by Jeff Inlo
"If Enin is going to do something, he better hurry," Ryson offered, but he could not hold long to such meager hope. He doubted anything could stop the despair ready to enter Uton. Eventually, evil would have its way.
Chapter 22
Holli neared exhaustion. The continuous arrival of more and more soldiers, along with the vicious struggle of those already trapped within the vines, forced her to increase the strength of her spell. Additional grasping stems shot up from the streets, and several platoons were pulled to the ground. In some areas, Connel appeared more like a jungle than a city, with dozens of soldiers trapped in the thick brush.
As the magical energy within her dwindled, she called to Haven for assistance.
"I am nearly spent. You will have to stop them when the vines collapse."
The emerald energy began to crackle around her, and with one final burst, the green magic faded away. Holli fell to the ground, still conscious but unable to remain on her feet.
"You do not have much time," the elf whispered to the sorceress. "The vines will remain but they can no longer resist."
Haven looked down the long streets and narrow alleys of Connel. The movement which possessed the green stems vanished. The vines remained, most wrapped tightly around the human soldiers' arms and legs, but no new strands sprung from the ground. Without having to fight against additional attacks, the guards slowly gained the advantage.
Sensing the end of resistance in the stems which held them, the soldiers pulled angrily at the vines, shredding them to pieces. Once they regained hold of their weapons, many cut at the plants with daggers and short swords, sliced themselves free from the long strands that clung to them. A few managed to rise to their feet and began kicking away the debris.
Haven knew what would follow. The soldiers would regroup but ignore the elves. They would not set upon Holli in response to her attack. They would instead place their fury upon the infern waiting for its own inevitable demise. The willful killing of a half-demon would not go unnoticed. The action would incite the darowks, and every shadowy demon would break through the gateway that connected Connel with Demonspawn.
She could not let that happen.
Connel was not her camp; she felt no binding association to the inhabitants of the city. Humans were as foreign to her as the dwarves who preferred dark underground places, but she could not completely dismiss them, leave them to some horrible and undeserved fate.
Yes, they were different in some ways, but they were also similar in many others. They shared the same bond between body and spirit—her magical senses allowed her to see that beyond doubt—and if she allowed the humans to suffer due to her indifference, her own spirit would pay the price.
Intent on saving the humans without injuring them, she faced yet another dilemma. The direct solution was to use the power of her light to break the hold of the serp, to free the soldiers' minds of foreign influence. She could not, however, free every soldier with one massive casting. Such a spell would require substantial control to avoid damaging the memories and identities of each guard. She did not have the time for such an incantation.
She looked to Scheff, but she knew she could not ask for his assistance. He had the ability to incapacitate the soldiers, but his blindness would prevent him from effectively utilizing any defensive spells. He could not see the mayhem, would not be able to isolate the guards. If he used his power over the storm, he could end up destroying the city. She felt a pang of guilt as she recalled the spell that permanently removed his vision.
Scheff's condition, however, guided Haven to a response. To save Connel, she needed to prevent the guards from killing the infern, and they could not kill what they could not see.
She considered the spell she used on Scheff, but immediately dismissed it. Scheff had been infused with Reiculf's magic. Though the guards were under the influence of the serp, they were not complete slaves to Reiculf. The daokiln might have gained control of their minds, but he had not fully taken their essence as he had accomplished with Scheff. To incapacitate the soldiers, a temporary blinding would be sufficient.
Just as she prepared the spell, a familiar voice commanded her to halt.
"Hold!" Shantree shouted. "We have the help we need!"
Haven looked over her shoulder to see the elf elder followed by a legion of dwarves. The stout warriors carried no weapons, but it was clear they were ready to defend the city, even if it was necessary to battle Connel's sworn human protectors.
A burly dwarf in the front shouted commands, and every dwarf immediately, almost gleefully, fell into formation. They formed diamond-shaped battle squads and each collection of dwarves rushed up the street like canoes riding atop fast moving rapids. When they came across the dwindling vines of Holli's magic, their heavy boots pressed through the tangled masses with unyielding determination.
The squads at the forefront bypassed the first soldiers, leaving them to dwarves further behind. Instead, the leading battle patrols moved directly to the infern, encircled it, and formed an impressive barrier around the half-demon.
The infern glanced about at the stout warriors. It sneered in contempt. The half-demon did not appreciate the presence of so many intruders, and it finally decided to make its displeasure known.
With a quick turn, the armored monster turned its flames down toward the street. It swung about, creating a circle of shooting fire. The jagged, amber flares engulfed each dwarf, but the result was not as the infern envisioned.
The dwarves ignored the blaze, for it was the heat born of demon fire. The magically resistant warriors knew what they faced, and prepared themselves for the inevitable attack. A half-demon's flames might singe a few dwarf hairs, but it could not break through their inherent defenses. Once the flames passed, they spit out the taste of burning rock and glared in absolute defiance. Each dwarf remained standing, uninjured, and determined to block any human's path to the half-demon.
The remaining dwarves leapt into immediate engagement with the human soldiers. The sturdy warriors carried no weapons, but blades and cudgels were not necessary for the task at hand. They considered the guards of Connel allies and friends. They understood the soldiers had fallen under a spell of influence, and they would not punish the humans for the diabolical acts of a serp or the daokiln.
Moving with decisive quickness, the brawny dwarves grappled with the guards. Many took hold of two humans at a time. With robust yanks and sudden twists of arms and legs, they locked the limbs of the guards under their control. They could not afford to be gentle with the soldiers, and though they caused no permanent harm, the dwarves showed little compassion in completely restraining their adversaries.
Crazed with fury, frantic to reach the infern, the guards fought desperately against their foes. They did not show their shorter counterparts the same respect and attempted to use their weapons against their enemies. Thankfully, many of their longer blades still remained entangled in the vines. Before they could free them, they found themselves in the unbreakable grip of resolute hands. The few soldiers holding short swords or daggers attacked recklessly, and they were quickly disarmed by warriors who excelled in close quarters combat.
As the humans continued to fight without tactics, they fell quickly to the battle trained dwarves. Many were tied up in bunches and left to squirm in the middle of the street or at the dark end of some narrow alley.
More soldiers arrived upon the scene—all with weapons in hand—but the dwarves had taken strategic positions to surprise them. Waves of dwarf fighters plowed into the guards before the humans could raise their spears or long swords. Once more, the soldiers were quickly disarmed and wrestled to the ground.
During the melee, Shantree moved to assist Holli. The elder helped the weary guard to her feet.
"You did well," Shantree praised.
"So did you," Holli replied. "A wise tactic."
"But only a temporary solution. The dwarves are tireless and can handle many waves, but there is a risk to injury. We a
lso cannot keep the humans shackled indefinitely. We must find a way to free them of the twisted influence which inflicts them."
"I could block out Macheve's control," Haven offered. "It will take time, but I believe I can free many of them."
"That is also only a temporary solution," Shantree explained. "Your power is impressive, but you must remember we are dealing with more than a serp. With each soldier you free, Reiculf's magic can enslave dozens. You will expend your energy and we may yet have need of it. No, we must stop the manipulation at its source."
"That would require us to find Macheve," Holli offered, "and she could be anywhere within Connel, perhaps even beyond the edges of the city, hiding behind some hill or barn."
"Haven, can you locate the serp by following the path of her influence?" the elder questioned.
The elf sorceress considered the request and then quickly cast a minor spell of light reflection. She directed the golden magic toward the human guards in hopes it would reveal some trace of Macheve's control.
She noted a great deal of distortion surrounding each soldier. The warped flow of magic appeared to roll across Connel from every direction. There was no concise path of energy leading to some point in the city or to a farmhouse beyond Connel's outskirts. Even as the sorceress refined her spell, she could not isolate a source or even pinpoint a heavier concentration other than the independent masses which enveloped each human guard.
"All paths have been concealed," Haven revealed. "I believe the serp is allowing Reiculf's magic to engulf the city from every direction. She may be the conduit for the daokiln's power, but she is spinning it into the surrounding lands and then directing it toward the city center."
"That makes sense," Holli added. "It would allow her to gain control of nearly every soldier throughout the city without having to create direct links."
"That is an awesome display of power," Shantree admitted.
"Reiculf's magic would allow for such a display."
"Then there is little else for us to do. We must wait for further direction from Enin and Ansas," the elf elder acknowledged, though she said the sorcerer's name with an obvious tinge of disgust. "The dwarves will help us protect the infern, and we can remain watchful for other disturbances."
#
Enin and Ansas appeared at the western edge of Connel, very near the infern protected by Ryson, Jure, and Dzeb. Both powerful magic casters immediately glanced toward the fireball hanging over the southern section of the city.
"The gateway remains closed," Enin stated optimistically. "The inferns must still be alive."
"You have the ability to communicate with your elf apprentice, yes?" Ansas asked.
"I do."
"Then do so now. Determine their status."
Enin did not appreciate the commanding tone of the sorcerer, but he could not deny the wisdom of the directive. He focused upon the magical connection that linked him with Holli's consciousness. He did not probe deeply into her thoughts, but rather made his appeal clear. Without speaking, the elf and wizard quickly shared their knowledge over the lines of magical communication. Pleased with the news he received, Enin willingly relayed the elves' situation to the sorcerer.
"Macheve is deploying a fog of influence across the entire city," Enin explained. "The serp is forcing hundreds of Connel's guards to attack the infern. Shantree has attained the assistance of the dwarves and they are holding the soldiers at bay. There is no immediate threat to the half-demon as the dwarves are well-positioned and understand the full scope of the danger we face."
"I don't believe anyone appreciates the full scope," Ansas muttered, but he appeared pleased with the elf elder's strategy. "With the dwarves protecting the infern, we can afford to remove the elves from that section of the city. Teleport them all here now."
"But what if..."
"Do not argue with me!" the sorcerer insisted. "Because of your rash decision, Gnafil will be here any moment. We will need all the strength we can muster, and that still may not be enough."
Enin curbed his anger and did as Ansas instructed. Following his link to Holli and using her as an anchor, the wizard reached out to the elves and brought them to his side. He noticed their surprise and tried to explain his actions.
"I am sorry that was so sudden, but we need your assistance here. There is..."
"Apologize to them later," Ansas declared. "Recall Jure. We will need him as well."
"But he is guarding the other infern," Enin argued.
"Let the delver and the cliff behemoth protect the half-demon! Gnafil will be here any moment. We have to be ready to destroy him before he understands what's going on."
"He already knows," a voice called out from the opposite end of the street, "as do I. Go ahead and recall the wizard. It will not help you."
Ansas turned about and saw the serp Macheve watching him with a sinister smile. Frustration exploded within the sorcerer, but he said nothing. He knew they had lost. It was a simple calculation. Gnafil would appear in mere moments and they would be caught between two pawns of the daokiln. Even if he combined his magic with Enin, Haven, and Scheff, they would not be able to overcome the force ready to crush them.
Enin would survive, as would Scheff and Shantree. Reiculf would gain control of them and the daokiln's power would expand. For Ansas, there would be no path to victory. He would be spared as well, but for different reasons. They would force him to Demonspawn. He knew Reiculf would want to punish him for daring to challenge the daokiln's desires.
Ansas considered teleporting away, but it was pointless. He could only run so far. If Reiculf didn't find him, Baannat would. The best alternative was to die in battle. He prepared a spell of alteration that would enrage Gnafil when he arrived. He believed demon fire would be the quickest and least painful of the possible alternatives.
Macheve knew exactly what the sorcerer planned, but she only sneered at the attempt. She wouldn't let the sorcerer escape punishment. She would deliver Ansas to Reiculf personally, but first, she had a surprise for them all, a surprise that would please her master and bring pain to the city that had sheltered the daokiln's foes.
"You've managed to keep the inferns alive longer than I expected, but it doesn't matter. You never had a chance. I allowed it to continue only so you could build up your hopes. I could have brought the darowks down at any time. Do you see?"
Macheve pointed behind her.
Another infern minion waited silently in the shadows. Once the serp revealed the third half-demon's position, it began to glow. Its black armor contained the heat, but its pale face turned white hot. In a flash of burnt amber, the half-demon took flight and soared past the shocked party of humans and elves.
In but a heartbeat, it landed well away from them all but in the midst of two human patrols. The soldiers, heavily armed, fell upon the creature without hesitation. The infern refused to fight back. It allowed itself to be hacked to pieces. The orange glow of its magic grew brighter until it flared out from the half-demon's body. The infern turned dark.
High over the city, the fireball exploded. A cloud of gray smoke billowed outward to cover the blue sky and blot out the midday sun. The dark haze swirled violently and a vast array of horrific shadows began to break free from the gloom. The smoke grew thicker and the city was covered in a darkness bleaker than any stormy night. The shadowy creatures stirred themselves into a greater frenzy until a wave of demons descended upon every corner of the city.
Chapter 23
"What is happening?" Scheff asked.
Haven wished she did not have to witness it herself, might have even believed that Scheff's blindness was a blessing, but she could not hide from her responsibility. Death, or worse, was at their doorstep, and she couldn't leave Scheff guessing about their seemingly inevitable fate.
"An infern was killed... a third one, one we did not know about. It was killed by human soldiers and the darowks witnessed it all. They are enraged and have broken through the gateway. Even now, they are f
illing the sky, but they have also begun their descent. Waves of smoke demons are cascading down all over the city."
She left it at that, didn't feel it was necessary to invoke further images of the horrible scene unfolding before her. It was difficult enough to watch. Trying to describe it would only serve to crush what was left of her spirit. The sight of near shapeless demons rushing across the sky dimmed the brightness that normally glistened from her own body. The golden magic of her essence sank deeper into her core as she recoiled from the vision of hopelessness.
The darowks, demons defined more by smoke than by solid substance, swept through the streets like dry leaves pressed forward in heavy winds. More and more dropped from the sky, an unending flow of anger and hate directed at the city of humans. A cloud of shadow expanded overhead like a billowing thunderstorm. The all enveloping darkness was deeper than the coming of night, and it fell upon the streets in an unyielding approach of sheer anguish.
The drifting demons engulfed entire sections of Connel, blanketed not just the roads and alleys, but every structure as well. They passed through the smallest cracks and down the thinnest pipes. They entered every locked room, falling upon any human they could find. Swirling in fury, the demons shrouded their victims with the overpowering hate of their essence.
Once seized, the citizens of Connel found themselves engulfed in darkness. They could not see, or breathe, and reality swirled into a haze of dark gray smoke. There was no physical form they could fight against. They could not punch or wrestle the demons bent on suffocating them. They could only run.
They managed to break free, for the demons lacked the substance to take hold of their victims. People rushed out of their homes, raced away from the ever encroaching clouds of gloom. They found momentary hope, but it would not last for long. While they could escape to free air, they could not run forever, and the areas of sanctuary were quickly diminishing.
