by Brad Clark
She had drawn her swords as well and was poised to join the fight. Her hesitation was not because she did not know how to join in the fight, but because she knew it was a chance to follow her father’s instructions. With Ryshak gone, it would make it easier to take care of Glaerion when the time came. But, something deep inside of her caused her to question that command. The Elves had done nothing but prove themselves to be worthy and trustful. They were clearly committing to fighting this war for everyone and not for themselves. Neither Ryshak nor Glaerion had shown any interest in using the Spear of Salvation for their own purposes. It was not just her own thoughts that were questioning her father, it was her training and instincts as well. Ryshak was a soldier’s soldier just as she was.
As she saw Ryshak viscously attack Glaerion using all his warrior skills, she realized that maybe she had been wrong about the Elves. They were not evil, nor were they the enemy. They were just like Hurai or Humans, other than pointed ears and a sour disposition. But now, because of the Dwarves, Ryshak had been turned against them, and he was going to kill Glaerion if someone didn’t step in to help him. Conner was out of position to help, but she wasn’t. Just as Glaerion began to stumble backward from Ryshak’s onslaught, she jumped into the fight, blocking his stabs and thrusts so Glaerion could escape.
While Nikki engaged Ryshak, Conner rushed to Glaerion’s side. “You are hurt,” Conner said.
Glaerion, winded and bleeding, dropped to a knee. “I’m cut up some, but not bad.” Glaerion took in several deep breaths. “I had not realized how good he is. Nikki will not last long, either.”
Nikki was struggling with Ryshak. He was quicker and much stronger than she was. Even with her long swords, Ryshak was able to parry her strikes with just his daggers. He stayed close to her so that she couldn’t use her reach advantage. She knew she was losing ground and could only counter his attacks.
Conner stood to join the fight, and Glaerion gripped his arm. “Do what you have to do, but if you don’t have to kill him…” His words trailed off as Nikki started letting out grunts of frustration.
Conner jumped into the fray and thrust his sword right at Ryshak’s back, but at the last second, Ryshak turned his body to dodge the attack. Conner could not believe the impossible quickness at which Ryshak moved. With only two daggers, Ryshak somehow was able to be quick enough to parry both his strikes and Nikki’s. He had seen Ryshak fight and train and knew that this was not him. Something happened to Ryshak to make him faster and more powerful than ever. No Elf or Human could ever be as fast and as quick as Ryshak was fighting, but here he was fighting two expert warriors by himself.
“Glaerion!” Conner shouted. “Can you do something?”
Glaerion was just thinking about what he could do to help. “Jump back, now!”
Just as the words came out of his mouth, Nikki and Conner both jumped back. The words of the spell raced off his lips, and an invisible wall ringed Ryshak in. His daggers thrust at the invisible wall to no avail. With each strike, his frustration grew, and his blows became harder and faster. His face contorted in anger and frustration as he could not break through the invisible wall.
Nikki bent over, gasping for breath. Conner, watching Ryshak carefully, walked to her. “Are you hurt?”
She shook her head. Frustration kept her silent. She had never fought anything or anyone as quick and skilled as Ryshak. She had trained with the greatest Sak’Hurai that were alive, and she was able to go toe-to-toe with the best. Her failure was humbling as much as it was frustrating.
After a moment, she said, “I cannot believe how fast he was. I don’t think I touched him once.” She looked at her right arm which had two thin slices that were oozing blood. The cuts were shallow but would bleed a lot until she was able to put a bandage on them. In the meantime, she ignored the blood as it dripped down her arm and fell off her elbow.
“That was a mistake,” Glaerion said. “I can feel a strong pull on the Web, now. It wasn’t there until I cast this spell. Whatever is out there now knows that I am here.”
Conner was watching Ryshak. The Elf had dropped his daggers and was now pounding on the invisible wall with his bare hands. “He would have killed us all.”
“Maybe,” Glaerion said. “If the three of us were to coordinate our attacks better, maybe we could wear him out.”
Nikki looked up and said, “There was no wearing him out. He was as strong at the end of the fight as he was at the beginning. That was not Ryshak.”
“It’s still Ryshak,” Glaerion said. “But more. Something was done to him. Look at his eyes. They are full of fire and anger. He continues to pound on the wall as if he feels no pain.”
Glaerion walked over to the wall and called his name, but Ryshak only responded with more anger. His fists struck the wall even faster, and spittle and foam started to come out of his mouth.
“I can’t hold this forever,” Glaerion said. “Eventually I will have to release the spell, and then he’ll be free.”
“What if we restrained him?” Nikki asked.
“With what?” Glaerion snapped angrily. As soon as the words came out of his mouth, he regretted the tone. After letting out a sigh of frustration, he said, “I am sorry. My anger is not directed at you.”
A muffled roar came from behind the stone wall. Even Ryshak turned at the sound. His eyes widened and his lips spread into a wide smile. Lifting his hands into the air, he let out a maniacal laugh.
In a gravelly voice that could barely be recognized, Ryshak growled, “Malkalith comes for you.”
“Malkalith?” Conner repeated. “The Devil Beast creature? Is that its name?”
“Malkalith calls for your soul!” Ryshak smashed his fists once again into the invisible wall.
“I like the name Devil Beast better,” Conner said.
Another roar filled their ears. This time, it was louder and clearer.
A moment later, the creature appeared from behind the building.
It was almost exactly as Hemli had described. It was tall, much taller than Glaerion, and muscular. It wore tattered brown trousers, but its chest was bare, showing chiseled muscles. In its left hand, he carried a long battle-ax that should have only been able to be used with two hands, but the creature easily handled it with one. In its right hand, he held a long spear with a jet-black tip.
Also as Hemli described, its head was that of a bull with two giant horns sticking up high into the air.
“It’s huge,” Conner said.
“It’ll still bleed,” Glaerion said.
“Are you sure?” Conner asked. “The three of us could not take out Ryshak. Against that thing, we have no chance.”
“I know,” Glaerion said.
Conner looked at Glaerion and said, “We have to do it and quickly before it gets here.”
“Do what?” Nikki asked.
“He’s my friend, my brother,” Glaerion said. “I’ll do it.”
“No!” Nikki shouted, surprised at herself. When she realized what they were talking about she knew they couldn’t do it. Ryshak was a proud warrior and did not deserve to have his life ended in this manner.
“We have no choice,” Glaerion replied. “We are here for the spear, and nothing else matters. We all know what’s most important and our lives are not it. You are Sak’Hurai! You should know better!”
Nikki knew that Glaerion was right. Being a warrior was all about sacrifice, and the best way for a warrior’s life to end was in sacrifice. Ryshak’s life would have to be sacrificed to save their own. She knew that he would freely do it if he had the choice. She just hoped that a part of him would understand when it happened.
“Be ready,” Glaerion said. He wished he had time to explain his plan to the others, but the creature was almost on them. If they didn’t kill Ryshak now, it would be two-on-three, and they would have little chance of surviving.
He dropped the spell, and the invisible wall went away. Ryshak noticed it almost right away and let out a high-pitche
d scream and charged towards them. Almost instantly, Glaerion put up another wall directly in front of him. Ryshak struck the new invisible wall at full speed. He bounced back, stunned. Glaerion jumped forward with his daggers. He drove one directly into the center of Ryshak’s chest. Any normal Elf or Human would have died instantly. Ryshak was unfazed and let out a laugh and grabbed Glaerion around the neck with both hands and squeezed. Glaerion struck Ryshak with his other dagger in the side over and over, but it did not seem to have any effect on Ryshak. His iron grip continued to squeeze, cutting of Glaerion’s ability to breath.
Suddenly the grip relaxed, and Ryshak’s head fell to the ground. A heartbeat later, his body fell. Nikki stood behind, sword bloodied and a single tear dripping down her cheek.
They didn’t have any time to feel the pain of loss as the creature Malkalith was upon them.
***
Malkalith came to a stop several feet in front of them. Conner stood confidently facing the creature. Nikki stood to his left and Glaerion to his right. Hemli had run away, back into the maze. No one moved or said a word. Malkalith moved its head from left right, breathing heavily, chest heaving slowly in and out.
“Wait for him,” Glaerion said softly after a few moments. “There are three of us, and we need to be patient. He is large and carries heavy weapons. He will be slow.”
“Then we should attack now!” Nikki said.
“Let him make the first move.”
Malkalith pointed his spear at Conner. With a muffled, deep voice, he said, “You. I will fight only you.”
“We stand together,” Glaerion replied.
Malkalith turned his head to Glaerion and then lifted his battle-ax and pointed it at the Elf. A flash of white exploded out of the tip of the ax and struck Glaerion in the chest, sending him tumbling backward. He rolled with the blow and was able to end up on his knees, but he was in excruciating pain. It felt as if every bone in his chest was broken. He took a tentative shallow breath and was able to take in some air. He felt lucky that he could at least breathe.
While Glaerion regained his breath, he tried to fill his mind with defensive spells so that if the creature did that again, he would be ready. Instead, he could not concentrate on any of the spells that he had memorized. It was as if a fog had descended upon him, clouding his thoughts. He could still sense the Web of Magic, but he knew that he wouldn’t be able to think well enough to cast a spell. His heart began pounding out of fear, something he hadn’t felt in a long, long time.
Malkalith turned his battle-ax and pointed it at Nikki, but simply held it aimed at her chest.
“Stand firm,” Conner said. “You are Hurai. His magic will not harm you.”
Nikki snapped her head to look at Glaerion, who was sprawled on the ground, holding his chest. “You’re kidding, right?”
“Hurai are immune to the effects of magic.”
“So you say,” she said, turning her attention back to Malkalith.
“It senses it in you,” Glaerion said. As each word came out, pain exploded through his chest. He coughed, and blood splattered on the ground. He ignored it and continued, “He will not waste it on you.”
With casual ease, Malkalith moved the battle-ax and pointed it at Glaerion, and another flash of white exploded out of the tip. This time, Glaerion was prepared and jumped out of the way. Somehow, he was able to move quickly enough to avoid being struck. Angered, Malkalith let out a loud roar and aimed his battle-ax at Glaerion again, but Conner moved in and distracted the creature.
He aimed his swords for the ax, to try and chop it in two. His blade struck the solid wood handle of the creature’s battle-ax, but it did not split. With two more quick strikes, the battle-ax was knocked from the creature’s grasp. With a cry of anger, Malkalith gripped the spear with two hands and swung it across his body, the sharp obsidian tip aimed for Conner’s midsection. Conner jumped back, the razor-sharp edges cutting into his light leather armor, but missing his skin. Any closer and the sharp edges of the spear would have sliced him open.
Before Conner could even think about how lucky he was to survive, Malkalith thrust the spear at him again with an agility that Conner did not expect. Being so large and muscular, Conner expected the creature to fight like big hulking Karmon Knights. They were powerful and agile, but not very quick. His miscalculation almost cost him as the spear came within inches of slicing him open several times. Using his swords to knock the spear aside, he was able to avoid certain death.
While Malkalith was engaged with Conner, Nikki rushed in from the side, her swords swinging fast and furious. Her blades sliced deep into the creature’s sides. It barely recognized the attack and continued to attack Conner. Conner slid to the side, making sure that he was out of the way of Nikki’s blades. He kept the creature busy, parrying and dodging the spear while Nikki continued to slice up the creatures’ side. Blood and skin splattered on the ground, but the creature did not seem to notice. When it finally did, it caught Nikki off guard. It was as if the creature had allowed her to get into a false sense of security and when her focus slipped, Malkalith swiped his spear across his body, striking Nikki in the side with the spear’s shaft, sending her sprawling across the ground.
Conner jumped at the opening and slashed his swords across the creature’s chest, slicing deep and sending blood pouring out. But, the bleeding didn’t last long. Almost as soon as the wound was made, the skin mended itself, and the bleeding stopped. Conner also noticed that every wound that Nikki had made had already healed. A sinking feeling fell over him that the creature indeed could not be killed.
Nikki sat up, holding her arm. The force of the blow had crushed bones, rendering her arm useless. Tears of pain rolled down her face, which made her even angrier. Holding the arm tight against her body, she picked up one of her swords with her other hand and moved towards the creature.
Conner was dodging the spear, which caused him to move backward when he realized that Malkalith was forcing Conner away from its battle-ax. He kept his distance, parrying the spear strikes, waiting for the right moment to move. Conner let the spear get close to him, which allowed him to feign injury. He dropped to a knee, holding his side, but ready to jump up and parry the spear if the creature decided to attack. Instead, it turned its head and reached for the battle-ax.
Conner, who had lowered himself into a low crouch, sprang toward the creature, both swords flashing down towards the creature’s head. Now that it was bending over, he was able to easily reach its head. The sword in his right hand slashed across its temple, cutting deep into the skin and bone. His left-hand sword quickly followed and sliced across the top of its head, which cut deep into its skull. He felt the sword stick in its head, which he knew was a possibility. But instead of the sword strike stopping, his sword kept moving, pulling the head off the body.
The shock and surprise caused him to lose the handle on his sword. The head tumbled to the ground, sword still stuck into it.
The creature straightened up, battle-ax in hand and looked at him. The creature’s head was still attached to its body. All that Conner did was to knock off some sort of head covering. Its real eyes were dark and rimmed with red, just like Ryshak’s. Instead of the large round eyes of Elves and Humans, they were slanted like Hurai eyes. Unlike the rest of its body, which had Human looking skin, the skin on its face was a deep, dark green. It sneered, showing long, pointed teeth. It tilted its head to look from Conner to Glaerion, exposing long, pointed ears.
Conner gripped his sword with both hands and rotated his body into a defensive stance to prepare for the creature’s next attack.
Malkalith pointed the battle-ax at Conner and let loose with the explosive white fire. Conner felt warmth surround him, like a soft summer breeze, but the force of the magic did not affect him at all. He cringed as the spell struck him, even though he knew it would not hurt him. Too late, he realized that the creature was only trying to distract him. At the corner of his vision, he caught sight of the spear heading ri
ght for his head.
With a scream, Nikki jumped forward, sword slicing at the creature’s arm. Her sword sunk deep into the forearm, slicing to the bone. The spear missed Conner’s head but sunk deep into his left shoulder. Pain erupted through Conner’s body, but it did not stop him. He released his two-handed grip on his sword, held the sword in his right hand and thrust it forward, sinking it into the belly of the creature. The creature stepped forward, pushing the spear through Conner’s shoulder, so the blade came out the back. It also caused Conner’s sword to be embedded in Malkalith 's belly up to the hilt.
It leaned forward, its grizzly face inches from his. Death and decay came from its mouth as it spoke. “I cannot die. You, though, will suffer a long time before you do.”
Conner pulled up on the sword, trying to saw it through the creature’s body. It released its grasp on the spear and gripped Conner’s hand. It squeezed, crushing bones. Despite the pain exploding through his shoulder and hand, Conner pushed down on his sword, now trying to drive the blade down through the creature’s abdomen. But the creature was too strong and was able to hold Conner’s hand still. Then it took a step back, slowly pulling the sword out.
Conner released his grasp on his sword, letting the creature take his weapon. He took a step backward and stumbled, as the spear stuck in his shoulder caused him to lose his balance.
Malkalith turned as Nikki continued her attack and he used Conner’s sword to parry her blows. With expert precision, he counter-attacked, driving Nikki back.
Conner dropped to his knees and grasped the spear. Just touching the thick oak shaft sent burning pain through his shoulder. Biting his lip, he tried to pull it out, but the blade had gone all the way through his body, and there was no chance that he could pull it out. A wave of nausea and weakness swept over him. If Glaerion hadn’t dropped at his side at this instant, he would have toppled over.
“Stay strong!” Glaerion said sharply, noticing the paleness of Conner’s face and the weakness in his eyes.
Conner took in a deep breath and nodded. His eyes looked over Glaerion’s shoulder where Nikki was struggling to defend against Malkalith 's attacks. It made him angry to see his sword being used to attack Nikki and that anger brought some energy and life back into his body.
