Shadow Cursed Page 17

  Allister was getting infuriated by the constant censure of his ideas by General Esperanza but the commander knew the ideas would go against Esperanza's moral fibre and had tried to dissuade Allister from making the suggestions. Allister was beginning to turn his anger on the commander in frustration so it was probably a good idea to make himself scarce for a while.

  The General Allister was also pushing the commander to reveal the wand to Esperanza as a show of power but the commander knew that it would raise too many questions. The commander’s methods would be scrutinized by Esperanza and false information had not been created yet to hide his true experiments. More importantly they needed powerful allies before they could make any move against Esperanza.

  He ran his hand over the smooth metal wand and thought of the experiments he would be able to do away from prying eyes.

  CHAPTER 50

  Theodinis

  Theodinis was growing frustrated with his host. The creature refused to bow before his might and every now and then regained control of its body in an attempt to kill itself. The only thing stopping the wraithlord from draining Cane’s body dry was the lack of another host to move into.

  Cane had long since stopped fearing the wraithlord or death which was why Theodinis was having such difficulty retaining hold of the body without power to draw on.

  Theodinis could feel Cane moving through its memories searching for a way to defeat the wraithlord.

  The wraithlord was suddenly blind and dumb as Cane grabbed control again. They fought for minutes to keep the upper hand and when the wraithlord finally regained control he found a rock clutched in one hand with blood staining it, the pain hit the Theodinis a moment later and he dropped the rock to clutch his head.

  That’s the final straw, thought Theodinis as he began to drain the life out of Canes body, slowly to allow the host one more chance of fear, but it never came.

  An elf stepped out from behind a rock staring at the wraithlord in fear. Cane realised the danger to the elf and grabbed control of his body again. Somehow Cane managed to snare the wraithlord, preventing it from slipping out of his failing body.

  For the second time in its long life Theodinis was helpless as memories of a time before freedom filled the wraithlord with terror. The long suffering returned in all its nightmarish reality. The cries of terror and fear no longer came from its victim but from itself.

  In the darkness of Cane’s mind Theodinis could see the outline of Cane projected before him. He said, “I will not let you have her, wraith.”

  The wraithlord sprang towards Cane sinking claws and teeth into him. They struggled until Theodinis realized that Cane was drawing him deeper into the darkness. The wraithlord tried to rip free but while blood and flesh flew from Cane’s image it reformed a moment later.

  “I’m taking you down with me wraith, I’ll drown you in the darkness with the last of my strength even if it destroys my soul,” said Cane tightening his grip.

  Theodinis tried the only tactic left in his arsenal and dug deeply into Cane’s mind for some horror or terror. He didn’t have to go far to find the memory of hopelessness. The guilt was refreshing after days trapped in Cane’s body. The wraithlord brought the memories flooding back in a torrent and Cane loosened his grip ever so slightly. The faces of dwarven children were paraded in front of Cane, twisted and torn by the grenade blast. Then hundreds of broken dwarven bodies appeared surrounding Cane.

  At last Canes let go as grief consumed him. Theodinis enjoying the pain began to elaborate the images to torture Cane even more. The wraithlord sneered and said, “Fool, darkness cannot kill me, it made me what I am.”

  “Good to know,” said a women’s voice from behind the Theodinis a moment before blinding light filled everything driving shadows away and burning into the wraithlord from every direction.

  Theodinis tried to flee but the light was everywhere destroying him. “I’ll find my way back, elf, and I’ll take my vengeance,” screamed the wraithlord.

  Amelia moved towards Cane and touched him gently. His pain filled face slackened and the image disappeared cutting off the last energy source keeping the wraithlord together. “You may succeed in finding a way back but I’ll be ready for you.”

  As the last shreds of the wraithlord disintegrated it let out a final scream of pain.

  Its shattered remnants drifted in the void until a summoning spell drew it together again.

  In a cavern beneath the earth Theodinis came together in a painful swirling of parts. Without the strength to take form he lay as a pool of shadow before the other wraithlords.

  “I send two out into the world to free us and they both return beaten. No matter, the way is clear before us and this time we will cut the heads off our enemies before they know we are loose. Slayers you know your targets, go now.” To the rest the Darklord commanded, “Find out what this useless thing learnt of the surface, then destroy it.”

  Theodinis tried to move but the others surrounded him and began to strip his memories away painfully as they consumed him. His last thought was of the vengeance he would never have.

  CHAPTER 51

  Amelia

  Amelia tended the human’s wounds with her awakened powers, healing the cuts with a brush of her hands and easing the bruising with gentle pressure. The wraithlord had left a taint on the man’s memories but over time he would forget. She had seen the images the wraithlord created of piles of dead dwarves. She had searched his memories and seen through his eyes.

  Laisarus had decided to cut Cane off in the valley to question him, but when she had felt the darkness within him she had acted impulsively and stepped out sooner than she was supposed to. When she had seen the pain in his eyes turn to desperation her heart had broken, she had rushed to support him when he collapsed and held him like a child as his body shook with an inner struggle. She had felt the key to her power turn within her and suddenly her training finally made sense.

  Amelia slid silently into the Cane’s mind to find him grappling with the wraithlord, she could hear the echoes of his voice around her. “I will not let you have her, wraith.” But then the wraithlord had the upper hand and began torturing him with his own memories.

  Words came back to her as the wraithlord proclaimed, “Fool, darkness cannot kill me, it made me what I am.” She had recognised a piece of the gatekeeper’s prophesy, “Only light can banish darkness”.

  She raised her arms and said, “Good to know,” and filled the darkness with light.

  Now as Cane lay peacefully asleep in her arms, she brushed some hair away from his eyes and he stirred beneath her fingers. Blood still caked the side of his head where he had tried vainly to kill himself with a rock and she began to wipe it gently away with a wet cloth.

  Beneath his breath Carthus recited the Gatekeepers’ prophesy, “Only light can banish darkness, only love can heal, only through forgiveness will he find love and only through love will we survive.”

  CHAPTER 52

  Magdar

  Magdar watched his brother swinging the golden axe in deadly arcs until the dweller fled, mortally wounded. He could feel the damage inside his own body where the claws had crushed him without mercy. He knew no healer could save him in time.

  Magdar reached out to stop his brother from pursuing the creature in his battle madness.

  Instantly Dagar was back to his old self. Magdar smiled, “The blood runs true in you brother. I wish I could be with you in the battles to come, but I am already dead.”

  Dagar began to weep but Magdar grabbed him with his remaining strength and said, “You must be a prince now and not a brother. Take the gates and weapons to our people and find a way to save them. Mourn me when they are safe.”

  “Magdar, it should have been me not you,” said Dagar wiping tears from his eyes.

  “Brother, don’t be a fool. The axe was meant for you, I felt it the moment I picked it up. I believe in my heart that it is a gift from the Allfather.”

  “Brother, I w
ould gladly shatter this axe into a thousand pieces if it would make you whole again.”

  “I know, but when the Allfather gives you a gift he means for you to use it. Now help me to my feet, I wish to have one more fight before I die,” said Magdar with strength that belied his injuries.

  Dagar helped his brother stand and found a weapon for him to use.

  “Go brother, the men are ready and I feel the wraithlord returning,” commanded his brother.

  Dagar hesitated a moment then went to help lift a gate piece with the others. As they reached the armoury entrance Dagar heard his brother scream and his heart sank. He made his mind up to take the men safely to his people but he would not return to his father with the news of his brother’s death.

  CHAPTER 53

  Commander

  The passage was rough with the changing season making the swell a nightmare to navigate.

  The commander finally spotted a climbable cliff face after hours on the churning sea.

  The youngest apprentice scaled the cliff and when he reached the top he lowered a rope for the others to climb up.

  The commander felt a lot better when he was back on solid ground and finally able to try out the wand’s full power. Only one apprentice remained behind in the boat to keep it away from the cliff while the commander led the others with him to a clearing as the sun began to set.

  While the apprentices watched the tree line for danger, the commander began with a series of the commonly used shaman powers. First he created a cloud of green acid gas and used his modifications to guide it in a zigzag pattern before striking a tree to test his ability to control its path. The acid cloud moved fluidly with every direction he gave it and when it hit the tree it burnt quickly through the wood releasing plumes of smoke into the air.

  Next he tried a simple lightning strike. The hairs on his arm rose as the power raced through the air and he was blind for a few seconds before be could see the extent of the damage. The target, a thick oak, was shattered where the bolt had hit and tongues of flame licked at the stump. Checking the runes he had designed to measure the power still remaining in the wand he decided to try his modified lightning strike.

  This time he closed his eyes at the last moment sparing himself most of the blinding light. The branches of lightning hit the three trees he had targeted sending each one crashing to the ground. He felt the wand buck in his hand as the power arched from it.

  Fire began to lick the edge of the forest. The commander made a mental note of the power drain, then tried a rune set completely of his own creation. His variation was based on the shamans’ method of drawing power from blood. His body felt as if it were turning inside out as the runes activated and summoned power to the crystal from the ground. The grass at his feet withered and died, the scrub bushes became brittle and turned to powder in the wind. The power drain spread out in an even circle of devastating power.

  His apprentices moved to a safer distance as the life was drained from the earth around the commander. A tree touched by the circle cracked loudly several times turning black from the base upwards. Leaves began to fall from the tree increasing in volume until the entire tree was bare. With one last crack the tree toppled over and when it hit the ground it exploded into dust and chunks of dry wood.

  The commander collapsed to the ground and saw his hand aging before his eyes. He released the spell but his hand remained unchanged. Reacting in fear he activated the runes he had designed to channel power into the user. He could feel the power pouring into his body, flowing in his veins - he felt he could almost reach out and touch it. He tried and felt the magic ripple with his thoughts. He could feel the matter of his body move out of phase with reality as the power continued to pour in. His body regained its youthful strength and wrinkles disappearing from his skin making him younger than when he had entered the clearing.

  When he used up the last of the power he felt his body phase back and become solid again.

  An apprentice approached and seeing the change in the commander he dropped to his knees. The commander felt something flare into being, a tendril of power joining the apprentice to him. He followed the tendril to the man and could feel a flow of power being channelled to him by the faith of his apprentice. A small trickle of magic filled the vast emptiness that he had used up.

  Before he could investigate any further he heard the sounds of goblins crashing through the forest.

  Deciding that the wand had been tested enough for the day he urged the apprentice to his feet and they ran for the safety of the boat. The commander’s heart beat faster when he realised that the metal wand in his hand had become rusty and brittle.

  CHAPTER 54

  Tasha

  Tasha dreamt that she was a shattered mirror drifting in the darkness feeling every collision between the pieces like a blade driven into her flesh. The darkness receded and a pair of delicate hands began to put her back together. Jagged edges melded together as they joined and Tasha felt relief as the pain faded. When she could finally move she brought her hand to her face and screamed.

  She awoke in her room struggling to rise out of her bed as the nightmare image of her crystal hand faded from her mind.

  Doctor Malone crossed the room as her energy ran out and she collapsed back on her bed. He checked her pulse and her temperature as Tasha tried to form words but the doctor shushed her and carried on running routine checks until he was satisfied she was okay.

  Eventually she managed to say through her dry throat, “Water.”

  Malone disappeared from Tasha’s sight and returned with water a few minutes later.

  She sipped the water at first but her thirst overcame her and she tried to gulp too much down and started to cough. The doctor pulled the glass away and lifted her forward so he could hit her on the back until she could breathe again.

  Finally he spoke, “You’ve been asleep for two days Natasha.”

  “What happened?” she croaked.

  “When we found you unconscious we immediately quarantined this area, but after running tests we found nothing viral or bacterial. We don’t know what happened but there’s something you should see.”

  “What?” she asked.

  He lifted a mirror in front of her face and at first she could only see her dishevelled hair and pale face. She moved her hand to brush the hair out of her eyes and was about to ask him what he meant when her finger ran over something hard and smooth on her forehead.

  Her blood ran cold as she moved aside the hair and saw a diamond shaped crystal embedded in the centre of her forehead. She started scratching at it frantically but the doctor easily grabbed her hands and held them still until her panic passed.

  “Calm down Tasha. We’ve run tests on those crystals of yours and they are biologically harmless. Whatever happened to the crystal won’t kill you.”

  She calmed herself and the doctor released her hands. She lifted the mirror herself to look at the crystal. Blood was forming by the scratch marks and she wished she could undo the damage she had done in panic. The crystal glowed faintly and the cuts seemed to close by themselves. The doctor was gathering his equipment from her table and didn’t notice.

  She dipped her fingers in the glass of water and used it to clean around the small crystal. The blood disappeared revealing smooth undamaged skin.

  She put the mirror down and tried to get off the bed. Malone tried to stop her, “You need food and rest before you’ll be able to move around again. We haven’t been able to feed you anything but soup while you were out.”

  When her feet touched the ground they began to tingle and she could feel a flow of energy slowly working its way through her body to the crystal in her head.

  She drew on the power and it filled her muscles with energy. She felt her body awaken with new found strength and the doctor stepped away as her colour returned before his eyes.

  She thanked him for looking after her and sent him away to get her some food.

  Alone she sat and stared into t
he mirror at the crystal, it was smaller than the crystal she had held in her hand but she felt that it was the same one. She opened the senses the crystal had unlocked and wasn’t surprised that it came easily to her.

  She drew into herself and watched the flow of blood moving through her arms and legs. Feeling more powerful than ever before, she moved deeper, the blood vessel became a tunnel around her growing larger and larger until the cells and nutrients inside her blood became visible.

  A spark of power drew her attention and she followed it until she could make out what it was. The tiny speck became a miniature crystal fragment, irregular and sharp edged. She kept up with it and was surprised when it finally reached her brain and joined with others.