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“She’s somewhere far from here,” he spat, forcing the words through his lips and fighting to keep control over what he said. “She’s safe and out of your reach.”
“On the contrary, I think she must be very near,” Ba
Ba
Gaelin struggled to escape the paralysis that gripped his limbs. Ba
And somewhere, in a still place in the depths of his soul, a voice spoke out in protest. You are the Mhor. Asmall but bright flame ignited in his heart, a white point of light that suddenly blazed forward like a bonfire, racing through his limbs and overwhelming the wizard’s malignant dolor. The shadows that imprisoned Gaelin’s mind fled into the night, dissipating into ash as the power contained in his blood ignited in a blaze of glory.
As the staff came near his face, the purple radiance searing his eyes, he roared in protest and brought up his sword to block the killing blow. The clean highland blade met the sorcerer’s dire assault, and turned it aside with an angry clang of iron on steel. “No!” Gaelin shouted, surging up from his knees. He recovered from his parry and lashed out in a low, wicked cut that Ba
Ba
Gaelin didn’t look around. He trusted Erin and his soldiers had handled the rest of the guardsmen. He pressed his attack recklessly, his vision suffused with a glorious brilliance and the roaring of his blood in his ears nothing more than a sweet whisper of encouragement. Reversing his attack, he struck Ba
In desperation, Ba
Silver light flared and battled with purple fire, transfixing the wizard on an arcing bolt of energy. Ba
Gaelin wrenched the blade from Ba
Gaelin looked up and discovered that only a few of the Iron Guards still stood. Bull was flailing away with his great hamme r, holding them at bay as he guarded Gaelin’s back. From the shadows of the hillside, a crossbow sang, and one of the Ghoerans fell with a bolt wedged in the visor of his helmet. That decided the matter for the surviving guards. They took to their heels to escape the clearing, fleeing into the darkness. Briefly, Gaelin wondered where they thought they were going – without Ba
Erin emerged from the woods on the lip of the hollow, carrying a crossbow on one hip, her slender rapier in the other hand. One shoulder bled freely from a stab wound, but a fierce light burned in her eyes. There was no sign of the illusory wolf – she must have released the spell after chasing off most of the Ghoerans. Her eyes flicked over Gaelin, and relief flooded her face when she saw that he hadn’t been hurt. “Is that all of them?” she asked, nodding at the retreating Iron Guards.
“I think so. Are you all right? You’ve been wounded.”
Erin sheathed her rapier, but kept her crossbow handy. She tore a strip of cloth from her cloak hem and held it to her shoulder. “I’ll be fine, although I’ll have you know I went years between stabbings or puncturings before I met you.”
Her lighthearted banter sank. “I’m afraid the other guardsmen weren’t as lucky.”
“Boeric, too?” Gaelin scowled and turned away.
“Not quite, Mhor Gaelin.” Boeric appeared at the edge of the clearing, limping, his sword dripping red for nearly half its length. “Orel and Ciele fell in the fighting under the trees, but I’ll live to see another day.” He nodded at Erin. “Your spell gave us the victory, Lady Erin.”
Erin inclined her head in thanks, and turned to Gaelin. “I thought I saw you cut down Ba
“I did. I suspect he’ll trouble us no more.” Gaelin turned and glanced at where the wizard had fallen. He started to turn away, and then looked back again, with an oath.
Ba
“Could he have escaped somehow?” Erin asked quietly.
“If he did, I don’t know how,” Gaelin replied. They commandeered several of the Ghoeran horses, lifting the fallen guardsmen over the saddles, and set out for the place where they’d left Seriene and Ilwyn. I hope she’s found the doorway again, Gaelin thought. I’ve seen enough of this place for now.
He took one last look at the black circle of ancient, leaning stones, and shuddered. Whatever this place had once been, it had been bathed in blood this day. He resolved to return and raze the place, even if it meant another journey into the Shadow. He didn’t like the idea of a place like Caer Duirga left to itself in the gloom and darkness.