by Jeff Inlo
The ghoul was uneasy about the break. Reiculf had promised him full control over both the dathit and doppelganger. The loss left him considerably troubled about their agreement.
Still, the slink ghoul remained intent on fulfilling his end of the arrangement, even if he had to alter his plans. The capture of Enin remained the key to his success, but he needed to secure the coreless wizard in a place where the heavy influence of the dark realm would be at its least destructive.
Once he located a suitable location, he created a portal which connected the dark lands with the Lacobian Desert, and he called for the dathit.
Following the will of its new master, the giant stepped through the portal with Enin in its massive hand. The demon cared little for its surroundings, but the passage through the rift left it temporarily disoriented. It had no face to offer an expression of confusion, but it stood motionless upon the bleak lands, giving no sign of acknowledgement to the slink ghoul.
Held within the thick fingers of the giant, Enin was alive and conscious. He found the giant's actions and his arrival in the realm of dark creatures both distressing and perplexing. He had been removed from Uton and brought to a land of great turmoil and torment. Without his magical core, he was defenseless.
He was not, however, as concerned for his own safety as he was confused about the pit demon's movements. Full demons which crossed dimensional space did so at a risk to their own existence and at a definite reduction in their influence and power. To Enin's amazement, the pit demon, other than being slightly confused, appeared to crossover without consequence.
Baannat noticed Enin's uncertainty. He snickered lightly as he closed the portal and then called out to his prisoner.
"How are you, brother?"
"You are behind this?" Enin questioned, as he looked down upon the ghoul standing at the pit demon's feet, his surprise mounting over Baannat's presence.
"Yes... and no. I did not start it. It was that fool Neltus and his desire to recover his magical core. He opened the door. I walked through."
Enin remained doubtful. He considered the full extent of the events he encountered and little made sense. He revealed his suspicions without hesitation.
"Neither you nor Neltus could control a pit demon, yet you are able to call this creature from one realm into another. I would have considered such a feat impossible had I not seen it for myself."
"Understandable. Full demons normally cannot transverse realms with ease. It takes suitable motivation, enormous energy, and the proper consent. But I have obtained all that is necessary."
"Even in your realm of nothingness, I highly doubt you could achieve such influence."
"You are correct again, brother."
Enin grew tired of the ghoul's reference to some imaginary relationship.
"We have had this argument before and I thought we were done with it. I am not your brother."
"Our relationship is complex. There was a moment in time when we separated and found ourselves on different paths, but once more, we have converged."
"We have never been on similar paths."
"You continue to dismiss the connection between us?"
"There has never been a connection."
"I would disagree. It seems our fortunes have always been linked, even to this very moment in time. Look at us, neither of us want to be in this place, yet here we are."
"That does not make us brothers."
"Be that as it may, I will continue to call you 'my brother' since it disturbs you."
"The only thing which disturbs me is what you've already revealed. You admit you lack the influence to control a dathit, and yet it stands before you. What kind of deceit are you practicing now?"
"Not deceit... well, not completely. I admit I was not totally honest with Neltus, but then the fool deserved it, especially after the way he took off on me. But that's alright, I don't need him anymore. I have you."
"Then forget him and explain this demon!"
Baannat cackled.
"You can be so demanding," the ghoul stated through evil snickers, "even when you have no authority. If I refuse to tell you, what are you going to do? You're empty. Your magic is gone. You can't unleash your fury upon me."
"That may be, but I'm not totally without influence. It's clear you intend to use me in some manner, and I will do everything in my power to ruin whatever it is you have planned."
Baannat cackled even louder.
"What can you do? Will you break free of the demon that holds you? Highly unlikely."
Enin glared at the ghoul but said nothing further. He couldn't make additional threats. Baannat was correct. He had no power, certainly not the kind necessary to defeat a pit demon, or even the slink ghoul. His core was gone, and all he could do was hope his friends would find him.
The ghoul nodded in appreciation.
"So you finally accept your position? Good. As a reward, I will explain why this giant demon listens to my commands. Reiculf has offered it to me."
"Reiculf?" Enin questioned.
"It was no small matter. As you know, there are certain restrictions on demons. They cannot move easily from one realm to another. They must do so of their own choosing. There are consequences they face for such a decision, and it requires vast levels of magic. Reiculf found one willing to leave Demonspawn, and the demon lord linked the dathit to my essence. The connection allows the giant to transition from one realm to another. The consequences, however, cannot be undone. In accepting a portion of my emptiness, it is now my slave. It is attached to me, and with a boost of magic from Reiculf, it is allowed to pass through realms in order to do my bidding. It is a bit of an abnormality, but it serves my purposes. The creature will do as I command."
"And you will command it to keep me prisoner?"
"And to protect you until I get what I want. That's why I brought it here, to this lonely section of the dark realm. You have to remain alive. I will need you so that I can bargain."
"And what is it you hope to gain?"
"For you? Ryson Acumen and his wife. But they're not my ultimate prize. They belong to another. I want Ansas back, and I will have him."
"But..."
Enin stopped. He finally understood the connection between Reiculf and the slink ghoul.
"You see it now, don't you?" Baannat questioned with a twisted grin. "I'm going to trade Linda and Ryson Acumen to Reiculf for Ansas. Reiculf can't touch the delver and his mate, but I can. Your friends will come here to save you, and when they do, I will trap them. I will force the ghost captain in Burbon to release the delver's mate and then I will have her as well."
"You fool. You can't bargain with a daokiln."
"I already have. I know it's a risky proposition, but I can give to him what he wants most, something he can't get for himself. He has already turned over this dathit as well as a doppelganger to me. He will hold to his end of the deal... unlike Neltus."
"This won't work out as you planned! This is Reiculf. He will leave you with nothing!"
"Don't be so dramatic. You're making it sound as if I've already been duped. I assure you, I haven't. The truth is, I could be satisfied with just you. Reiculf must know this. I could take you back to my realm and torture you instead of Ansas, but I want to torture you both. The best way to hurt you is to harm the ones you care about. How will you feel when you know I've brought Ryson and his mate to Reiculf?"
Enin couldn't answer. He couldn't bear the thought.
"Don't you think Reiculf knows this?" the ghoul continued with a confident smirk. "He also will want to cause the most pain possible. This will all work out. I just have to pass through a few minor distractions."
"Distractions?"
"Yes, a sorceress arrived in the Lacobian. She is powerful. I have listened to her speak to Ryson. She is somewhat insightful as well. She could be a small problem, but I will find a way to deal with her. I have time."
"You may have no time at all. Ryson will track the demon, and Jure will follo
w the path of your portal."
"Oh, they will arrive here... eventually, and that's exactly what I want, but they have decided to go after Neltus first. I will let them punish the crimson wizard. When they are finished, then they'll come looking for you."
"And when they arrive, they will defeat you, as they have done many times before!"
"Not this time. This time I have a dathit at my disposal... and your life is literally in its hands. If they are not careful, my pit demon will crush the life out of you."
Baannat paused as he lifted his cat-like muzzle to the hot wind of the dark lands. He was not focusing on the scent of nearby monsters, but rather reaching out with his insubstantial form to hopefully catch the sensation of emptiness. He knew it was time for him to leave.
"For now, I have other matters I must address. I will send this pit demon deeper into the valley behind those cliffs. You will be held there until your friends attempt to free you. I must return to the plateau on the spire. My magic is stronger there and I need to see what is happening, but I will return when the time is right."
With a wave of his hand, Baannat teleported to the top of the stone tower through a wash of erratic magic. The instability of the ghoul's body made the use of spells in a physical world somewhat problematic, but he could still manage certain incantations. Teleportation was somewhat easier for Baannat's warped magic, as the spell itself caused distortions similar to his own incomplete substance.
As he stood once more upon the flat plateau of the stone tower, the slink ghoul reached into the edges of the realm to turn certain transitional connections into possible viewing points. He had no anchors with which to cast a sight spell, but at the edge of reality, he could use his own distorted form to peer through dimensions and gain a perspective into distant lands.
The ghoul watched with satisfaction as Ryson and his friends defeated a contrarian, and Baannat saw how it was accomplished. The slink ghoul was reminded of how the delver foolishly respected life, and Baannat believed he could use that weakness to his advantage. The ghoul knew he could use Enin as leverage, especially against the elf witch. He only had to find the proper pressure to convince the delver to drop his guard as well.
Baannat continued to watch the events in Portsans. The contrarian had revealed little useful information, but the elf guard appeared to change her tactics. They would not be coming after the pit demon as soon as he hoped, but he knew they would come eventually. He would be ready.
Removing his attention from Ryson Acumen and the delver's companions, the ghoul stalked about the precipice looking down at the dark lands below. He continued to contemplate his strategy, but before he could determine certain details, he felt a force unknown to him.
It took hold of him from the inside as it wrapped around his misshapen essence. The foreign grasp tightened about his entire form, and the ghoul could no longer move on his own. He was pulled up into the darkness. Ultimately, he passed through gray boundaries and into a place he believed he would never have to enter.
Chapter 16
Holli opened the door to Enin's home in Connel. To her initial dismay, she found Vraya waiting for them. The elf guard frowned only slightly as several dogs rushed toward the door.
She allowed the animals to pass, as the pack of canines leapt with glee at the sight of Jure and Ryson. Despite the joyous barks of Enin's beloved dogs, Holli did not quite share their enthusiasm. It was somewhat discomforting to find the ebony casting sorceress inside Enin's house, basically trespassing.
The elf guard considered asking Jure to immediately confine the sorceress, but she remembered the advice Ott had offered. She needed to look beyond her mistakes and contemplate a much larger picture.
Along with considering events which took place before they ended up in the Lacobian Desert, she had to reflect upon the situation as a whole. There were many details to ponder and a number of questions which required answers. The arrival of the sorceress in the desert remained a muddled proposition. Holli wanted to gain a more precise understanding of Vraya's motives. Having the sorceress readily available for certain inquiries would benefit the elf in that regard.
Still, Holli could not simply ignore the spell caster's uninvited appearance within Enin's home. It raised new questions and concerns, and the elf guard needed to understand Vraya's intentions.
"Why are you here?" Holli questioned with only a hint of irritation in her voice.
"To take care of the dogs," Vraya answered with a smile.
"We have people to ensure their well-being when we are away."
"I imagined as much, but it was better to be safe than sorry."
"How did you even know Enin had dogs?" Ryson wondered.
"Did you forget, Ryson? I've been watching you. You have always been close to Enin, and his dogs as well."
"No, I didn't forget. I just wasn't sure how closely you've been watching me. Now I have a better idea."
Holli decided to use the admission to address another question regarding Vraya's appearance in the Lacobian, but she would not challenge the sorceress at the doorway to Enin's home. She led her companions into the house and guided them all into the study. Secured with greater privacy, the elf guard focused on Vraya's answer.
"How is it you have been able to keep watch over Ryson? Clearly you must have used some incantation to view the events in the desert, and yet, sight spells require an anchor, do they not?"
"Yes, they do," Vraya confirmed. "But the truth is, I didn't really cast a sight spell. I followed waves of magic in a similar fashion, and I did utilize an anchor. I used Ryson's sword."
Holli knew which blade to which the sorceress referred. Though Ryson wore two battle swords in sheaths at his hips, he bore another weapon of great power, a blade which was almost always within his grasp.
The Sword of Decree was bestowed upon the delver when the magic first returned to Uton. The elf elder, Mappel, requested Ryson take possession of the blade when members of each race faced the daunting task of entering Sanctum Mountain. The sword carried powerful enchantments, and even after the Sphere of Ingar was destroyed, every elf believed Ryson should always bear the weapon as a sign of hope. In deference to the elves' wishes and out of respect for those lost in the mountain, the delver agreed and carried it across his back almost constantly.
The weapon was crafted carefully by the elves... with a specific purpose. It was created to battle shadow trees; another construction of elf enchantment, a horrid conception of twisted magic. Shadow trees became a nightmare, a weapon of pure devastation. The Sword of Decree represented the exact opposite. While the shadow trees stood for anger and hate, the enchanted sword represented trust and conviction.
Understanding the potency of the sword's magic, Holli sensed possible deception in the sorceress' explanation. Using the blade as an anchor to spy on its holder was an unlikely proposition, and the elf guard challenged Vraya further.
"The Sword of Decree is of elf forging. You would not be able to seek out its magical properties for your own purposes."
"The blade's enchantment was altered in the delver's hand," Vraya explained without reluctance or unease. "The dormant powers of insight came to exist in Ryson's possession. That was not the case at its initial forging. I've studied the legends... and some of elflore. The sword enhanced ambient light, burned the souls of anyone touched by the blade, but it was a silent weapon. The sword now offers insight to those who draw it from its sheath. Isn't that true?"
"It doesn't always work," Ryson offered. "Sometimes it shows me something, most times I don't see anything of importance."
Rather than contradict the delver, the petite sorceress offered a rather cryptic response.
"A decision only has to be made when you reach a fork in the road."
"What's that supposed to mean?" the delver questioned.
"When you already know what to do, which path to follow, there's no need for a declaration of enlightenment... no reason for the sword to offer a measure of clarity."
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"You're saying the sword only works when I need it to?"
"I don't think it is necessarily based on your need, but rather on a higher purpose. Though the enchantment blossomed under your care, the sword is still an instrument for integrity."
"I'm not sure what that means either," Ryson admitted.
"It means if you hoped to use the sword for malicious purposes, it would rebel against you, but you are not a malicious individual. There's nothing to fear in that regard."
"That may well be," Holli interrupted, "but it does not answer the question. The Sword of Decree's enchantment would not allow you to spy on its holder, of that I am quite sure."
"And I would agree, except I wasn't spying on him. I was learning from him, and the sword itself. As I said, the blade went through a transformation. When Ryson took possession of the weapon, its enchantment thrived to a point where the sword became true to its name, reached the full measure of its potential. Such an enchantment could never fully take hold under elf possession."
"Why not?" Ryson asked, his curiosity sparked by the words of the sorceress.
The sword on his back had always been an enigma to him, a puzzle he could never quite solve. He couldn't resist pressing for answers regarding the blade which had become almost a part of him.
"For the elves, the blade was crafted to offset the shadow trees," Vraya explained. "While it was a true weapon of defense, it was forged in concert with a weapon of wickedness. Its purpose was tied to a creation of malice. In the hands of the elves, the two ideals could never be separated. In your hands, the Sword of Decree became a symbol of unity. The cruelty of the shadow trees was always absent in your heart. You carry the sword for reasons of nobility."
Ryson found the explanation somewhat unnerving. He never wanted to place his own character above that of others. He knew anger and fear, succumbed to selfish desires, and made mistakes. He couldn't believe that he was somehow responsible for the sword's powers because he was some saintly individual.
