by Jon Bender
While the god was distracted with trying to crush him into the ground, Alimar cast the coil again with his free hand, sending it to wrap around Estrom’s ankles. He then jerked the coil tight, sending the enraged god crashing to the ground. The roar that issued forth from Estrom shook the very air. As the god tried to gain his feet again, Alimar laid the coil across his back, forcing him down. From his position on the ground, Estrom whipped his sword at Alimar. Abandoning the coil, he reformed the barrier just in to time to stop the wickedly curved edge.
Estrom glared at Alimar after rolling to his feet. “I have played this game before, Oath-Breaker,” the god said.
Instead of attacking Alimar, the deity rushed to the wall, slashing at the men on top. Several soldiers were killed instantly, as others were thrown into the palace courtyard. Alimar felt one of the flows of energy feeding his power waver then come back. Estrom had faced the joining before and knew the inherent weakness of the cast. He was not trying to harm Alimar directly, but hunting those who were supplying the death mage with power.
Alimar sent the coil to wrap around Estrom’s arm, holding back the god’s next strike at the wall. Concentrating his will, Alimar jerked Estrom away to face him again. He could not hold the powerful being at bay forever, but saw no way to beat him. The coil was not doing enough damage to destroy him. Looking at the wall, he could see Laiden’s head and arm peaking over near the section Estrom had wrecked. If the god was going to attack Alimar’s source of power, it was only fair that he returned the favor. The priest still floated at the center of Estrom’s body, maintaining the connection to this world. If Alimar could somehow strike at the priest himself, he could sever that connection. There was one cast he knew that would drain away any energy a mage summoned, but he had never tested it on a priest. Banishing the coil, Alimar replaced it with the blight, sending it straight for the center of the god’s chest. Maybe he would not need to drain the priest’s power if he could kill him outright.
Realizing Alimar’s true target, Estrom brought his sword and arm up to protect the priest. Alimar was forced to curve the blight around the shifting obstructions to continue boring through to the god’s core. This was not made any easier as the Estrom moved forward trying to reach him. The blight broke through to the priest, but the god continued to move and shift, making it difficult to latch the tendrils around the man long enough to finish it. Raising his other hand, he sent the purest black ribbon floating gracefully along the path of the blight. Slipping through the burrowed hole in the god’s chest, the ribbon wrapped around the priest’s wrist. Alimar waited, but Estrom showed no sign of weakening. It should have worked; the power flowing onto the priest should have been draining away his magic. The god was closing the distance, and he could now clearly see the face of the priest. The man’s lips were still moving as he continued to pray even from inside the body. Removing the ribbons from the wrist, he shifted it around the priest’s throat, creating a collar. The effect was almost instantaneous.
As Estrom’s body began to fade, the god stopped his advance and looked hard into Alimar’s eyes. “It will not be so easy next time. The chains of the pact are broken, and we gain strength in this world.” With that, the collared priest collapsed hard to the ground.
He moved closer to the man on the ground, readying another cast to finish him should he attempt to rise. After several moments without the priest moving, Alimar relaxed but left the black collar around the unconscious man’s neck.
“I have never felt so helpless,” Celia said, walking up beside him. Lifting the blade that hung limply at her he side, she looked at it and scoffed before sheathing it.
“There are very few who would not feel that way,” Alimar said. He still contained the power contributed by four other mages, and he felt an almost irresistible urge to use it. Realizing he was considering using magic just for the sake of knowing he could, Alimar commanded the risen mages to cease the cast and return to the warehouse. The sudden loss was staggering, as if a part of his being had been cut out.
“I don’t understand how you defeated him. We couldn’t even get close,” she continued not noticing his discomfort.
“I had help,” Alimar said. He was in no mood to explain what had happened, and was not sure she would understand in any case.
“How did a god come to be here?” Celia asked. “Except for when Sarinsha saved Ale’adar, I have never heard of them doing anything like this.”
“I do not know,” Alimar lied. The energy flowing from Laiden and Kasric stopped suddenly, causing him to drop to a knee. He felt frail and small now, his own considerable magic no longer feeling enough.
“Are you injured?” She knelt next to him.
“I am fine. Battling a god can be draining,” he replied.
“Do you think he will come back?” she asked, her voice quavering.
“It seems likely,” he replied.
Leaning down, Celia held a hand over the priest’s mouth. “He is still breathing. What are we going to do with him?”
“That is not for me to decide,” Alimar said. “It would fall to Jaxom to hand out justice, and in his absence, it falls to you. If you want my opinion, execute him.”
“We do not execute prisoners of war,” she said. Her voice returned to its normal, firm tone.
“You put two murderers to death only a short time ago,” Alimar said.
“Executing murderers is not the same,” she said.
“As I said, it is not for me to decide.”
“What is this around his neck?” she asked, tentatively touching the black ribbon.
“It will contain his ability to communicate with his god. He will no longer be able to pray for power,” Alimar said.
“How long will it last?”
“Until I leave. If you want to make sure he cannot commune with Estrom again. You will need to gag him and bind his hands.” Celia nodded.
Leaving her to deal with the priest, Alimar slowly made his way back through the gates where several soldiers were being tended by healers. Laiden and Kasric were waiting for him. He waived off their efforts to support him.
“Events are moving much faster than anticipated, and we are not yet prepared to face them. With Jaxom gone, I am assigning you two with the task of looking for more apprentices.”
“Of course, Magus, but will you have time to train any we find?” Kasric asked.
“You will be able to teach them the basics. From there, I will find the time,” Alimar replied.
“Does this mean we are to be named full mages?” Laiden asked hopefully.
Alimar looked them over, considering the question. “No. You are not ready to act on your own, but this duty will get you much closer. The best way to master a skill is to teach it to others.”
“With your permission, Magus I will return to my workshop. I am close to finishing the project I have been working on,” Kasric said.
“And I will head into the city to start looking,” Laiden added.
Alimar nodded. Watching them leave with purpose in their steps, he decided to return to the vault. With this new development, safety would have to be put aside for the sake of speed. The enchanted items could be the difference between preserving what he had built and destruction.
Chapter 13
Jaxom looked at the large river separating Denra from Kelran. The closest bridge the riders could find was twenty miles to the south and guarded by hundreds of Kelran soldiers. He had no doubt that they could handle the enemy forces, but he wanted to find the Bandit Lord before letting King Dillion know that they were in his land. Without the use of the bridge, they would be forced to cross the river in whatever way they could. Fortunately, they had a mage who could help with that particular problem. Darian had assured him that he could create a bridge of ice that would support the weight of man, horse, and wagon. During the three hours that Jaxom’s small force had been waiting in the woods that ran along the iced banks, six riders had flown across the breadth of the river to scout on the other side.
“Has there been any word from Corin or Alimar?” Da’san asked.
Alimar had told Jaxom about the god Estrom’s attack on Terika. The older death mage had put the stories together and knew that Da’san had agreed to terms on Jaxom’s behalf. Now they knew what the consequences were. Da’san had only been able to break the pact because Jaxom would have done the same. Thinking on it, Jaxom imagined that this was why mages tended to shy away from temples and their priests. The paranoia’s origins had been lost over the years, but the unease had remained. If he had not befriended the priest, Da’san would never have known Jaxom well enough to break the pact that had ended the War of the Gods.
Word had spread about the attack in Terika, but only the three of them knew the reason behind it. Alimar had not told Corin, and Jaxom had agreed. Telling Corin would do no good and possibly create strife. Da’san had acted to save Ale’adar. If Jaxom had been there, he would have done nothing differently.
“No other gods have yet to make an appearance, if that is what you are asking,” Jaxom said.
“I have already said--”
Jaxom raised his hand, stopping him. “We’ve been over this twice. You did what you had to. There is nothing else to talk about.”
“How do we deal with the gods?” he said instead.
Jaxom knew that this must be a touchy subject for his friend. Da’san was completely devoted to his goddess, but Jaxom knew he would put the lives of people first. He had only become a priest because he thought that Sarinsha truly wished to help men, and his vow to her was given to help further that goal. If it came down to choosing between men and the goddess, Jaxom was sure which side Da’san would choose. So far, Sarinsha had proven herself an ally, albeit a reluctant one, and Jaxom was not ready to name her an enemy.
“I think you should speak to Sarinsha again,” Jaxom said, deciding to force the issue.
“She has not spoken to me in months. Why would she answer me now?” he said, distraught.
“Perhaps she would not speak to you because you kept asking the same question. Now that we know the answer to that question, maybe she will be willing to provide other information.”
“We already know she is against Or’Keer,” Da’san replied.
“You need to ask her if she wants to return to how it was before the pact. Or will she come into the world, as Estrom did, and demand obedience?” Jaxom hated himself for pushing his friend to this.
“What if we don’t like her answer?” Da’san asked, his voice quiet.
“Then you will have a decision to make,” Jaxom said.
“I need time to think on this,” Da’san said.
“I know,” Jaxom replied soberly. “If there was not so much at stake, I would not ask.” Their conversation was interrupted by the flapping of large wings as two durgen flew across the river. Adriana met the riders as they landed on the Denra bank. They talked briefly then her riders left to find themselves a fire and some food.
“There are no patrols directly across the river from us,” Adriana said, joining him and Da’san.
“Good news,” Jaxom said. “As soon as the others return, we can move on.”
“What if the other scouts have seen Kelrans?” she asked, looking across the river.
“Then we will know where they are and can avoid them. We are crossing today no matter who is on the other side,” Jaxom said.
“I will get my riders ready to move,” she said.
“Tell Lord Wilbrin to get his men ready as well. We leave as soon the scouts return,” he said. Adriana nodded before heading towards the tree where Wilbrin had situated himself.
“What is the plan after we enter Kelran?” Da’san asked.
“We will move away from the border, avoiding their soldiers whenever we can. From there, we will find the bandit leader,” Jaxom said.
“That may be difficult if the people are trying to protect him. Most will be suspicious of a strange group of soldiers looking for the most hunted man in the kingdom,” Da’san replied.
“You’re right, but if no one will lead us to him, someone will tryto find out why we’re looking,” Jaxom said.
“That is not a very good plan,” he said.
“We could always go town to town, announcing who we are and why we are really here,” Jaxom said sarcastically. Da’san raised an eyebrow. “We will be as subtle as possible. Only a few of us will go into populated areas to ask around.”
“Who will you send?” he asked.
Jaxom smiled. “You, me, and maybe one or two others.”
“Me? I don’t know anything about subterfuge,” Da’san said.
“Don’t underestimate yourself. I heard how you went into that tavern with Cribble and Jerup to lure Or’Keer’s servants into a trap. This will be easier than that,” Jaxom said.
“That was mostly Cribble and Jerup. I was just there to help at the end,” he said.
“When people see a priest from a temple other than Or’Keer’s, they may be more willing to open up,” Jaxom said.
“I will go with you, but I will not pretend to be anything other than what I am,” he said.
“That’s exactly what I need. Now, get ready to move. The rest of the riders will be back soon,” Jaxom said.
His friend nodded and went to see to his gear and horse. Jaxom spotted Darian standing near the river, staring into the water. “Are you going to be able to do it?” he asked after climbing down the small slope.
“Of course,” Darian snapped.
“What’s the problem then?” Jaxom asked, with genuine suprise.
Darian looked up from the water to meet Jaxom’s eyes. “I can’t swim,” he said.
Jaxom stared at him, waiting for some sign that his friend was making another joke. When it became clear that he was not, Jaxom started laughing. How could this powerful mage, who had faced down deadly enemies with a grin, be afraid of a little water?
“It’s not funny,” Darian said annoyed. The stern tone in his voice sent Jaxom into another fit. It took some time before he got the laughter under control and wiped away the tears. “Have you finished?”
“I’m sorry,” Jaxom said, finally getting his breath back. “What does it matter if you can’t swim? You said you could make a bridge that would support all of us.”
“I can. I will have to continue the cast until everyone is across, or the water may break up the ice,” he said.
“So we might lose some men?” Jaxom asked, concerned.
“No, but I will have to cross the bridge while casting, and I am not looking forward to that,” he said.
Jaxom shook his head. His fear of water was blinding him to the obvious solution. “Have one of the men walk your horse across. After everyone is safely on the other side, I will fly you across with me.”
A look of relief came over Darian’s face at hearing he would not have to walk across the fast moving river but quickly changed to one of embarrassment. “I wish I had thought of that. Please don’t tell anyone about my… apprehension.”
“Your secret is safe with me,” Jaxom assured him. Darian gave him a suspicious look Jaxom knew to be warranted. He would not tell break his friend’s trust, but he could hardly be expected not to tease the other mage whenever an opportunity presented itself.
Movement in the trees across the river caught Jaxom’s eye, and he spotted a rider. On his black durgen, he was easy to pick out in the white landscape. Reaching the river at a run, the risen mount’s large black wings spread out to catch the air, lifting its six clawed legs from the ground and gliding across. Moments later, the rest of the scouts repeated the process, landing gently on Jaxom’s side of the river. Leaving Darian, Jaxom spoke to the riders. They had seen no sign of people on the other side for miles. With that, Jaxom gave the command to move to the bank where Darian was standing.
Climbing onto his durgen, Jaxom walked the risen down next to his friend. As the men leading their horses lined up to cross, Adriana led her riders back across to t
he Kelran side. From there, the durgen would spread out and hold positions about a quarter of a mile into the trees, guarding the men on the bridge. Jaxom nodded to Darian, and the ice mage lifted his hands out over the water. A stream of frost shot down to the surface, forming a thick pad of ice on the bank. Adjusting the angle, Darian began spreading the ice over seventy feet of swiftly moving water to the other side. Darian continued building until the bridge was twenty feet wide, reducing the risk of fall. Jaxom could tell that Darian had also created a rougher surface that would make slipping less likely.
“It’s ready,” Darian said in a strained voice, his eyes and hands never leaving the bridge.
Jaxom nodded to the first soldier in line. The man took a deep breath before stepping onto the ice. His horse neighed and back-stepped. Taking a moment, the man calmed the animal with a light touch and soothing words before continuing. Jaxom could hear a light cracking as the weight of large horse moved onto the ice, and he gripped his own reigns, preparing to fly over the water to rescue the man should he fall. The ice held. As the soldier moved past the halfway point, Jaxom could see by the way he moved that he gained confidence in the magic bridge.
When the last packhorse had crossed, the wagon rolled slowly down to the bank. Jaxom looked to Darian who had not moved but stood sweating in the cold air. As the wagon pulled out onto ice, the evidence in its weight was immediately apparent. Loud popping sounds came from underneath. The driver gave the reigns a snap, urging the horses forward. Again, Jaxom readied himself. As the wagon reached the center of the bridge, a loud crack echoed through the trees. The driver whipped the reigns, commanding the horse to move faster as large chunks of ice broke away from the bridge to float down river. Darian wore a look of pure concentration. He now directed his cast solely on the ice in front of the wagon. When it reached firm land, Jaxom let out a breath he did not know he had been holding. Darian dropped his hands to his sides.
His friend looked up at him with an exhausted smile. “I told you it wouldn’t be a problem.”
Jaxom just shook his head and offered Darian a hand, pulling the ice mage up behind him. Flying over the river, he saw pieces of the bridge being washed away. The Kelran soldiers downriver may wonder at the large chunks floating by, but Jaxom doubted they would think an invading force had just crossed into their land over a bridge made out of ice.
