The Cost of Betrayal (51 page)

“She will not be safe with us,” Haern whispered.

The wizard rubbed his eyes. “Are you sure we cannot leave her here alone for an hour?”

The elf shook her head, adamant. “I will stay before I leave her.”

“But your magic could decide…oh blast it.” Tarlak glanced about, his mind frantic. “Brug,” he suddenly decided. “Stay and the guard the child.”

“Me? I’m no durn babysitter.”

Aurelia gave him a pleading look, and it didn’t take long for him to melt.

“Please, Brug?” she said. “I will feel much better.”

He kicked his foot and caved. “Fine. Just don’t have too much fun without me.”

With that, the gang headed out into the dark. Rain and wind swept the land.

“The sky was clear when we retired,” Aurelia said, her voice shouting above the thunder. Tarlak nodded, feeling his stomach sink.

“Why did you leave Brug behind?” Harruq asked as his wife opened a magical portal to the city.

“Because he’s stubborn and cranky, the perfect person to watch her,” the wizard shouted. “That, and he’s our worst fighter.”

The half-orc laughed, but not much. The way his wife had looked when she awoke, he was starting to wonder if he would have preferred the best to remain at his daughter’s side. Then the blue portal ripped open, a swirling passage to the city. They all entered, one after another. When Aurelia went in last, the portal swirled closed, its blue light fading. The entrance to the tower fell to darkness.

And in the darkness, something stirred.

25

T
he portal opened beside the fountain that graced Veldaren’s center. The sudden rain had caused the basin to overflow, so the Eschaton stepped out into heavy mud. Already their clothes were soaked to the bone.

“Where is our quarry?” Lathaar asked, glancing every direction.

“When they sent for us, it was in the northern quarter,” Tarlak said. “Stay sharp, and look for guards.”

Lathaar led the way, a longsword in his right hand, a shortsword in the other. Each one glowed a soft blue-white. The light softened their fears and anxieties, banishing them like they did the darkness. Because of such a beacon, it was not long before a guard in chainmail spotted them and came running.

“Thank Ashhur you’re here,” the man shouted. His face was bloodied, and he kept wiping the rain from his eyes. “We tried cornering it against the wall, but it blew right through us like we were twigs and straw.”

“What is it?” Tarlak asked. “What are we fighting?”

“He’s a giant,” the guard replied. “Orc blood, and fighting like a crazed demon. Watched him kill twenty like nothing, and took a priest of Ashhur to even make ‘em wince.”

“Lead us there,” Lathaar ordered. The guard bowed.

“Follow me,” he shouted. He turned and ran north, following the main road before ducking down a maze of empty streets. The sound of steel against steel rang through the thunder.

“He appeared out of nowhere,” the soldier explained, glancing back to make sure they were following. “Don’t know how he got in, the gate guards saw nothing, but then… oh shit, that’s Darren.”

Up ahead, a soldier had staggered toward them, his left arm clutching his chest. His right arm was gone. Their guide ran ahead, shouting his friend’s name.

“Wait!” Lathaar shouted, chasing after him. A behemoth in rotting flesh smashed out of the alleyway, a giant sword held in its only hand. The sword swooped in a wide arc, slicing both guards at the waist. They fell, soaking the muddying earth with blood. A thick, guttural roar bellowed from the monster.

“What is that,” Delysia asked, her hand over her mouth. Tarlak’s eyes narrowed in recognition. Haern clanged his sabers together, remembering his lone encounter long ago with that giant half-orc.

“It’s Karnryk,” the assassin whispered. “Except he’s had his face and arm ripped off…”

“Bring him down,” Tarlak ordered. Fire erupted about his hands. “And do it fast.”

Karnryk spotted their ensemble, raised his weapon high, and charged. Only Lathaar stood his ground, not fearing the half-orc’s giant blade. He had faced larger, and that blade had been consumed in fire and wielded by an ancient demon of the abyss. He crossed his glowing swords into an ‘X’ and accepted the blow. Energy crackled, and the sound of the collision sundered the air. Lathaar staggered back, his arms numb.

“He hits like a demon,” the paladin gasped.

“You would know,” Tarlak said. A fireball leapt off his hands, straight for Karnryk’s chest. In response, the half-orc put his fist before his face and sucked the magic into his glowing hand.

“That’s not good,” the wizard said moments before the fireball flew straight back at them. The party scattered as the fire exploded. Haern scooped Aurelia into his arms just before the impact, leaping to a side alley.

“To the tower,” Haern whispered to her.

“Why, what is wrong?” she asked.

“Karnryk vanished looking for Tessanna,” he explained, glancing back toward the fight. “Can you not see his flesh? He is dead, and imbued with strength unholy. One of the necromancers
commands
him, Aurelia!”

“Aullienna,” the elf gasped. Her haunting dream returned in full strength.

“Go,” Haern whispered. “Take Harruq if you must.” The assassin dashed back into the street. The elf debated, in the end choosing to leave her husband behind. They were acting on a hunch, while the threat in Veldaren was most definitely real. Besides, her magic would do little good. The returned fireball proved that.

She closed her eyes and summoned a portal back to the tower. Her heart in her throat, she stepped through.

L
eave me as a durn babysitter,” Brug grumbled, a mug of ale in his hand. He sat at the table, wallowing in the light of a lone torch upon the wall. Five other mugs lay next to him, all empty. “When someone’s got to do grunt work, it’s always Brug, do this. Brug, do that. Make this, make that. Screw all of ya.”

He downed the sixth mug, spilling on his beard about as much as he drank. A burp marked the cup’s return to the table.

Knock.

A single rap on the door, but that was all it took. Any semblance of drunkenness vanished from him. Brug stood, a punch dagger in each fist.

“Who’s there?” he asked. No voice answered. He approached, low and battle ready. Outside, the wind howled, carrying voices.

Go away,
they said, making him shake his head as if to scatter some strange mirage.
Go away, and do not come back. It is not safe. Not safe. Not safe.

“Shuddup, I ain’t no coward,” he said. “Whoever’s out there, you better have more up your sleeve than that.”

“I do,” Qurrah suddenly hissed into his ear. Brug whirled, stabbing out, but he found only an illusion to eviscerate. The presence of Qurrah scattered like butterflies made of shadows, each swarming to a separate corner of the room.

“What the abyss?” he said, circling, looking for the intruder. But the intruder wasn’t in. Not yet. The doors to the tower burst open. In rushed Qurrah, latching onto the man’s wrist. Ice flooded his arm, numbing his entire right side. Brug punched with his other arm. His dagger shattered against some unseen barrier before the half-orc’s chest.

“No magical enchantments on your own blades?” Qurrah said. “You idiot.”

Brug gasped as Qurrah’s other hand clutched his face, his fingers locked tight. Image after image of despair and death swarmed into his mind. His eyes rolled back, he gasped a deep sigh, and then he fell and moved no more.

“Sleep well,” Qurrah said. “I have a bedtime story to read.”

The half-orc climbed the stairs, a gleaming tome of blood and nightmares in his hands.

I
got him!” Harruq shouted, meeting Karnryk’s rush head on. The enchantments on his swords were strong, and his muscles like those of an ox. Like Lathaar, he tried blocking the blow with both swords. Like Lathaar, he flew back, unable to meet such strength head-to-head. A bolt of ice flew from Tarlak, only to be batted away as if it were a pebble.

“Keep him distracted,” Haern whispered to them. He lunged straight for the raging undead monster. Karnryk swung his sword in an upward arc, one that would have torn Haern from hip to shoulder. The magic of his ring teleported him behind the warrior, safe from harm. Harruq charged, following the orders of his teacher. He bellowed, lashing out at exposed skin. When the greatsword came swinging in, he dove to safety.

“His head,” Lathaar screamed as Haern flew in from behind. “Stab for his head!”

Haern had a different plan in mind. His knees slammed between the half-orc’s shoulders, followed by each saber stabbing at the collarbone connected to the lone remaining arm. Karnryk lurched forward, steel biting into his rotted flesh. The assassin pried, feeling muscle tearing and the bone beginning to pop. Karnryk twisted this way and that, like a bull tossing a rider. Twice he slammed his back against a building, splintering wood. Haern dropped after the second hit, all breath blasted from his lungs. One of his sabers remained embedded, while the other fell beside his limp form.

“Haern!” Delysia cried. She dashed over, completely ignoring the behemoth that towered above him. Lathaar chased after, for Karnryk had turned and raised his sword to finish off the dangerous man.

“Elholad!” he cried, sheathing his shortsword and grasping his longsword with both hands. The blue-light flared. The light scattered the darkness. The blade all but vanished, becoming a glowing weapon of holy light.

Lathaar crossed the distance in the single stroke of a lightning bolt. The Elholad intercepted the killing blow. Lathaar’s shoulders jarred, his hands ached, but the blade did not break, nor did it falter.

“Get back!” Lathaar screamed, shoving forward one of his hands. Karnryk was undead, and while dark paladins could compel undead to their will, paladins of Ashhur could command their retreat. Lathaar’s will was strong, his faith hardened and tested. When the invisible power rolled off him, Karnryk staggered as if slammed by a battering ram.

Lathaar gave him no reprieve. He took to his feet, slashing in with his mystical blade. Karnryk blocked once, twice, each time showering sparks and light throughout the rain. Lightning struck, and in the flicker, he glanced back at the sight of Delysia hunched over the fallen assassin. Healing light enveloped her hands.