Nearly four paces tall and three across, the ArchDemon looked balefully around the chamber. His scaled and muscled legs were much like a dragon's with toes and claws the size of a childs arms. The broad chest and arms resembled those of human but were also scaled and bristling with spikes of bone. What could only be described as a tail, easily the size of a horse's neck, writhed on the floor behind him. At its tip, the heads of four vipers, the size of a man's fist, hissed and entwined aroung the spiked head of its brother. A scales of his body seemed to ripple and change color, apparently, to match his mood.
A short, thick neck of razor sharp spines made a grating sound as the ArchDemon's massive head turned to survey the chamber. The peak and rear of the demon's head were scaled and shaped like that of a viper, as were the yellow slotted eyes. Yet where the snout of a viper would have begun were the jaws and face of a gorilla, again, scaled instead furred. Huge yellow teeth and fangs extended past the lips and a reptilian tongue flicked regularly.
A voice like grinding bone and sizzling flesh echoed across the chamber as the ArchDemon spoke. "So, Mallick, you have found the courage to tempt my wrath again. I warned you what would happen if you summoned another of my subjects. You have sealed your doom." The serpentine tale slithered between the ArchDemon's legs and spat poison upon the dome surrounding Mallick, Sala, and the skeletal warriors. A crackling ball of power appeared in each of the ArchDemon's hands.
"Hold, great Prince. I have summoned you for a purpose. Do you not recognize your mark upon this paltry bit of flesh at my feet? I hold your chosen plaything, Prince. Lay your wrath upon me and your will destroy your prize as well." Mallick cackled with delight. He stood haughtily silent until the globes vanished from the ArchDemon's hands. He shook his head with disgust and the tail vipers spat another glob of venom onto the dome he had erected.
"Now, Lord, if your are done with your threats, I will tell you my purpose for this meeting. You have thwarted my attempts to aquire the Tome of Domination from its place of internment. I still do not know why you would concern yourself with the affairs of the mortal realm but you have made it clear that you will stand before me. I have eliminated all others who would keep me from what I desire, so it has come to this. I would have prefered something more gentile, considering our noble statures, but you have forced me such measures."
"You will summon one of your servants and order him to fetch the Tome of Domination. Have it brought to this chamber and placed before me. Once that is done, I will release your pet to him. If you do not do as I command, I will, this very instant, perform the rites of that will scatter her soul to the winds. Even with you power, you will never be able to gather enough of her back to fill your needs and it will take centuries for you to find another to replace her." Mallick gestured to Talonn and Ifreet. "I give these others to you as a sign of good faith."
"Tell me, Prince of Demons, do accept me offer?"
Despite his predicament, a faint chuckle issues forth from Ifreet's lips. "Foolish lich. You're playing with fire...and you will burn for it..." He spits some blood to the side, then looks up and smiles. "You meddle in the affairs of demons and mortals alike...and you are neither. It is unwise to disturb sleeping dragons..." His energy exhausted for a short time once more, Ifreet's head lowers, soft laughter still issuing forth.
Kaa ducked under a slashing claw and swung his axe with a growl. The gore covered blade bit deep into the ghoul's side and shattered the lower ribs. Kaa yanked the blade free and warded another blow from the crumpling ghoul. The dwarf danced away from the rest of the approaching undead. His breathing rasped between his teeth. He was bred for fighting and had be doing so for nearly 300 seasons. It was not the excertion of combat that left him winded but the thick smoke that covered the mesa plateau.
A flash of light through the smoke caught his attention. He quickly looked around to see what it was. His eyes fell upon the tower of the citadel. The high windows glowed with a fierce greenish light. Ice seemed to form around his heart at the sight of it. His hope that Talonn and Sala would be successful wavered. Thoughts of their fate at the hands of the Lich caused the ice to grip his heart tighter.
The smell of rotting flesh reached his nose and he threw his axe up in a hasty block. It was not high enough. The cudgel glanced off the blade enough that, instead of crushing his face, it struck his helmeted head. The blow staggered him back and knocked his helm to the ground. The trinkets in his braids rattled and his vision blurred. Kaa swung his axe to keep the ghoul at bay before he dropped to one knee. A shift in the wind sent a thick cloud of smoke into his face. Completely blinded and disoriented, Kaa began to chant his death rede and waited for the blow to fall.
The ghoul's swing was never connected. This was largely due to the fact that by the time it's weapon got around far enough to strike, it was too high to do anything, for the simple reason that the ghoul, with some assistance from a blow from Granite's fist, had become airborne, and sailed far over the edge of the mesa, beginning a long drop to the ground below.
Another nearby ghoul was sent the other direction from his other fist, and tumbled across the surface of the mesa, coming to a stop in a crumpled heap.
While the smoke was a hindrance to vision, it was not enough of one to prevent Granite from seeing the ghouls, or Kaa, though it was apparently causing all of them some problems.
Given the nature of organics, Kaa would likely require a short time to recover from the blow he had taken, so Granite kept up his assault on any organic, living or not, which came near. Those which had been nearby seemed unwilling to approach, having seen their fellows' lack of success at even slowing down the stony creature.
"What purpose is this serving." Granite asked aloud as he stood guard, loudly enough that Kaa could hear him. Tactically, it made sense to do things the way they were doing them, but he still didn't see what the point was. All of this destruction was coincidental to their objective, and thus seemed rather unnecessary.
Upon arriving at the citadel's front gates, Muffy slowed to a stop and looked up at the top of the mesa and growled unpleasantly. Talabrina nodded and listened to what Hammer had to say before replying.
"Muffy and I can feel more of the undead's presence above on the mesa." Taalabrina sighed heavily and looked at Hammer with the pain of having to make a difficult choice in her eyes. "As much as mine heart yearns to enter the cave to see if Qki is well, mine soul howls for defeating the undead." Looking to the mesa above Talabrina went on. "My cloak hath the ability to transport us all to the top of yonder mesa, but we hath best not have need to retreat once we be up there. The cloak will not function again for a week."
As the two speak of what they should do next, something plummets from above, and smashes into the ground nearby. A quick investigation reveals it to be the now-splattered remains of what must have been a ghoul...
Hammer jumped when the body landed. Quickly he went and investigated. It looked to be the handy work of Granite. Then he smiled at Talabrina. "As a warrior born, I prefer battle to wandering around in caves. Take us up to the battle My Lady. The Thunderer wishes to hear my Hammer sing."
Nodding quickly, Talabrina motioned for Hammer to come close to her as she spread her arms so that the cloak opened wide. Saying a word in drowthe shadows of her cloakseemed to enlarge and envelop them all. There was brief sensation of movement and then the shadows departed.
Choking briefly on the smoke in the air, Talabrina wrapped a fold of her cloak over her nose as she scanned about warily. She saw Granite's looming form but not who he what fighting nor Kaa. Calling upon her power to detect life and unlife, her eyes began to glow a silver color.
Muffy, on the other hand was not faring well. Sneezing almost uncontrolably, Muffy growled in annoyance at the smoke while trying to see through the smoke.
Kaa groped around on the ground for his helmet. His head still rang from the blow but his vision was returning, as far as he could tell with all of the smoke. He spat to clear his mouth of the taste of the smoke and the blood from where he bit his tongue. Kaa pulled himself to his feet but stayed behind Granite as he swayed a bit.
"Lad, what are you talking about? The fires or fighting? I thought it was fairly clear that we were trying to cause a distraction so that Ifreet could free his people and Talonn and Sala could kill the Lich. Did you get hit on the head harder than I did?"
Kaa wiped the tears from his eyes and cursed the winds that had driven the smoke. Perhaps in answer to his ... request, the wind shifted and the air around him and Granite cleared. For the first time in moments, Kaa found that he could see more than a pace before him. He looked around Granite and found the ghouls had backed away and were milling about confused. It was then that he noticed Hammer, Talabrina, and Muffy.
"Ho there! Tis good to see the likes of you. How goes it below? Have you seen the lad Qki?" he called to them.
The ArchDemon growled and his scales rippled to a deep shade of red, very much like the color of blood. He remained this color for a moment before they rippled again and became an almost black shade of blue. The serpent tongue flicked between his lips and appeared to lick his jowls.
"You are a bigger fool than I though, Mallick. You have power that these mortals could never understand. You could rule in this realm without the Tome of Domination yet, you seek what you cannot have." the ArchDemon growled as he began to pace the room. In a stride and a half he covered the entire length of the chamber to stand over Talonn. His tail slithered across the floor and would around Talonn's neck, lifting his head so that the ArchDemon could look into the half-elf's face. The tongues of the four viper heads licked across his cheeks and eyelids. The ArchDemon turned and stepped away and his tail began to drag Talonn's body behind him. Another pair of strides brought him to stand before Ifreet. He glared at the plainsman for a heartbeat before he began to chuckle.
"What foolish pride you have Mallick. Centuries you have walked the earth, either in flesh or as you do now. Most of those centuries, you and I have played this game of power. It would stand to reason that you would know as much about me as I do you. Such pathetic sacrifices you offer me." The ArchDemon's tail lifted Talonn from the floor and dangled him like a snared rabbit before tossing him to the floor near Ifreet. Turning from them, the Prince of Demons almost swaggered back to the spot where he had first appeared. Mallick turned his back to Sala, Ifreet and Talonn, and the skeletons to face the Demon Prince.
The wicked chuckle ended in a roar. "Enough! You may not know me, Mallick, but I do know you. I end our little game here and now. Take him, my child."
She had a millisecond to wonder what the demon meant when he said "Take him, my child." before her body was wracked with an all consuming pain. Still behind Mallick she stopped short of passing through the ring of protection and fell to the ground screaming accomppanied by Pine's screames as Sala's sensations washed through him. It felt as though every cell in her body was on fire and trying to duplicate itself with a skin that could not hold it. She felt rather than saw something rip itself out of her body through her birthmark. Lying on the floor shuddering from the aftermath of the worst of the pain she managed to open her eyes a crack.
Just in front of her a demon was quickly growing in size. When it was about a foot shorter that the demon prince it stopped growing, stretched it's bat wings, shook out its heavily muscled goatlike legs and slashed it's scorpion tail around, seemingly accidentally knocking over the two skeletons. It cracked it's neck and eyed the terrified Mallick who had turned around at Sala's screams. With an evil grin that showed nearly foot long razor sharp teeth it said, "Well, well, nice to meet you Mallick. You know it was rather cramped in there." He waved his hand dismissively at Sala's body. Sala weakly reached a hand up towards her collar bones and felt where her birthmark used to be. She pulled her hand away covered in blood with a wimper she passed into unconsciousness.
The demon started walking around the terrified lich. "You know, I think there is someone who wants to get to know you better, Mallick."
Mallick tried to summon his power and send the demon back whence it came, but, to his ultimate horror, he was unable to reach any of his magic. The two demons just grinned at him. Mallick dropped to his knees and brought his skeletal hands up in a pleading motion, "Please no. I won't bother your kind again if you just let me live."
The prince of demon's just said softly, "It's too late for that now. It was too late for that a couple of centuries ago.....and we do plan to let you live, with us for eternity, that is." His voice rose to a blood curdling laugh that echoed in the room. He cut it off suddenly and simply said, "Now."
The demon inside the circle smiled and picked Mallick up off of the floor by his neck bones and dragged him through the circle. The skeletons had recovered by this time and were pounding on the demon in an attempt to save thier master. They followed them through the circle and when they were on the other side the demon prince nodded to them and they went up in flames.
Meanwhile, underneath the plateau, Qki had finally reached the now-empty prison chamber. The dead bodies were nothing new to him. He had seen many since running into the guards, but luckily nobody had approached him. He had been wandering the corridors for what seemed like hours to the golem. Of course, it wasn't really that long at all, but time seems to move differently underground. He was about to hit the end of his rope, but decided to try one more staircase.
And was flooded with relief when he saw the square piece of sky at the top of the stairs. Throwing caution to the wind, he ran to the opening and just looked at the sky for a few long moments.
Smoke obscured much of the plateau, but not where he stood. He could see what looked like movement a little off to the side through some of the smoke. Assuming that the shadowy shapes were his friends, he strode off in their direction holding his sword.
"Lord Kaa?" Talabrina called out with a mixture of surprise and relief in her voice. "The only signs that I hath see of Qki is his footprints leading into a cave below. With the heat of the flames obscuring my heat sight I cannot tell if he wouldst be right beside me. However, due to my powers I can see thee and the undead. Is Granite about?"
Squinting and trying to see in the direction of Qki's voice, Talabrina just shook her head. There was no way she was going to be able to see in the with all the flames and heated smoke about. "`Twould seem that we hath found Qki, or he found us." Talabrina said affectionatly. Then she looked about at those she could see. "Is anyone injured at all?"
Hammer quickly assessed the situation, then turned to Talabrina. "Go Get Kaa and Granite, and find Talonn and Sala. I well take on the ghouls." Not waiting for an answer, Hammer charged towards the ghouls singing a song of battle, his War Hammer poised to strike.
Granite remained in place, between Kaa and the ghouls. None of them seemed willing to approach, but the entry of another figure into the scene changed that.
The ghouls saw fresh meat approach, charging recklessly towards them with a hammer upraised. It rushed past the stone being which had been keeping them back, and they turned their attentions onto it...
Deep in Talonn's mind, in the area where his true self cowered, waged a war of wills. The 'Rage' tried to engulf his last remaining sliver of self. Weakened from Mallick's attack, the battle was nearly even. Talonn felt 'It' recoil as Sala fed her power into his body and he scrambled to claim it for himself. All too soon it was gone but it was enough for him to bolster his defenses.
He and the 'Rage' met in the center of his mind. Talonn knew in the first moments of the clash that it was only a matter of time before he would be forced to succumb. In an act of desperation with only the hope that, should he fail, Mallick would be able to kill him before he hurt Sala or Ifreet, Talonn opened the last boundries of his self. Stretching like a net, he tried to capture the 'Rage' within himself. It was then that it happened.
The instant the 'Rage' touched his inner most self, it changed. Instead of tearing at him, it melded and strengthened him. It wove itself throughout his soul and into every fibre of his being. He and It became one. The power was truly his now but to summon it would require that he and 'it' work together. No longer did it seek to dominate but to control him by allowing him to control it. Unconsciousness fled as the power rippled through his body.
Talonn's eyes snapped open. He slowly pushed himself from the floor. He did not notice that he was now on the other side of the room. He watched as the demon completed its exit from Sala's body and snatched Mallick to the demon realm. The skeletons collapsed into a heap and the dome and wards flickered out as the power that sustained them left the realm of mortals. Talonn picked up the Lich's greatsword and started across the room. He sent a small flow of the 'Rage' behind him and Ifreet's shackles snapped open.
The viper headed tail reared and hissed but did not spit as Talonn stepped around Sala to face the ArchDemon. He lifted the greatsword before him. Sparks and power sizzled along its length as he brought it up to a guard position. "You shall not have her, dark one. To get her you must go through me."
Pine had curled up on her stomach and was creening softly. His mistress and friend was dying. He could feel the life force ebbing from her, and there was nothing he could do.
The ArchDemon threw back his head and laughed. The color of his scales rippled through several colors before they settled a deep blue. The sound echoed throughout the chamber and caused every hair of Talonn's to stand on end. While the sound still reverberated, the demon lowered himself to look Talonn in the eye. The tail swayed dangerously near but did not strike.
"So, the wildling has found his power. Your inner battles have only just begun. I know the one that is your other. A warrior of unequaled skill and unbridled cruelty. The Fates have not been kind to you, elf-man."
"As to the elf-maid at your feet, I have a hold on her no longer. She has served her purpose and fulfilled the bargain of her kin. You look stunned. Do you think you are the first to make a deal with the Prince of Demons? A bargain was made with her parents before her birth that she would host one of my kind. She was to bear him here so that my plan to capture that fool Mallick could be accomplished. For decades I have guided her to this, my moment of victory." The ArchDemon laughed and rose to stand his full height. His scales rippled to a blood red.
"Hold your power, wildling! I owe bargain to her, not you. Attack me and I shall make you the servant she believed herself to become." Rolling clouds of smoke began to gather above his head and the air began to stir as the demongate opened once more. Lesser demons leapt through the gate and huddled around their Prince before crashing through the windows and into the night.
The ArchDemon pointed at Sala and her body began to glow. "I now uphold my portion of the bargain. She is free of my influence and I grant her what no other has ever received from demonkind. You and her companions have the gratitude of the whole of Demonkind, but know this. All bargains with me and mine are done. When next we meet, you will die." The column of smoke whirled to surround him. A clap of thunder and a flash of light were all that marked his passage through the gate. The smoke thinned and drifted out the broken windows leaving Ifreet, Sala, and Talonn alone in the tower chamber.
As the glow infused her body Pine launched himself at the Demon with a screech. Without even thinking about it the demon picked him out of the air and held him suspended, gently, as he continued what eh was doing to Sala. A moment or two later there was no more fresh blood and her birthmark that had been torn open by the demon's exit had become a purplish scar.
Sala moaned and opened her eyes to hear the demons last words and see him holding Pine. Then suddenly he was gone and Pine was flying back to her ecstatic and unharmed. He licked her face with his spiky, dragony tongue, mewed and crooned, all the while jumping and spinning around. She calmed him down and then realized that she felt wonderful. There was no more hurt, not even the slight burn at the back of her mind from holding so much power. Wait a minute... so much power?!? She hadn't stored up this much power before meeting the lich. In fact as far as she knew she couldn't hold this much power and not burn herself out! She tried to dump it so she could save herself, but it wouldn't go. It took her another moment to realize that it wasn't hurting her. She blinked a couple of times and looked up at Talonn.
Kaa gave an approving nod as Hammer waded into the ghouls. The nod reminded him how his head still rang from the blow. He let himself slowly sit on the ground and face the valley.
"Tis good to see all of you. To tell the truth, I did not think to see all of you again. Talabrina, lass, I would consider it a great favor if you would ease the ringing in my head. I tried to stop a cudgel with it. I still need to work on that little move. Qki, my boy, I see that you have found yourself a blade. Does it ...like you?"
A flash of light from the tower brought him to his feet. All over the plateau, wails of anguish echoed as the undead dropped lifelessly to the ground. Kaa looked blankly at the rotting bodies that moments before were attacking Hammer. Wondering if he was hurt worse than he had first thought, Kaa looked to the others to be sure that they had seen it too.
When the demons burst from the tower, Kaa's knees gave way and he sagged heavily to the ground. Piercing screams of glee sounded a charge as the demons swept across the plateau. Like a flying pack of wolves, they swooped down into the smoke and flames and attacked anything that moved. Yet they ignored Kaa and his friends. The sounds of dying men and trolls sent Kaa's head to pounding such that his vision blurred and he was nearly sickened to hear it. For what seemed like hours, the cries of the dying echoed across the valley then stopped so quickly the silence was nearly as deafening.
Had been swing his hammer wildly in the throws of a controlled berserker fury when the ghouls that surrounded him fell lifelessly to the ground. His killer swing met only air, and the momentum of that swing sent Hammer stumbling in a circle. As the Demons came flying from the tower, Hammer sprinted to join the group, offering what protection he could. He was amazed at the destruction caused by the demons, and yet none approached Hammer to do battle. Puzzled, Hammer stared in wonder as the demons entered the demon gate to leave this mortal soil.
A shimmering ball of light appeared in the sky above the mesa. Smoke and flames were drawn into it and the capering forms of demons, some clutching victims, could be seem entering the light. In the span of four heartbeats, the plateau was smoke free and the fires had all been snuffed. As the ball of light began to shrink, a voice above them spoke. "The Prince of Demons send his gratitude and regards. The bargain is met." The shadowy form of a demon flew from where it had hovered above them into the collapsing demongate as it vanished.
Kaa groaned and fell blissfully unconscious.
"Good riddance to thee demponspawn," spat Talabrina as the thing vanished and turned towards Kaa just in time to see him drop to the ground. "Kaa!" she cried as she swung down off of Muffy and ran to his side. "Shade your eyes everyone," Talabrina said not knowing if Qki or Granite needed to or not, "I doth be creating a light." A brief song later and a small globe of light appeared at about standing head height over Talabrina. Taking out the black pouch from her cloak, she leaned over Kaa and began carefully inspecting Kaa's injuries to see how severe they were.
Talonn stared at the point where the demongate had been and his hands tightened on the hilt of the greatsword. He opened his mouth but stopped before he shouted after the Demon Prince and bellowed a challenge. Confused by his anger, Talonn lowered the sword. He took a deep breath to relax and realized that he felt cheated, cheated of a fight that meant more to him than his next breath.
The words the demon had spoken to him became bitterly clear. Before the joining, there had once been a distinct difference between his feelings and those of his 'other'. It had been easy to tell when the 'Rage' was influencing him because it had felt so unnatural. But now, with the 'Rage' woven throughout his soul, he was buffeted by thoughts and feelings that felt like his but were just as unnatural. His battle with his 'other' had become a battle with himself. Talonn stopped drawing on the power of the 'Rage' and dropped the sword to the floor. His emotions calmed immediately but, like a voice in his head, he could still hear the 'Rage' murmuring and his every thought was tainted by its desires.
From the corner of his eye, he saw Sala moving. He turned and knelt beside her. "Are you well, Lady Sala?" he asked. The sound of his voice startled him. Although it sounded the same as it always had, there was now a cold, emotionless ring to it. It reminded him of the tone the Lich had used. "Can you stand, Lady? We have to be away before the other demons return or guards arrive." He reached his hand out to her and looked across the room. "Ifreet, can you walk?"
"I don't need to." Ifreet smiles faintly as his shackles crumble to dust. He collapses to the ground, just as his stallion knocks down the wall behind him. The horse turns around and nudges Ifreet gently, who pulls himself onto it's back. "I'll ride."
Kaa moaned and opened his eyes. He snapped them shut with a curse. Talabrina's light sent a wave of dizziness through his head. Squinting to look up at her, he said "Lass, I feel like I have Orcish war drums in my head and they are playing a drunken feast dance. If you would be so kind as to end their pounding, we can get ourselves into the citadel and find Sala and Talonn. I know they are a right dangerous pair but I don't think they were the ones to send those demons a flittering out here."
Talabrina sighed inwardly in relief, by her estimation Kaa would definitely be alright. "Thee art lucky that thee doth hath a skull made of mythril Lord Kaa," giggled Talabrina as she held out her hands towards his face. "No close thine eyes Lord Kaa, this will be quite bright." Singing softly her hands began to glow with a bright silver light that then streamed from her hands and enveloped Kaa's head. The pain faded away and was gone as if it were only a half-remembered dream.
Letting the glow fade, Talabrina stood and offered Kaa a hand to his feet. "If thee doth know the way milord then I suggest that we make haste with all due possible speed."
Granite stood impassively as the undead collapsed and the horde of demons wrought their destruction. The sudden glow of light from Talabrina's magic, and the words of the others did not stir him to action either. It was impossible to tell whether he was not paying attention, or merely not reacting.
Something was different about Talonn. It was almost as though she could feel it as he walked over and knelt down beside her. She felt so strange. Pine's raspy toungue was starting to get a bit painful. Without even thinking he was a puppy. Sala's eyes opened wide in shock. She had never been able to do that without at least touching him. She almost missed Talonn asking her if she was ok.
She blinked a couple of times, confused and startled, before she managed to say, "I...I think so? Something is different with my magic. Something is different with you too. Did the demon do something to you? Are you and Ifreet hurt?" Unconsciously while she was speaking she laid her hand softly upon his knee in concern.
In response to his next question she got onto her knees and moved to take his hand, "I'm not sure, but I will try." It was then she noticed how blood stained her cloak had become. She shuddered and took it all the way off for the first time in she couldn't remember how long. She let it drop to the ground behind her. She saw that the dress was stained as well. A small scowl passed across her face and the dress glowed, a moment later it was clean as if just washed. All of the blood on Sala was gone as well. She looked startled and looked at Talonn and giggled, "I didn't even try to do that! Well, let's see if I can stand." She took his hand and managed to get upright with no little help.
Everything just seemed different. It was if the whole world was new to her. Everthing had a soft light running through it. She had felt that before but now she could actually see it. She swayed dangerously and became very dizzy all of a sudden. She had lost a lot of blood and a being that had been inside her since before she was born. Although the demon had fixed the wound he had done nothing else for the physical damage she had suffered. She was not doing all that well. She managed to get out, "Um, Talonn?..." before her knees buckled.
Talonn caught Sala before she fell completely to the floor. He scooped her up into his arms and and then grabbed Pine. Securing his grip on her, he started across the room to Ifreet. "Ifreet, do you have the strength to carry her with you on the horse? Neither of you are in shape enough to fight if it comes to that. I will try to protect you until you win free of the citadel."
Talonn glanced at the plainsman and then to the blue scarf that he wore. "Once outside, go to Talabrina, if she still lives. Do not wait for me, brother." Talonn eyes began to glow as he lifted Sala toward Ifreet.
"May the winds of fate carry you home." Ifreet lifts Sala onto the horse and nods to Talonn, then turns his steed around and trots out of the room, returning to the fray, and slipping his scimitar from where it lies on his horse in an attempt to scare away anyone getting any ideas about the pair.
Faint wisps of smoke rose from the ashes of the destroyed buildings scattered across the plateau. The demons, thorough in their mayhem, left not a single follower of Mallick's alive. The bodies of undead, trolls, and soldiers littered the area. With the smoke cleared, the full moon bathed the mesa in a silvery glow. The breeze moaned through the debris and sounded almost pleasant.
The roar of voices echoed from the tunnel leading to the mesa interior. Moments later, a band of nearly 300 tattered slaves burst onto the plateau. Waving mining tools, confiscated weapons, and torches, they charged from the bowels of their prison and flowed into the moonlight like the tide. Their cries for vengeance and justice wavered, then ceased, and their charge stalled when no opposition met them. Confusion and fear gripped them as they looked around at the carnage left by the demons. Like moths to a flame, the band of slaves began to calmly walk toward the light cast by Talabrina's magic. Hands that had toiled for countless days in the pits suddenly lost the strength to hold the weapons. The swords and staves and picks dropped from near lifeless hands and left a trail of steel and blood across the plateau. The silent, shuffling army of slaves came within ten paces of the group before halting, almost as of one mind. They stood silently, waiting.
As Talonn passed her up to Ifreet she realized what he was saying with a shock, "You better not go and get yourself killed now, after all of this... please?"
Talonn watched Ifreet wheel his mount and head for the door. He turned back to the room and began to look for his swords. He found them on the floor beside the wall that the Lich's blast had thrown him against. He picked up his sabre and slid it into its sheath but did not pick up the other blade. The pommel and blade were twisted, cracked, and splintered from the power of the 'Rage'. He kicked at it and drew back as the blade shattered into slivers that tinkled across the floor. Talonn snatched a candlestand and heaved it across the room with a growl.
Talonn spun and drew his sabre and stalked across the room. The glow in his eyes grew with each step that he took. A glint of steel caught his eye and, without thinking, he snatched the Lich's greatsword from the floor. He spared a moment to feel its balance and curse the loss of his preferred sword. Perhaps he could sell it and purchase another bastard sword in Montfort. He did not think on it further as he headed for the corridor that Ifreet had followed. So intent on slaughtering anything that blocked his path, he did not notice the greatsword transform. When Talonn stepped into the deserted corridor, his eyes scanning for enemies, he bore his scared sabre and a gleaming bastard sword.
The destruction around her shocked and horrified her. There were dead and decaying undead bodies littering the ground. The stench was sickening. She wished she didn't have to smell it and then she couldn't. Sala nearly paniced. She willed it back and suddenly it was, disgustingly enough. She tried her hand it at and managed to adjust it to a level that she could deal with, but that left her with some sense of smell.
She hoped everyone had made it through the battle ok, especially Kaa. She had many thanks to give them all for helping her. She was pretty sure Talonn wouldn't get himself in any trouble on the way back to the group either. There didn't seem to be any trouble left to get into.
Kaa pushed aside Talabrina's hands as the crowd of men neared the group. He fought against the dizziness and stood. He looked at the confused faces of the slaves as they gathered. Kaa stepped slowly toward them and hoped that his knees would hold. He stopped and used his axe for a cane.
"Are the tunnels clear, lads?" he called to the slaves. Heads bobbed and a few stronger voices murmured "Aye." Kaa nodded his head curtly and choked back the bile that rose with his dizziness. He blinked his eyes for a moment to clear his vision and then drew himself to full height. His right fist struck against his heart in salute as he called out so that all might hear. "Well done, then. You have won the day. You are free!"
For the span of a breath no one moved. Then a cheer rose from the slaves and quickly grew to a roar. Men clasped each other and openly weeped. Some came forward to shake the hand or simply to touch some member of the group, sobbing thanks. The roar grew louder as more men came pouring from the tunnels. Then the women appeared.
The doors to the citadel opened and hundreds of women and children poured onto the plateau. The lingered behind the low walls confused and scared by the roar the men were making. Some of the men nearest the citadel recognized the forms of the women and called out to them. The cheers on the mesa doubled as the men and women ran to meet and search among themselves for their loved ones. The air was filled with sobs of joy and loss as they gathered together.
Kaa smiled as he looked upon the scene. His heart ached for those that suffered a lose in this ordeal but he could feel the joy of those that were reunited. A flicker of light in the tower caught his eye and he squinted to see what it was. Flames could be seen dancing through the windows. The tower was burning. His spirits rose a little further. For the tower to be ablaze and the slave women freed, Sala and Talonn must have succeded. But where were they?
Talabrina quickly drew up her hood as the men approached and hid herself within the folds of her cloak. These peopled had suffered greatly at the hands of the Lich and Talabrina feared that they might react badly and come against her.
Still her heart was filled with jubilation as the freed slaves were reunited with their loved ones. Talabrina's vision blurred as tears welled up and ran down her cheeks as she wept in joy. They had won and accomplished far more than they had set out to do. She rubbed at the tears in her eyes and watched a woman pick up her daughter and hold her close.
"This is why I came to live on the surface," she whispered hoarsely, "To see the love and happiness that is so rare in the underdark."
Then she caught the look in Kaa's eyes and looked to the burning citadel and then looked around at their group. Talonn, Sala and Ifreet had not returned as yet. Talabrina touched Kaa lightly on the shoulder and gestured toward the tower. "Mayhaps I shouldst go in and find our friends who art missing Lord Kaa," she said with concern in her voice.
"Are you all right, Talabrina?" asked the golem as he stepped next to the elf. "You should be happy. These people should be, too." Evidently the little metal man mistook the tears in everyone's eyes for tears of sadness. Suddenly realizing that he still held his new sword, he placed it next to his hip as he'd seen others do, and melded it there. Then he reached up and put his arm around Talabrina's waist. "Look, Talabrina. It's on fire. Maybe I should go too, because it won't hurt me."
Talabrina chuckled softly as she put an arm around Qki's shoulders.
"Methinks that I as well as those around us art so joyous that it even the strongest among us to tears." She said quietly as she looked towards the citadel. Hearing Qki volunteer to go with she smiled and nodded. "Very well then Qki thou may go with me."
Talonn watched the last of the women make their way up the stairs from the dungeon. He had heard the cries of the women while searching the corridors for Mallick's followers. Mallick must have only been attended by undead, for other than the women, Talonn had found no living servants or soldiers. The undead littered the corridors and rooms.
Talonn took one last look around the dungeon before heading up the stairs. Smoke drifted through the corridor as he stepped out of the door. He looked back toward the tower and saw the flicker of flames. He thought briefly of the candlestand he had tossed but dismissed it as a deserved action. He would have no remorse for destroying what the Lich had created.
Another thought crossed his mind then. He sheathed his swords and began to run down the hall, back toward the tower. Cursing and coughing, he passed the door he was looking for before he realized. He doubled back,kicked it open, and entered. The smoke thickened as the flames grew and consumed the tower.
Kaa looked up at Talabrina and smiled at her tears. He took her hand softly and patted it briefly. "You're a credit to you race, lass." he whispered. Then he spoke louder to be heard over the celebrating slaves. "I say we all go in yonder and see if we can find Sala and Talonn. But first, my lady of the night, you have got to do something about my head."
Talabrina beamed at Kaa and slipped out of Qki's arm to embrace Kaa fully. Letting him go, Talabrina caresses the side of his face as she danced and sang in the language of the drow. The wound slowly disappeared as her powers worked on him.
"There thou art Lord Kaa," Talabrina smiled. "Whole and hearty once more."
Talonn leapt through the same window that he and Sala had entered earlier. He tossed the sacks he had been carrying aside and rolled on the ground to put out his smoldering cloak. Flames erupted from the window as the room inside went up in flames. Talonn lay on the ground for a few moments while the heat rushed into the courtyard. He could smell his singed hair before the night breeze took the stench and heat away.
He gathered his sacks and crawled to the low wall surrounding the citadel. He rested his back against it and watched the fire race through the building. He reached over his shoulder and drew Mallick's sword. He had nearly tossed the blade aside when he noticed that it had transformed but something made him keep it. The part of him that was his true self called to throw it into the fire and be done with it. The part of him that was once the 'Rage' knew it for a weapon of power and not a thing to discard lightly. Talonn drew on the power of that part of him and willed it onto the blade. As the energy flowed into it, the blade seemed to become one with it. Talonn released the energy at the building and watched as a section of stone around the window splintered. He examined the blade for any signs of damage and found none, in fact, it appeared that the edge had become more keen. He sheathed the sword and pushed himself from the wall.
Talonn tossed the sacks over the low wall and then scrambled over it. He crouched in the shadow of the wall and allowed his eyes to adjust to the darkened plateau. Hundreds of men and women wandered through the ruins of the camp. The devastation was tremendous and he grinned at what the cunning dwarf had wrought. His eyes caught sight of a mage light and a group of odd shaped people standing together and slightly apart from the freed slaves. Talonn chuckled at how easily his friends out from the crowd. He stood slowly, hefted the sacks to his shoulder, and started walking toward them.
Kaa settled his helmet more firmly on his head and grinned at Talabrina. "Thank ye." He looked around at the joyful slaves wiped a tear, caused by the smoke of course, from his eye.
"Well, my friends, it seems our little band is three shy. What say we go and find them." he shouted above the celebration. He slipped his axe into its harness and started toward the citadel. The closer he got to the burning fortress, the less sure he was that they would be found. The fire appeared to be spreading very quickly and thick smoke poured from every window and door. Anyone still in there would likely suffocate before the flames found them. Kaa was so intent in staring at the building, that he nearly took Talonn for one of the slaves and walked past him.
"Ho there, laddie. Tis good to see you. By the forge, you look like you have seen better days." Kaa said as he reached out and clasped forearms with Talonn. The joy in his eyes faded as he noticed what Talonn had sat on the ground before shaking his hand. "What do you have in those sacks? Dragonspit! Did you loot the place before you torched it? How many times have I told you about saving your arse first? What good is coin and gems when you get yourself cooked getting them? Fah! Here I was worried that you had gone and got yourself brained by the Lich. Fool boy! And where is Sala? Did you leave her behind so you could gather your pretty gold?!"
Talonn released Kaa's arm and the grin slid from his face. His eyes swirled and began to glow faintly. Talonn stopped his hands as they started for his swords and he fought the urge to shout back at his friend. He took a deep breath to relax and push his anger away. He hoped no one noticed the stone that began to slide across the ground as he directed the 'Rage' at it. The glow in his eyes flickered out as he calmed. It was then that he noticed that Sala and Ifreet were not among his friends.
"Sala and Ifreet rode from the tower before me. I lost them when I went to free the women. You haven't seen them? I have to go back and find them. They are both wounded." Talonn yelled as he turned to go back to the inferno. Kaa caught his arm and held him. Talonn yanked his arm free and turned on Kaa. The glow returned to his eyes. "Why are you stopping me? A moment ago you were raking me for leaving them and now you want me to stay!" He spun away from the dwarf and took a step away. It was then that he noticed that the fortress was now fully engulfed in flame. The sight stopped him cold.
As the tower shuddered and collapsed, so did his strength. The effects of his battle with the Lich, the bonding with his 'Rage', and the possible deaths of Sala and Ifreet crashed upon him at once. His knees buckled and he started to fall. Kaa caught him and lowered him gently to the ground.
Granite had remained silent and immobile, up to the point where everyone had begun moving towards the keep. At that point, he had become mobile, but still silent, striding along slowly in the midst of the group.
Now, his stony voice spoke up once again, sounding eerie against the nearby flames. "You require the structure to be searched. I can do that. Do you want it."
"We are here." Ifreet shrugged off his concealment spell and handed Sala to a few slaves, who set her on the ground carefully. Ifreet himself then dismounted and turned to Talonn and Kaa.
"Thank you both. But...I am not sure I will be returning with you. I believe I will stay here, with my people." The plainsman looked at the pair of them, then turned to Talabrina. "It was good to meet you, milady. I'm sorry we couldn't get to know each other better."
Talabrina sighed in relief as Ifreet appeared with Sala and Pine, then turned to Ifreet. "Methinks my place for now is here aiding thee and thy people. My goddess wouldst wish me to stay and so I offer my services to thee Lord Ifreet, if thou wouldst permit me."
Sala held her hand up to Ifreet, "My undying thanks, Ifreet. It is your choice to stay, but I will miss you. I am glad that we could help your people. It is so wonderful to finally be done with it all." She smiled up at him with a breathtaking smile. She had long since forgotten about pulling her cloak up to hide herself and in the throng of slaves and rubble she almost seemed to glow with joy. There wasn't a smidge of dirt or grime on her, thanks to the quick cleaning she had given herself with her new found abilities and those same abilities had imparted a new sense of self-confidence that had never been there before.
Sala smiled at Talabrina, Qki and Granite, then looked around for kaa and Talonn. When she saw talonn half sprawled on the ground by Kaa a flash of fear swept across her features as she hurried over. He hadn't gotten hurt getting out, had he? She gave Kaa a glad, but worried smile as she dropped to the ground next to Talonn. "Talonn, are you hurt?"
Comming quickly to Talonn's side she began checking him over. "So far seems mostly to be stress and fatigue Lady Sala." Talabrina looking up and smiling at her. "Some well deserved rest and the tender care of a young elven maiden will do wonders methinks. Thee looks much stronger than when I last laid eyes upon thee."
Slowly turning to look over the ex-slaves, which were slowly obtaining some semblance of order once again, Ifreet smiled softly. "I suppose you might as well stay, Talabrina, if such is your desire. My people will want a priestess, I'll need a healer if I'm to keep my voice...yes, that would work well. You are an official guest of the prince. Although I think any of my kin still live, so I am probably king."
After his sudden announcement of royal status, he turns to look over the milling throng of people. "I am Prince Ifreon! You are free, and we you are going home!" Ifreet sweeps his scimitar out of his sash and stabs up towards the sky. Lightning arcs out of the blade and across the skies, forming a picture of a mounted rider, the same emblem as that upon the casks they looked at earlier.
He smiles softly at the cheers, then turns back to the others. "I will miss you all. If I ever get the chance, I will send you word. I wish you all luck...especially you, Talonn."
Hammer had lost himself in the slaves as they came pouring into the area. At first he thought they were remnants of the Lich's guard, but when he could see them clearly, he knew better. He watched them flood past him, and stood in their midst as they were reunited with the women. The pain that these people had suffered was more than he could bear, so he turned his thoughts to his friends. Realising he was separated from them, he quickly nudged his way through the crowd until he found his friends. It was apparent that Ifreet meant to stay with his people. Perhaps it was time for Hammer to return to his people as well. Perhaps. Silently, he watched those around him, those he had travelled with and called friends these last few days. And he was proud to be among them.
Talonn pushed himself wearily from the ground. He smiled at Talabrina and mumbled his thanks to her for checking over him. He also smiled and patted Sala's hand. "I am well, sweet Lady. I am more pleased that you and Ifreet..Ifreon are safe."
"Friends, this entire quest was planned by the demon Prince. A bargain was made with Sala's parents that she would carry a demon inside of her birthmark. The plan was for Sala to gather a company such as ours to seek out the Lich. Once we found him, the demon Prince was sure that the Lich would try to use Sala as a trump to get power that was denied him. When that time came, the demon in her birthmark came out, fell upon the Lich and, carried him to the demon realm so that the demon Prince could exact his revenge. As payment for the bargain of her parents, I believe that the demons have granted Sala the powers that the demon she carried allowed her to use all of her life. All bargains, ours and that of Sala's parents, are fulfilled. She and we are free."
"I have something that needs doing," Talonn said as he stood slowly. He reached down, grabbed the sacks, and walked slowly to stand before Ifreon. A grin spread across his face as he dumped the first sack at the Prince's feet. Gold and gems glittered in the moonlight as Talonn tossed aside the empty sack. "Who ever heard of a poor Prince." he chuckled. Talonn's smile grew wider as he reached into the second sack and knelt before Ifreon.
"My Lord, when Sala and I were sneaking through the citadel, we came upon a hall where dreadful murder was done. The remains of those in the hall were quite regal in their stature and their bearing. I deemed them to be your kin." Talonn slowly withdrew his hand from the sack and held forth a shining gold and gem encrusted circlet. "Your Majesty, may I present you with your family crown and what remains of your treasury." Talonn bowed his head and held the crown to Ifreon while dumping another pile of gold and gems to the ground.
A smile flickers across Ifreon's features as he takes the crown and sets it upon his head. "You are not familiar with our customs, evidently. I made you my kin when I gave you the sash. You are of the royal house here. My brother needn't call my majesty, nor kneel in my presence." He reaches out and sets his hand on Talonn's shoulder. "Thank you for saving these."
Kaa stepped beside Sala and clasped her hand. The smoke was forcing more tears from his eyes. "I am most happy for you, Sala." he mumured. As he watched Talonn dump the treasure at Ifreon's feet and present him with the crown, he lowered his head in shame. "By the forge, I am a fool. I thought that he had abandoned you to seek that loot for himself."
Smiling warmly at Ifreon, she just couldn't resist the impulse to hug him. "I am honored to be thy priestess thy Majesty, to thee and thy people. Eilistraee smiles upon all of us this day." Talabrina said jubilantly.
Then abruptly she whirled and hugged Hammer, giggling. "I believe now is the time to sing the song of victory!"Talabrina's eyes sparkled in glee and she turned to the group. "Sing! Sing the song in thy hearts and souls to express thy joy! Let us dance and revel in our victory!"
This was more than she could take. Ifreet was a prince...no, a king, Talabrina was staying with him, and suddenly Talonn was royalty too. She was still exhausted from the ordeal as well and she sagged against Kaa, blinking hard and trying not to burst into tears. She didn't even know why she felt like crying.
Kaa supported Sala as she slumped. "Easy there, lass. Your free now. Ifreet, er Ifreon has reclaimed his birthright and his people are free." Tears ran freely down his face. He wrapped his arms around her and squeezed. "We did it, deary, we won. Tis a good enough reason to cry. Even for a grumpy old dwarf like me."
Kaa cried for a few moments more then wiped his face. A grin crept across his face and he looked into Sala's eyes and then to the others. "I say, all this weeping makes one thirsty. I can not think of a better reason to have a celebration. Hammer, you didn't happen to bring one of those kegs of ale along did ye?"
Talonn rose slowly as Talabrina leapt away from Ifreon to pounce on Hammer. Talonn reached out to clasped Ifreon arm. The smile on his face faltered for a breath before it reappeared. Although it looked the same, the warmth of the moment had left his eyes.
"I am honored that you call me brother, my King. To be accepted as a member of your house is too great an honor for one such as me. I fear a royal assassin would bode ill in your dealings with other kingdoms. In truth, I do not wish your reign to be marred by my presence, or my past." Talonn bowed his head and added in a barely audible whisper, "And I still have 'demons' of my own to face."
Talonn sighed and lifted his head again. The haunted look had returned to his face and his smile looked strained. "I mean no offense in what I say now and it is my honor that drives me to say it. Good King Ifreon, I beg your leave to renounce my so recent rise to nobility and humbly request that you allow me to continue to be simply your friend, brother in arms, and loyal servant." Talonn lowered himself to one knee and bowed his head once more. "Please."
With the appearance of the remainder of the group, Granite fell silent again. He remained still throughout the excitement going on around him, choosing to observe rather than participate - their various emotional outpourings being an interesting thing to take note of...
He was also considering what had been said of the plot which the demons had used to defeat the lich. It had been a very roundabout way of accomplishing their goal, but had nonetheless proven successful. Indirect courses of action were not something Granite had much experience with, preferring by far to take the direct route to things. Even so, the plan that had been used seemed a very inefficient indirect route...
The crowd of organics that remained were nonetheless universally pleased with the result, which was curious, given that they were benefitting from the actions of those they hated. Another quirk to their behavior to work out...
And now the group of them he had been travelling with appeared to be in the process of splitting apart. This was not going to make things any easier, but it would certainly not be fair to demand them remain together simply to suit his curiousities...
"No. This land is not like your lands. Our kings are not like your kings, and our royalty is not like your royalty. And just call me Ifreet, please. I prefer that name, and I'm going to get enough bowing and scraping from strangers, I don't want it from my friends." A wide smile lights up the face of the normally impassive plainman as he pulls Talonn to his feet.
Talabrina turned to Talonn and noted the haunted look on his face. Slipping from Hammer's side and moving to Talonn side she sat down beside him. "Lord Talonn, by the look upon thy face I wouldst dare say that `tis not thy royal appointment that truly troubles thee. I offered thee mine aid once before and so I offer it again." Talabrina said softly as she put a hand on his shoulder.
Hammer returning Talabrina's hug with a smile, Hammer searched his memory for an appropriate victory song. Kaa's remark brought another smile to his lips.
"Friend Kaa, while the thought of bringing the ale had crossed my mind, I didn't think it would make a good weapon against the undead, and I didn't think Muffy would let me strap a couple of kegs to her back."
Smiling, he almost broke into his song when Talabrina broke her hug to see to Talonn. Perhaps now was not the time for song.
But why would she want to go back to the people who had turned her away? She wouldn't even know how to act around them. She knew nothing but the ways of the forest and its people. She still wasn't comfortable around people. She didn't know their ways. Her friends here had accepted her, but what would others do?
She lifted her head and wiped her face with the back of her hand. "Kaa, what do I do now?"
Muffy sniffed at Hammer's suggestion that she be an ale porter and moved over to him to nudge him gently. Giveing hime a mock glare, she began purring anyway.
Qki suddenly remembered something he'd noticed earlier and rushed over to the new king. "Ifreet! I just remembered! When I was walking through the mesa I could feel a lot of metal in the walls. I thought it might help you to rebuild your kingdom." He paused for a moment, and then blurted out, "I could help you find it again if you want!"
Kaa chuckled at Hammer's comment. "Nay Hammer. Methinks Muffy would not take kindly to bearing our drink. And I sure would not want to fight her for it when it came time to drink it."
Kaa looked into Sala's worried eyes and smiled. His meaty thumb brushed a stray tear from her cheek and he kissed her lightly on the forehead. "Lass, you can do what ever you want to do. Your demon is gone so you have no reason to return to your lonely life. You have great power so you should not fear to tread amongst people of any race. For so many seasons you limited yourself to your forest and glades. It is time for you to see what wonders the rest of the lands have to offer. Go where you will. Learn what this power you have been given can do."
"You have been reborn, Sala. Your past is behind you and your future is in your hands. Tis but one thing to do now, Lady Elf. Live." Kaa kissed her forehead again and began to chuckle. "Would you listen to me. I sound like a dottering old father. Fah, I am too young to speak so wisely. I am just a young buck. Just forget what I said, Lass, it will only get you into trouble."
Talonn stood and returned Ifreet's smile with a warm one of his own. "Well, I guess I have no choice but to accept. I will wear the sash with honor and do my best not to bring dishonor to your house."
Talonn turned to face Talabrina and the warmth of his face faded again. Talonn took her hand from his shoulder and held it tenderly in his. He sighed as he looked into her eyes and shook his head. "Lady Talabrina, I cannot accept your aid. Not because I fear it or do not desire it, but because it is too late. When Sala and I faced the Lich, I was forced to draw heavily upon 'It' to protect us. I live now only because I did so. I was knocked unconscious by Mallick's attack and my defenses against 'It' fell. There was but one choice left to me if I hoped to remain myself enough to help Sala and Ifreet. I bonded with the 'Rage'. It is as much a part of my soul as my 'true self'. Whatever power you use upon 'It' will be upon me as well."
Talonn looked over his shoulder at Sala. "Sala and I have both been transformed this day. I can only hope that her new life will be more pleasant than what I believe mine will be. We both have a lot to learn. She must now learn how to live without her demon." Talonn turned to face Talabrina once more. "And I have to learn to live with mine."
Talonn looked out across the plateau. The battered and bruised faces of the once slaves beamed with the joy of their freedom. Talonn pushed away his self pity and allowed himself to share their happiness. "Enough of this dark talk, my Lady. A king has been crowned. We should present him to his subjects." Talonn turned to face the free men and women and shouted to the sky.
"All hail King Ifreon!" A cheer rose from the mass. "All hail King Ifreon!" The chant was taken up by those nearest and they knelt to the ground. Soon the entire plateau rang with the chant.