by Terry Schott
The shard imp’s smile was so fake that Xander almost laughed out loud. “Absolutely! The blood and guts and everything splashing all over my face and body. I think I got a glob of bile in my mouth earlier.” He almost gagged, but squinted slightly and managed to maintain the grin. “It’s glorious.”
Helias surveyed the field ahead and nudged Xander. “She’s focused on the next group. Time for us to go again.”
Celeste clapped her hands together like a child on Christmas morning about to open presents. “Another wave! I wonder what she will send at us next?” she asked Xyclotl.
“Hopefully pillows,” he grumbled.
“What?”
His grin widened. “I said hopefully something with stingers and teeth. I can’t wait to be poisoned and eaten at the same time!”
Celeste laughed and drew her sword. “Come on, Xy. Let’s keep track of how many we each kill this time.”
Xyclotl’s eyes remained wide, but his smile dropped as he turned to face Xander. “Could this day get any better?”
Xander laughed and started jogging forward to keep pace with the paladin.
***
Sebastian floated in the air, easily able to keep both himself and Kieran afloat as they watched the godling’s progress in the field beyond.
“This is taking longer than I expected,” Sebastian said.
“She could certainly have co-operated better,” Kieran agreed. “But she’s close now.”
“The warriors pull her towards them, only to have a group pull her off the path.”
“That’s the way it has to be. Helias and Xander need time to clear the waves of monsters that she sends at them. If she was not distracted, they would have been overwhelmed and fallen long ago. Each group is doing their part. She will get to us soon.”
Sebastian glanced below. Scouts stood against the stone walls of the canyon, each an arm’s length from their neighbours. “Are your people ready?”
“More than ready. Don’t worry, when it’s time, the Scouts will do our part.”
“If I can do mine.”
“You can. I believe in you. We all do.”
Sebastian looked back to the field beyond.
***
The godling turned to face another group of soldiers. She raised one hand and began to gather her energy. Before she could fully summon her power, the group moved out of range and disappeared through an opening in the stone. The godling lowered her arm and followed them into the gap.
***
The soldiers entered the canyon, running as fast as they could towards the clearing in the middle.
The godling appeared a moment later. Her eyes focused on them, and she continued walking forward at a leisurely pace. Sebastian watched her look up, consider him, and then look back toward the soldiers without slowing.
Sebastian wanted to save the soldiers but knew that he could not.
The soldiers, knowing what was about to happen to them, did not waver. Half of the troops stepped forward, sank to one knee, and planted their shields against the ground. Behind the protective barrier, archers began to draw and loose their arrows in a steady stream. The missiles flew toward the godling and bounced away an instant before they touched her. She stopped, raised her hand and made a sweeping motion. Dark magic streamed toward the group. It should have turned the defenders to ash, but this time it bounced away. The wave of energy ceased and the godling cocked her head like an eagle considering its prey.
That’s right, Sebastian thought. Get closer and find out what’s wrong.
The godling walked closer, not stopping until she was less than a foot from the shields. She reached out and plucked the centre shield—an item that had been imbued with a special resistance by the Scouts— away from the soldier without any difficulty and held it up in front of her. The warriors attacked, weapons rising and falling but turning away at the last second as her personal barrier repelled every strike. The godling shrugged and discarded the shield over her shoulder. She raised her hand once more, and an instant later, there was a faint poof as the entire squadron evaporated in a puff of thick ash.
The godling glanced up at Sebastian. Her lips curled into a smile.
He knew that she was waiting for him to attack, but he didn’t.
Long seconds passed.
The godling began to raise her right hand. Before she could complete the gesture, a translucent, amber-tinged dome sparked into existence, buzzing like mist touching electrical wires as it surrounded her.
She touched it and pulled back immediately, her eyebrows furrowed in anger. She glared at Sebastian and pulled back both hands.
Sebastian reached out and grabbed handfuls of raw magical power that manifested as sapphire blue light. When his hands were full of the stuff, he threw it downward. He focused his concentration on keeping the gates open, and watched the river of magic flow through the air and cover the dome with a thin sheet of energy.
The godling pushed both arms forward. She touched nothing, but the dome flexed outward.
At the same time, pressure filled Sebastian’s skull. It felt like a thousand hurricanes pushing out, threatening to tear him into a billion pieces. He gritted his teeth and pushed back, his resolve strong. As the seconds passed, Sebastian heard cracking and breaking sounds. He knew that it was the bones of his skull cracking. He took a deep breath and summoned his will, using the energy to push back with all he had against the godling’s tremendous force.
Suddenly, rays of swirling white and black light flooded the canyon, striking the barrier from all sides. Sebastian felt the pressure lessen as the godling looked around her in surprise.
The swirling energy came from the Scouts, each man and woman standing tall with both arms stretched out in front of them, forefinger and thumb of both hands touching to form a triangle from which the energy materialized.
Sebastian watched, keeping his energy flowing to keep the barrier closed, as the power of the Scouts began to shrink the godling’s prison inward from all sides.
She frowned and lowered her hands.
The pressure in Sebastian’s head disappeared. It was gone so fast that he almost dropped his barrier. She looked up at him, smiled, and then struck with even more hatred and power than before.
Sebastian grunted, stumbling and falling to one knee, as if the air on which he stood was solid ground. Somehow he managed to protect his mind and keep the barrier up. The flow of sapphire magic wavered for a few seconds, but he returned it to full strength. He smiled. The dome continued to shrink, his energy keeping the godling trapped while the Scouts constricted her prison tighter as each second passed.
“Faster,” he said through gritted teeth. “You’ve gotta go faster, Kieran.”
Ten seconds, Kieran’s voice sounded in his head. Keep her in there for ten seconds more and we win.
Sebastian laughed, a small part of him wondering if it was ten seconds from when Kieran started speaking or from when he ended. He tried to count, but had to commit one hundred percent of his concentration to keeping the barrier up and his mind intact.
The pressure inside his skull became unbearable, the cracking sounds more frequent and loud. He felt as if someone had parked an aircraft carrier on top of a tank and then placed the tank directly on his head. Just as he thought he could bear no more, the agony began to lessen.
Sebastian panicked, afraid that the pressure was still there but that his senses had become numb to it. If that were true, he would not be able to push back against a pain that he could no longer feel.
The godling smiled, as if sensing an advantage.
The numbness in Sebastian’s brain increased. The dome was pressed against her now, skin flaring and sparking as it melted from contact with the energy. She ignored it, her eyes locked on Sebastian as she unleashed everything she had to save herself.
Something inside Sebastian snapped.
He lost control and turned, frowning as the flow of energy became less intense. He felt weary and knew that he wo
uld be unconscious in seconds. His mind clawed and struggled, doing his best to hold onto control, but the flow of magic continued to slow.
And then it all ended. The weight lifted and the attack against his mind stopped. He gasped loudly and looked down in time to see the dome collapse as the godling was crushed flat against the earth and then out of existence altogether.
Sebastian felt a huge wave of relief sweep over him. The barrier and godling were gone. They had won.
He let loose an excited shout and waited for the beams coming from the Scouts to stop.
Long seconds passed and they continued. Then minutes.
The energy did not stop flowing.
He spotted Kieran. He floated down and stood on the ground behind him. “She’s gone, Kieran. We did it!”
Kieran remained still; frozen in place, arms stretched out, the beam of energy still spewing full force.
“You can stop now. She’s dead.”
The beams continued.
“Kieran?”
Sebastian frowned. Then he realized the truth of the matter. “You can’t stop, can you?” He thought he detected a glimmer of sadness in Kieran’s eyes. Sebastian felt tears form in his own. “Oh, Kieran. What have you all done?”
Chapter 62
Sebastian touched down in front of Helias and Xander. He noticed the shard imp and archon off to one side, obviously flirting with each other, judging by their body language and the amount of laughter. He felt a smile form on his lips and shook his head. Even in the face of total annihilation, love—or lust—did its best to continue on.
Xander followed his gaze and laughed. “It looks as if his plan worked. He almost died half a dozen times, but the guy gets the girl in the end.”
“Classic fairy tale.” Sebastian shook his head. “Not sure what the kids will look like.”
Helias laughed. “I certainly hope they take after their mother.”
Sebastian nodded.
“Is it done?” Xander asked.
“It is. The godling is gone.”
The paladin and Death Stryker smiled and nodded as one.
“Is there a body to dispose of?” Helias asked. “A corpse suggests the possibility of her being able to return somehow, which I do not like the thought of. Perhaps we could burn it.”
“There’s no body.” Sebastian described the battle and told them how the godling’s body had ultimately disintegrated into nothing.
“And the Scouts?” Helias asked.
“Dead.”
“How many?”
“All of them.”
“What?” Helias’s eyes widened. “That’s horrible.”
“Aye.”
“Besides the obvious sadness of losing such good and powerful allies—”
“How will anyone be able to level without them?” Sebastian finished the thought.
The men stood silently for a time.
“This will change everything.” Helias shook his head. “We may have saved the world, but without being able to level up, what kind of world did we save?”
“I am sure a solution will appear.”
“What makes you think that, Seb?” Xander asked.
“I’m an old man. Experience has taught me that a solution always appears.” He smiled and shook hands with each of the warriors. “Return to your chapter houses. I will visit both of you in the coming weeks.” He paused. “That is, if you intend to stay, Xander?”
Xander did not hesitate. “This is my home. Of course I will stay.”
“Good. Then I will visit you soon.”
Sebastian watched the warriors call to their familiars. The imp and archon took to the air and hovered above the holy and unholy fighters as they walked toward the far end of the field.
When they were out of sight, he rose into the air and flew back toward the canyon.
***
The Scouts were still frozen in place, powerful beams of light bleeding from their hands. Sebastian landed behind Kieran and stood at the man’s side. He placed a hand on the Scout’s shoulder. “I’ll wait here with you.”
***
Two hours later, the beams stopped. One second they were flowing at full power—hissing and crackling with energy—and the next moment they weren’t. The silence was interrupted once more a second later by a single thud as every Scout hit the ground at the exact same moment.
Sebastian bent to examine Kieran. The man was dead. A quick look at those nearby told him that they all were.
The wizard stood and surveyed the canyon. There was a black spot of grass where the godling had been. The perimeter was strewn with the still forms of the Scouts who had given their lives to save this world.
Sebastian floated into the air and hovered in the middle of the canyon. He held out his hands and summoned magic, using it to pull the rocks from the top of the canyon. Rocks tumbled down, dislodging others as they flew and causing a small rockslide. He slowly moved the beam of energy along the length of wall.
By the time he was finished, rocks covered the bodies of every Scout below.
“We will turn this spot into a memorial, Kieran. To honour the Scouts and the ultimate sacrifice each of you made.” Sebastian bowed his head and said a prayer that he remembered from younger days, when his mother had taken him to church.
Then he looked up, turned, and flew away.
Chapter 63
Helias reined his horse to a stop beside Xander’s. Mercy looked at them over her shoulder, scanning Helias up and down as if he was a soldier under her charge. “I will wait over there, Xander. Say your goodbyes and join me.” She flicked the reins and her horse began to walk.
Helias laughed. “It was fun adventuring with you too, Lady.”
“She can’t hear you.”
“That’s all right, I’m sure she feels the same way.” He winked. “Didn’t say farewell for fear of breaking down and crying.”
Xander laughed. “It was good to fight by your side.”
“Same here.” The two men clasped hands.
“Back home then, or off to adventure?”
Helias shrugged. “I’ll finish training Firth. He seems to have a knack for swinging the sword around. We’ll likely go on a few adventures to get him fine-tuned and in top fighting shape. After that, who knows? Something always comes up when you are a sword of Light.”
“Aye.”
“How ’bout you? Big plans on the horizon?”
“Not sure yet. I think I will take it one day at a time for a while. Enjoy myself for a change. Life’s been pretty busy lately. It couldn’t hurt to rest a bit.”
“We are still fused. I imagine we will run into each other again.”
“Sooner than later, if Xyclotl has anything to say about it.”
Helias laughed. “He will need to get bloody again if he hopes to hold the affection of Celeste.” He shook his head. “A fighting shard imp. I would have never imagined such a thing was possible.”
“No one is more surprised about it than the actual imp.”
Helias slapped Xander on the back. “Be well, brother.”
“Aye. You also.”
***
Mercy walked down the hall. Xander followed a step behind, talking as if she were actually interested in what he had to say. “—which is why I think it’s a good idea for us to take a few days, maybe a week, off.”
He waited for a response but none came.
“We’ve earned it, right? You said yourself, I am ahead in my training.”
“Your training is complete,” she spoke without turning to look at him.
“Really?”
“The initial stages. Your final exam was the players’ village.” She looked at him out of the corner of her eye. “You passed.”
He smiled but quickly wiped the expression from his face as they reached the doors.
The guards snapped to attention and saluted. Mercy returned the gesture.
“Is he in?”
“Yes, lady.” The guard opened one of the
large doors and stepped to one side.
“Thank you, brother.” She nodded and the two Death Strykers entered the audience hall.
The Shard sat on his throne, a glass of red wine in one hand. “And yet again, the heroes return, victorious against the most dangerous and invincible foe that ever was.”
The Shard stood and walked to the table nearby. He selected two glasses and poured a measure of wine into each. Xander moved to sit, but Mercy shook her head and he remained standing.
The Shard frowned. “Sit. I would hear all the details of your adventure.”
“We will stand,” Mercy said.
The Shard’s smile became a glare. “I’m not asking. Sit down.”
Mercy did not move to obey.
The Shard sighed and set his glass on the table. “I knew this day was coming, Mercy. If I allow your little slight to go unanswered, then things will eventually build to a point where you cease to remain useful. I’m afraid that I simply cannot have that. You must remember your place, sister. And it would seem that a show of force is required.”
He turned toward the door. “Guards,” he shouted.
The door opened and the guards stepped into the room. The Shard pointed at Mercy and they came to stand on each side of her.
“Step away from her, Xander,” the Shard instructed.
Xander stepped forward so that he stood beside the Shard. The leader smiled. “Such a shame. I would have enjoyed a formal challenge. But that wasn’t something you could do, was it? I am more powerful than you. My shard is stronger.”
“You’ve always talked too much,” Mercy sniffed.
“What?” He laughed.
“Or maybe it’s that you are concerned only with yourself. Everything is about you, and that has slowly caused our chapter house to decline.”
“Enough talk.” The Shard’s face contorted in anger. “Guards—”
“Yes,” Mercy said. “Enough talk.”
The Shard’s eyes widened as an ebony blade coated in bright red blood sprang outward from his mouth.
The guards watched Xander push the dead man off his blade and onto the ground. Then they turned and knelt in front of Mercy.
