Fighter

by Isaac Hooke

  “I don’t think Euryale heard,” Xaxia said.

  He shook his head. “I should have forced her to come back anyway. I gave her too much freedom.”

  “You can’t be blamed for giving us freedom,” Wendolin said.

  He held his face in his hands and wept. The shock he felt from the others bound to him quickly changed to sorrow.

  He wasn’t sure how long he cried, at least a minute, maybe more. But then his sorrow was replaced by a sudden rage, and he glanced at Aurora. He was going to tell her to summon more mini-Balors to destroy the fucking bitch, but then Grendel came to his side. She seemed calm, and almost unaffected by Gwen’s death. Of course she would be: she didn’t know Gwen as well as he did.

  “Euryale may be able to reverse the change,” Grendel said. “I would advise against killing her.”

  Malem stared at Grendel, unable to deny the glimmer of hope her words imparted.

  Then he switched to the viewpoint of the arachnid once more so that he could observe the Gorgon. She was struggling against the stone cage—a prison essentially of her own making—but was unable to break through.

  “Euryale!” Malem shouted. “This is the voice of your captor!”

  The Gorgon ceased struggling, and launched waves of green-gray magic in the direction of his voice, but she struck only the stone bodies between him and her.

  “You will restore the woman you have taken!” Malem said.

  Euryale stopped releasing those waves of magic, and then stared in his direction in astonishment. She promptly emitted a hideous cackle.

  “Restore the woman?” Euryale said. “Restore? I have only ever restored two of those I turned to stone. At great cost to myself.” She pointed out the grayish areas on her exposed flesh. “By returning them to how they were, I turn my own body to stone. Why should I do this again? It will cause me pain, and suffering, and make every movement more laborious.”

  “Because I will kill you if you do not,” Malem said.

  “I don’t think so,” Euryale said. “If you slay me, the woman will remain stone forever. However…”

  “Yes?” Malem said.

  “If some among you will submit to my power, and agree to replace the minions you have destroyed, perhaps we can come to a deal,” Euryale said. “Are there any elves among you? Or Metals? They make the best servants.”

  “I won’t agree to any deal that sees any of my companions enslaved,” Malem said.

  “Then I cannot restore this woman,” Euryale said. “The cost is not worth it to me. I’d rather die, in fact. So kill me, human. Do your worst.”

  “You won’t get to escape so easily, Gorgon,” Malem said. “If I do kill you, yours will be a death of suffering. I will send demons to pick away at your flesh, ripping your limbs off one by one, and then skinning the remainder of your body. They will pluck the snakes from your hair one by one, and force you to eat their bodies.”

  “Go ahead,” Euryale said. “I dare you.”

  “She knows your bluffing,” Xaxia said.

  Malem sighed. “I’m not sure what to do.”

  “Perhaps I should employ a few whips of light?” Grendel said. “I can inflict great pain.”

  “What is this woman’s name?” Euryale asked then.

  “Gwen,” Malem called.

  “Gwen,” Euryale said. “Perhaps I can offer you another way to restore this Gwen.”

  “I’m listening,” Malem told her.

  “There is a plain to the east of here,” Grendel said. “Where a certain species of horse resides. If you can bring me this horse, I will restore your Gwen.”

  “We also wish safe passage through to the Light Realm,” Malem said.

  “I will grant you safe passage as well,” Euryale told him.

  “Tell me about this horse,” Malem said. “And how to find this plain.”

  “It is a winged horse,” the Gorgon said. “Known as a pegasus. It is the only creature that can withstand my touch. Not even my minions could endure it. I yearn to touch something living again.”

  “Where is this plain?” Malem asked.

  “It is called the Elusion Field,” Euryale said.

  “That’s at the ends of the world!” Wendolin told him. “We can’t go there. The land at the edge is unstable… it could break away at any moment and swallow us up. Even if we’re in the air at the time, we could be pulled down by the resulting vortex.”

  Apparently the Gorgon overheard. “You know of it, good. It is only a day’s flight from here by dragon. Come back with the pegasus, and I will restore your friend, and grant you passage to the Light Realm.”

  “How do we know we can trust you?” Malem asked.

  Euryale shrugged. “I always live up to my word.”

  Malem glanced at Grendel, and said, softly: “Is that true?”

  “I don’t know,” Grendel told him. “I’ve never heard anything to confirm or deny how true to her word she is.”

  “Also, release me from these binds before you go,” Euryale said.

  “I never said I agreed to your terms,” Malem called.

  “No, but you will,” Euryale said. “For you have no choice. You care for this woman greatly. I can sense that. I will do for you what no one ever did for me: I will restore the one you love to life. Now release me, and go. Return no later than the dawn, two days hence. Thereafter, her change will become irreversible.” She paused. “Go! Every moment you waste here is one less moment you have to complete this quest.”

  Malem returned to his own viewpoint and glanced at Aurora expectantly.

  “I’ll need stamina if you want me to summon more demons so soon,” Aurora said.

  Malem gave her stamina, taking from the Metals, as he was too weak to deplete his own sources, after losing both Zach and Gwen.

  “Close your eyes,” he called to Euryale. “I’m sending someone to cut you loose.”

  Aurora held her hands in front of her once more, and this time, closer to Euryale, the ground shifted. Malem hopped viewpoints until he found an arachnid closer to the sight, and watched a demon emerge. It carried a flaming ax, which it hefted as it approached the Gorgon. Euryale had closed her eyes, as requested.

  The mini-Balor smashed through the stone bindings, taking care not to actually touch the Gorgon with its weapon.

  Euryale broke free and retreated down the murky steps. She turned around halfway and sent her gaze upward at the demon, and it began to turn to stone, just as slowly as the latter. Enraged, it struck at Euryale with its blade, but she raced down the steps, cackling, until she was out of view.

  Meanwhile, the transformation completed and the demon solidified completely.

  “She just couldn’t resist, could she?” Grendel said, shaking her head.

  “That’s a bad sign,” Xaxia said. “Are we really supposed to believe this Gorgon is going to live up to her end of the bargain?”

  “I’m willing to take the chance, if it means saving Gwen,” Malem said.

  He left his companions, and went to her. She was locked in a half-crouched position next to the lip of the fountain, which she had been trying to hide behind before the magic struck. Her beautiful shade of light green skin had become the dark gray of cold stone. Her expression was heart-breaking: full of the fear of death.

  He felt himself choking up. “I’m so sorry. I tried…”

  He couldn’t bear to look at her like this any longer, and turned away, the tears flowing freely. Over his shoulder, he told her: “I’m going to save you Gwen. I swear I will.”

  He rubbed his eyes, and strode steadfastly to the others. “Metals, transform. We fly east to the Elusion Field.”

  “Should we leave her here, or bring her with us?” Sylfi asked, nodding at Gwen.

  “Leave her,” Malem said. “I don’t want to risk further harm coming to her where we go. She’s probably safest here, anyway, an anonymous statue among many.”

  “But Euryale knows who she is,” Brita said.

  “Ye
s, but if the Gorgon harms her, Euryale is never getting the horse,” Malem said.

  The dragons doffed their clothes, shoving them into the saddlebags, and positioned themselves underneath the saddles so that when they changed, the seats would be over their backs, ready to be fastened. They transformed, knocking over the nearby statues of the fallen, and then Xaxia moved between them, securing the ropes of the saddles beneath their bellies.

  In a few moments, Malem was heading away from the mountainside, flown by Sylfi, with Grendel riding in the saddle behind him. He gazed over his shoulder at the retreating keep.

  I’m going to save you, Gwen, I swear I will, he promised. Even if it means dying in the process.

  17

  Malem and his companions traveled east, guided by Wendolin. Apparently she had journeyed to that place long ago with her parents, when she was a child. She had described some of what they could expect, and it wasn’t pretty. It wasn’t so much that there were monsters they had to worry about: the land itself was a monster.

  Thanks for not making me wear that wretched collar again, Aurora sent along the way.

  Welcome, he replied. Though in truth, I had forgotten. I only remembered after we took flight. I decided there was no point in turning back to attach the thing. So far you’re behaving, after all, and I suppose I can let you operate without the collar. For now. But no crystal sword.

  That’s fine, she said.

  If he gave her the sword, there was a chance she would use it to fight against his will. He’d drain her of stamina, but with the sword, she could merely drain it back. Yes, he wasn’t ready to trust her with such power.

  Euryale hadn’t been kidding about the journey being a long flight. The plains seemed unending below. The dragons traveled all that day, and through much of the night, until he saw the horizon assume an ominous red glow in the distance.

  We’re almost there, Wendolin said. That glow belongs to the volcanos dotting the region. I’d suggest landing somewhere here, away from those mountains, so we can rest for a few hours before beginning the search in earnest in the morning. The mountains can and do erupt at any time, and if we happen to be caught in an eruption, we’ll only have a few moments to escape the pyroclastic cloud. We won’t find a pegasus in the dark anyway. They’re creatures of daylight.

  The pyrocla- what? Aurora asked.

  A cloud filled with rock fragments, Wendolin said, thrown off when a mountain blows its top and erupts. If it hits you, your body will basically be shredded.

  Sounds like fun, Aurora said.

  Like you wouldn’t believe, Wendolin told her.

  Though Malem was well aware of the time limit Euryale had given them, and wanted to keep searching, he decided the half dragons could use a rest. Let’s land. We’ll look for a pegasus in the morning.

  Timlir got to ride in the saddle for once, since Gwen was absent, while the mob spider continued to fly in Weyanna’s talons. Before landing, the white released the spider, and when the creature had moved out of the way, Weyanna touched down. As usual, she flung her talon about to get rid of excess arachnids that had crawled onto her forelimb.

  The Metals had already swooped down and dined upon the herds of beasts they’d spotted on the plains along the way, so there was no need for the half dragons to eat. Malem however, produced some of the salted meat he’d carried along, cooked it in a firepit that Sylfi lit with her breath, and distributed the juicy venison among the non-dragon members of the crew. The mob spider huddled nearby, and ate whatever pieces of meat Malem threw its way.

  “We’re too close,” Timlir said, gazing at the red glow in the distance. “I’ve heard rumors of this place… the ground could break away at any time, and we’ll tumble into the void.”

  “I’ve never seen the edges of the world,” Xaxia said. “Though I admit, I’ve always wanted to. I never thought it was true, though.”

  “It’s true,” Wendolin said. “The world does end. Its fringes slowly falling into the abyss.”

  “If that’s true, won’t our entire realm be lost, one day?” Aurora asked.

  “No,” Wendolin said. “Because on the far side of the world, where the land extends out into space, it regenerates, forming new terrain. It’s like we’re on one big piano roll; for every portion of land lost to the abyss, new territory takes its place on the opposite side of the world. It’s why all races are always migrating westward. We tree elves have moved our domain thrice since founding Dothloron, for example.”

  “I don’t remember hearing about anyone migrating westward,” Malem said.

  “I’m talking over tens of thousands of years,” Wendolin said.

  “I didn’t know you tree elves were that old,” Xaxia said.

  “Older,” Wendolin said. “I’m but a child, compared to some of my kind.”

  Grendel nodded. “As am I, in the relative scheme of things.”

  Malem snorted. “A five-hundred-year-old child.”

  Grendel shrugged.

  They finished their repast. “Is it worth it to pitch our tents, seeing as there is only three hours or so until dawn?”

  “Might as well take advantage of whatever time we have to sleep,” Malem said. “Because we certainly can’t sleep in the saddle. At least I can’t.”

  And so they pitched their tents. As Malem was setting up his own, Xaxia came by. “I don’t suppose you could use company?”

  “Not after what happened to Gwen,” Malem told her. “I feel bad, having pleasure, when she can do no such thing.”

  “But her condition is only temporary,” Xaxia said.

  “Unless the Gorgon lied,” Malem said.

  “Which could very well be the case,” Xaxia conceded. “So, no company?”

  “Sorry,” Malem said.

  She nodded, and then pitched her own tent not far from his own.

  Grendel agreed to keep first watch, and took up a position near the outskirts of the camp’s perimeter. She was watching just as much for an attack from without, as from within—Malem had warned her to keep an eye on Aurora.

  Malem had only just settled in for the night when the tent fabric peeled back.

  Under the dim light of the moon, he vaguely recognized Aurora peering inside.

  He was surprised to see her.

  “May I come in?” she asked.

  When he hesitated, she added: “Just want to talk.”

  He nodded.

  She came in, and settled in front of him. She left the flap open, which allowed the dim light of the moon to illuminate her. With his night vision, that light made her features visible almost as if it were daylight. He repositioned closer to the flap, out of courtesy to her, so that she in turn could see his face.

  “What can I do for you?” he asked.

  “I’ve started to remember things,” she said. “Glimpses of what I think are my childhood.”

  “Go on,” he said.

  “I remember traveling the land with my father,” she said. “I think I was the daughter of a merchant. I remember him buying me toys. I was so happy when he gave me a marionette, one time.”

  He heard someone clear their throat outside.

  “Come,” Malem said.

  Grendel peered inside. “Is everything all right?”

  “It’s fine,” Malem said.

  Grendel nodded. “Just checking.” Malem had told her to keep an eye on Aurora as well, after all.

  She excused herself.

  When the light mage was gone, Malem returned his attention to the summoner.

  “I used to think Denfidal was my father,” Aurora said. “I believed it in my core. But now I know that was a lie. He was never my father. He took away my memories, and fed me a steady diet of lies for the twelve months I served him.”

  “Do you remember when you first learned to summon?” Malem asked. “Or when your father sent you away for training?”

  “No,” Aurora said. “It hasn’t come back to me, not yet. As I told you, I only get fleeting glimpses of
the past.”

  “Well, that’s better than none at all,” Malem said.

  Aurora nodded. “I thought my past would be forever lost to me. I’ll take whatever fragments of it I can get.” She glanced at his sleeping bag. “Your bed is empty tonight. Why?”

  “I can’t bring myself to sleep with anyone,” Malem said. “Not after what happened to Gwen.”

  Aurora nodded. “I don’t remember what it’s like to be with a man. In fact, as far as I know, I’m a virgin. I think that’s why Denfidal chose me.”

  Malem became aroused as he imagined how much fun it would be to introduce Aurora to the sexual arts.

  He forced himself to clear his mind.

  I refuse to sleep with her while Gwen is in dire straits!

  But Aurora seemed to notice the effect those words had on him, because she leaned forward, and began to slyly pad toward him on all fours, moving like an animal stalking its prey.

  “For a virgin, you seem to have some experience at seducing men,” Malem said. “So I doubt you’ve never done it before.”

  “Maybe it comes to me naturally,” Aurora said, her voice somewhat hoarse. “Maybe my body is responding to the way you’re making me feel.”

  Malem swallowed. He tried to think of Gwen, but she wouldn’t come to mind.

  Aurora was still on all fours, and her face was mere inches from his own. He couldn’t help it. He leaned forward, and kissed her firmly on the lips. She returned his kiss expertly, so much so that he knew she wasn’t a virgin. She probably had plenty of practice under Denfidal’s tutelage, playing with the men she captured while going on missions for the demon.

  But Malem didn’t care. In fact, he didn’t mind having someone experienced right now. He was reaching forward, for the hem of her robe, trying to hike it up so he could reveal her body in the dim like, when he suddenly felt something sliding along the floor beside him.

  He pulled away from her, and saw that Aurora had snatched up his belt, and the two swords it contained, from where it lay, and was dragging it across the ground toward her.

  Malem instantly drained her of stamina and ripped the belt away.