Chapter 101: A Shot in the Dark

Chapter 101: A Shot in the Dark

In the instant that they passed through the stone, the Paragon was almost wrenched free of Jordans grasp as his hand and mind slackened. Trying to teleport through a solid object was the surest way to make sure they never found a body, though it was possible for a mage that was skilled or powerful enough. His instructor, Magus Gershwile, had joked more than once about that grim fate while he and his classmates had struggled to send rats from where they sat to the empty cage across the room that had waited for them.

It had taken a week before any of the rats that had managed to disappear without vanishing in a spray of blood to reappear on the far side of the room, alive and well, and there hadnt been a wall in the way then. That had been years ago, of course, and Jordan had improved since then, but had he improved enough to fling them from the depths of darkness back into the light?

It was unlikely. Even as they soared through the emptiness between spaces, he could feel the hands of evil clawing at them and trying to drag them back to where they had departed.

Teleportation was an instantaneous thing. Done correctly, one would vanish in one spot and instantaneously appear in another, though it would always seem to the person in transit that seconds or minutes had passed. In fact, it was widely held that the longer it felt like it took, the closer one had come to the edge and that those who never reappeared simply stayed stuck in that timeless moment forever.

Jordan considered that entirely possible that that was the case here as he swallowed hard and tried to stay focused on their destination. Even being lost in the dark forever would be a kindlier fate than being raised as the servant of a monster, though, so he didnt regret what hed done for a single moment.

There was no denying that the faster he moved and the harder he strove, the further his destination moved from him. That thought was enough to bring him slowly to a halt as he drifted there, somewhere above the ground but far from the muddy field his magic had aimed for. He could feel the two of them beginning to freeze solid there, and that might have become an actual eternity were it not for the single silver thread that suddenly penetrated the endless dark.

The light of the moon would have been unable to breach the veil of unnatural darkness that shrouded this place had he stood in the real world. Here, though, past the boundaries of the world, the strange magic that caused that strange effect apparently didnt apply, and the goddess of magic still reigned supreme.

That she had taken pity on him was not entirely a surprise; it happened sometimes in the stories. He only wondered if shed done so to save the mage who was in danger or the servant of another god. Lunaris was as merciful as she was mysterious, and her ways were never entirely understood, even by her devotees. Though most of the world saw her only as the guardian mother who lit up the night for the world, she was the patron god of mages, too. As he gripped the thread and pulled himself forward again, Jordan uttered a prayer of silent thanks for her intercession.

Suddenly, time started again, and seconds later, they found themselves in a heap of tangled limbs in a dark, snow-covered field. It was close to where hed been aiming, probably, but that didnt tell Jordan a lot. Even with Brother Faerbars glowing blade radiating outward, he couldnt see the road.

While Jordan continued to search for some sign of where they should flee, the paladin lifted him up by the scruff of his collar and shook the mage like a rag doll.

You traitorous viper! he said coldly, even though his eyes burned with fire, You left all of those men to die!

Th-they already dead Jordan gasped, barely able to speak. Mustflee

We were slaughtering the devils by the score! the Paragon said, raising his sword threateningly. Theres still time to regroup. Still time! Take us back at once, or Ill have no further use for you.

But for the baby, he would have left them both, but if Markez had a weakness, it was that. How could he ever hope to leave a defenseless infant behind?

So, he guided the boat toward the far shore and ordered his crew to start spilling wind from the sail so he could have a closer look at these two and decide what it was he should do about them. Fortunately, spilling wind from a sail was the only order that the sailors of this ship were any good at.

Youre a strange couple of parents, Markez called to the two men on shore as they pulled up close. Im not sure I can let such dangerous strangers come aboard my vessel, though!

I understand that you are nervous, sir, the young man with robes said very politely, I would do no less in these trying times. But we can be of help to you in your darkest hour, as it were.

Markez didnt laugh at the joke. Instead, he set his chin and turned to Mr. Light, And whos this then? Whats with the light show? I havent seen a single Siddrimite since your god was plucked from the sky!

Markez watched the man tense, and for a moment, he thought that the knight would draw his sword, but the man resisted, showing him how close to the mark hed gotten.

We are in a great war for the soul of the world, the knight said with evident exhaustion, and it shames me to say we are losing.

So then, why do you want on my boat? Markez asked, confused.

I dont, the man declared, shocking his companion. Take these two and get as far from this evil place as you can, I will

You cant be serious! the younger man yelled at the older one. They clearly hadnt thought this through at all. They will end you.

Its where I belong, The Templar said simply. Only I can slay this foul beast. That is what this power is for to end

That was when the thing rose from the dark, boiling waters just ahead of the ship. The children screamed and fled aft, but Markez could only look at the thing in awe. It was the most horrific thing that he was ever likely to see, from the tips of the broken swords that made up its rusted maw to the corpse of the woman that was chained inside of the rib cage where its heart should have been if it was alive.

Just seeing that was enough to shave years of his life, and all he could do was stand there petrified while the two strangers sprung into action.