Finally, the three of them make it to the tunnel and rush inside, Vargus putting up a radiant shield behind them to keep the darkhounds from getting in.
Owyn practically collapses into my arms, his body marked by more than a dozen shallow wounds. His leg seems ready to give out and he is covered in sweat, his breaths coming in heavy, ragged gasps.
“Oh, Owyn,” I whisper, tears flowing freely down my cheeks. “Light almighty, I thought... I thought...”
“It’s alright,” he replies, offering a weak, half-smile. “We actually did it. We’re both okay.”
“Not yet, we didn’t,” Vargus says through gritted teeth. “The artifice has been created, true, but we still need to set it off.”
The tunnel grows quiet, the weight of his words sinking in. Outside, a sea of darkhounds has completely filled the chamber and the bodies of the mages and poor Vas are being devoured like carrion. Through the shield, we can see that the crystal still radiates red light, the magical energies swirling within its surface like a storm.
“Sira,” I call, looking back. “Can you still channel?”
She runs her fingers through her frizzy hair and nods. “I think so, yes.”
“Good.” An idea begins to form in my mind, a way for us to set off the bomb without having to leave the safety of the tunnel. “Magister Vargus will drop the shield. When he does, be ready with a spell to push back the darkhounds trying to get in. I’ll shoot a radiant beam at the crystal, and then Vargus will bring the shield back up. Understood?”
Around me, everyone nods.
“Alright.” I help Owyn to his feet and gingerly lean him against the wall of the tunnel. Then, I ready my talisman and turn to face the main chamber. A dozen darkhounds at least attempt to claw through the radiant shield, raking their claws against the force field and gnashing their teeth in frustration.
Setting my teeth against the pain in my head, I begin to pull in source energy. Sira does the same. “On three. One... two... three!”
Vargus drops the shield and a split second later, Sira emits a blast of energy from her open palm, scattering the demons back like leaves on the wind.
“Pajn taflegryn tân hud!”
A beam of white light blasts from my fingertips, lancing through the air and striking the heart of the source crystal like a lightning bolt. Vargus recasts his radiant shield while at the same time a blinding flash consumes the whole mine. Many of those in the tunnel cry out and shield their eyes, but the flare only lasts an instant.
When the light fades, the source crystal remains unbroken, its red light still pulsing like a heartbeat.
“Eleven Hells,” Vargus curses, his face contorted in a mix of rage and exertion. “It didn’t work!”
“What are we going to do now?” Sira whimpers quietly by my side.
I begin to rack my brain. When I cast the spell before, I was able to set off the bomb by destroying the source crystal. The radiant beam should have worked. Then, with a queasy realization, I remember exactly what I did in order to get the spell to work.
“Sgrios,” I mutter, heart sinking.
“What was that?” Owyn asks gently, hand pressed against a wound on his side.
“The spell I used to set off the bomb last time,” I explain, suddenly feeling sick to my stomach. “It is a powerful breaking spell, but it requires physical touch.” I turn to look at him, the blood draining from my face. “Owyn, I think we need to go back out there to make this thing work.”
Understanding seems to enter Owyn’s green eyes, his expression faltering somewhat in light of this new information.
“Zara, no,” he pleads. His eyes widen as a look of disbelief crosses his face, “it’s suicide!” he looks from the crystal to me, as if searching for another way.
“Owyn!” I yell, catching his attention once more, “There’s no time. We are out of time,” My voice falters as what I’m saying sinks in, “This is the only way.”
“I see,” he mutters, meeting my gaze with characteristic ranger stoicism. “Well... we will do what we must. I’ll be with you every step of the way.”
“Sgrios is a dangerous spell,” Sira mentions. Her eyebrows are scrunched up with worry. “Not to mention the fact that there about a hundred darkhounds between us and the crystal. Getting there would be impossible!”
“Whatever you decide, decide fast,” Vargus grunts nearby. “I can’t hold this shield for much longer!”
Setting my jaw, I squeeze Owyn’s hand, and look deep into his eyes. “I love you more than life itself, Owyn. Being with you has brought me more joy than anything in the Conclave ever could. I want you to know that.”
“I love you, too, Zara,” he replies softly, the corner of his mouth tugging up into a small, sorrowful smile. “I’ll always love you. Forever.”
I lean in and kiss him passionately, pressing my lips against his and savoring every second. Then, fighting back the tears, I turn to face the mages, who are all regarding me with various levels of fear in their eyes.
Only a half dozen of my colleagues remain.
“My fellow mages,” I begin, speaking loudly enough for my voice to carry down the narrow passage. “We find ourselves faced with an impossible decision: in order for us to set off this bomb and complete our mission, we must go back out into that cavern and face the demons head on. If you do not want risk your lives any further, then continue down this tunnel and find a place to hide until it is all over. None of us will hold it against you. But, if you are willing to do what is necessary, then ready your talismans – we’re in for the fight of our lives.”
Quietly, one by one, every single mage pulls out their talisman, their faces resolute as they look back at me.
Good, I think to myself, feeling a swell of pride within my chest. Honorable mages, every one of them.
“Then let’s get out there,” I reply determinedly, readying my own talisman. “May the Light be with you all.”
Vargus, his face drenched in sweat, seems to be on the verge of collapse. His hand holding the shield shakes violently as he looks over his shoulder at us. “Alright... I’m going to drop the shield. Get ready!”
As a group, we all begin pulling in source energy, though in our weakened state, the act is extremely difficult. Yari and Kanik ready their spears, and Owyn, his quiver empty, pulls out his father’s hatchet. All three of them look like hardened warriors ready to do battle.
“I don’t think I have enough strength to cast shields on us and fight off the demons,” I mutter, looking over at Owyn worriedly.
He quirks a grin at me. “Don’t worry about that. The only thing you need to worry about it getting to that crystal.”
I rest a hand on his arm and smile at him, my heart swelling with love. Then, with a groan, Vargus releases his spell and slumps to the ground, the shimmering wall of radiance disappearing like mist.
There’s no more time to waste.
“Lùban lùth!” I unleash a blast of energy that pushes the darkhounds back, creating a small opportunity for us to push forward.
“Come on!” I shout, moving with Owyn and the two wastelanders out of the tunnel. “Let’s clear a path to the crystal!”
With yells and shouted spells, we race out into the main chamber, flinging radiant bolts and magefyre out at the wolflike demons and burning many of them to cinders. We surge forward with such intensity that for a moment, the darkhounds are too shocked to press the attack. They merely scramble backward as we rush toward them, weapons flashing and radiant magic blazing.
Within seconds, though, the element of surprise is gone.
The darkhounds, red eyes matching the glowing source crystal, swarm around us like a flood of jagged claws and teeth, their vicious attacks deadly as they try to overwhelm us.
Owyn, Yari and Kanik lead the way, deftly fighting off the beast with thrusts of their weapons, but behind us, some of the mages are picked off.
Alvin and Thea are the first to go, darkhounds leaping on them from behind and
sinking their teeth into their unprotected backs. Their screams blend in with the cacophony of growls filling the cavern, adding to the chaotic noise that reverberates off the stone walls.
“Fos lasair!” Magefyre springs forth from my fingertips, blasting a whole group of the demons and setting their fur aflame.
We’re almost there! I think to myself, my breaths coming in great, heaving gasps. Just a little further!
Kanik goes down ahead of me, a darkhound tearing out his throat, and behind, Paulus’ agonized screams indicate that he, too has been brought down. It seems that everywhere I look, there are glistening fangs waiting to devour me, an unstoppable tide of snarling hunger churning just beyond reach.
Suddenly, my skin begins to shimmer with wonderous light, a radiant shield wrapping around me like translucent armor. I glance over my shoulder to see Sira right behind me, her hand outstretched.
“Go, Zara!” She yells, just as a darkhound tackles her to the ground. “Keep going–”
Her voice is cut short as the creature begins ripping into her.
I turn back and begin sprinting, ignoring the savage attacks of the darkhounds that now bounce harmlessly off my radiant shield. When we finally reach the pillar of source crystal, though, there are more than a dozen darkhounds waiting for us.
Owyn and Yari throw themselves at them, fighting like demons themselves as they clear a path for me to get through. In fact, even with his injuries, I have never seen Owyn fight with such skill in all the time I’ve known him. He weaves and he dodges, lashing out with deadly precision at any darkhound that gets too close.
Several of the beasts come after me, swiping with their claws and howling when their attacks have no effect. Then, as if trying to prevent me from reaching the crystal altogether, they leap in front of me and form a barrier with their bodies, snapping at my arms and legs uselessly with their jaws.
My vision begins to go black, the sheer exhaustion of using so much magic finally catching up to me. My knees go weak, and thought of using even one more spell sounds completely and utterly impossible.
“Owyn!” I manage to scream, my voice ragged and hoarse. “Owyn! I need you!”
Like a whirlwind, he is by my side, fighting off the darkhounds with violent strikes of his hatchet. He kicks and he chops, opening gaping wounds in the demons and opening a narrow path to the crystal.
“Hurry!” He screams, grabbing my shoulder and forcibly pushing me through.
I stagger through the gap, crashing hard against the wall of the source crystal, then quickly turn to help Owyn, talisman squeezed tightly in my hand.
However, by the time I turn around, he has been completely surrounded by darkhounds. Yari is no longer visible, and every single mage that had left the tunnel with us is now gone, taken down and ripped to shreds by the insatiable demons.
For the barest instant, Owyn’s eyes meet mine, the love and the passion and the friendship that we have ever felt together forming a connection more powerful than the one I had felt with the source crystal. He smiles, the corner of his mouth going up into the half-grin that I have come to love, and then he nods, as if giving me permission to continue on without him.
Then, in a flurry of black fur and bloodstained teeth, he disappears from view, the darkhounds swarming over him.
Tears spring from my eyes and I let out a shuddering sob. “Owyn... no...”
My very world begins to crumble down around me.
As the radiant shield fades from existence and the darkhounds turn from feasting on my husband to regard me with wet, hungry growls, a small voice seems to whisper to the deepest part of my soul.
It is over now. It is almost time to rest. Do what you have come here to do, and all will be well.
Despite everything – the death and the wonton destruction of all that I hold dear – a strange feeling washes over me and time seems to stand still. It feels like the Light itself is embracing me, comforting me, granting me a small measure of peace in my darkest hour. It strengthens me where I stand and seems to grant me the ability to breathe once again.
Do what you have come here to do, it seems to say to me.
I place my open palm against the crystal as they darkhounds close in, the warmth of the strange power still embracing me. Then, with my head held high, I pull in source energy and speak a single word:
“Sgrios.”
Chapter Thirty-Five
Elias
The Prince of Darkness thrusts his black sword into the air and lets out a bestial roar. The hundreds of surrounding demons echo the cry, filling the entire city with a cacophony of shrieks and animal howls.
I tighten my grip on Light’s Edge as the soldiers around me shift nervously.
“Do not give into fear,” I growl, my words practically lost in the terrible noise. “Fear is what they want.”
Lowering his sword, Asmodeus waits until the shouting dies down, red eyes cruel as he gazes out over the Conclave. When silence once again settles over the district, he opens his fanged mouth to address us, voice booming by some dark magic. “Honestly, I expected more from you humans. I’ve butchered cattle more fearsome than you.”
Many of the gorgons surrounding him laugh maniacally.
The demon prince continues. “Today is a rare day. I feel unusually compassionate. Throw down your weapons and submit yourselves to our might, and we will grant unto you the mercy of the R’Laar. Your men will be given quick deaths and your women and children will be taken slave so that they may serve a higher purpose.” His lip curls into a wicked smile as he sweeps his gaze over the human host, eyes blazing. “If, however, you decide to fight, then we will commence with the slaughter. Every single one of you will die, and the streets of this city will run red with your blood.”
His words echo through the Conclave, and the silence that follows is deafening. Around me, soldiers shift uncomfortably where they stand, leather creaking and chainmail jingling.
I glance over my shoulder at the people gathered behind me. Nightingales, knights, rangers, militiamen, and civilians of every walk of life cluster together in the wide central courtyard of the Conclave. Blue-robed mages stand in the midst of the people and atop the ring of towers surrounding us, their faces ranging from grim to resigned.
Even so, not a single person cries out. Nobody begs for mercy or takes Asmodeus up on his offer. Every sword, bow, mace and spear remains firmly in the grasp of the people carrying them.
Turning back, I set my jaw and step forward, facing the enormous demon with the Grandmaster’s Sword in hand.
“What is this?” Asmodeus scoffs, looking down at me as I approach. “A king?”
“Not a king,” I reply, raising my voice for all to hear. “Just a protector.”
Asmodeus chuckles, a harsh, rumbling sound. “A protector, you say? Tell me, protector – how well have you protected your people?”
I do not reply, merely hold his glowing, hateful gaze.
The demon prince continues. “Your city lies in ruins and your army is in tatters. Your very civilization lies on the verge of collapse, and yet you dare stand before me? The stupidity of your race never ceases to astound me. You should be groveling at my feet, begging for me to spare you.”
Forcing away the fear, I plaster on a small, grim smile. “There will be no groveling today, demon. You’ll find the people of Tarsynium quite unwilling to break.”
“Everything breaks,” Asmodeus replies with a sneer. “It only requires the right amount of force.” He hefts his mighty sword and take a step forward. His footfalls seem to crack the cobbles beneath them.
I fall into a fighting stance, bringing up Light’s Edge. “We will sacrifice everything, even our very lives, for the defense of the kingdom,” I say, quoting the Ranger’s Oath. Somehow, its words seem strangely fitting in this final hour. “We are the watchers in the woods, the arrows in the darkness. None shall pass by while we stand guard.”
Asmodeus grins, a terrible, toothy smile. “As you wish, then. I
will cut you down before the remains of your petty kingdom. Then, I will command my legions to attack. No mercy shall be given.” With that, he strides forward, the tip of his black sword leading the way.
“So it ends,” I mutter, stepping onto the diving street to meet him.
As I approach, the demon prince raises his sword to strike, his midnight armor grinding with the sudden movement. Then, the blade comes down with the force of a thunderbolt, connecting with Light’s edge with a terrible clash. My arm vibrates from the power of the blow, and I am forced to stagger back to avoid being skewered by a follow-up attack.
The eyes of thousands weigh upon me – fear-filled eyes from the humans and glowing, red eyes from the demons. All seem entranced by the deadly dance between me and the Prince of Darkness.
Circling the great demon, I strike out a testing blow. He blocks it easily, wielding the massive sword as if it weighs nothing at all. The counterstrike comes incredibly fast, and again, I am forced to back away to avoid being killed.
The demon hosts crowding the side of the street begin to jeer and call out in their tongue, a terrible noise that reverberates off the stones. I do my best to ignore them, embracing the cold void that I learned to command when I was an apprentice ranger.
You are one with the sword, I think to myself, tuning everything else out. Don’t think. Simply act.
Asmodeus charges and I dodge, slipping beyond the reach of his blade and lashing out with my own. Light’s Edge clips the armor on his thigh and sends down a shower of sparks, prompting many of my own troops to cheer.
Growling, the Prince wheels around, spinning quicker than should be possible. He gives a mighty swing of his sword which I am forced to block, and my weapon is nearly ripped out of my hands.
Eleven Hells, he’s strong! The shock of the blow sends pain shooting up my arm, but somehow I manage to hold on. Light, hear my prayer. Our last chance is to kill this creature – grant me one last miracle.
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