Forbidden Places
By Richard LeBlanc
Chapter Thirty: last stand
All was quiet. The land was dark in the early hours of the day except for the hundreds of torch lit camps where the djinn defenders waited. They knew that as soon as the light touched the mountains that the attack would begin. Back at the Temple Enchanter and Tydiss could see the hastened activity that was happening in the surrounding mountains.
"I was unable to attack Markys before. You said something about the power of the land preventing it?" Enchanter asked. Tydiss smiled and looked over at him.
"The power is one with the land. She will siege the grounds to break the enchantment. So long as the enchantment remains safe - her minions will be powerless and at our mercy," Tydiss explained. Enchanter nodded.
"I will do what I can to make sure that the lands are safe," he replied.
"I know you will - Look! It begins!" she exclaimed. Enchanter looked up and saw the light of dawn break over the shadows of the mountains. In that instant - hundreds of catapults launched smoldering stones into the sky.
"Stone rain," he muttered. Blue mana splashed outward from him. Hydro blasts and blue elemental bolts soared at the destructive rain. His efforts were able to interrupt some of the volley - but more than half was still on route. "I will not be thwarted!" he exclaimed. With a wave of his hand he deflected a large wave of the rain back down onto the orcs that had launched it. But his efforts were for naught. For the destructive rain - albeit a small portion exploded into the forest by one of the djinn encampments.
"You did your best. Now - it is up to us," Tydiss stated calmly. Enchanter watched as a wave of magic rippled out from where the stone rain had hit. The enchantment was broken. The two looked and watched as thousands upon thousands of creatures began to charge down the mountains. "Stay here - at all costs. Your power will aid us - but only if you remain safe," Tydiss continued as golden armor appeared on her. With a wave of her hand - a golden scimitar - that was six feet in length - appeared before her. "This blade was not used since the time of the Great War. May this be the last time it must be used," she concluded. Enchanter watched as Tydiss flew up. Hundreds of other djinns in golden armor flew out from other parts of the temple to join with her.
"I don't like this," he muttered. He looked up and saw dozens of djinns struggling to control several dragons. In the distance to his right he could see the forces of Markys being held at bay by entrenched djinn defenses. To the left he saw Tydiss and her elite heading straight for the Mountain King. "I cannot help from here," he stated confidently. He hovered up and floated up above the temple. Green mana swirled around him. "Let desert winds deter these invaders," he began. Violent sandstorms began to blow against the invading armies. Just then an arrow whizzed by his nose. He looked over and saw a Shivan Dragon with rider heading his way.
"You mine!" the orc rider exclaimed.
"No - no I'm not," he stated coldly. Black mana rippled in the sky between the approaching dragon and wizard. Just then - the dragon vanished as though it had turned into a shadow before the light the orc, unfortunately - was still there - but not for long. Enchanter watched as the orc fell like a stone from the sky. "Let the power of my crusade empower you," he continued. All over the Temple and sacred city - white flags appeared and unfurled in the wind. The djinns and some of Markys' minions gained strength. "May the fires - of power - burn!" he echoed. Several of the mountains erupted into volcanoes. The mana in the lands around and beyond - grew more potent as his mana flare took effect. "Now - that you have gotten my attention," Enchanter began. An isolated flicker of red mana appeared above him. To its right - an isolated flicker of green mana appeared - then white, blue and black. All of the mana slammed into the wizard's waiting fist - to form the Mana Sword. "It is time you know what it means to face the Enchanter!" he concluded. On one of the mountains by a newly formed volcano - Markys looked up and saw that Enchanter had joined the fray. 
"So it begins," she began to herself as she looked at the chaos and carnage that was happening around her.
"Here it will end!" a djinn exclaimed as she dived down at her Markys looked up at her would be attacker and shook her head. Her arm shot out and caught the djinn by the neck. Her hand tensed - a neck snapped - a djinn fell dead at her feet.
"Not likely," she retorted coldly. She looked over and saw that her sister and her elite were heading straight for her husband. After all this time - she was still bitter. With a wave of her hand - her Pegasus riders appeared and flanked them.  She looked over at Enchanter and shook her head. It was too late for her to try to stop him. Some of her power had already shifted over to the Mountain King. There was no way she could compete with him.
"Let's see what you got Enchanter," she stated coldly.
Over where Enchanter was - he could see the predicament that Tydiss in.
"Hoped I wouldn't have to risk such a spell again - but I have no choice," he muttered. Blue and green mana swirled around him. The Mountain King looked up and saw the wizard that was casting a very powerful spell. He cast red elemental blasts at the forming spell - but with a wave of his free hand - the efforts were cancelled. Just then the spell was cast. A golden glow surrounded the wizard. All of the creatures under the command of the Mountain King slowly looked over and saw Enchanter floating in the sky like a hypnotic golden sun. "The path you follow is not your own. Your will belongs to me. The Mountain King is your enemy - not the djinns. In the name of Enchanter - your true master - attack" Enchanter shouted out. The Mountain King watched as his legions of goblins and orcs turned away from the djinns and began to charge at him. In that moment - Tydiss and her djinns slaughtered the Pegasus riders that almost done them in. 
"Markys! Don't just stand there! Do something!" The Mountain King shouted as he tossed the Orcish Demon Lord into the charging Volcanic Firebird. Markys watched with a sincere sense of amusement as her husband was being beaten back by his own minions. But she knew that if he fell - she too would perish and that she would be trapped in hell with him. She looked over at Enchanter who was still concentrating on his spell.
"All in good time," she muttered. She focused on the wizard until she could see the source of the spell - an enchantment  - one that affected things on a global scale. She looked around and saw that every single one of the Mountain King's minions that was present was rebelling. "Nice spell," she commented. White mana pulsed around her extended hand. With a snap of her fingers - a violent explosion sent Enchanter soaring. The reaction was not what she was expecting. "Odd - a disenchant spell never did that before," she commented. She watched as the wizard slammed into the nearest mountain with the power of a force of nature. Enchanter slowly forced himself up. He was hurting from the backlash of the spell - but he was still alive. He slowly looked over and saw Markys waving at him.
Tydiss is out of harms way. He thought. Green mana swirled around him. The green churned into blue as purifying waters began to seep out from the stone and into his body. The stream of life - rejuvenated him. He hopped up to his feet and returned his attention to the Mountain King and the horde of creatures that were heading his way.
"Fast healer I see. I like that in prey," the Mountain King taunted. Enchanter looked up at the Volcanic Firebird that was screaming as it flew at him.
"You are mine," he stated seriously. Blue mana shot out from his hand and ensnared the charging beast. "By my power - by ray of command - cleanse these cretins from these lands!" Enchanter called out. The Mountain King watched as his pet dived down and exploded into the bulk of his army. When the smoke cleared - not even a skeleton remained. All that was there was scorched rock. Enchanter then held his sword offensively and motioned for the Mountain King to challenge him. The large demon shrunk in size so that he was scale to his attacker - only a touch bigger. A sword of fire and a whip of flames appeared in his hands.
"It has been a while since I took a direct hand in dealing with prey," he stated as he snapped the whip at Enchanter. The wizard spun to the right and slashed his sword at the flaming coil. The whip disintegrated in a burst of flames. The Mountain King looked at the burn on his hand and then glared at the wizard before him. The power of that sword was strong enough to burn a demon born of fire!
"Leave this valley in peace - or you will not leave at all," Enchanter warned. The Mountain King laughed at the serious threat and slowly stalked his way towards the confident wizard.
"I will not leave until I have subjected every female here - to what I subjected Markys to," he stated as he leaped. In a blur of motion the two attacked each other. The sword possessed by the Mountain King was strong enough to withstand the power of the Mana Sword. The ground shook with each clash of the blades. Attacks and blocks were made faster than the eye could follow. Just then - the Mountain King shot a fireball at his opponent and knocked him back. He leaped in for the kill but Enchanter was able to dodge.
"You are better than I gave you credit for," Enchanter began as the two slowly circled each other.
"Thanks - coming from a future corpse - that means a lot," the demon taunted. The two leaped at each other and began their furious exchange again. This time - the demon's timing was off! Enchanter spun to the side and brought the sword down - jumped up and kicked the demon back. The Mountain King looked over and saw his severed arm - the arm holding his sword on the other side of a serious looking wizard.
"This is over! Take your minions and leave. I will not warn you again," Enchanter began. Just then - a disk of swirling white mana began to appear on the ground behind the wizard. The Mountain King began to get up - but Enchanter moved the tip of his sword so that it was inches away from the neck of the demon.
"You kill me - you damn Markys to everlasting hell. And if you think what did to her was rough - you should see what the darker demons would do to her," he began. Enchanter's face was cold stone - but the demon knew that he had hit a nerve.
"Release her," he stated seriously.
"No," the demon replied. Before Enchanter could say another word - Markys leaped out from the swirling white mana and impaled Enchanter through his chest. The Mountain King laughed as he saw the pain on the face of the wizard that had bested him. Markys spun around and kicked the arrogant demon from the mountain. She jerked the spear free and slowly lowered Enchanter to the ground.
"There is still time. I can heal you - I can undo what I have done," she whispered. Enchanter clenched a fist and slowly moved it towards her face. He then unclenched the fist and lightly patted her on the cheek. Markys could feel the panic building inside her. "No! Don't you dare die!" she exclaimed. Tydiss and her elite landed a short distance away. "Enchanter! Enchanter!" Markys exclaimed as the wizard went limp in her arms. Tears began to pour down her face.
"His wish - has been cast," Tydiss stated calmly. Markys threw the dead wizard aside. Not only did she not get what she needed from him. With his last ounce of strength - he defied her. "Your spell - entitles you to the spoils. His powers are yours. Take your defilers - and leave. You are no longer welcome here Markys. May the gods grant you mercy - for those you have cast yourself to - will not. Come. There is much that needs to be healed," Tydiss said as she and the djinns flew away from the emotional sorceress.
"Failure - the third. You don't give up easy do you?" The Mountain King asked goadingly - holding his wounded arm in place. Within minutes - the arm was beginning to heal.
"I'm tired - I'm going home," Markys said in a dry voice. As she staggered away - the sound of the Mountain King's laughter resounded over the scorched lands.
Two weeks had passed...
A childlike Markys was once again in her abbey on the mainland. No wizards had come by since her return - which suited her fine. On the wall before her was a portrait of Toy Maker and Tuly. The two looked happy. As though a burden had been lifted from their souls - a fate that she knew she would never be able to enjoy. She looked over and saw the portrait that was parallel to Toy Maker and saw Enchanter. One of the strongest wizards she had ever known - possibly the only one that had the power to save her. She sighed as a tear rolled down her face. In her hands was a doll that bore a resemblance to that of Lord Arachnid. The spider wizard that had managed to weave a web around her heart. She hugged the doll and began to cry. She had everything planned out - how did it go so wrong?
"Mistress Markys? A sorceress from a far away land has come in search for your aid. Are you up to the task - or should I send her away?" one of the sisters of the abbey asked. Markys gently hugged her doll and curled up on the floor shivering. The sister sighed and looked over her shoulder. "I will tell her to return when you are feeling more like yourself," she concluded as she slowly left the room.
Nine months later, back in paradise - the damage that had been done was impossible to notice. All of the vegetation had grown back. The power of the land was once again restored - all was back to normal - or was in. deep within her Temple, Tydiss and several of her most trusted watched as one of the younger djinns was in the process of a miracle birth.
"You are serious?" one of the djinns asked.
"His one and only wish - his dying wish?" another added. Tydiss nodded. A babies cry shattered the stillness of the room. Tydiss walked over and picked up the baby girl. With a wave of her hand the baby was clean. She walked over and handed the baby to the tired looking mother.
"Ironically - was for Markys. The Wishmaster Clan lives on," Tydiss said with a smile.
"So - that girl - is - Enchanter?" one of the other djinns asked hesitantly.
"His wish - was to be reincarnated - in a form that could heal the hurt he had caused others - and save Markys from her cycle of pain. Enchanter - had no control as to what form his wish would take," Tydiss replied as she smiled at the innocent baby.
"He has no powers though," one djinn stated.
"He - she - is a pure blood Wishmaster. Her power - will be greater than what he possessed in his former life. I just hope that our Enchantress - will learn form the mistakes made by Enchanter," she replied seriously.
"Will - you tell her about all of this? About her past life?" the mother asked. Tydiss looked over at the mother and smiled.
"That will be for you to decide - not I. Should Enchantress have any questions - I will of course be at her service," Tydiss replied with a wink.
"Will you tell that demon Markys about her?" the mother hesitantly asked. Tydiss sighed.
"It was the dying wish of Enchanter that made this possible. But not yet. When Enchantress is old enough to understand the forces that are at work - perhaps then. But until then - no one is to know what she truly is. Understood?" Tydiss asked seriously. All of those present nodded. The djinns filtered out of the room to leave the mother with her newborn daughter.
The End ... or - is it?
Deep within the dwarven territory on the other side of the Forbidden Isles, hundreds of dwarven warriors were in chanting out into the night. Huge fires burned across the mountains that were in the empire that belonged to the plainswalker known - as Chaos. Hundreds of dead orcs - goblins and other spies that had tried to filter in - littered the landscape where these fever pitched warriors danced. The mountain shook with each step that the dwarven priest took as he stepped up to the altar where the armor and sword of Chaos rested.
"The time - is at hand!" he called out. Every dwarf raised his weapon and screamed out into the night. Bright flames rose up from the altar and consumed the armor. When the flames died down - the armor was gone. Then - one by one - all of the fires that were burning began to snuff out like a candle's gentle flame. The ground began to shake again. Every dwarf began to chant out the name of the being they worshiped as their god - the plainswalker Chaos. As they chanted - the tremors worsened. This did not slow their efforts - it heightened them. The chanting grew louder - and faster. Red lines began to crack the altar. The priest stepped back. The altar exploded into a pillar of fire. All voices were silent when they say the crimson gauntlet that glowed from the heart of the flames. Chaos - their god - had returned!
To be continued?
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