Delver Magic: Book 04 - Nightmare's Shadow

by Jeff Inlo

  "There is another matter," the delver announced after the algors quieted. "The threat we face is so large that Enin has provided us with further assistance. Dwarves will be here shortly to help you defend your home, to defend the desert."

  In unison, the crowd of algors roared.

  "No!"

  The rebuke was so sudden and so strong, it stunned the delver. He fought to regain his composure and reassure the algors of the dwarves intentions.

  "The dwarves are not coming to attack. They only want to redeem themselves for what they did to you in the past."

  Once more, the response was total in both certainty and unity.

  "No!"

  "They will fight with you not against you."

  "No!"

  "Without their help, you might not survive."

  Just one algor voice called out.

  "They killed us. We will not let them in our homes again. They killed us."

  And then all of them: "They killed us!"

  They shouted the charge in complete unison and with such emotion that it seemed as if the voices of the dead had joined with those that had been left behind. There was more than anger in the three accusing words. There was pain and loss.

  Ryson did not discount such emotion. He did not attempt to contradict the accusation. He couldn't, but he chose to grasp hope from the future as opposed to suffering from the past.

  "I know, and so do they. They want to make amends."

  The algors simply repeated themselves one last time, with even greater emotion.

  "They killed us!"

  Ryson looked upon the strange creatures that looked back upon him as if he should understand, but he could not.

  "If we don't accept their help, more of us will die."

  He wasn't sure why he said it in that way. The emphasis was on "we" and "us."

  The algors responded in kind.

  "We will fight as one and we will die as one. They killed us!"

  There would be no debate. It was true. The dwarves had attacked the algors, viciously and cruelly. They attacked the algors as if the race was one entity, one enemy. Thus, the algors held to their losses in the same fashion. Every death of an algor at the hands of a dwarf was a crime against every algor, and they would not forget or forgive. Certainly, they would not allow the dwarves to enter their territory.

  Ryson saw only futility in further arguing. He wondered if the suggestion alone had destroyed his own chances of assisting the algors.

  "Will you at least accept my help?" he asked of the defiant crowd.

  Silence at first, and then several algors together responded.

  "Acumen, delver..." a very long pause, and then... "algor."

  There was nothing else Ryson could do. He would have to meet with the dwarves before they arrived and inform them of the algor refusal. Enin stated that dwarf assistance was crucial, but algor resistance was not something easily overcome, especially when that resistance was so unanimous.

  The delver would have to devise some kind of plan on his own. He would not be able to communicate with Enin on the matter. The wizard was fortifying forces to the east. Winning in the desert was now his problem and his alone.

  Chapter 19

  "You will lead them," Enin revealed to his loyal elf companion.

  Holli did not question the directive, but understood the implications. She swore a personal oath to protect the wizard, and it was her concern for his safety, not unease over his plans, that drove her question.

  "Where will you be?"

  "Back in the dark realm," Enin answered honestly. "I hope to stop this war before it truly begins."

  "You tried that before," Holli pointed out. "Baannat was not vulnerable to your attack... your spell failed to inflict any damage upon him. That is what you told us."

  "That is because he was not really there. Jure is very perceptive. He saw it before I did. Baannat never actually died, but he's no longer alive, either. He walks life and death at the same time."

  "How is that possible?"

  "A perfect blend of circumstances and my mistake," Enin admitted. "The end of his previous life occurred in a pocket of magic, a place where the aspects of a physical world can be manipulated with greater ease. In fact, one of my spells actually worked to slow time to a crawl. Before there was a complete separation of Baannat's body and spirit, demons removed Baannat's body back to the dark realm—not this plane of existence, but still a physical realm. Even when Baannat's magical sanctuary collapsed, he had not completed the transition into death. His evil soul was trapped in the space between life and death. It served almost as a sanctuary and that's where he is at this very moment."

  Holli began to understand. She had already perceived the intention and effects of Heteera's spell. She followed the progression of events to their logical conclusion.

  "Heteera wanted to open the death's door to bring Lief back to this existence, but without true control, she simply allowed Baannat to escape."

  "Indeed, but remember, he was still not alive and could not capture or utilize free magic for his own purposes. The vessel was needed to capture it."

  "And once the vessel captured sufficient energy, we released it for him," Holli acknowledged. "Still, how will returning to the dark realm allow you to fight him if he's neither alive nor dead?"

  "Because I now believe I know where he is. He is in the veil between existences, not one side of the curtain or the other, but inside the curtain itself."

  "Can you reach him there?"

  "I believe so. Baannat told me he could not open a portal between Uton and the dark realm, and that makes sense. He is no longer a true physical being so he cannot make connections between two physical planes. He has, however, recovered a portion of his previous body and that allows him to make contact with the dark realm from the veil. He has opened... not so much a portal... but more of a link to the physical world so he can take control of the dark creatures."

  "And you can reach him through this link?"

  "I believe so, now that I know where he is and where he is not."

  "And you will go alone?"

  "I know you would rather accompany me, but it is not possible. I also need you here. Even as I battle Baannat, he will send his minions out into this land. I do not know why my judgment has been so clouded of late, but there are things I have seen clearly. Baannat wishes to punish me, Linda, and Ryson, but he also wants to take control of the desert to the west and the plains to the east."

  "May I ask why you chose Pinesway?"

  "It is very simple. I do not believe Connel should suffer again. It has faced too much hardship since the return of the magic. If there is another battle within its borders, I believe the people will finally give up. I can't have that."

  Holli could not argue the assessment. She had been at Enin's side as he worked to rebuild the city of Connel. Though the wizard masterfully utilized the newfound trust between dwarves and humans to the city's benefit, another catastrophic battle would ultimately destroy any optimism and doom any chances of prosperity. There was, however, certain risks in the wizard's strategy.

  "Just because you wish to avoid conflict within Connel does not preclude it from occurring. If what you have said of Baannat is true, then he will certainly target those areas that are of significant importance to you. That's exactly why Baannat may choose to bypass Pinesway."

  "No, I don't believe he will. Not when I have so many spell casters collected here. He will sense that. I am certain of it, and when he does, he will choose Pinesway as a battlefield. He will view it as an opportunity to expand his power and remove potential threats to his rule. Connel will always be there for him, but how can he resist a target of such opportunity?"

  "Because it's what you want him to do," Holli offered.

  "And that will make it that much more inviting for him. He would like nothing more than to beat me at my own game."

  Holli remained less confident.

  "Perhaps, but we may need to impose
safeguards as well. With so much power here, there are other ways we can bring them to us as well," she offered. "We know the location of the portal where his army will enter. A few well-placed spells could force their path to us."

  "That is an excellent idea," Enin agreed, "just don't extend too much energy in bringing them to you. You'll need enough to fight them when they get here. That reminds me, will you please ask Sy and Heteera to join us."

  Holli moved quickly out of the abandoned house on the outskirts of what was left of Pinesway. Enin took the opportunity to look out several windows and survey the surroundings. He could sense very few people remaining in what was left of the forsaken town. The thieves and most squatters had retreated. Save several dozen magic casters spread about the area, the streets were silent and rotting buildings stood empty. If a battle had to be fought, this was the place for it.

  Not much was left in the town, certainly not hope. That had left long ago. Meager refuge for those with something to hide or nothing to lose, and sanctuary for bandits looking for temporary shelter, that was all that remained.

  Holli, however, was correct about Baannat possibly bypassing the decaying town. There was nothing that would call for Baannat's interest or for the hunger of brutes and fiends, nothing beyond what Enin had placed there—the grouping of powerful spell casters and their collective magic.

  Enin, however, was growing more confident that would be enough. He himself could not ignore the pulsating flux of energy that seethed over the dilapidated town. The spell casters he enlisted into this fight brought their power to the abandoned streets. Even as he looked upon the shell of a lifeless town, he could sense a resurgence of optimism. It almost felt as if life, and hope, had returned to Pinesway.

  Sy and Heteera followed Holli back into the warehouse. Enin addressed Heteera first. He did not wish to place blame on the spell caster, as he believed her intentions were noble if not misguided, but he would also brook no argument over her role.

  "You are to stay with Holli, but you are not to cast any spells. I am not insulting you. In fact, if you actually understand anything about the magic, I am about to pay you a great compliment. You are to open yourself and your energy to Holli. Let her use your power. You will be the force and she will be the control. You have the strength to defeat any army, if you use it properly. Do you understand?"

  Heteera nodded.

  "I'm sorry about all this. I'll do whatever I can," she added.

  "Leave apologies for another day. I deserve as much blame as anyone. For now, we do what we can to correct our mistakes."

  Sy entered the conversation with his own concerns.

  "How sure are you that the attacks will only take place here and in the desert?"

  "I am not sure at all, but I am fairly confident of certain facts. I know he wishes to take the desert, to eliminate the algors. I am also confident he cannot ignore such a collection of energy. Since he wishes to move both east and west, this will be his most likely target."

  "What about Burbon?"

  "It is a concern, one that is shared by Ryson... and also apparently you."

  "Absolutely, so what do you suggest?"

  "I want you to return to Burbon and prepare your own forces. Unfortunately, I can offer no other aid. The magic casters must focus their energy here, and I don't want to have any links to Burbon. Our foes might follow the path right to your door. I have even removed the spells I once placed around the town for its protection. I don't want anything to attract them."

  "They may not need anything else than its location to be attracted to it," Sy proposed. "If I were attacking, I'd hit Burbon first and with everything I had. From there, I could flank Pinesway, as well as have a clear path to the farms around Connel."

  "I know, but I believe the main force will come after the magic casters first."

  "What about the elves? Can they offer any help?"

  "Too busy protecting their camps in Dark Spruce from the dark creatures that are already in the forest," Holli answered. "Shags, goblins and river rogues are making constant raids throughout the woods."

  "So we're on our own. We'll do what we can, but with no spell casters, no elves, and no Ryson, we're the weak link."

  "You may also be the safest," Enin allowed. "If Pinesway falls, the path to Connel and the eastern plains is already clear. You might not even be worth their attention."

  "I can't count on that. Anything else you need to tell me? If not, I should get back to Burbon."

  Enin shook his head and the guard captain left Pinesway with more worries than when he entered.

  Enin offered Holli one more word of advice before he himself set out on his own personal mission.

  "You control a powerful force here, but you must use them wisely. Many that are here are selfish and arrogant, but as spell casters they are attuned both to the magic and its history. I will alert them that you represent me and that they must follow your orders. Give them a chance to redeem the stigma of the past, and they might surprise you."

  The wizard then looked to Heteera.

  "I know the power inside you. Don't try to use it yourself, but don't keep it bottled up when it's needed."

  Without another word, the wizard left Pinesway in hopes that no such need would ever arise.

  #

  Out in the desert, a single apparition stood at the very spot a powerful spell took his mortal life. The spell came from a sorceress hoping to expand her power and enhance her skills, a magic caster much like those now gathered in Pinesway.

  Enin was correct about one thing; the collection of magical power created a beacon to all those attuned to the energy that flowed freely across Uton. Baannat's forces—an army of dark creatures—would not shy away from such power. Instead, they would gravitate to it like moths to a flame.

  As a spirit walking a physical plane, Lief Woodson could sense far more than even a great wizard linked to vast sources of magic. The elf ghost's awareness could sail beyond the limitations of mortal senses. He could perceive the intentions of many, including one in particular that would view Pinesway as a great opportunity. Most certainly, the abandon town would become a battlefield to determine the fate of the eastern plains. In that, Enin was correct.

  But Lief wondered about Enin's foundation for such a conflict. The wizard had brought magic casters to Pinesway out of a sense of duty, a need to erase sins committed during legendary times. Could the actions of spell casters during one age remove the stain of guilt upon those from another? That is what Enin believed, but Lief regarded the issue with a growing understanding to his own circumstances. He sensed a hollow aspiration in Enin's logic, and though he could not guess as to whether or not this would doom Holli's forces in Pinesway, Lief believed he might find his own salvation in the events that would follow.

  Chapter 20

  When Enin reached the portal to the dark realm, he was surprised to see how large it had grown. The edges expanded far beyond the force barrier he placed in front of it. Sufficient free space existed to allow hundreds of beasts to crossover at any time.

  As he looked into the rift, surprise shifted to alarm as he noted the gathering of creatures waiting almost patiently for some distant order to invade. Their numbers obliterated his worst fears and their willingness to remain on the dark side of the portal defied all logic.

  He wondered how it was possible for Baannat to maintain such far reaching control. Even beasts of nightmare have a will of their own. They would not simply succumb to Baannat unless they were forced. The ghoul absorbed a great deal of magic, but it was not an endless reserve. There were limits, and yet, Baannat seemed to be exceeding each boundary.

  Determined more than ever to quell the storm of war before it passed into Uton, the wizard made his way into the rift and past the monsters under a shadow spell that kept his presence hidden. There was no point in exhausting his power trying to fight the multitude. Even if successful in annihilating all the threats currently present, Baannat would simply gather another
army, perhaps even larger.

  No, the only path to success cut directly to the slink ghoul. Remove Baannat's influence over the beasts and they would probably set upon themselves. The portal could be closed and the threat extinguished.

  Enin followed the trail of Baannat's energy back to the cave in the chasm. He did not enter, for if he was right, Baannat didn't truly exist in the cave. The ghoul was only using it as an anchor. Baannat was hiding his true presence in a shroud that separated all existences. That was the space Enin had to access.

  Reaching Baannat, however, was the true challenge. Enin, to a large extent, understood the subtleties of existence and the differing planes of being. He witnessed angels and demons waiting at the veil between life and death. He knew the immortality of the spirit and the passages to greater awareness.

  While he could separate his essence from his body to enhance his awareness of multiple dimensions, he could not actually pass through to the spiritual existence while he remained a mortal being. His own soul remained linked to his body for as long as he drew breath, and though he could step out of his mortal shell for brief periods of time, he could not pass through the veil to experience true life after death until his time came.

  Still, it was not the afterlife that he wished to enter. Enin set his sights on the slink ghoul and that's where he had to reach.

  Baannat had not passed through the veil completely. If he had, his influence over Uton would have ended. He had escaped death because the link between his body and spirit had never been completely severed, he had not died in physical space. The ghoul was also no longer alive and could apparently remain in a state of flux, walking the almost invisible line between life and death.

  Enin focused on the veil. He continued to probe Baannat's energy, using that as a guide to space that had no true substance. It was not an envelope of magical power. It was almost non-existence and reaching it proved elusive.

  As Enin searched for some link, some connection to exploit, Baannat's almost ghostly figure—part body and part spirit—appeared near the cave entrance with a cackle.