Part of Raunst felt his life was moving like an arrow in flight, with Xero as the target. Everyone else had lived with this idea a long time, and still they had doubts. Another part of him just wanted to go home, leave it behind. His father’s killer was dead. Or was he? Was it this monster Xero who had poisoned his father? Was it really Xero that had killed his mother?
While he sat his skin tingled, sometimes to the point of itching, but Raunst never moved. The sun rose after many hours. Raunst watched the gradual change of light at daybreak. He couldn’t remember any time falling asleep, but he felt as rested and lively as ever.
The task of getting the horses through the water proved to be less daunting than expected. They travelled south and crossed through a forested mountain pass. By late afternoon their horse shoes clacked along the gravel trade road which turned slowly east. Excitement rose as they crested the mighty hill. Raunst spotted a marker and an overgrown path. It took time to find a way through the brush for the horses.
In the moonlight, Raunst led them on down the poorly marked path. At some time many years ago it would have been a pristine and clear trail, but time had all but destroyed it.
Jake had little faith that Raunst’s abilities to spot their path ahead would be as keen as his own, and Jake had no sight on it. Still he followed along.
It was late in the night when two giant fallen stone pillars became clear to them in the moonlight through a break in the trees. The stone had a strange glimmer in the moonlight. Long ago heavy wooden gates would have stood between them. The four passed by the toppled stones. The horses expertly stepped through loose debris rock without losing footing.
The road led them deeper into the forest valley. The trees hung low to the ground. The branches leaned into the path giving out small lashes to the four travelers as they passed by. The growth became thicker, the travel became slower, and the night grew longer. The moon drifted from the sky and hung low on the horizon threatening to abandon them.
Raunst emerged into a small grove of shrubs, the trees gave way. Across the bushes in the fading light of the moon, a tall dark shadow squared against the horizon. Raunt's eyes narrowed to make out the shape of a tower rising from the keep, he nudged his steed on to continue.
Raunst finally dismounted his horse at the front gate of Teclesea. Before him the crumbling steps of the great keep led up to an sealed entrance. The ancient palace roof appeared to have been collapsed for some time, but the walls looked strong.
The heavy stone door swung open with a gentle push. Raunst lead the four into the chamber. The darkness inside was crossed with fading moonlight from the windows. Jake passed out candles to each of them. They walked down the corridor and passed through another door. This room was a great hall of some kind. There rest many flowers pots overgrown with weeds. Rotted wooden benches and chairs lined the room. A massive hole in one of the walls illuminated the front of the chamber. It appeared to be leftover from an assault, forgotten in time.
Raunst walked further forward into the room until he was standing on a platform at the front of the hall. Behind him were two thrones finely carved for a king and queen.
“It was their wedding,” a voice leaped out through the darkness. The deep sound echoed off the chamber walls. The four drew their swords. Raunst, on edge, feverishly looked about for the culprit. His fears of being caught now, so close to their prize by the evil wizard that chased them returned.
Psydra yelled. “We’re not afraid of you Xero!”
“You have the wrong idea about me,” the voice returned, softer than before. It was a woman’s voice.
“Who are you?” Raunst’s eyes caught a motion in the back of the hall. A small, cloaked figure walked slowly toward them. He could not plainly see a door where she had come from, as if she had just appeared.
“Do you remember me now, Raunst?” the woman stepped into the moonlight, her hair dark, thin, and long drifting down her front from underneath the dark cover of her hood. She pulled back the hood, revealing her face. Raunst eased his hand off his weapon. His mouth fell agape.
Psydra spoke before he could. “Seline Baltir! Can it be you?”
Seline nodded at the young lady’s recognition. Her tender smile moved close as she extended her arms to hold her son. Her smell and touch flooded him with childhood memories. Tears formed in his eyes.
“Who is this?’ Jake asked.
Seline held Raunst tight. A solid mass in his throat formed. Raunst could hardly speak. “My mother.”
As the woman stepped back Raunst saw the streams of tears across her cheeks. “I have missed you, son. I am sorry that I wasn’t there for you. I tried to stop him, I tried to stop this. Did you tell him Psydra?”
Psydra stepped toward her. “I did.”
“You must believe it, Raunst. If there was something I could have done to keep you from this trial I would have. I tried to stop him.”
“Xero?” Raunst asked.
“Searching through the books over and over at Enfirus, we found one of the demon banishing rites. The manuscript was incomplete. I insisted that we try. It was I that paid with my life. Now you have no choice.”
“Why don’t I have a choice?”
“He will come for you whether or not you go to him. He knows who you are. That you are a descendent of Aradeel.”
“What?” Raunst held the name in his mind. The images of the demon lords etched into the stained glass at Enfirus flashed in his mind. Peros, Guanich, Carzinine, Daerdek and Arradeel.
A shadow appeared across the room. It loomed out of the darkness and solidified into a giant man one and a half Raunst’s height. Raunst readied his sword again, but held back as his mother stood firm before the shadow. The figure was dressed in white luminescent robes. The whole of the chamber illuminated from his glow. The head of giant formed only of a coalescing white mist. His eyes and mouth were nothing more than hollow openings in the smoky vapor.
“I brought your mother here.” The voice did not originate from the large figure; instead, the sound seemed to fill the room from everywhere. The words echoed. “I am Aradeel.”
Charles and Jake both poised themselves to strike if Raunst said the word. It was not a fight they wished to engage, but the both held their ground all the same. Raunst’s face became pale. Psydra came up beside him with her sword in hand. Her open hand rested on his shoulder.
“We are with you in this fight, Raunst.” Psydra’s words came out subtle, yet firm.
“I am not your enemy,” Aradeel said.
Raunst brushed Psydra back and approached Aradeel. The demon’s hollow eyes kept watch on him. “I have seen you in my dreams.”
“You cannot trust this creature!” Charles’s felt disgust. The demon lords had killed thousands in the ancient war.
“It is true. I and my kindred brothers have done terrible things. I turned my back on my demon brothers long ago. I fell prey to love of a human woman. She had been made a slave. It was the law. As long as the demon lords ruled there would be no end to the reign of terror. I made the choice to turn on them. By undoing their control, people would be free. I would have her free, as well as my son.
“I rallied the others against Gaunich with lies of his desire to overtake us. The battle was long and fierce. It may have even been by chance that we won. I cast him free of this world, never to return. When the other demon lords learned of my treachery, they came for me. I couldn’t have survived another round.
“Aradeen, my son, couldn’t have been much older than you. I created the sword and the amulet. The sword to wound them and the amulet to seal their power. Using these tools, he defeated the other demon lords. Aradeen, the champion as you call him.”
“I am-"
“Yes, Raunst, my blood runs through you. As it started with my son, so continues our fight to banish the demon lords once and for all.”
> “Where does that put you?”
“My boy, I am already far gone. Only through the weakness in the breach caused by Xero can I now begin to speak to you. You alone can stop him. But it is not just Xero you may face. Xero desires to summon the return of the other demon lords. He intends to command them, but he is a fool. Xero has undone the barrier that contains Gaunich. He seeks the medallion as you do. It contains the power of the other demon lords, and it is the key to controlling the beast. Where he hides I do not know, but he will come for you and Xero both. There will be no escape. Guanich is unstoppable without the medallion.”
Seline put a hand out and grabbed Raunst's. “You must stop Xero before he allies with Gaunich.”
“What must I do?”
“Your strength alone is not enough. You need the power of the amulet. With the power and the knowledge within, you will understand what to do.” Aradeel looked around the room, his motions cautious.
“Where is it? Where is the medallion?”
“It cannot be,” Seline shrunk away from Raunst. The loose sand on the floor before him jumped and shifted.
Raunst watched as it happened again.“Tell me where it is!” Raunst screamed.
In the distance there was a rumble. It was steady now. The earth shook beneath him.
Aradeel looked to the east wall and stepped back. “The monster has come. We are too late.”
“Raunst!” Psydra had to raise her voice above the roar.
Everyone moved to the far side of the room following Aradeel. The demon steadied his frame and put together his warped, scaled hands. Around his fingers a dull glow of red light gathered and swirled. Raunst pulled his sword. His heart rate quickened.
The eastern wall of the chamber exploded. Rock and debris flew everywhere. As the dust settled the moon hung just above the horizon. Framed in the collapsed wall stood the massive Gaunich. The creature’s expansive mouth had angular protruding teeth that gleamed in the white light. Black eyes filled with fire. Guanich had the body of a lion. The monster on all fours stood over twice a man’s height.
“It is so nice to see you Aradeel. I am forever indebted for your betrayal. It has brought me such hope for my future.” Gaunich settled his fiery gaze on Raunst. “This must be the last of kin.”
“Who are you?” Raunst demanded.
Gaunich gave a deep laugh that echoed throughout the chamber. “You haven’t done a very good job with this one, Aradeel.”
“You better have come to fight.” Aradeel leaned forward with his words.
Raunst’s chest warmed. His skin went damp with sweat. His grip tightened on the hilt of his blade. Even in the darkness the scene before him was crisp and clear. He felt a gentle tug, drawing him closer to Guanich.
“Stay back.” Raunst’s tone was even and calm.
The monster sank down, it was clear he was ready to pounce. Aradeel let loose a firebolt. The flash of power connected with the monster and fizzled out. Gaunich leapt. Jake and Psydra dodged to one side, Raunst and Charles to the other. Aradeel and Gaunich collided. Aradeel desperately sought for a way to grapple the beast to the ground, but it was all he could do to hold on. Gaunich spun and thrashed. Aradeel’s body slammed against the stone wall.
“Look out!” Psydra yelled.
Jake dove to the side, Gaunich charged past him. Gaunich turned the corner of the room dragging Aradeel along the stone wall. The great demon turned the next corner, immediately in front of him stood Raunst. The frail looking human put a smile on his face as prepared to collide. Raunst stooped and rolled under the monster. Gaunich ran right over as Raunst’s blade tore across the beasts exposed chest from below. Gaunich reared up crashing through the ceiling. Debris fell all around Raunst. He clamored to his feet and slashed the beast from behind. Gaunich let a mighty scream.
The monster turned. The massive maw loomed over Raunst. The exposed teeth dripped with moisture. The beasts ferocious tongue slip from side to side across the bottom of its massive mouth. Raunst poised himself to parry. Psydra looked on in terror as the beast struck.
“No!” Psydra’s shriek was lost as Gaunich’s blow connected; a downward strike from his forelimbs directly on Raunst. Raunst parried with his sword in both hands, holding firm the blade over his head. Gaunich reeled back and swiped the blade from Raunt’s hands. Raunst stumbled back, his weapon on the ground at Gaunich’s feet. Aradeel charged into Gaunich from the side at a full run; the two spilled over and crashed into the wall. Another section of the great ceiling collapsed down. Raunst’s sword disappeared under the rubble.
As the two great demons wrestled and fought, Raunst dug in to the loose wood and rock. His allies had retreated to the back of the chamber, Jake and Charles holding their swords high side by side, ready to make a stand. Psydra dashed away from them to Raunst as the struggling demons came to their feet lashing at each other.
“Raunst, look out!” Psydra’s warning came just in time. Raunst leapt to the side to avoid being trampled by Gaunich’s charge. In his wake the monster uncovered Raunst’s sword.
Gaunich pounced onto Aradeel and tore at him with his massive ripping teeth. The mighty demon bit again, ripping his foe in half. Aradeel’s form turned to dust and vanished.
Gaunich turned to Raunst. The beast charged. Raunst scurried through the monster’s massive legs and darted around behind him. The beast turned and his shoulder crashed into one of the large columns. Stone fell loose from the broken pillar; Gaunich winced away from the blow. He looked more surprised than pained.
Raunst stood close to another of the giant pillars. Gaunich lunged at him. Raunst circled around the column. The mighty hand of Gaunich shattered the stone. The force threw Raunst across the floor. The beast cackled in a deep baritone. Raunst came to his feet facing the creature. Blood began to run from beneath his hair and down the back of his neck. The shattered stone had left a gash.
The giant monster looked at Raunst’s red hand as he pulled it away from his neck. “Fragile little things you humans are.” The beast thrashed the remainder of the column and stood directly over Raunst. The man stood steady. Gaunich looked directly upon him with his solid purple eyes wide now.
The monsters eyes flared. His large arm came across ferociously slamming Raunst sideways toward the far wall. His body rolled over the stone floor. Dazed, Raunst stood. He faced Gaunich with a stoic vigor, although it was obvious his physical strength was failing.
“I have waited for this day. You will beg for mercy like your ancestor before you.”
Raunst looked to the sword on the floor. It was closer now but still too far out of reach. He turned and stared at the monster looming over him.
“None of my ancestors would ever have bowed to you.”
Gaunich raised his arms high and slammed them on the floor where Raunst stood, but the man skirted his way under the massive creature. He came around the column and lifted his sword from the ground in defense. Gaunich swung his claws. Raunst raised the sword to parry, knowing the strength of the blow would be unstoppable.
A loud crash echoed through the chamber. Raunst opened his eyes. He filled with shock. The sword held firm his hands, holding off the giant’s arm. The monster strained against him, but the young man barely felt the weight of the blade at all.
Gaunich swung again. Raunst parried then jumped back from the beast. He gave a sly grin. A feeling inside Raunst solidified in to words in his mind. It sounded like the voice of Aradeel echoing to him. Maybe it was the duke’s voice, he wasn’t sure. The words were clear. ‘The medallion is the key, the key lies within.’
The giant paused his assault. The creature took a step to the side and studied further the boy’s position.
“Did you really face off against TecDemon?”
Gaunich laughed. “To his knees. He begged for his life.”
“Then how did thi
s sword escape you, if you had the man who last wielded it entombed?”
“He vainly came to me unarmed. Even he doubted that you could defeat me. It took little time for me to devour him. You half-breed demons have that sweet human blood running through you.” Gaunich sloshed his gigantic black tongue across his slimy lips.
The monster swung in anger, Raunst struck at the giant’s arm. Gaunich pulled his arm back with a terrible cry. Raunst stood his ground. The sword had pierced the monster’s skin.
Raunst charged the beast swinging the blade over his head and repelling the giant’s arms. He charged through his legs and drove the blade across the flesh of the monster’s leg. Gaunich crashed down to the ground. The demon’s black blood slithered along his flesh. It spread over his arms. Gaunich’s eyes burned white hot.
Inside his own chest, Raunst felt drawn to the demon. Each moment he wanted to step closer. Raunst looked deep within the massive mouth of the demon, down beyond where he could see, he could hear a siren’s call. Beconing him into the maw of the world eater.
“Raunst, no!” Psydra watched Raunst stumble into the monster’s path.
Blood ran freely from the open wound across Raunst's back. Gaunich stood up on his hind legs. The demon towered over Raunst. Behind the monster, the sun broke over the crest of the hill. The storm clouds split wide enough to let the light through. The demon’s red flesh lined with slashes from Raunst’s sword.
“I cannot be killed, Demonboy. No blade cut by the hand of man can defeat me. My wounds are temporary,” the beast began to chuckle again. The monster studied his body, expectantly, but the wounds stayed open. The gash at his leg began to drip a light stream of purple blood. Gaunich lashed out at Raunst. The man’s parry cut deep into the monster’s claw, severing a finger.
Raunst leaned forward with the blade across his chest. “The time has come for you to give me what I seek. I will only give you one chance for mercy,” Raunst hands kept a firm grip on the dark metal blade.
“No,” the beast crashed to the ground. Gaunich sprang up to all fours. The monster’s head weaved side to side, tracking with the rise and fall of Raunst’s heavy breathing. Raunst approached the monster, his long blade extended at his enemy.
“Being invincible to the weapons of man, made you the perfect place to keep the prize of my ancestor.”
“Element…” Gaunich struggled to find the words. “The fallen one’s sword…” the beast extended its claw to reach for the blade itself. Gaunich’s fingers gripped it with their dwindling strength, but soon fell to the ground at Raunst’s feet.
Raunst again walked toward the beast with the sword in both hands, the monster was on its side, its breathing labored and slow. Raunst raised the sword high above him and brought the blade down in a heavy slice across the beast. The labored breathing ceased and its claw slammed to the floor.
The young man knelt down and thrust his hand deep into the creature’s chest. He probed through the icy cold insides. His fingers slid along a solid object. Closing his hand around it Raunst retrieved it. He emerged washed with black blood. A glint of gold shimmered through in the morning light. The object was roughly the size of his palm. Raunst wiped it clean and revealed a pendent with five equal segments divide by engraved lines. Centered in each wedge was a precious gem: ruby, emerald, sapphire, diamond and onyx.
Raunst placed the chain around his neck. His mind flooded with knowledge. The voices of the demon lords set off like a lightning storm in his mind. Raunst steadied himself to clear the intrusive thoughts, but he could only turn them down so much. They would not silent. Within them he knew the incantations to seal the beast before him, other spells and chants became known to him. Raunst concentrated on the task at hand. His lips began to form the words.
The Demon Legacy Page 8
