I failed them all.
He tumbled to the ground; tears streaming down his face.
A streak of black darted from the shadows, and Andromeda leaped at the fiendish dreadknight, her fangs bared for a deadly strike. She landed on the black pauldron of the vile creature, biting down at the dreadknight's neck and tearing at its armor with her razor claws. It hardly noticed. With terrifying power, the dreadknight reached up and tore Andromeda off, throwing her down to the unforgiving ground with a sickening crack of bones. She let out a wail and rolled on the ground in agony. The dreadknight’s eyes flared, and it raised its dark greatsword above its head, ready to deliver the final blow.
Suddenly, a great light filled Ro’s vision, and he fell back, covering his eyes. The light dimmed, and he looked across the room, bewildered. Standing in front of the dreadknight, shining sword in hand, was a beautiful woman, the likes of whom he'd never seen. A long, black braid cascaded over her shoulders, and chains of gold and emeralds glimmered against her alluring figure. A long black skirt with orange streaks flowed out behind her like the graceful wing of a butterfly. An aura of brilliant light shone about her, overwhelming the dreadknight’s dark shadow.
With a swing of her sword, the woman sent out a beam of purifying light, disintegrating all the cultists and undead in a dazzling flash of radiance. The woman turned to the hulking dreadknight, and she raised her sword up high to match the black greatsword of the abomination. The dreadknight shot forward, its shadowy sword cutting through the air. With a graceful tuck, the woman dodged the devastating slice, landing gently upon her feet. Without hesitation, she leaped up at the armored terror, swinging her radiant sword of light.
Two emerald eyes formed in Ro’s mind, and a delicate yet commanding voice entered his thoughts, driving away all anguish and despair.
Now is not the time for you to die Beacon! Go forth and embrace your salvation, go forth and fulfill your destiny! Drive back the legions of Shadow, bring back the long-forgotten Light, and renew the balance of the realm! Now go, save the lands of Ansalon!
Ro’s mind muddled, and his body grew weary. He felt himself being lifted into the air, his pain ebbing away. Renewed energy coursed through his veins, as if he had just awoken from a long, restful slumber. As his eyes slid shut, the brilliant scene around him, from the prison to the dreadknight to the beautiful woman, seemed to break apart into millions of black butterflies.
Is this what it is to die?
Then came a blinding flash of light, and everything went black.
Chapter 2
The cold ground pressed into Andromeda’s back. Her eyes were shut, and her mind raged against hazy thoughts.
What happened?
She remembered the explosion that rocked the stone prison, and the frantic, bleeding soldier that rushed into the building, entrusting the iron key to Ro. She remembered the soldier shout about the Flame and the Shadow before rushing outside into the onslaught.
What else? He said something else. What was it?
The memories started flying back to her, as if she was unlocking new doors within her mind. The fiery explosion, the horde of undead, it all came soaring back. She remembered. The musical crunching of bones, the whistling slash of her claws. She remembered. The wall of flame dying down, the cloaked cultists rushing in, overwhelming Ro and the others. She remembered pouncing at the dark cultist, dragging him off Ro’s back. The sweet taste of blood filling her mouth. She remembered.
But there was more.
Suddenly she saw the two icy-blue chasms of fiery death flicker to life within her mind. The memory came crashing over her like a surging tsunami, washing her away with a wave of terror.
No! What was that … monster? I couldn’t fight it. I wasn’t powerful enough.
The two, dreadful blue eyes grew within her mind, filling her thoughts with a deathly chill.
She remembered.
Leaping at the hulking, armored figure. Futility raking her claws across the impenetrable armor.
She remembered.
The searing agony of her arm as it shattered against the ground, and the imminent sense of oblivion as the black greatsword descended upon her.
A sharp cry of despair escaped Andromeda’s lips, and the memories of the battle against the undead abomination haunted her thoughts. She clutched at her arm and felt … nothing. No searing pain, no crippling anguish sending her into a daze. Nothing. It was as if some divine power had mended her broken body.
The final memory returned with a burst of clarity. The blinding flash of light. The dazzling woman standing among the shadows, a dark braid cascading down her back. She remembered the woman’s shimmering sword, its razor edge shining with a bloodthirsty light. The woman dashing through the prison, mercilessly slaughtering any who stood before her. The woman casting a mighty ball of swirling energy at the dreadknight, before leaping upon the terror and slicing it apart with devastating slashes of her sword. She remembered two emerald eyes boring into her. The delicate voice filling her mind with a soothing determination. The shattering of the world into countless black butterflies.
She remembered.
The Light.
The Shadow.
The Beacon.
With a gasp of breath, Andromeda sat up, her eyes shooting open.
Who was that woman? Such delicate beauty, yet such immense … power.
Her eyes gleamed dangerously.
If only …
Shaking her head, she cleared herself of the thoughts, and tried to gauge where she was.
Concentrating, Andromeda glanced around, taking in her surroundings. She was sitting inside the small clearing of a forest. However, the forest was dark and sinister, full of haunting shadows and unseen terrors of the night. Tall, black trees loomed all around her, their bare, twisting branches reaching up to claw the sky down. The sky was dim and shadowed, as if light had long ago forsaken its heavenly boughs. Her mind flashed back to the bloody soldier’s speech about the Shadow. There was no doubt where she was.
The other companions lay scattered about the clearing — Andromeda’s feline eyes had little trouble making out their dark forms laying in the shadows. As with Andromeda, all signs of injuries or battle had been erased from their bodies. Nalgene and SmibSmob no longer had the fatal gash across their chests. Margaret lay strewn across the ground peacefully, and Fasto lay beside her, an innocent smile spread wide across his face. Lastly, there was Ro, lost in a peaceful slumber. Andromeda sighed with relief.
But how did we get here?
Andromeda’s thoughts were interrupted by a deep growling from the dark woods, the thunderous grumbling of awakened beast. Cautiously, she stood up, her ears twitching. The guttural growling came again, closer. Andromeda whirled about, her eyes scanning across the trees. Nothing. All was silent. Suddenly, a shadow flickered through the trees, and Andromeda rushed around to meet it, her eyes opened wide.
Shambling towards her from the edge of the clearing was the nightmarish, twisted form of a bear. Two beady, black eyes shone out from its marred face. Tendons and rotten tissue hung from its figure in vile strips, and chunks of flesh were missing throughout its body. With one, final growl the undead bear charged toward Andromeda, its dead eyes shining for blood.
Horrified, Andromeda quickly retreated into the surrounding darkness, her body vanishing into the night, becoming nothing more than a passing shadow. Not even Ro’s sharp eyes would be able to detect her. She slithered across the ground like a lethal specter of death, silent as she approached the horrendous creature. A gentle breeze blew against her back, but she thought nothing of it. She had her target. As Andromeda prepared to pounce, her target’s head snapped over to her, its rotting nose twitching in the cool breeze. It could still smell. With a disturbing growl, it lunged at her.
Andromeda leaped back in alarm, barely dodging the razor-sharp claws of the beast.
Her stealth faded as she landed firmly on her hind legs, but with an explosion of strength, she sprun
g back at the target, her claws raking across its unholy face. Blood and pus spattered as Andromeda tore her target’s eye out. The dreadful creature hardly noticed. Its claws flashed, and the bear’s paw came crashing down upon Andromeda, who just managed to get her arm up and block the mighty attack. Her arm burned with pain, and she staggered back under the weight of the blow, her mind reeling with alarm.
How? I tore its face off!
Hissing with rage, Andromeda pounced back at the undead bear, her jaws wide in a vicious snarl. With a thud, she landed on the creature’s back, sinking her fangs deep into the beast. Bitter, tainted blood filled her mouth, choking her. Whirling around, the bear swatted her off, sending her crashing to the ground like a rag doll. The air rushed from her lungs as she slammed into the cold earth, and she struggled for breath in a desperate attempt to regain her composure.
Andromeda tried to get up, but the creature loomed over her, its remaining eye gleaming. She had to fade away, had to get away from the beast, but before she could escape, it slammed a paw down upon her chest, pinning her in place with its claws. Hissing with fury, Andromeda raked the rotting underside of the bear with her claws, tearing its black flesh.
She might as well have been trying to pet the beast, for all the good it did.
Burning pain jabbed into her chest as the bear’s claws dug deeper. Her vision grew blurry, and her thoughts turned back to the alluring woman and her tremendous power.
Suddenly, the bear was blasted off her, a jet of water sending it staggering back. Gasping for breath, Andromeda glanced up to see Nalgene standing in the clearing, his hard face boiling with rage.
“Aye now, ye beastie, I don’t be knowin’ what ye are, but listen up ye no-good-beardless-dwarf,” he growled. “Nobody hurts me pretty kitty like that, ye hear! Nobody!”
With a teasing smile Nalgene glanced down at Andromeda, and he tossed her what passed for a playful wink. “Ah I’m just pulling yer whiskers, ye durned cat. Ye ain’t me pretty kitty, that’d be pretty durned messed up, don’t ye think? Bwahahaha,” he roared with laughter. Andromeda could only stare.
What? Maybe that slash did some damage to his head …
After an awkward moment of silence, Nalgene grunted and hurried over to help Andromeda back to her feet.
“Much appreciated,” she said uneasily, standing up. “But take care, this ... thing —”
She was interrupted by the bear's growling, and the thundering charge of the undead beast. Frantic, Andromeda tackled Nalgene to the ground, pulling him away from the slashing claws.
“Aye now, what do ye think yer doin'?” Nalgene cried; his eyes wide with alarm. He tried to say something else, but it was lost as he crashed to the ground.
Ignoring Nalgene, Andromeda leaped back up, tensing her muscles and readying for a pounce.
This is mine.
With a thrust of her legs, she darted to her target’s side, raking her claws along its flank and sending blood shooting out in a dark fountain. Undeterred, the bear whirled about, its bulky arm already swinging for her delicate face.
An explosion of pain erupted as the rotting paw smashed into Andromeda’s face, sending her careening back, blood trickling down her mouth. Tearing her claws into the ground to regain her balance, she managed to stay on her feet. Her head pounding, and her chest burning, Andromeda licked her lips, letting the sweet taste of her own blood fill her mouth. Growling, she crouched, readying her muscles for another pounce, and faded into the shadows.
Before she could pounce, a brilliant lightning bolt streaked across the clearing, slamming into the side of the undead bear with a shining shower of sparks. A second one followed, and the vile creature was sent skidding backwards. Then a third, a fourth, and a fifth bolt of lightning crashed into the dreadful beast. Unable to resist the brilliant barrage, the bear went soaring back, only to crash into one of the black trees. Letting out one final growl, the undead bear fell to the ground, limp.
Andromeda’s eyes shot over and saw Ro standing unsteadily in the clearing, his eyes ablaze with horror and confusion.
“Ah, well at least someone else besides this durned cat is up, eh?” Nalgene said as he rose from the ground. “I was hoping for me brother, but ye’ll do just fine. Speaking of which, where is the durned cat? Probably turned tail and ran, eh?”
Looking around, a weak smile appeared on Ro’s face. “What was that … thing? And where are we? We were just in the prison, but now …” He trailed off and glanced around at the others still laying on the ground. “Well, at least everyone is safe, I suppose,” he sighed, his voice growing quiet and weak. “Some Beacon I would have been.”
Andromeda’s ears twitched with intrigue.
Some Beacon? Interesting. Does that mean he heard the soft voice too?
“Bwahahahaha,” Nalgene laughed, interrupting her thoughts. “Don’t ye be gettin’ too soft on me now, ye durned dragon. Yeah, we all be fine here. Just be takin' a little nap, be my guess. As for what that lil’ beastie was, well, I’d say ask the durned cat. But of course, the durned cat don’t seem to be …”
“Indeed, we are all fine,” Andromeda said dryly as she stepped out of the shadows, her tail twitching irritably. “As far as I can tell, the creature was some kind of undead bear. Seems there are more undead than just the ones we faced in prison.”
But where are all these undead coming from? So many questions, and no answers. It’s like trying to hunt invisible prey.
Not for the last time, Andromeda found herself thinking back to the alluring woman with the flowing braid and shining sword. Shaking her head to clear the thought, she turned back to her companions.
“Come here, ye durned cat,” Nalgene said, walking toward Andromeda. Tendrils of water began weaving through his plump fingers.
Andromeda’s eyes widened with alarm, but before she could do anything, Nalgene was next to her, his hands resting gently over her battered arm. A surge of icy water rushed over her, and her breath was blasted from her lungs from the sudden shock. Yet she did not struggle. Her fiery pain was washed away with the soothing water, and a jolt of energy filled her worn muscles. The bleeding holes in her chest closed, and her damaged arm mended itself. It was as if she had never been injured.
Nodding, Nalgene stepped back, satisfied.
Surprised, she fixed her gaze on the gnome. She flexed her mended arm, testing the muscles. There was no soreness, no stiffness. It was healed. “Much appreciated,” she said, giving Nalgene a grateful nod. Turning away, she glanced back to the rest of the companions, who still lay unconscious.
“Let’s wake the others, shall we?” she said with one eye locked on Ro. “I’m interested to see what they think.”
Nodding his head in agreement, Ro woke Margaret, gently shaking her out of her slumber. Nalgene rushed over to SmibSmob, an unusual anxiety shadowing his face. He placed his hands across SmibSmob’s chest, and a swirling rush of water surged from his hands, covering his brother in a cool blanket. As soon as the crystalline water covered SmibSmob, the gnome’s blue eyes opened, and he let out a soft cough.
Andromeda stalked over to Fasto, who was still smiling gleefully. Putting her hand on his shoulder, she shook him to his senses. Fasto’s eyes shot open, terror swirling in their depths. The orc tried to run, tried to escape, but Andromeda pinned him firmly to the ground. Fasto’s mouth opened to scream, but Andromeda clamped her hand across his mouth, silencing the horrified orc.
“Shhhh,” Andromeda whispered dangerously. “Be quiet, or I’ll be sure to make you quiet. It’s just me.”
Immediately Fasto’s clarity returned, and he relaxed. His eyes shone with some new knowledge, and he seemed a different orc than in the prison. An aura of comfort seemed to radiate from him, as if he were at home in the dark forest.
Fasto’s eyes locked on Andromeda, and his voice rang like a clear bell. “Undead bear here. Fasto know. Fasto know forest. More undead near, and … something else, a fire. Fasto see fire.”
Shaken, An
dromeda released Fasto from her hold and slowly stood up, a wary respect for the orc rising within her.
How did he know? Had he not been asleep? And what does he mean a fire? I don’t smell one.
She had no answers, but it seemed Fasto did.
Shaking her head, Andromeda turned to the others, who were now all awake. Margaret stood by Ro, fear shining in her eyes, and her hand clutching Ro’s in an iron grip.
“What happened?” Margaret said softly. “I remember a blinding light, and a deathly wave of ice that covered the prison. There was a beautiful woman with emerald eyes, and a commanding voice in my head. Then …” Margaret’s voice trailed off, and she glanced up to Ro. “I don’t know.”
Andromeda studied the orc, her eyes narrowing.
Ice? No, there was no ice. That must have been the armored terror’s sword, right?
Noticing Andromeda’s gaze, Margaret stepped away from Ro, her voice growing stronger. “But I’m safe now, and that’s all that matters.”
Troubled, Andromeda turned to Nalgene, who was helping his brother to his feet. SmibSmob studied the shadowy forest around them, his face pale.
“I don’t mean to be the obvious one,” the thin gnome said, “but I don’t think we’re in the prison anymore.”
Nalgene snorted in amusement. “Ye said it, me brother. What a fine noggin ye must have.” His voice rose to a shout, consumed by fits of laughter. “O’ course we ain’t in the bloody prison anymore! We be in a durned spooky forest! How in the bloody hell —”
Nalgene was interrupted by a sharp growl from Ro. “Don’t you have any sense of caution?” the draconian hissed, his eyes studying the trees in alarm. “You saw what attacked us. Do you want to bring more of them?”
Andromeda ignored the rest. She did not care for their pointless bickering. She had other, more productive things to worry about. An image of the woman searing into her mind, Andromeda stalked over to SmibSmob.
I have to know.
“What do you remember?” she purred, trying not to sound overly curious. “Anything?”
A Land in Shadow Page 4
