"They're as strong as we can make them," Rador said, and coughed up more blood.
Markus raced to Rik's side and put his hands against Rik's chest. The stone continued to glow as Markus channeled energy through it. Klint stood nearby, looking on warily, his expression troubled, as if he knew that could have easily been him. Markus kept at it for a long time, sweat pouring down his face, his skin turning pale.
"It isn't working!" he said, his voice choked by tears.
"Keep at it," Rador said feebly. Then he fell to the side, and his expression went slack. Nadia raced to his side and placed a finger against his neck. No pulse.
Her voice felt thick. "He's dead."
She glanced over at Markus and Rik. Markus continued straining, pushing his healing powers through the Stone of Restoration. Nadia couldn't imagine how exhausted he must feel, how much his grief would take hold of him if Rik died.
"Nadia, I have something to tell you," Kara said. "While we have a moment."
Nadia struggled against tears. "What is it, Kara?"
"Rador told me what I have to do. I am what is known as a Traveler, a person who can Travel between different worlds in the universe. That's how we reached this place. I opened a gate. Now I have to destroy that gate and trap Krinir in this place, but I can only do it from this side. Rador told me he designed that mechanism himself. And with him gone, there's no hope of finding another way."
Nadia felt as if an icy hand had gripped her heart. "Are you saying what I think you're saying? That you have to stay behind?"
"It's the only way. Warrick can use the Stones of Creation to create a prison for Krinir, but that prison won't hold him forever. The only way to keep him from returning is to destroy the gateway to our world. That will destroy all such gateways. Once I destroy the gateway, I will never be able to return home."
Tears flowed down Nadia's face. "No, Kara, there has to be another way."
"I trusted Rador. If he said this is the only way, then he was telling the truth."
"But I can't lose you," Nadia said.
"It's the only way. I'm sorry, Nadia."
Nadia could see the truth in Kara's eyes. And the pain. The fear of loss. Nadia wrapped Kara in a tight embrace, and they both cried. They didn't care what was going on, didn't care that Warrick could see them. This was the last day they'd ever spend together.
Faint coughing came from Nadia's right. She broke out of the embrace to see Markus slumped against the wall of the chamber and Rik slowly raising himself to a sitting position.
Rik coughed again. "Am I alive?"
Markus wiped sweat from his forehead. "Yes, I brought you back."
The glow of the Stone of Restoration had grown much weaker.
"I was in the Ghost Forest," Rik said. "Then I was suddenly yanked back here. It was so calm there. So peaceful. I don't know if I want to be back here, where all hell is breaking loose."
Markus wrapped an arm around Rik. "You know I couldn't let you die."
"Yeah, I know, Markus. Friends stick together, right?"
The moment was awkward at first, but then they both started laughing. It seemed an absurd time to laugh, but Nadia joined in. What was life if you couldn't laugh in the face of danger? She had no idea how long they laughed before Warrick broke the spell.
"I hate to interrupt this awkward moment," he said, "but we still have work to do."
Great quakes shook the fortress, and cracks had formed in the door blocking the entrance to the chamber. Krinir's army of sorcerers was about to break through.
"I'm exhausted," Warrick said. "I can't fight that many at once."
"Then what can we do?" Nadia asked, fear twisting her stomach into knots.
"I have an idea," Warrick said, "but it will depend on how much strength Markus has left." He turned to Markus. "You are the Restorer now, and you hold the Stone of Restoration. You need to restore the minds of these sorcerers. Like me, they do not serve Krinir of their own free will. His hold on them can't be as strong, though. It's weak mind control used on each of them, and if you can use your powers as the Restorer, you might just break that mind control."
Markus got to his feet shakily. "I'm not sure I'm strong enough, but I have to try."
The cracks widened. The door was about to cave beneath the weight of the sorcerers' magic. At the side of the room, Markus closed his eyes and gripped the Stone of Restoration. Nadia had no idea what he was doing, but she prayed it was working.
If it didn't, they were all going to die.
Chapter 70: The End of Everything
Markus focused on the powers Lionar had granted him, on the ability of the Stone of Restoration to amplify those powers. He directed his thoughts toward the sorcerers outside the chamber. Strangely enough, he could feel their minds, feel the taint of Krinir's control over them.
Taking deep breaths, he focused on that taint. He directed his powers of Restoration toward it, praying this would work, though he had no idea who he might be praying to. Did God even exist? Did He care about the outcome of this battle?
No, don't let yourself get distracted, Markus told himself, refocusing his attention on the sorcerers' minds. He could feel a change in those minds—subtle at first, but growing stronger with time. Layer by layer, he was unraveling the damage Krinir had done to their minds. Markus truly was the Restorer, and he would restore their minds even if it killed him.
He felt himself weakening, but he ignored it, redoubling his efforts. The power released from him with a sudden jolt. He slumped forward, knowing he had nothing else left.
Darkness overtook him.
* * * * *
Nadia raced toward Markus as he collapsed. He had a pulse, but he was not responsive.
"Markus, wake up," she said, tears streaming down her face. But she was interrupted by the crumbling of the door to the chamber. The army of sorcerers stood on the other side. She expected them to attack, but instead they stared at the new opening, looking dumbfounded.
They did not move, staring at the party instead.
At last, one sorcerer said, "I felt it just now. We've been released. We no longer belong to Krinir." He surveyed the party. "Which of you managed to do this."
"It was Markus," Warrick said. "He is now the Restorer."
"And what of Lionar?" asked the sorcerer.
Nadia faced the man. "He is dead."
"Well, we must thank you," the sorcerer said. "We could not fight Krinir's control on our own. I know that some of us must have sympathized with him, making it easier on him to subvert us to his will. But we've seen the horrors he perpetrates. He must be stopped."
"Don't worry," Warrick said. "We have a plan."
"Is he all right?" the sorcerer asked, pointing at Markus. "I'm a good healer. I might be able to help him." Without asking for permission, he knelt at Markus's side and ran his hands along Markus's head. After a few moments, the sorcerer said, "He isn't injured. He has experienced extreme magical exhaustion. He will have to wake on his own."
"We'll have to leave him here for now," Warrick said. "I promise that I will come back for him personally, once we've handled Krinir."
"How do I know you'll keep your word?" Nadia asked.
"I will keep my word."
Despite her misgivings, she heard the determination in his tone. He was telling the truth. This was not what she'd expected from Warrick, but perhaps he'd never truly been the man she'd thought he was. She'd been wrong before.
"All right, let's find Krinir," she said. "Now we have the entire army on our side."
"I'm staying here," Rik said. "I need to stay by Markus's side." He shook his head slowly. "Besides, I'm still feeling a bit weak myself. I was just dead after all."
"Don't worry," Warrick said. "I'll come back for both of you then."
They raced back through the corridors of the fortress, trying to retrace their steps. Thankfully, Warrick seemed to know where they were going. Nadia followed, trying not to think of what might happen to Markus and
Rik. She glanced over at Kara, whose face was lined with determination, but Nadia could also see the doubt in Kara's eyes, the sting of loss.
Nadia couldn't imagine doing what Kara had to do.
Before Nadia knew it, they were back at the entrance to the fortress. Marlon and the sorcerers on his side waited outside the entrance. They were bruised and battered and had lost at least half their number, but they still stood resolutely, blocking the army's escape route.
Nadia stepped to the front of the group. "It's all right. They are no longer under Krinir's control. They will fight with us now. We need to find Krinir, and we need to stop him."
A voice came from her left. "Shouldn't be too hard to find me, I think."
Krinir stood beside the wall of the fortress, his stance casual, his smile relaxed, as if he didn't understand they had the power to imprison him now. Maybe it was the fact that he could no longer read the Webs of Fate. Or perhaps he had become so lost in his insanity that he didn't realize they posed a threat. Either way, he would soon discover he was wrong.
"Did you really break the spell I had over all these sorcerers?" he asked.
"It was Markus," Nadia said defiantly.
"Ah, the new Restorer," Krinir said. "I should have known."
Warrick stepped to the front of the army, facing Krinir boldly. "This is between the two of us now. You made me into a monster, and now it's time for my revenge."
"Oh, poor Darien Warrick," Krinir said. "I gave him all the power he wanted, and now he spits in my face. You should be grateful after what I did for you. I made you great. Without me, you would have been another ordinary sorcerer. I made you, Darien Warrick, and I can break you, too."
Warrick glared at him. "Then try your best."
Without thinking, Nadia shielded Warrick. She felt added strength from Klint, Lara, and many of the sorcerers. Krinir stood opposite them, his eyes wide as if he'd suddenly realized how many people were standing against him this time.
He had no teleportation stone, and he did not have the time to prepare a teleportation spell. When Warrick began his barrage of spells, Krinir could only stand there, shielding himself against the onslaught. Fire. Lightning. Darkness. Rocks. Water. Ice. Wind. Warrick sent all of them at Krinir, battering his shield.
But Krinir held strong. He didn't give up any ground. He still stood there as if he had the upper hand, which led Nadia to wonder if he still had some trick up his sleeve. She couldn't think about that, though. She had to focus on protecting Warrick.
The world had become a very strange place.
"We have to get through his shield somehow," Warrick said. "It's the only way I can do what I need to do."
Kara stepped forward. "I'll try again."
But this time, she didn't seem to have any magical reserves left. Her lightning fizzled halfway to Krinir. She tried another spell, but it seemed she had pushed herself too hard.
"I'm sorry," she said. She doubled over in exhaustion, and Nadia had to support her.
"You've done your best," Nadia said. "There's no shame in that."
"My best wasn't good enough."
While clinging to Kara, Nadia kept her shield going. She had to protect Warrick as long as she could, but already she could see his magic weakening. Krinir's shield showed no sign of wavering. They had to try something else, but Nadia had no idea what.
At a loss, she focused on the shield.
* * * * *
Theo had recovered from his exhaustion. When the army had returned through the corridors, he had followed them back out of the fortress. As he'd emerged, he'd been surprised to see everyone on the same side, opposing Krinir. He had no idea how it had happened, but he needed to take advantage of the moment.
Standing off to the side, he watched Warrick launch spell after spell at Krinir. None of them penetrated Krinir's shield, and Theo realized that Warrick's magic would die long before Krinir's shield. Krinir was simply too powerful. Even with the massive numbers opposing him, he would somehow come out alive.
But maybe there was another way to defeat him. All these sorcerers were caught up in the shortsightedness that came with being powerful. They didn't realize there were other methods of achieving their goals. A sword could not kill an immortal, but it could hurt them.
It could distract them.
Theo's heart pounded as he made his way along the wall of the fortress. The sun was beginning to set, and it was on the other side of the fortress, so this side of the fortress was cast in shadow. He stayed in the shadows, inching closer to Krinir, trying to stay out of the mad god's view. Krinir was focused on Warrick and the sorcerers, who were all shielding Warrick or launching their own spells at Krinir.
This was Theo's chance.
He continued along the wall of the fortress until he was behind Krinir. Then he moved out toward the battlefield, staying out of Krinir's view. Magic burned all around him, making his hair stand on end, but he still inched closer to Krinir.
Theo met Warrick's gaze, hoping he could communicate what he needed to without words. Warrick did not show any signs that he noticed Theo, but he must have because he trajectory of his spells changed. He'd pulled them in closer, only striking Krinir from the front. Krinir didn't seem to notice anything peculiar. He was too focused on maintaining his shield.
Theo was within five feet of Krinir when a rock slipped beneath his left foot. Krinir turned toward the sound, eyes narrowed in fury. Before Krinir could launch a spell, Theo sprinted the last five feet and swung his sword with all the force he could muster.
The sword connected with Krinir's neck. The blow was not strong enough to sever Krinir's head, but it made it most of the way through his neck. He staggered and fell, blood spurting from his neck.
But he got off one last spell. The beam of darkness struck Theo in the chest. He felt a moment of pain, but that was all.
Then he felt nothing more.
* * * * *
Darien Warrick could only watch as Krinir's spell killed Theo. Krinir had already forced Darien to kill one of his sons. Now the other lay dead at Krinir's feet. Darien could have responded with pure anger, but he was too disciplined to give in to a desire for vengeance.
While Krinir struggled with his injury, Darien focused on his powers as the Creator, channeling them through the two Stones of Creation that he held. He thought of how he'd formed the barriers around the Empire, and he was going to do the same thing now, but on a much smaller scale. He formed the magic in his mind, and it came with surprising ease.
Fear lurked in Krinir's eyes as the other sorcerers kept battering him with spells. He could not hold his shield and attack Darien at the same time.
Darien almost allowed himself a smile of grim satisfaction, but he held it back, focusing on his task. The barrier sprang forth from the Stones of Creation, and he directed it toward Krinir. Since the barriers formed around the edges of his shield, there was nothing he could do about them. He looked up with wide eyes, resignation sweeping across his features.
He touched the edges of his prison and could not pass through them.
"Well done, Darien," he said. "You have trapped me. But you've forgotten one thing. I am still the Destroyer. He gestured across his body with a quick, sweeping arm movement.
And the world began to quake violently.
Krinir tilted his head back and let out a horrible laugh. "You may have trapped me in this prison of yours, but I will take this whole world with me."
Darien turned to everyone assembled. "Get to the gateway!"
Already, the world was crumbling around them. Bits of the plateau were breaking away, falling into the rivers of lava far below. Some of the sorcerers fell with them. Even their fire shields couldn't protect them from the lava forever, and Darien could do nothing to help them.
But he had made a promise to Nadia, and he intended to keep it.
He raced back into the fortress and wasn't surprised to hear footsteps behind him. When he turned around, he saw Nadia. "You shouldn'
t have come," he said. "It's too dangerous."
"I'm not leaving Markus to die."
"Somehow, I knew that was the answer you'd give." Darien took off, Nadia racing beside him. He remembered his way through the halls of the fortress. They followed the branching corridors as the fortress crumbled around them. The quakes grew stronger and stronger. Soon Darien could barely stay on his feet.
They plunged deeper and deeper into the fortress. Bits of the walls were caving in everywhere. Twice, Darien barely cast a shield in time to deflect the rocks away from Nadia. But they kept running. They had no choice.
At last, they reached the room where they'd left Markus and Rik. Markus was awake and sitting up, but he still looked weak, as did Rik.
"What the hell is going on?" Rik asked, his face pale.
"Krinir is destroying this entire world," Darien said. "We're getting out of here."
"Did you imprison him?" Markus asked.
"Yes, but we don't have time for details. We need to move."
With Markus and Rik, leaving the fortress happened at a much slower pace. The quaking grew stronger yet, and they could barely stay on their feet. More and more of the fortress came crumbling down around them. Nadia and Rik were in the lead for the moment. Just as Darien and Markus were about to catch up to them, a great avalanche of rock came down.
The rock blocked the path between them. In his exhausted state, Darien did not have enough magic to move it out of the way.
"Markus, are you all right?" Nadia shouted from the other side.
"We're fine," Darien said. "But we're trapped in here. You need to save yourself. You can't get back to us."
"I can't leave Markus to die."
"I think I can teleport us out of here," Darien said. "A double teleportation takes longer for me to craft, but I think I can do it. There's nothing you can do for Markus."
"He's right, Nadia," Markus said. "You need to save yourself."
"You're not allowed to die on me," she said. "You understand?"
"Don't worry, Nadia," Markus said. "I'm pretty tough to kill."
"I'll see you in a bit," Rik called through the rubble blocking their path. Their heavy footsteps faded into the distance, leaving Darien and Markus alone. Darien had already started crafting the spell. The world was falling apart around them.
World in Chains- The Complete Series Page 183
