Ullden and the other followed him inside. The cave was like a rough-carved tunnel leading down into the mountain. As Alldeh moved deeper in, torches set in iron sconces lit themselves.

They came to a point where the cave sloped down more sharply, and steps were carved into the floor. They went further and further down, and eventually Ullden realized they were following a wide spiral down.

"What made this?" he asked, trying to think of some natural circumstance that would create the spiral tunnel. The walls had the smoothed features of a natural feeling cave, and stalactites and stalagmites reaching towards each other from ceiling and floor made for eerie irregular columns.

"Necessity," was all that Alldeh said.

They were quiet as they advanced further down as the muffled echoes of their footsteps followed them. Torches continued to ignite as they went. He wondered if they stayed lit behind them or not, and whether it was some magic set up before or whether it was something that Alldeh or Narien was doing now.

It felt like hours of spiralling downward until they came to a huge open chamber. It had a high, domed ceiling spiked with ancient looking stalactites dripping slowly, like saliva on mammoth fangs. In the center was a rough edged pit, far enough away that he could not judge the size of it by the light of the final tunnel torch.

"Here," Narien said. "Here is where it finally ends."

He chanted a couple of brief words and the light from the final torch brightened some and jumped into Narien's hand. He held it aloft so he could see as he led them further down, until Ullden began to wonder if they weren't heading to the very core of the world itself. He waved his other hand before him, chanting a few words, and the rough, brittle rock of the pit sides smoothed itself before Narien, creating a path downward for them to walk.

The pit was deeper than it was wide, and it was some time yet before the light reflected back from a pool of dark water at the bottom. Here and there ripples shimmered across it as drops from the stalactites splashed down into it, echoing in the vast space around them. A path of smooth stone led across to the center of the pool, with a small space to step across on either end of it. In the center was a perfect circle, covered in something black that Ullden decided could only be ash based on how it felt when his boot fell upon it. The ground within the circle was charred. In the very center of the circle a part of something stood in the ground, next to it was what looked to be another piece of it, broken off in half. Whole, it would have looked similar to the scepter that Niza carried, only missing the stones and burned black.

Narien chanted a few more words that Ullden couldn't understand, and the flame in his hand flew up and divided into several more, lighting the circle as they hung in the air around it. Then he picked up the two pieces of the burnt scepter, pulling the one from the ground, examining them as he did. Ullden realized that the madman, Alldeh, was gone now. This man was clearly Narien now.

"What now?" Ullden asked, breaking the silence that hung around them all. Narien looked up, taking them all in one at a time, as if considering each of them for a moment. Ullden found himself shuffling uncomfortably under the man's gaze, as if he was nothing more than an errant child.

"Now," Narien said, "for one thing, the demon will know I'm back, and will know precisely what we intend. Jetha and I have a lot of work to do before sunset."

"And what do we do?" Niza asked.

"You need to stay close with that scepter," Narien answered. "It allows the demon to channel energy. The last time the demon was here it wanted to control the world--"

"So not much has changed, then?" Ullden grumbled, realizing only too late that he had interrupted.

"Wrong. This time the demon intends to become a god. Gods gain their strength from prayer. They have been able to help less and less as the number of followers dwindles. But if the demon can get enough people believing it's a god, it can become one."

"There are scepters like that across the world, taking that subtle prayer energy and sending it to the demon. But it also serves as a link to the demon, a chain of sorts, and a stronger one than I had last time. This time, instead of binding the demon away, I think we can destroy it. But to have even a chance at that I need to teach Jetha a lot right away. More Elar will be here before sunset to stop us. Go prepare defenses, Ullden. I think you understand what's at stake."

"Father, Kyla," Ullden said, "shall we?"

"Alld--Narien?" Marus asked. Ullden realized that the priest looked a little lost just then, as if unable to wrap his mind around Narien taking charge as he was. Ullden admitted he was a little surprised by it himself, but then Marus had watched over the man for much longer.

"Yes, thank you, Father Marus," Narien said, stepping forward and put a hand on Marus' arm. "I may not have the opportunity later to say it. However, I'm afraid there is not time for much in the way of explanation. I had hidden myself away in the hopes the demon would not see the threat. I am the last one left who knows his true name, as it cannot be spoken - only seen within one's mind. I had to protect that. The others who came here with me before died protecting that. I am myself again now, and now we must finish what I once began. You have looked after me with kindness. I thank you for that."

Ullden realized, looking at Narien, that the man did not expect to survive. The wizard was saying goodbye, whether Marus realized it or not.

"But now you must help them with the defenses. The Gods do not have much power left to offer you, my friend. But I know they are waiting to help you all they can. For them, everything rides on this night. If we fail, they will be lost to the world in short order. The demon will convert or kill the last remaining followers as quickly as he can. Go now, to safeguard this place. I must focus on readying Jetha for the ritual."

"Yes, of course," Marus nodded, concern mixed with his expression. Narien wasted no time in turning back to Jetha and Niza, gesturing that they join him at the center of the circle. Marus turned and looked at Ullden, as if waiting for instruction. Kyla was already surveying the pit around them.

"Well," Ullden said, in part to break the silence, "defending low ground is always harder. We'll want to start either outside the cave or at the cave mouth, and set up a number of fall-back points." He walked quickly back up, continuing to talk as they went.

"The tunnel gives us control," he explained. He indicated some of the stalactites on the way, especially at points where they narrowed the tunnel more. "These create additional choke points we can take advantage of. Places where they can't come at us in groups, but have to come two at a time. If we had Jetha's spells to work with we could really take advantage of them."

He pointed out four good places they could fall back to and have another choke point to defend. Each time the Elar pushed past one, they could fall back to the next one. The cave mouth itself would be their starting point.

"Kyla, the more you can injure with arrows as they approach the better," he suggested.

"Of course," she said.

"Father," he tried, "I don't suppose you could pray that they just never see the cave mouth?"

"No," Marus replied. "Hiding people is one thing, because someone doesn't automatically know where they might be. Hiding a permanent piece of terrain would take illusion, and even that might only work for a while if they know where it is. Not something I can help with in this case. I can bless our armor and weapons to make them more effective, and perhaps boost our strength and endurace."

"That would all be good. Kyla, perhaps you could scout any other possible approaches. Any sources of timber would be valuable for making spiked barriers, but it looks like that might be tricky."

He looked out around the mountains. Theirs was not the highest peaks, but they were well above the timber line. The areas still green in the lowering afternoon sun were far enough down that getting anything brought up in time would probably not be feasible. Between two of the peaks he could see the open plains, and just then he wanted to be anywhere but where he was.

His eyes caught movement in the mountains below them, and his heart caught in his throat as he watched Elar filing through a narrow space between two sections of rock, heading towards the mountain where Ullden now stood. He pointed silently for the others to see as he gauged how fast the Elar were moving. He followed the line they moved along and started to have an idea of their numbers. Three demons now headed the line. Ullden wondered if they had acquired another summoner or managed to summon a third demon between them. Obviously the demon they had managed to kill recently had been replaced. He closed his eyes for a moment, trying to come to terms with his life up until that moment. He knew now how Narien must feel - he was unlikely to survive what was coming.

He let a few minutes drift by him before setting it all aside. He returned to the rockslides he'd been thinking of earlier instead.

"There's not going to be enough time to set up a lot," he said, looking at Father Marus. "Is there anything in that book of yours that can make the earth shake or a noise loud enough to pull those rocks down?"

"There are some defensive prayers to Ogrun that might help us," Marus nodded. "There is one that is supposed to bring about a small earthquake. The only concern I have is that we, too, would be buried in the rubble."

"Yes, so it's something we'll need to use as we're pulling back into the tunnel." Ullden surveyed the area of mountain below them as well. "Perhaps we can set up some areas with rope where we can drop small rockslides down onto them. If we set them up right we may be able to get some sort of chain reaction with loose rock below us too." He wished the path to the mouth of the cave were steeper. There were several areas where the Elar would be able to travel up with relative ease.

The heavy, ominous clouds that had been gathering and looming overhead seemed all the more low and heavy from where they stood. They had been consolidating, so that there were fewer gaps for the sun to shine through. They took that moment to start with heavy drops. Lightning pounded down on a nearby peak and thunder echoed around them.

"If we're lucky, the rain will make for slick mud that might delay them some," Father Marus said hopefully.

"A little extra time won't let us gather anything to work with if we also have mud to deal with," Ullden pointed out as the rain started falling in force. They stepped back into the cave out of the rain.

"Then we at least have a dry place to wait for them," Kyla said.

"We have time to pray," Father Marus said. He took their hands and they stood in a circle. He prayed for the strength of their courage and their armor, the sharpness of their will and their weapons, protection from their enemies and the might to stand up with a greater cause against greater numbers.

Part of Ullden felt like all that was left of humanity was behind him in the cave. He knew that was not the case, but reminded himself that he was in essence standing between the Elar and the rest of humanity. The battle that would happen here might very well determine the fate of the world, he told himself.

They had a couple of hours at least before the Elar arrived, possibly more with the rain. They did not have a lot to work with, but he set them to work with what they had. He and Marus moved rocks and stacked them in ways they could pull down. Kyla set up the ropes they would use to trigger them. She had some knowledge of making traps, so they put that to use.

They also pulled their cloaks out and used them as nets to hold more rock, piling what they could into them and attaching ropes that they could release once the Elar had made it past the first rockslides. Ullden didn't expect it to gain them much more than time, but knew that time was what they were trying for at this point. He shivered as he surveyed it all, the wind cutting into his armor and chilling the sweat he'd worked up moving rocks.

"What about the path down?" Marus asked once they were finished setting up rocks. They could see the Elar coming closer, the two demons already reaching the base of the mountain. Ullden was thankful that neither of these particular demons were winged, meaning they would have to climb up like the Elar did. He noted, however, that the demons were waiting to climb in formation with the soldiers, destroying Ullden's hopes that they could take out the two demons before the Elar had even gotten close.

"No time," Ullden answered grimly. "The best we can do is pick them off as they narrow to navigate the path. Keep ahead of them. If the rockslide works as we pull back into the cave, they'll have to dig their way through. Picking them off should be easy as they start to come into the hole they dig. Then it's just a matter of keeping ahead of them enough. Any barriers we set up on the path down to the pit would just hinder us as much as it would them."

"What about the path across the water down there?" Marus tried. "Couldn't we do something to prevent them from crossing that?"

"If we had oil or something, we could set it on fire once we were across," Ullden replied. "But we don't have enough left to matter."

"We could soak cloth with what we have," Kyla suggested, holding out her pack. "It might be enough to slow them again."

"True," Ullden conceded. "I'll go set that up. I should be back before they come into range of your bow."

He didn't wait for any kind of answer, knowing time was short. He took the packs and turned back into the tunnel, moving quickly. He realized that the way down to the pit was really shorter than it had felt when he'd first descended it. As he ran down the spiraling steps, he wished there were more of them to slow the progress of the Elar.

Jetha and Narien were drawing symbols onto the ground of the circle when he reached it, while Niza sat near the center, clutching the bundle with the scepter in it. He only paid a little attention as he laid clothing and blankets on the ground across the bridgeway to the circle, drizzling them with the last of the oil as he did. He set up a lit torch on either end of the pathway just to be sure.

Niza met his eyes from the middle of the circle. Jetha and Narien were busy drawing and chanting, and seemed not to notice his presence. He did not want to distract them. But Niza looked trapped in the middle with nothing to do. She gave him a fearful look. He nodded back, hoping it looked reassuring.

He rushed back up to the others, reviewing in his head everything they had prepared. Father Marus was on one knee praying aloud, sword in one hand and book in the other. He looked the part of the warrior priest. In the flickering torch light he looked like a younger man, and Ullden remembered the priest telling a story of getting the sword and armor from an older priest who had used them in his youth.

Kyla was squatting on the floor, gazing outside while chanting something and stroking the feathers on her arrows. The chanting was almost more just low and guttural sounds than anything he considered words. There was an enchanting rhythm to it that he found solemnly beautiful. He did not want to interrupt either of them. He wondered if they were both preparing themselves to possibly die.

He himself had long had his own little rituals before going into a major battle. There had been a number of missions that had seemed unusually risky, and there was never any guarantee of a safe return. Often enough it had involved a woman the night before.

He looked out the cave mouth at the surging rain, thinking that his night before had been much too long ago. He promised himself he would seek her out when he was done. She had struck him as a resourceful woman. He felt certain she was alive out there somewhere. The long roar of an angry demon brought him out of his reverie of wondering if it was raining wherever she was.

The rain seemed to fall heavier as the Elar drew closer. Father Marus stood up from his praying only a moment after Kyla stopped her own chanting.

"I asked the Gods to give me sight of them again," he informed them. "Their numbers have been weakened. Presumably by the giants. I'm estimating that they were actually up to nearly three hundred when they entered the mountains, or they combined with more since somehow. I didn't have time for an exact count, but they number under two hundred now. Probably about one hundred and sixty or so."

"Oh good," Ullden said with a grim smile. "Is that all?"

"They will soon be in range of my bow," Kyla said, forestalling further comment. "Shall we loose the first rockslide?"

"Soon," Ullden said, looking down at the Elar climbing the mountain. They stretched far enough that some appeared more like ants crawling up towards them in steel armor. Ullden hoped the weight of the armor would tire them out as well.

"The rock won't do anything to those demons," Marus said. "I have prayed for protection on several levels for this space that surrounds us here, but it will only do so much."

"If there is some way to anger the demons, perhaps they will advance early?" Kyla asked. "Better to deal with them before the rest of the Elar. I will try to target the summoners first. They are arrogant to come so near to the front of the line."

"Between your arrows and the first few rockslides, maybe we can get them to advance," Ullden agreed. He reached forward and grabbed hold of the first rope, pointing to one of the others. "Be ready to pull that one on my signal. I'll loose this set first."

He gave the rope a swift, sharp tug and it pulled backwards beneath several large rocks, turning them in the process. They tumbled down the mountainside, towards the Elar, followed by a loud shower of small rocks and pebbles that had been piled up behind them. While the demons seemed only barely annoyed, the Elar were close enough that Ullden could hear cries of alarm as some of them tried to move out of the way or otherwise avoid being hit by the small rockslide. Ullden signaled to Marus, who had grabbed up the second rope to be pulled, and a second pile of rocks followed the first, tumbling and bouncing down towards the advancing Elar.

Kyla moved forward and started firing. She sent arrow after arrow down. Ullden signalled the final rockslide, and Marus triggered it. It frustrated Ullden not being able to see what effect, if any, it was all having.

"What's going on down there?" he asked Kyla.

"The rocks and mud are slowing their advance," she said between arrows. She fired half of her supply and then pulled back.

"The conjurers have been hit, one at least dead, but the demons do not seem to care," she warned them. "It may be that at this point the main demon is controling them directly."

"It's time," Ullden said to Marus.

"Stand back away," Marus instructed, raising his arms and stepping forward. He prayed to Ogrun, asking that He show his Wrath, that it shake the world.

The ground did shake. Ullden had never experienced an earthquake before, but had heard descriptions, mostly bards' renditions. It was enough to knock stalactites from the ceiling, and they moved back into the cave to avoid being crushed. The rumbling noise drowned out any chance of hearing anything from outside.

The cave mouth did fall mostly in, and by the time the dust started to settle there was an opening barely large enough for a small child to squirm through.

"One of their demons will open that up larger," Ullden supposed.

"And any demon that does so will put itself in reach of two swords capable of harming it," Marus said.

"I will hold my remaining arrows for the Elar when they start poking their heads through," Kyla said. It was quite a few minutes until they heard shifting rock outside the cave. The waiting made it seem like hours. Ullden wished it actually could be.

Eventually, the hole grew bigger, and Ullden could see demons on the other side of it, pulling the larger rocks away from the small opening. He moved in close and thrust his sword through, holding the grip firmly with both hands to get more force into it. He felt it hit and penetrate through the demon's tough skin, and heard an answering roar as the demon pulled away from the blade.

As he drew back, Marus stood to the other side, ready to strike again when the next opportunity came. The second demon made the mistake of looking inside the hole to determine where they were, and Ullden watched as Marus stabbed his sword directly into it's face. It roared louder than the other had, and Ullden had the first moment of the day in which it occurred to him that they might manage to succeed. He waited, poised at the opening, for the next opportunity.

There was quiet for a while. Some small sounds of rocks being moved, but none directly near the opening. Ullden wanted to peer through it himself, to see what they were up to, but knew that he would likely suffer a worse injury than the demon who'd made that mistake. He focused on breathing and waiting to strike instead.

Suddenly, a demon hand shot through the opening. Ullden brought his sword down on it's wrist, severing the hand from the rest of the arm, but not before the demon managed to cast the spell. As the stump, oozing a blackish blood, pulled back out of the cave again, flames erupted around Ullden. The air itself seemed to have ignited around them. It was hotter than anything he'd felt before and he found himself screaming as his armor felt as if it was cooking him alive. He could see Marus chanting. The priest seemed to have been far enough to one side that he had only barely been in the area affected. Kyla had a look of horror on her face as she watched him flail about, trying to beat the flames away. The padding between the metal of his armor and his skin was burned away entirely before Marus' prayer somehow made the flames disappear. He fell to his knees, trying to peel pieces of the scalding hot armor away from his skin, but some of them seemed to be burnt into his flesh, and he couldn't pull them away without it causing worse pain than he already felt.

All he was aware of was the pain and horror. He knew he was dying. He had failed.

Marus chanted something and abruptly the pain dulled. It was not gone, he was still aware that it was there, but it felt almost remote and disconnected.

An arrow zinged through the opening. He hoped it was one of Kyla's. He looked down at one hand and moved his fingers. Skin cracked and blood oozed out some of the cracks. There was a dim awareness of pain, but it did not hurt per se.

"It's only temporary," Marus said. "We'll have to cut the armor off before I can heal you properly. But I've dulled the pain to make it tolerable until we can do better." Another arrow zinged, and he heard an Elar cry out. One of the demons raged in frustration against the rocks, and some of them shifted.

"This won't last long," Kyla warned.

Another demon hand came through the opening. Marus swatted at it with his shield, and the hand burst into flame and was yanked back with a howl. Ullden and Marus' eyes met briefly.

"Demons don't like godly things," he said with a shrug. Ullden lifted his sword, and then hopped back out of the way of a rock thrown through the opening.

"They're not trying to come through the hole anymore," Kyla pointed out. "They're digging their way through. We should get ready to fall back."

"Am I going to survive this, Father?" Marus asked, holding out a charred hand. He was afraid to think what his face might look like. He could tell that it hurt, but he had no easy way to know how badly. He could not bring himself to look in anything reflective, and did not dare touch his face. It was not as bad as he feared, he told himself.

"There is little the gods cannot do when they deem, my son. Let's live through this and all wounds can be healed." The priest's words made him feel better, and they moved back, taking a position where Kyla could send her last few arrows at them as they came through.

Ullden knew his body was shaking, despite the fact that he couldn't feel the pain. The grip he still managed to have on the sword was awkward, and he wondered if it, too, was welded to the skin on his hand, preventing him from dropping it. He leaned into the wall for support, doing his best to will his muscles to do what he wanted them to do.

It took a few more minutes of what sounded like Elar shifting rock outside before it suddenly fell silent outside. Ullden and Marus shared a look.

"That can't be good," Marus voiced for them both. He held up his shield again pulling close to Ullden and drawing Kyla in behind them. Ullden could tell he wasn't the only one holding his breath as they waited to see what happened next.

There was a loud roar outside and then the rocks that were still piled up, blocking the entrance, came flying apart towards them. Most bounced off of Marus' shield and a shimmering wall that it put up around them. The wall didn't manage to include everything, however, and Ullden watched, rather than felt, one leg be shattered by a large rock that smashed into it. He slumped over as the leg gave way beneath him, unable to hold his weight any longer. Marus did his best to hold Ullden up, as Kyla fired another arrow over the two men and into one of the Elar that were now entering the cave mouth.

His own words rang in his mind as he looked at the demons and Elar heading towards them, once I agree to do something I follow through with it. I promise you, sir, I will do everything in my power to keep your daughter safe. He had promised Jetha's father. He'd never broken a promise before.

"Not today," he told himself quietly. "Everything in my power."

Marus looked at him and Ullden could see the man's eyes filled with concern and uncertainty. We don't have time for that, Father, Ullden thought. It's not your choice to make. I always knew I'd go down fighting. The regrets he had seemed to wash away as he made his decision. He used the other leg to pull himself back up against the wall and away from the priest.

"Go," he said firmly. "Pull back and keep fighting from a distance as long as you can. Don't forget about the bridge to the circle. I'll hold them here as long as I am able."

"Ullden..." Marus began, the protest already in his voice. "I can still help you if we could just get -"

"There's not time, Father," Ullden cut him off. "I can either buy you time now or get you all killed trying to save me. I've made my choice, Marus."

Marus hesitated a moment more. Ullden was touched by the grief he saw in the man's eyes. The Elar, however, moved forward, the two demons leading the path. Ullden could see that he would meet the demons first. He only hoped he could take one or both of them out before they managed to finish him. He focused on that, forcing his hands to grip harder on the hilt of his sword.

"GO!" he yelled at Marus, turning away from the man. "Fall back!"

He heard them running behind him. Kyla's footsteps were soft next to Father Marus' booted feet. He stepped away from the cave wall, out in the open of the tunnel so that no one could pass by him without coming into reach of his sword. He himself fell back to a point where only two at a time could really get at him.

It was the one-handed demon that charged first. It lowered its head and ran at him full on. Ullden stood his ground defiantly. At the very last instant he jumped sideways and brought his sword down in a sweeping arc, severing the demon's head. He heard it hit the ground past him and slid a little. For just a moment he was distracted by the happy thought that that had been easier than he had expected.

The other demon was more cautious and advanced slowly. What seemed like a teeming sea of Elar followed just behind it. Please, Ogrun, he prayed silently, I've never asked for much...if anything. Please just let me do this one last thing.

The demon stepped close enough and flexed its clawed hands. One of those hands swept out at him, and he blocked it with his sword. The sword felt alive in his hands. His arms felt strong and sure. The demon pulled back its claw, black blood oozing from a cut palm. It roared its anger.

It leapt at him, swinging with both claws and bowling Ullden to the ground. One hand kept a grip on his sword, but he did not have leverage to swing it. The demon was heavy on top of him, pinning him to the rough stone floor. Drool fell on his face before the thing bit deep into his left shoulder. He heard a crunching sound but felt no pain.

"Everything in my power," he said through gritted teeth as he managed to shift his grip on his sword. He stabbed up into the demon and it snarled, hopping off of him on reflex. It came at him with both claws again before he could even begin getting to his feet.

He got his left hand in front of his face, and the demon grabbed his arm at the wrist. It yanked and tore his arm off at the shoulder. That pain he felt, but it still felt remote. The demon threw the arm and he swung with his right, slashing the demon across the chest. It bought him time to stand up.

The demon came at him one more time, and forced long claws through Ullden's chest armor. He could not breathe. He coughed and blood came. He swung his sword but it slipped in his bloody grasp. The sword hit but had no force to do any harm.

The demon grabbed his other arm with its other claw and pushed the sword out away from it. It bit into Ullden's throat, forcing his head back. The last thing Ullden saw was the small stalactites forming on that part of the cave ceiling as he thought, I killed one of them.

Chapter 28 - Demons

She could feel the ancient power that the location itself contained. It flowed through her with each candle she lit, and each symbol she had drawn so far, as Narien led her through everything that needed to be set up. She felt more clarity than she ever had too, and reviewed in her mind the symbols she needed for the ritual itself, even while she chanted entirely different ones to create a protection barrier that would raise against the demon's followers. Her focus came far easier than it ever had before. She lit the last candle and finished the chant, completing the circle.

Jetha turned towards the center, surveying the various circles as she moved into them, careful not to smudge any of the symbols or disrupt any of the lines of components that encircled the center. The final circle was only barely large enough for the three of them and the small fire that Narien had made, over which a bowl was heating, waiting for the final spell. Narien had been through her bags, collecting everything that was needed. Now vials and bags were lined up, everything in the order that it would be needed. The fire was off to one side. At the moment, it was Niza who stood closest to the center, nervousness clear on her face as she waited with the bundled scepter. It couldn't be placed in the center of the circle until a certain point in the ritual. Narien had been very clear on that. Afterwards, he had told Niza to protect them. He'd done something to her sword so it would harm even demons. The sword had changed colors when he'd done it. Now it hung in it's scabbard at Niza's side, and every now and then she glanced at it. Jetha wasn't sure what her friend was thinking. She could tell Niza was nervous though. She wasn't the only one. Jetha wanted nothing more than to hide somewhere until it was all over.

"The last circle is drawn and powered," she informed Narien. It amazed her just how different this man was from the man she'd been traveling with. There was no hint of Alldeh other than the shabbiness of his clothes and hair as he turned to face her. She could tell that his appearance was nothing like the man had kept before he'd been Alldeh. This was a man who was accustomed to stately clothes and regular baths. This was a man who understood power, both political and magical. She all but trembled under his gaze. She briefly wondered if Nordithet would have been as nervous if they'd met.

"Good," Narien gave a sharp nod. "Now for the last two components before we begin. Give me your hand." Narien held one hand out for hers, in his other he held a small, double-edged knife. She wondered briefly where it had come from. Then again, she couldn't remember the bowl they were using as being something they'd brought with them either.

She abruptly and completely lost that train of thought when he sliced the palm of her hand open. Even knowing that it was coming had not quite prepared her for the pain, and she cried out despite herself.

Niza fingered the hilt of her sword, shaking her head as Narien cut his own palm open. Jetha turned at the metal-on-metal sounds of fighting echoing down to them. They're getting closer, she thought.

"Focus," Narien commanded. "Now is not the time for distractions." He took her hand, and pressed his bloody palm to hers. He squeezed her hand tightly, and guided her around the circle, letting the mingled blood drip onto specific places and symbols.

As the blood fell onto each symbol he said the word for that symbol, and one by one they started glowing. Now it felt like it was really beginning. She felt energy radiate from the activated symbols like heat radiating from a fire. Before long the light from the symbols was stronger than the other light around them. With light coming now from all around them they cast no shadows.

The light itself felt very pure, which was reassuring. For some reason she had expected the ritual to feel dark and evil, like the thing they were using it against.

"Blood has many kinds of energy," Narien had explained to her earlier. "It is a sacred force. The energy it imparts depends on the hearts of the one that spills the blood and the one whose blood it is."

He led her back to Niza in the middle. She backed away from them nervously. Jetha tried to focus on Narien. Niza's part was coming up, but not yet. Narien took some of their blood and drew more symbols, this time on her cheeks and over hear heart. Then he drew the same ones on him.

Lastly, he held their hands over the bowl, letting some of their blood drip into it until there was a dark puddle of it at the bottom. She had not noticed them before, but now saw that there were symbols on the bowl as well, that slowly glowed brighter with each drop until Narien was satisfied. He reached down and picked up two pieces of cloth, one of which he quickly wound around his own hand before wrapping the second one around hers. He did it expertly, tying the ends out of the way, at her wrist, before finishing the same on his own hand.

"Now we begin," Narien said. "Do you remember the words? It must be precise or it will not work."

"I do," she nodded. She'd repeated them in her head over and over again so she would be ready. Still, it didn't make her feel any less nervous.

"Wait." Niza stepped forward, her hand on the hilt of her sword. "I have questions first."

Jetha looked at Niza, seeing that her friend was trying to look confident as she spoke, but was still nervous, nonetheless.

"We don't have time for this, Niza," Narien said, looking at her. "The demon has lied to you."

"This ritual," she said, her eyes narrowing at Narien, "will it end the war?"

"No," Narien replied flatly. "It will end the demon. That will return free will to those whom the demon has been corrupting, namely the Elar. The Elar were a peaceful, scholarly people. Once they can begin to question it, they will want it to end. They will also have lost the advantage of having demons as allies. There will still be summoners, but they will begin to remember why they didn't use such magics when the demons themselves stop being so accomodating. The demon we seek to destroy here has bought their alliance, and clouded the minds of the Elar until they believe him to be their god. That is what the demon wants - the power to be a god. He plays with your mind, Niza. He'll tell you what he wants you to believe."

"He says he can bring an end to the fighting. That his way will bring peace."

Jetha was stunned. Niza had never mentioned anything like that to her. Niza had always told Jetha the details pertaining to the ritual and the cave, and occasionally about things that the demon was doing to her or the others, but Jetha had never gotten the impression that Niza had been having conversations with the demon.

Oh Gods! I should have seen it! she thought, mentally slapping herself. What has he been telling her? She saw that Niza's knuckles were white with the grip she had on the sword hilt. Her eyes darted back and forth between Narien and Jetha, seemingly filled with nervous suspicion.

"Sometimes, Niza," he explained, "the truth is the most effective lie to tell. He says he can end the fighting? If he wins, and the Elar conquer the world, who do they have left to invade? Yes, that would end the war. But that would not really be peace. I think if you'll ask a lot of people, you'll find they'd rather fight than be a slave."

"But, he said..." Niza stammered.

"What did he say?" Jetha prompted gently, seeing where Narien was going with it. "What did he promise?"

"He asked you to betray us, didn't he?" Narien asked. "He probably asked you to turn on your friend. Isn't that what he had Maren do? She listened to him, or to his priests who speak for him, didn't she? And she turned on you, didn't she?"

"Yes," Niza said. Her sword was slowly drooping lower and lower. "She changed. It's almost like it wasn't her anymore..."

"And some would say that Jink is at peace, too," Narien added. "But is that a solution? Feeding every human to demons would put an end to human conflict for all time. But that's not much of a solution, is it?"

"No, it's not." Niza said. By now the sword hung limply at her side.

"It's easy to talk about peace like that, Niza. I can tell you that if we continue and succeed, the war with the Elar is not going to simply stop. People will still fight with each other. They will still be sometimes petty and sometimes cruel. People will get drunk and brawl in taverns and commit a wide range of sins. But they'll be free."

"It can go either way, Niza. What we do right now decides it. We three hold the fate of the world in our hands. We can choose to be slaves to the Elar, feeding power to one demon while being cattle to other demons. Or we can choose to be free, and fight, and keep being human beings."

The sounds of fighting in the hallway were very close. Metal clanged and muffled voices cried out in grunts and pain.

"I know what Ullden and Marus and Kyla chose," Narien added. "I know what I choose, and I know what Jetha has chosen. Now it's your turn, Niza."

She heard Marus' voice cry out in pain, and winced, fearing for a moment that Niza would side with the demon just to maybe save her friends.

"I choose freedom," Niza said. "What do you need me to do?"

"It's time for the scepter, for what you came here to do," Narien said. "Are you ready?"

Niza nodded, putting her sword back into the scabbard and picking up the bundle at her feet as Narien turned and picked up the first component.

"Jetha, we must begin the chant," He said, pulling a small handful of leaves out of the bag and holding them over the bowl. Jetha nodded at him and picked up the second component, beginning to recite the incantation together with him. As if a dam was slowly opening, she felt a surge of power begin to rush into her, growing stronger as they moved further into the spell. Niza unwrapped the scepter and Jetha could see it glowing with an angry red light at each of the runes upon it. The crystals at each end also glowed red, reflecting off the crown-shaped gold that they were set into. The large ruby that was near the top of it glowed as well, but seemed to have black swirling around inside it.

Niza seemed to be struggling as she turned the scepter upright and held it above the small opening in the ground where she was supposed to place it. The scepter itself seemed to be resisting and the bottom crystal glowed brighter the closer she brought it to the hole.

Jetha continued slowly putting in the components, in the timing that Narien had specified. He, too, was putting ingredients into the mix, and an odd sort of mist was forming inside the bowl. Just after the Narien dropped in the two pure white dove feathers, the two of them moved to a different segment of the incantation and Niza groaned as she pushed the scepter down into the ground.

The scepter seemed to burst with a strange reddish light that sent Niza flying just after it was set into the ground. She flew far enough that she dropped off the edge of the circle, into the water around it. It took a moment before she climbed back out, coughing and sputtering as she took her place again in the center circle. Jetha wanted to ask if she was alright, but she needed to continue chanting. She turned her full focus onto the spell as she placed the next component into the bowl - small pieces of a bluish crystal that were only found in the sea. They crumbled easily once dried, and she watched as the dust from the small bits fell from her fingers and disappeared into the misty bowl. The mist turned blue as she did it, and again the power inside her grew. She was already feeling more power than she'd ever even imagined, and they were only about halfway through the components.

Jetha could feel something else as the power grew. She could feel the area of space around her. She realized she knew where everything, and everyone was within a certain radius. She could feel her friends - Niza standing tense and at the ready; Narien pouring some holy water into the bowl. She could feel further - Marus was wounded, a deep cut running down his left arm from the shoulder, but determined as he fell back again; Kyla taking turns with him to fight and fall back, covered with a variety of cuts and bruises. She could feel the Elar they fought as well.

Where's Ullden? her heart skipped a beat and she nearly stopped chanting as she realized he wasn't with the others. She reached farther and saw his body near the top of the stairs, beaten, burned, and broken. She quickly reminded herself to focus on the chanting, grabbing up the next component as tears stung in her eyes. She was glad that Narien had lined up the ingredients in order. She hardly even noticed what it was as she emptied the vial into the bowl. The mist was rising in a spiral and bending towards the scepter, as if reaching to touch it. The hot-red air around the scepter darkened with blackish swirls the closer the bluish mist got to it.

The next step was repitition. She and Narien repeated a chant while the power built. The mist swirled around the scepter as if trying to reach it but also repelled by it.

The sounds of fighting got closer and closer, until they came into view at the top of the pit. Kyla came first down the narrow stair that winded down along the edge of the pit. Father Marus came backing down next, using his shield to fend off the Elar. Fortunately, the Elar could only come down the stairs one by one.

"Do you need me still?" Niza asked quietly. Narien just nodded and continued his own chanting. Kyla reached the bottom of the stairs. Marus did not long after. At the bottom of the stairs, Kyla and Marus had no choice but to fall back to the narrow bridge over the water or be surrounded. There were easily more than twenty Elar left. She knew it was a small number compared to how many they had started up against, but it was still a lot.

Elar chased Marus to the little bridge, and Kyla set fire to the oil-soaked cloth as soon as he was past it. It held the Elar at bay for a moment before they started hopping down into the water. It was only waist deep.

"Now," Narien said softly to Niza, holding out one hand while holding the bowl in his other. He had not told Niza the last part of the ritual. She did not want to watch it, but was unable to look away.

Narien took Niza by the hand and they knelt on opposite sides of the scepter. He took her hand and without warning impaled it on the top spikes of the scepter. The spikes ripped through her small hand and went right through his. She screamed out; he made no sound. Black flame erupted around his hand, but it seemed to have no effect on Niza's hand.

Now she and Narien were at the point where they chanted different things. Narien had only explained a little of it while they'd been setting things up. He had known that there was a connection to the demon, both through himself and through Niza. The scepter itself was directly connected. Narien would use these connections to draw the demon to them. When it arrived, Jetha and Narien would kill it. Narien chanted loudly, over Niza's screams as she clawed at him, trying get her hand free from beneath his.

Jetha chanted the words Narien had taught her, words she'd been collecting and familiarizing herself with slowly over the course of the journey here. The power within her was so strong she knew that she literally glowed with it. Her skin felt as if it hummed on her body, a tingling vibration that was inside her, on her, and thick in the air just around her. It was all she could do to not just release the power. She stood there, speaking the words, desprate to keep control until the right moment.

Elar came in groups, she had no idea how many there were around them. They fought against the protection circle, which shimmered each time it was hit. They couldn't seem to get through, although Marus and Kyla were able to reach them from the inside. The two went back and forth, stabbing through the curved shimmering wall, trying to deal with as many as they could before they might find a way through. Eventually, the Elar stopped trying. They moved back to the other side of the water and formed a circle themselves, joining hands and chanting. Then, as something rose from the water itself, the Elar all collapsed as one. They seemed unharmed except for smoke that seemed to wisp out of their mouths and noses. A vile stench filled the air.

Niza stopped screaming as she, too, turned to watch the demon arrive. He still held the human persona she'd seen in her vision, tall and thin, wearing the same expensive robes, with sybols embroidered all over them in golden thread. She recognized some of the symbols now - fire, death, and power were prevalent.

He stepped through the protection wall without even flinching, his gaunt face stoic and his dark eyes locked on Narien. He did not even look as Kyla approached him, swinging her sword. He did not have to touch her as he waved his hand in her general direction and she was sent flying backwards. She landed somewhere beyond the water.

Marus moved to intercept him next, and this time the demon did turn his head to look. He stopped a moment and looked at the sword and shield in Marus' hands, each in turn. They suddenly seemed to burst, a fine black dust falling from Marus' now-empty hands. He waved his hand again and sent Marus flying as he had done with Kyla, only in the opposite direction. Then he turned towards Narien, who reached out he unharmed hand for Jetha's. Jetha took it, picking up the dagger with her free hand and finishing the chant.

"I know your name," she said to the demon with as much courage as she could muster. "I know your true name." She drew the power together, focusing it onto the blade in her hand. It glowed so brightly she couldn't look directly at it. The same bluish light was also slowly enveloping the scepter, through Narien and Niza. Everything was going as Narien had explained it.

You can do this she told herself, drawing the symbols for the demon's true name forward in her mind. She focused on them as she let go of the handle, letting the dagger float in the air above her hand, pointed at the demon. All she needed to do was hit him with it. The energy would do the rest. The name would make it true. She heard a chanting that told her that Narien had destroyed the scepter and was trapping the demon here with them. The trap wouldn't last long, she needed to do her part soon.

Then, just as she was about to send it flying at him, the demon reached forward and flicked the dagger out of her hand, dispelling the energy she had built up into it. The sound of it hitting the stone ground at her feet echoed in the cavern around her.

"You didn't really think it was going to be that easy, did you?" the demon asked, mockingly.

"We will succeed this time," Narien said.

"You hid well from me, Narien. You will not get another chance."

Narien stepped back and said the ancient words for angry light, and a ray of bright light lanced from his hand into the demon. It had no effect.

"I am all but a god now. I am far more now than I was the last time we met, Narien. You cannot stop me this time."

Marus climbed out from the water, chanting some kind of protection spell.

"The days of your gods are coming to an end, mortal priest." The demon kicked at Marus and sent him flying across the water again. Marus landed in a heap and did not get back up.

"None of you have a weapon which can harm me. Your spells are too small, and you will never have enough time for another ritual. Your gods are weak and impotent, and have lost their reach to interfere."

Narien cast another spell, larger this time, and the crackling sound of it echoed in the chamber. The demon fired his own beam of light, this one a dark red. It burned a large hole completely through Narien's chest, and he fell making a choking sound.

"I can stop you still," Niza said. She stabbed with the broken half-scepter. It still glowed, although the light was fading. The longest spike on it pierced the demon and blue light shot out the other side of the demon. Black cracks appeared in the demon's flesh around the scepter, and blue light spilled out through the cracks.

"That scepter channeled energy into you, and it can channel it back out," Jetha said, realizing what was happening. It all came together for her. The demon was trying to become a god, usurping the faith of the the world's peoples. It did that in part through the scepters, which were links to the demon. Somehow Niza had also been connected through the scepter, and she must have realized what could happen.

"There's still one magic sword left," Niza said, stabbing with her other hand, still holding the sword Narien had enchanted. Black smoke belched out of the wound it made, and the demon screamed. Somehow Niza kept her grip on both the sword and the scepter, something Jetha was sure she would not have been able to do.

The demon grabbed the scepter with both hands as his human form shifted to his true demon form. He seemed to have a dark reddish skin covering him, with black scales over good portions of it. His chest looked as if it was covered in huge pieces of shell, as a beetle might have, and he grew to twice Niza's size. Her feet came off the ground as she clung to the scepter and sword hilt, trying to twist them both further into him. Her face was wrought with pain and determination. The demon roared as it began to pull the scepter out of his body. Jetha knew she had to do something, and quickly.

She drew on the power again, pulling as much as she could into her as she lunged forward, chanting the words from the last portion of the ritual. She knew it wouldn't be as powerful, but everything was still prepared, so she hoped it would work. She grabbed onto the end of the scepter and pushed with Niza, channeling the energy through it as she did.

It happened faster than she expected, and yet it all seemed so clear as it played out before her. She felt something inside her snap, as if it had been holding the power back from going through her entirely. She felt it come up into her and then flow out of every part of her, as light might pour out of an opened door at night. It took her a moment before she could channel it towards the scepter, through her hand. She grabbed on with the other hand too, and hung on with everything she had as the demon writhed and swung Jetha and Niza about as if to send them flying.

She focused everything, her fear, her rage, and her grief, towards the demon as she spoke the symbols that made up his name. Her hands were slipping, slick with blood - hers, Niza's, and the demon's - but Niza moved her hand back and held Jetha's. Jetha heard Niza call her name as the full force of the magic came through her, like water that finally pushes an obstacle out of it's path to flow free. She let it happen, let it pour through her and through the scepter. It filled her, feeling magnificent at first - like nothing she'd ever experienced. Then it became too much, too powerful. It burned. She screamed, as she felt her body heat up, the magic turning on her, hurting her. Her scalp felt as if it crawled with tiny, biting insects. Her skin seemed to bubble on her body with the heat. Her eyes began leaping about in their sockets, trying to escape, as something ran out of her nose. She wanted to let go, get away from the magic, but she knew she couldn't.

Jetha realized she was not hanging from her grip on the scepter. She was floating in the air, held aloft by the power coursing through her. She knew she needed to let go, that the power was too much, that it was killing her. She did not dare.

Suddenly Narien was there. He seemed taller, and had no trouble reaching her. He put a hand on the scepter, a little lower than her own.

"Let go, Jetha," he said with perfect calm. His mouth was not moving, he was speaking into her mind directly. "You don't have to die. I've always known I would not come back. I have no home to go to, you do. Let me finish what started so long ago."

Whether she let go, or whether her fingers simply slipped, or maybe whether he had gently pushed her away she would never know. The power did keep holding her up, just out of reach of the demon. But the power was flowing around her now, not through her. The burning feeling subsided. Narien had diverted it all through him.

He held the dagger--the one that was supposed to have ended it all--in his other hand. Narien tried to say something, but all that came out of his mouth was blood. The demon looked down at him, glaring angrily. Narien thrust the dagger to the hilt, and the demon erupted into blue flame. She saw the flame burning the flesh off both the demon and Narien.

She could see the invisible energy flowing, and realized that it was not actually flowing into the demon as she had originally thought. The energy was flowing outwards. The spell was grounding the energy out through the scepter and putting it back into the world at large. She felt it flowing away, spreading out. She supposed that it could not go back to the people it had come from, and she wondered where it would end up.

The demon fell to its knees, its legs crumbling as they broke more than bent. As if in slow motion she watched the demon fall, ending as dust. Narien's charred skeleton fell with it, even still clinging to the dagger and the scepter.

She hung there a moment, lost in the energy still flowing away. Abruptly the energy ran out, and there was no longer anything to hold her up. She fell, landing in a heap, and she lost consciousness.

Chapter 29 - Parting Paths

They stood for some time before the graves. Marus prayed to the Gods, asking for them to look after those who'd been lost. He prayed, also, for the Elar who'd died. They had moved all those bodies inside the cave itself, and Marus had created another rockslide to block off the entrance, so none would disturb the remains.

When he was finished, he looked to the others. Niza was trying not to cry, but tears flowed easily down her cheeks. Jetha wept openly, her sobs being swept away by the wind as it howled past them. Kyla did not weep, but her face showed that she was silently paying respect to the dead. Perhaps, he thought to himself, she is praying for them too.

There had been some discussion about what had happened. Marus had been the one to describe Ullden's death, and how he had managed to defeat one of the demons, despite his wounds. He had done enough damage to the other that Marus had been able to deal with it. Or, at least, it had been his intent. Something, he thought perhaps the Gods themselves, moved his hand after Ullden was lost. He'd fought with more skill than he knew he was capable of. He was quite sure the Gods had moved him then.

Jetha had told the tale of what had happened with the ritual. How nearly all had been in vain until Niza had realized that the scepter could hurt the demon. Jetha had nearly died channeling energy into the scepter to kill the demon, but Narien had saved her life in the end, taking the power into himself and grounding it out. He had pushed Jetha and Niza away at the last minute, to keep them alive. The demon was dead. As were the Elar that had followed them to this place. Those that hadn't died in battle had perished when the demon arrived and took their lives for his own power. The battle was over, but Marus knew there were still legions of Elar out there, fighting a war they never would have begun if it hadn't been for the demon. There was still much to be done.

"It's time we should be going," he said, breaking their silence. He turned away, partly to justify his statement, party because he couldn't bear to look at the graves anymore. He'd said what he needed to say. There was nothing more he could do here.

The others followed in turn, although none seemed eager to either stay or go. Kyla quietly took up her pack and took the lead. The trail leading back down the mountain was easier to travel, now that so many had cleared the way coming up it. They had enough food to get them back to her grasslands, after scrounging through the packs the Elar had brought with them. It would be sparse, but it would be enough.

They didn't talk much until they broke camp that night. There was enough wood for a fire, and they still had blankets. Niza was the one who reminded them of the items they'd left buried along the path they'd taken before. She and Kyla discussed the way back home, arranging a route that would take them by those belongings in case they were still there.

On their way out of the mountains they found more slain Elar. From the severity of the wounds, Kyla suggested they had met the giants.

They did see one of the giants lingering on a the far side of one valley slope. He was too far away to talk to, but he saw them and waved. Kyla had the best eyesight of all of them, and said that he looked sad. Marus silently wished them luck and peace before they moved on.

They found horses, and Kyla rounded them up. Some of them had been Elar mounts, and had been wandering with saddles still on them. Kyla removed saddle and bridle from the one she chose, hopping without difficulty up onto the horse's back.

It was at the end of the mountains that Kyla said she would part ways with them.

"Your lands lay that way," she said. "What is left of my people lie another way. I must find them, help bring them together. They will have been scattered by the Elar."

"I know my people," she added. "If the Elar are not without leadership then my people will be fighting back, resisting them. I must help in any way I can. I have enjoyed your company, but I am needed."

"Go," Niza said, "go help your people. Thank you for everything you have taught me. One day, when I have learned a little more, I will come visit your lands. I will seek you out, Kyla Featherwing." To Marus, she sounded so much more wise and grown than the young thief girl that he had healed--however long ago it had been. He paused for a moment, trying to figure how long it had been. Not very long, really, but it had felt like a year.

"I would like that, Niza of Riverport," Kyla said. "Farewell, my friends. You will all have shelter with our people, if ever you have the need."

"There will always be a place you will be welcome in my church," Marus said. "If ever you have the need."

"Goodbye Kyla," Jetha added. "Thank you for everything. Good luck."

Kyla nodded and smiled at each of them in turn, but said nothing more after that. Instead, she turned the horse and urged it until she was galloping across the grasslands. The three of them watched her go, until she was just a speck on the horizon. Then it was Niza who spoke up.

"We should keep moving," she reminded them. "Without Kyla to help us forage and hunt food, our supplies will not last as long. We still need to cross the grasslands and get back to our own lands. Even then, it may still be some time yet before we find a town we can purchase food from."

"Yes," Marus said, agreeing. Jetha nodded as well, and they continued their course, heading back towards the river. Several days later they were able to cross it in a shallower place than they'd had to before. There was no discussion of freezing it to cross, as they had done the last time. Instead, they spent most of the day looking for the best spot to cross over, before leading the horses through the water to the other side. Marus began to notice that they all knew they needed to get back to help against the Elar, but the sense of urgency they'd felt before was gone. It did not seem to return until they saw the first town in the distance.

There were signs of recent funeral pyres outside the town, along with rows of fresh graves. Some of the crop fields had been burned, but some were still intact. Wary farmers studied the group as they drew closer to the town. Marus held out an open hand, waving to one farmer amid rows of beans. The man looked with a skeptical frown and did not return the wave.

The town itself was not in good shape. Some of the town had burned, but there were also signs of recent repairs. There were no Elar soldiers guarding it. He and Jetha speculated that the Elar had been leaving mostly token forces behind to guard most towns. Their policy of converting locals to their false religion had probably worked for them at keeping peace. Once that had allen apart, it had probably not been hard for most towns to overthrow the Elar.

Niza pointed out that the larger cities might actually fare worse. In those, the Elar kept control with the aid of demons. It was hard to say what the demons might do with the main demon gone. Marus supposed that some would leave, some weaker ones might remain bound by the summoners, but that some would stay, free of control, and cause considerable damage.

"Who're you, then?" the innkeeper demanded once they found the town's small inn.

"I am Father Marus, this is Jetha and Niza. We are travelers looking for a place to rest the night, and perhaps have a meal. We were also hoping to purchase some provisions, if we might have something of value to offer for whatever you might spare."

"Father o' what exactly?" the innkeeper asked, still looking suspicious.

"I am a priest of the Holy Four," Marus replied, smiling, and trying to sound friendly. Niza was tense next to him, her hand at her waist in reach of her sword. However, after a moment of consideration, the innkeeper seemed to relax.

"A week past no 'un in their right frame o' mind would've said that 'round here," the innkeeper said. "Good ta know them Elar ain't killed all of ye, Father. I've got rooms fer the like of you three then. Follow me."

He led them upstairs and showed them to three rooms near the bathing area.

"Y'all look as if ye could use baths," he commented.

"Jetha and I could share a room," Niza told the innkeeper. "We don't have a lot of money -"

"As fer that," the innkeeper interrupted her, growing very somber as he spoke, "We lost quite a few when the Elar were here. Good folk, my sister an' her son included. I know most folks, includin' me would appreciate it if'n you'd pray over them for us, Father. Them Elar were tryin' to make us ferget them who watch over us. Those who died were the ones that fought back against it. Makes the rest of us feel downright cowardly now that the haze of whatever spell they used seems to 'ave lifted."

"There is no cowardice in trying to stay alive, sir," Marus told him gently. "I would be happy to pray for their souls. I could do it right now if you like."

"No, Father," the innkeeper shook his head. "I think the others would like to be there fer it, if'n you don't mind."

"I don't mind at all."

"Then I'll tell the others and we can gather tomorrow mornin', if that'd be alright with ye?"

"Of course," Marus nodded.

"Thank ye, Father," the innkeeper bobbed his head back. "Meanwhile, ye should all take the time ta bathe if ye want. I'll have a meal ready in a couple o' hours."

They all nodded, and the innkeeper took his leave, heading back downstairs at a quick pace.

"Do you think we're going to see a lot of towns like this?" Niza asked.

"I suspect some better, and some worse," he answered. "I'd expect there'll be some areas the Elar hadn't quite gotten to, but I don't know where they might or might not have gotten."

He thought back to the church he had left. He had already assumed that was where he was going, although now he thought to wonder if it was even still there. If it wasn't, he decided, there were still people there that would probably need his help. There was the distinct possibility that the Elar had left few, if any, priests alive there. He wished he knew the extent of it.

"What's the matter?" Jetha asked him.

"Nothing," he said. "Just thinking. Come on, let's get cleaned up before dinner, shall we?"

"Definitely," Jetha said, all but grabbing Niza's hand and leading her into the room they shared.

The inn was also the town's bath house, so there were several tubs, all curtained off from each other. Marus took the opportunity to clean off the one set of proper robes he had left. He had wound up down to that and some traveling clothes worn under his armor. He wondered if he was done wearing the heavy chain.

His body had changed some during the travels. He had put on more muscle--in his arms from sword practice, and some all over from wearing the armor day in and day out. He finished getting cleaned up and dressed. He decided they could afford to stay in the little town tomorrow before moving on the following morning. He would need to ask Niza where the girl wanted to go. It did not seem like she really had a home to go to. Jetha, on the other hand, would be anxious to find out what had happened to her home and to her family.

He took some time to soak in the tub, needing to wash away some of the weariness he felt. While there was a huge burden lifted from his shoulders, knowing that they'd accomplished their quest, the pain of loss and the time spent traveling still weighed him down.

No one even knows what we did, Marus thought to himself. If the priests and any magic-users were the first to be killed by the Elar, then there weren't likely any people left who had any idea that there was more than met the eye to the Elar "crusade." He found it unlikely that most Elar even understood what had been happening to them. It saddened him that few might believe him if Marus told the tale of what they'd done. Ullden and Narien died to secure their freedom and no one will know, he worried.

He quietly resolved to write about all of it. Even if no one believed him, at least there would be an account of it. That decision made, he finished washing up and got dressed. He was far too hungry these days to risk missing a meal.

He'd almost forgotten what the girls looked like with the dirt cleaned off of them. Both looked as tired as he felt, but Niza smiled and Jetha beamed at him when they met in the dining room. There was a collective sigh from all of them when the innkeeper came with steaming hot bowls of a stew that smelled of cooked meat and potatoes. The bread and ale served with it were welcome as well, and the three were silent as they wolfed everything down as if it might vanish before they were done. The innkeeper watched them from across the room for a while before coming over to collect empty bowls and cups. Marus realized that others had filtered into the room while they had been eating. Based on how they were being watched, it seemed that most had come to get a look at them more than for the meal. He began to feel self-conscious, despite the feeling of easiness that the little bit of ale had given him.

It took a little bit before some of the townsfolk came over, but eventually they did. One by one, they came over and asked questions. They asked if the gods were angry, and he assured them that the gods loved them, and watched over them, and had even helped bring an end to the Elar invasion by defeating the demons that led them.

"The Elar were tricked, just like some of you might have been. There was a demon leading them that told convincing lies. But he has been defeated. The gods can help win the war in the rest of the world, and they can help heal the sick and help your crops grow again."

Suddenly there was a woman holding a young girl, only a few years old. The mother explained that the girl had been injured when the Elar first came, and that her wound was not healing.

The next thing he knew, he was healing it, giving them a demonstration that the gods were still there to look out for them. The wound went away, and the child laughed and the mother sobbed gratefully.

Then there were other sick and hurt being brought in. The innkeeper warned the people to give the strangers room, but Marus told them to come. Everyone he healed smiled. It seemed so long since he had seen joyful smiles. For so long it had seemed that healing had been a grim task, and he thought of Ullden, who he had healed several times. Each time Ullden had given him a grim smile, knowing he would be wounded yet again. He wondered if maybe Ullden had known all along what the final outcome would be.

He tended to the little town as best he could. After a while, the little inn room was packed as tightly as it could be. Marus found himself standing on a chair, giving his own little sermon to the town. Some of them came with books clutched tight to their chest--books they had secreted away from the Elar.

"You have the books," he finished. "Read them a little tonight, and maybe a little every day. Teach them to your children. Tomorrow I have been asked to pray for those who are no longer here. I would ask those of you who wish to attend to gather after breakfast. For tonight, go home and rest and sleep well. Go, and walk with grace and health and wisdom and strength, for the Gods walk with you."

The crowd slowly drifted away. Some lingered a while, asking more questions, but it had grown late and eventually they all went home again. Jetha turned in first, when the crowd was more than half gone. Niza, however, had moved off to talk with some men and women at one side of the room. They broke up their conversation as the last few people were starting to leave, and Niza came back to join Marus as the innkeeper moved in to clean up the last couple of tables.

"I think they have more hope now, Father," she said with a smile. "They've been afraid to hope. Fortunately, the Elar hadn't been here long before the demon was destroyed. When his spell broke, there was quite a bit of confusion before they took back the town. Those people were telling me that it's the same in other towns. Some are beginning to fight back. There are more Elar to the south of here though. I guess they left larger groups of units in the more pivotal towns. There's one, larger town where there was one hundred Elar left behind with a demon. The people here worry that if they are not defeated they will still come back to this village and try to reclaim it."

Her eyes were on the floor as she spoke, as if she was making up her mind while the words made their way past her lips. Her hand was on her hip, where her sword usually hung as of late. Her fingers flexed as if looking for the hilt.

"Violence is not the path to peace, Niza," he said gently, though he already suspected where this was going.

"No, Father," she said, meeting his eyes. "But it is too soon yet for peace. First we have to get beyond being at war with them."

"You're only one person," he tried again. A part of him knew it was pointless, her path had been chosen for her. Another part of him still saw her as the young girl who'd come to him broken, needing his guidance and protection.

"If not me, then who, Father?" she said. "If there is a demon there, my sword can hurt it."

Author's Note:

"You've only been given a little training with it," he tried, knowing it was his last argument, and a weak one at that.

"I have faith that this is the right path, Father. I don't think that I was brought on this quest just because of the scepter. I think the gods have more for me to do yet."

He knew that most adults would tell her that she was sounding silly, but he knew better. There had been cases in the past of the gods choosing someone, and teaching them whatever they needed to know. The gods would be at their weakest for a while, but he supposed that would not have to stop them.

"Of course. When will you go?" he asked.

"Some of the townsfolk have offered to supply me with some basic gear, including a little bit of armor. They said they'd need a couple of days."

"I will bless you before I leave," he offered.

"I would like that, Father. For tonight, let's both get some well deserved rest--in mattresses, nonetheless!" She smiled a happy and confident smile. He liked seeing it on her face. He nodded and they both headed to their rooms.

It felt strange to him to have the room all to himself, and he felt another pang of sadness as he thought of Ullden and Narien again. He sat quietly at the edge of the bed and prayed for a while before laying down under the covers. The mattress almost seemed too soft to him as he lay there, waiting for sleep. He found himself having a difficult time finding a comfortable position. It seemed to take hours before he felt himself begin to drift off.

The dream came slowly, like an early morning fog slowly rolling over a lake. It sifted across him gently, and yet somehow he knew it to be a dream. Perhaps it was because of what he'd been dreaming just before it, running through the battle in the cave in his mind again. But that dream fell away like sand through his fingers, replaced by the new one. He was sitting on the rooftop of his church. His place. With a sandwich and a cup of something to drink. He took a sip to see what it was, and smiled at the tartness of the lemonade inside.

It took a short while before the dream was anything more than a surreal moment of peace from his past. He knew the moment to be his, something from his memories. He'd been in that moment before, eaten that sandwich, drank that lemonade, watched over the fields from his rooftop nook. Yet he knew that none of it was real. He knew it to all be a dream. He relaxed into it, let it take him where it would. And that was the point when the voice joined him.

Hello, Marus. it was a woman's voice, soft and soothing.

Marus looked around him, but did not see any figures. Nothing of his dream had changed.

"Hello?" he asked of the air around him.

"I am here."

The voice seemed suddenly solid behind him and he turned around quickly to look. He stopped just as quickly upon seeing her face, afraid that if he moved again she might just disappear.

"Kielle?" he breathed, almost afraid to say her name. She appeared to him looking the same as one of the church statues turned flesh, although she stood tall and her hands were empty. A gentle smile spread across her face and she nodded once in reply.

Author's Note

"You thought you would never hear our voices again?" she asked.

"It has been a long time since you answered me."

"Although you understand some of why, don't you?" she said, more as a statement than a question.

"Yes," he replied humbly.

"You were never forsaken, you know that. And you never will be. But for a time our presence here will be less obvious. The people will need help understanding that, Marus. They will need to be reminded that in every beautiful sunrise, in every crop brought in, in every joyous new birth--that we are there. People will need to hear us through less miraculous means than sometimes in the past."

"Prayers will still be heard and answered, but sometimes it will be in more subtle ways. You have still been granted our power, even if it is diminished for a time. It will be up to you to rebuild that for us, so that we can make our presence more plainly known."

"You have always heard us and seen us, even if indirectly. Now we need you to show others to see and hear us the same way. We have been preparing you.

"I will do all I can," Marus said, nodding.

"We know you will, Marus." She smiled at him, taking a step backwards and vanishing.

Marus stood there for a moment, his mind filled with unanswered questions. He looked down at his hands and realized the cup and sandwich had vanished at some point. Instead, he held a book. The cover of it showed it to be a copy of the Holy Book, which had been compiled long before by the most devout priests and bishops who had traveled the lands, spreading the word of the Gods. He opened it, almost out of habit, but found the pages were blank. He gasped, and looked at the cover again. This time the word "new" appeared before the title.

Marus woke suddenly, sitting upright in his bed. He sat there, pondering his dream, and Kielle's words, for a long time, until he heard the sounds of birds waking and singing their morning song. Then he put his robes on, taking care that each fold was in it's place, before heading out of his room to the new day ahead.