Jeff Inlo - Chain of Bargains

With every goblin in the Great Valleys completely subdued, Jure turned his focus on eliminating them as a threat. It was not sufficient to simply bind them. They had to be removed from the land and placed where they could cause no further harm.

Across the countryside, Jure began to open one portal after another. The gateways led into the dark realm, the breeding grounds and homeland of the goblins. The dimensional doorways sprung up in cornfields, on dusty dirt roads, in empty town squares, and on lonely hilltops. He constructed them tall and wide, for he knew that once he began to push the goblins through, he would need considerable space for the masses that he would heave across dimensions.

At first, he worried he might be sending an invitation for a mass invasion of other dark creatures. That was something no one needed, but the dark realms were filled with horrifying monsters searching for ways to escape. A host of open portals would surely gain their attention, and such large gateways would offer potentially disastrous consequences. The return of magic to Uton meant portals could be opened between realms, and they often were, but some of the largest walking nightmares of the dark realm were unable to utilize the smaller gates. Opening the valleys to titans of misery would counteract Jure's desire to end the conflict.

He originally hoped the massive tide of goblins forced back through the portal would discourage any other fiends from trying to pass through. He would do his best to generate a constant flow of goblins through the dimensional rifts. Hopefully, he would create a massive torrent that would serve as a shield, but he knew there would be ample breaks. Dark creatures were nothing if not opportunists, and it was their inherent nature to capitalize on the misfortune of others.

He would have liked a more reassuring solution, and in the flow of magic, he believed he found one. The surge of magical energy was actually growing. He imagined it was Heteera's doing, but he brushed aside his concerns over the sorceress' intentions. He would let Enin focus on that problem. Instead, he opened himself up to even more of the energy.

As he opened the portals, he directed waves of ample magic through each one. He placed a directive into the flow that ensured it would move in but one direction. Even as the gateways waited for the goblin masses, no creature could enter into Uton from the dark realm. The pressing magic would force retreat from even the largest monster trying to force its way across.

Thrilled with the progress, Jure turned his attention to the bound goblins. He focused his mind on yet another massive spell. It would utilize the power of a storm, and winds of force and fury would sweep across the valleys.

Just as the magical light sought out the goblins, the rush of air followed the same paths. The wind soared down across the grounds and took hold of the binding light that captured the loathsome monsters. It hooked into the magical bonds and lifted the dark creatures high into the air.

Across the valleys, goblins-and only goblins-were gathered up in whirlwinds and carried across the skies in great throngs. The forceful breezes moved with clear intentions. They did not damage a single building or fall one tree. The powerful rush of air created such a roar that many people were forced to cover their ears, but it was their eyes that found the spectacle so unbelievable.

Whereas the goblins once poured across the land in a gray wave of their own evil intent, they were suddenly and unceremoniously yanked into the air and thrust high over towns and fields. Just as they had tried to herd the humans into heading west, the goblins were driven in great flocks toward gleaming portals. They fought and struggled, but they could not break the bonds of light that tied them or free themselves from the winds that carried them.

Every portal across the land became a receptacle for a colossal wave of snarling, angry monsters. The rifts swallowed them all and once the goblins passed back into the dark realm, the binds of light that held them disappeared. Their sudden freedom, however, meant nothing. As they landed on the barren ground in heaps, they were pressed away from the gateway by the continuous flow of other goblins discarded from Uton by Jure's powerful spell.

When the last goblin passed through, Jure used the tremendous wave of magical energy that continued surging into him to close each and every portal instantaneously. It was as if he blew them out like flames on a great array of candles.

The orb of white fire still hung in the sky and he used it to inspect the surrounding lands. His vision followed the beams of light, and the rays of magic revealed both the good and the bad. The goblins had been eradicated from the valleys, but he saw the great damage they had left behind. While he took pride in accomplishing his goals, he found emptiness in a victory that left so much destruction.

With the energy still pouring into him, he decided to do more. Jure could do nothing for the dead, but he could still save thousands. With spells of healing, he tended to wounds of all types. He revived all that held to the smallest spark of life. He disregarded not a single injury, no matter how small. He would do everything in his power to wipe away as much pain as possible.

After tending to every wounded human and animal, he turned his attention to the damage within towns and cities. He used the magic to put out every fire, but still he wasn't satisfied. He rebuilt shops and homes, restored as much property to its original state that he could. He knew he couldn't erase the memory of what happened, but he hoped to wipe away as many reminders as possible.

Before trying to stem the tide of magic flowing into Heteera, Enin made one last attempt to reach her. He doubted he would be successful… on either front. He knew he could siphon off a great deal of energy, but it wouldn't be enough. The magic was roaring in so fast that anything he absorbed would be replaced almost instantaneously. As for Heteera, she had shifted from indifferent to incensed. She didn't want to listen. She craved the abyss of isolation, but the magic wouldn't allow it.

Enin came up with but one hope. He believed if they worked together, they could alter the structure of the barrier. They would need to do more than just strengthen it to hold the enormous surge. They would have to create spillways and outlets to control the monumental flow. It would lead to additional risks-the magic wouldn't be completely contained and the instability would increase-but at least Jure and Heteera would have a chance to survive. When the time came, he didn't want to struggle against both the magic and the sorceress.

"You realize we have an opportunity," Enin began. "The reservoir of magic within you has been dramatically diminished."

"I know that," Heteera responded, "but there's no opportunity for me. I'm still the same as I was. I don't have any control of the magic. The barrier will just reform."

"No, it won't."

"What do you mean?"

"Can't you sense the amount of magic surging through you? You won't be able to stop it. Trying to free yourself from the current will be like hoping to swim out of a waterfall after going over the edge. You're more than just a magnet for the energy. You've become major conduit. Energy from across the land is caught in the swell. You don't believe me? Try to reduce it, even by a small amount. It's not a trick. It's the truth."

The sorceress didn't want to reduce the magic, she wanted to refill the barrier and return to the isolation where she found comfort. She also, however, wanted to prove the wizard wrong. She wanted to be rid of him, and so, she tried to remove her essence ever so slightly from the incoming magic. Her efforts were shoved aside harshly.

"What's going on?" she cried.