Book 3: Chapter 15

Book 3: Chapter 15

Dodging past a heavy strike, Captain Fernek could feel the wind stirring over his head as the greater undead's fist whistled past his ear. His sword hacked towards the monster's leg, aiming for a wound he had already created. However, he was forced to abandon the strike at the last moment, jumping backward as a bony spine stabbed towards his side. His breath came in great gasps as he tried to find secure footing, but the grass had been trampled into mud and soaked by rain, causing him to slip and slide precariously.

Unable to maintain his balance, he fell to one knee as another of the flesh golems loomed over him. A sense of despair filled his heart as he lifted his sword to try to block the strike, the blow that was coming. He caught sight of the faint glimmer of silver that surrounded his arms. The armor that had been so bright at first was now a mere suggestion of itself, and he knew that even if he managed to block this blow, the next one would kill him. He had fought for over forty-five minutes, but was now too exhausted to move, unable to muster the energy needed to escape back to the gate. He had no idea what was keeping him here, as his reason kept screaming at him to flee. But there was something in his heart that wouldn't let him, a deep, driving compulsion that kept him here, struggling in this hopeless battle.

Behind him, the gate still stood, though many of the guards and a few of the citizens had fallen to the claws and teeth of the zombies. Their companions didn't waver, standing firm in the face of the onrushing horde. There had been no reinforcement, and the strength of the defenders was starting to dwindle. All Captain Fernek could do was keep the greater undead at bay, but now he was done. Mustering the dregs of his strength, he let out a shout and lunged forward, hoping to at least deal some damage before he was defeated. Just when he was bracing to take the greater undead's blow, he heard another loud shout, and a silver flash ripped through the monster's fist, throwing it off course. His sword stabbed deep into the unprotected side of the flesh golem, and he had the wherewithal to rip it free, stumbling to the side so he didn't get crushed under the bulk of the monster.

The bolt that had torn through the flesh golem's hand carried fire with it, burning its way up the creature's arm towards its chest. Thrashing violently, the flesh golem was clearly in tremendous pain, and with a roar gripped its arm at the shoulder and tore it off its body completely, spewing black blood everywhere. Still stumbling, Captain Fernek tried to summon the last dregs of energy from his soul spark to block the spray of blood, but at the last moment his soul spark sputtered and dimmed completely. He was out of energy. Just before the spray of blood splattered all over him, a large figure stepped in the way, blocking the spray with a shield. A heavy hand grabbed the back of his jacket, and in the next moment Captain Fernek found himself flying through the air and tumbling into the mud a dozen feet away. A large man in heavy armor with a shield and a sword stood where he had been a moment before. Captain Fernek didn't recognize him in the confusion, but a moment later a woman with a bow helped him to his feet.

"Get back to the gate," she said. "We'll handle it from here."

Captain Fernek stumbled back toward the gate and the woman turned and loosed another arrow, its tip gleaming with bright light. This one landed in the flesh golem's throat, carving a deep hole that burst into silver flames.

"I've got this one. Deal with the other one, Helger yelled toward Maximus, who had just landed a strike that nearly severed the flesh golem's leg.

"Got it," he said, turning and charging toward the spike-covered, greater undead.

He slammed into the creature with his shield, snapping two of the bony blades that extended from its arms and chopping down with his glowing sword. In the distance, Leff sent another bolt screaming through the air to hit the other flesh golem in the shoulder.

"These blessed weapons work a treat," he shouted, rapidly reloading his crossbow.

Maximus, who had just shoved the blade of his sword through the chest of the spiked greater undead, kicked the monster's burning body to the side.

"That they do," he said. "This would be a real pain without them. Did you see where that necromancer went?"

Leff, who was scanning the battlefield, gestured north.

"They're starting to shift north again. Do we have anybody up there to stop them?"

As she continued to send her minions forward, Garrett struck upon a fun idea and concentrated his power. He was currently using Observe the Dream to monitor the fight, and it took but a thought to cast Illusory Dream, causing a figure to form among the flower ghouls.

Sensing the accumulation of mental energy, the necromancer stared sharply down the passage as a man stepped out from behind the corner. He was dressed strangely in a coat and vest, the likes of which she had never seen. A funny hat sat on his head, round on top, with a small brim around it. But what caught her attention was the mask on his face, whose flower motif seemed to echo the flower heads of the ghouls she faced.

Walking forward, as if he were out on a casual stroll, the man snapped his fingers, and the flower ghouls stopped their advance. Sensing that he wanted to talk, and curious about this man who got in her way, the necromancer lifted her staff, and chanted a short phrase, causing all of the zombies to fall back around her. Controlling the illusion, Garrett stepped forward and lifted his hat, tipping it slightly.

"My name is Geller," he said with a small smile, "Pleasure to make your acquaintance."

"Is it?" she hissed, clearly suspicious of this man who had just appeared in the middle of the tunnel.

"Why are you getting in our way?" she demanded, staring at Garrett through narrowed eyes.

"In your way?" he asked, his voice sounding surprised. "You come stomping through my territory with a horde of undead, and you expect me to simply clear the way? I don't think so."

A deep frown flickered across the necromancer's face, and her eyes turned to the flower ghouls that surrounded Garrett. After a moment of silence, her frown turned into a sneer, and she lifted her staff.

"Are you one of the minions of the Klein family?"

Shaking his head, Garrett walked forward, causing her to take a wary step back. He stopped when he was about 20 feet away, and held up his empty hands, as if saying that he meant no harm.

"I'm no one's minion," he said, his tone clearly amused. "What about you? I can only assume that you're one of the Dark Hand and a servant of Agma-Yoth."

A hiss escaped the necromancer's lips at the sound of her master's name, and she quickly made a sign.

"Do not profane the master's name with your lips," she said, her eyes narrowed into a dangerous glare. "Remove yourself from our way, or you will be treated as an enemy."

Shaking his head, Garrett jerked a thumb at the flower ghouls.

"It's unlikely that you're going to be able to get through them," he said, "even if I step aside. And if I don't, then your ill-fated mission will end right here. Rather than treat me as an enemy, why not see if we can come to some sort of agreement? You undoubtedly have much of value to offer, while I have exactly what you need, the ability to access the surface through these tunnels. Shall we parley?"