Keith Baker - The Shattered Land

It was only then that he saw the movement to the east, just above the treeline.

A firesled heading for Karul’tash.

Daine swore. Years ago he’d vowed never to use a bow, but if Pierce had left arrows, he would have broken the oath in an instant.

“Lakashtai, link us now!” he yelled as he sprinted forward, “and I want Shen’kar!”

Done .

You soil my soul with your thoughts, outlander! Shen’kar’s mental voice was filled with fury. Only the spirits may speak to me so!

THERE’S NO TIME FOR THIS! Daine roared, and Shen’kar faded to silence. Pierce! Catch! Pierce was still running toward him, and Daine flung the longbow at the warforged with every ounce of strength he could muster. Pierce leapt up and caught the whirling weapon, and by the time he had landed he had an arrow to the string.

Back to the monolith! Daine commanded. Drop the staff-wielder if you get a clear shot, but we need to get the wards back up. The others can’t be far away!

The firesled was closing on the monolith. Daine was running at full speed, but he was still far from the crimson tower.

Lei! Take cover!

Her thoughts are not linked to ours, Daine . Lakashtai’s thoughts were calm and cool. The power has a limited range, and she is still too far .

A ball of flame engulfed the gate of the spire. When the smoke cleared, Daine could see no sign of Lei. She’s no fool , Daine thought. She must have gone inside .

They come , Shen’kar thought.

The edge of the jungle was alive with fire. Dozens of Sulatar soldiers were emerging from the treeline, carrying burning banners and flaming spears.

Run! Daine said. We can’t engage them in the open. We need to reach the gates!

Uul’she and Kulikoor will slow the advance , Shen’kar thought, and I shall show them the danger mocking the clouds .

Slow the … Shen’kar, that’s suicide. Call them back!

It is already done. It is the right of the warrior to choose his death .

“Elves,” Daine muttered, but he thought of the battles he’d fought, and the courage of two soldiers who would face an army. Good luck. To all of you .

A second blast of flame burst against the gate of the monolith. Shen’kar sang a soft invocation and then pulled away from Daine, racing forward with inhuman speed. He was a ghostly blur in the fading light of dusk. Moments later he had reached the gates, and without pausing he vaulted into the air, rising in an astonishing thirty-foot arc. He slammed into the side of the sled and pulled himself aboard. The bombardier raised her hand, and Shen’kar was engulfed in a cone of fire. Even as Daine cried out, the fire faded-and Shen’kar was unhurt.

You cannot burn the wraith with flames , Shen’kar whispered into Daine’s mind. I am a shadow of the night, and such magicks cannot touch me .

As both elves drew weapons, a pair of arrows sang through the air and thudded into the staffer’s throat. Shen’kar lashed out with his spiked club, and Daine looked away; clearly this situation was under control.

At last he reached the tower. “Lei!” he called. “LEI!” She was nowhere to be seen, and the walls and soil were blackened from the blasts of mystic flame. For a moment an iron hand closed around his heart.

And then she emerged from the gate.

“Daine!” She wrapped her arms around him. “Thank the Sovereigns!”

“No time,” he said, forcing himself to push her away. “Lakashtai, link her!”

Already done .

We’re going in. Shen’kar, get your soldiers and take point. Don’t go fartherthan a hundred feet in , Daine thought. “Pierce, I need that ward back up!”

The Sulatar were marching across the field, and at this distance Daine guessed they were over a hundred.

“There is a problem, captain.” Pierce was kneeling down, inside the glass-lined gate.

“That’s not what I need to hear right now!”

“The firebursts have damaged the shard that raises the wards. It is not responding to my commands.”

Flame! Daine ground his teeth. Can’t anything EVER be easy? “Lei, can you fix it?”

“I don’t know, Daine. This is Xen’drik! I’ve probably never seen anything like it.”

“Get over there and find out,” Daine said, “and if you need encouragement, just look at the approaching army.” Shen’kar, what have you found?

No response.

Shen’kar?

Daine turned to Lakashtai, who was frowning. “The link has been severed,” she said. “Sharp and sudden.”

“They’re dead?” he said. Can this get any worse?

“Always,” Lakashtai replied, “but I am not certain that is the case. The tower feels … empty. Unnaturally so.”

“It is the tower, not you,” Pierce said. He had pulled a bundle of arrows from Lei’s magical pack, and now he was pushing them into the ground in front of him, preparing for the assault to come. The army was moving slowly, but the enemy would soon be in range. “Karul’tash was built during the war against the inhabitants of Dal Quor, who possessed mental powers similar to yours. The defensive enchantments of the building shield Karul’tash from mystical scrying and suppress the use of mental abilities.”

“How-” Daine began, than shook his head. “Never mind.”

“Can this shield be deactivated?” Lakashtai said. She spoke calmly, but Daine could see the tension in her eyes.

“Yes,” Pierce said, “but not from here.”

“If we don’t get those wards up, we won’t have to worry about it,” Daine said, as the drow continued to stream across the field. “Lei?”

“I’m working on it!” she snapped. “It’s a bizarre design, but … it feels familiar somehow.”

A small party had pulled ahead of the main army. “Look next to the standard-bearer, captain,” Pierce said. “I believe that is Gerrion.”

Daine squinted, but his eyes were not as keen as those of the warforged. “Do me a favor, Pierce-if this doesn’t work, kill him first.”

Pierce nodded. “It will be done.” He brought an arrow to the string. “Time runs short. The wards do not cover the entire field. They are almost at the border, and in any case, soon we will be in range of their bows.”

“Lei!” Daine said.

“I’m doing the best I can!”

“Do better.”

“All right.” She stood up. “Pierce?”

“Come inside,” Pierce said. “You do not want to be trapped beyond the door once it is sealed.” The travelers sprinted into the mouth of the tunnel and Pierce rapped against the wall.

“Dak ru’sen Karul’tash. Hasken ul tul’kas.” The ancient voice shook the tunnel.

Pierce hesitated for a moment, and when he spoke, his voice was a thunderous rasp. “Kej’dre. Isk. Han’tal. Kulas Kastoruk ru’sen Karul’tash. Drukil ejil ul siltash!”

Nothing happened. “Drukil esul ul siltash’un!” Pierce said.

Daine sighed. “Very well. Lei, get ready to-”

A blinding flash of ruddy light banished the drawing gloom of night. Cries filled the air-elven voices and shouts of alarm.

“Door?” Daine said.

“It appears to be broken,” Pierce said, “but the wards have been restored.”

“Fine. Pierce, with me, we’re going to take a look. Lei, we need something to fill this hall. I don’t care what.”

Understood . She was already fiddling with a shard of clear glass she had pulled from her pouch.