“She's down there. We have to move right now,” whispered Finn.
“There must thirty or forty captives in those cages,” said Torin.
“It's too far to climb. We need another way down,” said Borman.
“I can jump to one of the cages. We can use clothes to make a rope. There has to be something,” said Finn.
“Look at the floor,” said Torin. “That is liquid fire. It's like a pool. See it drift over the stones. If you fell, you would drown - that is if your body was not burnt at once.”
“What flies over the fire?” asked Borman. “Look there.”
Shadows descended and flew over the fire. The burning light from the flames was lost in the black void of their form. They appeared like patches of black fog circling above the fire and under the cages. Dark bones moved within each shadow. They appeared like translucent skeletons that were more vapor than bone. They reached out at the cages with their thin boney fingers. They circled the room like starving animals.
“Ghuls,” said Torin.
“What are they? Are they with the gorgons?” asked Finn.
“They are what you see. They're after scraps from the dead or worse,” answered Torin.
“How do we kill them?” asked Finn.
“I don't have an answer for that. There's dark magic here. They might have been here before the gorgons even arrived. This is cursed ground,” said Borman.
“Nylah is in one of those cages. Dark magic or not, I have to try,” said Finn. He was hot with anger. He felt rage welling in his heart.
“Look,” said Torin. The Ghuls darted from the fire and disappeared into the walls like frightened birds. “There's something else.”
Two figures entered the room. They walked along the burning path towards the circular stone landing. They were equal, if not slightly taller, than the Stone Giants. Thick red skin wrapped tightly around their stocky muscular frames. The bulging veins in their arms and legs glowed a fiery red like molten iron. Each one had thick horns protruding from the front side of their heads. They curved down, almost in a circle like the dense horns of a ram. They were dented and scratched. Their faces were thick and angular; their jaws were heavyset. They wore plated armor over their chest and legs. It glowed red like melting steel. However, it stayed intact. Their greaves were charred black iron and wrapped tightly around their thick forearms. Brown smoldering scales covered their taloned feet. Each one had a long two-handed scimitar against their back.
“Fire-Hain,” said Torin.
“There lies some of your true enemies,” Borman told Finn.
“Can we kill them?” asked Finn.
“Yes, but not like gorgons - not as easy,” said Borman.
“But they die,” said Finn.
“Yes. They die,” said Borman.
“How do we kill them?” asked Finn.
“Shoot and stab them till they're dead,” said Torin.
“Then a well-placed arrow would suffice,” said Finn.
The dark speech of gorgons yelled behind them. Two gorgons dressed for battle called out, as they drew their swords. One of the gorgons was already wounded. Three more rushed to meet them. They charged towards Finn and the others. Borman fumbled for his bow, as he was taken by surprise. Finn notched an arrow and sent it flying towards the gorgons. It landed below the throat of one of them. It stumbled but continued to charge. Torin drew his axes. He looked down below and saw the gorgons and Fire-Hain looking up at him. The Fire-Hain gave orders to the gorgons and turned to leave.
“The Fire-Hain are coming,” warned Torin.
Borman was able to release one arrow before the gorgons reached them. He hit the same gorgon as Finn. However, his arrow rested in its skull. The gorgon jolted backwards, as it fell to the floor. Torin blocked the blade of one gorgon with his axe. He countered and dug his other axe into the gorgon's shoulder. The axe sank down through its arm and into its chest, cutting armor and scales. The gorgon fell with the axe lodged in the side of its chest. Torin pulled on the axe twice before it broke free. Borman drew his sword. He parried the wild hacks by the gorgons. Finn hit one with the shaft of his bow, breaking its teeth and drew his sword. Torin kicked one gorgon to the ground and followed with his axe. Borman felt the sting of iron pierce his forearm. His skin felt wet and warm. Finn sank his blade into the gorgon's gut. Borman followed sending his blade through its chest. Blood dripped from Borman's forearm. He wiped it against his tunic. Torin buried his axes into the chest of the last gorgon. He twisted and threw the gorgon over the side of the pit. The gorgon's body detached from the blades and fell to the liquid fire below. It thrashed and burned instantly. Finn notched an arrow. He leaned over the side of the pit. The two gorgons were still below. He released and his arrow whistled past the cages. It dug into the side of one of the gorgon's chest. It stumbled and fell to the floor. Part of its leg and arm dipped in the liquid fire. It melted the muscle and bone. The gorgon cried out and jerked to one side. The other gorgon moved out of sight from the opening above. The burnt gorgon bled profusely on the stone floor. The blood dripped over the side of the floor. It boiled before it hit the fire and burned. Ghuls suddenly descended upon the dying gorgon like ravenous beasts. They pulled at him from all directions. He was lifted into the air twisting and jerking, as they fought over him. Flesh and bone cracked and ripped. His tunic and sword fell to the liquid fire. It was all that was left.
“I need to get down there,” yelled Finn.
“There must be another way down,” said Borman.
“Hurry. We don't know when they will be here,” said Torin, as he looked around the room.
“There!” yelled Finn.
In the back of the main hall, a broken column pierced the floor like a spear. The floor around it had crumbled and fallen, leaving a gaping hole around the column. Finn ran to it and looked down. The column was nearly six feet in diameter. It went through the floor, crossed over the room below and continued through the next wall. The section of the column passing over the alter room was charred black from the heat.
“I can crawl down on this and jump to the floor,” said Finn.
“We don't know where the Fire-Hain are? There could be more,” said Torin.
“You said they were coming here,” replied Finn.
“We need to move or prepare to fight,” said Borman.
“It looks as if we fight,” replied Torin, as he turned from the column and looked at the Fire-Hain approaching them. “Go, Finn. Hurry.”
Finn grabbed hold of the column and hoisted himself atop it. It was warm to the touch. He turned to see the Fire-Hain. There was only one of them. Finn slowly made his way down the column. It was steeply slanted, so he was forced to crawl on his hands and knees. The stones of the column grew warmer with each step.
“The other could still be down there. Be careful,” said Borman.
“I came for Acolytes - yet, I find Stone Giants,” rasped the Fire-Hain with a deep growling tone.
“Your plans are not what you thought, then,” said Borman.
“You'll find no fear amongst us. We have fought and killed your kind before,” said Torin.
“A new age has dawned,” said the Fire-Hain.
“So everyone says before they realize they’re wrong,” replied Borman.
The Fire-Hain drew his massive scimitar from behind his back. It sang as he pulled it from its iron sheath. With both hands, it swung in a wide arch. The blade hissed as it cut through the air. Torin pivoted to one side. He hit the scimitar with his axe. The sound of metal on metal screeched through the main hall. Borman had two arrows left. He notched one and sent it sailing at the Fire-Hain. The fiery beast turned as the arrow flew by. Borman quickly notched a second arrow. Torin moved in swinging one axe to parry the scimitar. He followed with his second axe to the Fire-Hain's chest. His axe sparked and scraped against the red beast's armor. Borman released his second arrow. It sped through the air, hitting the Fire-Hain in the base of the neck. The Fire-Hain stumbled bac
kwards but caught his footing. Searing red blood dripped from its neck. It lit the arrow aflame. Torin attacked again. He lunged forward at the Fire-Hain, swinging both axes. The red beast twisted from his blows. It brought the scimitar down on Torin as he passed. Torin felt a white searing heat slice across his back. He fell to the stone floor. His head hit against the stones, causing his nose and lips to spill blood. The Fire-Hain lifted its scimitar for a final blow. Borman charged. He barreled into the red beast knocking it off balance. The scimitar missed Torin and echoed against the stones. Borman drew his sword.
Finn was further down the column. He was over the altar room, but not yet over the stone path. He could hear the fighting but could not see them. The column was beginning to slowly burn his hands. He could not keep them against the stone for long. His eyes burned from the heat and smoke rising up from the fire. Finn searched the cages for any sign of Nylah. There was no way to see her. There were too many people in each cage. The gorgon by the altar stared up at the hole above him.
Borman parried the blows of the Fire-Hain the best he could. The scimitar was solid and heavy. The strength of the Fire-Hain showed in each blow. Torin tried to stand, but the wound on his back was grave. Blood pooled under him. His legs shook and felt weak. His vision wanted to fade. He fought hard to stay conscious. The Fire-Hain unleashed a flurry of strikes at Borman. Its scimitar hummed through the air. Borman held tightly to his sword. The swings from the scimitar nearly knocked the sword from Borman's hand with each hit. The Fire-Hain swung wide at Borman. He dodged but part of the blade ripped across his chest, knocking him to his feet. The top of his tunic split revealed an open wound across his chest. Borman could tell the blow did not hit bone, but it was deep. Blood flowed down his chest and onto his pants. He started to rise but the fiery beast was over him. Its scimitar was raised to strike him down. Borman looked at the beast with resignation. He knew it was over. He had no time to move, nor counter the blow. He looked over to Torin, but he was no longer there.
The Fire-Hain swung down with his sword. Torin slammed into the back of the fiery beast. The scimitar sparked against the stone floor, as it whisked by Borman. Torin wrapped his arms tightly around the Fire-Hain. He clasped his hands together to keep the creature from pulling him off. Torin felt his arms burn against the smoldering armor and blood from the fiery beast. The creature tried to reach behind to grasp at Torin, but its arms were pinned down. Borman gathered his strength to stand. The Fire-Hain roared with anger. It stumbled back, as it wrestled with Torin's grasp.
“It may be a new dawn, but your days of dark tyranny are over!” shouted Torin with his last breath.
The Fire-Hain felt a massive weight crush down on him. His arms snapped. Bones crushed and splintered from its fiery skin. Torin's body crackled, as it turned to heavy stone. His arms still locked tightly around the Fire-Hain. The creature could not hold the weight. It fell backwards into the fallen column and slid down. It fell through the hole in the floor. The stone body of Torin encased the creature like a cage, as they sank through the air. They crashed sideways into one of the stone paths above the fire. Molten blood dripped from the creature’s eyes, nose, and ears. Its broken legs were gnarled and twisted. The weight of Torin's stone body teetered on the pathway. It dipped slightly into the liquid fire. The beast cried out with a searing rage. Its legs dissolved in the flames. Finn held tightly to the column. The impact from Torin and the Fire-Hain had almost sent him over the edge. His hands were red and burning. He steadied himself. Finn was close to the path. He was close to being able to jump to the stones below. Finn tried to keep looking at the iron cages hanging above the flames.
They're too many. Stay calm. She is here … in one of these cages. Steady yourself.
The Fire-Hain saw him. Finn ignored it. It would soon fall into the flames from the weight of its stone prison. Finn reached for an arrow. He would need it for the gorgon when he hit the pathway. The column was too hot for steady aim. The Fire-Hain looked towards the gorgon. It began screaming at it in the black guttural speech of the gorgons.
What is saying?
The gorgon turned back towards the altar. The weight of Torin's stone body continued to dip into the flames. This time it did not stop. The Fire-Hain screamed and wrestled with the stone. It was no use. They drifted over the side and sank into the flames. The Fire-Hain burned and melted, as the stone sank deeper. Finn started to lower his legs over the pathway. He was straight over the stones. The gorgon stood by the altar and placed one hand over the lever. Finn hung from the column. His heart raced. He could not draw an arrow until his legs hit the ground.
“Stop!” yelled Finn, frantically. He dropped from the column and ran towards the gorgon.
The gorgon released the lever. The cages spun loose. A loud clang echoed the room. The cages dropped. Finn raced towards the gorgon. He notched an arrow and sent it sailing forward. It hit the gorgon in the stomach, rocking it backwards against the altar. The gorgon fell to the stone floor. One of its hands hit the liquid fire and dissolved in a patch of red flame. The steel cages splashed into the fire. Liquid flames shot up from the impact. They fell down on the stone walls, the iron cages, and those inside them. The prisoners yelled in panic and terror. The cages slowly sank. The prisoners climbed the bars of the cage but they sank too fast. Captives fell screaming into the fire. They were devoured by the flames. The room echoed with horror.
“No! No!” screamed Finn. He grabbed the lever but the last of the chain slipped through the pulley and fell to the fire below. The cages were completely submerged - engulfed in the liquid fire. Finn shook. He fell to his knees. His heart raced; his hands trembled. Tears streamed from his eyes, as the liquid fire began to steady itself.
Nylah …
Chapter 34
A Dark Council
Luras entered the front room of the cathedral. The acrid stench of blood penetrated the room. Two Storm Wolves lay dead on the stone floor. Blood pooled around them, as the dry stones drank it though their cracks and crevices. The sun cast beams of light through the tears in the walls. The metallic ring of swords clashing could be heard in the main room of the cathedral. Matthias studied the room. The statue of a grandeur loomed in the center with dead wolves below it. He heard the sound of the boy's sandals flapping against the stones.
“This way,” said Matthias, running to the hallway.
“Wait. Slow down, Matthias,” said Luras.
They ran down the hallway and over the fallen stones. The figure of the boy kept running in the distance. Matthias continued his pursuit. They entered the main room of the cathedral. Light cascaded down from the broken roof above. The room was circled with statues of grandeurs. Columns had fallen throughout the room, breaking altars and cracking the floor. Gulls flew around the gaping tear in the domed roof. The boy ran along the wall. He passed by the many statues. Behind one of them was a darkened hallway. The boy did not look back. He turned down the hallway and disappeared into darkness.
“There,” said Luras. “We can help them.”
Torin, Borman, and Finn fought with the gorgons at the center of the room. There appeared to be a circular pit or hole in the floor. Gray stonework was built up around it. The Fire-Hain had not arrived. Finn had not yet descended down the column. Luras grabbed Matthias by the arm. He pointed to the others with one of his sabers.
“We need to help them.”
“You help them. Go, if you must. I cannot,” said Matthias, pulling his arm away.
“Matthias! This is some of type dark magic. Those men are real and they need our help.”
“I have to know,” whispered Matthias. He turned away from Luras.
Matthias walked past the statue and entered the darkened hallway. Luras hesitated, looking back at Finn and the others. He turned and followed after Matthias. The walls of the hallway were intact. There was little light. Dust and a pungent smell of decay filled the air. The blue glow from their eyes cut through the darkness. There was a staircase at the end of the
hallway. The stones had begun to crumble and split. It twisted down in a tight pattern. The acrid air grew warmer, as they descended the staircase. It began to irritate and sting their eyes. The stairs emptied into a bare room. It was dark and hot. The only things in the room were two lanterns that hung from the walls. They gave off a dull flickering light. The yellow light from the flame mixed with the icy blue of their eyes. The walls caught the light in patches. Shadows still filled parts of the room. There was a wooden door at one side. It was shut but not locked. The wooden crossbeam that locked inside the iron latches leaned against the stone wall. Luras sheathed one of his sabers. He removed one of the lanterns and held it by its rusted handle. The light sobbing of a child echoed the room like a fleeting whisper.
“Where are you?” asked Matthias.
Light flickered across the walls in hues of yellow and blue. In a darkened corner of the room stood the boy. He stared at Matthias with tears in his eyes. Light danced across his face. He appeared nervous and apprehensive. Luras walked closer to the boy, holding his lantern outstretched. Matthias stared at the boy. Tears slowly filled his eyes. They rolled down his cheeks and into his yellow beard. He slowly reached a hand out for the boy. Matthias took hold of the boy's forearm and gently pulled him close. The child wrapped his arms tightly around Matthias' neck. Matthias hugged him. Tears streamed from his eyes.
“I've missed you so much,” he whispered. His voice cracked with emotion.
“Don't leave,” said the boy, sobbing.
“I'm not going anywhere without you,” replied Matthias.
“Matthias, your son is dead,” whispered Luras. “This is dark magic.”
“This is my son. This is Wylin,” said Matthias.
“No,” said Luras.
The light in the room became fainter. Luras looked around the room. The flame from his lantern still burned, but the light did not break the shadows. The glow from his eyes still illuminated sections of the walls, but the shadows remained. There was a coldness to them, an arrogant disdain for the light. Luras backed away to the center of the room.
A Dark Tyranny Page 28
