by TJ Reynolds
The wizard’s power redoubled, and even that rebellion silenced.
Staring up into Kai’s eyes, the wizard lifted one hand. A bead of bright Abyss ether shimmered in his palm.
Though Kai did not know the spell the wizard had conjured, he knew it would bring his death.
A pity, the old man said, to be the one to kill the second Fundamental Dragon of our age.
23
What the Darkness Fears
Rhona
AE almost completely depleted and body already riddled with minor wounds, Rhona hunched over and tried to catch her breath.
The dragons fought bravely.
Each showed their precise nature in combat, refusing to give an inch of ground without making the Hintari bleed.
Freya could no longer walk, but she kept triggering her Forge Storm ability when it came off cooldown, and she killed any man that got close.
Hazel and Anatoth took turns debuffing the Hintari every time they tried to mount a more effective assault on the dragons’ tenuous position. Though Winter’s Wrath killed dozens, and Blessed Gale restored everyone’s ether and health slowly, those weren’t the spells keeping them alive.
Time and again, Concussive Gust and Storm Shriek interrupted serious threats.
And while the soldiers were recovering from the disabling effects, Rhona and the dragons would lay them to rest.
She was considering using some of the collected ether in her body to heal her wounds. Even bruises and cuts could end a soldier’s life if they accumulated enough, after all.
But then she felt the overwhelming presence of something… terrible on the battlefield.
She searched and found a black sphere floating toward Kai some fifty feet away.
Rhona took in the battlefield.
She didn’t want Kai to have to face whatever that thing was by himself, but he’d ordered her to stay with the dragons. Another group of Hintari were mounting up for a fresh attack as well.
Anatoth! Can you use Storm Shriek yet?
The Azure dragon flew overhead and flung a dead horse into the center of a squadron of troops, crushing two men for their trouble.
No, two more minutes! he replied a second after.
Rhona cursed. This was going to be difficult.
Calreem spoke up, apparently having heard her question. I have enough ether for two rounds of Cluster Smite. I can break up the next attack myself.
Rhona sighed in relief, then told the dragons her thoughts. Something is approaching Kai. I might have to go to him.
Freya responded for them all. We will not fall, not yet anyhow. Do as you must, blood sister.
As Rhona watched her ether slowly refilling, she was forced to dodge an incoming arrow. The battle sense Spirit Flow granted was the only reason she’d lived this long.
When she looked to Kai again, he was—for some reason—charging the black sphere.
He was running away from her!
Then all of his momentum halted as some force gripped his body. Rhona watched in awe as his body bunched together and froze in place.
The black sphere strode closer.
Hold your ground, Rhona commanded the dragons. I am going to Kai!
She didn’t have much ether, but Rhona still slipped into Spirit Flow anyhow.
Time slowed, and she dashed toward her friend, already being surrounded by dozens of Hintari. Rhona wove around one soldier who blocked her path. She struck his forehead with two fingers and released a tiny burst of ether to kill him.
Two spearmen thrust their weapons at her gut, tracking her speeding form with surprising accuracy.
Rhona slid under the spearpoints and hammered the soldiers’ knees with her palms. The burst of ether she added to the attack overcame their armor.
Their knees folded backwards, and the men started to fall in slow motion.
Rhona popped up to her feet again and continued her race.
Time crashed back into her suddenly, and she nearly tripped. Spirit Flow had exhausted her AE yet again. Such a drawn-out battle showed the limitations of the skill.
A nearby soldier reacted on instinct and thrust out a short sword. Rhona’s stomach tingled, her battle sense kicking in, so she dodged to the side.
The Hintari sword gouged into the side of her ribs anyhow. She’d been too slow to avoid it completely.
Rhona grunted in pain as hot blood spilled down her torso. She threw out a kick and struck the man in his stomach. Empowered by ether, it launched him backwards into another soldier.
She looked to Kai and saw she was still twenty-five feet away. A few more soldiers separated her from the dragon, but now she saw the being that had terrified her.
An old wizard was lifting up his hand, and an eerie bead of ether shone in his palm.
Immediately, she dropped into Spirit Surge.
For the first time since fighting Hastings, Rhona felt what it was like to all but freeze time. The army stilled around her, every warrior moving at a mere fraction of normal speed.
She looked to the dragons first.
Freya had a spearman in her jaws, and Calreem, huddled beside her, had his mouth open. A sphere of Holy ether shone as it left his throat. His Cluster Smite spell would help keep the converging forces from gaining ground.
Knowing the young dragons wouldn’t fall just yet, Rhona sped toward Kai.
With disturbing ease, she tore out two men’s throats.
Snapping another’s neck with the side of her hand and striking a squad leader in his sternum, she blasted through the final troops.
She emerged into a clearing in the battle.
The Hintari had pulled away from the confrontation between Kai and this wizard.
Rhona gritted her teeth and ran at the shivving bastard. She would punch a hole straight through his heart.
But then a force stopped her.
For once, Rhona was stuck in time.
It reminded her of when Hastings had used Spirit Surge against her, and in no way did she enjoy the sensation.
Do not fear, Rhona. Sheerda controls the time that surrounds all mortal beings, and that includes my champion.
A bright light filled the corner of her vision. Rhona squinted and looked up into the metallic face of her goddess. Sheerda! Release me! I must kill that man!
No, Rhona, the goddess said patiently. You must not. This battle has been foretold for centuries. Trust me when I say that Veldane has long been a stone in the river of time. He will be dealt with.
Rhona tried to focus her thoughts. Sheerda, as usual, confused her so easily. Veldane? What is that?
Sheerda pressed against Rhona’s chest, and then time sped up slightly. Trust me, Rhona, and do not try to interfere. Veldane is the wizard you see before you.
But Kai can’t move! Veldane has bound him somehow… Sheerda, he can’t resist!
The goddess looked into Rhona’s face.
Rhona sensed more kindness and patience than she’d ever felt before. Trust me, Rhona. There are two forces at play in this battle that you have not seen. Step back into time and witness what centuries of careful planning have wrought. The Hintari are doing only what they’ve been led to do. Watch this moment and learn.
Sheerda vanished, and Rhona was left alone on the edge of the clearing.
Veldane had his hand nearly pressed to Kai’s forehead. It hovered six inches away, and her friend still could not move.
Rhona’s Progression burned away as she held Spirit Surge, and every instinct in her body screamed for her to race forward and strike the wizard down. Currents of power filled the air, however, and she knew the old man would not let her.
If he could bind Kai so easily, why not her as well?
But there was more than tactics to consider.
Sheerda had asked her to step back into time. She’d asked her to trust in fate.
Taking a deep breath, Rhona fought her instincts and dropped Spirit Surge.
Time swept her up again, and for the briefest moment, h
er head spun. Rhona stumbled to one side but caught herself.
She looked to the wizard, saw his smirk and the bead of power he was pressing to Kai’s forehead.
Then a blast of power rocked the battlefield.
Veldane flinched as a sphere of blinding-white ether exploded opposite from where Rhona was standing. A powerful wind swept out in all directions from the creature’s arrival.
Kai reeled back as his invisible restraints were cut loose. He turned and saw Rhona for the first time, and the two retreated together, seeking refuge from the storm of energy burning in the middle of the battlefield.
The Hintari, too, pulled away.
A wide space quickly opened around Veldane, but Rhona still could not make out who or what the being was in the center of the white light.
A moment later, the wind stilled.
Wearing his drab robes, his gray hair and wispy beard fanned out from the fell wind, was Jakodi.
“Veldane! You’ve risked too much in coming here,” the old man said in a voice of iron.
The dark wizard turned, still wielding the bead of Abyss ether like a potent weapon. “Jakodi? Or some conjured spirit? The historians claimed you were dead!”
“Dead in all but body and core,” Jakodi replied. “My ego, my position, and my legacy were not worth saving.”
Veldane made a fist with his other hand, and Abyss ether starting collected around the wizard’s body. “I don’t mind being the one to put you down. Come, Jakodi. Surely you’ve arrived with more than words.”
Before Jakodi could respond, the dark wizard cast a spell. The bead of Abyss ether in his palm transformed into a writhing column of power that struck Jakodi full in his chest.
It wrapped around the kindly master, and in seconds, Jakodi was completely consumed by the Abyss ether.
Rhona cried out, and Kai growled beside her. No, it can’t be! She wanted to scream, but she trusted in Sheerda. She trusted that Jakodi could handle this, so she remained where she was, standing at Kai’s scaled shoulder.
Darkness consumes everything, a voice said in Rhona’s mind.
The sea of soldiers flinched at the same time, evidence they had heard the voice as well.
Darkness consumes all in its path but for one thing. You were a fool to forget that, Veldane.
Light can pierce any darkness.
The coagulating sphere of Abyss ether melted away, and Jakodi’s form burned once more with radiance. That is Holy ether, Rhona realized. All this time, he’s been hiding the element he commanded. He’s been hiding it away for this moment.
Jakodi struck the ground with his staff, and a burst of Holy light erupted outward.
Every thread and drop of Abyss fled from Veldane’s command, and he was stripped bare. Even the black ether covering his eyes vanished.
Suddenly, the dark wizard looked like nothing more than an old man in fine robes.
“You are done, Veldane!” Jakodi bellowed. “Too long have you led Hintar astray!” He thrust out his hand, and a thin beam of light streaked across the clearing and touched Veldane’s chest. “Let the day bring an end to night!”
The beam expanded, and a pulse of power rippled through the air.
Veldane’s frail body tore in half, and as his sundered form fell to the ground, brilliant light consumed it entirely.
Not even his robes remained.
Then the clearing was empty, and Rhona stared in wonder at the feeble old man who could barely stand. She ran toward him, Kai bounding beside her.
“Jakodi! Are you okay?” she asked, holding him upright under his arm.
The old man smiled faintly. His face was gray, his limbs shaking. “I will see you after the battle. Excuse an old man who’s outdone himself.” He looked to Kai and added, “Greet the ones who come. They will walk beside you into the new age.”
Then Jakodi vanished in the wind, his body slipping free of Rhona’s grasp.
She looked around at the gathered Hintari. Their faces told the same story as hers. All here had witnessed a contest far above their understanding, and now, none seemed to know what to do.
A man pushed forward from the throng of soldiers.
He wore fine plate mail, and his passing caused the soldiers to regain their resolve. Three bloodied swords depicted in gemstones flashed on his breastplate.
“This battle is not over!” he shouted. “To arms! For Hintar and for the council of nobles!”
Confusion was slowly replaced by conviction as more of the Hintari leadership echoed the man’s orders.
Kai growled in her mind, Climb on my back. We will fly to stand beside the dragons and finish this once and for all.
She slung used ether to empower her jump, and soon found a place at the base of Kai’s long neck.
The Hintari surged, but Kai blasted upwards and took to the sky.
They swooped over the army, and Rhona realized that far too many soldiers were left. Too many to count. They’d killed at least a thousand, but their energy had been all but spent.
She resolved to die in Ban’s defense.
She would stand until she couldn’t, and Kai and the others would also.
Then a horn sounded from down the valley, and every head swiveled.
A second force had arrived.
Plunging up the slope that led to the Sunken Keep was a modest force of soldiers. Reinforcements were coming to bolster Hintar.
Then she saw something moving in the sky above the troops.
“A shivving dragon!” she practically screamed. “How do the Hintari have a dragon of their own?”
Rhona squinted, unable to see the crest on the waving banners far below. Kai’s eyes were sharper than hers, however.
He roared, flapping his wings as he flew down toward the marching army.
The Surtir family! he shouted in her mind. The Surtir family has come, and they’ve brought a dragon with them!
Rhona gasped, and hope rose in her weary heart. She knew that name. They were the only faction in Hintar who’d remained faithful to the dragons.
That loyalty had cost them their seat of power.
Somehow, they’d survived through the years.
Only five hundred or so soldiers marched with them, but all were on horseback. And the red-scaled dragon that beat its wings above them was much larger and more powerful than Kai.
Have you come to help my Earth Core? Kai asked the dragon as they drew near.
The creature opened its mouth and let out a clipped roar. Yes, we have! Well met, Fundamental Dragon. My name is Atros. Let us fly together!
Kai roared in response, and Rhona flung up her arms and whooped for joy.
The cavalry quickly galloped up the valley toward the battlefield. Rhona spotted two forms riding in the front ranks. A young man and woman in steel armor held lances tucked and lowered.
Kai, who do you think those two are? she asked.
The dragon chuckled, the sound a deep rumble in his chest. I am sure we will soon learn everything. Let’s finish this, Rhona. Hold on.
Kai turned around and flew beside Atros.
Rhona gripped Kai’s scales as they swerved in the air to approach the battlefield above the horsemen.
He dropped down and released Flame Spear’s wrath amid the still-shocked soldiers.
A split second later, Atros blasted the army with a beam of Fire ether that rent a vast hole in the enemy forces.
The cavalry charged in moments after, and Rhona watched the beginning of the battle’s end.
It wasn’t long before the general was silenced by his own officers, and the invading army kneeled in submission.
24
A Most Peculiar Custom
Bancroft
Almost three thousand to be exact, Ban explained. A truly gruesome sum if you think about it.
Kai rubbed his forehead. He looked, more than ever, like the leader he’d been forced to act as. “I’m just happy the Hintari surrendered. How much worse could it have been. That fool general of
theirs would have had everyone dead before he gave up.”
I had the misfortune of speaking with him. What have the Surtir done with him, by the way?
“They have him in chains,” Kai answered. “Apparently, a trial will be held in Arba when the Surtir return to claim control of the city.”
Ban wished he could roll his eyes. I’m willing to bet there will be another conflict when that happens. Anyhow, how are things outside? I’ve been too afraid to look myself. After absorbing hundreds of bodies, the thought of seeing more gore has my core upset.
Kai stood and shook his head. “It isn’t pretty. The Hintari are cleaning up their own dead. Apparently there is some ritual the Surtir wish to perform. They…” Kai’s voice cut off and he leaned a hand on the dais holding Ban’s core. “They wish to toss the fallen soldiers into the chasm. To feed them back to you, as it were.”
How ghastly, Ban cried out. Practical perhaps, but, well, is there no alternative?
“Not sure. The heads of the Surtir family wish to speak with you. Might want to throw together a champion to make that a little easier.”
Ban sighed. He supposed it wouldn’t be hard, but the gargen nymph had been entirely disappointing, and Greg just felt like a step backwards.
Wanting to put Kai at ease, Ban answered with more enthusiasm than he felt. No problem at all. Just… just give me ten minutes. Tell them to meet me in the dining room at the base of the tower.
Ban watched Kai go. The young man’s shoulders were slumped. In every sense of the word, Kai looked weary.
More than ever did Ban wish he could hug his friend.
That’s just what I’ll do, he decided. In fact, this is definitely something to get excited about. I’ll make the most amenable champion possible. He’ll be my ambassador champion.
Ban brought up his Amalgamation Interface.
He scanned his list of base minions, expecting to make a variation of daldrim once more. The nymph design had too slender of limbs and their faces were a bit disturbing.
The gargen were too short and silly-looking.
Drumming up a standard dalgard soldier and dressing it in finery would work just fine, but Ban felt this was an opportunity.
