Sword of Light (42 page)

“Let’s go.”  Jake said gently and started for the pass.

The ravine was a rough passage, with the rocky slope steep and slippery, the rock walls jagged.  Shortly after they began, they were forced to use the walls for support, their boots slipping as they slowly climbed.  Daca did not have their problems, the cat’s claws giving it traction.

It took them longer than expected to reach the ruins, as the wind seemed to funnel down the pass, blowing directly in their faces, while they struggled to maintain their grip as they climbed.  They exited exhausted onto the large rock shelf where the ruins had been built.

The air was growing dark as night fell over the mountains, obscuring their view of the ruins.  They found a large boulder that mostly blocked the wind and sat down behind it to rest.  Jake pulled out the bag of food and water, dividing their rations.  They ate slowly, allowing their bodies to regain strength.  After they consumed their rations, they leaned back against the boulder and talked.

“It is here.”  Hailyn said quietly.  “I know it is.  We just need to find a way in.”

“The place is probably crawling with demons.”  Jake said apprehensively.  “We should try to stay low-profile for as long as possible.  I don’t want to have to fight the whole lot of them, if we can sneak in.”

“I agree, but I doubt that we can get very far without notice.”  She replied.

“I know, but let’s try.”  Jake said.  He took a deep breath and let it out slowly.  He took her hand and gave it a squeeze.  “If things go wrong, I want you to run.  Run and keep running until you are safe.”

She smiled at him, touching his face.  “That is a nice sentiment, but I am a cleric of the One, so I cannot run in the face of evil.  We have to have faith that the One will see us through.”

“I hope you are right.”  He said as he stood.  He helped her to her feet.  “Are you ready?  We might as well get started.”

She nodded her head, then reached up and pulled his face close to hers.  “I am glad that we are together, Jake.  If we meet our end, I want you to know that I love you.”

The words took Jake by surprise, but he knew what he had been feeling for her was the same.  “I love you too, Hailyn.”  He leaned forward and kissed her.  They pulled each other close and held each other for a long while.  Finally, they reluctantly broke their embrace.  They gazed into each other’s eyes, relishing the moment, aware that it may be for the last time.

Still holding her hand, Jake started for the ruins, Daca right next to them.  They hurried towards the wall, watching for any sign of movement, but they reached the wall unnoticed.  Jake released Hailyn’s hand and drew his sword.  With Daca moving out front, they made their way down the dark stone wall, looking for a way in.

Suddenly, Daca stopped and begun to growl, a low rumble, as the lion’s body became tense and alert.  Jake pushed Hailyn against the wall and crept forward.  He slid past Daca, trying to see what had disturbed the cat.  The darkness of the night limited his vision, so he continued to move forward slowly.  After a few steps, he suddenly felt a chill completely different than the cold that surrounded him.

Only a few feet in front of him, there was a soft grinding of stone as a hidden door opened.  Jake could just make out the shadowy shape of an Imp.  The demon stepped out from the wall and onto the rock shelf in front of him.

Once Jake sensed that the demon was alone, he gathered his courage and charged it.  The demon seemed to hear Jake at the last moment, spinning in his direction, but Jake’s sword was already in motion.  He felt the sword tug as it severed the demon’s head from its shoulders.  The Imp dropped to the ground, its dark blood visible against the white snow.

Jake cautiously looked in the doorway, seeing only faint torchlight.  He kicked the demon’s head off the shelf, pushing the body after it.  Daca and Hailyn came up to the entrance as Jake stuck his head in, glancing quickly down the long hall on the other side, but it was empty.

He slipped inside, Daca right behind him, followed by Hailyn.  He pushed the stone door shut, then looked at Hailyn.

“This way.”  She whispered, pointing down the hall to their right.  They moved quickly and as quietly as possible.  They went down the hall, their tension heightened as they waited to run into their enemies.  As they cautiously approached an opening on the left, Jake slowed, and then stopped.

After he glanced in, seeing a set of stairs heading up, he started forward and motioned for Hailyn to follow.

“Wait.”  Hailyn said quietly, grabbing his hand.  She closed her eyes, her brows scrunching as she concentrated.  After a moment or two, she opened her eyes.  “We have to go up.”

Jake nodded and started to climb the stairs.  The stairs were in a narrow hall, carved into the black stone, without any torches lit.  They climbed in darkness, the faint light of the torches in the hallway behind them not bright enough to reach the stairs.  Soon, light appeared ahead of them, outlining an opening at the top of the stairs.

Sweating in spite of the cold, Jake glanced out and quickly jerked back.  Down the hall on the left were three Imps, standing together and talking.  He looked back at Hailyn.  He held up three fingers, and then pointed in the direction of the demons.  He saw her nod her understanding.

Taking a deep breath, Jake embraced his magic and leapt into the hall, sending a large blast of his fire racing towards the Imps.  They were unprepared for his attack, his magic raking across them.  One Imp simply exploded into ash, the other two sent writhing to the ground.  Before they could recover, he launched his power down the hall, destroying them, the sound of their demise echoing in the hall.

Turning he saw Hailyn behind him, glowing brightly.  She pointed down the hall, away from where the Imps were.  Jake nodded and she started forward, Daca next to her.  Jake brought up the rear, keeping an eye out for more demons.  He was sure that someone probably heard the noise from the fight.

As he looked around, he noticed that there were openings near the roofline.  He did not know what they were, but it was clear that they opened to the outside as he saw a few flakes of snow drift in.

Another hallway crossed the one they were in.  Seemingly out of nowhere, a group of five Imps appeared.  The demons were surrounded by their dark power, responding to the sounds of Jake’s fight.  There was a brief second where the two groups simply stared at each other, both surprised to see the other standing there.

Hailyn reacted first, launching a blistering attack, her power shining brilliantly.  Her power crashed into the demons, ripping one apart and knocking the others away.  Jake followed her attack with one of his own.  The demons attempted to fight back, but could not stand against them.  They quickly destroyed the demons and began to move forward.

Before Jake could take more than a couple of steps, he was struck in the back by demons’ fire, knocking him down.  His magic protected him for the most part, but he did feel as if his back were suddenly sunburned.  He rolled with the blow, rising and launching his magic back.  More Imps were coming down the hallway.  Hailyn stepped up next to him and they fought together.

…

Bruce rode up to the ruins, following the secret path that only the demons knew.  Anale, the girl he kidnapped, rode on another horse behind him.  He had taken the horse from a passing traveler. 
He doesn’t need it anymore.
  He thought smugly. 
I made sure of that.

Bruce shivered as a gust of wind blew, pulling his cloak tight about him.  He was so ready for this little mission to be over.  Besides having to be on a horse for so long, he hated the cold. 
I just want to get the sword and head back to where it is warm.

He glanced up at the ruins and stiffened when he saw the flash of golden light through the old windows.  That could only mean clerics.  He started forward and was suddenly stunned by a brilliant burst of blue light in the windows.  There was only one person he knew of that had that type of magic.

Smiling, he pushed his horse into a run, Anale following as he had directed. 
This is the day I have been waiting for.
  He thought excitedly to himself.

…

Jake deflected the demon’s power in an explosion of light and sound and closed with it.  Despite the fact that the demon looked like a woman, Jake did not hesitate and drove his sword into its chest.  The demon screamed as Jake pulled his sword out, then blasted it with his power.  The demon flew back and burst into ash, the sound overlapping the other sounds of battle.

He turned and saw Hailyn defeat the other demon.  Daca was near her feet, licking at his wounds.  The lion had begun to attack the demons with Jake and Hailyn, his teeth and claws ripping into them.  Kneeling down, Hailyn reached out and healed the cat.

Hailyn and Jake had been fighting their way towards where Hailyn felt the sword was located.  The demons had been coming in waves; once they defeated a band, they were able to move closer to the sword, only to face another group.  He could feel a touch of weariness taking hold.  They needed to find the sword quickly.

“This way, Jake.”  Hailyn said, heading down the corridor, Daca next to her.  Jake ran after her, catching up.  They made their way down the stone hallway.  Suddenly, Hailyn held up her hand and stopped.  She slowly moved forward, her gaze focused towards the wall.  Directly ahead was a narrow corridor, barely large enough to walk down.

“It is down here.”  Hailyn said, holding up her wrist.  Jake saw that the runes on the bracelet were lightly glowing.

Jake nodded and went down the corridor, his power lighting the way.  The corridor extended for fifty to sixty yards, then opened into a small round room.  There was a thick wooden door on the other side.  When Hailyn and Daca joined him, he looked to her.

“It is close.”  She whispered and pointed at the door, the runes on her wrist shining brighter.  “I think it is in the next room.”

Jake nodded and started towards the door, but then stopped.  Behind him, he heard the sounds of demons at the end of the corridor.  He sent a burst of power down the corridor, hearing the clash of magics as it struck a demon.

“Go ahead.”  Hailyn said as she knelt near the corridor opening.  “I will hold them here.”

“We should stay together.”  He stated.

“The demons can only approach one at a time here.”  She said.  “We don’t want to have to fight them in a group.  If this is our only way out, then it is better to hold the passage here.”  She turned back towards the corridor, Daca crouching near her.

“I will get the sword as quickly as possible.”  Jake said, deciding not to argue with her.  “I will be back; stay safe.”

He opened the door and saw a short hallway.  He moved inside, walking slowly, but deliberately.  Ahead of him, he could see a faint white light glowing.  He hurried along and came into a large room, carved directly into the dark stone of the mountain.

Across the room, lying on a stone bench, was the sword.  Jake paused, amazed, when he saw it.  It had an otherworldly quality to it, beautifully crafted, its pommel a rich gold, the grip wrapped in a white leather, with gleaming diamonds embedded in the hilt.  The blade was long, made of a polished metal.  It was the blade that was producing the light the filled the room, glowing faintly.

His excitement overcoming his caution, Jake headed for the sword.  Before he could make it halfway across the room, a tremendous blast of demons’ fire streaked in from his left, slamming into him.  The blow knocked him off his feet, sending him sliding across the floor.  With his magic not focused, the dark power slipped past his defenses, burning into his skin.  Jake let out a cry of pain, but rolled to his feet, pulling in his power as he stood to face the demon.

This demon was unlike any other he had encountered.  It was not tall, but was heavily muscled, its arms and legs exposed by its short robe bulging, smooth and hairless.  Its face had human features on it, normal looking eyes, nose and lips, but its ears were sharp and pointed.  The dark hair on its head and its pitch-black eyes contrasted with its pale gray skin.  Its dark power pulsed as it stepped towards Jake.

“Did you think it would be unguarded, mortal?”  The demon said, its eyes fixed on Jake.  “We are prepared for one far more powerful than you.”

Behind the pale demon, Jake saw two of the red male demons enter the room.  They began to spread out, moving to close off any avenue of retreat, though he noticed that the demon on his right, closest to the sword, shied away from it, never getting too close.  Remembering the surge of power that occurred on the island, he knew he needed to get to the sword or at least get closer if he was going to survive.

He fired a bolt of blue fire at the demon in front of him, his power forcing the demon back a step.  He tried to move as he struck, angling towards the sword, but the red demons attacked, forcing him back.  He was barely able to turn their blasts, the fire staggering him.  The pale demon struck again before he could adjust, knocking him back, its power sizzling as it clashed with his.  Jake sent a wave of fire out to his front, and then tried to sprint to the sword.  He dodged the demons’ fire and got closer to the sword.  He felt his power begin to surge, but the nearest red demon leapt forward and caught his arm.  It flung him back, sending him tumbling across the floor.  His armor protected him from serious injury, though he was shaken as he rose.

Before he could set himself, the pale demon surged forward and struck him with its fist, sending him flying back, slamming into the wall.  The impact knocked the wind from him, sending him to his hands and knees.  His armor had held, but he was dazed from the blow and could not seem to focus his power.

As he struggled to rise, he saw the pale demon advancing on him, a triumphant smile on its face.  The other demons were advancing as well.  He desperately tried to bring his magic to focus as the pale demon raised its fist, its power focused into a swirling ball of darkness.

Before the demon could release its power, twin bolts of inky black fire, their passage cracking the air, struck the two red demons from behind, sending them reeling, their flesh burning.  The pale demon spun and unleashed its fire.  There was a clash of power that shook the room, then the pale demon was struck, staggering back from the blow.