The Ways of Mages: Starfire (20 page)

Kadrean stood up before he answered. He must of sensed her desire.  When he was near the banked coals he answered
.“
It shows the level of magic present. In some cases it also can tell the type of magic
.
”

“
Like Liam for example
.”
Zeeve added.

“
Yes. When Liam touched the stone, it returned to how it had been and turned black. The ston
e’
s reaction makes me think that Liam is some sort of drainer."

“
Drainer
?”
She asked.

Kadrean nodded
.“
The nick name for those who can naturally reverse a spell
.
”

“
That does
n’
t sound good
.”
Terana remarked.

“
True, but not always
.”
Kadrean said pulling out the familiar black bag. He tipped it over, displaying the repaired stone. On contact with his hand, it began to glow with a soft, warm light
.“
In this case
.”
He continued
.“
It helped to fix the stone
.
”

Terana flushed again in embarrassment
.“
But what does a melting stone mean? What magic do I have
?
”

Kadrean glanced at Zeeve
.“
I have no idea, Terana. All I can guess is something powerful
.
”

“
So much mischief can be achieved in the absence of light
.
”
–
Ari
t
é

Pershara- near the City of Pershara

Duncan watched the sun set and began to pray. Tonight was the dark moon that he had been dreading since Ryan had come to warn them three days ago. Most of the army had been tucked away in the city. General Stanton had gone with the men because they needed their leader. Stanton had not liked walking away from a fight but he had understood the reasons why.  He had clasped Duncan and
T’
Garen in a warrio
r’
s farewell. He had told them that he would pray for them. Trevor had been more vocal with his displeasure of leaving his friends behind. But Duncan had been able to remind him of his responsibility to his men. Even so, Stanton had to drag the man to the city.

The night was eerily quiet.
T’
Garen joined Duncan facing the dimming west
.“
It is so still
.”
Duncan whispered.

The older man nodded
.“
The breath before the storm
.
”

Duncan glanced at
T’
Garen before turning to watch the men finish preparing for the coming night. Most were Grimdian knights who agreed that it was their right to defend their fellow man from the evil that would be coming this night.  There were also a few other soldiers who decided to stay and help even though they knew deep down that there was a very low chance that they would see the morning. Duncan mentally shook his head. There was a low chance that any of them would survive to see the morning. Duncan just prayed that God would be with them and give them the courage to do what they needed to do; to stand against evil.  To not allow fear to master them.

Perela joined the two men, her hand reaching out to Dunca
n’
s. His hand wrapped around hers as if its presence would keep her safe. She smiled at him, her fear for the coming night flickering in her eyes. Duncan pulled Perela into his arms and held her. Kissing her dark hair he aske
d“
Is your father coming
?
”

Perela rolled her head to the side so she could answer him
.“
He is coming. I just do
n’
t know how long it will take them. They were only a few days south of the Sigon Pass
.
”

Duncan closed his eyes and buried his face in her hair. If Bendo
n’
s party walked they would never arrive in time. If Bendo
n’
s party had horses they would have to ride the horses to death and they still would
n’
t make it in time
.“
So we are on our own
.”
Duncan mused softly.

Perela pulled back to look at him with a raised eyebrow
.“
We are never alone, Duncan. God is with us. And my father is coming. They will find a way to get here before it is too late
.”
Duncan could only nod. He readily agreed that God was with them. As to Bendon coming in tim
e…
Duncan took a breath and looked at where the sun had disappeared. 

The sense of uneasiness grew to the point that it raised the hair on everyon
e’
s neck. Pressure built on the nape of Dunca
n’
s neck. Screams could be heard in the distance all around them. The Grimdian knights and their fellow soldiers formed a circle in the center of camp. Every man facing out toward the perimeter. They drew their swords and held them at the ready. The stench of sulfur violated Dunca
n’
s nose.  He let Perela step out of his arms.  She began to focus on her magic, ready to defend the men.

“
I think that breath is over
.”
Duncan said to
T’
Garen as the screaming intensified. Hundred foot tall flames rose to encircle the camp. Their ruddy red light cast the entire scene in blood. Out of the flames deformed creatures could be seen moving at a fast clip toward them.

***

Trevor McGill paced back and forth in the surprisingly large office. Ryan Shadehand sighed and leaned back in his chair watching the other man with an exasperated expression
.“
Will you stop? The useless pacing is annoying
.
”

“
Well,
I’
m sorry. But I am not one to just sit around as my friends are being attacked
!”
Trevor snarled.

“
And pacing is any better
?”
The young thief asked. Trevor shot him a glare and kept pacing. Ryan smiled without humor
.“
If looks could kil
l
…”

A cool breeze swirled about the room. Both men froze and looked around. A very, very slight pressure caressed their necks. The next they knew, there was a group of people in the room with them, standing in a circle. A young girl collapsed panting.  Ryan stood up, his golden eyes widened in surprise.

A tall man whom both Ryan and Trevor knew to be Tommy Towel-Taker straightened. He looked about the office and caught sight of Ryan behind his desk
.“
Really Ryan? My office
?
”

Ryan grinned and shrugged
.“
What can I say? The old man was gone
.”
Ryan glanced at Trevor
.“
Thanks for arriving so suddenly. You managed to shut him up
.
”

“
How did you get here
?”
Trevor asked, blinking. He ignored Rya
n’
s jab.

Bendon clapped his hands and pulled them apart wriggling his fingers. A mischievous smile lit his face
.“
Magic
!”
he looked back at the young gir
l“
Is she okay
?”
he asked.

Kindra and Tep knelt on either side of the girl. Robert close at hand. The girl had managed to get herself up to her hands and knees. She nodded, still panting. Kindra glanced up at Bendon
.“
Kairevasigh will be okay. She just used more power then she usually does, I think
.
”

“
Yes. I nineh odil he
n…
I za
n
é
 
na
u
…
”
Kairevasigh said slipping into her native tongue.

“
Sorry
?”
Bendon asked. The language had been very close to old Arathin but with differences that made it hard to understand.

Kairevasigh sat back on her heels and looked in his direction, avoiding eye contact
.“I’
ll be fine, I
t’
s just that I have never done that before
.
”

“
You have
n’
t
?”
Tep asked
.“
What would have happen if ye messed up
?
”

Kairevasgih laughed dryly
.“
I have
n’
t a clue. Maybe nothing? Maybe appearing in a stone wall? Who knows
?”
She shrugged.

“
And ya did
n’
t think
t’
a warn us
?”
Toliver asked with some concern.

“
It worked, did
n’
t it
?
”

“
Yes it did
.”
Bendon said. He turned to Trevor and Ryan who had been listening with interest
.“
Has the battle started
?”
The wizard asked.

“
It has. The Fires appeared half an hour ago
.”
Trevor answered.

The blood drained from Bendo
n’
s face. The others of the group showed similar signs of fear.

“
If you wish to help them, then follow me
.”
Ryan said moving to the door.

Kairevasigh tried to stand, but her face paled from weakness. Swaying she sat back down
.“I’
m sorry, I ca
n’
t
.
”

“
You got us here and I thank you for that
.”
Bendon replied.

“
You can rest here
.”
Tommy offered. He gave Ryan a look
.“
Since it is, after all,
my
office
.”
Ryan grinned as he opened the door.

“
I’
ll be useless out there.
I’
ll keep an eye on Kair
.”
Kindra said. She caught the look of worry on Tolive
r’
s face for his young friend
.“
Tep, could you help me
?”
Kindra asked the youth.

Because she had asked without hinting that he was too young to fight, Tep agreed; much to Tolive
r’
s relief. Fighting demons was no place for a youth who had yet to reach manhood.

Bendon, Robert, Tommy, Toliver and Trevor followed Ryan out the door leaving Kindra and Tep to look after the exhausted Kairevasigh.

***

The screams were deafening. The smell of sulfur and rot was strong enough to make men gag. This provided ample opportunity for the creatures of nightmare to kill them. The Dark Sons had burning red eyes and greedy, clutching limbs. Perela noted the shadowy servants of Maltacken swallowing men whole. They surrounded the Champions of Light with darkness. The knights stood before the darkness with glowing crosses and flashing swords. The light of the crosses made the Dark Sons cringe. But they were quick to use a ma
n’
s doubt against him. Some shadows made themselves look like fallen comrades who accused the living for everything from coveting some prize to being the cause of their death. Anything at all that would cause that particular man to falter. Some men were able to stand and disbelieve the lies fed to them. But others cried as they fought, but their tears fed into the spell of doubt the evil was forming. Some others lost their faith to grief and doubt and fell into despair.

The servants of Troukalck, the Dark Lord of Cruelty laughed at their despair.  Cruelt
y’
s Dark Sons slowly killed the men either piece by piece or skinning the man alive, whichever pleased them most at the time. If they skinned the man they would let the sickly claws of Corruptio
n’
s servants to caress the dying ma
n’
s still beating heart.

Sickened, Perela would lash out with waves of magic that would normally vaporize every Dark Kin it touched, but this Dark Moon night made them stronger so only those in the direct line of fire perished. The rest only stumbled. Perela had never felt so useless. It took a lot of power to vaporize the couple of Dark Sons that she could. As more and more Dark Sons kept coming, she saved her power to shield the men, giving them time to recover. The only problem was that the power behind the Fires of the Damned ate away at her shields forcing her to drop them. As time passed her ability to hold a shield diminished.

Duncan,
T’
Garen and the remaining men were grateful for the brief respites. Duncan and his knights proved to be difficult foes for the Dark Sons. Small spells used made the knights hard to see and resistant to corruption.

In those instances where Perel
a’
s magic punched a hole in the wall of Dark Sons and knocked a few off balance were when the knights struck hardest. Not that it helped an
y…
the wounded Dark Sons did not die. They grew new limbs to replace those severed. The severed limbs grew bodies even more grotesque then the forms they had lost.  The army of ligh
t’
s situation became even more helpless with every second that passed. More and more Dark Sons poured into the camp from the Fires. It was a sea of evil whose sole goal was to destroy everything in its path. It was like Rya
n’
s vision. Brave men were separated and killed.

“
Perela! Perela
!”
A muted voice called. Perela turned and saw that she had somehow drifted away from Duncan. The big blond knight was slashing his way toward her. The cross about his neck glowed as he whispered a prayer or perhaps many prayers. The light of the cross frightened and angered the Dark Sons. They hated it and feared its touch.
T’
Garen guarded the knigh
t’
s back. Other men followed, helping to form a protective circle around Perela so she could, in turn, protect them.