Taylon (18 page)

Fret turned to Jesset. “Yes he is, and he is being
his usual miserable self.”

“I’ll have you know—”

But again the Mordock cut Ynob off without realizing
it. “What’s he saying? Can he do anything to help the situation?”
Jesset looked expectantly behind Fret, as if talking to the
wizard.

Fret screamed in irritation. It helped him release
the emotion, but a few passing elves heard. They conferred and
quickly moved into an attack. Jesset turned his back so he did not
see the advancing threat.

“Um…” Fret pointed to the two warriors running
forward. Jesset quickly searched the ground for something to defend
himself with. Fret put up his hands in a show of peace.

Ynob began muttering something.

“We aren’t with the….”

Voom!

Fire shot from Fret’s palms straight at the elves.
They were unprepared, and engulfed by the flames. Their cries
carried as they continued to advance, their flesh burning.

The boy looked in utter horror and amazement. Jesset
stared at the carnage and then at Fret. One warrior collapsed—a
charred corpse right at their feet. The other swayed to the left
and lay down as the flames took his life.

“What…?”

“I don’t know!” The boy exclaimed and turned to the
wizard with palms raised. Even Ynob held a look of utter disbelief.
He glanced at Fret.

“Put your hands down!” He said frantically. Fret
complied.

Jesset looked back at the market, but saw no other
warriors near. “What did you do?”

“I don’t know. I think he did it,” Fret yelled. He
quickly looked around realizing his voice projected loudly. They
moved behind the tree, not wanting another confrontation.

The wizard did his best to compose himself. “I…meant
to do that.”

Fret observed. Jesset kept looking from Fret to the
space Fret looked at. “What?”

“He doesn’t know either.”

“Of course I do. A wizard never does magic
unexpectedly.” Ynob’s tone became haughty again.

Jesset noticed the ring on Fret’s hand for the first
time. “Isn’t this…” He took Fret’s hand. The boy looked down at the
ring.

“Yes, he stole it,” The wizard said behind him.

“I think this is why I can see Ynob. Unfortunately.”
He never wanted any kind of responsibility. As Fret thought back,
he never had any ambition back in his old life.

Jesset let go of his hand. “Well, it could be the
saving grace of this whole situation.”

CAW!

From behind, a crow startled them. It perched in the
tree next to the one they had hidden behind.

“Reggie!” Jesset recognized the crow.

This is some serious mess you got yourselves mixed
into.
Reggie cawed.

“I know.”

“Wow, I can hear the bird clearly. I guess death has
its advantages!” Ynob exclaimed loudly behind Fret.

“We need to find our friends—a dark elf and the
Dwarc,” Fret asked, hoping the crow had some advice for them.

That’s an easy one. They’re farther down with a
little glow bug. Funny thing is, they sent me to look for you.
Reggie cawed at the irony and cackled loudly. A few elves looked
his way, but didn’t pay any heed to the bird.

Jesset interpreted for Fret. “What about Snow? Our
rabbit friend.”

“Wow, rabbit friend. I believe she would not take
kindly to that comment,” the wizard remarked. Fret ignored him.

The crow cocked its head.
I did see a funny
looking rabbit going away from the market. It was actually going
south. Don’t know if that helps ya out any.

“Funny looking? Fret raise your hands again, and I
will show this crow some manners.”

Fret turned and talked to the space behind him. “No.
Stop it. You’re being mean.”

Um, you may want to lose the boy. I think he has a
few cogs loose in that head of his.

“He will be fine. Please lead us to our friends,”
Jesset said, and the crow flew off with a caw.

Ynob moved closer to Fret, within whispering
distance. “We should’ve fried that crow. It called you crazy.”

“Shut up, Ynob.”

Chapter Seventeen

Euphoria loved the carnage before her. Figaro and
Daisy led as she made her way through the marketplace. She
commanded her army to attack everything in and around the area.
When news of an elf army—arriving at the south end of the
market—reached the queen, she laughed at the ensuing chaos.

Nonk supplied soldiers to be posted by her majesty’s
side, but those men ended up being fodder for the queen. Euphoria
used lightning attacks on the races of Aladedas. She enjoyed the
way it made them quiver before falling over. Most of the bodies she
zapped were useless as food to her, but it still made for great
entertainment.

Figaro was having a gnome for a snack at the moment.
The great cat’s jaws crushed down upon the head of the small
creature like a peanut. He liked to get right in there and sink his
teeth into the creatures. Daisy, on the other hand, liked to play
with her food. Currently she was batting around a small kobold, her
claws wounding it each time she swiped.

There was plenty for the queen to feed on after the
bodyguards. Bodies taken down by arrows littered her path. She
would stoop and feed, regain her energy for another lightning
strike, and then move on.

The power source pulled her away from the main battle
and deeper into the market. If she wanted to diverge her course,
she could not. Strong desire pushed her forward.

Nothing in the market had given her much challenge. A
minotaurian tried to block her path, but the two loyal tigers took
him out at the legs. As she went, Euphoria sucked magic out of
nearby creatures. A whole booth of sprites dropped like dead
insects, their beautiful colored aura disappearing. Without their
magic, the helpless creatures writhed on the ground until the queen
stomped them out.

She felt the source was close. Just around the next
booth…or maybe a little farther. Euphoria wasn’t sure exactly what
magic she was seeking, but she really didn’t care. She would take
what she could get.

The aisle opened into a large semicircular area used
to put on plays or demonstrations. Creatures still were in a panic
here, having only heard about the attack. She sent a bolt of
lightning through the crowd, connecting with a few.

A satyr ran into her. Her hand gripped its face and
sucked the essence right out of him. Very few patrons stood and
watched, but when the queen finished her deed, they fled in terror.
Euphoria demonically laughed. But oddly enough, something echoed
her cackle on the other side of the amphitheater.

Figaro and Daisy came by her side as she looked
through the mass of races. Across the way, she could make out the
form of a dark elf, a female dark elf. Around her neck glowed a
necklace with a blue…stone?

This was the source.

The queen raised her hand again, ready to unleash
another bolt toward this figure, but fire erupted through the
crowd. It was coming for her. She rolled to the right, and
commanded Daisy to go on the attack. The cat made her way through
the crowd as the fire spray engulfed others.

Through the smoke and flames, Euphoria glimpsed Daisy
leaping at the elf lady. She started to smile until a sharp yelp
issued from that direction.

A breeze blew the smoke away, enough to reveal the
dark elf holding a shriveling tiger carcass.

A wraith!

A hellish scream echoed forth as Euphoria let loose
with an amazing bolt at her enemy. The ground shook from the
electricity, and the dark elf only had time to look up from her
feeding. When the bolt connected, it created an explosion.

What was left of the tiger blew out everywhere. Hot
pieces of flesh scalded nearby warriors. The dark elf suffered,
too, from the blast. She stood, her arms and legs skeletal, looking
like a half-eaten chicken.

Begone wraith. This is my war.

Laughter coursed the air, screeching banshee
cackles.

Oh demon. Such pity I feel for you. Run.

Make it worth my while for me, Da’Lynn.

Closing her eyes, the dark elf drew in magic.
Euphoria watched the dark elf close her eyes. Da’Lynn latched on to
an orc, standing within arm’s reach looking dumbfounded. Euphoria
felt the dark elf draw in magic as she sucked him dry. Some of
Da’Lynn’s emaciated body filled with flesh.

Euphoria felt exhausted after the attack. She could
feel her enemy drawing forth the magic and power from nearby. It
was magic she needed. Figaro leapt forward on her command. If only
he could break this elf’s concentration, the queen could replenish
her vitals. Not wasting any time, Euphoria ran toward the crowd of
races and warriors still present. She grasped a gnoll in one hand
and a centaur in the other. Both put up an immediate fight before
their life forces drained. Many in the crowd scattered, after
seeing this murderous display. One brave soul tried to attack, but
Euphoria dropped the gnoll and snagged her attacker.

The dark elf also took a moment to refuel, grabbing a
dwarf. The flesh from the dwarf finished covering her bones.
Euphoria kept her eyes on the one called Da’Lynn, hoping her tiger
could prevent another magic attack. But all at once, the queen was
engulfed in flames. Euphoria screamed.

The fire cut abruptly, leaving a few figures burning.
Euphoria still stood, but she was unrecognizable. A small fire
still burned the remainder of her dress on her shoulder. The rest
of her body was charred black. Her hair was gone. Only the necklace
shone brightly around her neck.

Figaro had done his distraction job, and was
currently food for the beast. Euphoria turned and marched toward
her foe, each step leaving behind a carbon-y footprint.

Da’Lynn tossed the drained tiger to the side. As she
righted herself, a black hand grasped her neck. She tried to grab
forward and clutch what remained of Euphoria’s neck.

Wraith, you had the chance. Now die. I want your
power.
Euphoria croaked, squeezing and draining.

You are weak, puny imp. You are no match for
me.
Da’Lynn did the same, trying to draw this enemy’s
essence.

Many could not look away, as the body of the Opi’Chi
elf and the human queen melded together. Slowly, two became one. A
dwarf, who stared wide-eyed, could have sworn he heard the sound of
shattering glass before the merge was complete.

The creature, whatever it was, dropped to the ground
as if suddenly weakened by a bout of fatigue. All stared forward,
but no one approached the scene. Was it dead?

A hand moved. And then an arm. And then quickly, as
if gaining momentum, the whole creature stood.

Was this the birth of a god before them?

It stretched its arms skyward, making its height
almost ten feet. The creature standing there was definitely female.
An odd aura drifted out from it, so that anyone who saw wanted to
come near, to worship. But fear kept them at bay.

Turning to survey the crowd gathered, it smiled.
Power surged through its spirit. Naked except for a necklace, it
moved forward. The ground shook with a step, making the gathered
crowd move back. Even if the creature had not enchanted the crowd,
the necklace would have entranced the collected beings as it pulsed
rapidly.

One more step forward, and the crowd began to come to
its senses. Some races ran away. Some bent a knee to worship
it.

The battle still raged on farther in the market.
Smoke still billowed, filling the sky. No more petty human or weak
elf. It would reign supreme over all these underlings. The new
creation threw its head back and laughed.

***

Katrena lay on the floor. After bandaging up Taylon,
and seeing to a few cuts on Kara, they headed to the market. Kara
armed herself with the sword that had dispatched the dark elf.
Taylon selected a few items from the weapon wall. Both wanted to be
out of that place quickly.

Travel was rough for the ex-captain. He’d had neither
sleep nor food. The wolf bite swelled on his ankle, despite the
clean wrapping job Kara did. Even when the killing ended—Kara
needed to make sure the elf was dead—neither human spoke much. They
spoke with their eyes.

She remembered little about Katrena’s house. Warren
had freed her quickly. Kara grabbed a weapon immediately, ready to
stand against the dark elf. But to her surprise, she discovered
that Katrena was preoccupied, and that her flank was left open. It
was only later that she realized she had saved Taylon.

Warren rode in Kara’s pocket. He was the one that
suggested they should look for her friends at the market. Taylon,
still bewildered, followed.

“Euphoria. That thing is back again, isn’t it?” Kara
asked as she held back a branch for the soldier.

“Rose is trapped or forever gone.” His voice held a
heavy burden.

“We knew something was up. So now there are two
wraiths out there.”

“Two?” This made Taylon stop, his senses alert.

Kara also stopped. “You didn’t know?”

“But…how? Euphoria’s possessed by a demon. Some crazy
magical box. How can the wraith have come back…unless…the mirror
pieces!” He looked at Kara for confirmation.

“Ra’na told me….”

“Who?”

She pointed back in the direction of Katrena’s house.
“That one’s twin.”

Fear crept upon Taylon’s face. “You mean there’s
another one?”

“Ra’na’s with us. They found this boy….”

“Something’s coming!” Taylon drew his sword, as he
pointed through the forest. Plants parted ahead as something ran
through them. Kara instantly had her blade drawn. Whatever it was,
it was heading straight for them. Both humans backed away from the
path they had blazed, waiting for the creature to run through.

Leaves parted and Kara only saw pink, before Taylon
tackled it. A squeal rang the air as the creature put up a
struggle. To Kara, it looked like a pig with tusks and then the
bottom half was that of a goat, resembling a satyr.