Chapter 542: The Light of Darukesh

Chapter 542: The Light of Darukesh

Baelin reached out, grasping the air before him and speaking words of power.

His mana spread, moving around the ruins of Kaz-Mowangs palace, probing points in spacepoints that an abyssal knight could hide between. It grabbed something that tried to escape, wriggling like a fish caught in a net, but his magics held it in place and pulled.

Ezaliel was drawn from what seemed to be no more than empty air; the abyssal knight struggled, thrashing with his flaying beams. The faces trapped in his crystalline facets screamed in agony and terror.

But for all of Ezaliels struggles, Baelin's magic did not flinch.

The demon was exhausted, his strength spent, he had no hope of escaping the wizards grip, yet he still resisted. Was it pride, arrogance, delusion, utter conviction that he could never lose, or all four? Whatever it was had kept him from conceding to the very end.

And Baelin could almost respect him for that.

Almost.

Well, here we are, Ezaliel. The chancellor glowered. His cabal appeared, flanking him on both sides, while watching the doomed abyssal knight dispassionately. Well now, it seems power has strived against power, and yours was found wanting. Your threats were hollow. Your allies are dead. And all of your servants are either destroyed or have fled.

He gestured to Jaretha. Keep in mind that all of this destruction? It was your fault. From the moment you stuck your nose into my world, my school, and my domain, your life was forfeit.

Ezaliel made a noise dripping with hatred, and unfortunately for the demona hint of fear.

The sound was like a soothing balm to the wizard. You have only yourself to blame for your current circumstances. He said.

Leave me be. Ezaliel hissed. You have made your point. I am defeated.

Ezaliel, Baelin said. Come now, this is merely the beginning of your judgement day: after all that you have wrought upon my school, I am nowhere near finished making my point yet.

Sound reverberated in the air in a sonic assault, particles vibrating as one, reaching a frequency high enough to rupture mortal ears and flesh.

As for Ezaliel?

Glass hummed as though a wet finger ran along the rim of a fine crystal glass.

Then came a crack.

One that spread.

Spread until the abyssal knight was shrieking, parts of his crystalline form fractured, raining down on his burning city in shards.

That was merely my opening salvo for one as remorseless as you. Baelin flexed his hand, calling a vial of ink-black liquid to him. So, now that I have your full attention, sonic destruction is too clean for the likes of you. Perhaps we should engage in something moreexotic. Tell me, are you familiar with The Hungry Light of Darukesh?

Ezaliel shrieks kept him from forming intelligible words.

I do not think he can give you an answer right now, Magun-Obu said.

Astute observation. Baelin held up the bottle. Perhaps Ill tell him a story then. Once, there was a very powerful and now very dead archwizard. She sought to study the great void between stars. The deepest darkest reaches of space. And do you know what she found? Light: lonely light completely divorced from any other. Light that was tinged by madness. Hungry light.

He moved the bottle toward Ezaliel, who was now still. Of course, she brought it back with her to her world. A grave mistake, you see, for light is not an easy thing to trap, and in her haste, she had not researched the proper containment for it. As a result, she was quickly reduced to a soulless husk after it consumed her essence. Now the odd thing is that it can normally only feed on souls through their reflection, which it does by entering a reflective surface instead of bouncing off like most light would. It seeps inside the reflection, establishes a link with its victims soul and simply consumes it. I understand the process is quite painful.

Baelins gaze took in Ezaliel, his nostrils flaring. I do wonder, however, what would happen were the light to find its way into a crystalline creature? One abundant in reflections and a world of places for light to pass through and focus itself? Would you like to find out?

With a single word, he conjured a ward of darkness around Ezaliel, himself, and his cabal. As one, the five archwizards sheathed themselves in invisibility, leaving no chance for them to cast any reflection.

Speaking of that, now that our business is done, Anaxadar drained the goblet and placed it on a side table floating near him. What will each of you do now?

Well, I am still feeling a littlefrisky. Cra sucked back her wine. The ancient womans throat wriggled unnaturally as she gulped it down. There is a phantom king on an astral plane who has been making a nuisance of himself conquering other astral domains. Hes very quick to anger so Ive been thinking that visiting him would make for a very fun fight. Youre all welcome to join me.

As interesting as that sounds, I will have to pass, Anaxadar said. Three days is long for an emperor to be away from his throne, even by dragon reckoning. I must go back to ensure that my plans are progressing along.

As for me, there is a contract Ive entered into with a pantheon of water that I am close to being late in fulfilling, Magun-Obu said. PerhapsI should stop by and see my son on the way there.

Baelin gave him a nod of encouragement. The team that went into the palace of Kaz-Mowang is no doubt waiting for me. As soon as we are done here, I must go and connect with them.

Rivennams empire grows rapidly. Sanii reported. Its borders are approaching worlds I have interests in, which means its time for me to pay them a visit.

Ah, fair enough. I should really check in on my apprentice to see how hes progressing. Its been a while since I looked in on him. He must be quite old now and is likely running out of time. Cra said, looking at her longtime companions. But as usual, this has been fun, and we should do it againand soon.

Agreed. But we have always said the same during the last three hundred and forty two times we have met, Sanii said, a note of melancholy in her synthetic voice. We never make time to get together.

Indeed, we really should be less busy at our age, Baelin sighed. But at least you four will be seeing me quite a bit, individually, over the next year. I do have this favour to repay.

That is a silver lining. You have been too distant, old goat. Magun-Obu smiled. When we depart, I will inquire from my sources about Ezaliels master. Knowing his personality, he would probably thank us for pruning a weak subject, but one never knows.

Fair enough. Baelin finished his wine. Then until we meet again, my old friends. Farewell, until then.

The camp, fortunately, was mostly as Baelin had left it. His wards had not been pierced, and no weather systems had sent uprooted trees tumbling onto his work.

Even better, he found the camp now occupied.

Alex was sitting by the fire, roasting wild game, from the smell of it. Ezerak and Thundar were splitting wood on the other side of the camp, while Kyembe tended a very injured looking Ripp. Claygon stood guard at the camps edge

Baelin frowned.

Celsus and Guntile were nowhere to be seen, and Claygon was coated in iron, marring much of the golems body.

For a heartbeat, tension spiked when the group spied him coming through the brushhe saw most hands quickly reach for weaponsbefore they recognised him.

Their relief was audible.

You made it! Alex said cheerily. I thought we might be here for a week.

No, the quarry proved both stubborn and elusive, but we brought it down before it could waste that much of our time, Baelin said, a note of satisfaction in his voice. Now, then, tell mewere you all successful?

We absolutely were, Alex said.

Brilliant! Then let us return to the Whetstone tavern. I do believe payments are in order before we part ways.

Aye, and Id like to be taken to a priest. One with powerful divinities.

You deserve that and more, Ripp, Alex said emphatically. Then once thats all done, you and I have a lot to discuss, Baelin. A lot to discuss. But first

Alex looked at Kyembe, Ripp and Ezerak. lets get you back to the tavern and get you paid.

Ah yes. The word payment. Kyembe smiled. No matter how many times it is said, I never tire of hearing it.