Malem tossed the dwarf the harness necessary to secure himself to the dragon and Grendel.

  “Finally,” Timlir said, hefting the gear. “I get a permanent mount.”

  “I’m not your mount,” Sylfi said. “You’re my package.”

  Timlir shrugged. “Semantics.”

  Sylfi undressed, and Malem shielded her from the others with his body. He held his gaze averted, keeping a watchful eye on Timlir, who was on his best behavior. A moment later Sylfi towered over him in chromium form, crowding against the nearby trees and cliff. Malem scooped her clothes off the ground and shoved them into his backpack.

  A few moments later, the party was flying across the vale. Malem led the way atop Lantos—he’d modified a spare harness formerly used to secure himself to the dragons, and instead repurposed it to the pegasus.
He was confident now that he wouldn’t fall off the animal if he needed to do any aerobatic maneuvers.

  He didn’t see any beasts in the valley below, other than avians, but that was probably because the abundant vegetation concealed them. He did, in fact, sense a variety of energy bundles beneath the foliage, some far too big to belong to birds. At one point, he caught a glimpse of the owner of one of the bigger energies when massive, reptilian jaws snapped up through the trees and crunched down upon a particularly big avian; he didn’t actually see the creature connected to those jaws, however.

  The valley fell away, replaced by the verdant plain. Its greenery stretched as far as the eye could see in the forward direction.

  You know, I wish our world looked like this, Gwen said.

  It does, in places, Wendolin said. It used to be like this everywhere. Before man came.

  That’s right, blame men, Malem said.

  I meant humans, of course, Wendolin said.

  So did I, Malem said.

  He sensed hesitation from her energy bundle.

  Oh, she sent. Well, I suppose the Balors are also responsible. They unleashed many monsters from the Black Realm into our world. I’m surprised the Paragons allowed it. Though I suppose in their twisted world view, the Paragons considered the monsters, and you men, a balance to us elves.

  I wonder where the Paragons are, Gwen said.

  Malem did as well. You know, Banvil once told me there were many sub-realms in the Black Realm. And that the Balors hadn’t interacted in years because of that. I never really saw any evidence of it. But I wonder if the same is true here in the Light Realm.

  Hmm, Wendolin said. It’s possible. But I think Banvil was probably trying to deceive you. Though I admit, there are sub-realms in our own world. We tree elves live within one.

  Probably, Malem agreed. So you don’t think the Paragons are dispersed inside sub-realms of this one?

  Again, I don’t really know, Wendolin said. If Grendel were linked with us, I doubt she would know the answer, either.

  As usual, Lantos was able to hold its own with the Metals, without Grendel having to grant a buff. Malem maintained a moderate pace, not wanting to exhaust the animal too early.