Ander glanced back at Talia. "You have any other ideas?"
"No." She shot another arrow. It struck the monster, but only enraged it further. Now it had covered half the distance to the party. It clicked its pincers madly.
Captain Davis had a bow as well. He wasn't a great archer, but this beast wasn't a small target either. Unfortunately, none of the arrows deterred the monster's advances. Ander continued backing away, but the passage behind him was large enough for the creature to follow.
"Try some of your other magic," Sarah said. "You have to do something!"
Ander channeled energy through his staff and launched a burst of lightning at the monster. The lightning crackled in the air, approaching the beast, but then that invisible barrier stopped it again.
"What else can you do with that staff?" asked Captain Davis.
There was a spell that could cause horrible pain, but he doubted that would get through the monster's shield. Wind and water would do nothing against a creature this size.
But he did have one spell that might work. He pointed his staff at the ground, focusing on pulling a sharp stalagmite out of it.
The ground shifted with a low rumble and then a sharp crack. A stalagmite perhaps ten feet long burst from the ground. It hit one of the monster's legs but didn't appear to bother it. When Ander tried to pull the stalagmite farther out of the ground, nothing happened. Covered in sweat, legs trembling, he knew this was over. His spike of rock was not long enough to pierce the beast's underside.
The party had already entered the passage again, and soon the monster would follow. It looked more furious than ever as it approached, clicking its pincers.
"Ander, you need to distract it," Talia said. "I'll try to attack it from underneath."
"Go for the arms holding its pincers," Ander said. "I get the feeling that it uses the pincers to weave these magical shields."
She nodded. "Good idea."
Ander launched fireballs at the monster. They all burned out against the shield, but he did have the giant creature's attention. Off to the left, Talia raced forward, keeping away from Ander's spells. With a swipe of its pincers, the monster sent one of Ander's fireballs back at him. He ducked just in time, feeling the heat as it passed over his head.
Trembling, he switched to a powerful jet of water. The beast held up its pincers in defense. The water bounced off its magical shield but didn't return to strike the party.
While the monster was distracted, Talia slipped under its raised right pincer. It didn't appear to notice her. There was one major problem, though. The creature stood too tall for her to stab its soft underside. Nor could she reach the monster's front arms.
Ander could already feel himself weakening from the effort of the water spell. Talia had to figure out something, and quickly.
"Go for its legs," shouted Captain Davis.
Talia whipped her body around in a quick motion, and her blade connected with one of the legs. Ander prayed that it would sever the leg. Instead, her sword bounced off
Just when Ander thought she'd give up, she launched herself into the air and wrapped her arms and legs around one of the monster's legs. Then she climbed the leg as if it were a tree. The creature felt her and tried to shake her off, but she clung tight.
Ander had no idea what she intended to do, but he had to fight through his exhaustion and give her a chance to carry out her plan. Sweating more than ever, he gritted his teeth and kept the water spell going.
With a mighty jerk of its leg, the monster sent Talia flying. She screamed as she sailed through the air, and then she hit the ground with a heavy thud.
Ander let his spell die and raced forward, ducking below the monster's pincers. It turned and followed him. When he reached Talia, she was stirring. She got to her feet shakily and faced the approaching beast.
"Go on!" Ander shouted to Captain Davis and Sarah. "We'll distract it."
The captain raced toward them. "No, I'll distract it. You have to carry out our mission."
Logically, Ander knew the captain was right, but it felt wrong to let others sacrifice themselves when Ander could make the sacrifice instead. He glanced at Talia, and she nodded as if to say Captain Davis was right.
But there was no point debating it now. The monster was too close. It swung one of its pincers at Ander. He ducked beneath it and launched a jet of fire from under it, hoping the spell would bypass the shield this time. It didn't.
Ander could barely see the monster even though it was so close. The torch Sarah carried provided little light.
Ander had a sudden idea. He grabbed Talia by the arm and yanked her forward. Together, they ducked beneath the monster's next couple of swipes. They raced under the creature, coming out on the other side.
"Get over here, Jon," Ander said to Captain Davis. The captain held his blade up to block one of the monster's legs, then raced around its side, moving too quickly for it to keep up. Although the creature was large, it was not agile.
"What's your plan?" asked Captain Davis.
"You and Talia need to send arrows through the wall of fire I'll create. Maybe burning arrows can get through its shields." He wiped sweat from his forehead. "It's the best plan I have." He stepped to the side as the monster turned to face them, continuing to click its pincers. Then he summoned a wall of fire, fighting against exhaustion.
As soon as the flames burst to life, Captain Davis and Talia launched arrows through them. Ander held his breath as the arrows whizzed through the air. When they hit the shield, the fire spread out, crackling in a sphere all around the beast.
"Do it again!" Ander said. "I think we weakened its shield."
He kept the flames going, and they launched two more arrows. When they hit, the fire didn't spread out in a circle. Instead, the arrows sank into the monster's fleshy underbelly, flames and all.
Ander twisted to his left, sending flames toward the creature. It recoiled as the flames engulfed it. A horrible shriek came from its mouth as it twitched and writhed.
Ander's flames died. Was he out of magic?
No. He couldn't be. Not when they were so close. He tried a burst of lightning, and the magic crackled in the air. It struck the monster, which shrieked more loudly than ever. After a few moments, its legs collapsed, and it fell still.
Ander's legs buckled as well. He hit the ground and felt as if he'd never move again.
Sarah rushed to his side, holding her touch aloft. "Are you all right?"
"I'm exhausted. I used too much magic."
"Then we'll rest here for a while," Talia said.
Ander couldn't argue with that suggestion. In his current state, he'd be of no use to the party, and they were sure to face much worse monsters in these caverns.
Chapter 15: No Family of Mine
Tylen stood in the common room of the Imperial Guard garrison, watching as his comrades dragged his cousin William and William's wife Maria across the room. Farther back in the group, another Imperial Guard led their son forward. Tylen didn't know the boy's name.
"You'll soon wish you'd never supported the Order," Gerald said. The look on his face was too eager. He often took the role of torturer during interrogations.
Tylen wasn't sure how to feel about seeing his cousin's family captured like this. Weeks ago, he'd vowed he'd get his revenge, but his anger had faded. In truth, it had been foolish to expect them to take him in. They had nothing in common.
Still, a desire for revenge burned deep in his heart. He wanted to see William suffer for all the slights over the years, all the snide comments.
Tylen moved to follow Gerald into the interrogation room.
But then Tylen's commander, Sam, put a hand on his shoulder. "I don't think you should go in there. They are your family after all. I know you don't like them, but you still might not enjoy seeing what he's gonna do to 'em."
"You're probably right." Tylen took a seat at a nearby table. He'd never thought much of torture as an interrogation technique. If someone tort
ured him, he'd say whatever he could to make the pain end. Maybe he was a coward, but he was all right with that.
He waited at the table, tapping his foot against the stone floor. It wasn't long before the screams started. Tylen cringed when he heard the first scream, and it only got worse. Yes, William and Maria had been awful to him, but did anyone deserve pain like that? Even though Tylen was an Imperial Guard, Crayden still burned brightly in his mind.
He couldn't oppose the Order the way he always had.
The screams continued for minutes. Tylen hadn't heard the boy screaming, at least, but that was hardly comforting. The longer Tylen sat there, the more anxious he felt.
"Maybe you should go outside," Sam said. "Get some fresh air."
"Do you actually support what he's doing?"
"They're high-ranking Order members. We've gotta get secrets out of 'em somehow."
"But their son is in there," Tylen said. "He must be only five or six years old. Are you going to let Gerald torture a little boy? I know Warrick is our ruler. I trust in his vision. But there's a point when you take things too far."
"Perhaps."
The screams went on and on, grating against Tylen's nerves. He couldn't take it anymore. He didn't care what Sam or Gerald thought. This had to end. Now.
What had come over Tylen? The Tylen from the days before Crayden never would have thought to interfere in something like this. That Tylen never would have let Berig and the others go free. Nor would he have accepted that Nadia wouldn't marry him.
"Tylen, come back!" Sam said, but Tylen didn't listen. Maybe he'd face punishment for disobeying his commander, but he didn't care. He couldn't listen to another moment of this.
You could always go outside, he thought. Before Crayden, he would have done just that and thought nothing of it. But he could still hear the screams of children as they were butchered in the streets of Crayden, as they burned alive.
Could Tylen ever support Warrick after what Warrick had done in Crayden? It was easy for Warrick to say he had a greater plan that would benefit the world. But was that true? What if Warrick was simply a cruel man hiding behind rationalizations?
Regardless, Tylen had to stop what was happening now. He burst into the interrogation chamber as screams rang out, louder than ever. William was stretched out upon the rack, tied so that his arms and legs had all been dislocated. With enough force, the rack could pull him apart.
Maria was naked and tried to cover herself. Cuts and burns crisscrossed her body.
Gerald turned toward Tylen, fury in his eyes. "What're you doing here, Tylen?"
"You can't keep doing this. They're obviously not going to tell you anything."
To Tylen's horror, a slow smile spread across Gerald's face. "Perhaps not. Perhaps pain isn't sufficient motivation." He marched across the room, taking hold of their son. The boy screamed as Gerald dragged him across the room.
"Don't hurt him!" Maria cried, rocking back and forth.
Gerald threw the boy down on the floor and placed his steel boot against the boy's neck. "The bones in the neck are quite weak. All I've gotta do is put all my weight on his neck. It'll crush his windpipe, and he'll suffocate to death. So why don't you give me some names? Then you won't have to see your son die."
"No," Tylen said. "You're taking this too far."
"Leave this room, Tylen. You are not needed here."
"Yes, I am." Tylen was surprised by the vehemence in his words. He'd never considered morality worth much. All that used to matter was getting the outcome that was best for him. But who could retain that kind of outlook after Crayden?
Sam stood at the entrance to the room, frowning.
Tylen turned to him. "Are you going to let him do this?"
"I don't like it either, but we have to get some answers. The Order is becoming more of a threat than ever. We have to eradicate the threat."
"The Order is not a threat," Tylen said. "Not with Warrick in control."
"Are you questioning our emperor?"
Tylen took a deep breath, trying to construct a good response. "I do not question his plans. I just think there are better ways to bring them to fruition."
"If you're so confident," Sam said, "then you get the names out of them."
Tylen felt paralyzed. On the one hand, he couldn't let this little boy die. On the other, he had his own life to worry about. He'd already risked a lot with his vocal disagreement. If he took action to contradict Sam's orders, he might not escape alive.
"We will not give up our friends," William said, pain twisting his expression.
"You'd sacrifice your own son?" Gerald asked.
"One life, however much we might cherish it as parents, is nothing compared to the lives of the hundreds you'd kill if we gave you the names."
Tylen's mouth dropped open. How could these people believe so strongly in something that they'd watch their own son die to preserve it? He wasn't sure he'd ever felt like that about anything. He'd never liked children, but could even he give up one of his own?
Tylen knew what he had to do. Warrick expected big things of him. Surely Warrick wouldn't kill him over this.
That thought, more than anything, drove Tylen to action. He launched himself at Gerald and collided with him. The force of the impact sent Gerald flying a few feet across the room, away from the boy. Tylen landed atop him.
Gerald looked up at Tylen with a twisted grin. "Didn't think you had it in you."
"Neither did I."
Tylen rose from atop Gerald, then retreated a few steps and took the boy in his arms. The boy's eyes were wide, his face pale. He screamed, and tears flowed down his cheeks.
"I expected better of you," Sam said.
Tylen glared at him. "I could say the same about you."
"You're not leaving this room with the boy." Sam held his sword ready, and Tylen understood the look in the man's eyes. He was ready to kill.
Had Tylen made the biggest mistake of his life?
"Warrick should decide this," Tylen said. "If he says I'm in the wrong, I'll accept whatever punishment you think I deserve, but I think he'll take my side."
Sam hesitated. "Fair enough. For your sake, you better hope you're right. Warrick is capable of making your death unimaginably painful."
"I'll take that risk."
Chapter 16: The Right Decision
Tylen held on to the boy, who had given up any struggling and was now whimpering in Tylen's arms. At last, Warrick entered the interrogation room. Tylen's heart climbed into his throat.
Warrick glared at Sam. "This had better be worth my time."
"Tylen has disobeyed my direct orders," Sam said.
Warrick turned his stern gaze to Tylen. "Explain yourself."
"They were going to kill this boy to get his parents to talk. I don't care what we're trying to accomplish. There are some lines you don't cross."
To Tylen's surprise, Warrick smiled. "Well done, Tylen. You made the right decision."
"Your Majesty, I don't understand," Sam said. "You told us we were to use any means necessary to get the names out of them. How can you say that and then support what Tylen did here?" He hesitated. "I don't like it either, but I had to follow your orders."
"And that is the difference between a follower and a leader," Warrick said. "Tylen had the courage to take a stand."
"I still don't understand," Sam said. "Was this all some kind of test for us?"
"Yes, it was. And perhaps it was a test for me as well. I see now that I have allowed those under my command to stray from the right path. There are some things that require us to use any means necessary. This is not one of them. The Order is unimportant in the grand scheme of things." Something flashed across his face. Regret? "It isn't like Crayden."
Now Tylen heard the sadness in Warrick's voice. "Then why did you burn Crayden?"
"It had to happen. Our future demanded it. A day doesn't go by that I don't regret what I had to do. It's the kind of decision a leader has to make."
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"Then I'm not sure I want to be a leader, Your Majesty."
Warrick's gaze was distant. "Sometimes leadership is thrust upon us whether we want it or not." He glanced around the room. "I wish to speak to Tylen alone. You may continue with the interrogation."
Tylen hesitated a moment, but then he followed Warrick. They made their way to an empty room off the garrison's main corridor.
"I'm sorry I forced you into this situation, Tylen."
Tylen didn't know how to respond.
"This was a test for you. A very important test. From what I've read in the Webs of Fate, you had to pass this test. Otherwise, nothing would have gone according to plan."
"Can you tell me what this plan is?" Tylen asked.
"I'm afraid not. But you should know that you're following the right path."
Tylen felt a brief surge of courage, or perhaps recklessness. "Your Majesty, why do you trust me? You know I was in Crayden. You know I've seen the horrors you're capable of. It seems to me like you're taking a great risk."
"It is a great risk." Warrick smiled. "I don't trust you at all. But that doesn't matter. It is necessary that we work together."
"And if I decide I don't want to play along?"
"Then you will no longer be necessary."
Tylen understood the implications of that statement.
Chapter 17: Lure of the Wisp
Ander rested for a few hours in the oppressive darkness of the caves, and then the group started traveling again, following a series of narrow passages. At each junction, Sarah stopped, closed her eyes, and considered which path they should take. Ander didn't know how she did it, but he had to trust her.
They didn't speak much. There could be monsters anywhere. But soon the silence grated on Ander. It gave him too much time to dwell on his worries.
Was Nadia still alive? Would Aric reach Luminia and be healed? Did Ander's own party stand any chance of sending Warrick to the Shadowed Land? Ander knew these doubts were useless. He had to focus on the present, on leading this party, but the longer he marched in the suffocating darkness, the more his mind followed paths just as dark.
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