by Kira Morgana
Lin sighed. “Vox doesn’t make it easy.”
Kraarz laughed. “He never did. You just never had to work with him in physical form before. We’d best do as he says.” He moved over beside Vrenstalliren and sat on the floor, pulling the elf down beside him.
Lin sat the other side of Vrenstalliren and Vox sat in front of them.
“I’m going to enclose you in my wings. I don’t have a huge wingspan just yet, so you can’t move.”
“What is the creature doing?” Vrenstalliren started, trying to stand up. “If there are creatures of evil coming, then I should fight them in Espilieth’s name. Give me your sword, woman.”
“No one uses my blade, but me.” Lin held back a laugh at the look on his face. “You chose the wrong goddess to become a Paladin of. Espilieth only helps with healing and magic. If you wanted aid in fighting then you should have chosen Tyr or Fiörna.”
The elven prince spluttered. “What are you trying to say?”
“Shush! They’re here,” Vox hissed at them.
Through the steam and smoke, Lin saw Grald stride in. He wore black burnished armour, and carried a massive bastard sword, blade bared, against his shoulder.
Lin blinked. “Looks like Vox is right about him then,” she whispered to Kraarz, touching his hand.
“I’m always right about people’s souls. I can see the state of them, remember?” Vox said in her mind. “Quiet.”
Around Grald swarmed a hundred or so dragon spawn and behind him rose the tall black horns of a Devil Demon.
“Another one. Damn,” Vox growled in their minds.
“Fan out, search everywhere. My senses say they haven’t left the dungeon, so find them,” Grald commanded, using the tip of his sword as a pointer.
The Devil Demon moved up beside Grald. His golden eyes gleamed with intelligence and his body looked as hard as polished Redstone.
“No chance of tricking this one,” Lin said. “He’s obviously one of their better devil demons.”
“He has not succumbed to the greed of the demon half either,” Kraarz added.
Vrenstalliren saw the demon and his eyes went flat.
“I will not allow filth like that to bestride the world.”
“Shhh,” Lin whispered. “I don’t know how far Vox’s invisibility will shield us.”
“You figured it out then, Lin,” Vox said, sending an image of a smile to her.
Lin rolled her eyes and held onto Vrenstalliren’s arm stopping him from moving.
The three companions held their breath as four Dragon Spawn examined the cut holding cell bars. One took a sample back to Grald who looked at it and passed it to the devil demon.
“Interesting. Clearly cut by an animal’s claws and yet, I know of no animal living that could do such a thing.” The devil demon’s voice carried clearly across to them.
“If you could name any animal that could do it?” Grald asked, impatience colouring his voice.
“Any? Well it would have to be the Sabre Toothed Flixaren. Our Forest Flixen and the Alethdanian Plains Flixen are related to them,” the demon smiled and Lin shuddered at the shreds of flesh between his teeth. “Sadly, the Sabre Toothed Flixaren died out many thousands of years ago, during the War of The Gods.”
“I don’t need a history lesson, Iniran. What does it look like?” Grald barked, swinging his blade round to the demon’s chest.
“I was getting to that.” Iniran sounded hurt. “It’s six foot long with white fur, black stripes and wings. It has claws stronger than steel and if there is one in here, then we wouldn’t see it.”
“Why?” Grald ground the word out from beneath his teeth.
“The Gods of Light created it as a stealth assassin. It is invisible to Dark Creatures,” the demon told him
“And how do you know what it looks like if it’s invisible to us?” the dark Paladin appeared to be getting annoyed.
“You humans have a wonderful curiosity and you write your findings down. I read the description in a book.” Iniran smiled. “Wonderful things books.”
“A reading Devil Demon? That’s a first.” Grald turned his back on him to watch the dragon spawn’s efforts. Iniran rolled his eyes and stopped talking.
The Dragon Spawn finished their search and reported back to Grald. He slapped several around the head and sent them back to their lair.
“Nothing. Whatever it was that cut the bars must have eaten Vrenstalliren and scarpered. There’s no sign of Lin or her Urakh friend either.”
“What now?” Iniran looked relived as Grald sheathed his sword.
“Back to the Dais Room.” Grald rolled his shoulders. “If they are going to appear anywhere, it will be there. Take out the crystal and the dungeon falls apart; remember?”
Lin and Vrenstalliren exchanged an excited look. They waited until the room was clear, then Vox stood up and folded his wings back.
“You’re up to full growth now, Vox,” Kraarz commented, struggling to rise. Vrenstalliren helped the Shaman to his feet. “Thank you, your highness.”
“Now I know what I am.” Vox grinned showing long curving canines the size of short swords. “I know what I can do.”
“Nice body, Vox,” Lin said, stroking the back of the Flixaren’s head. He purred and almost knocked her off her feet, rubbing his head against her.
“I don’t know where you picked your pet up, Lin, but he’s very useful,” Vrenstalliren said. “But, why do you keep talking to him as if he’s more than just an animal?”
Vox growled at the elf and Vrenstalliren stepped away from him.
“Vrenstalliren, Kraarz and I can understand Vox’s language and if you want to stay on his right side, I suggest you keep your mouth shut.” Lin folded her arms and glared at him.
“All right,” Vrenstalliren grumbled.
They moved out of the torture chamber and into the guardroom. The skeletons hadn’t been replaced yet, so Vrenstalliren retrieved his weapons and shield.
“Right then,” he said. “Let’s go get that crystal and take this accursed place down.”
“Not until we have rescued Lady Freya,” Lin said firmly.
The elven prince rolled his eyes.
“I can feel the crystal they spoke of,” Vox said. “And I can sense Freya; she’s near there too.”
“Then we get to kill two birds with one stone,” Kraarz smiled.
* * *
Freya stared up into the pulsing red heart shaped crystal hanging between the four gilded pillars on the dais. It spun and sparkled, the throbbing almost mimicking her heartbeat. It’s so gorgeous. How can someone evil create something so wonderful?
“Beautiful isn’t it?” Erendell said. “This is the power of the Aracan Katuvana, the heart of his dungeons and the life within his veins. It rewards those of us who follow him with eternal life.”
Freya said nothing, content to watch the hypnotic pulse.
“Soon, you will be with us in heart and mind, one with your brother and I. Then I will truly be able to embrace you and call you sister.” The dark elf took Freya’s hand and drew her up the dais steps to stand in front of the crystal.
From that close, Freya could feel the warmth radiating out of the crystal. It sent a mild shiver of bliss through her body and she gasped.
“Touch it,” Erendell urged. “The effect is so much more pleasurable when you touch it.”
Freya raised her left hand. Red energy jumped from the crystal to her hand, making her shiver with delight. It couldn’t hurt to touch it just once could it?
Erendell watched with an intense gleam in her golden eyes, and then she shuddered and felt herself shunted aside as the Aracan Katuvana took control of her body.
“Touch it, Freya. Touch it and know my love,” the Aracan Katuvana said through Erendell.
Freya blinked and half turned to see that Erendell’s pale gold eyes were now completely gold, a deep burnished red gold colour from lid to lid. She frowned.
“You’re my brother’s wife.�
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“Does that mean that I can’t love you too?” Erendell/the Aracan Katuvana raised one hand and stroked Freya’s cheek softly. “Why shouldn’t I love both sister and brother? Our Lord doesn’t mind.” She ran her hand down her shoulder, over Freya’s breast and along her right arm, gently taking her hand and holding the palm out toward the crystal. “Touch my Crystal, Freya and become one with me.”
Freya pulled away.
“You aren’t Erendell. She doesn’t like me. I’m competition for Grald’s love.”
“You are correct. I’m not Erendell, but all of my servants are well rewarded for serving me thus.” The Aracan Katuvana laughed and Erendell’s body shook in the throes of an orgasm. “See? I am not uncaring to my people.”
Freya placed her hands on her hips, feeling along the leather belt she wore around her waist.
“I will never serve you. I won’t place the fate of my people in your hands.” She backed away, only to come up short against a pillar. As she moved, she slipped her fingers through the hilt loops of the tiny dagger secreted in her belt buckle.
“I see you have accepted the truth of what your companions have told you.” The Aracan Katuvana laughed again. “Oh, but you will serve me, Freya. One way or another you will serve me.”
“I can’t serve you dead.” Freya slipped the dagger free and held it to her heart. “This might not be long, but it is sharp and you don’t need much more than an inch of blade to penetrate the heart”
The Aracan Katuvana laughed, bending Erendell double with mirth.
“You dying will not stop me. I can return those I wish from the Otherworld. As I did with Princess Loriel, I can bring you back to life and make you mine. Or I can just install Grald onto the Empire’s throne. Either way, I win.”
“You shall never win!” Vrenstalliren shouted from the door. “Get away from my Lady! In Espilieth’s name I challenge you!”
The Aracan Katuvana turned Erendell to look at the elven prince.
“Fool. As if I would waste a valuable resource to bring you to your knees.” Erendell snapped her fingers and Iniran appeared beside the dais. “Get him,” the Aracan Katuvana commanded. “But do not kill him. I have plans for him as well.”
Freya sighed with relief as Vrenstalliren stepped into the room to engage the Devil Demon. She saw Vox creep in and circle around behind the fight. “You came for me at last!”
“I couldn’t leave you here. You’re important to Lin and Kraarz.” The massive creature paused for a moment. “And anyway, I like you. You smell good and your skin is soft.”
Freya giggled.
Lin followed Vox into the room and Kraarz stopped in the doorway, obviously guarding from intrusion. Lin tried to slip around the perimeter of the room, but Erendell turned toward her.
“Oh no you don’t, Elysian. This pretty one will be mine,” the Aracan Katuvana snarled and Erendell snapped her fingers again, summoning a handful of assorted creatures from the Lair just beyond the Dais Room.
Grald followed the creatures in and lounged in the doorway, smiling at Freya as if they were alone.
“So, how do you like the place, Little Sister? Fancy becoming a member of the Aracan Katuvana’s family?”
“No. I would never join with such evil. I’m still surprised that you did.” She blinked back tears. “Mama always thought you were a good boy.”
“Our parents were outlawed by our Grandmother, Freya. We were ejected from our own country before you were born. Besides, if Papa had not been away when the Slavers attacked, we might still have had a family.”
Freya looked at him.
“What do you mean? I thought Papa was dead?”
He shrugged.
“You were but a babe in arms, what else should I tell you? He left Mama to go to Jira and find work. The slavers attacked that evening.”
Freya felt hope leap in her heart.
“Is he still alive?”
“I don’t know and I don’t care. I have my own family now.” Grald stood up and approached the dais, dodging the gremlin that was flung past him by Lin. “Papa never tried to find us. Join my family; let us be happy together again. Just touch the crystal with both hands.”
Lin beheaded a Demon Spawn and shouted.
“My Lady! Don’t do it.”
Vox leapt and knocked Grald to the floor, sending him flying into Iniran’s legs and making the devil demon stagger.
“Your father is alive. He lives in Elyandor! Help us get to that crystal and destroy this dungeon.”
Vrenstalliren took advantage of the pause in his fight to incant.
“Espilieth, shirrailer ennis!”
A bright white bubble of light enclosed Freya, Lin and himself.
The Devil demon laughed and flung himself forward to grapple with the knight.
“Your pretty little goddess’ shield cannot hurt a follower of Tzeentch!” Smoke began to curl up from the demon’s skin as the holy shield scorched him.
“Maybe not, but I can,” Vox roared and he jumped and planted his forepaws onto the devil demon’s back. Then he let his claws out and ripped his paws down, sending blue-black blood spurting through the air.
Iniran screamed and spun, trying to see where his attacker was. Vrenstalliren recovered quickly enough to swing his sword and relieve the devil demon of his head. The creature’s blood fountained up, splashing over everyone in the vicinity. The body toppled and fell knocking Grald over again.
The barbarian knight pushed himself up, wiping demon blood from his face.
“Wasn’t my devil demon,” he muttered as he regained his feet. Then he smiled. “However, he was the Aide of my Mistress, Lady Lych herself and my Lord has never liked losing his followers, so it lies upon me to revenge his death upon you.”
“Gladly do I accept such a challenge, false knight.” Vrenstalliren brought his sword up.
The two men began to duel.
Erendell spun and grabbed Freya, her sharpened nails clutching her throat.
“Stop fighting and she lives,” the Aracan Katuvana said calmly, his voice penetrating the noise of battle around them. “I need the elf prince alive, Grald. I would rather not kill your sister, either.”
Smoke began to rise from Erendell’s skin as the Aracan Katuvana pushed against the holy shield.
Grald’s eyes widened.
“My Lord! No, please…” He stopped fighting and moved toward the dais, one hand extended toward Erendell, the other sheathing his sword.
Vrenstalliren followed Grald, his sword still bare, but before he could do anything else, a patrol of skeletons surrounded him, forcing him to mind his own defences.
Freya brought her dagger up and pushed its tip sharply into Erendell’s hip.
The pain shocked Erendell and she screamed, pulling away. The Aracan Katuvana’s possession released her, she staggered backward down the dais stairs and dropped to the floor, one hand clutching her hip.
Grald rushed forward and caught her, laying her gently down on the floor. He checked the wound and sighed.
“It’s not serious. Good.”
Vrenstalliren finished off his attackers, before he moved between Grald and Freya. Vox padded to Freya’s side standing between her and the crystal.
“Looks like your sister saved your wife’s life,” Kraarz said, picking his way across the floor with his staff.
Lin killed the last of the creatures assailing her and joined Freya on the dais, holding her blade dripping with ichor in front of the girl, its point toward Grald.
“Please, Freya. Come and be my sister again.” Grald looked at her. “Join us.”
“Tell me one thing,” Freya said. “Why did you become one of the Aracan Katuvana’s creatures?”
He looked at Erendell who lay on the floor. Then he looked at Freya again.
“It was the only way I could free you from slavery. I wouldn’t have left the Castle Grof dungeon alive, so I bargained with the only thing I had left.”
Tears ran down F
reya’s cheeks.
“Graldai…” she stepped toward him.
“Well this is all very nice, but we have a job to do,” Vox snapped.
The Flixaren whirled and sliced one of the pillars in half with his massive claws. The top half crashed down and rolled over Erendell who screamed.
“No! How did you do that?” Grald glared at Kraarz who shrugged.
“I didn’t. Vox did,” the Urakh said matter-of-factly as the distraught dark Paladin struggled to remove the gilded column from his wife’s legs.
Vox moved to the next pillar.
“Kraarz, come here. You’ll need an empty bag. Don’t let the crystal touch your skin.”
Kraarz moved over, pulling a sack out from one of his pouches. Vrenstalliren and Lin stayed between Grald and Freya as she moved away from the crystal.
Unable to move the column, Grald held his wife’s head as she died, murmuring softly into her ears and stroking her face. As Erendell sighed her last and closed her eyes, Grald kissed her and laid her head down.
Then he stood up and pulled his sword from its sheathe with a steely hiss.
“You have taken away my only love. I will never forgive you this, Freya.”
“I didn’t do anything!” she said.
Vrenstalliren moved forward.
“Advance no further. You might be my Lady’s brother, but that shall not stay my blade a second time.”
“Foolish elf,” his opponent growled. “You are no match for me and I swear now in the name of Kaela Mensha, despite my orders, if you dare cross blades with me again, you will die.”
“I fight in Espilieth’s name and she shall guide my blade.” At his words, a white flame surrounded his blade, burning away the blue-black blood of the devil demon staining the steel.
“So be it.” Grald swung his massive blade in a circle, aiming for Vrenstalliren’s knee. “As my Lord is watching, I shall attempt to keep the damage of your flesh to a minimum, so that you may be reanimated the way Princess Loriel was.”
Vrenstalliren blocked the blow. “My sister is dead, fiend. She has been dead for over a hundred years.”
“She was reanimated and has become the Aracan Katuvana’s most trusted servant,” Grald sneered, aiming for the elven prince’s shield arm. Vrenstalliren raised his shield to block the blow. “She was the one who persuaded me that this way was better.” His sword ripped through the plated steel shield like it was cloth and cleaved Vrenstalliren’s arm in two.
