He stretched out with his thoughts and will, looking over the battle in his mind’s eye. Another fireball launched into the air. Reaching out through the stone, he gathered up the flame and drew it into himself. The heat rushed through his body, but did not burn him. Another fireball came flying. It was easier now he had done it once. Another came. He had them now. As suddenly as they had begun, the attacks stopped.
Sebastian knew it was a matter of time before the dark wizards devised a new strategy. He needed help. Help. That plea resonated within the Dragonstone, and it sent waves of energy outward across Cynneweald, until they found one who could respond.
Distantly, Sebastian sensed that ancient presence through the Stone. It was foreign and powerful. Help, he repeated. For a time there was no response as it contemplated the battle through its connection to Sebastian’s mind.
I am coming; it said at long last. No other response. Then the connection broke. With a rush, the sound of the battle returned to Sebastian’s awareness, and he opened his eyes. Things were not going well. Before the onslaught of fireballs, the Guardians and Gabirelean Knights had been charging in good array. Now, their horses were scattered and frightened. Many of them had lost their mounts and were fighting on foot. The burned and smoking bodies of archers littered the far hilltop. A handful had survived to continue lobbing missiles into the enemy ranks, but not enough to make a difference.
Realizing their advantage, the mass of Sterling Lex’s army surged forward. The line of spearmen buckled under the weight of the enemy force and pockets of Guardsmen laid about with their swords, islands in a sea of black and grey. Beside him, Valeria stirred and he knelt to help her. “You’re awake! You must do something…the army is falling apart.”
Valeria looked over the battle, and up at Sebastian. “I haven’t the strength. It falls to you Sebastian.”
“But I don’t know what to do. I barely stopped their last attack.”
“You must trust yourself. You have everything you need within you. I believe in you.”
Rising, he turned and gripped the Dragonstone in his right hand, lifting it high. Taking in a deep breath, he tried to connect with the Eligium again. Nothing. He opened his eyes and looked back at Valeria. “You CAN do this…You must believe in yourself!” she said.
Closing his eyes, he reached back out to the stone. There. The thinnest of threads linked him to the stone, and he grabbed hold with all his thought. Pushing out with his will, it manifested as a solid wall of air that forced Sterling Lex’s soldiers back from the lines of battle, giving Gabirel and the Guardians room to regroup.
They took full advantage of the opportunity and a rallying cry rose from the ranks as the dwarves pushed forward from their position in reserve, wielding their heavy axes and moving to support the scattered horsemen. Lord Commander Teoma called for the reserve contingent of spearmen to join the fight. Even the swordmasters in the mix of the battle rallied together. A flash of hair caught the corner of his eye. Krystelle was down there in the midst of battle. He took a step in her direction.
Sebastian felt more that saw it. Sterling Lex’s wizards were preparing another strike. Its nature was not obvious to him, just that it differed from the earlier attacks. Closing his eyes once more, he concentrated on channeling the power within the Dragonstone. A fire burned within him and burst out in a barrage of orange and red, speeding toward Cinaeth. It blasted away the attack forming within the fortress and he knew that the dark wizards within were reeling. They would not be rejoining the fight soon.
A clarion horn rang out from behind him and he turned to find row upon row of warriors dressed in woodland green carrying bright silver swords and mounted on white stallions. At their head rode the wizard Breandan. The one who had disappeared with Cenric. He had not gone to join Sterling Lex after all. Sebastian watched, stunned as the charge swept past his little hillock into the side of Sterling Lex’s army. Breandan broke off and trotted over to join him on the hill. Sebastian stood there, mouth gaping.
“Breandan, it is good to see you,” said Valeria. “Although the manner of your arrival is unexpected.”
Breandan smirked at her as Sebastian watched the elven army engage the enemy. They had gone to war and were turning the tide as the skilled warriors cut their way through the opposition. Valeria nodded, turning to Breandan, “And the Moonstone?”
He cocked an eyebrow, “Ah, yes. The Moonstone. It was necessary to appropriate it if we were going to effect the return of the elves. He pulled the blue-gray stone from his tunic. Breandan continued, “You have the Sunstone and Dragonstone?” Valeria nodded. “Then we can win this. The power of the three stones combined should finish Sterling Lex.”
Sebastian couldn’t take it any more, “But where is Cenric?” he blurted.
Turning to him, Breandan raised one eyebrown. “Your friend was not well, and he was not getting better. Not really. He is safe at Cale Uriasz.”
The wizard had no sooner finished that sentence when Sebastian felt a surge coming from Cinaeth. It washed over both armies and slammed into the small group standing there on the hill. Sterling Lex had joined the fight.
#
Sterling Lex’s army went berserk. Heedless of any attempt to defend themselves, they hurled into the fray. Hacking, biting, slashing. Individually, they kept on long past the point where their injuries should have taken them out of the battle. Watching, horrified, Sebastian was reminded of the villagers on the road to the Dwarven enclave. Whatever wizardry Sterling Lex was using it turned the people into mindless zombies, intent on death. Once again, the momentum of the battle swayed back in favor of the dark wizard.
Sebastian’s eyes glazed and in his mind’s eye he watched hundreds of black cords sweep out from Cineath and latch onto Sterling Lex’s army. It even extended to the camp-followers who picked up whatever tools lay close to hand as weapons to join the fight. It was the same black cord he had seen before, magnified a thousand-fold. Lex was controlling these people and sending them to their deaths, condemning hundreds of soldiers within Gabirel’s army along with them.
Sebastian lashed out with the power of the Dragonstone, sending it like a scythe to cut the cords and free these people. Razor sharp it cut the tendrils, sending them snapping back to Cinaeth like snakes. Another burst came forth from Cinaeth, and the cords connecting the rest bulged. He called out for Valeria and Breandan to help him.
Leaping to his side, they entered the fray. Bringing the power of the Sunstone and Moonstone they reinforced Sebastian’s attack. Sebastian realized he was fighting something else, something other than Sterling Lex. No, that wasn’t right. There was more than one thing. The dark wizard was tapping into multiple sources of power. One gave him the ability to control the minds of these people. The other…the other gave him the right.
That’s when Sebastian realized he might not win this fight. It was as if the earth itself was fighting for Sterling Lex, lending him strength and authority. Sebastian was the interloper here. Sebastian was the one in the wrong. How dare you oppose me? The thought rang in his head. I am the Arch-mage. You should submit to my authority before I break you!
“Don’t listen to him!” Breandan shouted. “He’s a liar.”
But he is the Arch-mage, thought Sebastian.
“Yes,” said Valeria, as if she heard his thoughts. “He is the Arch-mage, but he has no true right to that office. He is a usurper and we have the right to deny him.”
Sebastian redoubled his efforts, pouring even more into the lines of force striking out at the black cords. It was no use, for every cord he cut, two stretched out from Cinaeth, retaking the minds he had freed. In the meanwhile, people were dying. He needed something more, something to distract Sterling Lex and to give a shock to those people.
I am coming. The voice came out of nowhere. It was the same voice he had sensed earlier when he first tapped into the Dragonstone. I will be the distraction you need.
Who are you?
I am the storm. I am
the fire. I am the ancient one. I am Cadeyrn Seaghda. Be ready.
Ready for what? Sebastian wondered. Beside him, Valeria grabbed his arm. “What is that?”
Looking up, Sebastian saw a familiar shape in the sky. “It’s a dragon,” he breathed. They watched in awe as the beast swooped toward the field of battle, its scales glistening in the sun. The creature reached out with it claws as it neared the armies and let out a bellowing screech, followed by a stream of fire from its maw that tore through Sterling Lex’s army. Banking way, it circled once and dove for another strike.
Now Sebastian!
Blinking, Sebastian tore his eyes away from the magnificent creature and realized that the cords connecting the masses to Sterling Lex had grown thin. This was his chance! Reaching deep into the Dragonstone, Sebastian struck at the cords with every ounce of strength he had, severing them and sending the frayed ends careening back towards Cinaeth.
The impact had no effect on the physical plane, yet Sebastian saw the magical backlash echoing out from the walls of the fortress. The backlash exploded into both armies; sending bodies flying, soldiers hurt and killed on both sides. A familiar figure turned in his direction. It was Krystelle Mora. He locked eyes with her for an instant as the impact wave crashed into her, sending her flying.
“NOOOOOO!” his agonized cry took on new life and joined with the power of the Dragonstone. He reached out and merged with the power flowing from both the Sunstone and Moonstone, the strength of three Eligium coursing through his body. Fire in his eyes, he turned towards the armies and began willing people dead. One by one he struck them down.
Breandan grabbed him, “You must stop this!”
Sebastian turned and looked at the wizard, death in his eyes, and struck him down. Breandan collapsed, dead. Sebastian turned back to the battlefield and continued his killing. It stopped mattering to him who he killed. The rage consumed him and he worked his way across the plain, killing as he went.
“Sebastian! What are you doing?” Valeria’s voice called out. He swung an arm at her, magical energy sending the wizard flying. Sebastian had just enough presence of mind left in his rage to keep from killing her. After everything and everyone he had lost, losing Krystelle Mora was just too much.
“Sebastian!” the crystal voice rang out. It wasn’t possible. He turned toward the voice to see her standing there.
“Krystelle?”
“It is me. I am ok. You must stop this Sebastian.”
“But…you died.”
“No, you saw me struck by the magic. I am all right, Sebastian.” She walked toward him and laid a hand on his shoulder. “Let it go, let it go.” He slumped, still holding onto the magic rushing through his body. He was not ready to let it go.
Far above, the dragon continued to circle the battlefield and Sebastian could feel his presence. Through their link, he sensed the dragon’s reptilian indifference toward the deaths of the combatants. Sebastian latched onto that indifference as a safety net against the killing he had done.
You would make a good dragon. He felt more than heard the words coming through their link. This battle has warmed my heart, but your enemies are defeated. I must return to my home. This will not be the last time we meet.
Thank you, Cadeyrn Seaghda. Sebastian thought back.
Looking up, he watched as the dragon tilted in flight, reorienting back to the north country where he made his home. Sebastian would miss the dragon’s comforting presence. Turning to Krystelle and the others gathered around him, Sebastian struggled to find words. Opening his mouth to speak, he froze as a warning came through his bond to the dragon. Beware, Sebastian. Sterling Lex is not yet done.
Sebastian turned toward Cinaeth to see a wave of black energy coming towards him. It was Sterling Lex’s counterstrike. Once again tapping deep into the three nearby Eligium, he prepared to meet the assault. It washed over him and around him, but the power coursing through him protected him. He knew that the wave would have torn his soul from his body without that protection.
Pressing back against the assault, Sebastian projected himself into the heart of Cinaeth. He was a living flame standing in opposition to Sterling Lex and he saw the dark wizard there with King Ercanbald by his side. Lex took a step back and away from the flame and brought the obsidian stone in his hands up between himself and Sebastian.
The power of the three stones jumped in recognition and Sebastian knew this had to be the Soulstone. Black tendrils swarmed around Lex and the stone and Sebastian wondered whether Lex controlled the stone, or the stone controlled him.
No matter. It was time to end this. The flame that was Sebastian surrounded Lex, pressing in from all sides. The dark wizard fought back with the power of the Soulstone, but one stone could not stand against the three. Pressure building around him, Lex dropped the stone. Rather than falling, it remained suspended among the flames.
Sebastian continued to press in, his flame growing in heat and intensity. Holding his hands to his head, Sterling Lex screamed from the pain and Sebastian felt something give. In the center of the flame the Soulstone shattered, shards flying in all directions, shredding the King’s torso. A single shard buried itself in Sterling Lex’s right eye, ending his ambitions as it ended his life.
Fire draining from his bones Sebastian found himself back in his body. Krystelle and Valeria stood on either side, supporting him and keeping him from falling. He locked eyes with Valeria, “Lex is dead. We’ve won," he said just before collapsing.
#
Krystelle followed Damianus, Valeria, and the elf Nynniaw through Cinaeth’s gates. Though her thoughts were on Sebastian, it occurred to her that this was the first time she had entered the fortress the regular way. With his collapse the remnants of Sterling Lex’s army had disintegrated. Finding themselves in the middle of a battlefield confused the majority of the combatants. The rest slinked away, knowing why they came and who they served. What Sebastian had done had loosed the hold Sterling Lex had on those people.
Walking through the courtyard, she saw the door on the far side leading to the tower where she and Sebastian had gone, pretending to be lovers, to recover the Sunstone. It was in this courtyard that Quiren Adelwolf fell.
Reaching the entrance to the main hall, the King’s Herald greeted them, his face ashen. “My lords…” he began.
“All will be well,” said Damianus. “The King was deceived. The one you know as Iacchus is none other than Sterling Lex. We are here to set things right.”
“The King?” said the Herald. He shook his head and gestured for the four of them to enter the main hall.
Passing through, Krystelle saw the two bodies laying there on the floor. One was King Ercanbald, his body riddled with impact wounds from a myriad of stone fragments that shredded his torso. The other had to be Sterling Lex. Blood seeped from one eye where a shard of smooth black stone stood, impaling the man.
Valeria swept over to Sterling Lex and knelt to examine the wizard, Nynniaw close on her heels. Krystelle did not understand why they were not more concerned with the king and she moved to check on him. She took a single step when Damianus took hold of her arm, shaking his head. “Let them examine him,” he said.
After a few more moments, Valeria left the elf with Sterling Lex’s body and moved over to the king. Closing her eyes, she laid a hand on the king’s forehead and closed her eyes. Krystelle held her breath, waiting and watching.
At last, Valeria removed her hand from the king and looked up at Krystelle, shaking her head. There was nothing to be done. Finished with his examination of Sterling Lex, Nynniaw walked over to Krystelle and Damianus. Valeria wiped her hands on a cloth and joined them.
“Both Lex and the king are dead,” she said. “Those shards of black stone are what remains of the Soulstone.”
Damianus gasped, “How can that be?”
It was Nynniaw that answered, “Sebastian. He tapped into the three other stones. You must appoint a new Arch-mage. The release of power here will destabi
lize the forces holding the Ban in place. I can not say what will happen as a result.”
Valeria bristled, “Can not or will not?”
Nynniaw looked at her, “I said what I said. The elves must return now through the Ansetl-lea. We can be of no further help here while the Ban still stands. Know this, with Soulstone destroyed, the Ban cannot last. When the time is right, we will return to this world, never to leave again. Be ready.” Krystelle gaped as the elf faded away, disappearing from view.
Valeria shook her head, “Just when we need them the most. No matter. We have much to do here, including finding a new king”
She turned to Krystelle who braced herself, knowing what must come next. Before the wizard could say another word, the rest of the High Council entered the chamber along with Uisdean, Guardian Demosthenes, and an array of others; sending things into a swirl of confusion as they explained the King’s fate and Nynniaw’s abrupt departure. The entire contingent of elves disappeared at the same moment.
The truth settled into Krystelle. They had won, defeating Sterling Lex once and for all. It turned out that the other dark wizards had escaped, but Uriasz would see to them. Weakened through the loss of the Soulstone, the Krenon would be less of an issue. Inside she started to celebrate when a clatter of noise drew her eye to the doors where two Krenon Brothers pushed their way inside.
Damianus stepped forward to confront them, “What do you want, Krenon?” He practically spit the last word at them.
“I am First Brother Kestutis and this is my second, Brother Mihails Helmo. We have come for the Soulstone as is our right under the Ban, and to see that the magic-user responsible for all this devastation is called to account. The Ban has been grievously violated this day and we will see the Defiers punished.”
Eligium- The Complete Series Page 40
