The Shrine of Kallen (The Tales of Zanoth Book 3)

by Aaron J. Ethridge

  As countless glowing eyes gathered just beyond the entrance of the catacombs, Thaelen rushed through the corridor with several Warriors following just steps behind him.

  “What happened?” he asked the moment he was in easy earshot.

  Paul quickly explained the situation before suggesting that the captain move the women and children into the chapel and ready all of their men in the tomb's central chamber. While this was being attended to, the paladin and his companions would do their best to keep the enemy at bay. Thaelen agreed with this plan and immediately set out to put it into action.

  “I have a few questions,” Joey said the moment the captain was gone.

  “What are they?” Paul asked, turning to face his friend.

  “First off, how are we safe here?”

  “Paul sanctified the ground, silly,” the fairy pointed out with a beautiful smile.

  “Sure. But, he also sanctified the camp.”

  “The varrool just un-sanctified it,” she replied, shaking her head. “Don't you remember? You need to try to find that spell that improves memory. I've never seen it, but... Or actually, maybe I have and I've just forgotten about it. I should have cast it on myself while I had the chance. Next time...”

  “Obviously,” Joey interrupted. “My question is: why is this ground still blessed?”

  “I did it one area at a time,” Paul replied. “I guess the varrool will have to undo it the same way.”

  “It will,” Myra nodded.

  “Then, why isn't it doing that now?”

  “Corrupting an area takes a great deal of dark power,” she explained. “It's probably resting before it starts again.”

  “Could it corrupt this entire place in one night?” the wizard asked.

  “I don't know. I have no idea who the varrool is or how powerful it is.”

  “Powerful,” Darek speculated. “It just corrupted an area blessed by the it, as well as shielding itself from his rather impressive turn.”

  “Which means it's time to come up with an escape plan,” Joey asserted.

  “We haven't been beaten yet,” Alena said, shaking her head. “We've killed countless undead already tonight – essentially by ourselves. Even if the varrool manages to reach and corrupt the central chamber, he and the horde with him will have to face not only us, but over a hundred Warriors, as well. We will win this.”

  “Take a look at that, Alena,” the wizard said, pointing at the sea of glowing eyes. “How many wraiths are out there? How many specters? How many shades?”

  “Not enough to defeat us,” she assured him.

  “Maybe not tonight,” he said, shaking his head. “However, that's not my...”

  His statement was interrupted by the appearance of the varrool. The monster took up a position just feet from the party and began chanting; holding its unholy symbol aloft as it did so. The crowned wraith stood at the monster's side with its sword at the ready.

  “We need to have a conference,” Paul said, climbing to his feet. “Gather 'round.”

  The entire party came together in a huddle where they could discuss the situation in relative whispers.

  “Alright,” the paladin said softly, “we've got a couple of problems here.”

  “Which is why we need that escape plan,” Joey asserted.

  “First, Nyssa and I are exhausted,” the paladin continued. “Myra and Joey just about have to be, as well.”

  “I'm getting there,” the maiden admitted with a sigh.

  “I'm actually alright at the moment,” the wizard replied. “I've been saving myself in case I need to use that lightning spell again.”

  “That was wise,” Darek nodded. “Provided you can cast it without killing yourself.”

  “He can,” Nyssa quietly assured him. “He's getting better and better. Eventually, he'll be able to do it without even passing out.”

  “That's good to know,” Darek smiled.

  “Either way,” Paul said, “my point is that we're running a little short in the magic department.”

  “We are,” Sarrac agreed.

  “On top of which, we don't have much room to fight in.”

  “We don't,” Alena nodded.

  “So,” the paladin said with his eyes on those of the ogress, “I need you and Sarrac to keep that wraith busy long enough for me to kill the varrool. I may not have been able to turn him, but I'm sure Telseir would bring his unlife to a rather speedy end.”

  “We can handle that,” the ogre nodded.

  “What should the rest of us do?” Joey asked.

  “Be ready to grab us by the heels and drag us back in here if anything goes wrong,” Alena replied.

  “Wait for my signal,” Paul said, before turning to face their enemies.

  The three companions made their way up the passageway shoulder-to-shoulder with their weapons at the ready.

  “Now!” Paul cried, the moment they were in position.

  Without hesitation, the three combatants fell on their foes. The ogre and ogress drove the wraith back before their flashing blades while Paul lashed out at the varrool. The particles of bone that made up its body seemed to flee from the touch of the paladin's flaming sword. Telseir passed through the creature without doing it any obvious harm. The monstrosity crumbled, only to reform itself almost instantly – the scimitar that had hung from its side grasped in its skeletal hand.

  The abomination flew at Paul, aided on all sides by undead. The paladin sent one after another of these creatures of darkness to the afterlife as he and he companions fought side-by-side at the very entrance of the catacombs. Finally, his foe made a mistake.

  Paul lunged forward, stabbing the varrool in its stomach before it could once again dissipate. As golden flames began to crawl up the creature's body, its weapon bit into the paladin's cheek. Black flames sprang from the wound as pain almost beyond imagination wracked his entire body. This sensation caused him to stumble; falling momentarily to his knees.

  The sea of undead would likely have overwhelmed him at that moment had the power of the former lich not driven them back into the surrounding darkness. Seconds later, Paul and his companions were once again standing safely on holy ground. Myra immediately used her power to quell the dark flames, although, half of the paladin's face was still badly burned.

  Moments later, the varrool and wraith resumed their former positions. The one consolation the band received for their efforts was that the undead priest had to renew his dark prayers from the beginning. Considering the price he had paid, however, Paul felt this wasn't much of a victory.

  “Okay,” he sighed, reaching up to gently touch his seared flesh, “you were saying something about an escape plan, Joey.”

  “I was,” the wizard nodded. “For one thing, even if we beat them tonight, we've still got to get back to Kal Tammon. I don't like the idea of trying to do that when we have to face an assault like this every night of the trip.”

  “We wouldn't have to,” Myra asserted. “We keep slaughtering more and more of them. It's a large force, but it's not limitless.”

  “Whatever the case,” Joey replied, “we're not going to want to walk all that way with Grathis still out to kill us.”

  “We certainly won't,” Alena nodded.

  “As our horses are all gone – and possibly all dead – we need to find a better way to get back.”

  “What's your plan?” Paul asked.

  “It is so obvious,” Nyssa smiled. “I appreciate your confidence in me, Joey. You guys just hold out here for the next two days or so and...”

  “What are you talking about?” Joey interrupted.

  “Obviously,” she said, “you want me to go get the vault.”

  “No, I don't,” he assured her.

  “What?” she asked, a shocked tone in her voice. “If you don't think I'm capable of...”

  “I think you're capable of almost anything,” he interjected. “I just don't think we have that much time. I don't think it's a good idea to split up
. Also, if I end up having to sacrifice myself for the good of the party, I don't want you to miss it. I think I've gotten to the point where I could stand to die a heroic death; but I haven't reached the point where I could do it without having a cheerleader to encourage me.”

  “You are really weird sometimes, you know that?” she said, putting her hands on her hips and tilting her head to the side. “Of course, it's actually rather attractive.”

  “Could we please get back to the plan?” Darek asked. “We can all have a good flirt after we're not dead.”

  “My plan is to come up with a plan.”

  “The vault is a good idea,” Myra nodded. “I can send a message to the general telling him to send it to us.”

  “Can he do that?” Joey asked.

  “Of course, he can!” the fair fairy replied. “Myra and I gave him the coordinates to this place before we ever went searching for the fortress.”

  “Oh, right.”

  “You really need to cast that memory spell.”

  “I guess I do... Still, will he be up this time of night.”

  “It'll wake him,” Myra asserted, before beginning to chant in a sing-song voice.

  The moment her spell was complete, she told the general exactly what the situation was and asked that the vault be sent to them.

  “His prayer is getting close to its end,” Joey asserted, his eyes turned to the varrool. “I recognize this part.”

  “Let's fall back,” Paul replied, turning to lead the party to the central chamber.

  Just moments after they retreated, the sound of thunder followed by an explosion filled the air. Paul explained their current plan to Thaelen; pointing out that they would have to keep the undead out of the chapel until the vault arrived. The captain agreed and prepared his men accordingly.

  “Why didn't the varrool start with this room?” Joey mused aloud. “Corrupting the camp and the passageway kind of seems like a waste of effort.”

  “He's not completely incorporeal,” Sarrac reminded him. “Varrool can make their way through the smallest cracks, but they can't walk through solid walls.”

  “Right...” the wizard nodded, his eyes focused on the chanting undead. “Maybe I should go ahead and strike him with lightning.”

  “Not yet,” Paul said, shaking his head. “I want you to save that for the last moment. It may not work, but it may knock you out. I'd rather we didn't have to carry you when we fall back.”

  “That's a good point,” Joey admitted.

  Just minutes later, the hallowed ground on which they stood was corrupted. Hordes of undead poured in on the defenders from all sides, while the varrool and the crowned wraith remained a safe distance from the paladin and his allies. The living fought valiantly against this legion. Screams rent the air as one dark soul after another was driven from Zanoth by the magical weapons of the determined Warriors.

  However, their enemies seemed almost numberless. Rather than risk the lives of his men in what might prove to be a pointless skirmish, the captain quickly called the group to retreat. The paladin and his companions acted as the rear guard of this maneuver; standing their ground until the last of the Warriors was safely out of the reach of their foes.

  “I feel like I'm dying,” Joey claimed, sinking down onto the floor of the passageway that connected the chapel to the tomb's central chamber. “I don't know how many times those things have managed to grab onto me, but I can tell you this: it's been far too many.”

  “I agree,” Darek said, taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly. “I'm amazed that we haven't lost anyone yet.”

  “That's providence,” Sarrac asserted.

  “Or, really good luck,” Darek said, shaking his head. “Either way, I'll take it. Still, I've suffered a loss of my own. I wish I had been able to grab...”

  As he said this, he looked down at the belt that held his daggers and noticed that the ones he had thrown were once again in their sheaths.

  “They're back!” he exclaimed. “That's incredible.”

  “It's magical,” Nyssa pointed out.

  For several minutes, the party was allowed to rest in the hallway unmolested. This ended with the approach of the varrool. Darek did his best to bring the creature's chanting to a permanent end with his flying daggers. Two of these were deflected by the crowned wraith, however, and two others were avoided due to the semi-substantial form of his target. The fifth found its mark. Although, it didn't completely stop the monstrosity, it did cause the abomination to bellow in pain and rage. It also forced him to restart his prayers from the beginning. This bought the band a little more time.

  Before the varrool had completed its task, the paladin and his allies made their way to the chapel.

  “Well,” Darek said, glancing around the room. “It looks like this is where we take our stand.”

  “We need to make sure the women and children are in the very center of the room,” the ogre observed.

  “I wonder what the general is doing,” Joey added, shaking his head. “How long does it take to move those runes?”

  “A while,” Myra replied. “Not to mention the fact that we can't be sure it ever recharged.”

  “I wish you hadn't mentioned that,” the wizard said, shaking his head.

  “Myra,” Paul said thoughtfully. “This many incorporeal undead have to be difficult to control, don't they?”

  “Extremely,” she asserted. “In fact, I'm amazed to see this many of them working together toward a unified goal.”

  “What would happen if we managed to kill the one with the crown?”

  “We can't be sure.”

  “There's a chance that the rest would forget why they were here, though, right?”

  “There is,” she nodded. “Just like when we faced Kalmock Tal. Once you defeated him, the specters with him had no idea what they had been doing just moments before. Of course, there are other wraiths here this time.”

  “Sure,” the paladin nodded. “There are more than a hundred Warriors here this time, as well. Alena, you, Sarrac, and I need to try what we tried before in reverse.”

  “Meaning what, exactly?” the ogress asked.

  “You two jump the varrool,” he said, “being sure to avoid that scimitar, while I attack the wraith. Once we've got a little distance between them, I'm going to blow him up.”

  “You mean turn him?”

  “Obviously.”

  “I thought you'd done as much of that as you could for the moment.”

  “I have,” he nodded. “But, I'm going to do it again anyway.”

  “I don't think that's wise,” Sarrac replied, shaking his head. “It could kill you.”

  “I realize that,” Paul nodded. “There's actually a section in the book on that. I don't think I'm quite at that point yet. Although, do be ready to carry me to safety. I doubt I'll be able to stand afterward.”

  “I'm not sure that's a solid plan,” Darek replied.

  “Well, if the vault doesn't show up before...”

  Paul's thought was interrupted by the arrival of the aforementioned vault. Immediately, the women and children began rushing into it as Gregory and twenty more Warriors made their way out.

  “Sorry it took us so long,” he said the moment he reached the party. “The general had us recheck the coordinates three times.”

  “That's not a problem!” Darek replied with a wide smile.

  “A thought occurs,” Joey asserted. “In fact, a few thoughts occur.”

  “What are they?” Paul asked.

  “First, do we know that the call button is recharged?”

  “It wasn't when we left,” Gregory replied.

  “Mmmm,” the wizard nodded. “Meaning we may have to try to fight off the undead for five days without food or water.”

  “We can't be sure,” Myra said. “All we can do is send another message to the general and see what happens.”

  “Plus,” Paul added. “After I kill that crowned wraith, the whole party may break up
. Which means we could go out to the wagons and get our food.”

  Shortly after these observations had been made, the party made their way into the vault. Once they were inside, Myra began sending her second request to the general.

  “Whatever the case,” Paul said, moving to stand in the very center of the doorway, “this is a good place to take our stand. The only way into this room is the door. The undead can't pass through the walls, because they're not really in the chapel.”

  “That's a fact,” Darek agreed. “That being the case, there are more than enough of us to fight in shifts.”

  “Three hundred,” Joey said with a smile.

  “What?” Nyssa asked.

  “It's a reference to an ancient battle on Earth,” Paul replied. “A small group of Spartans were able to...”

  The paladin's statement was interrupted by the sound of thunder and the echo of an explosion. Undead poured into the chapel, rushing toward the door of the vault. Paul couldn't help but feel that fortune had smiled on him as he noticed that the crowned wraith was leading the charge; outdistancing the varrool who followed behind. He just needed to be quick. If he didn't telegraph his attack, the undead priest might not be able to defend himself – or his allies – in time. In a flash, Paul dropped his hand to his holy symbol, lifting it as he screamed.

  “Drop!” was as far as he got.

  In that instant, the view beyond the doorway instantly altered from that of the chapel to that of the Fortress of Donmar.

  “That seemed to work rather well,” the general observed with a wide smile.

  Chapter 7: A Resting Place

  “Your timing was almost perfect,” Paul observed, stepping through the portal to take general Halfar by the wrist. “I just wish you'd have given us ten more seconds.”

  “Judging by your face,” the old man said, nodding at the paladin, “I took a little longer than I should have.”

  “Not quite,” Darek asserted, with a chuckle. “But, it was close.”

  The women, children, and the Warriors with them, began moving quickly out of the vault and into the fortress. The sounds of wonder, joy, and laughter filled the air as the men led their families deeper into the recesses of this haven of rest. As the last of these exited the chamber, Myra strode over to Paul.