| Sect seventeen: the beginning... By Richard LeBlanc The party was camped in a secluded forest a few days travel away from Gernome. Much of what they had seen - heard and experienced were still very much a part of them. But in spite of what they had encountered up until that point - they knew that the worst was still yet to come. "How far is it to Temal?" Kaine asked. The witch looked over into the sky. In the direction of the last of the fallen cities - a dark storm was brewing. "We are close. Even now - he calls his minions and slaves. We have closed four of his dark gates - but his is still open. I - I can hear his unholy masses rejoicing," the girl stated grimly. Drake sighed and looked at the distant storm. "So how do we beat this - daemon? If Gaurre is as powerful as you say - what chance do we have?" Drake asked seriously. The girl shook his her head. "He isn't omnipotent. Were the other seals not restored - were the other four gates not closed - he would have twice the power of any elder god. But with the power of just his one gate - sustaining him - his power is greatly depleted," she replied. "Then how is he doing all of that?" Julia asked nervously as she pointed to the black thundering clouds that were spiraling outward. They all looked over and could feel a hot wind blowing from the clouds. "He might not have his full power - but he is by no means weak. If we fail - he and his minions will herald the second coming of the demon host. And with the last of the guardian mages gone - nothing will be able to stop them," the girl replied calmly. "So - how do we return this daemon bastard to the ether from whence he came?" Kaine asked. The girl closed her eyes and sighed. "Please say there is a way," he added hesitantly. "There is a way - but I know not what it means," she began. "Don't know?" Drake asked. "Walk in the name of the fallen god - see through the eyes of the man that can not see - find the heart of that which once was good," the girl began as she shook her head. "Place the heart on the altar of three - beneath the eye of the midnight dragon - when he blinks," she concluded. "A puzzle," Kaine muttered. "An old one," Julia added. "Fantastic - wouldn't want things to happen to easily," Drake remarked. "It may be easy or hard. Which it will be I won't know until I see the pieces first hand. Wait here. If I do not return by dawn - proceed without me," the girl replied as she vanished into a cloud of smoke. "This power is no illusion - how will we be able to best such a monster?" Julia asked. "It will be a matter of faith. If you do not believe in yourself - or the higher purpose - whatever that may be for you - how can you possibly hope to succeed?" Kaine asked calmly. He slowly got up and looked off into the distance towards Temal. "This may well be the last night on the world as we know it. Go - I will stand watch and inform you should anything occur," he concluded. Drake nodded and led Julia away from their campsite. "It sounds as if even he has no hope," Julia remarked. "Just being a realist. Win or lose - the world will not be the same. But hopefully - together we will be able to try to make it a better place," Drake reassured. Julia looked over at him and smiled. "This - this is all like some horrific dream," she began. "I know," he replied - tracing his hand against her cheek. "When all of this is over - what will happen to us?" she asked quietly. "I don't know. What do you want to happen?" he answered. She quietly laughed and shook her head. "You are doing it again," she remarked. "What?" he asked. "Answering my questions with question," she pointed out. He quietly laughed. "All - I want - is to be by your side. To be there when you need me. To be there to protect you - and love you. I do not know - what I will do mind you - but - if I am with you - I will be happy," he replied quietly. Julia tightly hugged him. He sighed and put his arms around her - holding her close. He was going to comment when he heard something running their way. "Trouble," he stated - he moved Julia behind him. Just then Kaine leaped out from the shadowy trees and bushes - holding his staff. "Problem?" Julia hesitantly asked. "You could say that," Kaine remarked. It was then that trees were savagely ripped aside. Fires began to burn. They looked over and saw dozens of savage looking demons heading their way. "They are moving already?" Julia asked. "No - most likely a hunting party trying to speed up their master's work. I tried to stop them myself - but there were too many of them," Kaine replied. The three watched as the demons began to form a circle around them. "Julia - remember that trick you used against the daemon in Triar?" Drake asked. "I don't know how I did that," she replied. "Just try your best. Kaine - we have to buy her some time. She is a guardian mage - given time she will know how to deal with these - things," Drake pointed out. Kaine nodded. "If it is time she needs - time she will have," Kaine stated. He pointed his staff at one demon that was slinking forward. A holy bolt shot out and burned the face off the unholy beast. Seeing their fellow demon injured put the rest in a frenzy. They charged. Drake drew his blades and fought back the demons that sought to get to Julia - wounding some - killing others. But no matter how many he seemed to fell - more seemed to come. Julia watched as Drake and Kaine kept the monsters from her. She closed her eyes and tried to think of how she distracted the daemon. She remembered how Drake and the daemon fought - how she was so worried for his life. Dozens of screams resounded around her. She opened her eyes and saw that she was glowing. All of the demons were cowering away from her. "What - how am I doing this?" she asked curiously. Before either Kaine or Drake could reply - a loud howl echoed on the night. The trees around them exploded as Giant wolves tore into the stunned demons. "More wolves," Drake muttered. In his mind he remembered how the wolves had killed his father - remembered the nightmares of the wolves coming for him. He then felt a hand touch his shoulder. He looked over and saw Julia smiling at him. The fear and anxiety began to fade. "They won't hurt you - they are on our side," she reassured. Within moments - all of the demons that remained had been vanquished - only a few had the good sense or were able to flee. Once the wolves knew the battle was done - they howled out triumphantly. "Not that I'm not unappreciative - but I thought all of the wolves died in the first coming," Drake commented. "I am impressed that you were able to call such beasts," Kaine commented. "She didn't - I did," a familiar voice commented - as a larger older wolf slowly made its way out of the shadows. On its back was the witch. "The wolves were hurting from that war. Many did not survive - those that did - I nursed back to health. Through spells and rituals - I kept them secret to all - save one that escaped to aid you," she commented. "That - that was why the wolf didn't react when he saw you," Julia commented. "The great wolves will help once again," the girl commented - petting the wolf she was riding. Julia walked over and looked at the wolf. It was the one she saw in her dream - the one that her mother talked to. "Maybe - maybe this will work," Julia said with a smile. To be continued... |