GoCorral

Chapter 8 – Second Tries (Continued)

Kardishan walked through the fire without burning or flinching. He came to the point of Galandir’s sword where the fire originated from. A thin barrier around Kardishan’ skin glowed. Protection magic, making Galandir’s own spell ineffective. Galandir released the spell. Exhausted, his arms dropped in front of him.

The adlishar took a step back and struck a fencing pose. “Any other tricks?”

Galandir took a breath and established his rhythm. He took a step back and copied Kardishan’s pose. The creature’s lack of a nose repulsed Galandir. He would sheath his sword in that cavity.

The adlishar made the first move. Kardishan rushed forward. His sword collided with Galandir’s. Galandir turned his body sideways to present a smaller target. He rolled his blade to angle for a cut at the adlishar’s shoulder. Kardishan caught Galandir’s blade with his left hand. The edge didn’t cut. Galandir noticed the sword wasn’t quite touching Kardishan’s fingers due to another layer of invisible armor.

Galandir stumbled backwards under Kardishan’s pressure. His left hand was still free. “Spours!” The conjured shield didn’t protect him now, but it could serve as a weapon. He slammed the shield into Kardishan’s elbow. The adlishar didn’t even flinch. Galandir felt another shield on the elbow resisting his own.

Kardishan turned his sword around. He swept the hook down onto Galandir’s blade. The hook caught and yanked the sword further down as Kardishan made a reversed slice towards the ground. To hold on to his sword Galandir pulled his right arm back and spun, exposing his back to the enemy.

Stenvall stabbed her spear into Kardishan’s back. The spear head struck his magical armor. It failed to penetrate. Stenvall’s momentum carried it forward and the shaft bent and broke in her hands. The maneuver had its successes though. Kardishan was unable to take advantage of Galandir’s weakness. The three of them fell forwards onto the grass around the spindle structure.

Kardishan’s left hand went to his forehead and it was over. Galandir and Stenvall couldn’t move. The adlishar stood, keeping his left hand in place.

“You are an interesting bunch. You have potential. I won’t kill you yet, but we will once you are stronger.”

Kardishan looked into the structure. Galandir’s paralyzed position didn’t allow him to see what the adlishar was looking at.

“Get stronger. We need strong inhabitants.” The silver rippled across the adlishar’s sword. He walked into the structure and released the magic upon Galandir and Stenvall.

The pair stood. They looked at the shocked people of Shalerton. They looked at the darkness of the blue structure behind them.

“Take what you get,” said Stenvall. She walked over to the villagers. Galandir followed. The sleeping battlefield from days ago awaited them before the journey back to Shalerton.

Something caught Stenvall’s eye. She ran to fetch her spear and shield, fallen on the ground during the previous battle with Forgeus and Gallana. “My own spear. Good to have it again.”

Galandir grabbed a discarded spear and shield as well. The borrowed equipment would need to be returned in kind. Stenvall’s spear was broken and Tereman’s shield was lost with him.

They trudged up the hill. Galandir kept looking over his shoulder, fearing that their allowed escape was some sort of trick. He looked back at the villagers and heard a sound from behind him.

“Hey! Wait for us!” Delete

Blendegad and Tereman readied to fight the eleven adlishars. Tired and out of tricks they had little hope of success. Only the vain desire to kill more of their enemies as they fell. Surrender was an option against normal mortals, but Tereman doubted that it would work against these freaks.

Rows of pure black eyes stared at the two of them. The adlishars did not advance. Tereman and Blendegad kept their positions as well. Moving towards their foes would only initiate the combat once more, hastening their own end.

The tension in the room increased as the seconds ticked by. Why weren’t the adlishars attacking? Even at a distance they had their magical force blows. They could wear the two of them down with that method and not risk injury in melee combat.

“What are they doing?” Tereman whispered to Blendegad behind him.

Blendegad whispered back, “Waiting for something.”

The pair shifted their positions. Their blood was starting to cool from standing still for so long.

Blendegad whispered, “Should we do something first?”

“No. Keep waiting.”

A few moments more passed. The adlishars backed away. Tereman noticed a path to the door they’d entered the egg room from was open. He nudged Blendegad. He saw it too. The pair slowly walked to the door, staying back to back to keep their eyes on their foes.

Tereman went through the door first. Blendegad followed right behind. Tereman checked if the adlishars were following. The two he could see through the doorway were staring at him, holding their silver swords at their side.

Blendegad speed walked up to Tereman. Tereman accelerated to a jog. Blendegad matched it. Soon they were running out of the structure. Tereman didn’t understand why they were granted an escape, but he wasn’t waiting for the adlishars to change their minds.

The two burst back outside. Tereman saw Galandir and Stenvall making their way up the hill with a few dozen poorly dressed peasants.

Tereman shouted, “Hey! Wait for us!”

Chapter 9 – Hollow Rejoicing

The return to Shalerton was a slow process. The villagers were exhausted, hungry, and sore from sleeping in confined cages. Most of them could barely walk. They made pitiful progress on the first day.

After camping for the night, Stenvall volunteered to go ahead while it was dark. Her orc eyes allowed her to see even in utter blackness. Traveling at night wouldn’t be an issue for her. She could bring back help from the other Shalerton villagers in the morning. Blendegad, Tereman, and Galandir agreed. She headed out as the others fell asleep.

The second day started at a laggard pace. Blendegad, Tereman, and Galandir had brought food, but not nearly enough to share with all these people. They gave what they had on the first day, but now they all had stomachs that were rumbling for breakfast. Tereman offered to hunt a deer, but the others felt it was safer to stay as a group. Food awaited at Shalerton a few hours away anyways.

They needn’t have waited to get to Shalerton. Shalerton came to them. A few hours after dawn, Stenvall returned with dozens of other Shalerton people. They carried water, wine, and most importantly, bread and cheese. The freed people are greedily. They drank. They cried to be reunited with their friends, neighbors, and loved ones. They cried to remember those who were lost.

Blendegad, Tereman, and Galandir kept looking back towards the northeast.