Ritual of the Lost Lamb

by Charles E Yallowitz

  “I would disappear the instant you died.”

  “Well, that’s comforting.”

  “By the way, I’m going to vanish as soon as you cross the barrier.”

  “Will you come back?”

  “That’s entirely up to your subconscious.”

  “That might not be a good thing. We haven’t been getting along lately.”

  Nyx shakes her head as she picks up the stone and rolls it in her palm, the rock feeling cold to her touch. Deciding to test her theory, the channeler hops to her feet and takes five long steps away from the cliff. She eyes the nearest island and takes her time judging the distance, which she knows is too far for her to jump. After a minute, yellow magic coils around her arm and leaves a coating on the porous stone. Nyx takes careful aim at the chunk of land as her eyes narrow and turn a beautiful gold. The magic sight spell shows that there is nothing between her and the lake, which tells her that the barrier remains quiet until something magical has crossed its border. Knowing she has to move, the channeler takes a breath and slowly releases it before hurling the enchanted stone over the icy lake. The projectile arches toward the island as the layer of magic is peeled away by the now visible prismatic wall. Nyx frowns at how the anti-magic defense goes into the clouds and envelopes the entire temple to prevent reaching the building from above.

  As the channeler had hoped, the rock does not lose any of its momentum and continues hurtling toward the island. Barely paying attention to the stone, she focuses on strange shafts of clear space within the fading barrier, each one coming off an island. She rubs her pointy ears to get her adrenaline running in preparation of a stunt that she hopes would make Luke proud. Nyx moves back again and creates more of the yellow energy that she used on the rock, most of it gathering on her legs. Sprinting toward the cliff, the channeler ignores the voice in her head that is begging for her to stop and leaps with all of her strength. Her enhanced muscles help her sail over the icy lake, the spell disappearing as soon as she crosses the barrier. Feeling like her heart is lodged in her throat, Nyx fights the urge to scream and close her eyes since she is not certain that she has the angle right. She hits the side of the first island and freezes at the sound of earth crumbling from the side of the support pillar.

  “That was scarier than I expected,” the channeler whispers as she carefully climbs onto solid ground. Wanting to make sure she can use her magic, she creates a small cyclone in her palm that dispels once it hits the barrier. “Takes a little more effort and focus to cast here, but I think I can make another jump. Need a minute to get the angle right and build up more courage. Think I can probably make it in three more jumps.”

  Nyx is about to make another leap when a muffled hiss causes her to scramble on top of a cracked headstone. An eyeless serpent slithers from the dirt and sniffs after the half-elf, who remains motionless on her perch. When she tries to start her casting, the white-scaled creature blindly lashes out in her direction and breaks one of its fangs on the stone. It goes back to searching once Nyx cuts off her spell, the animal no longer able to sense her. Glancing over the edge, she can see more of the snakes have gathered beneath the ice and are burrowing into the island’s base. Many of the creatures are slithering in and out of the dirt, which is gradually falling into the acidic, ice-filled water. The pillar shifts and begins to sway as it is hollowed out by the magic-hunting reptiles.

  “I don’t have time for this,” Nyx whispers as she grabs a handful of grass.

  The channeler quickly puts some of her magic into the plants and throws them into the air where they disperse. Enough of the blades stay away from the barrier to distract the closest serpents, giving Nyx a chance to enhance her muscles and jump for the next island. She can hear the island collapse behind her, but she is unable to see if the destruction is taking out the snakes as well. Having rushed to escape the creatures, she travels in a very low arch and realizes that she is going to fall short. She tries to stretch her body, but it is not enough to close the gap and she fears her attempts are only making the situation worse. Drawing a dagger from her pouch, the half-elf grips the hilt and watches as she misses the edge by a few inches.

  With her momentum still pushing her forward, she is able to slam her weapon into the pillar and stop her descent. Unable to use her magic, she rummages in her bag for anything that she can use to help with the difficult climb. All Nyx can find is an unwashed fork and a letter opener, both of which break against the solid rocks hidden in the packed soil. Dangling above the lake, the channeler digs with her free hand until she can squeeze her fingers out of the barrier. Looking down, she spots at least twelve of the serpents swimming below and prays she can reach the top first. The silhouettes squirm and thrash when she transforms her hand into a thin smoke that can weave through the loosening dirt. Nyx uses it to pull the rest of her body through, eventually all of her becoming vapor that rushes into the soil. Her senses are dulled, but the half-elf can still hear the snakes rapidly burrowing through the ground and getting closer. Sending charges of electricity out the sides of the pillar tricks some of the creatures into launching themselves out of the dirt, but most of them remain in pursuit. A second after she materializes on top of the island, Nyx is surrounded and has to clamber into a gnarled tree to avoid the flailing serpents.

  “This became a disaster pretty quickly,” the half-elf says with a tired sigh. Feeling oddly hungry, she calmly searches her pockets for a piece of jerky to chew on while she thinks of a new plan. “Doubt I have much time left with all the noise I made out here. Means I have to move quickly and depend on my instincts. Why am I talking to the snakes?”

  With a casual shrug, the channeler creates a crimson gem and drops it into the middle of the serpents. The creatures pounce on the enchanted jewel and bite at each other in a desperate attempt to claim the delicious prize. Licking her lips, Nyx forms a shield in front of her as she jumps out of the tree and makes herself light as a feather. The compacted spell explodes with enough force to shatter the island and send the half-elf sailing toward the temple. Her protective magic bursts and she regains her natural weight within seconds, but neither change slows her down. As she flies high over the lake, Nyx realizes that she is not sure how to land safely, especially since she is facing away from her target. All she can do is repeatedly try to cast a cushioning spell and pray she creates it the moment she is free of the anti-magic barrier. After a few nerve-wracking failures, a thick bubble of gel-like energy sprouts from her spine and pops upon impact. The effect is a jarring stop that leaves Nyx massaging her back while crawling toward the door.

  “The entrance is protected by a complicated lock,” Luke explains as he materializes in front of the channeler. He points at the vines that have grown to create an intricate design that is decorated with seven large flowers. “This will require-”

  Getting to her feet, Nyx holds up her hand to stop the illusion from talking. “Not in the mood, little brother.”

  Cracking her knuckles, the black-haired channeler walks up to the temple and taps at an orange rose. The flower changes color and spins, the petals abruptly closing in an attempt to take the half-elf’s hand. Feeling a headache brewing, Nyx rears back and throws a punch at the solid door. She unleashes a lightning storm at the last moment, which sends electrified chunks of stone tumbling into the building. Not waiting for the smoke to clear, the satisfied champion rolls up her sleeves and walks into the welcoming darkness.

  *****

  Nyx yawns at the eruption of light that drives the shadows away, her eyes protected by a layer of tinted magic. Crumbling steps run along the left-hand wall and end at a closed door in what is left of the ceiling, the middle having collapsed long ago. Not far away is another stairwell that used to lead to the basement, but has been blocked off by a perfectly sized chunk of stone. There are thick vines growing through the windows and along the floor, most of them leading to a pit that is cut in half by a large crack. The plants have embedded themselves in the stone to prevent part o
f the building from falling into the lake. Whenever a strong wind strikes the temple, the entire structure shudders and groans in protest. Taking in the destruction, Nyx quietly wonders if part of the trap is to save her friends before the large island collapses. The only reason she doubts this is because there are no signs of the others, the chains on the walls too rusty to have recently held prisoners.

  Four knights stand on top of the central rubble pile and ready their swords in case their enemy attacks. Each one is dressed in green and brown platemail, the only difference being their helmets. One with a plume of feathers moves away from the group, its steps slow and precise to avoid falling on the crumbling stones. The warrior with spikes on its head goes down the other side, but with less noise and more speed. Remaining in the middle of the room, the long-nosed knight and its red-domed brother wait for the others to act. Low growls and snarls drift from the strange swordsmen, the sounds more bestial than human. The magic that envelopes Nyx causes all of them to pause and step back, their movements jerky and stiff.

  “They are holding your friends upstairs,” Luke says while he wanders around a collection of broken statues. The knights turn in his direction, their eyes glowing a toxic green that fades away when they look back at Nyx. “Destroy these warriors and you can save the other champions. The Baron’s son has left to find something to eat, so you don’t have long. Blast them with all you’ve got and then hurry up those stairs.”

  “Do you think I’m an idiot?” Nyx asks while attempting to see through what she thinks are illusions. She gives up when she comes close to popping a blood vessel in her eye. “I have four missing friends and there are four enemies. You put them in the armor and hoped I’d act recklessly. Kill them and I’d never finish the ritual. Everything would fall apart. Fizzle was probably that monster you were pushing for me to kill earlier, but I put it to sleep instead. Been tricked enough by my enemies to know a trap when I see one.”

  “To answer your question, I think you’re a moron,” the boy says as his hair turns black. His Elven features disappear to reveal Walter’s face, his jaw flexing to get the soreness out of the joints. “You’ve left your little brother to be tortured, which makes you rather stupid. All you had to do was travel to Shayd, claim Luke Callindor, and step into the final battle. My father would have even healed all of you to make sure it was a fair fight. Instead, you started this ridiculous ritual and forced me to cause your little brother more pain. Did you know that he’s watching all of this and is unable to look away?”

  Nyx hurls a fireball at Walter and is about to rush forward when the spell is effortlessly batted into the wall. The feathered knight leaps into the channeler’s path and swings at her waist, the sword blocked by a plate of stone that grows from her skin. With a low growl, the long-nosed warrior dives into the fight and clumsily stabs at Nyx’s leg. The blade misses and bounces off the stone floor, the flat side smacking the half-elf in the shin. A bizarre whimper distracts her long enough for a third knight to pounce, one of its helmet spikes piercing the woman’s shoulder. She knocks the warrior away with a spinning blast of force and retreats to the door, her eyes locked on the final swordsman who remains on the rubble pile.

  “I doubt your father would be so kind,” Nyx replies, erecting a shield around herself. The knights abruptly stop their advance, which makes the channeler wonder if they have become dormant. “If this is all about hurting my little brother then explain why you attacked Rainbow Tower. That was more of an attack against me than Luke, which makes me think you’re lying about him watching.”

  “That part of the plan fell apart,” Walter admits while he climbs the rubble to reach the domed knight. Putting his hand to the warrior’s chest, his skin burns and he is forced to walk away in mild defeat. “I expected you to arrive and kill your teachers. Guess that should be kill them again. The pain you would have felt at murdering those who raised you was supposed to cause Luke a lot of anguish. After all, he wouldn’t be able to help you or even be by your side when you needed him. The connection between the two of you means that hurting one while the other is helpless is similar to hurting both of you. Instead, Sari and her irritating tagalong showed up, which ruined my fun. To be fair, this is my first mission and I’m still learning. Now, I’m sticking to all of the places that has Luke’s loved ones.”

  “So, why are you here?” asks the channeler, earning a shy smile from the boy. The expression makes her skin crawl and she scratches at her chest. “This has all been in my head, hasn’t it? I should have realized it before because of all the monsters. Also, this place is very different than the last time I was here. Your explanation for the changes were believable, so I have to give you credit there. Still, this is all an illusion that is designed to distract me from something in the real world.”

  “Guess there’s no reason to spare the knights then.”

  “I would agree if you hadn’t said that.”

  “You’re a very suspicious person.”

  “It’s kept me alive so far.”

  Walter nods his head and skips over to Nyx, a lollipop sprouting from each hand. “Yet, you’re ignorant of the fact that your little sister is against you. I’ve been keeping an eye on her and she isn’t coming back until she saves Luke. No faith in your ritual and not enough respect to tell you the truth. After everything you two have done for each other, she lies and follows a path that can make all of your hard work go to waste. It could even make the situation worse. How could you not see that?”

  “I did and I ignored it,” the half-elf replies with a growl in her throat. Heat wafts off her body and melts the boy’s snacks into colorful puddles, which seep into the floor. “Sari isn’t always a team player, especially when she’s upset. I’m not much better. Figured it didn’t hurt to have her out there as a backup plan. Once we finish the ritual, Dariana will let her know and Fizzle can retrieve her. I think we’re through here.”

  “Except for them,” the yawning child says as he sprouts two more arms and jerks his thumbs at the knights. He chuckles at how the champion has yet to figure out their purpose, the temptation to pat her on the head like a puppy making his hands twitch. “I’m going to leave and let you find your own way out. It has to do with these warriors, so you better fight hard. By the way, your body is being controlled by a lust demon that I summoned. So you better hurry before it wears Delvin down and puts your relationship in jeopardy.”

  With a friendly wave to the warriors, Walter skips out of the building and makes a flashy dive off the cliff. The knights slowly advance on Nyx, but none of them are sure if it is safe to attack. She creates a pair of sabers in her hands, one of them made of fire and the other dripping metallic acid. The weapons are held awkwardly and she nearly drops the flame blade, but the channeler manages to retain her composure to make her enemies think she is feigning her clumsiness. The spike-headed knight charges first and hisses as it swings for Nyx’s head with enough strength to throw itself off balance. Seeing an opening, the long-nosed warrior comes in low with a stab that jams into a crack in the floor. The yelping figure’s own momentum flips it onto its back behind the half-elf, who jumps over the flailing enemy. She notices that the other two knights have stopped and the one with a domed head is chuckling in amusement.

  “This doesn’t seem like a fair fight,” Nyx says, blocking another attempt by the two active warriors. She shoves them away and leaps back as they both try for clumsy grabs that bang their face plates together. “Who are you four? It’s obvious that none of you are my friends. Then again, Walter could have expected me to think that and done it anyway. Kid seems trickier than his siblings. Tell me the truth and I can end this without violence.”

  The one with the domed helmet snarls before rushing forward and drawing back its blade for a thrust. Fire coils around the weapon, which Nyx deflects enough that it merely grazes her upper arm. The knight’s flank is left open, so the half-elf delivers a hilt punch that creates a ringing, hollow echo. Surprised by the noise and pulse of di
sconnected rage that ripples through her mind, she moves away and focuses on defending herself. Powerful blows weaken her arms as she struggles to figure out if there is a trick or this is really an enemy. The scraping of metal on stone causes her to turn around in time to see the spikey knight charging in for a slash at the back of her legs. Creating a burst of force behind each of her sabers, Nyx blocks both attackers and is sent crashing into a wall by the impacts. Stunned and injured, the channeler has trouble lifting her battered weapons to stop the sword heading for her face.

  The feathered knight darts in front of her and unleashes a roaring screech that stops the others from attacking. It drops its sword and appears to talk to the domed warrior, who refuses to move away. The other two hiss and growl, but Nyx cannot tell if they are agreeing with the one who saved her or telling it to get out of the way. Drawn to their familiar noises, the channeler steps away from the wall and dissolves her sabers. Getting closer the long-nosed knight, she gently reaches out to lift its visor and peek inside. To her disappointment, there is only a thick darkness within the empty armor. Turning to the other knights, Nyx is about to speak when a spectral tongue lances out to lick her cheek. The warrior barks and pants as Stiletto’s head pushes its way out of the shadows and the body tackles the half-elf.

  “Nice to see you too, boy. Just stop for a minute. Calm down. Cut it out!” the champion snaps, startling the trapped spirit. Not wanting to upset the dog, she reaches out to stroke its transparent snout. “All of you are Luke’s spirits. By the gods, we should have expected the Baron to separate you from him. If he tortured Luke with all of you inside then he’d have to contend with a chimera. That would ruin his plan, so you must have been removed and given to his son. I need to figure out what to do with you before I wake up or whatever is going on with me.”