The Forge of Light: The White Mage Saga #5 (The Chronicles of Lumineia)

by Ben Hale

  Buried in a ring around the summit, the bricks of C4 ignited in a single, massive blast. Fire engulfed the houses and Twisted as the mountain shook. Most of the cabins lost their foundations and collapsed down the slope, crushing hundreds before they disintegrated. Wolf squinted through the inferno and opened fire once more, picking off the stragglers.

  "That's it for explosives," Pearson shouted. His voice was barely audible over the crackling fire, screams of Twisted, and rattle of gunfire. "Either the girl destroys the Dark, or we die defending this summit!"

  "He's seems like a gentle human," Urilian remarked.

  A large movement caught Wolf's eyes, and he scanned the Dark through the smoke. What he saw caused him to rise to his feet.

  "Captain?" Peterson asked.

  "We used the explosives too soon," Wolf said.

  "We were about to be overrun," Wilson said.

  "No . . .," Wolf said as they stepped from the Dark.

  Huge leviathans advanced into view alongside dozens of elephants, tigers, and wolves. Bears filled in the gaps with a trio of lions. With tens of thousands of smaller Twisted, they surrounded the summit and issued a collective roar. Soldiers, mages, and dark elves alike sucked in their breath as they realized the truth. The Twisted had waited until they had expended their greatest defenses.

  "Now we're about to be overrun," Wolf said.

  Then Knisenik appeared. Carving his way through the smaller Twisted, it nicked the leg of one of the leviathans. Then it darted back and took a bite out of the wound. Urilian smiled in anticipation.

  "Black reavers absorb the power of their victims through their blood," he told the SEALs.

  "What does that mean?" Wilson asked.

  Urilian flashed him a look. "He's gaining the leviathan’s strength."

  As the line of larger creatures surged into a charge, the black reaver seemed to swell with power. Its flesh glowed with magic, and it released a roar of triumph. Then it burst into motion. Tearing one of the spikes from its back, it turned and hurled it at the leviathan.

  The spike went through the leviathan's skull, killing it in a single blow. Without a sound the great creature collapsed, flattening its smaller companions. By then the black reaver had begun its rampage.

  Its strength magnified to that of a Dark-empowered leviathan, it ripped a serrated tusk from an elephant and impaled the owner. Then it dove into a trio of bears. They went down in seconds, as did the pack of Twisted wolves beside it.

  Greater fiends and smaller fiends alike were slaughtered. Frightening and awesome in its intensity, the black reaver killed without mercy, until every greater fiend had been decimated. Then it charged up the mountain, making for the summit. Abruptly it slipped on the bloodied ground and went down. It slid to a stop and did not rise, its chest heaving from the exertion.

  "What's happening?" Wolf asked.

  "The effect is temporary," Urilian said. "And the greater the power absorbed, the greater the ensuing weakness."

  Howling at the slaughter of their companions, the ranks of smaller Twisted poured toward the downed reaver. Its strength gone, the reaver remained where it was. Wolf didn't hesitate. Gathering his gear, he leapt over the barrier.

  "Captain!" Pearson roared, but Wolf was already gone.

  Before he'd slid ten feet his team had joined him, and to his surprise, the dark elves as well. Urilian flashed him a smile and twirled his sword.

  "You humans are exciting!"

  Wolf opened fire on the Twisted, cutting the first rank down. Then the team reached the reaver and took up positions around it.

  "Formation Delta! Covering fire! Urilian, right flank!"

  The SEALs fanned out, cutting the ranks of Twisted down before they could reach the reaver. His cheek to his weapon, Wolf did not retreat as the ranks of Twisted thickened.

  "Get up," he growled.

  As if it had heard him, the reaver stumbled to its feet. Its pace unsteady and weak, it began to walk up the slope. Retreating under fire, the SEALs targeted and killed with flawless accuracy, taking their foes down in controlled bursts. On the opposite flank the dark elves fought with equal precision, their swords blurring into flesh as they killed the Twisted.

  One of the elves was caught and dragged away, and Wilson was nearly mauled. He fell to the ground and kept firing until Wolf leaned down and yanked him up. Step by agonizing step, the group retreated up the slope.

  Wolf expended every grenade and bullet in his arsenal by the time the reaver dragged itself over the wall. Gasping from the effort, Wolf sat against a crate and slid to the ground. Then Pearson was in his face.

  "You almost got yourself killed! What were you thinking?"

  "We don't leave a man behind," Wolf said wearily.

  "That's not one of your—"

  Wolf forced himself to his feet. "Yes, he is."

  Pearson's mouth closed with a snap. Then he issued a grunt and stalked away. "Don't break the line again, Captain."

  Wolf nodded. "Yes, sir."

  A low rumble drew his gaze to the reaver, who was eyeing him as it rested. This doesn't mean I won't kill you.

  Startled by the words, Wolf issued a quiet laugh. "Or I you."

  Its reply could have been a snarl or a laugh, and Wolf hoped it was the latter. Reloading his weapon, he returned to the wall. Just as he was about to open fire, the Arc warmed to fire again. Inwardly he smiled. The tactic to destroy the Arc had failed. Then suddenly the Arc dimmed, drawing all eyes to it.

  "Think it broke?" Wilson asked.

  Wolf shook his head, his thoughts leaping to Auroraq. If the enemy truly wanted to destroy the Halo, why eliminate the Arcs? Why not hit the source? Wolf swallowed his fear. Whatever the reason, they were now surrounded by the Dark with nothing to defend.

  They were trapped.

  Chapter 40: A General's Might

  Weary from using so much magic, Tess Gated to Siarra's refuge. Siarra stepped out to join her, and they exited into the morning light. Then they rose into the air together. As they glided over Tryton's, her gaze fell upon the school.

  Her memories flooded her. She'd started as an anonymous student, which had been the best gift Hawk could have given her. When her identity had become known, the school's populace had focused on her with curiosity, and at times, fear. Throughout it all Tess had dealt with the ever-increasing threat of the Harbingers.

  What would it have been like if Alice had not unleashed the Dark? She imagined herself going to class with her friends and spending time with Derek. She could have listened to the professors out of a desire to learn, instead of a desire to survive. Would she still have known Hawk? What would their training have been like without the oppressive weight of the Harbingers? She thought of Tempest, and how much fun it had been to fly on the air board when all that mattered was the score. Would she have made more friends?

  She wondered if Tryton's had dances like normal schools. Perhaps Derek would have taken her, and they would have danced under the stars amidst breathtaking magic. She'd come into Tryton's with a sense of wonder. Magic had been intoxicating with its potential. Along the way Alice had sullied it. Now magic was merely a weapon to wage war, not a tool to build and uplift.

  For the first time she considered what would happen if she actually stopped the Dark. What would the nations of Earth do? What would she do? She released a slow breath and reminded herself that Alice stood on the verge of victory. If Alice did win, what would she do with Tess?

  Or would she be dead?

  She shivered and forced the thoughts from her mind. Her pace driven by her worry, she accelerated toward the Spirus. Then Siarra spoke.

  "The battle draws to a close. We must find the final talisman."

  Tess looked to her as they landed on a balcony of the Spirus. "I don't think it's what we thought," she said, and shared Derek's theory of it being a fixed location.

  Siarra came to a dead stop. "The Forge of Light," she breathed.

  "The what?" Tess came to a stop. W
hy did that sound familiar? Then she remembered that the Ironguard had once said that the 'Forge of Light illuminates all'.

  Siarra's expression was still of shock. "The Forge of Light is an ancient tale. It is referred to in several tomes, but little was known even in my day. The tale spoke of an ancient machine on a mountain, one that was built during the Dawn of Magic."

  "Can it stop the Dark?"

  "That was not its purpose," Siarra replied. "But apparently my mother thought it could."

  "I don't understand," Tess said. "What will it do?"

  "The better question is, what did it do?" Siarra said, and her eyes connected with Tess. "If the tale is to be believed, the Forge of Light is the cause of magic on this world."

  Tess's breath caught in her throat as she realized what Siarra was saying. "You mean that the Forge of Light . . ."

  Siarra gave a solemn nod. "Is what gave mankind magic."

  "What happens if we activate it?"

  "We have already been touched by magic," Siarra said, "but it might still create the beacon of light."

  "It is the location," Tess said, and felt a sudden urgency. "Where do we find it? Can we use the compass—"

  "No." Siarra shook her head. "We don't have time to follow it to the Forge. We require a destination first, and I believe you have a friend who has proven adept at such matters."

  "Iris," Tess said, and entered the Spirus through a shattered window. Speeding down the hall, she came to a stop in the command center.

  Generals rushed to carry out their orders, their movements frantic as they spoke with harried techno mages. Soldiers and healers were still caring for the dead and injured that had fallen during Varson's attack. Through the tumult Tess spotted her friend.

  Iris stood in the center of the broken map, a vortex of purple threads swirling around her. Sparks and purple lightning ignited the air in her presence, and glowed across her eyes and skin. The expression of pain on her features sent a shiver of foreboding into Tess's gut.

  Iris, what have you done?

  Iris's lips twitched, but she responded in kind. Given you time. The threads from here were shredded. It was the only way we could still fight. For now I can order every unit in the defenses.

  Tess cringed at the sound of Iris's voice. It was like hearing a thousand people repeating the same words at the same time, creating an echo of her real voice.

  For now?

  I'm organizing the Earth Army so it can endure after I'm gone.

  Instinctively Tess took a step toward her.

  Don't! Iris warned. I'm lazed into millions of threads. Try to move me and they will collapse onto my mind.

  What can I do?

  Win this war, Iris responded. And tell Derek I'm sorry. He was right about our mother. I'm just glad she chose us in the end.

  Iris sent the image of Trina's death into Tess's mind, and Tess's chest tightened in anger. I'm sorry, Iris. Your mom deserved better.

  We all deserve better.

  I can't lose you, Iris, not after my dad . . .

  It's too late, Iris said quietly. There's no way I can disconnect from here without it killing me. It's up to you now.

  Tess fought the welling of fury rising within her. First her dad, and now Iris? Over the last year Iris had become more than friend. To have her die was something she refused to accept.

  I'm not going to let you do this, Tess said.

  You have to, Iris replied. You have to find the Forge of Light and end this. I'm trying to locate it now.

  Tess shouldn't have been surprised that she already knew about the Forge, but she was. You're my sister, Iris, she pleaded. I can't let you die.

  You have no choice . . .

  Tess ground her teeth together and spoke aloud. "Iris, I'm not leaving you—"

  Brace yourselves! Iris's scream touched every mind in the Spirus, causing soldier and civilian alike to flinch.

  "What's happening?" Tess demanded.

  The Spirus rocked to the side. Tess caught herself against the wall, her eyes darting to Iris for an answer. Iris spoke as the Spirus floor righted itself.

  The Aspect is here.

  Tess stared at Iris, and then bolted back down the hall. With Siarra at her side she flew out the window and turned her gaze downward. Her heart sank as she saw the Aspect of Justice returning for another pass.

  Twenty feet tall and resembling an angel, it struck the Spirus with its shimmering blade. Bits of protective magic broke off and cascaded away from the impact, allowing the blade to slice deep into the superstructure. The Spirus reeled back like a struck boxer. Just as it righted itself the Aspect struck again.

  "It's made of white magic," Siarra said.

  Tess heard recognition in her voice, and she turned to her. "It was enchanted by the oracle of Atlantis," Tess said.

  "Only white magic can cause it harm," Siarra said, and threw her a look. "We must not allow it to escape."

  The Aspect struck the base of the building again, and this time its intention was made clear. Walls and supports shattered under its furious assault, creating a gap large enough for it to enter. Then it disappeared toward the Shield of Auroraq office.

  Tess and Siarra dived over the side, and Tess began to summon white magic. With her mind weighed by the last few hours, the energy was slow to come. Siarra crafted a shining white sword, so she did the same. Flowing the white into a blade, she cast it into solid.

  They reached the ground and banked into the hole the Aspect had made. Magic shield charms and stone columns had been decimated by the white sentient's passage, and Tess's heart leapt into her throat. After their earlier effort to remove Tryton's Sword and the Aspect's entry, little remained of the Recollection.

  The entrance to the subterranean levels had been opened like a can of soup. Tess and Siarra dived through the gaping hole and found the Aspect raising its ten-foot sword at the top of the spiraling wind lift. It plunged it into the casually swirling wind and the enchantment cracked. Twice more the Aspect raised its sword and struck, and on the third blow the wind lift disintegrated.

  White vapor filled the large shaft as the solid wind evaporated. Standing at the top and wreathed in light, the Aspect spread its wings and dropped from the ledge—and they struck from behind.

  Tess had little experience with a sword, but her weapon was more an extension of her will than a normal blade. Leading with the tip, she slammed into the Aspect's wing, cutting a furrow from the top of the wing to the bottom. Opposite her, Siarra stabbed her weapon deep into the Aspect's side.

  Unprepared for the attack, the Aspect dropped like a stone and slammed into the bottom of the shaft. It rose to face the hovering oracles, its hood lifting until Tess could almost see its eyes. For the first time it issued a sound.

  The hideous bellow rocked Tess further up the shaft and made the hair across her arms rise. As white ichor seeped from the wounds, the Aspect of Justice swung its sword and launched itself at them.

  Tess had just enough time to wrap herself in a gravity bubble before it backhanded her. She crunched into the stone wall of the shaft. Her gravity bubble crumbled from the impact and she struggled to keep her wits. As her vision swam she witnessed Siarra's assault.

  Flitting like a hummingbird from one side to the other, Siarra deflected the much larger blade with the skill of a trained swordsman. She bounced off the wall a half second before the Aspect's sword gouged a line through her position, and nicked its arm as she spun into a dive. The Aspect whirled to face her, its white sword blurring as it twirled.

  Siarra dipped and dodged and deflected the strikes that came too close. The Aspect abruptly drove forward, attempting to crush Siarra against the wall. She Gated and reappeared at its back, raking her sword across its spine before dodging away. The retaliating strike nearly cleaved her in two.

  In spite of Siarra's skill, the wounds on the Aspect remained superficial. Evidently recognizing the truth, Siarra switched tactics. Rising into the shaft, she conjured a barrage of w
hite arrows. The Aspect whipped its sword to deflect them, but two got through. They sank into its shoulder and chest, drawing more of its glowing blood.

  Seeing a chance to re-engage, Tess dropped to the bottom of the shaft and struck at its leg. With its attention up, it did not notice Tess until too late. Tess's blade plunged into the back of its leg. Releasing another thundering bellow, the Aspect did what Tess least expected. It leapt halfway up the shaft and dived to the side.

  Plunging its sword into the wall of the shaft, it shattered a gaping hole and glided through. The movement was so swift that Tess lost her sword. To her dismay it disintegrated out of her hands. Casting another, she leapt in pursuit. Just as Siarra and Tess alighted at the edge of the hole the Aspect's intention was made clear.

  The Aspect had broken through the Shield of Auroraq office, swinging its sword at thin air. Confused, Tess blinked into her magesight—and her heart stopped in her chest. The Aspect was not interested in fighting them because it had another goal. With its mighty sword swinging through walls like they were made of cardboard, the Aspect began severing thousands of gravity charms . . .

  And the floor began to sink. Like an old elevator lurching downward, the floor dropped beneath them. Tess's eyes widened in horror as she realized why the Aspect of Justice had been sent.

  To knock Auroraq out of the sky.

  Chapter 41: Plummet

  Its mission completed, the Aspect turned to face them. It sword spun in a lazy circle as if declaring an invitation. Tess did not advance. As the gravity spells that held it aloft dissipated, Auroraq would accelerate faster and faster toward the Earth. Its impact would flatten everything—and everyone—on the city.

  The ground settled beneath her feet, causing her heart to rise. "We have to help evacuate the city," she said. "There's not enough time for them to get out without help."

  Siarra's expression was so intense it bordered on madness. Her posture screamed her desire to punish the Aspect. Afraid that the magic would get the best of Siarra, Tess gingerly touched her arm.

  "We need to save the others," Tess said urgently. "They are the leaders of our army. If they die our defense falls apart."